They both glanced up as a screech of laughter sounded from the entrance to the kitchen. Scotty, Kane and Chloe entered with their arms around each other; radiating youth, perfect health, and not looking a day older than when they had entered the Hive twenty nine years ago. Kane threw his perennial pregnant bride a wide kiss as Echo stood from her perch next to Barney to take to the air, her wings propelling her to Scotty’s arms, the curly, white-haired dog trotting along on the floor.
“Whoa, girl. How about a warning?” Scotty beamed at Echo as he disentangled himself from his wife and best friend to catch the creature that understood him the best; his muse, his soul mate, his co-conspirator, his number one buddy. Auras reached out to caress his mind, steeping him in joy and pleasure.
“I missed you, Brother.”
Scotty slipped a hand down to pet Barney. “I know, Echo. I missed you too. But we’re back now. It didn’t take as long as I thought it would. If you could have wormed out of your daily jaunt with Netty and Wil and their food truck, you could have come with us.”
“Yes, Brother. But I could not. Now that my Brother Baby must devote his time to Sister Kenya, I must assume some of his duties. I pray that the chore will soon come to an end as Brother Wil is rethinking the situation and Sister Netty needs a break from the pressure.” Scotty could hear Echo actually sigh in his mind.
“The time is getting close, Brother.”
“If you insist on being so cryptic over the reason for these daily food deliveries, I’m not going to fill you in on our day.”
Echo hung her head.
Chloe reached out to stroke her back. “Cheer up, Echo. It can’t be that bad.”
The creature’s aura included her. “You understand, don’t you, Sister?”
Chloe reached out to claim the creature from Scotty, settling her on her lap as she chose the table they would enjoy their dinner from. “Scotty’s just yanking your chain.”
“My chain? Is that like your chain?” Echo reached out to Chloe’s neck with a single leather finger, slipping it under the platinum chain that held the gold coin Scotty had given her on her sixteenth birthday.
“No, I mean he’s just teasing you. You know our guy. He loves to do that. And I certainly do understand, sweetie. That’s why we girls must stick together.” She rocked Echo softly in her lap as if she were a baby, leaning in to coo over the tolerant creature’s perceived hurt feelings.
“Don’t worry, we’ll fill you in. Scotty and Kane have some good ideas.”
As Kane and Scotty made themselves comfortable at the table, Kane stacked the dishes out of the way so Scotty could lay out the paper map of the growing field and the caverns beyond. Turning to Echo, he explained, “We located a spot that would work for the expansion of the habitat for the cats and bears. If you and Wil, with Hud’s help, can work with the Kreyven, I think we can break through to their existing space. We can make a tunnel that would be about half a mile long from one to the other. It would be fantastic for them. Give them a sense of bigger territory. Now that we’re up over two hundred, they need the space.”
Scotty spoke up. “I think we’ll need to continue all the feeding in the existing space, though. How are we going to lug all that food if they’re fed in both locations?”
Chloe set Echo on the table. She stood to examine the map. “It won’t kill us to lug the food. We can use Wil and Netty’s wagon. We only have two hundred now, but how many do you think we’ll have in another ten years? We need to keep them calm. It’s not fair to still have the implants regulate their behavior. And if they’re used to feeding in one spot, won’t problems develop as it gets more crowded?”
Scotty examined the distance to the new cavern. It was even longer through the corridors they had traversed to find it. At least they had yet to see signs of food aggression in any of the species. By now, they were all used to an unending supply of protein-rich green pods and all the greens, seeds, fruit and berries the bears could ever dream of. Food aggression was of little concern.
“Since food isn’t the problem it was on the surface, maybe they have no need to be aggressive about food. Especially those that were born in the Hive. They’ve never known hunger like the original creatures who once lived in the wild or the nasty roadside carnivals where some of them were rescued from.”
Echo inched over to the map on her butt. Her long, slender leather fingers traced the outline of the growing field. Her aura questioned them all. “Tobi’s big herd and the dogs’ birthing beds are growing. The piglets are increasing too. Sister Chloe and I found our new plantings trampled last week. And it was not my friend Tobi or her herd. They know better. I think it was last year’s batch of juvenile pit bulls. They do not have any sense in their heads yet. I think we need to ask the Kreyven to carve out some more space on the other side of the stream.”
