by Gadi Migdal
Mickey tilted his head and looked into her eyes. “What’s all of this secrecy about?” he asked.
Nola looked at him. He had grown old in the years since she had seen him. The strong man that she remembered from her childhood suddenly appeared elderly and vulnerable. She suddenly realized that he was already 72 years old. She pressed herself against him, “Just hug me — okay, Dad?” she asked.
He embraced her forcefully for a long moment, without saying a word. His wife looked at him from the bed. What do you ask someone who you never expected to see again?
“Sweetie, did you leave your cluster in order to join this new swarming?” Eva asked.
“Yes, Mom,” Nola whispered from within her father’s embrace.
“I don’t understand. A week and a half ago, a new coordinator was chosen. Are you telling me that she replaced you, and that you are designated for a new cluster? What’s so secret about that?” Mickey wondered.
“That this swarming is headed to a different planet,” Grant answered him from the doorway.
They looked at him in surprise.
“Grant. What is going on here, and what is Nola afraid of?” Mickey demanded.
“I don’t think she’s afraid, Mickey; she is just excited to see you. In any case, I answered you, Nola is going to lead the swarming on another planet,” Grant replied.
Mickey released his embrace of Nola and turned to look at the council member. “That’s not a good enough answer, Grant. The covenant does not mention swarming on another planet. Do you want my daughter to be cut off from everything she knows and loves and send her far away from here? Do you really think that I will let that happen?” he asked quietly. The decisiveness in his voice was plain.
“It’s not up to me, Mickey,” Grant replied. “Actually, it’s not up to any of us.”
“So, who is it up to? Who made the decision? Was this Mika’s decision? Or the council? Who?” Mickey suddenly shouted angrily.
Grant looked at him unafraid, his voice calm and confident as he spoke, “Mickey Taylor, we have been friends since childhood, but don’t think that that allows you exceptional privileges. Nola is a cluster member. She has been one for over twenty years. Each cluster determines the fate of its members. That’s the covenant, and you know that. Breach that, and the city will lose its foundation.”
Eva leapt from the bed and threw her arms around her daughter and husband. “Nonsense, Grant! The covenant, ultimately, is just a piece of paper. Our daughter is here, and she is afraid. The rest is meaningless. I sent her away to her destiny once, and I was tormented by being separated from her during every moment of the years that have passed. I won’t do that again, no matter what the cost.”
Colin stood up too and hugged his parents and Nola. “This is my big sister, council member. I have heard stories about her at every family meal since I was born. Why let us see her if you’re about to take her away again?”
“It’s not in any of our hands, my son. The fate of the city is at stake,” Grant answered.
“My sister is staying home,” Colin informed him firmly.
Grant stood before them quietly and did not reply.
Thoughts raced through her mind. They spoke of her every day! They missed her. Her family would never forget her. They were willing to do anything for her. They were even willing to endanger the city in order for her to live with them! She pulled herself away from their embrace, walked forward, and turned to them, “No, Dad, Mom, Colin. He’s right, it’s true that I’m not afraid. I wanted to see you, and I am happy that we were finally able to meet, but I must go and perform my role.”
She smiled at her father, who opened his mouth in protest, “I’m not afraid, Dad. I’m just overwhelmed. You are fine. I have an amazing brother, and I am about to go on an incredible journey through the galaxy. I just wanted to see you before I leave.”
“But sweetheart, I haven’t seen you for more than twenty years. I can’t let you leave after such a short visit,” her father protested weakly.
“I’m not going yet, Dad. We still have over an hour, and in that time, I intend to hear every story and detail of gossip you have.” Nola smiled and dropped into a chair that her body recognized before she did. This was the chair she used to sit in to do her homework.
Her parents looked at her in stunned silence. Colin recovered first, “Do you remember Charlene?” he asked.
Charlene. Her best friend. She hadn’t thought of her for years.
“Yes, of course!” she replied, and felt a twinge in her heart.
“She had a daughter a year ago and called her Nola,” Colin informed her proudly.
“Nola? After me?” Nola wondered.
“Of course,” Eva answered with a smile.
Grant turned quietly and exited the room.
Her father watched the back of the council member leave and then shut the door and turned to her.
“I can smuggle you out the window. We can hide you in the forest. The council will never be able to find you. Whatever happens, you are our daughter, and we will stand by you.”
Tears came to her eyes again, “Thank you, Dad. You have no idea how much that means to me to hear that, but I just want to sit with you a little bit, and hear how Colin’s doing in school, what’s new in the bakery, and how you’re all doing.”
“So what, big sister? You really just want to hear gossip and stories?” laughed Colin.
“Of course, little brother,” Nola laughed too.
He smiled. “I have a good one. There’s a new music teacher. He’s always telling terrible jokes. He tries one in every single class, but he’s never funny; today we decided to laugh out loud at every joke he tells. I think he went home convinced that he was a comic genius.”
