“You'll get a page as soon as I can finish typing it up here. Look, I need to get Larry airborne within an hour, OK?”
Alice was trying real hard not to shake with excitement, or perhaps it was fear, so she slowed down her typing to one finger at time. The seismograph next to her was wagging its tail excitedly recording dozens of small quakes no one could feel. She went back to her memo, reading it over before sending it.
“At 0420 Hawaiian Standard Time this morning sensors at the summit of Mauna Loa recorded unusual activity centered around significant and rapid re-inflation. A record swarm of 1200 long period earthquakes have been recorded in the past 36 hours. All of these have been measured at 2.5 magnitude or less. Indications are that a large pool of magma is heading upward from the vast magma chambers below the volcano.”
Alice was about to send that out when a window shaking 4.8 magnitude rattled her office. She added another paragraph.
“We can expect larger than normal and more frequent earthquakes in the vicinity of Kilauea, Mauna Loa and Halema'uma'u.”
17
Janet tried to read the eight month old Time magazine, but decided to just look at the pictures instead. She could feel her stomach churning like something was bumping around down there.
Voices were discussing something on the other side of the door which her friend, her now dear friend Starshine had shut behind her. She figured they were talking about whatever it was the doctor had found out, and that was just fine with her. If someone else could handle the details then she didn't have to.
Still, she was a bit nervous. Standing up finally and going to the large window facing west she looked out over the vast Ohia forests and jungles. The second floor office had a fantastic view toward the rising terrain leading up to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
She hadn't noticed before, perhaps because she had never paid any attention to it from down at the ocean pools, but a large plume of steam was rising vertically above the trees. Nothing like what she had seen on the History channel of course, but something more akin to what they showed in Iceland. Something like a healthy column of steam, slowly dissipating into the blue crispness of the calm morning.
Star opened the door and walked out with the doctor, both smiling broadly, their eyes glittering like someone holding on tightly to a secret they were about to let loose.
“Jimmie,” the doctor began, sitting on the edge of his desk, giving Star a moment to go to Janet's side. “I've got some exciting news for you...”
The windows just then began a complaining rattle and the wooden structure on which they sat atop swayed just slightly. Several car alarms, rental cars obviously since no locals here would tolerate them, began squawking.
Janet jumped a bit and Star gave her a little hug.
“Ah, I hate it when that happens,” the doctor laughed. He looked at Janet's big eyes and added. “Just a little roller, not to worry. We get one a month or so.”
“It's OK Jimmie,” Star whispered softly. “The doctor has some news for you.” Star caught herself repeating the doctor but could put it no other way. She had a touch of dread and didn't want to lose her new friend by being the dark messenger.
I hovered close by, watching Janet, and talking with the baby. Janet seemed a bit nervous, but I was having a great time. The baby was enjoying our little “talks” which I must admit were little more than mental goo-goo eyes. I would find him and smile, he would hear me and laugh. Naturally, it was nonverbal, but it was a flow of love back and forth nonetheless. I kept broadcasting my name to him, as Daddy. Although neither of us really needed a name, since we seemed to be the only ones in the room as it were, it was fun. My mind wandered a bit trying to find him one. I guess since I had met him at Star's cabin I would give him a name that was a variation of the place. Poho. Poho from Kapoho, Hawaii. Very masculine, I figured, and somehow very strong.
As Poho and I were cracking each other up, I was interrupted, well, we both were, by a burst of static. Janet was screaming, loudly. Both the doctor and Star were holding her down, as she was thrashing around and yelling in between her screams. I couldn't make out much but I did hear something that brought me back to a state of fear.
“My brother did this to me! My brother!”
Star was shaking, afraid to see Janet like this. The doctor seemed quite surprised.
“Jimmie, Jimmie!” He said loudly until he got her attention. “I have to ask, but how do you know your brother got you pregnant?”
Star looked at him like he was an idiot, and he had to admit to himself it was an idiotic question. He knew that, but he knew he had to ask anyhow.
“Don't you think I would know who...”
“Wait, just stop!” Star demanded. “Sit down, please.”
The doctor moved back to his desk visually shaken as well.
“Now Jimmie, did he rape you? Your brother?” Star spoke softly.
I was already answering “No. NO!”
Janet shook her head no. “No, our family was split up when we were young. I ended up with what I thought was a nice guy, fifteen years later. But, it was him, my brother!” She looked up at both of them and I saw deep pools of tears in her eyes. “He knew too. He was told by our other brother.” She burst into tears again.
Star looked over at the doctor and then back to Janet. “He knew and still had sex with you?”
Janet shook her head no. “No, not then. But he knew later and never told me, almost married me. He didn't care. He didn't...” Janet reached over quickly for the small plastic trash can near the doctor's desk and began vomiting.
Star walked over to the doctor's desk and whispered in his ear. “Can't you do a test of some kind? To confirm the baby, you know, is from a brother and sister?”
The doctor didn't like the implication of where such a question was leading. “Look Star, if it's true, there's only a 25% chance of deformity or some other DNA incompatibility.”
