Nuworld: The Saga Begins

by Lorie O'Clare

  Torgo looked at Tara helplessly as the two women sounded triumphant with their argument.

  “Are the two of you quite through?” Tara leaned back in her chair and calmly surveyed the women. “I’ll be driving into town today. I’ve spent many days in much colder weather than this, and I’ll be fine. I think it might be a good idea to take Torgo with me. Look at it as a compromise. He can be my chaperone. I assure you, I’ll keep him from harm.”

  Hilda threw up her hands in the air. “I don’t have the fight to keep up with you, girl. I daresay there probably aren’t many people who do.”

  “How’s this,” Reena suggested. “You take the boy, but when you get back, I do the examination. Will that suit you, Hilda?”

  Hilda looked at Tara.

  Tara couldn’t tell if it was a disapproving look or not.

  “I reckon it suits me. It’s man’s work inspecting what’s left of those buildings, it is, and he’ll be a man soon enough, he will.”

  “Great!” Torgo jumped up from the table. “When do we leave?”

  “After I eat.” Tara helped herself to more bacon.

  “That’s right. Sit, boy.” Reena smiled. “She’s eating for two now.”

  “Dr. Digo says that’s the type of thinking that makes women fat,” Tara said in between bites.

  “Ah, and this same man says you’re due in four cycles as well, huh?” Reena shook her head and scooped more food onto Tara’s plate.

  Tara finished eating quickly, and soon after, she and Torgo were out the door. Downtown looked so different than it had before. Tara remembered coming to the stores for the first time with Reena. As she parked the jeep and walked down the sidewalk with Torgo, very few people were visible, unlike before when merchants bustled about and the streets filled with chattering women and children. The grocery store was open, but most of the other shops were closed.

  Tara pointed to the side street where she’d first met Torgo. The two buildings no longer bordered the service road. One side of the street was simply a mound of bricks and boards. They walked past the rubble. She watched two women hurry across the street with long coats pulled tightly around them to block the cold. Neither one of them looked their way—unlike Gothman women who would eagerly welcome gossip about how the lord’s claim looked good and pregnant.

  “We should organize a team to clean this up. These people need hope. They’re not accustomed to being challenged with the hardships of battle, and I fear morale is low. This war won’t last forever, and the town will have to be rebuilt sooner or later. I think if we have a crew start on clean up now, self-esteem in the town will return to normal.”

  “None of the men are here to do it,” Torgo pointed out.

  “What’s wrong with the women, and all of you young people too young to fight, doing it? There’s no reason why you can’t help. You’ve nothing else to occupy your time since Darius closed the schools until further notice. It’ll keep the kids out of trouble. And I’m sure the women want to help, too. That way, when the men do come home, they can focus on rebuilding.”

  “I’m game, but I don’t think many of the women around here would help. We aren’t like you, Tara. If the men came home and found their women had been doing their work, I don’t think they’d like it much, I don’t.”

  Tara thought for a moment and then looked up smiling. “I have an idea, come on.” She walked quickly back to the jeep.

  “What are you thinking?”

  Tara pulled out of the parking spot and headed toward the camps. Torgo held on as she bounced over the rough road. She looked at him and saw the excited look on his face as he realized where they were going.

  “My brother is going to be mad, he is.” He was still grinning.

  “Don’t you worry about your brother, I can handle him.”

  She drove in to the Blood Circle Clan’s camp and slowed the jeep.

  “I’ve never seen so many Runners,” Torgo almost whispered and watched people walking around him who were indifferent to his presence.

  “They’re people just like you.” She pulled up in front of Balbo’s trailer and got out of the jeep. She didn’t see her brother, but his daughter came out and greeted her. Syra had fourteen winters and was of age to wear the full Runner clothing. The young girl bounced down the trailer steps to greet them, wearing her headscarf, which Tara guessed she had put on when she noticed she had company. Tara remembered reaching the age when she could finally don full Runner garb, and how anxious she had been to wear it at every opportunity.

