Eden Book 1 (Eden Series)

by David Holley

  Ashlander. The derogatory term for the survivors of the massive volcanic blast that had sent the United States into the dark ages. While most North Americans had died during or soon after the eruption, the few who survived were refugees — if they were lucky. If they weren’t, they struggled on in a post-apocalyptic existence, reshuffled into the world order as nothing more than a fifth-world country.

  “I’m not an Ashlander, you ignorant dick,” Max says through clenched teeth. “I live in England and, in case you didn’t get the memo, you and this whole miserable island are about to be covered in ash.”

  “Quiet!” Noah barks, his voice cutting through the tension. His eyes are narrow and focused, as he approaches. Everyone watches on in shock as Noah orders, “Nobody move.” He slowly pulls out his hunting knife and then, like a bolt of lightning, hurls it at Maaka, whose eyes have grown wide with terror. The blade blurs past him before plunging into a giant pine, impaling an unsuspecting stoat between the eyes. The short-tailed weasel hangs lifelessly.

  “Bingo!” Noah exclaims, bounding toward the fresh kill. The quarreling men stare at him, paralyzed by the sequence of events. “Shall we carry on?” asks Noah.

  Evelyn immediately begins clapping her hands to encourage everyone to grab their gear and resume hiking. The others are unusually quick to fall in line. Is that from fear? Evelyn wonders. They come together in formation and, within minutes, they are back on the trail. As they set off, Atua approaches Max who is being consoled by Mia. Evelyn purposely lags behind them, in order to eavesdrop.

  “I’m sorry about Maaka,” says Atua quietly. “My brother can be difficult, I know.”

  “Difficult?” Mia interjects. “An ignorant bastard is more like it.” Her accusation causes Atua to laugh, further angering her. “Did I say something funny?”

  Atua stops. “No, sorry. It’s just that there’s a lot of truth in that remark. More than you know.”

  “How’s that?” demands Max, still fuming.

  “Well, the truth is, Maaka really is a bastard. He’s actually my half-brother. He became part of our family when I was four years old and he was ten. His mother had died in a car accident and as my father’s illegitimate son and no other family, he came to live with us.”

  “Are you telling us this so that we pity him?” Mia asks coldly.

  “No, of course not. But Maaka has had a tough life. And we lost our father in the tsunami, along with our youngest brother and two cousins. All I ask is that you cut him some slack.”

  “I am sorry for your loss. I really am,” Mia says. “But you and your rude brother are not the only ones who have suffered recently. Most of us here have lost a loved one and that can’t be an excuse for cruelty.”

  Evelyn holds her tongue during the spirited back-and-forth. The talk of loss brings to mind her own painful memory of the loss that, to this day, causes her the greatest heartache whenever it surfaces.

  It was January 1, 2018 — New Year’s Day — when Noah’s mother, Karen, broke the news. Evelyn was still reeling from the super-volcanic eruption in the United States, which had happened less than a week prior. In between sobs, Karen informed Evelyn that Jackson had died at sea while scuba diving off the coast of Majorca, a victim of an apparent stroke. While in the midst of a deep cavern dive, the Warden of the North and the Lion of the Sea was extinguished in an instant in the calm dark waters of the Mediterranean. Sir Admiral Jackson Leigh Lockheart, of the British Royal Navy, left behind legions who loved him and the country he had served proudly. At ninety-three, he died as he had lived, stretching the reaches of his own limits. When Evelyn heard the news, she dropped to her knees, the wind swept out of her. Overcome by emotion, she laid on the floor crying so helplessly that she could barely find the air to breath. He had meant far more to her than her own father. The devastation she felt at Jackson’s death was more pain than she could possibly bear; and she was filled with dread, knowing that she would be the one to give word to her husband.

  Noah had already been dark for so many months, working undercover to orchestrate the daring missions that were tearing apart the infrastructure of the KOP. It wasn’t until a month later that Noah came out from hiding, and it was over a three-day leave that Evelyn informed him of his father’s passing. After completing a nine-month operation that had turned the tide of the war, Noah was completely exhausted and ill-prepared to receive such news. She watched in torment as her husband’s heart was ripped from him. She knew she would never forget the way his face burned red and then fell apart, as the cold reality of her words took hold. Evelyn could do nothing but hold her beloved Noah as he buried his head under her wing, sobbing.

