Free CICADA: A Stone Age World Novel by ML Banner

looked and pointed to a closed door on the next wall, purposely being irritating. “That one?”
    “No! There, where the tubes run from the generator into the next room. In there is an ancient volcanic vent that we cored out and tapped when we built this place. The superheated steam is channeled to the turbine you see here, to create our electricity.”
    “It looks well designed. So what do you need me for?”
    “Simple.” Westerling thrust at him the annotated document he had been studying earlier and holding the whole time. “Our scientists say we are screwed in a few months if we don’t find another source of energy. Here’s their report.”
    “Is your vent running dry?”
    “So to speak. They suspect it was the earthquake we had a few months back and that it somehow is causing our aquifer to drain off. Regardless, it’s just not outputting enough steam to fuel our generator to keep up with our energy demands. Even with our rationing, it slowly gets worse every month or two.”
    “Okay, so why me? What do I know about geothermal power?”
    “You may not know a lot about geothermal”—
    I know a whole lot more than you do, buddy .
    —“but you know a lot about solar, and last I checked, the sun seems to be generating a lot of electricity lately. I’m hoping I can convince you to help us figure out what we can build to harness this unlimited energy and supplement or replace our geothermal power.”
    Carrington hadn’t expected this conversation at all. Maybe he had this guy’s intentions pegged all wrong. “Okay, fine, let’s say I have an idea or two on how to do this. Why would I help those who have separated and imprisoned my wife and me?”
    “Okay, we overreached a bit in our tactics—”
    “Overreached? Are you kidding me?”
    “Have you seen the world we live in right now? It is full of really bad people. Truly, you have no idea how bad these people are. If they were not kept out, they would surely kill each and every last one of us.” Westerling carefully considered his next statement. “So here’s the deal. We all need to work together, not against each other. I know you don’t trust me, and that’s expected. But, in reality, you and your wife are free to go at any time.”
    “You’re telling me that Melanie and I could leave right now and you won’t stop us?”
    “That’s correct. But know this: You will die out there, and those cannibals will as surely eat you two as you are standing in front of me. Instead, you could stay here and help us solve this problem. Yes, you will have to live by my rules. And if you do, I promise you that you both will be able to live safe and peaceful lives. Cross my rules, we will kick you out.
    “You see this?” Westerling said holding up a picture he pulled from his front pocket, showing a young woman and a child. “It’s a picture of my daughter and granddaughter, who live here, same as you and your wife. This was taken a year and a half ago at a house I own on Virginia Beach.”
    He snuffled and started to tear up rather convincingly. “Since my wife’s death, they are the most important people in the world to me. Your wife is equally important to you, Dr. Reid. My men were wrong to separate you two. Two people who love each other should not be apart. When we’re done here, you two will be together once more and I promise you that you won’t be separated again.
    “But there must be some conditions. I need you two to bring the other scientists back on board and have them use their collective efforts to help us all succeed. If you, or any of your scientist friends, don’t want to stay, you can leave. Likewise, if you don’t want to follow the rules, you’ll be asked to leave.
    “Finally, before you answer me, I’d like you to come to my office tomorrow morning and take a look at the world you and your wife would have to live in, outside these walls. That’s it. Go now to your apartment, be with your wife; talk about what we have