The roar inside the cave died away swiftly. That Loud growl I’d finally gotten used to faded away and


    the quiet hum of the sr craft was left. I turned and looked at Thom who was grinning broadly.


    “We must stay hidden here, speed is not as important as stealth. ALL of our transports run on ore and


    stored sr power. Depending on where we are dictates which we use,” he said.


    I saw the man on the lead transport throw a lever embedded in the wall. The stone ceiling moved and


    shifted above him. Bright light came through the opening and I prayed this awful ride would soon be


    over


    As the transport Lifted into the sky I noted a man at each gun on the transport. They swiveled the


    barrels around as they raised into the light. Each transport rose the same way, with the Brothers each


    manning a gun.


    “Come, Rachel,” Thommanded, “you stand by me. I’ll show you how to work this machine. Ruth,


    you stand with my Brother Thad. Fuji stand near Brand.”


    Our transport came to the opening in the rock and rose slowly. I blinked and squinted in the bright Light


    as Thom exined what he was looking for. Racks Liked to attack here as did other creatures. To fire


    the weapon he only had to squeeze the ce his hand was wrapped around. It was a very simple


    system.


    ninjanovel


    We rose into the sky and I was struck dumb. Freedom looked different from anything I had ever


    imagined and the power of it took my breath away.


    This world seemed to burst with Life and color. Massive trees formed a perimeter around the opening.


    The deep green canopy above was magnificent. The nts were bright and exotic.


    I breathed in the fresh air outside the tunnel and it smelled of wilderness. It wasn’t the crisp pine scent


    of the forests on Earth. The sweet tang of flowers mixed with the natural odor of the trees and the


    Leaves here. I could smell the rich aroma of the soil and, all mixed together, it was unlike anything I’d


    experienced before on this world.


    Taking a huge breath I almost thought I smelled jasmine in the air. I remembered the vines that had


    clung to my grandmother’s mailbox. Looking around I didn’t see any, but when the breeze drifted by, I


    smelled it again. I wondered how much out here would be familiar to me.


    A branch to the right moved and I watched a small green animal run to the tree’s trunk. Noises all


    around us told me this area was brimming with animals. There were sounds like arge bird’s call and


    other strange guttural sounds. Compared to the silence of thepound, this was unreal.


    The area reminded me of a rainforest. Clinging purple vines crept up the trees withrge purple flowers


    hanging down. I saw nts of vibrant red and yellow spotting the ground and growing in crevices in the


    trees. The area was a ze with color and teeming with Life.


    “It’s amazing!” I said and Thom Laughed.


    What did you say?” he asked curiously.


    “I don’t know much of yournguage. I have learned some, but not enough.”


    “Amazing,” I repeated in Paterian continuing to look around.


    “The entire was like this,” Thom said as the transport rose higher.


    Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    “The women cleaned the area around thepounds so they could watch the men better. Our world is


    meant to be filled with life.”


    I nodded and continued to take in the breathtaking scenery, still my heart mourned. This moment


    should have been experienced with my family. As I looked around and saw them on their transport


    surrounded by other men. Christof’s eyes caught mine and I saw the sadness there as well. We should


    have been together for this.


    The transports took off in single file toward a set of hills in the near distance. The transports moved


    quietly through the forest, cutting through the air just under the canopy. As we moved I saw small


    creatures frolicking and moving in the trees. This ce was full of little animals, they were everywhere I


    Looked.


    asionally the trees would part and I could see the area around us. The hills went on forever,


    covered in trees, nts, and things I had no name for. Farther in the distance huge mountains could be


    seen rising far into the clouds. I had been right, this world was amazing.


    Our line of transports traveled steadily up an incline. It was evident we were climbing a hill. I looked


    down at the steep incline and realized it would be hard, but not impossible on foot. Below us I saw


    several faint footpaths winding around the mountain. Someone walked here.