12.
Nola didn't really enjoy watching the news on TV, or listening to them on the radio. So when the call came, several weeks later, it took her by surprise.
« Oliver ! Hi ! »
« Nola, where are you ? »
« At home, why ? »
« Stay at home. Whatever happens, stay where you are. »
« Ollie, what's going on ? »
« Turn on your TV. »
He hung up. Nola did as asked, and horror struck. Moira had been involved in a project that would destroy the Glades. No wonder she smelled foul. She called Oliver back at once.
« How can I help ? »
« You can't. I'm sorry. Please stay where you are so I don't have to worry about you. »
« I promise. Call or text when you can. »
« I will. »
Nola spent the night on her couch with her cats, watching the news, not knowing what to do with herself. When she felt the tremors in her building, she got scared. Not because she was afraid of her home collapsing, but because an earthquake meant Oliver hadn't been able to stop the Undertaking. She started to breathe easily again when his text came at dawn.
"It's over."
And she thought she knew why she didn't like the news when they announced Tommy's death. She cried for the boy he had been, for the man he was, for the smell of the sea that was gone. She cried for his friends, Laurel, Oliver and the rest. She cried until she had no more tears, and when exhaustion won she just lied down where she was and slept.
Later that day she sent a text to Oliver asking him about Tommy’s funeral. She wanted to pay her respects, but she also wanted to see Oliver, and it was one way to do it. Failing to save the city must have taken a toll on him, she had to know if he was okay. And she wasn’t sure he would be in a mood to talk.
*****
The day was warm and sunny, almost too much for a funeral. People had gathered around the fresh grave, but Nola stayed in the back. She hadn’t been close to Tommy, so she felt she didn’t have the right to be first in line. She stayed until only Oliver remained. Amongst the scents of sadness and loss, she could smell he was grieving more than everyone. There was darkness in the rainforest, so deep she almost didn’t see the green. She stepped closer to him and threw the flower she was holding on the casket.
« I’ll never know if the storm in Tommy had passed. »
« I believe it had. I was there when he died and we had time to make peace. »
« So the lagoon was back. I’m glad. »
They finally walked away.
« And how are you ? »
Oliver shook his head without answering.
« It feels like déjà vu. Ollie, did you set the earthquake generator ? »
« No, but both my mother and father worked on that project. And I wasn’t able to stop it. »
« You stopped half of it. And your mother came through in the end. I hope she got rid of that ugly smell. »
« What ugly smell ? »
« When I was staying at the manor, there was something foul in your mother’s scent. I thought it was the smell of secrets. »
« Then I should reek. »
« Since you don’t, it must be the scent of lack of conscience. Or wrongdoing. »
Oliver sighed.
« You look good. No more crutches. »
« I’m working with the Applied Sciences Division. And they’ve been doing wonders with my prosthesis. It’s still not my own foot, but it’s the next best thing. And they developed a sports foot, one I can run and hike with. »
« Cool. »
« Yeah. I picked it up yesterday. So I’m thinking about going hiking next weekend. Do you want to join me? As friends, nothing more. »
« Why not ? »
« I'll text you the details when I’ve set up everything. I hope it’s gonna help you with the darkness. »
They had arrived at the parked cars.
« What darkness ? »
« The one I can smell in you. Be careful it doesn’t swallow the rainforest. »
Again, Oliver stayed silent. He put a kiss on Nola’s cheek and left. She knew this darkness. And she was afraid of it. She came back to her apartment with an apprehension that wouldn’t go away. The rest of the day, she functioned in autopilot, the feeling of dread growing in her. The last time she had smelled that black hole of darkness…
The next morning, Nola still felt something was wrong, so she called Oliver.
« I'm sorry, I'm leaving for Europe in a couple of hours, I won't be able to go hiking with you. Can we do that when I'm back ? »
Nola thought hard. Europe… For Oliver, that meant sports, booze and girls. For gold-smelling Oliver anyways. But what about rainforest Oliver ? Would he try to forget what happened by getting drunk and sleeping around ? She didn’t think so. He was so imbued with a sense of duty that getting back to his old ways was unlikely. He was devastated by Tommy’s death, because he had been unable to stop the Undertaking. So where would he go ? And then it struck. The island he was shipwrecked on. He must be feeling like he failed the city, so what better place to go than his own private Hell ? Nola didn’t think twice.
« Can you meet me before you leave ? I want to have coffee, see how you're doing. »
« All right. »
« My place, in an hour ? »
« Thirty minutes. I'll stop on my way to the airport. »
« Perfect. »
She got out her hiking gear, sleeping bag, Swiss Army knife, storm lighter, ropes, compass and binoculars. She thought about food, took her box of favorite tea, snacks, Chinese instant soups, pun intended. For clothes, she packed practical and warm. Toiletries, just the basics. First aid kit and fishing lines and hooks. And her hiking foot. She had no idea what the island was like, but she tried to think of everything. Phone and charger, just in case, passport, driving licence, of course, credit cards, but if it was a deserted island, she wouldn’t need them. And she also packed her essentials. A book on Asian flora, two notebooks and pencils and three novels she never had the time to read.
She placed a call to Valerio's assistant to tell him she was going on a research trip, and placed her cats with her neighbour. After what had happened, Vanessa and her had became friends, and she wouldn't mind taking care of Shadoe and Mrs Crumbs. And she waited. She remembered the first time Oliver had been here. She had prepared some tea, and waited for him. And just like that time, she didn't wait long.
« Hey, come in. »
Oliver saw her rucksack and parka near the front door.
« What is all that ? »
« I’m coming with you. »
« What do you mean “I’m coming with you” ? If you wanted to sleep with me, you just had to ask.»
« It’s not about sex. I’m not letting you out of my sight until the black hole is gone. »
« What are you talking about ? »
« Yesterday, I told you about the darkness in your scent. Your rainforest is being eaten away by a big black hole of despair. I know it. I fear it. So I’m sticking with you. I don’t want you to do something stupid. »
« Something stupid ? Like going skiing in Europe ? »
« Sports, girls and booze ? Yeah, I thought about that. Old Oliver would have done that. New Oliver ? Not a chance. You’re not going to Europe. »
Oliver looked upset. Nola felt tears coming but held them back. She was prepared to fight.
« No offense, but I want to be on my own for a few days. »
« The last time I scented that black hole, my mother tried to kill herself. No way I’m staying here while you're gone. »
« I’m sorry, I didn’t know. »
« Nobody knows. »
« Nola, I promise you I’m not going to kill myself. »
« I'll make sure of that. »
She looked so determined Oliver had to pause. He had thought to make the journey alone, expiating his failure.
« I won’t be a burden, I can take care of myself. »
« Forgive me, but where I’m going, you won’t survive a night. »
Nola got angry. Her finger drilled a hole in Oliver’s chest.
« I was kidnapped, shot, amputated, and I survived. I’m way more sturdy than you give me credit for. I’d go right through Hell if need be. »
« It’s gonna be Hell, and I don’t want anything to happen to you. »
« You’re not responsible for me. I’m responsible for myself, and I'm making my own choices. The only way to get rid of me is to tie me up or render me unconscious. »
Finally, Oliver lifted his arms in defeat.
« All right. But don’t expect the pampering you got at the manor. »
« I’m not. Thank you. »
Nola was still too emotional to feel any satisfaction. She grabbed her gear, her special cane and locked the door behind them.
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