Eden

by Louise Wise

  Matt fell back on the mattress, and stared up at the ceiling. “Or we could use Jenny to get at Fly,” he said.

  “No, absolutely not.”

  “Thought you’d say that.”

  “Matt,” said Bodie warningly.

  Matt smiled grimly. “What’s the alternative? I’ll not become a drudge for an alien. “We could lead the alien into a trap using Jen, and then -” he clicked his fingers “- pow. We’ve got him.”

  “Or we could leave them alone.”

  Matt was shaking his head.

  “You still love her, don’t you?”

  Matt’s head whipped around. “What!”

  “They say hate is akin to love.” Bodie looked amused. “Let her go. If she’s happy - and she says she is - then who’re we to judge?” “F”sake,” Matt muttered. “The commander’s eaten raw fungi.” Bodie chuckled.

  While Bodie and Matt were talking, Jenny had left the ship and found Fly at the edge of the forest. He was walking along, peering at something he held in his cupped hands, and almost bumped into her as she stood leaning against the buggy. She realized that he had been talking to whatever it was he was holding.

  “What do you have there? Oh!”

  She watched as a tiny face pushed between his fingers and thumb and stared at its surroundings in apparent terror.

  “It’s a baby monkey!” She looked up in amazement. “How did you manage to catch it?”

  “It found me.” Fly raised his hand, and gently parted his fingers for Jenny to see the animal properly. “It landed on me when I passed beneath a tree. I think it was pushed from its nest.”

  “Pushed?”

  “Sibling rivalry”

  Jenny poked a finger through his, and touched the creature’s furry face. The animal promptly sank its teeth into her.

  “Ouch!” She retracted her finger, laughing. “Unfriendly little thing, isn’t it? What are you going to do with it?” she asked with a narrowed, suspicious gaze.

  “The flesh a delicate…”

  She continued to stare at him, her suspicion changing to dismay, but then saw the teasing smile lift the corners of his mouth, and laughed.

  The little creature began to make low mewing noises from the depth of Fly’s hands. “Poor thing,” she said. “It sounds like it’s crying. Can we help it?”

  “It will not always be so defenseless. It will grow, and its tail will lose the fluff and become narrow and bladed. The baby teeth will be replaced with adult ones, and lots of them. “

  “But in the meantime, can we help it?”

  Fly smiled at her persistence. “I knew that is what you would want. I will make a cage for it.”

  How could Bodie and Matt believe him capable of hurting her? The thought was impossible. She lowered her head and spoke into his hands. “Don’t worry little fellow, Fly’ll look after you. Haven’t you heard? He takes care of everyone.”

  Fly chuckled, sounding pleased and embarrassed at the same time.

  She righted herself, smiling at his discomfort. “Matt’s back,” she said abruptly, her smile losing warmth. “They’re in the ship now. I thought it best to leave them. Bodie seemed keen to speak to Matt alone. I only hope it’s a severe reprimand.”

  “Or condolences.”

  Jenny sighed. “I don’t think so, not now anyway. When you went hunting Bodie became distraught, and I’m sorry, I know you didn’t want to tell them just yet, but I thought it best if I told him you’re venomous. We must put this stupid hostility behind us, and the only way we do that is if they know the truth. “

  Fly was silent for a moment. “How would that end their animosity?” he asked quietly, and Jenny knew he wasn’t pleased by her admission.

  “It will make them think twice before trying anything like this again. “

  “It will give them more of an incentive to kill me.”

  Jenny bit her lip, thinking hard. “I didn’t think of that. Oh, Christ, that’s just how they would think. Matt especially. Oh, Fly what are we going to do now! I’ve made it all worse.” She felt awful, and tried to hold back a sudden rush of tears. The monkey-thing screamed behind Fly’s closed hand, and she looked down absently. “I just wish they’d accept you as I have. Is that too much to ask?”

  “Not exactly like you have accepted me, I hope.”

  His sudden humor made Jenny smile. “Maybe not. “

  Fly squeezed her shoulder. “Nothing you have said will make any difference to the situation. To them I am not a man; I am an alien. They feel disgust, knowing we have lain together; they probably see you as a traitor. “

  It was strange how events had turned out, she mulled to herself. It had taken weeks, months even, to lose her fear of Flitespinter and, lovers for seemingly forever, he had become much more than a provider.

