Hugendubel.info - Die B2B Online-Buchhandlung 

Merkliste
Die Merkliste ist leer.
Bitte warten - die Druckansicht der Seite wird vorbereitet.
Der Druckdialog öffnet sich, sobald die Seite vollständig geladen wurde.
Sollte die Druckvorschau unvollständig sein, bitte schliessen und "Erneut drucken" wählen.

Deadly Divergence

Boruma Publishing, LLCerschienen am01.07.2018
When FBI Special Agent Mariah Conners is injured in the line of duty, her partner, Quinn MacAllister, decides Bermuda is the perfect place for them to relax and recuperate.


But it isn't called the Bermuda Triangle for nothing! First their charter plane goes down in a freak electrical storm, and they're cast adrift with two spoiled teenagers and an elderly retired couple.


Then they discover that the remote tropical island sheltering them holds a deadly secret-a unique sentient lifeform with incredible healing power for those few who can survive exposure to its potent spores.


And to really cap things off, an old enemy is in hot pursuit! He wants the spores for himself, and he'll kill anyone who gets in his way!


Can Mac and Conners keep their companions alive and escape the mysterious island before he destroys them all?


-----  Excerpt  -----


'Mac!'


Mariah stared in blank horror as the plane's shattered nose sank beneath the choppy storm-darkened waves, leaving behind only a trail of shimmering bubbles. 'Mac!'


Someone was holding her back, pleading with her, clutching her arms in a fierce paralyzing grip. 'Let me go!' she yelled, wrenching free. 'He's my partner!'


The bubbles were slowly fading away. She dove, kicking hard, following the plane's lazy descent. Icy darkness enveloped her. Her lungs began to ache and fiery spots danced before her eyes, but she couldn't give up, she just couldn't!


More rising air bubbles suddenly exploded in her face, blinding her. Then her groping fingers brushed against something slippery. Mac's leather jacket!


One last frantic surge of energy moved her weakening legs, propelling her upward again, dragging his heavy weight behind her.


Please, Mac, don't die!


Cold rain suddenly lashed against her upturned face. Sputtering, she sucked in deep breaths of precious air. Lightning flared overhead, painfully bright against her dilated eyes. The iron bands constricting her chest slowly eased as she fought to keep Mac's sagging head above the waves.


Thunder rumbled in her ears as the heavy waves knocked her back and forth. Frigid water cascaded over her head, and she resurfaced with a strangled cough. Then something hard stung her flailing hand. A rope? She wrapped stiffening fingers around it.


New energy surged through her aching frame when Reuben's hand locked around Mac's limp arm. 'Hurry!' she shouted. 'He's not breathing!'


Esther leaned out perilously far to help, and slowly they hauled his long body into the raft. Then it was Conners' turn, and she wanted to sob with relief as the ocean reluctantly loosened its death-grip on her thrashing legs.


Mac was sprawled face-down in the sloshing raft. 'Help me roll him over!' she gasped. Oh God, his lips were blue, and his open eyes were glazed. 'He can't die, not yet!'


Helpful hands steadied her as she bent to force air down his windpipe. Again. And again! Breathe, thrust... Breathe, thrust... Breathe, thrust...


Suddenly his limp body convulsed, and a gush of salty water erupted from his open mouth. Conners tilted his head to one side and let the water drain. 'Breathe, Mac!' she ordered, pushing hard against his ribs one last time. 'Come on, damn it! Breathe!'


He jerked again, and this time she heard the sweet rush of air filling his lungs. His chest began to rise and fall in a slow, rhythmic cadence as his taut muscles relaxed.


Another huge wave crashed into the raft, drenching them with icy spray. 'How long will this storm last?' Reuben shouted in her ear. His aging face was drawn with fear. 'The raft is filling up with water fast!'


'Emergency rafts are built to handle a lot of water!' she yelled back. 'Just hang on!'


Suddenly the black clouds and shrieking winds vanished. For one ageless, nauseating moment, the entire world seemed to whirl in dizzying spirals. Then a soft, warm rain began to patter down around them.


She bolted upright and stared wildly around. 'What the hell...'


It was impossible. Fierce squalls didn't just appear and then disappear in the blink of an eye.


But the violent electrical storm was gone.


The gigantic crashing waves were gone.


