A short time after that, the Watership picked up the two storage tankers left on the moon’s dark side and set a course for Antares.
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX – A QUESTION POSED
By the beginning of September, three more babies had been born. Everything was normal. The nursery was flourishing. Ruth Charnofsky and her unborn Subax daughter were on good terms. Dr. Chollup had removed the wires and pins, and to his amazement the fetus had remained stationary. Studying the Earth-human-Subax female with extremely high-definition ultrasound, a machine he had specially flown in from New York, he watched in fascination as the baby flexed and toned its own muscles in her mother’s womb. But the baby never stretched or pressed near Ruth’s spine or other organs. As it grew larger it huddled tight into the fetal position, moving slowly, deliberately and only when necessary.
The parents who had gone to see their families began to return. For most it had been a magical, wonderful time, especially seeing children and grandchildren. None of the couples went to see old friends. What could they say to them? There was no more processing room, no way to take them along into their future. Many came back to Houston ahead of schedule. They had missed their babies, but in fact, also wanted to escape the reminders of what growing old in America, and the state of the world meant. Television news was filled with poverty, the homeless, brutality, war, religious and racial hatred – life here had not changed since they left. Earth-humans seemed intent on destruction and hatred compared to so many other worlds they had seen.
Marie and Paul Amato had gone to see their son in Boston. He was a Speech and English professor at Tufts. After the initial reunion with him, his wife and their two grandchildren they decided to take a week and drive into the New England countryside. It was a beautiful trip. “We’ve missed so much,” Paul told Ben Green, “and left behind a part of our lifetime.”
Marie saw things differently. “Our life is changed forever. This is our home-planet, but it can’t be our home anymore. The steps we’ve taken, the places we’ve been . . . the long life ahead . . . Well, I can’t relate to Earth anymore. I feel as though I’m a visitor. It’s the same way we felt on Hillet. Visitors.”
“And what of our family?” Paul asked his wife, unhappy with her because she wanted to leave their son and grandchildren earlier than planned.
“Our family is now the Brigade. Our family is lying asleep in that bassinet on the second floor.” She had tears in her eyes. “Our family now travels to every corner of the galaxy.”
Another couple, who had gone to Denver where both their married children lived, told Beam similar things but in a different way. “We became intolerant of our children and grandchildren. Probably much the way they were intolerant of us as we grew old and set in our ways. But now were the ones who have stretched…expanded. We will go back to who we were before. When we left this planet, we left its ways forever.”
“Not exactly,” Beam answered. “You are back here for good reason.”
“But not to stay,” the couple answered. “What we mean is that we can never live here permanently again. Certainly not after what we have seen and done out in the galaxy.”
No one was sure just where the idea was coming from, but after returning from their family visits several Brigade members began to have doubts about the wisdom cocooning the babies. Even Beam was not convinced that was the best course of action. The closer the parents bonded with their children, the stronger the fear and doubt grew.
Peter Martindale’s mate, Tern, asked the question as she held her son while he slept in their quarters. “Are there no places on Earth where it is warm and humid like on Turmoline?”
“Many,” he answered.
“Then why take the child so far? This is home-planet for you. I am your mate. I can stay here with you and hunt.”
Besides being a steelworker in his former life in Kentucky, Peter had enjoyed teaching others. He had dreams about taking his new son fishing and hunting in those Appalachian Hills he knew so well. He had thought about asking the commanders to allow him to stay behind. Some other parents had similar thoughts. And no one was very comfortable with the idea of putting the babies in suspended animation for such a long period of time.
Ruth, Beam, the Green’s and Lewis’ sat with Alicia and Phil in their office on the first floor. LoCasio and Berlin, the two NASA assistants, had gone back to their regular jobs at the Johnson Space Center. Rose Lewis had called the meeting. She had news.
“Some of the babies are communicating in English,” she began.
“Three can speak the language of the Penditan, Tern’s tribe,” Beam interjected.
“And the language of Betch as well,” Ruth added.
“We know they communicate in Subax too,” Mary added, glowing with her own pregnancy. Her baby was due in less than a month. It would be the last born.
“May I say something?” Phillip Margolin asked.
“Of course,” Ruth answered. She too had the magic aura of motherhood about her. The daughter she carried continued to grow and remain still. Ruth sensed birth was imminent.
“Alicia and I have been talking. This may be way out of line and maybe none of our business, but if you’re not sure about how cocooning or space travel will affect the children, why do it?”
“What other suggestion do you have?” Bernie Lewis asked.
“Stay here,” Philip Margolin answered.
Bernie laughed. “I’m sorry. It’s just that the memory of that gung ho mindless colonel is still a fresh memory. Look, part of this government means to hold us against our will. Defense Secretary Mersky knows a lot about us. Alma Finley told me he can block, and he is on the verge of understanding how to telepath. You know that, Phil. You know how dangerous that can be.”
“All I’m saying,” Margolin continued, “is that we might explore some alternatives.”
“Such as?”