  She looked up, and caught his gaze; he had become her husband, and Matt could have so easily made her a widow.

  Hating Matt for the thought, she grimaced. At that moment a strange, premonitory shiver passed through her and, for an instant, she imagined Matt as the sole provider.

  TWENTY-SEVEN

  Jenny and Fly spent the night alone together. But she couldn’t relax. She lay in Fly’s arms, listening to his soft breathing, feeling nothing but guilt in the way she left: in anger and disappointment.

  The days that followed were spent with the four of them split in two. Bodie and Matt’s house stood half built in the distance: it saddened Jenny to see it, reminding her of the gulf that now stretched between them. Fly worked hard to complete the bridge; he had dismissed them, but that didn’t mean she could. And she continued to take over parcels of food. Fly never discouraged but neither did he encourage her. He no longer hunted for them, and he had nearly cleared out the storeroom in the spaceship.

  The days continued along a similar line. Jenny took food to the others, but what she provided wasn’t enough, and Bodie was too proud to tell her.

  “Has she gone?”

  “Yes.” Bodie wiped sweat off his upper lip.

  “How’re the legs? Have I been working you too hard?”

  “They don’t hurt as much.” Bodie stretched them out in front of him, and flexed his toes. “I’m just exhausted. I had to dash to my chair before Jenny saw I was out of it. I only just made it - bloody legs feel like lumps of wood now.”

  “But lumps of moving wood.” He picked up the empty bowl from his lap and sniffed. “Soup?”

  “No, better, stew. She’s an absolute angel, and I hate to fool her like this.”

  “Who’s fooling? We’ll just surprise them with your sudden ability to walk again,” he said taking Bodie’s bowl and filling it with

  Jenny’s thick stew. He began to shovel it in his mouth. “Not bad,” he said in between mouthfuls.

  “You eat like one of those wolf beasts,” said Bodie. He rubbed his aching legs, watching Matt with distrust. Matt’s “surprise” wasn’t one he was looking forward to.

  Jenny mooched around the house, feeling restless.

  “Are you worried about them?” asked Fly, after she had came into the same room twice, where he was resting, without speaking. “You didn’t see them, Fly, they’re starving.”

  “It will give Matt more incentive to hunt.”

  “He’s too impatient,” she said. “He rushes the animal too early and he can’t catch it. But forget Matt, what about Bodie? Doesn’t he deserve our help?”

  The look Fly gave her showed he didn’t think so. “So, take them extra food,” he shrugged after a while. His body gestures and speech were becoming more and more human, much to Jenny’s amusement. “We can spare it. I wouldn’t want you to think that I would like to see them starve.”

  Jenny leaned over and kissed him. “I know you wouldn’t. You’re a good man, and I love you.”

  “I am becoming pliable.”

  She gave a shout of uncontrollable laughter. “Soft,” she corrected. “You’re going soft. Not that that’s bad.”

  Fly was going neit
her. In return for the extra food, he wanted Matt’s help to remove certain objects from the spaceship. Matt refused, and it was only when Fly ordered them out of the spaceship did he relent.

  Bodie and Jenny sat waiting outside the ship while Fly and a reluctant Matt were inside. Jenny glanced at Bodie who was just finishing a large, red succulent fruit, and smiled sadly. If only all four of them could sit together like this without any mistrust.

  “You enjoyed that, didn’t you?” she said teasingly.

  “I’ve never tasted anything like it. I’ll take a case-load back to Earth and make my fortune.” He eyed the amount of goods they had rescued already from the ship. “How long is this going to take?”

  Jenny smiled, Fly wouldn’t be satisfied with this. He wanted to empty the entire ship, including engine and electrical parts.

  “What are you going to do with it all?”

  “Take it home,” she replied, watching as he began on his second fruit. “It’ll all get used.”

  “How are you there, love? Are you really OK?”

