“Sure!”
He pointed to a relatively flat expanse with tents and buildings. “That’s the staging area for the archeologists and their crew.”
“Those people outside—are they working on the weekend?”
“We have crews working every day, sunup to sundown. Of course, they get breaks and days off.” He pointed to the right. “That’s where they’re digging—or, rather, moving rocks.”
“Are they moving those stones by hand?”
“Partially. The government wants us to do as much by hand as we can to protect the grounds, but eventually we’ll need to bring in heavy equipment. The workers are trying to find the best path to the cave so we don’t have to disturb the area any more than necessary. See? Two of the workers are using a mechanically assisted lever to move one of the larger stones right now.”
Merak took a step back. As Ellin watched the scene below, he studied her. If she were any closer to the window, she’d be pressing her nose against it. She was fascinated, just as he’d known she would be.
Back in his office, as soon as Merak had realized how convinced Ellin was of her misguided conclusions, he’d realized she needed to visit the dig—not to convince the scientists of anything, but to soak up the excitement of the place.
So as they’d discussed her research, he’d overplayed his ignorance. When she’d suggested a video call, he’d pretended he couldn’t contact the scientists. Right on cue, Ellin had offered to visit them in person, convinced she’d thought of the idea herself. Oh, dear girl, I don’t like all this subterfuge, but it’ll be worth it once you see what I see—the world-changing potential of this project.
Ellin continued her examination of the area for another couple of minutes before asking, “What are those?”
Merak looked where Ellin was pointing. “The portable structures? The one on the left is an administrative office. Next to that is a lab. The large building holds the kitchen, dining hall, and bathrooms. See those tents? They’re climate-controlled, and all our workers stay there. Any other questions before we go down?”
She turned around. “If we have to shut this down because the radiation is too dangerous, will you make sure all these people get jobs somewhere else?”
He didn’t shy away from her probing gaze. “I always take care of my people, Ellin. They’re like my family.”
She stared at him for a few more seconds, then said, “Let’s go down.”
Merak set the glidecraft down gently onto a dirt landing pad. “The scientists are probably in the lab,” he said as they disembarked. “I don’t think they take any days off. I have my doubts as to whether they even sleep.”
He was right. A middle-aged man was hunched at a workstation, typing furiously, and a young woman stood before a massive wallscreen displaying some of the same data Ellin had shown Merak.
“Good afternoon,” Merak said.
Both scientists looked up and greeted him tersely before turning back to their work. Merak barely prevented himself from rolling his eyes. He led a company full of sycophants, but the on-site researchers treated him like dirt. No, not like dirt. They actually value dirt.
He smiled at the thought, then said, “Ellin, this is Dr. Pranav and Dr. Toma.” He gestured to the male and female researchers in turn. “Doctors, Ellin is our press representative for the Cellerin Project. I’d like for you to spend a few minutes showing her some of your data. I know you’re busy, and I promise we won’t take too much of your time.”
Both scientists turned and stared at him and Ellin.
“You’d like us to share data with your press representative?” Pranav asked.
Merak stepped closer and clapped the man on the back. “She’s sharp. She’ll understand more than you think. Can you explain your hypothesis about the rising radiation levels?”
“Of course,” Pranav muttered.
Merak took another step toward Pranav’s workstation.
“Mr. Merak?” Ellin’s voice reached him from where she still stood near the room’s entrance. She beckoned him over, then spoke quietly. “I thought you wanted me to share my findings with them.”
He placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled down at her. “I do. However, we need to respect them in their space by letting them explain their interpretation of the data first.”
“Oh—sure.”
He led her to Pranav, who started talking without even looking at them. The man spoke in a monotone voice and used vocabulary no one outside his field would understand. When he’d been talking for fifteen minutes straight, Ellin interrupted him.
“Pardon me, Dr. Pranav, but may I ask a question?”
“Of course.” His sour expression belied his words.
Pranav’s churlishness didn’t deter Ellin. “I’d like to make sure I’m getting this straight. You think the digging is shaking things up, causing air to enter the chamber where the isotope is. The isotope is reacting chemically to one of the elements in the air, and that’s why the radiation keeps getting stronger. Once you have the isotope in hand, you’ll be able to contain it and control that reaction. Did I get that right?”
“That’s our best hypothesis right now.”
“But sir,” Ellin said, “My understanding was—”
Merak interrupted her. “I told you she was a smart one.” He squeezed Ellin’s shoulder. “Let’s see what’s up on this wallscreen, shall we?”
Dr. Toma repeated most of the same information as her colleague.
“Your graphs look great,” Ellin said when Toma stopped talking. “I have to admit, I’m interpreting them differently.” She turned to Merak, eyebrows raised as if asking permission. He nodded, and she continued to question Toma.
Merak watched her. Deep down, he hadn’t really expected Pranav and Toma to convince her. They loved data, not people, and they had no charisma or persuasive power. Still, he’d held out hope that she’d see beyond the numbers.
Whenever Pranav and Toma explained their findings to Merak, he saw possibilities. Patients cured of rare diseases. Lifespans extended. Ellin couldn’t see past her own interpretation of the data, her own fear. Again, she reminded Merak of his daughter: intelligent but stubborn.
