Autumn in the City of Lights (15 page)

Next, a vaguely familiar blonde man with a goatee ducked down to edge his tall, slender frame through the doorway into the plane. He nodded politely to me and sat down by Franklin. I finally recognized him as the newly elected mayor of Hoover. We’d spoken some on the radio in the recent past, but I’d never met him in person.

“Guys, this is Eric Holland,” Franklin said. Eric offered his hand to Grey between the gap and the seats, then to me.

“I see you let any ol’ riffraff on this thing,” Franklin said loudly, motioning his head at Karl. “You’re a sonofabitch, you know that?”

“I’ve been told,” Karl said with a disingenuous smile.

A 60-something woman with radiant skin and a 40-something Asian man came in the door in close succession and made a beeline for me.

“Autumn?” the man said, smiling brightly. Deeply tanned, muscular arms showed below the sleeves of a neat, black t-shirt. “I’m Joe Boo.” He extended a hand to me and then to each of the other three people on the front row in turn. “And this is Cheri Tyson.”

Cheri all but lunged at me, embracing me in a firm hug. She and I had spent several hours over the last few months talking over the radio, and I felt suddenly more at ease now that she was on the plane. I’d heard all about her community at the Grand Coulee Dam in Washington and about her companion, Joe.

Cheri looked amazing for her age, and I noticed she was wearing makeup, actual makeup. I’d rarely bothered with that since The Plague, and I suddenly felt unkempt in comparison. She wore a gray power suit, and a string of pearls highlighted her elegant neck. She looked like she was ready for a board meeting, while I was wearing jeans and a button-down shirt. Connie had wanted me to wear a dress. This was our compromise.

“It was worth the trip down from Washington, just to meet you face to face, Autumn,” Cheri said in the strong, rich voice I knew so well from our radio conversations. She made her way to a seat in the row behind Karl and Hart, and Joe followed.

“How was the trip to Vegas?” I turned around in my seat to talk to them, prepared to listen carefully for any oddities in their story. While I thought I knew Cheri pretty well from our talks, Ben and Daniel had trained me to ask questions of all the delegates to look for clues whether their allegiance was with Karl.

“Most ambitious thing I’ve ever done, I’ll tell you,” Joe said. While Cheri was the actual delegate from Washington, I knew she’d chosen Joe to escort her. “We used an electric car most of the way. Brought extra batteries with us and took the chance to charge up whenever we found an area with power. Took us nearly three weeks.”

“Joe is an excellent navigator. I don’t know what I’d have done without him.”  Cheri touched his shoulder warmly and left it there for a moment. “He used to own a dealership with all those electric cars, so he knew how to get every last morsel of power out of them.”

“I thought most of the freeways were still impassable,” I said, thinking if they were in Karl’s pocket, he might’ve astral projected them to Vegas.

“We used side streets, toll roads and even a few dirt roads,” Joe said. “The car was small enough to drive on the shoulders of some of the more crowded areas, but not all of them had shoulders. Couple of times, we’d get fifty miles down one road, only to get stopped and have to turn back to try another one. It was a real labyrinth. We made it here just last night.”

“Though that car of yours won’t be any good for the ride back, I tell ya,” Franklin chimed in. “One trip down and it looks like it’s ready to fall apart. We’ll have to figure out some way to fly you both home when this is all over.” Franklin nodded at himself, as if satisfied that that was that.

“We’ll take any help we can get. I never had any doubt Joe would get us here, though,” Cheri said. “He’s a truly remarkable travel companion.” She smiled at Franklin, who’d just reclined his seat. “And the Vegas community were wonderful hosts while we waited on the plane to arrive.” Franklin tipped his hat in the old cowboy manner, as if to say, “much obliged.”

“I’m so impressed with you, Autumn,” Cheri said, her face lighting up with pride. Then she looked to Grey. “Both of you, actually. So young; so brave. The famous Autumn Winters and Grey Alexander. It’s going to be a real treat for all of the delegates to meet you both in the flesh.”

I glanced at Karl, expecting him to make a sarcastic comment, but he appeared to be reading, uninterested in hearing my compliments. Hart didn’t bother hiding his curiosity and was staring like a dope.

“I know people in the west recognize us, but I’m not sure about the farther we go out...”