“Such as staying here.” Alicia answered. “Staying on Earth in a safe place. The President isn’t like Mersky. He would understand.” The room was silent for several seconds as they all considered the idea carefully. “
“He’s a politician,” Bernie finally said.
“He’s a good man,” Phillip countered.
“Good men come and go. Governments change. The Mothership is on the way,” Bernie remarked.
“The children don’t want to leave,” Rose announced. That shocked everyone.
“They told you that?” Ruth asked cautiously.
“No. I sense it. I think it would be a mistake to take them from here.”
Beam had listened patiently. She decided it was now time for her to speak as Amos had instructed. “The custom of bearing young on home-planet is very old. Most of the traveling races like our own and like you would become, always try to avoid the uncertainties of alien environments for the newborn. Until the young mature, no one can know what they are, what they can be. On home-planet, the genes are safe. Later, it will become clear who among them are space travelers, as they are possibly a new race of Earth-humans.”
“And what about the mixed-mated babies?” Ruth asked the Antarean medical officer, knowing that though addressing Beam, she was speaking to Amos Bright as well.
“They are special. The Master mixes many kinds in the galaxy. Each is the beginning of new life, new possibilities. We will have to see what these are, and how they must be nurtured. So far, we know that Tern, the Penditan woman, has a child that can live on this planet. Ellie-Mae’s Betchian baby cannot. It must be taken to where it can survive naturally. But the Earth-human babies can live here on Earth for now.”
“And if we, the Brigade, stay,” Rose asked. “What will become of us?”
“If you mean do I know if you will grow old and pass on,” Beam answered, “I do not. The processing we did was to prepare you for space travel, to be like us, to move through the void as universal particles. The other changes -this ability to reproduce again, to be free of disease…we have no idea what that status might be after
returning to Earth.”
“So we are faced with the same challenge as five years ago,” Mary Green said softly. “Do we stay or leave?”
“Not exactly, Mary dear,” Rose answered. “Who says that all of us must remain? It is only the children who may need to stay…who I sense really want to stay.”
Alicia and Phillip had the same thought at the same time. “We could care for them, teach them and protect them.” The commanders and Beam read their strong thoughts instantly. They all knew of the love the two scientists had for each other. It was also apparent they shared a deep mutual love for the Brigade children. And the children responded to them in kind.
Maybe it was the children who put the thought in the minds of those in that meeting. Perhaps it was worth considering that these babies knew something about their own future that their parents did not.
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN – THE BLUE BABY
Dr. Chollup stayed at the NASA hospital until Ruth Charnofsky gave birth to her Subaxian daughter. There was no doubt that it would be a cesarean section. She went into labor on the day of the Autumnal Equinox. That had no significance other than the child was named Autumn, although Skye would have been more appropriate. She was pale blue when born and appeared to have blonde or silver hair covering most of her long, muscular body. When the nurses had cleaned the infant and dried it, it became apparent that the hair was actually soft, downy fur. Autumn’s features were human, but her body was Subaxian.
Panatoy viewed his daughter’s birth on a closed circuit television hookup in the environmentally controlled apartment he shared with Ruth.
The baby was healthy and vital. Mary Green, now nearly three months pregnant, was relieved since Ruth was the first commander to deliver a child. Mary sent the word out to the other commanders, now light years away and being transported by their Parman guides toward Antares. Those commanders in turn sent forth the good news to Antares, where Ruth was an honored citizen, and beyond to the rest of the Geriatric Brigade scattered across the galaxy.
Ruth recovered rapidly from surgery. Her healing powers, common to the commanders, were phenomenal. Within a few hours she asked Beam to bring Autumn to her. Dr. Chollup was concerned. He had a proprietary interest in the beautiful blue downy infant. Something was wrong. The child’s active demeanor at birth had slowly changed. She was quiet. Listless. Her eyes, originally dark and clear like her mother’s, were now glassy. Her temperature was normal. The blood tests were normal, similar to all the Earth-human babies. Dr. Chollup kept the baby in intensive care while he stayed by her side, monitoring and pondering what appeared to be Autumn’s slowly deteriorating condition. When Beam came for the baby he immediately brought the infant to her. Ruth held the listless girl to her breast, but the baby would not nurse. Beam reached over and touched the infant’s forehead.
“It is warm,” she said to Ruth.
“Normal temperature,” Dr. Chollup said.
“What does Panatoy say?” Ruth asked.
“He has not held the baby yet,” Beam answered.
“Then take her to him. Quickly.” Ruth’s voice was firm. Dr. Chollup stopped Beam as she reached to take the child from her mother’s arms.
“You can’t put that child in such a frigid environment. It will kill her.”
Beam hesitated. “We will wrap her in blankets.”
“Hurry,” Ruth begged. Her fear was apparent. Beam rushed out of the room with the baby. Dr. Chollup and two pediatric nurses followed close behind.
