Abby rose from her seat next to Jose, shrugging his arm from her shoulders. She walked toward Netty and Chloe, her posture combative. “How could you leave us like this? And what’s the meaning of this?” She pointed to Chloe’s abdomen. Her face crumbled, dissolving into tears as she began to shake.
“Where have you been?” Her lost voice fell, emotions cascading as her whole body conveyed hurt, disappointment and the accusation of betrayal.
Netty rushed to her side to embrace her.
“We needed you, Netty,” she continued to sob.
“My dear, it is all right. We’re back now. Please . . .” She glanced around the room, spotting Johno. “Johno? Perhaps you and Dezi can brew us up some tea?” She nodded at him knowingly. “And my medicine, please. I think we could all use a dose. We need to calm down and discuss these events rationally.” Her eyes searched for Wil, brightening when she located him. He stood up to go to her side as Abby continued to sob on her shoulder.
“Can you get me a chair for her, please?”
Wil retrieved a chair and placed it alongside Chloe, who reached out with a smile and a hand as soon as they settled Abby.
From outside the kitchen they heard an intense roar that resonated in everyone’s bones. The door pushed open and Caesar poked his head in. The big cat gave a chuff and speared them one by one with his laser gaze. As soon as he focused on Chloe, he leaped into the room, landing inches from her side. He instantly rubbed his head on her legs, his back arching high like a house cat and tried to unsuccessfully squeeze himself between Abby and Chloe’s chair, settling for curling up at her feet. He leaned his leg against her legs, yawned and closed his eyes, apparently fast asleep.
Clyde spoke up. “Well, that tiger’s certainly happy to see you. We wondered what had happened to him. He hasn’t been seen since the Kreyven carried you off.”
Netty accepted her tea from Dezi and took a sip, sighing loudly with pleasure. She then favored Clyde with a response. “And that is exactly as it should be.”
The survivors stirred uncomfortably and Wil placed a chair for her to sit down on. “I think it’s time you gave us some explanations, love.”
Netty’s hand went to Wil’s cheek, stroking it lovingly. She turned to the crowd, her radiant eyes now flashing as she tightened her wings around her body and sat. “As you can see, Chloe is pregnant. The baby is Scotty’s.”
A gasp from the crowd forced Netty to raise her hand.
“Hear me out. This will all make sense to you and then I will answer any questions. The Womb sent the Kreyven to fetch us and bring us back to Oolaha. It appears we have been gone for only a few days, but, in fact, we’ve been gone for over a year. It was quite difficult for Chloe and I, but well worth it in the end . . . as you can see.” She turned to Chloe and shared a smile.
Questions peppered Netty like a downpour in late winter, miserable and unwanted.
“Okay, okay. Let me explain how. The part of the membrane where we disposed of our deceased is actually the entrance to a portal. That is where we set out on the journey to Oolaha. In fact, there are many different . . . you might call them roads . . . in the portal; and many different kinds of road.
“If one were to stumble in without the knowledge of the Womb . . . well . . . you may not care for the road you wind up on. It takes the Womb’s guidance to walk the correct path.
“The pathways are collapsing now. The Womb, as you all know, is signaling us to leave. We will take Baby and Echo with us, of course. We leave in the morning.
“As to Chloe’s pregnancy. It was a reward from the Womb; you all owe her your undying gratitude.”
Netty and Chloe grinned from ear to ear. “I suggest, unless you lovely ladies want children, you better explore some kind of birth control, starting tonight.”
The room erupted, claps and shrieks mixed with more than a few happy tears.
“But how? I thought the Womb didn’t want us to have children. We’re viewed as a scourge on this planet,” stated a perplexed Karen.
“Yes, you were,” continued Netty. “But the Womb, in all its benevolence, always planned to give Homo sapiens one last chance. A chance that would signal you understood life. That you were willing to sacrifice for life other than your own species. Some earnest act that would show hope.
“So . . . the Womb gave you The One.”
The only sound in the room were those of the infants as the survivors digested this revelation.
“But Scotty died. We lost him. How could . . .?”
Netty rose, setting aside her teacup to stand behind Chloe, her face unreadable as emotions flitted over her posture. “I’m sorry to tell you this, but Scotty was not The One. It was always Chloe.”
Again the room erupted with accusations.
“But Caesar was here to guard him,” Kane cried. “I heard Echo tell Scotty, Caesar knew he was The One on the Lucky Lady.”
“No, Kane. You heard Echo tell Scotty he thought Scotty was the right one. The one to be Chloe’s consort. You might recall that Caesar marked Scotty with his urine. He was making the choice indelible.
“Chloe was recognized as The One the very first day Scotty met her on the beach on Sarasota.” Netty looked down to see tears flowing down Chloe’s face as her hand slowly rubbed her abdomen. Netty gave her shoulder a squeeze.
“I know it’s hard to hear this again, Chloe.”
“It’s okay, I understand.”
Netty turned back to the stunned crowd. “Chloe didn’t know it, but Echo was hidden in a baby carriage with one of the dogs so she could join them in a jaunt on the beach. Echo recognized it the minute she laid eyes on Chloe.
“As you know, Chloe lived down the beach with Omar who’d had her kidnapped from Costa Rico as an infant. She had been marked then as The One. It would always be her. Events conspired, sometimes with our help, to bring us to this moment.
“We never knew when she would emerge with the deed that would change your history. We were forbidden to even acknowledge her. When everyone assumed it was Scotty . . . we said nothing. It was a simple deception. Caesar was here to guard her. It was the only interference we were allowed. You assumed it was Scotty being guarded because they were always together.” Netty scanned the room full of astonished faces, recognizing the slow comprehension.
“Remember the night we discovered that Baby held you captive in the Hive, Hud? Scotty was with us, but not Caesar. Scotty had ordered Caesar to stay and guard the women on many occasions. But Caesar would have stayed behind anyway. He’s incapable of leaving her side.” Everyone watched as Chloe’s hand dipped down to stroke the magnificent tiger’s head, getting a rub and a sloppy tongue in appreciation.
