“Will we be able to call each other individually, without everyone listening in?” Storm asks.
“Yes. You four will have instant access to each other by pressing on the button at the edge of the screen where it meets the band. Either edge will do. Then quickly tap twice for Storm, three times for Pax, four times for Sky and five times for Jewel.”
Pax asks, “What happens if we only tap once?”
Charles smiles, “One tap will link all of you together. You might want to use that one judiciously.”
Analiese walks us through the signals we’ll be using to contact our folks. “Remember not to press the buttons to call your parents. For simplicity’s sake, you’ll use the Morse code “M” for Mom and “D” for Dad. Sorry, Storm, but it’s the same for you.” He nods and smiles.
To speak to both, simply tap out one followed by the other. You break the connection by pressing on the screen for two full seconds.”
“What if we can’t talk when someone calls? We could be in the middle of something,” Pax says.
“You say you’re busy and end the connection. Just remember that if someone calls, a response is absolutely required. If you don’t answer, we have to act on the assumption that something has happened to prevent you from answering. Our emergency protocol will activate.”
I ask, “What emergency protocol?”
Charles points to a button on the side of the device farthest from the hand. “This button turns the screen on or off and activates the fitness monitor. The button on the opposite side activates an emergency signal to the four of you and to the set of parents associated with the one who presses it. We have a similar button that notifies all of the parents when you’re in trouble.”
It all sounds terribly complicated to me. We’ll have to memorize the code and practice using the wristbands. The thought occurs to me and I ask, “What if we lose it?”
“They’re designed to stay on,” Charles explains. “Analiese and I have the special code required to release them from your wrists. We’ll share it with your folks, but you won’t have access to it. I’m afraid once you put them on, they’ll remain on your wrists. They’re waterproof and loose enough not to chafe. They’re made of a special chemical alloy given to us by the Watchers and can’t be broken.”
Jewel has already explained it to us, but Storm asks anyway, “Will anyone be able to read our minds whenever they want?”
Charles looks into Storm’s eyes and softens his voice, “No, son. Your thoughts are private and no one will be able to invade your privacy. These wristbands make it possible for you to speak to each other at will, nothing more.” Storm nods and I feel him relax.
It’s too bad. It would be fascinating to eavesdrop on his thoughts, especially when I feel that tension rise in him.
I see Jewel drop her head and notice her finger tapping on her band. I look around to see whether she’s talking to her mom or dad. Charles shakes his head almost imperceptibly, and by the time I look back at Jewel, she’s pressing on the band. I wonder what that’s about. She doesn’t feel upset, so I dismiss it.
THIRTY-SIX
Analiese and Charles attach a band to each of our wrists. Mine is a lovely soft cream color that feels like doeskin, like Jewel’s, although hers is a slightly darker tan. I’m happy to see that the wristbands are different from each other. Pax’s is a deep royal blue and looks like leather. Storm’s is predictably black and also leather-looking.
For the next hour we practice using the codes. I’m happy to discover we sound like we always do without the annoying buzz we get from the Watchers. Hearing someone else’s voice in my head doesn’t bother me at all. I listen to my own all day, and now I don’t have to make up conversations. I share that with Jewel and her mind-laugh echoes through my brain in a delightful way. The boys annoy us by saying Testing…Testing over and over again.
At least Jewel has something to say. Are you okay with this Sky?
I can get used to it, I answer. It’ll come in handy when we have something to gossip about and don’t want anyone overhearing us. She laughs again. I love this.
After we’ve all had a chance to speak to our parents, and Storm to his aunt and uncle, Pax says out loud, “Why don’t we four go to the store and pick up some supplies?”
Dad agrees, “That’s a great idea. We can practice using the bands from a distance.”
The weather has cleared considerably, although it’s still windy and the sky is full of racing gray clouds. We pile into Pax’s SUV and he says, “I don’t want to be tapping on this thing while I’m driving. Let’s just talk normally, okay?”
We agree and drive into town. Mom calls me as soon as we leave, and I see by his frown that she’s contacted Pax, too. I just wanted to see if I can contact both of you, she says.
