Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 42796 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42796 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
Keres made an X on the truck where he wanted Argenis to cut. When the silver dragon nodded, Keres moved a couple of feet toward the front of the truck. Leaning close to the metal side, he said, “Come down here to see May, Edwin. There’s going to be some scary stuff happening, but May will keep you safe up here.”
Keres tapped on the truck again and waited. A few seconds later, they heard the scrabbling of feet on the metal floor inside the truck. Then a few pats on the wall landed close to Keres.
Go. He’s here.
Argenis sent a laser-fine line of fire toward the truck. Keres knocked on the side again and said, “Stay here with May. She needs you to wait for her here.” A soft thump answered him.
When Argenis has a hole cut, I probably shouldn’t lift him out in case I agitated some dust. I’ll step away and Argenis can blast the suit. Khadar, you flap as I take this off. Then, I’ll go grab him.
I’ll get him. He won’t wait while you go through all those steps, Rogan told them.
There’s a risk. I did my best not to disturb the dust, Keres warned.
I’ll send anything lingering away, Khadar promised. Stay away from the entrances and keep the wind to your back.
Almost finished, Argenis alerted them.
Metal rang as the newly crafted door crashed to the floor. A small face appeared in the opening.
“May?”
Keres held his hand out. “Stay there, Edwin. My buddy, Rogan, is going to come help you down.”
Rogan immediately walked toward the truck as Keres stepped to the side to have Argenis torch any lingering dust off the suit. “Hi, Edwin. You have been so brave.”
He reached in and carefully lifted the small boy free, avoiding the still glowing edges of the opening. To his relief, Rogan didn’t spot any packets of dust attached to Edwin, and the toddler appeared unharmed. Remembering May’s pocket of the toxic material, he stripped off the boy’s clothing and tossed them to the side for Argenis to destroy.
As he walked toward the others, Rogan stripped off his shirt and wrapped Edwin in the fabric. “I think he’s okay.”
“Juice?” Edwin chirped, holding on to Rogan’s neck like he’d never let him go.
What should I do with this truck? Argenis asked.
Leave it for now. We’ll get some warning signs on it to keep people away. Rogan suggested. Khadar? Would you fly Edwin and me to Elenore’s? I think this young man would like to see his sister. Someone needs to hold him.
“Juice? May? Bad guys,” Edwin said, words tumbling from his mouth in his excitement to be free.
“See what you can get out of him,” Keres ordered as he paused in stripping off the suit.
“We’ll have time for that later,” Rogan suggested. “First, let’s get these siblings reunited.”
Want me to bring your mate to you? Argenis asked.
Please. Brooks is at the water station about two miles east. Rogan turned to point in the precise direction.
“If you’re talking about me, I’m here.”
Rogan turned to see a sweaty Brooks stepping out of the shadows from behind them. “You are in so much trouble, Mate.”
“Okay. I had to make sure you were okay,” Brooks said without a shred of an apology in his voice.
What’s one more? Come on, the Khadar bus is ready to leave the station, Khadar announced.
When they landed a few moments later, Rogan carried Edwin to the door and knocked.
“Rogan! Brooks! Oh, my. May, come quickly. We have visitors,” Elenore called back into the house.
“More visitors?” May’s unhappy voice drifted down the hallway. When she turned the corner to see Edwin, she shrieked his name and ran forward. Snatching him away from Rogan, she hugged him close, pressing kisses to his face as Edwin patted her face as if he never expected to see her again.
“He’s hungry, thirsty, and dirty, Elenore,” Rogan told her.
“I’m used to boys,” Brooks’s grandmother said with a wink at her grandson. She didn’t ask questions but watched the reunion with tears in her eyes. “Food and drink now. Bath later. Questions tomorrow.”
“Yes, Ma’am.” Rogan wouldn’t argue with her. “Is it okay if they stay with you?”
May turned to listen to Elenore’s answer. Her guarded expression hinted at how precarious their life had been in the past.
“You’re going to have to use dynamite to get them out of this house. May and Edwin are at home now,” Elenore said firmly and wrapped her arm around May’s waist when she rushed to the older woman’s side. “Come on. We have cookies to eat.”
“Juice?” Edwin asked hopefully.
“I think I have some juice for a thirsty boy,” Elenore assured him as she steered the group to the kitchen.
Chapter 16
Of course, Keres had put that hazmat suit back on after they left and checked out the truck. He’d reported nothing remained inside except for a few open bottles of water and an empty box of animal crackers. The entire hoard fumed. And, if they were smart, the scum who had left a little boy in a sealed truck should never show up near his adoptive grandma.