Hero Material (Excerpt from "The Assassin")

8/13/2019 Hero Material (Excerpt from "The Assassin")

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Excerpt from The Assassin:

Hero Material

Come! She grabbed Reinhold by his parka slee e and ranoff the Solar "ind off the #etty all the $ay back to thekennels%

&t'ak &t'ak! She $as o(t of breath from r(nning as shecame charging into the h(sky station% The dogs #(mped (p andmilled aro(nd her trying to lick her face%

&t'ak yo( m(st help me! They) e gone o(t! They)re o(tthere! They)re in tro(ble!

Slo$ do$n girl said &t'ak% They ha e to be on the base!All the sno$mobiles are here the only one missing is the one*ederi took+ ,e stared at her d(mbstr(ck% Say do yo(ha e an identical t$in-

She shook her head (ns(re $here this $as going stressedabo(t the delay% &f that blasted craft tipped any more it $o(ldslither do$n into that alley . or $orse topple and roll! Andthey $ere obli io(s+

/o()re Federis girl said &t'ak firmly% ,e glared at Rhine0old% /o( and *ederi ha e been back a $hile! There isanother craft missing!

1aean stared at Reinhold her heart sinking% The ,amb(rger $as grinning indecently at her2 she had no idea $hy% 3aybethat came $ith tomato ketch(p% The idiot! ,er brother and

R(shka $ere in mortal danger!
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&)d page them first s(ggested &t'ak seeing her stress%3aybe they are+ close by%

*irst thing & tried replied 1aean% They)re notresponding%

To their $rist4coms completed &t'ak% 5et)s try the comon the sno$mobile! ,e p(shed a se6(ence on the b(ttons onhis $rist4com and his face fell% 7ash it% &t)s the craft $ith the

broken com%1aean felt like $ailing% 7on)t the cars ha e tracers- This

$as part of Captain)s pro#ect and Captain $as into safetymeas(res%

The tracer is interconnected $ith the com said &t'ak% Soit)s also in #eopardy% 8(t let me sho$ yo( a neat little trick $ith o(r $rist4coms% ,e beckoned her closer and sho$ed her a ne$ se6(ence% The coms all ha e tracers in them! *or

resc(e at sea and at the bases and in combat sit(ations and soon%

& see% This $as good ne$s% 1aean $atched ho$ &t'ak paged R(shka)s com%

A signal came back to his gi ing him exact coordinates . *lying shards he c(rsed% That thing says they are . right

o er there! ,e pointed at the kennels%1aean)s heart pl(mmeted% She stormed in the direction of

the signal and picked the t$o $rist4coms (p from the floor%&t'ak she said high colo(r creeping into her face my

brother)s not like that! ,e)s ne er this irresponsible! Excepthell he $as being so irresponsible right no$ 3other $o(ldha e skinned him!

R(shka is s(pplied &t'ak% She)s ad ent(ro(s% Think


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R(shka might ha e taken him to+ that other place- Can)timagine tho(gh R(shka kno$s ho$ Captain feels abo(t his

places+ b(t there)s no$here else they can really ha e gone%9h yes tho(ght 1aean there $as plenty of else they co(ld

ha e gone% There $as the $hole icy endless Antarctic night!8(t it $as probably faster to h(mo(r &t'ak on this than to ha ea battle%

5et)s go then she p(shed%&t'ak looked $orried% & can)t lea e the doggies% ot right

no$% &)m act(ally do$n here tonight beca(se 5(mpi o er thereis abo(t to ha e p(ps% She)s already in labo(r%

/es she remembered% ,e)d said something like that to*ederi% 1aean peered at the dogs% ,er little brother $as s(regoing to $itness that miracle% 8(t her older brother $as indanger of free'ing to death tonight% 8eca(se the Captain)s

da(ghter $as ad ent(ro(s!7oggies- &t'ak)s h(skies $ere more important than t$o

h(man cre$ members-&)ll go by myself she said%Stay p(t! ordered &t'ak s(ddenly angry% This is not a

blinking to(rist base! ,ang tight 1aean! ,e mo ed a$ay$ell o(t of earshot $ith the h(sky top dog by his side% 1aeansa$ ho$ he engaged his com once more%

