by Saxon Andrew
Melody watched him and turned sideways to the target and said, “Do it again slowly so I can see how your body moves.” Andy slowly pulled an arrow back and leaned slightly forward into the shot. He held the arrow back for five seconds and then released it. It hit the center of the bull’s eye.
Melody took the arrow Andy pulled out of her quiver and notched it on the bowstring and put it on the recess on the bow’s center. She looked at Andy, “Where do you aim?”
“From this range, if you pull the arrow all the way to your cheek, the top of the center yellow circle is about right.”
Melody extended her arm and pulled the cable back. She released it and pulled it back again. She released it again and pulled it back and held it. She released it and looked at Andy, “I can’t hold it back very long.”
“That’s because you’ve not trained your muscles to the effort. The more you use a bow, the easier it gets to hold it back.” Melody turned back to the target and everyone standing behind her looked at each other. The odds of her hitting the target never having fired a bow were small. However, she pulled the bow back and in an instant, released the arrow. It didn’t hit inside the target but did hit the top right corner. She turned to Andy and held out her hand. She fired again and missed the target high. She turned the bow over in her hand and shook her head, “This just doesn’t feel right.”
Andy took the bow and said, “Wait here.” He walked back to his back pack and picked up a bow lying next to it. He brought the bow over to Melody and said, “Try this one.” Harvey, and the others saw that it was Harmony’s bow that she had used to practice. Melody pulled the cable back and smiled. She held out her hand and Andy handed her an arrow. She turned and pulled the cable to her cheek and released the arrow. It hit just inside the outer ring of the target. Harvey had watched Harmony practice many times and knew that shot looked very much like hers. Andy said, “Archery is something you can work on in your spare time. This is not a weapon that you can use now.” Andy walked over to the weapons and lifted a cutter.
“What is that?”
“This is a weapon that some of the original colonists from Atlantis brought with them. It is solar powered and has an incredibly hot beam. You can adjust the beam with the controls on the handle.” Melody walked over and watched as Andy demonstrated how to change the length of the beam. Maxius leaned toward Lyla and said, “This is not a good idea. She could hurt herself with a cutter.”
Andy walked forward and stood in the middle of four wooden poles sticking up out of the ground. He looked at Melody, “These are the steps you use to defend yourself from multiple attackers.” Those gathered watched Andy as he slowly, but smoothly moved in a circle in the middle of the poles. He was incredible to watch and when he went to full speed it was like a dance. He used the six foot cutter blade to cut off six inch pieces off the top of the four poles and he would take off one on each as he turned a circle and then take one off the two opposite each other. When he stopped, he heard applause. A group of citizens had gathered and were impressed with what they were seeing. Andy handed the cutter to Melody, “I don’t want you to try and do this quickly.” Melody looked at the gathered members of the Community and Andy grabbed her chin and turned her face back to him. “Ignore them. Do you remember my footwork?”
“I think so. You slid your feet and used the balls of your feet to spin.”
Andy smiled, “Very good. Now, take this cutter and simply walk through the motions. Don’t rush it, just walk through it.”
Melody took the cutter and held it over her head as Andy had done prior to starting his instruction. She closed her eyes and remembered every step he had taken. How could she do this? But she could see his steps. She brought the cutter down and stepped slowly to the left with a cross over step and then went to the balls of her feet and spun slowly around to the right and smoothly swung the cutter into the closest pole cutting off a small section at the top. She slid her left foot behind her right leg and then spun and cut another section off the next pole. She moved slowly and deliberately without hurrying. Andy watched her and looked over at Harvey. They heard Lyla say, “This is impossible. No one can learn those steps just by seeing them one time.”
Andy continued to stare at Harvey and then they turned back to Melody who finished the exercise. The gathered citizens applauded loudly and Melody’s face turned red. Andy walked up and took the cutter out of her hands. “Can you remember the steps you just did?” Melody nodded. “This time I want you to do them without the cutter. Just move inside the poles and do them as quickly as you can without losing your focus.”
Melody looked at Andy, “I don’t understand but it’s like I know this.”
Andy smiled, “Some people are natural dancers. Step in and dance.”
Melody laughed and stepped in the center of the four poles. She closed her eyes and moved into the rhythm of the moves. Maxius, Lyla, and Mark were stunned at what they were witnessing. Melody moved through the routine as fast as Andy and did it with her eyes closed. She was smooth and the smile on her face showed her joy. She finished and the Leaders all applauded her along with those gathered watching.
Harvey looked at Andy, “It’s time.”
Andy nodded and picked up a Destroyer Rifle and an ammunition belt. He walked over to Melody and handed the rifle to Melody. She held it and her eyes narrowed. Andy said, “Come with me.” He started walking away from the southern wall toward four targets lined up against the cliff. Melody took the rifle and pulled the sling loose and put it over her left shoulder. She slung the ammunition belt across her right shoulder with the bullets along her chest. Harvey shook his head as the leaders followed them.
