A Hard Rain: Book Two Of The Shift Trilogy

Chapter 20

Linthicum Heights, Maryland

January 2013

Rita Luevano stood outside on the porch taking her turn at watch. Her feet were now officially colder than the concrete she stood on. The boots and socks she wore hadn't dried sufficiently since the landing at Fort Armistead Park several days ago. Next to her, a porch swing dangled precariously from a single chain. Squirrels, who made a nest in the collapsing overhang, scurried from her presence. She didn't mind taking her turn at watch. She needed to get out of the house. Tomorrow they would be making the push to Helmut's office for whatever good that would do. Rita knew they couldn't stay here, and Gunnery Sergeant Birmingham and Lieutenant Baraka were intent on completing the mission and denying the Abercrombies the chance of acquiring the nukes. Yet, something just didn't add up in her way of thinking.

"Abuelita," she called out into the cold night sky and paused before she chuckled mirthlessly. Gaia had chosen her for reasons she never quite understood. Gaia appeared to her in visions and guided her through the pivotal early years, and yet Rita felt reticent about calling to her for help just because she was scared and unsure how to proceed. As ridiculous it was, she didn't want to appear needy to the great Earth mother spirit; she wanted to maintain control over her own life and her destiny wherever she could. Rita was a reluctant prophet if there ever was one.

She had no idea why Gaia had sent her here; it didn't make sense. In fact, nothing made sense. She had just finished having another conversation with Chris who clearly was out of his gourd. Rita hoped that his apparent amnesia would subside and his memories would return after some rest. But it wasn't amnesia. It was something she couldn't explain.

And then there was that strange character Helmut Spankmeister. Something about him, his body language, his eyes...she couldn't articulate exactly what it was, but she was convinced he was holding something back, something monumentally important. Her spider senses were telling her that Helmut was lying. She couldn't explain why except that she started running numbers in her head; how many days he had been out in the wilderness, how many calories he needed to survive, how he was able to maintain his body weight. She couldn't begin to explain how she was able to do such complex mathematical equations—she figured it was a perk of being a prophet or something—but regardless, the numbers suggested that there was no way Helmut could have made it out here as long as he did by just foraging. He was skinny but not undernourished. She told Akil about her suspicions discreetly. He agreed, but had no better idea what it was Helmut was holding back.

"Am I disturbing you?"

Rita turned around to see Kendra standing before her wearing a man's overcoat, which she appropriated in the master bedroom. Rita hadn't realized how much time had passed. Lieutenant Baraka was her relief on the push schedule. Kendra continued. "You looked like you were in communion, Reverend."

Rita smirked. She would have surmised that Kendra was a convert even if she had just met her. Something about Unitarians, Rita figured. Perhaps Gaia gave her some sort of "Gaiadar" on top of her Rain Man-like mathematical abilities. Kendra's reverent demeanor towards her would also be a tip off not to mention the medallion around her neck. Rita indicated to it and Kendra understood allowing her to examine it.

"The Captain...Chris, he made it for me for the Solstice in the second year," she said meaning the winter of 2008. Rita noticed it was rather crude for Chris' work, a casting from a clumsily designed mold, but it was still clearly the emblem of the Unitarian chalice and flame.

As if reading her mind, Kendra added, "This was one of Chris' early works before his forge became a full scale factory. He made the casting for the new medallions going around now and tried to pawn one of his newer ones made of silver. But I didn't want it, and I refused to take it off." Kendra smiled mischievously. "It was the sweetest thing I ever got. No boyfriend was ever so sweet, and he's just my commanding officer."