Eyes Love & Water

by Pamela Foland

  “Aftertaste, I can't get past the foretaste! You're not sick, why are you eating this?” Miranda howled. The woman chuckled and just continued to shovel the gruel in. Miranda focused her mind on disengaging her taste buds and gagged down the gruel. “Good girl. Now for some tea,” The woman put down her bowl and handed Miranda a large mug that had been sitting next to the stove.

  Miranda exchanged her empty bowl for the mug. She tested the mug for temperature with her finger. Before she had even allowed herself to taste the tea, Miranda chugged it in one gulp for fear it would taste as bad as the gruel. She felt her eyelids becoming heavy and she found herself melting down to her sleeping place.

  “Sleep well little one.”

  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

  “What was this testing for again?” Ben asked while holding a purple ladle-shaped thing.

  The question caused Gene to shake his head. He had been staring at the thing for five minutes. “That, oh that's my Five-Alarm Chili ladle, I'm still looking for my portable Everett meter. It’s just that I have been looking for my ladle since two days after the last cook off,” Gene answered before turning to dig through a cabinet.

  Daniel had dropped Ben off for the tests shortly after lunch. Gene had run one strange scanner after another over Ben. Ben had held even stranger things, while Gene searched for others. Theoretically they were testing various things, but the only thing Ben was sure was being tested was his patience.

  “Eureka!”

  “Your Everett meter?”

  “No, no, no, silly boy, it's my chili cauldron. Now I'm equipped for the Cook off!” Ben felt weird having someone, who looked five or ten years younger, calling him a silly boy. At least Gene did it verbally; it would have definitely been beyond Ben's weird threshold for the conversation to be telepathic too.

  “But what about your Everett meter?”

  “Oh that,” Gene walked across the room and opened a cupboard door, he reached directly in and pulled out a headset device with no apparent search necessary, “is here.”

  Ben half wanted to ask why Gene just hadn't grabbed it before, but after the past hour with the man, Ben decided he didn't really want to know. Gene plunked the thing directly on Ben's head and set it humming, and then he took the ladle from Ben's hand. The thing beeped twice and Gene took it back off to fish the earpiece out of Ben's ear. With the headset back on and humming, Ben felt his head begin to buzz. His vision blurred, spun, and then refocused. With a loud ping, the thing stopped humming.

  Gene removed the thing and tapped a button on the wall, “We're done!” Gene gathered up and replaced all of the devices lying around. By the time Daniel reentered the room, it again resembled an ordinary exam room, except for the chili utensils sitting on the counter.

  “Well, Gene, what's the verdict?” Daniel asked sitting on the unused examination table.

  Gene grabbed a small computer readout, “Technically human, good physical condition despite minor cartilaginous damage to the left knee and right shoulder, no apparent allergies to any of the majors, no exposure to class VI compounds, and a rating of 410, in a word adequate.”

  “So you'd put him on the team Doc?”

  “With reservations, I always hesitate to put anyone especially vulnerable on active duty, but he does meet the minimum medical requirements.” Ben cringed at the label of vulnerability.

  “I promise to bring him back before we put him out on duty, if you still have reservations we'll work it out,” Daniel hopped off the exam table and slapped Gene on the back, “Is it chili time again?”

  “Almost, Foundation day comes within the next few months. Doesn't it?” Gene said, focusing a blank stare on the chili cauldron.

  Daniel’s eyebrow rose briefly and he shrugged an answer, not that Gene seemed to notice. “I'll be looking forward to it, come on Bennie,” Daniel led Ben out into the clinic waiting room. Once outside Daniel turned to Ben, “Weird bird huh?”

  Ben barely made out what Daniel was saying, it sounded soft and indistinct. Then Ben realized that Daniel must have thought it to him, and that the earpiece was still with Gene. “He took it.” Ben said pointing to his ear.

  “Yeah, but you heard me anyway,” Daniel said aloud as he headed out into the corridor, “You're learning. You probably could not do forcible probes but you can pick up casual thoughts. I’d bet that you always had gut reactions. Just a little amplification was all you needed to train yourself to make conscious sense of the patterns. With your rating you might eventually learn a bit more.”

