The Embers of Hope: A science-fiction thriller (Hibernation Series Book 2)

by Nick Jones

  Mohanty and Nathan watched, tucked away at the side, near the back of the room. George tapped Nathan’s arm and whispered, ‘He’s good.’

  ‘He is, although I didn’t realise how good until now.’

  George held his arm this time. ‘We can trust him.’

  Nathan turned. ‘You used the Histeridae on him?’

  ‘Enough to know that his intentions are genuine, he’s telling the truth about the replicator.’ George watched Paul as he spoke. ‘So, you decided to give him the drive,’ he said, ‘the evidence from the vault.’

  ‘What else could I do?’ Nathan whispered. ‘I’ll probably be dead soon and it can’t all be for nothing, she can’t have died for nothing.’

  ‘It won’t be for nothing,’ George said with a thin smile, a sad, defiant gesture. ‘Either way, I will make sure of that.’

  Paul’s voice was raised again. He was telling his congregation – that was a word Nathan couldn’t get out of his mind – that soon, with this newfound evidence, they would announce themselves to the world.

  Nathan continued to listen but Paul’s words drifted around him, the medication wearing off. Paul’s words suddenly seemed complicated, long and difficult to absorb. Nathan’s legs were jangling, too, like metal wind chimes in a storm, another side effect of splintering. He felt as though he might start hopping around the room like a lunatic, screaming and unable to stop. He slammed one foot hard to the floor and felt a surge of blood rush up his leg in response. It helped a little.

  ‘George,’ he said, ‘we need to talk about tomorrow, about how we’re going to do this.’

  ‘We do,’ Mohanty agreed. ‘But honestly, there isn’t much to say.’

  ‘I need to know something,’ Nathan pleaded. ‘A rough idea of how we’re going to proceed.’

  ‘Listen,’ George whispered. ‘When the time comes it will be down to me, not you. It’s my job to bring her back.’

  ‘But what do I do?’ Nathan asked, feeling helpless. ‘Just stand there and watch?’

  ‘Your job is to stop me.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘To find her, I will have to go deep inside the Histeridae.’ Mohanty shook his head and stared at Nathan. When he spoke his voice was unlike his own. ‘There is a chance I might not return.’

  Nathan considered what he’d just heard. The sadness of it hurt him but a question overrode the emotion. ‘But you said stop you?’

  ‘Yes,’ George replied. ‘There is a chance that I won’t be able to control it, to control myself and Jen simultaneously, and that’s when things…’ He paused and looked in pain. ‘That’s when things might go wrong.’

  ‘Like Theo?’

  ‘Yes.’ George sighed, the past returning to him. ‘Like Theo.’

  ‘Just tell me what I need to do.’

  ‘If things get out of hand, you step in.’

  ‘But how will I know?’

  ‘You’ll know,’ George said. ‘Trust me.’

  Chapter 51

  Nathan wondered how long the applause would continue. Paul waved it away but the group wanted it, seemed to need it. When it finally stopped, conversation buzzed through the gathering like electricity. Paul moved among his people, reassuring them that soon they would hit back. Nathan watched patiently until Paul eventually found his way to them.

  ‘How do think it went?’ Paul asked.

  Nathan took some time to respond. ‘I think they’re good people.’

  ‘They are.’ Paul stood close but continued to watch the room.

  ‘They follow you,’ Nathan said, ‘believe in you.’

  Paul nodded. ‘I believe in them, too, it works both ways.’

  ‘You said you’re going to use the information from the vault.’

  ‘Yes.’ Paul smiled. ‘They are excited about it.’

  ‘They?’

  ‘The other leaders.’ Paul lowered his voice. ‘They really want to meet you.’

  ‘Let’s see how tomorrow goes first.’

  ‘Yes, of course.’

  George cleared his throat. ‘What time are we leaving?’

  ‘We leave here at 3pm,’ Paul replied. ‘Oh, and you must be unarmed, no guns.’

  George nodded. ‘I never carry a weapon.’

  ‘No,’ Paul said, goading him. ‘I guess you don’t need one.’

  ‘If you will excuse me, I’m tired.’ George tapped Nathan on the back. ‘See you in the morning.’

