New Atlantis Bundle, Books1-3 Page 32

  ‘But he’s setting a dangerous precedent.’

  ‘I was setting a dangerous precedent by demanding you get a chance to integrate into a shell that wasn’t your own after you’d done your nine life limit. What if I had just gone along with Protocol and let you die! That is a thought I can’t even entertain.’

  ‘If we play white knight sweeping in to pluck every child in danger out of harm’s way, we not only risk temporal displacement but also take away life choices.’

  ‘Choices that led to death? But what if the choice was always to be rescued and brought here? Jeremy was in an abusive family situation that was unlikely to improve until the brother left home. His formative years would have been damaged irreparably by repeated and long term abuse. His choice was to get out, on some level or other, and we assisted him.’

  Jac’s expression told her he was sceptical.

  ‘Look, I’m not saying we dash in and take every child that’s thrown up by the computers. There are kids who are taken by people who raise them as their own. Those ones lived on. But other ones. The possible paedophile deaths. Who says they’ll take another to replace the one we rescue? That predator may always have missed that chance. All I’m saying is that we need to reconsider the implications of interceding, in light of the growing evidence that such intercession was always fated to happen. Like Jane. If Julio hadn’t encouraged her to go to beach for her birthday, she might never have been on that Ferry for Julio to flag in the first place.’

  ‘So you think we should encourage our Jumpers to take greater risks?’ Jac was looking less concerned and more thoughtful now.

  ‘I think we need to up our success rate. One or two cases out of five, isn’t good enough. It damages morale and slows down the program. Look at the list of prospective parents we have. For every child we Retrieve, there are now ten sets of parents wanting them. It’s not good enough.’

  ‘You can’t increase production to meet demand Jane. That’s not how this works!’

  ‘I know, I know. That’s not strictly what I meant. But if we are putting limitations on ourselves that are groundless, aren’t we obliged to consider the evidence in favour of the rescues?’

  ‘You have wanted to save every missing child since you came up with this scheme, Cara. I think you’re pushing the envelope too far this time. You have to think of the political ramifications. We have a committee we answer to.’

  ‘So we present our evidence to prove just cause for increasing our net. We use examples of how Jumpers influenced the time-line with no discernible impact. How Targets who refused Retrieval still disappeared as recorded. The premise is that, if we do it, then it was always done.’

  ‘Again, how do we know we won’t change something dire, and not even know about it? Like, who’s to say the Last Great Plague was part of the original time line? What if, because we took a child who might have grown up to be a scientist who discovers a cure, the population was decimated.’

  ‘And if it wasn’t decimated, I wouldn’t have become Targeted, and then agitated to start rescuing Missing Kids. We’ve got the loop again, Jac. And we can go on and on about this. But the facts remain, if we were meant to save a child, we will. It’s already happened.’

  ‘I guess I can’t argue with that, as I was the one who suggested that to you in the first place. Remember? I said if these kids were meant to be rescued, it didn’t matter whether it was in 2330 or 2450, it would happen, because it had happened.’

  ‘So, Julio stays?’

  ‘Julio gets some help. Right or wrong, his reasons for his actions need to come from a healthy place. At the moment, I sense a compulsion at work here that isn’t healthy for him.’

  ‘You don’t do psychotherapy in New Atlantis, remember?’

  ‘That doesn’t mean we can’t. I’d bet my next meal that we have a Newcomer somewhere in the Confederacy who used to be a therapist. I’d feel happier letting Julio do his thing, if I could trust that it was coming from the right place.’

  ‘Okay, I’m with you on that. And it will satisfy the committee members who might feel punitive action should be taken against him. A bit like you being removed from the program for getting sexually involved with me. It looked good on paper, and yet it was just what you wanted to happen.’

  ‘Good, so we’ve got a plan. Can I change the agenda now? There’s a spot on your neck I just realised I missed last time. I have to be meticulous. It’s part of my nature.’

  Cara laughed, and threw her arms around her Nordic giant’s neck. ‘In matters such as this, meticulous is totally acceptable. Show me where you missed!’

  His mouth came down on her exposed neck and she groaned softly with delight. That was all the encouragement he needed. It was going to be a long, passionate night.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Jane had just finished her extended dance routine. Her body felt alive, and her spirit still soared, even after the last movement had come to an end. Little could she have known, back in her old life, what pleasure there was to be gained from such physical exertion. Every new opportunity she explored was like flying a little higher into the sky. But, unlike Icarus, she had no plans to fly so high her wings burned out from under her.

  Happy with her practise, she towelled off and headed for the entrance to the Rehab Centre. She had plans to go to the school later, to read a story to the children. But before that she wanted a nice relaxing lunch with Maggie in the social precinct.

  How different her life was now, from the way it had been only four months ago. Back then, her optimism was limited to the thought that one day she might get a better job, one that didn’t involve unpacking groceries for the obnoxious Maude. Now there were no limits to her optimism for her future. She already had so much more than she had ever dreamed possible.

