EarthUnder (The Meteorite Chronicles Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

cheddar cheese burger, fries, and a vanilla/banana goat’s milk yogurt smoothie. The evening and into the night was filled with questions and discussion of stones from the sky. Sharif revealed his insightful mind when his questions led to what I do with these stones, who I compete with, and how much corruption can be found in this business I call my passion. One could read concern from between the lines of his questions.
    Soon it was time for sleep. This night was a world away from the prior night. This night had a cozy bed with linens, four walls, and a door. Knowledge seemed to be buying the time here. The questions tonight were seriously intense, but it was rewarding to have answers. I fell off to sleep with dreams inspired by our exchange of thoughts. As with every night for a decade, slumber brought the face of my first love, who comes to me in my dreams, her eyes so lovely they burn my heart.
    Waking as the dawning sun just illuminates the edge of the world, I heard voices and mellifluous noises indicating I was not the first. Soon we all gathered for tea to begin the new day. Thoughts through the night inspired me to be more open with Sharif and Zed. Besides, it must be remembered that they can pump Zen with endless questions, which dictated that I must be totally honest and try not to hide anything. As we visited, I learned that Zen and Zed had stayed awake last night to activate their network in the village. Word here travels far and fast. Remembering our recent close call with the thieves, they were far more cautious with this effort. Apparently they were trying to find specific people with information.

Chapter two
    Nemesis
    W e gathered again to continue last night’s flurry of discussion. Having tuned in to Sharif’s line of questions, I decided to trust him with solid detailed answers. When one is globe trekking this way, a turning point always presents itself when one must trust others implicitly to succeed. I began the day by sharing with Sharif and the others how over the years the monetary value of these stones has exploded, driven by the race to do research competing with a rabid collector market. In earlier days collectors were traditionally science-minded nerds who lusted after stones for their connection with space, at that time a place we humans could only dimly dream of going. As time marches forward, these cosmic treasures have drawn countless fortune seekers who have not a clue of the scientific value nor do they care. They only see a chance to make tremendous profit—dollars from a stone they can pick up off the ground and sell to an obsessed collector for more money than most people make in half a lifetime.
    The lure of wealth brings every kind of greed and every manner of human with it. Moral values fade into obscurity when lust and greed rush to motivate. I explain to these men how I can only control my own actions, that there are others who race to compete with me. They will say anything and do anything to beat me to the finish. Over time these hunters have become far more clever, competitive, and corrupt. They have the backing of wealthy buyers waiting to be the first to own what falls next. This fuels an ugly side of what was once a very rewarding and innocent endeavor. These people have their own network of evil doers, ruthless pirates who sail the Great Sand Sea trying to control everything.
    There is an endless flow of new fortune seekers now coming into this market looking to make their splash. For many it is all about the money; for others it is all about ego (I got it first); for others still it is all about the competition. Even worse are the uncommon few who are a conglomeration of all the bad elements. The very worst are the serpents that culminate all things bad and coat it with a sugar-sweet shell. They’re like a pill that kills, coated with a smooth candy exterior to help it go down. My nemesis is just that bad pill. He is fast, relentless, ruthless, deadly, greedy, and