Echo 8 (31 page)

After that, silence settled into the empty spaces around the crackling fire, and finally Eva's gaze shifted back to Tess. Her eyes moved over her slowly.

“Who are you, and why are you so clean?”

Tess shot an uncertain glance at Ross, and he shrugged. “Your call, Doc.”

So she told them. Everything. And naturally they didn't believe it, until Jake suddenly dislocated and rematerialized on the other side of the fire. Which Tess was pretty sure he did mainly to impress Eva.

“Can I have some of that?” asked Eva, glancing at Jake's corked bottle.

He picked it up and handed it to her. She took a long pull, closing her eyes as it traveled to her stomach. Then she gave it to Tom, the man behind the darkest beard, who drank and passed it on to the others.

“You three have been through hell,” she observed.

Tess raised an eyebrow at her twin. “So have you.”

“What's going to happen when you go back?”

Parched from all the talking, Tess emptied a water bottle before answering. “I don't know. If the story does go public, at some point I would think the government will have bigger problems than chasing us down. But between now and then, I'd like to start organizing a relief effort.”

She explained the plan she'd hatched earlier that afternoon, while talking to Jake and Goff.

Eva gave her a funny little half smile that Tess couldn't help wondering if she'd ever used herself. “Why would you want to do that? Sounds like aside from a few unwanted visitors, things are all right on your world. Why not forget about us?”

Jake chuckled. “It's what she
does
.”

Eva gave a slow nod, seeming to need no further explanation. “Well, I might be able to help you. Pre-apocalypse, I ran a shelter for battered women.”

Their eyes met, and what passed between them required no words for understanding.

“I'm sure you could,” replied Tess. “I'd be grateful.”

“How will you convince the people with the resources to help?” asked Eva. “That's always the hardest part.”

“I agree. It's going to be an uphill battle, since our leaders currently view Echoes as enemies. The general public will view them that way too, once the story gets out.”

“I emphasized in the letter I gave to my press contact that Echoes are a threat that can be managed,” said Ross, “with the right people in charge. I also included instructions for surviving contact. But for a while, people are going to be afraid.”

“It seems like the best thing we can do for now,” said Tess, “other than obtaining supplies, is track them and bring them back here, so no one gets hurt.”

“It just so happens that I'm looking for a job, Doctor,” Ross said with a grin.

“I understand you're highly qualified.”

“I learned from the best.”

“Do you have time for an interview this evening?”

“I'll
make
time.”

Jake gave a long-suffering groan, and Tess returned her attention to Eva. A faint smile rested on the lips of her twin.

“I'm sorry,” said Tess, flushing. “It's been an incredibly long week. But the difficulties we're facing are trivial compared to yours.”

“I don't know about that. At least we're not fighting hidden agendas. If I had to name one benefit of this catastrophe, that has to be it. It's erased all the bullshit. We are what you see.”

Tess nodded. “We're glad you're here. I don't know if you're hungry, but it's getting late. Maybe we could open a few cans of ravioli and talk over what you've been through and what you've seen out there.”

Eva laughed. “The only thing you need to know about us is we're
always
hungry.”

They sat up talking late into the night, and after everyone else had bedded down, Ross and Tess stayed up even later discussing what would happen in the morning. They'd both done short transfers with Jake, so they wouldn't subject anyone else to the dislocations. (As Jake pointed out, “Not all of us got the fling-yourself-into-the-void gene.”) That meant they'd have to do it again first thing, or they'd have to leave.

“Maybe you can find Abby,” said Tess. They'd wrapped up together in the blankets so Jake and Goff could use the sleeping bags. She felt safe pressed up against him, his warm breath in her ear. “I know she'll help us.”

“The Bureau will be watching her,” Ross reminded her. The low voice directly in her ear threw kindling on a fire that had never fully gone out. She squirmed her backside closer, and he gave a quiet groan.

“They may be too busy if the story's been broken. We have to start somewhere.”

