Solomon Family Warriors II

by Robert H. Cherny

  Sabrina knew that what bound these two strong men together was their bed rock belief in the enforcement of peace through carefully applied force.

  THIRD GENERATION - CHAPTER TEN

  SOLOMON AND ABRAMS FAMILY gatherings at the equestrian center tended to be raucous affairs. Depending on who was on patrol at any given time, the group could be as few as a dozen or as many as forty. After dinner, they often migrated to the swimming pool or the fitness center and went long into the night. If the weather was exceptionally good, they would gather for a moonlight horseback ride to a campsite and tell stories by the fire. On some nights, when the kids and their allegedly adult parents were particularly rambunctious, Greg would call for a game. He had invented the game which involved enough running and jumping for the older kids and the adults to get a good work out, but not so strenuous that the little ones could not play without getting hurt. It had started out as something like twentieth century American touch football merged with European soccer from the same period. The rules had changed over the years. Now it was mostly chaos.

  One of the family traditions when a newcomer joined them at dinner was for everyone to introduce themselves to the newcomer and tell something about themselves that would help them remember who they were. One of the motivations for this was to teach even the youngest children to confidently speak in public. This was often the time when news was announced or secrets spilled. Everyone got their turn to speak at the big table with everyone else listening more or less politely. They always started with the youngest and by the time it was the oldest ones’ turns, things had generally become pretty wild.

  In honor of Sabrina and Fiona’s visit, the children were especially vocal. The younger children teased each other about boyfriends and girlfriends won and lost, sporting events and academic reports. Like all of the Solomon family, they spent more time than their peers in combat simulators and their progress was noted. They were congratulated for their accomplishments and encouraged to do better after their failures.

  Fifth from the oldest, Saul, had barely begun to speak when his cousin Rebecca pounced on him. Saul was proud of his martial arts skills and worked out with a variety of partners. He often boasted about his matches and how hard he worked at them. One of his regular sparring partners had gone back to Earth with her parents to visit family. The trip had taken six months. In the interim, she had grown breasts. When she returned, she was no longer the awkward feisty girl he remembered. She was a woman with hips and an hour glass shape. Rebecca described in hysterical detail the look on Saul’s face when the girl entered the sparring ring for the first time since her return. She flaunted her new body and Saul was transfixed. She had absolutely wiped the floor with him. Saul was completely embarrassed in front of his friends. Not only that, but now he was embarrassed in front of his family. By the end of Rebecca’s narrative Saul was ready to sink under his chair.

  When Rebecca was finally finished, Avi wiped the laughter from her eyes and said, “Now you know how your grandfather felt when I challenged him at the Academy. Next time you won’t let her take you apart.”

  For her own contribution, because embarrassing Saul was not enough, Rebecca reported on some of the new ships that had arrived that day. She kept track of every ship coming and going from the yard. She knew who the captains were and which of them had family traveling with them. Sometimes she helped arrange shopping or sightseeing trips for them.

  Moses was the next oldest and contributed a story about someone who was recovering in the hospital and a funny story about some kid showing off for his friend who had wound up in the emergency room.

  J. T. and Mimi’s twin boys, Brian and Keith, were the oldest children in the group and were more reserved than the others. They were big muscular boys more comfortable with large animals and being outdoors than they were with space flight. They had made it clear that being cooped up in a tiny spacecraft was not their idea of a good time. When the families played games together, Brian and Keith were always assigned to opposite teams. When it came their turn to talk, they often talked about some mare’s new colt or the way the sunrise had looked that morning. There was a gentleness about these two giants that always impressed the others. They reminded everyone else what it was they were working to preserve.

  Greg called for a game, and they trouped outside. On the way out, Fiona pulled her mother aside. “Are all large families this loud?”

  Sabrina smiled. “Only the lucky ones. Too few are like this.”

  Used to the quiet conversations with her mother alone in the ship, the intensity of the banter had intimidated Fiona. She anticipated the game with trepidation.

