"Death Row 03 - The Avenger" - читать интересную книгу автора (Black Jaid)

Chapter 41
February 3, 2250 A.D.


Kerick’s eyes narrowed at the guard as the sensory door whizzed shut behind him, concealing him within some manner of a cell. Unlike the rest of the Xibalba which was lit up and admittedly quite stunning to look upon, this prison he and Xavier had been thrown into was as primitive, rough and dimly lit as the rest of the catacombs were.

“I was hopin’,” a very familiar voice sighed, “that when you found us we’d be freed, not locked up in here with you.”

Kerick frowned, his eyes finally adjusting to the dark. He turned on his heel and came face to face with his younger brother Kieran. He growled when he saw Elijah chained up against the far wall, all hopes of being rescued quickly vanquished. “Why are you chained up?” he barked at Elijah.

Apparently his old friend was of no mind to talk. Kieran, however, was. A dimple dented his cheek. “He attacked a guard when they brought us food. Now our food is dropped in through that hole in the high ceiling.”

Elijah muttered something imperceptible under his breath, an agitated hand swiping over his jaw as he did so. Kerick sighed as he walked towards him.

“Don’t touch his chains,” Kieran warned. “I already tried that. They will sizzle you on contact, slowly but surely.” He held up a palm that had sustained a burn. “Apparently these ladies don’t play.”

Kerick’s teeth ground together. “Apparently they do not,” he seethed.

Kieran grinned. “They said they’d unchain him tomorrow…” His eyebrows shot up. “If he behaves himself like a good little boy.” His smile widened. “They used them exact words, too.”

A tick started to work in Elijah’s jaw. Kerick couldn’t blame him for being angry. He could think of no greater humiliation than being bested by females. Of course, he conceded, these were not the types of females bred within the earth or biospheres. These wenches were like a million Tara Rileys armed to the nines. A comforting presence when on your side. A teeth-gritting annoyance when not.

“I take it you’ve already tried to scale the walls in here?” Xavier muttered.

“Scale? What the Kong’s to scale?” Kieran’s smile evaporated. “Do you see any foot notches within the walls? Smooth as a babe’s bottom these walls are.” His nostrils flared as he glanced away. “Somewhere out there is my wife. Had I found a way to escape I would have stolen her back and been gone days ago. I ain’t hanging around here for fun.”

Kerick ignored his brother for the moment and studied Elijah. He realized just by looking at him that his old friend was aware Tara Riley was alive. She might have been the one who put him down here, same as she’d put Xavier and himself here. A fact that would only add to Elijah’s anger just as it did Kerick’s.

Xavier frowned as he slid to the ground, his back against the earthen wall. “They could at least send a few droids in here,” he said under his breath. Or preferably that virtual program to bring Clara back. “It would help kill the time if we had some pussy.”

Kerick rolled his eyes before turning his attention back to Elijah. “Surely there must be a way out of here,” he muttered. “We learned from Kong there is no such thing as an inescapable fortress.”

At last Elijah was of a mind to speak, albeit grumpily. “I’ve tested the walls for weaknesses. There are none.” His jaw tightened. “The only chance at escape we stand is through that hole in the ceiling. How we get up to it is beyond me but I’m determined to get up there,” he seethed.

Xavier grinned. “Any particular arse you’re wanting to spank, amigo?”

“One guess,” Elijah gritted out.

Kerick’s gaze lifted to the hole in the ceiling. It was at least thirty feet in the air and surrounded on all sides by smooth earthen walls. Impossible? Perhaps.

His steel-gray eyes narrowed. But where there was a will, there was also a way.

* * * * *

Escaping Altun Ha hadn’t been nearly as difficult as Nicoletta had expected it would be. She had met with absolutely no resistance as she’d made her way through the air ducts and found herself, as luck would have it, directly on the Outside. The jump from the end of the air duct to the jungle ground floor had been three feet at best. Poor engineering work on the part of biosphere scientists perhaps, but a gift horse she nevertheless chose not to look too closely in the mouth.

She shivered as she glanced around the dark, noisy jungle, momentary fright swamping her senses. Somewhere out here Nellie awaited her. Her daughter—Sinead’s daughter—had always depended upon her, their bond unbreakable…

Her nostrils flared. It would take more than predatorial insects and sub-humans to keep Nicoletta from aiding the only person in this world Cyrus had given her to love and be loved by. She would find Nellie Kan, she vowed.