Whispers circulated the tables. Urging Daisy along, Ginger Mae moved their seats over to Johno and Crystal’s table to listen in on the keepers.
Crystal glanced up glumly as they sat. “Don’t be bringing your twisted mojo over here to our table, Ginger Mae.” Crystal sniffed then reached out, smiling at Daisy. “But you can stay, Daisy Chain. Just make yourself comfortable.”
Johno shook his head at Crystal. “Woman, you should be ashamed. We don’t need any infighting. The piglet is missing. We don’t know what to expect from the Womb. This is the time we need to hold together.”
Ginger Mae gave him a grateful smile as she slid into her chair next to Daisy. All whispers dribbled to a stop as Netty, Wil and Baby entered the room. Netty busied herself at the sink as Wil and Baby sat at their table as if nothing were out of the norm.
Salina looked from one to the other, then scanned the crowd of survivors. Approaching the tables, she smoothed down her hair and nervously clutched at her apron. “Has anyone seen my daughter, Emma? Has anyone seen Emma?”
Necks craned around the room as if they could spot her here.
“Bonnie, when was the last time you saw your sister?” Salina’s worried face looked over heads to her youngest.
“I haven’t seen her since breakfast, Mama. She was going to meet me before lunch, but she didn’t show. I thought she was just being Emma. Then we started the hunt for the piglet. I thought she was looking, too.”
“Clyde, did Emma find you and ask you to come to your wife’s room?”
Clyde appeared puzzled. “No. Why would she want me to go to Lorna’s room?”
“I sent her to fetch you. We were seeing positive signs that Lorna was getting better. I just . . . thought . . . I thought you should know.” Ginger Mae could see Salina struggle over the topic of Lorna. Everyone in the kitchen followed the conversation with interest, gossip having placed Salina on the bottom of the romance ladder with the appearance of Lorna.
Clyde stood excitedly. “Seth, did you hear that? I gotta go check.”
Seth stood up with his fork poised near his mouth. “Finally. Want me to come with you?”
Clyde eyed the fork in Seth’s hand. “No, you stay and finish dinner.” Clyde hurried to the kitchen doorway. “Thanks, Salina. Don’t worry, Emma’ll turn up.”
As Clyde left the kitchen, Crystal shouted out to Netty. “Well . . . what about Tulip’s missing piglet? That’s two disappearances now.”
Rumblings started up in the room to be silenced by Wil. “We will give it another day. I must tell you the Womb is . . . disturbed. Keep your eyes out for Emma, please. Scotty, will you check the bathing cave before you go to bed? I’ve noticed she hasn’t seemed herself lately.”
Kenya snorted from her chair. “Yeah, she hasn’t been pestering Kane lately—somethins up for sure.” Salina gave her a sharp look. Kenya and Kane looked down, embarrassed. Everyone quietly went back to their dinner.
Ginger Mae estimated only fifteen minutes passed before Clyde returned. She was the first to notice him at the door. He stood quietly as if afraid to interrupt, tears dripping from his eyes. She wondered how long he’d been standing there. As heads turned his way, Jose and Wil got up to go to his side. He appeared not to notice, just kept standing at the doorway.
Wil spoke first. “Clyde? Are you okay?”
Ginger Mae watched as Clyde looked right through Wil, the tears still slipping down his face. Salina slowly made her way toward him. He seemed to see her, finally raising a hand toward her approach. She held out her arms and he stumbled toward her. Everyone in the room strained as his words came out empty, devoid of emotion. “She’s dead. My wife died.”
Seth ate on.
*
The next few days passed in an uncomfortable haze. Everyone waited for the next bombshell as Emma and the piglet remained missing.
Lorna’s funeral was attended by all, even though hardly anyone actually knew her. It was the first unifying moment the survivors had had since the disappearances. Clyde leaned on a gray and drawn Salina through the entire service that was read by Cobby from a book found in the library. No one believed in the Bible anymore, but habits were hard to break and all found solace in the familiar words. As Ginger Mae watched the faces in the crowd, she hung close to Dezi and Daisy. Bonnie stood near her mama, as anxious as the rest of them over the strange disappearance of Emma.
