Gaia Dreams (Gaiaverse Book 1) (47 page)

John shook his head. "No, we think the dam will
be fine. But we're not sure all the electrical lines will stay up and
functioning. We're really hoping to keep the electricity running. Or if we can't
do that during the earthquake, to at least get it up and functioning again
quickly."

Wachowski rubbed his face with one hand, even as
he reached for a large black notebook with the other. "What we'd better do is a
planned shutdown. Now y'all know I can't help you with the part of town that
uses coal-fired power. Here, show me on the map where you are."

As John pointed out his house and the rest of
the community's property on the large map attached to the wall, Lisanne
wandered to a window and looked out at the lake.

"It's gorgeous here," she murmured quietly.

Tommy said from behind her, "Yeah, it's a pretty
site. And you wouldn't believe the fishing 'round here. Totally unreal."

Lisanne turned to him, frowning. "Why the hell
is everyone so excited about fishing? Can you explain to me what the big
attraction is? You sit in a boat for hours or you stand in the water for hours,
and when you catch the slimy little suckers, then you've got to clean them.
Yuck!"

"Now, ma'am," Tommy said seriously, "Fishin's
just about one of the best things there is on earth, that's for sure! Didn't
you ever try fishing? There's nothin' like it, hauling a big bass into your
boat and then eating him grilled over an open fire later on. It's totally
awesome!"

Totally awesome, Lisanne questioned, staring at
his flaming red hair and freckled nose. Where, she wondered, was this guy from?
He's a modern day Huck Finn! Before she could ask him any questions, John
called her over, frowning.

"Sergeant Wachowski has good news and bad news.
The good news is that our properties are all on the side of town that uses
hydroelectric power. The bad news is that he's going to need more than himself
and Tommy here to keep things up and running after the quake."

Lisanne shrugged. "So we get more people."

"We don't have that many people to use for this!"
John said, clearly exasperated.

Lisanne sighed. "Okay, I'll volunteer. How hard
can it be?"

Wachowski grumbled, "Harder than you think." He
leaned against his desk and thought for a minute. "We do the shutdown tomorrow
afternoon. We wait out the earthquake. Then we'll have to go around and see if
any lines are down. And if the roads are blocked like you said, that could be
difficult."

"No problem," Lisanne retorted. "We've got
horses."

Sergeant Wachowski blinked. "Okay," he said
slowly. "Tommy, you ever been on a horse? Doesn't matter, you will be soon."

Tommy grinned at him, saying, "Cool! Horses. Can
they talk too?"

Lisanne smirked at him. "Not on the computer.
But they do talk to Janine."

Sergeant Wachowski continued. "We're going to
need recruits after the inspection. Workers to help get the lines back up. Then
we turn the power back on. But I'll need crews 'round the clock to man the
station here. And if they can't get here by car, they might want to live here
for a while until we get things sorted out."

John nodded as Lisanne complained, "Here? What
are we gonna do? Sleep on this concrete floor?"

Wachowski chuckled. "No, no. If what you say is
true, and I've seen the evidence with my own eyes, people are leaving from all
around here. We'll have our pick of the resort homes. I'll find a large one
closest to here. But John," he said, turning and motioning with his arms
widespread to take in the control room, "we're going to be up against the wall
on this one. It'll be touch and go and we're gonna have to work all the time.
There's no way we can help you out with gathering food and whatever else you
need done in Cape Fair."

"Not a problem. Our group had already decided to
offer you power station folks a deal where we provide you with food and
anything else you need, if you provide us with power. Oh, and also security. We
have a guy, name of Black, and I'll send him around to you as soon as I can.
You guys are our biggest asset now, so we'll do everything we can to help you
out and keep you safe. And in fact," John paused as he pulled out his spiral
notebook and pen from his jacket. "Let's get a list started right now. What you
need in terms of clothing, tools--anything you think you might need for, well,
for the foreseeable future?"

Lisanne left them to it as she moved to stand in
front of Merlin's computer.