  “Yes, fine,” she replied automatically. She turned to him. “You’re missing out on such a lot by not accepting Fly. You’d be more comfortable living near us, and with a turbulent river between you and the wolves. “

  “Look at it from our point of view: as far as we’re concerned you’re under the total influence of an alien.”

  “That’s what Fly said.”

  “He said that?”

  She looked at him. “He understands more than you give him credit for, you know. “

  “I still don’t believe you love him,” he said in a sudden spurt of honesty. “I believe you’re doing this to stay alive. Matt and I can’t offer you the protection Fly obviously can. “

  “That was true in the beginning, maybe. Ironically I realized I loved him when he rescued you two from Taurus.” She didn’t admit to fancying him a long time before that.

  “Does he love you?”

  She shrugged. “In all honesty, I can’t be sure. I’d like to think so, but sometimes my human kindness and compassion frustrates him, yet I find him doing something incredibly kind and sweet, like saving that monkey for instance.”

  “Under different circumstances people change,” said Bodie softly.

  “People?” she teased. “Does that include Fly?”

  His smile was rueful. “Maybe we haven’t been fair. We haven’t exactly given him a chance, have we?” Bodie’s expression changed. “I knew Matt wanted to kill Fly and was following him, but I never realized he was going to try to kill him that night. I swear, Jen.”

  “I know, it’s OK.” She touched his hand, but Bodie pulled away.

  “No, no it isn’t. I don’t think I would’ve tried to stop him, even if I had known. I’m sorry, Jen, I’m not as strong as I thought I was, mentally or physically.”

  “Why didn’t we talk like this before? It would’ve solved a whole load of problems. “

  “I suppose we were all too wrapped up with ourselves and our own survival. “

  Jenny slipped her arm around his shoulders and hugged him awkwardly from his chair. “Fly’s no threat to you, honest. He told me once, he could never hurt you because every time he looked at you he was reminded of me. Does that sound like an alien talking?”

  “Does he….” he gave an embarrassed cough. “Has he ever hurt you? I mean is he gentle…?” He gave an embarrassed laugh, and color swept up his neck and hid behind his roughly cut beard.

  Jenny reddened too. “He is the most considerate lover I have ever had.”

  “I’m sorry; it’s none of my business. I just can’t help but worry. I imagine him abusing you. I can’t get it out of my head!”

  Tears filled her eyes at the distress in his voice. “Nothing I say will convince you, will it? I love him, and I’m happy.”

  He reached for her hand. “I hope so.”

  She half laughed, exasperated. She was torn between frustration and genuine amusement at Bodie’s unwillingness to see any good in Fly.

  “Jen,” Bodie began. “There’s something I have to tell you. My legs are getting -”

  A sharp crack filled the air, and Bodie’s words were cut off as and the ground beneath them shook.

  Jenny shot up. “An earthquake!”

  Bodie stood up also, he wobbled, but he grabbed her arm and urged her forward.

  “Not a “quake,” he gasped. “The ship’s breaking up.”

  Jenny swiveled around, and would have run inside had he not been holding her arm tightly. The giant spaceship vibrated until it blurred. Dust spiraled from it in great swirling clouds of black and grey.

  “Fly’s in there!” she screamed.

  Bodie pulled on her arm. “Move! “

  Reluctant, but aware that their lives depended on it; she placed an arm around Bodie’s middle and helped him to safety. She didn’t acknowledge his ability to walk; she was too distressed to notice.

  They reached the top of the hill and continued to watch the ship’s destruction with a helplessness they both felt.

  After the first crack, part of the ship sank within itself. The beast, which had been recovering after all from its injuries and was tied behind the ship, stopped bellowing abruptly as it was buried under falling debris. The noise of the collapse engulfed them in its savagery. Then the spiraling dust mushroomed in one giant, dirty cloud high above in the blue sky.

  Jenny was still. Her mouth was covered by both of her hands. Her entire expression was one of disbelief and unacceptance. Bodie was pale beneath the grime that covered both their bodies. He too, was under the grip of total disbelief.

  “Noooo!”

  Bodie stood helplessly beside her, as the tortured scream erupted from her lungs, and the spaceship hung open like an exposed dollhouse. Walls inside crumbled like paper. Then it was over, dust filled the air like a murky grey fog, and the ship was a mess of debris in the valley.

