by Pamela Davis
"That damn fool girl and all those horses," he muttered to himself. "Said the river would flood and now it looks like it just might. And the way the White House has been denying it, sayin' it ain't going to, well, that just means it probably will!" He thought about how sure the young man and woman had seemed about a bad flood. And she had said there was a safe place. Now where the heck was it?
"Cape Fair, that's it," he said aloud, snapping his fingers. "What could it hurt? I take a little vacation, head on out there, and I can always come back here when there's no damn flood."
The Samuels' House
The dining room was filled with people eating, talking and laughing as they got to know each other. John presided at the head of a table laden with food, Jessica sitting at his right hand and Mrs. Philpott at the other end. She was talking to Clay about boats.
"I don't think you have to go get a fishing boat tomorrow," she said, laughing. "There are plenty of them around and I'm sure that even if some are damaged in the earthquake, you'll still be able to find one."
Abby interjected, "Yes, but he wants the perfect fishing boat, not just some old thing. Clay," she said, turning to her husband, "we simply can't afford it! I won't let you spend the money. And how would we get it back to San Francisco anyway?"
Clay stared at her for a moment with Mrs. Philpott looking on. Something was wrong here, she thought. They all knew money would be worthless soon, didn't they? And San Francisco?
Clay slowly nodded. "Abby, you know I always listen to you when it comes to money, so we'll just wait and see, okay?" Abby smiled and turned to talk to Gracie.
Mrs. Philpott leaned toward Clay and asked quietly, "Is something wrong here? With Abby?"
"I don't know. I thought she was coping okay. I knew she was worried, but Abby's always been a worrier. But she's said a couple things this afternoon that made me wonder if she's in denial about what's happening."
"Well," Mrs. Philpott said firmly, "keep an eye on her, but don't push her to accept it. Personally, I've been amazed at the level of sanity everyone has maintained with so many shocks and with knowing what's coming. We all have to keep an eye on each other and help each other out. This is so huge--too much to hang onto all at once. We'll need time; everyone will need time, not just Abby, before we are truly adjusted to the situation. Just go with the flow for now."
John glanced down at Mrs. Philpott and Jess's father talking seriously. He sincerely hoped it wasn't another problem. The sudden tones of silverware against glass made everyone quiet down and John saw that Gracie was the instigator. She was looking at him, a question in her eyes.
"Attention, everyone!" John began. "We have a few announcements. First, I think you are all aware that Sergeant Wachowski and Tommy are working hard at the power station this evening in preparation for the shutdown tomorrow night. After we're finished here, Lisanne has volunteered to take them some of this great food."
"Lisanne?" Andy asked.
John nodded before Lisanne could retort. "Yes. Lisanne is going to be a part of the Power Station crew. Which means she'll be living over there for the foreseeable future."
"What?" Andy asked. "Lisanne is working at the Power Station?"
John continued. "Some of you are aware the farm and land across the road belong to us now. It's quite a spread and we need someone to live there and run the place, someone who'll be in charge of our planting and agricultural needs. Obviously we need the most qualified person for the job, which is why Gracie will be taking on that challenge."
"Mother!" Rachel moaned loudly. "You are not qualified--"
"Yes," John told her definitely, "she is. It turns out Gracie knows quite a bit about farming since she grew up on a farm in Indiana. Rachel and I never even knew about it, but I'm sure we're all very glad about it now." He ended by staring sternly at Rachel.
Mrs. Philpott was beaming. "That's fantastic news! And it explains a lot," she added cryptically.
Everyone was congratulating Gracie as Rachel sat stunned, a forkful of potatoes still poised in the air.
John rapped on the table for quiet. "Another job assignment is more in the way of recruitment, or maybe conscription," John said, grinning at Black. Black nodded. "Black has chosen the person who will be his second-in-command, someone he will train and who he expects will do a great job on security detail." He paused and then said simply, "Rachel."
"What?" screeched Gracie.
Rachel slowly put her fork down and looked across the table to Black. The surprise on her face was gradually fading away into a look of utter delight. "You mean it?" she asked Black.
