The Trade
Page 24
"Oh?" Jay answered.
Rick Hewlett and Tonia Taggert stepped out of the shadows of the trees and into the brilliance of the full moonlit night.
"Who is it? Who's with you?" Jay asked.
"It's me,” Tonia said.
"Oh,” Jay said. His surprise was complete.
"I'll be back tomorrow morning,” Rick said. "You two have a lot to talk about.” Rick disappeared back into the night forest.
Chapter
"It's been a long time,” Tonia said.
"Yes it has,” Jay answered. He made no move. Neither towards her nor away from her. Jay had been sure that he'd never see Tonia Taggert again.
"I thought you might be here,” she said.
"Did you?" Jay asked quickly.
"Don't worry,” she started. "I didn't tell anyone about this place. And Rick brought me by what I'm sure was the longest possible way. I couldn't find it again in a million years.”
Jay remained rooted to the porch. After staring down at her for the longest time he finally spoke.
"What do you want Tonia?" he asked flatly. He saw his ambivalence register in her eyes. He knew he was hurting her but he remembered all the nights he'd cried himself to sleep over her.
"I just wanted to see you,” Tonia started. "And to say I was sorry,” she said softly.
"What are you sorry for?" Jay asked, there was an edge in his voice.
"I'm sorry I lied to you. I'm sorry I had any part of Angus' plans. I'm sorry I hurt you.” Tonia paused and collected her thoughts. She took a deep breath. Tonia was on the edge of tears, her lower lip trembling. “I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to know you for real, to love you for real, and to let you love me for real. I’m sorry for all of it. I’m sorry I betrayed your trust. I’m sorry for the lie.”
Jay stepped across the porch and down the stairs. He came close to her but still did not reach out to her.
"How can you stand there and say that?” Jay said. Anger was creeping into his words. His indifferent tone of voice was beginning to crack. "I loved you,” Jay said. “You said you wanted a fairy tale. Is this it? Is this the fairy tale? Being scared every day for the rest of your life?”
Tonia looked up and started to speak. He cut her off.
"Let me finish. I loved you. But it wasn't you. You weren't you. I don't even know who you are. I still don't know what was real and what wasn't. I loved you Tonia. And you didn't love me back. You used me. You tricked me. For money. You made me a character in your fairy tale nightmare. How could you be so cruel?”
Jay stared at her in the moonlit night. He couldn't see the look in her eyes. He couldn't see the depth of her pain. Jay turned away from her slowly and started back towards the lodge. He heard her sobs behind him. Jay kept walking.
Tonia watched him retreat. She took one short step towards him, then another. Anger flared through her guilt.
"You weren't so innocent yourself you know,” she cried out in anger. The harsh words rang off the night forest pines.
Jay turned to face her challenge.
“You took Angus' money and wanted more. Don't even try to tell me you didn't love doing it. The challenge, the game. It was always about the game for you. And even after you knew I was married you still pursued me. How pure is that?”
Jay stared at her. He had nothing to say. She went on. Do you know how many nights I lay under that sweaty bastard while he grunted and drooled on me?" Tonia spat. A shudder went through Jay's body. Jay took a step towards her.
"Why didn't you leave him?" Jay accused.
"He would have killed us both,” Tonia said. "He had us watched all the time! Even on the beach,” she said. “He used to make me watch a movie of us on the beach. And then he would get on me. It was disgusting.”
Tonia let the truth settle on Jay. She moved a step towards him. Felt him melt the tiniest amount.
"I tried to warn you,” she said.
"You did try to warn me didn't you?" Jay asked timidly. He melted more. "That morning, you tried to warn me didn't you?" he asked. The pleading was clear in his voice. He wanted it to be real.
"Yes. And then I had to hide out for weeks. If Rick hadn't found me and brought me in..." she trailed off. "I don't know who Angus hated more, you or me,” Tonia said.
They stood quietly in the dark.
Tonia finally broke the silence.
"You really did love me didn't you?" Tonia asked, now the quiet unsure one. "That weekend at Thanksgiving and that night on the rooftop in the snow. That was just like a fairy tale. Just like what I always wanted. I was the only one for you by then wasn't I?" she asked.
"Yes,” Jay answered.
The two old lovers again stood quietly in the moonlight, unsure of what to do next. They stared long and deep into each other's eyes, searching for some faint glimmer of hope. A glimmer that what might have been love might still be alive.
Jay spoke softly, Tonia could barely hear him.
"I'm sorry,” he said.
"So am I,” Tonia answered.
They slowly stepped into each other's fragile yet healing arms.
"I guess that'll be two new missionaries headed for Arkansas?" Rick asked.
"Looks that way,” Father Dan Brennan answered.
They watched quietly from the woods as Jay and Tonia embraced in the warm glow of the early autumn moonlight. They turned away as the lovers embraced in forgiveness and in hope.
The End
Read What Others Are Saying About JT’s TechnoThriller “The Pattern”
So, I am going to think twice before I get into that plane next time.
This story made me think about our trust and dependence that we so easily give up to the programmers of our daily life. Bravo Mister Kalnay for writing a thought provoking and entertaining look at the way our airliners operate today. The story was fast moving and gripping. I found myself laughing out loud from the witty banter between the characters.
Mister Kalnay gives us a look into the world of computer programming that touches so much our daily life that is enlightening and scary at the same time. He breathes life into the nameless people we rely on to protect us from all that could go wrong with the system. Could not put this one down...but I advise reading this one before you head to the airport anytime soon.
