Time Storm Shockwave by Juliann Farnsworth Read Free Book Online

known them.
    She changed the subject to him. “How about you, do you have any family?” She stood up and walked over to the edge of the water.
    He followed her quietly and then he said, “I’m an only child, and my parents are both deceased.”
    “Deceased —” she looked up at him sadly “—that sounds so clinical. Were you close?”
    He turned to face her and didn’t speak for a moment before admitting, “I didn’t think so, but I guess I took what I had for granted. I always wished that my dad had spent more time with me.”
    Mark looked up at the stars. “My father always told me that he would take me deep-sea fishing someday, but we never got past ice-fishing; definitely not the same. I suppose that’s why I bought this boat. I’ve never actually considered that, but I think that I’m—” he shook his head “—I really don’t know.”
    When he didn’t say anything more, she almost whispered, “I miss my grandfather. Being on this boat, with you …it makes me feel …safe I guess. I suppose that sounds silly.”
    “You think you sound silly, after what I just said? I’m glad I make you feel that way. I feel safe with you too.” He stepped a little closer.
    “No one has ever said that to me before —” she met his eyes “—I’ll do my best not to let you down.”
    “I’m not sure what you mean by that,” he conceded.
    Her eyes drifted away for a moment, and then she looked down at her hands. “Life is just complicated. I’m not sure what I mean either.”
    He r statement clarified nothing, but he didn’t care. When she looked into his eyes, he leaned over and kissed her.
     
    ***
    Stewart sat watching television in his room — I can’t believe they left without me —he had only been trying to protect Mark, and look where it was getting him. Stewart didn’t even know where they had been planning to go, so guessing his return date was virtually impossible. He swore under his breath as he went to take a shower. Every day he liked Ashlyn less.
    The television continued droning on in the background. A newscaster named Bob was speaking to an official NASA scientist, Dr. Aristae, about the ever-increasing solar activity. He was warning the public about bad space weather.
    “So, anyone planning a visit to Mars should maybe take the next flight or a t least take a large umbrella,” the newscaster proclaimed.
    The scientist continued on, “We are now projecting a geomagnetic storm of a magnitude not seen since 1859. That storm destroyed much of the telegraph system of the time and melted or shorted out even some of the undersea cables.”
    “ Then it’s certainly a good thing that we don’t use the telegraph anymore,” said Bob.
    Dr. Aristae continued, “We may face widespread power and communication outages within the next twenty-four to thirty-six hours.”
    “Okay then—” the newscaster interjected “—better have those video cameras running. Apparently, the Aurora Borealis may be visible all the way to Cuba.
    The news switched to the other commentator, “I’m with you, Bob. Next up, new evidence has linked the increase of cancer to the lack of breast-feeding. Don’t turn the channel; we will be back in a moment.” The station went to commercial.
     
    ***
    Mark and Ashlyn had been out for five days now, the dives yielding no measurable results whatsoever. However, there were strange things happening. The most amazing was the Aurora Borealis, which showed brilliantly in the evening sky.
    It wouldn’t be an unusual sight if they were in Alaska or in Siberia, maybe even in Canada, but they were in the Caribbean. What they were seeing was nigh on impossible. Mark was watching the ever-increasing geo-magnetic activity but hadn’t been able to watch the news, unable to maintain any decent reception with his satellite television.
    Here they were, sitting peacefully on a boat in the middle of the Bermuda Triangle. Their compass was working just fine while the sky above was