Panatoy held the child in his strong blue arms. He bent his face close to his daughter, parting the layers of blankets to see her face. His room was ice cold. In deference to the baby he had lowered the ultraviolet light necessary to his survival to the minimum level he could tolerate. Beam and Dr. Chollup, both dressed in heavy fur-lined Air Force parkas with hoods, stood nearby and watched with great interest. The Subax spoke to Beam in his language, which she understood and spoke.
“The child is ill. Do you know what is wrong?”
“No, Panatoy,” Beam answered. “She was functioning normally at birth.”
“How long has she been like this?”
“Nearly three hours. I am concerned.”
The Subax stood. His height and deep blue coloring made him an impressive figure. Dr. Chollup stepped back a little.
“Is this the medical officer who helped Ruth while she carried my daughter?” he asked Beam.
“Yes. He is a very skilled doctor who has my respect.”
“He is ignorant about the Subax. You, an Antarean traveler, should know better.” Panatoy began to remove the blankets and clothing that had been put on the baby in intensive care. He threw the warm, bulky coverings aside, scattering them like a stripper in high-speed motion.
“He’ll kill that baby!” Dr. Chollup shouted, moving to take the newborn from its father. Panatoy turned and faced the doctor as a lioness might confront a hunter who’d come between her and her cub.
“Tell him to stay away,” Panatoy warned Beam. But she didn’t have to tell the arrogant surgeon. Panatoy’s glare and offensive body language were universal. A translation was not necessary.
Panatoy, stripped little Autumn naked. He turned up the ultraviolet light source to maximum and held his daughter close to the source of the light. Steam began to rise from her body as it cooled to the below-freezing Subaxian temperature.
“Oh, my God. He’ll kill her,” Dr. Chollup moaned. The baby was his patient.
Then the improbable happened. Once the baby’s body stopped steaming, she began to move and howl with delight. She wriggled in its father’s arms, reaching for the deep purple light source. Then she laughed. Not a small chuckle, but a gurgling of joy. Panatoy brought the naked baby down to his face and kissed her. The child grabbed at her father’s face and thick long white hair.
“She is hungry,” Panatoy told Beam. “Can you bring Ruth to us?”
In all his days in medicine, Dr. Chollup would never forget the sight of a woman over ninety, wearing protective eyeglasses, nursing her naked, blue, furry newborn in subzero temperature, dressed in a parka with special holes cut into it in order to expose her nipples to the baby’s hungry mouth. Panatoy remained close to his family, as proud as any new father had ever been.
As her daughter nursed, Ruth Charnofsky’s thoughts went out to Ellie-Mae Boyd, who was also nursing her new baby in the environmentally altered duplex next door. Ellie had to wear breathing apparatus since her mate, Dr. Manterid, and infant required an oxygen-free, nitrogen-rich atmosphere.
Both women knew their babies could never live naturally on Earth. Both would have to be returned to their father’s home-planets – Subax and Betch.
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT – ALTERNATE PLANS
The NASA security people and the Secret Service detail assigned to the hospital by Benton Fuller performed efficiently. There had been no breaches of security since the Brigade arrived. When the Army colonel from Fort Campbell arrived and presented his authorization papers, personally signed by the Secretary of Defense, they were checked, double-checked and certified. He was allowed access to the first and second floors. Only special visitors, always with armed escorts, were allowed on the critical top floor.
Bernie Lewis was on his way to meet with Alicia Sanchez and Phil Margolin when he perceived a familiar presence in the hallway. He ducked into the doorway of the kitchen staff quarters. Colonel James “Jimmy” Smith was reconnoitering the hospital, making mental notes on various doorways and facilities. He was especially interested, as Bernie Lewis learned reading the intruder’s mind, in the location of the security people, their number, posts and quarters. Bernie called up to Rose, who was in the main nursery on the second floor. He alerted her to close the floor visitors.
“Use any pretense. We don’t want him near the children,” Bernie told Rose.
The commanders met again, this time in Lewis’s apartment. Sanchez and Margolin were there.
“That SOB Mersky has the arrogance to send
his puppet soldier into our midst. We can’t afford to wait any longer.” Bernie was adamant. He wanted to confront the Secretary of Defense now.
Ruth had been confident that the attempt to detain the Brigade and their babies wouldn’t be made until the last birth had occurred. But now that she was a mother, and in spite of her wisdom and abilities, she reacted protectively as any mother might.
“I think you’re correct Bernard. But before we confront this problem, we’d better have a solution to the larger question. What are we going to do about the children?”
The night before, just for a change of pace and scenery, Sanchez and Margolin had gone into Houston for a first-class seafood dinner at Christie’s and some laughs at the Comedy Workshop. On the spur of the moment they decided to take a hotel room for the night, winding up with a posh suite high above the glittering ribbon of nighttime traffic on the Southwest Freeway. The suite had a huge four-poster bed. The bath was a pink marble tub with gold fixtures. As they sat side by side in the warm scented water, sipping wine, relaxed and satiated, Phillip asked Alicia if she would marry him. She didn’t say yes – she said, “Of course! What took you so long?”
The Cocoon Trilogy Page 45