The Lost Colony (Lost Starship Series Book 4) (45 page)

-Epilog-

Soon after the captain’s meeting with the brigadier, Sergeant Riker returned to his cottage in Switzerland. He did not phone ahead as was his usual custom. Thus, he surprised Mrs. Tell as she ate a meal in his house.

Riker ladled himself a bowl of soup and sat down with her. It was tasty onion soup, which he almost ruined by breaking thirty crackers over it, turning the bowl into a cracker-onion mush. As the sergeant ate, he asked about the latest village gossip.

Mrs. Tell told him about Mr. Talleyrand’s Great Dane. The giant beast had broken its leash again, digging in Mrs. Petain’s garden. The dog had destroyed countless tulips, a row of radishes and chased the cats out of the yard.

Small Mrs. Petain had been furious, scolding the dog, shaking a finger in its face. The big beast had wagged its tail throughout, finally ending the lecture by licking her nose before trotting home.

Riker smiled at the story, absently adding several more crackers to his onion mush.

He would have to see this Great Dane for himself. Maybe he could help restore peace by buying a dozen tulips and digging Mrs. Petain new holes for them.

Mrs. Tell told him a few more choice tales before cleaning up and leaving.

Riker sat on his couch, watched some soccer on TV and dozed until the stars came out. He was home. Tomorrow, he would go buy the tulips. Maybe in a day or so he would go to the nearby pub for a few beers. Right now, it was good just to relax.

He put his hands behind his head, wondering how long he’d get to stay home before the next assignment.

***

Professor Ludendorff piloted what appeared to be a pleasure yacht for the Spokane Corporation. It was a large vessel with a captain, mate and three crewmembers. Except for one of the crew, the hired help slept during a night cycle.

Ludendorff braked as the space yacht approached Saturn with its glorious rings. He hadn’t left the Solar System, although his whereabouts were unknown to Star Watch Intelligence.

It had been a simple matter evading his minders. He had set up for many eventualities. Ludendorff gave himself a vacation every twenty years or so. His imprisonment in the glass cage on the Dyson sphere had been taxing. Once he was free of Earth and the constant surveillance, he had relaxed.

“There you are,” Dana said, entering the small bridge.

Ludendorff turned around and smiled at the sight.

Dana wore a shimmering gown, high heels, makeup and an exotic hat and scarf. She noticed Saturn then, her gaze fixated upon it.

Ludendorff slicked his hair back. It had been some time since he’d enjoyed the doctor’s company. He had taught her some unusual techniques many years ago. Perhaps it was time to indulge again.

The professor came to her, taking her hands, holding her at arms’ length and admiring what he saw.

“Is this a mistake?” she whispered.

“All life is a mistake,” he said.

“Do you really believe that?”

He closed in, feeling the press of her body against his. He kissed her. Good memories rushed to his forebrain.

“Dana, Dana,” he whispered.

“Say you won’t leave me this time.”

“You know I never will,” he said, knowing that wasn’t true. But couldn’t the two of them enjoy some time together?

“What will you do next?” she whispered.

Ludendorff leered at her before he took her right hand, guiding her off the bridge toward his cabin. It was good to be in the Solar System again.

***

Valerie thought about taking a tour through Detroit, seeing if anything had changed. Keith had talked about returning to Glasgow, to the bar.

Maddox did not believe either of those ideas would benefit his people, his family.

So, he took them on a vacation to China. First, they visited the Great Wall. They walked on the parapets and felt the cold winds blowing out of Mongolia.

“China back then was like the Commonwealth today,” Valerie said. “It stood alone against barbarism.”

“Keith,” Maddox said. “Fly us to Beijing as fast as you can go. There’s too much thinking going on here.”

The Scotsman did just that, racing the flitter in an expedition of speed and daring.

It rained the entire time they were in Beijing, though.

“Next stop, Shanghai,” Maddox said.

“What do I know about gambling?” Valerie asked.

It turned out very little, as she lost her back pay because she drank too many Long Island Iced Teas and tried her hand at the Roulette Wheel.

“It was a cheap lesson,” Meta told her later.

“There was nothing cheap about it,” Valerie said, sulking.

Finally, the captain had Keith fly them to Tibet. On the captain’s dime, he bought backpacks, climbing gear and supplies. For the next week, they hiked from one ancient temple to another.

The brisk winds, freezing cold and exercise kept them occupied. The quiet temples put them in contemplative moods. But it wasn’t until Meta started a snowball fight that lasted a half hour that they finally seemed to let their guards down. First Valerie, then Keith and finally Meta burst out laughing. Each of them fell backward into the snow, making a snow angel as their laughter turned into giggles.

Maddox had smiled, and he hadn’t dodged the various snowballs as he easily could have. Because of that, he had large red welts on his face where the others had pelted him.

“Laugh, Captain,” Valerie said. “Unwind for once.”

“Yes,” Keith said. “You work so hard. You need to let yourself go once in a while, sir.”

Maddox nodded. Maybe they were right.

“You poor dear,” Meta said from the snow. “You…” She became quiet.

“What’s wrong, Meta?” Valerie asked.

“I don’t want to think about it,” Meta said. “I just want to enjoy the moment.”

“What do you say to that, sir?” Keith asked.

Maddox inhaled the cold mountain air. Then, he shouted, startling each of them. He lunged at Meta, grabbed her left hand and hauled her to her feet. He ran through the snow, pulling her after him. He ran and ran until they were out of sight of Valerie and Keith.

Maddox whirled around, catching Meta, hugging her. He picked her up and dropped her in the snow, taking a handful of it and mashing it playfully in her face.

“Why you,” she said, grabbing him, pulling him down. They rolled in the snow many times. Finally, breathing heavily, they stared into each other’s eyes.

“It isn’t over, is it?” she whispered.

“If you mean that the human race is still kicking, the answer is yes.”

“Are we part of them?”

Maddox thought about the brigadier, about what he’d read in his file about his mother and babyhood. Mary O’Hara had kept him alive when others had wanted him dead.

“Yes,” the captain said. “We’re definitely part of humanity and the Commonwealth. Come. Let’s go back to the others. Let’s enjoy our time together. The enemy will soon be at the gate. Then we’ll go back to work.”

“I love you, Maddox,” Meta said, as she leaned against him.

He held her chin, kissed her luscious lips, and said, “And I love you, Meta.”

They walked hand in hand through the Tibetan snow, happy to be together and happy to be alive.

***

In orbit, Starship
Victory
cruised high over Tibet. The holoimage of Driving Force Galyan stood on the otherwise empty bridge, studying the main screen. It showed a close-up of Meta and Maddox.

The “leathery” face was creased in an Adok smile. The owl-like eyes shined.

Galyan watched over the others as they relaxed. Because he never got tired, he could do this for them. They were his family, and as long as he had them, he would never be alone.

It was a wonderful thing to know but even a better one to feel. Thus, Galyan remained at his post, content with his place in the universe.

The End

To the Reader
: Thanks! I hope you’ve enjoyed
The Lost Colony
. If you liked the book and would like to see the series continue, please put up some stars and a review. Let new readers know what’s in store for them.

—Vaughn Heppner