The two couples lazed by the edge of the water, exhausted by the spirited swimming and overwhelmed by the beauty of their effervescent and jeweled bathing cavern that refused to get old.
Ginger Mae’s laughter echoed off the stalactites and stalagmites, a delightful contrast to the sometimes spooky atmosphere with its flickering shadows that enticed memories of trysts held by most of the couples in the Hive.
“Hud, I think we all know how you feel. What do you think, Bonnie? Two or three hundred times?”
Bonnie snorted. “I lost count after the first five years.”
Hud looked fondly at his wife. “I know, babe. It’s just the beauty of this cave. It’s still hard to accept how the Womb shined so much luck down on me. Every day since I woke up to your adorable face twenty eight years ago, I’ve pinched myself. I can’t help reflecting on my life here. It’s just so darn surreal. Here it is 2086. I was born in 1881. I was in my fifties when I . . . died. You all mourn the loss of the life you knew with its conveniences and foibles. Yet half the time, I don’t even know what you’re talking about. And when the Earth heals and we surface? We’ll be setting the clock back to before I was born. To the country as it was before man settled here.” Hud’s amazement plastered itself all over his face. “Do you see the irony of that? For me? It’s really hard to absorb all of this even though I’ve had years to work on it. That’s why I keep saying I’m so lucky.”
“My . . . you sure are introspective this evening.” Peter’s observation came with a warm smile that quickly sobered. “Do you think your mood has anything to do with the announcement Netty made after dinner?”
“Maybe. Anyone have any idea what this meeting after breakfast is all about?” Bonnie piped up; her cheerful face still that of a teen, but her maturity reflecting the full forty four years of her life.
“Maybe it’s about the new plans to expand the habitats for the wildlife. Scotty and the gang have been working pretty hard on it,” remarked Ginger Mae as she nestled closer to Hud.
“I could sure use some extra help with the count. I don’t have time for anything else during the day with two decades of newborns to account for. I still think it odd they can reproduce, but none of us girls have been able to conceive.” She reached out to grasp Bonnie’s cold hand as her friend’s face fell.
“I’m so sorry, Bonnie. I know the subject is painful for the two of you. Billy and Gloria aren’t much better off. They’re dying to have a baby. And I know Karen is plain old desperate.” She kept her long-held opinion about Cobby’s longing for Abby to herself since Cobby had broken down under pressure and actually married Karen ten years ago.
Bonnie’s words were slow and painful. “So you think this meeting is about more room for the animals? Netty looked awful somber for that to be what this is about. Did you notice how she was hanging on to Wil? Neither one of them looked too happy.”
Hud let out a loud sigh as he used his hands to slick back his long dark hair, not a trace of gray among the thick strands he twisted into a pony tail to hang down his back to dry.
“I’m afraid you’re right, Bonnie. I was with Wil most of the night and he seemed fine until Dezi was ready with dinner. Then they both got quiet. I’ve never seen them like that before.”
“We have.” Ginger Mae sounded defiant. “I know you and Wil are big buddies, Hud, but it wasn’t always like this. In the beginning there were secrets. Netty was under a lot of stress. Whenever they felt pushed to disclose bad news, they got like this. Just like they were tonight after dinner.” Her hand flew to her mouth, her questioning eyes on Peter. “Do you think?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “Do I think what? That Wil and Netty are hiding something again? That they’re going to dump some bad news on us in the morning?” Peter compressed his lips, his smile tight. “Maybe. But whatever it is, I know we’re all strong enough to handle it.”
He stood up, holding his arms out to Bonnie. He pulled her to her feet, then rubbed his hands up and down her back, bringing a smile to her lips, the sparkle back to her eyes.
“Come on, child bride of mine. Time to hit the hay.” Both couples rose and fondly bid each other goodnight, leaving the unanswered questions behind. Morning would come to the Hive soon enough.