He interrupted her earnest questioning. “Ellin, hang onto that point you were making, okay? There’s one more piece of evidence you should see. It may affect your analysis of this research.”
“Can’t I just—” Ellin began.
Merak was already walking toward the door. “It won’t take long,” he said over his shoulder.
He heard her footsteps following him.
Outside the building, Merak stepped close to Ellin and gave her a conspiratorial grin. “I don’t want this to get out publicly, but I know I can trust you. We have a small sample of the isotope. We found it in a little hollow in a stone we moved. It’s stored in the safest place we could find near the dig site. I didn’t want to mention it in front of Dr. Boring and Professor Long-Winded in there; they’d be furious I’m showing you. I think you need to see it, though. We’ve already stabilized it.”
“Oh, you . . . you’ve already stabilized it?”
Merak shrugged. “Well, I’m not the one who figured it out, of course. Good thing I hire researchers smarter than me, right?”
Ellin opened her mouth, closed it, licked her lips, and said, “That’s . . . wonderful. Really. All the research I’ve done led me to believe it couldn’t be stabilized.”
“I read that article you wrote back at headquarters,” Merak said. “I’m sorry we couldn’t publish it, Ellin, but I took your concerns seriously. I instructed a team to start working on advanced stabilization techniques that very day. Come see what we’ve done, and if you’re still concerned, we’ll come back here for a long conversation with the researchers.”
Ellin blinked and let out a short laugh. “Mr. Merak, I . . . thank you for trusting me.”
“Of course I trust you. You’ve earned it. Now, let’s look at this isotope. It’s this way.”
&nb
sp; Ellin had expected Merak to walk her to another building at the dig site. Instead, he led her all the way past his glidecraft and kept going along a narrow road.
“I like to run along this road,” Merak said. “It’s very peaceful.”
Ellin nodded, but her thoughts were elsewhere. If Merak’s scientists had figured out how to stabilize the isotope, maybe the prophecy was already void. It sounded like Merak wouldn’t have pushed for new stabilization techniques if he hadn’t read Ellin’s unpublished article. Could something she’d written weeks ago have been the key to stopping the prophecy?
But if that were the case, why would Rona have continued to experience apocalyptic visions? Maybe the article was just the first step. What else still needs to be done? The answer was just ahead; Ellin was sure of it. Anticipation tingled in her chest.
She looked around, realizing they’d been walking for perhaps ten minutes, longer than she’d expected. The mountain was beautiful—and entirely deserted. She turned her attention back to Merak. “I didn’t realize you were taking me on a day hike.”
He laughed. “We’re almost there. I didn’t want anyone to stumble across the sample.”
They turned past a stone outcropping, and Merak pointed at a faded, green building. “That’s where we’re headed.”
“What is it?”
“It used to be a gift shop and café. The trailheads are nowhere close to here, and the place was never profitable. It wasn’t open long.”
They approached the building’s back entrance. Ellin frowned at the chipped paint on the door. “You stored the isotope sample here?”
“It’s close enough to access quickly but secluded enough to remain confidential. Plus, there’s an old freezer in here that keeps the isotope at the proper temperature.”
“It has to be frozen?”
“No, the climastat allows us to keep it cool but not too cold, just like the cave.” Merak pulled his flex out of his pocket and held it up to a reader next to the door. There was a click, and he pushed the door open and turned on the light. “It’s in the back.”
Ellin followed him through a dim room, nearly sneezing from the dust. Hopefully the freezer was more sanitary than the stockroom.
Merak stopped at a large, metal door. “Here it is. Our future.” He pulled at a sturdy bar holding the freezer door closed, then swung the door open, gesturing Ellin in. “The light panel is on the right-hand side.”
She entered the freezer and felt around for the panel. When her fingers found it, a small square of lightfilm in the ceiling lit up. She was standing in a cube, perhaps two-and-a-half mets to each side, made entirely of metal and smelling of old dampness. Cold air blew in from a vent overhead. The room was empty.
“Where’s the sample?” Ellin asked, turning back to Merak. Then her eyes left his face, flicking down to the item he was holding: a small, sleek handgun, pointed at her.
Ellin stumbled backward, nearly falling. She’d never seen a real gun. They were artifacts of a violent past, relegated to scary films and campfire stories. She drew in a frantic breath. “Where’d you get that?”
He gave her a rueful look. “It isn’t hard for me to get things like this.”
She coughed out a sob.
“Oh, please don’t be frightened.” Merak held out his empty hand, though she wasn’t within his reach. “Have a seat, darli—Ellin.”
Ellin obeyed, sitting against the back wall and pulling trembling knees into her chest. She couldn’t take her eyes off the gun.
Merak sat in the doorway and pressed his lips together in a smile that looked oddly remorseful. “I won’t be able to bring you blankets or food until tomorrow, but I did take this from the glidecraft.” He pulled a water pouch from his pocket and slid it to her. It was emblazoned with the Merak Technologies logo.
Ellin took a drink, though her shaking hands spilled as much as she consumed, and her frenzied breathing made swallowing difficult. She forced herself to ask the question on her mind: “So, you’re not killing me today?”
