Red Cicada, page 26
The last phone call was the longest. When Camry answered, she yelled, “It’s about time!” then went on for over an hour about the hot doctor she had met at Poudre while awaiting news on Lana’s predicament. He looked like Ryan Reynolds—but with a better body. They were already dating, he drove a Hummer, he was totally into her, and he was divorced with one kid—but that was totally cool because he was an adorable little boy. Camry was still angry that Lana had “left the planet,” but in the end, she couldn’t be happier with her life. Oh—and she was glad Lana was okay.
Eleven months later, Lance and Lana were sailing on Lake Winnebago, a massive lake in the heart of Wisconsin. Their boat was a Sage 17, a fast, maneuverable craft with generous galley and bunk accommodations that was still small enough for two people to handle.
When they were in the middle of the lake, Lance turned into the wind and let the sail fall slack.
“That was a rookie mistake, babe,” Lana said from her jib seat near the cabin.
“It was intentional. We have some unfinished business.”
She loosened the jib line on its cleat and moved back to Lance’s spot at the tiller. “What are you talking about?”
From his fanny pack he pulled out a small block of cement about the size of a Rubik’s Cube. Firmly secured within one face was the Red Cicada disk shell.
Lana simply gawked, unable to utter the thousand questions she had.
“I know I told you I destroyed this,” Lance explained, “and I basically did. I microwaved it dozens of times to erase any secrets it may still hold. You asked me never to tell you what it contained, and I never will. The disk itself is worthless, but it is evidence and needs to be destroyed. I could have done it myself, but I felt you needed to have a physical part in ridding the world of this monstrosity to get full closure. This is the last hard evidence of your connection to project Red Cicada. So I want to hand it to you, and I want you to—”
Quick as a snake strike, Lana grabbed the cement block and hurled it over the side of the boat. It made a small splash and was gone.
Lance laughed. “Didn’t you want to say a few words first?”
“Yes. I’m grateful I’ve only had one migraine since that thing was removed.” She then pushed Lance away from the tiller and took the pilot position. “You man the jib,” she said firmly. “I’m sailing this craft away from this spot faster than you ever dreamed it’d go.”
He gave a quick salute and moved to his new assignment.
Lana did not want to say another word about the disk. And she never did.
About the Author
Gregg Luke, RPh, spent his childhood and young-adult life in Santa Barbara, California. He pursued his formal education in biologic sciences at SBCC, UCSB, and BYU. He completed his schooling at the University of Utah College of Pharmacy, including a rotation with the Utah Poison Control Center. He currently practices clinical pharmacy in Logan, Utah.
Gregg is a lover of all things science. He is a prolific reader, writer, and lecturer. He has eleven published novels, seven of which are Whitney Award finalists, and two novellas. You can find out more about Gregg’s novels at greggluke.com.
Other Books by Gregg Luke
Survivors
Do No Harm
Altered State
Blink of an Eye
Bloodborne
Deadly Undertakings
“The Death House” in Twisted Fate
The Healer
Infected
The Hunter’s Son
“Insidious” in Entangled Plague
Gregg Luke, Red Cicada