  Tara noticed the looks Torgo and Syra gave each other. They were the same age, and although she knew Torgo had not shown any interest in girls yet, he appeared to be appraising Tara’s niece with interest.

  “Where’s your papa, Syra?”

  “They should be returning soon. I just got word from him.” The young girl shyly watched the boy in the jeep with eyes that appeared bright through her mask.

  “Where is he?”

  “He went down to the front with the other men last night.”

  “If he returns before I do, let him know I wish to talk to him, okay?” Tara got back into the jeep and headed to the battle site, which was also the same direction as Patha’s trailer. She got as far as the side of the trailer when she saw Patha and Darius riding their bikes toward her. She was delighted that she was able to see Darius while here. A week without him made her heart ache. Torgo, however, slouched down in his seat.

  “You are about to meet my papa, who is also the leader of this clan.” Tara looked at the boy as they pulled up in front of the trailer and climbed out of the jeep. “Be sure to show all signs of your warrior training, understand?”

  “Yes.” He straightened.

  “What in the world are you doing here?” Patha got off his bike and approached them with long strides.

  “Patha, I’d like you to meet Torgo, younger brother of Lord Darius.” Tara ignored the question and instead offered the introduction.

  There was a slight smile on Darius’ face as the young boy stood alert, did not smile, and saluted with all the signs of a great future Gothman warrior.

  Patha acknowledged the salute and treated Torgo like a man by returning the salute, as he would one of his soldiers.

  “I’ve come to recruit several young people to take care of some work I want done in town.” Tara looked from one man to the other.

  “What work is that?” Darius dismounted his bike and reached Tara’s side within the next second, pulling her into his arms.

  “Several of the buildings downtown are nothing more than rubble.”

  “Which buildings?” Darius frowned at the news.

  Torgo looked as if he was ready to respond to the question, but a quick look from Tara reminded him of the training she’d given him. A young warrior doesn’t speak to a superior unless spoken to directly.

  “The building next to the grocery store is gone. It’ll need to be rebuilt. The pride of the Gothman people in town has been affected, as is normal during war. If we show signs of preparing to rebuild, it’ll boost their spirits. They need to see that life as they knew it will return soon.”

  “That doesn’t sound like work for children,” Patha frowned.

  “The Gothman women won’t do such work. I want some of the young people too young for fighting to work. The school’s been closed, and they need something to do. I need several Runner children, as well as Gothman children, to start hauling this rubble. It’ll allow them to get to know each other. And if the Gothman girls are allowed to work also, it will help them start to learn how to work alongside men, doing the same task.”

  “Could you do this work?” Darius now addressed Torgo.

  “Yes, I could.” Torgo stood tall as he spoke.

  “And what do you think the mamas of these children will say when you tell them you want their children to do a man’s job?” Darius stroked Tara’s arm as he held her firmly next to him.

  “I know what I would like to tell them. I’ve
seen the kind of work these women do around the town. They could rebuild the buildings themselves with instruction. My first thought was to have the women do the work. It was Torgo who said they would fear what their claims would say when they returned. That’s when I thought of the children.”

  * * * * *

  “You can’t change the ways of a nation overnight, my lady. Whether they can do the work or not isn’t the point.” Darius rested his chin on the top of Tara’s head and moved his hand over her growing belly. She looked so pregnant. He was sure she’d almost doubled in size in the one week since he’d last seen her.

  There was a folding chair by the trailer, and he set it next to Tara. Placing his hand gently on her shoulder, he made it clear she was to sit. “There are things in life that are simply viewed as men’s work,” he said with a smile. “Some of them I don’t believe you’d argue with. They are part of your culture too, they are. I’ve seen them now. A man will carry heavy items while the woman takes care of the children, yes. Your women may be warriors, but they don’t mind the chivalry of a man.”

  Tara smiled and accepted the chair. “I still want the children.”

  “Stubborn as they come,” Darius said to Patha, who nodded and walked into the trailer.