He ran his free hand over his forehead and cheek, sighing. “I don’t want to kill you, Ellin. I want to make the world better with your help.”
Her mouth dropped open, but she recovered quickly. She gulped another breath. “I do too! I know I’m scared about the project, but I’m loyal, Mr. Merak, and I’m a hard worker. I won’t say anything else about my concerns. Just please—”
He held up his hand, and she snapped her mouth closed. “Ellin, we anticipate reaching the isotope within two weeks. You’ll have to stay here until then. Please understand. I can’t risk you stopping the project. You’re so very intelligent and driven and”—he laughed, shaking his head—“and so misguided, but that’s not your fault. You’re young.
“I must take some of the blame for your line of thinking. I know you were spending time with Nomi and Sep. I should have stopped that as soon as it was reported to me. I was just glad you were connecting with other employees. It was too late by the time they . . . left us.”
Ellin’s tongue darted out, moistening her lips. She swallowed before asking, “Did you kill them?”
He looked down. “Do you truly think me capable of that?”
“I think one of the richest men on Anyari is probably capable of a lot of things.”
He sighed, his shoulders drooping. Then he met her gaze again. “Ellin, what I’m about to say is the absolute truth. Every decision I’ve made as the head of Merak Technologies has been for the betterment of our world. Every single decision.”
She stared at him, still trembling and again fighting back tears. “Why don’t you shoot me?”
Not taking his eyes off her, Merak moved the gun behind his back. He must have put it in his waistband, because he held both hands out, empty palms facing her. “The last thing I want is to hurt you. Can you move closer, Ellin? You look so frightened. You don’t need to be scared of me.”
She obeyed, scooting halfway across the little room, then bringing her knees back up to her chest.
Merak looked at her with the same warm gaze he’d given her so many times, and though Ellin didn’t trust it a bit, it somehow calmed her. Her breaths slowed, and her trembling stopped.
He smiled. “Ellin, your name caught my eye before I ever met you, because nineteen years ago, my wife and I named our daughter Ellin. The two of you have more in common than your names. From the time she was tiny, anyone who met Ellin could see her intelligence and determination. Just like you.”
She stared at him, trying not to betray her fear.
“I won’t hurt you, Ellin. I promise. I could, of course. I could keep you quiet in any number of ways, but that’s not what I want. You’re too valuable. I can’t lose you.”
Merak’s eyes had taken on that strange intensity again. Ellin drew in a shuddering breath and looked away.
He cleared his throat. “Merak Technologies can’t lose you, because you’re an excellent employee. We just need to change what you want. Redirect you.”
She dared to look at him again. “How—how do you plan to do that?”
“I’ll set you up here as comfortably as I can. When we retrieve the isotope, I’ll bring you evidence of how it’s changing our world for the better. And then, oh, Ellin.” His expression softened, turning supremely gentle. “I have such high hopes for you.”
Ellin started to tremble again. Merak leaned forward, reaching out a hand, and she recoiled.
His smile faltered as he pulled his hand back. “I know you don’t trust me. I understand why. When I prove to you the value of what we’re doing at the dig site, you’ll come around. I know you will, because, Ellin, I trust you. Once you realize the good of what we’re doing, you won’t stay in the Press Office for long. For you, Ellin, the sky’s the limit.”
He gave her a closed-mouth smile. When she didn’t return it, he stood abruptly. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” Merak stepped out of the freezer and swung the door shut.
Ellin heard the metal bar drop into pla
ce. She stared at the door, pressing her knees even tighter against her chest.
Merak stood outside the freezer, expecting to hear Ellin cry once he left. But whether it was because of the strength of the door or the girl, all was silent.
He placed both hands on the door and pressed his cheek against the cool metal, trying to keep his own tears in check. Ellin, I never wanted to hurt you.
His flex vibrated, and Merak stepped away from the door, wiping wetness from both his cheeks before pulling out his device.
There was an em waiting from the compound’s chief of security.
We’ve been monitoring those three interns like you asked. Their flexes were just wiped. We pulled their last known locations. One was in the warehouse, and the other two were at a café in Krenner. I’m at the warehouse now, and nobody’s here.
Merak gritted his teeth. Ellin’s friends probably suspected something. He typed a response.
I’m concerned they may have stolen confidential information. Go to the city with as many staff as you can spare. Bring caynins too. Find them and bring them to my office.
The chief replied,
A couple of my guards are already in Krenner. I’ll alert them and head that way with two more. I’ll personally pursue the fugitives with caynins, and I’ll send the other guards to public transportation centers and the airport.
Merak was about to collapse his flex when another em popped up. It was from Arisa.
Just wanted to say hello. I’ll be in the chapel for an hour or so, but I’d love to chat later.
The chapel. Kind, good Arisa—how he envied her simple faith. She never had to choose between multiple horrific options, never had to compromise herself for the greater good. He was glad for that. With all they’d been through, at least one of them could live in peace.
He read the em again, then typed his response.
Pray for me, Arisa.
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The Seer’s Sister: Prequel to The Magic Eaters Trilogy Page 18