2 Degrees

by Bev Prescott

“Do tell the truth,” Federico said to the passenger.

  “Yes.” The passenger kept his eyes to Federico’s. “Unfortunately, I’ve been found, too.”

  Several seconds of silence passed. “Qaunik,” the voice said in a tone of resignation.

  “Let’s talk face to face, shall we?” Federico waved his hand over what looked like a bowl suspended over an electronic stem. “I’ve activated our satellite video. Turn yours on, Strelitzia.”

  The screen flashed a gauzy green before the pixels settled into an image. A person wrapped in a colorful coat decorated with red, yellow, pink, and purple flowers sprawled in a high-backed chair. The black mask he wore over his face made him look birdlike except for his exposed mouth. Two soldiers wearing masks like his, only white, stood armed behind him.

  “Aaron,” the Strelitzia said to the passenger. “How did someone of your caliber not only get captured by the Qaunik,” he leaned toward the screen, “but be convinced to disturb me?”

  “It’s not been one of my better days.” Aaron’s Adam’s apple slid down his throat. “I’m sorry.”

  “Shut up.” The Strelitzia glared. “The world is wild and you’re a coward.” To Federico he said, “I trust you’ll return my coward to me when you finish with him.”

  “He won’t be staying with us,” Federico answered. “We have enough mouths to feed and water.”

  “Ah.” The Strelitzia hooked the heel of his boot on the top rung of his throne-like chair. “Food and water. Our common denominator. There’s just so little of either. We humans were warned for decades. What did we do? We destroyed our seed banks, poisoned our water, and made so much of the world a desert. Now we survive on a diet of kale, potato, and cockroaches washed down with dirty water when we can scrounge it. Fools, the collective we are.”

  “Don’t forget thievery.” The words dripped with disgust from Federico’s lips. “Where is our ship?”

  “A man who cuts to the chase.” The Strelitzia put his elbow on his knee and rested his chin in his palm. “Tell me, sir Qaunik, what is your name and that of your red-bearded associate?”

  “I’m Federico and this is JJ. You stole our ship and we want it back.”

  “Lighten up.” The Strelitzia sat up straight. “I have no doubt that you do. But I can’t allow that to happen. Your boss, Woody, and I just don’t mix. We’re like oil and water.” He flicked a wrist. “I’d have to kill such a worthy adversary.”

  Federico froze as if the flippant comment bit into him and crawled beneath his skin.

  Aaron grinned.

  “Why were you following me?” Sharon’s patience grew thin for the eccentric man.

  Reaching into his pocket, the Strelitzia smiled. “We finally meet, Sharon. I’ve so been looking forward to it.” He drew out his hand, hiding something in his palm. “You have something that I want.” He turned his hand over, revealing an apple. “Lovely, isn’t it?”

  Heat shot up Sharon’s back. The apple, looking plump and fresh in shades of pale green to red, filled up the room like an elephant. Her apple tree produced the Pink Lady variety, like the one now screaming that this strange man must somehow know her secret. Keeping her voice even and calm, she asked, “How do you know me?” She hoped the slight quiver to her voice went unnoticed.

  “It’s not so much that I know you, but rather your prototype.” The Strelitzia lifted the apple to his lips, took a bite, and balanced the fruit on his knee. He chewed slowly, swallowed, and smiled. “Unbelievably good. You must share your secret with us. Don’t you agree, Federico and JJ?”

  “Holy hell.” JJ’s eyes cut to Sharon’s.

  “An apple that’s not poison?” Federico studied the Strelitzia as if waiting to see the beginning of his tainted end, which didn’t come.

  “Where did you get the apple?” Sharon asked, terrified of the answer.

  “A friend of yours.” The Strelitzia took another bite. “Dr. Ryan, I think his name was. It was hard to tell with all of his blubbering about sparing his wife.” Using his sleeve, he wiped juice from his chin. “This is the last of the two he had on him. I’m betting there are more.”

  Sharon could almost taste it. “Where are the Ryans?” Panic spread out of her like blood from the cut of a knife. “You work for NONA, don’t you?”

  “Heavens, no,” the Strelitzia chuckled. “They’re like ants running all over themselves. Except that ants at least have a plan. NONA’s running scared of what’s to come when the Thwaites lets go. The fools will either drown or starve. I, on the other hand, have a plan. And it involves you telling me what I want to know.”

