The 45th Parallel, page 29
“No,” she responded firmly.
“How can you say that? I’m different. Always will be.”
“Caitlin, one day, you will have children of your own. I can guarantee you won’t see them as freaks, so why would we see you as one? You are intelligent, tenacious, and loyal. You will never be a victim again, Caitlin. We made sure of that. Does Giovanni treat you like you are a freak?”
“No. When I told him, he just said that lots of people are immune to diseases. It is no different from a vaccination.”
“That is a very mature way of looking at it.”
“He just said I am special.”
“But you don’t believe it?”
“Not really.”
“Well, I am here to tell you that you are special, Caitlin. What you did for these people transcends what any normal person would do. Now, speaking of special, I had better get you back to this man of yours. It is getting late.”
“Where will you stay?” I asked, remembering that the apartment only had two beds and four residents already.
“Carmelo has already offered me his spare room.”
I sensed a strange undercurrent to her tone, and I looked across at her face. She caught the look.
“Don’t you give me that look, young lady!” she twinkled cheekily. “I am a grown woman, and I can make my own decisions, thank you.”
Chapter 47
I tried to run, but they were everywhere, taunting me. Flashing red and white. I screamed, but the sound wouldn’t come out. I lashed out, flailing, feeling their long, icy fingers grip me like tentacles.
“Caitlin!” The world was shaking.
Gasping, I opened my eyes. The room was dark, but the eyes were gone. I was safe, wrapped in his arms.
“What were you dreaming about?”
I sniffed, trying to recall. “Devil eyes,” I murmured, still shaking from the nightmare. My heart was racing as I saw the flashes from my memory.
“Devil eyes?”
I nodded, trying to catch my breath. Gio’s arms tightened. “Talk to me.”
I lay on his chest, trying to describe the memory. “I told you when we left Kiewa, the day the man attempted to murder me, on my birthday, we left at night. I had never driven in the dark; it was daytime when we went there. My parents had gone ahead, and Illy, Gerry, and my aunts took the children via an army barracks to collect supplies. But as we drove in the dark, the headlights kept shining on what I thought were demons chasing me. There were shadows, dark fingers reaching for me. It was the same as when he held me under the water, and I could see the dead people. I closed my eyes and told myself it was just a dream, but every time I opened them, they were still there, more and more of them. Finally, I started crying, and my aunt Di cuddled me. She is a gorgeous person. Soft and kind. But I couldn’t stop. She asked me what was wrong; she thought it was the shock of her nephew trying to murder me. And I told her, the red and white eyes keep flashing at me. I pointed them out, cringing and hiding in her lap.”
“Red and white eyes?”
“She made Illy pull over, and they explained what they were. I screamed and refused to get out of the car, but they touched them, showing me it was safe.”
“What was it?”
“In the old world, there were reflectors on the road, red on one side, and white on the other. When the car headlights hit them, the reflectors glowed like eyes. It was to help drivers tell where the edge of the road was in the dark. We were driving on dark country roads, and there were no lights. It was a safety thing, they explained. But it was terrifying.”
“Did it help? Seeing it was nothing?”
“It did, a little. But as the years passed, I guess I mixed those memories up in my mind. The drowning, being tied up, gagged, seeing the shadows as I lost consciousness and the demon eyes. It all happened on the same day, so when I had nightmares, the eyes were always part of it.”
“How long? How long did you have the nightmares?”
“A long time,” I admitted. “But not for the past few years … until now.”
“What did your parents do?”
“They were always there for me. Dad would make me a hot drink and sit up reading to me. Mum would take me back to sleep with them. For a long time, I slept with Seraphine, and that helped. Our houses were joined; it was like one big house with a passage in-between. We had a room in each half of the house. I had three parents, and one of them was always there. But the nightmares lingered. I guess I just got used to them.”
“Someone tried to murder you. I don’t think many children can say that and be as strong as you are.”
“So why don’t I feel strong?”
Gio’s arms tightened around me. “Can you sleep? I’ll watch over you.”
Maybe Illy is right, I thought as I felt sleep overtake me once more. Perhaps he is a keeper.
Tadhg arrived after breakfast and dragged Sera and me away to show him the tech pod. He had reviewed all the files Sera had sent and was beside himself, levitating with excitement at seeing the new technologies. He was in awe of the integrations we had made between our technology and theirs, Sera’s projects and mine, across so many elements of the community. He stared in wonder at the meteorological sensors, the aquaponics set up, now thriving, and the grape skin leather production, asking a million questions about how things worked. Sera and I grinned at each other as he walked from room to room, his mouth agape. He slipped an arm around me, proudly, when Sera told him about Gianni and the leg braces I had designed and constructed.
“I would love to meet this young man,” Tadhg said, pride clear in his voice. “I want to see what amazing innovations you have brought to the world.”
We arrived a fraction late to the ceremony, and it was clear that they were waiting for us. I gasped when I saw it was far grander than I had expected. While I had expected a small gathering to say thank you, I had never expected this. The Soggiorno deck had been decorated with ribbons in red, green, and white. It looked magical with ribbons interspersed with plants and fairy lights. A small stage had been erected in front of the far windows, chairs facing them in neat rows. Several of the elders stood at the podium, facing the crowd, waiting. The chairs in the front row were empty, but the second row was filled with people I knew: Carmelo, Leonardo, Illy, and Jake. Tadhg dropped us beside the stage with Gio and Matteo and rushed to find his seat beside Illy.
