Noah's Brick

by Piers Anthony

  They walked to her house. This was a ramshackle dwelling; they were obviously poor.

  “Mom will be home,” Si whispered. “I'll have to say goodbye to her. She'll understand. We're not close, but we get along.”

  “Okay,” Noah agreed nervously. He settled down in the bush, out of sight.

  Si walked on toward the house. A woman was out back, taking laundry down from a clothesline. “Mom!”

  But the woman looked alarmed. “No! Don't come close!”

  Si paused. “No?”

  Then a man burst out of the house. “Ha!” he exclaimed.

  Uh-oh. That would be her father or stepfather, the one who was abusing her. He must have discovered her gone, and waited to catch her when she returned. Now the trap had been sprung. Noah wanted to help her, but what could he do?

  Si tried to turn to run, but the man overhauled her, caught her by the shoulder, and spun her around. She fell, captive. He put his hands under her arms and hauled her roughly up and to him. He caught hold of her shirt, ripping it apart. And screamed in pain, shoving her away without letting her go. He raised one fist to strike her, cursing in Spanish.

  Now Noah realized what he had seen. She had bitten him on the upper arm! She hadn't thought to use her knife, if she even dared. She tore loose, literally, leaving much of her shirt behind, and ran again, right toward Noah. The man recovered his balance and charged after her. He would surely catch her. Then she would be doomed.

  Si ran right past Noah, the man only a few steps behind. Noah acted before he thought, lurching up and throwing himself before the man at knee height. They collided, and the man tripped over him and plowed into the ground.

  Noah jumped up and ran after Si. But now the man was after him. Even if he outran the man, as he might, that would still leave Si vulnerable. He had to stop the man, so she could get away. Somehow. He was no fighter, but had to do what he could.

  He slowed, stopped, and turned as the man overhauled him. He saw the man's fist coming down to strike him. He raised his arm to block it, though he feared the gesture was futile. At least he had to try.

  The fist came down on the Brick bracelet—and clanged. There was a jolting spark, and a burning crackle, like a short-circuit.

  The man stiffened and fell, smoke rising from his arm. He had been electrocuted!

  Noah didn't wait to see more. He turned again and ran, and this time there was no pursuit. Si was now far ahead, but she saw him and slowed, letting him catch up. “Oh, Noah!” she exclaimed, holding the remnant of her shirt before her. “You stopped him! What did you do?”

  “I don't know,” he gasped. “I think it was the Brick. It struck him like lightning.”

  “That was smart, to use it like that.”

  “I didn't know it could do that. I was just trying to stop his fist from hitting me.”

  “You stood up to him—without knowing you had a weapon?”

  “Yes,” he said, embarrassed. “It was foolish, I know. But I had to help you get away.”

  “You're one brave boy. And you did it for me. Remind me to kiss you again, when we have time.”

  He liked that idea, but hesitated. “I'm not sure I really helped. You didn't get your things.”

  “I'll survive without them. I can't go back there now.”

  “You can't,” he agreed. “And you didn't get to say goodbye to your mother.”

  “She's really my step-mom. She means well, but she can't stand up to my step-dad. Any more than I can. But this is the first time he's come after me when she was watching. He's really mad.”

  “She tried to warn you away.”

  “Yes. So she knows why I have to go. I guess that's enough.”

  They shifted their route back and forth, so as to leave no clear trail to the tree, though probably it would not be recognized for what it was anyway. They entered, safe at last, and collapsed, side by side against the wall. It had been a harrowing adventure.

  Then reality closed in. “I've got to get home,” Noah said. “I'll try to bring you some clothing tomorrow. Will you be okay alone here?”

  “Oh, yes. It's comfortable, and there's food. I'll sleep in a hammock. But I wouldn't want to be alone permanently. Please don't change your mind about returning.”

  “How could I? I need your kisses.”

  She laughed. “That's right.” She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. That was almost as nice as on the mouth.

  Then he left the tree, relieved to find himself back in Vermont, and ran home. He had not been missed, again, fortunately.

  He ransacked his room to find spare clothing, packing it into a bag. All of it was male, but jeans and shirts should do. Si was about his own size.

  “What are you doing?”

  Noah jumped. It was his mother. He would have to tell her at least some of it. She wouldn't believe the whole of it.

  “There's a girl, my size. Her stepfather—she had to run away from home. Without any of her stuff. I'm trying to find clothing for her.”

  “You have a girlfriend?”

  “Don't I wish! I—like her. But she can't stand to have any boy touch her. So I'm just a friend. I'm trying to help her.”

  Mom nodded understandingly. “Treat her with compassion, and one day she'll be your girlfriend. I've got a dress I bought for your sister, but it's way too large and she doesn't like the color anyway. Take that.”

  Noah hugged her. “Thanks, Mom!”

  She fetched a pretty blue dress. She also provided several sets of panties and a training bra, without comment. Plus a pair of girl's sandals that were one size fits all. “If you ever need to bring her here, privately, just let me know.”

  He was going to ask why, then realized that when girls grew into bras, there were other complications he would have no idea how to handle. He nodded. Mom was being a real sport.

