Eden (17 page)

“I can’t; I have no power over it,” she says helplessly.

“Mia, listen to me. You have a rare and extraordinary gift that may still be in its infancy. It may be some time before you fully harness the depths of your power. In the meantime open your mind and allow it to grow inside you. And while we’re here, if you experience anything that gives you the slightest foreboding, be sure to tell me, okay?”

“Okay.” She smiles weakly.

Noah releases her shoulders and they walk in silence. He considers what Evelyn would think of their conversation and has a quiet laugh to himself. Then he thinks of something that had never occurred to him before. “Why were you and your brother seated in Section Two away from your parents?”

The question stops Mia in her tracks. “Oh that. It’s really complicated.”

“Go on, I’m listening.”

She sighs. “We
had
been seated in Section One, behind my parents, but during the flight I dragged Max to the back because I had to tell him something, something really important that I couldn’t have Mom or Dad hear. It was a vision I had of his future, but it wasn’t like the visions I’ve had before. This one was different.”

“Different? In what way?”

“It’s hard to explain; it was more of a feeling I guess. Like a helpless feeling. Like I couldn’t get to him or that I wouldn’t be able to help him for some reason. I’m not entirely sure just yet, sometimes it takes a few sightings before I get a better understanding of what’s happening.”

“So what do you know thus far?”

“All I know is that it’s early morning or maybe evening and Max is walking toward a little girl crouched over a large puddle in the middle of a road somewhere. It’s snowing and deathly quiet and the girl is barely dressed.”

Noah hangs on every word, trying to visualize the scene unfolding. “What else do you see?”

“That’s it. That’s all I know.” She shrugs.

“Yes, I realize that’s all you
know
, but tell me what you
see
?”

Mia nods her head and her mouth opens slightly, as she understands the question. “The girl is maybe five or six and she is wearing a filthy white nightshirt with pink polka dots… or was it hearts? Anyway, she is barelegged and not wearing any shoes. Her hair is blond, almost white, and her back is to me, I mean, Max.”

“Wait, hold on… are you seeing this vision through Max’s eyes?”

Mia slaps Noah on his arm. “That’s it! That’s why it was so weird! That never happened to me before. Usually, I’m like a witness, but for some reason, I
am
seeing it through his eyes.”

The revelation is a game changer to Noah and he practically trips over his feet when he hears it. In a span of seconds, he realizes that Mia’s ability far supersedes that of any clairvoyant he has ever encountered before. It’s one thing to see future events as if you were an omniscient witness but it’s an entirely different ability if you can see an event of the future through the lens of another soul. This is an unprecedented admission of power that has his head spinning.
She doesn’t even realize what she can do.

“I’m sorry, did I say something wrong?”

“No, of course not.” He tries to hide his astonishment. “I’m sorry, I was thinking about your brother. So what about this vision bothers you so much?”

“That’s just it. I don’t know. There is obviously more to it, but I don’t know what it is yet. Although I am certain about one thing.”

“And that is?”

“Any vision that I have concerning Max is always tied to his mortal danger. I tried to warn him when we were on the shuttle, but then the crash happened and since then, he and I haven’t been on the best of terms.”

“He blames you for what happened to your parents?”

“Yes. He doesn’t understand why I took us to New Zealand.”

“So… why did you?”

“I don’t know,” she lies, turning her head away from him.

Noah doesn’t believe her, but decides not to push it. “So explain to me what happened yesterday. What did you see then?”

“Oh… that. Well that one is a little more typical of the visions I usually have. I like to call those
follow me.
”

“Follow me?”

“Yeah… this is going to sound really weird.” She pauses deliberately as she tries to find the words. “So I kinda see myself....” She pauses yet again and this time it’s to pull her hood down and loosen her scarf against the day’s rising temperatures. “No. What I really mean to say is there’s two of me. There’s me, as I am, and then there’s another me that’s like a projection or ghost, I guess. Anyway, she tells me what to do and where to go and I just follow myself until eventually she disappears and it’s just me again.”

Noah doesn’t dare interrupt as he discovers yet another facet of her power, but their conversation is put on hold when he hears Max calling. They turn to face him and Noah can see that the others are gathering in a semicircle.

“Evelyn sent me,” Max shouts. “It’s Hank, come quick!”

Noah charges toward the others and, as he nears, he watches Hiroshi carry the fallen man to a nearby boulder and prop him against it. Evelyn kneels beside him and gives him a drink of water while she unbuttons his shirt.

“What happened?” Noah breaks in.

Evelyn looks up at her husband. “He just collapsed.” She checks his pulse before adding, “His pulse is racing. He needs to rest.”

“I’m okay... I’m okay,” Hank insists, shaking his head. His appearance suggests otherwise.

Noah chews on his bottom lip as he considers their options. They have been hiking for almost six hours, but there is plenty of daylight ahead of them. He looks at Hank, ashen and pale and gasping for air in the high altitude. “Okay, there’s a shallow valley up ahead, about a klick away, where we can set up camp and rest for the day. I can go out farther after we get situated and map out tomorrow’s trail.”

“Why would we do that?” Josette questions loudly. “We need to keep moving. This isn’t a nature hike through the mountains. We need to get the hell out of here as fast as we can!”

The remark draws a host of stares. Evelyn rises and walks toward her. “What are you suggesting Josette?”

“I’m
suggesting
we take a short break and then keep moving. I’m not going to let one person dictate what happens to all of us.”

“You are right that we need to move quickly, but I will not leave
you
or
anyone
behind, and Hank needs to rest,” Evelyn says. “We can figure something out if he can’t continue tomorrow but we must stick together. Does everyone else agree?”

