They’d almost died in the rain but didn’t. Instead, he died trying to save her.
If he hadn’t tried to grab her, they’d both still be alive. A team.
Terra didn’t lose her momentum. She ignored the tire dock where she’d stood with Rowan and sprinted toward the water. The ground sifted, turning from dirt to sand. The tiny granules stuck to her skin and shifted around her toes, soft and supple. Running took more effort here; muscles awoke in her legs, driving her forward, burning through her limbs.
The river washed over her toes. Cold shock sent a shiver up her spine. She splashed deeper, until it caressed her knees, soaked her pants, slowed her steps. Then she threw herself into the water.
She had never been submerged before. The filtration and cleaning system that cleaned their drinking water couldn’t function fast enough to allow for showers or baths in the compound.
Water closed around her, a cool embrace that awakened her senses. Terra’s feet found the riverbed, and her toes sank in the mushy silt as she stood, breaking the surface. She pushed her wet hair from her face, closed her eyes, and pressed into the current as it spread around her.
She didn’t let anything overshadow experiencing Danu for the first time. No thoughts of Rowan. No thoughts of her dad and the rash. No thoughts of anything but the silken feel of the river between her fingers, the way the breeze dried her face, and the thin beam of sunlight breaking through the clouds above.
Time passed. Terra lost track, unworried by the passage of minutes. Life on Danu had been a struggle from the moment Terra was born. She was lucky to be alive; she owed that luck to her father and his absolute determination to keep her breathing on a planet trying to kill her.
Terra cupped a hand and lifted the water. It shimmered like polished metal.
Danu hadn’t been trying to kill her. All these years, and Danu hadn’t been gunning for her after all.
But why?
When she finally turned to leave the water, she startled at the sight of her father silently watching from the tire dock.
Terra trudged from the water and picked a spot near him on the beach. She mirrored his cross-legged posture and tucked into the sand, digging small hills of the wet sand into a base.
“I’ve always wanted to make a sandcastle,” she said. She shaped a column and added a triangular roof as her father watched. “Have you seen a real castle before? I mean, in real life. Not in books.”
Teddy nodded. “Many. I spent six months in Europe as a young man.”
“Do you think anything is left over there?”
“I think if anything was left, it would be the castles. The thick stone would withstand Danu.”
“Even the acid rain?”
“I like to hope so. It has yet to damage Ground Bay, hasn’t it?”
Terra nodded. She connected her first tower to a second with a thick fortress wall. “Why do you think the river doesn’t burn me?”
“I suspect it has something to do with the actual waste being in the clouds and atmosphere,” her father replied. “Just as the ground heals itself from the rain, so too does the river.”
Terra nodded. “That makes sense. As much sense as it can, anyway.”
Silence filled the space between them. Birds danced in the branches of the trees along the riverbank, and the water trickled behind her. Peaceful.
“Your mother loved the water,” Teddy offered. “We went to the beach every year.”
“The ocean?” Terra raised her eyes to his, her fingers still shaping a moat around the castle.
He nodded.
“Is it much different from this?”
“Saltier. Deeper. With waves that can knock you off your feet.”
“Sounds scary.”
“Everything about Danu can be scary if you don’t respect her.”
“We didn’t respect her,” Terra said softly.
He tilted his head. “How so?”
Terra shaped a new tower into a cone. She never had any qualms telling her father what was on her mind. He was her everything. But how she sensed Danu and understood her feelings sounded insane.
Terra used a finger to carve a tiny drawbridge over the moat. “Danu speaks to me.” At her father’s concerned look, she added, “I mean, she doesn’t actually talk. When I’m touching her, it’s like I can sense her thoughts. Or feelings, I guess.” Terra dug her fingers into the sand. “She’s sad. She loved the human race and we hurt her.”
“That is an unfortunate truth.” He stroked his mustache as he stared at her, the wheels turning behind his dark eyes. “What else can you sense?”
