Eve of Man (The Harvest Book 2)

by Ferretti, Anne

  The door opened and conversations halted, but quickly resumed, when seeing it was Anne and Charlie, not Austin. Charlie took a seat across from Roxanne, who sat alone in a booth at the back of the diner. For her part, Roxanne sat and listened while Charlie prattled off about this and that. From behind Roxanne’s green eyes, Eve observed how her gift was affecting Charlie. So far all appeared to be going as expected, but only time would tell. This gift was unlike what she’d bestowed upon Jenny or that which Caleb had done for Ryan. At the thought of her son, a frown touched her lips and a crease formed in her brow. Had Charlie been paying attention, she would have noticed the sad expression on Roxanne’s face. However, as it went with sixteen year olds, attention that strayed far from themselves was rare.

  A few minutes later Austin arrived. Eighteen expectant faces turned towards him. Eighteen heart rates went up in anticipation of what he would say. For Austin, who had worked with the roughest hardest men on Earth, this should have been a cakewalk, but looking out at the sea of faces drew his stomach into a knot. These weren’t seasoned soldiers, or trained mercenaries, and aside from Zack and Kyle, they had little to bring to the table in means of survival. Within his team of Marines, they obeyed a golden rule; never enter a situation where the unknown outnumber the known. Yet here he stood, about to send them off on a journey full of unknown. The pitfalls they might encounter; unknown. Their safe being; unknown. The Elders abiding by their word; unknown. The last unknown, the biggest gamble, being his prevalent concern. With a deep breath and squaring of his shoulders, Austin hid his uncertainty and addressed the group in the firm commanding tone they’d come to expect from him.

  “I know you’re busy packing, so I won’t keep you long. I wanted to go over what Eve and I discussed as far as logistics of the move are concerned,” he said, walking over to the counter and motioning to Zack for some water. “We decided it best for this group to arrive on Paru first. While you’re busy laying the groundwork, Eve will visit the remaining survivors across the globe. This will take about two months start to finish.”

  “As we discussed, Ed will serve as the community leader.” He nodded to Ed. “You’ll need to choose a welcoming committee for the new arrivals. They’ll begin trickling in a week or so after you, maybe sooner, maybe later. They will look to you and those you choose as the people in charge. No one will question your authority.”

  “Will they speak English?” Anne asked.

  “No, but you’ll be able to understand their languages. Which leads to my next point. We discussed the process that will take place to change your DNA. Eve will begin as soon as we finish here. Anne and Grace you’ll go first and the babies will go last. That gives you time to adjust.”

  Anne and Grace shared a nervous glance. Now that the time was upon them, having the alien girl touch what was most precious to them didn’t seem like that good of an idea any longer.

  “The process will hurt them less than it hurts you,” Austin assured them. “Within twenty-four hours you will be functioning at full capacity. In twenty-four hours we will load the vehicles and head for Cheyenne.” He paused to let this sink in. “Are there any questions?”

  Bruno raised his hand and stood up. “Are you absolutely sure about these old people, these Elders, keeping their word?”

  Using English, Austin repeated Bruno’s question to the others and then addressed him in German. “No, I’m not, but you can’t stay here. You’ll die. That much I do know.”

  Bruno scowled and replied, “Maybe dying ain’t so bad Mr. Reynolds. I knew a man to hide from death, only to die a death ten times worse once it caught up to him again. Some things are worse than death, much worse. Sometimes you have to know when to say when.” Having felt he said his peace, Bruno nodded to Austin and sat down, scowl in place.

  Austin tilted his head in return, thankful to be the only one other than Ada and Kyle, who understood Bruno. It wouldn’t do well to stir up the others with talk of death.

  31 Final Departure

  Their caravan cruised down the highway heading for Cheyenne. It was made up of an odd assortment of vehicles, ranging from a moving van to a stretch Hummer with tinted windows, spinner rims that sparkled and a license plate that read BDAWG. The contents of the moving van exceeded the allowable weight limits causing the wheel well to rub against the tire whenever they hit a dip in the road.

