First Page-Oxygen by Authors Randy Ingermanson & John Robinson
OXYGEN by Authors Randy Ingermanson & John Robinson features a very strong woman as the lead character, Valkerie Jansen, who has the opportunity to be the “first man on Mars” — if she can survive the trip.
Chapter One
Valkerie woke up screaming. A viper bat clung to her face with fishhook claws, smothering her with its thin, leathery body. She tore at her face, but the creature had dug in too deep. She could already feel its venom burning into her lungs, constricting her chest in a long, convulsive cough. Struggling for control, she traced the contours of her face with tingling fingertips. Slowly, the clinging creature melted into her skin, fading back into the world of dreams.
The nightmare gradually faded, giving way to a new, more gripping terror. Valkerie was wide awake now. There was no such thing as a viper bat. But she still couldn’t breathe.
Valkerie flung herself from the camping cot and thudded to the floor. She lay on her back, gasping for breath. She was hyperventilating, but the burning in her lungs grew worse. An acrid stench filled the cabin-the smell of sulfur dioxide-SO2.
“Oh no.” The volcano was venting. “Oh God, please …” Valkerie rolled over and fought her way up onto her hands and knees. Dim red light filtered in through the cabin window, illuminating a large duffel bag in the middle of the room. She crawled slowly toward the bag, struggling through the coughs that wracked her body.
“Please, God.” Squeezing her eyes shut against the pain in her cramping muscles, Valkerie inched forward until she felt the heavy canvas. She dug underneath a metallic thermal suit and pressed her breather to her face. Her lungs choked shut at the rush of acidic gas. Idiot! She flung the mask across the room. Gina-Marie had warned her about the filter, but Valkerie had insisted it would be good for one more trip.
Her mind raced. If Mount Trident was venting, the whole valley could be filled with sulfur dioxide. She had to get out of there. Fast.
I’m attaching a photo of me and my coauthor John Olson and the cover art for OXYGEN.
Randy’s web site is at
http://www.ingermanson.com
John’s web site is at:
http://www.litany.com
Randy’s web site about writing fiction is at:
http://www.
And
http://www.
