Oracle by C.W. Trisef

Author:C.W. Trisef [Trisef, C.W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BookBaby

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Mr. Coy sat in the first row’s aisle seat of the massive luxury airliner President Topramenov had arranged for the entire group’s flight to the Bering Sea. The plane was currently somewhere over Canada. Albie sat next to him in the window seat, a yellow legal-sized notepad on her lap, on which she frantically scribbled notes. The plane’s lavish seats were so wide that passengers could sit crisscross-applesauce, which was currently Albie’s chosen position. Mr. Coy looked over and smiled at how cute she looked, thinking about how badly his knees would hurt if he ever sat like that. He reached in his pocket, nervously fumbling with a small box he’d placed in there just before leaving the Keep, then took a deep breath.

“You want to talk about what’s on your mind?” Albie’s voice said, pulling him from his thoughts.

“What?” he said in typical Coy fashion. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”

“Come on, Ben, we’ve been traveling together for how many years now?” Albie said. “The only time you’re ever this quiet is when something’s on your mind, so spit it out already.”

“Oh, it’s just being on this plane,” he said. “Whenever I get on one of these confounded things, I can’t help but think of Helen, and you, and Peter. You know, all those trips we made together around the globe, chasing after her humanitarian dreams and efforts.”

Albie smiled at him.

“That’s why I put so much effort into building all those crazy contraptions. My hot-air balloon, the CAVEs, the USS Shamu, the human slingshot squirrel suit …”

At this, Albie’s smile widened.

“It was partly so I could spend as little time as possible on these flying tin cans.”

“And today?” she asked.

“Well, today … today she’s still here,” he touched his heart, “but not so much here.” He reached up and touched his head.

“What do you think the difference is?” she asked him. “The formula?”

“Mmm, perhaps. That, and learning the truth about Helen’s death. You know, I think I spent so many years feeling guilt and shame, pushing everyone away who meant something to me, that the guilt and shame consumed me. I couldn’t really think of anything else.”

“And now?” she asked, her head tilting so that her long, dark hair cascaded down her right shoulder.

“Well now,” Mr. Coy said, “it’s a miracle. The shame is mostly gone. And I don’t want to be alone anymore. We’re not meant to be alone.”

“So, what do you plan to do about it?” Albie asked, with a curious look.

“Something I should have done years ago,” he said as he unbuckled his lap belt, stood up, and stepped into the aisle. Before continuing he turned to Paige, who was sitting next to Ana a few rows back. “Paige dear, would you please join me up here? And Ana, get your cell phone ready. You’re going to want to record this.”

Looking confused, Paige unbuckled, stood, and walked up next to her father. Ana pulled out her cell phone and switched her camera to video mode.

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