They couldn't have been talking about what happened when I was kidnapped by Shawn; Susan and I had had a few conversations about that the past year. We knew we had to face him again, and talking about him openly let us fear him less. It was extremely therapeutic.
Bee whimpered, and both turned to look at us. I closed my eyes, feigning deep breaths of sleep.
"Come on, they'll be up soon. Turn the peaches so they don't burn. I'll pour more coffee," Alex said.
Thanks, Bee. I would have to discover the source of the mystery nightmares on my own.
Chapter 12
Thunder
"Earthquake in Huntington," Alex said as we pushed our canoe into the river.
"Huh?" I asked, preoccupied with the balancing act of moving to the front, with Bee in one arm and an oar in another. It wouldn't do to immediately dump Bee in the river on her first day back in.
"The camp across the river linked up with someone from Huntington last night on their Hamm radio. They said there was an earthquake three days ago." Alex pushed the canoe into deeper water, then jumped in himself without a wobble. His learning curve with this whole canoe thing was much steeper than mine.
"Wasn't that the big city we just went through?" Susan asked, sitting in the very front, playing navigator. We decided to stick with the fab four after yesterday's incident; no more splitting up.
"Yep," said Alex.
"So what are you saying?" I asked.
"I'm not saying anything, except that maybe we ought to reach out. See what information we can gather about places we left, as well as our next destination. Whether the natural disasters are caused by someone in our group or not," he cleared his throat, "we don't want to be leaving a trail."
Susan glanced at me over her shoulder. "Could just be a coincidence."
"Could be," I agreed. Desperation crept up my chest. She was finding excuses, trying not to be obvious about the truth.
So was Alex. "Could be a spy from our group, leaving bread crumbs the only way they know how," he suggested in a much lower voice.
"Maybe…" I said. I looked down at Bee, busy organizing her play area for the day. Oh fine, I'll just say it. "Or it could be me and Bee."
Bee looked up at the mention of her name and shot me a smile. I touched her dimple with my finger, "You are trouble; you know that?"
"Let's just see how it plays out," Alex mumbled from behind me.
Very shortly, we'd be in Louisville, Kentucky. As the morning hours passed, the trees that dotted the riverbanks became sparse, replaced by wide open parks and fields. Buildings, many just showing the first signs of neglect with plants growing out of gutters and broken windows, began outnumbering the trees. There were people, at first just one or two, then larger groups of a dozen or more, working along the riverbanks. Washing clothes, filtering water, or bathing – they all stopped their work to watch us row past. Bee waved to every single one of them. Several waved back, smiling.
"A different perspective from our hiking trails," Alex said from behind me.
I nodded. "When we started to see fewer and fewer people, I thought we were dying out. Turns out everyone was just flocking to freshwater sources."
"And thriving," Susan chimed in, staring at a fenced off area full of chickens. "Remember all the bones we found?"
I nodded. On our way from Mammoth Cave to D.C. then West Virginia, we saw countless remains of dogs and cats, sometimes even horses, lying exposed by a snuffed out campfire. "People had to eat something once the packaged food ran out."
I touched the bag of canned vegetables at my side. The chickens, even scratching around in the mud as they were, looked far tastier.
A dog ran around the pen, playing. It was one of the lucky ones.
We passed under a series of bridges, and all at once the groups of people grew in number – so much so they couldn't be classified as groups. It was just one, large mass.
"How are all these people surviving?" I wondered aloud.
"The rivers support the masses," Alex said. "Look Bee!" He pointed to five horses tied up by the river, drinking.
Five horses! I never thought I'd see another horse.
"Big dog!" Bee shouted at them.
We laughed. "Horse, honey. That's a horse – neigh!"
Bee spent the next two hours practicing her horse sounds until one loud, horn blast drowned her out. She jumped into my lap. "Thunder!"
I brushed the hair out of her face and kissed her forehead. "No – not thunder. Some kind of horn." I turned around and looked at Alex, my eyebrows raised in question.
