SWAB (A Young Adult Dystopian Novel) Read Online Free PDF

could find him. You could fly and fly and nothing could stop you.
    “Ray!” I screamed.
    Only the wind answered.
    For a moment, I was tempted to run down the opposite mountainside and search every blasted inch of land until I found him, but as my blood and breathing slowed, my reason returned. There was no way I could find him, not by myself—maybe not ever. But I couldn’t think about that. I have to find him . I searched the rocks below but saw no sign of him. Maybe they were taking Ray to the colony that lay in the mountains to the east, the same colony Officer Reynolds and the others were planning to go after.
    My mind started circling. I had the parts for the fire trucks now. They were back at the rock overhang Ray and I had slept under last night. I could bring them back to the island, tell everyone what happened—
    My feet were moving again, leaping in bounds like a gazelle at times and half sliding back down the steep slopes at others. Both backpacks were still under the overhang, and I hefted them onto my shoulders. Carrying both was heavier than I expected, and my steps were slow and awkward. Frantic images of Ray flashed in my mind, the scarb girl snapping his neck as a display of bravery before her queen or dropping him from a thousand feet in the air. Surely that’s why she took him . These flying scarb must have a taste for more violent deaths. Maybe she likes torture.
    The sun was leaning toward the west when I plopped the packs down into the row boat and paddled furiously toward the island. Ray needs me. Every second was precious. I prayed that he wasn’t already dead.
    When I got to the island’s shore, Mrs. Weatherstone sat crouched alongside the cool lake, filling several large glass jugs.
    “Mrs. Weatherstone!” I exclaimed. Her soft gray hair and hazel eyes reminded me of a slightly older version of my mother. She looked at me, my face dripping with sweat, and my hair matted to my head and face.
    “Catherine!” she exclaimed, nearly dropping her jug. “Where have you been? Everyone’s been so worried!”She looked over the boat. “Where’s Ray? Didn’t he go with you?”
    Hot tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. “He did,” I spoke quickly, hoping to keep the fear and pain inside. If I lost it now, I might not have the strength to do what I needed to get him back. I lifted one of the heavy packs. “Please,” I begged her, “can you help me?”
    She set her jug down and waded knee-deep into the water, soaking her jeans, and helped me lift the heavy pack.
    “Goodness! What’s in this?” she huffed as she stepped back up onto the grassy bank. Then, she paused and turned back to me as I was tying the up boat. There was a look of understanding on the gentle features of her face. “Wait, is this? Oh, Catherine, please tell me you didn’t.”
    “I did,” I said seriously. Any pride I might have felt at this moment was lost now. “Help me get them to town.”
    “We can use my wheelbarrow,” she answered, and I noticed the wheelbarrow she’d set to the side of the path to help her carry the water jugs back.
    “Thanks.” I set the pack down, grateful not to have the weight on my shoulders. She wordlessly picked up the handles of the wheelbarrow and pushed the packs to town.
    When we got to the Post, I saw Officer May talking with a young soldier outside but they fell silent at the sight of Mrs. Weatherstone and me emerging from the forest with the wheelbarrow.
    “Carla, what on earth—” Officer May asked Mrs. Weatherstone, but I cut him off.
    “Get everyone together,” I demanded. “Ray’s gone, and we have to get him.”
    Officer May’s frowned his silver eyebrows, making his already lined face even more crinkled. “Gone? What do you mean gone? Is he—”
    “Dead?” I finished the sentence for him and wiped at the sweat on my brow. “No.”I shuddered. “Not yet, I hope.”
    “You’re trembling.” Mrs. Weatherstone put a soft hand on my shoulder. “Tell us