The Rising Tide

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The Rising Tide Page 38

by J. Scott Coatsworth


  Aaron knelt beside her, cupping her chin in his hands. “You’ll always be my little girl.” His eyes were wet, but he wiped them with the back of his hand.

  “I love you, Daddy.”

  He kissed her forehead. “After your Uncle Jayson passed… I couldn’t have borne it if you had gone too.” He reached up and pulled the silver chain from around his neck. “This belonged to your grandfather. A priest gave it to him on the day of my confirmation.”

  “Confirmation?”

  He nodded. “It was a religious ceremony in the church. He lost it when he… when he died. But Ana gave it back to me.” He put the chain over her head.

  She put her hand over it. “It’s beautiful. But I’m not religious—”

  He nodded. “I know. But it was your grandfather’s. It belongs with you.” He squeezed her hand. “We’re part of a long, proud line, you and me. I am so proud of you.” He put his arms around her, and she felt safe and warm and five years old again.

  As she hugged her father, she stared at the seed.

  Having a doppelgänger in the world mind was going to take getting used to. She wondered if other-her knew yet?

  Still, it was a small price to pay for life.

  SANTI WAS ladling out soup to yet another refugee. They were coming in as fast as they could be fed, and Keera was organizing those who were in decent shape to start caring for the others—finding suitable temporary housing, treating wounds, making meals, and getting the city back up and running.

  It would take time—a lot of time. But now that Davian was gone, it would get done. And they’d find new ways to do things, better ways.

  He’d been right. All the loops had been burned out in the final battle between Davian and the others. While it still wasn’t clear what had happened, he knew all their lives would have to change now. One of the last bits of Old Earth was gone.

  Sean touched his shoulder. “Can I talk to you?”

  “Sure.” Santi pulled Olly Forbes over to serve in his place. “I’ll be right back.”

  Olly nodded.

  Sean took him outside.

  “What’s up?”

  Sean put his hands on Santi’s cheeks, and for a moment, he thought the boy was going to kiss him. Instead, Sean closed his eyes.

  “Santi?”

  Santi closed his eyes and heard Eddy’s voice in his head. “Oh my God, is that really you?”

  “Yeah. We’re okay. They did it! They destroyed Davian and the old world mind.”

  “Old world mind?”

  “I’ll explain later. There are two Andys now, and two Shandras. And a new world mind.”

  “What does that even mean?”

  “We’re all okay. That’s all you need to know. How are things there?”

  “The town is a mess, but most everyone survived. We think Davian was keeping them safe to use them later as slaves.”

  “Thank God.”

  Santi could almost see Eddy’s look of relief.

  “Shandra broke her leg. Andy and Marissa set it, but she’s gonna need some medical care when we get home. And Aaron’s here.”

  “What about Jayson?”

  “No. He… he didn’t make it.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “He gave himself to save the rest of us.”

  Santi whistled. “You’ll have to tell me all about it when you come home. We’re getting things organized on this end. I’ll find someone to look after Shandra when she arrives.”

  “Marissa says hi, by the way.”

  Santi laughed. “So does Sean.” I could get used to this kind of communication.

  “So how are you getting home? We need you here. You are the mayor, after all. This place is going to take a lot of work to get back into shape.”

  This time Santi could feel Eddy’s grin. “I was kind of hoping you’d come give us a ride?”

  Epilogue

  ANDY RODE up the pathway to the McAvery-Trip estate. Shandra had offered to come with her, but she had wanted to make this journey alone, in memory of the dear man who had brought her out there so many years before.

  They’d settled into an apartment in Darlith. After so many years in the middle of nowhere at the schoolhouse, it was nice to be in the heart of things once again. And it was a good place to raise their daughter.

  Andy rubbed her stomach. In another five months, she would welcome a new life into the world, with Eddy’s help. A little girl who would be surrounded by people who loved and adored her. They had decided to name her Bella.

  Six months after the Great Storm, the city was starting to get back to normal. Somehow, her sculpture of Old Earth had survived the tempest, and now the town square teemed with life every day as an open-air market provided a place for the city’s once-again thriving trade.