She $as ready to scream% She checked on her brother oncemore . and $ithdre$ her tab st(ng% She)d recei ed a painf(l

b(ff on the nose% She co(ld almost hear his sn(b: 8(g offyo( little pest! And that craft $as hanging o er that cliffnearly half of its chains not connecting $ith the le el gro(nd

any longer%


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&t'ak came back to her looking baffled% They ha en)treported in there he said% 5ittle ;ohn says he only sa$ yo(and *ederi tonight%

1aean headed to the sno$mobiles%/o( can)t go o(t there alone said &t'ak% Too dangero(s%

/o( o(ght to inform *ederi and let him go look!*ederi)s in an officer)s meeting snapped 1aean% ,e)s in

eno(gh tro(ble for (s being late! &t'ak it)s my brother o(tthere% &)m going% Reinhold can come along!

& can)t dri e a sno$mobile ob#ected Rhine 0old% either can & b(t &)m abo(t to find o(t! She $as already

in one% Can)t be too different from the ship console!,oy 1aean! "ait (p! 5et me at least sho$ yo( ho$ the

controls $ork! called &t'ak% *irst of all go slo$ly% Anddon)t stop any$here%


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&t'ak seems con inced grinned Rhine 0old% 3(st ha eseen something! ,is smile faded% And Ailyss . "olf hogsher the $hole time% R(shka is in Ronan)s cla$s% "ho)s leftfor me-

0et together $ith 3r 3arsden s(ggested 1aean anddelighted in the look of absol(te disg(st that crossed the,amb(rger)s face% 3aybe he)ll t(rn into a girl! 9r ho$abo(t that f(rry girlfriend of yo(rs . that h(sky *reedom-She m(lled% /o( like Ailyss- The sno$mobile sped past a

deep sno$drift missing it by inches% Sheesh! The flakes $erefloating aro(nd them no$ lit (p in the headlights like h(ndredsof s$irling stars% Sho(ld) e gi en "olf)s task to yo( thensho(ldn)t &- considered 1aean%

,is task?1aean grinned mirthlessly% ,e)s (seless at it any$ay! Told

him to look after her and keep her o(t of tro(ble% 8lackmailedhim% "ith his knee%

"hat- /o( little b(sybody! "hy do yo( ha e to meddle ine erybody)s affairs-

1aean glared at him% She)d had #(st abo(t eno(gh! ,er brother)s sn(b still st(ng too for blasted trying to sa e his life!

And yo()re a co$ard! she retorted% o$ that she)sharmless yo( $ant her% ;(st beca(se she)s a girl no other reason% 8efore that $here $ere yo( $ith yo(r friendship-"hen she needed it- There $e are here)s the 7eep 8ase%

"hat- asked Rhine 0old gaping at the entrance that $asopening in the hill before them%

5ittle ;ohn came to$ards them $ith a sco$l as they got o(t

of the sno$mobile%


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the search from this side% 7on)t get o(t of the sno$mobile andremember don)t let the engine die! The snapf4resparkifyersare cold4sensiti e they free'e o er and then yo( can)t restart!

