The next five days crawled by at a snail's pace. I spent half my time in the small bedroom watching for any sign of the Rangers, but the inconsiderate scumbags wouldn't show.
And my attitude didn't improve any, either. Every time I saw Nanako, smiling and hopeful, pondering a better future, my heart shattered into a thousand pieces. For all I could see was a future in which Nanako lost this child and us getting divorced because of it. I tried to keep these thoughts from my mind, but they haunted me twenty-four seven, and they were driving me insane.
That Wednesday evening, the sun was low on the horizon and the shadows were long, and David was upstairs on watch. The rest of us were down in the lounge room eating raw vegetables we'd stolen from the market gardens last night.
And then, Madison went and opened her big mouth. "Right, I want to know," she began, looking pointedly at Nanako and me. "It has been almost a week and no sign of the Rangers, so, what are you two planning on doing?"
"I want to go to Ballarat," Nanako replied, glancing at me.
"When?" Madison demanded.
"Friday," she replied.
"In two days? I cannot believe you are still thinking along those lines," Madison said angrily. "As I said before, the mission must take priority over your pregnancy."
"I'm sorry, but I have to give this little one priority, I just have to," Nanako replied hesitantly.
Madison sighed deeply, and put down the carrot she'd been munching on. "This has gone on long enough, Jones. Will you tell her, or shall I?"
Everyone fell still, and my face blanched with fear. I glanced unsurely at Nanako.
"Tell me what?" Nanako demanded, glancing between Madison and me.
"Well?" Madison prompted.
And so, with my face burning and my stomach churning, I turned to Nanako and began to explain. "Madison told me that the geneticists in Newhome did tests on all the biologically engineered girls and came to the conclusion that us genetically engineered humans cannot procreate with normals, that our DNA is incompatible."
"But I'm pregnant – and for the second time, so their conclusion is garbage," Nanako pointed out.
"You miscarried last time, and you will this time too," Madison replied bluntly.
"You can't know that," Nanako stated angrily.
"I can and I do," Madison replied, though a little more sensitively this time. "They conducted trials on a dozen of us. We were impregnated two or three times each, and although the germination was successful, all pregnancies resulted in miscarriages between the six to twelve-week mark. Subsequent tests confirmed that we biologically engineered people can only reproduce with our own kind."
Nanako's expression suddenly changed, from one of protestation, to one of unbridled anger. "Ethan, how long have you known this?"
"A little while," I stammered, withering beneath her accusing stare.
"Almost four weeks," Madison interrupted, and with no small amount of satisfaction. She was enjoying watching the trouble she was creating between Nanako and me.
"You've known about this for four weeks and you kept it to yourself?" Nanako asked as she stood to her feet and looked down at me.
"I...I didn't want to worry you."
"You didn't want to worry me? Which is worse, do you think – letting me run around for nigh on a week, excited and hopeful because I'm pregnant, when all along you knew it'd result in a miscarriage – or telling me the truth so I could face up to what's gonna happen before it does?"
"But..." I stammered as I stood too.
David and Leigh moved slowly away from us, heading for the kitchen. Shorty, on the other hand was watching everything with morbid fascination.
"But what?" she snapped.
"You've been through so much lately and I didn't want to trouble you with this. I mean, what if Madison's wrong?"
Nanako suddenly poked me in the forehead with her forefinger and snapped, "Wrong answer!"
I looked down into her beautiful face, marred by fury and resentment, and I hurt for her. I had so wanted to shield her from the pain this knowledge could cause. "Look, Nana-chan, I'm really sorry..."
"I don't wanna hear it, Ethan! I can't believe you kept a secret this big from me. What other secrets like this are you hiding?"
"What? None! And besides, you're not exactly one to talk about hiding secrets, are you?" I shot back.
"What do you mean?"
"You didn't tell me about the first pregnancy, remember? I only found out about that because Reina told me."
"You can't compare that to what you've done."
