Patriots & Tyrants (Rebels & Lies Trilogy Book 2) Read Online Free PDF

Krys
just stood over the grass and tried to catch her breath. Her lips trembled and
her breath was short. Kaspar reached down and began to rub at her back again.
She let out a slight wince when he rubbed at the sports bra over her back.
Through the back of the cloth, he could see the spot looked wet, and the bra
stuck on that spot a little bit. When he lifted the black cloth, it revealed
another lesion, just like the one on her neck.
    “We should go back and
rest, now.” Kaspar said. “I’ll help you back to camp.”
    “Okay,” Krys replied,
finally giving up.
    She stood and put her
arm around Kaspar’s neck as he led them back. The walk was slow and, at times,
Kaspar felt like he was dragging her. Her breathing consisted of short wheezes
here and there. At one point, Kaspar thought that she passed out on him. The
hike back to the camp soon became one of the lowest moments of his entire life.
He knew the score back when the two of them escaped together. There was always
a glimmer of hope that she would be okay, though. That hope was just another
cruel way for Kaspar to lie to himself. He wanted to enjoy every moment that he
had left with her. Mother was already taken for granted and Kaspar didn’t want
to make the same mistake with Krys. The past few months flew by so quick they felt
like just a few days. She was nearing the end and he was not ready to see her
go.
    No, she’s not going
to die. Not on my watch.
    ***
    Kaspar moved through
the large chow tent at a frantic pace. He ignored the others who were passing
off jokes while playing a few hands of Texas Hold ‘Em. They looked up from the
game at him while he hustled and ignored their gazes. He poured water from the
large tank into a camouflaged canteen and two military rations for food. Harvey
noticed his team member’s desperation and got up from his seat to help him. The
steam from his hot cup of coffee brushed against his face as he moved. He took
a slow sip and placed it down by his foot on the grass.
    “What’s up?” Harvey
asked.
    Kaspar kept his focus
on gathering supplies. “Krys just had another episode.”
    “They’re getting
worse, aren’t they?”
    “I didn’t say that.”
    “You need any help?”
Harvey wondered. He could tell from Kaspar’s pace that the episode she just
experienced was worse. He decided not to press it.
    “Yeah, if you could
grab some meds, that would be great.”
    Harvey nodded his
head, bent down for his coffee, then walked over to the tent next door that had
various stolen medical supplies. Kaspar placed the rations against his belt,
and then grabbed an orange, placing it in the back pocket of his sweatpants. He
turned to see Harvey bring in a small red bag. Harvey handed it over.
    “You guys rest up, we
might have a beat on another one.”
    “I’ll take care of
her. We’ll be ready.” Kaspar replied.
    “Just make sure she’s
comfortable.” Harvey said.
    Kaspar slid the bag
over his shoulders. “I will. We’re going to find that cure.”
    “I know.” Harvey
replied, his response monotone, not giving away his true feelings about the
likelihood of that scenario.
    Kaspar could sense his
disbelief with the emotionless response, but didn’t want to say anything to
cause a ruckus. That was one thing that Krys had taught him. She instilled in
him a new attitude of letting things go. There was something odd about Krys. He
couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but not even Mother could make Kaspar want
to be a better man. When he was with Krys, however, he wanted to be the best
person on the face of the planet for her. The first time that he started to
feel this phenomena was an experience that overwhelmed him.
    With his upper body
bent down, Kaspar entered the small tent. She was lying there on the bed, a
white bucket beside her down on the grass. Kaspar walked over to her and handed
her a ration. She propped her head up using her pillow and began to slowly eat
the plain tasting bar. While she ate, Kaspar got