Netty continued, “I’m sure you can well understand what happened when Elias died. He knocked Chloe down after striking her. Caesar naturally jumped to her defense with tragic results. But he could no more stop himself than he could stop himself eating or breathing.”
Cobby spoke up. “Is he still forced to guard her?”
“I’m glad you asked. Caesar is no longer under the influence of his implant. But after this many years of conditioned response, he will stay by her side of his own volition.”
Bonnie stood to ask a question. “Netty, this is wonderful news, but how can we be sure the light from the Hive didn’t make our procreation enzymes die off completely? We’ve lived out here for months now and still no one is pregnant.”
“It’s no longer the lights, Bonnie.” Netty reached into her robe and pulled out her hand. She leaned over to spill the contents on the table. Out rolled the reddish mushrooms from the yellow tree that Dezi used as salt.
“My salt mushrooms. No!”
“Yes, Dezi. You were using them as salt. The one thing we could count on that everyone would ingest. A property of the mushrooms alters the pH environment in a woman’s uterus, preventing the union between a sperm cell and the egg.”
“But the mushrooms have all died from a fungus. I tried to gather some today,” said Ginger Mae.
Netty nodded. “That’s true. It was necessary. The reward granted from the Womb to you all through Chloe’s act extends to the entire race. That means the tribe from the Franklin Mines, too. At the time, the Womb felt a strong likelihood that communication between the two groups would cease. So the mushrooms were eliminated.”
That statement was met with raised eyebrows and incongruous bluster from Clyde. Waving her hand to shush him, Salina stood up, her complexion gray and muddy with mourning. “But my Scotty, why did he have to die if you knew all this?”
“I am truly sorry to lose our Scotty, from the bottom of my heart. But the Womb works in mysterious ways, as you know. I cannot question the wisdom of the Womb. I can only be guided by it, Salina.”
“Miss Netty. You’ve left something out. What was this worthy deed that granted such a privilege to us?”
Netty turned to Chloe, hesitation in her voice. “Do you want to tell them, hon?”
Chloe shut her eyes and nodded her head. Taking a shallow breath, she began the story of Scotty’s death at the hands of the mercenary and brutal flamer. She relived the horror in a halting tale, every harsh moment felt by all in the room.
“So when I discovered the flamer had two chicks . . . I just couldn’t do it. They were so innocent and vulnerable. My bloodthirst for revenge simply dissipated. The flamer is dangerous, yes. But it’s a creature that has only one thing while we have so much more. It has a life. A life that feels pain when hurt, hunger when starving, and loss when its offspring are killed. I knew I did the correct thing, the only thing.
“I don’t hate the flamer for what it did to Scotty. I blame myself. The Womb provided us with the intelligence to learn how to avoid the flamer when it was in our territory to nest. Just as the other wildlife takes cover. When we noticed the silence, we should have heeded the warning.
“The flamer or the chicks didn’t deserve to die for our stupidity. As much as I was still in shock, I knew this to be true . . . in the deepest corner of my soul.”
With those words, Netty concluded, “The Womb was very satisfied. This was but the first deed the Womb will expect from our Chloe. Her potential . . . or gift . . . as identified by Echo, has more potential. It may rest with her.”
Netty looked with pride at Chloe and turned to Abby. “Or with your new niece or nephew.”
A look of wonder transformed Abby.
“Chloe represents what is left of Scotty. Life. An extension of Scotty. And hope. You can leave knowing a piece of your brother lives on.”
“And the pregnancy? How did that come about without cells from Scotty’s . . . body . . . to clone from? I assume that’s how you did it?”
Chloe reached into her pocket and withdrew a folded cloth. Unrolling it, she extracted two feathers and held them to her heart. “Without these, it would not have been possible.” Her voice broke.
“It was a simple matter to clone cells from minute DNA strands found in the skin traces attached to the ends of the feather shaft.”
Abby stood. “If you all can excuse me? I need to be alone for a while. I’ll be here early in the morning to say my goodbyes, but for now I think I need a good soak in the bathing caves. This has been . . . hard.” Kissing Chloe, Netty and Jose goodnight, the now fragile Elder joined the relentless animal progression to the Hive.
Jose closed the door after watching Abby progress safely up the hill to the woods.
“How’s it looking out there, Jose?” asked Cobby.
“No change,” Jose answered curtly.
Salina and Crystal made the rounds again with tea refills. Chloe beckoned to Jose to join them.
“Hi, Sis, you look beat,” he said.
Chloe smiled wanly.
“I want you to take Chloe to your shelter. She’s not ready to face a night alone in her old one . . . with Scotty gone . . . Would that be okay with you, Jose?” asked Netty.
“Sure. Want to leave now?”
Netty and Jose pulled Chloe up from Kenya’s old chair.
Jose grinned shyly. “This baby looks almost ready.”
“Two more weeks to go, I think,” said Chloe, bracing herself on Jose’s arm. “Okay, I’m all set.” She turned to everyone in the room. “Goodnight, everyone. It feels good to be home.” She reached out to grip Netty’s hand, then let Jose lead her out the door.
Netty made her way over to Johno, Cobby and Wil, now huddled in conversation at the table.
“So gentlemen . . . might I ask where Baby and Echo are?”
All three looked guilty as she hovered over them, waiting.
“Sit down, love. We need to talk about a few things,” said Wil.
Quietly, Netty folded her wings, molding them securely to her body before sliding into a chair.
“Baby and Echo never came back. We’ve seen nothing of the nooglets either. It’s been almost three days.” Wil’s voice resounded with trepidation.
Cobby’s temper flared. “And that’s not to mention the parade of wildlife through the settlement. Did you know they’re going through the membrane?”
“Yes, of course. We encountered them when we came out of the portal. It was unsettling. But our only thought was to let you know we were back and safe.” She turned to Wil. “You have no idea what this is about?”
“Not a clue. It started right after you left with the Kreyven and hasn’t let up. Netty, even insects are on the move.”
