Genesis (The Exodus Trilogy) Read Free

were his friends. How could he even think about hurting them? Ben suddenly felt dizzy. He stood there for a while as a chill ran down his back. Sometimes, and more often of late, he scared himself. He knew it was the parasite. He loved his new abilities, but sometimes he thought he was going mad. It was as if some basic killer instinct took over, and he didn’t have any control of himself. The lust for blood, the uncontrolled rage, the desire to hurt those close to him over minor details. He was losing it, and he felt a surge of panic. His hands started shaking. Then, just as quickly, it passed. A nice calm welled up in him, returning the euphoria without arousing the blood lust. That was the part he loved. It felt empowering, as if he was the sole master of his entire existence. Nothing could hurt him. Not anymore. He was complete.
    Maria SOLIS
     
    Spring had finally arrived, and with it, the skirmishes in the foothills of the Rockies had begun to pick up again. A few weeks ago, the Stronghold leadership had decided it was time to explore the waterways leading through the valley to the north coast. Dean and his team had already scouted the area, but now the goal was to establish whether it was possible to have a permanent supply route between the Stronghold and the coast. The boats salvaged before the fall of Port Hammer were already moored on the coast and would be able to supply the Stronghold with fish and other necessities regularly, if a safe route could be established. The greenhouses and fields around the Stronghold, which supplied grain, fruits, and vegetables, were still nowhere near able to feed the population, and the large schools of dragon fish would be a welcome addition. Especially since they had proved something of a delicacy, once you got over the slightly bitter taste.
    Maria had quickly volunteered to go on the first raft as it set off from the Stronghold. Now they were floating along on the widening river, named Arizona, after the state where most of them had spent years prior to leaving Earth. Kim, the captain, steered the raft with a steady hand and a watchful eye, as the river could be treacherous. Dean, standing at the bow, used a laser device to measure the depth every other minute, making sure they didn’t run aground. Maria was elated as she felt the warm rays of Cancri on her face. She closed her eyes for a second, savoring the sensation, listening to the soft splashing of water against the boat. She wished she could take off her mask to enjoy a deep, long breath of fresh air, but the Aurora air was still considered unfit. The masks were a necessity.
    The fourth person on board was Dr. Karin Svensson, the Swedish astronomer, whose main task would be to create a detailed map. Without the capabilities of the Exodus, which was controlled by the Fort Andrews administration, the astronomer didn’t have much opportunity to exercise her professional skills, but her knowledge was nonetheless useful for more mundane tasks. She wasn’t much company though, staying mainly to herself and seldom speaking to anyone unless it was work related.
    Dean, on the other hand, was great company, and she enjoyed the long evenings when he would tell his war stories and theorize on the endless possibilities this world had given them all. It would have been an adventure, if not for the knowledge that south of the Stronghold, a war was being fought, one small skirmish after another. Maria’s father, Ramon, had already become one of its many victims, and while Maria felt her mother Isabella would be safe as long as the fighting didn’t reach Fort Andrews itself, she could never be sure. A month ago, Thomas had taken a team to the outskirts, where the Havelar administration had created and stored chemical weapons, and blown up the factory. When he returned, he had reported at least six enemy soldiers killed and a few civilian casualties, as well. So, even though not all were part of the fighting itself, no one should