Morning found every single survivor gathered at the cave entrance. A progression of dogs, Caesar, Chance, and even Tobi and her herd waited impatiently in the larger cavern of the survivors’ inaugural night.
Bonnie stood with Tobi, the elephant’s trunk resting lightly on her shoulder. Echo wobbled on the ground at her side. “Please, Echo. Make sure she understands. We need to make sure it’s safe for them first. There’s no telling what might be out there. And that goes for Barney and Chance too. If something happens and we need to make a run for it, Chance won’t fare well with those tiny feet of his. And keep all the dogs here with you.”
“I will make sure they understand, Sister Bonnie.”
They glanced up as Scotty shouted from across the cavern. “Come on, Bonnie, we’re leaving now.” Bonnie bent down to kiss Echo then ran off to join the excited survivors.
Cobby, Clyde and Johno were the first to step through the opening as the membranes parted. Scotty stood behind with the rest of the crowd as they all were assaulted with the heavy, steamy smells of green growth in a humid atmosphere.
Sounds of knives hacking through undergrowth filtered into the corridors, and the crowd grew impatient as they waited to emerge into the open air.
“Kenya, if you want to go back and wait . . .” Kane expressed his concern, holding Kenya around her waist.
“Not on your life, chickey. I want to see what we’re getting into as much as the next person. You’re not leaving me outa this.”
Kane gave her a big kiss. “That’s my girl.”
Johno poked his head into the corridor. “Okay, sorry for the delay. We had to clear a pathway. Foliage has grown right up to the entrance.”
Following Johno out, the survivors made their way around and past the huge granite rock. The weather was oppressively humid, vines and low growth saplings lay hacked and thrown to the side as they made their way through the new woods to stand at what was once the edge of the forest that had looked down on Netty’s farm and Scotty’s small neighborhood of modest homes.
Hearts tripped madly as all remained silent, assessing the vista before them. Tears slipped down faces held up to see the sun . . . the glorious sun. Wil, Netty and Baby stood quietly, reliving bittersweet memories.
“It sure is quiet.” Cobby squinted at the sun, familiar and welcome.
Scotty looked down the hill where his neighborhood street used to be. He remembered the first time he ran up this hill into the woods to nurse his pain over his violent, abusive father to later discover Echo. His thoughts resonated with tenderness. An aura pierced his brain.
“I remember too, my Brother.” Sending Echo a warm thought, he scanned the topography as the rest of the survivors pointed and exclaimed to each other in hushed tones.
The silence was eerie. Small mounds of greenery sat where each house had rested, hiding the skeletons of the building material and treasures worshiped by families long gone. The small mounds resembled graves. The final resting place of the crumbled and rotted traces of a civilization time and the elements had failed to completely eradicate.
“Look.” Johno kicked his foot in the soil, his toes covered in red. He dropped to the ground, scooping up a handful of claylike dirt to let it crumble through his fingers. He brought it to his nose and sniffed. “Praise the Womb. This looks like the same red soil of my great country in Africa. I can feel it, can’t you?”
He looked from the uncertain faces of his fellow survivors, the keepers falling to their knees to scrape up the soil. “This is a sign; an omen from the Womb. My eles will be happy. Tobi will know the difference.” He swept his arm wide to encompass the strange but verdant landscape before them with its unfamiliar trees and vines.
“It feels like home.” Johno grinned wide with infectious happiness. “I know we can do this, my friends. Are you with me?”
The survivors hesitated then broke out with claps and hugs. Tears flowed all around as they realized their lives of exile would end. Even Kenya began to wail with happiness. The wailing got louder.
“Please, please, Mr. Womb, not now,” she moaned.
As all eyes trained on Kenya, Kane stepped back. “Babe?”
She continued to wail, her hands shaking high in the air. “Help me down, chickey.” She suddenly bent at the waist. “Ohhhhhh, noooooo.” Kane helped her ease to the ground as Crystal, Salina and Netty ran to her side.
She looked up pitifully, her brown eyes wide as saucers. “My water just broke.”
“Oh my heavens!” Crystal broke out in tears, bending down to hug Kenya. “Finally, your day has come, baby girl.” The men began to clap Kane on the back, laughing and hooting it up.
It didn’t take long before everyone noticed Wil and Netty’s drawn faces, the golden light from their eyes dim and muted.
As the silence surrounded Kenya, she looked up, her stomach contracting visibly. “What? What’s wrong now? Netty? Wil?” Her head rotated from one to the other. “Someone better tell me what the heck is going on. Ahhhhhhh.” Her stomach contracted again.
Kane stepped to her side, shouting to Scotty and his father.
“Come on. Help me get her back to the Hive.”
“No,” Netty shouted. “You must not!”
They turned to her in shock. She stepped over to Kane. “Go into the Hive. Take Scotty with you. Bring back as many blankets from the supply closet as you can handle.” She turned to Bonnie. “I want you to bring me a pail of water and a box of whatever Dezi can throw together for four or five people. And tea. Get tea. Have Dezi give you some of the special tea for Kenya. She will just have to drink it cold.” Salina stood, her face furrowed with indignation.
