Deadman's Switch & Sunder the Hollow Ones Read Online Free Page A

breathing too, rolling her onto her side like I did with Jake. Then I turn to Tanya. She’d slid all the way back against the door separating the second and third compartments.
    Finally, there’s Micah, who’s still strapped into the wheelchair. I’m glad I’d thought to lock the wheels earlier. The chair had spun a little, but otherwise stayed in place. His head lolls to one side. His breathing is shallow and regular. He seems to have been the least affected of anyone.
    â€œEveryone okay?” Kelly asks, when I rejoin him in the engineer’s compartment.
    I shrug. “As okay as can be expected. We need to move them, and the sooner the better. Whatever the EM signal’s doing to their implants, it can’t be very good. It may already be too late.”
    â€œDon’t think that.”
    â€œAm I just supposed to go on believing they’ll be fine?” I snap.
    Kelly takes in a long, deep breath, then slowly lets it out.
    I start checking the drawers and cabinets in the driver’s compartment.
    â€œAlready checked,” Kelly says.
    I don’t stop. I can’t stop moving or else I’ll never be able to start again.
    â€œWhat are you looking for?”
    â€œI don’t know. This,” I say, when I find a flashlight. I flick it on and my heart sinks when it doesn’t work. “Batteries are dead.”
    â€œWhy do you need that?”
    â€œBecause I think we’re going to have to walk our way out.”
    Kelly frowns and shakes his head. “We’ve got five people out cold back there and only one wheelchair. How do you expect to move them all? You can barely even use your hand!”
    â€œI’m fine!”
    â€œNo, you’re not, Jess.”
    He places a hand on my forehead. I swipe it away without looking at him. He wants to see if I’m running a fever. I don’t want to know. “I’m fine.”
    He gawps air for a moment, then slowly lowers his hand.
    â€œYou can carry one,” I tell him. “Stephen can push the wheelchair. I’ll hold the pistol. We’ll just have to take two at a time. It’s better than sitting here while they die, Kelly.”
    â€œThey won’t die.”
    â€œYou didn’t see them. They’re dying back there. Every minute we spend arguing is another minute lost to help them.”
    Finally he nods. He knows I’m right. “I’ve got a flashlight in my pack. I’ll go get it and start getting people out. Who first?”
    â€œMicah,” I say. “He’s already in the chair. And Jake. He’s really bad off.”
    Kelly gives me a hard look. I know what he’s thinking. It’s the same old jealousy rearing its ugly head again. Maybe he has some reason to be jealous, but not about this.
    â€œHe’s having seizures. The rest aren’t.”
    It’s a lie. Tanya was seizing earlier, but not now. I fear it might mean she’s progressed. I push the thought away, hating that I have to choose between them like this.
    I ignore the conflicting arguments inside of me. I just need to make a decision and stick with it.
    Kelly returns with the flashlight and the pistol and hands them both to me.
    â€œHere’s the emergency release on the doors,” he says, reaching up. He flips the latch up and pushes the button. The doors hiss and slide open.
    â€œWe’re going back,” I inform Stephen. “You’re coming with us, and you’re going to do what we tell you to do or else I put a bullet in your head.”
    He tilts his head and looks at me, nothing on his face. His cheeks are red from his earlier scuffle with Kelly, and he’s still breathing hard. Then, slowly, a smile creeps across his lips. “Maybe there’s hope for you after all,” he says.
    â€œShut the hell up,” Kelly snarls.
    â€œYou’re going to push the wheelchair,” I tell him. “Once we get far enough away from the