To Milele

By Jennies M Edwards

What if that person who is like the wind could be seen?

On Earth—where the unseen becomes seen and the one who stirs humanity's conscience has a face—there appears a new place from the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. Out of a worldwide catastrophe comes the inexplicable emergence of a mysterious island. At the same time, an equally mysterious mist shrouds the earth, leaving only the island and Israel exposed to the sun. In this uniquely altered world, the Sovereigns—the Emperor, the Prince, the Ambassador—and the Bride are revealed in an epic battle for humanity's survival.

Hope Kallah Kanisa, her twin brother Nathan, and those she represents—the Loyals—are targeted by a vile, deceptive, covert world order—the Weltgeist. Knowing Hope's hidden identity and her loyalty to the Sovereigns, the Weltgeist work with the World Envoy, Kako Beyz, to force her defection, in order to harness her influence for their goal of a one-world government, and ultimately for the destruction of humanity.

Only with the help of the Sovereigns can Hope and the Loyals triumph in a war waged—to the End of Time.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tellwell Talent
• Release date: Jan 12, 2022
• ISBN: 9780228871415

Jennies M Edwards

JENNIES M. EDWARDS shares passionately in her dynamic visionary books that promote racial harmony and the greatest message of all, with mystery, suspense, and authentic relationships. She was raised in a Jamaican-Canadian home where she enjoyed being the story-teller in a family of eight children. While working professionally as an RN, Jennies also pursued her interest in writing, then soon became busy as a full-time homeschooling mom with a passion for faith, family, home, and writing. Now, with the homeschooling years behind her, Jennies focuses more on community initiatives and, of course, continues to write.For more information on Jennies and her social and speaking platforms, visit her website at www.jenniesedwards.com

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Copyright © 2021 by Jennies M Edwards

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Agios and Truth Tome teachings paraphrased from the Holy Bible.

Tellwell Talent

www.tellwell.ca

ISBN

978-0-2288-7140-8 (Paperback)

978-0-2288-7141-5 (eBook)

Contents

Acknowledgements

Prologue

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

Seventeen

Eighteen

Nineteen

Twenty

Twenty-One

Twenty-Two

Twenty-Three

Twenty-Four

Twenty-Five

Twenty-Six

Twenty-Seven

Twenty-Eight

Twenty-Nine

Thirty

Thirty-One

Thirty-Two

Thirty-Three

Thirty-Four

Thirty-Five

Thirty-Six

Thirty-Seven

Thirty-Eight

Thirty-Nine

Forty

Epilogue

Specific Word Translations

Author’s Note

In loving memory of my dearest childhood friend, Yvonne Ruth Harriott, who loved God, her family and friends, writing stories, and I can’t forget her love of shoes, and after whom I named one of my characters.

~Ruth~

(April 1966 – March 2016)

To the One who inspires me, sustains me, and empowers me.

‘I am,’ said Aslan. ‘But there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there.’ –Chronicles of Narnia, CS Lewis

These are found in the back of the book: Specific Word Translations, Author’s Notes, Author Bio

Acknowledgements

I’m truly thankful for a beautiful group of people who journeyed with me through the writing of To Milele, giving wise, loving, and thoughtful feedback: Rev. Dave Atton, Angela Bakker, Chris Lewis, Maureen Russell, and Joy Olaoye; Sean Gradney, retired Major USAF, who read the entire manuscript and gave his expert advice (any mistakes are mine); and my editor, Justine Russell, who was amazingly instrumental and encouraging during this process. Thank you all so much for your dedication and encouragement. It was a real pleasure working with you all!

I’m also very grateful for the two amazing women who took precious time to read through the edited version and pass on such encouraging feedback: Patricia Russell and Hannah Lewis.

My firstborn Chantelle, who has read all my manuscripts—I’ve so appreciated your love and support. My son Joshua, who always has my back—your sweet little family reminds me of what’s really important. My thirdborn Jewelle, who is my wonderful example of perseverance—you challenge me to go deeper. My two youngest, Danielle Hope and Gabrielle Faith, are my sweet inspirations in this story. And my husband Milton, you’ve been a great champion for my writing—means the world to me!

Prologue

No one had anticipated it: the sudden jarring of the airplane, nor the alarming stillness just before its gut-wrenching descent. When the airplane stabilized, there was another stillness. Then an indescribable whoosh broke the stillness, and the descent continued, accompanied by the pilot’s frantic commands for passengers and flight attendants to be belted in their seats.

