Kane’s hand found its way to the back of her neck. Her head fell to the side as she enjoyed the sensation of his work-worn fingers kneading her muscles. She managed to fit in a quick grateful smile, never one not to reward her admirers. Turning, she gave her attention back to Johno, whom she could tell was deadly serious, her histrionics clearly wearing down even the most patient man in the Hive.
“You will take exactly as much as it takes. This baby is the most important thing in the Hive. Apart from the animals,” he added quickly. “It doesn’t help the situation when we spend so much of our time beating up Wil and Netty because you haven’t had the baby yet.”
Kenya rolled her eyes. “I wasn’t gunna say anything.”
Johno hung his head as the rest of the crowd broke out in laughter because they all knew Kenya would do just that. She did it every day and would probably do it again tomorrow. The ritual was common place, but becoming tiresome.
Salina slid a cup of tea toward the teen, agitation on her face. “Johno, don’t be so rough on her. She’s just a baby herself.”
“I ain’t no baby, Miss Salina. Me and my baby can take darn good care of ourselves. And as soon as we get outa this place, Chloe and me are taking the baby and going back to Sarasota.” Kenya’s eyes broadcast the belligerence of youth as she followed Salina’s figure back to a seat next to Clyde, her arm slipping around his with easy familiarity. “And Kane’s coming too, aren’t you, chickey?” She gave him a beguiling smile as Captain Cobby’s voice rang out from his position at the head of a table next to the adoring Karen.
“My son isn’t going anywhere, let alone back to Sarasota. Can somebody talk some sense into this girl? It’s been six months, more or less. We know from Echo and Baby that the Earth is full of poisons now.”
At the mention of their names, Echo and Baby tottered over to Cobby and stroked and prodded his face, their long leathery fingers soft and loving. He reached out to give the two minions quick hugs.
So much had changed in the six months since their hasty flight during the onset of Armageddon. The minions had begun to express themselves to many of the survivors, to their delight. It was considered an honor if Baby or Echo chose to single you out for attention.
*
As Johno tried to calm Kenya out of her daily crying jag over the fact she was still carrying her unborn child in her belly five months after her due date, Netty backed away from the crowd to search for Wil. Joining the animals by the fireplace, she lowered herself to the floor, exchanging a tense glance with Wil, burdened with meaning.
She quickly smiled as Bonnie welcomed her to join Chance and the dogs who were in their usual frolicking abandon, hoping the exuberant young lady hadn’t noticed their exchange.
She pulled a fully grown Barney onto her lap, the happy dog not taking his eyes off Echo, who was working her way over to the fireplace after greeting her favorite people with Baby. Netty scanned the room, noticing the handsome vitality in the crowd.
No longer did the women sport wrinkles or gray hair. No chubby waistlines or ponderous energy levels due to the drain of obesity or chemical-laced food of a progressive population. No diabetes, asthma, allergies or headaches; just buoyant perfect health that they all attributed to the unusual food they ate.
And with perfect health came animal attraction to the other sex. Why not? They were living and working in close quarters. The adults looked younger than they had in ten years. It was only natural and helped pass the time. Many of the new couples had long discarded the secret nature of their budding romances and moved into quarters they could share together, announcing carefully to all that they were a couple.
Netty took in the happy black and white faces of Gloria and Billy, the trucker who no longer toted an inhaler everywhere. Gloria danced her days away, her work a joy, her diabetes gone with the emergence of a strikingly beautiful and youthful figure. And now she had the love of a man who thought she walked on water. What more could she ask for? Even her cache of mice was breeding up a storm, having been relegated to the growing fields to live their lives naturally.
The lean and surly Crystal with her momma pig, Tulip, could be found perpetually nagging at Johno. He, who had fast become a voice of reason in the early days of the frantic adjustments they all were forced to make. Who else could have turned the opinionated and critical Crystal into a quiet and simpering woman in love? Netty acquiesced to the adage that opposites really did attract.
