The Hunter on Arena by Rose Estes Read Free Book Online

are here by force to serve some other’s purpose.
     If we are to survive, we must become friends and rely upon each other, for surely we are alone, and without help, other than
     each other, and our own wits.”
    Braldt studied the furred one who regarded him with a level gaze. There was no sign of duplicity or falsehood in the dark,
     brown eyes. He sighed deeply and felt the anger ebb away.
    “My apologies, Allo. I am taking my anger and frustration out on you. You speak the truth—none of us asked to be here and
     it is those who brought us, the ones known as the Masters, who deserve our hatred.” He touched the silver disc and grimaced
     as pain lanced through his head. “Do you know what these are and what purpose they serve?”
    “There was another here before you,” Allo said. “It was a Galurian, a lizard-man from a portion of myworld that is nought but swamp and water. These Galurians are ignorant, wild beasts with a language unknowable by any save
     their own kind. Yet this beast and I were able to speak—communicate so far as its limited thoughts were able to form—clearly
     and easily in the same tongue. It was taken away soon after I wakened, but long enough for us to speak. I have been pondering
     the meaning since its departure. Now, you arrive, the four of you, all quite dissimilar. It is plain that all of you have
     been gathered from different places of origin, yet despite our different backgrounds, I suspect that we will be able to converse
     with ease. I believe that these discs are translators of some sort, enabling us to speak to one another despite our various
     points of origin.”
    Braldt rubbed his forehead. Allo’s words made sense, but still there was a sense of rage, of violation, and he wondered if
     he would ever get to face the unknown Masters who had so manipulated his world and his life.
    The woman stirred and moaned. Allo turned toward her. There was the sound of violent retching, and at the far edge of the
     room a man held his head and keened in wordless anguish. Braldt leaped to his feet and would have gone to the woman’s side,
     but a voice rang out inside his head, causing him to pause.
    “Welcome and congratulations, Marin of Un 7, Septua of Valhalla, Randi of Earth, Allo of 2x71, and Braldt of K7. By your cunning,
     dexterity, and will to survive, you have passed the trials set before you. As a result you will be spared from slavery and
     given the opportunity to earn glory.”
    The man at the far edge of the room scrambled tohis feet and shouted, “Who are you and where are my companions?”
    The voice replied smoothly. “You must earn that answer and any others that you might wish to know. From this day forward you
     must cease to think of yourselves as individuals and forget your own petty dreams. You must become a team with but one brain
     and thought—that of survival—or you will surely perish. Welcome to Arena, and now… let the games begin!”
    As the ominous words concluded, the wall before them slid aside, drawing back smoothly and silently. Instantly, their eyes
     were dazzled by the brilliant, scarlet light that filled this world’s atmosphere. Braldt shielded his eyes against the blood-red
     glare and staggered forward. He felt a slender hand clutch his wrist and slipped his arm around the waist of the woman known
     as Randi, oddly comforted by her presence. Slowly, his eyes adjusted to the hideous light and he took several steps forward,
     anxious, yet fearful of what he would find.
    There was a harsh intake of breath and the woman uttered a cry of dismay. Braldt blinked and narrowed his eyes against the
     bright light of the two suns now hanging at the edge of the horizon. Randi’s hand tightened on his wrist, her nails pressing
     into his flesh, and he saw what had caused her such alarm. The parting of the doors had revealed an arena fashioned of red,
     marbled stone, rising in tiers on all four sides and reaching high into the bloody sky. At the