“You actually thought I was mad at you?”
“I couldn’t help but wonder. You told me you loved Paul like you had never loved anyone before. I thought maybe you still loved him, and that you hated me for killing him.”
Her eyes grew wide. “How could you believe that? When I said I loved Paul more than I had ever loved anyone before, I meant over a century ago. It was true then, and it is true at some basic level now. I do love him—well, did love him—but only in the way I would love a family member or a longtime friend. I haven’t had any romantic feelings for him in as long as I can remember. I only love one person, and that person is you. I can truly say I have never loved anyone more than I love you, Adam.”
Everything was right in the world again. Forget worrying about the outcome of the meeting. That was all Adam needed to hear to keep going. He would learn to deal with the guilt for taking the lives of two people. It would all be okay as long as he and Maddie had each other. Now that he knew the truth, he would face anything to protect the love between them. He became even more determined to summon a positive, peaceful result for the meeting.
He hugged her tightly and kissed her gently. They kissed for several moments, gently at first, and then the familiar passion overtook them. When he was with Maddie, Adam could be fully in the moment. He could believe that everything was going to be okay.
They clung to each other for the rest of the night, sleeping peacefully for the first time in days. Adam only woke up a couple of times with the hauntingly familiar nightmares. But this time Maddie was by his side in his dreams. We he awoke, he no longer had a feeling of dread.
Chapter 47
The next day, Adam, Maddie, and what was now the 10-L, met in the secret lair to review the objectives and strategize. Everyone knew the main objective was to come to a peaceful agreement with the KTP. But they also knew they had to be prepared in case the meeting turned out to be a trap and took a violent turn. They all agreed that they would do everything in their power to avoid physical violence, but they also had to be prepared to defend themselves. If they did end up having to fight, it would not be because the peaceful ones provoked it.
As they were concluding the meeting, an incoming connection request from “Fire and Ice” appeared on the monitor. Mel looked surprised, as did everyone else in the room. Jonathan accepted the connection request.
A square on the monitor lit up with the faces of the two council members who had declined to join them—Caragh and Callum.
Callum said, “We’ve prayed and put much thought into your proposal. And, although we were fearful in the beginning, we’ve since realized that it is the right thing to do. We want to join you in the peaceful protest.”
Caragh nodded her agreement.
Roxy said, “Yes!” and started clapping. Others followed suit. Everyone was smiling. This gave them even more confidence. They had a unanimous agreement. Mel quickly filled the two newcomers in on the plans and they all adjourned.
Chapter 48
The Hummingbird Ranch was located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of northern New Mexico on almost 500 acres of lush land, high forested valleys, and meadows surrounded by trees, shrubs, and various other forms of vegetation. There was a large horse pavilion, and behind it, acres of grassy meadows with room enough for the number of people that they were expecting. The venue had been reserved for the private event with guards stationed at the entrances to ensure no access to the general public.
Adam’s nerves were surprisingly calm on the morning of the meeting with the KTP. He had done all of the mental preparation possible, and he knew without a doubt that the outcome of the meeting would be a good one. They were as ready as they were ever going to be.
When Maddie and Adam arrived at the expansive gravel and dirt parking lot, they were encouraged to see that there were already a lot of vehicles. Adam hoped that many of them belonged to peacekeepers. They walked hand in hand toward the grassy meadow, looking for familiar faces.
Already, there were people everywhere, from all walks of life, all cultures, and all ages. It made Adam think of images he had seen of the 1969 Woodstock festival, with an estimated 400,000 spectators, and what he imagined it would have been like to attend. Although there weren’t nearly that many people here yet, he hoped there would be—at least on the peacekeepers’ side.
Since they had never seen many of the people they were expecting, the peacekeepers devised a way to distinguish between friend and foe. The 12-L decided that the signal would be a Namaste greeting with a slight bow and hands pressed together, palms touching and fingers pointing upward, thumbs close to the chest. Adam and Maddie followed a trail of people giving Namaste greetings until they saw a small group of familiar faces gathered around Mel on one end of the meadow. Across the meadow Adam noticed that the KTP had begun to arrive in full force—some in buses, some in large all-terrain, military-like vehicles. Their presence was unnerving.
As they approached the group, Jonathan ran up beside them.
“Hey guys. Big day.” If he was nervous he didn’t let on.
Maddie said, “Adam, let me do some quick introductions. You’ve met on the telecom, but I’d like you to meet them in person.”
She pointed toward each person as she said their names, “This is Roxy, Tarek, Wyndolyn, Roman, Shannel, Caragh, and Callum.”
Each person shook Adam’s hand as Maddie said their name.