"Yep," he replied. "I have it on good authority that you are an expert marksma--er--markswoman."
"But how did you know?"
Gracie stopped Black from answering. "An expert marksman? You know how to shoot, Rachel? But how, after your Daddy refused to teach you?"
Rachel frowned. "That's how. He would take John out hunting and never take me because I was a girl. But I learned. You'd better believe I learned! I still go out to the range every other weekend to shoot." She paused remembering, then shook it off and smiled at everyone. "I accept! I'll do the job, train with Black, be drafted into the Cape Fair army or whatever you want to call it--Yes!"
Samantha had been sitting quietly through dinner, barely touching her food. Now she watched Rachel and laughed. "I knew it," she said happily. "And you're gonna be a great soldier lady!"
Rachel looked startled and laughed with Sam. "I don't think I'll be called a soldier lady, Sam, but thanks. Thanks for knowing and for telling Black."
Sam sat back in her chair and felt good again for the first time since her talk with her parents. Maybe I'm not really so bad, she thought. Even if she couldn't ride the horses and had done something wrong, she did a good thing, too, with Rachel. Suddenly hungry, she dug into her broccoli casserole.
John watched the byplay between Rachel and Sam and realized he'd been holding his breath waiting for Sam to speak up all through dinner. He hadn't been positive she was going to accept their punishment, and he had dreaded her realizing how little control her parents had over this new skill of hers. Of course, no parent ever controls a child, not really, he reminded himself. But then no parent until now ever had this 'knowing' of hers to deal with, let alone mind pressing.
Dr. Shapiro spoke up. "If we're making announcements, then I have a couple. First, for Clay, there's a vet office right down from me on Hickory Street, and I learned today the town's vet has already cleared out." Clay beamed.
"Second," the doctor continued, "I've only had a few minutes with Andy and Nathan to discuss the water situation, but it looks good. If we can avoid contaminated water, we'll be in great shape."
Everyone applauded while Nathan grinned and Andy blushed.
"Third, I've brought immunizations with me tonight for all of you."
Everyone groaned. Sam wailed, "A shot?"
"Yes, Sam, a shot," Dr. Shapiro told her, "but it will keep you well, so you need it."
Jessica watched as Sam and Dr. Shapiro negotiated with him, agreeing to bring her peanut M and Ms in exchange for the shot. Looking at her little girl, remembering the illness--the illness that started this, she thought, and then sat very still thinking about what was going through her head. The illness! The dreams and the special knowledge she had, the communication with Harry--it all started after Sam was so sick. Could it be related in some way?
Before she could think further, John said, "Black has also asked for one other person for his...well, I don't know what to call it--Cape Fair Army sounds a bit extreme--which reminds me, Lisanne and Merlin are supposed to give us some options tonight of names for our little group here." Heads turned to Lisanne who pointed to Merlin sitting on the floor at his computer.
"He's typing them up now," she told them. "And he didn't like any of my name ideas!"
John smiled at her. That unexpected cash of hers had been a great help in buying a large supply of coins today. He'd made sure she
got to the store for her telescope, so they were both happy with the exchange.
"Black wants Max to train with him," John reported.
"Max?" Janine said, surprised. She hadn't said a word through dinner, overwhelmed by a day full of shopping, revealing secrets, and now a dinner with a lot of people she didn't know well yet.
"Max?" Abby said. "Why he's just a boy!"
Max's head went down at that comment, and Black spoke up. "Well now, Abby, he may be young, but he's not a boy. I think he has what it takes and I want him on my team."
Max looked up at him, a smile spreading across his face. "I'll do a good job for you, Black," he said proudly.
John watched as Clay talked quietly to his wife, who seemed more and more upset.
Suddenly Abby stood up, her chair falling backwards behind her. "You're all crazy!" she cried. "Talking about giving children guns--and, and, growing our own food, and floods and earthquakes and never going home--" She sobbed and ran from the room. Clay hurried after her.
Jessica began to get up to follow her mother, but Mrs. Philpott waved her back down. She rose and said, "I'll go look after her with Clay. We both noticed she was having trouble dealing with all this. Dr. Shapiro, do you have any tranquilizers in your bag there?"