  Sabrina and Fiona sat on the bleachers and watched the activity. The assignment of teams was simple. Greg was the referee. He made everyone line up by height and count off by twos. All the ones were on one team, and all the twos were on the other.

  After about fifteen minutes of play, team two was clobbering team one. Rebecca called time out. She walked over to Fiona. “New player!” Rebecca hollered.

  Fiona pulled back, “No! I couldn’t!”

  “You figured out the rules?”

  “There aren’t many.”

  “Yeah, that’s the point. You injured or something?”

  “Well, I don’t know.”

  “MEDIC!” Rebecca yelled across the field.

  Isaac and Joshua came running.

  “Can you certify that she is healthy enough to play?”

  Isaac grinned. “Stick out your tongue and say Ahhh.”

  “Argh!” She tried to sound like a pirate in a bad movie.

  “Excellent!”

  “Now stand and hold your arms to the side.”

  When Fiona held her arms up, Joshua tickled her in the ribs. She swatted his hand away.

  “Perfect!” Isaac shouted. “Game on! You didn’t think we would let you off the hook did you?”

  Sabrina laughed, “No, I guess not.” She climbed down the bleachers with Fiona reluctantly following behind her.

  Saul was about Fiona’s height, and he was assigned to guard her. They raced together the length of the field chasing the ball and occasionally colliding. Fiona had never played a team sport before. She kept in shape with the ship’s fitness equipment, but there were no others her age to play with. She had no problem keeping up, but the amount of peripheral activity often left her bewildered and confused. It was in one of these moments that Saul slammed into her and knocked her down. She landed on her back on the soft grass thinking for a moment what would have happened if that had been deck plate and not soft ground. Saul was on top of her and looking in her eyes with worry, or something. She blinked.

  “Get off me,” she snapped.

  Saul took a deep breath and rolled off her to the ground. Fiona jumped to her feet before the others could reach them. Her angry expression told them everything they needed to know. Saul rolled to his feet and brushed the grass off his knees.

  The game resumed, but something in the way Fiona and Saul moved around each other had changed. There was a new wariness and an awareness that something unusual was going on.

  After the game, they gathered in the lounge for drinks and conversation. Saul latched on to Fiona and could not be pried loose. He regaled her with funny stories about himself and his extended family. His cousin Rebecca was in most of his classes and was closer to him than he was to his older brother, Moses. She tried to free Fiona from Saul’s attentions, but gave it up. Moses had disappeared right after the game and inquiring minds wanted to know which of the young ladies they had seen earlier he had gone off with. Moses had several close female friends but none of them were “steady” where Saul seemed uncomfortable around girls except for safely off limits Rebecca who he adored.

  After the party, as they walked to their quarters, Fiona asked Sabrina, “What is it with boys?”

  “With boys or with Saul?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Sabrina smiled, “Saul is the first boy you have
had physical contact with. You are both at the right age. Hormones can be powerful at your age.”

  “Are you trying to tell me this is all chemistry?”

  “No, but perhaps it is good for you to spend time with boys your age.”

  Fiona rolled her eyes and huffed. “I know all about boys. I watch enough shows. I get it.”

  Sabrina smiled. “It’s not the same. Here on Eretz they have a rule that all people your age must attend their schools. We may be here a long time. Perhaps on Monday I should get you registered.”

  “But Mom! I can study on the ship!”

  “Perhaps. I’ll talk to Wendy about it. Rebecca can help you get started.”

  “Mom! I don’t want to meet a bunch of weird kids!”

  “All the more reason you should.”

  Fiona huffed.

  Sabrina smiled. “I wonder if Father Hadalski is still here. He would be thrilled to know I am bringing you up Catholic even if I did not marry your father.”

  Fiona sighed.

  “Oh, we need to get up early. You’re going horse back riding with Rebecca and Saul.”

  “MOM! I am not getting on one of those smelly horses!”

  “Fiona, darling, yes you are.”

  “And if I refuse?”

  “I will leave you here in Rev Schwartz’s capable hands.”

  “Who is Rev Schwartz?”

