Once they got off the mountain where the base was hidden, the going became easier. Only consulting his map once all morning, Jones led the way along a series of plateaus and shallow valleys, easing them through the forest. The twenty remaining clones, his and Lily’s, kept close behind him. Figuring the prisoner was safer guarded by other Anunnaki, Shane turned over control of Pelros to Jones. His motive dual, he hoped Jones would find ground for reconciliation with his son. What Shane wouldn’t do for another chance to make good with his father.
He glanced up, a warm splash of sunlight drawing his attention. The shadows cast by the trees were cool, the nip of autumn in the air.
“It’s noon,” he said.
“And there’s a road,” Tracy exclaimed, pointing ahead.
“Wow,” Steve said. “It’s closer to the base than I expected.”
“Still far enough to make it nearly impossible to stumble into,” Shane mused.
They stepped out onto the dirt road, which looked like it hadn’t seen any maintenance in a couple of years. It reminded him of some of the routes his dad used to take him down when they went trout fishing, with wilderness dense on either side.
“Let’s get them out in the open and do a headcount,” Shane said. “It’s time to come to terms with how many people we’ve got to look after.”
Tracy and Steve nodded, turning their attention to the kids spilling out of the forest. Laura, Jules, and Kelly settled on the shoulder next to Jones and his entourage, facing the trees on the opposite side of the road. Maurice directed the group of children tended to by Rebecca and some of the other older kids to sit on the side of the road with them.
Nat hesitated, standing behind Kelly. She seemed to want to sit next to her. Not finding the courage to ask, she dropped her head and walked down to a spot between a girl and a boy a few yards away. It stabbed at Shane’s heart to see the little girl suffering. Her friends engaged her with smiles and encouragement, and the boy offered her some of the chips he’d just opened.
Shane stepped to the side so he could study Jules’ face without her noticing. Like the rest of his friends, the tall girl was leaner than when he first met her. They’d all become ripped from the training Jones had put them through. Her placid expression didn’t hide the inner turmoil. It showed in her eyes—too much bad must have happened to her in captivity. Maybe her brain had snapped. Kelly acted more at ease, chatting with Laura and then Maurice when he sat down. Shane feared that might only be because of her amnesia.
“Leaders, have your squad sit on the edges of the road,” Tracy shouted. “Raise your hand if you’re missing anyone.”
Tracy’s delegation of the responsibility for keeping track of the kids by grouping them worked brilliantly. The squad leaders took over, organizing their people. Within minutes, a neat line of leaders stood down the center of the road. Everyone else was seated.
“We have thirty-eight squads,” Tracy reported.
“And how many per squad?” Shane asked, bracing himself.
“Thirteen, counting the squad leaders.”
“Four hundred and ninety-four,” Steve muttered with awe.
Tracy glanced at him, her brow raised like she was surprised by his quick calculation. Pegged as the oversized dumb jock, Steve often surprised people with his intelligence. The stereotype mostly fit him; he barely scraped by in all subjects but math. The big linebacker was as good at numbers as he was at football, and even better when sports statistics were involved.
The number hit like a brick to the face. Seeing Tracy and Steve’s attention fall on him, Shane cleared his throat. They awaited his next order.
“Squad leaders, gather around,” he shouted, motioning with his hands for the kids who still stood to come closer. He needed to get to know these new kids better; everyone’s survival depended on it. Shane continued once they surrounded him, Tracy, and Steve.
“Everyone should eat something, but not too much. We have to make the food we’re carrying last as long as possible,” he said. “We’ll rest here for a half hour or so, then we’ve got to keep moving. Any questions?”
He scanned their faces. The squad leaders were a mix of girls and boys, of all ethnicities. He wondered if diversity played a role in Tracy’s selection process. Most of them still appeared in shock, or perhaps suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome. He reckoned every kid on the planet would be dealing with that for a while to come. They also wore that same expression he’d seen on so many faces since this all started. They wanted someone to tell them what to do, to make them feel like everything would be all right.
“I’ve sort of been acting as the quarterback for my group, but that doesn’t mean me, Tracy, or anyone else is trying to control you. This is a democracy. If we work as a team, I know we’ll be all right.” Shane took a quick moment to make eye contact with each of them to reinforce his sincerity. “It was no small feat, getting organized and hiking down from the base.” He pointed up the mountain. “You guys pulled it together and made it happen. If we work hard and keep our heads, we will survive.”
