Spirits of the Earth: The Complete Series: (A Post-Apocalyptic Series Box Set: Books 1-3) Milo Fowler (different e readers TXT) 📖

no indication of it. They know that if they spread a word of what is spoken between Luther and me, they will die by my hand.

“And you know this how, exactly?”

“One of us, he is blessed, gifted with the ability to—” Luther falters. “To cross great distances with great speed, to—”

“Fly,” Samson says bluntly.

That earns another laugh. I can’t help it.

Gaia has given all of my people special powers which vary from my own ability to sense a body’s heart rate and temperature to my superhuman vision that spans distances of five kilometers. Then there is Lady Victoria. Her prowess, prior to pregnancy, was diving into the depths of the sea in a fruitless search for ocean life—without the need to come up for a single breath. Old Justus is able to see clearly in the dead of night. One of the chieftains can make himself invisible to the naked eye. Another can leap over the wall with little effort; he doesn’t even bother using the gate. There are many others like them, each blessed by Gaia with abilities no human has ever possessed before in the history of the world.

But to fly? It is ridiculous, even to think it. There have to be natural limits to what is possible, after all. Despite our plethora of supernatural blessings, not one of my people has managed to soar like an extinct eagle.

“Like a superhero, you mean?” I hurl my fists into the air and lock my elbows. I mimic the sound of rushing wind and guffaw. “Nope. Haven’t seen him around lately.”

There was a wide variety of films in the Sector 15 bunker, and I watched them all—repeatedly. Most seemed alien to me at the time, being from a world so unlike my own, created long before the Sectors existed. Hollywood, it was called, the city that made such films back in the days of the United States of North America. It must have been their only purpose at the time, no other function than to entertain the masses. So unlike the digital propaganda used solely for United World indoctrination. Many of the old Hollywood films were perhaps juvenile and crude, but I always found myself enjoying the hero tales. There was something in their essence I could easily relate to, being the alpha male of my bunker.

“Yeah.” The cyborg watches my impression with no humor in his tone. “Just like that.”

“Does he have a little red cape, as well?”

“He has been aboard the Argonaus and has heard their Captain Mutegi speaking via radio to his Eurasian commanders,” Luther continues as if he hasn’t been interrupted. “Eden is only their first stop. They have also discussed coming here, to your people, on their return trip. To forcibly take away every woman with child.”

My hands curl into tight, broad-knuckled fists.

“Your wives,” Samson drives the point home.

“Who is he, this man of yours? Why is he not here to tell me this himself?” I curse, growling, “You have no evidence. Only hearsay—from someone I have no reason to believe even exists.” Gaia would have warned us, if any of this were true. She would not have left my people in danger, not after doing so much to aid in our survival. It is not her way. “This talk of a flying man does little to support the credibility of your claims, Luther.”

“They are preparing a team in Eurasia to be sent aboard the Argonaus,” Luther replies evenly. “It will be only a matter of time—weeks, perhaps—until they arrive.” He pauses, his goggles staring without expression. “Please, Cain. Will you not reconsider our offer of friendship? There is indeed strength in numbers. Just as your people outnumber ours more than two to one, the UW troops who eventually land on these shores will greatly overpower you. You will not—”

“Gaia will help us.” The words escape my lips before I have a chance to weigh them.

The cyborg snorts in derision. Luther clears his throat and prepares to continue, but I will not allow it.

“You do not share our beliefs, and so you cannot know. But we serve a God who is alive and active, and she will not allow harm to come to us.” We are her chosen people. I nod to myself; she has told me so. “While I appreciate your concerns, Luther, I cannot share them. We have nothing to fear. If we did—”

“Then she would have told you.” Luther’s voice is quiet, as though he is reliving a distant memory.

I regard him silently for a moment. “Yes.”

The two guards finish their repair work. It should hold. They even have some tar left over for next time. And there will be a next time, I have no doubt. The goblyns are insatiable devils.

“Return to your posts.” I dismiss them, and they move quickly to obey.

“Your word is law,” Luther observes.

“I run a tight ship.”

“They will follow you to their graves.”

“We all die someday.” I sniff and half-turn toward the massive vessel planted upside-down in the sand behind me. “Tell me, Luther, who is protecting you out there? In that barren wasteland you call home? Does the god you serve keep you from harm?”

“He does. In His way.”

“He helps those who help themselves,” the cyborg rumbles.

I glance at him with mild interest. “A platitude from your holy scriptures?”

“My mother,” Samson retorts.

I chuckle at that. “Well, Gaia is our mother. She is the life force of this planet—what remains of it. So let the UW come. Let them try to breach this Forbidden Zone they’ve quarantined. If they set one foot on our soil, they will find Mother Earth is still a force to be reckoned with.” I step back from the gate with a mock salute. “Tell your god he’s welcome to switch sides if he wants. Because this, right here—” I stretch my arms out to the sides, taking in everything around me. “We’re the winning team, Luther. Think it over. My counter-offer still stands: you’re welcome to join us anytime. We can