by Tom Tryst
At the creek, they slip off their shoes, roll up their pants to the knees, and proceeded to wade across. They take their time, hoping to see one of the large zanglan, the seal like fish they had seen on their first walk. None make their presence known. Impulsively, Sherry wades to the shore and begins stripping.
“What are you doing?” laughs Daniel.
“Skinny dipping!” she says with a wide grin. “Join me!”
“The waters not deep enough for swimming,” he exclaims, but drops his shoes and begins undressing.
“Who said anything about swimming?” she teases as she wades back into the stream. “I just want to cool off a little.”
Just the look at her still voluptuous body stirs his passion, but she just laughs and begins wading upstream where the water gets waist deep. “Come on,” she calls back, noticing he is getting aroused. “The water will cool you off.”
“I doubt that,” he mumbles softly, but follows.
When he reaches her, she is squatting, the water up to her shoulders. As he approaches, she reaches out and pulls him down in front of her. “Doesn’t the water feel great!” she exclaimed, putting her hand on his shoulders, keeping him at arms’ length.
“You enjoy teasing me, don’t you?” he accuses.
“Who said I’m teasing?” she replies and pulls him closer, sliding onto his thighs as she wraps her arms around his neck, her legs around his body. They kiss, a long, unhurried kiss.
“Here? In the water?” he asks when they finally come up for air.
“Why not? We did it in Lake Medina.”
“The water was warmer.”
“What’s the matter, Lover,” she teased, reaching down. “Can’t get it up?”
He doesn’t answer, but pulls her closer, trapping his only half-erect manhood between them, hoping the heat from their bodies will offset the effects of the cool water. Instead, she rises to her feet, pulling him to get up.
“Not here,” she says with a wicked smile. “Somebody could come down the trail.”
They exit the water, gather up their clothes and walk, still naked, into the high grass along the stream. Where the stream-fed grass is shoulder high, they tramp down a bedding of grass, well hidden from the trail should someone pass by.
She lays down, pulling him down with her. They kiss again, then she whispers into his ear, “Slowly, Lover. I want our last time on Paradise to be something to remember.”
It will be something to remember, but not as their last time on the planet. When they return to the farmhouse, retiring as soon as their last gathering with neighbors and friend comes to a close, they make love throughout the night.
They sleep in late, no longer needing to rise with the sun. He no longer has any concern with the fields, nor she with the garden and household. The two younger children are long gone, on their own. There is nothing more they have to do but be ready for the shuttle when the sun is at its highest. The loaded pods are already gone.
After a quick breakfast, they step out onto the porch. Danny is sitting in the porch swing, his new wife, Eloise, beside him.
“I know we said our goodbyes last night,” Danny begins. “But we wanted to see you off.” The young man looks miserable, and his lovely wife clings to him in comfort.
“It’s going to be all right, Son,” Daniel promises, sliding into the rocking chair. Sherry crowds next to the couple, putting an arm around the two.
“We’ll come visit every chance we get,” Sherry assures them. “We’ll let you know where we are as soon as we know ourselves. Maybe you can come visit us, too.”
Danny tries to smile, but his unhappiness at the parting is obvious.
“I’ll take good care of him,” Eloise promises. Both Danny and Sherry know the girl isn’t upset with their leaving, but is concerned for her husband. She knows how close they are.
“We know you will,” Daniel responds with a smile. “We wish you happiness. Always remember that your spouse is the most important person in your life. Be good to each other.”
“We will,” they promise in unison, making Daniel smile even broader.
Danny asks, “Are you going to be all right,” looking from his father to his mother.
Sherry answers. “We’ll miss you like crazy, but we’ll be fine. Don’t worry about us.”
“In our last training session, they told us that all the Earthlings will soon be transported,” Danny advises. “Only native Paradisians will inhabit the planet. When I asked why you couldn’t retire here, they simply said it was the wishes of the Universal Council. Part of the overall scheme of things.”
“Ah, yes,” sighs Daniel. “The grand Universal Council and their motto: The good of the many outweighs the good of the few.”
Sherry could detect the sarcasm in his voice, apparently missed by the young couple. “Honey,” she warns softly.
Daniel takes a deep breath, then smiles broadly. “The important thing is to fill the planet. Have you two decided how many children you’re going to have?”
The couple looks at each other, smiling. “No,” Danny responds, “but we’ve already started.”
Sherry leans forward to look at them. “Are you saying you’re expecting?”
Eloise smiles shyly, nodding.
She settles back, looking at Daniel, her expression pained at the thought of missing the arrival of her first grandchild.
“Maybe we can come visit when the time comes,” Daniel suggests, trying to comfort Sherry.
“That would be great!” exclaimed Danny. “Try. Please.”
“We promise.” answers Sherry, knowing that it is a promise she may not be able to keep.
It will be a while before the shuttle arrives. The conversation turns to the good times they have had in the past, avoiding speaking of the pending voyage. Soon they are joined by first Charles and Carol, they having said goodbye to their children the day before, all having farms in adjoining wards, then by brother David and Janet. Soon the others are there, Tabitha and Victor, Janet and her husband, and Debby and Jon. The conversation is light, reflecting on their lives on Paradise, until the shuttle silently rolls to a stop at their gate.
