Chapter 6 Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyways. “Colonel Freeman,” Ford’s tinny voice blared from the intercom in Straker’s office. “Could you please come to the control room, sir?” Alec looked up, puzzled. It was, as Straker usually called it, the graveyard shift, and up to now it had been dead quiet indeed. He rose much more fluently than a man his size and mass usually…
Chapter 10 The rattle of china startled him from dreams. Blinking, he rubbed his face to stretch and awaken skin dulled by deep sleep, then pushed himself upright before remembering where he was. ‘Morning. You slept well.’ He looked around. Rebecca, hair tousled and still charmingly half-asleep herself was puttering in the kitchen, scooping coffee into mugs while the kettle boiled. He wrapped the throw around his shoulders, and sat…
6 ‘What’s this one?’ Alec Freeman said. He pressed his finger against the monitor. ‘Observation Platform 23, Colonel.’ Nina said. She pointed to the screen. ‘We’ve been trying to move it into a better position, but it takes time. They don’t have the power to do much more than change angles. But we’re getting there ’ Freeman was silent. ‘Anything else we can try?’ He slammed his fist on the…
He had a flat tyre. Today of all days; a flat tyre. He stood and looked at the car, hoping that he was mistaken, that it was a trick of the light, or soft ground or anything other than the obvious. But no. A flat tyre is a flat tyre, no matter how you look at it. Paul Foster sighed and gave it a kick. After his two-hour workout along…
‘Anything?’ ‘Nothing Colonel. We’re relocating back-up satellites, but it takes time.’ ‘I know. And I’m distracting you. Look Nina, I’ll be arriving in a couple of hours, but contact me the moment you hear anything.’ Freeman said. ‘Of course.’ Nina Barry cut the transmission and swivelled her chair round. ‘Joan. Any luck with that algorithm?’ Harrington tapped at her controls. ‘There isn’t enough data Lieutenant. I can’t get an answer.’…
Chapter 31 Tracy Island had always served its purpose well, presenting the facade of a luxurious paradise on which a family frolicked away the billions in their possession. No one would ever know what truly took place beneath the grand house that rested atop one of the numerous hills. But although it had always guarded the secret well, never before had it done its job so well in disguising what…
Chapter 7 ‘Everything organised?’ Ford looked up at Alec Freeman. ‘Yes Colonel. All staff have been given instructions to attend for medical examinations.’ ‘Good. Oh, and Keith?’ Freeman put his hand on Keith’s shoulder and paused. ‘Thanks.’ Ford grinned with slight embarrassment, then adjusted his headphones and turned back to his monitors. The control room was busy, and he could get on with his tasks without interruption. It seemed strange,…
Home: Part 2 She was the last to disembark, not hanging back deliberately, but not in such a desperate hurry to get out of the small compartment as the rest of the passengers. This was her favourite time in some ways, when everyone had left and she was here alone, looking out of the window. A chance to compose herself and readjust to this world. Everyone else chatting, pulling bags…
Chapter 4 As distance shows a horse’s strength, so time reveals a person’s heart. “You’re becoming quite an okay rider, Ed,” Foster said drily. “You held on to the reins.” Everyone at the large kitchen table laughed good-naturedly, including Straker. The sun had set at last, giving way to a leaden, cloud-covered night sky. All eight of them had gathered around the huge slab of moor oak which served as…