Shukar, yelled 1aean% Then they $ere on their $ayheading o(t into the dancing sno$%

;ohn 5ittle ga'ed after them fro$ning% She $as an intensegirl! "hen had *ederi had the time to teach this yo(ng $omanho$ to dri e a sno$ craft-

"hat 4- Radomir 5ascek glared at his $rist4com% ;ohns(rely yo()re #oking-

The meeting exploded% There $as no disc(ssing alliancesand political scenarios no$% R(shka $as in mortal danger andRonan 7onegal $ith her% The Captain barked commands2moments later sno$mobiles fanned o(t from &ce 8ase and

more from So(thern 7eep% 7oc and 8enita 7)Ara(#o mannedone craft2 5ascek and /ang


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cross4co(ntry% ,e had set the craft)s tracer on 1aean)s$rist4com2 she $as a blipping red dot on the console screenand his biggest challenge $as to get closer% She $as dri inglike a $ild thing m(ch faster than $as safe in these little

b(bble craft b(t at least she seemed to be going mainly in onedirection% &t seemed as tho(gh she had some sort of fix on$here her brother $as%

,er radar% She kept tabs on lo ed ones recalled *ederi%Co(ld she sense that he $as not too far behind her- Co(ld he

reach her someho$ pacify her tell her to slo$ do$n- Shedidn)t exactly seem to be listening! Sho(ld he contact her onthe com- ;on 3arsden $as already f(nny abo(t the $holesit(ation!

9h hell if something happened to the little s(nbird no$!The Animal $as pacing in its cage looking for its gap to

escape% And the Samoa tic ran thro(gh his a(ra once e erythirty seconds% 5ike a st(bborn case of $ere4hicc(ps%

Slo$ do$n man! reproached 3arsden% 7on)t $ant (slanding in a sno$drift! Sho(ld ha e taken the controls myself!

,a e yo( considered said *ederi thro(gh his teeth that$hate er R(shka is playing she can at least dri e- There aret$o inexperienced dri ers in 1aean)s craft and in fact the kid isat the steering col(mn!

9of m(ttered 3arsden% Slo$ do$n man! &t $on)t helpyo(r little l( any if yo( o ert(rn this craft!

That explains the lime4green bandana commented Rhine0old as 1aean steered thro(gh the storm%

"hat- She glanced at him and back at the o(tside $here


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co(ntless specks s$irled in the headlights of the sno$ craft%"hat)s it like to be the girlfriend of an old g(y- asked

Rhine 0old $ith a grin%"hat- snapped 1aean incensed% ,e)s not old blast yo(!

,e)s t$enty! early! "hat the hell does age ha e to do $ithit- She met his old stare% &)m not his girlfriend! "hat . areyo( #ealo(s-

Think he)ll make yo( $ear skirts- 0ypsies don)t like their $omen in pants teased the ,amb(rger%

Aargh!!She na igated horrifyingly close to a deep crack in the ice

$here the gro(nd fell a$ay into a black abyss for the $idth of t$o metres% ,er ner es sang in high stress as she t(rned it o(tof the $ay% 1aean $asn)t 6(ite certain anymore ho$ to slo$this thing do$n $itho(t coming to a complete stop% She only

remembered ;ohn)s $arning abo(t not letting the engine die%All she co(ld do $as follo$ the psychic trace she $as gettingand keep the craft going in the right direction and try to a oidob io(s disaster%

The images $ere flooding in no$% Ronan and R(shka $ere both in deep tro(ble% They sho(ld ha e stayed inside the craft blast them! o$ the $arm air $as o(t of there! 1aean c(rsedherself for listening to &t'ak and first going to 7eep 8ase% Sheo(ght to ha e follo$ed the trace right a$ay aimed to $alk inon them+ at least there $o(ld ha e been less danger!

/o( $ere saying prompted Rhine 0old clinging to theseat for dear life% Abo(t *ederi!

"e)re not talking abo(t *ederi said 1aean conf(sed%

This is abo(t Ro and R(shka!