He shrugged.
We slowed the canoe, and motioned the rest of the group to do the same. Robert and Margie, now in a double kayak, were the exception. They pushed forward to investigate, both looking at me as they passed. Robert had a set chin and narrowed eyes, Margie glanced over me from head to toe, then Bee.
Looking for injuries, perhaps? Would she be relieved or disappointed that we had none?
I didn't get a chance to find out. They rounded the river bend before I could read the expression on her face. Their kayak disappeared from sight. A long silence seemed to last forever, all eyes just beyond the trees, seeking out the tip of their red kayak. Another horn blast. This one put me on edge. The energy in the atmosphere heightened as Elementals put their powers at the ready.
I wanted to shout out to hold fire, until we saw the whites of their eyes or something, but the truth was I was a hair away from blasting down those trees myself so I could see what was happening. Finally, Robert and Margie came paddling upstream. Robert waived his arm, gesturing the rest of us forward. They both looked excited.
"Susan, can you tell what it is from here?" I asked as we put our oars back in the water.
She put her hand in the water, too. "Something big."
"Care to be more specific?"
"Can't." She looked back at me. "Fill Bee's lifejacket, just in case."
I looked down, it was nearly deflated. Our stitching job wasn't holding the air very well.
"Careful, Kaitlyn – we don't want to attract any unwanted attention," Alex said.
I rolled my eyes. I was always attracting unwanted attention; it was inevitable. I used energy to inflate the pants hanging around Bee's neck. She didn't notice, still staring at the direction of the horn.
As we rounded the bend, the horn sounded again and the source revealed itself. I craned my neck up to see a large steamboat barreling down on us. Four stories high, with black and gold steam columns and red, decorative trim; the ship was straight out of the 1920's.
I blinked, then rubbed my eyes.
"Row!" Alex shouted. "Row, row, row!" Our convoy of canoes split down the middle as everyone scrambled to get their oars in the water. Our canoe shot forward.
I looked back; everyone appeared to make it out of the way in time.
"Sorry!" Someone from the top deck of the steamboat shouted apologies. I gave them a dirty look, then did the same to Robert, who was laughing.
Something else caught my eye as the steamboat passed. Dragged alongside it was several large water filters. "Look!" I shouted.
Susan turned, and a wide grin spread across her face.
"Micah's been here," I breathed.
They were exactly the same as we found near Robert's camp.
"Let's pull in over there," I said, pointing to a large, cemented area that sloped down into the water. "We need to check it out."
The other boats followed our lead. As Robert came closer, I resisted the urge to dump him in the water again. Just barely. He was still laughing when they pulled ahead of us. As soon as our canoe hit cement, Margie was there, pulling us in.
"Sorry," she said, voice lowered. "I had no idea that thing could pick up speed like that. I don't think they heard my warning shouts."
I put Bee on my hip and took Margie's extended hand for help out of the canoe.
"Are you guys okay after yesterday?" she asked. "When I came up and saw you, but not Bee, my heart
skipped a beat. I went back under and almost got caught in the undertow and I just got scared—"
"Margie, come help with the boat," Robert growled at her. Their kayak was completely out of the water. What help he needed was beyond me.
She rolled her eyes and turned back to me, smoothing out her hair. "I should've kept looking—"
"No," this time I interrupted her. "It wasn't your fault; don't worry about it."
She nodded. "I'm glad everyone is ok. Thank God for Susan."
"Margie!" Robert yelled again.
"I'm coming." Margie squeezed my hand, wiggled Bee's bare toes and walked away.
I turned, watching Susan pack a small bag with Bee's toys, a change of clothes, and extra food.
Yes, I thought. Thank God for Susan. Susan and Alex both.
Chapter 13
The Spirit of Evansville
"Welcome aboard your ship," the captain held out his hands in a grand gesture as we walked up the gangplank. I paused in the middle of wiping grime from Bee's cheek to look over my shoulder. There was only Alex – standing off to the side with his arms crossed. The captain was, in fact, addressing me.