And as they watched in stunned disbelief, the hazy gray clouds overhead simply melted away, and the golden sun began to shine down from a perfectly clear blue sky.


The ocean around them was calm, gentle...and empty. The other life raft was nowhere to be seen.mehr

Produkt

KlappentextWhen FBI Special Agent Mariah Conners is injured in the line of duty, her partner, Quinn MacAllister, decides Bermuda is the perfect place for them to relax and recuperate.


But it isn't called the Bermuda Triangle for nothing! First their charter plane goes down in a freak electrical storm, and they're cast adrift with two spoiled teenagers and an elderly retired couple.


Then they discover that the remote tropical island sheltering them holds a deadly secret-a unique sentient lifeform with incredible healing power for those few who can survive exposure to its potent spores.


And to really cap things off, an old enemy is in hot pursuit! He wants the spores for himself, and he'll kill anyone who gets in his way!


Can Mac and Conners keep their companions alive and escape the mysterious island before he destroys them all?


-----  Excerpt  -----


'Mac!'


Mariah stared in blank horror as the plane's shattered nose sank beneath the choppy storm-darkened waves, leaving behind only a trail of shimmering bubbles. 'Mac!'


Someone was holding her back, pleading with her, clutching her arms in a fierce paralyzing grip. 'Let me go!' she yelled, wrenching free. 'He's my partner!'


The bubbles were slowly fading away. She dove, kicking hard, following the plane's lazy descent. Icy darkness enveloped her. Her lungs began to ache and fiery spots danced before her eyes, but she couldn't give up, she just couldn't!


More rising air bubbles suddenly exploded in her face, blinding her. Then her groping fingers brushed against something slippery. Mac's leather jacket!


One last frantic surge of energy moved her weakening legs, propelling her upward again, dragging his heavy weight behind her.


Please, Mac, don't die!


Cold rain suddenly lashed against her upturned face. Sputtering, she sucked in deep breaths of precious air. Lightning flared overhead, painfully bright against her dilated eyes. The iron bands constricting her chest slowly eased as she fought to keep Mac's sagging head above the waves.


Thunder rumbled in her ears as the heavy waves knocked her back and forth. Frigid water cascaded over her head, and she resurfaced with a strangled cough. Then something hard stung her flailing hand. A rope? She wrapped stiffening fingers around it.


New energy surged through her aching frame when Reuben's hand locked around Mac's limp arm. 'Hurry!' she shouted. 'He's not breathing!'


Esther leaned out perilously far to help, and slowly they hauled his long body into the raft. Then it was Conners' turn, and she wanted to sob with relief as the ocean reluctantly loosened its death-grip on her thrashing legs.


Mac was sprawled face-down in the sloshing raft. 'Help me roll him over!' she gasped. Oh God, his lips were blue, and his open eyes were glazed. 'He can't die, not yet!'


Helpful hands steadied her as she bent to force air down his windpipe. Again. And again! Breathe, thrust... Breathe, thrust... Breathe, thrust...


Suddenly his limp body convulsed, and a gush of salty water erupted from his open mouth. Conners tilted his head to one side and let the water drain. 'Breathe, Mac!' she ordered, pushing hard against his ribs one last time. 'Come on, damn it! Breathe!'


He jerked again, and this time she heard the sweet rush of air filling his lungs. His chest began to rise and fall in a slow, rhythmic cadence as his taut muscles relaxed.


Another huge wave crashed into the raft, drenching them with icy spray. 'How long will this storm last?' Reuben shouted in her ear. His aging face was drawn with fear. 'The raft is filling up with water fast!'


'Emergency rafts are built to handle a lot of water!' she yelled back. 'Just hang on!'


Suddenly the black clouds and shrieking winds vanished. For one ageless, nauseating moment, the entire world seemed to whirl in dizzying spirals. Then a soft, warm rain began to patter down around them.


She bolted upright and stared wildly around. 'What the hell...'


It was impossible. Fierce squalls didn't just appear and then disappear in the blink of an eye.


But the violent electrical storm was gone.


The gigantic crashing waves were gone.


And as they watched in stunned disbelief, the hazy gray clouds overhead simply melted away, and the golden sun began to shine down from a perfectly clear blue sky.


