The Island on the Edge of Forever (The Epic of Aravinda Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

legs.
    “You know, you didn’t have to change your clothes,” he said. “Your sleeping clothes look like they’d be perfect for a warm day like today.”
    “I think you just like me in those pajamas.” Asha squinted at him playfully.
    “Maybe. Or maybe I’m tempted to hide little bugs in those pockets.” Zahn winked.
    “I don’t mind. Actually, I’m trying to get used to them.”
    Zahn thought about the first time he’d met her, thousands of light years away in an underground hall filled with shadows and uncertainty. The beachside path was the natural opposite to such a place. Blue light bathed them from above, and they could hear the waves crash onto the sandy beach nearby.
    “Well, we’re going to do some climbing, so that outfit is probably better, anyway.”
    “My dad likes this design, and it was one of the only things to wear that was clean. I don’t have that many clothes with me. I never planned to leave the outpost so quickly, remember? But you can thank you-know-who for that.” Asha’s gaze drifted up to the azure canopy.
    “Those marauders won’t be around much longer if I have anything to say about it. Come on,” Zahn waved for her to follow him, “we’re almost there.”
    As they walked the beachside path that weaved in and out of the forest, Asha wondered when Zahn would bring up the question. He had been right; it was a big question, and she was glad he’d given her time to think it over.
    The path led to the edge of the forest, giving them a prime view of the silvery beach and the pristine ocean beyond.
    “This part weaves around a bit, but I think you’ll be surprised where it leads.”
    Zahn walked faster, and as she followed him her senses were filled with the many sounds, sights, and smells of the forest. As they passed another scenic view of the ocean through the leaves, Asha heard murmuring birds sing faint love songs to each other.
    So different from the outpost. I used to think the outpost could be an overload to the senses, but this place makes the outpost seem barren by comparison. It would be an incredible place to live.
    “Almost there,” he said and climbed up onto a large boulder to one side of the path.
    “We’re not climbing that, are we? Zahn, I like this tour, but I’m still pretty full from breakfast.”
    “Have a little fun with it. Anyway, we have to break the rules to get where we’re going.”
    He disappeared behind the boulder.
    “Isn’t there a way around?” she said. “Remember last time I tried to climb something on an alien world? It didn’t go so well.”
    “What?” he called back. “I didn’t hear you. Hurry up! You’re going to miss it.” There was a hint of excitement in his voice, which piqued her curiosity. What could he be up to?
    “Just remember,” Asha said as she grappled with the side of the large brown boulder. “I’m a healer.” She struggled to find her footing. “Not a climber.”
    “Oh, come on. You’d think after all we’ve been through, this should be easy. You’re not afraid of staining that fancy white jumpsuit, are you?”
    “Shush,” she said as she reached the top. “I’m sure my dad could—” But Asha grew silent when she saw what was ahead.
    Just beyond the boulder was a spectacular sight. Ahead and flowing to her left, a pristinely clear stream etched into the landscape, carving into the silvery beach and emptying out into the ocean farther down. The water was so clear that she could see all the way down to the small pebbles at the bottom. When her eyes followed the stream back up, she was stunned to see an almost perfectly smooth wall of water, wide enough so that a scout ship might even fit inside.
    Asha jumped down from the boulder to where Zahn was standing beside the stream. His eyes were still fixed on his wristcomm, a loop of silvery metal that served as a profound multi-functional tool, providing illumination, temperature readings, communication, language translation, and more.
    “About