I hear Pax’s response, I’m busy driving, Mom, and he presses on the face of his monitor. It leaves Mom and me to speak to each other. We chat for a few minutes and break the connection. I hope she and Dad don’t overuse this mind-speak.
The Blue Mountain grocery store is more like a general store, offering everything from clothes and toys to electronics; from books to frozen dinners and fresh vegetables.
“Sequoia deliberately didn’t give me a list,” Storm says as Pax parks the car. “She wants to link and tell me what to get as we wander the aisles.”
“How will she know which aisle you’re in?” asks Pax, always the logical one. We climb out of the car and start walking toward the store.
“You can open your mind to her,” Jewel says quietly and looks around to make sure we’re out of anyone’s hearing range. “She’ll see what you see and hear what you hear.”
My mouth drops open. “Your dad didn’t say anything about that.” The three of us stop and stare at her.
“It’s something we discovered the first time Vega took us into his ship,” she explains. “Dad saw everything until just after we saw the image of the revolving Earth. The link cut off after that, and we think the Allarans have a way of blocking it.”
The store is nearly empty, and only a handful of other shoppers wander the aisles.
Storm taps on his wristband and grabs a shopping cart. I grab another out of habit, glad for something to hold on to. He turns toward me and I see his eyes widen. He feels pleased about something, but I’m afraid to tap into his conversation in case it interferes with his connection. He’s soon adding one thing after another to the cart. Besides groceries, he adds a pile of first aid items and a couple of blankets. When his cart fills up, he adds items to mine.
Sky?
I hear you, Jewel, I answer.
It looks like it’s working, doesn’t it? The stuff he’s getting is what my mom would put on a list for me. I nod without answering.
My thoughts drift to Storm and how domestic he looks shopping. I admire the fit of his black leather jacket and the way his muscular legs fit his jeans.
You’re projecting, Jewel interrupts my thoughts. Don’t forget you need to end the connection. Her laughter takes the sting out of her reminder. Maybe we can’t read each other’s minds, but we can pick up on thoughts if they’re loud enough. How do you turn the volume down on thoughts? Thank God I didn’t interrupt Storm’s conversation with his aunt. A hot blush rushes into my face at the thought of what they would have overheard if I had.
I press on the face of the fitness monitor and smile at Jewel. Having a friend like her is amazing.
We stop at the gun display where Wild Bill Stern is working on a laptop sitting on the counter. He’s one of the tribal elders and the owner of the store.
“What can I do for you today, Storm?” His words sound cheerful, but there’s a deep furrow between his eyebrows and the lines around his mouth give him a grim look. His mouth smiles, but his eyes don’t.
Storm asks for boxes of ammo for three different rifles Wolf keeps at home for hunting. “How’s your family, Mr. Stern?” he asks politely.
“Fine. Fine,” he seems distracted as he fe
tches the ammo and hands it to Storm. “I heard your folks turned up safe and sound. Glad to hear it. Give them my regards, will you?”
Storm nods and we continue down the aisle. I tap Jewel. Something is wrong. Do you feel it?
No, but Mr. Stern’s colors are muddy and dull. He’s really worried about something.
I wish we could read his mind, I think.
I don’t, Jewel answers. We have enough to worry about. I doubt if Mr. Stern is supposed to save the world. He could be concerned about the tunnel the Dracans dug on his property.
That must be it, I answer.
Marla Snow comes around the shelves at the end of the aisle. Max rounds the corner right behind her. Great. I notice some of Max’s other friends, the ‘Lost Boys’, roaming around the store and wonder what they’re doing here on a Saturday afternoon. Shouldn’t they be home in this weather?
“Well, well, if it isn’t the four mouseketeers,” Max bellows. He acts as if he hasn’t been working with us to figure out the mystery of the boreholes. His friends loan him courage, I suppose, and the bravado is his way of establishing his alpha position in the group. I press the button near the band and tap once. Let’s just leave, I project.