  “The town people won’t go for it, Tara.”

  “They will if you tell them to.”

  “Could we ask your niece to help?” Torgo spoke up, forgetting about not speaking unless addressed.

  “What?” Darius turned a foul expression on his younger brother.

  “Nothing.”

  Tara gave Torgo a sharp look. “The people will do what you say, Darius.” She was not going to give up. “They follow you blindly.”

  Darius turned from her and walked toward the jeep, deep in thought.

  “It’s true,” Tara said. “I mean nobody will even mention your brother Juro.”

  He couldn’t believe she had just mentioned his dead brother’s name. There was a damn good reason why he was never mentioned. No one would be allowed to question why his brother had died, giving Darius right to lead Gothman. He wouldn’t have it.

  He turned quickly as anger surged through him, then looked at Torgo and felt the emotion fade away. “Fine. I’ll issue the order.”

  Darius scrutinized Tara for a second. She still looked tired, but she was clean and there was more color in her face. Her eyes glowed, and she seemed pleased with her victory, but he was looking deeper. He wanted to see some type of satisfaction with her oncoming mamahood. He knew she loved the life of a warrior. Would she love the life of mamahood as well? He wanted her to…desperately. The thought of her raising their child kept him going in this dreary and tiresome war, a war he wished would end.

  “When’s your next doctor’s visit?”

  “As soon as I get home.”

  “Good. I expect a raving report.” He kissed her affectionately. “The Sea People are showing signs of weakening. This war should be over soon, it should.”

  * * * * *

  Tara was glad he approved her plan. She would have implemented it even if he had said no; she’d already made her mind up about that. It wouldn’t have been hard to tell the people he’d given a command. They wouldn’t have found out otherwise, not until the deed had been done. But going behind Darius’ back wasn’t how she wanted to do things. The two of them needed to be a team, not working against each other.

  Balbo agreed to send his daughter to town; several other Runners also agreed to send their children. That was the easy part. Back in town, Tara took Torgo’s suggestions on which houses to approach. The women who answered the doors were reluctant at first, but realizing it was an order, they also agreed. The next morning, the young people would meet downtown and begin work.

  As far as Tara was concerned, approaching the Gothman women was the easy part of the day. Reena’s exam awaited her, and Tara didn’t look forward to it. Driving back to the house, she felt tired and in need of a nap. It was not part of her nature to admit fatigue, and she kept her attitude positive and cheery in an effort not to show it.

  Reena was ready for her and scooted Torgo out of the house, telling him he could return after the exam ended, but she wouldn’t have a man under the roof while examining a woman.

  “Now then, I am going to see if your cervix is softening, I am.” Reena waited as Tara got comfortable on her bed and Hilda looked on.

  The examination was uncomfortable but, regardless of what any doctor may say, there’s no way to examine female organs without some discomfort. Tara put all her attention into keeping her face expressionless. She’d handled gunshot wounds, broken bones and other injuries with dignity, but the unusual pressure she felt as Reena probed her with fingers made Tara want to yell and pull away.

  Reena poked and prodded and pushed on Tara’s tummy. She would stand back and look at Tara and then continue with the prodding.

  “That’s interesting,” she said once. “Well, I’ll be,” was another response.

  Tara watched her and strained her neck to see what Reena was doing, although it was difficult with her big tummy in the way.

  Finally, Reena stepped back and washed her hands.

  Hilda handed Reena a dry towel and studied her friend’s face, then turned and patted Tara’s shoulder.

  “Do you want anything, dear?” Reena asked.

  “No.” Tara put her legs together and then began to sit.

  “Stay there then. I’ll be right back, I will.”

  Hilda followed Reena out of the room.

  Tara strained to hear their words as they walked down the hall.

  “Why?” Hilda asked.

  Tara thought she sounded irritated. Why what, Tara wondered, but all she could hear were the two women descending the stairs.

