Dream Sky Read Online Free Page B

said. “But we’ve got a bit of a time crunch so we need to start getting things moving.”
    The island—coated now with the virus—was no longer a safe place to stay, even for the inoculated, so Pax had been working on a way to get them all off.
    “When will the planes be here?” Robert asked.
    “That’s part of the problem. They can’t come here exactly. If we had enough seaplanes, maybe, but with only one or two, it would take far too long to get everyone off. They’re sending a passenger jet. It’ll land at the airport over in Limón tonight. So that means we have to get ourselves over there.”
    “But we don’t have enough boats,” Robert said. The resort had only a few speedboats and some diving boats. “Even if we overloaded them, it’ll take at least two trips to get everyone across. And if the water’s at all rough, I don’t want to think about how dangerous that’ll be.”
    “We’ll take them all at once,” Pax said.
    “And how the hell are we supposed to do that?”
    “A ferry.”
    “But the ferry is at the coast.”
    “Which is why,” Pax said, “you and I are going to go get it.”
    __________
     
    “W E’LL BLOW THE horn as soon as we reach the bay,” Robert said after he explained to everyone what he and Pax were going to do. “That’ll be your signal to head for the dock. Until then, stay in here.”
    “Are you sure it’s okay to leave?” someone asked.
    “Renee has shown no signs of the flu,” Robert said.
    “Doesn’t mean she won’t,” someone else countered.
    “What about our stuff?” a man near the back asked. “Do we grab that on our way out?”
    “If there is something vital you need to bring, then you can get it. But no suitcases, no clothes, nothing bulky. They’ll take up too much room.”
    “What’s the hurry?” a woman asked. “Isn’t it safer if we just stay here?”
    “I’ll take this one,” Pax said. He stepped forward. “In all likelihood, your system is now as immune to the Sage Flu as it’s going to get. So, from that point of view, staying in here or leaving would be the same.”
    “Are you a doctor?”
    “No, I’m not.”
    “Then how can you know that?”
    “Because I’ve been dealing with this a lot longer than you.” His words came out sympathetic, but firm. “There is a very good reason not to stay here, though. The people from Project Eden will be back soon. It’s a pattern my people have seen elsewhere. They’re going to want to make sure the disease they dumped on the resort took hold. They’ll expect to see a quiet island with perhaps a few bodies spread around. If they don’t, they’ll very likely send in a squad of armed personnel to see what happened. From our observations, this can take place anytime from now through the next few days. So, no, it’s not safe. And, yes, we are in a hurry.”
    Several people shouted at once.
    “Listen to me,” Pax said loudly enough to cut through the clatter. “I would love to stand around and answer all of your questions, but every minute Robert and I delay our departure is another minute closer to their return. You can argue all you want with each other, but we’re leaving now.”
    He started toward the buffer room. Robert stood there a moment longer, feeling the need to reassure everyone.
    “Are you coming?” Pax asked, looking back from halfway across the room.
    Robert turned to the group of residents. “We’ll be back as quickly as we can,” he said, then headed after Pax.
    Two steps into the crowd he felt a hand on his arm.
    “Be careful,” Estella whispered. She kissed him on the cheek before letting go.
    “Make sure everyone’s ready,” he said.
    “I will.”
    He doubled his pace and met Pax at the plastic flap that served as the buffer’s door.
    “They’ll be fine,” Pax said, giving him a reassuring smile.
    “I know.”
    The older man pulled the flap back enough to duck through. As soon as the way was clear, Robert followed.
    Renee was waiting for