“We both saw it,” Kayla said. “I touched the apple. I smelled it. I can’t imagine how it could have been a fake.”
“She had carrots that were hard as rocks—they had to be grown. There was also this slimy stuff called aloe she had me put on her wounds.”
“Then it don’t matter what she said,” Tinker said. “She could be crazy as a loon, but the grown food speaks for itself.” A grin spread across his face. “What do you say we go to Ellay to check it out?”
“I don’t know, I’ll have to check my day planner.” Sarah winked.
“California, here we come,” Tinker sang out.
“How far is it, Pops?” Reid tried to picture it on a map. His legs ached from last night’s hike, but he’d gladly climb the Rockies twice if it meant bringing back viable seeds. “You figure it will take us a month to get there?”
Tinker’s grin broadened. “More like a couple of days.”
“But California’s clear over by the ocean, isn’t it?” Reid asked.
“You two haven’t told him about the Humvee,” Sarah chided.
“A Humvee, like a car?” Reid asked.
“On the money!” Tinker rocked back on his heels. “We’re driving to Ellay!”
“Seriously?” Of course his grandfather had never stopped trying to get a car running. He hadn’t given up at the Mountain even after he’d been put in jail for it. “What’s it run on? Does it burn garbage like in that movie you talked about? Or did you end up going solar?”
“I tried the garbage thing—total fiction. I did have some encouraging results with solar and wind power, and I’d probably still be tinkering around with those if it hadn’t been for your grandma. She remembered something out at Schriever that changed everything.”
“Schriever?” Reid asked. The name wasn’t familiar.
“A little air base annex on the other side of Peterson. It wasn’t that well-known even in the Before. I’d never been there. Most of their projects were above my clearance. I’d forgotten all about it until one day something jogged your gram’s memory about work she’d done at Schriever in the Before, and she mentioned the warhead.”
“As in a bomb?” Reid asked.
Tinker chuckled. “Come see for yourself.”
“That can wait until later,” Sarah said. “Take them upstairs so they can get washed up while I turn breakfast for two into a feast for four.”
“I guess we’ve got our marching orders,” Tinker said.
“We need two more chairs,” Sarah said pointing at a small round table with a red plaid tablecloth flanked by two wooden chairs with matching cushions.
Tinker pushed open a swinging door and entered an adjoining room. “Those chairs should be here somewhere.”
Reid followed him in and whistled. The room brimmed with shelves upon shelves of food and supplies.
“This is only part of what we have stored,” Tinker said. “This would ordinarily be a formal dining room, but you know your grandmother. She always says you can’t be too prepared. I don’t see any chairs, though, do you?”
“Nope,” Reid said, glancing around.
“Would have made sense to store them here, but the old brain doesn’t work quite like it used to.”
“Don’t sell yourself short, Pops,” Kayla said. “You’re still the smartest man I know.”
Tinker grinned at her. “Hey, there’s Zeke.” The dog was behind Kayla, peeking around her leg into the storage room. “C’mere, buddy. I bet you’ve got to widdle.” Tinker crossed the storage area, pulled open a sliding glass door, and headed across the yard toward a long-dead tree. Zeke trotted after him like he’d been following Tinker his whole life.
Kayla wandered into the yard, avoiding Reid’s eyes.
“Okay, do your business,” Tinker said. “Not there!” Zeke was shooting a stream of liquid onto the barbeque stand.
Reid tried not to laugh.
“I guess I’ll have to be more specific with future requests,” Tinker grumbled. “All right, pull that door shut, Reid. We’ll circle around to the back door. It’s best to stay out of your grandmother’s space while she’s cooking.”
As Reid followed Tinker around the back of the house, he was ambushed by the memory of Vega’s attack. Unwillingly, he replayed it, hearing the gunshots, seeing his father fall. He knew he had to tell his grandparents, but the thought filled him with dread.
“Where’d that dog get to? Is he still with us?” Tinker asked, glancing back.
“Right behind Kayla,” Reid said.