"My…my ship?"
He smiled, nodding his head with enthusiasm.
"I don't follow."
"Come, come. Let me show you around. I'll remain to drive you down the river, of course."
"No – me drive!" Bee shouted, kicking to be let down.
As soon as I set her on the ground she ran for the captain's outstretched hands. Alex stepped in between the two, swooping Bee up in his own arms.
The captain shrugged. "Looks like I've got myself a co-pilot." He tousled her hair and walked away with a skip in his step, leaving me like an idiot, with my hand in the air and speechless.
I glanced at Alex, who was glaring at the captain.
"Come on," I said, nudging him forward. "Let's at least hear him out."
"Now this ship wasn't a steamboat until after Daybreak," the captain waited for us to catch up. He reached over and pinched Bee's cheek. "No it wasn't. We had plans, but weren't motivated to put them in effect until the diesel stopped coming."
We followed him down some stairs. The elevators had a large 'out of order' sign posted.
He continued, "Daybreak was good in a lot of ways like that."
It was the first time I'd heard anyone refer to Daybreak as a good thing. Bee leaned over to pull on the captain's beard.
"Honey, be careful." I said.
"She's fine. I'm Captain Carl, by the way." He stopped suddenly and stuck out his hand in delayed introduction.
"Oh, I'm Kaitlyn." I shook his hand. "And this is Alex, and…well – I guess everyone else is busy."
"Yes, yes – I'm having them load the canoes and all your supplies on the boat. Eventually we may reach a point where the steamboat is too big for the river. Anyway." He turned down the stairs again. "Took us over a year, but we got her ready just in time for Micah to come along."
"I'm sorry – if you could explain how exactly he purchased the boat?" I couldn't imagine what Micah had traded.
"Well, for one – this entire community owes him and The Seven. Under their guidance, the Wiccans were able to build our own Chakra Center."
"Chakra Center?" I looked at Alex, eyebrows raised.
He shrugged.
"Community-based farms that are able to support any who come. Permaculture at its finest," touted the captain.
"What else did he give you?" I asked.
"A promise."
"What kind of promise?" I narrowed my eyes, taking Bee from Alex.
"I get to captain one of the new hybrid power stations. They are under construction just off the coast of California, and in the Gulf, and at the Great Lakes. After I drop you off, I'll be headed to California to take up my post."
We were just outside a large steel door now. Alex paused. "And you believe him?"
Captain Carl turned, crossing his arms. "Why? Is there a reason I shouldn't believe him?"
Hybrid power stations? I glanced at Alex. He looked just as lost as me, though I wasn't willing to call any of it into question. I just wanted Micah to pop out from behind the door.
Captain Carl pushed his glasses up on his nose. The frame was duct taped together. "I'm a Coast Guard vet, I'll have you know. Twenty years. Just because this boat has never been more than a mile from the dock, doesn't mean I'm not capable."
Alex held up one hand. "I'm sorry, I'm just confused."
"Well." The captain spun the dial on a padlock and opened the door. "Allow me to enlighten you."
My shoulders sagged; no Micah. Instead, three huge boilers took up the entire room.
"Cast iron and bronze. Thankfully we had these babies built before Daybreak. Basically, we boil water straight from the river inside, and the resulting steam powers the boat."
"How do you boil the water?" Alex asked, walking around one of the boilers.
"By burning trash, mostly. Oh – and office furniture. No one needs it anymore."
I stepped closer, and Bee reached out to touch the shiny cylinder.
"Don't touch!" I snatched her hand back. "It's hot!"
She looked at Captain Carl for confirmation.
"Nope," he said. "The outer shell stays cool to the touch." He leaned against it with one hand to demonstrate. "Although, they have been known to explode."
I looked at him, mouth open.
"No incidents with these particular boilers yet. Top of the line, they are!" He patted it.
