by Pamela Davis
Janine bobbed her head in agreement again. The big breakfast of biscuits and sausage and eggs at the large table in Gracie's kitchen had been one filled with talk of cows, something Janine knew nothing about. But she had relaxed once it became clear nobody wanted her to stop what she was doing. Sam had been right, those days ago, when she'd said Janine would be in charge of the horses. It was taking time, but Janine was starting to feel more confident in that role. Of course, the horses' thoughts helped with that process. Rather contentedly, Janine imagined fresh milk from the, was it Holsteins? Yes, Feathers told her, although how the horse knew that, Janine had no idea. Would fresh milk taste different than the milk they used to buy in stores?
Her thoughts were abruptly reined in by the noise of a car engine approaching the stables. No, more than one car, she decided and cantered over to the gravel area they were using to park cars. More people wanting to learn to ride? No, she realized as she opened her mind. Sam had sent them, or John had sent them because of Sam's dream...something about an attack on the power plant?...and before they even finished shutting their car doors, Janine was getting a list of horses who could be used to patrol the area around the dam.
"Hey, Janine," Nathan called out. "We need some horses--"
"Right, I know," Janine interrupted. "Follow me, they are heading back to the barn now."
Nathan stood there and watched her riding off, a beautiful melding of horse and young woman, seemingly at one. He shook his head, wondering if he'd ever get used to how fast this new communication happened. It definitely did speed things up. "Come on, guys," he said. "Looks like the horses are ready and waiting."
The Samuels' House
John pushed his chair away from the desk and stood up and stretched. Almost four hours of interviewing new arrivals, making decisions, and soothing fears had taken its toll and he felt the need for a break. Even as he thought that, Samantha wandered into his study, carefully holding a bowl of something.
"Here, Daddy, Mom made some of those veggie thingies you like," his daughter told him as she set the bowl of raw vegetables and dill dip on the desk.
"Ahh," he said, grabbing a carrot stick and munching. "I guess she decided I don't need any more cookies?"
Samantha grinned up at him. "Mommy says we have to save the sugar. But...." She reached in her shirt pocket and pulled out two cookies, giggling. "Here, I got the last two snickerdoodles. One for you and one for me."
He laughed and bowed courteously to her. "Thank you, my dear," he said, then sat back down in his leather chair and motioned her into the comfy upholstered chair next to his desk.
"Okay, let's have it, Sam," he said.
She looked startled.
"I'm getting better at reading the look on your face, kiddo," her father explained. "And I recognize that look right now that says you have something to tell me, something you aren't sure I'll like. That's why you are bribing me with cookies."
Sam laughed and looked at him thoughtfully. Daddy was changing, she decided. He seemed to know more, know stuff kinda like she did. Ever since the rock and trees.
She set her cookie on the desk and said, "Okay. You know 'bout the dream last night. At the power place? And how I didn't know who it was who attacks it?"
He nodded.
"Well, maybe I kinda know now," she said slowly. "I dunno who the name is, but I know it's somebody who is coming today, coming here, soon."
"What?" John said, sitting upright with a look of consternation on his face. "We need to get Black out to the main road right away then! I'll call and--"
Sam shook her head violently. "No, no, no, Daddy. You can't stop them from coming here. We need them to come here."
John just stared at her. "Uh, Sam, honey, that doesn't make much sense to me."
She sighed and kicked her feet back and forth. "It's a group of people who are coming here. Somebody named Mayor is leader. And these people, some of them are important. Like they would help us here a lot. Some of them are dreamers and some of them are animal talkers, or they will become animal talkers. But one of them is the one who will attack the power station somehow. And I don't know why."
He watched his little girl's look of frustration and sighed. Just great, he thought. Knowingly let someone into their little enclave here that they knew would cause damage to them? And could they actually judge a person based on actions that hadn't even been committed yet? Could he turn away a whole group of people knowing only one of them was the problem? Or rather, a possible problem? And if he did, what would Sam's reaction to that be?
He inquired hesitantly, "So you're saying you feel okay about letting them all in, even though you are pretty sure one of them is bad news?"
