Awakening (Nuelda Book 1)

By Linda Harley

Anna McKlendle awakens from cryostasis a 158 years after being put under, to find that civilization as she knows it has gone to the robots. The mountain complex she finds herself in is falling apart by the seems, and the four eccentric robots maintaining the complex are odd to say the least... they almost appear to behave well, like, humans. The power plant is on its last legs, and Anna races against the clock to save the lives of the remaining children before the lights go out for the last time.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Linda Harley
• Release date: Oct 7, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301365180

Linda Harley

Linda Harley was born in Durban, South Africa and at the age of 7 developed a love for music. Her love for playing the piano has been a great motivational factor in pursuing her research in trying to understand how humans are able to learn to perform complex tasks with both arms at the same time. She received a BS and MS in Civil Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, USA in 2002 and 2004, respectively and in 2011 she received her PhD in Applied Physiology from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Her research interests are in understanding the mechanisms of learning to perform complex bilateral tasks and designing new technologies which would be beneficial to the field of physical rehabilitation. For example, the design of electronic games for the purpose of rehabilitation at home. She also loves writing science fiction romance novels.

Book preview

AWAKENING

Nuelda Book 1

By

Linda Harley

Smashwords edition

copyright 2012 by Linda Harley

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Chapter 1

White penetrating light blasted into Anna’s eyes. Her entire body felt numb from the cold and she could just barely move her toes. She lay in a glass casket, her body suspended in the air. The pressure in the casket started to change as she drifted to its bottom. The smell of rust and sweat swept into the casket as the lid popped open to release her back into civilization.

The smooth face of a man came into her field of vision. Don’t try to move Anna, the man’s soft voice purred in her ears. She tried to nod, but none of her muscles responded.

Anna closed her eyes and tried to remember why she was here. It felt like just moments ago that she had been hugging her mom and dad and telling them goodnight. They had promised her that they would wake her once a cure was found for her cancer, but that they would wait no more than 3 years before bringing her out of cryostasis. How much time had passed? Days, weeks, months or years?

Try to wiggle your toes Anna, the man instructed and she obeyed. Very good. Now flex your foot.

Slowly and painfully, feeling returned to her body. Her bones ached as she tried to sit up in the casket that stood in the center of the return room. Rusty cables hung from the ceiling and were connected like a spider’s web to her casket. Behind the dirty glass wall stood a bank of computers, with one red-haired smooth faced woman operating the controls.

The man that had woken her stood next to the casket holding out a tattered wool robe. He helped her out of the casket and hung the robe on her scrawny frame. The robe enveloped her into its warmth but she nearly collapsed under its weight. She would have fallen but the man placed his arm around her shoulder and held her upright. Come, you must try to walk. Your legs and body will remember what they’re supposed to do better if you move around.

Anna hesitantly took one step and then another. Soon she was able to stand on her own, albeit with shaky legs. Finally she mustered up the courage to try and speak, but it came out as a horse croak. The man brought her a glass of water, which she drank thirstily. Where are my parents?

They’re not here, the man replied.

Anna fought back the tears that were pushing their way