With last hugs, all board the shuttle, leaving Danny and Eloise standing on the porch, waving goodbye as the shuttle quietly moves off toward the distant Distribution Center and transport station. Sherry is still looking back as the farms they are leaving behind dropping out of view.
Chapter Thirty-two
Those on the shuttle with Daniel are unusually quiet, most watching the idyllic scenery flowing past, knowing this will be the last they see of their part of the world for some time to come - if ever. As they pass through Burton’s ward, he watches for a glimpse of Tony or his wife, quickly realizing they would have been long gone. While there are some people in the farmyards or fields, they are all too young to be humans; they had to be the new inhabitants of Paradise, the children of the humans, the native Paradisians.
The closer they come to Tranquility and the Distribution Center, the flatter the land becomes and the fewer the trees. New buildings have been built since his last visit, but he cannot determine their use. The three shuttles had been spaced out during the trip, but now they are closely following the lead vehicle. They stop in line in front of the large black structure that he knows to be the Transport Center, where both people and goods are transported to other worlds, each by a different system.
All disembark and are greeted by a Peace Keeper. “You’re personal belongings have already been transported to your destination. If you will follow me, we will prepare you for your journey.”
The android turns and enters a wide opening in the side of the structure. Daniel offers his arm to Sherry. They are the first to follow the android. The others fall in behind them.
The interior walls are the same dull black material as the exterior, making the room seem rather dark, even though well illuminated. On their previous vacation journeys, they had been led to a room with a number of curtained dressi
ng rooms, with couples being allowed to stay together. Now they were led into a much larger room with similar booths for privacy.
“Please select a booth for the two of you,” the Peace Keeper instructed, referring to each of the couples, knowing all had transported before. “As before, you will put on the provided robes. And as before, you will leave your clothing behind.”
Daniel sees one other difference; on previous trips, it was one of the humanoids who handled the transport, not a Peace Keeper. Daniel takes the opportunity to ask the question on all of their minds. “Can you tell us where we are going?”
The Peace Keeper does not reply other than to instruct, “Please get dressed for your journey.”
Nobody makes a move until Daniel and Sherry head for one of the booths, then all do the same.
Within a short time, all are once again assembled in a group, staying close together for comfort. All are dressed in the pale, silken, form fitting robes
“Please follow me,” the android instructs.
They follow it into another room containing pods similar to those used in their previous journeys, only these were wide enough for two. There were a number of robots there to assist them as The Peace Keeper silently directs their actions.
“You will travel together, man and wife, to ease your anxiety. All are going to the same location and all will be transported simultaneously. Lay prone, on your back, side by side. You may hold hands if you wish. When all are in position, the pods will seal, and all will transport.”
The pods cover slide over, enclosing them.
They are at their new home, their dream home in a tropical paradise. It is just like he had dreamed of, a luxurious cabana set back into palm trees that line a sparkling white beach. Turquoise waters reflect a brilliantly blue sky with a yellow sun lowering to the horizon of the great ocean. Waves wash up onto the white sand with a pleasing swosh, then silently retreat only to be return, creating a pleasant, rhythmic background accompanied by the warm breezes swaying the palm fronds. He is grateful to the Council for granting their wishes, looking over at Sherry for her reaction. She is smiling at him.
“It’s beautiful!” she almost whispers, squeezing his hand. “I know the kids will be eager to visit us here!”
For the first time, he is no longer concerned for their children. He knows that they will live long, happy lives on Paradise. They will be well cared for by the Council.
They settle in.
He is aware of Sherry asleep beside him in their comfortable bed. As he listens to the soft murmur of waves sliding onto the white sand beach, he reflects on their past life, pleasant memories of life on this planet, a place even more beautiful than Paradise. He recalls the many times his children, their children and the many great grandchildren have visited them, all beautiful and healthy. He also recalls the many times he and Sherry had visited them on Paradise. He remembers the many excursions to strange new worlds, meeting strange new races, all friendly and living in harmony with the galaxy.
He looks over at his sleeping wife, marveling that she is still so beautiful, with little signs of aging. He again remembers the many other beautiful worlds they have visit, hand-in-hand, almost like reliving the experiences. He recalls the evenings sitting together with her on their porch, looking out over their beloved tropical sea, glistening in the light of two moons. The past years roll by in his memory, a wonderful life. He feels they will live forever. With one last look at Sherry, his love for her welling in his heart, he is filled with gratitude for their wonderful life together. He gradually lets himself drift back to asleep. . . .
The cover to their capsule opens, as do all the others. Two of the robots approach, one gently lifting the unconscious form of Daniel, the other, Sherry. They carry the two to a small, dark container, and lay them on the floor within, side by side. Other robots are busy bringing in the rest of Daniel’s group. Soon, all recline on the metal floor, all sixty in six rows of ten each.
The last of the robots exit the container. The Peace Keeper closes and seals the door, the only opening to the transporter. A finger without a fingernail pushes a red button.
All sixty humans disappear, their molecules traveling faster than the speed of light, whisking across the vast galaxy, soon caught up by the invisible and undeniable gravity of a huge black hole, to be sucked in to become a part of the essence of the universe for all eternity.
The End
Editor’s note: For other books by Tom Tryst, try:
Imagination Unleashed
Pacifica I; The Adventure Begins
Pacifica II; Life at Sea
Pacifica III; Return to Land