Genesis (The Exodus Trilogy) Read Free Page A

consider themselves safe.
    “How about we set up camp over by those rocks?” Dean suggested. Maria opened her eyes. Cancri still warmed, but within an hour, it would set and darkness would soon follow. Although they didn’t want to waste time, traveling the waterways in the dark could prove treacherous, and it was a risk they weren’t willing to take.
    “Sure, I guess it’s as good a spot as any,” Kim answered. A few minutes later, the raft came to a stop, gently touching the sand beneath the water. Dean jumped into the water and waded ashore, securing the raft to a thick tree a few feet away from the riverbank. Maria and Dr. Svensson followed, while Kim went to the back of the raft to get everything they needed to set up camp. Maria felt a few drops of cold water splashing over the edge of her high boots.
    “Looks good,” Dean said. “We’ve got a good view of the river, both ways, and the rocks over there should serve as cover from the wind. And if by some stroke of bad luck a patrol from Fort Andrews should wander this far north, they would find the site difficult to approach without being noticed.” Everyone helped set up tents, and soon they were situated. Dean slumped down, laying his rifle beside him and digging into an M.R.E.
    “I’d like to have a look around,” Maria said. “We’ve still got a good hour before dark, and I’d like to see what lies inland. We’ll be on our way by daybreak, so this is really the only chance I’ll have.” Dean frowned, but Maria didn’t let him voice his objections.
    “Don’t worry, I’ll be back before dark,” she said. Karin stepped forward and spoke, to her surprise.
    “I’ll come with you,” the Swede said.
    “All right,” Dean said with a shrug of defeat, “but make sure you’re back in time. We don’t know what’s out there, and finding you in the dark would be a bitch.” Karin picked up her small backpack, while Maria got a signal flare and a gun.
    “See you soon,” Maria said, before they walked away from the campsite.

Chapter 2
     
    Kenneth TAYlor
     
    Kenneth sat in a rickety chair by his makeshift desk, peering at his tablet. He had read Thomas’s report three times already. He needed to discuss this with Tina, but as far as he could tell, its contents were encouraging. Thomas and his team had succeeded in destroying the factory and the storage facility, and there would be no more poison gas on Aurora for months, if not years. Of course, given time, such capabilities could be rebuilt, but not anytime soon. Now they had to decide how to use that opportunity. Tina was out by the southern defenses, though, making a round of inspections, so all of that would have to wait until she returned, tomorrow or the next day.
    He laid down his tablet and turned toward his two guests. The only person he missed, besides Tina, was Maria, who had gone north to explore the Arizona. She had turned out to be a competent biologist, able to transfer her knowledge based on Earthly biology to their new surroundings. He suspected some of the more experienced scientists had a harder time of it, more set in their old ways.
    Geena, who was sitting across the table from him, was the closest thing to a doctor they had, and though he wished they had a real doctor, Geena was learning quickly, surpassing her teachers. Kim, who had extensive field experience from Navy medevac teams in North Africa had taught her so much that Kenneth made a mental note to make sure she took on new apprentices. They needed more people with medical know-how at the Stronghold, and he feared they would be needed even more now that winter was coming to an end. The fighting had already picked up in the foothills, given the warmer climate, and they will likely suffer more casualties. Hopefully, before next winter, the war would finally be over.
    His second guest sat off to the side, keeping his silence for now. Rajiv’s arrival from Dehlia and his account of his people’s escape from Earth had