“There’s a type of wasp,” Astrid said. “That’s why I asked him about wasps. It lays its eggs inside a caterpillar. The eggs hatch. The larvae then eat the living caterpillar from the inside out.”
Lana felt sick herself. She had long since learned to protect herself by affecting a certain indifference to the pains and wounds she healed. But this was awful beyond anything she had ever seen. And she had been powerless to help.
“Everyone keep this quiet till we figure out what it is,” Edilio said. “No one talk to Taylor, that girl can’t keep quiet for . . .” He trailed off, noticing a stony glare from Astrid. “Council meeting tonight,” he finished lamely.
Lana called to Patrick, who was sniffing around in the weeds beside the road, and headed toward home.
Astrid caught up to her.
“Lana.”
“Yeah?” Lana had never been Astrid’s biggest fan. She admired Astrid’s smarts and looks. But they were very different people.
“It’s Little Pete. He . . .”
“He what?” Lana demanded impatiently.
“He has a fever. I think he has flu or something.”
Lana shrugged. “Yeah, one of the Jennifers has it, too. I don’t think it’s any big deal. Take him to see Dahra, I’ll stop by there later.”
Lana expected Astrid to nod her head and take off. But Astrid glanced down the road to make sure no one was coming toward them. This got Lana’s attention.
“I need you to come to my house,” Astrid said firmly.
“Look, I get that you’re more important than, you know, normal people,” Lana snarked. “But I’ll take care of him later. Okay? Bye.”
Astrid grabbed her shoulder. Lana turned back, angry now. She didn’t like being touched, let alone grabbed.
“It’s not about me,” Astrid said. “Lana . . . I have to ask you. The gaiaphage . . .”
Lana’s face darkened.
“Can it see what you see?” Astrid asked quietly. “Can it know what you know?”
Lana felt a chill. “What is going on, Astrid?”
“Maybe nothing. But come with me. Come see Petey. Help me out, and I will owe you one.”
Lana laughed derisively. She was the Healer: everyone owed her one. But she followed Astrid just the same.
Chapter Seven
60 HOURS, 30 MINUTES
CAINE HAD FOUND a telescope in the house. He carried it out to the cliff on the eastern edge of the island. It was afternoon. The light was pretty good, low, slanting rays that lit up the far shore. Sunlight glinted off windows and car wind-shields in Perdido Beach. Bright red tile roofs and tall palm trees made it seem so normal. As if it really was just another California beach town.
The nuclear power plant was closer. It, too, looked normal. The hole in the containment tower was on the far side, not visible from here. The hole he’d made.
He was startled by the sound behind him but didn’t show it. Much.
“What are you looking at, Napoleon?” Diana asked.
“Napoleon?”
“You know, because he was exiled to an island after he almost took over the world,” Diana said. “Although he was short. You’re much taller.”
Caine wasn’t sure he minded Diana tweaking him. It was better than the way she’d been lately, all depressed and giving up on life. Hating herself.