She looked at him seriously, head tilted to one side, and responded, "I think we have to, Daddy. It wouldn't be fair to say no to all of them. That would be like...like...that prejudice thing you told me 'bout one time." She paused and looked down. "I'm really sorry, Daddy," she said quietly. "I shoulda been able to tell who it was, who the bad guy was, but I can't see it."
John leaned over and patted her on the shoulder. "Samantha, don't you even think that. You've been a huge help with the information you do know about this. Don't worry. Black and Rachel have organized a group to patrol out there. Your Uncle Nathan is helping too. So it's not going to be a problem, kiddo. Whatever it is this person tries to do, we will stop him."
Sam looked into his eyes and tried to see the future. What she saw was concern and love and reassurance in her father's eyes. No visions, no dreams. Just Daddy. She really hoped he was right.
Power Station, Table Rock Lake Dam
Waldo finished chasing a squirrel to the big Black Walnut tree near the main power station building. He ran in the open door to find Andy, content that he had once again proved his mastery over squirrels. Approaching the control room, Waldo heard raised voices and moved alertly, yet quietly into the room to stand watch over Andy. Oh, he realized happily, it was only Sergeant Wachowski. Or the Sarge, as that cat Perceval liked to call him. The Sarge could be really loud.
"So you want me out of sight? Just leave little Lisanne here as the bait? You folks have gone mad!"
"Now, Sergeant Wachowski," Black was saying calmly, "we have a plan. We're putting our people in among the trees outside. We have the eagles and White here to spy for us. They'll notice anyone approaching the building with ill intent. I'll be in here with Lisanne, along with Andy and Waldo."
Andy interjected, "Damn right, I'll be in here. I know you're confident of catching the person, Black, but I'm with the Sarge here when it comes to using Lisanne like this."
Lisanne rolled her eyes and pointed to the gun she had out on the desk where she'd been cleaning it. "I sorta think my little old gun here is gonna give someone pause, Andy."
Wachowski threw up his hands and said, "Okay, okay. We'll do it your way. I just want to know how many we're expecting in this attack. And do we know where they'll be coming from?"
Black's expression grew more pensive as he stated, "Yes. We now know that the attack will come from someone in Cape Fair."
The shocked looks on the faces of all around him just made him nod grimly. "That's right, it's going to be someone we've let into Cape Fair...we just don't know who yet."
"All you people dreaming, having visions, talking to animals...and none of you knows who the damned culprit is?" Sergeant Wachowski roared. "Useless!" He stalked off to his machinery, grumbling as he left.
Lisanne said perkily, "I'd say that went fairly well."
Chapter 21
The Samuels' House
Perceval sat on Mrs. Philpott's lap, curled up in a pose like he was ready for a relaxed nap. Such was not the case. He wondered if he'd be able to fool Margaret with his little act. Maybe. He needed to observe her without interference, and the dumb animal pose might work. He didn't understand why his sense of Margaret had changed, what it was that prevented him from seeing into her more clearly. Although it could be the various stron
g personalities she was now surrounded by. Maria and Zack, both determined and dominant people. And Mayor Dubois, who was currently summing up their journey to Cape Fair as they sat gathered in the den of the Samuels' house, now she was a character and a half, Perceval decided. Then there was Phoebe, clearly stressed out, anxious, fearful, maybe her vibes were what he was picking up on, maybe it was Phoebe who had changed, not Margaret. Humans, he decided with some inward shudders, are confusing, conflicted entities.
Jessica sat on the couch with Sam leaning up against her side. Sam had been utterly quiet since the arrival of this latest group. A group containing, as Sam put it, "the bad guy." Jessica looked at each of them and wished she had her daughter's ability to look into people. Although, that didn't seem to be helping Samantha out much this time. The thing is, Jessica thought, they all seem perfectly normal. Well, except for Phoebe. But Phoebe looked barely able to hold her glass of iced tea, much less able to plan and carry out an attack on the Power Station. And on top of it all was the revelation that Margaret had abilities much like Samantha! If that were true, Margaret's arrival could mean an end to her daughter's role of community seer and prophet. If Margaret's coming here meant they also had a problem person in their midst, Jessica thought she could live with it, just because of how much it could help out Sam.