Many of them nodded in agreement. Knowing that was about all the pep talk he had in him, Shane clapped his hands once to end the huddle.
“Get a bite to eat,” he said and turned his attention to the side of the road. A space on the red-clay shoulder next to Kelly looked inviting. Glancing back, he saw the leaders return to their squads. He waited until everyone sat down and began passing out rations before he settled next to Kelly.
“How are you doing?” he asked, resisting the urge to put his arm around her and pull her close.
“I’m feeling a lot better,” Kelly replied, giving him a genuine smile. “Don’t remember much of anything, though.”
“I’m sure that’ll pass,” he said, his concern resonating in his voice. He accepted an open can of tuna and crackers in a plastic bag from Maurice.
The preacher’s son’s kind smile seemed to offer encouragement. Shane thought he was going to say something, but after a second, he returned his attention to opening the next can for Jules.
“It must be really hard on you—and my sister—that I don’t remember,” Kelly said, poking at her food with a mournful look on her face.
“It’s a blessing you don’t remember all we’ve been through,” Shane replied with a forced chuckle. “But just so you know, you’re tougher than you can imagine.”
His appetite hadn’t returned, but he knew he needed fuel. He loaded a cracker with tuna and shoved it into his mouth, staring into the forest. The fact was it killed him she’d suffered so much, and it hurt to see Nat’s heart broken by her sister not remembering her.
“How was my relationship with her?” Kelly took a small bite of her food.
“You guys are pretty tight,” he replied, stressing the present tense. “She needs you.”
“I guessed that.” Kelly looked past him at the children, silent for a moment. “I’ll set it straight.” She returned her attention to her food, appearing sadder than ever.
“What do you remember?” Shane asked.
“Weird stuff,” she answered, a disturbed look on her face. “My brain swims with ideas about how the universe was created. It’s hard to explain. It’s less of a memory and more of a feeling. I see it beginning with the explosion of everything from nothing, and then a blur through the creation of life. It happened on so many planets, everywhere. In vivid detail, I can recall hundreds of species aside from humans—many as intelligent as we are and some more so.”
“Is there any meaning to it?” Shane tried to remain casual, though he was worried sick about her.
“As strange as it sounds,” Kelly said, her voice cracking, “I remember clearly that there is. There’s this group of superbly advanced aliens, and they’re watching us, all of us. Like everything and everyone, everywhere.”
“Where do they come from?”
“I don’t know,” she replied after a pause. “They seem to exist beyond time. Like the universe has been born from nothing and vanished into nothing, many times over trillions of years, and they’ve always been around. They watch, and they weed out any horrible species that evolve, so that intelligent life can flourish each time.”
“Is that why Greenie is here?” Shane studied her, wondering if the green thing might’ve put this into her head or if this was the Anunnaki’s doing. “To weed us out?”
“Maybe,” she said thoughtfully. “Or… no. I think they’re mostly here for the Anunnaki. But we have Anunnaki DNA, so we must be judged as well.”
“This is some sort of test?” Shane asked, studying her eyes. “What are we supposed to do?”
“My gut tells me it’s a message. Like I’m supposed to let everyone know we are being watched, that each of us will be tested. Our actions will determine whether we deserve to live or die,” Kelly said, her tone becoming frantic. “But that’s all. I don’t know what it means or what we’re supposed to do.” She stared down at her feet, her eyes growing damp.
He wondered about what she’d said to him in the barracks when she first woke up and wanted to ask her about it. Shane glanced around Kelly at Laura, who sat on the other side of her. She gave him a look of warning, and he knew he needed to give the questions a rest.
“It’s okay,” Shane said. “You’re back home with us now.” He put a hand on her shoulder, an ache in his heart because he knew she’d resist if he tried to hug her. “We’ll help you get through this.”
Kelly smiled a little, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly.
“I want to try to talk to my sister now,” she said. “Whether I remember her or not, it’s not right for her to suffer because of me.”
“Okay,” Shane replied, relief flowing through him. What she just said was all Kelly. No alien had put that sentiment in her head. “I’ll go get her.” He stood.
“Tell her I’m starting to remember her,” Kelly said, her tone pleading. It was a lie designed to comfort Nat.
“I will.” He smiled at her and went to retrieve the little girl.