  Her Liminals were having to find their way in the new world too. Their abilities had been mostly proscribed under the new order. It was Lanya’s doing. They had tinkered with the new seed’s genetics and had locked out many of the Liminal kids’ abilities in the process. For now. Who knew what course their evolution would take?

  They could still use vee space and reach one another through the world mind, no small thing. But no more could they call upon the world roots or transfer human minds into it.

  That was way too dangerous.

  Andy dismounted and tied Dandi up to a post outside of Trip’s house.

  So strange to think of it as Trip’s and not Colin’s, though it had been years and years since Colin had left the mortal life. Andy would always remember Colin waiting for her on that porch, wearing a robe and bunny slippers.

  Which brought her to the reason she was there.

  Andy? Her own voice spoke in her head.

  Hey, Andy, she replied. She could hear the laughter behind her own voice.

  That had been a shock for both of them, but she was getting used to it. Are we ready?

  Ready as we’ll ever be.

  The flesh and blood Andy knocked on the door.

  There was a shuffling inside, and then the door opened.

  Trip was much older now but still handsome, his white hair and beard trimmed neatly. He had to be in his eighties. “Andy!” A grin spread across his face. “What a surprise. Come on in!”

  Andy followed him inside. “How are you, Trip?”

  “Doing okay. I have a couple farmhands now to help me with the place. They’re off at the Market in Darlith today.” He gestured to her to take a seat. “Can I get you something to drink?”

  “Just some red berry juice, if you have it.”

  “I do. No ice, though.”

  She laughed. It was an old joke between them. “No ice is fine.”

  He came back with an old glass cup. “Brought these up from Earth, back in the day. Only three of them left now.”

  “Thanks.” She took a sip. “Oooh, that’s marvelous.” She did miss ice, but her palate had gotten used to it by now. “I brought you something.”

  “Really? That was kind of you.”

  She came to sit next to him and put her hands on the sides of his face. “Close your eyes.”

  He did. “What kind of present is it?”

  “A little message from Colin.” She showed him.

  “Hey, Trip. I never got to say a proper goodbye. I know this is a poor substitute, but I wanted you to know that I never forgot you.” Colin paused to wipe his eyes. “I know Andy will find a way to get this to you. You were the love of my life, and I’m proud to have called you husband, partner, and friend. You were always the one.”

  Andy let go.

  Trip’s face was wet with tears. “Thank you. How did you—”

  “It’s something the new world mind found and asked me to bring to you.”

  He accepted that without question and squeezed her hand. “It means so much to me to hear his voice one more time.”

  Andy spent the afternoon with him. They talked about Colin, about the estate, and about Earth.

  When it was time to go,
she accepted a batch of red berries to take back home to Shandra.

  They stood on the porch in the late-afternoon glow.

  “He loved you like a daughter, you know.”

  Andy nodded. “I miss him. He would have been a grandfather soon.” She rubbed her belly.

  “I wondered, but I didn’t want to ask.” He smiled in delight. “That’s wonderful!”

  She gave Trip a hug and then untied Dandi and climbed onto her saddle.

  Trip put a hand on her knee. “You’re always welcome, if you feel like keeping an old man company.”

  “I’d like that. I’ll come to see you again soon.” Andy blew him a kiss and started back on the road to Darlith, Shandra, and home.

  Glossary

  43 Ariadne: Asteroid used to start Forever

  Aaron Hammond: Oldest son of Jackson and Glory Hammond, Director of Forever Project

  Agartha: The name of the world under the mountain that Davian and Gunner built

  Alberto: One of the Liminal kids

  Alifir trees: “Native” Forever trees, piney scent

  Allied African States: Union of African nations

  AmSplor: The space arm of the NAU

  AnaLex: The combined minds of Ana and Lex; see also Lanya

  Anastasia Anatov: Crew on the Dressler, doctor/geneticist

  Anatov Mountains: Mountains between Darlith and Micavery, formerly the Dragon’s Reach