The most difficult reality of Lorna’s death had been the disposal of the body. The service was held in the huge cavern where they’d all gathered on their inaugural night in the Hive. Right in front of the spot where Scotty had helped Echo and Baby send Barney’s old, cold body into the membrane of the Hive to be reborn. But there would be no rebirth for Lorna, as much as Clyde had begged. Sitting in the back of the cavern, away from the humans, were the dogs, Echo and Barney, Baby, Tulip, Chance, the remaining piglets, and the pair of red foxes. Yes, the foxes that had been healed so quickly one the day Lorna had arrived. They now enjoyed the safety and bounty of the Hive, unlike Lorna.
Everyone watched as Clyde’s wife, wrapped in a cotton shroud, was lifted by Johno’s keepers and brought to the wall where, unlike Barney, she would never be seen again. The survivors shuddered privately as proof of their status in the Hive hit home.
*
A week passed with still no sign of Emma. Clyde and Salina were certified members of the walking dead, their grief so pronounced it cast a pall over the entire Hive. Even the animals were subdued as their human caretakers mourned.
Bonnie spent more and more time with Tobi, Chance and the lion cubs, feeling the loss of her sister, but unable to discuss it with her mama, who remained in denial, hoping against the odds that an explanation would be forthcoming. Clyde attempted to persuade Seth to let him move in to sit with Jennifer, but he was having none of it.
“I need to be there for her when she wakes. She’ll never understand if I’m not, Clyde. I know you understand.” Seth sobbed, his face beseeching. So Clyde relented, too emotionally spent to put up a battle. Everyone at the dinner table expressed their wonder at what a great friend Seth was.
Today Bonnie planned to meet Peter for lunch in their usual spot. She had wondered weeks ago why Peter preferred her company. In her teen wisdom, she’d surmised he felt safe from adult pressure. As much as Bonnie was a happy and optimistic person, she had her solitary moods, too. She could see that Peter was a solitary fellow himself. That suited her fine. He didn’t bug her with stupid questions like the other adults did. And, likewise, she didn’t bug him.
That didn’t mean she wasn’t curious about why he’d shunned everyone in the early days of the Hive. She had heard whispers and seen the glances. And she’d noticed how Ginger Mae went out of her way to avoid Peter who, from time to time, would throw her hateful glowers. Most of the acting out seemed to have dissipated as everyone in the Hive found their niche: Ginger Mae with the animal counting and Peter with the lion cubs and his friendship with her and Dezi. But it had taken a long time.
She waved to Peter as he entered the elephants’ bathing cave. He waved back, giving the keepers a shout as he ran over to the rock enclave where they sat to have their lunches. Bonnie followed him to her usual seat as he spread out their lunch.
“So, where’s Chance? How come he’s not over here begging?”
Bonnie shrugged. “He’s not with the herd and the rest of the piglets?”
Peter busied himself with unwrapping his lunch, pushing an extra piece of black raspberry torte to Bonnie as he waited for her answer. She picked it up eagerly, speaking between mouthfuls.
“He must be there, I just saw him ten minutes ago. He likes to hang with Tobi as she fusses over the young female, Namba. I wonder when Namba’s baby will come, Johno won’t tell me. He had the nerve to tell me he doesn’t need me underfoot when the calf comes. But Peter, I want to be here when that happens, don’t you? ”
“Eww . . . I don’t know. I guess I could live without it. I think I’ll wait until th
e messy part is over. Then I’ll be here to see the baby. Are we going to see the cubs after lunch?” Peter munched, his attention on Bonnie. “Are you feeling any better today?”
Bonnie stopped chewing and swallowed. “The same. I can’t get Mama alone long enough to talk. It’s like she doesn’t even see me. I feel invisible.”
Peter nodded sagely. “I know just what you mean. I used to feel that way too. I was pretty lonely and full of anger. But I worked most of it off.”
“The anger?”
“Yeah. I used to walk at night. I needed time to understand what had happened with the Ginger Mae and Armoni thing. Why I was such a dope about her.”
Bonnie reached out to pat his hand. “You’re not a dope, silly.” Bonnie and Peter continued their luncheon chat, making plans for the cubs and avoiding all mention of the recent tragic events.
Then Peter had a proposal. “You know what we need? Some adventure. I have a special spot I like to go to now and then. Tobi goes sometimes too. She brings the herd. Want to go sometime?”
“What? You have a special spot? And you never told me about it? What have you and Tobi been up to?”
Peter laughed. Bonnie thought it was the best sound she’d heard in a long time.
“Ahem . . . excuse me.” They whirled around to see Ginger Mae standing there with her clipboard and pencil. She tried to avoid meeting Peter’s eyes.
