Part 7 (1/2)
Astrid caught up to her.
”Lana.”
”Yeah?” Lana had never been Astrid's biggest fan. She admired Astrid's smarts and looks. But they were very different people.
”It's Little Pete. He ...”
”He what?” Lana demanded impatiently.
”He has a fever. I think he has flu or something.”
Lana shrugged. ”Yeah, one of the Jennifers has it, too. I don't think it's any big deal. Take him to see Dahra, I'll stop by there later.”
Lana expected Astrid to nod her head and take off. But Astrid glanced down the road to make sure no one was coming toward them. This got Lana's attention.
”I need you to come to my house,” Astrid said firmly.
”Look, I get that you're more important than, you know, normal people,” Lana snarked. ”But I'll take care of him later. Okay? Bye.”
Astrid grabbed her shoulder. Lana turned back, angry now. She didn't like being touched, let alone grabbed.
”It's not about me,” Astrid said. ”Lana ... I have to ask you. The gaiaphage ...”
Lana's face darkened.
”Can it see what you see?” Astrid asked quietly. ”Can it know what you know?”
Lana felt a chill. ”What is going on, Astrid?”
”Maybe nothing. But come with me. Come see Petey. Help me out, and I will owe you one.”
Lana laughed derisively. She was the Healer: everyone owed her one. But she followed Astrid just the same.
Chapter Seven.
60 HOURS, 30 MINUTES.
CAINE HAD FOUND a telescope in the house. He carried it out to the cliff on the eastern edge of the island. It was afternoon. The light was pretty good, low, slanting rays that lit up the far sh.o.r.e. Sunlight glinted off windows and car wind-s.h.i.+elds in Perdido Beach. Bright red tile roofs and tall palm trees made it seem so normal. As if it really was just another California beach town.
The nuclear power plant was closer. It, too, looked normal. The hole in the containment tower was on the far side, not visible from here. The hole he'd made.
He was startled by the sound behind him but didn't show it. Much.
”What are you looking at, Napoleon?” Diana asked.
”Napoleon?”
”You know, because he was exiled to an island after he almost took over the world,” Diana said. ”Although he was short. You're much taller.”
Caine wasn't sure he minded Diana tweaking him. It was better than the way she'd been lately, all depressed and giving up on life. Hating herself.
He didn't mind if she hated him. They were never going to be a cute romantic couple like Sam and Astrid. Clean-cut, righteous, all that. The perfect couple. He and Diana were the imperfect couple.
”How did it work out for Napoleon?” he asked her.
He caught the slight hesitation as she searched for a glib answer.
”He lived happily ever after on his island,” Diana said. ”He had a beautiful girlfriend who was far better than he deserved.”
”Stop worrying,” he said harshly. ”I'm not planning on leaving the island. How could I, even if I wanted to?”
”You would find a way,” Diana said bleakly.
”Yeah. But here I am anyway,” Caine said. He aimed the telescope back at the town. He could see the blackened hulks of burned-out homes just to the west of downtown.
”Don't do it,” Diana said.
Caine didn't ask what she meant. He knew.
”Just let it go,” Diana said. She put her hand on his shoulder. She caressed the side of his neck, his cheek.
He lowered the telescope and tossed it onto the overgrown sea gra.s.s. He turned, took her in his arms, and kissed her.
It had been a long time since he'd done that.
She felt different in his arms. Thinner. Smaller. More frail. But his body responded to her as it always had.
She did not pull away.
His own response surprised him. It had been a long time for that, too. A long time since he'd felt desire. Starving boys l.u.s.ted after food, not after girls.
And now that it was happening, it was overwhelming. Like a roar in his ears. A pounding in his chest. He ached all the way through.
At the last second, the second when he would have lost the last of his self-control, Diana gently but firmly pushed him away.
”Not here,” she said.
”Where?” he gasped. He hated the neediness in his voice. He hated needing anyone or anything that badly. Need was weakness.
She detached his hands from her body. She took one step back. She was wearing an actual dress. A dress, with her legs showing and her shoulders bare and it was like she was a visitor from another planet.
He blinked, thinking maybe it was all a dream. She was clean and wearing a yellow summer dress. Her teeth had been brushed. Her hair was brushed, too, still a mess from cutting it all off and having it grow back while too hungry, but a shadow at least of its former dark, tumbling sensuality.