*
The next morning, Sheriff Hudson and Ginger Mae strolled through the corridors arm in arm. They were in no hurry to join everyone in Netty’s kitchen for the mysterious meeting. Ginger Mae leaned her head briefly on Hudson’s broad shoulder; pensive and thoughtful.
“Hud, how come we’ve never discussed why I seem to be having trouble conceiving?”
Hud looked down at his wife, permitting Ginger Mae an opportunity to relish the tiny flip her heart did every time she studied his world-weary, ruggedly-dear face. She knew every laugh line and wrinkle by heart. Who knew that life would bring this compassionate and wise man to her bed? With him behind her, she knew she could climb mountains.
Ruefully, she conceded the Hive failed to offer many mountains to conquer these days. But she knew she could count on his stalwart strength when the time came to reclaim the world above.
“I don’t know, babe. I just assumed we must be too old.” He reached out to cup her head in his large hand, giving it an affectionate tousle.
“Now Hud, you know very well the Hive repairs anything in our bodies that goes awry. We’re all perfectly fit and healthy.”
“What brought this up now, babe? If it’s meant to be, it’ll happen. We have lots of time. Before long, this place will be filled with urchins that have your beauty and my . . . hmmm . . . my what?”
Ginger Mae heard an underlying note in his voice which disturbed her. She stopped in her tracks in the middle of the corridor that would bring them close to the kitchen. She didn’t want to have this conversation where anyone could hear; especially not their best friends. Peter and Bonnie would be so hurt. “How about your inability to lie to me? You’re going to start now?”
Hud evaded her perceptive eyes, his tone tender. “I can’t bear to see you hurt, babe. Don’t you know I feel every pain, every sadness, you have?”
Puzzlement creased her brow. “But I’m not sad, Hud. I’ve never been happier. My life is complete. Well, except for wanting your child. All of us are happier than we’ve ever been.”
Her voice slowed, a thoughtful dawning intruding with its presence. “Except for all of us not being able to conceive.” She stopped speaking, her silence making Hud squirm.
“Ginger Mae?” She cocked her head to consider a thought, and then continued to hold her lovely face still.
“Okay babe, you got me.” Hud pulled her from the center of the corridor to perch her on a small boulder that clung to the side of the wall, the membrane of the Hive quiet and ignored. Goose bumps on her pale arms testified to the alarm she was beginning to feel.
Hudson sighed loudly, pacing in fits and starts in front of her, his hands wringing with helpless gestures.
“For Pete’s sake, love. Just spit it out.” She held her breath.
“I don’t know why you can’t see it. It’s obvious. Maybe you’re all subconsciously denying it so as not to rock the boat? Understandable in light of what was going on here around the time you all found out what Baby was up to.” He glanced quickly away. “With me and all. That was so long ago, yet just like yesterday. I feel—”
She reached out her hand to grab his arm. “We’ve talked and talked that subject to death. We both have pasts we’re not proud of. They’re behind us and what matters is our today and our tomorrows, Hud. That means our children. They're our chance to do it right this time. Daisy’s all grown up and way out of reach. I no longer even know what she does in that so-called lab of hers with Netty and Abby.” Studying her lap, she whispered, “I want our baby. I know you do too.”
“You don’t need to worry about Daisy. She’s marked for otherworldly pursuits. It’s what she wants. We can’t hold a special child like her back. She’s not even a child anymore. I know it’s creepy, looking like a six-year-old but she’s what . . . thirty nine, forty?”
“Thirty five. But this isn’t about Daisy. It’s about us.”
Hud knelt down before her, taking her hands in his. She could identify many emotions in his eyes. She winced inwardly as she admitted pity took precedence.
Hud’s words were low and soft. “I don’t think the Hive wants any of you ladies to get pregnant.”
Ginger Mae sprang to her feet, sending Hud sprawling back on his butt. “What? No, no . . . they wouldn’t do that to us. That doesn’t make any sense. And how? I mean . . . really . . .?” Hud climbed to his feet, picking off dried scat that had adhered to his butt; droppings from one of the animals that had passed through the corridor and been overlooked.
