Free Rivers of Fire (Atherton, Book 2) by Patrick Carman Page B

sat a pile of rocks, a box filled with stale bread, and a rather large wooden bucket half filled with water.
    "Edgar, you first, and quickly!" said Dr. Kincaid.
    Edgar approached the water and cupped his hands inside, quickly gulping down as much as he could hold. He took a loaf of the stale bread, a kind of food he'd tried only once before, and he tore a large bite off with his teeth, chewing vigorously.
    They ate and drank hastily, leaving most of the food behind. All three of them wondered who the person was and why he had stayed. He had the look of a man without a family, and they felt sorry for him.
    "We'll leave him be," said Dr. Kincaid, "with water and some of the bread. He's going to need it. Now, follow me." There
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    was a new resolve in his voice and a feeling in the air of having arrived at the very place where the answers they sought could be found. The three of them departed with a growing sense that this man was the only enemy they would find in the deserted House of Power.
    Down the stairs they went, to the very end of the courtyard and into a rotunda with three sets of stairs. Dr. Kincaid hesitated only a moment--glancing in every direction--and then started up the middle set of stairs, two steps to a stride. At the top he continued on until he arrived at the door to the main chamber.
    Dr. Kincaid looked back at Edgar and Vincent. All the color had gone out of his face.
    "It begins," he said, and he put his hand against the door, pushing it open.
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    *** CHAPTER 11 A PLAN SET IN MOTION
    Maude had never been on a horse before and it was a harrowing experience. She was riding with Horace, her arms wrapped around his waist as they raced across the barren landscape. There was no saddle, only a rope between the horse and the man, and the animal was difficult to control, even for a skilled rider like Horace. The speed at which they traveled was alarming, and Maude was convinced a fall like that would kill her. As this thought grew in her mind she tightened her grip around Horace's middle until he could barely breathe.
    "We're almost there," he said, trying to comfort her. "You're a natural rider. Soon you'll be doing this without me."
    "You can keep your horse," said Maude. "I'm perfectly content to raise rabbits."
    Maude felt Horace's body shaking with laughter.
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    "You won't think it's so funny when I fall to my death and pull you right off with me," she said. This made him laugh even more, and she took one hand from around his waist and slapped him in the back of the head. Horace thought this was the funniest thing yet, and he nearly laughed himself right off the horse.
    He pulled up short of the Village of Sheep and let the animal walk as they drew near. "I think we've run her hard enough," said Horace. "Best we give her a rest."
    The two had already ridden to the village at the grove and talked through their plans, but their job was only half done. Already midmorning had arrived and with it the growing threat of Cleaners finding them. Now there was only Wallace, the leader in the Village of Sheep, to convince.
    "He's the wisest among us," said Maude. Horace knew she was speaking of Wallace without her having to say his name. "If he's unconvinced, our plan will fail."
    "I believe you're right."
    The two dismounted the horse and began walking. Soon they spotted a group of four people approaching from the village, but Wallace was not among them.
    "It's me, Maude, from the Village of Rabbits!" hollered Maude. The four took this as a good sign and advanced more quickly. They'd seen horses the day before when they'd fought back those in the Highlands, and the sight of the big animal made them nervous.
    "Where's Wallace?" asked Maude as the two parties neared each other. "We need to talk with him right now."
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    The four from the village hadn't had the occasion to witness Maude's direct approach to things, and it took them somewhat by surprise. "What's he doing here?" said one of them, looking at Horace, then at