Not until I pay for the supplies. Storm’s anger pounds in my brain. It seems thoughts convey more emotion than our voices. Oh, this is not good at all for me.
I’m right behind you, Storm. I feel Pax’s readiness to jump in and fight. I wonder if there’s therapy available for an empath like me.
Don’t worry, Sky. These bozos aren’t going to fight, are you, boys? Storm is going to pay and we’re getting out of here.
Max and his friends close in until a can flies off the shelf and hits his arm.
“Ouch!” he yelps. “Cut it out, Storm! We don’t mean any harm.”
“That’s good to know, Max. You know I don’t mess around.” I wonder why Max continues to challenge him like this. Does Marla have anything to do with it? I see her by the checkout lane, a self-satisfied smirk on her face. What is she up to?
There is no line, so checkout is quick and we load the supplies into the back of the SUV. I hear the rumble of distant thunder. There’s more rain coming.
THIRTY-SEVEN
The rumble grows into a roar and I’m thrown off my feet as the ground heaves. “Pax!” my voice is lost in the crash of noise. I throw my arms over my head and curl into a fetal ball. A steadying arm circles around me and I feel myself drawn close to a hard chest.
“Hold on, Sky!” Storm’s voice shouts near my ear. The ground moves furiously, like a living thing beneath us. When it finally calms, I feel brokenness all around. Terror flails at me from all sides. Fear, pain, grief, confusion; I struggle to push them away. Where is Pax?
Storm’s arms tighten around me and I feel the frantic pounding of his heart match my own. Concern for him overwhelms me and pushes against the onslaught of countless silent cries for help so that I can focus on him. I allow my feelings to flow into him, mine and no one else’s, and feel his heart slow into normal rhythm. I feel his wonder in return.
Storm lets me go and we pull ourselves upright on the broken pavement and look for the others. Jewel is sitting on an intact piece of the curb, cradling Pax’s bloody head in her lap. Tears track through the dust and mud on her face and for a second, my heart stops.
A jagged gash starts just above his eyebrow and disappears into his hairline, still bleeding freely. He’s alive, but unconscious. Storm finds the bag with first aid supplies in the car and comes back with gauze and bandages. Jewel helps me apply pressure to the wound with the gauze while we wrap the bandage around it. After Storm floats him to the back seat and covers him with a blanket, he runs to what used to be the store.
“I want to stay with him,” Jewel says. I do too, but people are in trouble all around us.
“Jewel, he’ll be fine. I’ll know when he wakes up. We have to help the folks around here.”
She touches his face, straightens her spine and turns to me. “Okay. Let’s go.”
I see her tap her wristband and I do the same. We let our parents know what happened and that we’re fine but Pax is injured. We’ll call an ambulance, Mom says, her fear evident.
The road is all torn up, Mom. The bleeding is under control and he’s resting in the car. I’ll be here when he wakes up and I’ll let you know. Are all of you okay?
She answers, the quake rattled us quite a bit, but we’re fine. We’re heading toward town right now.
I send love and end the connection. Jewel and I shove some of the first aid supplies in our pockets and gingerly make our way to the store.
The two-story building has pancaked into one story, with rubble completely covering the door and front windows. Storm telekinetically lifts large blocks of cement and plaster and opens a passage into the interior. I’m surprised to see that display shelves and steel beams have left wide pockets of space where people found shelter. Max is among the group closest to the cleared passage and rushes outside, a look of sheer panic on his face. Storm gently lifts an injured woman, unable to put weight on her foot, and floats her through the opening to the street outside, where he lowers her to a clear patch of sidewalk. A young mother picks up her toddler and scrambles out of the rubble.
I feel the pain and fear of people still trapped inside. If I can just focus on one at a time, I’ll be able to help locate them. There. The closest one is near the cash registers to our left.
I tap the wristband and open our link. Storm. The checkout clerk is still alive. Can you get us to her?
He shoves debris out of the way and Jewel spots her, nearly obscured by dust and chunks of fallen ceiling. Her aura is faint.