“I'm thinking I want to start right here.” His hand slipped around to press between her legs.

“Ross!” She laughed. “We're not alone. And besides that we have to conserve energy.”

“I have an idea. Stop talking. Stop squirming. Problem solved.”

*   *   *

“Hey, G, I think you better come out here.”

Ross and Tess were the last out of bed. They untangled themselves from the blankets, mumbling a greeting to Goff and two of the men from Eva's party. Ross grabbed a bottle of water, and they all went outside to see what Jake wanted.

He and Eva were standing together, eyes on the hillside to the north, watching half a dozen figures descending toward them. About a dozen more crested the hill and started down after the others.

“More survivors?” suggested Eva.

“Maybe,” said Ross. Tess didn't like the doubt in his voice. Sometimes he knew things she didn't. “Could be trouble,” he continued. “Do you have weapons?”

“We like to try talking first.” Tess noted the disapproval in Eva's tone and flashed back to the conversation she'd had with Ross on the patio at Seattle Psi, when he'd suggested she learn to use a gun.

“They're coming fast,” warned Tom.

Despite Eva's scolding, blades appeared in the hands of her companions.

Tess's heart gave a thump of warning as one figure moved out ahead of the others.

“Just like a bad fucking penny,” muttered Jake.

 

N
EW
F
RIENDS
, O
LD
F
OES

Over the years,
Kalakala
workers say, they have heard footsteps aboard the famous, rusty ferry berthed on Lake Union and given chase in search of intruders—only to find the boat locked and vacant. Recently, a team of amateur ghost hunters boarded the boat with electromagnetic field probes and infrared cameras. They say they found … something.

—“
Kalakala
's Table Set for Unseen Guest,”
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
, February 13, 2002

“G
O INSIDE,”
said Ross, knowing it was a waste of breath but hoping it would earn him compliance on the more critical request.

“Not a chance,” Tess replied. “They may need us.”

“Fine. But promise me you won't touch him. Not for any reason.”

He fixed his gaze on her and added, “Please, Tess.”

Her eyes moved over his face. “I promise.”

“Is he one of yours?” asked Eva.

“One of
yours
,” said Ross. “But he's dangerous. He can dislocate.”

“But mostly he's just a psychopath,” added Jake. “Don't believe anything he says.”

“Everybody just stay calm and stay put,” Mac called as he approached. Maggie, the redhead from the
Kalakala
, had drawn up beside him.

They were a ragged bunch, but here and there Ross caught the glint of something shiny and new—like the
knives
most of them seemed to be carrying.

Eva and the dark-bearded man had taken a few steps toward the newcomers. Mac stopped in front of them, holding a pistol in plain view.

“What do you want?” Eva bristled.

Mac sized her up with a surprised chuckle. “You're not who I thought you were.”

His gaze ran over the rest of her group, eyes coming to rest on Tess and Ross.

“You don't belong here,” he said, raising the pistol. “You can go home or I can shoot you. Your choice.”

“I hear you made it back to our Earth after all,” said Ross.

“Thanks to the doctor,” said Mac. “We had a few disappear like that on the
Kalakala
, but they never came back. A dozen feet above the pre-asteroid sea level probably wasn't an ideal spot for dislocation. It took me some time to piece it together. Doubt I ever would have if it hadn't been for all the quality time with your girlfriend.”

Ross's stomach wrenched.
This is what he's good at. Don't let him get to you
.

“That's handy,” said Ross. “A man who disappears and reappears with goodies for the kids probably makes lots of friends. Do they know about the deal you made with Garcia?”

“You're not as stupid as I thought,” replied Mac. But he turned his focus to Tess. “You're welcome to stay, Doctor. I'd like to know you better. But I don't want to be watching my back all the time, so the asshole has to go.”

Tess moved closer to Ross, pressing against his side.

“I wonder what makes you so afraid of me,” said Ross. “Worried your new friends will find out the truth about you?”