A monstrous object that had been considerably reduced in size by Earth’s atmosphere hurtled at an amazing speed through the consequentially heated air. The airplane spun uncontrollably when the two nearly collided in the air, before the object plunged into the depths of the ocean. Seconds later, the airplane followed, its impact swallowed up in the seismic rise of water created by the object.

The calm following the impacts ballooned, its breath held too long before the resulting forceful exhale. Poisonous gases settled into the atmosphere, and the inevitable resulting tsunami took the world by storm.

No one saw what happened next. No one witnessed the phenomenal emergence of an enormous mass of land from the depths of the tumultuous ocean. No one would’ve been able to explain it, nor the rising mist that steadily, seemingly intentionally, enveloped the world. The mist trapped poisonous gases just above the ozone layer, and left only two places on all the earth exposed to the light of the noonday sun.

One

Five Years Later

The Watcher saw the woman and her companion driving away from the Compound. He knew his time on the island was limited, and his job was not to interfere but to watch and report.

He was hindered from any other purpose.

The Island. The very place filled him with dread. Too much Light. Too many Bright Ones. But his role as Watcher was extremely important. His Master demanded—no, needed—his insight. His place on the island had become possible only because permission had been granted by One much more powerful than his Master. This made him nervous. It was a well-known fact that the Sovereigns only allowed things that would, in the end, accomplish their own plans.

His primary focus was the woman—the Island Princess. If only he had power to destroy her now. There would come a day, he was sure of it. For now, he must use the time allowed for the glory of his true Master.

Hope Kallah Kanisa tightly gripped the steering wheel as the military utility vehicle hit another rut in the hardened dirt road. She reduced her speed slightly, wincing as she glanced over to the passenger side. Her passenger sat holding her tall lithe figure rigidly, obviously bracing for the next impact.

Sorry, Ruth, Hope apologized, just before swinging around the next rut. The maintenance crew is scheduled for this side of the island this coming week, but for now …

I know you’re sorry, but riding with you has become an occupational hazard I never signed up for, Ruth Harris said in a tone laced with humorous sarcasm.

Hope laughed. What? More hazardous than helping Dr. Marc oversee the health and wellbeing of an entire island?

Maybe right up there with it, Ruth said, smiling broadly. She quickly adjusted her standard-issue, full-brim hat over her short black afro.

Hope smiled to herself, knowing how Ruth disliked wearing the hat. But everyone was required to wear them when outside for prolonged periods of time. Sunburns were not uncommon on the island, with its lack of mature trees, especially for those with fair skin. But even with her light-brown and Ruth’s darker brown tones, caution was observed.

She glanced past thick brush lining the narrow road to a vast field with rows upon rows of crops. This crop site, Agri-1, was closest to the ocean. Moving counter clockwise, westerly, Agi-1 to -6 were spread fairly evenly around the island, all the way to the southeast side of the island, close to the island’s only mountain.

The back of Agri-1, its north side, was bordered by more low-lying vegetation; while its west side was bordered by a single row of saplings lining the field all the way to the road. The road ran along the south end of the field; and beyond its east side, the seemingly endless ocean could be seen. At least, it would seem endless but for a voluminous grey wall of cloud that surrounded the entire island and its waters, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

The Mist. Only one other place on Earth was free of it.

After slowing the vehicle considerably, Hope made a careful left turn onto a narrow path parallel to the west-end row of immature trees. In the field, a large group of agricultural workers laboured diligently, intent on their task. They were all men, as the women worked in smaller gardens located within the Compound, where the community of Eden-2 lived and did other vital work.

At the vehicle’s arrival, the workers gradually ceased their labour. Even with the island’s moderate humidity, only food and outdoor latrine breaks took the Agri-workers from their day’s work. Crops. Hope knew it was essential for a world that struggled to feed itself. Only one other location in the world had substantial crop yields. The nation of Israel.

Gets me every time, Ruth said.

What? Hope asked.

That we help feed the world.

Yeah.

A sudden surge of emotions hit Hope. The island, Eden-2 – so dubbed by the rest of the world – had been her home for the last five years. The first three months of those years, after her passenger plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, it’d been thought she was dead.

