The Source: Book III of the Holding Kate Series by LaDonna Cole Page A

animation, and they threw their heads back and laughed before they walked down the sidewalk toward the hospital. Corey glanced back over his shoulder and threw a worried glance at Stealthlin’s house, then turned to answer a question that Najwa had asked. Najwa put her hand into the crook of his arm and they sauntered to work.
    Kate stared with her mouth a gape. “He’s not even concerned,” she whispered. “He couldn’t care less about my feelings.”
    She staggered to a chair and fell into it. “I’m crying my eyes out that our marriage is falling apart and he is laughing and telling jokes with his mistress?” Kate began to shake as though an inner earthquake ripped through her soul.
    Candol and Stealthlin knelt down beside her to weather the eruption that had ignited inside their friend.
     
    Stealthlin left for work, confident that Candol would be able to comfort Kate better in his absence. When he got to the security office, he found Tara and Trip ready for their walk through the town. They had immediately volunteered for security detail when they learned he was acting as law enforcement for the village. He was pleased to have them with him and he toured them through the winding streets.
    The shops had timber-planked faces and doors but were carved into the purple cliff rock by the laser tools they had brought with them. Solar and wind powered generators were still used during the deep cold of winter and in spurts at the hospital, but Kate insisted that technology be limited and they learn to live off the land as much as possible.
    Stealthlin had never known artificial power, so it was no hardship on him nor the many settlers that had joined them.
    “We’ve secured several areas with added structural support and keep a watch rotating.” He continued the tour, pointing out weak areas and orienting them to the security needs of the town.
    “What is the name of this town?” Tara asked.
    “Corey wanted to name it No Sphere Comes Here.”
    Tara translated and she and Trip laughed.
    “But Candol and I already knew of a town that existed here in the future so we named it Spear Cathair.”
    “Clear air,” Tara translated. “Makes sense.” She breathed in the fresh morning air as they gazed across the expanse.
    “I guess it means the same thing, really.” Trip chortled. “No spheres in the air, all clear, clear air.”
    They stood on the edge of the mountain overlook, their feet crunching in gravel paths as they shifted back and forth, steeping in the contrast of jade evergreens against deep eggplant rock and crevasse. Three silver trickling falls tumbled into the chasm, spilling from the cracks in the twin mountain that rose up across from them.
    “In our time, bridges span this gap and the city is built into the caves on both sides. Cheulseti is a two-day ride in that direction,” Stealthlin explained and bounced his palm toward the east.
    “That’s pretty close. I’m surprised you don’t have people through here all the time.”
    “What people?” Stealthlin asked, brows knitted and eyes taking a faraway sadness. “If they do not find a cure soon, there will be very few people left in Ampeliagia. As it is we have a steady stream of plague victims, who don’t survive long.”
    “Corey and Eunavae are a great team. You will see. When they combine their medical expertise, a cure will come.” Tara placed her hand on Stealthlin’s shoulder.
    “Come, I will show you the hospital.” Stealthlin turned and escorted them over the rise.
    As they entered town, shops and stalls threw wide their doors and curtains, welcoming customers to sample their wares. Elaborate artwork depicting the various merchandise of the vendors decorated the windows and walls. A floral vine wove throughout the drawings uniting the whole village in a unified theme.
    Vendors stepped out of their shops and called “Health to you, Captain!” or “Fit Fettle!” Stealthlin nodded and smiled at the townspeople as they prepared