When they were a block away from the estuary of the Hudson, Daniel stopped the hovercar and turned to her.
‘I think we are far enough now to make a dash for it,’ he said. ‘We’ll be very hard to spot if we hover just above the water. Still, there is a certain amount of risk they might see us, so be ready for anything. How are you feeling?’
‘I’m ok, don’t worry about me,’ she said with a faint smile.
‘Ok, let’s go for it, then,’ he said.
‘Daniel –’ she touched his arm.
‘Yes?’
‘Just in case… you know… I wanted to say thank you.’
‘You’ll thank me when I get you home. Which reminds me that I need your address to drop you off.’
She gave him the address and some directions. He knew the area.
‘Ok, fingers crossed now,’ he said. ‘We’re nearly out of here.’
Just like so many times before, they took off gently and slowly, but this time they didn’t cower after a few seconds of flight. Instead, they glided just above the even surface of the river, so close to the water that it felt like the hovercar was resting on it like a motorboat. They saw the black hoverjets sweep buildings on both sides, but miraculously none checked out the river. As they got further away from the danger, Daniel accelerated slightly, though he still couldn’t develop full speed without the headlights; he only switched them on when they were well past Fort Worth, and they left the last of the deadly black hoverjets behind them.
Within ten minutes, they were in her neighborhood.
‘We will probably have to use the elevators to get in,’ she said. ‘My idatron is out, so I won’t be able to open the portal to let us in.’
‘It might be ok here,’ he said. ‘They were probably just using signal jammers, but they wouldn’t cover an area bigger than Manhattan.’
She took the idatron out of her pocket and tried to switch it on.
‘It’s still out,’ she said.
‘Wow, it seems like they took out communication in half the state,’ Daniel said. ‘Is that your building?’ he pointed at the skyscraper ahead. She nodded.
They flew down and Daniel parked in her charging station. When they got to the elevators, Amaranthine approached the eye scanner to get access.
‘I’ve only used this once before,’ she said. ‘When I first moved in here fifteen years ago. They showed me what to do in case of an emergency. I thought it was a waste of time then.’
In a few seconds, they were on her floor and another eye scanner opened the front door to her apartment.
She was worried for a moment that he would just drop her off and go away; it was the last thing she wanted. She couldn’t face being alone at this time. He must have sensed it, because he acted as if he’d visited her hundreds of times before and going inside with her was the most obvious and natural thing to do. She was grateful he didn’t leave her alone.
In her own living room again, Amaranthine suddenly felt overwhelming chilliness and she started to tremble again. Daniel noticed it immediately.
‘Do you have a blanket?’ he asked, seating her down on the sofa.
‘Yes, in the bedroom,’ she answered weakly. Her living room was spinning. ‘Down the hall on the right.’
He came back carrying a blanket and a pillow.
‘Lie down,’ he said. ‘You are in shock, you have to rest.’
She didn’t protest. She felt lightheaded and still shivered. She put her head down and curled up on the couch. He took her shoes off and wrapped the blanket around her.
‘Just relax,’ he said. ‘I’m right here, nothing’s going to happen to you. You’re safe now.’
She wanted to speak to him, to ask him questions and tell him how scared she was and that she almost took her own life and if it wasn’t for him, she’d be lying on the floor by the fire exit in a puddle of her own blood. She would have bled out by now, she was sure of that. Had he not come and got her out, she would be dead this very moment.
She wanted to thank him again and again and hear the story of how he found her and why he came for her. But her wrecked body and traumatized mind wanted just one thing – to escape from the memory of the horror they’d just been through. Finally feeling safe after the whole ordeal, Amaranthine drifted off into a deep sleep, feeling Daniel’s warm, strong hand gently stoke her head.
When she woke up, she was in her own bed, wrapped in her duvet. She didn’t remember getting here from the living room. She sat upright, confused and disoriented.
‘Eiko?’
Nothing. Her idatron lay on her bedside table, but it wasn’t displaying the clock. The communication must have still been out. She had no idea what time it was.