“I don’t know how, babe. Maybe you and I can swing some time alone with Netty and Wil, and bring it up together?”
“But Hud, Wil’s your best friend. Can’t you just wring it out of him?”
He shook his head. “No . . . we never talk about the Hive, the Womb or the weird stuff. You have to remember, Wil and I lived in the same time, long ago. He’s from the next county where I lived with my family. We talk about home, carpentry, advances that have been made since we . . . died. I really can’t share that kind of stuff with anyone but Wil. He’s a good kid. Well, not a kid. I mean a good guy. I just wish I’d known him before Netty’s ex got ahold of him. I might have been able to do something . . .” His enhanced memory illuminated the pain from his past; the faraway dullness in his eyes fading as he snapped back to the present, “Let me work on it, babe. I’ll try to talk to him today if the right moment comes up.” He took her arm, tucking it into his and bent down to kiss her oh so softly, savoring the promise their lips exchanged.
“Do we want to be the last to arrive?” She gave her head a tiny shake no.
“Well then, let’s go. I’m starved.” The beautiful reformed ex-prostitute and the handsome dishonored ex-sheriff turned the bend in the corridor to join the rest of the Hive family for breakfast and Netty’s meeting.
*
Ginger Mae noticed a subdued atmosphere in the kitchen as they entered, even as Netty presented platters of steaming hot purple and black cake-like fritters that featured a spicy, salty-sweet bite on the tables; one of her most popular dishes, usually reserved for special occasions.
Glancing at the counter by the sink, she could see an assortment of fruit pies that must have kept Dezi baking into the night. Chance snuffled at Dezi’s feet as he rolled out the dough for another pie. Hmm, wonder what this means?
As she and Hud made their way back to their waiting seats with Bonnie and Peter, they exchanged quick, quiet greetings with the others, a wave here and a smile there.
Ginger Mae didn’t fail to notice how jumpy Netty appeared; nervous almost. She startled as Netty herself slipped around their seats to put down a platter, the hot steaming breakfast cakes wafting their enticing spices along the wooden table.
Hud spoke up. “Morning Netty. Where’s Wil?” Ginger Mae hadn’t noticed his absence.
Netty gave Hud a dreamy, goofy smile. “He’ll be back by the time we finish breakfast.” She appeared to sober, her happy expression flashing back to nervous and jumpy.
Murmurings circulated the tables as the survivors gossiped in discreet undertones, Netty’s uncharacteristic behavior and particular breakfast a puzzle.
Baby and Echo lounged silently and unconcerned at the fireplace with Barney and Chloe’s Teddy, both dogs alert and jumpy as they sensed the change in atmosphere.
No one uttered a word as Netty kept glancing at the entrance to the kitchen while Salina and Karen cleared the empty plates and Shirley poured the tea. The tension in the room increased while Dezi sliced into a walnut raspberry cobbler.
Clyde’s granddaughter, Jennifer, quickly dispensed the treat as Netty rose from her chair at her private table to pick up a smaller version of her own chair that had sat unnoticed along the wall, before ceremoniously depositing it at her and Wil’s table.
She returned to stand and face them all, stealing another quick, nervous glance at the door.
Ginger Mae scanned the crowd, observing the expectant faces and curious minds calmly and innocently awaiting Netty’s announcement.
Netty bowed her head. She fidgeted with a wing, her tail tightly wound around her waist as if holding her together. Her face lifted to reveal an odd coupling of pride and a sudden flash of . . . Was that fright? Ginger Mae wondered.
Netty cleared her throat and gave them a weak smile. “I don’t actually know where to begin.”
The crowd stirred and exchanged looks.
Netty intercepted some of the looks, causing her to stiffen her spine. She began. “There are two parts to this meeting. First, I need you all to understand something important. We . . . the Womb, the Kreyven, the minions, and Wil and I planned for many years to institute the intervention that Baby should have begun upon arrival on Earth. You all know the story well by now, but we needed to keep a few things to ourselves for a very good reason. Until the right time. I think the right time has come.”