The ocean around them was calm, gentle...and empty. The other life raft was nowhere to be seen.
Details
Weitere ISBN/GTIN9781370023301
ProduktartE-Book
EinbandartE-Book
FormatEPUB
Erscheinungsjahr2018
Erscheinungsdatum01.07.2018
Seiten186 Seiten
SpracheEnglisch
Dateigrösse340
Artikel-Nr.4654360
Rubriken
Genre9200

Inhalt/Kritik

Leseprobe

 

 
1

 

FLORIDA KEYS

MIDSUMMER

 

Riah, look out!

Mariah Conners threw herself flat on the swampy ground as high-caliber bullets whistled past her windblown auburn hair. Shrill, warbling screams echoed through the gnarled, moss-draped cypress trees. Her partner ejected an empty clip from his gun, and slapped another into place. More explosive staccato shots rang out as he took aim and fired again. And again. And again.

Damp slime oozed between her clutching fingers as she warily crept across the sodden marsh. Mac was in danger-but she didn t dare glance back. She had to reach José before those hideous creatures attacked again!

Their young guide was sprawled face-down in the muck. His tanned neck was bent at an unnatural angle. Even before she gently rolled him over, she knew he was dead.

Quinn MacAllister paused in mid-turn long enough to make his own judgments. An immense set of razor-sharp claws had sliced through the boy s chest like soft butter, spilling entrails and bone fragments across the soggy ground.

He winced. No one deserved to die like that.

But at least it had been quick-the cheerful teenager had never known what hit him. That was more than Conners and he could expect, unless they managed to escape fast!

Get him in the boat, Riah! he yelled, swinging his gun around to cover their hasty retreat. Hurry!

She didn t waste breath arguing. Mac was right-they could never leave the boy here in these endless swamps, to be eaten by those horrible, ravenous things!

More shots echoed through the trees as he fired again. Fierce snarls abruptly crescendoed into wailing shrieks of agony. That made five down. Out of how many? Nine? Ten? A thousand?

Conners hadn t survived eleven years as Mac s partner just to be shredded by a tribe of putrid swamp monsters! Taking a deep breath, she hooked both hands beneath José s lax shoulders, and began tugging him toward their flat-bottomed air boat. Every soggy yard seemed like five miles as she stumbled through a maze of half-submerged roots, fighting to keep her balance.

Come on, Mac! she shouted over her shoulder. We can t win this one!

Just a few more feetâ¦

Her sturdy hiking boots sank deeper as oozing muck gave way to muddy slime. Fallen branches snagged and caught at José s torn clothing. The boy s head rolled limply to one side, and brushed against her bare arm. She stifled a shudder, and pulled harder.

Almost thereâ¦

Without warning, a huge ugly shape launched through the shadows with vicious claws extended. Distorted features made its hideous face seem all the more grotesque.

A startled scream erupted from her throat as she caught a horrifying glimpse of snaggled razor-sharp teeth. Then the howling beast slammed her down into the muck, and her head struck a submerged tree trunk with devastating force.

Stars danced before her eyes as it rose over her, baring inch-long talons for a final lethal blow.

MacAllister whirled, and the Glock bucked in his hands once, twice, three times.

Riah!

He was already running, heedless of his own safety, before the last bullet thudded into its falling target.

The murky water was stained with blood, and his pounding heart faltered. Then he kicked at the behemoth s shoulder, and it fell aside with a muted splash. Three jagged bullet holes were bored through its wide chest. Blood seeped through its slimy pale fur and slowly leaked into the water.

Riah! He dropped to his knees and felt for her pulse. It was faint but steady beneath his searching fingertips. A heartfelt sigh of relief escaped him, and his tensed muscles relaxed.

Snarls and eerie yowling brought him up short. Turning, he yanked Conners gun from its holster and slowly rose to his feet. Silence fell across the swamp as he aimed her weapon at the nearest slathering monster.

The burly creature froze in its tracks, and seemed to hunch down slightly. MacAllister kept the deadly 9mm targeted on its massive head.

Even the fitful humid breeze seemed to hesitate as Mac grimly faced down his snarling adversary. Venomous glares bridged the fathomless gap between them.

Then the hideous creature slowly backed away, and melted into the deepening shadows without a sound. A dozen other dark, misshapen forms moved with him, and were gone.

