SYMPTOMATIC: An Apocalyptic Horror Thriller (MADNESS Chronicles Book 3)
Page 20
At this point the colonists flooded Ted with “hellos” and a drumbeat of questions about the Intrepid and its people; where they’d been, what they were doing, and so on. Ted was happy to answer whatever he could. This was their time to visit as well as his. It was never too long, especially if TJ wasn’t there. Sometimes she was and other times she wasn’t.
“Sorry, Ted,” Ágúst said in his always measured tone. “She’s out hunting today. She’s up in the hills now. She thought you were coming yesterday.”
Ted nodded. A while back, for their tender’s protection, they decided not to broadcast the day of Ted’s supply run. They were still afraid of pirates after a previous attack.
“I thought as much when I didn’t see her.”
“She’s doing well. She really is.”
“Don’t touch me,” hollered a high-pitched voice from the tender. “l get out on my own.”
“So that’s our newbie?” asked Jaga.
“Yep, Pasquale. Seems like a good kid. Lost his parents in the first attack. A few weeks ago, he failed the blood test. Then one day, he started screaming from his cabin and we saw that he was symptomatic. He was immediately placed in a cooler. He’s struggled a lot since then. I’ve been praying with him, but he really needs some help from one of his own kind.”
“You know we’ll take care of him.”
“I know you will. Say, how are you getting along with your parasitic neighbors?”
“That’s something I wanted to talk to you about. I would recommend that you only come in the morning, while it’s still cool. They hunt now and I’m afraid it’s just not safe for you so late in the day.”
“Got it. I’ll get going then. Thanks.” Ted shook his hand. “And please tell her hello from me. It’s going to be hard to wait another month before I see her again.”
“I will, Ted. Peace.”
Ted waved to everyone and made his way back to the tender.
As he stepped into the water, he saw something sparkle, even though the sun was well shrouded today. He reached in and pulled up a familiar object: it was TJ’s Orion necklace, the one he had given her and she said she had lost some eight years ago. She must have lost it right here.
He turned back to the shore and gazed out toward the hills, where Ágúst said she was hunting. He didn’t know why, probably just wishful thinking on his part, but he felt like she was watching him right then. He held the necklace up in the air, moving it so that its diamonds would reflect the dull sunlight from above. Then he placed it against his chest and crossed his arms: the sign language symbol for “love.” Then he pointed to the hills. “You!”
He held his gaze for just a second longer before turning back to the tender.
~~~
TJ stood high upon a ridge, looking down upon her colony’s beach. She crossed her arms over her chest and then pointed her finger at the tender a couple of miles away, her face glowing with joy.
“What are you doing, Mommy?” the little girl asked. She had one arm wrapped around TJ’s knee and she gazed up with her ruby reds at the person who was the center of her young life.
TJ removed a foot from the deer she’d just killed and knelt down to pick up her daughter, marveling at how heavy a nearly four-year-old was.
“You see that man? The one now in that boat, with the gray beard and the blue cap, driving away?”
“Ah-hah,” she said, not even having to squint to see him.
“That, my darling, is your daddy.”
THE END
A Quick Word From The Author
Thank you for reading all the way to the end of this series. MADNESS has been an amazing journey for me, and I hope it has been for you as well.
In case you weren’t aware, I’m an independent writer who relies on ratings and reviews to help get the word out about my books. This is why reviews are so important to me and why I truly need your help. Leaving even a short review would be greatly appreciated.
MLB
Post Review on Amazon
Is This Really
the End of MADNESS?
Even though over a year of research and planning went into the world of MADNESS, MADNESS Chronicles was intended to be a trilogy, and Symptomatic is the last installment of that trilogy.
But that doesn’t mean the MADNESS story is over.
In fact, if your feedback (through your reviews) makes it clear that I need to bring back the characters for more, I will. There are several follow up stories I have in mind, assuming the demand is there. Here are some of the many questions that remain unanswered…
What will become of the Intrepid and her crew?
What happens to Ted and/or TJ?
What about their daughter?
Can the island colony and neighboring parasitics coexist?
Will humans survive in this world?
Why do you want more?
Unleash your feedback (in your review): HERE
Other Additions to Madness World
Regardless of what happens to the characters in their own part of this world, I plan to open up Madness World to other stories, not only written by me, but other authors. If you’re interested in what’s coming next, be sure you’re receiving one of my Updates. Have ideas for a story in Madness World? Contact me directly at mlbanner.com/contact-author/
Updates on Rage
Remember, the T-Gondii parasite is very real and so are many of the effects from its infection. This is why I created a website for news and info about real-life reports about the Rage disease and the T-Gondii parasite, as well as updates about the stories set in Madness World. Fill up on your need for more madness here:
MadnessWorld.Info
Once there,
sign up for Madness Updates and get
a free short story set in Madness World staring YOU!
More Discussion Possibilities
Interested in discussing Madness World’s stories and its characters? For instance…
What do you think is Ted and TJ’s daughter’s name?
Or who was your favorite character?
This is your chance to join in the discussions. Post your questions here to get my answers and those of other MADNESS readers:
https://www.facebook.com/MadnessWorldInfo/
FREE BOOKS
Sign up for ML Banner’s Apocalyptic Updates (VIP Readers list) and get a free copy of one of my best selling books:
In addition, you’ll have access to our VIP Reader’s Library, with at least four additional freebies.
Simply go here:
http://mlbanner.com/free
(and give me the email you want me to send your free book to)
Who is ML Banner?
Michael “ML” Banner is an award winning &
international best-selling author of apocalyptic thrillers.
Six of his ten books were #1 Amazon best-sellers in one or more genres. MADNESS won the 2018 Readers Favorite Silver Medal in Horror. Highway won the 2016 Readers Favorite Gold Medal in Thrillers and was 2016 Finalist for Kindle Book Review’s Best Sci-Fi Novel. His work is traditionally published and self-published.
Often his thrillers are set in far-flung places, as Michael uses his experiences from visiting dozens of countries—some multiple times—over the years. His last transatlantic cruise was the foreground of the MADNESS Chronicles.
A serial entrepreneur, having formed and run multiple businesses over the years, he founded and still runs SmallBiZ.com, which helps small businesses create and maintain entities, forming almost 100,000 entities over its 20 years of existence.
When not running a business or writing his next book, you might find Michael hunting, traveling abroad, or reading his Kindle with his toes in the water (name of his publishing company) in the Sea of Cortez (Mexico). That’s because he and his wife split time between the deserts of Arizona and the beaches in Mexico.
Want more from M.L. Banner?
MLBanner.com
Receive FREE books &
Ap
ocalyptic Updates - A monthly publication highlighting discounted books, cool science/discoveries, new releases, reviews, and more
Keep in Contact – I would love to hear from you!
Email: michael@mlbanner.com
Google+: google.com/plus/+mlbanner
Facebook: facebook.com/authormlbanner
Twitter: @ml_banner