Part 9 (2/2)

What had happened to create the destruction he'd seen as they'd crossed the plain?

Rinna had said something about a war. What war? When? How?

Could there have been a disaster in some isolated part of the United States that created primitive conditions?

That might be pretty difficult to hide m today's media age where reporters jumped with both feet on every c.h.i.n.k in the government's armor.

But maybe the government could pull it off. How? With a force field? He'd never heard of anything like that in real life, but it could be some kind of scientific test.

Maybe they were running an experiment to see what happened to people in here. Yeah, right!

He hated to think that was the case. But if it was true, how had Rinna gotten out? And not just her. Let's not forget about the guys who were chasing her. She'd talked about some kind of portal. From where to where?

He started letting his imagination run wild to the science fiction and fantasy novels he'd read when he was in his teens. The fantasies had included mythical creatures, like werewolves. And it had rea.s.sured him to know that writers had imagined men like him, even if the werewolves weren't necessarily the good guys.

So was this like a fantasy? Or was it more like science fiction? Had he gone back in time? Forward in time to some era where people were living after a disaster had wiped out most of the population? That might account for the ruined buildings he'd seen, and maybe Rinna and Haig had taken refuge in this cave.

He didn't like that explanation. And what were his chances of getting back from the past-or the future?

He took comfort in the knowledge that Rinna had moved through some kind of portal to his patch of Maryland woods. Then she'd brought him back here.

As he thought about her vaguely Scandinavian accent, another idea struck him, and he stopped in mid-stroke of his soapy hand across his chest.

What if this were a parallel universe? A few months ago he would have dismissed that notion out of hand. Then his brother Lance had asked him to help drive the monster Boralas back where he came from. After that, he'd done some reading about string theory-the new physics that postulated universes parallel to ours.

So was he now in another universe-a universe that was Boralas's home base? Was he going to step out of the cave and meet something like the monster?

He hadn't seen any enemies besides the storm troopers and the old man. But he'd better be prepared for anything.

He shuddered and began to wash more quickly, thinking he'd feel less vulnerable when he got some clothes on.

After drying off with a rough towel, he decided to let the beard go, then pulled on a navy blue T-s.h.i.+rt and a pair of sweatpants that looked like they had come from his world. No underwear, but he did find a pair of gray socks. The running shoes were a size too big, but he figured that was better than too small.

When he came out of the bathroom, the cave doorway was open again and he felt every muscle in his body tense. Maybe this was his best chance to get away.

CHAPTER SIX.

AND MAYBE HE was das.h.i.+ng headlong into disaster. Logan hesitated a split second, then decided to stay where he was.

He was glad he'd remained in the cave when Rinna stepped inside. She was dressed in a rough tunic, leggings, and leather boots. And her magnificent dark hair was hidden under a leather cap.

In one hand, she held a limp, furry body. A rabbit, which she handed to the old man.

”Dinner.”

Her gaze shot to the pallet, then to him, and he saw her shoulders go rigid. As he took a step toward her, she took a quick step back.

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