Read Online Akasha 4 - Earth by Terra Harmony - Free Book Online Page A

with
enthusiasm.
    "I don't follow."
    "Come, come. Let me show you around.
I'll remain to drive you down the river, of course."
    "No – me drive!" Bee shouted, kicking
to be let down.
    As soon as I set her on the ground she
ran for the captain's outstretched hands. Alex stepped in between
the two, swooping Bee up in his own arms.
    The captain shrugged. "Looks like I've
got myself a co-pilot." He tousled her hair and walked away with a
skip in his step, leaving me like an idiot, with my hand in the air
and speechless.
    I glanced at Alex, who was glaring at
the captain.
    "Come on," I said, nudging him
forward. "Let's at least hear him out."
    "Now this ship wasn't a steamboat
until after Daybreak," the captain waited for us to catch up. He
reached over and pinched Bee's cheek. "No it wasn't. We had plans,
but weren't motivated to put them in effect until the diesel
stopped coming."
    We followed him down some stairs. The
elevators had a large 'out of order' sign posted.
    He continued, "Daybreak was good in a
lot of ways like that."
    It was the first time I'd heard anyone
refer to Daybreak as a good thing. Bee leaned over to pull on the
captain's beard.
    "Honey, be careful." I
said.
    "She's fine. I'm Captain Carl, by the
way." He stopped suddenly and stuck out his hand in delayed
introduction.
    "Oh, I'm Kaitlyn." I shook his hand.
"And this is Alex, and…well – I guess everyone else is
busy."
    "Yes, yes – I'm having them load the
canoes and all your supplies on the boat. Eventually we may reach a
point where the steamboat is too big for the river. Anyway." He
turned down the stairs again. "Took us over a year, but we got her
ready just in time for Micah to come along."
    "I'm sorry – if you could explain how
exactly he purchased the boat?" I couldn't imagine what Micah had
traded.
    "Well, for one – this entire community
owes him and The Seven. Under their guidance, the Wiccans were able
to build our own Chakra Center."
    "Chakra Center?" I looked at Alex,
eyebrows raised.
    He shrugged.
    "Community-based farms that are able
to support any who come. Permaculture at its finest," touted the
captain.
    "What else did he give you?" I
asked.
    "A promise."
    "What kind of promise?" I narrowed my
eyes, taking Bee from Alex.
    "I get to captain one of the new
hybrid power stations. They are under construction just off the
coast of California, and in the Gulf, and at the Great Lakes. After
I drop you off, I'll be headed to California to take up my
post."
    We were just outside a large steel
door now. Alex paused. "And you believe him?"
    Captain Carl turned, crossing his
arms. "Why? Is there a reason I shouldn't believe him?"
    Hybrid power
stations? I glanced at Alex. He looked
just as lost as me, though I wasn't willing to call any of it into
question. I just wanted Micah to pop out from behind the
door.
    Captain Carl pushed his glasses up on
his nose. The frame was duct taped together. "I'm a Coast Guard
vet, I'll have you know. Twenty years. Just because this boat has
never been more than a mile from the dock, doesn't mean I'm not
capable."
    Alex held up one hand. "I'm sorry, I'm
just confused."
    "Well." The captain spun the dial on a
padlock and opened the door. "Allow me to enlighten
you."
    My shoulders sagged; no Micah.
Instead, three huge boilers took up the entire room.
    "Cast iron and bronze. Thankfully we
had these babies built before Daybreak. Basically, we boil water
straight from the river inside, and the resulting steam powers the
boat."
    "How do you boil the water?" Alex
asked, walking around one of the boilers.
    "By burning trash, mostly. Oh – and
office furniture. No one needs it anymore."
    I stepped closer, and Bee reached out
to touch the shiny cylinder.
    "Don't touch!" I snatched her hand
back. "It's hot!"
    She looked at Captain Carl for
confirmation.
    "Nope," he said. "The outer shell
stays cool to the touch." He leaned against it with one hand to
demonstrate. "Although, they have been known to
explode."
    I looked at