Zenn Scarlett

Zenn Scarlett Read Online Free PDF

Book: Zenn Scarlett Read Online Free PDF
Author: Christian Schoon
Tags: Science-Fiction, adventure, Mystery, Young Adult
order to Mars long years ago, fired by visions of new beginnings and fresh converts in the canyons of the recently settled Valles Marinaris. These days, science and the treatment of alien creatures held sway within the thick mud-brick walls ringing the compound, the sandstone remnants of the fallen chapel a reminder of a distant, half-remembered past.
    As Otha continued his tale, Zenn thought of her own novitiate and her serious slip-up this morning. Raised among the many creatures brought to the clinic from the dozen planets of the Local Systems Accord, she’d followed Otha and the Sister on rounds countless times, observed hundreds of procedures on scores of animals. Lately, she’d even been granted the privilege of “getting her hands wet” assisting Otha in surgery on the more straightforward cases. The truth was, she’d started her novice year with more real-world experience than most third-year students. And she’d still managed to foul up the hound’s treatment.
    “… and the expression on your mother’s face – priceless.” Her uncle laughed as they passed out of the shade of the cloister walk. “You can bet she never forgot the difference between a thorn-throw queen and a common drone after that. Mai was every bit as green as you. Greener. And when Warra heard about it – well, let’s just say your father never let her forget it.” He slapped one palm against his thigh at the memory. Then his gaze met Zenn’s, and his mood went somber.
    As they approached the infirmary’s side door, Brother Hamish was just emerging from the big double doors at the front of the building. Several feet taller than Otha, Hamish was a coleopt – a large insectoid from Siren, the hothouse jungle moon circling the gas giant Rho-Cancri B-2, which in turn orbits its red dwarf sun, Rho-Cancri B. The chitin carapace that sheathed his upper body glinted in the morning sun, the light catching veins of iridescent blue-green. Draped across his shoulders, Hamish wore a vest-like garment of brownish-red metal chainmail, with a scattering of pockets. On his head was a yellowish, broad-brimmed hat woven of some grassy material. His homeworld’s star was much fainter than Mars’ sun, and he’d taken to wearing the hat, one of Otha’s cast-offs, to shield his eyes. Two holes cut in the hat’s crown allowed his long, plume-like antennae to poke through.
    Close behind Hamish’s looming form walked Liam Tucker. The towner boy, Zenn was amused to see, was pushing a wheelbarrow piled high with an assortment of exotic manure.
    Just a year older than Zenn, but much taller, with a solid, athletic build, Liam had the sunburned complexion of someone who had recently started spending a lot of time outdoors – and the generally smug manner of a boy who thought pretty highly of himself.
    A new arrival, Hamish was still in his “postulant” trial period as cloister sexton, a sort of all-round attendant and go-fer. Shortly after Hamish took up residence, Liam had initiated an unlikely friendship with him. Unlikely, because, before this, Liam had shown a distinct disinterest in anything to do with the cloister and its inhabitants, human or alien. It was only recently that Liam had taken on the job of regularly picking up the food the Ciscans traded with those in town. And today, it appeared Brother Hamish had cajoled the towner into helping him with one of a sexton’s main chores: mucking out the animal pens.
    Zenn didn’t know Liam well, but he was a towner which, of course, put him in the category of people she was inclined to either ignore or actively dislike. She also knew this was closed-minded and judgmental. But she had her reasons.
    Zenn waved at them, and Hamish energetically waved back. His claw-tipped digits rattled like castanets.
    “Good morning, Novice Zenn,” Hamish said. Or rather, his Transvox-generated voice said. The small, egg-shaped Transvox unit, mounted on the shoulder area of his carapace, instantaneously translated
Read Online Free Pdf

Similar Books

Day Out of Days

Sam Shepard

The Devil's Own Rag Doll

Mitchell Bartoy

The Fugitive

Massimo Carlotto, Anthony Shugaar

Chasing Boys

Karen Tayleur

Yield

Cyndi Goodgame

Fly Away Home

Jennifer Weiner