  After George was gone, Nathan said, ‘Paul, I think you should drop it. He’s a good man.’

  Paul placed a hand on his chest. ‘Drop what?’ he said, mouth agape.

  ‘You know what I mean.’

  Paul sighed and then nodded reluctantly. ‘Okay, I will try, but you and I need to talk for a moment in private.’

  Nathan agreed and they walked out of the atrium into an overgrown garden. The sound of laughter and intense conversation seeped from the open windows and doors. Crickets sang and the air was warm. A full moon hung like silver against a bruised night sky.

  ‘When I met you,’ Paul began, ‘you were down on your luck and desperate. I mean, a classic recruitment opportunity for the Priest, right?’ He smiled at the use of his own nickname. ‘But now I see a different man, a resilient, determined one, self-sufficient and hugely resourceful.’ He placed a hand on Nathan’s shoulder. ‘What I’m trying to say – and doing a really bad job, I might add – is that I want you to stay, Nathan, after tomorrow, after you get yourself right again.’

  ‘Paul, I –’

  ‘Don’t decide now,’ Paul said quickly. ‘I just want you to know, we could use you.’

  Nathan wanted to tell Paul that the planned replication wasn’t for him, but there just didn’t seem any point. After tomorrow, it wouldn’t matter anyway.

  ‘I’ll think about it,’ he said.

  ‘Good, and there’s one more thing.’ Paul tapped a finger against his bottom lip. ‘Alex Green, he’s the young lad, the one with the pretty girlfriend, Pascale?’

  ‘Yeah, I know the one.’ Nathan said. ‘Seems like a good kid. What about him?’

  ‘He needs guidance, could do with a friend, someone he respects.’

  Nathan screwed up his face. ‘What, you mean me? With all due respect, Paul, I think he could do a lot better.’

  ‘You underestimate yourself, Nathan. I think you’re exactly what he needs.’ Paul smiled. ‘When you come back, will you talk to him?’

  ‘Sure. Why not?’

  A burst of raucous laughter erupted from inside. Music was playing now. Nathan thought of the contents of the drive, about what had happened when he had tried to use it. ‘You know that once you start this, people are going to die.’

  Paul looked up at the stars, nodding gently. ‘People are already dead,’ he whispered. ‘They just don’t know it yet.’

  Chapter 52

  George awoke early. His dreams had been fragmented nightmares; images of Jen, of the girl he remembered, waking from a deathly sleep, skin pale and flabby, eyes black. She was screaming, What have you done to me? Howling it, over and over.

  George walked to the window and watched the sun rise. It was beautiful, a sky ablaze with layers like torn silk. It seemed as though every second brought a change in the canvas before him. Gently it pushed the nightmare from his mind. He wondered if this might be the last sunrise he would enjoy. He smiled, realising that if it were, that would be okay. A tear travelled his cheek. He wiped it away and watched the sun for a little longer. Eventually it rose over the horizon, bathing the creek below in yellows and reds.

  He checked on Nathan, who was restless but sleeping, and decided to leave him. He showered – cold, but welcome nonetheless – and decided to go for a morning walk.

  The hotel lobby was quiet, deserted except for one man who approached and asked where George was going.

  ‘For a walk,’ Mohanty replied. ‘I don’t need your permission.’

  ‘It’s a free country, I suppose,’ the man murmured. ‘But on
ce you’re outside, you might not get back in.’ He shrugged. ‘Just saying.’

  ‘Understood,’ George replied and stepped out.

  ‘Mind if I join you?’ It was a woman’s voice.

  ‘Not at all,’ George said happily. ‘Your company would be very welcome.’

  ‘Pascale,’ the girl said, offering her hand. George almost introduced himself as Amars – the name he had assumed for the second phase of his life – but managed his own, just in time. ‘Pleased to meet you, George.’ Pascale said, and then smiled. ‘Properly this time.’

  Her beauty would only carry so much weight with him, but she was instantly charming and George didn’t need the Histeridae to sense a good heart. When he told her he would be glad of the company, it was the truth. The guard warned them both it wasn’t safe. Pascale assured him they would be fine.