“Not nice, Colin!” chided their mother, trying to hide a smile.
He went quiet and looked at his mother in surprise. She couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing, and Colin joined her. The four of them laughed.
They laughed. Colin went on telling jokes about his life at school; Nola couldn’t remember when she last laughed like that. Tears were streaming down her face. Tears of happiness.
She had a family, and the feeling was wonderful.
The hour passed quickly. Too quickly.
Grant stood quietly beside the door. Nola looked at him. “Is it already time, Grant?” she asked.
“Yes, Nola. I’m sorry, but we can’t stay here any longer. Someone might see or hear you. You have to get back to the ship.”
“Ship? Will you be able to contact us from there?” asked her father, in a hopeful voice.
“I’ll try, Dad,” she promised.
She suddenly remembered something. “None of you can tell anybody that you saw me, and it is strictly forbidden to mention anything about the swarming that I’m a part of, okay?” she asked her family.
They nodded their heads without saying a word. Then they hugged quietly. Words could not express their feelings and confusion. Nola was surprised to see tears in Colin’s eyes, too. She felt like she was floating, as though she was watching herself from the side.
Nola and Grant left the room. Everything felt as though it were a dream.
They went out to the back yard and walked toward Grant’s hovercraft. Her father chased after them, running, “Wait, sweetie. I don’t know what kind of food you’re used to eating these days. But I promise you that this is much better than any cake that comes out of a printer.”
She looked at the package that he handed her. A real cheesecake from the bakery; their family Monday evening ritual. She had forgotten that too. She hugged him without a word and the tears filled her eyes and stuck in her throat.
Nola joined Grant in the hovercraft. He handed her a tissue and she thanked him before drying her eyes and nose. Her head hurt again. These had been the longest two weeks of her life.
Everything she had known had shattered.
The she-slave was dead.
The cluster in which she had grown up was no longer hers.
The egg-layers were intelligent, and they were sending her on some unknown journey.
The city council was hinting that she wasn’t entirely human.
Nola held on to the thought of her family and friends who still loved her and thought of her; nothing else seemed as important. She fell asleep with a smile on the hovercraft, on their way to the ship.
When they docked at the ship, Grant woke her gently. She smiled at him as he accompanied her onto the ship. “I have a request,” she told him.
“Half my kingdom, my dear.”
“I understood something today. I don’t want to be alone. I need the company of other humans; the members of the Whole aren’t enough for me.”
Grant raised an eyebrow in evident surprise. “The coordinator implant usually prevents the need for human company. Are you sure that you want to go on this long journey with other humans?”
She nodded.
He reflected aloud, “As far as we know, no active coordinator has ever been exposed to human company until today. Maybe that exposure created the need in you to see human beings again. Would you like me to ask for volunteers from the city to join you on the journey?”
“Yes, it would be great if you would bring five people from the city, I will look after preparing living space for all of them.”
“With pleasure,” he said and looked at her inquisitively. “Are you sure that it won’t disturb the council of the Whole?”
“I have no idea, but if the egg-layers want me on their ship they will have to accept a few more human beings.”
He laughed. “Alright, Nola, I don’t think any of them will have a chance in an argument against you. I will take care of it myself.”
“Thank you. I have another question.”
“Of course, my dear.”
“Could you explain to me how to operate a food printer? I never used one and I really want to eat pizza on the trip.”
Chapter 7
Archie
The darkness engulfed him again.
He forced his eyes closed.
Maybe if he held them shut, he could convince himself that there was no darkness.
Maybe if he kept them closed, he could believe that the blackness was just a figment of his imagination.
Maybe if he left them closed, the terror outside would fade and disappear.
He counted to one hundred in his head. He was too afraid to open his eyes.
He counted again, this time to two hundred.
His heart beat quickly.
He was afraid to open his eyes.
He decided he would count to three and then open them.
One.
Two.
Three.
He opened his eyes.
The darkness pounced on him.
Archie screamed.
The wood vendor was stubborn. Archie was pleased to see a human being. It was a rare sight. Bargaining was much easier with them than with dogs. In this case it was easy to recognize that the human had recently awoken from a long dreaming session. He had the dreamy, nostalgic expression that Archie had learned to identify and exploit for his own purposes.
Archie extended the negotiation as long as he could. It was worth it. After over an hour of bargaining, the exhausted human agreed to Archie’s terms. As a seasoned merchant, Archie made sure that the human felt he was getting what he wanted.
The human ended the conversation, the screen turned off, and Archie sat facing the screen. He was overcome by fatigue. His eyes slowly closed. A grove full of rabbits appeared before him.
“No!” he jumped up.
He must not fall asleep.
The deep gloom was waiting out there.
He was not yet ready for it.
Not yet.
