Death and The Divide (31 page)

It was what she needed. “Can I sleep with you? I’m still scared.”

He scooted a little to make room, and she crawled in and curled on her side. She draped an arm over his chest and a huge weight of tension lifted from her.

He curved an arm around her shoulders. “Good night, Ria.”

“Good night, Linc.” His arm felt strong, but more than that, it was a shield to protect her from any danger. She smiled and closed her eyes, safe at last.

Epilogue

Ria sipped her coffee and leaned over to nudge Linc. “Look at this. They have all the ships set up. I am so amazed with the way people can cooperate when their lives are at stake.”

He left his computer and rolled his chair closer to hers. She took the opportunity to brush her lips against his cheek. It was so different from the scrubby beard he’d endured during their weeks of hunting a cure. It was nice, smooth but a bit prickly if she pressed hard enough. Kind of like him. She smiled. Linc had proven to be a tough, courageous man during their adventures, but he’d also showed his kind heart and gentle spirit.

“This has been an organization of monumental proportions,” he said. He tickled her cheek with one finger. “I can’t believe they pulled it off in two days.”

“Fortunately, they listened to us when we told them it was vital to start with the origin of the parasite.”

“While we still hold a little power, do you think we could request this bunker be ours?” He adjusted the screen so they could see all the major news stations.

“That might push it. They said we could stay until all levels of the cure are activated. That’ll take several months I’d say.”

They settled back as Operation Sea-Vibe took place. The international community had shown unbelievable coordination and support in putting together a comprehensive plan to insure every inch of the world’s oceans received a simultaneous pulse of vibration. After establishing a grid to determine where to position ships for maximum penetration, each country used plans Min provided to produce equipment they could lower into the sea. People around the world had worked night and day to produce the devices and organize ships for this endeavor.

“Here we go,” Linc murmured, rubbing her shoulder.

The news stations announced that the plan had been carried out successfully.

This was extra important to Linc, given his career as a marine biologist. However, in truth, the oceans had to receive treatment before they could completely focus on the land. Otherwise, they’d continue to have outbreaks.

“Let’s hope it worked.” She took another drink of her coffee. “I have to put my faith in Minlo, though. He did the math, so I believe the grid is accurate.”

“Somehow I think the virus was not going to thrive, anyway. Its method of survival was flawed.”

“How do you figure that?” His statement surprised her. That bugger managed to stay one step ahead of them for quite a while. If it hadn’t been for that freak incident of her wrist-comm vibrating, who knew how long it would have taken to come up with a way to destroy it?

“Think about it. Entities only able to sustain life by eating other people? It wouldn’t have worked after they ran out of non-infected ones to eat. Then they’d turn on each other. The end.”

“Hmm. You don’t think its continued mutation would have allowed it to deviate and find other food sources when it came to that point?”

“Honestly, no. It was smart, but not that smart.”

“Wait a minute.” She formed a mock serious expression. “It had our DNA. I think it was plenty smart.”

“Oh. I forgot about that. Okay, it would have ruled the world.”

She returned to contemplation of the vid links. “So that operation is over. Now we can focus on the land. You know, I’m going to make one more request. I want my family here while we finish this project. I miss them.”

“Good idea. The soldiers aren’t nearly as good at preparing food. Will your mom make more tres leche cake? I believe you promised me one when I promised the lasagna.”

“Very funny, but more than likely yes. Especially if she thinks you and I have a future together. She’s wanted me to be in a relationship more than have a PhD.”

His expression grew serious. “Do we have a future?”

She looked away, embarrassed. It had always been hard for her to express her deeper emotions. Lola used to kid her about it and say she’d never get a boyfriend. “If you want to stay in the North. I don’t think I could tolerate the level of conservatism in the South. Sorry.”

“If they gave us the bunker, we could have our own little world right here and make our own rules.” His voice grew husky and he traced a finger over the back of her hand.

“You really like this place, don’t you?” She laughed, then grew serious. All right, Lola, here goes. “Linc, I want us to find a way to be together, somewhere, somehow. Okay? That’s what I want.”

He took her hand and kissed it. “Okay.”

She grinned, finally she got a boyfriend.

“But I do like this place.” He winked. “It’s the tiki bar. What can I say? Minlo’s love of Level Fourteen is rubbing off on me.” He cupped her face with one hand. “I said before only one thing could make me stay here. We never got to finish that conversation.”

“What’s the one thing?” she asked. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach.