I CANT BELIEVE YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE ME LIVE
HERE

CANT YOU HEAR THAT HUM

DRIVING ME CRAZY

Lisanne wasn't sure if the last line was about
the hum of electrical power Merlin was hearing, or if it was about her. She
picked him up and crooned softly in his ear. "We have to help out, big guy.
There's not much use for an alcoholic astronomer in this place. So we gotta
learn new jobs. But you don't have to stay in here all the time. There're woods
out there, trees and stuff that you'll like. And there will be a house you can
stay at. I promise, Merlin, it won't be so bad."

Merlin suffered her attentions grudgingly,
tilting his head back for her to scratch under his chin. Woods and trees!
Hmphf! Probably filled with bears. Still, he had to acknowledge that Lisanne
was coming along. Slowly, but coming along. And at least here he wouldn't have
to live with drooling dogs trying to lick him and be friends. He could rule the
roost here. He'd be top dog--well, no, not that, he thought wildly--top animal,
that's what he'd be. Tommy's excited voice cut through his reverie.

"Hey! Can I go get a puppy from the pet store?
Maybe then I can talk to him and he can talk to me!"

Merlin growled.

Dr. Mark Shapiro's office, Cape Fair

Mrs. Philpott watched as Dr. Shapiro struggled
to accept what he'd just seen. Watching Perceval type on the computer appeared
to have erased all doubts, but she also knew what it was to try and accept this
extraordinary event in one fell swoop. They didn't have time to ease him into
it.

"Do you believe us now," she asked. "You're the
one who's been asking him the questions, not me, not Harmony. And we even stood
behind him and across the room, so we couldn't give him signals or anything,
just like you asked. This isn't a trick, Dr. Shapiro. It's really happening."

"I-I-can s-s-see that," he admitted. "But it's
just so--so--so--"

"Amazing is the word I think you're looking for
Doctor," Mrs. Philpott observed. "But we don't have time for you to be amazed,
I'm afraid. I know this is a lot to take in, but you've got to because we need
your help."

"My help?" he asked, still staring at the
remarkable Siamese sitting on his desk.

"Yeah, doc," Harmony interjected. "You're, like,
our only medical guy, except for our vet, Clay. And we're gonna need drugs.
Lots of drugs."

He looked startled, and then slowly smiled. "And
by drugs, you mean?"

Mrs. Philpott glared at Harmony. "Pharmaceutical
drugs. Antibiotics. Pain pills. Birth control pills. Whatever we can get our
hands on, really. Our group has bought a lot of supplies, including basic
medical supplies you can find at any drugstore. But we haven't been able to get
our hands on prescribed drugs."

"Right. Well, I can put in an order for what we
might need, take about a week to get here," Dr. Shapiro offered.

"That's no good, doc," Harmony replied. "We got
an earthquake rolling through tomorrow night and a flood starting at the same
time. No supplies are ever gonna reach us here. It's the end of the world as
you know it."

"Earthquake? Flood? What the hell are you all
talking about?" he demanded to know.

Mrs. Philpott muttered to Harmony, "How about
you let me handle the rest of this conversation and you go call Black on the
cell phone. Tell him we'll need this place secured."

Harmony smiled sunnily, grabbed the cell phone,
and sauntered out of the office and into the waiting room. Mrs. Philpott, she
thought, was way too uptight today. But Doc Shapiro--well, he was just a cutie.
Maybe she'd become a candy striper.

In the car, Cape Fair

John was driving toward his house, preparing to
drop off Merlin so he and Lisanne could pick up Black, Max, Abby and Clay to do
some final shopping for the day. This power thing could actually work, he
thought. Sure it'd take a lot of work, but it would be worth it. Electricity
would mean--

Lisanne interrupted his thoughts. "Um, John?
There's something I need to give you, I think. Everybody was around this
morning and there wasn't time, but I brought it with me."

John's brow furrowed as he wondered what on
earth she would spring on him.

Lisanne turned in her seat and reached back to
tug a good sized duffle bag into her lap. She unzipped it and reached in to
grab a handful of cash out, which she thrust at John.

"Here," she said.

The car swerved as John got a glimpse into the
bag. It was filled with cash.

Pulling off the road and parking under a group
of Redbud trees, John turned to her and said in confusion, "Lisanne, where the
hell did you get this?"