Star stood up straighter next to him, put her hands on her hips and stared down at the man. “Are you suggesting she keep such a baby?”
The doctor looked quickly over at Janet, who by now was watching him closely even as she wiped her mouth with a large box of tissues. “I suggest nothing. I can initiate a test though, if you think it's a good idea.”
Looking to Janet directly he asked, “Jimmie, do you want to keep this baby? I have to tell you the odds are that it would be healthy and viable. However, in the State of Hawaii, in such a circumstance as yours, a termination of the pregnancy could be had.”
Star looked at Janet as well, studying her face for a reaction.
The doctor continued. “But, I have to tell you, the baby is twenty two weeks, some five months along. It might be able to survive an early birth now.” He was trying to offer as many solutions for life as he could. “But, if you could wait another month or so, or even go to full term, we can arrange an adoption.”
I could feel the massive amounts of static ramp up again in Janet, like they had back in Cabin #94. Poho was real quiet.
Janet's eyes got all wild, pools of insanity spilling up through the pale blue of her stare. “Get this...” she hissed loudly, spit flying out of her mouth. “...monster out of me!” She spit obscenely into the waist basket. “Now!” She was breathing heavily and cursing under her breath. Suddenly she stood up and started beating her fist into her stomach. “I'll kill you twice, you bastard!”
Star and the doctor quickly grabbed her arms while some of the office staff and another doctor ran in after hearing the commotion.
“Sedate her,” Star cried. “Please,” she whispered through her tears. “Please, sedate her.”
Star was horrified at Janet's reaction but tried to tell herself she understood. How would she feel in such a situation, she asked herself. The doctor, being a man, had no firm grasp on the emotional turmoil, but had seen enough of it to understand the stress. Still, neither he nor Star could attribute Janet's wild behavior to such news alone.
The doct
or followed Janet into the examination room where they strapped her down on one of those paper covered couches. He swabbed a cotton stick inside her mouth, put the stick inside a tube and sealed it.
“Star, we need to do an amniocentesis, to determine the baby's DNA. Do you approve that?”
“I can't say, I just met her a few weeks ago. Can't you call someone?” Star complained. “I don't want to do something wrong here.”
“Look, it won't harm Jimmie or this baby. She's going to need one anyhow, to make her case for such a late term abortion.”
Star sat down in the chair next to Janet's now sleeping form. She was crying softly. Covering her face with her hands she spoke quietly. “She called it a monster.” Star sobbed for a moment and then repeated Janet's words. “She said get this monster out of me.” Her tears overwhelmed her.
The doctor went to comfort Star and wondered to himself as I did too. Which monster was she speaking of?
~~~
Larry's phone was ringing before he finished figuring out whether the earthquake was just a coincidence or not. Shirley had immediately looked him the eye and raised her eyebrow high.
“Larry! It's Jack.”
“Who? Your connection is bad...” Larry could hear what he thought sounded like a lot of wind. Wind close to a motorcycle.
“Jack, it's Jack! Look I'm on my way up to your place. We need you to drop some sensors for us.”
“When? Why are you coming up here right now?” Larry said loudly so Shirley had fair warning.
Shirley watched Larry shake his head a little, lean into the call and smile, then walk up to the large picture windows and look out. “Sure, Jack, I'll meet you outside, across the street.”
Larry looked across the room to Shirley after hanging up. “I've been drafted, again. HVO needs some sensors and a transmitter dropped upcountry. Seems urgent.”
“What, right now?” She sat her coffee cup down. “I thought … what's he doing coming up to the house then?”
Larry had already started his subconscious checklist, feeling in his pockets for his spare glasses and sunglasses. “He's bringing the sensors now. They want me over the drop site within the hour.” He couldn't find his sunglasses yet.
~~~
Janet's DNA mouth swab had been administered while she was still sedated. Star sat by her side the entire time, crying.
“OK, we've got Jimmie's DNA and we can get the baby's after we get the father's.” The doctor had the sample placed carefully in a mailing container. “How are we going to get that?”
Star looked up at him, and shook her head.
“Star, we can't determine if this baby is hers and her brothers without the father's DNA.”
“Well,” Star said. “Do you have any doubt? After that performance?”
The doctor stood up and walked over to his desk. “No, of course not. I don't.” He stopped at his desk, still facing the wall. “Star, I don't perform abortions. Period.” Sitting down heavily in his chair he rubbed his forehead and continued, painfully explaining the options.
“I understand when they are necessary. Of course. But, I don't perform them. I can't do it. Personal thing, you must understand.
“Jimmie is really at the limit of any kind of discretionary action at this point. In another couple of weeks, only a threat to the mother's life or a proven debilitating disability would make it happen.”
He turned to look out the window, trying to wish this part of the human experience never again crossed his doorstep. “The best I can do without the father's DNA is to recommend a mental health evaluation and possibly an adoption of the baby by the State.”
Star was gently stroking Janet's unconscious hand, humming some old tune from her childhood. Something comforting.
“Did you hear her?” Star asked, looking up at him. “What she said?”
