The Magic Wakes (18 page)

Terrell brought up the message on the view screen. “The last transmission received today was short and to the point.”

In large green type on a black background, the words blinked. B
EGIN COUNTDOWN
. Below it, a timer counted down the minutes.

“Six hours, twenty-four minutes. That doesn’t give us long.” Landry pushed the fear away.

Stefan paced as he said, “Evacuate the palace and relocate headquarters to our secure location in the Acaran Mountains. We need to decide how to inform the general citizenship of Joharadin.”

“We must be careful not to cause a panic,” Landry added. “We should evacuate one sector at a time without making a general announcement. Begin with the outer sectors and move inward, also mobilize the troops and secure the university. We won’t worry about the palace, just evacuate completely and don’t leave anything behind that might be an asset to their cause. Stefan, do you agree?” Landry looked to his cousin.

“This is insane, but yes.”

“I want to collect Miss Zaryn from the university myself. It’ll only take a few minutes, and then I’ll be at your disposal.” Landry’s mind replayed the pictures of Talia burning to death.

“No, our way of life, our very existence might be in danger. Rankin is missing, and I need you here to help evacuate the palace. Do this first and then you can return to evacuate Miss Zaryn.” Stefan locked eyes with Landry.

“Talia has dreamed about this invasion her entire life, and in every dream she dies. I have to believe her death is as much a possibility as the invasion itself. I can’t leave her.”

“You’ve only known her two weeks.” Stefan turned to walk out of the office, pausing at the door. “Fulfill your duty to our family first. Help me move my father to safety, and then collect Miss Zaryn. If you want, send her a message to be ready to leave as soon as you return.” Then he walked away without waiting for Landry’s reply.

“Major Sutton, I can send someone to bring her here.” Lieutenant Terrell spun a stylus in his fingers.

“Thanks, I guess I’ll owe you one.” Landry headed to the door. “Call me with any news on Rankin as well.”

“Yes, sir.”

Talia set the computer to scan and placed the stack of journals in the slot. It would take an hour or two for the process to be completed. She paced around the living room. The nervous energy wouldn’t let up. She had showered and tried to read, but nothing eased her mind.

The day after drinking the sunsrise usually went well, but not today. Her insides churned, building a panicked frenzy that made her sick to her stomach. Was it because Landry knew all her secrets? She had to trust he would keep his word.

Whatever bothered her, Talia needed to get out of the apartment. Running had helped distract her the day before. Maybe it would work again. She programmed the computer to send all scanned files to Landry’s account, and she headed out the door in her workout clothes.

The com beeped as the door closed behind her, but she didn’t bother to go back in. Whoever it was would have to leave a message.

Werner’s eye grew wider and he trembled from head to foot. “You’re crazy.”

Jaron reached out for Werner’s mind. He spoke the words to cast the mind control net, bending and pulling as Werner struggled to retain control of his own will. When the resistance ceased, he released Werner and watched him unlock the cabinet.

It took longer to evacuate the palace than Landry anticipated. Three hours after leaving tactical command, Landry linked into the com channel and requested an update on Talia’s location.

“Location unknown.”

“Was evac team sent?”

“Affirmative.”

“Then what is the problem?”

“Unknown.”

“Sutton to Lieutenant Terrell.” It took a moment before he received an answer.

“Yes, Major.”

“Any word on Rankin?”

“Not yet. It’s like he dropped off the face of the earth.”

“Keep on it. Is Miss Zaryn en-route to HQ?”

“No sir, I don’t know how to tell you this . . . no one can find Miss Zaryn. We left a soldier at her apartment in case she returns, and sent others to search the campus and SEF offices. We also sent a message that she can receive from any computer terminal.”

The panic threatened to start again. He had worked under the assumption Talia was safe at headquarters. A deep connection he had never experienced with anyone else motivated him. It was more than the potential in their relationship, or the fact that she might hold the key to saving their planet. He couldn’t explain it, but a sense of urgency burned through his veins. Finding Talia was the most important thing he had to do.

“Get a team scanning pedestrian cameras and pull up any recent spending. We’re almost out of time.”

“Yes, sir.”

Landry set his scytheglider, a sleeker two-seat version of the commercial transports, on autopilot and pulled up the digital copy of Talia’s journal on his computer. There had to be something in there to help him find her.

He set the computer to search for locations. Unfortunately, Talia hadn’t named specific places for most of her dreams. The only matches the computer found were the medical compound, the city library, and a small diner that could be anywhere.

Next, Landry ran a search of names: only one came up, Lynel Geofrey. He typed in a request and it only took the computer a moment to find Lynel Geofrey, aeroflyer driver, currently on the clock.

After a quick message to the med center, Landry contacted the company Geofrey worked for and asked them to track his unit. He attached a photo of Talia and headed for the nearest library. If he was lucky, Talia would be at one of them, or she’d call for a transport and get Geofrey.

Landry gritted his teeth. He liked being in control and there were just too many ifs in this scenario.

After running for an hour and a half, Talia’s body tired but her mind still churned. She turned toward home and slowed to a walk. The street lights had come on, but when Talia looked up she could still see the blue gray of dusk between the transports. The skylanes were nearing grid-lock as the cabs and personal aeroflyers vied for the best positions.

A chill ran through her as she noticed her surroundings for the first time. She had been so lost in her thoughts she didn’t notice how empty the street lanes had become. A city the size of Joharadin generated traffic in great quantities on both levels, but only a handful of people rushed to the zipway and out of sight.

She stepped into a small diner. It was one of the themed eateries that had become popular over the last few years. This one was blue from top to bottom with white clouds floating just above her head. Ocean waves sounded in the distance and an occasional bird squawked. Deck chairs lined the room, complete with beach umbrella and lap tray. It was almost completely empty with no computer terminal in sight.

A tow-headed youth rushed toward her, wearing a beach towel around his waist and carrying a stack of clothes. “What are you doing here? You should be at home.”

Talia glanced behind her and around the room once more. “Are you talking to me?”

“No, I’m talking to the other lady. Yeah, you. Are you stupid?” He pulled the towel off, revealing red briefs underneath.

Talia gasped. “What are you doing?”

“Lady, the Royalist started evacuating the city almost two hours ago. Everyone’s supposed to go home and wait for their zone to be cleared.” He put on a pair of pants and then slipped his feet into some shoes. “The old bat made me stay and clean the kitchen while she went home.”

“Why are they evacuating?” Talia followed him toward the door.

“They didn’t say.” The boy reached the door and held it open. “But there’s no way I’m staying here. You’ve got to get out.”

The boy locked up behind her and hit the zipway at a run. Talia’s heart pounded as she watched him disappear. No one had attacked the capital of Algodova in at least fifty years. There was only one reason she could think of that would require the evacuation of the city. She ran to the nearest call box and hit the button. Although she hated flying, an aeroflyer would be the fasted way out of the city.

Talia massaged her aching forehead while she waited. She jumped at every noise—a slamming door, nervous laughing, whistles. It took ten minutes before the aeroflyer descended through the traffic above. The door opened and the light flickered on revealing the driver.

His face. Talia knew his face. It was the driver from the nightmare.

Darkness closed in as she crumpled to the ground.