Wil shook his head at Netty, putting his finger to his lips, giving a subtle shake. Ashamed and crestfallen, Netty squatted down to nab Baby’s escaped cat, depositing it back in the wagon. Baby quickly grabbed the cat, holding it close and shutting his eyes. Subject closed.
As Wil and Netty resumed their long journey, from behind their winged backs Baby’s eyes opened and narrowed, flashing rare chaotic emotion. With an inscrutable toss of his antlers, Baby appeared to stew, his posture purposeful, despite the slight tremor of his delicate hands disguised in his movement as he resumed the deliberate stroking of his cat.
Netty and Wil rounded a corner to stand before a stout rough-hewn wooden door sporting a bright new lock affixed to a strong bolt embedded into the cavern wall. Baby quickly let his eyes dim, resuming his benign demeanor.
Netty glanced back at Baby, her bearing suddenly hopeful. Will wrapped his arm around her shoulders as she forced her melancholy mood to vanish. She clasped her hands together with excitement as she watched Baby, receiving a slow nod. Turning to Wil she received the same signal. The cavern echoed with her dull pounding on the door as she squared her shoulders, the temperature suddenly cool. Wil hurriedly removed a key from the twine around his neck, hidden from view by his tunic.
Time stood still as they held their breath, waiting for the door to admit them. Ponderously, the door creaked open, the sound amplified by the acoustics of the cavern. As Netty stepped forward, her hand raised for a greeting, she felt a prick at her neck. Glancing back at the shadows of the membrane-covered cavern wall, she dismissed her premonition, attention focused on what lay behind the door.
The furtive figure melted into the shadow of the cavern wall as the rough door swung open and Netty’s voice rang out with quiet reverence. “Good afternoon, Father.”
As Wil and Netty ushered Baby and their wagon through the door, the shadow heard a scream followed by shrieks. The last image observed by the shadow presented a payoff as it watched the small group being ushered into a brilliant light-filled space by a huge, darkly robed effigy.
In a blink, the ponderous door closed and the lurking shadow was left with the lonely silence of the cool vacated corridor.
Chapter 19
As the survivors slowly trickled into Netty’s kitchen for dinner, they were surprised by the early return of their benefactors from their mysterious daily disappearance.
Salina, Dezi and Ginger Mae snagged Netty’s attention as Kimir and young Bonnie took the time before dinner to play by the fire with the dogs. Echo and Baby watched from their usual stoop, arms swallowed into the membrane that clung to the kitchen wall, ingesting their own variety of nutrition through the pores of their skin.
As Dezi and Ginger Mae worked out the details of their new responsibilities, the rest of the group took seats at the tables, adhering to the spots chosen weeks ago. Dezi’s stint in the kitchen fell on him immediately with the serving of dinner and the cleanup, unexpectedly freeing Ginger Mae to enjoy the company of the other survivors for once.
She felt a worm of anticipation and nervousness stir in her bowels. This was the time for everyone to socialize, relax and let down their hair. She didn’t normally participate in the hilarity, being self-conscious and somewhat ostracized by the facts of Armoni’s death that had made the rounds and, of course, her appearance. It never occurred to Ginger Mae that the community's reluctance to embrace her might be because of her own reticence.
Pouring herself some tea, she scanned the crowd, missing the foursome: Scotty, Chloe, Kenya and Kane were late again, probably dawdling in the bathing cave. From behind Ginger Mae, thin arms snaked around her waist.
“Hi, Mommy, I’m home and I’m starved.”
She turned to survey her dirty daughter. “Daisy, I thought we agreed you would wash up before dinner. You can’t sit down to eat looking like this.” Daisy’s thin hair clumped in stringy lumps of grime and her fingers were encased in tiny white gloves; a requirement of her job and as grimy as the rest of her. Her eyes sparkled with an otherworldly fire as the passion for her task threatened to cascade over them both.
“But Mommy, Mommy, I was so engrossed in . . .”
“Shhhh . . . I know, baby. You can tell me later.”
