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

It's weird to see Luther and Samson at odds. Not sure why their dynamic has changed. Maybe being married has made Samson and Shechara want to play it safe. They're each protecting their new spouse.

But I can't disagree with the points they've made. I don't share Luther's overweening urgency to establish a working relationship with the UW. As far as I'm concerned, they're the enemy. We should focus on surviving and making a life for ourselves here, not trying to hitch a boat ride across the ocean.

"You'll have to travel east," the Julia-spirit says, appearing as I hoped she would.

"For once, we agree on something." The Jackson-spirit appears as well, uninvited and unwelcome.

They stand beside me, one on either side. Like an angel and a demon on my shoulders.

"Why?" I demand.

Travel east? Where to? This is not even remotely related to Luther and Samson's debate.

"That's where he's been stationed," Julia says. "Captain Mutegi. The Argonaus is acting as lead ship for the freighter convoy loading all scavenged goods, materials, vehicles, and machines from the northeastern Sectors."

I frown at that. "The UW is…"

"Pillaging this land of anything useful in a very methodical manner," Jackson reports. "Freighters are on their way to your coast as well, and the Integrity will be supplying the soldiers and firepower when they start sending their raiders inland."

"What the hell for? Don't they already have everything they need?"

Julia tilts her head to one side. "They consider the Sectors, along with everything their factories ever produced, to belong to the United World. And they have no desire to aid infected individuals in their survival."

"They want to starve us to death." I can't believe this. I mean, I believe it—the UW Governors are apparently inhuman. But after all we've been through, to have to deal with this now? "So you both want us to find Mutegi. Why?"

Julia smiles at me. "You'll see."

"Doesn't make sense that you'd be interested in our survival." I squint at Jackson.

He laughs with a shrug. "Who said you're going to survive?"

Best to ignore him. "How far east?" I ask Julia.

"All the way to the coast. Bring that radio you found. You'll need it to contact Captain Mutegi once you arrive."

I look at our jeeps, each parked at an angle on the hill. Factoring in the terrain, the max speeds running completely on solar batteries, and the distance from the west coast to the east... That's five thousand kilometers we'll have to cover, riding in vehicles that can travel at 50 kph for six to eight hours each day—barring no sandstorms or breakdowns.

"A couple weeks," I murmur. "If we leave tomorrow."

Julia nods. She's about to say more, but she's interrupted by Samson charging out of Homeplace 2.0 with Shechara right behind him. They're both carrying weapons, food, and water—enough to last two or three days.

Luther pleads with them to rethink their actions, to stay and discuss matters.

"We're not dying for you!" Samson booms. Then he flinches, pained by his own words, knowing he's hurting Luther. A man as close to him as a brother.

The newlyweds climb into a jeep at the bottom of the hill and take off into the night, sending up a cloud of dust in their wake.

Luther watches them go, defeat slouching his shoulders. He doesn't seem to notice me standing farther up the street.

I approach him and clear my throat. "I've heard from the spirits. They want us to go to the east coast. We'll find Mutegi there."

Luther's eyes glisten as he nods and smiles, clasping my shoulder in a strong grip. "All things work together for good." He sounds like he's giving himself a pep talk. Half-turning toward our erstwhile Homeplace, he says, "I'll tell the others. If you would...please go after Samson and Shechara. Let them know there is no reason to run. We need them with us. We are stronger together."

I nod and take off, shooting through the night sky and landing twenty meters ahead of Samson and Shechara's jeep. My boots skid across the hard-packed earth as their headlights knife the darkness between us.

"We've made up our minds," Shechara says as Samson brakes a few centimeters away from my kneecaps. He keeps the motor running, using up the solar battery's juice. "We don't want any part of it."

"I agree with you about not contacting the UW. That's wise. But I've heard from the spirits, and they want—"

"We don't much care what they want," Samson says, fixing me with a hard stare. "It's time to go after what we want."

I guess they never got their honeymoon. Is that what this is about? Doubtful. More likely: neither one can stand the thought of losing each other. And contacting the enemy is a whole new level of danger.

"Where will you go?"

Samson shrugs with half a grin. "No daemons to worry about now. This land is ours for the taking." He winks at his bride, and she leans onto his metal right arm, wrapping both of hers around it. "We're gonna see what's out there."

This feels like farewell, and I don't much care for it. "Once we get to where we're going...I'll find you. Let you know where we are, in case you want to join us..." I trail off lamely.

The newlyweds have eyes only for each other. "Goodbye, Milton," Shechara says, and I step out of the way.

Samson gives me a salute, his metal hand reflecting starlight. Their jeep takes off into the night. I watch them go.

"Goodbye." The word catches in my throat.

Part IV

Conspiracy

17 Sera22 Years After All-Clear

As D1-436 maneuvers the aerocar out of the dark maglev tunnel from Dome 2 and back into the brilliant light of Dome 1, we have a surprise waiting for us.

"Friend of yours?" Erik peers over my shoulder as I lean over D1-436's. The motionless clone with the smashed kneecaps sits up front in the passenger seat.

"Drasko." I wave to him through the windscreen, and he gives me a crisp salute. He's got his lanky frame