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
The Rising Tide Page 38