  Daniel started down the corridor heading away from the elevator, passing doors labeled rehab, prosthetics, regen, gengen, and isolation. Ben followed and casually wondered if the rest of the medical staff was as 'together' as Gene was.

  “He really is the best doctor we have. He's from an Earth too. He ended up in the middle of a situation because he cared about people, and unfortunately, for him, the Dark was behind it. They seized him. When they found out he was a doctor, they did all manners of cruddy things trying to turn him. They have a serious shortage of decent medical help. We got him out of there as quickly as we could, but there are still times . . . You were lucky. After the cult fiasco, Angie thought it best if someone kept his or her eyes on you. Erin and I took the assignment, and here you are. Oops here we are,” Daniel said pulling up short at a door.

  The door held the label, “Training” in plain block letters. No sound penetrated the door but Ben felt an uncomfortable pressure on the back of his mind that left him with the impression of many people.

  “Brace yourself Bennie, this might be loud,” Daniel warned before touching the doorpad. The door slid open and Daniel strode forward into the sudden mental chaos. Ben hung back shortly trying to find himself among the thoughts streaming from the room, he could barely hear his own thoughts over those of the people inside.

  “Bennie come on,” Daniel grabbed Ben's shoulder and yanked him inside, “It's not as loud from in here.” Ben had to admit that it wasn't, in two steps the turmoil dimmed to a whisper. “The room is shielded. The shielding reflects the thoughts back into the room. Unfortunately, its shape harmonically focuses thoughts on the doorway. A few steps in and everything's cool.”

  With his brain still buzzing from the 'noise', Ben closed his eyes and took a deep breath before trying to absorb the organized chaos. The room was huge; it dwarfed anything Ben had seen. It could easily hold several football stadiums. On one side of the room, a mixed group of adults and kids acrobatically contorted their way through an obstacle course. On the other side, a petite woman led a notably younger group through various yoga positions.

  “This is the main factor training gym. It's where they do a lot of their physical conditioning. It's also the entry atrium for the training complex. Those far archways lead to other training rooms and the main dormitories.” Ben listened absently; the woman in charge of the yoga class had taken note of their arrival. “Most of the factors in training stay in the dorms, but I think we can get you other accommodations. You won't be following the basic training regimen anyway, though you will be doing some training with them.”

  While Daniel was talking, Ben watched the nymph-like woman stalk up behind Daniel. “Thank you, Mr. Exposition, Forgive him, he gets started and he can talk until an atomic explosion falls asleep.” Daniel jumped when she spoke. He turned quickly and Ben clearly caught a sense of friendly recognition.

  Daniel grabbed her by the shoulders and brought her around to display to Ben. He released her and gestured for Ben to look her over. “Ben, this lovely young lady is Niri Everett. She works with prospects, she's like a pre-trainer for factors,” then turning to Niri, “This is Benjamin Kindel of Earth. He's human with a phenomenal rating of 410.”

  “It isn't that high.” A short balding man growled as he came up behind Daniel. Daniel stepped aside, bringing Ben face to face with the newcomer's semi permanent scowl.

  “Ben this is Sinclair Chavez. He’s in charge of fact
or training. He heads selection. Chavez, this is Benjamin Kindel.”

  “Pardon me, but 410 is outstanding, for someone with a pedigree,” Niri pointed out.

  “And according to Gene he is 'technically' human,” Daniel added casually.

  “Pleased to meet you,” Ben said including both with his eyes, but offered his hand to Niri first. She gripped his firmly and wagged it up and down.

  “No, I'm pleased to meet someone with Talent as rare as yours.” Niri's beaming grin made her look like a mischievous adolescent. The grin went back into hiding as she released Ben's hand to Chavez. Chavez took Ben's hand as though it were a smelly fish, then let it drop.

  “It's not as if he can move a bus by blinking. What am I supposed to do with him?” Chavez asked after looking through Ben.

  “He has raw Talent and . . . “

  Chavez cut Daniel off completely, “So, half of Sanctuary is talented in one way or another. That doesn't make them factor material.”

