Autumn in the City of Lights (16 page)

“I’m 20,” Grey said with an even smile.

“Well, there you have it. After the Crimson Fever, we’re all a little younger than I think people would like. Yet, here we are, guiding mankind out of this new Dark Age.” Vincent held his glass up, getting the attention of the people around us.

“Hear, hear,” said Ms. Whitmore. “To a brighter future.”

Everyone at the table raised their glasses, so Grey and I did the same. I tried to smile to hide the anxiety inside, remembering everything Daniel taught me, and the hours upon hours of training I’d had in recent months.

After dinner, we were ushered back to the airport. “Let’s try and sit in the back,” Grey whispered in my ear as we approached the plane. “We’ll be able to keep an eye on everyone in front of us.”

Moments later we were seated. Across the aisle from us was a black woman looking straight ahead and examining all the faces of the remaining delegates and their small entourages. Seemed like she’d had the same idea as Grey. She turned and caught me staring, so I smiled and nodded.

“Are you the ones from California?” she asked. Her voice was soft and had a slight Southern drawl, but her dark eyes were sharp.

“Yes,” I replied. “My name’s Autumn, and this is Grey.”

“I thought so. I’m Roslyn, from Bath County?”

“Oh, yes, of course.” I suddenly remembered a quick, static-filled conversation one night nearly two months prior. We’d tried to talk, but the radio hadn’t cooperated. After that, I’d heard mention of her name but had never been able to speak with her again. She was from the Bath County settlement on the state line between Virginia and West Virginia. It’d been recorded in Ben’s journal.

“Beautiful area,” Grey said. “I got to travel through there a few years ago. The mountains in that part of Appalachia are particularly stunning in the fall.”

Roslyn’s eyes brightened, then she extended a hand to us both. “I’m surprised you’ve been to our little neck of the woods. It’s a fairly well-kept secret.” She appeared genuine. I was as surprised as she was that Grey knew it.

“There was an inn I stayed at for a night or two. It was one of the most peaceful places I’ve ever been.”

“I see why you brought him, Autumn,” Roslyn said. “He’s going to be quite the asset on these political excursions. Very endearing.”  She was smart. She knew Grey was trying to gain her trust.

“He’s handy to have around, for sure.”  I rested my hand on his, then turned my attention back to Roslyn. “Are you from that area, originally?”

“Oh yes. Born and bred. I was a lawyer there for nearly twenty years, but that was before all of this.” She waved her hand, as if gesturing to the new world we lived in.

“Were you in politics then as well?” I asked.

“A few local committees, nothing big. What about you? Did you ever dream of being a leader?”

My brow furrowed in response, but I quickly erased the expression from my face, remembering to be on my guard with everyone here. “No. Never. I honestly thought I’d probably work in the music industry, or possibly just be a teacher.”

“Teachers are some of the most profound leaders the world has ever had. People still regard the works of Aristotle and more modern teachers like Booker T. Washington. Don’t sell yourself short.”

I nodded, willing myself not to blush.

“So, are you on the radio often?” I said. “I can rarely hear that far out.”

“Fairly often. We have a director of communications who disseminates and records all the important stuff. I get on to discuss trade routes and allocations of resources.”

“And how’s that going?” I asked.

“We’re just beginning to clear the freeway on our end. New York is slated to begin on their side sometime this month. We’ll meet in the middle, much like the transcontinental railroad.”

“That’s impressive. What about the fuel the equipment needs?” Grey asked. “Have you begun refining?”

“We’re using the stores we have, which are substantial, but work has begun to refine more. It should be operational by the time we need it. In the meantime, we’re working on clean energy techniques. One of the councils I’m on is directly addressing that problem.”

“I see,” Grey said. “Well, we wish you good luck.”

“Thank you.”

“And maybe one day soon, we’ll be able to begin working on our side of the country, and meet you in the middle as well,” I added.

“That would be a wonderful step toward connecting this country once more.”

Daniel’s voice came in over the intercom, interrupting our conversation. I figured he wasn’t going to let Shad showboat with so many delegates on board.

“We’re about to take off. Please stay put until we level out.”

“I like Shad’s announcements better,” I whispered to Grey.