  She must have drifted to sleep, because Tara awakened to the sound of voices in her room. But they sounded so far away…she was content to ignore them. Slowly, she opened her eyes and was rather surprised to see Dr. Digo standing there looking at her with Reena and Hilda at his side.

  “You needed that sleep, didn’t you, dear?” Reena smiled at her daughter.

  “How long was I out?” Tara tried to sit up, but a cramp slowed her down. This was something she experienced often. She didn’t bat an eye at it, but slowed down until it had passed and then relaxed again on her bed.

  “Do you cramp often?” Dr. Digo put on a pair of sterile gloves and unloaded the contents of a bag onto her dresser.

  “I guess so. I don’t give it much thought.”

  He lifted a suitcase she hadn’t noticed until then and opened it to display a portable landlink.

  “How can I help?” Reena looked at the foreign equipment.

  “A bowl of very hot water might help. This ointment is always cold for some reason. It would be nice if we could warm it up.” Hilda quickly left the room before Reena could.

  It was obvious she was bothered about something and that alerted Tara.

  “What’s going on, Doc?”

  “I’m going to do a sonogram. Ever had one of those?”

  Tara allowed Reena to adjust the sheets so just Tara’s protruding belly showed.

  “No, but I’ve heard of them. Can you tell me if my baby is a boy or a girl?” Tara wasn’t sure why Reena sent for Dr. Digo, but she thought both women looked a bit worried. “Is everything okay?”

  “I’m sure all is fine, but we’ll take a look to make sure. If you want, while we’re checking, we can tell if you are going to have a son or daughter.” He smiled at her and accepted the hot water as Hilda returned.

  After plugging in cords to the machine, Dr. Digo spread the ointment over Tara’s tummy. The women watched as he turned on the machine, then placed a flat disc attached by a bunch of chords to Tara’s stomach.

  “That won’t hurt the baby, will it?” Hilda looked more nervous than a cat.

  “Goodness, no, ma’am.” Dr. Digo tried not to smile at the ignorance of the question. “Look at the monitor, and you’l
l be able to see what’s inside Tara’s uterus.”

  “For heaven’s sake,” Hilda breathed.

  Tara couldn’t tell if Hilda’s response was a result of the extraordinary equipment or at the doctor mentioning a female reproductive organ so casually.

  “I can’t tell what I’m looking at.” Tara watched the movement of the black and white picture on the screen.

  “You were right,” Dr. Digo told Reena.

  “I knew it.” Reena clapped her hands to her mouth.

  “Knew what?” Tara looked at each adult hovering over her, confusion and fear settling hard in her gut. “Is everything okay?”

  It hadn’t crossed her mind until that moment that anything could possibly go wrong with the pregnancy. She’d seen her fair share of pregnant women in the clan. Other than getting bigger, they never acted any different and continued with their lives just as before.

  “I’ll tell you that in a minute. What I can say now is that Reena discovered you are carrying two babies.”

  “Twins?” Tara let her head drop to the pillow in disbelief. “Are you sure?”

  “Carrying two babies is a lot harder than carrying one.” Dr. Digo turned his attention to Reena and Hilda. “She is going to need to keep her activities to a bare minimum from here on out.”

  “Oh no! I can’t do that.” Tara tried to sit up and cursed when her large belly stopped her, not only with its size, but with shooting pains that captured her breath momentarily.

  * * * * *

  Reena noticed the look of defiance she’d grown accustomed to seeing. “Now we know…and you’ll not go anywhere until these babies are born.” Reena let her daughter see where she got some of her stubbornness.

  Tara opened her mouth to rebut.

  Reena lifted her hand to make it final. “Her cervix is a lot thinner than I expected it to be. She shows all signs of a woman preparing for birth in a cycle. But I’m thinkin’ we don’t want those babies coming before they are done.” Reena spoke to the doctor, but caressed her daughter’s head, letting Tara hear the reality of what could happen if she disobeyed this order to rest. Reena might be conferring with the doctor, but she still watched him warily. She wasn’t comfortable with the idea of a man giving her daughter such a personal examination.