Beast Planet 2: Captive Salvation Read Online Free PDF Page B

and dirt, that it was a forge. A furnace to melt and mold metal into whatever weapon they wanted.
    To make matters worse, morning sickness hit with full force. My over-protective Morrdrook worried franticly, and refused to leave my side.
    Abby, who seemed to only suffer mild nausea, tried to keep him calm by explaining it was a natural process in human pregnancy.
    It was God-awful. My head spun and my mouth was dry. I could hardly walk in the morning without my stomach feeling like it was being tossed by ten foot waves.
    Lucky chirped unhappily, as if sensing my distress, and purred into my shoulder, trying to comfort me.
    At least in the afternoons, I felt better and insisted that Morrdrook left me with the other women and help with the building of the forge. Those who wanted to help did the best they could. There was a lot of old scrap metal heaped in a pile, left over from the building of the village. A few of the other women and I sorted through the pile, finding smaller pieces which the Zakiu could turn into projectiles.
    The men, of course, wouldn’t let any of the women lift anything too heavy. But they realized we needed to be a part of this as much as they did.
    We worked for days, sorting it out, and moving it to the forge. A few days later, a steady stream of black smoke and the clear ringing of metal being struck rose from the jungle. The weapon-making had begun.
    While the bulk of the men were over at the forge, the women milled around the village; cooking, cleaning, chatting and keeping each other company.
    Abby, Joan and I were in the meal hall, peeling and preparing parppa root. Killiu had shown us how to search for the plant in the fields, dig it up and prepare it.
    “I love this stuff. I swear it’s better than an Irish potato.”
    “How can a potato be Irish?” Joan waved her peeling knife at Abby. “A potato is a potato, whether it’s in Ireland or America.”
    Abby face split into a wide grin, “Oh woman, you’ve never had a potato until you’ve come to Ireland and had an Irish one. I’m tellin’ ya now, you’ll never taste anything better than me ma’s old potato patties.”
    I burst out laughing.
    “But these, I swear, can rival them any day. Made fried ones last night for Nular.” She thrust the root she held high into the air. “I hereby declare this the new Zakiu potato.”
    Joan and I laughed so hard at Abby’s antics, tears streamed down our faces and I started feel queasy again.
    Bular burst through door. Our laughter died when we saw his wide, frantic face. He glanced wildly around the hall until his gaze falling on us.
    “Aunna, Abby, Joan, have you seen Sarah?”
    I stood up shaking my head. “She hasn’t been here.”
    “She asked for medicine, for pain in her head, but when I got back she was gone.”
    “Alright, I’m sure she couldn’t have gone far. We’ll help you look. Abby, go get the other women. We’ll search the village. Bular, go get the men from the mound.” I tried to damp down the panic rising within as I met Bular’s gaze; sensing if we didn’t find Sarah soon, it would not be good.
    Abby quickly set down her Zakiu potato and headed out. Bular followed close behind.
    I scooped Lucky up, placing the critter on my shoulder, calling out as I passed the houses to any of the women inside. All were more than willing to help search.
    By the time we’d searched part of the village, Bular had returned with the men. Morrdrook took charge; ordering several smaller search parties, all heading off in different directions.
    “We’ll continue to search through the village.” I told Morrdrook. He nodded, but gave me a pointed look.
    “Stay in the village and wait for us to return. She might return here soon. I hope she has simply gone for a walk.” With a swift kiss on my head, he walked towards the mountains.
    Oh God, I hoped Morrdrook was right and Sarah had just gone off, as I had done a few times to get some exercise.
    We finished our search then doubled