  Evelyn’s reverie is broken by Mia. “My God, Evelyn! Are you alright?”

  “I’m fine dear. What is it?”

  “Because....” Unable to speak, Mia reaches into her pocket for her compact mirror. She opens it and hands it to Evelyn.

  Evelyn takes the mirror, filled with worry. Worry that turns to horror when she sees that her eyes are red and swollen and her face is soaked with tears. Embarrassed beyond words, all she can say is, “Oh my, will you look at that!”

  Chapter 18

  After a grueling day’s hike, the tired travelers collapse on a soft plateau of thick grass under an evening sky, marbled in pink, blue, and lavender. The plush bed provides a surprising amount of comfort, after crossing leagues of rough terrain. Fatigue and the realization that they are still two full days from the nearest town have taken their toll. As Noah carefully prepares a feast, their shrunken stomachs growl in anticipation.

  A week ago, the thought of what they would eat in order to not starve would have sent most of them running from the dinner table in disgust; but today, anything remotely resembling food had been fair game. Fortunately for them, Noah can make almost anything taste delicious, thanks to his cache of spices, which enable him to concoct a savory meal fit for a king and his royal subjects. First, he slowly braises the weasel high above the flame, rotating it over and over on a wooden spit. He bastes it with a sauce of water, errvin flower, garlic, and pinches and thimbles of other riches. Then he stuffs the varmint with an array of arthropods of various sizes and colors, steamed to keep all of their nutrients packed in their soft malleable shells. Finally, he places the stuffed stoat atop even more creepy-crawlies in a black pan to which he adds a prepared stock of water, salt, pepper, rongoa powder, and black truffle oil and sets it to simmer for what feels like an eternity but is only a few minutes. Their patience is soon rewarded with a hearty meal, and while the portions are small, it packs a wallop in flavor and protein that leaves a few of the refugees in a food coma around the fire. They stare into the dancing flames, too tired to move.

  The others venture off into the pleasant evening, scattering across the banks of a wide, calm stream just a few paces from their campsite. Atua lies on his belly upon a diamond shaped rock, flanked by a standing Mia and a crouching Max, as he dangles a long flax leaf frayed in the middle that floats along the surface of the still water. Using an old Maori trick, he snares an unsuspecting eel with a lure constructed from pieces of stoat fat tangled in the shredded flax leaf. The catch elicits cheers from Max and Mia, and a friendly competition ensues as Hiroshi and Jacob try their hand at luring eels on the opposite side of the stream.

  Elsewhere along the flooded banks, Maaka and Pango smoke cigarettes and curse in Maori, much to the delight of Alice Pearson, whose blonde locks bounce merrily, dancing in concert to her endless giggles. She appears to be preoccupied with Maaka, hanging on his every word, though he all but ignores the fair lady. Pango seems interested, however, informing young Alice on several occasions that she is “a fit bird” and inquiring whether she’s a “real blonde.”

  Farthest from the campsite, Noah and Evelyn walk leisurely, engrossed in a conversation. As they wade through knee-high grass, Noah casually captures insects and stows them in his gunnysack for tomorrow’s breakfast, while Evelyn gives him grief for his earlier theatrics.
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br />   “I understand when you play the daredevil, as you are wont to do and have done for as long as I’ve known you. But what exactly was that little stunt with the knife? Fear and intimidation may have served you well on the battlefield, but Noah, you should know better. As Mia would say so eloquently, that was quite a load of macho bullshit you displayed back there.”

  Noah laughs, even as he tries to defend himself. “Eve, I realize how it looked, but it was pure chance, I assure you. My intention was to diffuse the situation — but then I saw that fat weasel hugging that tree trunk and I couldn’t pass it up. I just couldn’t.”

  “Mmmhmm,” she snips. “It’s funny how that worked out for you. Your record of impeccable timing serves you well, dear husband.”