“Good. All right, let’s head upstairs.” Tinker opened a door onto a mudroom with a wooden staircase. They climbed to the second story, a cluster of rooms attached to a narrow hallway. Tinker pointed at the first doorway. “We use this bedroom for storage. The adjacent bathroom, too. The bathroom we use is at the end of the hall. Here’s our reading room.” He opened a door. “Root around and take whatever books you want for the trip.”
Reid poked his head in. The room was cozy with two easy chairs centered on a braided rug. Each wall was covered floor-to-ceiling with full bookcases, and he wondered how many of the books Tinker had read.
Tinker waved his hand at the doorway across the hall. “This is where your grandma and I sleep. Not flashy, but comfy.” There was a large bed, nightstand, dresser, and more full bookcases.
“So many books,” Reid said.
“Of course. Time to read is the greatest gift of the New World. In the Before, no one had time. Now I finish a book every other day.”
“Was all this here from the Before?” Reid asked.
“The furniture was,” Tinker said. “Can you imagine us two old folks trying to move beds? All we brought was the food and books and such, which was enough for us, believe me.”
The next door was shut. Tinker rattled the knob and swung it open. “This is Kayla and Brian’s room. Been closed up awhile. Hope it’s not too stuffy.” The bed was topped with three fluffy pillows and a pink quilt. A table held a lamp with a glass shade. There was no dresser, but the far wall held another stocked bookcase. “I guess I’ll leave you two to settle in.”
“Oh, we’re not together, Pops,” Reid said.
“Sorry, I wasn’t sure.” Tinker looked uncomfortable. “I knew Vega and your father had been pushing some wacky customs.”
Reid winced at the mention of his father.
“The whole notion of arranged marriage is wacky, if you ask me,” Tinker continued.
“Yeah,” Reid said. Kayla was silent, looking out the window, but Reid knew she felt the same way. “This is Kayla’s room. I’ll find someplace else to bunk.”
“There’re plenty of other places to sleep. We picked this house hoping someday Brian and Kayla would fill it up with great-grandkids.”
Kayla didn’t say anything, but Reid saw her stiffen. It was wrong Brian wasn’t there. Reid had no idea what to say, and the silence was awkward. He was relieved when Tinker cleared his throat.
“Oh, honey,” Tinker said, crossing to Kayla. “I’m sorry I brought up Brian. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” she said. “It’s good to have someone say his name. I miss him all the time, but no one ever talks about him, like he never existed.”
“I didn’t know that’s how you felt,” Reid said, chagrined he’d never thought of it that way.
Kayla issued something resembling a smile. “It’s not your fault. It’s hard to know what to say to me these days.”
Tinker pulled her into a hug. After a moment, he patted her back. “Hey, Reid hasn’t seen the facilities yet.” He grinned. “Shall we?”
Kayla sniffed and nodded.
The bathroom was warm and bright with sun filtering through glass block windows. In addition to a sink and toilet, there was an oversized soaking tub, and a separate shower.
“Where’s the water come from?” Reid asked. “I don’t see a hose.”
“This ain’t no ordinary sun-shower, kiddo,” Tinker
said.
“Tinker doesn’t do ordinary, remember?” Kayla said.
Tinker turned one of the knobs under the showerhead. There was a bubbling sound and water spurted out.
“How?” Reid said. They had running water in the Mountain, but that was due to an elaborate system of self-contained power generation, water heaters, and pumps.
“That’s not all,” Tinker said. He shut off the water, crossed the room, and pushed a lever on the toilet. The water whooshed from the bowl and new water flowed in. “Practically like living in the Before.”
“How’d you manage that?” Reid asked.
“It’s actually simpler than back at the Mountain,” Tinker said. “We don’t need pumps. The water collects in tanks on the roof and gravity takes care of the rest. Eventually the septic may stop working, but so far so good. Now you two get washed up while I figure out where those extra chairs are.”
“Can I help with something?” Reid asked.
“No, your grandma likes to do things a certain way. It’s smoother if we stay out of the kitchen. Take a few minutes to get settled. The bedroom by the stairs has a decent bed, though you may have to move a few boxes. Sheets and towels are in here.” He pointed to a cabinet.