The room filled with groans and exclamations of surprise, Clyde’s being the loudest protest as usual.
Netty held up her hands, her voice soft and gentle. “Please . . . hear me out. This has not been easy for us either. As you know, Baby’s mission did not originally plan for the need of the Hive. The Womb had originally made the decision to intervene in a more catastrophic way. It would have left no humans on the planet to interfere with the lives of any remaining species, or new ones for that matter.”
Her hands rose to cut off objections, her expression hardening as she became absorbed in the telling.
“As Baby and I met so very long ago, we began a productive life together. Then Wil entered our lives. The Womb decided to take a wait-and-see attitude as Echo stayed in the Hive to gauge the new developments. Then came the interference from my ex-husband and our brutal deaths.
“I’m sure you’ve all heard that, even as we are immortal, that doesn’t mean we can’t die. Luckily, Echo convinced the Womb to send the Kreyven to rescue us for what you call cloning and what we also know as mind transference.
“What most of you don’t know, is that we were not all able to be rescued.” Netty’s voice stumbled, great pain coming up from deep within her.
“Wil and I had a baby.”
Gasps of sadness came from the entranced survivors as they sat spellbound, watching the stunning Elder they had all come to admire and love.
“Without going into detail, please accept that my baby died before Wil and I even had a chance to name her.” Netty rubbed her temples, her pain clear to all. She took a deep breath and straightened.
“Our adjustment to our rebirth, the Hive, knowledge of how the millions and millions of solar systems worked and our new role in it, took us a very long time. Decades passed as we fought to come to terms with our new lives.
“Humans are not meant to be Elders. Only minions. Yes, we have descended from minions, which made it all possible, but we have many traits and limitations given to us by evolution. They needed to be . . . modified. And some things needed to be enhanced.” She ran her hands from the top of her head, sweeping down to rest at her side.
“And this is what we got.” She smiled and nodded to herself. “Not too shabby, right?”
“As time wore on, we also began to realize our plans for the planet needed to be altered. Echo became attached to the family who discovered her, and we realized we had more Elders on our hands. You know their story.
“Just as the decision was made to change our plans, we learned of an element in your population who planned mass destruction without our intervention. We needed to quickly ready Abby for her part of the mission.”
Ginger Mae watched Abby and Netty’s eyes meet, the hero worship from Abby plain as the crystal horns on their heads.
Clyde stood up, impatience in his voice.
“We already know most of this. Why don’t you get to the point?”
The crowd shushed him as Salina pulled him back down to his chair. “Let her tell it her way, for gosh sakes, Clyde. Can’t you see how painful this is?”
Resuming, Netty’s voice added a defensive note. “You must understand. We did not have plans for anyone other than Scotty, Chloe, Abby and Jose.”
“Why Chloe? What’s so special about her?” A resentful-sounding shout from the crowd.
“You all know about The One. Someday, you may be very grateful. The needs of The One must always be considered.”
Ginger Mae peered around Hud’s shoulders as Chloe muttered, “Needs?” with an arched eyebrow. Scotty slipped a kiss on her forehead as he squeezed her tight.
“My needs,” he whispered.
“There was no way to rescue all the wildlife before the bombs dropped. We’re lucky Abby rescued what she did. That includes all of you, too.” She swept her hand to include the room.
“Unfortunately, we had no way to know in advance that events would unfold this way. We were forced to improvise as Abby accumulated you all along the way.” She smiled. “I’m sure you’ve noticed the disarray in the storage room and library. These items were obtained as it became apparent Abby was planning to rescue people too.” This time she smiled brightly at Daisy.
“We are ever so happy you’ve adjusted so well. I’m sure Wil and I don’t need to tell you how fond we are of all our survivors.”
