The Man From God Only Knows Ch. 07

"Yes... how could I..."

"There was a train under LA, a Mag-Lev train. I was taken there, brought to Clarke Station. Your mother rode with me that day, and it was funny. Odd. I thought I recognized her. But it was you I recognized."

Her eyes were unfocused. Diffuse.

"The Watcher?" she said. "What did he have to do with The Blackwatch?"

"His technology, he, well, he jumpstarted certain kinds of science."

"Do you know who, or, well, what they are? The Blackwatch?"

"Doesn't really matter, Sam. At some point they learned who I was, who you were; they told your mother about us, eventually about your plans to mate with me. She knew she'd never be able to tell you about the consequences of that. So, well, she sent for me, and eventually to get you out and onto The Emissary."

"Is she... here?"

"No, Sam. I'm sorry. She passed away last year."

She wanted to cry, but somehow tears seemed inadequate.

"You know, I saw her..."

"Yes. You were still on earth."

"I hadn't seen her since... before the war."

"She loved you Samantha. She never stopped hoping."

She looked away, looked out the window at the pure impossibility that hung out there beyond the stars.

"So, she wanted me here... to go... on this trip?"

He nodded.

"She left you this." He placed a leather-bound book under her hand and helped her fingers grasp it. "When you're ready."

"Could I ask you something?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Do you have someone here?"

"Yeah."

She turned away, had never felt so alone in all her life.

"My Mom and Dad are here; so is my big brother. But he's got a thing for this pilot..."

"You told me, told me you'd be waiting."

"So I did."

He took her hand. "So, you think you want to make the trip?"

"Do you think we'll ever see the earth again?"

"Us? No. Maybe our great-great-great grand-kids, but not us. Maybe things will change by then."

"Change. Yes."

"I need to ask you again, and you need to answer me. Do you want to make the trip?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"Yes."

"How? I thought..."

"The burn is coming up in about six hours. A shuttle back to Earth will be leaving before. Some engineers and support people who didn't want to go but were needed to finish work on the ship. You can go with them if you like."

She looked at his face, at the truth in his eyes. And the yearning for... For what?

"If I leave, go back to Earth, will you go with me?"

"Yes," he said without hesitation.

"But you want to go, don't you?"

"Yes."

"One more question?"

"Shoot."

"Would you kiss me? I mean, really kiss me?"

They broke apart minutes later; her face flushed, her body understanding.

"They'll be able to fix my leg? On the journey?"

"Yes, of course."

"Good."

"Good?"

She looked at the stars, at their past, at her future, their future, and she held his hand for a very long time.



an ending

(c)2009/Leverkuhn