Blind the Stars (Rose of the Dawn Series Book 3) (8 page)

I
crouch down in the sand to tie my bootlaces and see tiny specks in the water along
the edge. They undulate as one, but upon closer inspection, each individual
flagellum is a tiny tadpole. No wait, each tadpole has two. Two tails. I stand
up and shiver. Then look back at the dead frogs that I somehow hadn’t noticed
before and hurry ahead with the frightful realization that there is something
drastically wrong.

“Isn’t
it dangerous to have a safe house way out here?” I ask, knowing full well that
it is. “If the lye is just under the surface-”

“It’s
all gone from the Sunken City and Lye Island’s pretty clean as well,” Pike
tells me. “There’s a constant transfer of water over there. Here, not so much.
This water is too stagnant.” I think about the hopelessness of those tadpoles.
They don’t stand a chance.

“Are
we close, then?” I ask.

“We
are. Maybe another mile,” Ezekiel answers. We’ve already walked a mile or so.

“It’s
just up ahead that the stream empties into the ocean. Once the water starts to
rise, we’ll want to move up, too,” Pike adds. As the water rises, secluded
pools of brackish water appear where fresh water from the stream starts to mix
with salt water from the ocean. I still don’t see much up ahead, but we keep
walking. It’s so quiet out here. There isn’t the sound of anything. Not the
water flowing, no birds chirping, or even animals rooting around among the
trees beside us. Nothing.

“The
saltwater moves upstream and the fresh flows down. Their densities are
different enough and they separate. Saltwater having a greater mass per volume
than freshwater, it’s denser. It can even conduct electricity.” I almost bump
into Pike who’s stopped to stare at me. “I learned that with Jenny,” I admit.
He smiles. My head held a little higher, I walk ahead.

“We’re
almost there. A little less than a quarter mile,” Ezekiel says and points up
ahead. What looks like a blue horizon is the reflection of the sky in the
ocean. It spreads out before us as the land beside us narrows. I don’t glance
back, but can feel Pike’s presence behind me. The breeze is warm on my
shoulders and I can smell sweetness all around.

“I
can’t wait to rest,” I say envisioning comfortability disguised as a hidden
safe house.

“It’s
just up ahead.” Ezekiel says again. “See how the land narrows and then just out
toward the horizon.”

I
look out. The horizon hasn’t changed and the water doesn’t seem any closer. The
sun beats down and my body is having a difficult time regulating the
temperature of my bionic arm. Instead of cooling it down, it’s heating up and
I’m nervous. It’s hot to the touch and I worry that I may be doing damage to my
shoulder. I can’t feel anything on that side of my chest. My feet have begun to
tingle, though I may be imagining that.

And
then, as I focus my vision, I can see exactly what he is pointing to. It looks
like a land bridge.

“There’s
a path we’re going to follow up and over.” Ezekiel hikes up and over to the
left. The trees from the forest are now behind us. “The stream dumps into the
ocean just up ahead and the land bridge separates the ocean from a reservoir.”

Pike
is beside me now. The speck on the horizon gets closer. “The land bridge goes over
the Sunken City to Lye Island. The safe house is on the island.” We walk
side-by-side. His pace matches mine, which still lags behind Ezekiel.

“The
city was flooded to create the reservoir. It would be used during drought to
water the territories. You can see the old clock tower when it gets low enough.
It sticks out of the center,” Pike informs me. Ezekiel is too far ahead. I stop
walking. It’s hot.

“Hey
Zeke, slow down,” Pike calls, his hand on my lower back guides me out of the
direct sun and into the shade. Under a lone willow tree that overhangs the widening
streambed.

“Thanks.”
I lean down on my knees, taking deep breaths in and out. My feet definitely
burn, but I won’t take off my boots.

“You
okay?” Pike asks as I wipe my brow.

“I’m
okay. The pace was just – I’m just hot. I’ll be fine.”

“I’m
sure you will.” Pike grins and his smile warms me. And then he puts his hand on
my head and rubs my hair. Like a brother. If I had a brother. He pulls his hand
away, as if he’s shy all of the sudden. It doesn’t matter.

A
low hiss in the weeds behind us, warns us away and I get up. There is sea grass
all around. Light grey and off white with a bit of blue, it’s tall and unkempt.
No human evidence whatsoever.

