Chapter 78

Chapter Seventy-Eight

An hour before midday, Connor led the team out of the woods and up the gentler incline to the top of the butte. There were no lizard creatures and no winged scorpions. A low, wispy fog was all that remained of the rain, and without it, things were quiet.

Vicente shook his head in disbelief. “It’s almost pleasant, huh, Boss?”

“Almost. If you ignore the smell.”

“Yeah. I’ll never get used to that. It’s like death is always here.”

Death always was there—a perpetual rot that got into the sinuses and spoiled food and water. Even without that smell, Connor would never be happy with the planet’s humidity, but the rain had given them a break from it.

It couldn’t last.

He conducted a quick inspection of the landing gear to be sure the repairs were holding up, while the others entered the ship. Other than some inconsequential leaks, things looked good.

Once the ramp was retraced into the Lucky Sevens and the hatch closed, Connor pulled his pocket computer out.