Netty was now grinning from ear to ear. A clatter sounded from the hallway where Caesar kept his vigil. Ginger Mae craned her neck. Was that the sound of Netty’s food wagon?
A high scream was heard. A grinning Wil entered the kitchen behind the most amazing sight. A whirling dervish of a handful; all three feet four inches of a three-year-old Elder toddler. She ran screaming to Netty, who scooped her up in the air, swinging her around and holding her tight. She deposited her on the counter after showering her with kisses. Netty turned to face the stunned and speechless survivors with tears glittering in her eyes.
“My daughter, Maya.”
The crowd sat speechless. Ginger Mae glanced at Hud and looked around the room. Mouths hung open, puzzlement entering eyes. As Ginger Mae tried to make sense of it, she caught flashes of hurt in the eyes of some of the women. Tentative smiles tugged at compressed lips as the natural beauty of an innocent child tugged at hearts. A groundswell of emotional voices swept the room within seconds.
“Your daughter?”
“When did this happen?”
“Why did ya hide her, Netty?”
“Yeah, what’s the deal here?” The voices escalated. The child, Maya, curled into Netty’s chest, the noise from the astonished survivors frightening her.
Netty held up her hand to quiet the crowd, her face dark. “Wil, can you please take Maya?” She scanned the room, quickly locating the minions.
“Baby, Echo? Can I ask you to go with Wil and stay with Maya? You can take Barney with you. Hurry back, Wil.”
The two minions wobbled over to the kitchen door where Wil waited, Maya blowing kisses to Baby and Barney. As they disappeared through the door, Netty turned back to the confused survivors.
“All right . . . all right.” Netty held up both hands. “I know you have questions. I’m not finished.”
“Oh, Netty, she’s wonderful.” Abby’s voice brokered some agreement in the crowd as they recognized their rude behavior toward the child. Chagrined voices added their compliments as everyone settled back down.
“Well, at least someone was able to get pregnant.” Crystal’s wry voice cut deep. Ginger Mae recognized the pain in the expressions of many of the women in the kitchen. Pain and longing. I know how they feel.
She turned her attention from her fellow survivors back to Netty, who now stood quietly, her face expressionless, waiting until she had all of their attention. Ginger Mae could feel the crowd becoming restless.
“Maya was born three years before the bombs came. She’s still mentally a toddler. I asked the Womb if she could remain so, unlike the rest of us.”
Hushed expectation greeted Netty’s words. Tension again filled the room as they all realized the true reason for the meeting was about to be revealed.
“Wil and I quickly understood our daughter’s presence would be a problem once I was forced to inform you that the surviving women here in this room would never be capable of bearing children.”
The gasp from the crowd made Netty flinch. Angry voices assailed the homey kitchen. Ginger Mae felt Hud’s strong hands reach out to hold her as she failed to stop a desperate tear escaping her eye.
She raised her face to peer at her sister survivors, who sat stunned at the news, faces scared and wet with tears. The outspoken Clyde was the first to respond, calm yet incredulous. “Are you trying to tell us that we’ll be the last of our race? And just how is it that you know that exactly?”
Netty held her head up to take the brunt of the anger that seeped into the consciousness of the gathering.
“It’s the food isn’t it? Or the tendrils? The fucking tendrils. You throw us a bone while you rob us in our sleep.” Billy the trucker cradled his shocked wife in his arms, bitterness getting the best of him.
“No, it’s not the food or the tendrils.” Netty began to meet anger with anger. The room filled with simmering resentment. “You’re alive are you not?”
Cobby stood to face his fellow survivors. Karen’s stricken face turned to watch as he attempted to calm everyone down. “Come on, gang. Let’s hear her out. She’s one of us.”
From the keeper’s table came a determined voice. “No, sir. Miss Netty is not one of us. She’s an angel of the Womb. We’re only alive by mistake. I’m grateful and well understand my place in the Hive. I would not be making any demands on Miss Netty.” The keeper’s big round eyes trailed the walls where the membrane breathed, his protruding white orbs a contrast to his awed dark face.
