Salby (Book 2): Salby Evolution (26 page)

For seventy-two hours, no one came or left the mountain stronghold. Viktor’s men rotated, armed on stag, babysitting us all while the serum was administered. There were no incidents in those three days. I felt fine, better than I had in a long time, actually. Despite my inner doubts after the taking of the sample, Dr Shepherd confirmed that for all intents and purposes, the saliva-activated element of the new strain in me was now contained. My sense of hope returned.

Within a week, the families of the men were allowed to enter the stronghold for the first time. The sound of laughter, and tears of joy as wives met their husbands and men lifted their children into the air soothed my very soul. It burdened the same too. I envied those men. They had done what I could not.

Cross walked towards me, and sat on my left as I watched the scenes of reunion unfold. “You did this, Simon. You gave those men some semblance of life back. It’s something you should be proud of, my friend.”

“So why do I feel so low?” I mumbled.

I hadn’t noticed the time passing lately. There was still so much going on at a level I couldn’t possibly comprehend. Tensions between the Peoples Resistance Army and the Russian Federation were palpable. The authorities wanted to know about the virus, where it came from, and who had attempted to attack. Viktor Seuchencko wasn’t only a shrewd businessman, he was also an astute diplomat. His dealings with those in power through the years gave him a keen sense of how to play down the rumours or even begin a new one among the corridors of power.

“We’ll be leaving for England soon. Will you be coming with us, Simon?” Cross asked.

“What do I have to go back to, eh? A quirky flat full of second-hand furniture, a job that will fry my brain long before I see retirement, and a family I can’t see. Let me think on that for a moment—” I mused.

“You know, your ex-wife and kids aren’t dead. They didn’t leave the planet. Did it ever occur to you to phone them since you split up? You could have made an effort, Simon. Quit feeling sorry for yourself, eh? It’ll not have been an easy job for Charley to bring up two small kids on her own either. You think on that for a while. We fly in forty-eight hours,” Cross stated.

It was the kick up the backside I needed. He was right too; it wouldn’t have been easy for Charley to bring up youngsters, a seven-year-old and five-year-old alone. I hadn’t even considered that. Sure, the money was always there, but it takes so much more than that. Little things like fixing a puncture on a bike, laughing and playing with the kids, and having them ask questions as they strive to learn new things. Other things such as taking them to school and supporting them in clubs or new endeavours, not to mention the cooking, cleaning and provision of things they need. I’d missed all of that up to now, the responsibility placed squarely on Charley’s shoulders alone.

*****

Sleep came fitfully that night. The euphoria within the base, not only of my men and their families, but also of Viktor’s men, added an air of wonder to the stronghold. Reassured that the underlying threat of infection had been dealt with, brotherhoods were forged between the two species of fighting men and women.

“Well, good morning, Simon.” Dr Shepherd smiled. “You look far too deep in thought for this time of the day. Can I help?”

“Just a revelation, that’s all. Do you think there will be any way to cure this strain in the future?” I queried.

“Advances in science occur daily, though it can take time for a major breakthrough. I don’t see any reason why we can’t get to the bones of this variation of something essentially created in a lab. Mother Nature has a design for the future, it could be that you’re her design—at least the evolved form of the virus within you is,” Evie finished.

“Evolved form,” she’d said. Those words remained in my mind. Was I now evolving into the kind of man I should have been to begin with?

It was a thing of reverence, to stand on the threshold of humanity and look back into the void at a world I thought would forever suppress me. Was the ability to hear the thoughts of those like me a means for a future generation to cultivate war and destruction? If we knew what each other was thinking when it mattered, would it not assist us as a species to live in harmony? I wished I’d had this ability in my marriage. Maybe I did but refused to identify and accept it. I should have listened deeper instead of hiding inside myself when the pressure mounted. My thoughts created yet another conundrum—if I was on the right lines—should we now try to cure this virus, or encourage it?

“Is Barbie flying home too, Doctor?” I asked.

“She has decided to remain at Petrov’s side. It seems they have something worth pursuing for the future. Her face when I told her that the virus within her was now dormant—what a picture. She walked boldly up to Petrov and planted one on his lips, right in front of his father!” Evie recalled with a wry smile. “Have
you
decided yet, Simon?”