One elder silenced the crowd and gave a speech in Italian, of which I understood one word in ten, Gio rapidly translating in my ear, Matteo performing the same role for Sera. I knew they were talking about me, but I couldn’t take it in. The crowd stood attentively behind the seated guests and applauded wildly as our names were called. I gripped Sera’s hand, and we made our way onto the stage together. I felt horribly underdressed in my jeans, especially when I saw Illy, Jake, and Tadhg beaming with pride as the elders took turns to kiss us on both cheeks and presented Sera and me with a bottle of wine each. They had no time to make anything else, they explained through Gio. But this was one of the few remaining bottles of the original vintage, now thirty-five years old. They had been saving it for the half-century celebrations, but this was deemed a more fitting occasion. With Sera and I standing on the stage, nervously clutching our gifts, Carmelo and Leonardo were also called up and honored for their role in taking down our captors.
The roar of applause was deafening, echoing around the curved roof of the pod, and I had heard nothing like it. I tried to smile, but the sound was overwhelming and terrifying. Glancing around the crowd, I saw so many people I knew and tried to focus on them to keep me grounded. Fabrizio was next to Antonio, I noticed. Joseph on the other side. I smiled at Antonio, and he draped an arm around Joseph’s shoulder, beaming at me. Gianni was seated between his parents, a look of joy on his face. I smiled at him, and he waved.
As the roar died down, I thanked the elders in my rehearsed Italian and glimpsed Illy’s face. She was smiling in a way that I knew instantly she was proud of me. Of both of us. She had that look parents have when their children are getting married, like they had been successful in their role as parents. Well, I wasn’t getting married. I was no man’s possession, but a small thrill ran through me. She was proud of me. A pang of sadness that my parents weren’t here to share this moment gripped me, but I searched for Tadhg’s beaming face. He had acted as a father to me for the past few years, and I smiled, seeing his joy.
A few rows behind Tadhg, I caught Francesca’s scowling face in the crowd but skimmed over it, refusing to let her see my discomfort. Gio stood slightly behind me, ostensibly to translate, but he was leaning into me, offering support. I tilted back slightly, the warm firmness of his chest comforting.
I pulled my attention back to the principal speaker as he continued with the ceremony. The crowd hushed, and Gio showed us to the front row of seats, mine directly in front of Illy. Matteo assisted Carmelo, still walking awkwardly, and I caught a flash of a smile between Carmelo and Illy.
Seated on my left and holding my hand, Gio resumed translating. Fifty-six innocent people had been killed by the Caspians, and now there would be a ceremony honoring each of them and their sacrifice. Each family was invited to speak briefly, but I knew from Gio that the bodies had already been released into the sea, through the moon pools we had ourselves used. They had waited a few hours after releasing the bodies of our captors, not wanting them to spend eternity together.
“It would have been a lot more if it weren’t for you,” Illy’s voice whispered into my right ear during one family’s impassioned speech. I flushed and caught Tadhg’s eye over Illy’s diminutive height. He smiled at me. “You did good, Caitlin. We are all very proud.”
My stomach continued to churn. I was conflicted, and secretly pleased that there were no photographs of the victims. I couldn’t deal with seeing their faces; it was bad enough hearing their names and seeing their distraught families. I squirmed, wondering if they blamed me for not acting faster, for not doing something to save their loved ones. How could you not be jealous? So many saved, but not them?
“They don’t,” Illy’s voice sounded in my ear.
“How can they not?” I mumbled, not really wanting to be heard. “If I had done something sooner…”
“You saved over five thousand lives. Everyone here knows that.”
“But I couldn’t save them all,” I whispered mournfully.
Illy’s hand slipped onto my arm, comforting, as we sat listening to the speeches. Her voice was low and calm, barely a murmur in the crowd.
“Five thousand people slept in their own beds last night. They woke up this morning and hugged their family. The sun shone upon their faces. They are all alive because of you, what you did. Those men killed them, not you. They don’t blame you, Caitlin. None of them do.”
I couldn’t feel it. If only we had moved faster. I should have done more.
After the noise and crowds at the ceremony, I desperately needed to be alone. Slipping away, I went to the pool and swam laps, trying to stop my head from torturing me. At least underwater, I couldn’t hear the crowd cheering and clapping. I didn’t deserve it. None of it. I felt like a fraud.
The pool was empty when I arrived, but I saw another body in the adjacent lane as I swam. Mum had been a champion swimmer in her youth and insisted that we learn proper stroke technique, despite being taught in a freezing loch on a remote Scottish island. When I stopped at one end to rest for a moment, I glanced over and saw that it was Carmelo in the adjacent lane.