“You and me both.” There was a glint in his eye that forced me to grin at him. It was the first time I’d felt at ease all day, but the moment was fleeting. Soon, the engines roared to life. I clenched my armrests and we were off to Paris.

The trip to Paris took most of the night, but I didn’t dare sleep. For the first couple hours, conversations continuing from dinner filled the space between seats, and I strained to listen for clues that anyone was aligned with Karl. After the talking settled, some people slept, but Karl’s presence, in my line of sight near the middle of the plane, made it hard to shut my eyes.

While Grey went over his lab notes on the newborn crisis, I clicked on the light over my seat and dug out Ben’s journal. Every single page was filled with his barely legible chicken-scratch. Some pages contained journal entries with rambling thoughts on our new community, and other pages were filled with transcriptions of conversations he either overheard or took part in over the radio.

I was rereading a transcription of a conversation about oil refinement when Daniel’s voice came over the intercom, waking all of the sleeping delegates.

“We’re making our descent into Paris now. Please buckle up.”

Soon we were standing on the ground, waiting in the predawn darkness. A light breeze swirled strands of my matted hair, and I sleepily attempted to brush through it with my fingers. A line of shiny black cars emerged, their headlight beams slicing through the blackness. They rolled up to the tarmac, and I raised my eyebrows.

“The French know a thing or two about style,” Shad said, marveling at the line of Rolls-Royces.

The cars slid to a stop, and the back door of the first car swung open. A woman in her early thirties, with long brown hair, pale skin and striking ebony eyes got out. She wore a smart suit with a pencil skirt that broke at her knees, and heels that made her legs look perfect. I recognized her immediately. She was the woman Grey and I had seen at the Eiffel Tower.

The woman introduced herself in English tinged with a French accent. “Welcome to Paris,” she said. “My name is Margery Durand. I will be hosting this summit.” A few of the delegates knew her well enough to greet her by her first name, but when she came around to Grey and me, I used her surname.

“Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Durand. Thank you for having us.”

Margery smiled warmly, making her even more beautiful. “The pleasure is all mine, Mademoiselle Winters.” It was creepy how everyone seemed to know me by reputation, but I didn’t let the emotion show on my face.

“If you will all please take a seat in one of the cars, your luggage will be loaded for you, and we will show you to your accommodations.”  She gestured to the line of cars. “Please. This way.”

Once we were in the car with Margery, I made small talk, remembering what I’d practiced back in New Burbank. “Were you in politics before The Plague?” I asked.

“I had only just graduated from the Paris Institute of Political Studies when people began getting sick. I was destined to be in politics but hadn’t found my place yet.”

“This seems like old hat to you, though,” Grey said. “I’m very impressed.”

“My family was involved in politics.” She smiled easily. “I must’ve picked up a few things here and there.”

“How has Paris fared since The Plague?” I asked.

“Well, it’s been an effort to rebuild, for sure, but we are managing now, I think.”

“How did you all find each other?” I questioned, remembering the white Reconstruction Front flags Grey and I had seen not so long ago.

“I found another survivor a few days after the mass casualties, and little by little, we organized. And then we found a larger group of survivors from the RF.”

“RF?” Grey probed.

“Reconstruction Front. They were the largest group of survivors at the time. I wish you could have met Claude, our original leader.”

“You speak of him in the past tense.” I tried to keep my voice level. “Do you mind if I ask what happened to him?”

“To be honest, I’m not sure. He was here one day and then gone the next. He was a brilliant man, though.”

“What did he look like?” I asked, wondering if “Claude” could’ve set up The Front here, then vanished back to LA to become “Karl.”  Margery seemed taken aback by my question.

“Mid-sixties,” Margery said. “White hair, blue eyes, one crooked front tooth.” She smiled remembering his face. “And he was very kind. We were lucky to have him. And I’m grateful to have had him as a mentor.”

Not Karl. There’s no way he could be mistaken for a sixty-something man with white hair. Also, she would have noticed Karl at the airport earlier. But Grey and I had seen white flags and a French sign announcing the Reconstruction Front here some months ago. Karl had to have been part of this. Maybe Claude had been his right hand. But he was gone now. I suddenly remembered a man named Arnett back at the Warehouse Store in Marina del Rey, who desperately wanted to go with Grey and me to find his sister after he realized what kind of organization The Front really was. Could Claude and the people of Paris have defied Karl and driven him out? Or was Claude removed by Karl?

