“12th April 2009,” Mary said.
Alice thought for a moment, yes that’s right, April, not March. Which one was March? No—the memory escaped her.
“He married Heather Evans on 22nd January 2034. No death date recorded and no children by the look of it.”
“Who was Michelle’s last child?”
“Let’s see. That’s an Alice as well. A popular name in this family. There are several Alices.”
Michelle’s new baby was a girl, and she’d named her for her grandma. Alice put her hands on her tummy, the baby had been quiet the last couple of days.
“Did that Alice have a family?”
“No records. You may be descended from the twins or Alice Campbell. It will be hard to say looking that far back. We can try directly before you were born in 2098 and head backwards.”
“OK,” Alice agreed even though this would be as emotionally fraught as researching Alice.
“Alexis Langley, deceased, parentage.”
At first, Alice thought it would return no results. Then it flicked up. With images. Alexis Langley’s parents. A portrait photograph, Mary turned to her, open-mouthed.
“Alice, you look exactly like her!”
Alice had seen this woman in her vision at the Top of the World. The mother of Alexis Langley. All of them were right. It was reaffirmed. She could not possibly be Alice Watkins. Regardless of her memories, her uncanny knowledge of birth dates, she was an almost exact likeness of the woman in the photograph. The same green eyes, the same hair, the freckles, her build, even the style of clothes. These people were her parents. Why, oh, why didn’t she know them?
“Caroline and John Langley. Do you remember anything about them?”
Alice shook her head. “No, but I do look like her. I’ve seen her before, in a vision at the Top of the World.”
“Right, let’s try this; Two generation pedigree; previous subject.”
The pedigree, though incomplete, gave a vital clue. Caroline Langley’s maiden name was Watkins, born 1st April 2078. She had a brother, Martin, born 18 years before his sister. Date of death was the same for both Caroline and John. 9th August 2103. Alexis would have been five.
Alice wanted to get a clear picture of events in her mind.
“What happened to me then?”
“I don’t know Alice,” Mary said. “I don’t think anyone really knows your history for certain. You were educated, that’s for sure, at a time when an education was difficult to obtain, due to the end of the plague’s final wave and the rebuilding. Principal Katya told me there’s a record of your attendance at the University of New South Wales in 2116, enrolled by Martin Watkins. But you didn’t graduate from there, and no-one knows what happened then until they found you in the cave.”
“I knew about the university, Dr Grossmith told me. It isn’t just that I was in the capsule for 400 years, there’s a whole gap in my life before then. Dr Grossmith, Dr Clere, Principal Hardy all believe Martin Watkins put me in the stasis chamber, but they aren’t sure what type of research he was conducting. He seemed to have several degrees by all accounts.”
“I honestly don’t know, Alice, but from this, I can’t find any records of Caroline Langley’s parents. John Langley appears to be an only child born to a Sarah and John Langley, but after his birth, their record also stops. This could be a result of plague resurgence in 2068. At least we saw a common link between us, and you are somehow related to the Watkins family. It might explain your cryptomnesia.”
“Yes, I’m OK with what we learned today. It’s helped me come to terms with who I am, or rather, who I’m not. I really hope that in time my true memories do come back.”
“We like who you are, Alice. You don’t have to worry, now, there may be more images. Here’s one. I’m not sure…”
Alice turned deathly pale.
“What is it?” Mary stood quickly, alarmed, and gripped Alice’s shoulder, fearing she might topple from her chair. “Do you know them? You look like you’ve seen a ghost!”
Alice wasn’t looking at the registry. She was looking up at Mary.
“My water just broke.”
Chapter 36
No pain, no exertion, no exhaustion accompanied giving birth in the 26th century. Jane and Mary, having delivered hundreds of babies in their careers, guided the wide-eyed little girl with wispy red hair into the world. Auntie Jane placed her in Alice’s arms.
“Eliza,” Alice whispered as she tenderly cradled the baby’s tiny body against her. “My own sweet Eliza.”
“She’s beautiful, Alice,” Auntie Mary sat beside her. “Do you feel alright, any pain?”
Alice shook her head. “I only wish Noah were here to share in all this.”
“He’ll be back and thrilled and astonished all at once.”
“I think he might be shocked and unprepared.”
"He'll get over it, Alice," Mary kissed the baby's tiny feet and smiled, "he's out in deep space searching for new life forms, imagine his delight when he finds out he's made one of his own back here!"
“I hope he sees the irony, Auntie Mary, but what will happen now?” Alice fidgeted nervously, and Eliza began to cry. “I should have told Principal Katya.”
“It might have been a good thing you didn’t while she was unwell, but Eliza needs to be chipped and immunised. You can't put it off."
“What if I decide against it?”
“You can’t decide against it, Alice—Eliza wouldn’t exist,” Mary said. “She would have no rights and would have to hide out here in the Calamities with a pair of elderly great aunts. No laws were broken by you becoming pregnant outside of marriage, but there are specific rules now she’s born.”