  ‘We might not get back in,’ George mimicked the guard. ‘Just saying.’

  They walked in silence for a while. The streets were littered with rubbish and uncared for, but at the side of the hotel they came upon a lake that had a certain rugged beauty about it. Vegetation burst from its centre like the top of a pineapple. Branches licked and twisted around man-made structures, looking as though they would eventually eat them whole. They walked past old benches dotted along a pathway.

  ‘I meant what I said to that guy back there,’ Pascale said. ‘I do feel safe. I don’t know what happened yesterday, but I wanted to say thank you.’

  ‘Not necessary,’ George replied. ‘So tell me, how did you end up here, in Dubai, I mean?’

  ‘Alex, he’s my boyfriend, you met him.’ Mohanty nodded and she continued. ‘We lived together in London.’

  ‘So you were in Hibernation?’ George asked.

  ‘Yes, three cycles.’

  ‘Then you were lucky to escape.’

  ‘Yes, I think we were.’ Pascale appeared to be finally realising that fact for herself.

  A flock of birds rose noisily up and over them. The pair watched for a while and then continued to stroll.

  ‘What’s it like out there?’ Pascale asked. ‘In the other zones, I mean?’

  There were so many answers to that question but George wanted to choose one that would be soothing. It was obvious the girl was feeling homesick, even if home was a lie.

  ‘It varies,’ he said. ‘Some places are better than others. Do you have a destination in mind?’

  Pascale looked out over the lake. ‘Just somewhere safe, somewhere I can raise a child.’

  ‘I see,’ Mohanty said. ‘Congratulations.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Pascale turned to him. ‘Your friend said he would explain what happened yesterday?’

  ‘Yes,’ George said. ‘He did say that.’

  ‘Who is he? And why are you helping him?’

  Mohanty smiled. ‘Do you always ask complete strangers so many questions?’

  Pascal sighed. ‘That’s the thing,’ she said. ‘It’s hard to explain, but all of this feels like it’s happened before. As though I’m playing a part in a play that’s already been written.’ She huffed loudly and shook her head. ‘Fucking hell, listen to me, I sound like… oh, I don’t know.’

  George thought of Nathan’s words. It can’t all be for nothing. ‘It’s okay,’ he said. ‘I get those feelings all the time. I guess when you become a minority – and we are now, that’s for sure – then you are bound to feel some sense of fate, or something akin to fate. I think we’re just desperate to make sense of it all.’

  ‘I guess so.’ Pascale eyed him carefully, not giving up. ‘So, you have some kind of mind weapon?’

  ‘Yes. Something like that.’

  ‘Jesus.’

  ‘No, it’s nothing to do with him.’

  It was a lame joke but Pascale smiled anyway. ‘Does Paul know?’

  ‘No,’ George replied.

  ‘How well do you know him?’

  ‘I only met him yesterday. Why do you ask?’

  Pascale kicked the ground, idly avoiding his stare. ‘Paul has helped Alex and I get this far, he saved us from hibernation and all the shit they try to put in you.’

  ‘But?’

  She looked at him. ‘I owe Paul a lot but I guess I don’t trust anyone anymore, and that includes him.’

  ‘You’re a smart girl, Pascale. I’m not sure I ever trust anyone completely, but sometimes we have to take risks. You want to know the worst thing?’ He raised his eyebrows high and she mirrored him. ‘Trusting no one at all. Believe me, that ends up with you living alone, talking to yourself for thirty years.’

  She curled her face in confusion and then shrugged. ‘Can’t you use that mind weapon of yours and suss him out?’

  ‘I prefer not to use it that way.’

  ‘But you could?’

  Mohanty didn’t answer.

  ‘What about to fight?’ Pascale asked, and he saw something in her eyes that had been absent until now. ‘To beat them?’ she continued. ‘To show everyone that they can’t do this?’

  Mohanty took time before replying. ‘I’ve lost people too,’ he said gently, guessing where her anger might begin. ‘I’m not a soldier, though. I don’t kill people.’

  ‘But you could?’ she said, voice shaking, ‘If you had to?’

  ‘Yes,’ George admitted. ‘I guess we all could if we had to.’