“Hello, Ginger Mae,” he said quietly.
Ginger Mae appeared startled, giving a tentative nod. “Peter.”
Bonnie interrupted their strained greetings. “What’s up?”
Ginger Mae’s expression changed instantly. “I can’t find Chance. I would have waited until later to report it, but in view of . . .” Her words tailed off, unwilling to say it out loud.
Bonnie rolled her eyes. “That monkey. He was just here a while ago, right Peter?”
“I didn’t see him, remember, Bonnie?”
Bonnie stood up, not worried. “I guess it’s possible that Dezi stopped by to peek in. He’s done that before and Chance has left with him. It’s never been a big deal.” She stared at Ginger Mae’s stony face. “Until now.” She turned to Peter. “Come on, let’s go find Dezi. He should be in the kitchen. Are you sure about this, Ginger Mae?” One look at Ginger Mae’s raised eyebrow was all she needed. “Okay, let’s hurry.”
The two of them hustled off as Peter quickly wrapped up the remains of lunch and met them at the exit.
Bonnie’s heart began to strum faster as they hurried to the kitchen. Rushing in, they were surprised to see so many of the survivors there: Gloria, Billy, Tucker, Abby and Jose, Karen and Cobby, but no Chance. Emma ran up to Dezi to fill him in while Ginger Mae reported to Jose.
“Netty and Wil aren’t going to be happy about this,” Jose worried.
Dezi spoke up, his eyes wild and Bonnie held on to his arm. “Come on, everyone. My baby’s missing. We’ve got to find Chance.”
Suddenly, Scotty and Kane came running in from the growing fields. “Hey . . . Johno’s coming with Tobi. She ran into the field on a tear and then ran back out with Johno and his boys following. He asked me to get you, Dezi.”
Kane stood panting as Johno ran in behind them. From the doorway, Tobi’s head appeared. She was snorting oddly, her trunk waving wildly. Bonnie and Dezi ran to her, catching her trunk in their hand. As Bonnie unwound her trunk, a small light-gray object fell on the floor. Bending down, Dezi picked it up, holding it out to Bonnie.
“What is that, Dez?”
The men crowded around as Clyde walked in the kitchen, heading for Salina. “What’s all the excitement about? And who let the elephant in the kitchen?” He smiled at Salina. “Do you realize how funny that sounds?” She smiled back weakly.
Bonnie and Dezi turned to Salina. Stunned and sick faces looked at the object in Dezi hand. He drew a finger across what appeared to be a skull bone.
“Mama, I think it’s the piglet.” Tears formed in her eyes. “Where’s Chance? We need to find Chance.” Tobi’s head shook from side to side, her trunk waving in the air. Peter stepped forward, his face drained of color. Tobi turned to him, trumpeting loudly. Everyone stared at the display.
Bonnie turned to Peter. “What does she mean, Peter? She’s trying to tell you something.”
He opened his mouth, but said nothing.
“Peter? Do you know something about this bone?”
Suddenly, everyone was shouting, attention on the bone and Peter.
“Yeah, Peter. Where’s the pig?”
“Come on, Peter. What’d ya do with the pig?”
“Admit it, you ate the pig.”
Bonnie and Peter shrank back from the hostile voices. Their friends and fellow survivors grew meaner and meaner, louder and louder. Even Dezi stood stupefied. He held up his hand for silence, his pointed face reflecting disappointment and burgeoning anger.
“Do you know something about this, Peter?” He held out the skull, accusation stingingly clear. Peter shrank back, his eyes sad, his posture defeated.
Bonnie stepped up and ripped the bone out of Dezi’s hand. “What the heck are you talking about, Dezi? Why would Peter know anything about this?”
Peter coughed; Tobi beginning to thump him on the back with her trunk. “Um . . . Bonnie . . . I think Tobi wants us to go with her.” They all turned to Tobi. Peter stepped toward her as she began to back out of the kitchen. Bonnie waved to her mother.
Ginger Mae stood up, calling to Kane, “Where are Kimir and Daisy? Did you leave them in the field?”
Kane turned to answer as Scotty hurried out the kitchen into the caverns. “Don’t worry. They’re with the girls. Caesar stayed behind with Chloe and the dogs. Kenya will look after them.”
“Come on, let’s go.” Bonnie tugged at Dezi, urging him to follow after Peter, the rest of the survivors tagging behind.