  A vast silence settled over everything. Then Jenny was off, slipping and sliding down the hill, faster and faster, until she was lost in the wreckage.

  TWENTY-EIGHT

  Bodie moved gingerly down the hill on his bottom. Once there, he stood and shuffled slowly through the wreckage. Every movement hurt and sent fresh pain rocketing through his legs.

  “Matt!” he yelled.

  Jenny ploughed through, shouting and screaming their names until she was hoarse. She dragged away huge steel sheets causing her to hands bleed; then dropped to her knees to peer beneath the demolished ship, only to pop up again to continue with her search.

  Bodie was worried she might fall through and become lost herself. He called her back, but she either ignored him or failed to hear. He walked where he could, and peered through the dust until his eyes smarted, but he felt useless. He faltered, cocking his head, then began waving frantically to Jenny. She looked in his direction, her eyes huge and haunted in her soiled face, but reading Bodie’s expression she stopped, and listened with him.

  They both heard a muffled shout, and Jenny headed towards it, leaving Bodie to watch. He waited as she climbed over the mounds of metal and wire, knowing he wouldn’t be able to lift his injured legs over the ship’s remains.

  She shouted something, and he shuffled forwards until he was near enough to see. There was a steel grille of some kind, and beneath was Matt. He was pinned under, with an expression of frustration rather than pain.

  “It’s Matt,” she called. “He’s OK. The surrounding walls have taken the brunt of the collapse, and pinned him in this cage.” She pulled away the remains of the crumbling wall as she spoke, and soon Matt was able to help himself and ease his body from the metal prison.

  Bodie closed his eyes, wondering how much worse it could get. He opened them as Matt stood up. Jenny moved away almost immediately, her eyes scrutinizing every spare inch of broken spaceship.

  Matt was on his knees moving metal sheets and thick lengths of cable out of the way.

  “He was…” he coughed, “near m
e when it happened.”

  Bodie tried another step forwards but there was just too much to step over, and he continued to watch, feeling more frustrated and useless as time slowly moved on.

  Together, Jenny and Matt eased tonnes of rubble, but it was Matt who uncovered a grazed hand. And even from where Bodie stood, he saw heat leave Jenny’s face. He wanted to cry for her.

  At last Fly’s arm was freed, and Jenny pressed the palm of his scarred hand to her wet cheek.

  “Please be alive.” Her whisper carried over to where Bodie still stood, and his heart broke at her distress. How could he and Matt have even thought of killing him? It’d be like killing her, too.

  “Let Matt uncover him, love,” he called.

  She shook her head, and grimly helped Matt remove the steel chunks from his face. Then Matt leaned forward and placed an ear against Fly’s mouth, listening for evidence of breathing.

  Bodie waited, and when Matt looked up nodding, he almost slumped to the ground in relief. Matt pulled off the remaining debris until the alien’s shoulders and chest were exposed, then he and Jenny each took an arm and proceeded to drag him out.

  Bodie went over as soon as they were clear, and lowered himself awkwardly beside Fly’s body. The face was pale beneath the dirt; the eyes closed as though asleep. Clear liquid streamed from one of his ears and blood plastered his hair against his face in congealing clumps.

  Jenny was openly crying now the need for calm had ended. She seemed almost on the edge of hysteria, and rocked back and forth on her heels, hugging herself.

  “Ssh, sweetheart, ssh,” Bodie rose, reaching for her, and wrapped his arms around her. “He isn’t dead.” Not yet, he added in his head. “D’you think a selfish bastard like Matt would rescue a body?”

  She shivered in his embrace, but fell silent. They watched Matt in astonishment as he tipped back Fly’s head, pinched his nostrils together, opened his mouth, and then pressed his own against the blue tinged lips.

  Then Bodie was on his knees, all pain in his legs at that moment forgotten. Without disturbing Matt he located Fly’s pulse, then turned and gave a thumbs-up sign to Jenny.

  They worked in silence, all shocked and distressed. Jenny built a fire; Bodie found blankets and pillows among the already salvaged goods, and placed them around Fly’s lifeless body.