The Methuselah Project (44 page)

“Sitting there with the top down, she looks eager to hit the road, doesn’t she? Sure, I was tempted to buy a plane right away. But the way I see it, I need to get reacquainted with the United States. Before going to the academy, I want to visit big cities and small towns. I need to get a feel for what America really is now. I want to visit churches, too, and worship God with grassroots Americans. First, though, I’m heading to Michigan to spend a couple of days with Walt.”

“Sounds like a fun road trip.”

“Are you sure I can’t talk you into coming along?”

“I’d love to, but I need to get resettled. It was easy for the government to issue me a new name and social security number, but I still need to find a permanent place to live before I start the new job.”

“It was nice of Jaworski to find you a writing spot in his clandestine services.”

“Or maybe he just wanted me nearby. After all, outside of you, I’m the only person he has who can recognize HO members. Who knows, though? Maybe I really will accept his offer to train as an operations officer.”

“You’d make a beautiful spy.”

“Say, you won’t forget about me, will you? I mean, visiting all those small towns, a handsome, swashbuckling pilot like yourself is bound to turn the heads of a few farmers’ daughters.”

Roger pulled her close again and pressed his lips to hers in another long kiss. “Does that answer the question?”

“Yes, sir, Captain. But are you sure your vocabulary is up to speed for the modern world? You know, ATMs, CDs, DVDs, HD TVs, kilobytes, megabytes … You haven’t exactly been flying with a full vocabulary since you got back in business.”

“Oh, I think I’ve learned enough to stay airborne. Besides, to update my vocabulary, Jaworski encouraged me to start watching movies on Netflix. I don’t want to brag, but I think my education is coming along pretty groovy.”

Katherine burst into laughter. “
Groovy
? That’s worse than
swell.
What movie did you get that from? On second thought, I don’t even want to know. But don’t repeat
groovy
unless you’re trying to be funny.”

Roger didn’t understand her amusement, but he chuckled and gave a shrug. “All right, so this pilot still has to adjust the trim-tabs on his vocab. I’m getting there.”

Katherine slipped her arms around him again. “And even before your time at the academy is finished, I’ll be there to help you put some distinctive vocabulary into practice—words like date, dinner, candlelight, romance …”

“Mmm. Sounds like my kind of lingo.”

“Now, that’s my romantic pilot.”

“Roger that.” He tapped the tip of her nose with his finger. As she wrinkled her nose, Roger couldn’t help recalling how wrinkled Walt had become. “Katherine, before we grow closer than we already are, I just have to warn you. I don’t know what’s going to happen to me. I mean, the whole Methuselah thing. I’m flying over uncharted territory here. I could fall down from a heart attack ten seconds from now, or I might live for hundreds of years. I just don’t know what to expect.”

She tightened her embrace and whispered, “Sign me aboard anyway, Captain. I’m not expecting a milk run. Intuition tells me that life with you promises to be one remarkable ride.”

Their lips met again. In the warmth of Katherine’s arms, the realization truly sank in.
I’m home!