Before preparing to leave the vehicle, Hope suppressed her emotions. It was unresolved grief. That’s what she’d been told by a psychiatrist during her brief return to the world under the Mist. She still struggled over the loss of her parents, years ago, coupled with grief over the loss of a world instantly changed – and a memory she’d supposedly buried. Only Agios’ counsel had sufficiently assuaged the pain.

Are you okay?

She glanced across at Ruth, noticing genuine concern in her dark brown eyes. To Hope, Ruth was more than Eden-2’s Nursing Director. In an ever-shifting existence, she was a steady friend. Though only a few years older, Ruth’s no-nonsense, common-sense approach to life helped keep Hope focused.

Of course, Hope responded with confidence she didn’t feel. Maybe I need some real in-depth one-on-one with Agios.

The workers were patiently waiting, smiles and grins lighting up their sweat-stained faces. Their numbers had increased considerably in the last six months, as more people with what was now called Eden-2 DNA were being discovered: people who could survive in Eden-2’s atmosphere without breathing apparatus and a protective body suit.

It’s about time! Boa Micah Sadiq called good-naturedly. He was the Agri-team Director, overseer of all the agricultural work on the island. As he approached the vehicle, he wiped perspiration from his forehead with one hand. The big-boned man was two inches taller than Hope’s five-eight frame. He also had a good ten years on her thirty.

Hope laughed. We kind of got stuck at Agri-2. Then sobering, said, An injured worker.

And we wouldn’t have gotten here as quickly without our nutrition expert’s precarious driving, Ruth added, with a mischievous glint in her eyes. Wasn’t sure if my monthly visit on site would be my last.

Boa laughed. Was the injury serious? He removed his broad-brim hat and ran his fingers through his raven hair, then along his jawline over tan skin shadowed by a day’s growth.

Not the way wounds heal quickly in this magical atmosphere, Ruth replied.

Or is it the healing touch of our gifted nurse? Boa asked, grinning. He and Ruth exchanged a private look.

Hope didn’t dare bring up the topic, but she was becoming more curious about Boa and Ruth’s relationship. Unfortunately, the island had been deemed work-only by the Council of Nations (CON), a world organization that governed the world after the destructive forces of an asteroid changed the world forever. Eden-2’s main objective was crop production and research. Families, children were not permitted. Anyone in noncompliance would be forced to leave.

Further thoughts on relationships were shelved as the cheerful greetings of the other workers took centre stage. Hope opened the rear doors of the vehicle and started handing out lunch packages on her side, while Boa dealt with the lineup on the other side. The gratefulness of the Agri-workers for their noon meal always cheered her. She understood their gratitude, that despite the hard, back-bending work, they’d been chosen. They’d been commissioned to make a difference in a world that had plunged into despair five years ago.

At the first opportunity, Hope stepped aside with Boa. Have you seen Agios? If Ruth encouraged steadfastness, Boa inspired strength and courage. He was like a rock. He also seemed to have a closer relationship with Agios than most of the other islanders.

Boa smiled broadly. Who hasn’t seen him? He seems to be everywhere. He took a bite of his well-stuffed chicken and vegetable sandwich. He’d remained standing, unlike other members of the crew, who’d found convenient places on the ground close to the brush and small trees, taking advantage of the feeble shade offered.

Hope searched the vicinity briefly, then raised her brows pointedly. Yes, but where is he now?

Right behind you.

It was a familiar voice – warm and comforting – which immediately and inexplicably soothed her anxieties. She turned toward the utility vehicle. Agios had just emerged from around the far side of it. He was tall and lean, bronze skin, wavy dark brown hair just touching the edge of his white shirt. Most noticeable were his brown eyes. They were deeply warm and seemed – full of the sun. He paused about a metre from her, smiling.

And even if you don’t know where I am, I know where you are, Agios told her gently.

So you keep telling me, Hope responded, basking in his comforting presence. But, how can you know? Even if you know the island better than anyone, you can’t possibly always know my whereabouts.

His gentle knowing smile remained in place, and he refused to respond to her doubts – as was often his way. After a reassuring nod, he moved past to Boa.

Boa, will you be seeing Peter this evening?

Ah, yes, Boa answered, nodding. I do have an appointment.

Good, Agios said, already looking past them to Ruth and the Agri-1 crew, who’d all become increasingly quiet at Agios’ sudden appearance. Their expressions were ones of curious expectancy. Agios looked back at Boa. Will this be after the evening meal?

Boa nodded.

Good. Peter will be more agreeable once he’s been comfortably fed. His day has been more difficult than usual. Don’t be late. The others will not wish to start without you.