“That was my distraction when you came in. I’m going home. I have to at least finish what I started when I left work that day—I have to try. If there is no hope, with luck, I can return here to my men.”

“I think you’ve made the right choice.” Evie rested her palm on my shoulder briefly as she passed, leaving me to my thoughts.

I spent the next few hours packing my kit, the weapons I would leave here for safekeeping. We would be taking a military flight back to England. From the air base at Dishforth, it was only a short ride to my home and an even shorter ride to the underground lab. I could imagine trying to explain my entry into the country through a civilian airport, given that I’d left with only the clothes I stood in, and a box of tasteless sandwiches. My next stop was to see Barbie.

Beyond a parked troop carrier, I caught sight of her. Petrov rested on the ground, leaning casually back on the rock face. Barbie lay with him, her back resting against his chest. I paused, not wanting to disturb their time. He kissed her neck tenderly, and their fingers interlocked on each hand as he caressed her with his mouth. Her expression, eyes closed, told me that she was in Heaven with this boy. I held back, and ducked left behind the truck, as much to hide my own emotions at the memories of Charley and I doing similar things once the awkwardness,
my
awkwardness, had allowed us to begin officially dating.

I didn’t have the heart to intrude. Instead, I rounded the truck and made my way to the dining area. Some good Russian coffee and a bite to eat would suffice. I could say goodbye to Barbie later. Cross and Stewall must have had the same idea, as they were seated close to the entrance, chatting away.

Once my tray was loaded, Stewall beckoned me over to sit with them.

“Simon, how’s things? How are you feeling?” Stewall asked.

“I’m good, been pre-occupied lately, mind,” I replied, distantly.

“Are you coming with us, mate?” Nathan asked.

“I gave it a lot of thought, still am, if the truth be known.”

“Is that a yes?” he persisted.

“It is. I’ll be coming home with you guys. I don’t know what the future holds either way, but I have to cover all the bases.”

“Evie and Charles will be with us. They’re going back to the base to continue researching both strains. Have you spoken to Viktor yet, to let him know?” Cross asked.

“He’s on my list of goodbyes for later today. I’ll miss him, Janishka, Petrov, and General Volkov. They feel like family, as do you two. Feels like I’m heading off a precipice with no guarantee of a safety net,” I rambled.

“In the last few months, you’ve experienced some pretty weird shit, Simon. When weird shit becomes normal, then you need to question your own sanity, buddy.” Stewey laughed.

The three of us burst out in a fit of roaring laughter. I never thought of it like that, but the stocky Scot was bang on.

MOD Dishforth, North Yorkshire, England, 1400 hours

We stepped from the Hercules transport plane to hot tarmac. Summer in Yorkshire really was a sight to behold, perhaps not as spectacular a setting as the Gora Lyavochorr Mountains, but the sights and smells which wafted on the summer breeze inspired me. It felt good to be home, at least in the sense that home was England.

The sun shone directly towards the main hangar area, obscuring everything but the glistening outline of a stored aircraft. To the right of the hangar, the administrative offices, officer’s mess, and stores area, denoted by various large lettered regimental signage.

“Talk about déjà vu.” Cross quipped.

“Aye, back to work for me. I’ll bet those little shits messed up my armoury while I was away,” Stewall countered.

“Simon, don’t wander off here, it’s a big-ass base, okay?” Cross advised.

“I’ll follow you, mate.” I smiled.

Nathan shook Stewall’s hand before the lead armourer turned to me.

“I’ll see you again soon, no doubt. When you get sorted, you must come to dinner with us, agreed?” He smiled.

His offer took my breath away. I’d never considered friendship outside of the environment we left. Before, people weren’t my thing. Sure, I had work colleagues, but no friendships that bloomed outside of it.

“I—I’d be honoured to meet your wife, to join you for dinner. Thank you Staff Sergeant.” I smiled as I shook his hand.

“Oh, outside of here, it’s Chris,” he said as he walked away.

It wasn’t goodbye, just see you later. I came to learn that the word goodbye in the military was reserved for brothers-in-arms laid to rest, something not said between serving soldiers.

