Thunder by Bonnie S. Calhoun Page B

second wind, as her mother liked to say. The endorphins would kick in and flood her body with happy juice, making it easy to push on. But today . . . was it her imagination, or could she have traveled another twenty miles? Whatever she felt, there was no need to go farther today. The travel station sat less than a hundred yards away.
    She crossed the field to the road, followed it around the bend, and jerked to a stop. A Company AirStream sat on the landing pad in front of the building. Its occupants were coming out of the station.
    Selah muttered to herself and backed into the bend. She’d beaten her brothers here and now would be bested by a stupid Company transport.
    While she ranted to herself about her misfortune, the officers climbed back into the vehicle and lifted off. Selah dashed into the protective cover of the tree line. With a soft hum, the AirStream rose above the road and disappeared around the bend.
    â€œYes!” Selah charged toward the station. She peered in the window. Empty room. She quickly entered, the cool interior of the rocrete and stone composite building offering welcome relief from the sweltering heat. Her clothes had dried at least an hour ago, so heat was no longer being drawn off her body. She’d sit here for a few minutes before setting up a hiding place.
    Selah dropped her backpack on a bench along the far wall and spied a poster on the Company bulletin board.
    Attention: By the order of the Company, bounty on Lander subjects shall be raised by 25 percent. Total bounty will be paid as follows: 25 percent in credit, 75 percent in energy.
    Her stomach lurched. Selah wanted to tear the poster to bits. She reached out.
    â€œWhat do you think you’re doing?” a male voice said.

7

    S elah spun to face the door.
    The man straightened after picking up a small case leaning against the open doorway. He wore the uniform of Company security. Behind him she saw the AirStream on the landing pad.
    â€œI-I’m just trying to read what it says,” Selah said with a wide smile. She could feel her face getting red but hoped he didn’t notice in the low light. The transport, nearly silent, had returned without her hearing it. She needed to learn to stay alert.
    The man sauntered forward. He looked around the empty room and gave her a sideways glance. “You wouldn’t be trying to steal the notice so no one else sees the new bounty, would you?”
    Selah shook her head. “No, sir. I’d never do that.”
    The officer motioned her forward. Selah froze. He unhooked the small biometric scanner from his utility belt.
    â€œWhat is your name, young lady?” The officer held out the scanner.
    Selah hesitated. Was her stepfather looking for her already? Unfortunately, the hesitation put the officer on alert. His expression went from friendly to stony. He cocked a finger, beckoning her forward.
    Selah swallowed hard and slowly walked toward him. There was nowhere to run. If she got out the door, the other officer sat in the AirStream. She held out her arm.
    â€œI asked for your name,” the officer said as he scanned her arm.
    â€œSelah Rishon Chavez,” she said in a barely audible voice, as though the quieter she said it, the less it would register.
    The officer raised an eyebrow as he ran a finger over several spots on the scanner. Selah tried to keep her breathing in check. Seconds seemed like minutes. He looked up. Her heart skipped.
    â€œOkay, you appear clear. No run-ins with the Mountain is a good record for a citizen.”
    Selah started to give a smart remark. Outside the station the panel on the waiting AirStream began to lift.
    â€œDid you find the case?” the officer piloting the transport asked.
    The officer continued to stare at Selah. “Yeah, I got it.”
    â€œLet’s go! We still have at least an hour’s travel time before we get close enough to the Mountain to get duty updates. I’m really hoping to be