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7i ersion tactics grinned Rhine 0old%&diot! shot 1aean%,ah retorted Rhine 0old% o$ Im the idiot! /o( (sed

to like me 1aean!1aean negotiated past another sno$drift% Sight $as se erely

limited in this r(sh of sno$flakes% The sno$mobile)s chainskept slipping in the ne$ po$dery sno$ bet$een gripping theolder compacted bits (nderneath% There $ere also patches$here black ice sho$ed thro(gh (nder the yo(ng sno$% 1aean

tried to steer aro(nd those% "hene er the chains hit one of those parts they slipped frighteningly and the engine ga e atort(red $hine% ,er ner es $ere #arring%

"olf #(st needed a comb she commented% /o( need a brain transplant%

She leaned for$ard in a s(bconscio(s attempt to see more% &t

didn)t help% An ice $all s(ddenly loomed right in front of herand she s$er ed frantically praying to any resident g(ardiansno$ angels that the craft $o(ldn)t topple% &t didn)t% &t danceda $alt' instead losing its grip on the ice% 1aean $alt'ed $ith it(ntil she tho(ght of steering into the c(r es getting the chainsto grip again% Adrenaline shot thro(gh her belatedly% Shecl(ng onto the steering rod shaking% 7on)t stop the craft! Theengine might die! Those snapf4 + snapf+ dingbats+

Rhine 0old $as grinning at her his eyes as $ild as hers inthe light of the console%

"hat-"olf $orships yo( he said%Sh(t (p $arned 1aean%

Ay! "atch the road!!


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"hat road 1aean bit o(t fighting $ith the dancing craftonce again% Stop talking sheka ! She tried steering into thec(r es again and it $orked a second time% She grinnedrelie ed% And tried to ignore the $ay e ery m(scle in her body$as #(mping%

&t)s tr(e insisted Rhine 0old% "oe betide him if yo(r gypsy finds o(t!

1aean screamed% 9ne more $ord from yo( shethreatened and &)ll kick yo( in the . er . o(t of the

sno$mobile!E$$ grinned Rhine 0old% And sh(t his mo(th% 1aean

gro(nd her teeth and tried foc(sing on the psychic trace andthe road% "olf didn)t $orship her% "olf $as a lo(t% "ith nole er%

They all tho(ght there $as something bet$een her and

*ederi! ;(st beca(se he had decided to keep her company% Sheshook her head the phantom of a smile in the corner of her mo(th% ,e)d probably la(gh himself silly abo(t thiscon ersation!

"as that kind of $onderf(l friendship so to(gh to(nderstand- 7arned hell she tho(ght it $as! &t $as rare and

precio(s that $as $hy! one of them had any cl(e abo(tsomething like that! She $o(ld ha e gi en all she o$ned rightno$ to ha e him in the sno$mobile next to her instead of this

big blond moll(sc% And ha ing him dri e she tho(ght her panic mo(nting% This terrible craft $as picking (p speed again%Aargh *ederi help! "here are yo(-

There $as this s(dden calm spot inside of her% The

connection $as there%


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Little luv, touch the brakes gently. Is it working? oure slowing down? !ood, now do it again" 1aean obeyed theimpression and the craft slo$ed% ,er $ildly beating heartslo$ed do$n too and she started breathing again% ,er com

bipped% She to(ched it%*ederi!0ot my message little l( -/es thanks she smiled%"e)re on o(r $ay s$eetness% 7on)t $orry% 7ri e gently%

Thanks *ederi! She to(ched the >o er)4b(tton stillsmiling to herself%

There yo( ha e it little l( commented Rhine 0old%1aean shook her head% #hat epithet had ne er bothered her

yet!/o( g(ys are being st(pid she said softly% *ederi is an

ace friend% 0o look (p the definition in the Sher4 She fro'e%"as Reinhold a pirate- 9r $as he a hostage- Sheesh! "as heriling her to conni e secrets o(t of her-

& think said Rhine 0old $ith a kno$ing grin doth yo(not protest a bit too m(ch no$-

That)s d(mb snapped 1aean angrily% 7oth! "hat thehell do yo( mean by that- &s this brain damage from the?nicate School System-

5ook it (p in the Sherman *iles ad ised Rhine 0old $itha grin%

1aean gro(nd her teeth% 7oth!,o$ dared her brother get a$ay into the Antarctic night #(st

o(t of p(re . p(re . her $hite4hot anger ran o(t of $ords%

,o$ dared he p(t R(shka)s and his o$n life in s(ch danger-


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3olly Street she tho(ght dismally% They $ere from 3ollyStreet% &t had finally ca(ght (p $ith her brother%