Mac realized he was shaking with reaction. He took a deep calming breath, and bent down beside his partner again. A livid purple bruise was already darkening her pale forehead. She d have one helluva nasty headache when she regained consciousness.

But at least they were both still alive.

Grimacing, he scooped her up and carried her over to José s swaying air boat. The sooner they left this wretched swamp behind, the better!

A weathered tarp was folded neatly in the curving prow. He shook it out, and grimly carried it back to their young guide s sprawled body. Somehow, even in death, the boy s youthful face looked merry and carefree.

There s no justice in this world, he sighed for perhaps the hundredth time that week.

Sighing, he wrapped José s limp corpse in the woven tarp, and laid it in the wide, flat prow. Then he clambered aboard, and gripped the tiller tightly in one hand.

He d never piloted an air boat himself, but this was no time to play it safe. Those vicious nightmares might return at any moment!

Huge rotors whirred to life behind him, blowing long hanging tendrils of Spanish moss off the nearest shaggy cypress trees. The boat lurched forward under his novice touch. He strangled back a muttered curse, gritted his teeth, and concentrated on steering it out of the swamp, not into another fallen tree trunk.

Conners began to stir as he finally managed to clear the last submerged roots. Mac? Her ragged whisper was hoarse with pain.

Before she could try to move, he leaned down and laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder. The boat wobbled one last time, then eased into a narrow moss-draped channel.

Lay still, Riah, he urged, focusing on the treacherous shadows sliding past. We ll be home soon.

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

FBI SPECIAL AGENT QUINN MACALLISTER S APARTMENT

THREE WEEKS LATER

 

A small blur of bright colors swam before Mariah Conners bleary gaze, gliding sinuously from side to side.

Something was watching her?

Prickles of alarm raced down her spine, forcing her back to full awareness. The bright blur resolved into a vivid inch-long fish swimming just beyond her nose. She blinked a few times, brushed tousled auburn hair out of her eyes, and painfully lifted her head. Nearly a dozen smaller fish, so tiny that they were almost invisible, were darting back and forth amid the tank s swaying artificial plants.

Mac? She cleared her throat, and her voice emerged stronger. I think one of your fish had babies.

Probably. Her partner was sitting across the cozy living room, staring intently at his computer screen. Sarah warned me they d breed like crazy.

Mac s new neighbor was a busty, energetic young blonde who wore tight black leather miniskirts and too much makeup. She played her music too loudly, smoked nasty-smelling cigarettes, and flirted outrageously with Mac whenever possible.

Not surprisingly, the two women despised each other.

You can t always pick your neighbors, she thought with a sigh. And you have no business interfering when Mac only chats with her to be friendly. He s a big boy. He can handle Slutty Sarah without you running interference.

Her own apartment was halfway across town, in a slightly better part of town. No one there dressed like a hooker on the prowl! But Mac s apartment was closer to work, so she dâ¦

Wait a minute, she hadn t stopped by after their shift was over!

The last thing she remembered, she d been working down in the labs, andâ¦

How did I get here? She sat up too fast, and had to grab the couch arm to keep from folding over. Nausea rose in her throat.

She swallowed hard, and breathed slowly until colorful dots stopped dancing in front of her eyelids. Her slender fingers pressed against her temples, searching for the elusive pressure points to block out another pounding headache.

Three guesses. Mac swiveled around in his chair, and aimed a baleful look in her direction. His angular face was drawn with frustration.

She only needed one. Miranda ratted me out.

Miranda, he corrected with a scowl, went down to see how your research project was going, and found you nearly unconscious. If she hadn t called me instead of the medics, you d have woken up in the hospital.

I m fine. She mustered a weak smile. It s just this pinched nerve. Cautiously she rotated her right shoulder, and winced. I hate taking those muscle relaxants. They knock me out.

Mac heaved a weary sigh, and raked both hands through his thick coal-black hair.

Mariah had been in pain ever since they d returned from the Keys three weeks ago. He hated to see her like this! Normally she radiated strength and vitality, and her slanting emerald eyes sparkled with energy. The powerful muscle relaxants she d been prescribed made her drowsy and listless. Even her silky golden-red hair looked limp and dull.

A broken collarbone should have put her on the Disabled listâ¦but somehow she d convinced their supervisor,...
mehr