Johno bobbed his head up and down. “Yes, Miss Netty, yes. I’ve seen this before. It’s similar to the great migration in my homeland.” He stopped himself, gave a strangled cough. “In my old homeland,” he corrected. “The great migration was for food. Many species would participate, even though they all encountered great danger at the Mara River with the powerful jaws of the crocodiles. This migration is very similar, but different. All species are participating.”
“Netty, you must know something about this. Are we in any danger?” demanded Cobby.
Perplexed, Netty felt defensive, “I promise you, Cobby. I know nothing. We need Echo. The Womb does not communicate with me. It’s done only through the minions.”
Johno got up from the table to check on the migration. Smells of musk and rich feces drifted in on a warm evening breeze. “My lord.”
The unexpected terror in Johno’s voice drew everyone to the door. The dark sky flared with dozens of monstrous flamers, all following the migration. Not to feast, but to join; all flying toward the Hive.
“Abby’s there,” cried Cobby.
“Where are they all coming from?”
“Please . . . shut the door. Why take any chances? Just let them pass.” Salina and Crystal shooed everyone back to their seats.
Cobby remained standing. With a look toward Karen and Maddy, who were putting the baby down, he moved back toward the door.
“I think I’m going to scout around a bit. Can someone make sure Karen gets home safely with the baby?”
Wil shook his head and waved.
*
The night tasted wrong. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but Captain Cobby knew it wasn’t just the strange wildlife migration to the Hive. His arms got goose bumps as the last of the flamers flew over his head. Instead of fleeing in panic, the rest of the wildlife continued their placid and stoic climb up the hill.
He had no real fear for Abby’s safety. She was an Elder after all. Her lethal horns had the power to strip the flamers down to chicken bones.
He tried to push thoughts of her out of his mind with no success. He kicked at the dirt as he paced, frustration over their history and his unsatisfying life with Karen getting the best of him.
It was his own damn fault, anyway. If he hadn’t been so timid back in Sarasota, she wouldn’t be leaving now. He remembered the first time she had come to visit him on the Lucky Lady when Jose had taken off to find Salina and his sisters. Long before he found out about her changes. He could feel the attraction even then. His gut clenched with the memory of how he had wanted to sweep her into his arms that moonlit night she had come to see him.
But she had been his boss. He had wanted to remain professional for the sake of some stability in Kane’s life. How would it have looked to Kane if Jose had come home and fired him for making a pass at his girl? He blushed to himself as he admitted he wanted to do more than just make a pass.
He realized Abby had been young and in the midst of her newfound puppy love for Jose. He knew it would wear off in time.
He sighed to himself, raking his strong fingers through his dense and dark curly hair, amazed at the outcrop of sprinkles of gray that had appeared in the time since they’d left the Hive. The difference in their ages had stopped being a factor decades ago; too many decades to count.
But by the time she had turned to him for support, it had been too late. Her changes had intimidated him. Half the time he hadn’t known what was up and what was down as they had made their break from Sarasota to reach the Hive. With all the unforeseen complications from the deadly bombs, they had all had enough to cope with without adding a jilted Jose into the mix. Abby had had more than too much to cope with in her life as it was. His decision to just be there to support her was a lasting and painful one.
And then along had come Karen. A good sport, she also knew when not to bug him. She had become a distraction from the pain, a good sport to share a laugh with. Before he’d known it, they were a couple. As the picture of their lives became clearer, he had known he was stuck with her.
The burden of his feelings for Abby colored everything. He had kept it hidden well, but his marriage to Karen hadn’t helped. The baby was a blessing, a hopeful chapter of his life, giving it new meaning. But how long could a guy stay engaged when all the baby could do was smile and burp at you?
The bottom line was the fact that he didn’t love Karen. He never had. It just never came, even as he knew he was grateful in the lonely nights when he felt her next to him.
Cobby’s heart leaped anew; hope bursting wildly after the night of his grandbaby’s birth. He was nuts about Kenya and the kid, and the few stolen moments with Abby had almost made up for the many decades of torment. Unfortunately, he had never found another opportunity to talk to her candidly since. He cursed the flamer under his breath. They had lost two lives that night, and he had lost his chance to tell her how he felt.
He cringed remembering the shape he had found her in today as he spied her heading to the rear of Scotty and Chloe’s shelter. He had followed her, knowing this could be his last chance. It was not to be. He had found her in the midst of an emotional breakdown, feeling the loss of her brother, her home, memories of her mother’s death . . . ‘a life unfulfilled’, she had mumbled.
Finding Ginger Mae appeared to have snapped her out of it, and the news of Chloe’s pregnancy had certainly helped.
He briefly wondered why he had never given Ginger Mae a tumble. She was a rock and good to look at. He remembered how Karen had dogged his heels the first few years in the Hive.
He stopped pacing and admitted his feelings for Abby would have intruded there, too. He took a deep breath, redolent with the exciting aromas that said life was afoot. Taking a last quick glance at the migration up the hill, he headed toward his shelter, completely missing the click of the kitchen door as it closed on the figure that had been watching him.
*
Abby luxuriated in the sensation of the warm water on her toes as she flipped her leg out over the pool where she sat on her favorite rock in the bathing cave. The beauty of the sultry shadows, effervescent minerals, and colorful jewels made her wonder if Oolaha offered anything comparable. She imagined it would. The Kreyven originated there and had undoubtedly learned its craft there as well.
She felt she was almost ready to say good bye to Earth with the knowledge that Chloe would be fine as soon as the baby was born.
She knew her own life would take a positive turn once she removed herself from the temptation of Cobby. After the night Kenya’s baby had been born, her ache for him refused to abate. Only Scotty’s death had been able to push her constant dreams of him to the back burner. Poor, loyal Jose. He deserved better. But her deep feelings for him had worn off sometime after their first year in the Hive.
She knew her duty came first. Their destiny together was on Oolaha, and anywhere Netty and the Womb chose to send them. As she stroked her wing, she admitted nothing could ever change that. They were an Elder couple forever.
Sniffing herself in the steamy air, she grimaced. Hurriedly peeling off her clothes, she stood up on her rock, stretching her lush and strong body, shook out her magnificent wings, then pulled her long, straight hair back from her crystal horns and prepared to dive in.
