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damage that he couldn t see the black uniforms, charred but still recognizable. Neither of them was Frey.
Stumbling away from the ship, he drew several gasping breaths of clean air, both relief and lack of
oxygen causing his head to spin dangerously. Frey hadn t died in the crash. The tracker had stopped, but he
was going to take any bit of hope he could find.
His own approach had disturbed the snow around the scene, and Tal stepped back more carefully
now, scanning the ground. It didn t take long to find the deep floundering steps in the two-to-three-foot
snow and he felt another flash of hope. If Frey was able to move in this, his injuries might not be as
debilitating as Tal had feared, given the state of the flyer and its other occupants.
Following the trail was absurdly easy once he d found it, especially since he was able to stay on top of
the snow. It worried him that it seemed to be doubling in on itself, since he doubted that Frey was trying to
throw off pursuit. This was more likely due to disorientation, and in this weather, disorientation equaled
death. Tal broke into a shuffling run, thoughts irrationally but stubbornly focused on rescue, always rescue.
No other option was tolerable.
The small hill slowed him down considerably, legs aching as he climbed, and he stopped once he
reached the top, doubled over to catch his breath. When he looked back up, the flash of blue against the
stark white caught his eyes. It was his coat, a brilliant shade meant to be visible in the worst snowstorm.
He didn t run so much as roll down the far side of the hill, feet skidding and sliding out from under
him until he landed on his knees next to Frey.
He wasn t breathing, at least not enough to register as even the faintest cloud of vapor in the cold air.
The half-zipped coat was a bad sign, and Tal tugged it up as he examined him, years of rescue training
instinctively coming to the forefront.
Got him, Vanya. We ll need warming blankets, maybe an epi shot. Setting up a rescue signal now,
have you got it?
Got it, she confirmed, her voice worn. Is he hurt?
Can t tell. Head injury, maybe, but I don t want to expose him long enough to check. How far out are
you?
Maybe five, ten minutes. I ll be there as soon as I can.
Tal hung onto that as he surveyed the situation, deciding rapidly on a course of action. Reluctantly
letting go of Frey for a moment, Tal unzipped his own coat first, then stretched and tugged until he was
able to pull down the top of his heat suit. The bitter chill tried to take his breath away as he reached for
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S. Reesa Herberth and Michelle Moore
Frey, settling him in his lap tight against his chest before zipping the two coats to each other, creating an
insulated tent of sorts. It was harder to manipulate Frey s limbs from inside the coat, but eventually he
managed it, getting unsteadily back to his feet with the limp body cradled in his arms. He sank, even with
the snowshoes, but when Vanya reached them just minutes later, he d managed to get them to a place
where she could safely land.
Vanya was waiting at the ramp for them, and slung an arm around Tal, helping him into the ship.
Take him to our cabin, the warming blankets and the med kit are there.
It was an endless walk, legs cramping with exhaustion before Tal maneuvered sideways through the
door and eased Frey onto the bed. The flyer went down, the other two didn t survive. Vanya had to help
him unzip the two coats, and Tal shook himself loose, dropping it on the floor. Fuck, Van, I couldn t even
tell if he was breathing, he said, voice thick with despair. He wandered away from the crash, and he
wasn t dressed for the snow, even with my coat.
She grabbed the scanner from the table next to the bed, fumbling it on one-handed. There was no
discernable reaction as she set the scanner on the pale skin, but that was nowhere near as disturbing as the
slack emptiness of his face. Frey was a constantly changing landscape of expressions, alive and vital. Now,
like this, he could be one of the statues he coveted.
Anything?
Vanya rested a finger against Frey s throat, as if she needed to verify what the scanner said, and then
looked up with a tired smile. His pulse is getting stronger. Let s get him stripped down and into the
blankets. They made short work of it between them, and when they were done, Vanya set the scanner on
Frey s chest, the heart-rate monitor echoing the sluggish beat that was picking up as warmed blood coursed
through him.
Tal shook himself, realizing that he d been staring at the monitor, mesmerized. Vanya leaned against
him, hand slipping into his. I know watching it wouldn t keep it from stopping, but it s still comforting,
isn t it?
It was his turn to smile, even that small effort a struggle. But if there was ever anyone capable of
willing someone back to life, it would be you.
I appreciate that vote of confidence. She straightened up with a groan, rolling her shoulders. I m
going to get us off-planet. If they had anyone on their ship waiting, they ll be here soon, and I don t think
either of us are up to that right now. She groaned again, this time as Tal dug his fingers into the muscle of
her shoulders, massaging the tightness away. Will you be okay for a few minutes?
Nothing to do now but wait. If& Tal found himself swallowing hard over the word. If he wakes
up, it ll be sooner rather than later. We ve done all we can without access to the hospital in Bruner.
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The Slipstream Con
When he wakes up, it s not like they d be able to do more than we can with a few hours under the
warming blankets. Unless he has frostbite, she added, eyeing Frey s fingers with a critical eye. His heart [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] - zanotowane.pl
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