  “Angela was hoping you would show him the ropes, but I guess I'll hand him to Niri.”

  Chavez's ears pricked up at mention of Angela. “No, no I'll . . . “ A small misstep by an acrobat behind Chavez caused a catastrophic and noisy collision, cutting off his protests. Niri blushed and looked away toward her small group of students.

  “That's quite all right Chavez. You're obviously quite busy with your select prospects,” Daniel flinched as another trainee swung into the middle of the previous pileup. Then he turned away effectively dismissing Chavez to clean up the mess, “Niri, he's clueless as a newborn babe. Could you find it in your heart to remedy that?”

  “Sure, does he know his way here from his quarters or should I pick him up tomorrow morning?”

  Daniel explosively exhaled, “I still have to get those nailed down. I hate doing intakes. I haven't even been fully debriefed.”

  “Well, that does explain it! Though I thought you wore boxers,” Niri snuck a sly grin toward Ben.

  “Angela’s in-subordinates seem to think that just because I sleep with the boss, I don't have to report to her,” Daniel threw up his hands.

  “I can take it from here. Why don't you go see to it your wife debriefs you properly? After all, it's been a whole month, and you are making him my responsibility. Besides this could be fun.” Hesitantly Daniel turned to leave. After he left, Niri turned to Ben rubbing her hands together. “Cool Daddio, now that the square is gone we can really party.”

  Ben's eyes widened at her wicked grin. “So what now? I get led around the asylum by the head lunatic?”

  “Better that than the chief sourpuss,” Niri jerked a thumb toward Chavez, “So, do you want the prestige of separate quarters or the convenience of the training dorms?”

  Ben rubbed his head, “Are you trying to give me whiplash?”

  “Sorry, I guess that making appropriate conversational transitions for the newbie is polite. All right, let us discuss your sleeping accommodations for this evening. You have two choices: You could go to general housing and get an apartment up there,” Niri gestured upward, “Or you can have a room in the dorms down here.”

  “It doesn't really matter. I guess.”

  “Good choice, down here it is, that way you won’t get lost on the way to class. I happen to know your teacher and she really doesn't fall for that excuse anyway.” Ben stayed silent and followed as Niri set off toward the dormitories.

  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

  The lights were still off when Erica awoke, that meant that somewhere beyond the walls the sun was still down, or at least she assumed it was so. Angela, the stranger, had left the room. Erica was alone with her thoughts, and it felt sane. Erica drank in the quiet. The sounds of herself were so wonderful, her breath, her heart, and her thoughts. Somewhere in the walls, the plumbing knocked and rumbled. Interrupting these sounds came the click-click of the lock.

  “Who's there?” Erica loved the way her voice sounded.

  “Just Angela, and some breakfast.” Angela backed into the room with a tray filled to the brim with good smelling things. In the darkness, Erica snatched a plate and began shoveling forkfuls of eggs into her mouth. The taste was better than the smell. “That night, when it happened, tell me about it,” Angela asked.

  Erica gagged. The request sent toast and eggs tumbling out of her suddenly dry mouth. She wondered briefly if it was too late to flinch away and hide. How could someone she had grown to trust ask that of her?

  “You don't have to, but it would help me help you.” Psychobabble, like Erica had heard since arriving here seemed a betrayal coming from Angela's mouth.

  “I don't want to talk about it.”

  Angela smiled and closed her eyes, concentrating. “All right, what if I talk about it,” Angela said it not like a question but like an intention, “It was dark. You were on your way home from your gymnastics practice. The strange van that had been following you for days sat parked at the corner. You didn't notice it. You passed it. You didn't see them get out, didn't hear them coming. They grabbed you, poked something into your arm and everything went blank.”

  “Stop it,” Erica shouted, Angela's words had the strange effect of bringing back the actual sensations she described.

  Angela continued keeping the rhythm and tone of her voice level. “You awoke, later, in a dark room. It smelled of musty stone, sweat, and blood. There were other girls. Everyone was so afraid; you felt that. The echoes of your fear and theirs rattled around in your head. That was when the voices first came. You thought it was the drug they used on you.”