“Mind if I join you?”
Abby jerked as if stung, her solitude shattered. “Sure, come on in, Karen. I was just going in myself.” With that, she dove off the rock, sending ripples across the placid water ending at Karen’s feet.
The tall and lean Karen stood staring as Abby surfaced, making no move to join her. The silence stretched.
“You coming in?” asked Abby.
“You’re pretty good at flaunting that body of yours, aren’t you?”
Abby blinked, caught off guard by the statement. “I was alone, Karen. It’s no big deal. If you’re uncomfortable, I’ll get dressed.” She swam to the water’s shore, rising like a goddess, and made her way back to the rocks where she’d left her clothes.
Pulling on her pants, she arranged her hair to cover her breasts.
“Don’t bother for me, your charms are wasted here.”
In no mood for whatever bug Karen had up her butt, Abby ignored her and twisted her hair to wring out the water.
Karen laughed, throwing back her head.
“You look just like a whore standing up there.”
Abby compressed her lips into a white line, her heart tripping faster. She sat to tie on her shoes.
“I bet you wouldn’t run this fast if my husband were here, would you? You tramps are all the same. Has he fucked you yet?”
Abby froze, all thoughts of her last evening in the bathing cave gone. She searched her mind, desperate for something to say, something safe. “You’re out of your mind. Cobby doesn’t deserve that.”
Karen turned purple. “Now you’re going to tell me what my husband deserves? A tramp like you? You don’t fool anyone with those looks you throw at him. I knew you were trouble the day I set eyes on the two of you. But he picked me.” Spittle flew from her mouth as she shouted loud enough to wake the Kreyven wherever it rested.
Abby watched a cunning gleam appear in Karen’s eyes.
“You had no idea what you were up against. I’ve been through the ringer with whores like you and I decided never to give you a chance to get near him. Where did you do it? I said, where did he fuck you?”
Abby knew this was a dangerous situation. Trying to slip past Karen, she felt her head jerk back.
“Where do you think you’re going, bitch? I’m not finished with you.”
“Let go of my hair, Karen.” She kept her voice low and relaxed.
Karen dropped her hair and reached into her pants, pulling out an ugly black handgun. “Get on your knees, bitch.”
“You have to be kidding me. Where did you get that?”
Karen signaled with her gun. “I won’t ask again. On your knees.”
Just to humor her, Abby sank to the ground.
Karen laughed gaily. “I flew planes, remember, stupid? We’re always armed. Never can tell when a gun might come in handy. Hijackers, terrorists . . . whores that fuck your husband.” A satisfied smile stretched across Karen’s handsome face.
“You didn’t think I’d notice his change in behavior? It must have been the night Kenya had her baby, right? That’s the only time he got out of my sight long enough to do it. He walked around like he was mad at the world after that. Is that what you do to them, Abby, drive them mad for you?” Karen’s voice shivered. “I’m going to make sure you stay away from my husband, you got it?”
“What are you talking about, Karen? I’m leaving in the morning.”
“Oh really? It never crossed your mind to stay here now that Chloe’s pregnant with your loving brother’s baby?”
“No. I—no. Definitely not.”
“Your answer fails to reassure me. So this is what I’m going to do. I’m going to stick like glue to Chloe tomorrow. I know I can’t do much to physically hurt you, but Chloe’s baby is another matter.”
Abby blanched. “You wouldn’t.”
“Oh, yes I would. You threaten my family, my baby, my life.” Karen began to rage again.
Out of the corner of her eye, Abby caught a glimpse of movement behind Karen’s back. It was Tobi, silent and strong, swaying with agitation as Karen’s rage got out of control.
Closer she crept, her trunk held high until she was close enough to swat the distressed woman to the ground, knocking her out cold.
Abby ran to Tobi, plastering herself around her front leg.
“Oh, you big beauty. Tobi to the rescue.”
The matriarch wrapped her trunk around Abby, soft rumbles coming from deep in her stomach. They turned to look at Karen, the gun still in her hand and waves lapping at her feet.
“I’ll get that, girl.” Abby picked up the gun and held it over her head, throwing it as far into the water as she could reach. She looked down at Karen, her breathing normal.
“She’ll come to in a while. Let’s get out of here, girl.” They turned and walked out of the bathing cave leaving Karen alone to recover on her own as the water began to lap further up her legs.
*
Abby and Tobi hurried down the corridors together, Abby’s hard-soled shoes echoing their clump in the forlorn halls, revealing the absence of happy laughter and raucous wildlife.
When they came to the fork to Netty’s old kitchen, Abby stopped. Tobi slowed and turned, her trunk searching the air.
“You go on, girl. I know you have places to go. Your herd is waiting somewhere.” She kissed Tobi and motioned her on. “I hope I see you again, Tobi, wherever life will bring us. I love you, girl.”
Tobi snorted, her head waggling and ears flapping as she swiftly moved off down the corridor.
Her emotions on edge, Abby walked slowly toward Netty’s kitchen, reluctant to view the location of so many fond memories, now picked over like a carcass that had been worked over by African vultures.
She stood slumped at the entrance to the kitchen, sweeping her eyes from wall to wall. All furniture, fixtures, and decorations had been removed. Even the fireplace mocked her with its disfigured maw, now unrecognizable having been stripped of every brick and piece of mortar they could salvage to reassemble in Dezi’s new kitchen.
She ran her hands lightly over the membrane that still clung to the walls, forever doing its job until the Womb gave last call.
Standing in the center of the room, she shut her eyes, letting the flood of happy memories with her brother overtake her. She felt a lingering tear dampen her cheek.
Scotty had lived more than a full life. And she would always have her memories of the sad, beaten-down, sickly child who had grown into a handsome, mature, loving man with the woman of his dreams at his side. Who are we to ask for more than that?
“Abby?”
Whirling around, she came face to face with the man who haunted her dreams. “Cobby.”
His happy grin lit up his face. “What are you doing here?”
She swept her hand around the room. “I thought I’d say goodbye. It’s just not the same anymore.”
