Unison (The Spheral) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Mountain. The western side of the valley was a popular camping spot for Unitians and was the last preserve that wasn’t destroyed by the Great Cataclysm. I tried to study the surrounding landscape when Wade grabbed me by my arms and turned me to face him.
    “I’m here!” Wade yelled. “Right in front of you!”
    “I know. Why are you yelling?”
    “Think you took your own scenario a little too seriously. You kept looking down at the water, screaming out my name.” Wade smiled and crossed his arms. “Never really knew you cared so much about my well being.”
    “I had another one of my visions.” I pushed Wade out of my way and ran to the helm.
    “Must’ve been a frightening one. You looked more terrified than after you heard a dog howl for the first time.”
    “That’s because it was just outside our tent.”
    “The implants can cause both visual and aural hallucinations after a stun.”
    “I’ll run a diagnostic when we get...slock.”
    A Unity Coast Patrol vessel was on the approach, and I dropped anchor. Since we passed the beacons, we had to wait to be escorted back to port.
    “Astonishing,” Wade said. “They never move that fast inside the dome.”
    “I hope all the trouble we’re about to get into will be worth it.”
    “It will.” Wade walked over to me. “What was your vision about?”

    Several Unitians stood by the pier to watch us as we stepped off the boat. Wade made a show of it and waved to everyone.
    “Loosen your sleeves, and forget about your vision. I already did,” he said with a beaming smile.
    Had this happened the previous year, I would’ve been first off the boat, getting intoxicated off the shocked expressions and fingers pointed our way. Today, I feared dying of the scourge, or at the very least, losing my offers of assignment because of Wade’s obsession over Nasia.
    He leaned towards me and whispered, “Don’t say a word. I’ll handle this.”
    Border guards escorted us to the marina base station for in-processing. We returned our plazers and met with two Unity Guards who questioned us over our passing the beacons. Wade gained authority over the situation minutes after the questioning began. The two guards were completely absorbed with Wade’s dramatic telling of our deep-sea adventure.
    “This last year at University wore me down,” Wade said. “A vacation seemed the ideal way to escape the drudgery of my routine, but all my fears and insecurities followed me out to sea. It was as though a massive bomb detonated inside my head. I wanted everything to stop.”
    Wade seemed on the verge of tears, and one of the guards helped him to a chair.
    “After eight bottles of berry ale, my inhibitions were all gone.” Wade’s eyes narrowed, and he spoke almost in a whisper. “I climbed over the rail and was ready to surrender myself to the calm, inviting waters beneath me, but Damon remained by my side. He talked to me until my senses returned. Had he left me alone to check if we passed the beacons, I wouldn’t be here answering your questions.” Wade pointed his finger at me. “That man is a hero. He should be rewarded, not treated like a criminal.”
    The guards nodded in agreement, and it took great effort to keep myself from laughing. They believed Wade’s story, and after three days in isolation we showed no signs of the scourge and were released.
    For most of our walk home, Wade remained quiet until we first caught sight of the dome. He stopped and gazed solemnly ahead.
    “Did you find your answer?” I asked.
    “We passed the beacons and didn’t catch the scourge.”
    “We were lucky.”
    “Or we’re being lied to. I have to know what Nasia really saw.”
    “A pile of rocks. She admitted it.”
    “If I see them for myself, I’ll believe it.”
    “What if Master Tyrus’s request for an expedition is denied?”
    “I’ll cross the old tunnel alone.” Wade faced me. “One way or another, I’m going to find out the truth.”
    During our trek back,