Loni wondered, if Galar and Scar were somehow involved? The deed had their markings all over it.
The strangest thing, also was, little of the water system was affected, save for Loni's quarters, and...life support, fire rescue, policing, and certain security, along with anything automated, and under computer control.
Loni and Gem easily listened in by mind, as the workmen talked back and forth.
They spent a pleasant night camping out, but the next day, work stations were back to normal; even the fruit stands were manned, and the showers and cafeteria, ran smoothly.
It was as if the four had not been displaced; as if nothing had happened to the installation. The only difference was they were no longer controlled by the machines, and...some services, such as supervision, was unavailable.
Yet, most carried on as if they were still being overseen; habits being hard to break.
Ever after, all over the dome, breakdowns and failures plagued future operations.
As for Loni, Da, and their companions...they were never appointed another sleep room; perhaps, no one realized, theirs had been damaged.
One man did, and he was very pleased with the situation...
Chapter 23
Gem let out a startled squeak, as Galar dropped suspended upside-down from the scaffolding above, into the pathway. She hadn't been paying full attention to her surroundings; thinking she was safe, so used to the free open spaces of their camp, she had forgotten, someone still might mean her harm.
Loni, too had become lax, figuring she could take care of herself; after all, Gem could defend herself against him. Why not another?
It was their practice to meet up at the falls after work; today Loni had offered to pick up the food; had suggested, the girls take their time with their showers.
They still had to be careful of the other men, but the two women stayed together, so Gem could protect Lydia. Da's woman had ran on ahead...
Apparently, Galar had waited until she had passed by.
The man reached down for her with determined aggression. Gem felt, he was of little threat, suspended like that; there would be no need to zap him.
She sidestepped, and ran past him, into a side path of the gardens. It was just a matter of getting to the other wall, and the ladder leading up. Galar should take considerable time to get operational with his crutch.
But when she reached her goal, the other brother, Scar, was there to meet her.
Bummer! They are working as a pair. Harder to avoid.
Gem didn't dare call out for help; that might bring attention of other workers to her, and when they realized she was alone, they would sooner help the twins then defend her.
She turned down another roadway, heading for the opposite wall-ladder up, but once again Scar had anticipated her. As they headed her off, she got further and further away from the upper campsite. It was as if the two men were guiding her, just where they wanted her to go.
****
"Hey!" shouted a man at the monitor over in the corner. "Come take a look at my screen. Isn't this Flaw's appointed she?"
"Yes. Why? Whoa!" the other added quickly, as he bent to peer at the second viewer. "He's about to lose her to another..."
"What's that?" asked a third, from over the way, standing up, and leaving his post. Soon every observer was craning from behind to see; none were at their posts.
Discipline had been slack ever since the day of the breakdown, seldom being enforced.
"Oh, darn!" They've gone under the trees. This is the pits! We've simply got to put up more cameras in the work areas."
"Yeah, there are none in the butchery, either, and that's probably where they are heading. That's where the twins will catch the little she devil, too. They know the area best."
"Where is Flaw? I don't see him anywhere."
"He's never been in the picture."
"Well, we can't see much more, unless they move back this way, best get back to work," suggested the supervisor. "Let Flaw fight his own battles."
As they returned to their stations, the men were laughing.
"Too, bad," said one. "They made such a good pair. Tough luck, Flaw.""
Howls of laughter, and crude remarks followed.
"Would have been nice to have watched it, though; like a fight match entertainment..."
The incident was soon forgotten, and rumor the next day, gave no inkling of whom had won out.
****
Gem had made it to an up-going ladder, but as she stepped up on the first rung, Scar caught her rapidly from behind. He grabbed her by the hair, and shook her angrily; clearly perturbed by her constant evasion.
The interval was just long enough for Galar to catch up. He came from behind, slugging her from the side, with a heavy branch.
Stunned, the girl went down.
Distantly, Gem could hear, as Galar said: "I'll take it from here; you stay away, now, so he doesn't find us."
The world receded. Gem felt herself dragged by her hair, along the metal hallway, heard the screaming of a door-hinge; then awareness faded away completely.
****
When she came to, her head pounded with a throbbing headache, one like she'd never experienced before. It was so overwhelming, she couldn't even transmit thoughts to Loni, to tell him where she was.
But, he will find me! He won't just leave me here with this brute!
She found, she was also bound in chains, inside a dark, hot room with aluminum walls, and a heavy, iron, padlocked door. Air from a vent, high above, could be felt. But oh, the odors coming through did not alleviate the situation.
Gemma gagged, and retched. To the stench of decaying, butchered meat, and defecation, the contents of her stomach was now added to the mix.
Gemma groaned in misery, wiping at her mouth.
Apparently, having heard