Chloe leaned in, excitement in her voice. “Great idea, E! We can create a bridge over the stream to contain the dogs at night. Buffering the new side with rocks so the dogs don’t try to swim across should be considered too. While we’re at it, I think we need to dredge the stream and increase the flow. I don’t think we’re getting enough moisture in the new field, do you, Echo?” They all turned to Echo as she remained silent.
Chloe was first to voice to notice. “E? What’s up? You don’t like my idea?”
Echo squirmed. “Your idea is first rate, Sister Chloe. But you called me E.”
The three friends burst out with laughter, drawing the attention of the other survivors. Dezi hollered from the sink. “Pipe down, you hooligans. I need to concentrate on my masterpiece.”
Everyone lowered their voices, not wanting to disturb the master at work. No one held the true power as Dezi did. These days, the happiness of the Hive rose and fell in direct proportion to the delectability of Chef Dezi’s creations. A position Salina was more than happy to retire from since her life had changed after the deaths in the Time of Seth.
Turning back to Echo, Scotty whispered an explanation. “I think Chloe was giving you an ultimate compliment, Echo.”
“A compliment, Brother Scotty?”
Chloe chimed in, her face full of love and . . . shyness? Scotty’s heart swelled with pride over the long path his wife and Echo had walked and stumbled for years as they struggled to share his attention and find their rightful twin place in his heart. “E is just a more familiar form of your name. A nickname, if you will, shared only between those that love you the most. It just slipped out. I hope you don’t mind.” Chloe’s words slowed, careful of overstepping with the mysterious creature as she often used to. Looking up, she tossed Scotty a quick wink, relaxing them all.
Echo’s aura swished around their minds as she stood on the table to touch Chloe’s face. She traced the bones of the young girl’s face that held all the acquired wisdom of her now forty four years in her prudent intelligent eyes, all traces of the lazy, petulant, self-centered teen gone.
“You are part of me, Sister. Sometimes I believe it is more than the part of me that belongs to my Brother Scotty. I am honored that you call me E.”
Scotty jerked his head back in surprise. “Well . . . I guess you told me.”
“No, Brother Scotty. It is different—much different with Sister. You are my heart and my soul. But Sister is my future.”
Chloe and Scotty met each other’s puzzled eyes. Understanding signaled between them. The unusual remarks by Echo must be set aside for another day after they had first talked among themselves and analyzed the ominous overtone.
Chloe changed the subject with a half-hearted nervous laugh. “Well . . . ahem . . . now that we know that, I think we can solve the next problem. Can we please have your opinion on the expansion of the growing field, Echo?”
As Echo’s auras began to swirl again, Kane rose from the table. “I’m on board with anything you all decide. I agree the dogs are just too numerous. Who knew Teddy would finally discover that ears were non-reproductive? I’m surprised little Molly stands still for your
monster, Chloe. She’s had close to a litter a year now. I love all the little rug rats, but, counting the others, we’re well over one hundred new dogs if you count the pitties and Penny and Honda’s pups. The fox cubs are no trouble at all, they behave just like the dogs. You might want to think about separating Teddy and Molly for a while, though.”
Kane gave a hearty stretch, his eyes on Kenya. “I’ll be back in a while. I want to see if Kenya is up to eating with us over here. I guess that means Baby, too. I’ll swing by Wil and Hud on my way back to fill them in.”
As Kane sauntered off, the remaining threesome put their heads together and returned to their map.
*
At the end of the table, Ginger Mae leaned over Peter’s back, her arms resting around his neck as he glanced up and shared the laughter of a comment Bonnie made. Bonnie mock charged them both, enveloping them in her own brand of merriment.
“I give up, I give up,” Peter shouted as Bonnie piled her full one hundred thirty five pounds on them both. “Ginger Mae, help. Can you get this child bride of mine off us?”