Archie considered waking Leanne and telling her that it was hard for him to function. He quickly let go of that idea. Leanne didn’t like being woken up in the middle of dreaming. Leanne hadn’t woken up for two and a half years now. He shivered in horror as he recalled the last time she had woken up. Poor Andrew.
Archie decided. He called Maggie and informed her that he could no longer manage Leanne’s luxury furniture manufacturing and marketing business. The artificial intelligence seemed understanding. “Is it because of the nightmares, Archie?” she asked.
“Yes, Maggie,” he admitted. “It’s getting worse. I wake up every night screaming and I’m afraid to go back to sleep. You’ll have to bring a new merchant and explain the job to him. I have to leave.”
“No, Archie,” Maggie replied.
“No?” Archie was confused.
“I won’t find a replacement for you, for now,” the artificial intelligence paused for a moment before continuing. “And in any case, what will you do if you quit?” she asked. “After all, you are Leanne’s merchant. You don’t have another job. If you quit, you will have to leave the farm. You’ll starve in the fields. No, Archie, you have to understand what causes your dreams and solve the problem.”
“But Maggie,” Archie protested, “if I knew what caused them, I would have taken care of it already. I have been having nightmares for months. I have no idea how to solve my problem.”
“I understand,” said Maggie. “I went over all available material on the subject of enhanced dog medicine. Unfortunately, I didn’t find anything that pertained to nightmares. Have you considered trying to seek mental counseling?”
“Counseling with who?”
“With Doctor Reuben of course.”
“How?” Archie laughed bitterly. “Doctor Reuben only treats humans.”
“The brain of Doctor Reuben contains all the information known to man concerning psychology,” Maggie replied. “You are essentially more human than dog. If anyone can help you, it’s the doctor. I already made an appointment you with him.”
“What?” Archie was surprised. “Without checking with me first?”
“Yes, Archie. Would you prefer that I cancel it?” Maggie did not try to hide the cynicism in her voice.
“No, no,” Archie was quick to respond. “If you already made the appointment, I may as well speak with the doctor.” He hesitated for a moment. “Isn’t the doctor very expensive? Leanne will get angry about an unplanned expense.”
“Actually, he’s willing to speak with you for free, Archie. He’s never had the opportunity to treat an enhanced dog before, so he’s looking forward to it,” answered Maggie.
Archie looked uneasily at the old man with the white beard and the pipe. It was a strange look.
“Would you prefer that I put on a different character?” asked the doctor.
“A different character?” Archie wondered.
“Of course,” the doctor replied. “I can wear whatever character the patient feels most comfortable with. Would a dog character suit you better?”
“No, no,” Archie was quick to respond. “The current character is just fine.”
“Alright, Archie, I understand that you are suffering from recurring dreams that are interfering with your quality of life. Could you please tell me about them?”
“Actually, it’s a bit embarrassing,” said Archie hesitantly.
“I promise you that everything that is said between us will not be passed on to anybody, not even your owner.”
“Yes, but I have dreams that an enhanced dog is not supposed to have,” Archie whispered with obvious embarrassment. The doctor looked at him without saying a word.
Archie took a deep breath and spoke quickly. “Every night I dream that I am running in a grove and chasing cute, delicious rabbits. I am fast and determined. They are swift and agile. And quite devious. I am faster and much shar
per sighted. The rabbit I am chasing tries to escape from me with quick jumps and sudden changes of direction. It doesn’t help. I catch him, grab the back of his neck between my teeth and Hmmm,” he paused uncertainly.
“And what happens then, Archie?” the doctor inquired quietly.
“Then I run his neck between my teeth,” Archie muttered, his face downcast.
“And that is the dream?” the doctor asked.
Archie raised his head sharply and looked at the screen. “No. I wish! That is the part when the darkness strikes me.”
“The darkness?” the doctor repeated.
“Yes, Doctor. It’s always the same dream. The moment that I kill the rabbit, a dark, dense, cold blotch comes over me and envelopes me. I try to run away but it’s everywhere. I close my eyes so as not to see it. Something tells me that if I open my eyes and it is still out there, it will be the end of me.” Archie was silent.
“And then what happens, Archie?” the doctor inquired gently.
“I try to draw it out for as long as I can. I count to one hundred, or even two hundred. I try to listen or guess if the darkness is still surrounding me. Finally, I dare to open my eyes. The darkness penetrates straight into my head. It hurts and then I scream and wake up. Afterwards I don’t dare go back to sleep until morning,” Archie answered.
The doctor nodded. “Do you usually hunt in reality?”
“God forbid Doctor, I only eat printed food,” Archie protested firmly.
“Have you ever attended a hunt?”
“Never, Doctor. Leanne is vegetarian. There isn’t even printed meat on the farm.”
“So what do you eat, Archie?”
“Printed dog food, Doctor, and sometimes a small treat.”
The doctor smiled broadly and reassuringly, “Archie, I don’t have experience treating dogs, but in my opinion your case is clear and simple. You are suffering feelings of guilt.”