Ginger Mae’s heart set to bursting with pride as she marveled at her six-year-old prodigy. Already, Daisy’s vocabulary far outstripped her own. What in the world is she doing all day, getting filthy, yet coming back to me with a vocabulary and knowledge that increases daily?
“Ginger Mae . . . allow us.”
Ginger Mae gratefully turned to confront Netty who stood with Abby, hands outstretched, inviting Daisy to join them. She felt a twinge of jealousy as Daisy slipped her dirty hand into Abby’s, her childish face scrunched up with pleasure.
“We’re on our way to the baths to collect our wayward young people. We will see that Daisy bathes at the same time.” Without waiting for her permission, the two winged beauties turned away, Daisy walking proudly between them.
Mildly irked, Ginger Mae took her tea to a table not yet fully occupied. She sat deflated as she reluctantly watched the interplay between her fellow survivors.
Young Bonnie, sweetheart of the group with her sunny personality, infectious laugh and chubby cheeks—pinchable enough to get the oldest of the men in the group blushing—rose from the floor where she tumbled with the dogs. She ran to her mother, who stood ready to pour tea at another table.
As Bonnie chattered to her mother, Ginger Mae watched Salina bob her head in assent, all the while her searching eyes resting on the entrance to the kitchen. Ginger watched Salina’s eyes light up as Clyde lumbered into the room. His somber expression flickered subtly as he met Salina’s gaze. Turning toward him, Salina scooted Bonnie away as she patted a spot for Clyde at a table, resting her hand on his shoulder as he sat holding his mug up for his share of fragrant tea. Salina paused as he sipped the tea, refreshing his mug with a top-off before she moved on, peeking back quickly to see if he still watched; her smile dispirited as she noted he had turned away. Why in the world would she do that to herself? We all know he’s praying his wife makes it to the Hive. Ginger knew what a women in love looked like. The only thing Salina had in store was a broken heart.
Her interest wandered. She watched as Karen sat next to Cobby, a huge smile on her face. She mouthed something Ginger Mae was unable to catch but she didn’t miss the meaning of Cobby’s interest as he cuffed her playfully with his fist, laughing and smacking her leg like he would with another man. They had much in common, both navigators: one of the skies, the other the seas.
Ginger Mae couldn’t blame Karen. After all, he was the most attractive man in their group: knowledgeable, masculine and possessing sex appeal galore. But everyone knew Cobby treated Karen just like one of the boys. And Karen still felt like enough of an outsider to let it slide . . . for now. Ginger Mae knew women. And Karen didn’t strike her as the type to play the buddy for long. Ginger Mae planned to watch this one real close. She hadn’t missed the sidelong peeks Cobby threw at Abby when he felt safe. As of yet, Ginger Mae thought Abby entirely unaware.
“Yo, John.” Everyone turned as Crystal sauntered over to plop down next to Johno.
“Miss Crystal, my name is Johno. I have reminded you of that many times.” Johno’s wide smile stayed in place as he held on to his eternal patience with Crystal.
“Yeah, yeah. Now John, I just got back from the baths and I heard the kids yammerin’ about how ol’ Tobi is a tearin’ up the groves with her tusks. Just wanna give ya a friendly heads up. They're gunna be all over ya when they git here.”
“Yes, Miss Crystal. I know big Tobi is acting out. I must speak to Miss Abby. She may know of a remedy. Thank you for your concern.”
Crystal let out a belly laugh that echoed around the room with her mirth.
“John, you know better than letting that big ol’ lady be the boss. You need a firm hand with ‘er.”
Johno look
ed weary as he bristled at her advice. “Miss Crystal, I have been an elephant man my whole life. I know my eles and what they need. They respect me. I’m not about to change the way I care for them nor will I be changing my name to suit you. Why don’t you spend more time with your pig? She keeps eating and eating. If she puts any more weight on she won’t be able to walk.”
“Now, John, ya know I don’t mean anything by it. Just passin’ the day with ya. Lighten up.”
“My name is Johno.” He shook his head and nodded to the fireplace where Tulip was exploring the butts of any dog that would hold still.
