Parchman, стр. 44

Nathaniel Mathers held out his hand for McGregor to shake.

‘You don’t owe me that,’ said McGregor.

‘Whatever happened at that reservoir happened. You saved Logan andwithout that I would have no sons alive. So yes, I do owe you that. Iunderestimated the impact that The Cure had on people and the lengths itwill drive people to do evil things. That’s on me.’

McGregor took his hand and shook it firmly.

‘We’ll stay tonight to celebrate these peoples sacrifice and take our leavein the morning,’ said Jackal. ‘That right Mosquito?’

‘Call me Mosquito again and I’ll swat you like one,’ said McGregor asthey walked off towards the prison and a roaring fire in the courtyardwhere people were laughing and eating on tables around it.

‘More lives lost Dad,’ said Logan pointing to the graves.

‘It never gets easier losing the people you love son. This world wasdangerous before, but with people like Roderick thinking that they areowedsomething that should be earned lives will be lost. It’s whether ornot you are prepared to risk sticking up for the underdog as to whether youwill comeout the other side a better person. Now come join the party,’ hesaid.

‘We’ll catch you up,’ he said waving his dad on.

Tallulah put her arms around Logan’s neck. ‘So what next? TheCommander General is dead and his army has fled. We have a new homealong with our friends and family thanks to the people of Parchman.’

‘People of Parchman. I like that. I think they’ve more than earnt that name.Truthfully, I’m hoping that this is it. No more “excitement”. We canbecome part of this extended community and thrive. Help these guys gobeyond the walls of Parchman and help any other Survivors out there. Butmore than anything I want to build a future here, with you.’

‘This will always be part of our past,’ said Tallulah. ‘But in this new world,maybe the things we’ve seen and done aren’t so abnormal.’

‘So now we are normal?’ he laughed.

‘Ha-ha! I’m not sure we could ever be considered normal.’

‘I just wish,’ he stopped himself.

‘So many unanswered questions,’ replied Tallulah.

‘Yes,’ he nodded. ‘Jay, Danny, Rose. The not knowing just makes it harderto accept.’

‘They all had a purpose in this war, and it may well be that we never knowwhat that purposewas, but we have to accept that and move on,’ shereplied.

‘Maybe,’ said Logan dejectedly.

‘Now come on, it’s time the new

leader

of the People of Parchman showedhis face,’ she said.

‘I don’t think I’ll get used to that title anytime soon,’ he said walkingthrough the gates of the prison.

As they got there the courtyard went silent and the people started to stand.The prison inmates, the community, Jackal’s gang along with McGregor.Hod lifted his beer glass to Logan. Walking to the table at the head of theothers, Chuck, Xander, Scott and Seth stood for their friend.

Logan beckoned to everyone to sit. ‘Thank you. It is a great honor that youhave chosen me to lead this consolidated community. I humbly accept thisposition along with the chosenmembers from each group,’ he lookeddown at Tallulah sat by his side. ‘We have rightly honored those who havedied giving their lives to give us this opportunity. Now is the time for thework to begin. We have come together for a purpose. Thank you to themembers of Parchman who have accepted our own people into their homeand made us so welcome. Together we will realize Professor Brittle andIsaac Mendez’ dream of rolling out what we have to others. We need togo out further and find other Survivors. We need to continue to help thosewho cannot help themselves. I cannot guarantee to you that I will alwaysmake the right decisions, but I promise I will listen and will always dowhat is in the best interests of the community. Together, we are stronger.’

The tables clattered as the men and women of the combined groups stoodagain, applauding their newly elected leader. Nathaniel stood, smiling athis son, proud of what he had achieved and the choices he had made to gethim to this point.

Logan sat and looked around at the people who had elected him to leadthem. Xander sat with Jose and Hod drinking something suspiciously likemoonshine. Scott and Seth sat with members of the community and moreof the inmates, whilst Chuck and Nathaniel sat with Jackal and McGregorlaughing.

Three weeks ago he could never have foreseen this happening. Onlymonths ago he was living blissfully in the government base with noworries. But actually, this felt right to him. Knowing what others had gonethrough since The Cure he now felt part of something bigger. He wasactually the happiest he had been in a long time. He turned to Tallulah andfumbling in his pocket pulled something out and held it towards her.

‘What’s that?’ she said, looking at him for affirmation.

‘Will you marry me?’ he said, holding out the ring.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Torngat Mountains National Park, Canada

A man stood looking out of a window with a mountain landscape in frontof him. He was a tall man in his late fifties who was healthy and strong.He wore an immaculate three-piece grey suit with a laboratory coat overit. The only jewellery he wore was a wedding ring on a necklace aroundhis neck. The most notable thing of all though was the way he stood,straight, with an air of superiority. You knew that he was important. Youwould listen if he spoke and you would take everything on board withoutquestion. The man was confident. This man was not someone you wouldsay no to.

Bearing in mind the world as it was he was the polar opposite to anyoneelse you might meet at this time since The Cure.