  ‘I lost family in the flu,’ Pascale said with a shrug. For a moment it looked as though she might cry. She didn’t, instead she changed the subject. ‘Do you have someone special?’

  ‘I did once, but not for a long time.’

  ‘You always love them, don’t you?’ she said.

  George nodded. ‘And you never stop hurting.’

  ‘No,’ she agreed. ‘You don’t.’ After a long pause, Pascale spoke again, her tone calm, not quite pleading. ‘Wherever you’re going, can we come with you?’

  ‘Sorry?’ George replied, eyes wide.

  ‘I know we only met yesterday, but I already feel safer. Those guards were going to kill me and you stopped them.’ She stared at him fiercely. ‘I’m pregnant. I need to be safe, George.’ They stopped walking and Pascale narrowed her eyes and stepped closer. ‘Alex and I could come with you.’

  ‘Impossible,’ George said.

  ‘Please. I don’t want to stay here.’

  George had spent a good portion of his life beholden to no one, and her directness shook him. He could see the girl was scared but the last thing he needed was more responsibility. Of course, there was every chance that he and Nathan wouldn’t even be alive tomorrow and none of this would matter. He decided to tell her what she needed to hear.

  ‘Listen. We will be back tomorrow –’

  ‘Where are you going?’

  ‘I can’t tell you. But when I get back we will talk - you, me and Alex. We will talk and figure something out. Okay?’

  ‘You have some kind of gift, George,’ she said, ignoring him. ‘Whatever happens, you need to use it.’

  They walked together and George realised with a deepening sadness that it might be their last conversation. ‘Tell me something,’ he asked. ‘What’s your favourite memory of being young?’

  ‘Why do you ask?’

  ‘I could do with hearing something good today, that’s all.’

  ‘Oh, George, I’m sorry,’ Pascale said sincerely. ‘I’ve just gone on and on about me and what I need.’

  ‘It’s okay. Just tell me something you remember that was perfect,’ he asked. ‘Can you do that for an old man?’

  Pascale smiled just as the sun caught her face. She looked radiant. She told George a happy story of days with her family, a birthday on the beach. One particular detail appealed to him, a portable barbecue almost swallowed by a fast-encroaching tide. Pascale giggled as she told him her story and George filled himself with her happiness, knowing that later, if he felt himself slipping from this world, he might just need something to cling to.

  Chapter 53

  Zitagi opened her eyes. It
was the morning after her incredible orbit, her journey to the dark side of the moon. Her dreams had been as clear as they were unnerving, her own voyage into shadow. In them she had seen ghosts. First, before the kill – innocent and often charmed by her advances – then in their final state, dull-eyed, flesh wrapped around a skull that didn’t yet realise it was dead. Like the billions of people on Earth, believing they had a future, unaware they were already dust.

  She thought about Reyland, a man who was nothing if not consistent. He had always put the greater good before short-term gains. Perhaps this was, at its very core, the ultimate expression of that ethos? He believed that mankind deserved a second chance and was willing to do whatever it took to give them that chance.

  Take some time, he had told her, think things through and come to terms with this new knowledge.

  He had insisted on a week off, but it was going to feel like a lifetime, the last thing she needed. Zido cursed the world. Hadn’t she already done her time in purgatory, paid for her failure at the Shiryaevo vault?

  She showered, dressed and started to plan how to fill her time. She needn’t have worried. The phone call came just after 9am.

  ‘Zitagi,’ she answered.

  ‘This is Carter.’

  Unexpected.

  Carter was one of her projects, a young recruit desperate to get in on some action.

  ‘What is it?’ she asked.

  ‘You asked me to call if we picked it up again.’

  She had been pacing the room but stopped dead. ‘Where?’

  ‘Dubai.’

  ‘When?’

  ‘Picked up a ripple yesterday. It was small, we thought it might be a mistake.’ Carter’s voice shook a little. ‘Then we got another, off the charts that one. Bang. No mistake.’

  ‘Why the hell didn’t you call me?’

  There was a pause. ‘I did, but you didn’t answer.’

  No, I was among the stars, seeing a future that doesn’t have you in it. She realised she was talking to the first of many dead men.