Page 54 of Galaxy Games Four-Book Box Set (Galaxy Games)

54

What’s Down in the Canyon?

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The Earther’s little hand reaches out to clutch mine. Is she worried I’ll take off without her? She shouldn’t be. Zedd said we couldn’t win without a partner.

When I turn to tell her not to worry, I see she’s crying. I cock my head and try to figure out what’s going on.

I was designed to feel few emotions. I’ve never cried, nor have I seen any of my fellow products do so at the genefarm where I was raised. I’ve seen it on vids, though.

Our owners couldn’t be bothered with educating us. It was too much trouble to do more than teach us the rudiments of reading and writing. They did, however, allow us to watch heavily censored vids on a computer pad each of us was issued.

They were too apathetic to watch us closely, so most of us figured out how to tamper with our computers to circumvent their censors. I’ve been watching uncensored information stream from around the galaxy since I was eight.

I’ve seen tears. Usually, when a vid displayed that kind of emotion, I would skip it and find another. Those types of vids didn’t interest me. But I know tears signal sadness. I wonder what she’s sad about.

″I won’t leave you, Sadie,” I reassure her after bending to look directly at her.

″What?” She looks confused.

″Worry not. I won’t leave you.” Since I’m trying to console her, I don’t explain the reason, which is that I won’t be able to win without her.

″I’m not worried. I’m… shocked and scared and sad.” She points to the carnage on the screen.

I’d ask more questions. She’s my partner and understanding her confusion will probably be important in the coming challenges. But I don’t want to upset her more.

Is she sad over the dead?

After I mull this over, I think that’s it. She’s sad at seeing the vid. I watch it more closely on its next loop, searching for what upset her. Yes. She must be sad about the injured and the dead.

What crucible forged this female that she has the luxury of crying tears over others?

I’ve seen death—cruel death, deliberate death, not the accidental death of those contestants—as far back as I can remember. Has she seen nothing like this before in her life? What is this Earth like that she could be so… untouched by the harsh reality of life?

If there’s ever a moment, I’ll ask her.

The soil rumbles under our feet. I don’t know how the network managed to do that, but I’m certain it’s part of the challenge.

Zedd’s emotionless face appears on the screen. “Forty couples remain. Five pairs were disqualified upon leaving the ship, five others arrived last at the flag.”

They never said what would happen to those who were disqualified, but by Zedd’s almost imperceptible smirk, I have a hunch I know.

″Forty couples will now compete for the prize of their freedom and a parcel of land.”

Little Sadie clutches my hand even tighter. The smell of her fear blasts through the air. I didn’t smell it on her last night. Not like this. I scared her. I know I did. I did nothing to calm her either, although now I realize I should have.

Her fear of me, though, was nothing like this. She reeks of it, like the guards back at the genefarm when one of us would escape our cell and go berserk. I don’t know why, but I circle her waist with my tail and tug her tight. Although I thought she might yank away, she melts into me as if she’s seeking my warmth. I snug my arm around her shoulders and hold her a little tighter.

″I encourage you all to come forward. Watch your step,” Zedd says with a little laugh from the holovid.

I lift Sadie onto my back, fearing another crush of people. She doesn’t protest, just hangs on tight.

There’s a precipice ahead, but the bluff we’re standing near goes on for miles. There’s enough room for all of us to spread out without shoving each other off. When I look out at the vista, it’s not the cliff I’m concerned with. It’s what I see.

Down in the canyon are the remains of a… town? A city? The buildings are old and crumbling. But it’s not the buildings that concern me. I see dozens of lizard-like animals. It’s not their number, but their size that is alarming. Some of them are bigger than the buildings.