Mac nodded at Maggie, and she directed his followers to spread out and surround them.

“This is your last chance, Agent McGinnis.”

Ross pressed a hand against Tess's back to shift her to one side, and he could feel her trembling. Tess had never been afraid of Jake, had dismissed the risks of the transfers, had thumbed her nose at both Ross and the FBI director, but she was afraid of this man.

Ross was glad Jake hadn't killed Mac, because he was going to do it.

“I'm not sure what all this is about,” Eva interrupted, “but it's a dangerous mistake not to work together. We need each other if we're going to survive.”

“I agree completely,” replied Mac. “But you also need a leader who can look out for your interests. That ruin behind you is full of supplies. Food, first aid kits, flashlights. Had your new friends gotten around to telling you about that?”

“Yeah, actually. And frankly, considering they haven't waved any guns at us, or threatened to kill anyone, I'm feeling more inclined to trust
them
.”

“You expect me to believe if you had a gun you wouldn't use it to protect your people?” Mac tucked the pistol into his waistband. It was no longer necessary now that his followers had surrounded them.

“Everyone will be migrating toward the coast, where it's warmer,” he continued. “It's hard to know who you can trust. But there's no reason we can't work together. Share resources. I have access to tools, seeds, medicine … lots of stuff no longer available here. We can build a community together. Protect ourselves from outside threats.” Mac stared pointedly at Ross.

“As long as we do what
you
say, you mean.” Eva was quick, with a hard edge that had probably been an advantage in surviving here.

“Without a strong leader, there's going to be inequity,” said Mac. “And bickering over resources. But it's your decision. You're free to go if you like.”

“However, Mr. Strong Leader will be helping himself to our shelter and our resources,” observed Jake. “And yours.”

Ross leaned and whispered in Tess's ear, “Stay close to Jake.”

She eyed him with alarm. “What are you going to do?”

“For once will you just do what I say?” His fingers rubbed her back, making up for the sting of his words.

Ross stepped away from her and said in a loud voice, “Maybe you should tell them a little more about yourself, so they know what they're getting. I think your previous job was…?”

Mac crossed the distance between them in three short strides and shoved the gun in Ross's face. “You had your chance, asshole.”

Mac pulled the trigger, and Tess screamed.

Ross felt a strange crawling sensation as the bullet passed through his head. He touched the spot with his fingers and looked at them. The hand was clean—and transparent. He'd felt himself fading, but he hadn't been sure the bullet wouldn't kill him. He'd placed his faith in the instincts that had always served him well, and in the little glimpses of the future that Tess had taught him not to fear.

“Mac's qualifications for leadership include five years overseeing a huge meth operation,” Ross continued. “He was a drug dealer. And a loan shark. He has almost as much blood on his hands as your asteroid.”

Mac fired the gun again, and Ross smiled. “You
are
as stupid as I thought.”

Ross lunged, and they crashed together to the ground.

Tess rushed toward them, and Ross shouted at her to stay back. Mac's consciousness overlapped with his own.

*   *   *

“Get that out of my face,” barked Eva.

Jake watched Tess Number 2 land a right hook against the jaw of a spear-wielding man easily a foot taller than her.

The man swung the spear at her, growling with pain, but his aim was way off and she easily bent away from the swipe. She brought her fist down on his extended elbow, and he dropped the spear but managed to land a solid swat against her cheek with the other hand, knocking her down.

Jake snatched up the spear from the ground, shoving it against the man's chest. But someone kicked Jake's knee from behind, and he staggered to the ground. Turning to face his attacker, he found the
Kalakala
redhead drawing a knife.

The blade arced out, toward Jake's face. But another body collided suddenly with Maggie, and the blade swung short.

Tess's arms coiled around Maggie, and she wrestled her to the ground. Maggie screeched and flailed against Tess, fighting hard to free herself. Tess's body, in contrast, was nearly motionless. Maggie wouldn't escape unless Tess decided to release her—Jake knew only too well.