  BDAWG’s Hummer took the lead, with Ed driving and Jenny riding shotgun. Ryan, Anne, Grace and the three babies sat in back. Behind them, Kyle drove his black diesel pick-up truck, with McKenna in the passenger seat and Ada, Bruno and Josie in the back. McKenna had talked nonstop since leaving. The thoughts running through her head were too many and too interesting not to share. No one minded, since they could listen or tune her out. They had their own thoughts to process. Another stretch Hummer, this one driven by Jeremy, was second to last in line. This one had tinted windows, but no bling or personalized plates. Sue, Jane, Barbara, Zoe and German rode in the back. Bringing up the rear was a thirty-foot-long moving truck with Zack at the helm, Colin shotgun and Charlie sandwiched in the middle. Colin had fussed over being separated from his dog, but Charlie cajoled him into letting German ride in the Hummer.

  Looking around, taking in the landscape, listening to the sound of the van’s engine, Zack felt a little bit like Neo in The Matrix. Neo at the precise moment he realized he was ‘the one’. Zack couldn’t see ones and zeros, but he could see a hell of lot more than he had twenty-four hours ago. All things fuzzy suddenly become clear. He was blind and now he could see. He found himself singing Amazing Grace and even remembered all of the versus, not just the first. Colin and Charlie joined in and for the next few miles they sang old church hymns.

  Being new and improved certainly had its advantages. Before leaving, Zack had dug through his things for an old notebook. Inside was a math equation one of his college professors had given him. It had been his nemesis for years, yet when he looked at the numbers this time, the solution popped off the pages. If only Madison had lived to experience it with him. He gave a little laugh. Who was he kidding? Madison never would have allowed Eve to touch her, let alone change her DNA. Sedation would have been the only way. Zack sighed and his smile faded away. He wondered if he’d ever stop missing her. Charlie commented about being able to feel the road’s camber and Zack moved Madison to the back of his mind.

  All too soon the sign for Cheyenne came into view. In each vehicle, as awareness set in, so did the silence. They approached the entrance tunnel with trepidation, as well as nervous excitement. This was it. They were going to travel through a space portal. They were going to a new planet. They were starting over with new people from all over the globe. They didn’t wonder over anything more than the basics. They didn’t think about exactly how or when the Elders would want to collect their blood. Austin had explained it wouldn’t be any more painful than giving to a blood bank and to think of it in the same manner. Donated blood was used to save lives, the same as their blood might one day save the Elders from dying.

  Zack followed the caravan into the parking lot. The others found parking spaces, while he looped around the lot, coming back to face the tunnel.

  “Where are we supposed to meet them?” Colin asked.

  “Right here. In the parking lot,” Zack replied, looking around for signs of Eve or Austin. “They should already be here.”

  “Maybe they’re inside.”

  “Yeah maybe,” Zack replied. “I’m gonna go see, you two stay put.”

  “You’re not the boss of me,” Colin smarted back.

  Zack swung his head around to look at his brother. “You know? There’s no fixin’ stupid. Not even Eve could improve that dimwitted brain of yours.”

  “Ha. Ha. Guess she couldn’t make you less of an asshole either.”

  Charlie grabbed Colin’s arm about to implore him to quit goofing around, when she spotted Eve and Austin walking towards them. “Look. There they are. Let me out.” She nudged Colin towards the
door. He jumped out and Charlie pushed passed him. She ran over to Eve, who hugged her hello.

  “What’s that about?” Zack asked.

  “No idea,” Colin replied, shaking his head. Charlie’s relationship with Eve baffled everyone, but no one more so than Colin. Seeing them act that way made him nervous, but he wasn’t about to share his concerns with Zack. He shrugged and climbed back into the cab. “Where’s Roxanne?”

  “At the bunker.”

  “You ever notice she’s never around when Eve’s is?”

  Zack looked out the window, pretending to semi-ignore his brother. “Never noticed that.”

  Austin walked around to the driver’s door and waited for Zack to roll down the window. “You guys ready?”