She’s unconscious and after clearing rubble off her, Storm airlifts her outside. The street is filling up with people, and a paramedic stops to help the clerk.
We spend what feels like hours clearing pathways and helping people out of the building. We find Wild Bill behind the largely untouched gun display where he’d ducked when the shelves started swaying. As soon as Storm clears the way for him he pitches in and helps free the others. When I can’t sense anyone else, and Jewel can’t find another life force, she asks, do you think Marla made it out okay?
She probably slithered through the nearest hole, I say, and then immediately feel guilty for putting her down. I can’t feel her emotions, but she’s probably scared right now, if she isn’t dead.
Storm talks to the paramedic I saw earlier and Jewel and I leave to check on Pax. The car door is open, and he isn’t there. Our link is still open, but Pax hasn’t checked in. PAX?
Not so loud, Sky. My head is killing me.
Jewel laughs out loud and I share her intense relief. Where are you? And then I feel him right behind me. I turn and hug him tightly. “Do Mom and Dad know you’re alright?”
“I let them know as soon as I remembered how to use the bracelet,” he says. “Everything was fuzzy for a while. I figured you guys bandaged me up and got me into the car. I’ve been looking for you.”
“You could have called any time. The link has been open.”
“I didn’t want to interfere in your rescue operation. Nice work.” He reaches for Jewel and hugs her. I feel the warmth between them and turn my attention to the people in the street around us.
I end the connection with the others and check in with Mom. Pax woke up and he’s fine, Mom. Do you know how strong this quake was?
It wasn’t a quake, sweetheart. A large chunk of mountain broke off and slid into the valley. It obliterated a large section of road, and we can’t get to you. Let the others know we’re all fine up here. The newscasters are saying the rains and recent earthquakes, caused the break in the mountain, but we know better. Sheriff Green told Wolf that the rift exposed some of the Dracans’ tunnels.
We’ll get there as soon as we can. The road may not be passable, but we have Storm. Give Dad and the others our love in the meantime. I break the connection with Mom and reconnect with Pax and the oth
ers and tell them what happened.
We pile into the car and Storm maneuvers around tossed vehicles and rough cracks in the pavement. He floats us over sinkholes and the worst of the wreckage and we’re soon out of town and heading toward home. A cloud of dust hangs in the air over the remains of the mountain ahead. It reminds me of lava flowing down a valley during a volcanic eruption; only the valley has been newly cut by the mountain itself. Boulders jut out of a sea of mud. Ruined tree trunks poke out everywhere like giant broken toothpicks. The massive destruction sends a sharp pain through my heart and my eyes burn with unshed tears. Jewel grabs my hand and her sorrow compounds mine. We’re each lost in our own thoughts and forget that the connection is still open.
Emergency vehicles with flashing lights block the road ahead. We pull over, park behind Sheriff Green’s car and go look for him. A deputy directs us to the brink of the new crater.
“Stay away from the edge. It’s dangerous.” He says, as if we need to be reminded.
A sharp-edged chasm separates the broken edge of the road from the strangely altered land. We find the sheriff talking to a deputy who is snapping photos of the destruction. He excuses himself and comes over to us.
“Storm. Pax. Girls. Your folks told me you were in town when it happened.”
“We were in Wild Bill’s store,” Storm says. “We got him out and he helped us dig out a bunch of other people. Sheriff, do you know what caused this? Off the record.”
“I suspect the Dracan tunneling destabilized the mountain. All this rain loosened it and sent it tumbling. More rain’s coming. Flash flooding will be as dangerous as this, especially in the hollers. Think you might lend a hand if we need it?”
“Of course. We all will. Pax is really good at tracking; Jewel sees the light surrounding people and Sky can feel their emotions. Pax was out of commission for a while, but the rest of us found everyone in the store by using our gifts.”
“I see Pax has recovered. We’ll count on you kids. There’s a back road you can take across this mess farther up the mountain. I’ll instruct my guys to let you through.”
Terra's Call (TetraSphere Book 1) Page 14