“Thanks, Pops,” Reid said as Tinker shuffled out.
Kayla wiped at her eyes.
“Thinking about Brian?” It still felt weird to say his name.
“No. I mean, I’m always thinking about him, but what set me off was Tinker saying to get settled. It made me think of home. My sisters’ paintings on the walls. My mom knitting and knitting and knitting while crying over Bethany. Ignoring her other kids who are right there.”
“I’m sorry, Kay.” He never should have trusted his father. “Do you want to go back?”
“No. But you know we can’t go back now, even if we wanted to. It would be different if you’d let me kill Vega.”
Sixteen
Port Townsend, Washington, aboard the Diplomat
After informing his crew of the change in plans, Nikolai gathered his belongings. He loaded his briefcase with his sextant, compass, and charts, and his father’s pipe, then tossed some clothing and toiletries into a duffle. The rest of his personals went into two trunks that would be stored at the Carriage House.
Olexi rapped on the doorjamb. “You asked to see me, sir?”
“Come in.” Nikolai tossed the duffle on top of one of the trunks. “Are you packed?”
“Yes, sir. I wanted to thank you for bringing me with you.”
“Thank you for agreeing to come. Kennedy was kind enough to allow it. We’ll be bunkmates—sharing a room.” Nikolai smiled as if this was a normal thing for him.
“Yeshyo by?”
“It will be fine.” Sharing a room would be awkward, but the priority was getting his kids. “Olexi, I realize I’m no longer your commander, but I have a request.” Nikolai shifted, uncomfortable with their new roles. “Would you mind delivering my bags to the Emancipation with your own? I’m not planning to board until tomorrow, but I’d like to clear these quarters.”
“Of course, sir.”
Nikolai appreciated the short reprieve that would buy him. He dreaded stepping foot on the Emancipation more than he cared to admit. It was one thing to be a guest aboard another man’s boat. It was another thing entirely to sail under the command of someone too green to be a captain. It was ten times worse when the very sight of that captain made one’s blood boil.
Concern lined Olexi’s brow. “Is there something else?”
“No, that’s it. I’ll see you at the party this evening?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.” Olexi’s weathered face drew into a grin exposing crooked teeth.
He wasn’t a handsome guy, but he was charming in his own right, particularly when he played the harmonica. Nikolai wished Cook would notice, because the man thought she made the stars.
“Oh, there is one more thing,” Nikolai said. “Have you seen Cook? I stopped by the galley but she wasn’t there.”
“Gone ashore.”
“Ah, already in her mother’s kitchen, I’d wager. I’ll catch up with her there. She’d slit my throat if I left without saying goodbye.”
“She’s a spitfire, that one.” Olexi’s eyes had grown wistful.
Poor smitten bastard.
Nikolai sent the trunks to the Carriage House, then headed for the big kitchen to see Cook. It was obvious a feast was in the making. The kitchen had overflowed into the former kitchen gardens with tables of food being prepped by young apprentices, and barbeque grills and smokers being tended by a few older men. Nikolai waved to familiar faces. As he picked his way through the chaos, two girls stopped shucking clams to giggle behind their hands at him. He didn’t recognize them, but gave a polite wave then promptly tripped over a log that had strayed from the woodpile. He barely managed to stay on his feet, which added to the girls’ delight. Nikolai tipped an imaginary hat, happy to oblige.
He felt like he’d already crossed a battlefield, but looking into the kitchen, he realized the real battleground lay ahead. The air was thick with steam and smoke, and the heat pouring out the door soaked Nikolai’s shirt in seconds. A dozen people were crowded inside, half of them shouting to be heard above the clanging of pots and each other. Nikolai’s skin prickled against his sticky shirt, his beard itched, and his eyes burned, but he went in.
Cook wasn’t there, but he spotted the old woman who presided over this kingdom—Finola’s mother, “Mama Cook” Winnie Tucker. Sitting on the counter at her elbow, taking up precious workspace, was Josh.
Mat blyad. With all that had happened, Nikolai had missed their chess date.