  Something had happened the night Julio had returned from his Jump. Something that was more powerful than their sharing. It had marked the turning point for her on this journey of discovery. She could pinpoint that moment as the one when she fully integrated with her new life. From that point on, there was no thoughts of Old Jane/ New Jane. There was just Jane, and whether she saw herself as she was in 1968 or as she was in 2331, the real Jane was there, growing with each new experience.

  Being free from her guilt was a major factor. And realising the depth of her love for Julio, was another. Up until that night, Julio had remained an idealised lover, the perfect fairy tale prince, for all his troubled past. But that night she had seen him as an imperfect human being, with his share of weaknesses, as well as strengths. Loving him became the work of a mature woman, not the idolised dream of a young girl. And although Julio was a long way from healed, she had found the strength and commitment to stand at his side through the storm his actions had wrought for the Retrieval Program.

  And her love for him was deeper and more sustaining than she could ever have imagined. Being loved by him, even if the word had still not passed either of their lips, no longer felt like an accident, or undeserved. She understood why he loved her, what he saw in her that was special and valuable. And it had nothing to do with her clone, and everything to do with her.

  ‘Jane!’ she heard her name called loudly, as she left the building. It was socially unacceptable to yell or call out in such a noisy fashion in New Atlantis, and she looked around for the culprit.

  Sure enough, it was Julio, loping toward her on one of the moving pathways from the city centre. The critical looks cast his way seemed to have no impact on him. But given the deluge of negativity he’d had heaped on him in the last few weeks, a few scandalised stares were nothing.

  She moved to meet him, feeling her heart leap at his obvious high spirits. His handsome face was glowing with joy, and his impatience to share his good news with her was reassuring.

  When he reached her, Julio picked her up and swung her around and around until she was dizzy.

  ‘It’s done! Finalised! I’m cleared of any wrong doing and reinstated to the program, conditional on undertaking
counselling with this guy they’ve found on one of the other communities. And what’s even better – they’re going to experiment with more intrusive Retrievals. We’re going to really start to do some good!’

  ‘That’s great, Julio. Now put me down!’ She fought to get the words out past her laughter, as she clung to her man’s broad shoulders.

  Obediently, he lowered her feet to the ground, but kept her trapped against his chest, beaming down into her face as if all the wonders of the world were contained in it.

  ‘Just imagine. No more turning away when we see a predator stealing a child! No more turning our backs on a child’s pain!’

  ‘How will they determine if someone means the child harm, and not just giving them a new family?’

  ‘We’re going to download and carry databases of known paedophiles, and if that tags the guy, we move in. If not, we follow and see what happens. If the circumstances look suspect, we step in. Oh Querida, this is a dream come true. This is the work I was meant for!’

  She stroked the side of his handsome face, absorbing his joy.

  ‘How did they convince the committee?’

  ‘Jac and Cara had gathered a plethora of anecdotal and statistical evidence to show that we were already interacting with these time –lines. That what we decide to do, has already been done. It doesn’t mean we can go in to every situation, of course. But the bad ones, the bad ones we can. Because we already did.’

  Julio released Jane from his hug, and slid her around to his side. He began walking with her, pinned beneath his arm, toward the mobile pathway he’d just left.

  ‘Where are we going?’ she asked, confused by his sudden determined action.

  Julio said nothing, but his expression was mischievous as he moved them onto the outward bound path.

  ‘Julio, where are we going? I’ve got a date with Maggie at Pablos in ten minutes!’

  ‘No you haven’t. I cancelled that for you. There are more pressing concerns for you, right now.’

  ‘What? Where are you taking me? Come on, what’s all the mystery?’

  He grinned at her broadly, his excitement written in every line of his face. ‘Patience, Querida, patience!’

  ‘Now there’s the pot calling the kettle black. You haven’t got a patient bone in your body!’

  He laughed loudly, and as usual, attracted the critical stares of passing citizens. It only made him laugh louder.

  ‘I think we should put loud speakers on every corner and blast the children’s laughter and screams right out across the city. Might wake this lot up a bit.’ He glared back at one of the more obvious critics, then immediately burst into laughter again.

  Jane found she was laughing too, his mood infectious. ‘If I didn’t know better I’d think you were drunk!’

  ‘I am. I’m drunk on love! Now, shut up and wait. Not long now.’

  They had been striding along the moving pathway, past the dormitory and social precincts, and were now in the outer circuit of the city where private residences were located.

  Leaving the moving pathway, Julio drew her along a static path up the swelling curve of a hill. All around them were small villas set in their own green space. Like everything else in New Atlantis, the architecture was classical, and every dwelling blended in with the others and with their surroundings. Beauty, grace and symmetry were the hallmark of each property.

  He finally came to a standstill outside one of the villas that overlooked a small copse of scrubby trees. Birds called to one another from the branches.

  ‘Well, what do you think?’

  Jane looked at the villa and then back at Julio. ‘About what?’

  ‘The villa. Do you like it?’