“Thank you, Johno. Now perhaps I can continue?” Grumblings and tears swept through the survivors, calming only as Cobby shushed them.
Netty took a deep breath, visibly settling herself. “The decision to end your species came from the Womb. The original Elders were your makers . . . your creators, but we’re always at the beck of the Womb in all its infinite wisdom.” She gestured toward the membrane.
“Most of you are aware that our necessary light source comes from the membranes that support our life here. The light contains a high-frequency light spectrum that destroys the enzyme needed to procreate. It’s the same enzyme that is destroyed by the sun in areas close to the equator.
“As your species evolved, skin darkened to protect that enzyme. Now, the Womb merely introduced a different light spectrum not found in the sun, but lethal to this necessary enzyme. It is temporary. When you resurface, you will no longer come into contact with the spectrum.”
The crowd buzzed, some relief evident in their grumbling.
“I’m sorry to say . . . the Womb will then introduce something into your environment to produce the same result.”
A bitter shout came from an angry face. “All except you. You get to have your child. And probably Princess Abby will be able to have them too, won’t she?”
Ginger Mae spotted the stung expression on Abby’s face, her hand reaching back to Jose.
Netty began to stroll as she spoke, her eyes again flicking to the kitchen door. “If Abby wants to have children, she can undergo a process that will allow that to happen. She’s an Elder. She will decide together with the Womb when that should happen.”
“Don’t I get a say in the matter?” Jose placed his chin on his hand, resting his elbow on the table as his emotions expressed themselves in the abrupt twitching of his tail.
“No, not really. You know you are a consort for Abby, Jose. That’s why male Elders don’t grow horns. Our society is a matriarch one. Before minions lost their immortality, only females had antlers. Now they all do. One small concession for their loss. Baby is the first immortal male to ever have antlers. And the last, I imagine.”
Moving on, the issue dismissed as far as Netty was concerned, she continued. “Under these circumstances, when it was discovered Abby was recruiting unexpected guests, our plans were altered for your comfort. We knew the time would come where pressures would necessitate explanations. It was believed the women would accept the news better if my own child was not here to stoke resentment. So . . . so I . . .” Netty swallowed. “So I was forced to send her into exile. My own baby . . .”
The group remained silent as Netty pulled herself together. “She has been here in the Hive. I go to see her every day for a few hours. But it is not nearly the same.”
A movement caught Ginger Mae’s eye. From her seat next to Peter, Bonnie rose. “I’m very sorry for all you’ve gone through, Netty, and I’m very grateful to be alive. But Peter and I love one another, just as you love Wil. We can’t help that we yearn to share our love the same way you have—with a child.” She ran her hand up the roots of her hair, grasping and pulling down to assuage her pain. “I don’t know what to say . . . I know I can’t go on feeling this way.” She turned as Peter rose, burying herself in his arms to cry.
Ginger Mae took inventory of the other stricken women, watching as Salina ran over to her remaining daughter. Bonnie threw herself into her mother’s arms, sobbing deeply as Salina’s bitter cold tears made their quiet way down her long-suffering face.
Suddenly, Wil appeared at the doorway. “Are you ready yet, Netty?”
All attention swiveled back to Netty, her expression now hesitant. “Yes, Wil. I think now is the time. Can you please bring the father in?”
To the astonishment of the survivors, Netty’s food wagon emerged from outside, propelled by a large figure draped in a clergyman’s robe. All they could see inside the hood that covered his large head was the rich, dark color of his wide and bushy beard. From around his neck hung a heavy cross of an unidentifiable metal.
He was assisted by a young woman in her twenties, her round face a complement to her cocoa complexion and her thick, shiny ebony hair pulled back in a ribbon that flowed down her stout back. She wore a light-brown cotton smock with a similar cross, although smaller in size.
Together, they ushered the wagon into the center of the kitchen to complete silence from the incredulous survivors.
