Judgement: The Undergrounders Series Book Three (A Young Adult Post-apocalyptic Science Fiction Thriller) by Norma Hinkens
Authors: Norma Hinkens
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bunk, naming him interim chief in my absence, to be made permanent in the event I don't return. I'm not under any illusions about our chances of rescuing Curly without casualties. A few riders are no match for the Rogues. Maybe I can talk Sven and the military clones into coming with us instead of returning to the Craniopolis. Anything to keep him with me a little longer.
"Have the military clones left yet?" I ask when I make my way back out to the stable.
Jody shakes her head. "Sven's heading over to the courthouse to pick up some things Jerome wanted from his office."
M y mood is somber as I jog back to the courthouse. The Ghost knows we're not going to leave Curly behind. He'll be expecting us. This is a doomed rescue attempt unless I can swing the odds.
I take the courthouse steps two at a time and corner Sven in Jerome's office. He jumps up when he sees me. "Derry! What's wrong?"
"The Rogues captured Curly. The lame horse arrived back at the gate a few minutes ago without him."
Sven stares at me, expressionless, only the throbbing pulse in the side of his neck betraying whatever emotion he's fighting to control.
"The riders risked their lives for us. We owe it to them to attempt a rescue. Please, Sven, this isn't about you and me. Curly needs your help."
He blinks and inhales a sudden breath as if coming to. "I'll round up the military clones. Rocco can escort the scientists back to the Craniopolis and then return to the city. The military clones will have to stay here in case the Rogues attack."
I shoot him a heartfelt look of gratitude. He takes a hesitant step toward me and then stops, as though he still suspects me of somehow staging the whole thing to keep him here. "I'll meet you at the gate in five minutes," he says, exiting abruptly.
I grab the binoculars from Jerome's desk and tuck them under my arm. They could come in useful if we're trying to spot Curly in the Rogues' camp.
W e ride hard out of town, the fleet-footed military clones easily keeping pace with the horses. When we reach the forest we avoid the trail and begin thrashing our way through the dogwoods and ferns. We hike for several hours at an increasingly halting pace until we reach the location where the Rogues made camp. A disquieting chill settles over us. All that remains is an ominous ring of stones and cold ashes.
Jody quickly pinpoints the Rogues' departing trail. The recent rain has softened the dirt and the heels of their heavy boots have left their imprint in the mud, even tracking it over the logs they stepped on. Jody examines the telltale signs and tosses a few broken twigs aside, her face grim. "The bracken here is smashed to a pulp. They're not trying to cover their tracks. They want us to find them."
"So we're walking into a trap," Sven says.
I take a deep breath. "The Ghost wants me. He can't get past the fact that I let Rummy escape." I look around at the others, my heartbeat tripping in my throat. "He'll take me in exchange for Curly. No one else has to get hurt–"
Jody cuts me off with a sour look. "Don't even go there. I don't make deals with horse thieves," she snaps, before disappearing beneath a thick, dark canopy of trees framing the trail.
I'm fairly certain by the looks on the other riders' faces as they fall in behind her that they would have taken the deal if Jody hadn't cut me off. Sven gestures to the military clones to go ahead of us. I throw him a grateful look. This could be my only chance to bring him up to speed on my conversation with Viktor before the military clones return to the Craniopolis. We walk along in silence for a few minutes before I build up the courage to broach the topic. "I talked to Viktor earlier. Lyong was telling the truth about resolving ossification. There was a breakthrough at one of the other outposts."
Sven's stride falters, but he keeps his eyes forward.
I grab his sleeve. "Sven! You know what this means. They can fix you, you and everyone else." I gesture to the
"Have the military clones left yet?" I ask when I make my way back out to the stable.
Jody shakes her head. "Sven's heading over to the courthouse to pick up some things Jerome wanted from his office."
M y mood is somber as I jog back to the courthouse. The Ghost knows we're not going to leave Curly behind. He'll be expecting us. This is a doomed rescue attempt unless I can swing the odds.
I take the courthouse steps two at a time and corner Sven in Jerome's office. He jumps up when he sees me. "Derry! What's wrong?"
"The Rogues captured Curly. The lame horse arrived back at the gate a few minutes ago without him."
Sven stares at me, expressionless, only the throbbing pulse in the side of his neck betraying whatever emotion he's fighting to control.
"The riders risked their lives for us. We owe it to them to attempt a rescue. Please, Sven, this isn't about you and me. Curly needs your help."
He blinks and inhales a sudden breath as if coming to. "I'll round up the military clones. Rocco can escort the scientists back to the Craniopolis and then return to the city. The military clones will have to stay here in case the Rogues attack."
I shoot him a heartfelt look of gratitude. He takes a hesitant step toward me and then stops, as though he still suspects me of somehow staging the whole thing to keep him here. "I'll meet you at the gate in five minutes," he says, exiting abruptly.
I grab the binoculars from Jerome's desk and tuck them under my arm. They could come in useful if we're trying to spot Curly in the Rogues' camp.
W e ride hard out of town, the fleet-footed military clones easily keeping pace with the horses. When we reach the forest we avoid the trail and begin thrashing our way through the dogwoods and ferns. We hike for several hours at an increasingly halting pace until we reach the location where the Rogues made camp. A disquieting chill settles over us. All that remains is an ominous ring of stones and cold ashes.
Jody quickly pinpoints the Rogues' departing trail. The recent rain has softened the dirt and the heels of their heavy boots have left their imprint in the mud, even tracking it over the logs they stepped on. Jody examines the telltale signs and tosses a few broken twigs aside, her face grim. "The bracken here is smashed to a pulp. They're not trying to cover their tracks. They want us to find them."
"So we're walking into a trap," Sven says.
I take a deep breath. "The Ghost wants me. He can't get past the fact that I let Rummy escape." I look around at the others, my heartbeat tripping in my throat. "He'll take me in exchange for Curly. No one else has to get hurt–"
Jody cuts me off with a sour look. "Don't even go there. I don't make deals with horse thieves," she snaps, before disappearing beneath a thick, dark canopy of trees framing the trail.
I'm fairly certain by the looks on the other riders' faces as they fall in behind her that they would have taken the deal if Jody hadn't cut me off. Sven gestures to the military clones to go ahead of us. I throw him a grateful look. This could be my only chance to bring him up to speed on my conversation with Viktor before the military clones return to the Craniopolis. We walk along in silence for a few minutes before I build up the courage to broach the topic. "I talked to Viktor earlier. Lyong was telling the truth about resolving ossification. There was a breakthrough at one of the other outposts."
Sven's stride falters, but he keeps his eyes forward.
I grab his sleeve. "Sven! You know what this means. They can fix you, you and everyone else." I gesture to the
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