I believe you’re right about that, Boa agreed, chuckling easily. His bearing, his tone held an easy attitude of respect they all seemed to afford Agios. I definitely will not keep Governor Peter waiting.

Agios focused on Hope. Don’t worry, we will talk. I will find you. He then turned and moved off among the crew, doing what only Agios seemed able to do so freely on the island: intermingling with no barriers, listening … always listening.

Boa chuckled as he massaged the back of his neck with one hand. He’s the only one I know who gets away with calling the Governor just Peter, to his face. He eyed Hope. But then, you—being the Island Princess – also have your lion’s share of liberties.

Hope sighed. I wish you wouldn’t call me that, even if that’s what I’m called behind my back. My being here first doesn’t give me any more privileges than anyone else.

But that’s where you’re wrong, Boa disagreed, gently but firmly, his dark brown eyes twinkling. You must see that by now. Not to mention, so far, you’re the only person who can survive in the Mist Patch without the suit. He turned away to deposit his empty lunch container through the rear vehicle doorway. As for being the first one here, I think Agios has dibs on that.

Hope felt slightly irritated, not knowing if it was because of Boa’s words or because just now she felt a little overlooked by Agios. She admitted, it’d been a trying journey getting used to sharing him with everyone. Yet, she couldn’t really find fault; he was always available when she or any of the others needed him.

Agios doesn’t count, she responded more sharply than was warranted. He just seems to have always been here. Pretty much the only native of Eden-2.

Pretty much, Boa agreed, with a smile of silent peace offering. He rotated his shoulders, looking prepared to go back to work. But why did he appear on an island that just pushed its way up out of the sea, five years ago?

Agios only tells us what he wants. It’s maddening, yet …

You can’t be mad at him.

Right, she agreed, shaking her head. He’s like a father, a brother, a confidant all rolled into one. She thought for a moment. He’s Prince Adanyi’s Ambassador. All of us here are loyal to Prince Adanyi, so maybe it fits his purpose.

Well, then, you should leave it at that. He reached out to gently tweak her nose with his thumb and forefinger. Stop trying to figure everything out. You have a big enough job tending to this island’s nutritional needs. Stay healthy so you can keep us healthy, so we can continue feeding the world.

You do more than your share, Boa.

Dusting his hat against his leg, Boa prepared to return to work. Just remember that when the going gets tough, and I refuse to let you have a pity party.

Hope laughed. I’ll do my best. As he turned away, she called out, Please tell Ruth I’m ready to go when she’s done.

He lifted his hat in acknowledgement before jamming it on his head. As he walked away, the rest of the crew immediately began rousing themselves, heading Hope’s way with empty lunch containers to exchange for reusable bottles of water. Again, their grateful thanks never ceased to warm her.

With the crew heading back to work, Hope focused on organizing the empty lunch containers in the back of the vehicle. She knew Ruth would be a few minutes yet, finishing her assessment of the crew for any complaints, new issues. The island held many secrets, but the improvement in people’s health was one of the noticeable benefits. Even those who’d had minor health issues, before recruitment to the island, found them resolved after inhabiting Eden-2 for only seven days.

Hope sighed, remembering how, when they first inhabited the island, a strange flu-like illness and unexplained allergies had kept everyone on their toes. Even though Agios had taught her the solutions, it hadn’t been that easy to convince the powers of Eden-2. So, she had assisted with their careful research over many months to determine that a combination of balanced nutrition, work, exercise, rest, sunshine, and fresh air kept everyone healthy. Still, Eden-2 dwellers didn’t always follow the directives.

The one factor that had taken the longest to ascertain was a day of rest. An actual day off from the rigors of regular life. Many had not believed it, at first, until those who ignored its directive kept falling ill with flu-like symptoms. It debilitated its host with uncontrollable chills, fevers, and unexplained lethargy. So far no one had died from it, but the three weeks recovery time usually meant a lesson well learned.

Hope arched her back, stretching, before leaning against the vehicle. The sky was a beautiful blue with few clouds … as always. Slight breeze. Faint odour of earth. And the Mist. It bordered the island’s waters and was spread across the entire world. Except for part of the Middle East.

Israel.

Eden-2 and Israel. The only two places free of the enveloping cloud that had all but debilitated the rest of the world. Unless, of course, one had access to Prince Adanyi and his mysterious Sky Kingdom.