  “Please no more! I don't want to remember it!” If she wasn't sensing the sensations and smelling the smells, Erica would have tried to pretend it was a scary story.

  “They came in, wearing dark cloaks. Two by two, they took the girls. Two by two, you heard the screams. They took you and the other girl. They took you both to a room, and tied you each to a table, an altar. She was so afraid. Then He entered. He was naked, unless it was a costume. He didn't look human, “Erica wanted to stop Angela's words, but she couldn't, “He, went to the stranger, the other girl, and raped her. Then he howled in rage and ripped open her throat. With one swipe of his clawed hand, he practically took off her head. Then he came toward you. He reached out his hand . . . “

  “Stop!” Erica screamed. Her body shook with the effort of breaking the spell of Angela's words. She returned to the reality of the darkened room, the eggs, and the toast. “I don't remember anything more!”

  In a very different tone, a softer one, Angela spoke, “You remember it, you just don't want to remember. You need to. Tell me what you saw next, don't make me tell it.”

  All of Erica was shaking. She heard the voices around her so clearly. It would be just so easy to fall back into them and stop being Erica. Losing herself was just so much easier, then she never had to remember it. They didn't remember the attack. The voices weren't afraid, or frightening. They let her be only crazy.

  “Erica, tell me!” The words were a plea from Angela to join her in reality, “What happened next?”

  “He, tore open my jeans, and started to get on top of me!” Erica spat it out like vomit. Her own words brought back the burning cold of his claws as they ripped past her legs and the dry, warty scales on his palms as he jockeyed for position.

  “Nevertheless, he didn't rape you did he?”

  “No, he didn't. He fell down, as if he was dead. Then he was gone. Someone stopped him. It was a woman in the doorway. Just before the police got there. YOU!” Erica thought back to the night with surprise. This woman, Angela had been there.

  Angela's face was just as placid as it had been there and then. “Yes, I was. That's part of why I came here. This is my fault, your being here, the voices. I had to use my mind to stun him long enough to get a shot off. When I tried to kill him that night, I didn't know you were a weak telepath. I used my mind, and horribly bruised yours. It's my fault you couldn't get rid of the voices. I can't tell you ho
w sorry I am, only that you aren't crazy. “

  Erica couldn't speak; she had no words. Around her, the voices hung fearfully back. This woman sat in front of her sounding crazy yet; Erica could feel the truth in her mind. The voices were still there at the edges of her mind, but they were no longer figments of madness. Erica's mind was sound. She was sane.

  Angela sat quietly while Erica savored the thought of sanity, then with urgency, “Erica, I need to know is if that was everything you remember.”

  Erica gingerly prodded at the raw wound of the memory. Sounds came to her in flashes, screams, pleas, and, “No, I think maybe I heard something more, once. It was the time when there was a long lapse between when they took the girls and when they came for more.”

  “What did you hear?”

  Erica hesitated to play back the sound in her mind, “I think it may have been the cry of a baby.”

  “Two by two, and only twenty bodies plus you,” Angela rubbed her hands on her slacks, “That poor girl really will be crazy by the time we find her, and the child.”

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  Chapter 3

  Blather, Rinse, Repeat

  ------------------------------------

  Miranda felt cheated when she awoke. It took her a groggy moment to remember why. The woman had drugged her without warning. Sitting up and stretching, Miranda forgave the woman. All of the lingering pain and stiffness had left. In its place was a warm sense of well being. Miranda couldn't remember the last time she had felt so good, if she ever had. Speaking of good, a truly appetizing smell wafted up from the little cook pot on the stove. Miranda sloughed off the thin blanket covering her legs and rose. She crossed the room and lifted the lid of the pot. Inside it, a brown and gooey stew was happily bubbling chunks of vegetables and meat to its surface.

  “Now don't you go and try adding any seasonings to that, thank you very much. You may feel better, but that does not mean I want your taste buds messing around with our dinner,” The woman half scolded from the doorway.