‘Daniel?’
Silence.
He wasn’t there; he must have left when she was asleep. He didn’t stay with her after all. She couldn’t blame him; he had already done enough for her, and he had his own life to go back to. She was grateful to him for saving her life and she would thank him properly soon. But despite all the reasoning, she couldn’t help feeling disappointed. The emptiness of her apartment suddenly frightened her. She so wished he was still there.
Only now did she realize that she was still in her work clothes from Friday. They were creased and filthy, stained with her blood. It felt like she’d worn them for weeks. She quickly took them off and put on her big, soft bathrobe.
As she stepped into the living room, her heart skipped a beat. And then it started pounding very, very fast, propelled by the adrenaline that suddenly hit her veins.
Daniel hadn’t left her. He was still there, sleeping soundly on the sofa, wrapped in her blanket.
She moved forward on her toes. His face was calm and relaxed, his wide chest rose and fell in the rhythm of his even breaths. She sat on the end of the sofa with her legs pulled up and looked at him as he slept. She looked at him for a long, long time, feeling warmth spread around her heart.
Finally he must have sensed that he was being observed. He stirred and opened one eye, then another. He looked around, sitting up, and saw her smiling at him.
‘I thought you’d left,’ she said.
‘I’m sorry,’ he replied. ‘I thought – ’
‘No, no, I didn’t mean it like that. I was saying I’m very glad you’re still here.’
‘Oh, that’s good. I’d hate to think that I disturbed you.’
‘On the contrary,’ she said. ‘How did you sleep?’
‘Great,’ he smiled back. ‘This sofa is the single most comfortable piece of furniture I have ever slept on.’
‘That’s good,’ she said. ‘Though you could have used the guest bedroom.’
‘Nah, the sofa was perfect,’ he said. ‘What time is it?’
‘I have no idea,’ she said. ‘All communication is still out.’
‘It’s eleven thirty,’ Eiko’s voice came from nowhere.
‘Oh, now it’s back on,’ Amari said, ‘thanks, Eiko. This is Daniel.’
‘Nice to meet you, Daniel,’ Eiko said in her tilting voice.
‘She’s my mind-reading computer,’ Amari explained, spotting surprise on Daniel’s face.
‘Hey there, Eiko,’ Daniel said in a hesitant voice, glancing around the upper part of the living room, ‘is it really eleven thirty already? Blimey. Can I use your bathroom?’
‘Of course,’ Amaranthine said. ‘It’s that way, the first door on the left.’
When Daniel came back, he sniffed the air with delight.
‘Mmmm, coffee,’ he smiled at the sight of a big cup waiting for him on the low table. ‘Thanks a million.’
Amaranthine was sitting on the sofa, with her legs crossed, clutching a big cup herself. Daniel picked up his mug and sat by her.
‘So, that was one hell of a night, eh?’ he said lightly.
She wanted to reply with something equally light, but somehow couldn’t find anything to say.
‘How are you feeling?’ he asked, looking into her eyes.
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‘I’m fine,’ Amari said, looking back at him. ‘Just… fine, thanks… to … you… and…’
She didn’t understand what was happening to her voice and her body. Completely out of the blue she was unable to utter a sentence that wouldn’t waver; then her voice got totally stuck in her throat. Immediately, she felt a warm wave rise from her throat to her eyes, a wave so big and powerful that she could not stop it however hard she tried. Her coffee mug, the sofa and the whole living room blurred. Her hands started shaking, but Daniel was at her side in time to take the coffee off her hands and put it away.
‘Hey, baby, what’s happening?’ he asked, taking her face into his hands again and rubbing off the tears that streamed down her cheeks. She was unable to form a single full word, every time she took a breath trying to calm herself and convince Daniel that she was fine, all that came out of her mouth was a spasmodic sob.