  He shrugs before crossing the line. “It did prove rather effective.”

  She shoots him a dark glare and walks a few steps ahead. “Be that as it may Mister Impeccable, I feel rather full of myself knowing something that you don’t.”

  Noah’s eyes flicker, and he hopes that she is about to reveal what he has been ruminating over all day. “I’m all ears.”

  Evelyn smirks before continuing. “If it were anyone other than Mia, I would say she’s a loony, but I believe every word for some reason. Maybe it’s because I can hear the fear in her voice. She is a tortured soul, Noah, and we must help her no matter what happens.”

  “Well, you know my thoughts on that,” he agrees. “So please, tell me what she told you. I am literally dying with anticipation.”

  “Do you feel cheated?” she asks, all cheek and sass. A devilish smile takes shape as she tiptoes through the weeds. “Oh alright, you’ve suffered enough. Our conversation was astonishing and at the same time terrifying. I can’t believe what I’m about to say, but… apparently… Mia leapt into Max’s subconscious without him even knowing she was there.”

  The statement catches Noah by surprise. “What? That is truly remarkable. Could she hear his thoughts?”

  “Remarkable, without a doubt, but no, she couldn’t hear his thoughts. That was my first question, too. It was like she was a casual observer to what Max was experiencing.”

  “Fascinating.”

  She makes a pained face. “What you find fascinating, I quite frankly find terrifying. I love that poor girl, but she scares the piss out of me Noah.”

  “I understand your trepidation, and it’s warranted, but imagine the possibilities of her power. I think we have only scratched the surface of what she is capable of.”

  “Exactly, which is why I’m terrified. In the wrong hands, her power could have tragic consequences.”

  “Indeed. Which is why we will have to protect her and keep her ability a secret now and forever, even after we get out of this mess. So when did this occur?”

  “It happened while you were with Atua at their camp. Apparently she was with you while Max was talking to Maaka farther off?” She shrugs.

  Noah thinks for a moment before he snaps his fingers. “I think I know exactly! I was finishing up the torches when I noticed Mia was next to me, practically catatonic. I tried to get her attention for several moments, and she just wasn’t there. Then, suddenly, she snapped to and looked disoriented and said she was tired. How was she able to get back to herself?”

  “She isn’t entirely sure, and before you ask, yes, she has tried to do it again, but unsuccessfully.”

  “With anyone besides Max?”

  “I asked her that as well, and she admitted she was too afraid to even try. Thankfully. I feel for her, I really do. She wants no part of this.” Evelyn shakes her head in pity.

  “Unfortunately, she may have no say in the matter. I am convinced that she will only develop this power further — even if she tries to suppress it. It was just a few days ago that I suggested she open herself up to her abilities, and now this. We will need to work closely with her and help her develop her skill.”

  “We? What do you mean, we?”

  “Oh come on, I would think that this would be something you would relish as a scientist —”

  “As a scientist, yes,” she interrupts. “But I have no understanding of what’s happening here. This is so far out of my frame of knowledge that I haven’t even heard of it before.”

  “That’s exactly why you are the perfect person to study her. If anyone can find the science behind this, it would be you.”

  “Lucky me,” she says incredulously.

  When the Lockhearts return to camp, they find a snack of eel waiting for them. Noah is thrilled by the unexpected bounty, but the thought of eating eel makes Evelyn gag momentarily. Her hunger eventually supersedes her discriminating tastes. In all, three eels were caught during the contest, with Atua’s team snagging two to Hiroshi’s one. After eating the one eel, they take the remaining two and stow the cooked pieces in a tin, and place it into the stream to keep cold for tomorrow’s breakfast along with Noah’s fresh haul of insects. With nearly full stomachs, the group falls into a restful sleep, filled with dreams of home and normalcy and routines that include anything but survival and trudging through the wilds of southern New Zealand.

  *************

  At dawn, the travelers awaken suddenly to the cacophony of thousands of birds screeching overhead. One by one, they file out of their shelter to witness a plague of panic in the skies. The avian swarm wings purposefully north; they too are fleeing the inevitable doom that awaits the South Island.

