The Arctic Code Read Online Free PDF Page B

me.” She wasn’t giving that up to anyone.
    â€œEleanor, this isn’t a choice. Now go get it for me.”
    Eleanor shook her head. “I won’t.” And then she remembered the files and the message her mother had sent. Her mom had entrusted all that to Eleanor, and Eleanor had to keep it safe, even from the G.E.T. Maybe even especially from the G.E.T. No matter what happened, Eleanor knew she wasn’t giving up her Sync until she heard from her mom. She folded her arms. “I won’t give it to them,” she said.
    â€œEleanor, please. Please don’t do this.” Uncle Jack let out a sigh that carried the weight of everything Eleanor had put him through. “Please. You don’t— I can’t— Just bring me the Sync, okay?”
    â€œNo, Uncle Jack, I—”
    â€œPLEASE!” he shouted.
    Eleanor flinched. She’d never heard him raise his voice before. Most other parents would have lost it after the police station, or well before, but not Uncle Jack. The outburst stunned her protests into silence.
    â€œI’m sorry.” He held up both hands. “Eleanor, listen to me carefully. I know this is hard for you. It’s hard for me, too. The world is a hard place, and it keepsgetting harder. It’s not what any of us wanted. But we need to do whatever we can to bring your mom home.”
    Eleanor kept her voice calm. She didn’t want to upset Uncle Jack any further. She didn’t want to be the one who made him yell. He had been so kind to her, and she knew how scared he must be. He was responsible for Eleanor if something happened to her mom.
    â€œI’m sorry, Uncle Jack.” She took hold of both his hands. “But my mom sent me that stuff for a reason. Don’t you think it’s weird that as soon as she sent it, the G.E.T. wants to come and take my Sync?”
    â€œEleanor, sweetie,” Uncle Jack began. “Think about it. It also makes sense that the G.E.T. could use it to find her.”
    â€œIs there anyone else you could call to find out what’s going on? Someone Mom trusts?”
    Uncle Jack wrinkled his lips into a sideways frown. “The research station used to have a satellite phone. Before they started using the Syncs. They may still have it.”
    â€œCould you call it?”
    â€œI can try.”
    Eleanor watched as he scrolled through the contacts on his phone and dialed. She waited as he held the phone to his ear, head bowed.
    â€œGood, it’s ringing,” he said. A moment later, helooked up. Eleanor could hear that someone had answered. “Yes, hello,” he said. “This is Jack Perry, Dr. Perry’s brother. Who is this? . . . Dr. Grant, hi. . . . Yes, that’s why I’m calling. Do you—?”
    This time, Eleanor forced herself to wait until he’d finished the conversation before she asked him any questions.
    â€œI see,” Uncle Jack said. “Yes, that’s what we were told. . . . Uh-huh. Okay, I would really appreciate that. You have my number now. Thanks, Dr. Grant.” He hung up.
    â€œWho was that?” Eleanor asked. “What did he say?”
    â€œThat was an old colleague of your mom’s. I’ve met him—he’s a nice guy. He said the same thing. They’ve lost contact with your mom and they’re searching for her.”
    Eleanor realized she’d let herself hope that the first call was somehow a mistake, but she couldn’t deny anymore that her mom was in serious danger. Nothing could live on the Arctic ice sheet, where temperatures could drop a hundred degrees below zero and colder. That was enough to kill most living things within minutes unless they had serious protection. To think of her mom lost out there overwhelmed Eleanor to the point of tears.
    â€œWe have to do something,” she said.
    â€œWe can, Ell Bell. They need your Sync.”
    Maybe he was right. After all, what was more