  “I guess. I mean who can answer that considering the circumstances.”

  “You’ll do fine Zack. I have total confidence in you. And I’ll be around more than you think. So don’t worry man. You got this.”

  “If you say so big guy. But given the choice between this and growing pot, I’d take Mary J. Hey is there any on...”

  “Don’t even think about it man.”

  Zack looked offended, then disappointed before he smiled and assured Austin he was only kidding. Although, in the back of his mind he did wonder what type of plants might be available, but from a medicinal aspect rather than recreational.

  Everyone gathered at the entrance to the tunnel. Zack handed out flashlights, while Austin gave last minute instructions.

  “Eve will take care of everyone’s personal belongings, so leave your things here.” A few concerned looks were exchanged and murmurs about this. “Your things will be there before you are,” he assured them. “So follow me.”

  They proceeded through the tunnel and on into the tomb like facility. The girls didn’t think about their days in captivity or General Roth. Charlie had a fleeting thought of Chase and nothing more. The mood was light, as if they were all under a protective shield, one that kept the bad memories at bay. Only Austin noticed the dog’s behavior. German turned around several times, stopping to look back down the passage, ears alert, nostrils twitching. Each time German stopped, Josie waited on him. The hair on her back would rise, only falling back in place once German returned to her side. Under normal circumstances, Austin would have chalked the dog’s behavior up to not liking the unfamiliar place. This wasn’t a normal situation. Austin opened an ear to anything moving behind or lurking ahead, but sensed nothing and pressed on. Eventually they arrived in the exterior room to the portal. Austin opened the door and stepped back allowing everyone in, taking one last look down the passage before following behind them.

  After the expected oohing and ahhing subsided, and Austin answered several questions, they were ready to begin their journey. Zack and Jeremy would go in the first pod. Before climbing in, Jeremy gave his daughter a kiss good-bye and hugged Grace. Zack and Austin stood facing each other, neither knowing how to say good-bye.

  “So I hate long good-byes,” Zack finally said, feeling like they were breaking up.

  “Me too man,” Austin said, and then pulled Zack into a bear hug. Stepping back, Austin took a deep breath. “I’ll see you soon my friend.”

  Zack looked doubtful, but replied, “I hope so big guy. I hope so.” With nothing more to say, at least not out loud, Zack climbed into the pod. Austin closed the lid and sent them on their way.

  They were followed by Anne, Zoe and the twins. Grace, Gisela and Charlie were third in line, with the others following in two’s. Last to go was Kyle and German. It took both Kyle and Austin to strap the unwilling dog into the pod seat. Once he was secured, it was Kyle’s turn to climb in.

  Turning to Austin, Kyle said, “So these have been, by far, the strangest weeks of my life, but in a good way. I mean, having Grace and the baby and, well, it felt like being home again. I don’t know if that makes sense.” He paused, uncertain of what he wanted to say, but knowing he wanted to say something. “I’ll never be able to repay you for what you’ve done. The sacrifices you’ve made for us. Thank you.” He held out his hand to Austin.

  Austin stared at his brother’s hand for a long time before taking it in his own. He looked Kyle in the eyes. “I’m glad you found your way to us. That we met, and I got to know you. Another time, another place, things would have been different.” Austin gave Kyle a hug. “Stay safe...my brother,” he said, too low for Kyle to hear the last part. Austin stepped back and Kyle climbed in the pod.

  “Until we meet again,” Austin said, lowering the lid, his heart heavy.

  Once Kyle was strapped in he gave the thumbs up. Austin waved and stepped back. The lights blazed, the pod raced down the track and into the portal. He waited several minutes to see if anyone returned, but soon the portal turned dark, the lights faded to off and the system shut down. It was done, they were gone. Austin closed his eyes and traveled to Paru with them. His lips spread into a smile. A smile of relief, knowing they’d arrived safely and the Elders were being true to their word.

