The Line Between
Page 30
“Meanwhile, we hear it may be March before the first power grids come back online. By which time we hope to have not only vaccinations but your favorite television shows waiting when you all reemerge. I will, of course, keep you apprised as we learn more. Hey, Mel—” he calls, leaning out in his chair. “Remind me to get a television, will you?”
Quiet laughter around me.
Noah looks back into the camera and smiles.
“We are well up here. You may be interested to know we’ve acquired our first acupuncturist, as well as a zookeeper specializing in reptiles. We number fifty-three. As you might guess, the bunkhouse is full, as is the main house. Packed to the gills. There’s a long line for the showers—those of us who grew up in houses with only one bathroom never knew we had it so good.”
He chuckles, and then says, more somberly, “I’m sorry to report that we have had to close our gates. I hope the day does not come that we have to defend them. And so our number stands at one hundred and sixteen souls above- and belowground. Too few, at the risk of being too many.”
He pauses, and I hate the disappointment etched into his features. That causes his lip to tremble as he looks away.
Gazes drop to hands and laps around me. Julie swipes at her eyes.
A few seconds later, Noah continues: “Five of our number have assembled a country band. Which leads me to say that I hope you’re making good use of the keyboard and guitar in the library. Perhaps this summer we’ll enjoy an old-fashioned summer jam—” His attention goes to something below the edge of the screen. “We have someone who wants to say hello.” He turns away in his chair and reaches down.
When he straightens, there’s a dog in his arms—a brown and white mix of churning feet and floppy ears panting happily at the screen.
“Buddy!” I shout happily at sight of the puppy Chase rescued during our journey west. A round of “aww” circles the chamber. I wish Truly was awake to see him. It’d been difficult to leave him topside, but in the end, practicality won out over the comfort of his presence.
Chase laughs and glances at me. “Can you believe how big he is?”
“You won’t believe how big this fella has gotten,” Noah says, and Chase points at the screen as Noah steals his words. “Artemis the cat, on the other hand, has become strangely thin despite the fact that I fill her bowl repeatedly throughout the day.” Chuckles issue around me as Noah lifts one of Buddy’s paws and waves.
“We’re signing off for now. I wish you a good night’s rest, a happy Boxing Day, as it were. A holiday I’m fond of for its—”
The screen freezes, Noah’s face separated into two disjointed planes by a line of static.
We wait, collective breath held, for the video to buffer and finish.
The screen goes blank instead.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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TOSCA LEE is the award-winning New York Times bestselling author of The Progeny, Firstborn, Iscariot, The Legend of Sheba, Demon: A Memoir, Havah: The Story of Eve, and the Books of Mortals series with New York Times bestselling author Ted Dekker. She received her BA in English and international relations from Smith College. A lifelong adventure traveler, Tosca makes her home in the Midwest with her husband and children. To learn more, please visit ToscaLee.com.
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ALSO BY TOSCA LEE
Firstborn
The Progeny
The Legend of Sheba
Iscariot
Demon
Havah
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ISBN 978-1-4767-9862-2
ISBN 978-1-4767-9863-9 (ebook)