Read Pegasus in Space for Free Online

breath, closing his eyes.
    There was no sense of movement, although lights ran berserk patternsaround Johnny’s control panel. A metallic clank and a slight jar told the passengers that the drone had landed. Johnny swiveled, a finger across his lips for silence, sudden tension in every line of his body. A complicated rapping on the drone’s hull made him relax.
    “Okay, kids, invitations front and center. ’Cuse me,” he added as he squeezed around Rhyssa to get to the hatch to unlock it. The panel swung open to a very narrow aisle between towering storage vats and crates.
    “Sir? The way’s clear. The teams’re in place and you’ve got ten minutes,” said an anonymous voice as Johnny stepped out. He had to sidestep to let the others disembark in the cramped space. He held out his hand to Rhyssa. Slim as she was, she had to tuck in her tummy, grateful that her pregnancy wasn’t far enough along to impede her.
    “Let’s go then,” Johnny said.
    What teams, Johnny?
    Ssshhh
.
    The general led them a circuitous way through the high-piled stores to a lift door. Where a simple pass card would ordinarily be inserted, a much bulkier unit was welded in place.
    “Taking no chances,” Dave murmured.
    “None,” Johnny said definitively and carefully inserted his invitation card.
    “Accepted,” said a mechanical voice, and the checkpoint spewed the card back out. “There are four persons to be carded.”
    “It can count, too?” Rhyssa said, stepping up and inserting hers.
    “Made it easier to keep track of bodies in and out,” Johnny said cryptically.
    Only when all four invitations had been verified did the doors of the lift slide apart.
    “Don’t put ’em away,” Johnny advised as he punched the uppermost button. “We’ve got to go through three more security checks before we get where we want to go.”
    Johnny?
The voice was a loud whisper that both Peter and Rhyssa recognized as Madlyn Luvaro’s.
Is that you?
    Who else were you expecting?
    I don’t want to answer that
. Madlyn’s mental tone held a definite nervous edge.
    Peter and Rhyssa, and Dave, are with me
. Johnny grimaced at the way he’d inadvertantly added Dave as a seeming afterthought.
Who else did we manage to keep on board?
    Everyone you asked
, Madlyn replied, the relief obvious in her voice.
    Any ideas as to what’s going down?
    None
, and her mental tone was as frantic as it was apologetic.
    Don’t worry. We’re here
, Johnny reassured her.
    The lift stopped and its door opened. Johnny gestured for the others to get out as fast as possible. At that it nearly caught Dave’s left foot, it snapped shut so fast. Johnny gestured a turn down the next T-junction, urging speed. Rhyssa tried to estimate how long the lift ride had been but couldn’t. What seemed most important was that the bleak halls were vacant of traffic. They were not however without a certain pervasive odor of air recycled with the unmistakable taints of overcrowded and under-washed humanity. She’d heard that eight men or women shared each inadequate cubicle. Rhyssa eyed the halls and functional doors that looked as if they led into dormitories.
    “And none of the masses are permitted to join the festivities?” Rhyssa asked, as they reached the next lift column.
    “You got it in one,” Johnny said, slipping his card in the slot and motioning the others to be quick. “Of course, most of those are empty since Barchenka started shipping the grunts downside once she had no further use for their bods. The offies are on the lowest levels and kept there with double wristbands that allow no access elsewhere unless they’re working under guard. None of them’ll be seen today.”
    Again the lift doors didn’t open until all four cards had been cleared. John Greene checked his wristwatch, humming under his breath as he nodded his head to count the seconds.
    “Time’s going to be tight,” he said as he barreled out of the lift, turning left.
    This upper hall was