Terra drew a heart in the wet sand. She loved the way the sand bunched on either side of her fingertip, creating a canyon that the river filled.
“Betrayed,” Terra said, surprised by the lump in her throat. “I remember when we were ten, Rowan told you he wished you were his dad because his dad was terrible. And Mr. Tate overheard. Do you remember that?”
Teddy nodded.
“The look on his face. We were ten years old. Who listens to kids? But Mr. Tate looked so betrayed. I think that’s how Danu feels. She nurtured us and provided for us, but we took her for granted. We poisoned her atmosphere and bombed her land and trashed her oceans and she doesn’t understand how we could have repaid her kindness with so much hate.”
At the end of her tirade, she looked up to find tears on her father’s cheeks.
He reached for her, but she shrank away.
“My clothes are dangerous to you. Because they’re wet.”
Teddy withdrew his hand, sadness flitting across his face. “You’re right. And I agree with Danu. We have done her so wrong. Irrevocably wrong.” He rubbed a hand over his weary face. “Some days, I don’t believe we’re worth saving.”
Terra gaped, her sandcastle forgotten. “You don’t mean that.”
He motioned to their surroundings. “Where is the value in our race anymore? There was a time when respect for the planet — our one and only planet — was more important than greed and progress and war. Maybe we are too far gone, sweetheart. Maybe eliminating us will save her before she’s beyond saving, too.”
Terra scooped up two fistfuls of sand and held them out. “She doesn’t want to hurt me, which makes me think she doesn’t want us to die off. Why?”
“I have no idea.” He rubbed his forehead as if the thought made his head ache. “I’ve done nothing but ask myself that same question since the day you fell off the path.”
“Why me? Why not Rowan?”
“I wish I could answer that. I really do.” He took a shaky breath. “Danu killed Amanda. I can’t imagine it’s a genetic immunity.”
Terra dumped the sand back onto the beach. “Maybe there are more like me.”
“Maybe.”
“I hope there are. If there are more like me — people Danu can’t or won’t kill — there is hope for us as a species.” Terra placed her palm on the beach. “I think Danu lost hope.”
“Hope is a hard thing to cling to when it seems all the good in the world is gone.”
The faraway look in her father’s eyes reminded her why she had fled the compound. “I was listening. At the chamber.”
“I suspected.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about the rash?”
For the first time since she joined him on the beach, he looked away. A muscle twitched in his jaw as he studied the river. “I didn’t want to tell you right away. You just lost three friends. I wanted to give you time.”
“Liar.” The world fell like a rock in the river between them. “You were scared. You know you don’t have the time to waste.”
Teddy laughed ruefully. “You are your mother’s daughter. She could always read me like a book.”
“Lars has a point, you know. We can’t do this without you, Dad. Not even a little. You’re the beating heart of Firma.”
“Beating heart or not, I do now have an ‘expiration date.’” Her father threw up half-hearted finger quotes
.
“Not if I have anything to say about it.” Terra stretched her legs out, her jeans heavy with water and sand. “How far is the city?”
“Terra, no. It’s too dangerous. We can find another way.
“What other way?” Terra said sharply. “This has been our life for twenty years, and it’s killing us slowly. I have this… whatever this is. Immunity or magic or something. Whatever it is, I have it, and if I don’t use it to help find a solution, then what kind of person am I?”
Teddy smiled. “I see Amanda in you every day. Your beauty. Your facial expressions. Your attitude. And then out if nowhere — there I am.”
Terra picked up a damp leaf and tucked it into the highest tower of her sandcastle—a little flag of surrender. “Mom gave me life. But you helped me live it.”
* * *
Terra knew she had no time to waste pep-talking herself. Time wasn’t her friend, and according to her father, the city was at least two days away on foot.
If she was lucky, her dad wouldn’t die before she returned.
“Who’s bright idea was it to build Firma so far from the city?” Terra griped while packing medical supplies in her backpack as Teddy passed them to her.