“I would like to introduce you to Father Garcia and Madeline Perez.”
As Madeline and Father Garcia stepped over to Netty, a squeak was heard from inside a huge basket that sat on the wagon.
Father Garcia smiled at the crowd, removing his hood to reveal a man in his late sixties, his watery-blue eyes a clear palette of weariness. Madeline hung shyly behind him.
“Come along dear . . . they won’t bite, now will they, Netty?”
Wil hurriedly removed his chair from their table to rush it to Father Garcia. “Please, Father, sit.” As he clapped Wil on the shoulder, Father Garcia eased his large body down onto the chair, Madeline standing by.
“Thank you, my boy. These old knees of mine still insist on warring with the tendrils. I think my knees are winning.” He looked brightly around the room, his measuring eyes lingering on every face.
Netty waited respectfully until Father Garcia was satisfied. He gave her a slight nod, and she began again.
“I understand you’re all curious. I can see the heartache my information has stirred. So.” She nodded to Father Garcia. “With Father Garcia’s permission, I’m going to do something I have long awaited. Then we will continue this story.”
Walking over to the large basket on the food wagon, she placed her hand on the edge facing the dining tables. “May I please ask that Ginger Mae, Karen, Bonnie and Gloria join me?”
The four women glanced at their husbands, their confusion clear as they searched for support in the faces of their sister survivors. Slowly, each woman stood to join Netty near the wagon.
She reached out to guide them to the wagon where they looked down into the basket. Sudden gasps brought hands to mouths as tender expressions, fragile and hopeful, searched the basket, then back up to Netty’s face.
Ginger Mae bit her knuckle painfully as hopeful tears dropped hot and painful. For there in the basket, nestled in their blankets, lay three infants who stared straight up at her, unblinking. Tiny feet kicked and buckled under their covers, the only sign they knew they were the center of attention. One white- and two dark-skinned infants looking like satisfied kittens.
Bonnie turned to the tables, her smile fighting through fresh tears. “Peter. Come look.”
Peter hurried to her side where she threw her arms around his neck, slowing down his anxious attempt to peer into the basket. Soon, everyone milled around the infants.
Ginger Mae’s heart froze as she realized three infants didn’t go far with four desperate women who would never conceive. With a heavy heart, she led Hud back to the table and quietly sat down, ignoring the questions in his eyes.
It didn’t take long before the sweet surprise wore off, fostering the return of suspicion and betrayal. Ginger Mae watched as Father Garcia sent a subtle nod to Netty.
Making her way through the crowd at the wagon, she directed the survivors back to their seats. Karen spoke up first as the spell of the infants wore off.
“Are the babies for us, Netty? Where did they come from? Where did Father Garcia come from? Were you up top, sir? Are there other survivors?” At the mention of the possibility, a roar sounded; hope springing desperately, just like a baby bird’s mother as she pushed her fledgling from the nest to take his first flight.
But just as the mother bird’s hopes are dashed when the fledgling crashes to the ground, so Netty crushed theirs.
“No . . . I’m sorry. Father Garcia has been here in the Hive as long as you have. There is no one . . . nothing . . . left above.”
Bonnie’s small voice cut through the din, the whisper pointed and forlorn. “The babies.”
“Let me explain, if you haven’t already figured it out.” She helped Father Garcia from his seat as she spoke. “As I mentioned, Maya has been with Father Garcia since your arrival. But I knew the time would come when I could no longer bear to hide her. I needed a way to make it safe to welcome her into our family, which includes women who would be resentful and bitter about their inability to conceive.” She turned toward Abby.
“My wonderful, Abby. You gave me the solution.” The two Elders’ faces gleamed with the pride that comes from two women who hold each other in the highest regard. Netty inclined her head, encouragement for Abby to speak. Slowly, falteringly . . . Abby voice gained strength as she found the answer.
“The innocent babies. All of them. It killed me to leave them behind along with the rest of the creatures I failed to rescue. You knew?”
