The survivor, p.26
The Survivor, page 26
“Optimist.”
“Absolutely.” He drew her closer. “And that’s the way we’ll get through this. But we might have to make adjustments. We’ll have to talk about it later…”
EPILOGUE
BASE MOUNTAIN CAMP
PALANDAN ISLAND
TWO MONTHS LATER
Cade told me you were here,” Kagan said as he strolled toward the truck where Maya was standing. “Complete with clipboard and shepherds and rather bewildered unicorns.”
She whirled to face him. “Where else would I be? This is my job.” Her gaze raked his face. “How are you? You don’t look as if you could have been tottering at death’s door like the media claimed.”
“I never totter.” He reached out and stroked one of the deer being loaded on the truck. “I have my reputation to uphold. Cade just circulated that story to gain sympathy for the island guard and bring attention to the fact that if the Himalayas can melt, what about Miami Beach or Paris? It struck a resounding chord.”
“It was a good idea,” she said. “The whole world adores you and almost went into a tailspin when he told everyone you were badly wounded. They lit candles in every city that had a mountain. Very good distraction.”
“But surely Riley told you that I was doing fine?”
“She might have mentioned it. I’ve been very busy here.”
“Not too busy to tell Bailey that I was okay,” he said softly. “Because I’ve been receiving all kinds of sketches of the deer, shepherds, and you from her while I was in the hospital ‘recuperating.’ Some of them were very amusing. Some of them were just touching; I was glad to know she cared. It’s always good to realize that you matter.” He chuckled. “Though we both know you’ve always had trouble expressing that where I’m concerned.”
“As if you needed another fan,” she scoffed. “It’s better to keep you grounded.” Then she smiled. “But if you’ll be quiet for another five minutes, I’ll get this shipment of deer off the mountain and on its way to the airport to go to the new haven in the Rocky Mountains that Cade’s set up. Then I’ll take you up to the tent to see Bailey and we’ll have supper.”
“You’re only sending twenty at a time?”
“We decided that it would be better to get them used to a new place if they didn’t have to compete with a huge herd. I send twenty plus a shepherd they know every couple weeks. So, when Cade found that haven in the Rockies we started to work.” She tore the sheet off the clipboard, handed it to the driver, and waved him away.
Kagan watched him drive down the road. “It’s going to take much longer to get them settled that way.”
“But it will be safer, and we don’t know how the unicorns will adapt to a new place.” She smiled. “Though we have great hopes for them if they managed to survive not only Silvana’s and her Amazons’ world but a couple thousand years here in this valley.”
He started up the hill toward the tent city. “But they had Silvana’s caretakers to guard them.”
“They still have a caretaker,” Maya said. “I’ll be here until the last one is transferred to safer ground. Then I’ll go to the new haven and make certain all is well with them.”
“And then?”
She met his eyes. “By then I hope that we’ve found a way to save the island and all the villagers who live here. Somebody out there must want to help them. Cade does, Riley does, you do. There have to be other people who can change minds and make it happen. In the meantime, I’ll do my duty and be the best caretaker that Silvana could ever want.”
“It might be the most difficult job a caretaker could ever undertake,” Kagan said. “And you may not be qualified for it.”
“I beg your pardon?”
He chuckled. “I’m not insulting you. But while I was in the hospital ‘tottering,’ I was thinking that you might need someone to lighten the load occasionally. Like Bailey did for me with those sketches. You have a tendency to be a little grim and serious, but I bet you can still go out and save the world if you find something to smile about occasionally.”
“I’m not grim. I don’t appreciate you saying that.” She made a face. “But I admit I am serious. Still, I have Bailey to lighten any load.”
“That’s a big load for a kid.” He smiled. “But it’s no load at all for me. That’s why I decided to spend half my time here on the island doing unicorn duty and filling in when things might not go splendidly. The other half I’ll be with Cade and Riley trying to change those minds you mentioned.”
“I don’t need you here.”
“I didn’t expect you to admit to needing anyone at any time. But there were times when we were fighting to keep Bailey and Riva alive that it wasn’t the question at all. We reached out to a point beyond and now we can’t go back. Though heaven knows where it will lead us. You know it as well as I do.” He reached out his hand to her. “And none of it really matters now. The question isn’t if you need me here. It’s do you want me here.”
She looked down at his hand. It was a strong hand, and yet there had been so many times when it had been so gentle with Bailey and Riva and her. Just as his expression could be so fierce one minute and yet dissolve into laughter the next.
“I wouldn’t think of obligating you in any—”
“Stop dithering,” he interrupted. “Answer the question.”
“I was getting to it.” She looked him straight in the eyes and then she reached out and took his hand. “Like it or not, you’re not getting away. You’re damn right I want you here, Kagan!”
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Iris Johansen is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than fifty consecutive bestsellers. Her series featuring forensic sculptor Eve Duncan has sold over twenty million copies and counting and was the subject of the acclaimed Lifetime movie The Killing Game. Along with her son, Roy, Iris has also co-authored the New York Times bestselling series featuring investigator Kendra Michaels. Johansen lives in Georgia and Florida.
BOOKS BY IRIS JOHANSEN (IN ORDER OF PUBLICATION)
EVE DUNCAN SERIES
The Face of Deception
The Killing Game*
The Search
Body of Lies
Blind Alley*
Countdown*
Stalemate
Quicksand
Blood Game*
Eight Days to Live*
Chasing the Night
Eve
Quinn
Bonnie
Sleep No More
Taking Eve+
Hunting Eve+
Silencing Eve*+
Shadow Play+
Hide Away+
Night and Day
Mind Game*
Shattered Mirror
Dark Tribute
Smokescreen
The Persuasion*
The Bullet
A Face to Die For^
Captive*
The Survivor
*Starring Jane MacGuire
+Featuring Margaret Douglas
^Featuring Riley Smith
CATHERINE LING SERIES
Chasing the Night
What Doesn’t Kill You
Live to See Tomorrow
Your Next Breath
KENDRA MICHAELS SERIES
(written with Roy Johansen)
“With Open Eyes” (short story)
Close Your Eyes
Sight Unseen
The Naked Eye
Night Watch
Look Behind You
Double Blind
Hindsight
Blink of an Eye
Killer View (Roy Johansen)
More Than Meets the Eye
STANDALONES
The Ugly Duckling
Long After Midnight
And Then You Die
Final Target
No One to Trust
Dead Aim
Fatal Tide
Firestorm
On the Run
Killer Dreams
Pandora’s Daughter
Silent Thunder (Iris & Roy Johansen)
Dark Summer
Deadlock
Storm Cycle (Iris & Roy Johansen)
Shadow Zone (Iris & Roy Johansen)
The Perfect Witness
No Easy Target (featuring Margaret Douglas)
Vendetta
Chaos (featuring Margaret Douglas)
High Stakes
On the Hunt
For a complete list of books by Iris Johansen, as well as previews of upcoming books and information about the author, visit IrisJohansen.com.
Iris Johansen, The Survivor