Ezekiel
returns to us. He takes some water from a canteen he had strapped to his back and
offers it. Pike shakes his head, but I accept and take a sip. I hand it back
and Ezekiel takes an even bigger swig.

“We
cross the bridge. We stay along the middle of the path. We’ll have to move fast,”
Ezekiel says.

“Move
fast,” I repeat. I’ll have to pull out the last bit of energy my legs have
left. I ignore the throbbing pain in my feet and hope for numbness.

“The
tide comes up in forty minutes,” Ezekiel says looking at his wrist. “When the
tide comes in, it’ll cover the land bridge with water. It doesn’t go back out
again until the tide recedes days later.”

“Days?
We can’t stay out there for days. We have to find my sisters.” If I had known
how long we’d be stuck here, I wouldn’t have gone so willingly.

“We
can get off the island,” Ezekiel says. “It’s just easier to get to the other
side and then plan to leave again with the tide, but we can leave sooner if we
need to. There are still other ways on and off the island.”

“Then
let’s go.” I head for the only speck of land on the horizon. “I’m ready.”

The
land bridge doesn’t look like much. More like a little grassy hill that goes up
from the sandy shores of the water on either side and flattens out at the top.
Once my boots have purchase on land again, I push myself up the hill. It
narrows at the top and the path is dangerously close to the sides that I don’t
want to slip and slide off into the water. The sea is on one side and the reservoir
on the other. We’re much higher than it looked from below, maybe thirty feet up
or so. I keep my head down and focused on the path. I try to follow Pike and
Ezekiel’s steps. The air gusts up more here and it throws me off balance.

Then
I can see the land widen on the other side with rolling hills and lush trees.
Lye Island is straight ahead.

“The
water’s rising,” Ezekiel calls back. “We have to hurry.”

All
around us the water has been rising. Not quick at first, but then as we
approach the middle of the bridge, it’s getting higher. I look back and see where
we just came from. The water is coming up to the land behind me, lapping at the
top of the land bridge. On my left is the reservoir, as large as a lake. The
water from the sea will come over the bridge and completely fill in the
reservoir. It’s how they flooded the city which was created in a physical depression
in the first place.

In
the center of the reservoir is a tall, rectangular, wooden structure, with a
wooden triangle on top. “When the tide comes in, it covers over the church
tower,” Pike tells me. “Everything else is underwater permanently.”

As
we move over the land bridge, I wonder what the city looked like before it was
flooded, and then I start to imagine what it looks like underwater now. I have
to be careful, though not to slip and fall into the water on either side of me
so I try not to think.

“The
tide is coming in faster,” I say as the water laps over the bridge. It splashes
up over my boots and wets my skin.

“You
didn’t believe it?” Pike has slowed down and lets me move ahead of him. I have
to watch where I step because the land tapers and the water distracts me from
finding a safe place to put down my foot. It’s a much longer land bridge than
it looked before. Maybe a quarter of a mile. Maybe more.

“I
did,” I say, lifting my legs from the water and stepping ahead. “But I didn’t
expect it to happen so fast. It’s been a matter of minutes.”

“We
don’t have far to go,” Ezekiel points to land on the other side. I see now why
it’s considered an island.

The
sun begins to set and it isn’t as hot as before.

“The
safe house is hidden over there.” Pike points to a small cluster of trees in
the distance. I don’t see anything except for lush trees and grass in the
distance.

“That’s
Lye Island.” I state as we hurry to the other side. I can’t believe how natural
everything is. Undisturbed and beautiful. There are wildflowers and sea
lavender along the coastline and the sand mixes with the sea grass, making
everything ahead look a soft shade of green.

“We
just have to get past the shoreline and we’ll be there in no time.” Pike takes
my hand and helps me over a buffer that is at the end of the land bridge. The
trees in the distance aren’t far and it gives me a renewed sense of purpose.
Within no time I’m going to be reunited with Leland and Delia.

And
Hara.

We
get over the buffer and I look back. My last step avoids complete submersion. The
buffer prevents the water from spilling over the side, though it still splashes
up. We’re back on real, dry land. No evidence remains of the land bridge or the
path.

“It’s
so beautiful. Does anyone still live out here?” I ask. “It’s not still
contaminated.”

