Colony

by Lori Beery

  “That bird looks big enough to carry a large, adult tree-dweller away,” I told him quietly.

  “Yes, it looks like it could manage a person as well,” extrapolated the doctor. “I wonder why it hasn’t snatched someone off the rooftop. It seems that such a person would be easier prey than a tree-dweller down in the canopy.” He stopped talking and looked at me in horror. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I do have a habit of speaking my thoughts aloud. I truly don’t want anyone to be harmed. It’s just, well, what’s it waiting for?”

  “I have a theory,” I whispered conspiratorially.

  Chapter 13

  “What theory?” asked Dr. Locus, giving me his full attention.

  “As you said, this is not Earth,” I began. “It is a mistake to think this bird is like a bird from Earth.” I spent the next half hour describing the bird as an intelligent creature intent upon reclaiming its home. The doctor listened attentively to me. He nodded at my points, apparently accepting my reasoning.

  “Do you think this bird can communicate?” he inquired when I finished.

  “It might be possible,” I said, “but I don’t know how it would. For all I know, it could be telepathic.”

  Dr. Locus raised an eyebrow at my suggestion. “Actually, that would bypass any anatomical limitation I would have presented,” he told me with his blue eyes dancing. “How do you think it might proceed to communicate with us?” he asked.

  “Well, if the bird were me, I would select a person to approach,” I replied. “At the moment, only the members of the guard are available to approach one-on-one. No one else is spending time outside the mountain.”

  “And no one is going to spend time outside the mountain alone,” announced X-tee as he glared at me.

  “Of course not, Sir,” I quickly added. “But that leaves the creature with only the guard. I don’t know how it could get close enough to communicate without endangering itself. It’s possible it doesn’t know how dangerous we are. It might swoop in and snatch a guard off the rooftop during the night. Or perhaps, it might lead someone off alone. Without more information, I’m just guessing.”

  “Still, I wonder how we might test the telepathic idea,” said Dr. Locus. “I’ll look into it after I get the image sets into the hands of the elders and Ross.”

  The doctor and Lloyd returned their attention to the display. They proceeded to make the necessary copies to send to all the stated recipients. Their activity felt very much like a dismissal.

  “I have duty up on the roof tonight,” I told the room in general. “I’m going to get some food and turn in.”

  “Very responsible,” murmured X-tee. “Mind if I join you?”

  “Not at all,” I replied.

  With that, we walked in companionable silence to our commons. The place was practically empty when we arrived. Thankfully, there was food still available.

  After heaping our plates, we made our way to a table. Although we had our choice of places, we selected a table with a view of the room. I cracked a smile as both of us choose to sit in the adjacent seats that put our backs to the wall and hid us from the entry into the commons. The placement allowed us to see anyone coming in but required someone trying to find us to enter all the way into the commons before they could see us.

  “Was there something you wished to say to me in private?” I asked him, feeling a little self-conscience.

  He looked at me with his eyes widening in surprise. “Yes, I do,” he assured me after he swallowed his mouthful. “Do you honestly think the bird is telepathic and that he wants to communicate with us?”

  “I think it’s likely he wants to communicate somehow,” I replied. “He has been watching us. I think he has seen enough of our behavior to realize we are not tree-dwellers. But there is a lot about us he doesn’t know. The next step would be to communicate with one of us. The question is: How will he do it?”

  “Hmm, does the person he wants to communicate with need to be telepathic?” he inquired.

  “I don’t know,” I told him. “I’m guessing that it would be easier for a telepath to talk to a telepath. Is there anyone in the settlement with the ability?”

  “I don’t know,” he responded thoughtfully. “I’m not even sure who to approach to find out.”

  “Wouldn’t personnel files contain such information?” I questioned.

  “Maybe,” he said, “the council should have access to those files. I think I will go visit Elder Palm while you turn in.”

  I noticed his emphasis on ‘you turn in.’ “You get to have all the fun,” I told him with a grin.

  “The perk of being the one in charge,” he told me in his sarcastic tone.

  I nodded, knowing he didn’t relish visiting the elder. It wasn’t because he didn’t trust Elder Palm; it was more the questions his request might raise. What kind of person would want to talk to a predator who wants us to vacate our residence? Possible betrayal accusations could arise.

  X-tee and I turned our attention to devouring our food. We finished in short order and carried our empty dishes to the appropriate place at the service counter. Then we left the commons. I went to my quarters while X-tee continued toward the core of the settlement.

  Once inside my room, I checked my gear and laid out my clothes for duty. Not wanting to sleep feeling filthy, I took myself to the showers. One thing about showering at an off time was that there was plenty of hot water. Such bliss! Feeling much better, I turned in and fell promptly asleep.

  ***

  Amerzan preened himself as he let his observations of the intruders filter through his mind. Today, their behavior was different than what he had previously witnessed. Why had they looked up when they did? Before today, they had looked out and down. Rarely did they look upward. Did it have something to do with those branchless trees with the odd lumps on top? The trespassers had all stared at the thing beside the small one right before they looked up. Was there a connection?