  “You’ll find out on Monday.” Sabrina chuckled. Seeing Fiona’s difficulties interacting with others her age had been an eye opening experience. The time here on Eretz would be good for her even if it did mean breaking poor Saul’s heart. The experience would be good for both of them.

  THIRD GENERATION - CHAPTER ELEVEN

  THE MORNING DAWNED CLEAR and perfect for a day of horseback riding. Sabrina dragged Fiona whining and complaining to the equestrian center. The threat of Rev Schwartz would have more teeth once she met him, but for now, Sabrina made do with her usual threats.

  Brian and Keith were at the stables when Sabrina and Fiona arrived. “Fiona!” Brian called to her or was it Keith, she couldn’t tell, but it probably didn’t matter. “Come over here!”

  Fiona entered the stable watching carefully where she stepped. The smell was not as overpowering as she expected, nor was it as unpleasant as she feared, but it was definitely there.

  Brian or Keith motioned for her to come toward one of the stables. “Look at the baby!” His face glowed with happiness.

  The baby horse stood next to its mother.

  “How old is it?”

  “Two days. We thought we were going to lose her. She didn’t want to stand. If they don’t stand right away they can die.”

  “Oh.” Fiona looked at the horse with its spindly legs and wobbly stance and wondered how something so fragile looking could grow up into something as sturdy looking as its mother. The baby began to nurse and Brian or Keith pulled Fiona away.

  “Come look. We have a bull calf.”

  Fiona inclined her head at her mother. Her eyes were pleading, “Do I have to?”

  Sabrina smiled and motioned for her to go with them. They went into the next building where they found a cow with a small calf. He didn’t look like much, but he did look kind of cute.

  “Can I touch him?” Fiona asked.

  “Probably not a good idea. Mama’s too protective.” Brian or Keith said. “We have someone you can play with if you want.”

  Brian or Keith whistled. A collie dog wandered around the corner followed by half a dozen unruly puppies. Brian and Keith stooped to pet the dog. They each picked up a puppy and offered it to Fiona. She took both the squirmy puppies. When she brought them up to look at them, they licked her face. The boys sat on the ground happily petting the dog and playing with the rest of the puppies while Fiona examined the two lively fur balls in her hands. She sat down and put the puppies on the ground. Pretty soon all of the puppies had climbed into her lap and were jumping all over her.

  Brian and Keith stood and Brian or Keith said, “We picked out a horse for you. She’s real gentle. You’ll like her. Wait here for a few minutes ‘til we get her saddled up.”

  “Sure.”

  Sabrina stooped and picked up one of the puppies. “Fiona, there are people like that all over the galaxy. Good, honest people. They are the reason we do what we do. We do it for them.”

  “Change of heart from your pirate days?”

  “Yes, but even then, I didn’t want to hurt people. I needed the money to live and that was the only way I knew how to get it.”

  “Do I really have to ride this horse?”

  “Yes, it will be good for you.”

  Fiona huffed.

  Saul and Rebecca showed up a few minutes later and grabbed puppies to play with. In the midst of the laughter Sabrina said, “Fiona, I am going to find Father Hadalski. We need to see about your First Communion.”

  “If you insist.”

  “I do.”

  Brian and Keith brought the horses and helped Fiona up on hers. They gave her a little instruction before wishing them well.

  “You’re not coming with us?” Fiona asked.

  “Not today,” Brian or Keith answered. “Another time. Count on it.”

  Disappointed, Fiona watched them walk into the barn. There was something reassuring about these two boys. It was as if no harm would ever befall anyone in their presence. There was an aura of safety around them. Saul, on the other hand, was dangerous. Dangerous to her, dangerous to others and dangerous to himself. Fiona figured out that she was reacting to Saul’s strong pheromones, but still, there was a flutter when he walked by. She shook her head. She was glad she was not alone with him.