  “It was you,” she gasped, as the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. “You took my Eve. Where is she?”

  “Now you’re catching on.” In dramatic fashion, the Strelitzia slowly finished the apple.

  Sharon struggled to keep a lid on her searing anger.

  “You know, I miscalculated you and Eve.” He held the core by the stem between two fingers. “I could’ve taken you both at the same time. But after studying your prototypes, I expected that if I took you together, you’d close ranks and never reveal your secret to me. Some romantic pact you’d never break. So I decided to separate you.”

  “For the love of all things good!” JJ exclaimed. “I hardly believe my eyes. You ate an apple and you’re still talking.”

  “Remarkable, isn’t it?” The Strelitzia grinned.

  A rising panic chipped away at Sharon’s wall of composure. “I’ll bring you more apples. Please, just let my wife go.”

  “That’s not going to work for me.” He dangled the apple core. “You see, I assume that Eve, because she’s the botanist in the family, is also the brains behind your special apple tree. I’m not wrong about that, am I?”

  Sharon didn’t answer.

  “I tried growing the seeds of the other apple. They’re not viable. You two have a secret. I don’t know what it is, but I want it. Let’s be clear, your Eve is worth a whole lot more than a bushel of apples.” He popped the core into his mouth and flicked the stem over his shoulder.

  “She’s not well. You have to let her go.” Sharon gripped the edges of the table. “If she dies, so does the secret. Because if something happens to her, I’ll never tell you.”

  The Strelitzia swallowed the chewed core. “Not to worry.” He wagged a forefinger. “She’s being well cared for. Plenty of food, water, and medicine for her cancer. With me, she has the promise of a very long life. As for your apples, you keep them. What I want is the secret that makes them perfect. Eve knows the secret, and so do you.”

  “If you know so much about us,” Sharon said, “why didn’t you just steal it?”

  “Don’t think I didn’t try,” he snickered. “I had a plan to do just that. I took Eve and then sent some of my Banditti friends to pay you a visit. The plan was to make Eve watch them rough you up until she couldn’t take it anymore. In exchange for ending your misery, she’d tell me where on that ratty patch of dirt you call a farm the secret I want is hidden. I already know it’s not in the seeds. It’s far more subtle than that. The Banditti would’ve killed you and brought me your delicious mysteries.” He shrugged. “And I would’ve kept Eve all to myself.”

  Sharon’s hands clenched to fists. “You son of a bitch!”

  Federico grasped her shoulder.

  “Yeah, things didn’t turn out how I’d hoped.” The Strelitzia smirked. “I overestimated old Mags and her boy-toy’s ability to get the job done. You and Eve, on the other hand, I totally underestimated.” The Strelitzia leaned against the chair back. “Now I’m at plan B.”

  “Which is?” Sharon’s jaw clenched.

  “Since I can’t trust the hired help, I want you to personally deliver your secret to me.” He pointed at her. “You. No one else. You do that, and I will free your wife.”

  “Don’t listen to him. He already told you he planned to kill you. He’s a thief.” Federico spit out the words. “We made a deal with him and he screwed us. We kept
our side of the bargain. Instead of keeping his, he stole our ship and relegated us to eking out a living in the bowels of Chicago.”

  “Oh, Federico,” the Strelitzia interrupted. “Woody just doesn’t get that sometimes a leader has to make really tough choices. Your predicament is Woody’s fault, not mine.”

  “Who’s Woody?” Sharon asked.

  “Besides your stubborn wife who refuses to cooperate, Woody is the most maddening human on the planet.” The Strelitzia rolled his eyes. “And the so-called leader of the Qaunik.”

  “Don’t listen to him, Sharon,” JJ said. “He can’t be trusted.”

  Sharon stared into the screen at the masked man. Her choices were both bad. If Federico and JJ were right, she’d give up her secret and risk never seeing Eve again. If they were wrong, she’d get Eve back only to watch her starve to death without medicine and food. Her whole body ached with the weight of her decision. “Tell me where to meet you.”