  ***

  As the group was making their way through the dark narrow passage and into the portal room, Eve took care of their personal belongings. All of their things, as they remembered them, were already waiting on Paru. Their clothes, toothbrushes, books, everything would look and feel the same. Journals would have the same words and dates, toothpaste tubes the same squeeze marks, clothes missing the same buttons. Nothing would indicate they were not the originals. In Eve’s mind it was a small deception to replace their things with exact duplicates. Besides, in time those material things would become less and less important.

  Eve closed her eyes and breathed in deep, smelling the various scents of blood, feeling the gnawing hunger growing more persistent. The past thirty-six hours had pushed her limits. Although improving the human’s DNA turned out as she’d foreseen, the future of mankind remained unclear, which was disturbing, and even more so now that she felt responsible for their survival. The scars from Agra’s deception pervaded deep into her very being, dictated her thoughts and decisions. Austin didn’t trust the Elders. She didn’t trust them either, and felt justified in this mistrust. For now though, going to Paru was the best option. Other planets existed where the humans could survive, maybe even flourish, but they would do so without help or protection. The small boost Eve had given them through their DNA change was not enough against that which existed in the universes beyond this one.

  Eve opened her eyes as Austin emerged from the tunnel. Each time she looked upon him her body tensed, as if she’d suddenly been thrown in a tug-of-war with a powerful adversary. They were connected now. He with her blood, she with his. Before long the pulling sensation would vanish, their blood would be the same. The only way to break the connection would be through death. It was in this knowledge she found comfort, for though she no longer heard Caleb’s thoughts, she knew he was alive. If he’d died, the piece of him that existed inside of her would have also died.

  “I brought you something.” Austin held up two small gray water bladders.

  She took one, screwed off the cap and sniffed. “Your General Roth used to bring the very same to me.” She tilted the bag to her her lips and took a long drink. “He would wait days to bring one. Sometimes he spiked the blood with drugs. He spent hours mixing up concoctions, thinking of how he might put me to sleep.” She finished the last drop and took the second, again sniffing before drinking. “His brain was exceptional, but, as with all humans, it was governed by emotion, not logic. Had he taken the time to think it through, he would have realized much sooner the impossibility of his quest.” With that she finished the second bladder in one gulp.

  “There’s enough stored in the coolers to last at least three years, maybe longer if we’re conservative,” Austin said, trying to not sound concerned. Stored blood served its purpose, but not as a substitute for fresh. “We should be going,” Austin said, anxious to get started, and not wanting to think about what the distant future might have in store for them.
Other matters, more pressing matters, needed their attention. Although he was certain they could convince the remaining survivors to leave, traveling around the globe would take time. And time was a fickle thing on Paru, sometimes slow, sometimes fast, and always unpredictable. Vazya might be the same.

  First things first, which meant Eve teaching him to move through space. A task requiring more skill and practice than mind jumping. The concept seemed simple enough, as she’d explained it. The displacement and replacement of energy, of all of the particles around and in him. She’d no doubt he’d master this task with ease as he did each challenge presented to him since he was a boy. After a few attempts, and less failures, he did as she expected. He was able to harness energy, move within that energy without losing himself along the way. It was much like traveling on highways of moving particles, millions upon millions of them. After his fifth successful trip, Austin asked Eve about going to Vazya.

  “We will go as soon as the humans are secure on Paru,” she replied. “Don’t you want to make sure your people are safe?” Our people, she added in thought.

  “Yes of course. I only wanted to see it. To maybe...” He didn’t finish, but she knew he too thought of their son.

  Eve smiled, he had much to learn of his abilities. “You can see it anytime you wish, but with that comes risk of alerting Agra. I think it best if we don’t go until we have finished here.”

  Austin nodded. Of course she was right. He’d only wanted to get an idea of what they were up against. How many Svan were there? What other species would they have to deal with? What was the lay out of the terrain? He’d never went into a mission without doing basic recon first and didn’t expect to handle this one any different. However, more than any of those things, he wanted to be closer to his son, on the off chance he might be able to hear him, to speak to him.

  “Where would you like to start?” Eve asked, sensing his restlessness, his need to have every detail mapped out and under control.