And then there were those whom they had lost before and during the migration. Andy could not know what horrors they had faced during that time and could also not understand what it meant to them to lose as much as they had.
Aries felt that the need for Andy to know about the past was well-intended but he could never grasp the pain that it was for so many to have to leave their homes behind to live in Antarctica. Andy had not even been born back then and was part of a generation that had never witnessed anything else but this place that humanity now called home.
It sickened Aries. He thought about everything and what he could have done differently. He also thought about what Chad had told him so many years ago and that he should have listened to the man when he warned him about all of those things. He knew better than him but he always thought of Chad as a paranoid who needed to take things a bit more lightly and even once told him to stop spewing so much nonsense.
Back then he did not know that Chad was aware and knew about all of this. Everything that he had mentioned was right and to this date, Aries still did not know how he had done it but he regretted dismissing the man so easily. But he thought the best of it and continued to try and make the best life he could in Antarctica.
There was also Cheryl. She had mentored them so much and Jean had been wise to look at her for guidance. Most of the time he could not understand what they were talking about but at least made sure to listen to her whenever they had a conversation. Her guidance was still invaluable and it was through her that the Migration was a reality.
But there was one particular thing that kept him going through the years.
“Hello, hello,” said Jean as she walked into the house. “You know I almost always miss our house?”
“I know. You and Andy have the same problem,” said Aries as he gave Jean a kiss. “How was your day?”
“Exhausting but fruitful as always. How about you?” asked Jean.Aries looked at the bathroom and then back at Jean. “Is Andy giving you trouble again?”
“No, no. I told him,” said Aries. Jean was confused by the statement.
“Told him?” asked Jean. Aries moved his hands around and sighed.
“I told him about Steve,” said Aries. Jean looked back at Aries angrily.
“Aries, we talked about this. We weren’t supposed to tell him about that. It’s not even authori--” said Jean. Aries interrupted her, but Jean interrupted back. “Don’t hush me, Aries. Don’t. Why did you do it? We talked about it so many times and here you go, not listening to people and breaking promises.”
“Wait, wait, wait. Listen to me. I didn’t do it with the intent that you think,” said Aries. Jean was surprised at this response.
“What are you talking about? He is not supposed to know about this,” said Jean. Aries grabbed the back of his head as he walked to the side. “Aries, what is wrong with you?”
“Listen, please. I’m telling him because he needs to know,” said Aries and Jean shook her head.
“No, no, no. He does not need to know about this. He can live his entire life without knowing what that monster did and his legacy,” said Jean. She removed her jacket and threw it to Aries. “We talked about this.”
“I know we talked about this but he needs to know. He has the right to know,” said Aries. Jean crossed her arms and looked sternly at Aries.
“Then what? Are you going to tell him what happened afterward and during the Migration?” asked Jean.
“What happened afterward?” asked Andy. He had been listening to their discussion from the bathroom and was peaking his head out from the door frame. “What’s wrong with asking?”
“Andy Zhang, you better be ready to take a bath right now,” said Jean. Andy came out of the bathroom and walked to them. Jean noticed the chain and casing hanging around his neck. “You gave him that, Aries. Why?”
Jean was angry at Aries. Aries, in turn, rolled his eyes and looked at Andy with the same stern look that Jean was giving him.
“Andy, what did we talk about just now?” asked Aries.
“But what happened then? You said we would talk about it later,” said Andy. Jean sat on the small two-seated couch, then removed her shoes. She passed her left hand around her hair and sighed. “Can you tell me?”
“Please go take a bath. Your dad and I have to talk about a lot of things right now and I don’t want you listening. I mean it,” said Jean. Andy went back to the bathroom, disappointed at the development. “Andy.”
“Yes?” asked Andy as he turned back.
“You really want to know about the Migration?” asked Jean. Aries looked surprised at Jean. “Finish taking your bath and we will talk about it after I speak with your dad.”
Andy rushed back to the bathroom while Aries looked surprised at Jean.
“Really?” asked Aries. Jean sighed, still giving Aries that stern look.
“Yes, really, but I want to be here because I don’t want you telling him all the grim details. He’s just a kid,” said Jean.
“What would be the purpose of telling that story then? He needs to know things as they are and you more than anyone knows how real this is. We can’t hide things from him anymore,” said Aries. Jean thought long about it but was not fully convinced by Aries. He was not the best storyteller but at least he had a good memory.
“We can both tell him more about it--all in due time, though,” said Jean.
“So you’ll tell me?” asked Andy from the door frame.
“Go take a bath,” said both Jean and Aries. As Andy went into the shower excitedly, Jean and Aries looked at each other with a passion they had not known in years.
“It’s time,” said Jean.
THE END…?
The series continues in Book 2: Children of Mold
About the Author
Jefferson Nunn is a former Forbes contributor and has managed IT companies for 30 years. He is married to a wonderful bread-making Japanese wife and has two very active children.
He was exposed to toxic mold for two years and is still recovering from that event. He founded the Biotoxin Foundation and Code Warriors in 2020 and is continuing to manage both companies. For fun, he reads and writes Science Fiction.
Special Thanks go out to (in no particular order): Craig Martelle, Shawn Inmon, J.N. Chaney, Crypto-Indianna Jones, Tom Nyarunda, David Heiliger, John Limpo, Ivan (BookCoversArt.com), Cathy Conser, Noah, Leonard and Nenita Mehlmauer, and to everyone else that helped me along the way (you know who you are).
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Burning Mold Page 23