  He settled his wings. He still didn’t know how many of the creatures there were. He knew their number was at least twice as many as those who watched at the cavern entrance and on the mountain top during the dim lights. How many did I not see? How could I find out?

  Amerzan began to pace the length of his roost. Time was rapidly running out. He must find a way to remove the infestation before his mate arrived. It would not go well for them if their nesting site were not prepared. Even without this problem, it would have taken him a while to get ready.

  ***

  My duty shift was long and quiet. The vid-recorders didn’t activate. I neither saw nor heard anything out of the ordinary. Only the brilliant stars clamored for my attention. I fought to keep watch around my station and not spend my time stargazing.

  After duty, I went back to sleep. I rose in plenty of time to get breakfast, dress for training, and report there with fifteen minutes to spare.

  Guard training was challenging, but I was able to work without splitting my sets. I was lifting the same amount of weight and doing the same number of reps and sets as Marta. Finally, I felt my fitness level was back to my pre-injury status.

  On my way back to my quarters, Derrick fell into step with me.

  “Ky, do you have a few moments to talk with me?” he asked.

  “Sure,” I told him. “What’s on your mind?”

  “I’d like you to be a guard on our expedition North to study the tree-dwellers who have moved to the mountain ridge,” he replied.

  “I’d be delighted,” I responded cheerily. “What are the particulars? How long will we be gone? What can I bring with me?”

  “Whoa, Ky!” he exclaimed, bringing our forward motion to a stop. I turned toward him with my eyebrows lifted in question. “Please attend the briefing at 13:00 today,” he told me with a big grin. All of your questions will be answered.”

  “Alright,” I said. “I will be there.”

  “Good! See you at the briefing,” he responded as he walked away with a spring in his step. I watc
hed him approach Marta. I smiled, knowing he was in the process of inviting her to be a part of the expedition too.

  “Good morning, Ky,” said a calm, quiet voice on my right side. I started slightly but immediately calmed as I recognized the speaker.

  “Good morning, John,” I responded as I turned toward him with a smile on my face.

  “I hear there truly is a huge eagle in our vicinity,” he commented quietly.

  “Yes, there is,” I confirmed in an equally quiet and serious tone. “We captured some images of it yesterday afternoon.”

  “Yes, I saw some of those images along with most of the hunter/guards,” he told me. “The engineers will soon have a large weapon up on the balcony.”

  “I am not surprised,” I whispered. “I was hoping we could close the blast doors and cut a new exit with its balcony somewhere else. That way the bird gets its nesting site back, and we don’t have to move out.”

  “I don’t think that is even being discussed,” he told me seriously.

  “Somehow, I didn’t think it would be,” I agreed sadly. “But, if the bird doesn’t nest here, what creatures will move in? This cave system is the only one we found without the lizards in it.”

  “Hmm, I had forgotten that detail,” he responded thoughtfully. “We need more data concerning that bird.”

  “I agree,” I told him. “To get that information, we have to go to the bird’s current nesting site. I have tried to study it from here, but I’m getting nowhere fast.”

  “Not sure that will be approved,” began John, “but, we do have clearance to learn what we can about the creature.”

  “Gathering data would be the objective of the expedition,” I stated.

  “You willing to be a part of it?” he asked.

  “Of course,” I answered. “And, I have already volunteered to go on the tree-dweller excursion.”

  “So have I,” he told me. “Perhaps, we can get plans underway to go study the bird while we are gone. Perhaps, we could be on our way a few days after our return from the North.”

  “I like the way you think,” I told him, smiling.

  “See you at the briefing,” he said. “I have some people to chat with.”

  I watched him move away and beckon to X-tee and someone I could not see. I felt confident he would keep me posted. I headed back to my quarters. I needed to wash up, check my gear, and eat before I went to the briefing. Hopefully, I would be able to grab some sleep before I reported for my duty shift tonight.

  Getting to sleep was not easy. The briefing had been stuffed with information, well planned, and exciting. It covered everything from our objective to what each of us should include in our packs. In addition, all of the guards were invited to get Teacher downloads on animal study techniques and the information that Dr. Locus’ team had already gathered on the tree-dwellers. With that knowledge, we hoped we’d be able to help the team collect better quality data. Also, the information would help us recognize alarm or threat behaviors that the creatures might display. Therefore, we’d have a better chance to take steps to keep us all safe. Having the expedition’s safety on our minds, all of us guards accepted the invitation.

  The expedition, according to the plan, would depart the day after tomorrow at dawn. We would begin by rappelling down the northern edge of the roof to the ridge which connects our mountain to the northern range. As we continued north, we were to locate any caves that the tree-dwellers might be inhabiting. Once located, we were to guard the team as they explored the cave. Of course, we were given strict orders not to shoot any of the tree-dwellers unless they attacked us first.

  I found myself smiling while I reflected on the briefing. One of the older scientists, a man named Paul Mimosa, had asked how we would know tree-dwellers were inhabiting a cave. Derrick had answered that such a cave would have an opening big enough for a five-foot human female to enter. Immediately, all eyes had flicked to Marta and then, quickly shifted to me. She and I were the only females attending the briefing and, well, Marta is considerably taller than I am. So, while I had returned the men’s gazes, I had said, “Gentlemen, that would be four inches shorter than me.”

