THREE SMALL, TWO-SEATER helis were secured to the roof of the government building by docking clamps to prevent strong winds from blowing them away. The helis were restricted to government use only, as Wilder had known perfectly well when she suggested that Kes accompany her to the site of the mysterious object beyond the mountain range. The trip would have taken her days by any other mode of transport, even if she’d managed to hitch a ride on one of the ultra-fast trucks that collected metal ingots from the refineries near the mines.
She and Kes walked to the nearest one and Kes released the locking mechanism with a code.
Wilder said, “Mind if I fly it?” Without waiting for an answer she climbed in the pilot’s side.
“Have you flown one of these before?” asked Kes, opening the passenger