"And why not? It was a pretty big secret, don't you think?"
"That was something that'd already happened, it was in the past. But this information affects me right here and now – and our whole future. You knew I was gonna lose this baby, and that we could never have kids, and you didn't even tell me!"
"I was going to tell you, I was just looking for the right time..."
"The right time was when Madison told you."
I hung my head in shame, feeling completely lost about what to do. Nanako was ropeable – nothing I was saying was calming her in the slightest. I had held back the knowledge because I was trying to protect her, but that had backfired big time.
Nanako threw up her hands and strode purposefully to the kitchen.
I just stood there, helpless. Perhaps I just needed to give her time to cool down?
"So Nanako," Madison said just before Nanako left the room. "You will be staying now, right? You know, since there is no longer any reason for you to leave."
Nanako glanced briefly at her and then hurried through the doorway. I heard her stomp through the kitchen and bash open the aluminium back door that led into the backyard.
I made the mistake then of sending a fleeting look in Madison's direction, for seeing her standing there, mightily pleased with herself, made me want to shove her right through the wall this time. But recalling Nanako's recent rebuke tempered my reaction and I went upstairs to relieve David from being on watch.
David looked up from where he was kneeling beside the window. "You okay, mate?"
"Don't want to talk about it," I said as I slumped down beside him.
"I heard something of what was said," he said kindly.
I looked down the street at the community centre and at the handful of Skel who milled about in front of it. "I...I just want what's best for her, that's all," I admitted softly.
David laid a comforting hand on my forearm. "I know you do, and she'll realise that too. Just give her time."
"Man, I hope you're right. I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Damned if I told her, damned if I didn't."
David gave my arm a reassuring squeeze.
"Go on, I'll take the watch now," I said.
David scampered off downstairs and I sat beside the window, my left arm resting on the windowsill, and I lamented my troubles. I thought of Nanako, and of all the pain and suffering she went through when she lost her first baby, and of her recent depressive episode and panic attacks, and I felt both angry and miserable. Angry that life had dealt us this unreasonable, unfair card, and miserable because of the situation Nanako was in right now. I wanted to go to her, to help her through this, but since I was the 'enemy' at this particular junction in time, there'd be no point. I wish there was some kind of manual newlywed guys could consult in situations like this to guide them. I wished – I wished Michal was here, he'd know what to say, he'd know what to do.
I thought I could sit through the four hours of my watch, but knowing Nanako was down in the backyard, trying to work through this alone was too much, and I didn't even last an hour before I went looking for Shorty to replace me so I could go to Nanako and try to set things right between us.
Night had fallen and it was pitch black in the house, but I found Shorty sitting on the stairs, playing the drums on the stairs.
"Shorty..." I began.
"She's in the backyard."
"Right."
"She's been crying a lo
t," he added.
"Oh? Say, can you take over my watch? I'll make it up to you."
"No worries," he said, and scampered up the stairs.
I skipped down the stairs two at a time, and almost bumped headfirst into Madison, who was standing in the lounge room’s doorway.
"Jones?"
"What do you want?" I snapped angrily – I hadn’t the time nor the patience to stand here bantering with her, I just wanted to go to Nanako.
"I want to talk to you."
"Not now."
"Why, is there somewhere you have to be right now?"
"Okay, what is it?" I demanded as I leaned back against the wall.
"I want you to get everyone together so I can talk to you all at the same time."
"About?"
"Let us wait until we are together..."
"No," I interrupted rudely, "Tell me now."
"Very well. It seems that we will be staying here now until the Rangers show up, but we cannot afford to sit here, idle, while the Skel continue to besiege Newhome."
"We’ve already discussed this," I said.
She held up her hands, a gesture I could see since we were both, by habit, echolocating while talking. "I know, but I have had an idea that will stop the Skel from blaming the slaves for our acts of sabotage."
Chapter Twenty-Three
"And that is?"