“It’s
not, but no one really lives out here now. The Imperial Bead wanted the land
and wanted everyone off of it,” Pike begins. Ezekiel is moving much faster
ahead toward the safe house hidden among the trees.

“But
not everyone was willing to leave,” I add, remembering a passionate lesson with
Jenny about how unethically the townspeople were convinced to leave.

Pike
nods his head. “The Imperial Bead leaked the remaining lye into the groundwater
and infiltrated the aquifer. People started getting sick. Headaches at first
and then skin afflictions. Tumors and birth defects. It took a lot longer to
convince people to go.”

“Jenny
said that it was covered up. Didn’t people know it was the Imperial Bead?
Weren’t they angry?”

“There
wasn’t much they could do. The Imperial Bead waited years before taking the
next step.”

“Sinking
the city,” I state. He nods. He takes my hand and helps me over another buffer.
More protection from the flooding waters. Much farther from the shore, it
surprises me.
How high does the water come?

“Thank
you.” I say, though I could’ve done it myself.

“The
remaining, healthy townspeople got up and left. Moved to microcities around
larger cities. Families with more than two ill members were told to shelter in
place, which they did. Guards for the Imperial Bead came in, locking the ill
into their homes. Their electricity was cut off. And then the city was flooded
in less than a day without warning. Under more than fifty feet of water. That’s
the Sunken City. Anyone not locked in and who could get to higher ground in
time got lucky,” Pike finishes.

“And
everyone else?” I ask, sick to my stomach at the thought of this drowned city
and all of the souls below.

“Not
so lucky,” he answers. We’ve almost caught up to Ezekiel. He’s clearly waiting
for us. A cluster of trees welcomes us, their branches swaying in the ocean
breeze.

“So
you’ve been here?” I ask, trying not to look around. I guess I only pictured
Pike in Aegis.

“I
have.” He doesn’t elaborate. Even up here, away from the water, the air smells
salty and the hair at my temples coils.

We
meet up with Ezekiel. There’s a glint of light up ahead, filtered through the
branches. We walk forward, the air is cool and it’s dark under the cover of the
trees. My arm has gotten a bit heavier with the drop in temperature.
When
will I get used to that?
It’s only been weeks, I remind myself. It’ll take
a bit longer.

We
follow a lightly worn footpath through the trees. The path veers to the right
and left and there are small cabins, almost completely hidden by foliage. We approach
a structure. A cabin with log sides and wooden shutters around the tiny
windows. It’s not kept up, but it isn’t dilapidated either. Moss grows on the
roof and the wood is weathered. The foundation, however, is stone and was
meticulously constructed.

“Did
you build it?” I ask Ezekiel. It’s impressive.

“No.
It belonged to one of the families that moved out here before the city was
flooded, back when it was a whaling community. Most of the family passed or
moved away. One of the grandsons made it out our way, to Aegis and he lets us
use the cabin and the barn as we need to,” Pike answers for Ezekiel, his voice
echoes among the trees. There are no animals. No sounds of animals anywhere and
I can’t imagine how anyone could survive out here if even the animals can’t.

To
the right of the cabin is a barn with clapboard sides. A wide, worn path leads
up to the double doors.

Pike
pushes me forward and I move right behind Ezekiel. Within an instant the salty
sweetness is replaced with a sour smell hanging in the air. I hold my nose.

“Dead
whale carcasses used to be dragged up here with hooks, chains, and bulldozers.
To get them ready for disposal,” Pike says. “It’s just in the air. You’ll get
used to it.”

I
cringe and scrunch up my nose.

“Shh,”
Ezekiel puts his hand up to his mouth. He’s listening for something, but I
don’t hear a thing.

The
cabin door flies open, throwing Ezekiel off his balance and he stumbles back
onto the ground. Pike and I are far enough away not to fall, but we are caught
off guard, too.

“It
is about time you people got here!” Leland storms out of the house, over to
Ezekiel, and helps him up. Ezekiel swats him away, but Leland persists and
takes Ezekiel’s arm.

“Roz!
It’s you! I didn’t think I’d see you again!” Leland drops Ezekiel’s arm before
he has his footing and Ezekiel falls back to the ground. Leland runs over and
wraps his arms around me.

“It’s
good to see you, too, Leland,” I hug him back. A warmth starts in my core and
spreads throughout the rest of my body. I’ve missed him.