Dr Shepherd didn’t hang around when we were free of the aircraft. The two doctors walked briskly towards the offices of the base commander, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Connell. As I walked with Cross, taking in the buildings and well-kept surrounding areas of this expansive military base, I saw her exit the main buildings in the company of a formally dressed officer. Cross tensed up as Evie and the man stopped short of greeting us. Cross held a salute despite his improvised uniform. The officer took his right arm out in a perfect arc, longest way up, shortest way down, and his index finger skimmed the brown peak of his cap for just an instant.

“Lieutenant Colonel Connell, Sir.” Nathan addressed the man.

“Sergeant Cross. It is good to see you again. I hear you have had quite an adventure. We have much to talk about, but there will be time enough for that in due course,” The lieutenant colonel smiled.

“Yes, Sir. This is Mr Simon Lloyd, Sir,” Cross mentioned.

The Lieutenant Colonel extended a hand towards me, his expression giving nothing away. “Mr Lloyd, Richard Connell, base commander. Welcome to Dishforth. I believe we have something that may interest you.”

“Sir? What—” I began.

*****

Lieutenant Colonel Connell raised his hand as he turned, his fore and middle fingers waved, an instruction for me to zip it and follow him. The walk may only have been a couple of hundred yards in total, but it seemed like a marathon. I looked sideways to Evie, my eyes pleading with her to tell what the hell was going on. She wasn’t biting though, so I could only follow like a schoolboy about to get a caning.

The direction we were heading suggested we would end up in the base commander’s office. We rounded a corner and climbed a staircase. The rouge carpet complemented the cream walls, adorned with some very sombre-looking figures with a lot of letters before and after their names. I’m pretty sure there was a standard military smell too. Never have I come across that scent in any other situation. To this day, I still don’t know what it was a combination of—but there was definitely a military smell.

The commander pushed open his door, and Evie followed. Tentatively, I peered around the frame.

There, flanked by a small boy and an even smaller girl, the unmistakeable image of Charley filled my vision. I stopped dead in my tracks. Frozen like a rabbit in headlights. I felt my mouth open. I waited for the words to form but nothing came. In my mind, I shouted out her name, I shouted out I’m so sorry for the things I have done, and I shouted out I love you.

The little lad, my son, Tom, looked at me with a very perplexed expression—as if he were trying to recall me in his own mind. He looked to his mother. I looked to her too. He returned his gaze to me, his eyes lit up, and he smiled. I melted to my knees.

“Dad?” he began. “Daddy!” he yelled and flew into my open arms.

I was so scared. I held him, enveloping his small frame. The tears rolled down my cheeks. I couldn’t stop them, didn’t want to. He was two when I left, when we split up, which meant Charley must have told them about me, shown them photos of us. Tom pulled away slightly, put his arm around my shoulders, and smiled at the young girl hiding behind Charlotte’s thigh.

“Holly? Holly, come on. Come lookie see,” Tom urged.

Holly peeked her head around the top of Charley’s leg. She gazed upwards to meet her mother’s smile and subtle nod. Slowly, she pushed away and approached. At first, she was cautious, and as she got close enough, she pulled a tissue from her pocket.

“Are—are you my daddy?” she asked shyly.

It just about broke my heart to hear her ask such a question. I felt like the worst dad in the world. Years of resentment, unjustified blame, anger, and misunderstanding dissipated in those few words. I sniffed hard. Her tight brown curls, and the expression her mother sometimes had when something confused her, like the answer to a crossword puzzle, or that word game she used to play on her phone, graced her small face.

God, I’ve missed you, Charley.

“I—I am. Yes, I am your daddy,” I sobbed. “I’m not much of a daddy, haven’t been much of a daddy either, but I promise I will be in future,” I bawled.

Holly took the tissue and dabbed at my cheeks. “Mommy says tears are wishes,” she said confidently.

I opened my free arm to scoop her up, unsure of whether she would accept me. Tom smiled at his sister and resumed his hug against my side as Holly matched him. I shook for a while, crying like a baby as I held my son and daughter for the first time in five long, torturous years. Bleary-eyed, I tried to remember how to sign thank you to Charlotte. My mind sent the words flying outwards, time and again, thank you, I’m so sorry, thank you, I’m so sorry.

“I can hear you, Simon
.”

It popped into my brain, just like that. I lifted my head from between the cheeks of my children, the dampness transferred to their faces.