“For the love of the Womb, Netty. Let’s get this girl inside where we can attend her.”
Netty ignored Salina, strolling over to link her arm with Kane’s, moving them both closer to Kenya. “I’m so sorry, my dear. But you cannot go back into the Hive. It could mean your death and that of the baby.”
“Are you crazy, Netty? Ahhhhhh. Get me back into the Hive. Right! Now!”
“Baby, can you help?” Netty called to Baby, who quickly clumped his way to the circle around Kenya. Placing his hands on her abdomen, Kenya immediately relaxed, the next pain lessened significantly.
“Ahhh. Oh yes . . . yes, that’s better, Baby. Thank you, chickey. You’re my man.” Kenya took a deep breath.
“Can you just cut to the chase, Netty?”
“I told you. If you go back into the Hive before the baby’s born, the process will stop. Your contractions will stop and any damage done to the placenta and your womb will hurt the baby.” Disbelief glazed every expression. “Depending on where the baby is, it could kill you. The only answer is to have the baby out here.”
Crystal crouched down next to Baby. “You poor kid.”
“I’m not a kid, Crystal. I am a grown old lady. Ohhh.”
Kane, Scotty and Cobby sidled up to Wil.
“Have you noticed how quiet it is, Wil?” asked Kane.
“Will the kids be safe out here? Who knows how long the baby might take. It might get dark,” Cobby commented.
“I’ll have two of the keepers stay with you if it gets dark,” Johno volunteered.
They all turned back to Kenya; who appeared in less pain and much calmer. Wil took charge. “Okay now. Peter, Clyde, Johno and one of the keepers. Let’s lift her up and get her back to the Hive entrance. Go Scotty . . . you too, Kane. Bring back the supplies we need. Bonnie, why don’t you bring back lunch for all of us? Use Netty’s cart. If Dezi wants to come back with you, let him. This is a chance for him to check things out. Go . . .”
*
As everyone scrambled to get back to the Hive, all backs were turned away from the panorama of the site chosen for their new settlement. No eyes witnessed the dark gliding shadow that flitted over the precious land as its maker patrolled its territory from dizzying heights, backlit by the oppressive sun.
Her five-inch razor claws hugged her improbable body, translucent feathers concealing the ruby scales that protected its massive two-hundred-and-fifty-pound frame, making her feathers appear to flame in the blue sky. Her twenty-two-foot wingspan banked on placid wind currents, forcing an occasional wing flutter as she scanned the land with her torpedo-shaped head that concealed her snake-like fangs, looking for prey. She preferred the carcasses of the dead, but enjoyed the occasional live prey when unable to locate the maggot-filled decaying flesh she preferred.
As the vacuum cleaner of the land, she did a marvelous job. But, during one certain time of the year, it became necessary to prepare to feed other mouths. Live prey was always an option. In this humidity, it decayed quickly once a lightning and skillful boring through the prey’s skull rendered it harmless. Eyeing the retreating figures on the hill, she made note of the prey’s location and wheeled back to the nest that contained her eggs.
*
“Kenya, I want to stay out here with you and watch the baby come.” Kane’s stubborn pronouncement did nothing to alleviate the pain of Kenya’s contractions.
Cobby pulled him away as she glared and began to moan again. “I don’t think she wants you here, kiddo.”
“Kiddo? Dad . . . really?”
“Sorry, but you’re still my kid. I can’t help it.” Cobby gave Kane a playful punch in the arm.
They stood up against the granite rock that played such an important part of their lives. Offering shelter from the unexplored Earth, it was close enough to the Hive opening to feel safe.
Kenya lay atop a bed of blankets. Towels and water sat handy for the big arrival, the granite rock waiting to be the first to welcome her baby to the new world.
It was decided that two of the keepers would station themselves down the path, a lookout for possible danger. Netty and Abby would attend the birth, with Cobby standing by to offer assistance and be their go-between back and forth from the Hive.
Kenya clearly didn’t want Kane around for the messier parts of the process. “Chickey, there’s no way in Hell that you’re going to watch me shit myself when this baby comes. When the two of you meet, I’m gonna look like a princess who’s here to present you with your own royal baby. Now, why don’t you pleeeease go back into the Hive? Go pick out something nice and slinky for me from the supply closet. This girl is aimin’ to get her sexy back on as soon as the watermelon decides to come on outttttttttt—ahhhhhhh!”
“Breathe, Kenya,” Netty said. She looked up wide eyed and flushed, sweat beading heavily down her neck.
“I am! Oosh, oosh, oosh, oosh.”
Cobby lit the bonfire the men had constructed during the day. The keepers took their bedrolls down the path with them, saying a goodnight as Kane and Scotty made their way back into the Hive.
*
Netty dipped a cloth into the water to soothe Kenya. Six hours had passed, and everyone was tired. She looked over to Cobby. He leaned up against the rock, eyelids drooping. “I think the crown’s rounding. It shouldn’t be much longer. Why don’t you wake up Cobby?”
Abby nodded her head, skirting over to Cobby. She shook his arm, startling him awake.
“The baby?”