"Is that necessary?" Jessica asked, concern in her voice.
Dr. Shapiro nodded as he stepped away from the table, medical bag in hand. "It might be a good idea. I know it was a shock to me hearing about it today. At least one reaction like this is to be expected in a group this size." He left with Mrs. Philpott.
The group left at the table was quiet. Then Jessica said, "I should have noticed. She said some funny things while we were cooking dinner, but it just didn't register until now."
John murmured, "You've had a lot on your mind today."
"Well," Gracie said uncertainly, "should we go on with this meeting or--"
"Yes," John said, sitting straighter in his chair. "I'm sure, in time, Abby will be okay." He shot a quick glance at his daughter, but Sam's face was not reassuring, looking instead suspiciously blank. He continued, "Alex has told me that the Library is ours now--she even has the keys."
There were chuckles around the table at that while Alex held the keys aloft in her hand, waving them. She told them, "We have a great collection of books available, and the library is on our side of town, not too far away. So we'll have electricity there. Oh, and that little red sports car outside is mine! I bought it today."
Nathan observed, "You don't have any money, Alex, or did you forget that little fact? How did they ever let you buy it?"
"What does it matter that I'm broke," Alex asked. Nathan frowned at her. "Come on, we all know money won't mean anything soon, and by the time they figure out my check has bounced repeatedly, it will be too late. Besides, I saw the car dealership owner packing up and leaving town later on after I got the car." She stuck out her tongue at Nathan. "So there!"
John laughed, saying, "Hey, I'm glad someone's found a way to have fun during all this."
"You'll be sorry once you see how she drives," Nathan predicted.
John shrugged and said, "Okay, one last announcement and then I think we'll be ready to vote on a name. This concerns the farm. Gracie will be living there, of course, and since the horses are on that land, I thought it would be a good idea for Janine to live there too. It's a big farmhouse with plenty of room, all furnished and ready to move in. But I hadn't had chance to talk to Janine yet, so what do you say?" He looked toward the teenager.
"I get to live with Rachel's mom?" she asked, wonderingly.
Rachel said, "Yeah, kid, it's a bummer, I know. Think you can stand it? She can be a real pain."
Janine said staunchly, "I think she's a really nice lady, and you should be nice to her 'cause she's your mom, Rachel."
"Thank you, Janine," Gracie replied, ignoring Rachel's giggles. "I'd love to have you there with me. So you accept?"
"Yes!"
Jessica smiled at the two of them, thinking that Gracie would be wonderful for Janine. A few months with Gracie and her self-confidence would skyrocket. It's funny, she thought, how this meeting had moments that reminded her of a conversation with Mrs. Philpott a while back. These moments of a kind of formal acceptance of a new way of life. She also noticed that Sam didn't seem surprised by anything--except Abby's outburst. And even then, it hadn't been surprise on Sam's face, more like worry. Jessica was worried too.
John asked, "So, Merlin, do you have the names?"
Mrs. Philpott and Dr. Shapiro walked back in the room. Everyone stopped to look at them.
"She's going to be fine, for now," Dr. Shapiro reported. "I've given her a tranquilizer that should help her to fall asleep. Clay says that she didn't sleep well last night, so perhaps in the morning, after a good night's sleep, the problem will be solved."
"Clay is staying with her until she falls asleep," Mrs. Philpott said, sitting back down.
Jessica mouthed the word, "Thanks," to Mrs. Philpott, who nodded in reply.
Lisanne was setting the laptop on the table, holding Merlin in her arms. "Okay, here they are," she said.
"Go for it," John offered.