“Miss Crystal, I caught your pig with Tobi again this morning. Can’t you keep him away from the herd? The babies are much too boisterous. He will get hurt.”
“Now Johnny, you know damn well my baby is a girl. Why you gotta insult her like that?”
A sudden squeal sent Crystal over to the fireplace to referee, allowing Johno to turn to his keepers with relief.
Scanning their faces, she saw one missing. With a frown, she searched the room. From Ginger Mae’s seat, she could only infer that that he was with Emma—who hadn’t come to dinner yet. And we’ve only lived here a few weeks. What if this turns into a few years? Hormones are going to explode. Ginger Mae jerked her head up with a start. A few years? Holy shit. Am I already accepting this? What if it’s much more than a few years? Ginger Mae racked her brain, searching for any crumb she might have heard about bombs and radiation. The realization of what they were up against began to slowly dawn.
*
Cackles and shrieks from the young bathers emanated from the baths. From inside, hollow echoes bounced off astounding stalagmites that rose from the tepid water to sparkle and glitter with their precious stones melded into the swirls of the composition of the aged stone. Piles of recently washed clothes littered the cave floor where the water lapped, eager to reclaim the clean clothes while their owners frolicked innocently behind the striking stalagmites that afforded complete privacy to shy bathers and bashful lovers.
Chloe carefully rinsed suds from Scotty’s wings as they soaked in the warm waters, well hidden behind an outcrop of jeweled stalagmites.
Dreamily, she remembered Netty’s simple explanation of where the fluorescent minerals and jewels had come from. They had been taking their second dip in the warm waters when Netty and Baby had stopped in to enjoy the sight.
“I hope you appreciate the efforts made by the Womb on your behalf. Echo told us how you treasure beautiful stones and gold.”
The four young people splashed happily as she spoke.
Scotty shouted out to Netty as she made herself comfortable on the dry rock ground on the edge of the warm water, Baby looking spooky through the wisps of fog as he settled in her lap.
“The Womb did this for us? I thought it didn’t care about us?” He slowly made his way over to the twosome, his wings dragging him down as they collected water in the soft down of his undercoat.
Netty patted the seat next to her, an invitation. She absently stroked Scotty’s soaked wings as she explained. “It isn’t that the Womb doesn’t care about you, Scotty. It’s just that the Womb has given up on our species. We brought it on ourselves with our bloodlust and selfishness. How much longer could the Womb stand by as the planet was raped and the other creatures of this remarkable earth were brutalized for sport and profit?”
She hung her head mournfully, then faced Scotty with signs of tears on her pale face. “And what of those who deliberately inflict pain on other creatures? What of the savage subjugation of women in your third world countries? What about the country of China that rips the skin off the backs of the Womb’s most glorious creatures and grinds their body parts up to foolishly enhance their own idea of virility? Do I need to go on?”
“No, Netty.” Scotty noted Baby flashing his eyes, wild intelligence replacing the soft complacency he always exhibited. Scotty looked closer but Baby had settled down, his normal placid expression firmly in place.
“I feel just like the Womb does. We are the scourge of this planet,” Scotty spoke from his heart. Netty reached over to clasp his hand.
“I know you feel that way, Scotty. We have watched you for some time now. That is why we prepared the Hive so it would be comfortable for you.”
She waved her arm to encompass the beauty of the bathing cave.
“But where did you find all of these luminous rocks and valuable stones?”
She smiled down at him. “That was the easy part. Remember the gold and diamonds Echo obtained for you? That was us. I mean, really the Womb. We knew from Echo what you desired. It was a simple matter to reach out in the ground until the Womb found the material. And we didn’t have to look far. Just about ten miles from here is a place called the Franklin Mines, in the town of Franklin. It was the largest supplier of zinc in the world during World War II. Oddly enough, it was also well known for the largest collection of some of these stones. The fluorescent minerals are a specialty of the mine. It wasn’t hard to find and obtain exactly what we needed. The Womb left quite a catacomb of caverns in the mine, much like here, but not as beautiful, of course. The Womb can go anywhere in the world and obtain anything we want. It’s too late now, though. All manmade things are tainted. Radioactive.”