"ell she)d never allo$ it to catch (p $ith Sha$ney! Theoid $as s(ddenly right ahead% She hit the brakes $ith f(ll

force ca(sing the craft to spin a do(ghn(t and coming to restmere inches a$ay from the drop% The engine c(t o(t% Theflakes s$irled do$n into the ya$ning g(lf% 1aean cl(ng to thesteering col(mn $aiting for the adrenaline in her blood to stopfi''ing 6(ite so badly% She stared do$n the precipito(s slope

horrified% This $as $here the trace had led her%&f those blasted flakes co(ld take it a bit easier for a

moment+As tho(gh it had heard her plea the $ind calmed a bit and

the sno$ came do$n more gently% She opened the door of thecraft and #(mped o(t and sank a$ay in knee4deep sno$%

,ay! protested Rhine 0old shocked% /o( can)t get o(t!&t)s too blasted cold! Close that door!

Schat' (p! &)m listening! They $ere close by% She stoodlistening to the enormity of the night s6(inting into the fallingsno$% Close by . do$n there-

Rhine 0old to(ched her sho(lder% She half4t(rned to him%,e $as holding o(t sno$ goggles . hi tech ones she sa$ in thedim light of the sno$ craft)s console% She p(t them onthankf(lly%

Close yo(r parka)s hood he instr(cted% She obeyed'ipping the face4g(ard closed% She accepted the thermalelbo$4length mittens he held o(t to her and stripped them ono er her glo es% And then she str(ggled to$ards the steep

drop and sank a$ay into the irgin sno$ (p to her hips% She


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felt colder inside than o(t% &f it $eren)t for the distress signalsshe $as still consistently picking (p+

Rhine 0old got o(t of the sno$mobile as $ell and follo$edher a fe$ paces along the ridge holding o(t a pair of sno$shoes from the craft to her% ,e $as already $earing a pair himself% ,e looked like a moon man $ith his parka closed (plike that and his goggles% She motioned him into more silencesensing that he $as going to say something again% Then she

pl(cked his slee e and pointed do$n into the chasm% 7o$n

there!There $as something dark in the sno$% &t co(ld be a rock%&)m bringing the craft closer%Rhine 0old got back inside and fiddled $ith the sno$

ehicle)s controls% There $as no response%Can)t! The engine)s dead!

She stared at him in dismay% 0reat going 1aean 7onegal! o$ $hat- Coming to resc(e her brother and getting st(ck herself-

*irst things first said Rhine 0old as 1aean str(ggled intoher sno$shoes% ,e d(g in the interior of the craft and locatedt$o strong spotlights and bro(ght them o(t% She glanced athim%

1aean said Rhine 0old relax% ,e placed his h(geAntarctic mitten on her sho(lder% All she co(ld see of his face$ere his eyes b(t they s(ddenly seemed to ha e intelligence

behind them% "e ha e three f(nctional coms and the craft)stracer is on and $e) e got that g(y from that other baseorgani'ing a search and &t'ak kno$s $here $e are%

She ga'ed at his parka)d (p face and light4bl(e eyes and


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breathed% This $as a different man from the immat(re moron$ho had #(st occ(pied the craft $ith her! This $as Rhine0old ,ero 3aterial% A real ally $ho act(ally meantsomething% A$ thank the stars!