Alexandra split her attention between taking notes on the traveller's adventures, watching their faces, and then watching Samantha. What the hell was going on in that kid's head, she wondered. Alex had watched John greet the newcomers, get them all seated in the den with tall, cool glasses of iced tea, urging them to tell their story, all in a welcoming way, no clue given that he suspected one of them of any wrongdoing, or rather, wrong thinking. Samantha had smiled and said, "Hi," and said not a word after that, apparently content to let the adults lead the conversation. Although, Alex had noticed a sharper look from the little girl as she was introduced to Zack. And there had been a moment there when Zack looked startled at meeting her, like he wanted to say something, but didn't. Sam had just grinned at him and moved on to sit by Jessica. Alex realized they were trying, as they listened, to perceive who it was among them now who wasn't really one of them. The us-versus-them thing again. It always came up in human society.
John watched and listened and waited. What he was waiting for wasn't clear to him yet. But something, surely, some gesture or phrase or attitude--surely something would be said to give them idea of who in this group was...off. Or maybe the person who would carry out the attack wasn't even aware yet that this was what they would do. He wondered if Sam had considered that. Margaret was now explaining how she had known for really quite some time about the coming disasters. Her knowledge of what had occurred was impressive. He saw a couple of fleeting frowns on the faces of Zack and Mayor Dubois and paid closer attention to what Margaret was saying.
"So at that point I finally understood that we, all of us, had caused this to happen. Our arrogance in thinking we could control nature, remaking the planet according to our desires--out of greed sometimes, or just a need to control everything. Obviously, our late President demonstrated this to the fullest when he attacked the planet with his bomb. And although that was a horrible action, I think in the long run we may find that the loss of population--"
"Margaret," Mayor Dubois said sharply. "I think we can leave the analysis of what has happened for another time."
John's eyes narrowed as he noticed the increased tension in all the newcomers. What was this?
In the awkward silence, Alan Beakman spoke up. "I'm surprised to find you still have electricity here. You all seem to have come through the disasters surprisingly well. Having power has surely--"
He stopped talking as he glimpsed a few people jump as he spoke. Then John said, "Yes, we have been fortunate. But as some of you dreamed, we are a 'safe zone,' so I suppose we would have to be in better shape than other parts of the world."
"Better may be a relative term," Margaret remarked. "Unless our attitudes change from one of conspicuous consumption of natural resources to one of caring for the planet, I honestly don't think we will be safe at all. It's clear the Earth has her own way of dealing with those who damage her."
"Er...yes," John replied, somewhat puzzled. What was this intensity about?
As he tried to decide which way to take the conversation, Samantha suddenly stood up. "Daddy," she said, "Harry and me are gonna go to the waterfall," sounding for all the world like a little girl bored to tears by the adult conversation.
Jessica put out a hand to her daughter and said, "Sam, I don't know. The sun will be going down soon."
Samantha turned in a half-circle facing the newcomers. "Anybody wanna come see our waterfall? It's really cool!"
What the hell, John thought, was she up to? But he had to follow her lead. He trusted her, he realized in that moment, more than he'd have thought possible.
John said aloud, "If one of you wouldn't mind going with Sam, why don't we take a break and sort out where you will be staying tonight. And I think Jessica could maybe use some help in the kitchen as well." He watched his wife's eyes narrow at him in a piercing gaze.
Margaret asked, "Is this a natural waterfall? Or man-made?"
Jessica stated, "Oh, it's a beautiful place. No way any one of us could have created such a thing. Mother nature did a very nice job with that waterfall." She stood up and asked, "So which of you is good in the kitchen?"
As the group began to rise and chatter about food and accommodations, John realized that his daughter had grabbed Margaret's hand and was leading her to the back door. Was she the one? Should he call Black--should he stop them?
Clear as a crystal bell, her voice rang in his head. "No, Daddy, it's okay. It has to be like this."