Andy walked toward the targets and his mind was in turmoil. He suspected something was going on but he was shocked to have it confirmed. This would cement it if he was right in his suspicions. He knew Harvey had also seen it. They arrived at the targets and he saw that Mark had covered them with new covers. Andy stopped a hundred yards from the targets and looked at Melody, “Take a shot.”
Melody did a double take and said, “Isn’t this too far away?” Andy shook his head. “Will you show me how to do it?”
“No, I want you to just do what you sense is right.”
“But I’ve never touched one of these.”
“Just do what you feel, Melody.”
Melody stared at Andy and looked at the other leaders. Something in their eyes told her they were nervous. She looked and Andy and he smiled, “Close your eyes and feel it.”
Melody took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She felt her hands move down the ammunition belt and ignore the bullets on it. She reached in a pocket at the bottom of the belt and pulled out a square that had bullets in it. She slung the rifle off her shoulder and slammed the clip into it. She opened her eyes and raised the rifle. She saw the trees behind the targets were blowing to the left and she changed her aim slightly. She smiled as she fired four quick shots, one at each of the targets. She held the rifle on the last target and Andy reached over and took it out of her hands. She frowned as it left her hands. Andy raised her chin and said, “Let’s go take a look, shall we?”
Melody nodded and as they walked the hundred yards to the targets Melody’s eyes started to grow wide as they moved closer. She saw that all four targets had a dark hole in the center of the bull’s eye. She stopped and felt shock and then fear. Andy stopped beside her and waited. She stared at the targets and knew what she had done was impossible. Then she realized the dance with the cutter was also impossible. She continued to stare at the targets as Andy waited beside her.
Maxius, Lyla, and Mark stared at the targets and they turned to Harvey. Lyla said, “What’s going on, Harvey? This is spooky.”
Harvey took a breath and exhaled slowly. “There is a lot we don’t know about the human mind. We know there are stories about how twins seem to know what each of them are thinking. I’ve been watching Melody and I’m certain that if she’s different in any way from Harmony,
I’ve not seen it.”
Mark said, “What do you mean?”
Harvey turned and looked in Mark’s eyes, “I don’t want to believe it but it’s like the same person existed in two different lives. I really think that Melody knows everything that Harmony knew just below the surface of her consciousness. I also suspect that Harmony also knew everything Melody knew. They were connected in a way that we can’t understand. I think I know why Harmony’s last request was for Andy to save her sister.”
Lyla said, “Why?”
“She was telling him to save her.”
Maxius shook his head, “That’s impossible.”
“Then explain how she has never picked up a rifle and hit all four bull’s eyes with a wind blowing? None of you could do it and you’ve fired rifles.”
Maxius looked at Melody transfixed on the target and looked back at Harvey, “What do you think is going on in her mind?”
“She’s confused and mixed up. I hope she can handle this.”
• • •
Andy waited patiently and watched Melody continue to stare at the targets. After ten minutes she said without looking at him, “How did you know?”
“You are too much alike.”
“She’s inside of me.”
“No, she’s part of you. She is you.”
Melody turned and looked at Andy. “I can’t accept that.”
Andy stared at her and said, “Come with me.” He took her hand and pulled her back toward the archery targets. They passed the four leaders and they remained where they were standing. They arrived at Andy’s bundle and he reached down into it and pulled out a pouch and picked up a red blaster inside a holster. He strapped the blaster around Melody’s waist and said, “You can defend your Cursor. Use this blaster and always carry a rifle. I don’t think anything will endanger you.”
“But…”
Andy put his index finger on Melody’s lips and handed her a dark colored pouch, “There is a book inside this that I want you to read. Get Maxius to gather provisions from storage that will last you about four weeks.”
“But…”
Andy shook his head, “Forty miles south of here is another cave and you open it by pulling the switch to the left side of it. Melody will barely fit inside but she will fit. Take this book and read it without anyone around to interrupt you. You can read, can’t you?”
“Not the language you normally speak.”
“This is written in English.”
“Who wrote this?”
Andy smiled, “Someone that I know closely. When you finish it, come back. Will you do this for me?”
Melody stared at Andy and after a moment nodded.
Andy sighed, “Good.” He turned and walked away as Harvey and the others walked up. Melody looked at them and Harvey saw the pouch she was holding, “What are you doing with that?”
“Andy has asked me to read it.”
Harvey looked at Andy walking away and turned back to Melody, “Please take care of it. It is beyond value.”
Melody nodded, “Maxius, he asked me to get you to give me enough provisions to last four weeks.”
“WHAT?”
Harvey looked at Maxius and said, “Our leader has issued an order.”
Maxius looked at Harvey and then looked at Melody, “Come with me.” Melody went with him and two warriors assisted her taking the supplies to the Cursor pen. She saddled Melody and hooked the provisions to the saddle. She climbed up and slung the rifle over her shoulder. Lyla looked at her, “Where are you going?”
“Andy gave me a place to go about forty miles south of here. I’m pretty certain I can find it.”
Lyla looked up at the sun, “It’s going to be dark in a few hours. Are you sure you want to leave now?”