  ‘What’s not to like? It’s as beautiful as everything else here. Has all the stress unhinged you?’

  ‘No, Querida. I am showing you your new home. I thought you might have an opinion on it.’

  ‘New home? But Maggie is fine with me staying with her.’

  ‘But I’m not. I want you living with me. It’s going to be hard enough being away from you for a week or more at a time, without having to juggle whose bed we’ll sleep in every night. This way it’s always the same. Ours! Tell me you want to be my Bonded Mate and share my home.’

  Jane couldn’t believe what he was saying. Bonded? He was asking her to be Bonded? That was as serious as relationships got in this world. There was no marriage anymore, but Bonding acted in a similar way. It marked a couple as mates for life, and would even qualify them for parenting, if they wanted to go down that path.

  It was all so sudden. They’d not even said they loved each other yet. What if it was only the euphoria of his reinstatement that had pushed him into this decision? What happened if he hated being with her, if she was around all the time?

  ‘You don’t like it.’ His face fell like a child who had just had his birthday party cancelled.

  ‘No, no, I love it. But are you sure? I mean, we’ve only known each other for four months. It’s a big commitment.’

  ‘Too big a commitment, you mean? I’m sorry. I thought you felt the same way I do. You seemed to. And you’ve stood by me the whole time the committee was investigating me. I thought you lo…’ He couldn’t bring himself to say the word, and he looked away, his emotions in turmoil.

  ‘I do love you, Julio, with all my heart. But I didn’t think you were that serious…’

  ‘Not serious? My god, Jane, you are my heart, my soul, and my reason for being. Call me melodramatic for phrasing it that way, but I’m told it goes with my cultural heritage.’ He took her face between his hands, and stared deep into her eyes.

  His eyes were like warm, dark chocolate. ‘I lived two hundred and twenty years of soulless loneliness, hating myself and everyone else. I don’t want to spend another day that way. I want a fresh start. I want to feel good about myself, and deserving of you. Because you are my life, Jane. I love you! A few months ago, I didn’t even know what that word meant. But you’ve taught me. Live with me, Jane, here or anywhere else that suits you. But share my life. Please!’

  She felt her throat choke up with unshed tears of joy. How could anyone want more than such a declaration? She had known from the very start that there would never be anyone for her but Julio. That she finally realised he felt the same was over-powering.

  ‘Well, I guess, if this is going to be our house, we better go in and have a look around. I hope the neighbours are quiet.’

  Julio barked out a laugh at her joke. ‘I think we’ll be the noisy neighbours, not them. Come on, it’s got a fabulous shower and lovely little patio at the back with a gold fish pond. I thought we might get a dog. There aren’t many of them on New Atlantis, but Cara’s bitch is having puppies, and I thought we might claim one.’

  Jane allowed him to guide her into her new home, his happy chatter forming the mellow background to the scene. And if it was not the castle a princess would have expected from her prince, it was the home that she would expect from her man. And it was more than enough!

  Want to find out what happens next in New Atlantis? Then read on with Savage, Book 3 in the series.

  Savage

  A New Atlantis Novel – Book 3

  Nhys Glover

  This novel is entirely a work of fiction. With the exception of historical events and people used as background for the story, and those in the public domain, the names, characters and incidents portrayed in this work come wholly from the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental

  Published by Belisama Press

  © Nhys Glover 2013

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please delete it and purchase your own copy. Thank y
ou for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Chapter One

  August 10 1942, South East Poland

  In the last glow of twilight, they made their way quickly along the railway tracks, listening for the sound of approaching trains. It was imperative that they weren’t spotted by an engineer or any accompanying soldiers on a train. Suspected subversives were shot on sight. And that was exactly what they were – subversives. But they weren’t AK, or members of any other underground network in war ravaged Poland. Nor were they Allied insurgents or spies. They were something else entirely.

  It had been a nine mile walk from Jozefow, where they had reconnoitred the station and surrounds in readiness for their mission the next day. Now they were making for the extraction point, which would come into its own the following night.

  Faith glanced over at Zygmunt, as he sighed heavily for the sixth time in as many minutes.

  ‘What?’ She was too tired and traumatised to keep her annoyance out of her voice. The man was a burr under her blanket, and she couldn’t wait to be rid of him.

  ‘It is these shoes. I had quite forgotten how tight and uncomfortable such footwear could be. And the heat has swollen my feet to at least a size larger.’ Taking a handkerchief from the top pocket of his serge jacket, he mopped his receding forehead dramatically. It was a warm night, but nothing compared with what they were used to. Faith knew he was just making mountains out of molehills, yet again.

  They spoke the formal English of their homeland, now they were away from the locals. It brought home closer, and made what they were experiencing less real.

  ‘You will be able to soak your feet in the ocean in a few minutes.’ She held that idea out as a carrot to them both. The thought of wriggling her toes in the cool, blue Atlantic Ocean appealed to her greatly in that moment. She had never lived more than five miles from the sea in all her two hundred and thirty two years. Being away from it, even for a few short days, was a hardship.