Angels Among Us

by C. E. Barrett

  “Are you a Nanny, then?” she asked.

  Seren raised questioning eyebrows. What do you mean, Devany?”

  “I mean, if you are caring for young people, children, don't you have to be some kind of Nanny?”

  “No, sweetie. I'm their mother.”

  “You're a Mother?” skepticism showed all too plainly on the little face.

  “Yes, of course.” Seren suddenly remembered Devany's description of her world, and added, “My children live with me and I take care of them.”

  Devany's forehead creased as her confusion grew. “With you? Why? What can you do for them?”

  Seren didn't care much for Devany's tone, but made allowances based on the image in her mind of the sterile world the child had come from.

  “Well, I taught them to walk and talk, their alphabet, colors, numbers, how to dress themselves, how to feed themselves. I taught Theo and Meggie how to crochet. I taught Matt how to cook and knit. I taught Karina how to run the house, write checks, do laundry.... “She smiled and directed her next comment to Daffyd. “You know, you don't realize how much you do as a parent, until you start thinking about it.” She turned back to Devany.

  Devany was now convinced that Seren was either a dangerous defective or an incredible liar. No one person could do all those things. There wasn't a need for it, for one thing, and who ever heard of a single human being capable of reading, and cooking, and knitting? It was completely unbelievable and she said so.

  “What makes it so hard to believe?” asked Daffyd. Apart from the unusually large number of children, he found her description of life just a few years before his ‘now’ very familiar.

  “Because it's not like that at all!” replied the child. She continued, in her curiously unchildlike manner, “Everyone knows that mothers grow the babies, and give them milk for the first year. That's all they do. They don't read, they don't cook, they don't knit. All they have to do is make babies and care for them until they go to their first Nursery. Why would they need all that other knowledge? They don't.”

  “Where I come from, almost everyone can read. We need to be able to read labels, street signs, magazines, newspapers.... “Seren's voice trailed off when she saw Devany's puzzled expression. “You don't know what I'm talking about, do you?”

  Devany shook her head. The words made sense individually; she knew what they meant. But they didn't belong in a sentence like that. She struggled with the meaning of the word ‘newspaper'. She could understand ‘new paper', but what ‘newspaper’ might signify, she couldn't guess. Perhaps it was a regional accent or something. That was a possible explanation.

  Seren looked to Daffyd for help. At least he shared her frame of reference and knew what she was talking about. He read the unspoken plea in her eyes, and made an attempt to get through to the little girl.

  “Where we come from, Devany, all children are taught to read. Then, when they get older, they can learn about whatever it is they decide they want to do when they grow up.”

  This only served to increase her confusion. What could he mean by ‘they decide'? It sounded as if he meant that the children would make the choice of what their career paths would be. As if that would work! Everyone knew the State decided what you would be. When you had a natural early talent for something, like language, or art, then you were trained according to that. If your skills hadn't surfaced by the age of three, then your path was decided by whatever field the State expected would need filling in fifteen years. If you were lucky, you would be utterly devoid of imagination and would live out your years unaware that you might be missing out on something.

  Lately, she herself had been displaying signs of imagination, which she was careful to suppress when she thought someone might be watching. As a matter of fact, because she had been using her imagination in the sports class, she thought that whatever was happening now might be some form of punishment. She thought that the adults might be Testing her, telling her things to make her imagination fly and then when she fell into their trap, she would have her memory erased, her mind reset.

  She thought about Piotr for the first time in a long time. He had been bright and quick to learn, but hadn't realized early enough to hide his tendency to pretend things that weren't real. He had never been the same after his treatments; he hadn't been able to concentrate, and he forgot things almost as soon as he heard them. Soon after his return to the group, he had been removed, and sent to another Center. Languages were no longer his strong suit. She often wondered what had become of him, and had no desire to join him, wherever he had gone.

