The Impossible Future: Complete set by Frank Kennedy (e novels to read online TXT) 📗

proposition, even though he dreaded the idea of grieving the loss of a child for eternity.

“Don’t know how I’d keep my head on straight if you weren’t around, babe,” he said as they sunned. “You’re right. He’s only four. Let’s focus on making sure he doesn’t turn into a jerk like most of the kids we grew up with.”

Michael tapped his pipe. He didn’t smoke poltash as often these days, even though the job kept him on edge. Sam was right: Everything he did modeled behavior for the rest of the community. Smoking wasn’t going to kill an immortal, but walking around in clouds of poltash defied the whole reason for living in paradise. Besides, what was worse than an immortal with an addiction?

Daniel looked up from his latest two-story creation.

“What do you think, Daddy?”

“I think you have a future in architecture, buddy.”

“What’s architecture?”

“Same as that.” Michael pointed to the castle. “But with math.”

Daniel shrugged and carried his tiny bucket to the edge. He filled it with water.

“Sweetie, has Danny asked you about his hair?”

“No. Why?”

“He said he wants dreads like yours.”

“Cool, but he’s going to need a helluva lot more hair first. Took me five years to grow this masterpiece.”

“Don’t I know. If I was paid for every hour I spent with you on this masterpiece …”

She let the thought die as they fell into laughter. Her own locks were lush and flowed down her back. She often spoke of cutting, but scissors reminded her of the three months on Lioness. She didn’t tell Michael about Rayna’s torture until a year after they married. She made him promise never to speak of it again.

Michael took a long drag on his pipe and sat up, looking west along the beach.

“Don’t tell me that’s a rifter, babe.”

“OK. I won’t tell you it’s a rifter. But your eyes aren’t lying.”

He sighed. “This is my day off. I don’t ask for many.”

“I’m sure they wouldn’t come out here unless it was important.”

“You don’t know my staff well enough. Everything is important.”

She kissed his cheek. “Oh, Michael. They love you. They’re afraid of disappointing you.”

The rifter swooped in for a quiet stop between the parents and their boy. Daniel gave a two-handed wave.

“Hey, Rikhi! What do you think of my castle?”

“That’s a winner, D.”

Rikhi Syed, now sixteen, hit a growth spurt and cut a strapping figure. Like many on Michael’s staff, he sported a lesser brand of dreadlocks in tribute.

“Rikhi,” Michael said, “you do remember how I asked not to be disturbed today.”

“I know, Minister, but we received the communique you were waiting on. The one from Earth.”

OK, so maybe a small break from fun was warranted.

“Fine, Rikhi. What’s the message?”

“It’s from General Bryznewieski. He says the Warner Alliance has captured the Great Plains Metroplex and solidified the North American Consortium. He says the United Chancellor Front will have no choice but to surrender in days. He thanks you for all your help.”

“That’s great news, Rikhi. You brightened my day.”

“Always to serve, Minister. Goodbye, Lady Samantha.”

They waved him off.

“He’s grown into a sweet boy,” she said. “Still has a little of the darkness in him from time to time, but I like him.”

“So does Rosa Marteen. Did you know they’ve been together for a few weeks now? He spends most nights in her dome.”

“No, I didn’t.” She sat up. Michael saw the frown. “Are you going to talk about it?”

“What?”

“The war. Rikard’s side is on the verge of victory. Three months ago, they were on the edge of defeat.”

“Your point?”

“How did they turn it around so quickly? I know you two have been communicating since the war began, and he’s one of your dearest friends. How did they do it?”

He shoved his toes deep into the sand.

“Look, we were his last hope. I gave him what I could without tripping any red flags. Body armor modifications, convex gradient upgrades, and uh, maybe the graviton weapons.”

She gasped. “Michael, you didn’t.”

“Look, I know they’re nasty, but he needed a game changer, and I wanted those damn things off Aeterna. They helped us win The Last Day’s War, but I wish Valentin built something less gruesome. They can’t be traced, so we aren’t violating the Systems Treaty.”

“I hope you know what you’re doing.”

“Me, too. Seventy million people have died on Earth. I played a role in bringing them closer to war. If I can save lives in the long run, babe, I’m not going to look away.”

“It’s OK, sweetie. I know how much you care and how it hurts. Some days, I wish Valentin was here. I thought you two were helping each other deal with the pain before he left.”

It was four years since Valentin disappeared without a trace. Middle of the night, a Scramjet, Slope coordinates unknown.

“Yeah, well. He tried. But I wasn’t a substitute. I don’t think he ever reconciled his feelings about James. I’d like to think he’ll come back someday, but nobody wants to live forever if you can’t think of a reason to live for tomorrow.”

They tightened their hug and watched Daniel in his bliss.

“Speaking of living forever,” Sam said. “Too bad Aldo can’t. He told me last month it would take him centuries to catalog every nuance of nature on this planet. He said he’s going to try.”

“Yep. Said he wasted fifty years killing people and saluting assholes. He asked if there was a way to reverse time.”

Sam groaned. “We’ve been down that road. Never again.”

“Hmmph. You ready to eat, babe? Think he’s ready? I packed us a helluva lunch. I think we have finally perfected peanut butter.”

“Oh. Well. We can’t wait for that, can we?”

Daniel, of course, was the test subject. If the