The Ten Thousand

by Doug Felton

  Despite the scene before her as she stood on the pier, Raisa saw potential. Opportunity. A new beginning. She saw purpose. How long will it take to make this the greatest city in the world again? she wondered. A smile crossed her face as she realized that time wasn’t a factor for her, or for any of them.

  Persuading the Ten Thousand to make the journey with her took some doing. As they woke up that day in Pittsburgh, Raisa had to convince them of a narrative different from the one they had believed under Zeke’s leadership. She did, after a contentious town-hall-style meeting that almost became a brawl. They had their demands, and who could blame them. Even so, most of them went with Raisa to New York. Those who didn’t go, a little less than a thousand, were the troublemakers and early Zeke loyalists. Raisa let them go. What was the point of convincing people to go who had no intention of submitting to her? It was only inviting trouble.

  In the two months since, the Ten Thousand renamed Manhattan, Aeon City, making them the Aeonians. At first, it was a joke, using the word “aeon,” which describes something that continues indefinitely, to refer to Manhattan now that they had arrived. But it caught on soon it sounded like a natural thing to say, so they stuck with it.

  In those two months, they also carved out a small piece of the island to call home. It was a start. The transition hadn’t been easy, and, at first, many of them were angry. Some of them still blamed Raisa, but even those who didn’t blame her railed at the injustice of it all.

  Raisa had done her best to focus that anger on surviving and thriving, but it was a random comment that gave her an idea which would ease some angst. At least enough for them to turn the corner.

  As they were clearing out an apartment building one day, someone Raisa didn’t know lamented that his girlfriend wasn’t there, and he’d never see her again. Why can’t she come here if she wants to? Raisa thought. They had assumed that only the original Ten Thousand could migrate to Manhattan, but that wasn’t true, not if they didn’t want it to be. They couldn’t open it up to just anyone, but they could give family and others with close relationships the option to join them.

  This arrangement provided its own set of joys and sorrows as they contacted loved ones and issued the invitation. The mortals who came increased their population by over thirty percent and their presence created the dynamic they needed to push forward as a community.

  Viktor Vasiliev, true to his word, sent ample supplies for them to get established. If Raisa had to guess, Viktor’s kindness wasn’t just personal. She imagined that he was also expecting the immortals to become a force on the continent, just as Zeke had hoped. Viktor would be long gone by then, but unlike Barrymore, he saw the big picture and was establishing a relationship that would serve Russia’s interest for decades and even centuries to come.

  There was much more work to be done if they were to make Aeon City their home, and everybody knew it. What they had done so far was the equivalent of the Pilgrims clearing out a little spot in the forest where they could camp for a while. They would spend years, decades even, cleaning, demolishing, and restoring the city, and it would never be the same. But it would be good, and one day it might even be great, and that gave them hope. Raisa could see it in their eyes.

  She’d given Alora, Deeson, and Spikes, the mortals on her staff, the choice to go with them or stay in the New World. To a person, they chose to go with her. Penly and Lieutenant Spikes had been serious for a couple of years now, so she wasn’t surprised that he came, but she didn’t know what Alora and Captain Deeson would do. She was overjoyed when they hugged her and said they served at the pleasure of the queen.

  Since they were both in their thirties, they were the old folks of the group, bringing needed maturity and experience to the recolonization effort. They weren’t so much older, but enough for Raisa to give them both positions of authority in the new community.

  Raisa checked the time again. Half-past one. When will they get back? She was about to contact someone for an update, something she said she wouldn’t do, when she got a notification. It was from Josh. We’re back. He’s home, was all it said. Raisa put both hands to her mouth and let the tears roll down her cheeks. Tears soon turned to sobs that she didn’t try to stop.

  Raisa had promised herself she wouldn’t grieve Alexander’s death until she had killed Zeke. But even then she couldn’t cry. It was as if she had waited too long, and the tears were all gone. Moving the Ten Thousand to Manhattan had been a monumental task that had consumed her energy and focus, and Raisa found that she had no time for grief. But two weeks earlier, Josh had come to her with a proposal.

  “Let me bring him home,” he said with a hand on each shoulder to hold her still long enough for the conversation.

  “This is not his home,” Raisa said, looking up at the dilapidated skyscrapers.

  “Wherever you are is his home, and he needs to be here. You need to lay him to rest.”

  Raisa knew that Josh was right, and she knew his heart. He wanted her to have closure and the peace it brings. But she also knew he loved her. He would never be so bold as to say it so soon after Alexander’s death, but she could see it. He had been kind and patient with her, letting her vent or giving her space when she needed it. He loved her, but he would never have her if she couldn’t move on. She needed to move on; her unborn child would need a father now that Alexander was gone. She wanted to move on, but until that moment she couldn’t.

  The short message replayed in her mind like a healing balm. He’s home. She put her hands on her abdomen as the tears flowed. “Your father’s here,” she said.

  Alexander was home, and Raisa could finally cry.

  Acknowledgments

  Writing a second novel wasn’t any easier than writing the first. If anything, I was more aware of how much I needed the help of others to transform the story in my mind to the book you are holding today. As always, my wife, Linda, is my greatest supporter and encourager. She read and reread the book in various states. She knows the parts of the story that were edited out as well as the parts that made it to the press. It’s always gratifying to hear her say, “Yeah, that’s better,” after reading a section I’ve rewritten.

  I am also grateful to the team of editors who helped me whip my manuscript into shape (which is no easy task!). Wayne Harvey, Marcus Moore, Lori Moore, and Russ Cook all combed through the words of this book, pointing out errors and making suggestions that have improved it immensely.

  As with my first novel, The New World, the cover is one of the best features of this book. I owe a debt of gratitude to Matt West for his excellent work. He is able to capture the essence of the story in a picture.

  Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to Jesus Christ, my Creator, who has allowed me the joy of creating stories.

  About the Author

  Doug Felton is a husband, father, pastor, and author. The Ten Thousand is his second novel in The New World trilogy. Doug has degrees in political science and theology as well as a Doctor of Ministry degree. He lives in Florida with his wife Linda, and his two grown children, Ryan and Haley. Two dogs round out the family. Doug’s greatest pleasure in writing is creating stories his wife enjoys. This will continue to be the greatest measure of his success. You can connect with Doug at his website, dougfelton.net, or on Facebook.