I wanted to continue to ask Margery about their Reconstruction Front, but she broke off and pointed our attention to a perfectly manicured lawn. Beyond it, the Palace of Versailles was lit like a glowing beehive. I took a sharp breath of air, marveling at its beauty. It was even more stunning now than the night Grey and I saw it.

“Are we staying at the Palace?” I asked.

“Indeed. It was made to host dignitaries and royals from afar. I think it only right that we use it for the Summit.”

The parade of cars came to a stop, and we gathered in front of the grand palatial estate. I vaguely remembered visiting it on a tour with my father. He was an architect and had gone on and on about the gabled roofs and stone facades. Meanwhile, I’d been obsessed with how uncomfortable King Louis the XIV’s bed had looked.

“Allow me to welcome you all to the Palace of Versailles,” Margery said over the small crowd. "Please follow me.” She escorted us inside, walking as if she were a model on a pre-plague Parisian runway across the black and white marble tile paving the entry way.

Just inside, a wait staff stood by, ready to receive us. I’d grown up in some luxury, but nothing like this. The opulence of the inside corridor was jaw-dropping. The ceiling was adorned with a fresco painting, and every other surface appeared to be gilded in gold.

“Our staff will show you to your quarters, where you can all rest before the Summit officially begins this evening. You will find a schedule of events in your rooms and a map of the palace so you don’t get lost.” Margery’s eyes twinkled as she said this. “You will also find food and drink to refresh yourself.”

She bid us goodbye, and the staff escorted us in different directions. I walked through no fewer than five marble and gold-adorned hallways and up two staircases, until I was shown into my room. Grey’s room was next to mine, and Shad and Daniel were both across the hall. As Grey gave me a small smile and disappeared into his room, I saw Karl just down the hall, entering his own room. I frowned, wondering if I would be able to sleep with Karl so close by.

My bags were already waiting for me. The room was small but lavish, with a four-poster queen-sized bed smothered in decorative pillows. Across from the bed was an intricately designed vanity and a heavy mahogany dresser.

By far, the most impressive thing in the room was the enormous window, winged by blue velvet curtains.  I dropped my backpack on the floor and went to take in the view of the gardens, which stretched for what seemed like forever beyond the lights of the palace. Everything was flawless, the greens clipped into submission and the marble polished to a high sheen.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Grey said softly in my ear, and his arms slid around me, pulling me back against his warm chest. “But not nearly as beautiful as what I’m looking at right in front of me.”

Relieved I wasn’t alone in this enormous place, I turned and hugged him.

“Hey, what’s wrong?”  He tightened his arms around me and bent to touch his lips to my forehead.

“What am I doing here?” I asked, my voice muffled against his old blue sweater.

“It’s all been coming to this.”

“I’ve never felt so out of place in my life,” I confessed.

“I guarantee you’re not the only one feeling this way,” he said, pulling me just far enough away from him so he could look into my eyes. “This is what politicians call, ‘the home court advantage.’ You invite people in and show them your grandeur, making them feel small. It immediately puts you on the offensive. But you remember what Daniel said?”

“Fake it, like every other politician. If you pretend to belong, and believe what you say is important, they will believe you belong, and what you say is worth listening to.”

Grey nodded. “It’s good advice.”

“Reminds me of acting,” I mumbled, the weight of actually being here still pressing down on me. “My mom would have been so proud of me.”

“You can do this.”

I hugged him. “Grey,” I asked, unsure if this was the right time to talk about it. “Are you okay? I mean, I know you’ve been stressed out trying to find a cure for the newborns, and after what happened with the guys from the oil rig, I just wanted to make sure you were okay. Dealing with all this has to be hard for you...” I suddenly ran out of words.