  Soon he was on his way with two bags of clothing. As he left the house he realized that Mom must have seen his Brick bracelet. She hadn't said a word.

  Maybe once he had figured out the mystery of the tree, he would be able to tell her. She deserved to know.

  Si was delighted with the clothing, especially the underwear and the dress. She quickly retreated to the room she had adopted and put it on. She emerged wearing it, with her hair neatly done. “I like your mother,” she said.

  “You're beautiful!” Noah exclaimed, amazed by the transformation.

  “I tried to be unpretty, before,” she said. “I guess you know why.”

  “Yeah.” Actually she had been pretty enough, but he knew better than to say so; it would sound like a come-on.

  “Come on. I looked around while you were out. There's things to show you.”

  “Okay.” He was glad to see her so cheerful.

  “Like the suites.” She led him into one. “Each has its own porthole, fridge, hammock, and bathroom annex. See, the suite's door panel slides across to close it, and you can secure it with a latch inside.” She demonstrated, sliding the door. “So there's privacy. ” She unlatched the door and slid it back. “And the toilet.”

  “Toilet?”

  “In the bathroom part, along with a sink and shower. You never saw one like this.” She showed him to a seat in an alcove. It was like a shallow bowl. “You put your bare bottom on this and let go.”

  “But it's solid,” he protested.

  “Touch it with your finger.”

  He did. His finger sank through the concave surface as if it didn't exist. “What?”

  “It's amazing. It takes your pee and poop with no mess. It even leaves you clean, so you don't need toilet paper.”

  “Wow!” Then he had another thought. “Are you sure it's not another fridge?”

  “And I pooped in it!” she exclaimed, laughing.

  Then they were both laughing, crazily, letting off tension. No, of course it wasn't a fridge, holding the turds in perfect suspension, warm until removed.

  “Before we go farther,” he said as they recovered. “I won
der—can your Bead shock too? That might be good if someone grabbed you.”

  “I wonder,” she repeated thoughtfully. “We'd better find out. I'd like that.”

  “How do we test it?”

  She made a little shiver. “You'll have to grab me.”

  “Si, you know I won't do that.”

  “Yes you can. At least put your hand on me, and I'll try to fend you off, only not hard, so as not to really hurt you if it works. We've got to know.”

  “You're sure?”

  “I'm terrified.” She held out her hand with the Bead ring.

  “I don't think--”

  “If I shock you, I'll kiss you.”

  “You fight dirty.”

  “Please. Just this once.” She was compellingly pretty, enhanced by the dress.

  Noah somewhat gingerly took her hand. It was the first time he had touched her, that way.

  And got a shock. He hadn't touched the ring itself, but her fingers jolted his fingers. He jerked his hand away. “Ouch!” But he knew it could have been much worse.

  “It works!” She flung herself at him and kissed him soundly, not waiting for him to put his hands behind his back. He was as pleased about that as he was with the kiss. She was coming to trust him.

  “You know, Si, I've got a hopeless crush on you. Maybe you shouldn't egg me on.”

  “I like you too, Noah, really I do. You're a nice boy, the first I've really gotten to know. I just can't—you have to be patient with me.”

  “I know. I saw your step-dad. I do understand. I just wish I could hold your hand without your flinching.”

  “I wish that too.” Then she changed the subject. “C'mon. I want to show you the Ark.”

  “The Ark?”

  “I'm not funning on your name. Not exactly. It's that this is a ship, a big one, maybe a spaceship, and if you're Noah, it must be the Ark. It must be going somewhere, maybe to pick up a load of animals, two by two.”

  “How do you know it's a ship, let alone an ark?”

  “Well, it's self contained, with supplies for a long journey. It has hammocks. Decks. Portholes.”

  “Portholes?” Now he remembered the one in the suite. “Can we see out them?”

  “Not exactly. There's nothing to see.”

  “Let me see.”

  She led him to another suite. This one had a similar round hole. “Look.” He peered through it, but saw nothing but empty space.

  Space? “Are we in orbit?” he asked, amazed.

  “Maybe. If so, we're looking outward, where's there's nothing.”

  “There's got to be a porthole on the other side.”

  “There is.”

  “Did you look through it?”

  “No.”

  “Why not?” he asked impatiently.

  “I was afraid I wouldn't see anything. That we could be lost in space.”

  “Well, I'll look. Take me there.”

  “You're so brave and bold.”

  “Are you teasing me?”

  She smiled. “A little. It's fun. I—I never had a boy to tease, before. ”

  Noah made a mental note to ponder that, when he had thinking time. “You know, if we're in space, this is a space ship.”

  “Yes.”

  “How did we get here? I mean, we were on Earth.”

  “The same way we got from one time zone to another. We never knew where the Ark was. Those trees must conjure us to it. Or rather, the Brick and Bead take us here to the home station when we touch the right tree.”

  “I guess,” he agreed dubiously. “But this is weird. The things we've seen here—I don't think this can be Earth tech. There really are aliens.”

  “There really are,” she agreed. “I keep thinking I'll turn a corner and see one. It makes me nervous, especially when I'm alone.”

  They came to the opposite suite, with its porthole. Noah looked through it. And gasped, amazed. “It is!” he exclaimed.