Daniel didn’t try to calm her down anymore. Just like last night, with his sixth sense, he knew what to do. He sat very close to her and embraced her, letting his arms and chest talk. Letting her cry out the horror of last night, letting the fear and desperation, panic, shock and hopelessness that she faced just a few hours ago flow out of her body with the hot tears. Amaranthine clung to him, resting her head on his chest. He held her tight in his arms, stroking her head and her back. His gestures were gentle and patient, not a hint of rush in any of his actions, as if they had all the time in the world to just sit like this on the sofa, embracing each other and feeling each other’s warmth. Very, very slowly, she calmed down.
When she finally looked up at him with her red, swollen eyes, she was capable of speaking again.
‘I can never find words to thank you for what you did, Daniel,’ she said, her eyes warm and shiny despite swelling. ‘You saved my life.’
‘It’s nothing,’ he said. ‘Anyone would have…’
‘No, they wouldn’t,’ she interrupted him. ‘I don’t know a single other person who would do something like this for me. Why did you?’
He didn’t reply, but the muscles on his jaws twitched.
‘Why did you come for me, Daniel?’ she didn’t give up. ‘Why did you fly all the way from LA, from the other side of the country, to come and save me? You could have died a dozen times over.’
She looked right at him, forcing him to look back at her. For a split second, his incredibly blue eyes expressed… something. But it disappeared so fast that she couldn’t identify it.
A big smile entered his face and his tone turned humorous.
‘I couldn’t afford to lose the best business partner I’ve ever had, could I?’ he finally said with a playful smile.
Not playful enough for her not to detect certain dose of artificialness. Even though she couldn’t identify the emotion that flashed through his eyes a second ago, she knew his words were not in synch with it. He wasn’t lying to her. But he wasn’t telling her the whole truth, either.
She half opened her mouth wanting to press on, but the uneasy tension that entered his body made her stop before she said anything. It was clear that whatever his motives, he didn’t want to reveal them at this moment. She instinctively felt she shouldn’t be pushing him any further.
‘Well, I’m glad you value me so much,’ she said, managing to infuse her tone with some of that playfulness. ‘I must have done something right.’
Although he tried not to show it, she noticed that he relaxed. Discussing his heroic deed was obviously something he’d rather avoid.
And if that was the case, the last thing she wanted to do now was to make him uncomfortable. Because that could make him leave and she’d be alone.
‘I don’t know about you,’ she said, ‘but I’m getting seriously hungry. What do you say I treat you to a nice brunch? It’s the least I can do.’
‘Sounds great,’ he smiled. ‘Now that you mentioned it, I’m pretty hungry myself.’
‘If you don’t mind,’ Amari said, ‘I’d rather order our brunch in. I am still not very keen on getting out of the house. To tell you the truth, I’m not even ready to find out how this whole thing ended last night.’
‘Sure, that would be great,’ he said. ‘Do you mind if I take a shower in the meantime?’
‘Not at all,’ she said. ‘Make yourself at home. If you need anything, you can ask Eiko.’
When Daniel disappeared to the bathroom, she downed the rest of her coffee and considered what to treat him to.
‘Eiko,’ she said, ‘can you ask Daniel if he likes seafood?’
‘He loves it,’ Eiko announced after a few moments.
‘Excellent. Why don’t we get a delivery from the Ocean Basket, then. The jumbo platter.’
‘It’s ordered,’ Eiko confirmed a couple of minutes later. ‘It’ll be here in forty minutes.’
Perfect, Amari thought. I should have enough time to take a shower myself before it arrives.
Fifteen minutes later, Daniel emerged from the bathroom, with a grin on his face.
‘You know,’ he said, ‘I never thought much of these mind-reading machines – no offence to your Eiko – but I am starting to like them. I was all worried I’d have to sit here in smelly clothes, but she washed and dried them faster than it took me to shower.’
Amaranthine smiled. ‘She’s got her advantages,’ she said, looking up at him. She only now noticed that his clothes were very different from the loose shirts and pants he wore to work. How come I’ve never noticed how muscular and toned he is? she thought. It must be the short sleeves and the more fitted jeans and jersey. She tore her gaze away from him with effort. ‘Nonetheless, she can’t do everything. She can’t, for example, make that amazing mojito they serve in Steel Magnolias. I programmed her and everything, but it just doesn’t taste the same.’
