Dark Nebula (The Chronicles of Kerrigan) Read Online Free Page A

moved his hands up and down in emphasis as he spoke . “ Y our father ’s speech is the key , the video the lock . The only recording we have of Simon Kerrigan is an old narrated taping from a class here in the Oratory — some reading of a book. Almost a full chapter, actually. Back when he was a pupil here . Back when the y held classes along with tatù sessions here in the Oratory . ”
    Rae leaned forward and tensed . Whatever Carter was about to say, it made him uncomfortable . He was babbling . H e never babbled.
    Devon stood, clenching and unclenching his hands.
    Carter cleared his throat and pulled at his tie. He stared at the wall behind them . “Using the old tape and computer technology, we made a digital reading of the speech you wrote for us, in your fat her’s voice.” He looked straight at her . “ I’ll ask you again. When you were in the tower, did you directly watch the video and listen?”
    Rae stared at the carved ornate scenes along the walls as she thought about that terrible evening a t the spring dance -b eing kidnapped and the shock of hearing her dead father’s voice . She thought back to the video. She had been trying to figure out how not to get killed and then she had discovered something new about her tatù . “No, I don’t think I ever did both. I never watched it. I was too busy trying to figure out how to escape. At the time, I thought I could only mimic a tatù from the last tatùed person I touched. That’s when I figured out I could use any I’d ever mimicked .” Her tongue ran over the rough spot on the i nside of her cheek. The tension in the room suddenly ratcheted up . “ I still hear his stupid speech all the time. Why?”
    “When do you hear it ? At night ? During the day? ” Carter stared intently at her , leaning closer to her. “What happens when you hear it?”
    Rae opened and closed her mouth but could not get any words out. What am I supposed to say? I know the speech, it haunts me like there’s a hidden play button inside my brain?
    “ We emailed a couple of times this summer. She mentioned she would hear it at odd times .” Devon sat down and patted her knee , letting his hand remain .
    Encouraged by his strength, she found her voice. “ I might’ ve dreamt about it this summer a few times but didn’t really pay attention. Sometimes it starts repeating out of the blue. I know it by heart , so I just ignore it.” Rae shrugged , not understanding why Carter acted so oddly . “Why’s it so important?”
    Carter straightened. “The technician – our tech -- who watched and listened to the video tried to kill two members of the Privy Council.” His words dropped into the conversation like a bomb. Rae was blasted by waves of disbelief.
    “What?” she whispered , wincing when Devon ’s fingers painfully squeezed her knee.
    “That’s the guy?” Devon choked out.
    “Yeah, the skinny computer whiz.” Carter nodded.
    “That wasn’t a nerdy computer geek . The guy was lethal.” Devon ’s confusion was plainly written on his face.
    She looked back and forth between the two of them. What a re they talking about? How did Devon know so much?
    “ We believe the video and audio is a brainwashing device. When you-- ” Carter pulled his eyes away from Devon and looked at her . “W hen we captured the man, he told us nothing. We knew he wasn’t a snitch , I’d personally used my tatù on him. He hanged himself before we could question him further.”
    “Shit!” Devon push ed himself up and knocked his chair over in the process.
    A n overwhelming sense of helplessness washed over Rae , making her stomach lurch. “I don’t understand what’s going on . What has Devon got to do with this? ” Her eyes bounced back and forth between the two of them. Feeling like she was drowning in water she couldn’t see, she wanted them to clue her in to what was really going on. There ’ s a bigger picture here that I ha ve no access to . It seemed important to