“Child bride? After fifteen years of marriage I hardly think that applies.”
Ginger Mae disentangled herself while Peter and Bonnie bantered. “You two are too much. Why don’t you meet Hud and me after dinner for a swim? We could really use a soak.”
Peter and Bonnie nodded as they grinned to themselves like happy fools. Live sparks danced in their eyes as they contemplated a relaxing soak. Peter, no longer the shy bemused outsider, but a confident friend and generous helpmate who had blossomed into an ardent husband for the woman he loved so deeply, answered for them both. “You have yourself a deal. Is this for just old married couples or open to all?”
Ginger Mae leaned in to answer, her soft-brown, pixie-cut bob swinging with her, low whispers indicating her desire to keep the swim private. “If we go a bit later than normal, I bet we’ll have the place to ourselves. Daisy and Kimir plan to go to bed early—some new test in her lab. She’s training Kimir to assist her, finally. Sound good?”
“Sounds great,” they both agreed. Ginger Mae moved away to join her husband and Wil at their table, brushing past a patient Netty, who struggled laboriously with Gloria’s long thick hair.
“You almost done, Netty? Just tie it off, she looks fine,” red-headed Billy commented, watching the ordeal.
“Now, Billy, I know it doesn’t matter to you. You’d love her if she was bald. But it matters to Gloria.”
Gloria surveyed her husband of nineteen years. Rolling her eyes, she commented, “Babe, these French braids take a while, but it’s worth it. And Netty does such a nice job.”
Netty sighed. “Not much for me to do these days now that Dezi’s running the kitchen. He doesn’t like me to interfere, you know?”
The women looked up at Billy as they felt him examining them. “Hmmm, can you imagine what our babies would look like with Gloria’s lush hair and my fire-engine-red color? Her darker skin would sure be a bonus. I don’t want no kids a mine saddled with this ghostly white skin that came with my hair.”
Gloria’s shoulders drooped. “Let’s not bring that up tonight, babe. You know what a sore spot it is. And the other women don’t need to be reminded either.” She lowered her voice. “Especially Bonnie. You know how hard they’ve been trying, with Salina the way she is. A grandbaby is just what Salina and Clyde need to help them mend over the scars they carry from the Time of Seth.” They all tried to avoid mentioning Emma’s name for fear of picking at a scab that refused to heal and constantly leaked drops of blood.
Christening the early time in the Hive the ‘Time of Seth’ reminded them to call evil what it was, so they’d be ready next time; prepared to recognize it.
Netty sighed long and heavily.
“I know. You never get over losing a child. I thought Jennifer would help, but it’s not the same.” Gloria turned her head around to look at Netty. “You okay, Netty?”
Netty dropped the hair she was braiding. “I don’t know . . . maybe it’s time.”
“Time? Time for what?” Billy spoke up, concern on his face; Netty had sounded far, far away. “Netty?” She didn’t answer. Gloria turned to meet his eyes. They both looked back at the strangely-acting Elder who appeared to be in a trance.
Gloria stood up to take Netty by the shoulders, her downy wings crushed under Gloria’s hands. “Netty.”
“I’m fine, Gloria. Sorry . . . I spaced out for a spell there. I just have a few things on my mind.”
“I understand, Netty. I’m sure it’s getting to you too.”
Netty appeared startled. “Getting to me?”
“Well, yeah. I know how much you love Wil. I’m sure you want to have his children as much as we all want them, too.”
A single tear slipped down Netty’s golden cheek. Gloria took her into her comforting arms, clearly assuming they suffered from the same longing to have a child that all the married female survivors bore.
Netty’s eyes dried, but she had clearly mentally left the room as her head rested on Gloria’s shapely and sympathetic shoulder.
“Okay, gang. Dinner is served.” Dezi’s voice rang out as Salina and Karen delivered platters of steaming crisp confections of various colors and shapes, then returned to their seats next to Clyde and Cobby.
Netty hurried to grab the teapot, giving Wil a glance, well-laden with meaning. As Wil gazed at his beloved, his pensive yet knowing eyes followed her as she served tea to the survivors that now counted as their beloved and irreplaceable family.