Prince Adanyi, whom her parents had told her about years ago, remained a mystery to much of the world. Though he’d been among them for years, many now chose not to share knowledge about him with their children. Yet no one could deny that warnings forecasting the disaster that had taken the world by storm had come from Prince Adanyi’s followers—the Loyals.

Many had scoffed at the idea of the Sky Kingdom—building a massive city away from Earth? Crazy! Impossible! Even with the advent of routine civilian space tours, skepticism about a city in the sky was widespread. The same disbelief remained over the disappearance of Prince Adanyi, following his fatal confrontation with the World Council, now known as the Council of Nations (CON). Many believed Prince Adanyi had not been killed. Some believed he was, indeed, dead. They believed there was a major cover-up conspiracy entrenched in the hearts and minds of Prince Adanyi’s Loyals.

As for the Sky Kingdom, before the Mist, and on a clear night, it could be seen like a space station too close to Earth. Now, the question for many was, had it ever really existed? The Mist. Interesting how the same substance that threatened the world provided seclusion and elusiveness to another.

Roping a stray ringlet behind one ear, Hope sighed. Would things ever get back to normal?

Ruth was heading her way.

Did anyone even remember normal?

Two

The small military aircraft circled the island, as was usually the case with their visits to Eden-2. It was a standing order that had been requested by the VIP on board.

Nathaniel David Kanisa—Nathan—waited with patient indulgence for his boss to get his fill of viewing Eden-2 from air. Indeed, he really had no choice. Kako Beyz was easily the most important person in the post-apocalyptic world. He’d been endowed with the title of World Envoy and was head of the Council of Nations (CON).

Looking out the window on his side, Nathan took in the full scope of the island. Its rugged terrain was mostly flatland, with bordering slopes running haphazardly down to the ocean. His bird’s eye-view perfectly showed off the simple structure, efficiency, and beauty of a massive masonry-walled compound in the centre of the island.

Though surrounded by six agricultural fields, a sea of energy-generating solar panels on one side of the Compound gave it a futuristic look. Meanwhile, water from the island’s only mountain cascaded down into a massive turbine, creating a more archaic impression. The mountain, on the southeast edge of the island, was bordered at its west side by a great cloud of the Mist that had inexplicably formed inland, darker than the general Mist. It was like a peninsula extending from the general Mist, and was known as the Mist Patch.

The main building, called The Hub, was in the centre of the Compound. Its enormous box-like structure had four dorm spaces extending from its sides like two-storey strip malls. Two extended out on each side of the building, while a large lobby protruded out the front. It reminded Nathan of a giant sea turtle.

The progressive development of the island community was awe inspiring. It wasn’t only the five-year-old natural vegetation and infrastructure, the crop and the skilled crews, the management and research. It was also the sense of camaraderie, of belonging to a place—a community—that had grown into existence in just five short years.

Set down, Nathan’s boss commanded.

The pilot complied by first thrusting the craft up and away from the island, then repositioning for a textbook landing on the island’s only runway. The runway ended just before an extensive expanse of concrete pad used as a helipad, which was adjacent to the main military building and about a football field away from the front of the Compound wall. From the helipad, a partially gravelled roadway led to the Compound’s huge double gates.

No matter how many times Nathan visited, the inexplicable existence of the island confounded his usually tidy, logical brain. His twin sister Hope had chided him many times that some things could not be explained. She should know, she’d been there longer than anyone.

Well, except for Agios.

But, at the moment, it wasn’t Agios that weighed on his mind. It was his employer, a man who could easily be ruler of the world. He was Executive Assistant to such a man.

After the roar of landing allowed for conversation, and the pilot’s brief exit instructions, Kako said, Nathan, as soon as possible, give me an update on the Patch. He began straightening his dark-blue silk tie and dark suit jacket.

Yes, sir, Nathan responded. He caught the pilot’s gaze and nodded his appreciation for yet another safe landing. It’d been a tricky flight from Israel. The route required a steep ascent through the clear airspace above the tiny nation, through the troposphere to the stratosphere, before levelling off to fly through the unnatural Mist covering the rest of the earth, followed by a steep descent into Eden-2’s clear airspace.

Before the Mist, flying through the stratosphere usually meant flying above regular clouds, with clear visibility. And though visibility in the Mist had been proven to increase the higher the altitude, air travel remained risky. Aircraft navigation and communication systems, or anything that required satellite feed, had simply ceased to function under the cover of the Mist. The world’s air travel had literally ground to a halt, but not before a host of deaths from airplane crashes just after the asteroid burst through Earth’s atmosphere and into the Atlantic Ocean.