And while John stood stunned by this latest skill of his daughter's, she vanished out the door with Margaret and Harry.
The Farm
Janine found Gracie and Clay in the living room of the farmhouse, talking to Harmony about her latest visit with Abby. The young horsewoman took a seat and stood up again, unable to sit still.
Gracie turned to her and asked, "Janine, what is it? You look nervous."
"Sorry," Janine replied, "It's just the horses--something is not right."
Clay frowned and inquired, "Is one of them ill? Should I go check on them?"
"No, no, that's not it," Janine answered. "It's a feeling like a need to run away--I'm not sure--I--"
She sank into a chair all at once. "Oh, no," she said.
Harmony came back into the living room with a glass of water she'd gotten from the kitchen. "Here, kid, you looked like you'd seen a ghost or something."
Janine took a gulp of the water and looked up with tears in her big, dark eyes. "It's San Francisco," she said quietly. "The earthquakes. They are about to start."
"Oh, my God," Clay uttered, huge sadness in his voice.
Gracie said softly, "The animals always know before an earthquake, don't they." Then she turned to Harmony. "Abby was resting when you left her upstairs?"
Harmony nodded. "Yeah, she was tired from our walk, said she wanted a nap before supper." Then a look of comprehension dawned on her face. "Oh, yeah! We can't let Abby know about this."
Gracie nodded as Clay groaned and then said, "My poor Abby. We absolutely can't let her know. She loves that city so much. This would just kill her."
None of the humans heard the soft footsteps padding away down the hall from the living room. None of the animals noticed the pale-faced distraught woman leaving the house, consumed as they were by the premonitions of the coming quakes. With their new abilities, the horses were experiencing the phenomenon as if they were there. They never saw, never sensed Abby running through the fields toward the forest.
Waterfall behind the Samuels' House
Sam and Margaret sat on the rocks near the waterfall watching the mist glow with the orange and gold colors of sunset as light played across the dancing bubbling waters. Margaret's golden-red hair
shimmered down over her shoulders as she leaned back and smiled at the sight before them.
"It's quite lovely," she stated, "and so unspoiled, so natural. I understand why you wanted me to see it."
"Yes," Sam replied, "it's my favorite place."
"Still, you people will have to change to keep it like this," Margaret continued. "I'm shocked that you are using so much technology--electricity, computers, even cars! I know you probably don't understand this, Samantha, but the people here are going to have to give up a lot to get in tune with nature."
"Oh, I think Mommy and Daddy understand," the little girl answered, resting her hand on Harry's head as he sat beside her. "And so does Harry."
"Harry? Oh, your dog," Margaret nodded and smiled at her. Then she seemed to really look at Sam, and her emerald green eyes widened a bit. "Ahhh, you can talk to him, to other animals too. So you know what I mean, even if you are only a child. Some people still don't get it, Sam," Margaret continued, her smile fading as she warmed to the topic. "We have to change so much, we have to get rid of all the things that pollute the environment, ways we have behaved that have hurt the Earth. Maybe then we'll be forgiven, be allowed to live in peace, learning to be one with nature again. I'm sure you sense it, just as I do, how we've gone too far with our technology. With all the ways we have to make life easier. Just look at how your town here has electricity--that dam and those lakes were created by the Army Corps of Engineers, just to make life easier. We can't be afraid to work hard, to struggle, if it means we can heal the planet."
"I like having lights and computers," the little girl said quietly. "And they aren't hurting anything."
"Oh, but Sam, don't you see? Don't you sense it?" Margaret said earnestly, leaning forward toward Sam. "It's all connected, everything. So what we do here affects something somewhere else. Sure, electricity is helpful to us, but then you have refrigerators, coolants, air conditioning. People think it's okay to have cars and you end up with air pollution. I heard your father talking about a fishing village. Sam, don't you realize we humans have decimated our oceans? Whatever balance has been achieved in these man-made lakes around Cape Fair, if we humans are allowed to do as we want, we'll overfish those too. Why, just in the last fifty years, ninety percent of the large fish populations have disappeared due to industrial fishing!"