Netty nodded. “Of course, my dear. The implants. We knew your every thought.” Abby blushed deeply as Ginger Mae swore she saw her glance guiltily toward Cobby from under her veiled golden eyes. That’s interesting.
Netty resumed. “We had hoped to rescue more, but the time—it just plain ran out. It was only a few hours before you got here that the Kreyven returned from a tinderbox called Newark. Its proximity to New York City and abundance of ramshackle buildings, which had been shortchanged during construction by corrupt town officials and greedy building inspectors, all but guaranteed its collapse.”
Father Garcia spoke up. “It just happened to be in one of those exact buildings that the church housed the homeless and surrendered children. We had been there for forty five years. Many a child called it their first and last home.”
He took out a yellow handkerchief and swabbed his dry brow, attempting to wipe away the memories.
“When the Kreyven came, we were moving the older children to the basement. We had lost all electricity and had no way of knowing about the bombs, other than the first one in Vegas.” Father Garcia shook his head mournfully.
“I knew there’d be more. As sure as water is wet, I knew the politicians would muck everything up. And we have no one to blame but ourselves. We gave them the power and turned our lives over to them for a few pieces of silver.” Father Garcia scrutinized everyone in the room, one by one. The silence weighed heavy as they waited for him to continue.
“Was that pittance the value of our children?” He closed his eyes, appearing to be in pain. His words came out slow and soft. “We made a deal with the Devil and sold out our children’s future. Then the Devil came calling again.
“Netty Capaccino is as fine a woman as I’ve ever met. She did this for you. I just wish we could have saved more than three. We felt the bomb hit. I was running back upstairs from the basement to help Maddy bring down the babies. We no sooner had them in our arms, then the Kreyven busted in and wrapped us in its body and took us underground. We felt . . . the ground shudder.”
Father Garcia’s voice faltered, his eyelids closed tight as of to fight off the chaos of the memory. Madeline knelt at his feet and squeezed his hands tightly. Tiredly, he continued. “That’s all we had. Three. The rest were all left behind.” He sighed fast and deep, pushing away the painful memory. “Well . . . that was a long time ago. Let’s hope you place a greater value on these children. It appears they are the last of their kind.”
With those words, he rose to his feet, lifting Madeline from her knees.
“Come, my dear, we have a long walk home.” Turning to Netty and Wil, he bid them good day. “I trust we will see you in the morning again? We’ll bring the babes.” With nods from the Elders, and a perfunctory goodnight to the survivors, Father Garcia and Madeline wheeled the wagon back out to the hallway and disappeared with the infants.
Ginger Mae’s head swam. The unexpected promise of the infants was overshadowed by the knowledge that they’d been hidden here all this time. With two grown adults. Why hadn’t they challenged Netty or Wil about the food wagon? She massaged her temples, the answer obvious.
In the beginning, they had feared Netty and Wil. The mental trauma caused from fleeing the bombs, the deaths from the Time of Seth, the discovery of the Kreyven, Baby’s hidden revenge on the men from Netty’s past, and the revelation of the tendrils and length of time they would live in the Hive had given them all enough to deal with. And she herself had had to cope with her disfigured face, the animosity from Peter, her pressures from the daily count, her jealousy over the amount of time Daisy spent with the Elders and her head-over-heels romance with Hud.
“Are you okay, babe?” Hud leaned over to massage her shoulders. She smiled gratefully as her head swirled with the emotions generated from so much chaos. She leaned back until her head rested on Hud’s chest.
“Three . . . only three babies.” All around her, the other couples conferred, somber yet hopeful.
“Okay, everyone. I’d like everyone with an interest in the infants to arrive for breakfast an hour early tomorrow. Now . . . let’s get on with our duties.”
The crowd buzzed as everyone filtered out to begin their day, several stopping to congratulate Netty and Wil on the birth of their lovely little girl. Bonnie and Ginger Mae linked arms and funneled out with their apprehensive husbands bringing up the rear.