The kids had paired up early. Scotty had Chloe, and Kenya had Kane, although since she had not delivered the baby, Netty could sense Kane’s patience wearing thin. She had not failed to notice the tentative knowing smiles Emma and Kane tossed to each other when they thought no one was in the area. With a sigh, she prayed Kane would continue to support Kenya until she adjusted to her new reality, but knowing of the angry demeanor of Johno’s man, Elias, after having been discarded by Emma, she thought Bonnie’s sister was walking a thin line. It had only been five months since she’d cut him out of her life and he still appeared unwilling to accept the fact. Could be that they had some trouble brewing with the kids.
Ginger Mae had blossomed beyond all anticipation. The scars on her face had completely disappeared. Her bleached hair grew in, disclosing the blonde was really a brunette. When she’d decided to crop the blond ends of her hair, she was adorned with an elegant short pixie that left her closely resembling the old Hollywood movie star, Audrey Hepburn. She had also developed quite a deep bond with the cats and elephants. Netty guessed her favorite must be the matriarch, Tobi. But then the great gray goliath was everyone’s favorite, wasn’t she? Tobi’s sensitive nature and remarkable intuitiveness to all that was animal and human made her a great comfort and distraction.
Netty glanced over to Ginger Mae to see her holding court with her remarkable daughter, Daisy, at her side. Dezi was horsing around with Bonnie, who had slipped over to join the hilarity coming from their table.
What surprising buddies they had turned out to be; bonding tightly with the responsibility of caring for the little piglet, Chance, who would have perished without their loving care. Who knew the irrepressible and cocky smart alec would develop into such a reliable caretaker of a piglet?
Chance was the only one of the litter that was allowed to come into the kitchen. He followed Bonnie around as if she were his mother. And if you tried to separate Chance from Dezi, the piglet made such a squalling that no one could bear it. Caesar was none too fond of the noisy piglet himself. So trying to tether him in the corridor with the big tiger had not been a solution. Besides, Chance clearly preferred the company of Echo, Baby and the dogs at dinner time.
“Yikes, let go of my arm, Dezi.” Bonnie choked on her laughter as Dezi got her in a headlock.
“Are you going to sweep the floors in the men’s dorm like you promised?”
“I don’t remember saying that.” Bonnie reached under his arms to try to tickle her way to a release.
“You don’t remember the deal we made for my spice loaf in exchange for the chore? Babe, I’m gunna have to spank you. Maybe it will help you remember.”
Turning the tables on her, Dezi reached down to tickle her, getting a shriek for his efforts. Daisy reached over to join the melee.
Netty turned her attention back to Wil, who was watching the elephant keepers arm wrestle at their table. Abby scurried around them, her arms stacked with plates as she attempted to finish setting the tables for dinner. Her tail accidentally brushed one of the wrestlers, causing him to lose his concentration and inadvertently bump a dish to the floor with a clatter. The entire room broke out with laughter and claps. Kimir stood on his chair to watch the unlucky victim of Salina’s anger at the broken plate cringe under her admonishing glare.
“Gentlemen, if you insist on behaving like boys, I will have to send you to bed without dinner. One more broken plate and I will . . . I’ll . . . hmmm.” Her unlined face lit up. “I will make you wash the ladies’ laundry for a week.” The men booed and hiss
ed at the offending keeper who had broken the plate.
“Wil,” Netty whispered to get his attention away from the good-natured brawl that was sure to develop between the keepers and Salina. She heard a shriek as one of them picked Salina up off her feet and swung her around, depositing her on the counter near the sink.
Wil turned his attention back to Netty, the smile in his eyes disappearing as he sobered at the fright in her expression.
“Don’t worry so much, Netty. It’s going to be okay.”
“I don’t know how you can say that.” Exasperation spat her hisses out like a gun shot. “We need to have a plan, an explanation that will keep them all calm.”
Wil reached for her hands. Looking straight into her eyes he asked, “Why don’t we just give them the truth?”
She recoiled at the suggestion, jerking her hands from his to worry over her flaxen hair that had tangled in her wing. “You know we can’t do that. How do you tell that to Kenya? The poor girl is frightened and upset enough as it is. Some women might consider killing themselves when they hear news like that. You don’t understand, Wil. We need to do this in small doses.” Her voice became more than a whisper, drawing the attention of Baby by the fireplace. As he joined them, his aura pierced their mind.