“I’m okay,” he whispered. “I’m sorry for being so upset before.” He paused to walk to the bed and sat down. “Being connected to my emotions again is difficult for me sometimes. Especially in moments of panic or grief. I saw so many die of The Plague before. Seeing those men develop symptoms took me right back to those days at UCLA. Right back to that time of helplessness.” His shoulders sagged, and he ran his hands through his hair. “There was nothing I could do to ease their pain, yet again. And it scared me. For their sakes, and also for Connie’s baby. I’m terrified I won’t be able to save it, Autumn. Absolutely terrified. Sometimes I think about distancing myself from my feelings again, just for that clarity of mind... but then I worry that if I do, I might mess things up between us. I don’t want to jeopardize that.” He lowered his head and picked at a loose thread on his sweater.

“You’re afraid you might not love me?” I asked.

“Not that exactly, but that the depth of our connection might diminish. And I wouldn’t want to do that to you. I love you far too much.” His eyes were a burning blue when he looked back up at me.

I took a moment before responding, allowing myself to consider this notion. “If you did cut yourself off from your emotions again, could you arrive at a cure faster?”

“Possibly. I don’t know. There’s really no way to tell.”

“Connie’s baby is due soon,” I reminded.

“There is a time limit on what needs to be done, for sure.”

I waited for a long time to reply, thinking about Connie and Daniel and their new baby. I wondered if she’d have another little boy. She’d had three with her pre-plague husband. And she’d watched them all die. I couldn’t do that to her again. It would crush her.

“Do it,” I said, plainly.

“Autumn, no —”

I interrupted him. “If there’s even a small chance it will help you save Connie and Daniel’s baby, you have to do it.”

It wasn’t hard to read the shock written on Grey’s face. He was still for a moment, staring at me with sad, tired eyes.

“Do you really want me to?”

“Yes,” I lied, then paused to suck in a breath for the next part. “And, if it helps, I’ll keep my distance for a while. If it’ll help you stay focused.”

He grimaced. “I don’t think —”

I rushed ahead. “I know it would help. You have to do it. Just not yet. Not tonight. Not while we’re in Paris. But as soon as we’re back.” I sat down on the bed next to him and leaned my head on his shoulder to hide the tears gathering in my eyes. I fought to keep my voice steady. “I’ll wait for you, as long as you promise to come back to me, and pick up right where you left off.”

“I promise,” he said quietly.

“I know you’ll figure this out, Grey. I know it. I believe in you. That child is going to be the first of many in this brave new world.”

“Believing in me is one thing. Finding a medical breakthrough is quite another. I honestly don’t know if I can do this in a lifetime, much less a month.”

“You will.”

“I had a thought while we were on the plane ride here. I’m not sure if I dreamt it, or if I was just half asleep, mind wondering. But I’ve been so busy trying to reverse engineer this cure that I never considered a work around.”

“Like what?” I asked.

“The one thing we know will cure the Crimson Fever. The E-Vitamin.”

“We looked all over for it back in Hoover,” I reminded him.

“And if we’d found it, we would have given it to the baby. But what I’m saying is, I’m having no luck creating an anti-virus. I’ve tried everything I know. So maybe it’s time I start focusing on just creating the E-Vitamin instead. Who knows, it’s possible it’s the only cure.”

“Like the other side of the same coin?” I asked. “One capable of perfect destruction and one capable of infinite life?”

Grey looked at me a moment. I could tell he was impressed. “You’ve really gotten quite good at your rhetoric,
Fòmhair
.”

“I try.”  I grinned widely at him. “So it’s that easy, then? Just create the E-Vitamin when you get back?”

Grey stifled a laugh. “It took my mentor more than fifty years to perfect the E-Vitamin.”

“Oh,” was all I could think to say.

“But there’s at least a chance. I’m farther along than when he began, and extremely motivated.”

I felt his arm slip around my waist as I continued. “I don’t have any doubts everything will work out. I love you.”

He took my face in his hands and wiped the tear tracks from my cheeks. His own eyes were bright with tears. “How did I ever deserve this?” he whispered.

“You’re hot, and you’re a good kisser,” I said as seriously as I could.

A slow smile spread across his face just as the rising sun began to light the room around us.

“Will you stay here? All night? Or... all day?”

He bent forward and kissed me deeply. “All day,” he said.

*     *     *

I woke up in Grey’s arms, and for a moment, the orange light confused me. I felt like we’d been asleep for hours, but it still looked like morning. Then I realized it was evening and the sun was setting. When I moved to check the time on the bedside table, Grey sighed.