Before they’d left, he’d kitted Annie out in a protective vest which was too big for her, and an oversized helmet which sat in her lap. He’d make sure she kept it on the whole time they were in the Badlands. With the gear they wore, they’d blend in as State militia and everyone would leave them alone. He hoped.
Heath glanced through the slit in the back of the Cobra. Other than a small detour around a pile of burnt-out vehicles which had blocked one road, he’d seen nothing but cloudy sky, and the occasional flash of a State-controlled auto-taxi. They were making good time.
“Do you see anything of Suki?” asked Annie.
Heath’s eyebrows shot upward. “I haven’t seen her in ages.”
“The two of you were well suited.” Annie gave him a small smile. “I half expected to find her in the bunker with you when I visited.”
“Things didn’t work out.” Heath shrugged. In truth, Suki had been too high-maintenance and had hated his weekend disappearing acts when he’d found a site to investigate. She’d wanted to shop and go for meals. That was not Heath’s idea of a perfect date. More like a nightmare. She’d been cute. He’d taken her out a few times, but nothing had developed.
“She always had a thing for guys in uniform,” said Annie.
“I only served two years,” said Heath, glancing down at his faded combat gear. “I prefer dragon hunting to my life in the SAS.”
“I bet you kept the uniform, though.” Annie grinned at him.
Heath returned her grin. “I specialized in Arctic-environment survival. Not sure a white, thermal bodysuit and face mask is all that attractive to women.” Just like his brothers, Heath had joined the forces, following in his parents’ footsteps. Both had held distinguished military careers and had encouraged their sons to do the same. Heath had enjoyed his time as an elite soldier, becoming an expert in mountain climbing and arctic warfare, developing skills to survive in extreme conditions. He found those skills valuable when hunting in the more obscure dragon sites.
But he’d always been pulled toward cryptozoology. And after years of resisting, had gotten his doctorate, abandoned his military career, and expanded his skills, focusing on the study of dragons.
Annie’s grin faded. “I lost touch with Suki. She was in the former colony of Australia when the State took over. I haven’t been able to reach her since. She had plans to come back here, but I don’t know if she managed it. That’s why I wondered if she might be with you. I knew you’d look after her, if she needed help.”
“If she got back in, there’d be a record of her re-entry in border patrol,” said Heath. “I can ask Kade to hack the records, if you want to know where she is.”
“No, it’s not worth the risk. I’m just curious about what she’s doing. We used to be close.” Annie chewed on her bottom lip. “Do you think State influence has gone as far as Australia?”
“It’s everywhere,” said Heath. “They might have started here, but the information we’ve gathered suggests the whole planet was taken over. Everywhere you go, you’ll find their influence.”
“Which isn’t a good thing?”
Heath heard the doubt in Annie’s voice. “You think the control they have is good?”
“There’s virtually no crime,” said Annie. “And food supplies are plentiful. Not to mention the fact that they’re making progress with eliminating all disease.”
“There’s no reported crime,” said Heath. “The State doesn’t record the things they do to citizens who don’t follow the rules. And as for the food, it’s available if you can pay for it, or work in a State-authorized business and earn it. What about the people who can’t do that?”
“I... well, there are reports poverty and crime are down,” said Annie. “And the State provides for people unable to help themselves.”
“And where do these reports come from?”
“I know what you’re inferring. They’re State sanctioned, so clearly they are biased.” Annie shot Heath an irritated look. “But they can’t be complete lies.”
“They can and they are.” Heath let out a breath. He didn’t want to start another argument with Annie.
Lincoln tapped on the sliding panel that partitioned the driver from the passengers. “Saddle up. We’re entering the Badlands.”
Heath felt Annie’s hand brush his and turned to see her cheeks had paled. “Stick with me and it will be okay.”
Annie nodded. “About the State... I know you think there’s something weird going on—”
“There is. And they’ve made everyone else think it’s fine for them to take over. But it isn’t. That’s why we’re doing this.”
“Hunting for dragons?”
“Yes. Just like your father.” Heath raised his hand to stop Annie arguing with him. “And before you tell me again that he’s crazy, don’t, or you’ll have to put me in that category as well. I won’t stop hunting until they’re back.”
Annie shook her head. “Everything you’re telling me goes against what I understand to be true.”
“You’ll get there. Hang around with me for long enough and I’ll get you to believe.” The vehicle slowed. Heath felt that sudden rush of energy and focus that came whenever he started a mission.
“Not sure that’s such a good thing.” Annie nudged Heath with her hip as they both stood.
“It’s a terrible thing, but you’ll get used to it.” Heath took the helmet from Annie and secured it under her chin. He inched open the back of the vehicle and checked the coast was clear before sliding the door open and jumping out. Heath turned to offer his hand to Annie, but she’d already jumped down and was studying the landscape, like a surveyor investigating a potential development site, looking for the positives and negatives.
He watched her eyes widen as she took in the bare, desolate landscape that was the start of the Badlands, shrouded in shadows that fought against the creeping daylight. She wouldn’t be used to seeing anything like this, even though she’d trekked into less hospitable areas on field trips. University-funded projects got their credit from the State; and that meant you saw what the State wanted and nothing else. The wastelands they’d created were not for public inspection, in case awkward questions were asked.
