The Crystal's Curse (29 page)

The next day Kafra called Sam and Maria to explain that it would be safe for them to resume their old identities. Two days later, using their new identities they booked a flight into Guatemala. Once they reached the site, they switched back to Sam and Maria Carson, packed up their gear and their old passports that Erik had left sitting in their tent, and flew back to Washington D. C. to file their report on the dig. Being out of touch for three weeks wasn’t unusual for them. No one had gone looking for them or even knew they were missing. Sam reported that they found an unusual niche with intricate carvings. He included the story from the Elder and Maria’s translations of the glyphs leaving others to speculate on its use.

Finally, Lrence called Vicki. “We intercepted Erik. He won’t be coming back. The less you know the better. Let’s just say that he’s truly living in the past now.”

Epilogue

Joshua and Sara drove to Washington and visited Sam and Maria several times. When Sam and Maria came to Boston, Joseph hosted a reunion party including Helen, Lrence, and Kafra. Hearing that Remnr and Demitri had a hand in apprehending Erik, he asked Lrence to invite them as well.

On a balmy summer evening, everyone gathered in Joseph’s back garden. Mrs. Stewart had been cooking all afternoon. One table boasted several salads, including potato, macaroni, pasta, and green salad. Baked beans simmered in a Crockpot next to foiled wrapped baked potatoes and fresh rolls. Joseph and Sam manned a grill loaded with marinated steaks.

Lrence stood off to the side watching. He never told any of the earthlings about Joshua’s death or going back in time. Kafra and the others knew what had happened from being told, but only he actually remembered. He remembered every detail, Joshua‘s blood on his hands, the life seeping from his body, and the overwhelming consciousness of guilt that he had been the one to set all of the events in motion that resulted in Joshua‘s death. He was glad no one shared those memories. In addition, he didn’t want Helen wondering why he didn’t do the same for Harry. There was just no way to explain, anymore than he could explain why he returned the crystal to Joseph. He just felt that the day would come when Joshua was going to need it. He looked up as Joshua approached him.

“Something wrong?” Joshua asked.

“No.” Lrence, realizing he must have been frowning, smiled. “It’s nice to see everyone together. Your folks seem to really like Sara.”

“Yeah, Mom’s over there telling her stories about me.” He hesitated, “Can I ask you a question?”

“Shoot.”

“When you used the crystal to return to your house, I watched you rotate in your hands like a top. How exactly does that work?”

“When you insert the crystal into the portal, you create a link like an electrical circuit between your body, the portal, and the crystal. When you want to return to the portal, rotating the crystal in your hands causes friction, which reactivates the link and pulls you back to the portal. It’s kind of uncomfortable at first, sort of like being sucked into a vacuum.”

“Does everything around you get kind of shimmery and then fade?”

“Exactly.” He studied Joshua, but instead of asking how he knew, he said, “I still can’t explain why your brain is able to handle transporting without any deterioration.”

“I’ve wondered about that. The first time I stopping carrying the crystal, I felt a drop in confidence, but when I gave it to my grandfather to keep, nothing happened. Even though I haven’t touched the crystal in months, I don’t think I’ve lost any of the enhancements. I feel just as strong. My reflexes and senses still seem keener than most humans.”

Lrence nodded. “Your tests all confirm that.”

“Am I some sort of freak?”

Lrence laughed. “You’re certainly unique. If that’s freaky, then I’d bet there are many people out there that would love to be your kind of freak. Enjoy it while you can, there’s no telling how long it will last.”

Sam called to them, “The steaks are ready. Come and get it.”

Joshua and Lrence rejoined the group.

After the party, Lrence got a call from Vicki. “Scientists announced today they discovered another planet with inhabitants as close in physiology to us as humans. Now that they have been able to replace the crystals, no one seems interested
in you anymore. What’s more, with this new discovery, there has been heated debate over either moving the station or dismantling it. Representatives of the EA are ahead in the polls and arguing that we can’t afford to recreate the mistakes of the past. If they win in the next election, it may be possible for you to come home.”

Lrence smiled. It was something to think about.