Josh’s face was long, but perked up when Winnie handed him something. Nikolai approached, trying to see what it was, hoping fervently it was a slice of apple.
Oh, hell. Mama Cook had broken out the chocolate, which meant one thing—somebody was in deep dermo. In this case, it was Nikolai.
“Uncle Niko!” Josh jumped off the counter and ran into Nikolai’s arms.
Nikolai hugged him, saying the phrase his own father hadn’t said often enough. “Moy zolotoy mal’ch’ik.” My golden boy. “I’m sorry.” He didn’t try to explain. Explanations and excuses don’t matter to a boy who feels forgotten.
Nikolai noticed Mama Cook carefully not looking at him while she pulverized the dried fish on her cutting board. She didn’t have to say anything for Nikolai to know what she was thinking, and his cheeks burned as only Mama Cook could make them.
“Winnie?” Nikolai said softly.
She shook her head.
“Goodness, boy, you’re getting too big to hold,” Nikolai said, shifting Josh in his arms. “How about we go for a swim?”
“Damn straight!” Josh said, kipping out of Nikolai’s grasp.
“Josh,” Nikolai said, trying to appear stern.
“Sorry.”
“Thank Mama Cook, then grab your suit and meet me at the Carriage House.”
“You promise you’ll come?” Josh looked up at him, so vulnerable, wanting to trust.
“On my life.”
“Fresh! Thanks, Mama Cook.” Josh sprinted from the room, dodging buckets and people and the hot oven door on the way.
Mama Cook would not be as quick to forgive. Nikolai, of all people, should not have sent a little boy crying to her kitchen. Not after all the times he’d been that boy, running in for a hug and some chocolate after being left on the dock by his papa. Nikolai had sworn he’d never be that kind of father, and he felt ashamed for the many times he hadn’t been there for his own children. He’d tried to do better with his nephew because he was the only father figure the boy had. Mama Cook was right to be disappointed in him.
“I’m sorry.” He kissed the top of her head. “I’ll make it up to him. To all of them.”
Seventeen
Manitou Springs, Colorado
Reid ate breakfast quickly, anxious to see the car. “You were kidding about the bomb, right?”
He had to be kidding, didn’t he?
“It’s perfectly safe.” Tinker opened a door off the kitchen, revealing a dark garage with a hulking shadow inside. “Stay here a sec while I get us some light.”
Reid was surprised when the light came from inside the car. He’d expected Tinker to open the garage door.
“Go on,” Sarah said, coming up behind him. “We’ll go for a joyride.”
“Kayla, you up for that?” Reid asked.
“I’m tired,” Kayla said. “I’ll stay and take a nap.”
“Nonsense,” Sarah said, shooing her through the door. “We’ll all go. Be good for us. Get back on the horse and all that.”
Reid looked at Kayla for an explanation, but Kayla didn’t provide one.
“Sit up front with me, Reid,” Tinker said, tapping a beat on the steering wheel. “Let the gals spread out in back.”
Kayla and Sarah were already climbing through the back door, so Reid circled to the other side of the car. “I’ll open the garage door.”
“No need,” Tinker said. The garage door rolled up by itself.
“How’d you do that?”
“Magic,” Tinker said.
“There’s Zeke,” Reid said, seeing the dog in the front yard. “I’ll get him.”
“Why don’t you whistle for him?” Tinker asked.
“How do you mean?”
Tinker whistled, loud and shrill. Zeke bounded into the garage and jumped into the car through the door Reid had left open, then leapt into the back and curled up on the seat beside Kayla.
“How’d you do that?” Kayla asked. “How could he have known what that meant? You just met him.”
“Me and this dog, we have a special bond already,” Tinker said. “We’re simpatico. Amigos. The Lone Ranger and Tonto, Calvin and Hobbes, Batman and—”
“Phooey,” Sarah said. “Whistling for a dog was as common as dirt in the Before. Besides, that dog’s simpatico with Kayla, not you, you old fart.”
As if on cue, Zeke nuzzled Kayla’s arm aside and rested his head on her leg. The look on Kayla’s face was almost happy as she ran her hand along Zeke’s back. “He’s so soft.”
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