“Sister, Brother, change is coming.” From afar, Echo called to Barney, her aura lapping over Baby’s. Barney ran to Echo who wrapped her arms around her furry love.
Scotty looked up at Netty and Wil, as if he had also heard Baby’s pronouncement. From the corner of the room, Peter sat alone, watching and saying nothing as the innocent survivors, oblivious in their pleasure with one another and the good health they enjoyed, happily played on.
Chapter 4
Scotty grunted, sweat dripping from his forehead as he helped Kane turn over the rich red claylike soil. Echo lounged on a hillock with Barney and the gang, the stately pit bulls King and Queenie keeping pace with Scotty and Kane. Baby tottered behind, placing medium-sized fuzzy red pods in the ground. It was Chloe’s job, but now and then Baby would slip away from Netty and Wil to join them in the planting. Chloe always took the opportunity to supervise the dogs as she relinquished her mundane task to the eager Baby.
Scotty glanced up as he heard the tinkle of Chloe’s laugh. Tiny Teddy’s antics with the posse as he tried to hump Penny’s ear or dominate Tucker’s big black standard poodle could keep her entertained all day.
He took in a deep breath as he scanned the horizon of the growing fields. The turned earth emitted such a vibrant aroma of musky life that Scotty felt renewed. Shaking his head at Chloe’s antics, he realized that if he didn’t love her so much, he would probably choke her.
“So, dude, you going to go over there and make her get back to work?” Scotty gazed into the healthy face of his best friend next to Echo. Kane’s mocking grin already knew the answer to the question. Sheepishly, Scotty shook his head, staying silent. Kane knew what a sore subject Chloe’s inability to take their situation seriously could be with Scotty.
As The One, he had responsibilities. He needed to be alert and prepared for what would be required of him some day. It didn’t help that the girl he loved made a joke out of the title bestowed on him. Or that she refused to face reality about the conditions topside. Her insistence that they go with Kenya back to Sarasota drove him nuts. She just didn’t get it. But then neither did Kenya.
“So how’s it going with Kenya? You making any headway with her? She’s driving the rest of us batty with her incessant whining at dinner time. Can’t you make her ease up?” Kane straightened up, the long muscles across his back flexing and glistening with sweat, making the leaner Scotty green with envy.
“Any time you decide to trade those wings and your immortality for my muscles, dude, you just let me know.” Kane’s enormous grin reveled in Scotty’s discomfort at getting caught admiring his muscles. Kane gave him a playful punch as Scotty grabbed him in a headlock. They both felt the excited aura at the same time.
Baby stood at their feet, his tiny hands opening and closing spasmodically. Scotty and Kane laughed out loud as the little guy demanded to be picked up. Baby’s aura hit them harder.
“Okay, okay, relax, Baby. We’re just playing.” Kane lifted the little guy up.
“Brother Kane, my Sister Echo would not be pleased to hear you struck Brother Scotty.”
“Baby, it’s okay. It’s just fun . . . horsing around? Don’t you ever horse around?”
The aura quickened. “But I have no horse and neither do you. Are you trying to fool me, Brother Kane?”
“Now, why would I do that, Baby?”
The aura dulled. “So you could kill Brother Scotty and steal his woman. Then you would kill me. I saw you hit him and he tried to defend himself.”
Scotty and Kane, dumbstruck at Baby’s words, quickly put the confused creature on the ground. They sat him between their legs as they absorbed the impact of Baby’s mind whispers. Scotty wiped the frightened look off his face and took Baby’s thin, furry shoulders between his hands. “Baby, do you agree that Kane is my brother?”
“Yes, Brother Scotty. We are all brothers.”
“No, Baby. This is a different kind of brother. This is the kind where you love one another. Where you promise to watch each other’s backs. Where you are buddies for life.”
Baby’s neck swiveled from one to the other, his aura still dull. “Sister Netty and Brother Wil are buddies.”
“No, Baby. They love each other in a different way. The way a man loves a woman is different from the way a man loves another man.” Kane snorted at Scotty’s feeble explanation. “Well, I mean . . . a . . . you know, like the way Kane and I are brothers.”
