The Immortal Harvest (41 page)

“As you can see by the photographs and satellite surveillance, the whole area has been cleared its true but don’t forget Boss that you have been in here for a few weeks. Obviously, the buildings that were damaged in the explosion have been demolished and the debris cleared away.”

“And the bodies, what happened to them and why are there no accounts from eye witnesses?” Baxter said as he pointed to the report.

“The fire was so intense that the bodies were pretty much reduced to ash and there were no eye witnesses, the homeless who were assembled outside of the shelter when we arrived had already dispersed and the EPA guys had packed up and left.

I’m sorry Boss I’m not sure what else to say. This is the report we produced and this is the report which we will file.”

“I see – is that how the rest of you see it?” Baxter asked as he took his glasses off and placed them back on the bedside table. He watched as they all nodded but said nothing further. He had to admit that they were working well together as a team.

He was starting to feel the effects of his pain medications so he decided to let it go.

“Very well Arnold you can file this report. I’ll be back at work in a week but if anything major pops up in that time I want to hear about it, is that clear?” Baxter said as he handed the report to Durning and lay back down on the bed. “Now off you go get out of here, I just took my meds and there beginning to take effect.”

“Yes come on you lot, let the Boss get some rest,” Drew said as she herded the group from the room.

Baxter did not see them exit the room nor hear them produce a collective sigh of relief.

*     *     *

Once the group were sure that they were out of earshot Lewiston was the first to break the silence.

“I’m glad the Boss did not ask us how we managed to escape.”

Durning put his hand on Lewiston’s shoulder as they made their way down the long hospital corridor.

“You know what Bang Bang, that’s going to have to be our little secret.”

*     *     *

Meanwhile in the woman’s ward of the same hospital, Justen sat quietly beside his Mother as she slept soundly. Only the steady rhythm of the heart monitor disturbed the silence.

Justen felt relieved that the ordeal was finally over and his Mother was safe and secure and getting the medical attention and rest she needed.

He held the portable wormhole generator that his Father had created in his hand. It was the last thing his Father had given him and he stared at it often to remind him of his Father and he believed that somehow he could still be connected to him.

Oolax had let him keep the device because he knew that Justen did not possess the knowledge or the power to use it. He also said that the device would bring him comfort.

He marvelled at how smooth the surface of the device appeared and was just about to place it back in his pocket when he noticed a faint red glow emanating from the centre of the device.

He focussed on the glowing light and felt a slight tingle in the back of his mind.

He smiled as he sensed a familiar presence as the warmth of joy flashed through him.

Oolax was right – we are immortal,
he thought as the soft voice of his Father gently touched his mind.

Hello Justen.

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