The Unfinished World (The Armor of God Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

Creux.
    It was lucky that Vivian had lived many years under strict emotional discipline, and the pain was only felt inwardly. An hour had passed, and she knew the time was nearly up.
    Vivian could tell she had done well, maybe even better than expected, and a cursory glance at Director Blanchard confirmed so.
    “One last thing,” he said. “Going back to what you said about the Minotaur. Where is the Creux now?”
    Vivian froze, completely unsure of what to say. In the few seconds that it took her to reply, she had to avoid looking at Director Blanchard, as Heath would immediately infer that there was no answer for his question. Instead, her eyes drifted towards the men and women behind cameras, jotting down their thoughts on notebooks. They had begun to murmur amongst each other, and she could only imagine what was being said.
    In a moment of clarity, Vivian gave the safest answer she could think of, just as everyone in the room could sense her uncertainty: “That is information that wasn’t shared with me.”
    “Oh, I’m sure it doesn’t matter,” he said. “As I understand it’s not the first time a Creux was destroyed—even in the last few months. I’m sure there are disposal protocols, means of repurposing, maybe. I was just curious.”
    Vivian nodded, relieved. “Yes, sir.”
    He looked at her for another moment, and she wondered if her anxiety was as apparent as she feared. She looked at Director Blanchard, but the woman was gone; only General Adams stood in the shadows beyond the door, looking at her.
    “Well, then. Thank you, Private First Class Poole,” said the man, getting up and shaking her hand. He suddenly tightened his grip. “Please give my regards to Sergeant Barnes and Lance Corporal Covington.”
    He smiled, feeling sweat in Vivian’s hand.
    She left the room, ignoring additional questions from the members of the press—questions she was under no obligation to answer.
    Vivian left the people behind, and felt just a little safer when she joined General Adams in the dark of the hall.
    “That was a good answer to his last question, Vivian,” said the General, pulling her by the arm, farther from the microphones and cameras. “Diplomatic, safe, smart, confidently said. But I think it won’t matter at all.”
    “Ma’am?”
    She pointed at the room where the interview had taken place, and saw Heath approach the men and women of Roue, ready to convey his impressions to them. “Heath’s only been playing with us. He knows everything, and I’m afraid someone in Zenith might be involved with him.”
     
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    The light into which they climbed led to another land.
    Besoe Nandi was the first to step out of the darkness, and witnessed a surreal kind of beauty. Almost immediately to their right he saw another oasis, by far the biggest one they had come upon yet. The enormous patch of green stretched far beyond what the Minotaur’s eye could see, hidden behind tall trees. The grass even climbed up the mountain range, and was lost under a layer of sparkling snow.
    The taint of the Laani respected this capsule even as far as the sky—there was a hole in the thick mantle of grey clouds, and the colors beyond were more beautiful than anything the domes of Roue could paint.
    He wanted to stand and admire the sight for hours, but the heavy stomps of Quantum Ares rushing to the oasis urged him to follow, and Jena did the same.
    Ezra watched as Quantum Ares placed Erin’s Creux flat on its back. “Erin, can you hear me?” he said.
    “I’m here, Garros. I just feel dizzy,” she said. “I’m coming out.”
    “Yes, go. We’re safe,” said Garros, and as they always did, sat down on the ground, barely finding enough space to accomodate his Creux, and desynchronized.
    Ezra did the same, placing Nandi a little farther away, closer to the mountain. Kat had programmed the Minotaur’s operating system to open the Creux’s Apse whenever Ezra desynchronized; it had been deemed the least risky