"Okay. This room is officially off limits for anyone under the age of, well – me." I said.
"Ohhh," Bee let out a disappointed sigh, as if she knew what I meant.
"Come on." Captain Carl shut the door to the boiler room as we exited. "I'll show you the captain's bridge next."
Last time I was in one of those, I thought, I…well…I met Bee.
Alex was quizzing the captain about the hybrid power stations.
Captain Carl held open the door to the captain's bridge for us. "They've been building them since before Daybreak, preparing to run the country on renewable energy. A combination of solar, wind, and hydro-power; eventually there will be enough power to support the population."
"What about One Less?" Alex asked. "I thought they were shutting down any attempts at energy."
The Captain shrugged. "I guess not renewable energy. I've heard almost all of Germany is powered on solar and wind, and has been since Daybreak. They've had no issues with One Less."
A man, standing at the wheel inside the captain's bridge, perked up at our conversation, inserting his own two cents, "Hungary is powered by its nuclear reactors. They were at thirty-nine percent before Daybreak but almost the entire country has power now."
Captain Carl rubbed his temples. "Here we go again." He addressed my raised eyebrow. "This is Arnold, the First Mate."
Arnold looked at Carl with crossed arms, "You only prefer renewable because you've been promised one of those hybrid thingies."
"Hybrid power stations," Carl almost yelled. He threw his hands in the air. "I prefer renewables because there is no chance of nuclear meltdown!" He glanced at us. "Sorry – we've had this conversation more than once."
Arnold didn't notice. "Renewables are inconsistent – you know, those pesky clouds and all. And wind doesn't blow constantly. Besides, too much land needs clearing for wind and solar farms."
Carl rolled his eyes, then turned to us to explain. "And the hybrid power stations resolve all that. Wind farms do typically take up a lot of space, which is why they are being installed in the ocean. The stations are basically large floating vessels that patrol the wind farms. Plus, they are outfitted with solar panels and hydro-electricity pumps. The three renewable resources combined allow for more consistent power. Developments in energy storage let us store more power, accounting for dry spells."
Alex interrupted, "The Seven itself has had this debate for some years. Nuclear vs. renewables; which way does the world move for
ward?"
I rubbed my temples. "And the consensus?"
He shrugged. "Never came to one. Susan was all for hydro, of course. Cato seemed to be for nuclear."
"What about you and Micah?" I asked.
"We just sort of heard out each argument, then tried to keep the peace."
I cleared my throat. "And Shawn?"
"He never really stuck around for the heated debates." Alex walked over to the large windows. "Um, Captain Carl?"
"Hmm?" The captain flipped switches at the helm.
"Are we leaving already?"
I joined Alex at the window, Bee still on my hip. Most of the open decks were taken up with our convoy of canoes and kayaks, along with our supplies. Someone was lifting the onramps up.
The captain nodded his head. "Gotta keep on schedule."
I sighed. I could've used a few days on land. The buildings, even overgrown with vines as they were, were a welcome site.
The captain tapped one of the steam output gauges. "Barrel two is only at half capacity again. Check it out after we get underway," he told his second in command. "Have you ever considered that mining for Uranium could create just as much damage to the earth as mining for natural gasses and coal?"
Arnold was undeterred, "Solar panel construction consists of no less than a dozen minerals, all mined in various places across the world. Cadmium, copper, titanium dioxide—"
"Well what about radioactive waste?" Carl interrupted.
"Miniscule at best. A soda can's worth of waste over the entire lifetime of each person. Can be buried with insurances of a million years of safe storage."
"Still not worth the risk, in my opinion," mumbled Carl.
They both paused in their work and glanced at me over their shoulders, as if they wanted a final ruling on the issue.
"I'm still on the fence, guys. Sorry." Actually, I was on top of the fence, standing on my tiptoes, searching for Micah. I looked at Alex for support.
"There are advantage and disadvantages for both." Alex was turning out to be quite the diplomat.
Akasha 4 - Earth Page 6