Treasure of Light (The Light Trilogy) Read Online Free PDF Page B

Jeremiel’s conversation with Tahn. The Councilman’s henchmen had died to the last man to provide covering fire while Ornias escaped through the honeycomb of secret passageways that laced the rock beneath the palace. My fault. I should have shot him the instant I got my hands on a pistol.
    Baruch braced his feet, watching the shuttle. Around him, charred and broken buildings loomed blackly. People raced through the smoky war-torn streets, clubs or rifles clutched to their bosoms. Somewhere, a baby wailed. In the distance, flashes of fire from the continuing war splashed the desert.
    He took a deep breath as he studied the way the ship banked, circling the spaceport. “Blessed Epagael,” he prayed softly. “Just one more time. Let this work and I swear I’ll become a Believer again.” Operation Abba was an untried plan—an insane plan meant only for times as desperate as he now faced.
    Around his shoulders, he felt ghostly ancestors crowd. People who’d fought arrogant conquerors all their lives. People who’d been crushed beneath the wheels of fate and refused to stay down. Their confident voices whispered encouragements to him, eerily real in the still winds of dusk.
    “Harper?” he called to the tall black guard standing behind him. Harper stepped forward, leveling his rifle at Jeremiel’s stomach. Baruch looked at it and threw him a weary smile. “Sure you don’t want to change your mind?”
    Harper shook his head faintly, glancing up at the shuttle. “Too late for that. Janowitz? Uriah?” he called to the other guards. “Get ready.”
    The shuttle landed in a burst of dirt and hot wind. Jeremiel ducked his head. Three Magisterial guards in purple and gray uniforms flooded down the shuttle’s gangplank and ran toward him. Another man, redheaded and short, stayed by the shuttle entry, his rifle clutched tightly as he studied the mayhem that filled the streets of Horeb. People still ran screaming, trying to get into ships before the Magisterial attack.
    “That’s him,” the tall dark-haired lieutenant said as he pointed at Jeremiel. “Put him in the shuttle. And hurry. We’ve only got a few minutes before this entire planet goes up in flames.”
    The blond corporal grinned maliciously. “Come on, Baruch. We’ve got a nice cold lab chair waiting for you.”
    “Yeah,” the lieutenant chuckled. “And the probe helmet’s included for free.”
    All three soldiers laughed uproariously. The two corporals grabbed Jeremiel by the arms and brutally searched him, then forced him toward the ship. Harper, Uriah, and Janowitz brought up the rear.
    Jeremiel stepped into the narrow crew compartment lined with padded blue benches. He could see the entire length of the white fuselage. Four round portals dotted the hull. He went to the far side and waited pensively. When Harper and his team tried to follow, one of the Magisterial soldiers threw out an arm to block their entry.
    “Where the hell do you think you’re going?” the sergeant asked Harper.
    “With you, mister!” Harper declared defensively. “My orders are not to release Baruch to anyone but Captain Tahn!”
    “You don’t trust us with a five billion note prize, eh?”
    “No.”
    Jeremiel glanced from one man to the next. The tall dark-haired lieutenant exhaled hard and scrutinized Harper. “I’m Lieutenant Simons. Who the hell are you? My orders are to take Baruch alone.”
    Harper’s mahogany face went stony. “I’m Councilman Ornias’ agent, Lieutenant. My name’s Harper. The Councilman ordered us to go along to insure his investment.” Harper subtly regripped his rifle. “If we don’t go, Lieutenant, neither does Baruch.”
    “Oh, for God’s sake! Just a minute,” Simons huffed, throwing up his hands. “Let me tran the Hoyer and get Tahn’s okay. We don’t have time to argue.”
    Jeremiel gritted his teeth, watching Simons and his red-haired copilot head for the command cabin. The other two members of the Magisterial