“Of course they will recognize you,” Cheri said, beaming.  “You may not have heard the excitement in their voices, but before you began broadcasting, you were already famous there. Once the radios started humming, and the people got to talking and trading stories about all the riots and turf wars and hell on earth, legends were born.
Everyone
knows the story about the young doctor and the actress’ daughter from the City of Angels.”

I looked at Grey. “Did you know about this?”

He shook his head, his blue eyes wide. “I’ve been so focused in the laboratory... I must have missed it.”

“I’m surprised the people I’ve been talking with never mentioned...”

“Oh, they wouldn’t. I know I never did. I didn’t want to embarrass you, but I suppose I don’t mind now!” Cheri said. “The stories Ben used to tell were truly amazing. He spoke of you all often, that is, before you took to the open frequencies yourself. The Pacific Northwest just wasn’t as turbulent a place as Los Angeles was after The Plague. I mean, it was a sad, sad thing, dealing with all of the fatalities... well, you know. I’m sure you went through the same thing. But we unified much faster, and without bloodshed. I suppose, in some ways, it was a bit of a miracle. After hearing others’ stories, like your own, I truly appreciate how our area came together. We eventually all went to the hydroelectric dam, like your people in Hoover. The power it provided gave us the stability we needed to start moving forward. But now I’m rambling. You know this already.”

“No no, I don’t mind hearing it,” I reassured her. “What a blessing for everyone after... you know... to be able to rely on such a strong community.”  I glanced at Karl. “I wish things had been like that for us, too.”

Cheri grinned. “I do so wish Ben could’ve come along on the trip.”

“He would have made a fine delegate,” Grey said. “But he was injured a while ago, not life threatening, but he couldn’t make the voyage just now. Perhaps at future summits, though.”

“Of course,” Cheri replied. “I’d love to meet him in person. But I’m thrilled to meet you, Mr. Alexander.  I’ve heard you’re one of the best doctors left in the world. I’d thought you’d be a little... older.”

“Don’t let the good doctor fool you, dear,” Karl said, turning to smile. “He’s older than he looks.”

“I
am
older than I look,” Grey said without looking at Karl. “But I’m also a quick study. Top of my classes at UCLA.”

Grey and I spent the rest of the trip talking with Joe and Cheri. I was glad she and Franklin were the first delegates we’d interacted with. Talking with people I at least had some history with was like dipping a toe into what I knew would end up being very deep waters.

I learned more about Cheri and Joe in the next few hours and found out their town wasn’t nearly as rustic as Hoover or New Burbank. They had solar panels, high tech equipment, and state-of-the-art medical facilities. Cheri had been a liberal arts professor at a local college before the Crimson Fever and helped implement many of the systems now in place. There was no official mayor there, but it sounded like Cheri was most likely regarded as their leader.

The way Joe looked at Cheri reminded me of how Daniel looked at Connie. I thought they made an excellent couple, despite the age difference. The thought made me smile. The age difference between Joe and Cheri was way less than the one between me and Grey.

As the hours passed, I began mentally praying Cheri and Joe were as genuine as they appeared, but I had no way of knowing for sure if they were working for Karl. They seemed like good people, and that’s what the world needed to move forward.

“Have you been talking to any of the East Coasters?” Grey asked Cheri. “I know Autumn has, but I haven’t myself. I’ve been pre-occupied with the newborn crisis.”

“Oh, I understand. So young to be dealing with such big problems.”  Her eyes gleamed. “Yes, I’ve spoken to all of the other delegates from North America. I can help you navigate the waters if you like, though I don’t think you’ll need much help with Autumn here.”  She looked at me and then paused for a moment, and I suddenly felt as if she were studying my face. “You look so much like your beautiful mother, Autumn. You’re exactly how I imagined you’d look. I doubt you could hide in a room full of thousands if you wanted to.” Then she broke eye contact. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel awkward.”

“It’s fine. I take it as a compliment.” I smiled, but fear twisted in my stomach. Was she right? Had I lost all anonymity? I hoped no one had noticed me and Grey when we projected to Paris.

I was used to my face appearing in countless tabloids over the years next to my mother’s, but now I had to worry about getting Grey in trouble. We’d have to be even more careful about projecting from now on, or people might notice me and realize I’d been in what seemed like two places at once.