Yeah, it's gripping! Grips you and if, like me, you have to fly right afterwards, you'll be gripping the armrests the whole flight! Nice mix of interesting relationships, tech-savvy software lore, and mystery. Couldn't put it down!
The first of JT Kalnay's works I've read, this early effort compares nicely with Ryan's "Adolescence of P-1" or Grisham's "The Firm" but wisely navigates around Powers' "Galatea 2.2" territory. You get a good sense this writer has "been there" but there is more to "The Pattern" than just an insider's view of an industry and culture that is pretty much a black box to those that haven't. This one gets a 4 out of 5 simply for not quite cracking the level of the big boys: Clancy, Ludlum, Cussler et al. Will be interested to see how this author develops in this genre.
I was surprised to enjoy this book so much as it comes from a not so well known author. Fantastic fiction.
I was thinking about the HAL 9000 malfunction in 2001 A Space Odyssey while reading The Pattern. Decades ago, I wondered if people would risk their lives on software. Now we have fly-by-wire controls in our airplanes and we depend on software in our hospital equipment as well as our cars. Software glitches can now kill. It's a really scary thought and I really enjoyed the thrilling journey the author takes us on in this techno-thriller treat. In the best spirit of science fiction it gives us pause to consider the dependency we freely give to our technology. In addition, as this story unfolds our humanity is laid bare in the face of technological realities that are seldom realized by most of us.
Please Enjoy This Sample From The Pattern
June 19, 1994
Chantilly Virginia
Assembled From News Wire Reports
A chartered executive Lear Je
t inbound from Mexico City crashed today in heavy fog during final approach to Dulles National Airport in Washington D.C. Ten passengers and two crew members were killed instantly. There were no Americans on the flight and there were no survivors. Although the airplane had the latest electronics, it had aborted one landing due to the fog and was in the process of lining up for a second attempt when the accident occurred. The black box flight recorder has been recovered from the wreckage and the bodies have been identified. The last transmission from the cockpit was, "There seems to be something wrong with the electronics. Going around." The plane disappeared from radar less than ten seconds later.
June 20, 1994
San Francisco, California
Thin clouds drifted high above the city by the Bay. Craig and Stacey sat behind the APSoft building on the large cedar deck. A gentle breeze caressed Stacey's long, summer golden hair. Craig was having a very hard time concentrating on the report in his hands.
"Do you want to hear something weird?" Stacey asked.
"I don't know. Do I?" Craig answered.
"Yes. You do," Stacey said.
"Okay. Let's have it," Craig said.
"We're three for three this year," Stacey said.
"I don't get it," Craig said.
"On airplane crashes. We're three for three."
"I still don't get it," Craig said.
"Listen. First you know that guy in Turkey where the Blackhawks got shot down. Second, we both know Rakesh who's been in Hong Kong where the plane that crashed in Nagoya originated. Third, my friend in Mexico works for that company that chartered that plane that crashed in Virginia the other day. We're three for three."
"Better call the National Enquirer," Craig said.
"Jerk," Stacey said.
"We know somebody at almost every airline or aircraft manufacturer in the world Stacey. It'd be a miracle if we didn't know someone somehow related to every crash," Craig said.
"You're still a jerk," Stacey said.
"Yeah I know. It's part of my charm," he replied.
Stacey made a face at him and rolled her eyes.
"Please," she said.
"But you know what? You've piqued my curiosity. I'm going to do some research and see how many wrecks there have been in the last year. It does seem like there's been an unusual amount doesn't it?" Craig asked.
"Nice try," Stacey said.
"No. I'm totally serious. Now that you've pointed it out, I really am curious."
"Um huh," she said dismissively.
"Ready to throw it some more," Stacey asked, dangling Craig's birthday Frisbee on the end of a long slender finger.
"Not right now," Craig said. I better get started on that research.
http://jtkalnaynovels.wordpress.com/
www.jtkalnay.com
JT Kalnay is an attorney and an author. He has been an athlete, a soldier, a professor, a programmer, an Ironman, and mountain climber. JT now divides his time between being an attorney, being an author, and helping his wife chase after seven nieces and nephews.
JT was born and raised in Belleville, Ontario, Canada. Growing up literally steps from the Bay of Quinte, water, ice, fishing, swimming, boating, and drowning were very early influences and appear frequently in his work.
Educated at the Royal Military College, the University of Ottawa, the University of Dayton, the University of Cincinnati, Long Island University, and Case Western Reserve University, JT has spent countless hours studying a wide range of subjects including math, English, computer science, physics, and law. Many of his stories are set on college campuses.
JT is a certified rock climbing guide and can often be found atop crags in West Virginia, California, Mexico, and Italy. Rock climbing appears frequently in his writing.
JT has witnessed firsthand many traumatic events including the World Trade Center Bombing, the Long Island Railroad Shooting, a bear attack, a plane crash, and numerous fatalities, in the mountains and elsewhere.
Disasters, loss, and confronting personal fear are common themes in his writing.
While “boy meets girl” appears to be JT’s dominant genre, readers will experience a variety of styles and themes in his simple yet complex writing.
Connect with jt online at:
www.jtkalnay.com
http://jtkalnaynovels.wordpress.com/
Table of Contents
The Trade
Midpoint