She'd made a mistake the last two times in allowing a bot to return the newt to the location on its leg-tag while she finished repairs. This time she would personally deliver it home and make sure the problem didn't happen again. She didn't need an animal contaminating the fresh water, much less playing with the valve system.
A valve system that was aware of a living creature inside and locked open to make sure it didn't crush the stupid creature, and therefore messing up the entire pressurizing system in the sector. Inconveniencing everyone around them when the water pressure failed or grew too strong. For any weakened valve, the additional pressure in surrounding areas would be just enough to break them.
Her bot followed her as she stalked away from the repair side, the bucket riding right on top and in the front of the cart. She didn't need to fish the newt out to look at the tag again. She had the number memorized.
"Apartment CFI-920, you better have a good explanation," she said towards the ceiling. Her bot answered with a muted beep.
The bucket shook and rattled. Rachel turned and grabbed it before it could topple off the cart. She wrapped an arm around it and used the other hand to keep the lid on it.
The bucket continued to shake and shiver as the newt inside moved around with sharp movements. With each escape attempt Rachel's mood grew darker, until she found herself talking to the thing, scolding it and telling it off.
As she arrived at her destination she finished with, "Don't you dare mess with my pipes again if you know what's good for you."
Her bot gave an agreeing chirp, followed by a hiss.
"Note to self: remember what hissing can mean around water pipes," Rachel muttered as she took her hand off the lid long enough to ring the door chime. Not that the hissing would always mean a newt in the plumbing. The bots often hissed at things and people they didn't like.
As she waited for someone to answer, she realized they weren't in an apartment block at all. Rather, the home of the newt sat in the middle of a warehouse area. What a strange place to list on the tag.
The door slid open to reveal a man slightly taller than herself, his short black hair wildly askew. He glanced at her and the cart behind her and shook his head. "The janitorial supply warehouse is three doors down."
The door slid closed, leaving Rachel with an impression of worried distracted brown eyes and a well-worn blue and white pinstriped apron over a rumpled white business shirt. She stared at the closed door as the newt rattled around in the bucket.
She jabbed at the door chime again, breathing deeply and trying to count to ten slowly. Her bot waited silently behind her. The newt continued its escape attempts.
The door slid open again. The same man as before stared at her, blinking at her in confusion. "Weren't you just here?"
"Yes, sir, I was. I am Rachel Henderkito, Redpoint One's head plumbing system engineer. I am returning your property." She held out the bucket. "We need to talk, sir."
***
"A Turn of the Pipes" is available at online retailers everywhere.
SAMPLE - THE STRING WEAVERS (THE STRING WEAVERS - BOOK 1)
Disappearing food. Music no one else hears. An alien dropped off by a giant flaming bird...
Abducted from Earth, Kelsey Hale finds herself in the middle of a deadly conflict among alien worlds and parallel universes. She must not only survive, but also rescue her father from a dangerous group of unknown intent.
In the process discovering a family secret that will change her life forever.
Available now!
***
A small half moon emerged over the far mountains, casting a soft glow to the surroundings. Above, the last of the Phoenix spiraled out of sight. Kelsey stumbled again as a line of sharp minor chords flew through the air above her head.
Channix hissed sharply. But, his attention not on them, but on something up the hill.
No matter how she squinted and searched she couldn't see what he could be looking at. A movement against a light colored rock helped her to find the shapes. No wonder she'd had trouble seeing them, they were rather low to the ground. Then she realized whoever they were meeting walked on four legs. More aliens?
Tripping over a hidden log, Kelsey grabbed onto her father's arm. He put a strong arm around her back, helping her find her feet. As she got up she saw Bonn's ears were completely laid back. Somehow she knew that meant something bad.
Professor Hadrian turned to Channix. "Keep them here and silent. We will return shortly."
Her knees aching, Kelsey looked for a place to sit down but prickly shrubs and trees covered the ground. Turning around, she could make out in the moonlight the small clearing where they'd made camp and the pinprick of red of the dying campfire. To her right the trees grew taller, and beyond those she could see the night shimmer of a lake. Music continued floating around her, strained and tense notes she couldn't help reacting to with uncomfortable shivers.
A flash of light from behind her accompanied by a loud resonant snap made her jump. Kelsey whirled around just in time to see another flash of light coming from the arm of Professor Hadrian. The burst of energy plowed into the dirt and soil further up the hill.
Channix growled low in his throat but remained where he was. Another light appeared at the dome, pulsing and surging frantically into the sky. Growing first bright and then faint, alternating colors as it did, it surged into the scattered light clouds.
Chords filled the air from all directions. First off key, but with each surge, coming more and more in tune, the melody growing more intricate. The light above the dome ceased, and with it the melodies began to fade.
And then, she felt the snap. A rush moved right down into the center of her body and then radiated outwards. It echoed back from the band on her wrist. She breathed in deeply, overwhelmed with relief. The invisible ropes were gone!
Professor Hadrian knew it as well. He turned towards them and raised his arm, yelling down the hill, "Keep them restrained!"
Bonn shoved Kelsey violently to the side as he raised his own arm. She saw the flash of a brilliant pulse of energy as she tripped and then tumbled off the side of the steep hill.
Her ears filled with the loud crashing of her own body as she fell, skidded and rolled through and off of trees, bushes and rocks. She felt like a pinball with vertigo, not knowing her direction, but feeling the pain of each new encounter with an outside object.
With a splash and a hard bump that knocked the breath out of her, she landed face down in frigid water. Scrambling to her knees, she felt something moving on her head. She swatted at it, and a small dark body jumped off with an indignant croak. It landed in the water and scrambled onto a rock, looked at her and croaked at her again.
Suddenly, she couldn't help but start laughing.
Kelsey stood up and shook her hands, moving to one rocky bank. It was then she realized the water was running off her dry skin even though her clothes were soaked. Yet, she could feel the sense of water on her bare skin, but when she rubbed two fingers together, there was definitely no moisture there.
A howl of pain echoed down from the hill. Through her band she felt the tug of Professor Hadrian's Binding Machine.
Terror welled up from her band, overcoming every conscious thought in her head. She had to get away from the machine!
Her legs began running away from the hill, carrying the rest of her with them. In a few strides she splashed across the stream, disappearing into the forest.
***
"The String Weavers (The String Weavers - Book 1)" is available at online retailers everywhere.
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Ebook ISBN: 978-1-937042-14-1
Published exclusively by: Star Catcher Publishing
Copyright 2011 by J.A.
Marlow. All Rights Reserved.
Illustrations and graphics copyright 2011, 2014 by J.A. Marlow.
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This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. This book may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means, including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without the express written consent of the author except in case of brief quotations for the purpose of advertising, promotions and critical review.
If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.
This is a work of fiction. The characters, events, and locations portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity or resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and not intended by the author.
All rights to the characters in this written work are reserved by the author and may not appear in any written work or broadcast by any means without the written permission of the author except for the purpose of advertising, promoting and critical review.
To the author's knowledge no aliens, animals from any known world, or humans were harmed in the writing or making of this book.
Coffee Cup Dreams (A Redpoint One Romance) Page 16