  She considered the things Daffyd and Seren were telling her. She thought they must consider her defective, expecting her to believe any of this. How on Earth could you possibly wait until you were grown up to decide what to do with your life? How would you ever have time to learn everything you needed to know about your job?

  She suddenly realized she had blurted these last few questions out loud. Seren and Daffyd were staring at her with faces on which amusement and dismay were warring for the upper hand. She ran her mind over her recent thoughts and realized she had said it all out loud. Including the part about using her imagination. She clapped her hands over her mouth! Reprogramming! Oh no! She half started to her feet, but realized there was no place to run, no one to save her, and she slowly sat back down.

  * * * *

  Blagdur grinned at Graz. There! See that? She told her darkest secret. That should cause some trouble! He laughed. Graz sulked even as he fed off the terror that radiated from Devany.

  I can do better than that, he muttered. Blagdur snorted his disbelief and turned his attention to the other projects, looking for others to ruin.

  * * * *

  Seren reached out a hand to comfort the child. She didn't know where the sudden terror had come from, but she wanted to reassure Devany. She wanted to convince her that they weren't in her world anymore, that she had nothing to fear from either Seren or Daffyd, that there was no danger here. Of course, she wasn't completely convinced of that last part, herself, although the house certainly felt a safer haven than when they had first entered. Still, how much nicer to be home, curled up on the couch drinking tea and watching “NYPD Blue” on TV.

  “Devany,” she began. “You know we're not anywhere near your Complex.” Devany nodded, her eyes huge with fear. “Well, we, Daffyd and I, we're not ... I mean, we don't ... arrrrrghghgh.” She made a wordless sound of frustration. “Our world isn't like yours, baby. We don't erase people's minds, or take away their imagination. We really do do a lot of different things. It's how we live.... “She brightened suddenly. “I know. I'll show you. Come on.”

  She rose and led the way to the kitchen, turning on the light over the big table as she went through the door.

  “Daffyd, can you get the water going?” He shrugged in reply. “Well, see if you can find some water to pour in there, see? And then just pump the handle up and down. I hope there's water in the well.”

  Daffyd peered into the various jugs and containers on the counter, and looked under the sink. Seren examined the woodstove, opening the damper, checking flue. Devany stood to one side, watching, wondering what they were up to. Seren and Daffyd reached for the lid to the water reservoir at the same time. She grinned at him.

  “Great minds think alike,” she said with a twinkle. The reservoir was more than half full. Daffyd filled the priming jug and turned to his task. Seren looked around the room. “If we can get the stove going, and the water running, then we can clean the kitchen. Then I can make us some supper.”

  She caught Daffyd's expression as he worked on the pump. “What?”

  “What do you mean, ‘what'?” he looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

  “That funky little smile ... what's that all about?”

  He puzzled over the word ‘funky'. It must have fallen out of use, although their times weren't that far apart. He must have consorted with a different set.

  “I was just thinking how reluct
ant you were to enter earlier, and now you seem intent on making yourself at home.”

  “Well, it felt creepy before,” she said, squatting and opening the front of the firebox of the stove. “And I'd still like to know where the people went. But now we have Devany to worry about as well.” She looked up at him, pausing in the middle of cleaning out the ashes. “It just makes sense to stay here, or don't you agree?”

  “No, I think it's a fine idea. There are enough rooms upstairs for us all. I think we should stay ... for a few days, anyway.” He poured more water into the pipe and tried the handle. It was stiff from disuse, but he was a powerful man under the excess weight. The handle began to move.

  “Then we'll need to clean this up. I can't cook supper in furry pots. How's the water coming along?” She was now filling the stove with kindling and lengths of wood from the box in the corner.

  Daffyd pushed mightily and was rewarded with a gush of water into the sink. The handle was now moving more easily and the water ran freely. “Coming along just fine. Now, how do we test it for potability?”

  Seren stepped over to the sink and cupped her hand under the flow. She sniffed for weird smells, then sloshed the water into her mouth. “If I keel over in the next little while, don't drink it.”

