Page 28 of The Godhead Complex
Sadina’s mom cleared her throat and everyone got quiet. Ms. Cowan was the elected official back home and island laws or not, the group still listened to her and respected her authority. “You’re going to go to Alaska and meet the Godhead. You’ve still got big things to do, and I can’t let myself get in the way of your destiny.”
And with that, the anxiety in Sadina’s stomach finally settled. Because deep down, the call to Alaska was just as strong as it had been the day they’d left the island. She felt it in the center of her bones. Her life had a purpose. She needed to help end the Flare for good.
She didn’t knowhow.
The only thing she knew waswhere.
Alaska.
Orphans never had goodbyes.
And they certainly didn’t have long goodbyes.
What Orphans did have was patience. Minho stood alone on the deck of the boat eating almonds from a nearby tree. No matter how long he observed the group below, he didn’t understand the time it took to part ways. And why all the touching when the risk of infection lingered? Once Old Man Frypan announced he was staying behind, all the goodbyes and hugging started all over again. Minho thought about blowing the horn to get everyone’s attention, but he thought that was something Dominic might do. Orphans had patience and Minho would be patient.
“Ready?” Orange joined him on the boat’s deck.
“Just waiting for the rest of the crew.” He tossed another almond in his mouth.
“Well, you called it,” she said with raised eyebrows and a smile. Minho rarely saw her this impressed. At the same time, he wasn’t sure what she meant. “The stock of food for seven people,” she added. “You knew someone else was going to stay behind.”
He shrugged. “Just a feeling.” In truth, his feeling was that Sadina might stay behind. But she didn’t. The Orphan named Minho still struggled to understand what family meant and how they behaved. Turns out he didn’t understand the relationship between a daughter and her mother at all.
“What a crazy day, huh?” Roxy boarded the ship and joined them, leaning against the railing, looking at the islanders’ long goodbyes below. “Gonna miss those three, especially Frypan’s cooking.”
“Your cooking is better than Frypan’s. Maybeyournickname should have something to do with cooking, too.”.
“Roxy is just fine.” She laughed, “or Rox. My dad used to call me that.”
Orange let out a noise that sounded like it came from a wild monkey. “What?” he asked her. Whatever she thought was so funny was only funny to her.
“I was just thinking, Rox sounds likerocks—like the potato rock I gave you to cook for breakfast. You really could make rocks taste good enough to eat!” Orange giggled again, so unlike her, and Roxy smiled. Minho felt a little jealous, wishing he could lighten up.
He handed Roxy some almonds while the islanders slowly started to board the ship. Dominic nodded at him and said something about being happy that Minho didn’t quite make out but he nodded right back. A happy crew was a good crew.
Roxy leaned into Minho, “You don’t have to ever worry about me getting sick or infected. I’d just end it all myself. I wouldn’t put that on you.”
“Don’t say that!” he snapped before he could stop himself.
“You don’t think a Cure is possible?” Orange asked.
“Oh hell, no. Don’t you think if there was a Cure they’d have found it by now? Maybe 50 years ago?” She wrapped her arm around Orange’s shoulders. “This is all we have: what’s here and what’s now.” They both looked out at the ocean that awaited them.
Minho nodded.The here and now, that was something the Orphans could understand.
There was no past and there was no future in the Remnant Nation. Only the here and now. He looked up at the sun in the sky and wondered about the tide; they needed to set sail. He leaned over the railing and in his kindest tone possible, asked, “Can we hurry this up?” They were still waiting for Trish, Sadina, Miyoko, and Jackie.
Ms. Cowan waved from the shore. “Yes, he’s right, we have to get on our way too. At least now with Frypan we’ll have a better dinner.” Ms. Cowan, Isaac, and Old Man Frypan separated to the left of the ship to allow everyone else to get on their way, and to Minho’s surprise more hugging ensued. It was like an execution line but instead of bullets, Cowan, Isaac, and Frypan lined up for hugs from each one as they climbed the deck. At least the sick woman had her neck covered up. Minho watched closely as Trish reached for Sadina’s hand and Sadina shook her touch away.
“You’ll all be safe.” He didn’t know what else to say. He nodded a goodbye to Isaac, feeling like they had an understanding he’d never really experienced with anyone else. He turned to pull the anchor up and get the engine started, but a commotion erupted on deck.
“No! Please!” He turned around and half-expected to see Cowan dead on the sand and another change of plans, but there was no visible reason for any of the commotion. Who’d shouted?
Cowan, Isaac, and Frypan all looked up from shore with wide eyes. “What? What happened?” Minho held his gun tight to his chest and looked around the perimeter. Trees. Water. Sand.What the hell was it now?
Dominic was the one to explain. “Jackie’s not coming. She can’t take another boat ride. Barfed nearly twelve times a day on our way here and almost barfed now walking across the deck.”
Minho watched as Jackie threw her pack off the boat to the dry sand. Trish stopped the girl and hugged her. “Are you sure? We’ll all miss you.”
