Lindsey's Rescue: A World Beyond Book 3 Read Free Page A

The man bowed, back stiff as he turned to retrace his steps down the corridor to their offices.
    Zadal continued on the path toward his private rooms. Behind the closed doors, he took a deep breath and exhaled. One by one, he unclenched his fingers and flexed them. This was why he needed a bride.  A woman around would help ease his frustrations. Someone soft to allow him moments to vent. Zadal’s mouth curved into a smile. The sex would be a definite plus for having a Triad marriage.
    Thinking about a Triad also meant thinking about a spouse partner. Zadal’s smile fell. His main concern now would be finding someone at the event tonight who’d yet to select a partner and who’d accept Zadal as the third. His rank and position should have assured him someone compatible but as always his birth status as a briot would be a hindrance.

Chapter 3
     
    “All passengers debarking please line in an orderly fashion.”
    Lindsey ran through a last minute tally of everything she needed to do. With a lingering glance, she left behind the language disc she’d spent the week studying. She loved learning new languages and spoke several fluently back home. Garulax boasted six native languages and thanks to the discs and length of the journey, she’d mastered two, well on her way to grasping the basics of the third. Hypheti was giving her the most difficulty because it didn’t follow general English syntax and the word order initially threw her off until she figured it out. With time, Lindsey knew she’d get it.
    A small line formed in the departure bay where a silver, multi-winged craft waited on dual electric tracks glowing red. The dull roar of engines competed with the overhead speaker and the raised voices of those present. Uniformed members of the ship moved at a brisk pace, orders called out and hand signals denoting some unknown command. It appeared hectic but no one looked upset.
    “Good luck, Lindsey.”
    A smile of welcome bloomed on her face. “Hi, Rojer.”
    The uniformed man hurried over to her. Rojer Mierkle worked as a crew member on the flights from Earth to other planets. He mainly kept the women aware of each stop but Lindsey always enjoyed their brief, daily exchanges. It had made them friends of a sort.
    “Any second thoughts?” He wiggled his brown brows, a mischievous grin on his tanned face.
    “None. I’m just excited.”
    Rojer offered a two finger salute and returned to whatever he needed to do. Lindsey joined the tail of the line. This crowd was much smaller than the one for the ship leaving Earth and more orderly though the same tangent of nerves filled the air.
    “Name, please.” The attendant manning the line stopped her before she could proceed.
    “Lindsey Ferra.”
    He held a handheld device up to the electronic card clipped to her shirt then nodded. “Confirmed. You can move forward.”
    Heart racing, Lindsey stepped up to the metal ramp leading into the shuttle. Another attendant greeted her before she crossed the threshold, his smile softer than his peer and warm brown eyes pleasant. Toole, his shirt read. He scanned her ID card. “Welcome to Garulax, Lindsey Ferra.”
    She’d done it. Changed the course of her life. Lindsey’s breath whooshed out to be replaced with a warm bubble in her chest. “Thanks.”
    “As soon as the shuttle lands you’ll be directed to the medical center.”
    “Oh.” This was news. She’d submitted a physical with her application.
    Toole stepped back and motioned toward the interior of the shuttle. “You’ll receive your language translator there.”
    So much for studying the language the old-fashioned way. The ride from ship to planet surface was all too short. Besides eager glances at the violet hues of the sky, no one spoke much. As soon as they landed, space-station staff directed everyone to a clear store-front window and arched doorway. The lettering running vertical down an outside pole gave her pause. Lindsey understood the word medical and