Spirits of the Earth: The Complete Series: (A Post-Apocalyptic Series Box Set: Books 1-3) by Milo Fowler (paper ebook reader .TXT) 📕

I meet his firm handshake, and gasps erupt from those who’ve already gathered. It isn’t every day they see their leader vanish before their eyes. But Luther reappears just as suddenly when I release his hand.

“Your medics know what they’re doing,” I tell him. “I’d be a goner, otherwise.”

“The very least we could do, considering it was one of our men who shot you.” Luther has seriously aged since I saw him last, and it’s only been months. Still as well-built and sharp-eyed as ever, though. “The way you risked your life to bring those incubation pods to us… We owe you.”

“How are they—the babies?” I step forward, causing Samson to shift his weight uneasily.

“No sudden moves,” he cautions in a low tone.

Luther smiles, the expression genuine and full of warmth despite the sorrow lingering behind his eyes. “They are well. You will see them shortly.”

“Are they out already? Born?” I guess that’s still the word for it.

“Not yet.” Luther glances at Samson. “That is one of the matters we’ll be discussing today. Sure to lead to more heated debate—something we’ve been fielding a lot lately.”

“Never in short supply,” Samson mutters.

A diplomatic way to say the Homeplace is rampant with discord? “I’m honored to be here, even if it’s just to listen in. Doubt there’s much I could contribute.”

“On the contrary.” Luther claps me on the shoulder with a solid grip. “You are our resident expert on Eden. We will need your input when it comes time to discuss returning for the other incubation pods that remain in Eden’s sublevels.”

I sniff, shuffling my feet. “Maybe it’s best if I just keep my yap shut for now, seeing how this is my first council meeting and all.”

“As you wish.” Another warm, sad-eyed smile from Luther. “We won’t force you to speak. But if during our discussion you have anything to add that may help us, please don’t hesitate to speak up. You’re among friends here.”

He squeezes my shoulder as Daiyna continues to stare daggers. Friends? Luther might be a bit out of touch. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“We should sit down.” Samson guides me away.

Instantly, Luther is swarmed by a group of people dressed as he is in the same loose cotton garb. They look irate about something. Apparently, not everything is fine and dandy here in Cave-ville.

How have these people lived like this for so many months? Humans weren’t designed to thrive inside the earth. At least Eden has filtered air and running water and electricity, even though it, too, is separated from the surface by meters of rock.

“Does he ever get a moment’s peace?” I nod toward Luther as Samson seats himself in the back row, far enough from Daiyna and Shechara and out of their eyeshot.

“Luther?” The cyborg gestures for me to sit beside him. The seat is far from ergonomic, but at least Daiyna isn’t staring at me. “He’s a busy man, alright. For good reason. He’s kept us alive, and he’s kept us together.”

“I’ve never met anybody more at peace with life in general. How is he so calm?”

Half a grin works its way up the side of Samson’s face. “Luther may not know what the future holds, but he knows who holds the future. He’s put his life in the hands of the Creator, the author and finisher of reality. So he doesn’t sweat the small stuff.”

I’m not sure how to respond to that.

The other seats fill in as men and women of all shapes, sizes, and skin tones enter the cavern with facial expressions running the gamut from anxious to angry. They all wear the same loose garments, like a cult’s uniform. Did they stumble across some sort of fabric warehouse on their journey west?

“Your numbers have grown.” There were only five back when I chauffeured them out of Eden. I’ve counted three dozen here already.

“We grew as we headed west, meeting fellow survivors along the way.”

“If Willard could see you now. I don’t think he’s got a clue. You guys are a real force to be reckoned with.”

Samson frowns at that. “Even with our numbers, we’d be no match for Eden. Not with Willard’s remote-controlled daemons. We wouldn’t get close.”

“But isn’t that what this meeting’s about? Organizing an assault on Eden to retrieve those babies?”

Samson exhales loudly and looks away, watching as more folks filter in. Luther converses with two of them while making his way toward the center of the gathering.

“We’re in the middle of something big here, and nobody knows how it’s going to pan out.” Samson shrugs his massive shoulders. “All I know is Luther’s got to get everybody on board. If he can’t keep us unified—”

“He’s already lost on that score.”

Samson lets out a low growl.

I didn’t mean to offend. “Just look around. The way people are clustering in groups, leaving plenty of room in between. Giving each other the evil eye.”

I mimic their suspicious expressions and wonder what my face looks like to Samson. Gaping holes for my eyes and mouth? Probably. They didn’t rub any salve on those areas.

“Can you blame them?” Samson frowns. “Your presence represents everything they’d like to forget. They’ve heard about Eden, and some of them want to blow it into a crater four stories deep. They hate what it stands for. What you stand for.”

I blink at that. “What about the UW? I can’t be the only baddie on their minds.”

Samson has a retort ready to go, but that’s when Luther holds up both his hands in a silent gesture, the tip of each finger permanently scarred from his time in Eden. He scans the faces gathered before him. Every seat has been taken, and many stand along the periphery. The voices peter out like a faucet turned off.

“Brothers and sisters,” Luther greets them. Despite their divisions, one thing is clear: these people respect him. “Thank you for gathering on such short notice. I realize there are many of you who are concerned about our recent guests—our friends from the coast.”