Elysium Read Online Free PDF Page B

shook the glass walls. The scene was breathtaking. What was unclear, though, was what the horses were doing here. For that matter, what she was doing here? This was hardly her idea of fun. And why were so many women at this sporting event? She counted them, mentally sizing them up. How many were in need of cheer like her? How many were here to forget? Helen meant well, Adrianne thought as she watched the show, but she wanted to leave.
    If Antoinette were here, they would have sneaked out together by now. They would have ended up at some café, drinking chai lattes, laughing while they thought up excuses for why they had left. That was the way she was. Antoinette would never have stayed somewhere she didn’t want to be. She always said that Adrianne was too soft and should assert herself more. Tears rolled down Adrianne’s cheeks before she could wipe them away.
    Men in orange jumpsuits drove onto the field in golf carts, rounding the horses back into the doors from where they came. Helen returned with a large tub of popcorn and maneuvered inelegantly through seats partially filled with other spectators. She plopped herself down next to Adrianne, shoving the tub into Adrianne’s arms. Adrianne returned it with a wave that said she didn’t want any.
    “I didn’t let them put too much butter on it,” Helen said and munched happily on a couple of kernels.
    “No thanks,” Adrianne said.
    A display of women dressed in white, taking their seats in a skybox, came onto the giant screens. Adrianne could almost make out their tiny white shapes, moving in the distance.
    “Who are they?” Adrianne asked.
    “Them?” Helen said. “They help officiate. You’ll see.”
    All four jumbo screens now showed the oversized face of a smiling, squinty-eyed man with a lipless grin. He waved energetically to a barely acknowledging crowd.
    “His majesty the mayor has gotten off his high horse and is here today,” Helen said, “God, I can’t stand that guy. He’ll never get my vote again.”
    “Helen,” Adrianne said, “I think I want to go home.”
    “What? We just got here,” Helen said, dipping into the popcorn.
    “Yeah, but …”
    “Hey, they’re about to start.”
    A side door opened and a sizable elk trotted onto the field of artificial green. Its tall head of antlers spread wide and pointed in all directions. It pranced about, clearly stunned. Adrianne had a nasty, sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. It soured still more when another door opened. Something from the darkness growled angrily, then snarled. All went quiet. The elk stood stock-still. A large cat sprang out, maybe a mountain lion. It eyed the elk and ducked low, slowed its motion to small graceful steps. Adrianne wanted to yell to the elk to run. Instead she remained frozen in her seat. Her mouth went dry and her heart pounded. With incredible speed and to the cheers of the enthusiastic crowd, the cat pounced. The elk galloped, but the lion was too quick. It pulled down the elk with its mighty paws. The audience jumped to its feet and applauded wildly.
    Adrianne screamed.
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    Adrianne’s brown skin contrasted with the white linen of her chemise and the matching veil draped about her head that tied snugly under her chin. She had a perfect view of the stadium from the luxury box. Two large flat-screened televisions displayed up-close images