Lisanne said nervously, "Oh, I didn't rob a bank
or anything. It's mine. I took it out of the bank when I left my condo in
Florida. And I want you to have it."

"Me? Why?"

"Because we need to buy so much stuff today. And
where am I gonna spend it all once the world ends?" She paused, and then said
haltingly, "Besides, I know I don't have much to offer to the group. And I can
tell you don't really trust me." She put up a hand to stop him from speaking. "I
know I can be a little crazy, and I'm working on it, really, I am. But you
guys, you've been so nice to me and Merlin. And Andy. Taking us in and giving
us a safe place to live."

John said, "Lisanne, you don't have to buy your
way into our group. We're all working together here to survive. We're a team.
And you're part of that team now."

Smiling shyly at him, she said, "You mean that,
don't you? I'd like to be part of something, part of the team. But I really don't
need all this money, John." She paused and then said in a rush, "Except for
maybe $10,000 or so. I want to get another telescope. I know it's not a
necessary item, but it would help me to have one. And even if our world is
ending and there won't be anyone going into space anymore, I still think we
should look at the stars sometimes. So we don't forget what we can accomplish.
Where we can go again, someday."

John looked at her in astonishment. Definitely
more here than meets the eye, he thought, noticing she was wearing slightly
less make-up than yesterday, although still clothed in the ubiquitous black and
purple with a short, black leather jacket. And he realized for the first time
that her eyes really were lavender colored! Eyes that were now watching him
somewhat nervously.

"Lisanne, you buy all the telescopes you want. I
think that's a great idea. And if you're really serious about this money," he
said as she nodded quickly, "then we'll put it to good use today. But I have a
better idea for part of it than spending it at the mall." He leaned forward and
started the car.

"What?" Lisanne inquired.

"You and I are going to go visit a coin dealer I
know. I hope he's still there."

"But why a coin dealer?" she asked in confusion.

"Because paper money," he replied, "is probably
going to be worthless very shortly. Eventually people may come here to trade
and someday, when money starts exchanging hands again, it won't be in paper
dollars. People will want gold and silver. So we're going to stock up on coins."

"How do you know this stuff," Lisanne asked,
impressed but surprised by his foresight.

"When you write books for a living, you do a lot
of research. A few years back I read a bunch of survival books when Y2K was
such a big fear. And the coins instead of paper money issue was well-discussed
by all the survivalists and end-of-the-world crazies." He stopped and looked at
her ruefully. "Which I suppose is what we are now."

"Hey, I don't care what they call us as long as
we survive," Lisanne replied. "But you know we really should have a name. We
keep calling it 'The Group' or 'Our Group' or 'The Safe Zone,' but we should
have a real name."

John chuckled. "Like what? I'm open to ideas."

Lisanne mused. "Well, I guess we could be called
'The Safe Zoners'--which teenagers would eventually shorten to just 'The
Zoners'--but I'm not sure about that."

"You know during Y2K there were those who talked
about TEOTWAWKI--which stands for 'The End Of The World As We Know It.' So we
could be the TEOTWAWKIANS."

"How about 'The Dreamers'?" she suggested,
laughingly.

"Not bad. Sounds like a jazz band," John
observed.

"Or 'The Cape Fair Gang,'" she said. Merlin
hissed at that one.

"'The Predictors'?" John said.

"How about the 'Psychic Prognosticators'?"
Lisanne asked, chortling.

John laughed. "No, Jess could tell you little
kids would shorten that to its initials and we'd be hearing them calling us 'pee-pee'
all the time, thinking they were hilariously funny. That one's out."

Lisanne looked at him seriously for a moment. "Did
you and Jessica have a big fight today?"

"What?" John asked, startled.

"Well, we all kinda heard some yelling after she
brought Sam back with Harmony. But I have to tell you, John, I heard Jessica's
side of things, and I don't think she meant to take Sam there."

John snorted, frustration in his voice as he
asked, "Then why did she do it? Why did she knowingly take our little girl into
a situation where there could be gunfire?"

Merlin looked up at Lisanne and nodded to her.
This had to be said. Unfortunately, Lisanne was the one available to say it,
but Merlin had no choice.