  He and Devany stared at her, horrified. They were both aghast at the idea of someone drinking ‘wild water'. Seren rolled her eyes and went back to the stove. She lit it with the matches she had bought to start the barbecue, and in a few moments had the beginnings of a roaring fire. She hoped it would turn into a roaring fire. Right now, it was mostly murmuring, but it seemed to be growing. She closed the front door of the firebox, adjusted the dampers and turned back to the room, rubbing her hands together in a no-nonsense, let's-get-with-it, gesture.

  “If you would fill the reservoir, Daffyd, it should heat up soon and we'll have hot water to wash with. Now, young lady, I have a different job for you.”

  Devany looked at her as though Seren had suddenly grown three heads and started speaking Swahili.

  “I want you to scrape those dishes into one of these,” she pulled a plastic grocery bag out of the knapsack, and at the same time tracked down the matches she had bought for starting the barbecue. “Use one of the forks to scrape with, and then pile the dishes over here on the counter.” When the child made no move to comply, Seren asked, “Do you not understand what you're supposed to do? Look. I'll show you.” She demonstrated the fine art of removing elderly mold from dishes. Then she put the fork in Devany's hand and gave her a plate. She watched as the child essayed an attempt.

  To her own amazement, Devany found that she could perform the task easily, even though she had never done it before, and it wasn't on her Approved List. She put the empty plate down and reached for another. Seren smiled her satisfaction at Devany's work, and turned to her own jobs.

  She added a few more lengths of wood to the fire, which was now roaring merrily. She quickly wiped the surface of the stove with a damp cloth to remove any dust, thinking she should have done it sooner. A quick check of the reservoir showed the water was rapidly losing its chill, but was not yet really warm.

  In the meantime, Daffyd had emptied the sinks and rinsed them out with cold water. A search in the cupboards underneath had turned up a bottle with something that looked and smelled like dish detergent. He also turned up a reasonably clean sponge, so he set to and made the sinks fit for human use.

  He glanced up from his scrubbing and caught Seren looking his way. She smiled at him, a warm, companionable smile which he couldn't help returning. For the first time in a very long time, he felt content ... and safe. He believed that if Seren knew his secret, it might make her uncomfortable to be near him, but she wouldn't shriek and scream and cause a fuss. Most likely she would continue to be polite and pleasant, if somewhat distant.

  This led him to wonder about the reporter from last night—was it only last night—and what was happening at home? Then he dismissed these thoughts and returned to here and now. He looked at the little girl, her curly head bent over her task, and at the woman who had assumed leadership so effortlessly. He thought about how well they were working together, almost like a family. Odd idea! Imagine ... a family with a man and a woman and a child. He smiled inwardly, wistfully. A quiet voice in his mind whispered, but isn't that what you want? He hushed it, but the sad little smile had become outwardly evident.

  Seren noticed it, and was struck suddenly by how utterly lonely Daffyd seemed at that moment. She resisted the impulse to go over and hug him, but made a mental note to talk with him later. She wanted to know more about him, especially if they were going to be keeping house together, as it were.

  His aloof manner made him seem snobbish at first, but he had proven to be anything but that. He was actually quite friendly, warm, funny, and easy to be silent with. That was her acid test for potential friendships—the ability to be together without feeling the need to fill every quiet moment with meaningless sound.

  The water was now warm enough to start the dishes. She found a big metal scoop hanging on the side of the warming oven above the stovetop, and began to fill the sink. Daffyd added the dish soap, whipped it into a lather, and attacked the pile of dishes. He put the clean ones in the empty sink, while Devany kept bringing him more of the dirty ones. Seren scoured the table itself.

  In a short time, the kitchen had been transformed. It now had a comfortable, homey feeling and was ready to be put to use.

  The adults searched the cupboards and drawers for pots, pans and utensils. Then Seren emptied the backpack onto the table and sorted through the food items.