Shad’s voice came over the PA, bleeding into my thoughts.  “’Aight, folks, looks like we’ve made it to Niagara with the bulk of the plane intact. Daniel wants everyone buckled in now. We’re about to land this bird. But don’t worry, we’ve practiced this a few times, but it was on a much bigger runway...  I’m sure we’ll all be fine.”

Joe’s forehead crinkled with concern, and I shook my head. “Don’t worry. He’s kidding. Trust me.”

Moments later, the plane gently bumped onto the runway, and we rolled to a stop. I was comforted to see Daniel and Shad exit the cockpit. Daniel seemed relieved, and Shad had a big grin on his face.

“Well, we made it half way,” Shad announced.

“You act as if this is a surprise,” Karl replied.

“I’ll be honest, Karl, it was touch and go there for a minute,” Shad said, seriously. One of Karl’s eyebrows went up, interested.

“But once we decided against crashing the plane and sacrificing ourselves to take you down, it was smooth sailing.” Shad grinned.

“Are you under the impression that people find you charming?” Karl asked. “It wouldn’t surprise me if that attitude got you killed one day.”

Shad’s smile turned serious. “That a threat?” He took a half step toward Karl, but Daniel put a hand on his chest.

“We just made it all the way across the country, and now you two start this? Come on. Let’s get out of this tin can and get some dinner.”

The people at the Niagara Power Station gave us the grand tour, then took us to have dinner with all the North American delegates at what used to be a very fancy restaurant. Grey and I sat across from Cheri and Joe near the center of a long table.

A middle-aged woman with dark brown hair and striking brown eyes eased herself down into the chair next to mine. She smiled, showing perfect teeth. “You must be Autumn Winters.”

“Guilty.”  I tried to scrutinize her voice to place her among the people Ben and I’d interacted with. Then it came to me — Elaine Whitmore, from the Churchill Falls settlement. “And you are Miss Whitmore, from Canada?” I asked, hoping I’d gotten it right.

“Very good, Miss Winters.” She swiftly grabbed her napkin and snapped it out before placing it across her lap. “Nice to meet you.”

“Are there any other Canadians here?” I asked, looking around to survey the unfamiliar faces filling the restaurant.

“A couple from Churchill Falls accompanied me here, but I’m the only delegate, if that’s what you’re wondering.”

“Ah,” I said, trying to sound satisfied. “Is Churchill still the only Canadian settlement sending delegates?”

“Yes. We’ve connected with a lot of small pockets here and there, one fairly good sized one in Vancouver, but they’re not organized enough to send representation just yet.”

“Forgive me, I know you’re the official delegate, but within Churchill Falls, are you also the mayor?” I asked politely.

“Prime Minister,” she responded confidently. “Of Canada.”

“Wonderful,” I replied, trying not to sound as small as I suddenly felt.

“Hello, ladies,” said a man with a rich East Coast accent, pulling up a chair across from us. “May I join you?” We both nodded, and he reached out a hand. “I’m Vincent,” he said, his smile as wide as a grill on a classic car. “Now, I know Ms. Whitmore here,” he said as his eyes passed over her and landed on me. “So that must make you Autumn Winters.”

I shook his hand. “It’s good to finally meet you in person, Vincent.”

Ms. Whitmore chimed in. “I’ve told you before that you can call me Elaine, Vincent.”

“Guess you have. But seeing as you’re the Prime Minister, it just doesn’t feel right somehow. Would it be strange if I called you the Right Honorable Elaine Whitmore, Prime Minister of Canada?”  His thousand-watt smile beamed. Grey caught my eye with a knowing smile. We were all witnessing a show. Vincent was a politician, through and through. Ms. Whitmore only smiled in response.

“Vincent, are you the highest elected official among the New Yorkers?” Grey asked, thoughtfully.

“Well, we’re still ratifying a new constitution. Plan on having elections sometime next year. So there’s no official mayor, or president, or anything along those lines, but I was elected to speak for us at the Summit of New Nations. So I suppose that bodes well.”  He seemed to be talking to himself more toward the end, then snapped out of it. “I’d certainly put my name in the hat if given the opportunity.”  He grinned.

“You’d be a very young leader,” Grey said.

Vincent let out a hardy laugh and clapped his hands to punctuate. “Oh, that’s rich, coming from the guy sitting next to the youngest delegate here.” His smiled widened, even though I wouldn’t have thought it possible. “And how old are you, sir? For being such an acclaimed doctor?”