"When we carry out our next raid on the Skel, we do it during daylight. And you and I will wear our Custodian uniforms and we will make sure the Skel see us before we slip away."
I shook my head. "The answer is still no, Madison. The Skel could still leap to the conclusion that we have been in contact with the slaves – and they’d be right – and we’d be right back to Skel executing slaves in an attempt to make ‘em talk."
"Jones..."
"I said no!"
"Some leader you are," she said as she turned to walk away, but she paused at the last moment, and added, "And some husband, too."
That last comment hurt, like a punch in the gut. And sadly, I had no comeback, for right now, I agreed with her.
With Madison gone, I rushed through the kitchen and out into the backyard, where I heard Nanako straight away. She was over in the yard's far corner, behind an aluminium garden shed that had been knocked over by the bomb blast.
I wanted to sprint to her, but forced myself to approach slowly just in case she told me to nick off or something.
And then I saw her, leaning back against the decrepit wooden back fence, with her knees drawn to her chest and her arms around them.
"It's only me," I said as I approached, dragging my feet a little so that she knew I was there.
She looked up in my general direction – for it was very dark out here thanks to an overcast sky – but then quickly away. Seemed I was still in her bad books. Her face was tear-streaked, but it was dirt and dust that ran down her cheeks, not mascara, since she wasn't wearing it anymore. Wasn't any point out here.
"You okay?" I asked, winning points for the second dumbest question I’d asked this year.
"What do you reckon?" she snapped angrily. "All my hopes and dreams of having kids and raising a family with you have just been dashed to pieces."
"She could be wrong," I suggested weakly.
"I went and spoke to her myself half an hour ago. She’s pretty well versed in this whole affair, with a head full of statistics and the geneticists’ findings and conclusions."
"Still..."
"Oh come on, Ethan! Between her and the other eleven girls, they had thirty-one miscarriages. Thirty-one. Still think she’s wrong?"
"I don’t know," I replied, softly as I studied her crestfallen face. She looked more downcast than ever, as yet again an external force had come crashing down upon us, threatening to destroy our future and drive us apart. And maybe this time, the ‘attack’ would be successful.
"You. Should. Have. Told. Me," she said, firing off each word like a gunshot.
"I know, look, I’m sorry; I really am. I guess I didn’t think it through properly."
"No, you blasted well didn’t." She suddenly lifted her head and locked her gaze on mine. "What other earth shattering secrets are you withholding from me?"
"There’s nothing else," I said, holding up my hands in surrender.
"There’d better not be!" she spat, and then turned away from me and laid her head on her knees again.
I didn’t need to echolocate to feel the waves of anger and resentment she was sending my way. I wanted to reach out and touch her, to take her in my arms and reassure her that we’d get past this obstacle somehow, but would we? If she miscarried and we divorced, any comfort I gave her now would make me seem the ultimate hypocrite. Besides, I’d never seen her so angry, and I was afraid she’d bite my arm off or something.
* * *
We’d been sitting in the dark without speaking to one another for nigh on thirty minutes, when a massive KABOOM shook the ground. I leaped to my feet and quickly climbed on top of the garden shed, and then my heart leaped into my throat when I saw a massive fireball lifting into the night sky, originating from the area that contained the Skel warehouses.
"What is it? What happened?" Nanako asked in concern as she clambered to her feet.
"Madison," I spat.
"What?"
"The stupid fool’s gone and blown the munitions warehouse, I bet ya."
"Something else you haven’t told me?" she demanded crossly.
"No! Though a few minutes ago, she tried to talk me into conducting more raids on the Skel."
"And what did you answer?" Nanako asked, well, more accused. Whoa, she was really, really miffed at me.
"I told her no."
"And so she’s gone off and done this by herself?"
"That’s my guess."
"But what about the slaves that were next door to the munitions warehouse?"
