Coming Home

Fifty-one

He came out onto the front porch as we descended onto the pad and waved at us. Alex was out of his belt and opening the door while we were still a few meters off the ground. “Premature,” said the taxi in a stern voice. “A penalty will be assigned.”

“Whatever,” said Alex. We touched down, and he climbed out. Gabe broke into a huge smile, came down the steps, and hurried across the cobblestones. They both stopped, stared at each other for a moment, and, without a word, fell into each other’s arms.

“Gabe,” Alex said, “I never expected to see you again.”

“I don’t feel as if I’ve been gone.”

They both laughed. “We thought you were dead.”

“That’s what I heard, Alex. I couldn’t believe it when they first told us what was happening. I’m glad you didn’t change the locks.”

Alex nodded, and Gabe looked my way. “Doesn’t show on you at all, Chase. You’re as beautiful as ever.”

I moved in and hugged him. “Welcome back, Boss.”

The taxi informed us of the amount of the penalty. Alex paid and told the taxi good-bye. It rose into the soft moonlight.

“It’s great to have you back,” said Alex.

“Do they know how it happened?”

“The physicists do. It had something to do with damaged space and the Armstrong drive.”

“Well, I’m grateful it turned out okay.” He released me, and we stood there looking at one another and shaking our heads. And, finally, we started back toward the house. “It’s strange,” he continued. “I don’t feel as if I’ve been away at all. I mean, I just packed my bags the other day. But this place is sure changed. The offices have been overhauled, and the bathrooms are different. The rear deck’s been rebuilt.” He looked down at the cobblestones. “Even the walkway. Everything’s different. And I see the property is home to your company. Rainbow Enterprises, is it?”

“Yes, Gabe.”

“Well, congratulations. I hope it’s doing well.”

“It is.” Alex sounded a bit tentative. He didn’t expect his uncle’s approval.

Gabe caught the reaction and laughed. “I see he was smart enough to hire you, Chase.”

“How’d you know?” I asked.

“The picture of your mom is still on your desk.” He took my bags, and we went inside. “Good move, Alex.”

“Chase isn’t bad.” He grinned at me. “She tends to be a little standoffish sometimes. But she’s a good accountant.”

We dropped the luggage just inside the front door, walked past Gabe’s renovated office, which was located opposite the conference room, and went into the study at the rear of the building. Shelves of hardbound books lined the dark-paneled walls. It was my favorite room. Gabe’s framed photos were still there: an abandoned temple with an ugly idol overwhelmed by forest, a broken column lying in a bleak stretch of desert, one of his excavation teams gathered in front of a pyramid beneath twin moons. A reproduction of Marcross’s portrait of Christopher Sim’s Corsarius hung beside the door. There were individual sketches of Gabe’s colleagues, and one of a four-year-old Alex.

Gabe produced a bottle of Saraglian wine and filled three glasses. We drank a toast to ourselves, another to Robert Dyke, and a third to JoAnn and Nick. Then we finished off the bottle, and Alex lifted his glass one more time. “To you, Gabe. For all the good years.”

“Thank you,” said his uncle. “I can’t imagine them without you, Alex.” He finished his drink. Then: “I’ll need you to bring me up to date. I’m glad, by the way, you didn’t get rid of the property.”

Alex looked surprised. “I always loved this place. I grew up here. No way I’d have sold it.”

“But you were living on Rambuckle. I’m surprised you came back.”

“You left it to me, Gabe. What did you expect?”

“To be honest, I never much thought about it.”

“The only reason I went to Rambuckle was that I needed to get closer to the area I was researching.”

“Okay. I thought you were upset with me. But it’s over, Alex. Let’s not revisit all that. Whatever you’re doing is your affair. It’s okay.”

“Thank you, Gabe.” Alex sighed. “I missed you. We both did.”

Gabe’s eyes locked on me. “How’s your mom, Chase?”

“She’s good. She’d want me to say hello.”

“I’ll call her myself in the morning.” He turned back to Alex. “You do live here now, right?”

“Yes. But I’ve been looking around. There’s a nice place over near the lake. I’ll be out of your way shortly, in a few weeks, if that’s okay.”

Gabe wrapped an arm around him. “You don’t have to go anywhere. For one thing, I’m not sure about the legalities here, but I think you own this property. I’m the one who should be looking—”

“No. I’m pretty sure there’s a legal provision for something like this. If there isn’t, I’ll turn it back to you as soon as Chase can put the paperwork together.”

“Thank you, Alex. That’s good of you. But this place is certainly big enough to hold all three of us. Chase, do you live here, too?”

“No,” I said. “I have a place up on the hillside.”

“All right. Anyhow, I appreciate your willingness to change the arrangement. If it’s okay, I’ll stay. But I don’t want you to leave.”

Alex hesitated. “Gabe, we run an antiquities business. I need some space for that—”

“It’s all right. I’m surprised you decided to continue the operation here.” He was referring to the fact that there was a lot more paperwork involved in dealing artifacts on Rimway than there had been on Rambuckle.

“I like the location. And Chase takes care of the details.”

“Well, good. Then you’ll stay, all right?”

“Yes. Of course. If you’re certain.”

“Absolutely.” He took a deep breath. “Wouldn’t have it any other way. Have you guys had dinner? No? Then why don’t we go celebrate? And maybe you can tell me what happened with the Tenandrome.”

I suspect anyone who’s reading this remembers the worldwide celebration that broke out two nights later. The rescued passengers, their families, and everyone connected with the operation got together in thirty-some sites around the planet and on the space station, using omnicron technology to shake hands, share drinks, and say hello to people thousands of kilometers away. It was unforgettable. Not only for the participants but for the millions who watched and celebrated with us. The Andiquar group assembled at the Miranda Hotel. President Davis said a few words but kept his remarks short. The families of JoAnn and Nick were in attendance, including JoAnn’s husband, Jerry, though they were on Sympatico Island. And Robert Dyke, the hero of the hour, who was actually in the building.

Gabe introduced me to people he’d met on the ship. They in turn introduced me to family members who teared up while talking about how it felt to have sons and daughters back, wives and friends, people they’d thought lost forever. The vast numbers who watched from home shared a similar sentiment. For the moment, at least, we had all become part of a single family. It was the event we would always remember. Not so much the rescue as the celebration. Nothing, they agreed, would ever seem the same again.