The Killin' Fields (Alexa's Travels Book 2) Read Online Free

he’d seen it done, only lack of strength or tools could stop him from repeating the actions. It was another of those gifts that Corbin had exploited.
    Alexa looked over as she caught the thought. “Have you learned to pack it?”
    “I’ve watched a lot,” he answered slowly.
    Alexa took pity on him. “Come over here and help with the explosives.”
    Paul moved too quickly, once again tripping over his own feet and Mark was there to grab the man before he fell directly into the gun rack.
    He pointed the cringing scientist toward the more dangerous items hesitantly. “Slow down!”
    Alexa had a pouch out. “Hold this.”
    Paul not actually touching anything sent relief through the room and the group continued their chores as if it were a normal day. For them, gathering supplies, traveling, learning, and occasionally fighting, was now a way of life. Each of them enjoyed the quiet and the solitude. Only a bit of their daily time was spent bonding and talking. Alexa was guiding them back to nature, to peace, and they longed for it. Paul was a disruption of everything they’d come along for.
    Alexa kept Paul’s hands busy while they were inside and then put him to work once they moved outside. Mark and Daniel were on guard duty, while the rest of them sorted and packed. Paul was told to close the pouches tightly and nothing else. A simple chore, Billy went behind and secured each carelessly sealed pouch. Couldn’t the scientist get anything right?
    Alexa met Billy’s eye for a moment of shared sympathy for the Rabbit. No matter who his group was, he wouldn’t survive. They would do all they could to keep him alive, but in the end, it would never be enough.
    “And there’s no way to change that?” Billy asked.
    Alexa shook her head and though she went right back to searching the corn without another word on the subject, Billy knew her mood had taken a hit and she was dwelling on it. Always good with a quick retort, Billy caught her gaze again. “Imagine the havoc he created in a lab.”
    “It’s what keeps me walking,” Alexa cracked back. “That, and the wonderful view.”
    Before Billy could do more than chuckle, Paul’s loud voice came from the pile of bags and pouches.
    “I thrived in the labs! The women used to ask for me instead the others.”
    Silence.
    Then laughter.
    Paul reddened, but wasn’t wise enough to stop there.
    “It’s true. Many of them paid their allotments to pick me.”
    Now the laughter was uneasy, fading into disapproval.
    “You charged prisoners to rape them?”
    Mark’s tone was icy and Paul quickly said, “I wouldn’t do that. The women are breeders. It’s all they do. They’re treated well.”
    Alexa signaled for the packed pouches to be loaded up. “They’re not treated well, Paul. They’re prisoners.”
    The scientists understood their point, but wasn’t sure they were understanding his. “They have to have it once they get pregnant. You know? If not, they get out of control. And we can’t sedate them-it interferes with the gifts.”
    All of them were staring like he was insane now and Paul shrugged, heading for his pack. “Fine. Whatever.”
    “You mean they crave…physical contact when they’re carrying?” David asked, unable to help himself. Unlike the preacher, the blacksmith had been the opposite of abstainer. He’d indulged in the locals, the towns around, and any travelers who’d come through. The two weeks without had been the hardest part of this quest for him so far.
    “It’s better than that,” Paul confided, grinning. “They have to have it or the offspring won’t develop gifts. But it has to be with another descendant. Cases are almost nonexistent where a child develops gifts from only one parent with powers.”
    Alexa rolled her eyes and went to stand watch. She motioned the two males who were supposed to be doing that to go and help load. The sooner they got this over with, the sooner she would have her fighters back. Unless the bullets