  The Strelitzia got up. The hem of his flamboyant coat brushed the floor as he walked to the screen. His bird face grew as he neared. Dark eyes and slightly pink lips divulged the human beneath the mask. He smiled. “You’ve made the right choice. But, before we get to the details, I’m afraid I need to—drive home how serious I am about Plan B.”

  With the grip of a python, the horror that he might hurt Eve wrapped around Sharon. “Please, don’t,” she said. “There’s no need to drive home your point. You’ve already made it by taking my wife.”

  “My insurance that all goes well is the cost of taking the time for you to fully understand what I’m capable of.” He turned and took gliding steps toward the back of the room. Coming to stand behind the soldiers he said, “Bring her in.”

  The soldier to his left spoke into a microphone on his collar. His voice was too low to decipher his words.

  The door swung open.

  The python of fear squeezed harder as Sharon watched the soldier drag Areva, Dr. Ryan’s wife, into the room. Her hair stuck out unkempt, and her face was blemished with tears of grief. “They killed him, Sharon.” Areva wrapped her arms around her trembling body.

  “No.” Sharon touched the screen, wanting to comfort Areva. “Please, no.”

  “Let her go,” the Strelitzia ordered.

  Free of the soldier’s grasp, Areva fell to her knees and crawled to the screen. She scrambled to her feet and put her hands to where Sharon’s were.

  “They found the apples you gave us,” Areva chattered through tears. “They tried to get him to say where they came from. But he wouldn’t.” A howl spilled out of her. “They tortured him until he gave in. Then they killed him.” She held her head in her hands and wept.

  “Areva,” Sharon whispered. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Not as sorry as I am. Bring her to me,” the Strelitzia sighed.

  One of the soldiers dragged Areva, kicking and flailing, to him.

  “Kneel, woman,” he said barely above a whisper.

  The soldier pushed Areva to her knees. She clasped her hands together and wept as she prayed.

  “You will come to understand, Sharon, that I am not a bad man.” The Strelitzia looked from Areva to the screen. “I am a man who does what must be done. That makes me a brave man. It’s because of me that the human race will go on. It is a terrible burden. But one I will not shirk.”

  “You’re not brave. You’re a monster.” Sharon clenched her hands into fists. “Don’t do this. Please. Don’t hurt her.”

  “Some of us must go so that others may thrive.” The Strelitzia held his head high.

  “Who are you to decide?” Federico punched the air. “Who?”

  “Who am I not?” The Strelitzia touched Areva’s shoulder. “I’m taking her pain away.” Keeping his grip on her shoulder, he said to Sharon, “And I’m showing you that I do, in fact, have all of the leverage.”

  “I’ll do anything.” Sharon sank to her knees. “Please don’t hurt Areva. I’ll get you what you want. Just let her and Eve go. I’m begging you. I don’t need for you to show me that you’re capable of killing.” She held her hands out. “Don’t do this.”

  “It’s too late for this woman.” The Strelitzia’s electronic voice revealed no emotion. “But not for Eve.”

  “No!” Areva howled. “Sharon, help me.”

  “I must show you that I will not flinch.” The Strelitzia put his hands to his waist. “You will bring me what I want.”

  “Where? Tell me.” Touching the screen at the place where Areva knelt, the words tumbled out of Sharon. “You don’t have to do this. You can trust me.”

  “I trust no one.” He nodded at the soldier to his left.

  The soldier sidled up to Areva.

  To Sharon, the Strelitzia said, “You have two weeks to bring me the secret of the apple. My people will be waiting for you at the place of the highest tides in the world.”

  “Highest tides?” JJ asked. “You must mean the Bay of Fundy? I’ve been there. Great place to hide a very large ship.”

  “A man who knows his geography. But if you think you can trick me into giving up its location, you still underestimate me.” The Strelitzia brushed a strand of hair from Areva’s watery eyes. “Some things, even awful things, must be. Forgive me, sweet woman.” To the soldier he said, “Set your weapon to its highest strength. The woman must not suffer.” He strolled out of the room.

  The soldier next to Areva thumbed the gauge on his spectraletto clockwise. He aimed the muzzle at Areva’s heart.

  “No.” Sharon pressed her head to the screen, wanting to connect with Areva, but afraid to watch her die.

  Areva screamed.

  The pft of a spectraletto silenced her. Her body tumbled backward onto the floor.