  “Are you any good at making salads?” she asked Daffyd. He replied in the affirmative. “Good, then you get this stuff.” She handed him a lettuce, tomato, celery, and a bag of miniature carrots. Then she took the package of ground beef and one of onion soup mix and proceeded to mash them together to make hamburgers.

  Devany watched the proceedings with great interest. She didn't recognize most of the food items Seren had produced, although she correctly deduced that the hamburger buns were a form of bread. She recognized the few remaining oranges from her earlier exposure, and idly toyed with them.

  She roamed back and forth from one adult to the other, entranced by their activity. Daffyd was busy chopping, slicing, and tossing. His hands were deft and almost delicate in their movements. It was clear, even to Devany, that he was accustomed to doing this sort of thing.

  Seren was making patties out of the meat mixture and putting them into the frying pan she had already set on the stove to heat. When they were all sizzling, she stepped past Daffyd to wash her hands. Returning to the stove, she paused to admire his handiwork, resting her hand casually on his back. She felt him flinch under her touch, but so slightly that she thought she had imagined it. He glanced down at her, and gestured at his work.

  “Does it meet with your approval?” he asked archly, a humorous glint in his eye. He was doing something artistic to the little carrots with the small sharp knife he had picked up, turning them into flowers.

  “That's really neat,” she smiled up at him. “I have every faith in your ability, Daffyd.”

  “I appreciate your confidence, Seren. But do you know what would be a nice touch?” he said.

  “What's that?”

  “Hard boiled eggs. I like eggs in a salad. Do you?” He glanced at her.

  “As a matter of fact, I do. You're right, that would be good. So would some celery and some radishes.... “Her smile was wry. “Oh well. Too bad I didn't buy some today.”

  She squeezed his upper arm briefly and went back to watch over the burgers. She didn't see his head swivel to follow her, or the strange expression that crossed his face.

  Devany now pulled up a chair to watch what Seren was doing more closely. She almost sustained a nasty burn, but Seren grabbed her in the nick of time.

  “Careful, kiddo! It's hot! See?” She held the child's hand close to the stove, careful not to make ac
tual contact. “You don't want to burn yourself.” Devany nodded. She didn't really understand; she had never been burned in her life, but she trusted adults to tell her what was good for her and what to avoid.

  She stood on the chair and stared with fascinated eyes. “What are you doing?” she asked Seren.

  “I'm cooking the meat so we can eat it. I hope you like it.” Seren smiled at the child's intent look. In a few moments, Devany climbed down and dragged the chair closer to Daffyd so she could watch him.

  “What are you making?” she asked.

  “Salad.”

  “Yes, I heard that, but what is it? Can you really eat it?”

  This got his attention: Seren's too. Their eyes met; she gestured for him to go ahead and explain.

  He cleared his throat and gathered his thoughts. “It's, uh ... raw vegetables cut up together, usually with some kind of salad dressing,” he looked at her blank face, his nimble mind searching for a different description. “It's a kind of sauce, um, a liquid you pour on to add flavor.”

  Seren smiled. She had never heard salad dressing called ‘sauce’ before, but really, that was what it essentially was. She pointed to the little bottle on the table.

  “Devany, that's the ‘sauce', there,” she said.

  Devany looked over at it and then back at the big bowl. “You can eat this stuff? But it's not.... “She didn't know how to explain how food should appear, but she knew it wasn't like this. She didn't know much about things outside her regimented life, but she did know that the food they ate was cooked. And it didn't have bright colors or much in the way of texture. This was perplexing.

  “Anybody besides me want cheese on their burger?” Seren asked.

  “What's cheese?” Rather than try to explain, Seren simply opened the pack of cheese slices, took a few out, and peeled off their wrappers. She handed one to Devany. “Try this.” Devany did, her face undergoing another series of expressions before she decided it was not only edible, but tasty besides. While she was busy with the rest of the slice, Seren checked again and discovered everyone wanted cheeseburgers. She quickly added the slices to the meat, and then took out the buns.