"We’d better go check, and pronto – I wouldn’t put it past Madison to leave ‘em locked up so they’ll burn to death."
"Okay, stop yakking and let’s go already!" Nanako snapped.
We bolted into the house and were met by our three comrades.
"There's been a massive explosion!" Shorty announced as soon as he saw us.
"I know – it's the munitions warehouse, I think," I replied.
"But how? Who?" David asked, equally concerned.
"It's Madison, taking matters into her own hands. Now quick – grab your bows and arrows. We gotta go and check on Jack and Beth and the rest of the slaves, just in case they're still stuck in the warehouse."
"Do I have to come?" Leigh asked, troubled.
"Yes, you do," I replied firmly.
"But..."
"Just do it!"
Leigh rushed off, grumbling and complaining, but he returned only moments after David and Shorty.
"Right, follow me. And we're after speed over stealth here, but keep your wits about you all the same," I said, and then I raced out the door and into the street, with Nanako on my heels. Shorty, David, and then Leigh came next, though Leigh was hanging back as far as he could and get away with it.
We tore through the market gardens and out into the streets beyond, and finally, to the large industrial complex with the charnel house and Skel storage warehouses. We quickly scaled the fence into the complex, and hurriedly made our way towards the resins warehouse.
The sight that met us as we crossed the yard was quite a fearsome one. The munitions warehouse had indeed been blown up and was still on fire, but it was the resins' warehouse that caught our attention – it was blazing away like a bonfire, with thick black, acrid smoke pouring skyward.
The fire was spreading to the adjoining warehouses too, including the warehouse on the south-eastern corner; the one with all the motorcycles; and more tragically, the warehouse that housed the food stores. If all the food was lost, I shuddered to think what would become of the slaves who depended on it.
"Is there any point in going on?" David asked when we
stopped and stared wide-eyed at the horrifying scene. "There's no way anyone could be alive in there."
"We go on, just to be sure," I said, and we carefully skirted around the burning warehouses and headed for the driveway that lead into the internal car park.
But when we finally turned the last corner to the driveway, our mouths dropped open in shock at the sight that met us.
The slaves from the resins warehouse were gathered together in the driveway – Madison must have let them out before she torched the munitions warehouse – but they weren't alone. Two dozen furious Skel had just come bolting around the far corner, and upon seeing the slaves standing out here they responded in true form – by attacking them.
And as the slaves' ankles were shackled by irons and chains, they could do nothing but scream in fear as they tried to hobble away from the maddened Skel, who with the blazing firelight reflecting from their pale skin and black leather clothes, hewed them down with clubs, pick axes, and iron bars.
"No!" I screamed in horror, and quickly turned to my wife and comrades, well, David and Shorty. There was no sign of Leigh. "Take out the Skel – all of them!"
And then I was off, running right into the midst of the fearsome scene of wanton slaughter. I pulled out my pistol first and without slowing my pace, put four bullets through the throats of the four closest Skel, who hadn't even noticed we were here yet.
My gun empty, I discarded it without a second thought and tore my bow from my back. I notched an arrow and fired, and smiled with grim satisfaction when the arrow hit a six-foot tall, brutish Skel warrior in the chest with such power that the arrowhead protruding out his back. They weren't so tough without their armour, were they?
The Skel finally realised they weren't surrounded by a bunch of slaves whom they assumed had escaped and torched the munitions warehouse, but by actual enemies who were armed and no doubt the perpetrators of the attack.
While the remaining slaves tried to scatter or throw themselves to the ground, the nineteen remaining Skel screamed and charged us while brandishing their dreadful close-quarters weapons.
"Fall back!" I shouted, but my voice went largely unheard thanks to the combined efforts of the blazing inferno and the shouting Skel. All the same, Nanako and Shorty saw me walking backwards, and immediately followed suit, firing our bows at the charging Skel as we went.
Forager - the Complete Six Book Series (A Post Apocalyptic/Dystopian Series) Page 63