Page 17 of The Lone Cyborg
“That would explain why the composition is constantly changing.”
She started to step closer, to examine the vein in more detail, but he put out his arm to prevent her from coming any closer.
“Until we find out more about it, I don’t think we should touch it. If it is some kind of life form, it undoubtedly has some type of defense mechanism.”
“I suppose you’re right.” She took a step back and looked up at him. “What now?”
He hesitated and she had the distinct impression he was considering ending their explorations, but then he smiled down at her.
“I say we keep going, see if we can find the source. What do you think?”
“I think that’s a wonderful idea.”
Excitement hummed in her veins as they turned to continue down the channel. He started to move into the lead again, but she reached out and took his hand.
“Together,” she said quietly, and his hand tightened briefly around hers.
His cyborg hand, she realized. The same one that had so easily tossed the giant boulder aside but which cradled her hand as delicately as if it were made of glass.
The path grew even more treacherous as they descended, the rocks sharper and more jagged. Sylvester had regained his courage, flitting ahead of them once more although he never went far.
Her legs began to ache and she finally tugged Jeb to a halt, resting on a conveniently placed boulder and taking a sip of water from her canteen. She offered it to him and he accepted it with a nod of thanks, his fingers brushing against hers as he took the container.
His fingers lingered for a moment, sending a spark of excitement through her veins. She found herself studying his profile, the strong lines of his face, the intensity of his gaze as he surveyed their surroundings.
He handed the canteen back to her, his eyes meeting hers for a fleeting instant before he turned away, focusing once more on the path ahead. She tucked the canteen back into her pack, her heart beating a little faster than before, and took his hand again.
As they rounded a bend in the tunnel, he tugged on her hand, bringing her to a halt. He dropped her hand and stepped forward cautiously, his scanner held out in front of him. She held her breath, waiting for his verdict.
“There’s something up ahead,” he said, an odd note in his voice.
“The source of the vein?”
“I don’t know. There’s a cavern of some sort, but none of these readings make sense.”
The thrill of discovery surged through her veins and she grinned up at him.
“Then I guess we need to see for ourselves.”
“I suppose so.” He hesitated for a second. “I want to try something. I want to turn off the light from the scanner.”
The thought of being surrounded by total darkness made her swallow nervously.
“Why?”
“Call it a hunch.”
The words seemed to surprise him as much as they did her, but she gathered her courage. She called Sylvester over to perch on her shoulder, then nodded as she took his hand again.
“Just don’t let go of my hand.”
“I won’t,” he promised, and turned out the light.
For a moment panic threatened to overwhelm her, but his hand was still cool and firm in hers. Then she suddenly realized it wasn’t totally dark. A faint blue glow came from up ahead.
“What’s that?” she whispered.
“Some type of luminescence. It appears my hunch was correct.”
