Higher Ground by Becky Black (most read books of all time .txt) 📕

An idea had hit him suddenly as they drove through the town and he saw people on the street and children playing outside the school. He’d tried to convince those at the top to listen to him. But there might be another approach. He took out his Link.

“Adam, if you wanted to have a large public meeting, where would you hold it?”

“A public meeting? I guess the plaza, or if you wanted to be undercover, the B dome.”

“Ah, yes, good.” He started to tap on his screen.

“Thinking of running for office? I don’t think the next council elections are for six months.”

They would never happen. Zach kept typing. The B dome made sense. He’d use the platform the schoolchildren had performed on at the recital, which seemed like a hundred years ago. Ideal. He wouldn’t be able to arrange for chairs, would have to do without.

He glanced to the side, at Adam’s tanned, bare forearms with more of his many freckles and the fine hairs that caught the sun. But the glance only lasted a second. He couldn’t think about Adam now. He opened the messaging program and started to type. He ate the last sandwich as he composed the message and drank some water. He’d like coffee. He needed coffee.

Adam kept giving him odd looks. He even spoke a couple of times, but Zach barely grunted in reply. He had to get this message out. He avoided too much detail, hoped leaving the threat mysterious might intrigue people enough. Then he feared it was too vague and added a last line to the message.

If you value your lives and the lives of your children, YOU MUST ATTEND.

He didn’t delude himself everyone in the colony would show up, but if he got enough, then he could create a groundswell. He tapped Send, and a moment later, the message appeared in his inbox. He heard a soft beep from Adam’s pocket.

“If you have something to tell me, I’m right here,” Adam said.

“It’s a message to everyone in the colony. Thank you for your suggestion about the dome.”

“You sent a message to everyone in the colony? I didn’t think the message network even allowed that.”

Zach smiled. Sounded like he knew a few things about the colony Adam didn’t. Before Adam could ask him anything else, they arrived at a house, several kilometers out of town. It had been built in an old-fashioned style, wooden, with a stoop running along the front. It even had a fence around it, though Zach knew the occupier didn’t own the property. The Terraforming Authority owned the entire island, but founding members of the colony got special consideration when they retired. If they didn’t want to go home to Earth, the Authority let them use a plot of land and build a home there.

The slam of their vehicle’s doors must have alerted Korrie, and she appeared at the door as they approached the house, shading her eyes from the sun with one hand. Despite her age—she was well into her sixties, her hair white and her dark skin faded with time—Zach was pleased to see the retired professor was straight-backed and lean. She used no stick to walk, and her movements were smooth and confident. Fit and well. Good.

“Professor,” Zach said as he took the steps up onto the stoop, Adam following. “I’m Zach Benesh. Do you remember me from the reception at the Institute a few months ago?”

He’d had a long conversation with her, thrilled to be able to talk to one of the first people to study the geology of this planet. She’d been sharp and insightful and up on all the latest journals and articles. If anyone could help him, she could.

“I have a good memory for handsome young men.” She glanced at Adam at Zach’s side and smiled. “So I’ll be remembering you for a while.”

Adam smiled and offered his hand. “Adam Gray.”

She shook his hand and Zach’s, then held up her Link. “Of course, I just had a reminder about you, Dr. Benesh. And I thought, that’s funny, I don’t remember that young fellow being barking mad.”

Adam snorted, but he pulled his Link out. Zach smiled weakly. “I know my message is rather dramatic. But if you’ll hear me out, I can explain.”

“Rather dramatic!” Adam exclaimed. He looked up from his Link, gaping. “Imminent threat of the total destruction of Zahara Island? Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

“You’d better come in,” Korrie said. “I’ve got the kettle on.”

* * * *

The interior of the house didn’t match the exterior exactly. The living room had comfortable armchairs and a couple of what Adam believed women called “occasional tables.” But it also held a long bench full of modern and powerful computer equipment and scanners, with three large screens wall-mounted above the bench. They were currently running scans of some kind unfamiliar to Adam. Zach probably understood them, and in other circumstances, Adam guessed he’d be immediately glued to them and talking nineteen to the dozen about the readings. But today he apparently had bigger fish to fry.

“Make yourselves comfortable,” Korrie said, “I’ll be back in a moment.”

Adam sat in one of the armchairs, but Zach continued to pace. The room was dim, shades drawn over the windows to keep the glare of the noon sun out. But Adam could see the strain in Zach’s face, see how pale and tired he looked. How scared.

He read the message on his Link again.

All residents of the colony are invited to a public meeting tonight in Dome B at 20:00. Please make every effort to attend. I must discuss with you a serious and imminent threat of the total destruction of Zahara Island. I have attempted to bring this matter to the proper authorities and have been put off by their complacent attitudes and vested interests.

Ouch. He’d be lucky if he saw his contract out. When the next supply ship showed up, Morrison would toss him