The doctor tried to recall but all he got was screaming and wild insane eyes. “No, what?”
“She said,” Star spoke precisely, as if daring herself to get it right. “ 'I'll kill you twice.' ”
The doctor put his head down into his hands and moaned a little. “You think that means...” He looked up at Star, over to the still unconscious Janet and then up to the ceiling, hoping the revolving fan could somehow make it all more palatable. It didn't.
“You think she has already killed the father, then? Her brother, as she claims?”
“Yes,” Star confirmed quietly. “And, she will kill this baby as soon as she gets a chance. One way or another. You saw it, in her eyes.”
The doctor turned back to his desk, found a pen in his top drawer and on a piece of paper wrote something quickly. Almost frantically handing it to Star, he acted like it might burn his hands, or perhaps it was his soul.
“Take this. It's a clinic in Hilo. They'll do it. Ask for Dr. Zhung.”
~~~
Larry heard the motorcycle long before he saw Jack speeding up through the fog. A morning mist was beginning to form, threatening his launch. Worse, though, was the fact that is was threatening his eventual landing back home.
Ranger Jack Clovis felt the backpack contents shift with every turn and lurch with every bump. Normally, he would never drive this fast, but then this was the first time, he thought as leaning into a hard left, that timing had ever been this critical. Alice, the lead HVO scientist was not known for enthusiasm in her voice or ever a hint of hyperbole in anything she might say or predict.
Jack, though, heard the stress in her voice when she'd said “I need to get Larry airborne within an hour”. Something big was going on and these sensors, to be dropped from the air over inaccessible terrain upcountry of Halema'uma'u and Kiluaea, would immediately begin reporting acoustic data that related to inflation.
Inflation was one of the last hints you got before stuff started pouring out of the ground, or shooting high up into the air. It was the very ground itself swelling with the introduction of large pools of magma. It was also the signal for down slope evacuations when it reached a certain point. Civil Defense would begin closing the only road going around the island at either side of the predicted flow zone as soon as the HVC gave them the alert. Without these new sensors though it would be a guessing game that almost guaranteed embarrassment.
Larry had his wing deployed on the ground behind him and had done his preflight check, twice. What had him concerned now was coming home. He could take off into a fifty foot high fog in no wind and quickly rise above it. Landing, though, would be impossible. He double checked the hookup to the additional ten gallon fuel bladder he had just strapped on.
Jack roared up, dropped the kickstand on the Harley Davidson Superlow 883, leaving it in the middle of the street. He hopped off while taking his backpack off and opening it.
“Captain Larson!” he teased. “Ready for departure?”
“Yeah, well, departure is cool, but arrival looks a bit messy.”
“I see that.” Jack looked around at the thickening fog. “We'll send up a spotter plane for you, like we did before. I'll call it in.” He handed Larry the backpack. “Just monitor 123.45 and the spot plane will advise you as to landing spots as well as where to drop.”
Larry was looking inside the backpack, trying to figure out what all the tennis balls were about. He pulled one out and showed it to Jack, silently asking for an explanation.
“Cool yeah?” Jack laughed. “I invented that myself. You drop those from what...three hundred feet or so? The tennis ball is sliced open, we put in the wireless mote with acoustic and accelerometers built in and sew them back up.”
Larry shook one a bit and felt the movement of something small inside. “Florescent yellow? So you can find them later?”
“Yep, plus they were on sale.” Jack was beaming.
“OK, where do you want these?” Larry asked, strapping the backpack on backwards, onto his chest.
“Pretty easy, just get on a 360 degree north line just above Halema'uma'u and drop one of these tennis balls every two hundred meters o
r so. No further than four hundred meters, or they can't find each other. You should run out of tennis balls about three miles up the mountain. Then, drop this soccer ball.”
“What's in the soccer ball, Jack?” Larry was already laughing.
“Yeah, that! So cool! It's the mothership. All these wireless motes talk to each other as well as transmit their own info. Only one of them needs to find the mothership. All of the motes can relay for any or all of the others.
“The soccer ball can transmit four to five miles. We already have one deployed about where you will start, so we feel with your drop we will have a good live feed on what this mountain is up to.”
Larry nodded, confident he could help the scientists out. “And, so Jack, what is this mountain up to buddy?”
“More than we know, that's for sure. That's why we have you ...”
“I know that Jack, for God's sake. Tell me what the hell is going on!”
Jack put his helmet back on and straddled the Harley. He didn't have a problem telling his friend, but he didn't want him to freak out right before his important mission. Nevertheless he had to say something, and he was sure Larry needed to hear it.
“I'd have Shirley prepare for an evacuation.”
~~~
Star was half way to Hilo when Janet finally woke up, groggy and grumpy. I could feel the static roaring through her as I did my best to keep up with the old Tercel hatchback. The Ohia forests were slowly giving way to mango, monkeypod and palms. Orchid farms were interspersed with the small tomato and taro patches of the local farmers.
“What...where...what are we doing?” Janet managed to say through the haze and nervous hangover of anesthesia. “Why does my damn head hurt so much?”
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