He brushed a hand down her arm and she gave him a tight smile. There was so much Heath wanted to show Annie. But it was not without risk. And he wasn’t prepared to risk her for anything.
GRIT COATED THE BACK of Annie’s throat as she studied their surroundings. She’d heard about the Badlands and even seen a few long-range photographs of the area. It had once been a prosperous part of the country, rich in ancient, historical sites that drew tourists by the millions. But from what she was seeing so far, it looked as if all of that had been blasted flat, leaving nothing more than gray and brown splodges of desolation.
“This is due to environmental change?”
“No. The State militia bombed the area,” said Heath.
Annie blinked and her mouth opened, but nothing came out.
“Take your time.” Heath’s voice was soft.
“I know they attacked the area when the uprising happened.” Annie spun in a slow circle. “But I didn’t realize they’d wiped out everything.”
“And this is just the start.”
She took in a deep breath and turned to Heath, her thoughts a surprised tangle. She needed to focus on her dad, all the other questions could wait. “You really think I’ll need this?” She tapped her knuckles on the too-big helmet that slid over her eyes.
“It makes you look legitimate,” said Heath. “State militia don’t go around missing kit. They know what will happen if they do. If anyone sees us together, they’ll assume we’re part of a small militia band on a reconnaissance mission. They won’t question us. Keep your head down and don’t draw attention to yourself. People will get out of our way when they see us coming. They know what happens if they don’t.”
Lincoln and Arlo walked around the side of the vehicle. Both carried pulse laser guns and
wore their own black vests and helmets.
“We go on foot from here,” said Lincoln. “I’ll switch the ultra-camo on. No one will find the Cobra while we’re gone.”
“It’s only half a mile,” said Heath. “We’ll pick up the vehicle on our way back. Keep a lookout for State militia in the area. There won’t be many, but it’s a good hunting ground for fugitives.”
“It would be just our luck, if they came in today and found us,” said Arlo. “Or if any creepy crawlies try to play with us.”
“Creepy crawlies?” asked Annie.
Heath pointed to his right. “Those.”
Annie’s eyes widened as she stared at what looked like giant, six-foot spiders scuttling away from them. She blinked and swallowed. “What are they?”
“They’ll stay out of our way,” said Heath. “You might see a few in the Badlands. The State loves to use creatures like this to keep people in line.”
“And if they try to play with us, we’ll tickle them with a pulse laser.” Arlo winked at her.
A dozen questions ran through Annie’s head as she stared as the creatures. Why would the State create things like this?
“We know the sites we need to hit,” said Heath. “We’ll do them in order and split into two groups to speed things up. I’ll go with Annie.”
Annie pulled her attention away from the spiders and noticed Lincoln and Arlo grin at each other over Heath’s protectiveness.
“That doesn’t mean you get to cause any trouble, though,” said Heath, his gaze hardening as he watched his brothers.
“As if we would,” said Arlo.
“Give me updates every fifteen minutes as to your location and what you’ve discovered,” said Heath.
“Yes, boss.” Arlo shot Heath a mock salute before he turned away with Lincoln. They marched toward the brown rubble of the Badlands.
“Are you their boss?” asked Annie.
“Only when Danielle isn’t around to kick their butts,” said Heath. “She’s the one in charge. I’ll introduce you when we return. She knows how to keep us in line. If it weren’t for her, the whole place would have fallen apart long ago.”
“Sounds like my kind of woman,” said Annie.
“She’s little but lethal,” said Heath. “Now, let’s focus on getting your father back.”
They walked in silence for a few moments, Annie watching curiously at how focused Heath was on scouting the surroundings and checking his comms device.
He slowed and pointed to a faint wisp of smoke in the distance. “Possibly bandits. Don’t want to get anywhere near them. Two State militia members in the Badlands will be a fun toy for them to play with.” They altered their course, skirting around the area that revealed inhabitants, until they passed a broken metal sign with half the wording missing.
“Alpha Fourteen used to be Cardiff?” said Annie.
“It did,” said Heath. “Hard to believe it was once a thriving city.”
Annie shook her head. A fuzzy blankness drifted through her thoughts as her memories conflicted. Cardiff had been a successful city, full of millions of people. But of course, it couldn’t have been, because now it was a wasteland. There were no people. She had to have gotten the place mixed up with another city. But how could she have made such a mistake?
“We’ll head to the market, first,” said Heath. “It will just be setting up for the day’s trade. We can patrol there without arousing suspicion. We might find a few traders your father dealt with. Get a head start on where he might be.”
“He always went to the inner-city markets when looking for his treasures,” said Annie. “I’m sure everything he bought was a fake, but it looked realistic.”
“Don’t be surprised if some of it is real,” said Heath. “If we get a chance, we can collect his finds and take them to the bunker for analysis. See how legitimate they are.”
“I’ll bet you a three course meal they’re all fake.”
“I’ll happily take that bet.” Heath handed Annie a pulse laser gun. “Know how to handle one of these?”
