Deadman's Switch & Sunder the Hollow Ones Read Online Free PDF Page A

hands still tied. Kelly rolls his eyes, but he keeps his thoughts to himself.
    We quickly fall into the rhythm of our steps, counting sections of tunnel as they appear out of the gloom, exposed by the meager glow of the flashlight, counting breaths and heartbeats, wondering how far we’ve gone. And how far we have left to go.
    I walk to the right of Stephen so I can shine the light ahead. I hold the gun in my sore right hand, the flashlight in my left. The wrist stiffens up, grows weak and painful. The gun gets heavier and droops. Finally I just give up and hold it down by my side. Every so often, Kelly will look back at me and I’ll bring it up again and rest it in the crook of my elbow. Stephen doesn’t even glance over at me. I keep expecting him to, looking for a way to escape, but he doesn’t.
    Kelly begins to drop back, slowing from the exertion of carrying Jake. A part of me knows it’s also so he can keep his eyes on Stephen and me. Every so often he asks me how I’m feeling and if I need a break. I keep expecting to begin feeling feverish. But I don’t.
    How long until I feel the first symptoms? How long till I… die?
    We’ve gone maybe a mile—about an hour—when Jake begins to recover. I’m relieved that the effects seem to be reversible, at least partially. The shivers stop and he starts jabbering. It’s all gibberish at first, sounds rather than words. A few minutes later his eyes pop open. I try talking to him, but he doesn’t respond. I keep trying. Finally, he answers.
    â€œPut me down,” he says, slurring his words. “I can walk.”
    Kelly’s all too willing to comply. Jake still leans heavily on Kelly’s shoulder, but now his own legs carry the bulk of his weight. The relief is clear on Kelly’s face. Sweat soaks his shirt.
    â€œWe’ll rest here for a few minutes,” I announce.
    But then Jake starts retching. Kelly holds onto him so he doesn’t fall, leaning him against the wall. He throws me a look of concern. I’m scared, too. The puking continues for several minutes until nothing more comes out, not even spit. Just that awful hacking sound.
    It finally ends. He finishes coughing and gasping, and wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. “I’m okay,” he keeps saying. He does look better. He even chuckles a bit, embarrassed at making such a mess of himself. “I guess I ate something that didn’t agree.”
    I chuckle. Kelly shakes his head and mutters something.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œI said don’t sweat it, Jake.” And he stalks off into the darkness.
    â€œDon’t go too far,” I yell at his back.
    â€œJust going to take a leak, Jess.”
    I’m grateful for the opportunity to take a few minutes of rest. My joints ache and I’m feeling shaky. My feet are sore from wearing the wrong-sized shoes.
    Jake leans back again and rests his head on the cement wall, closing his eyes. I keep Stephen in my sight until Kelly returns a few minutes later.
    â€œYou ready?” he asks.
    Jake groans and looks around us. “Anyone want to tell me what happened?”
    â€œWe’re in the tram tunnel,” I say. “We’re heading back to Long Island.”
    Jake stares at me for a moment, blinking stupidly. “Don’t you mean away from Long Island?”
    â€œThere’s been a…a problem. We have to go back. There’s no time to explain.”
    He closes his eyes and moans. “Felt like my head was going to explode.”
    I quickly tell him about the new implants and Arc’s safeguards against us leaving.
    â€œWe can’t leave? What’ll happen if we do?”
    I look at Stephen for the explanation, but he just stands there and stares into the darkness ahead of us. He hasn’t moved once since we stopped.
    â€œI don’t know, Jake,” I say, distractedly. I get up and walk over to Stephen. “But I think we