Genesis Girl (Blank Slate #1) - Jennifer Bardsley Page 0,72
here on the ground it’s still cool. The Spanish tiles feel cold against my legs as I scrub the floor with a bristle brush. Barbelo stands in front of me, holding a metal wrench. He looks ready to swing at any moment.
But I’m ready.
“Damn heat,” he says. “Damn fucking technology.”
I scrub the floor so hard the wooden brush scrapes my palm. I’m worried about Beau locked up in his cell. The heat is oppressive.
Lydia comes into the hallway, without her ice. “What’s wrong, Barbelo?”
“The solar system’s busted.” Barbelo wipes his forehead with a rag. Drops of sweat hit my face.
“I can fix it.” I set down my brush.
Barbelo stares at me with eagle eyes. “You?” he asks. “What do you know?”
“Please, sir,” I say. “Don’t be mad, but my purchaser made me learn all about solar energy systems.”
Lydia glances at me quickly, surprised by this.
I wipe my hands on my drawstring pants. “I can fix that solar generator. I’m positive.”
Barbelo rubs his chin, considering. “What the hell,” he finally says. “It’s either that or I have to go into town.”
“I could go to town,” offers Lydia. I can tell she doesn’t want me to leave.
“And get arrested? No, let’s have Blanca climb up there and see what she can do.”
“Yes, Father. I’ll try, Father,” I say. The chip-watch is in my pocket. As soon as I walk through that oak door, I’ll be connected to the outside world.
Hopefully somebody out there is waiting for me, looking for my signal.
With clarity comes responsibility. With knowledge comes action. Up here on the ladder on top of the villa, I see what’s wrong immediately.
This solar cell system is archaic and easy to decipher. One of the cells is broken, causing a break in the circuit. Slide in a replacement panel, and Beau won’t be in danger from the heat any longer.
“Well?” Barbelo calls up to me from the ground.
I walk to the edge of the roof. “I can fix this, sir. Do you have an extra panel?”
“I think there’s one in the shed. I’ll go look.”
This is my chance, my golden opportunity. I scramble back up the roof and away from Barbelo’s view. I take out the chip-watch and click it to ready.
“Call Seth,” I say clearly. But there isn’t any answer. There’s only a beeping sound and a robotic voice telling me to leave a message. I’m not even sure how to leave a message. Shoot! More beeping!
“This is Blanca,” I say. “I’m being held captive in rural Nevada by Barbelo Nemo and Lydia. They’ve got Beau too. They’re responsible for Ethan’s death.” I pause, trying to think of what to say next. What if this is my last chance to talk to them? “Cal and Seth, I’m sorry,” I whisper urgently. “I’m sorry I was so messed up. I’m trying to come home. I’m—”
I don’t get the chance to say anything else. All I hear is more beeping. What the hell does that mean? So I try something different.
“Veritas Rex,” I say clearly. “I want Veritas Rex!” I stand up straighter, trying to get a better signal, and the lion-headed cobra springs up from the chip-watch. When I see the few inches of silvery screen, my heart stops.
There’s a picture of Cal, Seth, and me!
It was the night of that party, the one where I met all the McNeal Solar people. One of those board members must have snapped my picture after all. There I am in my white dress with a McNeal on each side.
missing, the headline reads. blanca mcneal. Then underneath that is a message for me, it says—
But there’s no time to read more. I hear footsteps on the ladder. I look frantically at the buttons. I’m trying to turn off the visual, but I can’t remember how it works. Everything seems foreign. Then before I get the chance to fix things, it’s too late.
Barbelo stands in front of me, holding the solar cell.
“So,” he says. “You thought you could trick me.”
“No,” I answer. “Of course not.”
“Technology is never the answer, Blanca. You used to know that. Sometimes the simplest ways are best.” Then he sideswipes my leg, tripping me before I know what’s happening.
Before I get the chance to fight back.
I slide down the roof, struggling to stop my fall. But I can’t. Solar cells and roof tiles spin around me, evading my every grasp. The adobe walls whip before me, and then there’s nothing. Nothing but white-hot pain.