Mel laughed and said, “I will consider you a brother from now on. We consider you a full member of the council as well—13-L.”
Sancha also hugged Adam, followed by many others. Peacekeepers and peaceful KTP alike congratulated one another. When the congratulations and the cheers finally died down, it was a sobering moment when everyone looked around at the ground littered with blood and the bodies of the fallen KTP and peacekeepers.
Wyndolyn, followed by a large group of people, approached Adam. All of their faces were distorted in anguish and many of them were crying. Tears were streaming down Wyndolyn’s face.
She simply said, “You said we would find a peaceful resolution.”
Adam didn’t know how to respond. He hadn’t wanted anyone to die, but he had been prepared to die or kill if need be. All he could think of to say was, “I’m sorry.”
Wyndolyn turned, shook her head, and walked away. The group of people with her followed.
“Wyndolyn, wait,” said Roxy, chasing after her. Shannel went after her, too.
Adam hung his head. He suddenly felt responsible for all of the deaths.
He turned to Maddie and said, “Can’t you do that healing thing? It worked on me and Sancha and Mel.”
With sadness in her eyes, Maddie shook her head.
“I can only heal living people, Adam. To my knowledge, no one has been successful in using RTP for resurrection. Once the soul is gone…” Her voice trailed off.
At that moment, Jeremy approached the 13-L and said, “We will consider this a victory for peace and a truce between the KTP and the peaceful ones as long as I am in power. We will make sure that it is so.”
He noticed Adam surveying the land where the dead bodies lay. He put his hand on Adam’s shoulder and said, “Leave the cleanup to us. We never intended this outcome.”
Adam said, “We didn’t intend it either. We’ll help.”
Jeremy searched Adam’s eyes, then nodded.
The bodies were carefully rolled up in tarps and removed. The ground was still covered with all of the guns and munitions. Everyone used RTP to pitch in to help. When all that remained were bloody pools on the ground, Jeremy and several others lifted their faces and arms toward the sky. Adam watched as clouds gathered and rain began to pour down, washing the blood into the ground and destroying all evidence that anything out of the ordinary had occurred.
When the rain started, some people began to leave. Many sought shelter under the horse pavilion and got to know one another. The KTP and peacekeepers mixed together in an unprecedented event. The 13-L—minus Wyndolyn—stayed, as did the KTP leaders. People brought out food and drinks. They played music, danced, and talked on into the night while the rain continued to downpour hard and heavy, washing away all traces of violence. It was reported the next day that a record-breaking rainfall had fallen in that part of New Mexico. Meteorologists hadn’t seen it coming.
As they parted ways with Jeremy late that night, he promised they would meet again soon to continue getting to know each other and reinforce the peace treaty. He also promised to keep the peacekeepers posted on the progress of capturing the KTP who had mutinied.
Chapter 50
As they prepared to leave, Sancha said, “Why don’t you two stay with us tonight? We can all have a late brunch together tomorrow and you can make your travel arrangements on the secure network.”
Maddie said, “Are you sure? Do you think we should still split up? I mean with Ian’s group still on the loose…”
Adam thought it was ironic that, although the day’s events were considered a huge victory, they still felt the need to be cautious. It saddened him. He had expected a better outcome.
Mel said, “I think it’ll be fine for just one night. Besides, we need to talk about our next moves and our new normal.”
Next moves? New normal?
Adam just wanted life to remain as it was before this trip to New Mexico. He was exhausted and wasn’t ready to consider what the future had in store for them.
When they arrived at Sancha and Mel’s house, everyone said goodnight and quietly adjourned. Alone at last and holding each other in bed, Maddie said, “Adam, I am so proud of you.”
Adam had mixed feelings about everything. He didn’t regret the trip to New Mexico. He had met Maddie’s best friends and traveled to a beautiful part of the country he had never seen before. He had learned so much more about Maddie’s past and the positive things that Refined Transcendent Power could do in people’s lives. He had met some truly amazing people with incredible abilities and had begun to realize his own capabilities of using RTP. He had even led the movement for a peace treaty with the KTP. But the deaths and the escape of Ian’s gang bothered him. He had hoped, perhaps naively, that this would be it—a peaceful treaty would be made, life would return to normal, and they would all live happily ever after. Had his positive thinking not been enough?
He said, “I’m glad we did it too. If only I had mastered my thoughts a little better before this happened…”
Maddie’s eyes searched his.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, I was so sure of a peaceful outcome.”
“And you got one.”
“But it wasn’t exactly what I was hoping the outcome would be. People died. And what about Ian’s gang being on the loose? They’re still a threat as long as they’re out there. Where do you think they went? How did they disappear like that?”
“Adam, don’t dwell on that now. They must have devised a way to hide or make a rapid retreat. Let’s just be thankful for the positive outcomes. RTP doesn’t always work exactly the way we