“Nothing’s the same any more. You . . .” Cobby stopped and bowed his head. “You’re leaving.”
Abby felt her body tingle and her blood rush as she stepped close to lift his face.
“I needed to see you, Cobby.” She had a flash of Karen, wild and crazy with a gun in her hand. No, I can’t tell him now. She deserved to have this goodbye. She needed to have it. Just once in her life, she was going to choose a precious moment for herself.
She smiled softly, soaking up every detail of his familiar, dear face as her heart raced and her breath came in short gasps. She watched a shift in his eyes. Hope?
“I need to say goodbye to your dear, handsome, wonderful face that I have loved for so, so long.”
Cobby looked stunned. “Sweetheart . . . I.” His voice broke as he stepped forward to crush her in his arms, her lips devouring his with her passion as she threw caution over the cliff.
He lifted her up and she wrapped her long legs around his waist, the strength of his urgency pressed against her pelvis.
“Oh God, Abby, I don’t believe this.” His lips crashed down on her with a deep groan.
Grinding into him, she shifted her weight to free her wings, pulling back to peer into his eyes. “Are you sure, Cobby?”
His eyes full of joy, he nodded his head. “I have never had any doubts. Are you sure, Abby?”
Before he could change his mind, she opened her wings to their full span. “This will protect us. I’ll take us to one of the sleeping caves.” Her wings enclosed them completely. But not before a tiny descendant of Gloria’s original mice heard the soft tremulous words of the beautiful Elder tell the handsome sea captain how much she had always loved him.
Then they vanished.
*
Cobby nursed his doctored tea in Dezi’s kitchen, trying to pull himself out of his unexpected let-down after the Elders’ departure.
Kane and Kenya had left their baby with him while they ran off to the Hive for a dip in the bathing cave. No one knew for sure if they would still have access to the Hive when the portal closed.
It had been a difficult parting for everyone except Abby and Cobby. They alone had made their peace with the departure in the passion they had found in one other’s arms during the long night. They both felt safe pledging their love through bitter tears over the realities of their responsibilities toward others.
It had been daylight when he returned to his dwelling; an early daylight, stark without the simple pleasure of songbirds. Returning from the Hive, he had encountered more animals, but hardly the profusion of the day before.
Cobby scratched his itchy stubble. He had been unable to find the time to shave in the morning, startled to find Karen already up and out.
Wondering how he would answer Karen’s questions, he changed and hurried to Dezi’s, where everyone was gathered to say goodbye.
Hugs, handshakes and tears . . . No obligatory promises to visit. This was to be a one-way trip. The departing Elders expressed their surprise that Baby and Echo had still failed to return, but felt confident they would join them in the portal eventually.
Abby and Cobby tried to keep it relaxed when they said goodbye in front of the crowd. She wore her infernal sunglasses, but her trembling shoulders when he hugged her told him her eyes were probably red and swollen. He sure as hell felt like crap himself.
But he had what he needed as he watched her turn away and walk up the hill with Wil, Netty and Jose. He knew she loved him. The pressure of the constant ache inside was gone.
They accepted that they could never be together; it had never been in the cards. Their night of passionate exploration of one another’s bodies, and whispered entreaties for more, left them complete and ready to accept the future.
Parting from their temporary love nest had been as bittersweet as they had expected; his hunger for her even more powerful now that he knew she loved him.
But it was now a healthy hunger. Gone were the bitter recriminations he had used to torture himself with over the decades. Maybe now, in time, her memory would fade and he could try to concentrate on Karen and the baby.
Everyone had been surprised when Karen failed to show. Asking around quietly, it became clear that no one had seen her that morning. Missing the send-off was just not like her. She was a very controlled and responsible individual.
Kicking back in his seat, he watched Dezi turn a page in the book he was reading. His grandbaby lay next to him in her crib he and Kane had built from odds and ends they had found in the Hive. It might look like a butcher job, but to him it looked like pure love.
Chloe rested in a chair, smiling at him over her tea, Teddy trying hard to find a spot on her lap to curl up in.
“I hope it pleases you to know we took good care of Teddy while you were gone.”
“Thanks, Cobby. I knew Kane and Kenya wouldn’t forget about him.”
“So what are you up to today, young lady?”
She sobered as she explained. “Father Garcia and Maddy are moving my things into Abby and Jose’s dwelling. I think it would be better for me and the baby for now. I’ll spend the day with the babies until they’re done. I might as well get used to what babies do, right?”
“You sure are taking this pregnancy a might better than Kenya did.”
“It’s much easier to do when you know the baby’s coming out on schedule, Cobby. She sure was funny though, wasn’t she?” They were sharing a laugh when Kane burst through the door, Kenya right behind him.
They stood before Cobby, white faced and breathless, their eyes odd and unreadable.
“What, you don’t trust the old man with his grandbaby?”
Kane swallowed and reached for his father hand. “Dad, we found Karen. She’s dead.” The room did a spin, Kane’s words not sinking in.
“What did you say?”
Kenya knelt on the floor, her head in his lap as she tearfully relayed how they had found Karen’s body floating at the water’s edge in the bathing cave. She had been face down and clearly dead.
Cobby removed Kenya from his lap in a trance. He stood up and walked in an aimless circle.
“What the heck was she doing there?” He looked up quickly. “Did she have any clothes on?” he asked in a whisper, his eyes pleaded for the right answer. “No wait, don’t tell me. I don’t want to know.”
“It’s okay, Dad. She was fully dressed,” he said gently.
Kane held out his arms to his father. Cobby let himself be comforted as his shock turned to anger.
At that moment, the kitchen door opened. All eyes turned to discover Baby and Echo standing in the doorway, their arms held in front of them as their fingers worked spasmodically in agitation.
Auras bombarded them at the same time. “We must go. We must go now. There is no time to waste, Brothers. It is almost too late, my Sisters.”
“Sister Chloe, where is my Brother Scotty? I have tried for days to find our connection. Has he left for Oolaha without us?”
“What is wrong with your abdomen, Sister?”
“No time for questions, Brother Baby. We must all go now. The danger comes.”