“Rehabilitation?” I asked. He grinned, his black hair wet and glossy. He looked like me, I realized, wondering why I hadn’t seen it before. We were of a similar height, both with dark hair. But his eyes were brown and mine, green. I desperately wanted to ask him about Illy but felt it was disrespectful. She was my mother in all ways that counted, and he was Gio’s godfather. He tossed his wet hair from his eyes and twinkled at me.
“Yes, I need to build my strength.”
“My mum taught me to swim,” I admitted. “I never found it relaxing until now.”
“Illyria.” He sounded it out in a beautiful, exotic way. “She is quite a woman. My brother was a lucky man.”
“She certainly is,” I agreed, seeing his passion. Illy had been an integral part of my life since birth, so I had never seen her as others did. Being away from home, now I saw her as others did. A fearless leader, one who led by example. Just as I was about to ask him his intentions toward her, a family arrived with two young children. The mother squealed when she saw me, disrobing, plopping into the pool, and hugging and kissing me, pointing at her children. Wearing only a skimpy swimsuit, this was more than a little uncomfortable. She spoke rapidly, and with accompanying hand gestures, I couldn’t quite understand what she was saying. Thanks for saving her children, but … there were too many words. Carmelo saw my plight and interjected, chatting away like they were old friends. I took the opportunity to escape, slipping into showers in the change rooms, hoping she would respect me enough not to follow.
Chapter 48
“Let’s talk.” Illy waved at the two chairs before her. Somehow, in the space of three days, she had managed to wrangle an office with a view and win the respect of the leadership team here. Gio looked amused. I rolled my eyes. I had never known a life without Illy in it.
Illy sat behind the large desk and leaned back in the chair.
“Giovanni,” she snapped without warning. “What are your intentions toward my daughter?”
He blinked. “Which one?” he asked, clearly confused. Illy smirked.
“Well, unless you also have intentions toward Seraphine, Caitlin here will do.”
I squirmed. I interrupted, but she held a hand up to me, watching Gio coolly.
“I love her.” He shrugged, unsure of what else to say.
“Can you see a life together?”
“Mum!” I exclaimed at the same time Gio firmly responded, “Yes.”
I stared at him. “You have known me for a month.”
“Sometimes you just know,” he said quietly, maintaining eye contact. Illy nodded approvingly.
“Caitlin. What are your feelings toward Giovanni?”
“Bloody hell, is this an interrogation? Why don’t you bring my parents along and gang up on me?”
“Caitlin…” she warned, and I knew I wasn’t getting away with not answering the question.
“I love him too,” I confessed, feeling her eyes drilling into the top of my head as I slumped in the chair. “He makes me feel … complete in a way I have never felt before,” I whispered, embarrassed that he was here and could hear me.
“Good.” She turned and looked out the window across the lake. “So the next question is where to from here? You are both far too talented to waste here. I have negotiated your release, Giovanni.” She turned and looked at us both.
“Release?” he asked, confused, but Illy ignored him.
“I have a proposal for you both. Hear me out, please, before speaking.”
Gio glanced at me, and I rolled my eyes, not caring that she could see. This was classic Illy.
“There are five other underwater habitations, and I intend to bring them into the Collective. If they choose,” she added with a grin, “but I think we can make it worth their while. I can’t be in all places, and to be honest, I am getting old. I need the next generation to take the reins, and I would like the two of you to be ambassadors. With your consent, I would like you to travel to Canada and be the Collective’s ambassadorial team there.”
My mouth fell open. “Canada? Ambassador? Me?”
“Close your mouth, Caitlin. Why not you? You are brilliant, capable, and a born leader. You are loyal and trustworthy. News will spread quickly about what you did here. The lives you saved in a community that wasn’t even yours. I can’t imagine anyone better. With Giovanni by your side, no one will challenge you. Giovanni, as a doctor, born in an unhab community, you will be trusted. You understand the benefits and the limitations of this type of living implicitly, but you have also seen what improvements Seraphine and Caitlin can bring.”
“Sera is coming too?” I asked hopefully.
“That is yet to be determined, but I would like Seraphine and Matteo to travel to the Japanese community on Hokkaido to perform the same role. You will have contact, of course, and work together, but I intend to ask them to act as ambassadors for the Collective in Japan.”
“Why Japan? Sera doesn’t speak Japanese.”
“That can be addressed, but she has extensive technological knowledge and an ability to draw people together to best use their talents. From what we can tell, the Japanese community is more technically advanced, so her skills are better deployed there. Canada relies heavily on geothermic technology and engineering. Thus, you are better suited to that community.”
That made sense. “What about the other communities?” I asked.
“I am fairly certain this community already sees the benefits. Tadhg will stay here for a time and oversee the transition. Caspian will be left to me, as will Yellowstone. After your intel, we will tackle those differently.”
“And France?”
“France is close enough to Scotland that we can manage that as well. I will ask Magali and Nasir for their help there. I have held initial conversations and don’t anticipate any problems. Now, I will give you some time to discuss it. But I would like an answer by tomorrow morning, please.”
We had been dismissed. I stood in a daze, turned, and left, Gio close behind me. As the door banged behind us, I looked at him, confusion furrowing my brow.
“Wow.”
“Wow, indeed.” He gathered me in. “I always knew you were exceptional, but an ambassador?”
