Chapter 64

Chapter Sixty-Four

Three of the lizard things stood between Connor and the sheer face of the butte wall. One lay flat on its belly about fifteen meters from Connor’s position, eyes closed, its pungent, rotting smell almost eye watering in the blistering heat. The other two were at the base of the stone wall, curled up as if sleeping.

Nothing else blocked his path across the upslope stretch to the reddish-gray rock wall.

The way the three lizards were so still…was it possible that the sunlight on their dark skin made them sleepy or at least prone to lounging? None of the lizards made a sound.

They had to be sleeping or resting. If so, it would be the first break he’d caught in a while.

His radio vibrated: Selen was trying to contact him again.

His pocket computer translated her words to text: What are you doing?

He whispered his reply. “Providing a distraction. At my signal, everyone makes a run for the manageable way up.”