“Deadly outbreaks in the first year were killing everyone in major metropolitan areas. It was safer to build in a rural area.” Teddy passed her a roll of gauze and tape. “Try not to get hurt. I can send you with antibiotics just in case, but not the good ones, since they need refrigeration.” He crossed to the medicine cabinet and pulled open the door.
“Dad, come on. I don’t need antibiotics. I won’t be gone long.” She stared at her backpack, which was quickly losing space. “At least I hope I’m not gone long.”
“There are a lot of dangers out there, sweetheart. You never know.” Teddy reached past her and tucked a bottle of pills in her bag. “I want you to come back to me.”
Terra wrapped her arms around his neck And squeezed. “I’m coming back, Daddy. Four days. Just give me four days. And don’t die, okay?”
He had already assured her he was testing a cocktail of medications on himself. Not exactly the smart thing for a healthy doctor to do, but when a giant red target was painted on his back…
Teddy brushed a hand over her hair and didn’t respond.
Feedback blared from the loudspeaker. When the screech faded, a voice announced, “Military.”
Terra stepped away from her dad’s hug. “What? They were just here yesterday.”
He shrugged. “Perhaps they forgot something.”
Curious, Terra followed her father upstairs.
Three men in the familiar yellow haz-mat suits waited just inside Ground Bay. Carter and Jack faced them, a cigarette dangling from Jack’s lips.
“Gentleman,” her father greeted them kindly. “Back so soon?”
The short, round man in the middle took a step forward. He didn’t look like a soldier, and he didn’t carry a gun.
He waddled up to Teddy and nodded politely. “Dr. Theodore Reed?”
Teddy shook the man's rubber-gloved hand. “Yes. I’m Dr. Reed.”
“I’m Dr. Bernie Lovell,” the man introduced himself in a nasally voice. “I’m here on behalf of the Poisoned Earth Project to recruit you for our research team.”
Teddy smiled indulgently. “Thank you, Dr. Lovell, for the honor of considering me, but I can’t leave my compound. The people of Firma depend on me.”
Dr. Lovell moved closer, his voice pleasant as he said, “You don’t understand. This isn’t a request.”
As if on cue, the soldiers on either side of the butterball doctor leveled their guns on Terra.
Dr. Lovell’s tone hardened. “You will come with us, or we will kill your daughter.”
The blood rushed to Terra’s head, loud in her ears.
Carter and Jack didn’t hesitate. They leapt in front of Terra, placing their bodies between her and the guns. Jack growled, pulling his dagger and brandishing it at the soldiers. Carter — not quite so intimidating — cradled Terra behind his back.
A gun cocked. The soldier in question pointed his barrel at Jack’s head.
“Stop!” Dr. Reed cried. “Put those goddamned guns down. I’ll go with you.”
“Dad! No!” Terra shoved Carter, but despite his skinny body, he was larger and stronger. He held her in place, keeping his body squarely between the gun and her.
“Why are you doing this?” Teddy asked.
“We need assistance in our program, and we hear you’re the best of the best.” Dr. Lovell glanced at Terra, only his pudgy eyes visible behind the mask.
Terra gasped. No.
This was her fault. That stupid need to knock those arrogant soldiers off their government pedestal.
But she was just some random girl. Why would they take her seriously enough to come back for her dad?
Unless they were in trouble, too.
“Can I have a day to prepare?” Teddy asked after the soldiers lowered their weapons. “I’ll need to instruct my team on what to do during my absence and pack a bag.”
“No, Dr. Reed. We are busy men.” He gestured at one of the soldiers, who handed over a bag. “You’ll find a suit and boots in there. Please put them on and we will be on our way.”
Terra clung to Carter in shock as they all watched her father dress in the protective suit. Jack had sheathed his dagger, but kept his hand on the hilt, as if he could win in a gunfight with a five-inch blade.
“May I have a moment alone with my daughter?” Teddy asked when he was done, his words muffled behind the mask.