  The guys had all cracked smiles while Lloyd and Ross had burst out laughing. Derrick had quipped, “Ky, you’ll just have to stoop a little.”

  I had returned his grin and replied, “Thanks, stooping, I can do. It’s the ‘relevé en pointe’ I struggle with.” Marta’s face had split into a huge smile while the guys displayed confused expressions. That is until Marta executed a ‘relevé en pointe’, meaning she had lifted her heels off the ground until she was standing on the very tips of her toes. Her eyes had glinted with mischievous innocence. It was a ballet move she could execute with obvious ease. “Yeah, that,” I had commented. “See it easily adds 3 to 4 inches to her height.” Everyone in attendance had started chuckling, and it took a few minutes for Derrick to reclaim control of the briefing.

  Once the meeting was back on track, we learned that the expedition would be away for ten days. We would be leaving motion-detecting image recorders to spy on the tree-dwellers we did find. We were to document any signs of the tree snakes or other creatures, that may have followed them onto the rocks.

  Then, everyone was introduced to everyone else. Of those on Dr. Locus’ team, Derrick, Lloyd, and Ross were going. The rest, except for the guards, were all middle-agers. All eight of them were interested in learning about our new planet. They were all trained observers. They were all very talented, and each one advanced our knowledge base. This trip would give me, and the other guards, a chance to get better acquainted with them. Within the settlement, guard duties don’t often intersect with the work of others.

  Of the guards, X-tee, John, Marc, Carl, Marta, and I were going. Before we left the briefing room, we made appointments to get our Teacher downloads. My appointment was after duty tonight. I would be the last to get my download because I only needed the tree-dweller behavior information. It didn’t matter to me when I got it, just that I got it.

  Chapter 14

  I found I was very excited about the expedition. I couldn’t turn off my thoughts so I could relax and fall asleep. After working at it for fifteen minutes, I gave up. I pulled out my datapad and browsed the latest news. Dr. Locus’ page featured a synopsis of the upcoming expedition. Images of the bird were also prominent. There was an article giving its dimensions and speculating about its behaviors. Although the article stressed that more study was necessary, it did suggest that the bird’s diet included the tree-dwellers. And, that the bird’s presence was the most likely reason the humanoid creatures were migrating.

  I continued to browse the various pages. I discovered that Dr. Locus’ page was not the only one to feature the bird. It was all over the Settlement Council’s page. Someone had concluded that the bird was big enough to carry off a person. The author was demanding that the council take steps to destroy the creature. Then, someone else called the bird a human-eating, killing machine from which we needed to protect ourselves. Of course, the most visited site was the engineering page, which was filled with sketches of weapons designed to eliminate the bird. I don’t remember there being such a frenzy of fear after we discovered the invisocat. But then, I had not been in any condition to look at a datapad until three weeks later. Still, I didn’t see anything similar about the cat in the history logs.

  I squeezed the bridge of my nose in tired frustration. All we knew for sure was that the bird existed, and it was huge. We’d seen no evidence that it ate the tree-dwellers. It might eat them, but we didn’t know for sure. I posted the following blurb: “Fear does not deal in fact. Let’s study the creature first. I’m willing to do just that. Do you have the courage to join me?”

  I figured that the fear would turn to anger. But, I hoped my post would make some of those fear mongers stop and engage their brains. I would find out after I returned to my quarters in the wee hours tomorrow morning.

  I stowed my datapad and made myself comfortable
. I forced my mind to focus on how we could study the bird. Was there a way to test the telepathy idea? I didn’t get very far in my planning before sleep captured me.

  I reported for duty at 23:50. John was in his customary place. He gave me a wink, and we spent the time until the rest of the team arrived, and our shift started star-gazing. At my post in the Northeast corner, all was dark and very quiet. I had to keep forcing myself to pay attention to my job. During my lapses, I found myself gazing toward the Northwest. I realized I was trying to see the bird’s current roosting site. Of course, that wasn’t going to happen. It was too dark.

  Could I send my thoughts that way? If so, how? And - what would I do if the bird answered? I shook my head to clear it. I doubted I could reach it since I was not telepathic. So, what did I have to lose – or gain? My immediate response was: nothing.

  I let a picture of the eagle form in my mind. I tried to make it as detailed as one of the images we had recorded. Then, I thought ‘Hey bird, are you out there?’ while looking in the direction of the roost. I waited for about five minutes and repeated my call. Of course, nothing happened except I felt very foolish.

  At last, my shift ended. I made my way to Dr. Locus’ lab for my download. In no time at all, I was in my quarters, hoping for a few more hours of shut-eye. I delayed just long enough to check the Settlement Council’s page. Sure enough, the fear had turned to anger, but no one was volunteering to help me study the bird. I uploaded the following: “So, no guts to learn. Just outrage to vent. Do you really think a big bird is more dangerous than an invisible cat or swarms of lizards? Hope you sleep well!”

  I stowed my datapad and settled down to get some sleep. I regretted checking the council’s site. The baseless conclusions riled my sense of justice. I didn’t want us to go off half-cocked and destroy something because we feared it.