Ada bit her lip. “And?”
Sam didn’t respond with anything so intelligible as words, but instead took a step forward and embraced her. Ada froze momentarily, unsure of what to do or how to respond. Then she tried to hug back, but Sam had her arms pinned at an awkward angle, and she ended up just awkwardly grasping around Sam’s waist. Her flight reaction was almost kicking in when Sam finally spoke.
“I saw him.”
Ada paused a beat. “Who? The master?”
“The boy who died.” She seemed almost teary. “The one you… didn’t help. He was there. He seemed… happy. Free of his pain. Still a boy, but free, at least.”
Ada stood stunned for a moment, then took a deep and ragged breath and held it for a while. The technophage was cruel; it had sent the boy to the afterlife before he had lived a proper life of its own. Ada had failed him, and was continuing to fail every child overwhelmed, every question unanswered.
She straightened her back, her jaw. There was so much more to be done.
For now, they had a warship. They would collect the surviving ghosts, take them to Campus, and there Ada hoped she might find the peace she needed to truly study and unlock the secrets of the ancients. And then, she would create something new in their place.
And maybe Isavel… well. They would meet again, one way or another.
Maybe it would all start to make sense. She could only hope.
About the Author
Guerric Haché grew up bilingual in a small town in Québec, but now lives on the edge of the Pacific in Vancouver, BC, which has lead to experience working in videogame development, volunteering at the Vancouver Aquarium, and pursuing a passion for writing. The Digitesque stories are born of a love of science-fantasy as well as a deep draw towards all things liminal, eclectic, and transitional.
Independent authors always appreciate reviews, positive or negative, not only for the visibility but also because they provide valuable feedback that helps them improve their writing!
Guerric can be found on Goodreads, as well as on Twitter as @GarrickWinter.
Copyright © 2016 by Guerric Haché
All rights reserved
Cover art by Keezy Young
First Angels Page 31