Tundra 37 Read Online Free PDF Page B

He’d make sure she survived, even if it meant staying behind himself. The Seers wouldn’t understand. They’d calculate it as an uneven trade. His anger surged, and he gritted his teeth together, focusing his energy on saving them.
    They reached the hole he’d blasted through the floor. Brentwood handed Daryl his miniscreen.
    “Use the screen to see ahead and watch out for a drop in four meters.”
    “Yes, sir.” Daryl took the device and disappeared into the darkness. Brentwood nudged Rizzy down into the hole next, wondering how he’d get Vira through. He much rather hold her, but the narrow shaft prevented it.
    “Hold onto my boots, and I’ll pull you through.”
    “Okay.” The determination in her voice made him proud of her courage.
    The metal ceiling screeched as Vira’s small fingers grabbed his ankles. He plunged into the hole, pulling Vira behind him. Soon the deck would cave under the pressure. He thought of calling on the Seers, but he knew they’d already done what they could. He would have to hustle the kids to the lower decks. Good thing the Seers seemed busy with saving the ship.
    “Let’s go, guys. Be careful, but crawl as fast as you can.”
    Rizzy squeaked in disgust. “There are rats down here.”
    Brentwood tried to console her, “They’re harmless, just remnants of old experiments that managed to escape.”
    She halted in front of him, his head stuck under her feet. Behind him, metal crumbled and a familiar gush of air blew by him as deep space sucked their atmosphere out. He didn’t want her to panic, so he tried a technique he used on his little brother to make him eat his vegetables. Just think of the dessert in the end, little dude.
    “Just think of being down on the safer decks. Being free.”
    “I’d rather think of not being sucked into space,” she called back, half giggling, half crying.
    He laughed. “That’s true too. Whatever works. Just keep going.”
    The route back seemed longer than the climb in. The suction of air increased until Rizzy’s long hair stood out behind her like a cape, and he could feel his own wavy locks blown back so hard, he’d be left bald by the time they cleared the shaft.
    “Vira, hold on tightly.”
    He felt her unlace his boots and tie the strings around her wrists.
    Vira shouted, “What’s wrong with the air?”
    He whipped his head around, swallowed his misgivings and forced himself to wink. “Just a small leak. We’re almost there.”
    When they reached the angle, the shaft widened, and Vira wrapped her arms around his neck. He pulled himself and Vira down behind Daryl and Rizzy. They emerged from the laser hole into the corridor. The bright fluorescent lights reassured him, but his lungs worked harder to breathe the thin air. A steady gust pulled them backward and he clutched the portal panel, pulling them through against the suction.
    “Brace yourselves against the portal frame.”
    Once Rizzy and Daryl cleared the portal, he slammed his fist on the panel behind them and the particles rematerialized, sealing the remaining atmosphere in.
    His ears rang in the silence. He stopped and drew a long breath of relief.
    “What were you guys doing up there so early?”
    Rizzy and Daryl looked away, but Vira whispered in his ear. “They were kissing.”
    “Vira! Shut your mouth.” Rizzy’s neck reddened.
    Vira climbed forward on his shoulders so he could see her face beside him. “It’s true. I caught them sneaking out, and I came to check on them.”
    “It’s not right being paired up like animals,” Daryl spat out, bringing Rizzy close to him. “They never consider love. To hell with the Matchmaker. She can fall into a black hole.”
    “Daryl!” Vira shouted. “He’s a lieutenant. He’ll turn you in.”
    Daryl held onto Rizzy as if the hull puncture could still suck her out. “I don’t care. The ship’s going to hell anyway.”
    Brentwood opened his mouth to lecture the young man on the Expedition ’s manifesto in the