Leland
pushes me away and looks me up and down.

“You
got all the way back to your house and you didn’t think to change your
clothes?” he accuses and I assess my attire.

“But
I did,” I defend. My choice of black shirt and black pants is the same as
inside The Hollow. He’s right.

“I
see, but much nicer quality,” Leland rubs my shirt between his fingers. “Well
c’mon, let’s get you even more cleaned up. We’ve got fresh water from some
distillery or some flooded city back there. I’m not sure how clean it is, but
it sure feels nice running over naked skin.” He analyzes my hair and shakes his
head. He takes my hand.

“Who
else is inside?” I see more than three people through the window to my right.

“Just
the keeper of the cabin.” Leland says with a smile. He looks from Ezekiel to
Pike. “We knew you’d be back with Rose, so we made sure we tidied up. This
place was a disaster and that old man inside is no help whatsoever!”

The
door opens and Hara steps out. She runs up to Pike, wrapping her arms around
his neck. He hugs her back. My stomach flips. It doesn’t bother me.

“You
all made it here okay,” Pike states. He looks over at me and I stare back at
him. I won’t let it bother me.

“We
did and we got here just in time. The tide was about to come in,” Hara answers
still right beside Pike.

He
walks into the cabin. Hara follows, then Ezekiel. Leland wraps his arm around
mine. My fake arm. He holds my hand.

The
cabin smells like wood. Sawdust. Mediocre furnishings in flannel and flowers
are all around, from the drapes to the upholstery. A fuzzy brown rug is on the
floor and a fire crackles in the fireplace. There is no smoke and I didn’t
notice any outside. An older man with eyes closed, sits in a recliner in front
of the fire. It must be the grandson. I didn’t think he’d be so old. A brown,
shaggy dog lies by his feet. Neither glances up, which I’m glad for. I’m too
tired to talk and all I want to do is take off these boots.

“We
should put that out,” Pike glances at Ezekiel and steps closer to the fire.
With the sun completely down, the cool air permeates the cabin and the warmth
is comforting. “This is sure to alert someone.”

“No
one’s out here to notice. There are a few cabins around us.” The man doesn’t
open his eyes, but answers. “And there’s a vent about halfway up the chimney
that will remove the smoke before it leaves the stack. It’ll smother itself in
the ashes when it’s time comes. Just to be safe.”

Pike
looks to Ezekiel, who shrugs. I don’t really care what happens to the fire. I
long for a shower, now that I remember what one is like. I look around the
cabin and realize that there is this comfortable living space and a kitchen and
an entire wall is covered with computers and flat screens. They’re all on. One
receives satellite images from space in waves, another has row upon row of
binary code with lots of 0’s and 1’s. Another is showing some sort of Imperial
newscast. The sound is off.

“We
got word a little while ago about your family,” Hara states, looking over at
me. She hasn’t moved from Pike’s side.

I
turn away from the computers. “My family?”

“Well,
that’s the thing, Roz,” Leland begins.

“My
parents or Dory?” I ask.

“Your
parents.” Leland answers. “They were taken.”

“By
whom? From where? How?” I can’t seem to get my thoughts straight.

“We
have no idea. No one’s been here and the message that was transmitted was
obviously intended for you. We never saw your folks and if we did, I’m sure
we’d have done something really helpful, but we don’t know. I mean, we just
don’t know.” Leland’s hands go up in the air and for a moment I wish he weren’t
so dramatic.

“It’s
a trap. We don’t know that it’s true.” Ezekiel leaves the room. He takes the
stairs up to a loft, two at a time. His feet stomp on the floor above. He runs
back down. The wooden railing shakes as he descends the stairs.

“Where’s
the gun?” he asks looking around the room.

“Gun?
What gun?” Leland is shocked.

“There
was a gun hidden upstairs. In case of an emergency. Where is it?”

“What
does a gun have to do with my parents?” I ask.

A
door inside the cabin opens and Christophe steps out.

“Christophe!”
I squeal and run up to him. It’s automatic. “I thought you stayed behind inside
The Hollow. What happened to you, Christophe?”

I
stop before reaching out to him. His face is bruised and his cheek is swollen.
There is a small spider crack in the top right corner of one of his lenses. I
put my real hand on Christophe’s arm. He flinches ever so slightly, but it’s
enough for me to notice.