Dr. Lovell smiled. “Of course. We aren’t barbarians.”
Carter finally let her go, and Terra launched into her father’s arms.
“Dad, you can’t!” Terra said, finally giving in to her years. “What about the patients and the rash? What about your medications?”
“Shh. Sweetheart, listen to me,” Teddy said earnestly, keeping his voice low. “This is a good thing. You don’t have to leave now. I’ll go with them and use their resources to find a cure for the outbreak.”
Terra crossed her arms, angling her back to the soldiers. “Dad. They’re taking you at gunpoint.”
Teddy inclined his head. “Well, yes. That is unfortunate.”
“Unfortunate?” Terra hissed, aware of the hysteria creeping into her voice.
“Terra, stop.”
She shrunk at his sharp tone, then straightened her shoulders. “You said not to trust them”
“I don’t. And you shouldn’t either.”
“Then how are you so calm? They’re going to drag you off, and what if I never see you again?”
Teddy took her hand and leaned to be eye to eye with her. “Don’t trust them. But trust me. Got it?”
Terra nodded.
“I’ll send word to you as soon as I can.” He squeezed her in his rubber-clad arms. “Be strong.”
Then he turned his back on her and stepped off the path. His shiny, government-issued boots took him safely to the car. Seconds later, the engine turned over.
The Humvee faded into the distance, carrying her father away from Firma.
Terra took a deep breath, fueled by despair and seething fury. She whirled on Carter and Jack.
“Gather the collective and inform them of his kidnapping,” Terra said. “I need to stock up. I’m going after them.”
Chapter 10
Terra tossed her backpack on the table in front of Lars. The heavy thunk made the tall man jump, and several manila folders skidded over the edge of the desk.
“What’s the Poisoned Earth Project?” Terra asked.
He looked up from his notebook, forehead crinkling. “All we know is they run a research program near the city. Government funded and hush hush.”
“They took Dad.”
Lars stood abruptly, his chair flying backwards from the force. “They took him?”
“At gunpoint.” Terra squared her shoulders. “I’m going to get him back.”
&
nbsp; Lars circled his desk. “Don’t be silly. It’s a government-funded compound. You can’t take them on.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
Lars sighed. “Terra, it’s not that I don’t have faith in your abilities. Your father would never forgive me if something happened to you.”
“But you were willing to volunteer me for a trip into the city,” Terra pointed out.
“Yes. To a medical facility that has no ties to the government!” Lars snapped. “The most dangerous part of that trip would be getting there. You can’t just walk onto a government installation, Terra. Those people shoot first and ask questions later.”
“Yeah, I noticed when they pointed guns at me to blackmail Dad into going with them,” Terra shot back. “Now, if you want me to survive the trip, tell me where to go and what I need to make the journey.”
Lars sighed. “I can’t talk you out of this, can I?”
“Don’t even try.”
Lars blew out a breath and stooped to retrieve his fallen chair. “Most important is to avoid people.”
Terra raised an eyebrow. “Okay. Why?”
“Firma land is safe,” Lars told her as he sat back down at his desk. “Our security guards do a great job keeping dangers off our land. The hunters, too,” he acknowledged her team with a nod. “But once you leave Firma land, you’ll face not only wildlife — mutated and normal — but the Wilds.”
“What are the Wilds?”
“Wild people,” Lars said softly. “The people left behind who are trying to survive Danu on the surface.”
Terra sank into the chair in front of his desk, stunned. “People live out there?”
“They do. Not for long, I imagine. Their resources are limited, of course. They can’t eat anything that grows from Danu. Half the animals they hunt likely poison them because they don’t have the means to test levels. We’ve heard rumors that the Wilds resort to cannibalism when they come across other people.”
The thought made Terra’s stomach revolt. “They eat people?”
“Safest meal there is for them,” Lars said simply. “Steer clear of people. Even soldiers.”
“Because we don’t trust them?”
East of the Sun Page 6
