The Everlasting Earth by L. A. Cummings

Author:L. A. Cummings
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lee A. Cummings

CHAPTER 12

AWAKENED

Haluna’s was not the only bar open early in the day, but it was the only one that offered a full view of the city’s park. Its tall windows faced the greenery and pathways that led to the north side of the stage, which, save for a few small children playing in front of it, was unbothered. The parents, three couples, were sitting on smoothed stone seats nearby, watching as the two boys and one girl moved about freely, running and screaming and making up games. Their small shrieks carried through the wide open space. By the time the playful sounds reached Chad, sitting at his booth behind the window, they were actually pleasant, to his surprise.

He had been sitting in the same spot for half an hour, barely sipping a cup of bland tea, looking back and forth to the small screen on his phone. He watched the scrolling, glowing lines of text. The headlines were repetitive. Travel outside the city was still restricted, for the third day in a row, but every other piece of information seemed unimportant, as was often the case. However, today he was expecting more. He was sure something had happened to Loren outside the city, and if it had, the watchers would have to report it, publicly. He took another sip of tea.

“It’s been a while, big guy,” Haluna said happily.

Chad looked up at her, at her bright, green eyes, and her graying bangs of hair, and her wide smile, and at the annoyingly imperfect red hat that she had been wearing for the past year. The thing was too big for her, and the top half always came down loosely over both her ears. It looked as old as she was. He could not guess her age, but he was sure that if she had a son or daughter, they would be older than he was.

She was holding a small, empty tray on her hip. He looked around the room. The dozen other tables and booths were nowhere near full. And there was only one other server working.

“How about you charge me for another hour?” he asked. He took the etched, metal card from the pocket near the top of his jacket, and held it out to her.

“Oh, it’s no charge, dear,” she said, gently guiding his hand back down. “I just wanted to check on you. Are you hungry? You must be.”

“No, I’m not hungry, Hala. I’m waiting.”

“For a who , or a what ?”

He took up the cup again, and finished the tea, and set it back in the saucer before sliding it to the edge of the table. “I’ll have another. Please.” He set his card down near the saucer.

“Okay, big guy,” she said, taking the saucer and cup up onto the tray, and taking the card into her hand.

He watched as she turned and walked away, stopping at another table to take a young couple’s order before going back to the counter. Before he could finish reading another redundant report on his phone’s screen, she was back with his card and his tea.

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