  “Is what?”

  “Earth! The same way we see it through the hole in the Brick. Take a look.”

  She looked. “I guess that makes sense. The Bead leads here. We see what it sees. Earth through a porthole.”

  “They don't have a lander,” he said, working it out. “They have Bricks and Beads. They conjure folk to and from the Ark.”

  “But why? They are obviously way ahead of us in science. Why should they mess with us at all? Why not just--”

  He saw where she was going. “Conquer or obliterate us,” he concluded. “I guess they could, if they wanted to.”

  “So they must not want to.”

  “That is reassuring,” he said. “But the mystery remains: why?”

  “I think they want us here. Folk like you and me. That's why they sent the Brick and Bead to where we would find them.”

  “They could have sent dozens of Bricks,” he said. “Hundreds, maybe. Little transporters, or maybe keys to the transmittal stations, which are camouflaged to look like trees. But why were we chosen? We're nothing special. We're just children.”

  “We weren't chosen, exactly,” she said. “We chose ourselves! By picking up the artifacts. By recognizing them as alien.”

  “Three holes, four holes,” he agreed. “That's the key. Most people wouldn't even notice. But we did.”

  “That's what we have in common. We noticed. And we wouldn't let go until we figured it out, as much as we could.”

  “I don't think your step-dad would ever figure it out.”

  “I'm not sure any adult would either. They're too educated. Too set in their ways. They think they know everything, so they don't even look.”

  “I thought we didn't count because we're children,” he said, awed by the insight. “But we count because we are children. Our minds aren't yet closed. So we can see something an adult would know was impossible.”

  “So the aliens sent out the artifacts,” she said carefully. “And waited for children to find them. And here we are.”

  “Here we are,” he agreed. “And it's all set up to make us comfortable. But that makes me suspicious.”

  “Why? I think I know where you're going with this, but say it anyway.”

  “Maybe they want to fill the Ark with children, and when they have a load, it will zoom off to the alien home world, where we'll be exhibits or something.”

  “Maybe like the Pied Piper of Hamlin,” she agreed. “Get all the children into the mountain.”

  “But the Pied Piper did it only because the town screwed him.”

  “Regular humans can screw folk,” she said. She shuddered. “Literally.”

  Noah quickly moved on. “It's an awful lot of trouble just to get a bunch of children. They could have abducted us. There has to be more to it than just collecting us.”

  She was eager to agree. “There must be something we can do, that they can't. That they need us for.”

  “And it can't just be admiring Earth from orbit.”

  “If only they'd left us a message! Telling us why they need us. Why they're not here to do it ourselves.”

  “They could be here,” Noah said. “In the fridge. Stasis.”

  “We're here to wake them up? A machine could do that.”

  “I guess. Why aren't they here?”

  “Maybe it doesn't work for living things. Only for storing food.”

  “Maybe,” he agreed. “That makes sense. If they had living storage, they'd use it to travel; it would be like stepping into the freeze and out again right away, only they'd be fifty light years along. But it seems they didn't, probably because they couldn't. So the ship's here, but not the aliens. Why don't they operate it by remote control?”

  She focused. “Maybe they're a long way away. Like that fifty light years you mentioned. So it takes half a century for a message to the Ark to reach it. That's no good for getting anything done. So they need someone here who can act immediately.”

  “Us? But we're not aliens.”

  “But we could do whatever it is. All we mayb
e need are instructions. Maybe we just have to find those.”

  “I mean, we're not them,” he said. “How can they trust us? We might just steal their technology and to hell with their mission. They wouldn't even know, until fifty years later.”

  “We're not cynical human adults either. We're children, ready to play the game their way, instead of stealing their stuff the way corporate bosses would.”

  He nodded. “That does make sense. They're making the best of limited options.”

  “I feel sorry for them,” she said, smiling. “Even though they may look like giant cockroaches.”

  “But with pretty antennae.” They both laughed.

  But the question remained: what were they supposed to be doing here on the Ark? If that was what it was, and not just their wild idea because of the coincidence of his name. It seemed impossible to know.

  Surely there was something.

  Jay, Gypsy

  “She loved the dress!” Noah reported to Mom back home. “It fits, and she's real pretty in it.”

  “That's nice.” Mom frowned. “Now get ready for dinner.” She did not inquire further about the girl, and he really appreciated that.

  The routine closed in: morning chores, school, afternoon chores. Noah could hardly wait to get back to the Ark, and it wasn't just because Si was there. There was so much more to learn about it! So many mysteries to wonder about. It was a whole other existence that transformed his imagination and made his dull life interesting. All because of one odd brick.

  But there was also a current of concern. What did hi-tech aliens really want with human children? It wasn't safe to assume that the aliens were friendly. How could he protect himself and Si if the aliens turned out to be malign? He had no good answer.

  “I'll have something for you to take,” Mom murmured.

  “Okay.” Others were in the vicinity, so he didn't ask for details.

  When the time came, Noah went to the kitchen to get whatever it was. Mom handed him a bag. “Just a few more things she may need. Comb, hairbrush, soap, socks, and a book to read.”

  “Thanks! I never thought of that sort of stuff.”