  Andrissa “Andy” Hammond: Daughter of Aaron Hammond

  Bella: Andy and Shandra’s daughter

  Biodrones: Small drones created by the world mind to survey the interior of the seed ship

  Biomind: Artificial minds that sit at the boundary of computers and AI-Human minds

  Brad Evers: Community ambassador at the refugee camp, later a sheriff’s deputy

  Candra: Part owner of the cleaners where Andy stays when in Darlith

  Captain Trip Tanner: Captain of the Herald; Colin’s lover, later husband

  Cassiopeia aka Cassie: Eddy’s horse

  Cave Cheese: Cheese grown using the fungus found in Forever’s caves

  Chafs: Derogatory name for the Cino-African Syndicate troops

  Chris: One of the Liminal kids

  Cino-African Syndicate (CAS): Alliance between China and many African nations

  Clearing: Removing the mind fog from those afflicted by Gunner’s control

  Colin Dale: Son of Marissa and Matt (Matthew)

  Colin McAvery: Captain of the Dressler, later Director of Transfer Station; retired 2160

  Collapse, The: The end of the Earth

  Crons: Currency/coin on Forever/Ariadne

  Dania Thorpe: Woman in charge of personnel at McAvery Port, later the city manager for Micavry

  Danny: One of the oldest of the Liminal kids

  Dark Day: The day Davian first tried to take over the world

  Darlith: Second town built within Forever

  Davian “Dav” Forrester: Eddy’s ex and a systems specialist

  Delancy: One of the three oldest of the Liminal kids, who also has a gift for woodworking

  Delia: Andy’s ex-girlfriend

  Devon Powell: Member of the McAvery Port team

  Dimensionals: 3-D entertainment shows

  Dipping: Interfacing with Forever’s mind, more intense than Transfer

  Dissolution Pit: Where bodies are dissolved into their component parts upon death

  Dressler: Mission-class ship

  East: Facing North, to the right

  Eddy Tremaine: Former military (NAU Marine Corps), formerly Evalyne

  Embassy District: Part of McAvery Port

  Estate: Colin and Trip’s retreat

  Fabrication Center: Factory where the world mind crafts needed supplies in conjunction with the colonists

  Far Hold (aka North Pole): The station that controls the building of Forever

  Fargo Port: Launch port for AmSplor

  Fargo: Capitol of the NAU

  First District: The land from the South Pole to the Anatov Mountains, including Micavery

  First Light: Advance of light in the morning on Forever

  Forever: Common name for Ariadne, the seedling world

  Frontier: Earth’s primary space station

  Ghosts: Supposed supernatural beings held responsible for petty theft and other issues on Forever

  Gia Rand: Rancher on the Verge

  Giorgio: One of the Liminal kids

  Gloria “Glory” Hammond: Jackson’s wife, Aaron’s mother

  Gordy: Kid who worked for the Red Badge in New York City

  Groundfowl: Flightless birds engineered for Forever

  Gunner: Another empath who has similar powers over the world as Andy and her family

  Harris: One of the Liminal kids

  Home Spirits: Home-brewed liquor of various types

  Immortals: Lex and the humans who have transitioned into the world mind

  Jackson Hammond: Engineer aboard the Dressler, later part of the world mind

  Jayson Hammond: Younger son of Glory and Jackson Hammond

  Jendra Khan: Lieutenant Officer in Micavery

  Jerrywood Bush: A thick shrub bred for Forever, fill of dense branches

  John: Part owner of the cleaners where Andy stays when in Darlith

  Keera Kelly: Aaron’s wife

  Knife’s Edge: Weapons store in Micavery

  Lake Jackson: Lake on the “Southern” end of Forever, named after Jackson Hammond

  Lanya: Ana’s and Lex’s combined personalities in the world mind

  Lex: Ship-mind of the Dressler, later the World mind of Forever

  Lilith Lott: Head of the Red Badge in New York, later was transferred into a bio mind

  Liminals (aka Liminal kids): The first native-born generation on Forever—descendants of Jackson Hammond, who have a special ability to connect to the world mind and manipulate the world

