The Alien Element
Page 29
Things with Amon remained in a kind of synchronous orbit, repeating the same motions but staying more or less the same distance apart. He was currently overseeing the removal of Fisk Industries renewables business to a new facility further outside of town. Given recent events, she could hardly blame him wanting to separate the two businesses.
She did hear that Reuben was getting a raise in all the change. That was something she could be glad for. He deserved it.
Eliana closed her eyes and lay back. She was only laying that way for a few minutes when she heard footsteps crunch through the crushed sandstone path. Someone cast a refreshingly cool shadow over her face.
“Hello,” Eliana said.
“You look relaxed.”
“I am.”
Renee sat cross-legged next to Eliana, picked up the folder, and began to scan through the numbered pages, her fingers ruffling the corners and her eyes flicking down through the bold sub-headers.
“Eliana, is this what I think it is?” Renee said. She read for a few more minutes, mouthing silent words as she read. “Incredible!”
You don’t know the half of it, Eliana thought. For each piece of evidence she had included, she had left a thousand speculations out. That’s part of the reason the article had taken her so long to write.
“What about those people you met there? I don’t see anything about them in here. What can you tell me?”
“They don’t keep written records, and haven’t lived in the site of the ruins we carbon-dated for centuries. Besides, I’d rather leave them out of it. They just want to live their lives. Isn’t this enough without them?”
“Well, yes, I think that finding stone ruins on two different planets of the same age is certainly ‘enough’.”
“I believe the stones may even have been mined from the same quarry, too. We need to do a few more tests, but I think the results will prove my theory.”
Renee’s mouth fell open. “Amazing.” She glanced down at the title page.
“Who is Audrey Larson?”
“The world’s first astrogeologist. Can you believe that?”
“Have I met her?”
“No. She works with Amon. She’s the scientist who dated everything—the limestone and the soil samples.”
“Well, I’m certainly impressed. What’s your theory as to how the stones got there?”
Would you believe me if I told you? Eliana thought.
She considered the question for a long minute before saying, in the end, “I’m sure of what’s in there. No more than that. Let others look at the evidence and draw their own conclusions.”
Dear reader,
Thank you for reading The Alien Element!
I hope you enjoyed the rollercoaster ride as much as I did. Some things I saw coming. Others…well, not even the writer knows what’s going to happen next half the time. You heard it from the source!
But this adventure is not over. There’s one more installment waiting for you in this particular trilogy.
Find out where Remethiakara absconded to, what Rakulo’s people will do with their newfound freedom, and whether or not Amon and Eliana can learn to truly forgive each other in book three, The Ares Initiative.
In The Ares Initiative, the danger comes home to Earth.
Eliana’s ancient alien adversary has his sights set on her homeworld.
And he wants revenge.
Get The Ares Initiative today. While you’re there, join my SFF book club and score my Starter Library of science fiction stories absolutely free.
www.mgherron.com/tai
Until next time.
Your science fiction adventurer,
About the Author
M.G. Herron is an independent science fiction and fantasy novelist.
Born in Limestone, Maine, USA in 1988 as Matthew Gilbert Herron, he was a reader from a young age, and a world traveler as soon as he could walk. It’s been his life’s passion to seek new adventures wherever he goes.
After majoring in English Literature at McMaster University, Matt promptly fell off the grid to travel throughout Europe and India. He’s also worked as a whitewater rafting guide on the Yellowstone River, swam in a Mayan cenote, and climbed sandstone towers in southern Germany.
When he began writing professionally in 2012, Matt made his way to Austin, TX, where he now lives with his wife, Shelly, and their dog, Elsa.
In addition to publishing books and traveling as much as he can, Matt works with tech startups across the United States as a content strategist, helping them to refine their stories and grow their businesses.
Learn more about Matt and join M.G. Herron’s SFF book club at mgherron.com.
Also by M.G. Herron
Translocator Trilogy
The Auriga Project (Book 1)
The Alien Element (Book 2)
The Ares Initiative (Book 3)
Standalone Novel
The Republic
Short Story Collection
Boys & Their Monsters