"Well, this first one is one of mine, after all--'The Safe Zoners.' John and I agree it would inevitably be shortened to 'Zoners,' but I still like it. Then we have some, well, silly ones--Merlin what were you thinking? Okay," she continued as Merlin growled at her, "remember these are from him! 'Cape-ettes' 'Cape Fairies'--oh, my God, were you on catnip at the time? Then we have 'Group One'--I don't really get that one. There's only one group here that I can see. And that 'Group One' is from Perceval. Anyway, then there's 'EcoSurvivors' and 'Dreamers'--oh that last one was one of mine too! Merlin, you did listen to me! 'The Connectors'--okay, I think that only applies to Andy and Nathan and their plumbing efforts." Everyone laughed, and then Lisanne said, "Oh I get it, connecting to animals, duh. Okay, how about 'The New People'--I don't know if that would work since we'll be getting a lot of new people over the next few weeks."
Alexandra listened as the names were discussed. She remembered Africa and other places and groups of people who saw themselves as the only true people. Even as she laughed at some of the names Merlin came up with, she also knew how important this naming of the group was, to give them solidarity and identity in a rapidly-changing world. She smiled as she realized her fieldwork in cultural anthropology had just shifted to a new location--to the tribe of Cape Fair.
"Hey," she spoke up, "how about the Cape Fair Tribe?"
Nathan grinned at her even as he shook his head. He knew where her thoughts were coming from. He'd been a little quicker than her this time to see some of the implications of the new culture being built before their very eyes. Well, he thought, at least about a half a day quicker.
Sam raised her hand. John looked at her approvingly and said, "Yes, Sam?"
"I have a name too. How 'bout 'The Gaians'?"
Lisanne said, "The Guyans? We're not all guys here, Sam."
"No, no," Sam started giggling. "Gaia...the earth...you know...the planet."
Jessica peered at her daughter in puzzlement. "Now just how did you know the term 'Gaia,' sweetie?"
Sam shrugged. "Well, you know, it's not really the name. It's a--what was it, Perceval? A human--oh, yeah, a human translation of the word 'planet.' There's not really a way to say the real name." She shrugged again, "Anyways, if that's the word for the planet, then couldn't we be The Gaians? Since we live here?"
Silence spread around the room as they all thought about it. The Gaians. One by one, they raised their hands, until all of them had shown their support for the name.
John announced, "All right, people. From now on, our group will be known as The Gaians."
San Juan Islands, on board the Rhondavous yacht
Maria felt the boat rocking gently as she stretched out on the bed, waiting for Zack to finish his shower. How on earth, she wondered, did I end up on a boat waiting for whales? She did feel
excited by the prospect of seeing the huge animals. If only the network would listen to her! She had the story of a lifetime--of all time--and nobody to tell it to. And now Margaret was saying they'd have to wait for the flood here on the yacht. Something about a problem with the airplane. Although how Margaret knew there was a problem, that was not clear to Maria at all. How did she just know things?
Zack walked across the room to the king-sized bed, wearing a towel around his waist, his shoulder-length hair curling damply. Maria's breath caught as she watched the play of muscles across his chest and abdomen. Who would have ever known that underneath the work shirts and worn blue jeans lurked an absolutely gorgeous body like this? She heard him laugh softly as he sat down on the edge of the bed.
"You're staring," he said in a low, delighted voice.
"Where did you get all those muscles from?" Maria blurted out.
"From following you up hill and over dale and all over creation reporting the news while lugging tons of equipment," he replied.
"Oh. Well, do you think you could bring all those muscles over here to me? I think I feel a really sexy news story coming...which will need some...um...equipment of yours...."
"Oooh, really sexy," he asked, moving across the bed to her side.
"Oh, yeah," she breathed, fingers gripping the edge of the towel and slowly sliding it off his body. "Really, really sexy."
Chapter 13
Harmony's Cabins-by-the-Lake
Harmony sauntered into the large cabin by the lake, shaking raindrops out of her wildly curling hair. She loved the view outside the window of her new home. It was surrounded by trees--Hickory and a giant White Oak dominated the scene, and the pretty pink flowers of a Redbud tree wafted back and forth on the breeze. She loved being outdoors after it rained. The dark bark of the trees when wet contrasted sharply with bright green spring leaves and buds. This morning's rainstorm, edges of the hurricane that was parked in the center of the country, had drenched the region, but now tapered off to let a little sunshine through on the sparkling surface of the lake.