Chloe struggled to get up from her chair. Dezi snapped his book closed, sliding it into his apron.
“Where we gunna go, dudes? It’s pretty safe in here.”
Auras slammed them again. “No, there is no safety. We must return to the Hive now. We have saved our family for last. The animals have been implanted and are safe.”
Kenya’s eyes bugged out. “You guys are responsible for this migration? What the heck is going on, Echo?” She stood with her hands wrapped protectively around her infant.
“There is no heck going on, Sister Kenya. There is only danger.”
Kenya turned to the others in the room. “What do you think’s goin on, chickeys?”
Chloe snapped her fingers and Teddy jumped into her arms.
“I don’t know what you guys think, but when Echo says to boogie, I boogie. I’m not messing with my baby’s life. Kane . . . Cobby . . . grab the other babies. We can’t leave them here. Dezi . . . you too. Grab a baby. We’re getting the heck outta here.”
The scramble up the hill took longer than it should, although the pathway was now clear with not an animal in sight. The rest of the survivors were all off doing chores, necessitating the men to shout for help all the way up, setting the infants to screaming and the wayward Barney, happy to be by Echo’s side again, joining in with his sharp barking. Not to be outdone, Teddy threw his head back to sing, fraying everyone’s nerves with his remarkably awful song.
No one heard. No one came.
At the top of the hill, they turned to look down at the settlement. They could see Johno and his men in the new growing field bent over at their tasks in the distance. No amount of screaming and waving got their attention. Baby and Echo took to the air.
“The time has come. We must run now.” And they disappeared into the woods.
“Chloe,” shouted Cobby. “Put Teddy down. He can run faster than you can. Kane can you grab Chloe? Help her . . . drag her if you have to.”
White faced, Cobby took the infant Kane was carrying to free up his arms. Now he carried two squalling infants.
“Dad, where’s the rest of the dogs? We can’t leave them behind.”
“There’s no time, Son. Move it.” There was no doubt in Cobby’s mind that something catastrophic was coming. Fleetingly, he wondered what the scene was like for the tribe at the Franklin Mines. He cringed as he thought of all those unwary people who didn’t have the benefit of a warning. Poor Lorna and Seth.
His heart shuddered with guilt and fear for his comrades in the settlement, blissfully unaware. Could the minions be wrong? How bad could it be? He prayed some would survive the danger as they made it to the granite rock. He turned to face the trail, strewn with organic evidence of the migration.
“Kane, move it. Come on, come, on,” he cried as he watched his son struggle with Chloe a good twenty four yards down the trail. Her face was drained of blood and her breathing sounded hoarse and ragged.
“Go, Dad. Don’t wait for us. Get the babies to safety. We’ll be right behind you.”
Cobby ran back to Kane.
“Dad . . . no.”
“Take the babies,” Cobby commanded. “Now get out of here.” He passed the infants to Kane, giving him a push, as Chloe collapsed on the trail.
“The baby . . . my baby.” Her face contracted in agony as she fought for breath.
Cobby bent down and slid his arms under Chloe’s body, lifting her high and staggered toward the granite rock as Chloe’s face turned blue.
“Oh, dear God. Give us the strength.” Sucking in a deep gulp of air, he stilled his chattering arm muscles and pushed past his endurance. Lurching heavily, they continued on, his arms burning and Chloe silent.
Plunging into the Hive, he looked for Kane. The corridor was empty.
Eying the cavern wall, he discovered it bare and dry. No membrane, no welcoming light. He plunged into darkness as they left the mouth of the Hive.
Where was everyone? Agonizing streaks of pain ran up his legs as he stumbled on by memory. He could no longer feel his arms, numbness threatening his grip on the now unconscious Chloe.
He could feel the corridor expand into the cavern of their arrival so long ago, filled with memories happy and sad. He plunged on.
As he reached the end of the cavern, he fought the darkness to find the next corridor. From behind them, he heard a sound. Halting, he gulped air as he sensed a presence.
“Kane . . . Dezi?” The heart-stopping familiar roar of a great tiger froze him to the spot. He felt the tiger move in front of him to block his path. From the rear, he heard a sharp bark. Turning toward the bark, Caesar leaned into the back of his legs, urging him forward. The bark sounded again as Cobby followed the sound. Caesar kept the pressure on the back of his legs, abruptly thrusting him into an obstacle he sensed in the dark.
As he fell forward, his protesting arms released Chloe and she tumbled forward ahead of him. Down he went, breaking through the membrane portal with Caesar still exerting pressure from behind.
He fought, but consciousness deserted him.
*
Cobby stretched in the darkness, feeling better than he had in a long time. He tried to open his eyes and discovered they were already open. A twinge of nausea brought his hand to his stomach. He panicked as his hand floundered in the darkness, unable to feel his abdomen.
His breath increased, shallow and rapid as he fought unconsciousness again.
Where am I? How long have I been out? Where is everyone? His debilitating terror threatened to swamp him.
Without warning, a feeling of goodwill and warmth flooded his nerves, relaxing him completely. Light began to fill his senses. He jerked as something touched his face, tracing the contours down his cheek.
“It is me, Brother Cobby. Sister Echo. I am here for you.”
“Echo? I can't see you. Where are we? Is everyone here? Are we safe?”
“Yes, Brother we are safe. We are on the pathway.”
“What? What pathway?”
“The only pathway. The only one left. I will be here to calm you.”
Cobby could hear sobbing in the distance. The sound got louder . . . a woman’s sobbing drifting closer.
“Who’s there? Is that you, Kenya? Are you okay? Kenya?”
“No. Is that you, Cobby? Can you help me find my way out of here?” Bonnie asked. “I need to find Peter.” Her sobbing began again.
Echo’s aura dimmed. “Brother Peter is already gone. They are all gone. We have traveled far, Sister Bonnie. This path has taken us many light years away. For you it has been momentary, but for the Earth it has been a lifetime.”
Her sobbing stopped. “Are you effing kidding me, Echo? You take me back right this very minute!”