“No, not yet.” Abby smiled gently. Cobby stood and stretched. He threw another log on the bonfire, embers from the burning logs spitting and riding high in the air to be wafted away, a message for unknown creatures to stay away,
“Guess the heat from the fire knocked me out.” He yawned. “Want to take walk?”
Abby raised her eyebrow back at Netty.
“Go ahead. Nothing’s happening here for a while, but I’ll need you both alert later. Don’t go far. It might not be safe. Come running if I call.”
“We’ll be just around the corner,” said Cobby. “Can’t go far in this jungle of vines.”
Cobby and Abby skirted the rock tightly to avoid the vines. The night air away from the fire felt refreshing and cool. The moon dimly cast their shadows over the foliage, its full strength saving itself for another night. Or was it the cloud cover? They scanned the night sky, hoping for feelings of familiarity, but instead shivered under the vastness.
“You cold?” asked Cobby.
“No, I just feel small out here. It’s so different from the coziness of the Hive.”
Cobby leaned up against the rock next to her. “I know what you mean. I never felt that way . . . before. We’ll get used to it. Did you notice the absence of sounds during the day?”
“Yeah. It’s not what I expected. Echo will know. She’ll tell us if it’s something the Womb has done or if it’s just a natural occurrence. Our animals can’t be the only species on the planet. It takes so much more to sustain an ecosystem.” Abby fell silent, oddly aware of Cobby’s warmth next to her.
“I don’t get to see much of you in the Hive. Usually just at meals and then Karen is so busy with our baby.”
Abby nodded. “Yeah . . . Karen.” Surprising herself, Abby detected a note of something unidentifiable in her comment.
Cobby turned toward her, his arm touching hers, even as her wings felt crushed against the rock. “What do you mean by that, Abby?”
She looked deep into his eyes, his handsome face so dear and familiar. Something inside hitched, waves overcoming her. She saw something in Cobby’s eyes. Was it confusion? His lips parted as she leaned toward him, unable to make herself stop.
Cobby’s hands went to her face, kissing her hungrily. She heard him groan. “Oh God, Abby.”
She felt her breast heave and her breath came in short gasps. “Cobby.”
“Yes, Abby. I’ve dreamed of this . . . for such a long time.”
She felt herself tremble. Cobby snaked his arm around her waist, mashing her to his hard body.
Abruptly, she pulled herself free. They stared at each other, ragged breaths loud and unexpected. Cobby’s eyes filled with passion and longing. He swept his hand over his face, taking another deep breath. “I’m so sorry, Abby; it’s just that for so long . . .”
“I know, Cobby. I know exactly—”
From down the pathway a sudden shriek, then a heart-rendering scream, abruptly silenced. They looked toward the pathway and saw a dark shape move across the sky, briefly obscuring the moon.
“Oh my God, Cobby. The keepers?”
Cobby’s lips set in a grim line. “I better go investigate.”
She clutched at him in horror. “No. Let me go. I can protect myself. I won’t have you put yourself at risk. Stay with Netty and look after Kenya.” She gently touched the side of his face, then stepped away from the rock to flex her wings. Then she was gone.
All her confusing thoughts about Cobby were pushed to the back of her mind to savor in privacy as she flew over the path to the hill where the keepers kept watch.
Touching down on the ground, she saw one of the keepers prone and unmoving, half his skull missing, blood pooling under his neck. Hurriedly looking around, she was unable to locate the other keeper, even as his bedroll remained heaped in disarray. They had no bonfire, even though a pile of kindling and larger logs lay piled in the clearing.
She sniffed the air, redolent with the faint stench of carrion. This was not good. Stillness greeted her ears, haunting in its overwhelming eeriness.
Taking wing, she wondered how she would have the courage to break the news to Johno.
A rustle in the bushes announced her return. Stepping into the clearing, she beheld Kenya’s tired smile and the jubilant grins of Netty and Cobby. In Kenya’s trembling arms lay her newborn baby girl. The first and the last child to be born to humans in the new world.
*
The joy over the birth of Kenya’s baby was overshadowed by the death of the keepers. Losing two members of their tightly-knit community was a loss felt by all. Worse yet was the prospect of danger it presented for their fledgling settlement.
Understandably, the mothers were the most vocal.
“Cobby, you can’t expect us to put the babies in danger. Our lives are fine here. We have everything we need.” Karen‘s voice strained with her arguments against moving to the settlement.
“Are you out of your mind? If you think any human will choose to live underground when we have the chance to reclaim our world, you’re crazy. And the baby would never grow up. Is that what you want?” Cobby’s words unexpectedly stung.
Her voice low, she responded, “I’m just thinking of our safety.”
Cobby took her in his arms, surprised at his shortness. “I know you are, Karen. I know. Try not to worry. We have plenty of time to investigate. It’s going to take us a good year or more just to get the settlement in enough of a rough shape to move into. We’re down two men now. That’s going to cost us. It might take us longer than we expect. We have so much to do. And you need to help. I’m sure we’ll have a complete picture of the dangers before we give up the Hive.” He gazed into her trusting eyes.
“Promise?”
He held her again as he tried to fight his century-long and futile desire for it to be Abby in his arms. “Yes, I promise.”