The Forever Journey Read Online Free PDF

that attitude, I shall not make food for you again, my friend.” Nathanial stood up from the table, and took steps away from it, in mock affront. He turned back to Arnaud leaving a lingering gaze on him, watching the Frenchman’s reaction amusedly.
    “I meant no offence, as I am certain you know.” Arnaud stood up, touching Nathanial’s shoulder delicately. “I will say just this, when we are back on terra firma I will show you the culinary skill for which we French are known.” He kissed his fingers. “There are no words to describe the perfection. It would be a disservice to even attempt to.”
    Their laughter was interrupted by the familiar sound of magnetic shoes clicking on the metal grating outside the room.
    “Is there something amusing, boys?” Annabelle asked as she entered.
    “We were just sharing our appreciation of the wonderful food we are subjected to,” Arnaud replied. “It is most delectable, non? ”
    “Quite,” Annabelle said, carrying on their playful manner. “I would not change it for anything in the aether. Earth food on the other hand…” She mimed being sick.
    They all looked at one another, trying not to laugh, but the temptation was too much. When they had managed to stem their laughter, Annabelle excused herself to make some food. Nathanial sat back down at the table, gesturing Arnaud to join him. They carried on with their work, sidling closer together. When Annabelle returned to the table, she gave the two an inquisitive look as they quickly edged away from each other.
    “I do believe this is the first time the three of us have been together since we left Earth,” she said.
    Nathanial and Arnaud looked at each other. “Well I never,” Nathanial responded, shocked. “I am sorry, my dear Annabelle. How are you? I have been so caught up in the lab with Arnaud, I have been unintentionally negligent of you.” Although he had enjoyed spending time with Arnaud, he realised he had not properly seen Annabelle since the night with Folkard in the control deck. Even then, he had not been as good a friend as he should have been. How woefully remiss of him, he thought, shaking his head.
    Annabelle smiled at him. “You have nothing to be sorry for, Nathanial. We have all had our minds on other things. In fact…” She stopped. “Never mind,” she muttered.
    “Come now, Annabelle, whatever is the matter?” Nathanial asked. “Your face is a paler shade of white, something is clearly bothering you. Spit it out.”
    She hesitated a moment longer before finally speaking. “On the topic of things on our minds, did anyone, perchance, hear a girl laughing or crying last night?”
    “A girl? We did not hear anything of the sort. What a most peculiar thing to hear.” Nathanial thought about the last week. “There does seem to be something most odd occurring at the moment, however.”
    “Odd?” Annabelle stole closer to the two men.
    “Both Arnaud and I have been having a series of dreams. Continuous dreams, running consecutively night after night. It is highly uncommon for such a thing, but it is not completely unheard of.”
    Annabelle’s face dropped in shock. “You have had them, too?”
    “Too?” Arnaud responded.
    “Yes,” Annabelle said darkly. “They are horrible, truly.”
    The three looked at each another, unsure of what to say. A dark shadow fell across their faces. Arnaud was the first to speak. “This can be no mere coincidence. Annabelle, if it would not be too impudent of me, may I ask when your dreams started occurring?”
    Nathanial looked up sharply at him. “You believe there to be some correlation?”
    “I am not too sure, but it would appear so. Annabelle?”
    “Let me think, it must have been… Five, yes, five nights ago.”
    “ Mon dieu !” Arnaud exclaimed. “That is exactly when they began for me, and the following night for Nathanial. What could all this mean?”
    Again they were all shocked into silence. They looked at each other, worry etched