Lifer (32 page)

I close my eyes. Not like me. I would have shared the secret conversations he had with Maston. I would never leave him behind.

Maybe Davyd was right. I didn’t know this boy. If I didn’t really know him?

“Was any of us real?” I whisper.

His hand cups my face, rougher than Davyd’s, and I hate that I’m comparing the two of them. I open my eyes and see the pain in his.

“I cared for you…I care for you.”

He’s close enough that his breath tickles my lips. Once this would have led to a kiss. But he’s not the only one who’s changed.

When we’re together there’s rightness to the world, but I know it’s an illusion. Caring means pain. If I let myself feel again, everything will fall apart.

I stand and pull him to his feet. “We have some mountains to cross.”

The killing meadow stretches before us as we return to prepare to leave the ship for the last time. Yellow poppies sway in the breeze and somewhere a bird chirps in a tree. Samuai holds my hand tightly in his as we walk through the tall grass together. We are equals.

THE END

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

It takes so many people to take a book from an idea through to completion and then into the hands of readers and I’ve been lucky to share the journey with an amazing group. Many thanks to Georgia McBride for seeing something in Lifer, and to the rest of the team at Month9 books who’ve been so great to work with. Also to Ashlynn Yuhas for helping bring the story to another level.

To Ali McDonald for her continued support despite some difficult real life circumstances.

To the amazing scientists of Lab 220. You guys inspired and awed me all at once. It was a privilege to discover with you and of course to have morning tea.

Writing friends are like gold and I have some who are particularly shiny. Thanks to Rachael Johns for not only reading Lifer but for the million daily emails that keep me sane. To Helen and Sandii for welcoming my adventure into something unlike anything I’d written before. To Maggie Gilbert for feedback on a different story that told me I could write this one. To Ro for your time and support on this, as always. And to Natalie Hatch for your read through and comments. Also thanks to the lovely ladies from SARA and RWAus who have inspired me so much.

To all my family and friends. My sisters are the best. Fi and Kirst, I’m looking at you. Mitch and Chloe, you’re my favourite teens and I appreciate the times you’ve answered a call and my questions. I wouldn’t be who I am without my family including Dad, Lyn, Dick and Shirley. I have some incredible friends who have heard me talk about this book for so long. In particular Caroline, the girls from mum’s group and the school mums. I couldn’t have done this without you and I’m so grateful to you all. Thanks to Mum for always believing in me.

And to Dave and my three amazing children. You guys are my world. I love that you’re my biggest fans. Thank you for everything. Love you.

BECK NICHOLAS

I always wanted to write. I’ve worked as a lab assistant, a pizza delivery driver and a high school teacher but I always pursued my first dream of creating stories. Now, I live with my family near Adelaide, halfway between the city and the sea, and am lucky to spend my days (and nights) writing young adult fiction.

Find her online at
http://www.becknicholas.com/

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https://www.facebook.com/beck.nicholas

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