Even after extensive search of the ocean, no evidence of it was seen. However, there was widespread speculation that perhaps Eden-2, itself, was the remains of the asteroid. As for further air travel, aircraft used by the CON had been successfully modified and only used for official business.

Nathan’s attention shifted to the rear of the craft. A giant of a man, almost hunched over in the confined space, was securing his protective suit.

T-saeb.

Eden-2 DNA blood didn’t run in the veins of Kako’s personal bodyguard. The suit he wore was a specially altered NASA suit called a PEA—Protective Eden-2 Apparatus—suit. It was lightweight and efficient with breathing apparatus. Despite having access to other capable security, Kako insisted on travelling with the man—everywhere. Apparently, they had a history no one seemed clear on, except that T-saeb had once saved Kako’s life.

Nathan could feel rather than see T-saeb’s stare. He wasn’t sure whether it was the bodyguard’s anti-social attitude, or his strange, zombie-like appearance that disturbed him more. As such, he treated T-saeb with forced acknowledgement. The giant-man pretty much ignored him, but occasionally Nathan would find himself the object of his malevolent stare.

I also want a progress report on the Eden-2 DNA. Kako’s piercing ice-blue eyes were focused on Nathan, but a faint smile eased the chill. And, of course, set up a meeting with your sister.

Yes, sir. A meeting with his sister. Nathan forced the discomfort in his gut to settle.

They exited the aircraft.

Nathan followed on his boss’s right, trailing slightly behind the man’s quick strides, toward a travel cart—much like a golf cart, but broader—that was used for short trips around the island. T-saeb followed on the left. The young corporal at the travel cart greeted them, and once they boarded, he drove them the rest of the way to the Compound gates.

The Governor, a big man of African descent, stood with military bearing just outside the open gates; and despite the moderately muggy conditions typical of the island, dressed in suit and tie. Of course, Nathan knew his boss had insisted on as much decorum as could be mustered in a world plunged into a sort of dark age, and the rest of the world’s leaders—such as they were—kept the same formal protocol. Kako Beyz was, after all, the CEO of the world’s most powerful investment firm, with tentacles in many different spheres, and who also claimed to have the solution for the crashed internet. Once the world resumed its online use, his tentacles would obviously invade even farther.

Nathan had much respect for the Governor of Eden-2. Kako Beyz was not an easy man to deal with and ruling over Eden-2 certainly presented its challenges, yet Governor Peter Ruganda handled both with staunch determination and exceptional decorum.

After leaving the travel cart, Nathan and T-saeb followed Kako, who barely glanced at the armed military officers along the partially gravelled roadway, arms held in salute, as he passed between them.

Well, Pomp-and-Circumstance is here.

Hope looked up at Ruth’s announcement, as Ruth entered the Nutrition and Wellness Centre. Sunlight bathed the large room through a wall of windows on one side of the room, while it’s glass door allowed view of the top end of a wide corridor where it and a second corridor merged with The Hub’s extensive front lobby. Sometimes Hope wished she had a bit more privacy, but other than personal quarters, privacy gave way to transparency and security on Eden-2. She groaned, even as she smiled at Ruth’s words, trying unsuccessfully to suppress the tension mixed with strange excitement rising in her stomach. Kako Beyz had that effect on her.

It would certainly be interesting if one day he overheard that nickname, Hope remarked, frowning at her friend. She straightened from the computer on her broad table-like desk and leaned back in her well-padded swivel chair, taking comfort in its cushiony surface, glad that the majority of things shipped to Eden-2 were enduring quality.

The general consensus was that life should be as functional and convenient as possible for those who laboured to keep the rest of the world going. Hope—on the other hand—was also provided comfort. Her protest didn’t matter. As far as the maintenance team was concerned, she was indeed the Island Princess.

Added to that, navigating cargo ships through the Mist, solely dependent on radar navigation, meant considerable effort was needed for the safety and success of each trip, both to import supplies for the island, and to export its crop produce. This eased Hope’s guilt, knowing it made sense to import durable products.

Ruth shrugged before easing onto a padded vinyl chair in front of the desk. She stretched out her legs. My feet are so sore, she complained, kicking off her support shoes. "But I so miss the days