“Charley? Is that you?”
My thoughts pushed back.

“Yes, the very same. What do you think of the children? Tom has your eyes, I’m sure of it.”

Again, the reply popped into my head, not heard, but
felt
. I opened my mind further, and Charley smiled. I felt the warmth emanating from her.

“The kids are gorgeous! You’ve done an amazing job with them so far. Holly is a beautiful spitting image of her mother, and Tom has grown so much.”

The kids’ faces peered up at me as if I’d finally lost my marbles. Their respective gazes flitted between Charley and I, their heads slightly askew.

“Aren’t you going to say hello to mommy as well?” Holly finally asked.

I smiled then, and kissed her forehead, and Tom’s before I stood. Two tiny hands gripped my own on either side of me as I walked towards my ex-wife.

“Hello, Charley,” I mouthed, without the actual sound. The kids pulled their hands away gently. My sign language skills had gotten rusty, and what with the last few months, I couldn’t make my hands form the shapes. We could lip read though.

“Say it, Daddy, say it,” Tom yelled. “Tell Mommy that you missed her, that you love her.”

“Yay! Daddy, tell Mommy that you lubs her!” Holly giggled.

“Well, I—” I paused, my eyes pleading to Charley. “I, um—”

“Tell me, Simon.”

Charley opened her arms, tears flowing down her cheeks now. I rushed forwards to pull her into me, inhaling her scent. Her hair, so long missed from my touch, soft against my temple as I buried my head into her neck. My lips brushed gently against her skin as she pulled back slightly to look into my now dark blue eyes.

“Tell me, Simon. Please.”

“I love you, Charley. I’ve loved you since the day that bumbling, nervous, awkward thirty-something singleton nearly knocked you off your feet. I’ll
always
love you,” I sobbed.

Tom and Holly jumped up and down on the spot, their giggles making me splutter between smiles. Charlotte brought her lips to mine. It lingered, the kiss, emotions flooding into me from her thoughts. I’ve never experienced such a charged embrace, our very souls dancing right there in front of Dr Shepherd, Lieutenant Colonel Connell, and the kids—
damn, the kids!
I thought.

I bent low to scoop them both up, my arms long enough around their bodies to bring us all into a family huddle. We stayed that way for a few minutes until my body stopped shaking against them all. Finally, I set Tom and Holly down, my arms not keen to let them go yet protesting profusely. I addressed them all.

“I’ve always loved you. All of you. I’ve done some really daft things, and I’d like to make that better, if you’ll have me,” I said.

Slowly, I turned for the battered backpack, the symbiont carrier of countless guilt’s on my journey to this point. It was stained in the dust and soil of a land, and a life, now far, far away. The zip, stiffened by the mire of battle, refused to give up its grip. I waggled it furiously until it finally gave enough for me to draw the bag open. Inside, a small, off-white teddy bear, yet to be named, I held out for my daughter.

“A teddy, Mommy. Lookie see, Daddy got me a teddy!” Holly beamed.

She bounced towards me, a tight hug before she clutched the worse-for-wear toy in her arms. Again I dipped into the bag, a fire engine being the last of the contents, amazingly still in one piece.

“And this is for you, son.” I smiled.

“Wow! It’s a fire engine. I love fire engines, how did you know, Dad?” Tom grinned.

The three of them looked at each other briefly, and my heart damn near stopped. They smiled and Holly hit the nail.

“Silly Daddy!” She giggled and threw herself back around my thigh, followed by Tom, with Charley coming in between.

“I can hear you that way too. It’ll take a little time to bring you back into our lives, though you never really left, at least not as far as the kids were concerned. You just went away for a little while to find something you lost,” Charlotte recalled, tears welling up inside her again.

I took the now sodden tissue and gently dabbed at her eyes. “I was a fool then. Too blind to see the treasures I had in you and the kids. We have all the time in the world, it starts right now. Wait—you can
hear
me?” I asked in disbelief.

“It’s a long, long story, but yes. Thanks to the good doctor there, and Richard, not to mention Charles. They fitted me with some new technology—it restored my hearing to normal. I’ll tell you about it over dinner at our place, if you fancy.” Charley smiled.

I kissed her again then, not quite as long as the first one but equally charged.

“I’d love to.” I smiled.