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vortex and caused a temporary over-lapping of two dimensions. The vortex then
became an intersection point, a discontinuous quantum jump, beyond
relativistic space-time.
According to Lakesh, evidence indicated there were many vortex nodes, centers
of intense energy, located in the same proximity on each of the planets of the
solar system, and those points correlated to vortex centers on Earth. The
power points of the planet, places that naturally generated specific types of
energy, possessed both positive and projective fre-quencies, and others were
negative and receptive. He referred to the positive energy as prana
, which was an old Sanskrit term meaning "the world soul." La-
kesh was sure some ancient peoples were aware of these symmetrical
geo-energies and constructed mon-
uments over the vortex points in order to manipulate them. He suspected the
knowledge was suppressed over the centuries. Kane had no reason to doubt the
suppression of such knowledge, even if he was skep-
tical of everything else.
Sardonicus squared his skinny shoulders and an-nounced in his deep voice, "I
really don't think I believe you."
"I really don't think I give much of a shit whether you do or not," Kane
retorted indifferently. "We ar-
rived here while Mina was being attacked by screamwings the basilisks. She
survived your little test, so take her back to the institute and leave us
alone. We'll be out of sight and out of mind soon enough."
Murmuring passed among the people again. "You're very wrong, Kane," Sardonicus
declared.
Kane cocked his head quizzically. "Which part?"
"You did the exact opposite of saving this girl's life. In actual fact, you've
caused it to be forfeit. By interfering with the therapy, you've triggered in
her a dissocial reaction. It was her responsibility to survive or not. Since
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you took that away from her, she now lacks a sense of responsibility to the
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James Axler - Outlanders - Devil in the Moon community and can't be allowed to
return."
Grant's eyes narrowed, his index finger hovering over the trigger stud of his
pistol. "I hope that doesn't mean what I think it means."
Sardonicus replied, "You hope in vain. Grounds-keeper Hogan "
The big man who had lifted Mina out of the gully instantly placed the
sharpened end of his iron rod against the girl's neck. The point depressed the
flesh at the hinge of her jaw, right above her carotid artery.
Mina's eyelids fluttered for an instant, like the wings of a panicked
butterfly, but she didn't other-wise move. She stood motionless, not even
appearing to breathe.
"However," Sardonicus continued, "additional therapy sessions might reverse
her affliction& on the condition you come with me to the sanatorium
will-ingly/'
"Let me guess the rest," Brigid intoned with cold sarcasm. "If we don't come
with you willingly, you'll kill her right here and now."
Sardonicus's grin seemed to widen, his teeth flash-ing like a pair of polished
saw blades. "Exactly."
"If you do kill her right here and now," grated Kane, "I'll damn sure do the
same to you."
Sardonicus sniffed disdainfully. "Classic aggres-sive personality with
underlying sociopathic behavior models. Surely you realize that she'll be just
as dead as I will be. Do you think that will be an equitable exchange my death
for hers?"
"Why do you want us to go with you?" Grant demanded hotly.
"Chain-of-command protocols," Sardonicus re-plied smoothly. "It's the purview
of Chief of Staff Eljay to decide what's to be done with interlopers not that
he's ever been faced with such a situation."
The timbre of the man's voice changed subtly, but Kane caught the edge of
resentment in his words nev-
ertheless. He stored the observation away in case it could come in useful.
"And," Sardonicus went on, "since you're not rag-assed wanderers, he may
decide it's in the best interests of the valley if you join the community."
A chuckle lurked at the back of his throat as he added, "Providing you pass
the entrance exams."
Cold fingers of dread caressed the base of Kane's spine and tickled the back
of his neck. Sardonicus stopped trying to stifle his chuckle and threw back
his head and laughed. His eyes shone brightly. Kane rec-ognized the quality of
the laugh and the light burning in Dr. Sardonicus's eyes. They were those of a
mad-man. He knew with a grim certainty that the man's threat to kill Mina was
not an empty bluff, [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]