Free Xenofall (The Wasteland Chronicles, Book 7) by Kyle West Page A

more of a research journal than an actual scientific paper,” Samuel said. “It tells Ashton’s story – and the beginning of the fall of Bunker One.”
    “This was all in 2046, though,” I said. “Bunker One didn’t fall until 2048.”
    “Yeah,” Samuel said. “But the undoing was a long work in progress. Through the writhes, Askala – then only known as the Voice – was able to discover everything she ever needed to know about toppling the Bunker through the eyes of its own citizens. Askala discovered Bunker One’s layout, its weaknesses. She waited until the time was right. Beginning in the mid-2040s, Askala’s swarm was forming. Many of her first creatures were turned animals – either infected with the xenovirus, or controlled by their own forms of writhe. And using the genetics stored in the vast memory of the xenofungus itself, she began to form the crawlers in her Warrens at Ragnarok Crater. The Radaskim machinery of life, evolved over the eons , is so much more complex than any technology humans have devised. In 2048, the writhes had done their work. Under the influence of Askala, they opened the gates to Bunker One.”

Chapter 7
    N o one spoke for a very long time. The writhes, even when discovered by the authorities of Bunker One, were thought not to have posed enough of a threat to quarantine the infected.
    The authorities had turned out to be wrong, and that led to the Bunker’s eventual fall. Ashton had probably blamed himself, which would explain why he never mentioned the writhe. Maybe he’d thought all that was behind him.
    We knew now, however, that the writhes were still alive, and that Askala might be using them against us.
    “There are eighty-three new writhe evolutions,” Samuel said. “That number probably corresponds to each species Askala uses in her swarm. We’ve only seen a few of those so far, admittedly, but that might change soon. The contagion in that pool will not only be giving some of the Blighters an upgrade – it will be changing the writhes as well.”
    “So, they’re going into these pools to evolve?” Makara asked.
    “Something like that,” Samuel said.
    “What about us?” Anna asked. “Is it possible that we could be infected?”
    It was a while before Samuel answered. “It’s possible. Maybe even probable.”
    “What can we do?” I asked.
    Samuel sighed before answering. “I don’t know. If someone has a writhe, it wouldn’t allow the person to reveal that fact. That person probably wouldn’t even know they’re infected.”
    “I’m not saying any of us are,” Anna said. “But what if? Askala would know everything we’re planning. Even where we are.”
    “We can’t discuss this,” Makara said. “Not now. I won’t have everyone turning on each other.”
    An uneasy silence followed. Just because writhes existed didn’t mean any of us were infected. But just wondering about it was killing me. We had to find a way to screen everyone – only I didn’t know what that was.
    “I think it’s time that we left,” Makara said. “We can talk about this while we’re in the air.”
    “I’ll prepare the ship,” Julian said.
    ***
    “I t’s been thirty minutes,” Char said.
    Anna had landed next to Perseus. She stared at the Bunker exit intensely, as if willing Makara and the others to come out.
    Char was right – it had been thirty minutes, and I was starting to get nervous.
    “Let’s wait a few more minutes before we do anything,” I said.
    Julian’s voice came through the dash. “Still no response.”
    “They may not be close to the surface,” Anna said. “Like they’re stuck.”
    “I’m done waiting,” Char said, loading a magazine into his assault rifle. “I’m going in.”
    “So am I,” Marcus said.
    I was starting to think along the same lines myself. They should have been back by now.
    I looked out the windshield at the Bunker exit connecting to the runway. A path had been forged through the snow by the others