“I’ve fired one a few times,” said Annie, as she took the gun. “Useful for scaring off wild animals when camping. Plus, my brothers are, like you, military trained. They wanted to make sure their baby sister could handle herself if she got into trouble.”
Heath looked at her with surprise. “Good to know. Keep it close. Militia never travel unarmed.”
Annie holstered her gun as they kept walking. She felt the tingle of anticipation in her fingers and stretched them out trying to shake away the nerves. Her father would be here; he had to be.
Dust tickled Annie’s nose as the first row of tattered stallholders’ tents came into view. Her too-big boots were coated in a fine covering of pale, sandy dirt, as was her jumpsuit. A small, skinny girl carrying a pail of water and a grimy cloth hurried up to them.
“Keep your boots clean,” said the girl, not making eye contact. “Special rates for militia.”
“We’re fine.” Heath held out his hand. The girl grabbed whatever was in it before hurrying away.
Annie swallowed in horror at all the ragged and starving people in the market. These weren’t the images she was used to seeing. The State assured people there was no poverty or food shortages. They showed State-run shelters and food banks in operation, the recipients all happy and well-fed. This was wrong.
“Take it all in,” murmured Heath. “This is the reality we’re living in. Don’t believe everything the State tells you.”
Again, Annie got that weird, jolting sensation in her head, as if conflicting memories collided and one fought the other to dominate. She grabbed Heath’s arm, finding comfort in his firm grip as he steadied her.
“Focus,” said Heath gently. “Concentrate on what we’re here for. The rest we can deal with later.”
Annie gritted her teeth and nodded, placing her hand on the butt of her gun as a group of hungry-looking men sidled past them, their eyes widening in fear and hatred as they spotted Annie and Heath.
“Everyone is terrified of us,” said Annie.
“Not of us but of what we represent,” said Heath. “You okay?”
“I’m fine.” So long as she ignored her messy thoughts and shock, Annie could pretend everything was as it should be.
Heath straightened her helmet. “Work your way along this first row of stalls. I’ll go down the next. Ask anyone if they’ve seen your father. Bribe them if you have to. Coins still mean something to people who have nothing.” He passed over a heavy, black pouch that jingled.
Annie stuffed the coins into her jumpsuit and took a deep breath. She was only a few feet away from Heath as he questioned the first stallholder, but she already missed having his large, protective presence by her side.
The first two stallholders, selling what looked like the salvaged remains of a fire damaged house, were no help. Annie stopped at the third stall as she spotted a display of egg fragments.
“Do you see something you like?” asked the thickset man with dreadlocks, as he emerged from the gloom at the back of the stall. “All of my sales are genuine dragon remnants. Ask anybody around here. They’ll vouch for my authenticity.”
Annie peered at the man, his narrow eyes sliding from side to side. “You believe in dragons?”
“I believe in whatever makes me credit.” He leaned closer. “But I never disobey the State.”
Annie tilted her helmet back. “You’re selling lies.”
The man shook his head. “I sell dreams. Are you looking for a gift for somebody?”
“For my father,” said Annie. “He might have already stopped here.” She turned over what looked like a lump of fired clay, painted white and then speckled with blue dots to make it look like a dragon egg.
“I get a lot of customers every day.” The man slurred through a mouth crowded with too many teeth. “Is he local to the Badlands?”
“Just visiting,” said Annie. “But he’s looking for dragon eggs and bones.”
“I’m not looking for a discount,” said Annie. “I’m looking for Dmitri Grimwald. Does that name mean anything to you?” She stared at the man.
“Grimwald.” The man raised a thin finger to his chin and scratched a long nail through his beard. “Not a name I’m familiar with.”
“He would have been here in the last two weeks,” said Annie. “He’d have purchased anything he considered a genuine dragon relic.”
“Then my stall would be empty if that were the case.” The man laughed deep in his chest.
Annie felt a hand slide inside her jumpsuit and spun around, pulling out her pulse laser as she did so. A wide-eyed kid with dirt smeared on his cheeks backed away, as his gaze ran over her uniform.
“Didn’t know you were with the State. My mistake.” He turned and fled through the crowd.
The stallholder tutted. “Kids today. They think they don’t have to work for what they want.”
Annie holstered her gun and slowed her rapid breathing. “He must have been desperate.”
The man nodded. “I see you are an honest woman. And loyal to our State, as it should be. You may pick an item as a gift.”
Annie raised her hand. “There’s no need. I don’t need a gift.”
“I will take insult if you do not pick something. Just be sure to tell your colleagues about me. They must buy from me.”
“You’re sure you’ve never heard the name Dmitri Grimwald,” persisted Annie, leaning closer to the man. “We have the same colored eyes, if that’s any help.”
“Sounds like he’s gone missing.” He tilted his head to one side. “You should ask your State where he is.”
“What do you mean?”
“They often know where missing people can be found.” The man backed away and ducked his head. “Don’t forget your gift.”
Frustration ran through Annie as she moved to the next stall. The State would never take her father. Just like the junk on that stall, the seller was peddling false hope. There was no help at any of the other stalls, with most of the sellers vanishing when she approached, or simply shaking their heads and avoiding her gaze. She hoped Heath was having more success.
Heath (Ember Quest Book 1) Page 6