Tobi moved swiftly, Peter following as if he knew where she was headed. As the trip lengthened, mumbles started from the crowd and Karen and Gloria wanted to turn back. Ignoring the women, the survivors trudged on, unease developing as they realized they were in unfamiliar territory. Eventually, they came to a huge boulder in the cavern corridor. Tobi slipped easily behind to disappear.
Peter pulled to a stop, turning to Bonnie. “This is where I wanted to take you. Remember we talked about this at lunch? I followed Tobi here one night, months ago. She was with Echo and Baby. They brought her here. Remember when Tobi was tearing up the fields with her tusks? She needed minerals to eat and couldn’t find them. So this is where she takes the herd. It’s a magnificent cavern. Come on, I’ll show you.” Peter led them into the cavern where they located the two paths. The air hung heavy with a dense organic stench. In the dimmer light, Tobi was nowhere to be seen.
The cavern was intimidating, the path to the right rising to a zenith and disappearing into the beyond. The survivors, led by Peter and Bonnie, carefully made their way up. As the elevation rose, they detected the faint odor of grease and smoke. Bonnie felt the hair rise on her arms. Expecting the worst, she caught a whiff of the greasy smell so long forgotten by her taste buds. Reaching the plateau, they heard the sounds of piglet squeaks.
Bonnie dashed from the crowd to behold Seth sitting next to a fire with Chance on the ground, trussed up with his little legs bound.
“Chance.”
She ran to the little piglet with Dezi bellowing after her.
“What the hell to you think you’re doing, ya dirty piece of garbage?”
Clyde stood shocked and the rest of the survivors were appalled. Clyde’s plaintive voice could be heard, soft and confused. “Hey, champ. What in the world are you doing here?”
Seth surveyed the crowd, ignoring the surprised angry faces. “Well, well, well, what an unwelcome surprise. If I’d known you’d be joining me for dinner, I’d have prepared something nicer. Oh, and Clyde? Please shut your hole before I decide to cut out your tongue. I’ve had just about as much of your good ole boy syrup as I can take.??
? Seth grinned, his impudence knowing no bounds.
Kane and Scotty stood glued to the side, watching as Bonnie worked at Chance’s bonds. Bones lay strewn around the fire, evidence of the missing piglet.
Kane’s face drained of color. “Not cool, bro. You’re going to get us in a shitload of trouble with Netty and Wil when they find out.”
“They already have.” Wil strode forward from the back of the crowd, his wings collapsing to cling to his back. “Netty has a gift for you, Seth. She will be here momentarily.”
Dezi squirmed, jumping from foot to foot, unable to take his eyes off Seth who grinned wide with Wil’s news. “You piece of garbage. You aren’t going to lay a finger on Chance again or any other animal here.”
He charged Seth, knocking him onto his back. As Seth rose up, he grasped a dirty knife off the ground, holding it in front of him. A sudden swoosh was felt over the survivor’s heads as Echo landed, her wings collapsing alongside her body. The wobbly creature stood there taking in the scene.
Seth taunted Dezi, “So, you need your creepy little pet to fight for you?”
Dezi threw a punch and Seth deftly stepped aside as he landed a painful kick to Dezi’s groin. As Dezi tried to maintain his balance, Seth pivoted to the campfire, grabbing Bonnie and backing her up to the cliff edge, his knife to her throat.
“Anyone else have something to say?”
“Let her go.” The command came from Wil and Peter at the same time, Peter creeping closer to the pair. Bonnie felt tears course down her face as she tried to be brave. She watched as Dezi limped over to Chance to back him away from the fire and the scene near the cliff.
As she struggled, Seth bent to her ear. “If you don’t hold still, I’m going to throw you off this cliff to join your slut of a sister.”
Bonnie felt her blood freeze at the mention of her sister. “Emma? You did something to Emma?”
“Emma, you did something to Emma?” Seth mocked Bonnie’s words in a high falsetto.
Suddenly, from alongside Seth, a large, dark form emerged. Bonnie felt a huge weight strike Seth from the back, propelling him forward and knocking Bonnie free. Peter raced forward to yank her out of Seth’s reach as other survivors pounced on Seth, bringing him to his feet just in time to see the huge form of the magnificent Tobi, the matriarch of the last herd of sentient elephants from the great continent of Africa, slip and tumble off the edge of the cliff into the abyss to her death.