  Stunned, Sharon’s mind refused to accept what was happening. But her eyes couldn’t deny Areva’s gruesome end.

  A fist-sized hole punched through Areva’s chest. Fine strands of smoke wafted from the singed fabric of her dress. Her head rested on an arm as if she were only sleeping. But the blood pooling around her like a halo and matting her silky black hair left no doubt that she was dead. Her dainty left hand lay outstretched toward Sharon as if begging for her to take hold. The silver wedding ring on her finger contrasted against the stark white of a body draining its blood.

  “No,” Sharon breathed and got to her feet. Hot tears burned down her cheeks. Her knees wobbled and queasiness filled her belly. Strong arms kept her from falling. She looked into Federico’s eyes.

  “We’ll help you,” Federico said in a soft voice.

  JJ put a strong arm around her shoulders. “Let us help you.”

  “I have to get to”—Sharon tried to pull away. Two weeks.

  “Don’t talk.” Federico brushed his hand over the bowl. The satellite screen went black. “We’ll finish this conversation when prying eyes and ears can’t see or hear us.” He slipped the mask over Aaron’s head and yanked him to his feet. “Come on.”

  “I have to get to California to find a man named Elliot.” Sharon let JJ support her. “Help me get there.”

  Keeping a strong arm around Sharon’s shoulders, JJ said, “Woody will help you, and so will we.”

  Chapter 9

  Sharon’s hands shook slightly as she lifted the cup to her lips. A musky steam rushed up her nose to the back of her throat. “What is this?”

  “Stinging nettle tea.” Sitting across from her at a small table, Federico blew over the cup in his hand. “Spiked with dandelion wine.” He took a sip. “It’ll help settle your nerves. I’m so very sorry about your friend.”

  The Strelitzia’s mask and the image of Areva begging for her life played over and over whenever Sharon closed her eyes. “Only a monster would kill someone like Areva. She never hurt anyone.” She took a sip big enough to burn. It helped cover the pain of the woman’s death knotted in her gut. “Who is he?”

  “The Strelitzia.” Federico leaned forward. “Besides operating under the delusion that he’s some kind of god, h
e is the worst kind of person. He exploits people’s vulnerabilities to get what he wants. It’s how a mediocre scientist managed to steal our ship, kidnap your wife, and kill your friends.”

  “A scientist, that has to be it.” She ran a finger over a chip in the rim of the cup. “I’ve been wracking my brain trying to think of how he knows Eve and me. They must’ve crossed paths when she was at Harvard.”

  “Tell me about Eve.” Federico took another sip. “Was she a well-known botanist before the universities were disbanded?”

  “I didn’t know her when she was at Harvard.” Sharon managed a slight smile. “Eve is the best kind of person. She’s modest and kind. If she was well known, she never talked about it. I wouldn’t be surprised if she had been, though. My wife is brilliant. She’s the smartest person I know.”

  “Is she the reason you have an apple tree that’s not poison?” Federico lifted his cup to his lips, watching her over its rim.

  Sharon surveyed the bizarre underground room that resembled an old bar. It had taken Federico just ten minutes to get them there. A note of caution played in her head. The secret of the apple tree belonged to her and Eve alone. “I really have to get to California as soon as possible. I have to—get things done there. My bike blew away in a storm over Gaia’s Wrath. I have no transportation. When can I see Woody?”

  “I’ll take that as a decision not to answer. I respect that. You don’t know me well. And I don’t know you.” Federico set his cup down and touched a clock icon at the corner of the table. Red LEDs flashed 6:45 p.m. “Woody will see you in another fifteen minutes. How about I tell you a little about us? Ask me anything. Although, like you, I reserve my right not to answer on certain subjects.”

  Sharon studied the dimly lit room. Couples occupied a smattering of tables nestled at the base of a stage. A voluptuous dark-skinned woman crooned sultry music from her perch at the center of the dais. “How in the world do you have time for music and a bar? And what does Qaunik mean?”

  Federico pulled back the cuff of his sleeve, revealing the tattoo that matched JJ’s. “Qaunik means snow. It represents the sacred place we intend to get to someday where we won’t have to live underground anymore. We took our name, and these tattoos to honor it.”