Guardians of Paradise Read Online Free Page A

gas, when she said, ‘Jarek is Elarn’s brother.’
     
    ‘Oh.’ Something about the way the boy’s expression changed instantly from hostile to wary and apologetic made Jarek’s blood run cold.
     
    Before he could say anything, a voice came over the com still hanging from his ear. ‘Abort, abort: cleansing imminent. Repeat, cleansing imminent.’
     
    ‘Shit,’ said Jarek, ‘I think they just called in the air support.’
     
    ‘Who are they?’ asked the boy.
     
    ‘No idea. People who don’t like leaving loose ends, I’d guess. We need to get out of here.’ He looked at the door. ‘Do you reckon you could hold your breath long enough to get out through the house?’
     
    Nual shook her head. ‘The gas has filled the entire ground floor.’
     
    ‘It’s fierce stuff,’ agreed the boy.
     
    ‘Then we’ll have to climb down the way I came up.’ Assuming they had time. Assuming the vine would hold them.
     
    ‘No,’ said Nual, ‘they might see us running away. We need them to believe we’re dead.’
     
    She swung the gun off her shoulder and pointed it at the fence on the seaward side of the terrace, then traced a broad arc through the air with the tip of the weapon.
     
    A section of fence about three meters long collapsed. Jarek heard the crash and tinkle of breaking glass as the handrail fell through the conservatory roof. ‘What’re you doing?’ he yelled.
     
    ‘Making an exit.’
     
    ‘We’ll land in the conservatory - that’s just as big a drop as jumping off the side, with added furniture and broken glass.’
     
    ‘Which is why we need to get a good run-up.’ She slid the gun back onto her shoulder and took a step back.
     
    ‘No, Nual, wait,’ said Jarek. ‘Even if we jump out far enough to miss the conservatory - and I don’t think we can - it’s only a few metres to the edge of the cliff. If we cock up the landing, that’s sixty metres down to a rock shelf. You might want them to believe we’re dead, but if we go with your plan then we will be!’ Over the hysteria in his voice he thought he heard a distant whine, the sound of an approaching engine.
     
    ‘We will be fine. I need you to grasp your elbows. Like this—’ She demonstrated, looking for all the world as though she was about to perform some sort of ethnic dance, arms clasped in front of her.
     
    ‘Nual, I have no idea what you think you’re—’
     
    < Trust me!>
     
    And he did. Without thinking he stepped back and made a tight circle of his arms. Somewhere in the depths of his head he was furious - Nual had once promised never to steal his will - and terrified - because they were about to jump off a cliff, for fuck’s sake - but his body appeared to be going along with this crazy plan without any input from his brain.
     
    Nual linked arms with him on one side; the boy moved to the other side and did the same.
     
    The aircar engines were louder now. Jarek wondered, in a vague, disinterested way, whether he’d be killed by the fall or by the explosion.
     
    Then they were running towards the edge.
     

CHAPTER THREE
     
    It would have been nice, thought Taro as he watched Nual trash the fence so they could jump off the roof, if she’d maybe mentioned that Elarn had a brother. Except she obviously hadn’t expected him to turn up at the house. And this Jarek cove didn’t know his sister was dead, not given how careful they’d been about who they’d told.
     
    Worry about that later. Now: survival.
     
    Following Nual’s wordless direction he linked arms with Jarek. He began to run, moving in perfect step with Nual, while Jarek stumbled between them.
     
    As he kicked off the edge Taro felt gravity pulling Jarek down, trying to tear him free. The effort of holding onto him tugged at Taro’s shoulder, and for a moment he considered letting go. Why were they saving this cove anyway? Because he might be an ally, and they needed all the allies they could get. Taro tightened his grip, ignoring the