“That is impossible, Sister. The pathway is dissolving behind us. It will not be needed again. Please excuse me. My Barney needs me.” Echo’s voice floated away, his last words fuzzy in Cobby’s mind. “We will be home soon.”
“Are you still there, Bonnie?”
“Yes, Cobby, I'm here. I can't see you and I can't feel myself. But I'm not scared. Just confused. The light is so . . . calming. Why can't I see you?”
“I don't know, hon. Have you heard from anyone else?”
“No. Who’s with you?”
“Kenya and Kane. Chloe and Dezi. I was carrying Chloe and I dropped her. We got separated. She needs help.”
The sobbing began again.
“How did you get here? Bonnie . . .?”
“After the Elders left, I decided to look for Tobi in the Hive. I found elephant dung on the hill. I figured she might have taken the herd to the mineral lick where my sister . . .” Silence.
“Bonnie? You still there?”
“Yes, Cobby. Sorry. It’s just . . . hard. Tobi wasn’t there. It took me a long time to get back. As I walked the tunnels, the lights went out. The membranes were contracting. I ran, trying to keep up. I made it to the first cavern. Caesar was there. I thought it was strange that he wasn’t with Chloe. He backed me up against the wall and pushed me into the membrane. That’s all I can remember until Echo. I heard a voice in the distance. I tried to find the voice, but couldn’t until I felt Echo touch my face. Then I recognized it was you.”
“Can you reach out, Bonnie? See if you can find my hand.” He flailed into the light with his arm, still unable to distinguish anything.
“Sorry, Cobby. I can’t feel anything.” Her voice sounded small and weak. Cobby flailed around some more, his hand striking something.
“Oh. I hope that’s you, Cobby,” Bonnie cried fearfully.
“Yes. Yes. Reach out, hon. Try again.” His hand struck her again. She didn’t pull away and he was able to wrap his hand around hers, pulling until he felt her next to him.
“I can feel you, Bonnie. But I can’t see you.”
“Yes. Me too. Feel better now.”
Their minds erupted with auras as Baby and Echo rejoiced. A lone message of pure joy from Echo broke through to Cobby, saddening him deeply.
‘We are almost home, family. My Brother Scotty will be so happy to see me.”
*
The light dimmed as Cobby and Bonnie encountered a flexible barrier.
“Can you help me push against this thing, Bonnie?”
Together, they leaned into the barrier, stepping out into their new home. Stomach spasms forced them to cover their mouths, a movement duplicated by Kane, Kenya, Chloe and Dezi in various stages of sprawl.
Cobby lost his battle as he vomited all over the clay depression they stood in. As the sounds of his defeat carried to the others, a chain reaction set off a host of retching.
Cobby looked up as the clatter of tiny wheels flew down the sides of the clear dome that covered the clay depression. What looked like a twelve-inch furry robot, with the same shimmering eyes as the minions, swept toward him. In a matter of seconds, all signs of his upset stomach had been removed from the clay floor.
As he followed its path back up the curved side of the dome, it disappeared into a box that hung down over him, firmly anchored in place. Within a second, another popped out to make a trip to clean up another nasty effect of their journey.
“This only happens with first timers.”
Cobby turned to see Wil, Netty and Jose standing with the dogs.
A heavy organic stench emanated from the portal. Cobby tuned to watch as the Kreyven emerged, trailing the precious membrane attached to its tail. As he watched, the Kreyven sucked the membrane through the portal, enveloping it into its mass as the portal dissolved. The Kreyven then exited the dome, leaving the survivors stunned.
Behind them, as far as the eye could see, the animals of the migration stood milling around. To his astonishment, he recognized other dome structures in the distance containing figures. The Kreyven hurried toward one of the domes, entered, then vanished into another portal.
Golden minions fluttered at all the dome openings. Lowering his eyes, he was taken aback as hundreds of minion eyes stared back at him from outside their dome. They lined up all the way around, faces pressed against the structure like wide-eyed children.
“The animals are waiting for Echo to release their implants. We’ll let them take their places in our ecosystem until we can sort out those who may need relocating to other environments.”
Cobby stood, speechless. Wil threw out his arms as Netty and Jose looked on. “Well . . . does an old friend deserve a hug?”
He felt Wil’s arms go around him. He held on tight, trying to resist bawling like a babe. He straightened up to ask, “Are the babies all right?”
Netty shook her head, sadness evident in the droop of her wings.
“Yes. They had to be removed quickly, though. They left with some minions and might need medical attention. We must check the oxygen level of their blood. Adults are usually fine. You’ll all get a thorough check-up later this evening.”
She swept her hand toward the excited faces outside the dome. “As you can see, you already have fans. They are very excited to see the creation of the original Elders in the flesh after so many millions of years. They will want to examine your evolution.”
“Our evolution?” Cobby spoke weakly, visibly cringing. He shut his eyes, repressing his questions. Then his heart fluttered as he casually asked for Abby.
Netty pointed to where she sat with Echo and Chloe, their arms wrapped around one another and sobbing. Caesar sat stoically in the distance.
Cobby approached slowly, the others following, afraid to disturb the emotional scene.
“Abby?”
Detaching herself from Echo, Abby turned at the sound of Cobby’s voice. She flew into his arms without thinking. “Thank the Womb, you made it. I thought I’d die when we got here and discovered the Womb’s plans,” she whispered. Quickly detaching, she patted his arm in a friendly fashion to cover her emotions. “I’m so pleased you made it, Cobby. Thank you for all you have done for Chloe,” she proclaimed loudly. Standing to the side, she let Cobby through to Chloe.
“Why all the tears, champ? We made it.”
Chloe’s eyes widened as she signaled silence. Echo lay on her lap, looking off into space, his arm wrapped around Barney’s neck, who lay panting at her side.
Chloe turned back to Cobby, her voice choked, and whispered, “We just told Echo. She didn’t know about Scotty. That’s why you were all in the dark about the migration and the reason for it. Echo kept sending word to Scotty, but her auras couldn’t find him. She couldn’t return until she finished her mission. The Womb had sent the nooglets to help get it started.”