From across the room, Scotty caught the subtle exchange, knowing without a doubt that something bad was blowing their way.
Chapter 5
The two couples lazed by the edge of the water, exhausted by the spirited swimming and overwhelmed by the beauty of their effervescent and jeweled bathing cavern that refused to get old.
Ginger Mae’s laughter echoed off the stalactites and stalagmites, a delightful contrast to the sometimes spooky atmosphere with its flickering shadows that enticed memories of trysts held by most of the couples in the Hive.
“Hud, I think we all know how you feel. What do you think, Bonnie? Two or three hundred times?”
Bonnie snorted. “I lost count after the first five years.”
Hud looked fondly at his wife. “I know, babe. It’s just the beauty of this cave. It’s still hard to accept how the Womb shined so much luck down on me. Every day since I woke up to your adorable face twenty eight years ago, I’ve pinched myself. I can’t help reflecting on my life here. It’s just so darn surreal. Here it is 2086. I was born in 1881. I was in my fifties when I . . . died. You all mourn the loss of the life you knew with its conveniences and foibles. Yet half the time, I don’t even know what you’re talking about. And when the Earth heals and we surface? We’ll be setting the clock back to before I was born. To the country as it was before man settled here.” Hud’s amazement plastered itself all over his face. “Do you see the irony of that? For me? It’s really hard to absorb all of this even though I’ve had years to work on it. That’s why I keep saying I’m so lucky.”
“My . . . you sure are introspective this evening.” Peter’s observation came with a warm smile that quickly sobered. “Do you think your mood has anything to do with the announcement Netty made after dinner?”
“Maybe. Anyone have any idea what this meeting after breakfast is all about?” Bonnie piped up; her cheerful face still that of a teen, but her maturity reflecting the full forty four years of her life.
“Maybe it’s about the new plans to expand the habitats for the wildlife. Scotty and the gang have been working pretty hard on it,” remarked Ginger Mae as she nestled closer to Hud.
“I could sure use some extra help with the count. I don’t have time for anything else during the day with two decades of newborns to account for. I still think it odd they can reproduce, but none of us girls have been able to conceive.” She reached out to grasp Bonnie’s cold hand as her friend’s face fel
l.
“I’m so sorry, Bonnie. I know the subject is painful for the two of you. Billy and Gloria aren’t much better off. They’re dying to have a baby. And I know Karen is plain old desperate.” She kept her long-held opinion about Cobby’s longing for Abby to herself since Cobby had broken down under pressure and actually married Karen ten years ago.
Bonnie’s words were slow and painful. “So you think this meeting is about more room for the animals? Netty looked awful somber for that to be what this is about. Did you notice how she was hanging on to Wil? Neither one of them looked too happy.”
Hud let out a loud sigh as he used his hands to slick back his long dark hair, not a trace of gray among the thick strands he twisted into a pony tail to hang down his back to dry.
“I’m afraid you’re right, Bonnie. I was with Wil most of the night and he seemed fine until Dezi was ready with dinner. Then they both got quiet. I’ve never seen them like that before.”
“We have.” Ginger Mae sounded defiant. “I know you and Wil are big buddies, Hud, but it wasn’t always like this. In the beginning there were secrets. Netty was under a lot of stress. Whenever they felt pushed to disclose bad news, they got like this. Just like they were tonight after dinner.” Her hand flew to her mouth, her questioning eyes on Peter. “Do you think?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “Do I think what? That Wil and Netty are hiding something again? That they’re going to dump some bad news on us in the morning?” Peter compressed his lips, his smile tight. “Maybe. But whatever it is, I know we’re all strong enough to handle it.”
He stood up, holding his arms out to Bonnie. He pulled her to her feet, then rubbed his hands up and down her back, bringing a smile to her lips, the sparkle back to her eyes.
“Come on, child bride of mine. Time to hit the hay.” Both couples rose and fondly bid each other goodnight, leaving the unanswered questions behind. Morning would come to the Hive soon enough.