  They gently rode the horses for an hour to reach a meadow on the side of the mountain overlooking a small lake. They dismounted and set the horses loose allowing them to graze in the meadow. Fiona took pictures of the sunlight filtering through the clouds to the mountains beyond the lake. They took funny pictures of each other and ran through the meadow grasses. The morning passed quickly as they picked wild flowers and wandered through the woods that bordered the meadow. Small animals skittered out of their way when they approached. Occasionally they could spot one of the small creatures as it dodged from one hiding place to the next.

  Fiona had never been this far away from a city before. She had spent her life on her mother’s ship and in the shipyards that tended the convoys they escorted. Only rarely did she find herself planetside. Then, more often than not, they were in a port city shopping for supplies and necessities of their life in the confines of a small ship. The immensity of the outdoors was astounding and awe inspiring. Even though she knew she could look out her view-port and see stars light years away, this felt bigger. The feel of the cool breeze on her face was a new experience. The warmth of the sun felt so much different here than it did through the visor of her EVA suit. She stood at the edge of the meadow looking out on the grass lands below and knew why her mother had insisted she go.

  Rebecca wandered over as Fiona gazed toward the horizon. She had seen that reaction before. She smiled. “Hey, if you want to go swimming we should go before lunch.”

  “I don’t know how to swim,” Fiona said. “I don’t have a bathing suit.”

  “I brought one that should fit you. It’s not your best color, but it will do.”

  “I can’t swim.”

  “Then we’ll teach you. It’ll be fun.”

  They heard a splash from the lake. Rebecca huffed and said, “I told him to wait for us.”

  The girls changed into the bathing suits. Fiona’s was too big for her, but they tied the straps to make it sort of fit. They ran laughing to the lake and jumped in to the waist deep water.

  Fiona immediately jumped up, gasping. “It’s COLD!”

  “Of course it is, silly!” Saul laughed and splashed cold water in her face.

  Fiona picked up a double handful of water and threw it at him. He ducked and splashed her back. They never did teach Fiona to swim because by
the time they finished splashing each other, they were too winded and climbed out of the water.

  “I’m starved!” Saul exclaimed as he rummaged through his back pack. He tossed small plastic wrapped packages to Fiona and Rebecca. Rebecca was opening hers when Saul picked out a spot to sit.

  “Saul! Don’t sit...”

  He plopped himself down and lay on his back.

  Within a second Saul was back on his feet screaming in pain. He raced for the water with dozens of little red bugs attached to his body.

  “Get the bugs off him!” Rebecca shouted at Fiona and pointed to the water.

  Fiona dropped her sandwich and plowed into the water to help Saul. Rebecca ran for her pack and dug out her comm unit. She made three calls in rapid succession. The first was to Brian and Keith. The second was for an ambulance and the third was to her father to alert the emergency room that Saul would be coming in.

  Desperately Fiona dug the bugs off Saul’s back with her fingernails. Each one left a small bleeding perforation. Saul continued to scream in pain.

  “He’s allergic to bug bites!” Rebecca shouted as she waded into the water to drag Saul out. “Get him on the horse!” The two girls boosted Saul into the saddle.

  “Get up there behind him!” Rebecca ordered.

  “ME?” Fiona shouted back.

  “Do you want him to DIE?”

  “No.”

  “Ride as fast as you can for the stables. The horse knows the way. Brian and Keith will meet you!”

  Fiona climbed on the horse behind Saul, and he rested his back against her chest. She reached around him and grabbed the reins Rebecca held out for her. Rebecca slapped the horse on its rump and shouted “GO! I’ll be along soon!”

  The horse bolted in the general direction of the stables. Fiona quickly fell into the rhythm of the horse’s gait and found that she was not as afraid as she thought she should be. Then she was aware of another sensation. She was on horseback with her arms around a naked boy. She was wearing a swim suit that did not fit her, but he was naked. He had shucked his swim suit in the water to rid himself of the bugs. The sensation of her flesh on his was not unpleasant. It surprised her that in his time of peril she would be having lusty thoughts. She kicked the horse as she had seen Saul do to make it run faster. The horse raced down the path. Fiona’s attention came back to the present as a branch whistled through her hair. She turned a corner and heard the sound of small motors heading in her direction. She hoped it was Brian and Keith.