Part 23 (2/2)
”I think they went through the portal.”
”Carfolian h.e.l.l!”
”Can we go after them?”
”We should get authorization. Can you send a message back to Sun Acres?”
”We're too far away for me to make the contact by myself. But I think Darnet and I can do it together.”
Calag thought about his options. If he waited, they could lose the man and the woman. But Falcone had given specific orders that n.o.body was to go through a portal without authorization.
”Darnet!” Calag called. ”Get in here.”
The other adept came running.
”Yes, sir?”
”Lander is waiting at Falcone's residence. I want you and Balfer to send a psychic message to him immediately.”
He watched the men stand so that their shoulders were touching, watched them link hands.
They might be able to get through. Or they might not. And if they couldn't, it was Calag's head on the chopping block.
CHAPTER ELEVEN.
LOGAN HAD BEEN so focused on the soldier that he hadn't been paying attention to where they had landed. Then he felt Rinna's fingers grip his arm.
He swung toward her and found her staring around in wonder-and also alarm.
They appeared to be in a convenience store, the kind of place where customers dashed in for some product they needed right away. Or where they came to get coffee and a premade sandwich.
”We're safe,” he told her, thinking that they had just gone from a crisis into a safe harbor. Then he reminded himself that he was the only one who had stepped into a familiar environment.
Her voice quavered as she moved closer to him and whispered. ”Is this a storehouse?”
”No. It's a convenience store. There's nothing to worry about here. Why does a storehouse frighten you?”
She loosened her grip on his arm and gestured with her hand. ”There's never enough of anything where I come from. Food. Medicine. Clothing. The rich can buy those things and store them for when they're needed. But they guard them jealously. And they kill if they catch you trying to raid their private stock.”
”We don't have that kind of violence here. This is a place where ordinary people come to buy things they need,” he said, keeping his tone rea.s.suring, trying to remind himself how strange her world had seemed to him. She must be having the same problem-in reverse. ”This is a public place, not a rich man's storehouse. Anyone can come in and shop here.”
She seemed to relax a little. ”Like the marketplace, you mean. Only inside?”
”Yes.”
She took another look at the well-stocked shelves. ”And we're in the back where the merchant hides his best things and brings them out for the rich people.”
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