Rain of Tears Read Online Free PDF Page A

the machine?”
    She shrugged. “How long will it take until they get the power grid set up? If they work on that, I will work on the other.”
    The machine was ready to go. She just wanted to make one alteration that would make sure it couldn’t be used outside its purview in the future. Reyan had to have a talk with it.
    As the skimmer set down with the weather machine in the distance, the male asked Unrik, “Specialist, is this where it goes?”
    Reyan gave him an imperceptible nod.
    The current mayor of Nekahar nodded. “Yes, mark this position and get out of the way.”
    The female grinned. “You should have asked the Rain, Tombo.”
    The male blinked and then looked to Reyan in surprise. “You are the Rain?”
    “I am. Expecting someone older?”
    He blushed and nodded.
    “Don’t worry. It happens a lot.” She gave him a polite smile. She hadn’t pulled her hood up this morning, so her pale hair was gleaming in the dim light.
    The skimmer dropped a beacon, and the female flew them away from the drop zone.
    They all looked skyward as the collapsed form of the dome appeared.
    The moment the four shuttles came down together, Reyan held her breath. It was now or never to have her dream become reality. The folded segments would unfurl slowly until they connected and the small doors around the exterior would allow them inside the moment it was closed. The hinge point was supporting the centre of the dome while the rest telescoped out.
    As the shuttles lined up and lowered the starting point on the beacon, Reyan gripped Unrik’s hand as tight as she could while the first segments began to unfold.
    She held her breath as the dome of Nekahar slowly went from theory to reality.
    Her body clenched as the segments passed the halfway point, and they lifted the dome by the locked pieces as the weight bore down into the dirt. Grapples shot out, and it seemed that the Citadel had matters in hand. It didn’t make Reyan any less nervous.
    The final piece slid into place with a click, and the shuttles moved together to set the dome on the ground. “It’s down. Head for the entrance.”
    The female piloting moved the skimmer and dropped them next to the reinforced gateway in the dome. Reyan palmed the door, and she stepped inside to open the cargo door with the inner controls. She waved the skimmer in and gave her next order. “To the weather unit.”
    The skimmer took off before she was sitting, and she was thrown onto Unrik. “Pardon me.”
    He caught her and held her against him until the pilot slowed the skimmer down. “Not a problem.”
    She looked up into his features, and he was amused.
    “You are very bossy, Rain.”
    “I have had a long time to practice, and in women of any age, it is called being assertive.”
    “I stand corrected.”
    “You are sitting.”
    “Semantics.”
    She grinned. It had been a long time since she was able to banter with someone. When you lived as long as she did, you either gave up on relationships or you went mad with grief. She had tried both, and now, she kept most of her contact with people on a business basis.
    “The bodysuit looks much better than the tattered remains of your clothing.” She tried to switch the conversation to something less pressing than his hand around her waist and why she wasn’t getting off his lap.
    “Thank you. They are designed for operatives who need protection from the elements.”
    Reyan laughed. “My sister is elsewhere, you are safe.”
    He smiled. “I mean standard weather patterns and soil conditions.”
    They halted before she could hit him with lightning.
     
    It took six days to bring in soil from other continents, mulch and set up the homesteads with kits brought in by shuttle. Inside the city, there were weatherproofing squads who were installing windshields and solar units under the supervision of Citadel staff.
    The city was preparing to be buffeted by natural weather patterns, and those who wished to stay were given all the help