Elements (Tear of God Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

their music was pretty good though. Mink sat in silence, passing time by replaying his favorite songs in his head.
    The scout finally swung out of the cave onto the vertical rock face of the cliff. As he shimmied along a ledge over to his vehicle, Juré set his eyes and said, “Scout.”
    Mink held his breath as he watched the scout open the machine’s shiny door and climb in. Whenever Juré had entered Mink’s consciousness, he always felt it. Or had he? The Machinist didn’t seem to notice any change, let alone the people staring at him from the top of the cliff. The vehicle roared to life, released the anchors from beside it’s wheels, and rolled down the steep incline in what looked to Mink like controlled falling.
    “I’m in,” Juré confirmed. “All his recent memories and thoughts are coming to me now. They’re very scattered. Just like a lazy Machinist. No concentration. They had used some kind of imagery equipment from space to locate a potential mine here. He was just supposed to confirm the find.”
    “And did he?”
    “Yes. He’s very pleased with himself and thinking of ways to spend his bonus.”
    “What about the large crystal?” Mink asked. “Did he find that?”
    Juré’s shoulders slumped. “Yes. He found and tested it. The magnitude of the energy readings were off the charts. He’s only trying to think of a name for it before reporting it. There is a very good chance it is a Tear of God.”
    Mink laughed aloud at the mention of the ancient Georran myth. The Book of Origin mentioned God shedding a tear for each of her eight children. One was allegedly discovered and used to unite the Elementalists 16,000 years ago under the flag of Octernal, but no trace of its existence had ever been found. There was no way such a thing could be real, and Mink thought the suggestion that it would hold any divinity was preposterous.
    “Juré,” Nyam said in a grave tone. “Slow him down.”
    He nodded and began the Spirit user’s Area of Effect chant,
     
“Deep sleep spreads like a contagion.
All those nearby drop instantly.
Their minds have no idea they sleep.
Nearly comatose in dreamland.
Those sleeping cannot be woken.
Hewl’s essence be the fuel I need.
The wrath of Eternsa take form.
Dream when I say, ‘Hibernation.’”
     
    “Hibernation,” Juré said.
    Mink thought Hibernation was a good choice since it could also effect any Machinists who were hidden from his dad. All three of them watched the vehicle speed down to the base of the cliff wall where it sloped toward the flattened riverbank, not slowing at all. Had the vehicle perhaps blocked the scout from Juré’s view at the moment of implementation? The serious nature of his parents creeped Mink out. Finally, the vehicle reached a copse along the river and halted. Nyam and Juré stared at it in silence, long enough to be sure the scout had finally fallen asleep.
    “Okay. Now what do you want to do?” Juré asked Nyam.
    “We have to confirm the find ourselves. If he’s wrong, let him waste their time. On the other hand… we have to act fast.”
    “Then your work is done,” Mink interjected dismissively. “There are no Tears of God, so let’s move on.”
    “Could what you saw fit in the Cradle of the Citadel?” Nyam prodded.
    “Yeah, I guess so. I haven’t been there since I was eight.”
    “Then we can’t take the risk. We have to evaluate it ourselves.” Juré turned to Nyam. “I’d go with you, but I have to babysit the scout. No telling how long he’ll sleep.”
    “But I need you with me to relay his memories of its location. I can’t run around blind in there.”
    Mink rolled onto his back and stared at the few wispy clouds sneaking by in the outer layers of the atmosphere. This had already been a strange day and he suspected there would be a few surprises yet. At least his parents had busied themselves with something other than him for a change. He envied the clouds. So much better to be a distant passing