Stones: Experiment (Stones #3) by Jacob Whaler Page B

next?”
    “Put on your filter.”
    As Ryzaard bites on the mouthpiece, warm plastic flows out from its center, making gentle contact with his skin, covering his face from the nostrils past his lower lip.
    Jerek’s fingers dance across the slate. “Let me confirm the integrity of the seal.”
    Blue telltales flash on the side of the device.
    Jerek’s eyes drop to the slate. “Confirmed. The inside of the sphere is maintaining a constant pressure of 2,000 millibars, approximately double normal atmospheric pressure. Now we’ll release the reactant.” He brings the filter up to his mouth and bites down.
    They hear the sound of gas escaping under pressure. The enclosed area inside the sphere takes on a slightly cloudy appearance.
    Jerek nods and speaks through the filter. “It works. Readings indicate zero free oxygen. Anyone on the inside of the sphere will suffocate and pass out in less than three minutes.” His fingers move over the slate. “One more test. Please keep the sphere in place and stand back.”
    Ryzaard hears the
rat-a-tat-tat
of a small machine gun blast. Sparks flare inside the sphere. A half dozen metallic balls the size of marbles drop to the floor and roll at the bottom.
    Slipping off his mouthpiece, Jerek stares at the slate. “Internal integrity of the sphere confirmed. I’ve imbedded a pulse blaster on the device, just in case you need it. It will instantly shred anyone on the inside.” He looks up at Ryzaard. “I’d say we have a working device. Test complete.”
    The sphere fades away. The odor of charred metal wafts past them.
    Jerek walks to the device, reaches down and pulls out the Stones, one by one. “I’ll transfer the controls to your jax.” He hands the Stones back to Ryzaard with trembling fingers. “You should be able to use it as soon as you want.”
    Ryzaard grins. “Tonight.”



CHAPTER 14
    “S o, where else have you gone during the past few months?” Jessica walks up the broad steps of the porch and stops below the head of the golden unicorn that looks out above the front door.
    Matt avoids eye contact by looking out at the green lawn and hedge that divide the yard from the jungle.
    “I’ve been careful,” Matt says. “Mostly I just came here to take a few powder runs down the mountain and build this house.”
    “You’ve been careful?” Jessica grabs Matt’s chin and pulls it so he’s looking directly at her. “Ryzaard knows about this planet. I’ll bet he comes here every now and then to check on you. You’ve been putting yourself in great danger. You could have died, and we’d never know what happened to you.”
    “Remember, Jess, this is my world. It’s the safest place I can be. Ryzaard can’t kill me here. He tried before and couldn’t do it. And I moved the location so Ryzaard no longer knows the way.”
    “Wait, you moved the entire planet?”
    “Yep.” Matt reaches down and picks up her hands, pushing the door open with his shoulder. “Come in and have a look.”
    They step into a large open receiving room. A huge chandelier hangs overhead. A broad staircase extends upward directly in front of them, dividing to the right and left at the top. The sign of the unicorn is everywhere, on the wooden banister of the stairway, in the moldings on the ceiling and walls, even embedded in the large carpet under their feet. The smell of roast beef and garlic floats in from a room on their left.
    Jessica sees that dinner for two is waiting on a table set with delicate china and crystal. A large German chocolate cake is placed in the middle like a great centerpiece next to red candles burning atop golden candlesticks.
    “Come on.” Matt’s arm finds its way over Jessica’s shoulder, diagonally across her back to the opposite hip. “Let’s celebrate your birthday.”
    “Are you sure we have time for this?” Jessica suppresses a worried look on her face. “We told Leo and Yarah that we’d hurry as fast as we could.”
    “I know,” Matt says.