“I do not understand why you are going to kill him. Did he steal your horse?”
“No, I don’t have a horse. Where in the world did you get the idea I would kill Scotty? We’re best friends. I would no more kill him than I would one of the animals.”
Scotty’s perplexed demeanor gaped at Baby who pronounced, “All human men are evil and must be exterminated before they can kill again.”
Kane hurriedly scrambled to his feet at Baby’s words. “Whoa now, Baby. I think you have us confused with some other men. I would never harm Scotty or anyone else for that matter. You need to understand that.” Whispering to Scotty, Kane asked, “Exactly how damaged do you think this little dude is?”
“I am not damaged as you say, Brother Kane. I am different.” The auras were coming faster now, the colors brighter. Scotty stepped in, sensing the conversational tone could rapidly decline.
“Kane didn’t mean anything, Baby. We just thought you were . . . I mean . . . you have been through a lot physically. Landing on this planet while you were pregnant, getting hurt by some asshole . . . Gee, there’s no telling how stressful that was.”
Baby’s aura stopped as he stared at Scotty. Then he turned to Kane. His aura lightened. “Is Kane an asshole, Brother Scotty?” The boys exchanged quick glances. A trick question?
“Well, to tell you the truth, he used to be.” Scotty laughed, smirking at Kane. The auras flashed; Baby hopping from one foot to the other. Scotty reached out waving his arms at Baby. “No, no, not like that. Kane’s not an asshole. He’s one of the good guys.”
“He has changed into not an asshole?”
Scotty could hear Kane breathing deep, attempting to humor Baby for his own good, yet finding it difficult to remain silent. Scotty gave him a shushing sign. “Kane was never the kind of asshole that hurt you, Baby. We all love Kane. There are no assholes in the Hive. Everyone here is family: good people, not assholes. We’re not perfect, but we are trying hard to be whatever the Womb needs us to be.”
Baby settled down, his tiny neck swiveling to and fro. Glancing up, Scotty noticed Echo on the way over from Chloe and the dogs, her expression blank, her aura silent. She wobbled up behind Baby, placing her scrawny hand on Baby’s spare shoulder. Baby turned to stare at Echo, reaching out in an exchange of face-touching
. The moment was silent save for the distant laughter and yips of Chloe and the dogs.
Scotty caught movement in the corner of his eye as Caesar rose on all fours from his position in the grass near Chloe to stare toward the small tableau.
Moments passed, the silence growing uneasy. Baby then swiveled his mesmerizing orbs to Kane, slowly, tentatively reaching out to stroke his face. He dipped his head down, then simply turned and toddled across the field without a backward glance at Echo or anyone.
Scotty sent his own developing aura out to Echo. “Can you please tell us what the heck just happened, girl?”
Including Kane with her aura, Echo tried to explain. “Brothers, my brother is not the same minion he was on Oolaha. It is true he has been damaged, but he is in full control of his mental faculties. He will get better over time. A long, long, time. But he will never be the same. We need to respect his feelings and decisions.” Perplexed, the boys exchanged glances.
“Has Baby made a decision about something we should know about?” Scotty peered after the disappearing figure.
“No, Brother Scotty; his affairs do not concern you. He loves you all, but remains what you would refer to as sensitive to violence. But do not fear . . . everything he does is with the permission or direction of the Womb. And you know the Womb only wants the best for us all; even as faith in your race has been terminated.”
“Ewww. There’s the word I didn’t want to hear: terminated.” Kane sprawled back on his butt, his expression warring with his fright. “Echo, just tell me. Do I need to stay away from Baby?”
The aura came soft and calming. “No, my kind friend, Brother Kane. Baby has examined your soul. He only does it to understand when he is troubled. He would protect you to his own death. You are one with him.” Sensing their relief, Echo turned and hurried back over to rejoin Barney and the posse.
Tensions having dissipated, the boys leaned back to take a break. Kane shook his head. “When will the surprises stop? I much prefer the boring job of cleaning the Lucky Lady, Womb rest her soul, than the drama in this Hive. Grrrr.”