Pressure Read Online Free PDF Page B

Jessamine’s drinks in front of them, and then carried a tray over to the news crew’s table.
    â€œSo where are you off to next, then?” Carrie asked.
    â€œAustralia. They’re dealing with an influx of jihadists. We’re going to cover that.”
    â€œAustralia’s beautiful.”
    â€œIt is,” Jessamine agreed. “I’m from there, originally.”
    â€œYou don’t have an accent.”
    â€œDual citizenship,” Jessamine explained. “My parents moved to the States when I was young, but we also maintained a residence in Australia. I grew up in America, but I’m Australian at heart.”
    Carrie stuck out her hand again. “Well, good luck to you.”
    â€œThanks.” Jessamine shook her hand. “You, too. I hope you find what you’re looking for. What will you do, now that your expedition has been sidelined?”
    â€œOh,” Carrie said, her tone vague, “I’ll just have to wait and see.”
    *   *   *
    Carrie waited until the news crew had left the bar, which gave her time for three more rounds. Then she paid the bartender, tipping him generously and thanking him for his time. He told her to come back again, and she assured him that she’d try. When she stepped back outside into the sunlight and the heat, her vision momentarily blurred and she felt dizzy.
    I should have eaten something, she thought. Jesus Christ, all I’ve had was hospital food for the last three days.
    When the dizziness had passed, she glanced around to make sure no more reporters were following her. Then she pulled out her cell phone and called Abhi.
    Serving as the research team’s jack of all trades—pilot, instrument manager, repair man, boatswain’s mate, laborer, and sometimes authority figure to the younger crew members—Abhi was one of Carrie’s favorite people onboard the Novak. In the short time they’d known each other, the two had become fast friends. While he certainly wasn’t a father figure, Carrie supposed her fondness for the older man was akin to that of a favorite uncle. She couldn’t explain it, but the two of them had immediately clicked upon their first meeting, and had since become thick as thieves.
    He also, unbeknownst to their superiors at Alpinus Biofutures, ran an impressive makeshift still in the ship’s boiler room, and freely shared the fruits of that still with discerning crew members who promised not to hold him responsible for any ill effects they might suffer from drinking what he termed his “special bulkhead cleaner.”
    Abhi answered on the second ring, sounding breathless and out of sorts.
    â€œHey, Jailbreak, I figured you’d be calling at some point. Need a ride back to Port Louis?”
    â€œNo, that’s okay. I can grab a cab.”
    â€œAre you sure? I can get a car, no problem. A cab is going to be expensive.”
    â€œI might as well spend it while I’ve got it.”
    â€œOh, so I take it you’ve heard?”
    â€œThat we’re shut down? Yes, I just found out. From a reporter, which was lovely. It’s such bullshit.”
    â€œAye,” Abhi agreed, “it is. But what can we do? We aren’t the ones making the decisions, Carrie. It’s above our pay grade.”
    â€œExcept we’re no longer getting paid.”
    â€œWell, there is that, but as I said, what can we do? Not much, other than look for another job.”
    â€œI’ll tell you exactly what we’re going to do,” Carrie replied. “We’re going to do our own survey. And I don’t want the press finding out about it, either. I’m betting most of them will be clearing out soon.”
    Abhi protested, but Carrie pushed ahead, insisting on his help. She then asked him to get a pen and paper, and gave him a list of equipment that they’d need—all analog gear, nothing electronic. When she was finished, there was