Thunderbird by Jack McDevitt Read Free Book Online Page B

call it, the Eden transport station?”
    â€œIt’s called the Cupola. But you mean at this moment?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œNo. We do not. There’s nobody there now.”
    â€œSo the aliens could be there right now, and we wouldn’t know it.”
    Adam might have been looking for a way to evade the question. “Yes,” he said finally. “That’s correct. But we’ve been there for a couple of months, and we haven’t seen anybody.”
    â€œIsn’t that dangerous? I mean, what happens if someone goes over there and finds the place full of aliens? And they follow him back?”
    â€œDon’t you think that’s kind of alarmist? I mean, if they exist at all now, these would be people, creatures, whatever, who have a pretty advanced technology. You’re talking as if they’d be barbarians.”
    â€œNot really. I’m just wondering why we don’t show a little more caution?”
    â€œI’m pretty sure the chairman is aware of the issue, Walt. I wouldn’t worry.”
    Donna’s eyes drifted to Brad. She was still gorgeous, with black hair and dark, scintillating eyes and the same come-hither smile that had overwhelmed him when they first met while he was working as a cashier at Hugo’s supermarket. But on that morning, the smile had given way to concern. “You okay?” she said.
    â€œI’m fine.”
    She got up and put some toast on, sipped her coffee, and sat down again. “Life’s getting complicated, Brad.”
    â€œYeah.” When they’d been doing the excavation a few months earlier, he’d thought about going to Johnson’s Ridge and doing a broadcast from the place. He’d decided not to bother. It was at that time just a hole in the ground. It was probably as close as he’d ever come to having a major national news story break on his program. “It’ll give us a lift this morning,” he said. “Can’t ask for more than that, I guess.”
    â€œYou know what, Brad? This Johnson’s Ridge thing is a big deal for you and the station. But I’ll be glad when it’s over.” They sat watching Walter asking Adam how he felt about aliens living next door, and whether he was happy that the Roundhouse was located on the Reservation. Meanwhile the toast popped. Four pieces. Donna arranged them on a plate and brought them to the table.
    Brad picked up one, added some butter, and bit down on it. “Why do you want it over, love?”
    â€œBecause I’m not sure what’s going to happen next. I’m not sure what might come out of the Roundhouse. Doesn’t it worry you at all?”
    â€œNot really,” he said. “I’ve thought about it. And I guess there are some weird possibilities. But when they start talking about invading aliens, I begin getting the sense that I’m in a bad science-fiction film. Whoever built that thing, they used it to come here and go sailing on Lake Agassiz. They just don’t sound all that dangerous to me.”
    â€œYou’re talking ten thousand years ago. There might be something else coming through there now. What about those stories about a wind creature, whatever it was that was reported in Fort Moxie?”
    â€œDonna, that’s a stretch. And I’ll believe the stories about the little whirlwind when pictures of it show up on CBS.”
    He finished breakfast, smiled reassuringly at Donna, and started for the door. “See you tonight, kid. You might want to take a nap before you go over to the school.”
    â€¢Â Â Â â€¢Â Â Â â€¢
    M ATT F ANNY ARRIVED fifteen minutes after Brad did, which was unheard of. He usually didn’t come in before eight. And he was not happy. “I assume you saw what’s happening?” His eyes were aimed directly at Brad.
    â€œYes. I saw it.”
    â€œYou know this Cannon woman pretty well, don’t you?”
    â€œMore