Don’t stop working on any of your abilities. Fine-tuning your mental and physical power is about more than chemistry. Your mind is a big part of what your body can do. The reverse is also true,” said Josh.
“Thanks for everything you’ve done for us, Josh. We’ll be sure to keep training on the road,” said Cole.
“Josh, why don’t you come with us,” said Ilya.
“Yeah, we could use your help if you’re willing,” said Faith.
Josh and Max exchanged a raised eyebrow look.
“We need you here for harvest next month. It’s not a good time for a road trip.” Max’s words had a surly undertone.
“You’ve got me now.” Camille smiled and put her hand on Max’s forearm.
“Let me think about it,” said Josh. I expected he would want to talk to his brother in private before committing to join us. Josh had already done more for us than anyone not already involved with our cause. It was a wild and risky thing to do, taking on a corporate power with little more than a few brains and a few sets of hands.
“We’ll pack while you think,” said Ilya in his best conciliatory tone.
Chapter 11
Each of us finished our food. We cleared the table in a silence full of palpable tension. Yet, I didn’t for a second regret setting our departure in motion. Staying at Foothills was temporary.
“Join me for a walk?” said Jonah as I closed the dishwasher door. He stood close enough for me to feel his body heat. I looked up to find his blue eyes bright again, framed with his wavy black hair and smooth pale skin.
“To the clearing?”
“No, the path along the road. We could use some fresh air before we’re stuck in the car for the rest of the day.” Jonah obviously wanted to talk.
I figured it would be harmless to let him. Excitement seized me. Is he going to tell me he’s getting better somehow? He looks better. Is it possible?
I met Jonah out on the porch. I felt giddy as I followed him to the bramble-lined path at the end of the Foothills Glen driveway.
“I’ve been thinking about what happens after San Francisco, Jonah.”
He looked at back at me and I searched his face in a flash. Vitality flickered in his eyes and it filled my stomach with butterflies.
“Oh, and what will we tackle next?”
“We need a plan to catch Ivan and take him out. We also need The Compendium , or a copy of it, to be sure we have a complete record of anything Innoviro has done or planned to do that needs to be reversed.”
“Yes, we’ve all talked about this, Irina.”
“Assume we find a way to do all those things. I’m thinking about what comes after day to day.”
“You mean rebuilding our lives.”
“I mean, do we stay together, Jonah? Where do we want to live? What will we do for jobs and homes and money? I had ideas for my life. They were boring ideas, but I knew what came after this stage. Now, I have no concept of what my life could contain. It might make things easier if I could envision what life will be after we do the hard work ahead.”
“You want to plan for something unknowable. We might be on the road for years chasing down Innoviro’s messes. Maybe we’ll pick a time and place to stop, once we’re sure that we’ve caught the worst of it. We probably will have a hard time re-entering normal society. Each of us gave up mainstream careers and lifestyles when we joined Innoviro in the first place. Whatever you picture as a life after Innoviro, I hope I’m there.” Jonah took my hand and I let him. His large hands felt warm and strong.
We walked with hands clasped, fingers interlocked, strolling down the rural road as though all the hurt and drama hadn’t happened. We could have been walking through Northern BC. We could be waiting to go back to university. My parents could be waiting for us to come home for dinner. None of that would ever come to pass.
I wouldn’t be able to rebuild my future with pieces of my past no longer accessible. But I might be able to craft a viable semblance of a
“Thanks for everything you’ve done for us, Josh. We’ll be sure to keep training on the road,” said Cole.
“Josh, why don’t you come with us,” said Ilya.
“Yeah, we could use your help if you’re willing,” said Faith.
Josh and Max exchanged a raised eyebrow look.
“We need you here for harvest next month. It’s not a good time for a road trip.” Max’s words had a surly undertone.
“You’ve got me now.” Camille smiled and put her hand on Max’s forearm.
“Let me think about it,” said Josh. I expected he would want to talk to his brother in private before committing to join us. Josh had already done more for us than anyone not already involved with our cause. It was a wild and risky thing to do, taking on a corporate power with little more than a few brains and a few sets of hands.
“We’ll pack while you think,” said Ilya in his best conciliatory tone.
Chapter 11
Each of us finished our food. We cleared the table in a silence full of palpable tension. Yet, I didn’t for a second regret setting our departure in motion. Staying at Foothills was temporary.
“Join me for a walk?” said Jonah as I closed the dishwasher door. He stood close enough for me to feel his body heat. I looked up to find his blue eyes bright again, framed with his wavy black hair and smooth pale skin.
“To the clearing?”
“No, the path along the road. We could use some fresh air before we’re stuck in the car for the rest of the day.” Jonah obviously wanted to talk.
I figured it would be harmless to let him. Excitement seized me. Is he going to tell me he’s getting better somehow? He looks better. Is it possible?
I met Jonah out on the porch. I felt giddy as I followed him to the bramble-lined path at the end of the Foothills Glen driveway.
“I’ve been thinking about what happens after San Francisco, Jonah.”
He looked at back at me and I searched his face in a flash. Vitality flickered in his eyes and it filled my stomach with butterflies.
“Oh, and what will we tackle next?”
“We need a plan to catch Ivan and take him out. We also need The Compendium , or a copy of it, to be sure we have a complete record of anything Innoviro has done or planned to do that needs to be reversed.”
“Yes, we’ve all talked about this, Irina.”
“Assume we find a way to do all those things. I’m thinking about what comes after day to day.”
“You mean rebuilding our lives.”
“I mean, do we stay together, Jonah? Where do we want to live? What will we do for jobs and homes and money? I had ideas for my life. They were boring ideas, but I knew what came after this stage. Now, I have no concept of what my life could contain. It might make things easier if I could envision what life will be after we do the hard work ahead.”
“You want to plan for something unknowable. We might be on the road for years chasing down Innoviro’s messes. Maybe we’ll pick a time and place to stop, once we’re sure that we’ve caught the worst of it. We probably will have a hard time re-entering normal society. Each of us gave up mainstream careers and lifestyles when we joined Innoviro in the first place. Whatever you picture as a life after Innoviro, I hope I’m there.” Jonah took my hand and I let him. His large hands felt warm and strong.
We walked with hands clasped, fingers interlocked, strolling down the rural road as though all the hurt and drama hadn’t happened. We could have been walking through Northern BC. We could be waiting to go back to university. My parents could be waiting for us to come home for dinner. None of that would ever come to pass.
I wouldn’t be able to rebuild my future with pieces of my past no longer accessible. But I might be able to craft a viable semblance of a
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