“Scotty,” Chloe’s plaintive and petulant voice called out to him. With a wave of her hand, Netty excused him to return to his sweetheart.
“Come here, you.”
Scotty turned and scooped Chloe into his arms, tilting her face up to his. His worrisome eyes examined her face, still showing tight signs of the trauma from six weeks ago that still gave them all nightmares.
She was finally beginning to hate her erstwhile father, glad her Uncle Brooks had killed him as he lay groveling on his study floor. And they were all very happy Echo had killed Uncle Brooks after he had shot Teddy. Where would we all be without Echo?
“Thinking about Echo?” Chloe remained expressionless as she searched his face for answers.
“How did you know?”
With that question, Chloe broke out in a smile. “I don’t know much about anything anymore, but I know everything about you.”
She hugged him close. Scotty could feel desperation in her straining arms.
“Not only did you save me but I love you.”
“Echo saved you too.”
She smiled again, acknowledging full well she couldn't have Scotty without accepting Echo.
Scotty had stopped holding his breath long ago as Chloe and Echo tried to make peace with one other. He couldn’t blame Chloe for getting the creeps as Echo adjusted to Scotty’s commitment to her.
The first night he had asked Echo to find another bed to sleep on had been a doozy. That meant Barney had to go too. The two creatures were inseparable. It took two day of silence from Echo, strange stares at Chloe, and long explanations by Scotty before Echo began to get it. There was no similar interspecies love on Oolaha. As individuals, Oolahans were just one of a whole consciousness. They didn’t mate either, of course. Scotty wasn’t sure Echo understood that he didn’t love her less, but she did make room for Chloe’s permanent presence in their lives.
Caesar was another matter. No matter what they did to coax Scotty’s fierce enigmatic guardian into joining the other cats and the bears, he wouldn’t budge.
The only place Caesar gave Scotty some space was in Netty’s kitchen. But when anyone decided to leave, they were forced to clamber around the five hundred pounds of focused feline that sat in the corridor awaiting the sight of Scotty.
Caesar never actually harmed anyone, so after a while the grumbling stopped. Scotty himself, after recovering from the shock and unusual sight of a huge tiger continually stalking him, began to feel special. He finally got over his trepidation and established a firm relationship with the big cat, often approaching Caesar to stroke his enormous gleaming head, three times the size of his own.
His self-esteem grew through the admirat
ion of Chloe and the respect accorded him as the object of Caesar and Echo’s attention. He no longer railed at how his changes set him apart. It was clear to everyone that his changes gave him an advantage, a closer link to Netty and Wil who were still a bit feared as the conveyors of the new laws in their strange world under the ground.
Scotty realized he had come far from the bullied and pilloried child of the mean streets to a handsome young man with abilities and confidence enough to develop into a leader of their foursome. He and Kane had bonded quickly during their mad dash to safety. Their relationship developed deeply, both viewing the other as brothers, much to Cobby and Abby’s delight.
Scotty often wondered how deep Kane’s affection went toward Kenya. He shook his head as thoughts of her flirtatious behavior elicited sympathy for Kane.
They all looked forward to the baby’s birth, which by Kenya’s calculations should happen any day. Maybe the baby would mature Kenya. Her priorities were bound to change as the responsibilities of raising a child under these circumstances hit home. An alliance with a stable man would offer the best chance of survival once they got out of here. He hoped that would be Kane, if that’s what he wanted.
Scotty had to admit, some of the best laughs he had ever had resulted from some hilarious observation of Kenya’s. Her combination of slick sassy street talk and tender idealistic sensibilities left them in stitches all day. A damn good thing because she was worthless as a worker; although Chloe wasn’t much better and she had no excuse.
“Elias, no. Let’s stay close to the bank. We’re running late. It’s dinner time.”
Elias’s low seductive voice cast murmurings across the water. Scotty watched from behind his sheltered outcrop as Emma and Elias swam by, his arm wrapped around Emma’s waist as she struggled to pull them back toward the bank. Her laughter rang out in protest as he dragged her behind a stalagmite, his mouth locked firmly on hers.
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