I don’t know.
I honestly don’t care.
All I know is that I can live here. Maybe long enough to repair my soul. Or come up with a plan.
What I don’t know, is how to get down.
I am perched three hundred feet above the lake. The rocks to either side of the river are slick and impossible to climb down. I’ve already backtracked and searched side tunnels with no luck. Short of spending months exploring miles upon miles of cave systems, this is the only entrance to sanctuary.
Then I remember who I have become.
“I am Solomon,” I say. “Solomon Vincent, the first and only child born on Antarctica. I am home.”
I walk into the river. Like so many other things in this land that seem to crave my death, the water fights to pull me over the edge. But I’ve learned to stand against such things. I can stand in the river and walk against its power. I can focus my will upon it and redirect its flow. Maybe even move mountains when I’m strong enough. Or, if I choose, I can go with the flow—
—and jump.
39
When Ninnis woke, he didn’t open his eyes. He allowed his other senses to reach out first, showing no signs of consciousness. There was a cold breeze on his skin, but not too cold. He’d been brought back into the tunnel. And though his body ached, he could tell his wayward protégé hadn’t beaten him. In fact, it seemed the boy had saved his life by dragging him back inside.
Ninnis could still smell Solomon, but the scent was faint, faded by hours.
He listened but heard nothing more than the distant wind outside.
He was alone.
With his head tilted toward the floor, he opened his eyes. He inspected his toes and remaining fingers. No signs of frostbite.
Why? He thought. Why didn’t he kill me?
He must know I’ll find him again. And if I can’t break him, I’ll kill him. Better that he disappears forever than stain my reputation with the truth.
But can I kill him?
He repeated the question in his mind, over and over, and never came up with an answer. He was mortal. That was certain. But the true extent of the boy’s abilities were unknown.
His affronts against the masters couldn’t be overlooked. If he would not serve them, he would die, and the battle against the human race would have to be fought under Enki’s rule—something that had been proposed in the past. Only Enki’s insistence that they free Nephil had stopped the movement.
But with Nephil’s blood consumed by a hunter turned rogue, what was to stop them? The hunt for Solomon would continue, but at some point, whether he was never found or found by Ninnis and killed, the war would have to be waged.
And what could stop them? What force on earth could stand in the way of the mighty Nephilim?
Ninnis looked up and found the answer to his question etched in the stone wall.
I forgive you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
JEREMY ROBINSON is the author of seven thrillers including Pulse and Instinct, the first two books in his exciting Jack Sigler series. His novels have been translated into eight languages. He is also the director of New Hampshire AuthorFest, a non-profit organization promoting literacy. He lives in New Hampshire with his wife and three children.
Connect with Robinson online:
Twitter: www.twitter.com/jrobinsonauthor
Myspace: www.myspace.com/sciencethriller
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sciencethriller
Website: www.jeremyrobinsononline.com
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
About the Author
The Last Hunter - Descent (Book 1 of the Antarktos Saga) Page 20