They fastened the lights to their belts and climbed do$n thesteep slope to $here Ronan and R(shka)s sno$mobile had(pended%

That blasted craft $as lying on its back sno$ chains (p inthe air% The door $as half $renched off% 1aean and Rhine

0old forced it open together% 1aean s(ppressed a scream%Ronan $as h(ddled against the $indshield his arms aro(nd

R(shka% *or a second 1aean tho(ght they $ere both dead% Sheknelt do$n and felt for a p(lse in her brother)s main artery andfo(nd it . slo$ and $eak b(t distinct%

Ro is ali e she breathed% 0ot to get him a$ay from that

icy $indshield!,er brother $as $earing a parka and so $as R(shka2 b(t

neither had fastened their face g(ards and they had been sittingin this icy little place for ho$ long- 1aean checked for R(shka)s p(lse too% &t too $as there b(t ery $eak%

,o$ long had those t$o battled to t(rn their craft the right$ay ro(nd again-

"e ha e to get them into o(r sno$ craft said Rhine 0old%1aean glanced at him%

1(ll them o(t of here into the bli''ard- she 6(eriedraising her eyebro$s 6(ite pointlessly at him . he co(ldn)t seethem behind the parka%

"hat else can $e do- asked Rhine 0old exasperated%

0ot to get them $arm!


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3ake a fire gro$led 1aean%*ire echoed Rhine 0old a fara$ay expression in his eyes%

1aean took her mittens off and r(bbed her brother)s cheeks$ith her neolaminene4glo ed fingers% &t didn)t do m(ch%

*ire Rhine 0old m(ttered to himself and started filchingthro(gh e ery compartment he co(ld find aro(nd the craft% The

bli''ard retook its speed o(tside%1aean tried $edging herself bet$een the $indscreen and her

brother%

That)s pointless remarked Rhine 0old% /o()ll onlyfree'e as $ell%

&t b(ys them time snapped 1aean%*ire reiterated the ,amb(rger%&f he said it one more time+8ody heat s(ggested 1aean starting to open her parka%

Stop that are yo( n(ts- exclaimed Rhine 0old% 8e cool1aean! There are many flammable things aboard here! &)monly trying to fig(re ho$ $e are going to do this $itho(tca(sing the $hole thing to explode!

1aean glanced aro(nd the tiny cabin% &f the blasted consoleco(ld be res(rrected and the heating acti ated $ith or $itho(tthe engine r(nning+

$ome on, Federi, dont tell me youve never commandeered a vehicle?

,er com bipped% She s$itched it on% *ederi!5ittle l( $hat)s going on-"e fo(nd them she reported% They)re fro'en% "hat do &

do-

Can yo( get in (nder the seat- There)s a compartment


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said *ederi%1aean reached (p to $here the seat h(ng o er them% She

fo(nd the compartment and p(lled it open% A large blanket anda sheet from some or other artificial material pl(nged o(t%

Ah she said%This isn)t going to help remarked Rhine 0old% /o( p(t a

blanket aro(nd them yo()re only locking the cold in%1aean came *ederi)s oice on the com yo( see that other

thing that looks like a piece of $rapping material-

/es%1(t that aro(nd them% 9ne corner has a b(tton% /o( p(sh

that b(tton%&t)s electric- asked 1aean excited% Ni. ;(st do it% ,ang tight $e)re right behind yo(%Thanks she breathed and $rapped the sheet aro(nd Ronan

and R(shka% She searched its corners and fo(nd the b(ttonand clicked it%

,eat spread thro(gh the sheet gro$ing o(t from that onecorner (ntil it had reached e ery part%

1(t the other blanket o er (rged Rhine 0old% That $aythe heat stays in! As he $as speaking he $as already doingit%

& ha e no idea $hy R(shka $o(ldn)t ha e done this in thefirst place m(ttered 1aean p(''led% She)d ha e kno$n!She helped Rhine 0old t(ck the blanket aro(nd her brother andR(shka and then res(med r(bbing Ronan)s face in an effort torestore circ(lation%

Ronan groaned% And the door of the craft $as $renched

open once more% Extra torch beams shone on the t$o ictims%


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1aean t(rned%9(t commanded 3r 3arsden)s oice from (nderneath

layers of parka% "e)re going to get them into o(r craft andtake them back to the base%

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Hero Material (Excerpt from "The Assassin")