The Last Narkoy: Gathow: Book 2 by Elizabeth Price (good e books to read .txt) 📗

Let me know what you find. Since I don’t have an office yet, let’s meet back here, same time tomorrow.” With that said, he hurried out into the street. Once again, he turned the corner, bouncing off of Zion. “What’s with us always bumping into each other?” Danstu cursed.

Zion grimaced. “It’s intentional, this time. I’m looking for you. We’re having an issue with the water supply. I thought you might want to have a look.”

“Water?” Danstu huffed. “I’ll look, but I’m not sure what I can do.”

He followed Zion to the arboretum and then inside. The lush foliage caused him to gasp. “This is amazing.”

“I thought so too before I knew its purpose,” Zion said cryptically. He waved Danstu to follow. “So far I’ve found every level has an arboretum. It provides fresh fruit and vegetables. Beneath it contains our water supply which is fed from the local mountains. The problem is…” he paused, waving Dranuim over. “Dranuim, Danstu,” he introduced quickly as he pulled up a hatch near a rock wall. Beneath the hatch, the water barely trickled. “Somewhere between the river and here, we have a blockage.”

“We’re only getting a fraction of the water we need,” Dranuim added. He tapped a sequence of numbers on a keypad attached to the rock wall. “If Sortec wants more people to live here, we’re going to need to fix this or we won’t have enough water for everyone or to cool the systems core… which could blow and well…” he motioned with his hands that everything would explode.

Danstu nodded several times, ingesting the information while he thought. “Do you happen to have a list of the survivors?” he asked Zion.

Zion took a small computer pad from his back pocket and handed it to Danstu. He took it, skimming over the names. “Good, she’s alive.” He pointed to a name on the list. “Toral Serk. She handled the city’s sanitation department for over twenty years. I’ll talk to her and see what she can do to help,” he decided. “Now, is there anything else I should be aware of?”

Zion glanced back at Dranuim, who cleared his throat uneasily. “I’ll put together a list,” Dranuim offered.

“Something tells me I’ll be handling a lot of lists,” Danstu smirked as he handed Zion back his computer. “You’re in charge of the computer systems?” he asked Dranuim, who nodded in reply. “How are communications? I need to make some calls.”

“Well… they’re a bit sketchy right now,” Dranuim began. “The only access to the outside world we have is in the Chadon’s quarters and on the bridge. I’ll see what I can do for you tomorrow.”

“The bridge?” Danstu questioned, turning to Zion for clarification. “Where is that located?”

Zion took Danstu’s shoulder, leading him towards the exit. “I have a few hours to kill. How about I give you a tour?”

ELEVEN

 

Around midday the next day, Danstu found Cidele sitting in the library surrounded by several stacks of computers. He was dressed in the clothing she had left for him by his front door.

“Oh good, you got them,” she said while she stood. “I wasn’t sure of your size, but it looks like I guessed right.”

Danstu pulled at his new blue shirt. “I have to admit, I haven’t worn blue since I was a young boy. Students wear white suits on Laant and when I went to work on Loos the designated suit color were yellow for government staff,” he explained.

“How dull. I couldn’t imagine being told what colors to wear. Well, blue looks good on you. It complements your eyes.” She sat again, handing him one of the computers. “This is what I have so far. We have forty-two students I noticed. I’m in the works at cleaning one of the schools. I did notice we have only one teacher.”

“We have a school here?” Danstu questioned.

“We have everything here. This is a working city, provided we dust it off and have the people to run it,” she mentioned. “We have enough classroom space to house one-hundred-thousand students. I also believe we have a university on level seven, not that I’ve seen it. Sedom doesn’t like us going below level five yet.” She moved in closer to Danstu. “Between you and me, we think she’s hiding something down there.”

“I’ll… keep that in mind.” Danstu nodded, grinning to himself. His eyes gravitated to her low-cut top, unable to peel himself away from her cleavage. He shook himself back to reality. “Right… um, what are the top five positions we need staff for right away?”

“Computer systems, communications, replications, education and medical services. I didn’t notice you had any medical personnel.” She removed her fluffy sweater, revealing the tight shirt underneath. “Is it just me, or is it warm in here?” she said, fanning herself.

“Dranium is working on the heating and cooling systems today,” he mentioned, trying his best not to stare at her. Danstu turned his attention to his computer. “No, he was shot. Crowarl’s technology was limited. Most were shop owners, farmers and hunters. Not many will be able to acclimate easily into Gathow. Many will need training.”

“We can do our best, for now. Sortec took a big risk allowing your people to stay here. I’d rather not disappoint her,” Cidele admitted.

“Step away from the building,” called several orbs outside the library.

Danstu and Cidele turned to each other in question. “Tell you what, put together a list of the top one-hundred positions we need to fill. I’ll return in a few hours and we’ll figure out who’s best for each. For now, I better go see what’s going on outside,” he decided. Cidele agreed, sending Danstu to the front doors of the library.

Outside, Rosanheer paced. “Damn orbs, telling me where to go all of the time.”

Danstu cleared his throat. “Can I help you?” he asked.

Rosanheer spun around, surprised