The Last City (The Ahlemon Saga Book 1)
Page 32
The crowd assembled, sitting in rows of chairs facing a small platform, where the president of the airline and the prime minister of Canada each gave a brief speech. What can someone say to a gathering of grief-stricken people who are also awash with anger at the unanswered questions surrounding the disappearance of a plane in midflight? At least the diplomats had required that the media cameras keep a respectful distance. Their speeches were followed by a religious leader who spoke about the mysteries of God. While Melissa was in no mood to accept his platitudes, she gave him credit for his sincerity and care.
After the speakers, a woman with a pleasant voice read the names of each passenger on Flight 1402. During the reading, a momentary break in the clouds revealed a blue sky above. Gazing overhead, Melissa became lost in her own thoughts. “Where did you go, John Tygert?” she whispered. “Where did you go?”
45
Day after Return to Earth Day
0700 hours
Central tower, Alto Raun
Mhara awoke, lying on her back in a comfortable bed, staring at a white hospital ceiling. She started to roll over, but every muscle she could imagine ached. Lying still, she simply turned her head. Despite her headache and the pains, she smiled. Sitting on a couch next to her bed were Kane, Charly, and Rhogan, in that order, all leaning on each other and fast asleep. They had obviously been keeping vigil over her and had finally succumbed to sleep. Tears came to her eyes and ran down her cheeks.
Charly stirred and saw that Mhara was awake. Carefully slipping out from between the two boys, she eased Rhogan over to lie against Kane’s shoulder, where they both remained lost in heavy slumber.
Kneeling by her bed, Charly asked, “Mhara, are you hurting?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Why are you crying?”
“Seeing the three of you there . . . waiting on me . . . safe . . . together. Whatever else happens, I will treasure this moment with the deepest gratitude.” She reached her hand out, and Charly took it, tears now welling in Charly’s eyes.
Rhogan snored, ending in a snort that woke Kane. Rhogan’s head slid down Kane’s chest and onto his lap.
“What the—” Kane said, groggily, lifting his arms, trying to figure out who was lying on him. Rhogan curled his body into a ball, snuggled his head into Kane’s thigh as if it were a pillow, and hummed contentedly. Kane looked at the girls, his face a mixture of sleepy and dumbfounded.
The girls laughed till they cried.
46
Light-years away, the Mayflower came out of suspension, having successfully made it through the Push. This time there was no trauma or crying among the passengers. Instead, they each took an antinausea pill to settle their stomachs and an aspirin to reduce the headache that always accompanied a Push.
The Mayflower was cruising high in a dark-blue night sky, moonlight illuminating a layer of wispy clouds below. Ham rushed into the cockpit, jabbering with excitement.
“Sweet Mother Earth! How’s she lookin’, Captain?”
“Looks great,” Tygert said, stoically. “Just one problem.”
Tygert and Sam had their heads tilted back, looking almost directly overhead. Ham moved forward into the space between them and looked up, following their gaze. A full, grey moon glowed brightly in the night sky. Ham gasped. To the right of the grey moon, and behind it, was a larger, reddish moon.
“It’s the wrong Earth.”
epilogue
Undulating hues of yellow, orange, red, and violet painted the horizon as a striking sunset fell upon Ahlemon. A lone figure stood on the retaining wall that edged the rooftop of Alto Raun, his dark cape flapping in the brisk wind, and the ocean waves crashing against the city wall five hundred feet below. But he was not admiring the beauty of the evening sky; he was seething with hatred, his metallic fists clenched.
When he spoke, his voice started at a whisper—but grew into a battle cry:
“I will crush every last bone in every last human body. Do you hear me, humans?” he roared. “I am Rakaan! And I am your exterminator!”
About the Author
A lifetime reader of fantastical and adventurous tales, Casey McGinty raised his three children telling them spontaneous bedtime stories. In The Last City, his first novel, Casey simply wrote a story he wanted to read. Residing in Kingston Springs, TN, he enjoys kayaking, movies, playing guitar, making tacos, and helping his wife with their two Tennessee Walkers, Gideon and Asher, and Otis the donkey.
Watch for further adventures in the Ahlemon saga at
WWW.CASEYMCGINTY.NET
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