Eye of the Storm Read Online Free Page B

Memphis.’
    ‘You were saying about Amelia Earhart’s grandson, Mum?’ Sam prompted.
    ‘Yes,’ she replied. ‘After we saw the machine yesterday, I got word to our agent in the science labs. His preliminary report this morning was sketchy, but it appears young
David Earhart takes after his grandmother. Aside from adopting her surname, he’s something of a pioneer when it comes to flying. With the support of a team of raptor scientists, he’s
developed that flying machine we saw. We understand it uses a hybrid combination of gliding and raptor electromagnetic technology.’
    ‘Wow! Sounds cool,’ Callum said enthusiastically. ‘I wonder how that works.’
    ‘I’m hoping we’re going to find out,’ Claire said. ‘I’m going to put together an extraction plan this afternoon.’
    ‘Extraction plan?’ Sam asked. ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘I mean we intend to get our hands on David Earhart whether he wants to join us or not.’
    ‘ A kidnap !’ Callum breathed. ‘But why? What’s this got to do with the Imperium’s energy production policies?’
    ‘Nothing,’ she admitted. ‘Well, not directly as far as we know. But if this new breed of flying machines is robust enough, a realistic attempt might be made to penetrate a
storm system and cross back to our world. And even if the machines are not ready yet, the potential is there. If we can get back to our world, then we have hope of enlisting help to stop the
Imperium. And make no mistake about it – we need help. There are those back home who will take the growing environmental threat here and its potential long-term impact on our world very
seriously. Being realistic, our chances of changing things here without some extra back-up are very small.’
    At the mention of crossing back, Sam instantly felt a pang of guilt. During the past couple of days, he’d been so caught up with the reunion with his mother, and overawed by the strength
of her personality and her driving passion to lead the rebels, that he had barely given more than a passing thought to getting home. What would Dad and Niamh be doing now? Were they still out
searching the waters off the Keys? What about the danger he had sensed Niamh facing a few days before? Was she all right? All of a sudden, he felt selfish and inconsiderate. How could he have been
so easily distracted from his primary goal?
    Closing his eyes, he thought of his sister. For a moment it was as if he could feel the turmoil of her anxious thoughts, then the sensation passed. He got the distinct impression that she was
confused by a welter of worries and emotions. He knew Niamh sometimes felt his pain and emotions, but it was rare for him to sense her.
    ‘Can we help you find this David Earhart?’ Callum asked.
    Sam opened his eyes, his heart beating fast as he tried to regain his focus.
    ‘Getting him out of the Imperium labs is likely to be dangerous,’ Claire replied. ‘I’m not going to put you boys in more danger than is necessary, but you can certainly
help with the planning. At the brainstorming phase all ideas are welcome.’
    ‘Great!’ Sam replied enthusiastically. ‘If it could lead to a way for us to get home, count me in! When do we start?’
    ‘Right now,’ Claire said, unable to hide her amusement at the boys’ excitement. ‘I’ll gather the others and we’ll make a start. Nathan!’ she called.
‘Get the team together. We’ve got work to do.’
    ‘Will do,’ replied a gruff voice from the next room.
    Sam instinctively glanced towards the door. Although he knew that his mother trusted Nathan completely, the man made Sam nervous. When he and Callum had first seen Claire’s right-hand man,
Sam had taken one look at Nathan’s dark beard and moustache flecked with grey, his crooked yellow teeth and his long hair tied back in a ponytail, and had decided instantly that he looked
like a pirate and completely untrustworthy. Although Nathan had done nothing to warrant Sam’s