The Gadget: The Rondon Chronicles Book One by V. Timlin (speed reading book .TXT) 📕

wheels. She squealed, flailing her hands faster in an attempt to find anything to grab. The jolt never came. More gunshots echoed from behind as Anouk’s feet brushed the ground before her hands found the railing. She clutched it in sheer terror. From midsection down, she hung over the footboard, lying on her stomach, her feet hitting the dirt road with every bump. Someone grabbed Anouk’s belt.

“Vari, help Anouk,” Fitzwil called.

He had moved the reins to his right hand. With his left, he kept Anouk from falling.

Vari knelt in front of her. “Give me your hand.”

Anouk let go of the rail with her left hand and Vari snatched it. Together they dragged her back on board.

She lay flat on her stomach, her whole body shaking and her heart hammering the floor underneath her. She didn’t dare move.

“Are you alright?” Vari asked.

Anouk nodded. She tried to reply, but her throat and tongue were dry. She swallowed a few times before a croaking sound came.

“Thanks. Yes, I’m fine now. I just want to lie here for a while.”

“It’d be better if you went inside.”

“I’m not sure I can move,” Anouk whimpered.

“I’ll help.” Vari took Anouk under her arm.

She rose on all fours. “Okay, if you open the door, I’ll crawl in.”

Safely inside, Anouk collapsed on the floor. “Shit, that was scary. I thought I’d fall and die.” She wiped the sweat from her forehead. “Did we lose them?”

“Yes,” Vari said. “Do you want some water?”

“Yes, please.”

Vari walked to one of the cabinets and pulled a water bottle out. Anouk envied how she moved around, maintaining her balance in the caravan that jumped and rocked along the uneven street like she had shock absorbers in her legs.

Anouk sat up, leaning her back against the wall. Vari walked over and handed her the water.

She curled her fingers tight around the glass. Staring at the churning water, she brought the glass closer to her lips, but just then the caravan bumped. The water that was meant to go into her mouth ended up on her face and down her front.

“Blast it,” she grumbled and wiped her face on her sleeve. “I need a baby bottle or something.”

The door opened and Nat walked in, balancing in the same effortless manner as Vari. Disgruntled, Anouk placed the glass next to her on the floor. She was the only wrecking ball here.

“Your way of handling that guard was a bit hazardous,” Nat said. There wasn’t annoyance in his tone or his expression, only a slight tease. Still, she blushed in embarrassment. She hadn’t done a very good job.

“He saw my kick coming,” she muttered, avoiding Nat’s eyes.

“Yes, I hate that when people don’t let me kick them in their face when I’m trying to do exactly that.”

Anouk stuck out her tongue.

“The guards nowadays are more professional than when I was young,” Vari said.

Nat nodded. “The factory owners hire former enforcers to guard the grounds, I hear.”

Anouk frowned at Nat. “Was it you who shot at the one who tried to pull me off? Was that really necessary?”

“Yes, but don’t worry, he didn’t die.” Nat grinned. “I aimed at his arm.”

“Like that makes any difference.”

“Well, he got to keep his life and he let go of his grip on you, so I think it does.”

“That was actually reckless, Nat. You could have hit Anouk.” Vari gave him a scolding look.

Anouk leaned her head against the wall, rubbing her face. “Oh, dear God.”

Nat defended himself. “Please, Vari, have some faith in me. What else was I supposed to do? He nearly pulled her off. I couldn’t let that happen, could I?”

Yes, Nat’s quick reaction had saved her from falling but the bullet passing just inches from her brain wasn’t a happy thought. Death seemed to lurk in every corner. It just seemed to be a matter of time before it caught up with her. Maybe she should simply surrender to the idea and await her fate.

The floor boards sagged a bit under Anouk and a hand touched her shoulder. “Anouk, are you alright?” Vari asked.

“I’m going to die here and nobody will find out.”

“What did you say, Anouk?” Nat asked.

She dropped her hands on her lap and met Nat’s eyes. “I said, I’m going to die here and nobody will find out. In my world, that is.”

Nat gave a flat look at Vari and waved his hands towards Anouk. “Now, look what you did.”

Vari’s eyebrows shot up. “Me?” She placed her hand on her chest. “What did I do?”

“Sowing seeds of doubt in my partner’s mind, that’s what you did.” Amusement lurked beneath his stern tone.

Vari snorted. “That’s your own doing, son.”

The caravan stopped with a soft jerk.

“This is our stop. Let’s go and see if Rose has anything for us.” Nat extended his hand to Anouk. “Miss Herring, adventure awaits.”

Anouk stared at Nat who winked back at her. A slow grin spread on her face. Yes, adventure indeed. She took the hand and let Nat pull her up. “Already, eh? No time for a good wallow in self-pity? I was just getting started, you know.” She tsked tsked. “You’re a cruel man, Mr Walla.”

“Aye.” He winked again.

Anouk shook her head and said to Vari, “You’ve created a monster.”

Vari chuckled. “I know.” She headed to the door. “Alright, I’ll leave you two to get ready. We’ll head to that small patch of woods on the other side of the military base.”

“Ah, the Royal Restroom,” Nat said, and added when Anouk’s eyebrows flew up in a silent question, “Soldiers used it as a latrine before the barracks got water closets.”

“Fascinating,” Anouk muttered.

“Well, I don’t know about that, but it’s as good a place to camp as the Outer Rim Park in terms of not getting surprised by outlaws and wanted former warlords.”

Anouk secured her katana on her back. Her heart rate jumped and her skin prickled as it did the previous night. This time though it wasn’t all fear, but also… excitement. When had the change happened? She glanced at Nat