  Luna covers her mouth in astonishment as Hiroshi steps from the tent. Having slept deeply for the first time since they landed, he is the last to witness the scene unfolding. Luna reaches for him, squeezing his hand tightly, and he can feel the fear in her grasp.

  Hiroshi doesn’t notice Noah approach him, and he can barely hear his voice over the deafening squawks.

  “An ominous sign!” Noah shouts.

  “Agreed. We need to move out!” Hiroshi yells back.

  They quickly break camp, and are soon on the trail once again. They eat a breakfast of eel and insects wrapped in trigyna leaves — a perfect meal to eat on the go. They begin the morning walking through a lush valley filled with fields of emerald and lavender wildflowers swaying back and forth — another beautiful spring day on the island. Once again, Atua leads the others, but today Mia, Max, and his cousin Kaewa join him in setting the pace.

  “What did you mean about your brother Maaka… something about living up to his namesake?” asks Mia.

  “Oh… that,” Atua smiles at Kaewa, and they share a laugh. “It’s something we always teased Maaka about when we were growing up. In the Maori language, Maaka means god of war. As you have seen, he enjoys starting trouble whenever the opportunity arises.”

  “Damn straight,” Max agrees.

  Mia shrugs and then sighs. “We all have our roles I guess.”

  “I know Maaka is difficult, but honestly, his bark is worse than his bite,” says Atua, sticking up for his brother, yet again.

  “Speaking of Maori legends... what’s the story with Mount Ahi’s revenge?” asks Max.

  “You don’t want to know about that, mate,” Kaewa dismisses, shaking her head.

  “Oh, come on,” protests Max. “Now I really want to know!”

  Kaewa glances over to Atua, who nods back at her. “Alright then, you asked for it. In the beginning of creation, the Gods and Goddesses were at war with each other. There were four Gods: Earth, Wind, Water, and Fire, and each God was intent on destroying the other. The weakest of the four was Earth and she was dying. In a last-ditch effort to save herself, she made alliances with Wind and Water, and together they conspired against the Fire Goddess. The Earth then lured Fire to the Great Mountain and told her that she would yield to her. When Fire went to the mountain, Earth shook her so forcibly that she fell into the mouth of the Great Mountain. The Fire Goddess was enraged by this deception and she erupted, shooting fire to the sky. Wind and Water came to Earth’s aid to snuff out the fire and seal the Goddess inside the Great Mountain. With the Fire Goddess tra
pped and powerless, the Earth thrived and, together with Wind and Water, they lived in harmony. But the Fire Goddess vowed that someday she would free herself from the mountain and set fire to the Earth in revenge for her treachery.”

  “And that’s why we named the Great Mountain Mt. Ahi,” Atua says. “Which translates in English to —”

  “Fire mountain,” Max interjects. “Yeah, we get it. Nice story.” He looks ahead and spots Maaka and Pango far out in front of them. “So, what’s the deal with the big guy. Are you related to him too?”

  “Pango?” Atua asks. “No. Maaka and him have been best mates for years. Long before I even knew I had a half-brother, they were already inseparable. As the story goes, Maaka was walking home from school one day, and he came across Pango, who was getting roughed up by two kids who were actually much smaller than he was, which I guess comes as no surprise. Even when he was young, Panger was the size of a elephant.” He pauses to smile at Mia, who beams right back at him. “Anyways, Maaka jumped into the brawl and just laid into those two kids and beat them up so badly that Pango actually had to jump in and hold him back so that they could get away. And, from that day forward, Bob’s your uncle.”

  “Hmmm, touching.” Max doesn’t try to hide his sarcasm.

  The traveling party has broken up into packs of threes and fours, and the day’s journey seems more disjointed and less organized than on previous days. As they march on, the chain of mountains grows small in the distance. They walk on flat grasslands that seem to stretch endlessly. With visibility now far beyond what they had experienced, and a sense of comfort that comes with easier footing, several members have become more independent about traveling at their own pace.