Melody looked down at Lyla, “If I don’t go now, I won’t. Thanks, Lyla for all you’ve done. You are really a good friend.” Melody nudged the huge Cursor with her knees and it turned and exploded away from the pen. Lyla’s mouth fell open and she knew that Melody would arrive at her destination long before sunset. They were a small dot in the distance and getting smaller as she watched them.
• • •
Melody sat on her Cursor and forgot her anxiety as they rocketed down the beach. Andy was right about Melody’s speed, it was unbelievable and the giant cursor loved running. Melody knew they could have run all the way to the cave but she wanted time out in the open. She slowed and felt the love of her Cursor. It was a tight fit when they arrived at the cave, but Andy was right. Melody was able to crawl inside.
She sat down and started a fire. Melody had eaten at the river before they entered and she was tired. She went to the stream in the rear of the cave to drink and then found a place close to Melody and lay down. Melody started to open the book and then put it down. She pulled the cutter out of its holder on the saddle and walked into the middle of the cave. She extended the blade to its maximum length. She closed her eyes and started the dance. In a few moments she opened her eyes and continued the intricate movements. Her eyes narrowed and she knew that she didn’t need to close her eyes anymore. She continued the dance until she was too tired to continue. She went to the fire, opened a pouch and took out some food. She put it down beside her and opened the book Andy had given her. She read;
“I awoke in a cave with hundreds of other humans all dressed in clothing from different times in Earth’s history. My last memory is of the giant Great White Shark bearing down on me with its eyes rolling back and a mouth full of four inch long teeth…”
Melody continued reading until late into the night. She finally found her eyes closing and she put the book back in its pouch and fell asleep. She wanted to read more but it would have to wait for the next day.
• • •
Harvey waited until the next day and called for Andy to come to the Holy Cave. Andy arrived and Harvey led him over to a secluded place and said, “I’m troubled by this development.”
“You’re not alone.”
Harvey shook his head and sighed, “My mind is telling me that it isn’t Harmony but my eyes are yelling at me to get real.”
Andy sat down and shook his head, “You and I both know at some level that this is just not possible; but Harvey, her every mannerism is exactly the same. The tone of her voice is the same. Her smile, her frown, her laugh…”
“Do you have any notion as to how this can be?”
“I’ve lost sleep thinking about this over the last two days but I think it started with the death of her family when the Destroyers took her and her sister into captivity. They were taken into a society where there was no happiness, only absolute depravity and cruelty. I know that twins normally share a connection that only they understand. I think at some level that they were connected and that connection was the only thing that kept them sane. They were the same person living in two different places. I keep remembering Harmony’s eyes as she asked me to save Melody. I think she felt the connection disappearing and knew that I had to try and save her.”
“Why?”
Andy blew out a breath and looked Harvey in the eyes, “Because the only thing that kept her sister sane was going to die with her.”
Harvey stared at Andy and said, “You know she will not love you.”
Andy stared at Harvey and said, “Harvey, you’re looking at this from the perspective of a normal person.”
“What do you mean?”
“She will have no choice but to love me. That part of Harmony is inside her. Do you really see it differently?”
Harvey thought about it and shook his head, “That could drive her insane.” Andy nodded. “Is that why you sent her away?”
“She has to be away from me until she can cope with this. I hope reading the book will also help.”
“What about you? You are a normal person. Can you love her after Harmony?”
Andy looked at Harvey, “You gave me that book for a reason. That tells me you read it.”
“At least ten times.
”
“Then you should know the answer to your question.”
Harvey stared at Andy and then shook his head, “Just don’t go crazy on me.”
“I was very close to that when I planned to attack the Destroyers. I’m at peace now.”
“How do you see them responding to your message?”
“They’ll be here with a massive force in about three months.”
“How can you be certain about the time?”
“It makes sense. The wind is currently out of the east and will continue for another five months. At that point it will shift and blow from the west. That leader of theirs knows we now have more than fifty of his ships and we will then be able to use them to go after him. He’s not going to wait for the wind to change before he acts.”
Harvey rubbed his chin with his right hand and sighed, “I have to agree with you. So how do we meet them?”
“This fight will be easier than the last one.”
“Oh! I really hope you’re right. We didn’t lose anyone in the last one.”
“Chang died from the tree but essentially you’re right. They know we can be invisible but they don’t know that we can fly. That is the difference maker. They’ll believe that we stormed their ships with invisible boats. They’ll be looking for wakes approaching their vessels and open fire on any they see. Of course there won’t be any and when they arrive here, they’ll find they can do nothing to get at us.” Harvey’s eyes narrowed. Andy smiled, “We’re going to haul the cannons off half the boats to the top of the cliff where we’ll anchor them. We’ll have the crews teach us how to fire them and we’ll spend the next three months getting our accuracy down to a fine art. We control the high ground and they won’t be able to move their ships close enough to fire cannons into our Community.”
“What do you see them doing?”
“The cliffs run for hundreds of miles north and south of here. They’ll sail south and try to find a place for their forces to climb over.”
“Why would they not sail north?”