“You.” His gaze melded to hers, and the butterflies traveled to her heart.

She moved from her chair to sit on his lap and kissed him long and hard.

***

“Aunt Ria!” Conner’s high-pitched voice nearly made Linc drop his margarita.

“Conner, you’re here!” Ria bolted from her lounge chair, and the boy crashed into her for a hug.

Linc rose as her parents followed. He was glad they could come here. Ria missed them a lot. It would make this crazy place a lot more like home. Their awestruck gazes darting around the strange but marvelous beach.

“Ria, what is this place?” her mother asked, turning in a circle.

“Mom, Dad, I’m so glad to see you. I didn’t think it would take so many weeks for them to get you here.”

“Honey, a lot is going on out there,” her dad said, hugging and kissing her forehead. “The world is a big mess right now. You guys are lucky to stay here while they clean everything up.”

Linc shared a glance with Ria. Like they didn’t know what horrors existed on the outside. Hell, they’d escaped half of them. Her parents would never know the terror they’d endured to this point. In fact, this was the first day they’d left the lab for more than sleeping and a break or two for meals since they’d arrived.

If it wasn’t for the nights when Ria’s warm presence in his bed allowed him to relax and heal, he didn’t know how he’d have survived.

“Why, what is Minlo doing here?” Her mother crossed to where he stood behind the bar. She enveloped him in a warm embrace, and he looked like he might cry. He hadn’t seen them since Lola’s death.

“It’s good to see you,” he said in an abnormally subdued voice.

“It’s a long story, Mom,” Ria said. “But basically, the night we went to see him, he devised a way for us to escape the city and came with us. When we reached this place, he helped devise a way to kill the parasite.”

“Well, my goodness,” she said holding his face between her hands. “I’m proud of you. Thank you for making sure Annaria was safe.”

His neck grew red, and he cast his eyes downward. “I didn’t do much.”

Linc burst out laughing. He’d never seen the guy so subdued and meek.

“No need to be coy, Min,” Ria chided. “Mom knows what a rascal you are. Did you think you hid anything from her when you were seeing Lola?”

He gave her a sheepish glance. “You kinda remind me of my own mother, that’s all. She used to be really tough on me until she died.”

“Oh, dear boy. You can be my son anytime.” She hugged him again and kissed his cheek.

Ria’s dad crossed and hugged him, as well, then patted his shoulder. It was a welcoming gesture that Linc knew Min would appreciate. “Well, all I can say is I’m glad everyone is safe, and you guys did a hell of a job coming up with that vibration idea. How did you know that would work?”

“It’s actually due to you,” Ria said. She relayed the story of how they’d called and her comm had vibrated, setting off the sequence of events that led to the end of the pandemic.

Linc still couldn’t believe their luck that such a random action had led to the secret of a cure. Imagine how long it would have taken to try something like that. Maybe it wasn’t luck. He had faith that God had helped them a bit, too.

Her mother’s eyes got big. “Ria, you knew I was calling and didn’t answer? I was worried sick. You could’ve taken the time to let me know you were okay.”

The room echoed with laughter as everyone roared at this typical mother response, except Ginger of course. Linc put his arm around her to soften the others laughing and said, “It would only have been a world crisis to keep her from answering, I assure you.”

“Mom, we were saving the world at the time.” Ria said, wiping tears from her eyes.

“Well! It would have only taken a few seconds…”

“Give it up, Gin,” Juan said. “Saving the world trumps mother’s worry on this one.”

Linc gave her shoulders a squeeze and released her. Poor woman had endured a lot losing a daughter and nearly losing another one. “You deserved to worry, Ginger. Don’t let this crew tell you different. We’ve all had a difficult time recently, but with the eradication of the parasite and new cooperation between the North and South, I believe our futures are headed for a better place.”

“He’s right, Mom. I’m sorry to joke with you. I thought about you the entire time we were away. I promise.” Ria kissed her mother’s cheek.

“I want to swim in the pool,” Conner said. He ran to the edge.

“Can I make anyone a margarita?” Minlo offered.

“I’ll have one,” Raul said headed for the bar.

Ginger still looked a little miffed. Ria gave Linc a smile, then winked and put her arm around her mother’s shoulders, and led her to a chaise. He grinned, knowing Ginger was about to be very happy.

“Mom, there’s something Linc and I need to tell you…”

                                         THE END

“
At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.”
– Abraham Lincoln

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                     www.laranance.com