Wow!
It was distant but hurtling toward them at great speed, its course erratic as it zigzagged across the sky, careening out of control but heading straight for Earth. Straight for them.
As it got closer, she could make out more details through the cloud of smoke and gases that engulfed it. And for a second, her heart stopped. Then it started racing.
“Shit,” she muttered. “It’s a spaceship.”
Chapter 42
“It’s a goddamn spaceship,” Kane repeated. “What the fuck?”
Now it filled the sky, blacking out the sun, turning day to night. It was huge, maybe a mile in diameter, a trail of fire following in its wake.
Kaitlin stared at it, mesmerized.
The great ship was so close now; the heat from the fires warmed her skin.
Was this the end? Were they going to die? Squashed like bugs under a fucking great big alien spaceship.
Well, if you had to go...
But at the last second, the ship veered away, crashing to earth about a mile from where they stood. The force of the blast hurled her backward, sending her flying to the ground. Kane landed beside her.
Kaitlin lay there, staring up at the sky, which was clear once more.
Was that it?
She thought it unlikely, and every muscle locked up tight anticipating another blast, one signaling the cataclysm.
But nothing happened.
“Should we get up?” she murmured. “Or just stay here.”
“Staying here sounds like a good idea,” Kane replied. “On the other hand, I’ve never seen an alien spaceship close up.”
“And I suppose we should go say hi to Quinn.” She sighed. “Let’s go then. Besides, I have a strange idea that we might be getting visitors any moment now.”
This was clearly what the Tel Group had been after. But she still had no clue why.
She sat up and studied the huge burning ship. Heat washed over them in waves, but as she watched, the fires died down to nothing, leaving the ship almost unmarked.
Kane was already up, holding out his hand to her, and she allowed him to pull her to her feet. It took her a moment to orient herself, and then she searched the hillside across from them for signs of Quinn. Her gaze was constantly drawn to the ship. She spotted them both, also on the ground, but now they, too, were getting to their feet.
Kaitlin and Kane were almost on them when she skidded to a halt. Kane almost slammed into her.
“What the hell?” he asked.
“Look.” She pointed past Quinn and Melody.
Off to their left, a hundred feet away, the air shimmered and rippled. Then the silver time machine appeared. There was agood chance Quinn would think this was them, and she didn’t want him going anywhere near the machine without knowing who and what was inside.
“Come on,” she said.
They hurried forward.“Quinn!”
Up ahead, he stopped and went still. Then he turned slowly and stared at her, a huge grin forming on his face. He opened his arms.
Kaitlin hurtled into them, burying her face in his neck. But time was of the essence here, and she pulled free and stepped back. “I didn’t think I’d ever see you again,” she said.