Opinions are mixed but even at that, no one wants what Josette is offering, and she sulks alone when they reach the valley. Noah has supported Hank heavily and, when they stop, sets up the tent for him to rest inside. Then everyone except Josette works to build a shelter of loose rocks and spongy sod that they rip from the earth in long rectangular strips. Meanwhile, a few of the others scavenge the countryside for dry kindling and any possible food.

When the shelter is complete, Noah and Hiroshi break from the others and scout for tomorrow’s hike. Divisions have begun to form, and several people vent frustration about how the day has unfolded. Craig, Patrick, and Sarah have brought their concerns about Hank’s failing health to Evelyn. While they think Josette could have expressed herself differently, they agree that they can ill afford more delays especially with the limited supply of food and water. Evelyn tries to quell their fears but she can see the alarm building within them, having witnessed on too many occasions the cruelty that people can display when backed into a corner.

It is early evening by the time Noah and Hiroshi return to camp, and the group gathers around the fire, having just finished their ration of boiled chicken, quinoa, and carrots. Hiroshi proudly lugs an eel he has caught using an old fishing technique that his father taught him when he was a boy. When Evelyn is alerted to their arrival, she goes to meet them.

“Welcome back gentlemen. What do we have here?” she inquires, inspecting the large fish.

Hiroshi lifts the fresh catch to eye level so she can take a closer look. “We snagged a longfin eel,” he says, flashing a rare but welcome smile.

Noah shakes his head and corrects him. “I had nothing to do with it; that was all Hiroshi.”

“Well it’s a welcome site, truly. What else did you find?”

“We found some fresh water and filled up. We have some challenging terrain to deal with tomorrow.”

“Fantastic,” Evelyn replies sarcastically. She looks to Noah. “May I have a word with you?”

Hiroshi takes the cue and excuses himself, walking toward the fire. Noah can see the anxiety on her face. “Is Hank alright?”

“He’s resting,” she says with a sigh. “While you were away, several of the others came to me and expressed their concern about Hank holding us back tomorrow. I don’t know what to do. I understand their position. But we all have to pull together and do what’s right.”

“I agree. I practically had to bite my tongue not to have words with Josette when she was ranting and raving. I’m just glad you were there to diffuse the situation.”

She shakes her head in frustration. “I don’t know how long I can keep the barbarians at the gate, but hopefully Hank can rest comfortably tonight and press on tomorrow.”

“He’ll have to. I’ll give him my ration of food in the morning, and tonight Hiroshi and I will be working on the traverses ahead. We’ll face an even greater challenge tomorrow, I assure you.”

“I don’t like the sound of that one bit, but you can fill me in later. I’m more curious about how it went today with Mia. Did you find out anything?”

Noah tries to stifle a laugh but fails to do so, which causes Evelyn to respond with a playful shove. “You cheeky bastard! What did she tell you?”

“Eve, honestly, you wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

“What? Oh come on! You tell me everything, this instant.”

Noah tilts his head to the side and raises his arms in surrender. “At this moment I have more questions than answers, but I promise to tell you everything as soon as I am able.”

“Oh bollocks! You’re impossible, you know that!” She waves him off with her hand before hooking her arm through his and leading him to the fire. “No matter, let’s get you fed.”

As they walk, Noah says, “That was quite moving, how you spoke today at the funeral. I especially liked your parting for Tom, when you quoted my father.” He lowers his gaze. “That was a nice touch.”

Evelyn beams. “I thought you would appreciate that.”

“Which reminds me — when did my father say that to you?”

Evelyn’s focus drifts as she recounts the memory. “It was the summer before you left for the war, the last time we were all together before your father died. We went on holiday with them to Majorca. Do you remember? I was sitting with your parents at a café while you walked back from somewhere to meet us. Along your way, you came across a street vendor who was struggling with a wheel on his cart. Without batting an eye, you hunched over the cart and lifted it, putting all that weight on your back so the man could adjust the wheel. Your father, bursting with pride, leaned over to me and that’s when he said it. It’s a moment I will never forget.” She turns to him, her eyes twinkling.

Noah stops walking and faces his wife. He lowers his head and gives her a long soft kiss. “Thank you for that. You honor me, Eve.”

Evelyn stands still, hidden in the shadow of his face. “No my love,” she whispers, “you honor yourself.”

Chapter 13

In total darkness, just moments before the sun tips its light across the sky, Evelyn is on her knees losing last night’s supper. She uses both hands to hold her long strawberry locks away from her face. Her vomiting is followed by a series of coughs until she slowly regains her composure, finishing it off with a long salty spit. Luna comes up from behind and gathers Evelyn’s hair in her left hand while offering a handkerchief with the other.

“Oh… thank you,” says Evelyn, reaching for the napkin. “I don’t know what came over me. I usually love eel.” She shoots her a playful wink.

Luna smiles warmly and reaches into her yellow gunnysack and pulls out what appears to be a purple root. She hands it to Evelyn. “Sniff this.” Evelyn complies — and immediately begins to erupt all over again.

Meanwhile, by the campfire, Noah and Hiroshi check the harness, zip-line, and pulley system that they had constructed through the night. The ingenious apparatuses, which will be used to navigate today’s obstacles, were assembled with the wheels from the suitcases and one of the luggage handles, modified to use as a bar for the zip-line. By fastening various pieces of hardware from Noah’s climbing gear and with a couple of additions to the harnesses, they soon have all that they will need to cut through the mountains, putting them one step closer to their rescue. After they complete the inspection, Noah instructs Jacob and a sleepy Max on the duties they will need to perform.

During the explanation, Max continues to yawn, his eyes half closed, clearly not paying attention. “Max, are we using fixed or natural anchors for the descent?” Noah quizzes.