Free Lightning by Bonnie S. Calhoun

looking for information to help Bodhi get his abilities back—which would make Glade livid. Then she’d have to explain a trip to the Mountain that he would . . . To say he would not condone it was definitely too mild a statement. He’d probably rant and rave and stick her in irons. In the end, she figured it would be easier to beg his forgiveness later than to ask for permission now.
    She laced up her trekking boots, grabbed her backpack, and headed for the depot, hoping all the way that she wouldn’t run into Bodhi or Glade leaving.

    Selah made it to the depot with time to spare. She hunted up and down the supply stations for horses and a wagon to no avail. Her heart sank. She walked back toward the front. Why would they leave her behind? It had to be Cleon trying to protect her. Maybe Treva had gotten scared and contacted Glade. Maybe—
    â€œHey, Sissy, over here!” Cleon waved both arms to get her attention.
    Selah cringed. Someday she was going to teach him to stop calling her that. “I thought you two left me.” She trotted around land skiffs and storage containers, slowly approaching the big thing Cleon was standing in. It looked like a flat-bottom boat with high sides and a clear visi-screen on the top front. “Where’re the horses and wagon?”
    Cleon laughed. “That’s Dominion Borough talk, Sissy girl. This is the way we travel now.” He beamed proudly as he spread his arms.
    â€œThis looks like a boat. How do you propose we navigate over land? There’s more land than water between here and Stone Braide.”
    â€œIt’s an AirWagon. It floats on its own current like a Mountain AirStream.” Treva came around the side and hoisted an odd-shaped bundle to Cleon, who stowed it under the backside of the front seat. “It’s not practical to use horses. They take too long and we’d have a hard time crossing the waters.”
    â€œWhat waters? We didn’t cross water coming up here,” Selah said.
    Cleon returned and bent down to nuzzle Treva’s neck. She playfully swatted him and laughed. “That’s because we didn’t have a boat, so we had to follow the land route that most other people take up to the north. With the AirWagon we can shoot in an almost straight line to Stone Braide. The two routes are about the same in miles, but with us floating above the road, it cuts off a lot of time.”
    It amused Selah that Cleon and Treva were a couple. Trevawas a child prodigy of biotech sciences, and Cleon . . . he was lucky to have finished school. Mother was sure right when she said opposites attract.
    â€œWell, I decided stress was making strange things happen to me,” Selah said. “I need a rest. When we get going I’ll tell you the bizarre thing that happened earlier today.” There’d be plenty of time to tell the truth—much later.
    â€œCleon and I talked about this trip while we were working. We’re going to do it smart. I can get in the Mountain without raising any alarms. You two are going to hide out in Stone Braide with my uncle till I get my records and find out what’s been going on.” Treva, hands on her hips, looked to Selah for agreement.
    Selah chewed on her upper lip. She felt terrible for lying to the two people closest to her. She’d done that once to Mother, and it gnawed at her until she admitted the truth. She just hoped she could hold out till they got far enough away.
    â€œCome on, Sissy. If we’re going to do this, we have to be together on the plan . . . all of us.” Cleon hopped down out of the wagon and walked toward her. “I know that look. You’re up to something. I don’t know what you’re planning, but if anything happens to you, Glade will skin me alive.”
    Ugh. Cleon knew her too well to get away with this for long. He’d always been the brother she confided her plans to, though, so hopefully