Abby interrupted, Netty, Wil and Jose at her side, “Yes, Baby and Echo finally got to fulfill what was left of their mission. They were busy implanting all the wildlife so they would be saved before the Womb stepped in.”
“But why? Cobby pounded his fist in frustration. “What about the others? Hud and Ginger Mae . . . Salina . . . Johno . . . all the others . . . Oh God . . .” He hung his head. “They deserved to live. We all did everything right. We did exactly as the Womb demanded.”
Netty approached, reaching out to clasp Cobby’s hand. “Don’t you understand, Cobby? The Womb gave up on the human race long ago. An accommodation was made as Abby unexpectedly rescued humans with the wildlife. But that was all it was . . . an accommodation.
“With the discovery of the tribe at the Franklin Mines, the benevolent Womb granted them access to their own growing field so the cannibalism of their infants would stop. Babies, like the wildlife, are the innocent.
“The Womb decided to give humans a true second chance when Chloe proved we can respect life, despite our evil and venal inclinations.”
Abby hung her head in disappointment. “It just wasn’t to be. The evilness in humans cannot be restrained. On the one hand the Womb giveth and on the other taketh. There was just no time to warn the others. You had split seconds.”
Cobby wiped tears from his eyes.
Kenya and Kane joined the group, giving hugs all round. Dezi hung back as Daisy looked from face to face, tears hovering in her eye. “Where’s my mother? Where’s Hud?”
As the silence from the survivors answered her question, Dezi stepped up to put his arms around her. “I loved her, Daisy. You know that?”
Daisy shook her head, speechless in the arms of her mother’s best friend as they cried together.
“Can someone please tell me why? Why did the Womb decide Baby and Echo needed to complete their mission now? I thought we were through all that. We did everything right . . . for so darn long,” cried Kenya.
Abby returned to Echo and Chloe, her hands upraised. Bitterness rang out in her voice, loud and true. “It was Seth and Lorna. Clyde’s grandchildren. Seth couldn’t suppress the evilness inside him. He murdered Lorna a few days ago, cutting off her hand like a trophy. He was planning a coup to take over their tribe. Barney had followed Lorna’s trail when he ran away and came upon the murder scene. Seth decided to hold Barney for ransom until Baby showed up to rescue Barney for Echo. In the confusion of it all, they shot Baby with a harpoon gun, almost killing him and compounding Echo’s difficulty of passing a message. She couldn’t get through to anyone. She was too far away to send her aura to anyone but Scotty or another minion. She did manage to lock in on Baby’s position before he went into a coma. Eventually, Echo rescued Baby—you don’t need the details. It’s safe to say Seth got what he deserved.”
Echo sat up her aura pronouncing, “We can create more life, Brothers and Sisters. We will improve on Homo sapiens with the next generation. We have the babies. And we have my Brother Scotty’s offspring here.” Echo placed her leather hand on Chloe’s bulging stomach, then turned to Abby to place her other hand on her stomach. “Life begins again.”
Abby laughed nervously. “Don’t joke like that, Echo.”
Echo’s aura privately stroked Cobby’s mind. “Do not worry, Brother. Sister’s journey through the portal did not hurt the young seed.”
What the heck? Abby’s pregnant? That can’t be, can it? he asked himself, thunderstruck at the possibility.
Netty stood before them, her sadness more pronounced. “I’m sure you don’t realize that millions of light years have passed as you spent mere minutes in the portal. The time is drawing near. Can I ask you all for a moment of your time as we say goodbye?”
The perplexed survivors looked to the sky, following the direction of Netty’s hand. A large radiant light sat in the sky, dwarfing the surrounding stars. It appeared to grow larger, its radiance burning brighter, then abruptly winked out.
Shocked faces met terror-stricken eyes as Netty walked away with Wil to stand at the door to the dome that would lead them to their new life.
Earth . . . gone?
A sobbing Bonnie looked up as a herd of elephants rushed toward the dome, the indomitable Tobi in the lead, scattering the watching minions as Tobi thumped her trunk against the barrier.
No one said a word as they helped Chloe and Abby to their feet, the shocked silence a eulogy for their vanished homeland. Abby glanced back at Cobby, her expression unreadable.
No matter what, we’ll work this out. Our baby . . . ours, thought Cobby.
They quietly stepped out on a grassy plain that shimmered with colorful buildings on the horizon. The setting sun began its winking goodbye, presenting the survivors with three bright red moons, iconic and ever watching, just as their own Earthly moon used to do.
Tobi trumpeted, the herd’s confused displacement quelled with the familiar sound of their now happy matriarch having been reunited with her Bonnie.
Life goes on, no matter the heartbreak.
Trudging on, the silence was finally broken again by Daisy’s plaintive sigh. “All those books. My books. What a loss . . . just heartbreaking.”
“I think we might have one book for you, Daisy,” said Kane. He gazed back at Dezi, who still wore his kitchen apron.
“You still have that book you’ve been reading forever, Dez?”
“Yeah . . . why?”
Kane held out his hand. “Pass it on up here.”
Dezi pulled the book from his apron pocket. Kane looked at the title then held it up for all to see, his expression rueful.
The lettering was beautiful, gold leaf with prominent flourishes. It said simply, The Holy Bible.
The End
‘Heaven is by favor; if it were by merit your dog would go in and you would stay out. Of all the creatures ever made [man] is the most detestable. Of the entire brood, he is the only one . . . that possesses malice. He is the only creature that inflicts pain for sport, knowing it to be pain.’
— Mark Twain
‘We must fight against the spirit of unconscious cruelty with which we treat the animals. Animals suffer as much as we do. True humanity does not allow us to impose such sufferings on them. It is our duty to make the whole world recognize it. Until we extend our circle of compassion to all living things, humanity will not find peace.’
― Albert Schweitzer
*
My dear reader,
Hopefully you have enjoyed my series if you have read this far. Most of you probably realize the importance of reviews. If you have the extra two minutes, could you please go to my book page and leave me a few words on the story and the writing. I would be so grateful. Reading my reviews are what keeps me writing or conversely discourages me. It is all up to YOUR voice.
J. K. Accinni