  Long Interval: The time between departing Earth and arriving at the other end

  Loop: Communication device and personal assistant

  Luna Base: The NAU base on Earth’s moon

  Mallow Tree: Tree on Forever similar to mahogany

  Mallowood: Wood from the mallow tree; a hardwood, it is known for its red color

  Margene: Dania Althorpe’s girlfriend

  Marissa: One of the oldest of the Liminal kids

  Matthew (Matt) Dale: Marissa’s husband

  McAvery Port: The initial colony, later called Micavery

  Mega/Megarise: Skyscrapers 300 stories tall or taller

  Mestra Vaughn: Nurse who takes charge of refugee camp

  Micavery: First town built on Forever, previously McAvery Port

  Mind War: Another name for the Dark Sky day

  Moonjumper: Cheap vehicle made for quick hops to and from the moon, retired around 2125

  Morning Brew (aka Embrew): The Forever equivalent of coffee

  Night Ivy: One of the few Forever plants that retains a slight glow at night

  North American Union (NAU): The combined countries of Canada, USA, and Mexico

  North Pole: Far end of Forever

  North: In the direction of the North Pole (the far endcap)

  Null Space: A zone where the world mind is blocked within Forever

  Nutrisynth Bar: Nutritional bars

  Ovango Cookies: An Earth brand of cookie

  Pantir: Musical instrument like a violin, with an earthier sound, created by Rolly

  Phostorch: Flashlight that uses phosphorescent materials.

  Photoplas: Picture frame for digital photos, made from clear plas

  Plasform (Plas): Advanced polymer used for many applications, usually clear

  Preacher: What the residents of Agartha call Davian

  Pull: Forcibly pulling a mind out of the world mind

  Pulse Weapon: EMP device

  Push: The act of creating null space by pushing a Liminal’s spark out of their body

  Rafe: Devon’s on-and-off boyfriend,
later his life partner

  Reach: The act of reaching into someone else’s mind by one of the Liminals

  Red Badge: Lawless group of technophiles involved in domestic espionage and wetware arts

  Red Berries: The Forever equivalent of raspberries

  Red Ferns: Forever plants that glow at night, giving off a pinkish glow

  Rhyl River: River that runs through Darlith

  Riding: Sharing someone else’s senses

  Rolly: One of the Liminal kids, invented the pantir

  Ronan: Transfer Station mind

  Santiago Ortiz (aka Santi): Sherrif’s deputy in Micavery, son of Dana Ortiz

  Sara Finch: One of the women in Xanadu

  Schoolhouse Red: Famous wine from the Schoolhouse vineyard

  Schoolhouse: The place where Andy and Shanna teach the gifted

  Sean Hammond: Aaron and Keera’s second child and Andy’s brother

  Second District: The land from the Anatov Mountains past Darlith

  Seed Ships: Three generation ships grown from seedlings

  Seedling: The starter for one of the seed ships

  Shandra Clarke: Traxx driver, later Andy’s girlfriend

  Ship-Mind: Biological mind grown to run AmSplor ships

  Skyrises: Supertall towers in NYC

  Solos: People who don’t have the “Liminal” talent of the descendants of Jackson Hammond

  South Pole: Transfer Station end/starting end of Forever

  South: In the direction of the South Pole (the near endcap)

  Spindle: Aggregation of energy and glowing pollen in the sky that stretches from pole to pole

  Superscraper: Two-hundred-plus-story towers

  Tanner Ridge: Ridgeline near Micavery

  Terfies: Hallucinogenic smokes made from a dried fungus

  Terraterza: A musical group on Earth that played trigsynth

  Thatch Hill: Residential district on the outskirts of Micavery

  Tim: Ex of Eddy’s

  Timothy: One of the Liminal kids

  Toby: One of the Liminal kids

  Transfer Station: The space station that accompanied Forever until the Collapse

  Traxx: Ground transportation on Forever that hauls produce

  Tri dee: The 22nd-century equivalent of TV

 

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