‘Oh, you can’t blame her for it,’ Daniel laughed. ‘Like I told you, it’s a secret ingredient that makes it so delicious. Steel Magnolias use a slightly enriched recipe.’
‘Well, I have no choice, then,’ she laughed, ‘but to frequent that venue as often as possible. Our brunch is on the way. Make yourself at home, it won’t be long. I’ll take a quick shower, too.’
In the bathroom, Amaranthine didn’t take time as usual planning what treatments she was going to have and programming Eiko to perform them. All she wanted was to refresh herself and get back to the living room as soon as possible. She wanted to be close to Daniel, every minute spent away from him, especially now that he was so close, in her own home, felt like a waste. She didn’t even bother drying her hair. She put on a casual, cotton dress, and headed back to the living room, her long, wet strands cascading down her back and shoulders.
‘Wow, that was quick,’ Daniel said when he saw her, genuinely surprised. ‘When I saw all those tools of torture in your bathroom, I reckoned it’d take you at least an hour to get out of there.’
‘Ha, ha,’ she said, detecting his sarcasm, ‘you see, just cause a girl has certain things, doesn’t mean she has to use them all the time.’
‘I’m glad,’ he said, smiling. ‘Because I have some good news to tell you.’
‘You watched the news?’ she guessed, feeling a surge of fear and excitement.
‘No more buildings were bombed,’ he said, ‘the terrorists were taken down over the Atlantic. They didn’t get anything.’
The relief she felt was almost comparable with the one last night, when they got out of the deadly ring of terrorists and hovered home along the river.
‘Do you want to watch the news?’ he asked.
‘Now that I know it’s all over,’ she replied, ‘yes, I definitely do.’
They watched the news waiting for their food, sipping more coffee.
The reports varied from catastrophic visions of what could have happened if the terrorists had succeeded in stealing the Cure’s formula, to triumphant odes in honor of the Air Force special unit that brought the enemy down in an incredibly crafty counter-attack. All channels were lost in conjecture as to wh
y it took the terrorists so long to crack the security systems in Dr. Life’s headquarters. Was it because the Cure’s formula was indeed that well protected, or because it was not even stored there, the HQ serving as a dummy in case of such an attack? No one knew, but one thing was for certain: that delay gave the Pentagon the crucial advantage: precious time to plan and execute the counter-attack.
‘Whatever the case,’ Constantine Spencer concluded at the end of The Immortal News report, ‘I don’t think any of us will ever again doubt Dr. Life and his aide Mr. Tsuneo Walker when they assure us that the Cure’s formula and stocks are indeed perfectly well protected. If an attack as sophisticated as the one Manhattan witnessed last night, was unable to compromise access to the Cure, it’s safe to say that nothing and no one will. The events of the night of April 23, 2106 should teach the terrorists that America has effective ways of protecting its secrets and treasures, and it does so in the name of all the democratic countries on this planet.’
‘Coming next,’ the reporter back in the studio announced, ‘is our special service on the possible outcomes of last night’s attack, in which we will try and answer the question most of you are probably asking yourselves: what’s going to happen next? What steps should the government undertake to find and punish those who were behind the attack that took the lives of fifty-six Americans, destroyed an iconic building in the very heart of Manhattan, and inflicted damages to five other ones?’
‘What do you think the government will do now?’ Amaranthine asked Daniel.
‘It’s hard to tell,’ he replied. ‘Whoever did this, clearly didn’t have enough information and resources to succeed, which means that either their funding was not sufficient, or their intelligence faulty, or both. Whoever is behind this, is not as strong as they thought they were, and I’d imagine their failure will not win them any friends. They won’t be popular in their own country, so the US government could just as well let their own enemies have them. Question is, will they resist the expectations of the American people, who are already calling for a revenge war.’
‘How can they ensure it doesn’t happen again, though?’ Amari said, recalling last night’s horror and shivering even at the thought it could be repeated.