Alice nodded. She knew she had to report the birth, she'd checked that information on the registry, but what she didn't realise was the immediacy in which the authorities needed that notification.
“As soon as Principal Katya contacts me, I’ll tell her,” Alice said.
“It can’t wait, Alice,” Mary could not spare Alice’s feelings on this matter. “It’s a felony for Jane and me to keep Eliza’s birth a secret. We have to inform our principal here in Principality 19 now, today.”
The information Alice read on reporting a birth never mentioned that not reporting was illegal.
“The registry said the parents have seven days. It said nothing about felonies.”
“The attending physician notifies the principal’s office, Alice. Then the parents have seven days to attend for immunisation and chipping. Jane and I are the attending physicians. We have to inform our principal.”
“Will the Principal tell Noah?”
"He'll ask about the father, but the real problem arises in seven days when Noah isn't here to attend the Principality House. Both parents are required to attend, except in rare circumstances. They will almost certainly ask Principal Katya for her advice."
Alice looked down at the little bundle in her arms. All this secrecy she’d been born into.
“What if I send a message to Statesman Mellor and ask he visits us urgently?” Alice suggested. “I believe he will help us.”
Mary thought for a moment, notifying a senior statesman such as Mellor would most likely be acceptable, just for today.
But it didn't happen that way. Statesman Mellor replied to the message saying that unless they required his immediate attendance, he was delighted to inform them that Principal Katya was returning the following day. He will advise her that her beloved Alice has made an urgent request for a visit. He was confident, if the problem could wait, then Principal Katya would prefer it be left to her.
And so, only a day after giving birth, Alice sat propped up in bed; Eliza, bathed and fed, slept peacefully in her arms. Alice loved that here, she could sleep with her baby, cuddle her whenever she wanted, and suffer none of the old wives’ tales about teaching a baby it had to learn to settle itself, and not feeding it when it was hungry because four hours hadn’t passed. Such nonsense.
&nb
sp; Mary appeared in the doorway.
“Principal Katya’s shuttle has arrived, Alice.” Mary knew this was going to be difficult, and for a fleeting moment, regretted being complicit in the secrecy surrounding Alice’s relationship with the World Principal’s nephew. She had to trust it would all turn out as Alice hoped. “Do you want me to take the baby while you speak to her?”
Alice tucked Eliza into her blanket and got out of bed, cradling the infant close to her.
“No, thank you, Auntie Mary. It’ll be alright. This rests with me.”
Alice heard Principal Katya, chirpy and restored to health, greeting Jane, and enquiring what matter compelled her immediate attention. Alice went out to the parlour. Hearing her footsteps, Principal Katya turned, smiling broadly, and stretched out her arms for an embrace. Her smile changed to an expression of puzzlement when she saw the bundle Alice carried, and she slowly lowered her arms to her sides.
Mary and Jane retreated wordlessly to the verandah, leaving Alice and Principal Katya alone. Principal Katya looked in silence from Alice to the baby, then reached out and took the sleeping Eliza into her arms, holding the soft little head against her cheek, and closing her eyes, breathing in the sweet new baby smell. She stood in absolute wonderment, rocking the baby and examining her tiny fingers.
“A beautiful child, Alice. A girl?” she breathed, a small smile on her lips.
Alice nodded, “Eliza.”
“Eliza,” Principal Katya smiled down at the baby. “Eliza? I am your Great Aunt Katya. I am very pleased to meet you,” she looked up. “Alice, did you tell Noah he was to be a father?”
“No, Principal Katya.”
“Don’t you think he deserves to know?”
"I couldn't tell him. He was already in far side median space when I found out, and I thought he would come back, or at the very least, this would make his two years in space seem a dreadfully long time. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, Principal Katya, I kept telling myself I would, and then you became ill."
Principal Katya understood; this must have been very confusing for Alice, who herself was only recently born into this time and into this society.
“I saw you both the night before Noah left,” she said. “It was no surprise, although, I am not sure why it was such a secret. My nephew is dear to me, Alice, the child of my heart, his happiness is my happiness. Perhaps you can help an old lady understand why you couldn’t share such joy.”
She laid Eliza back in Alice’s arms and drew her to the sofa. As she always did, Principal Katya took Alice’s hand in hers, careful not to disturb Eliza, who dozed off again following the introductions.
“After Peru,” Alice said, looking down, ashamed at not inviting her dear friend into her confidence. “I realised, for me at least, it wasn’t just friendship. Noah told me later it started for him the night he saw me in the auditorium on the Significator, but I only remember running away from him.”
“Did he tell you about his little act of sabotage concerning Patrick?”
“Yes, he did. Apparently, at the ball—and I don’t remember this—I told him I had no interest in Patrick, that he would never commit to a relationship and said he liked the ladies too much or something. Noah thought he was protecting me from Patrick’s philandering.”
Principal Katya thought back to that night when she saw her nephew follow Alice out onto the terrace. She told herself then it would all unfold as the universe dictated.
“I saw Noah's reaction as you came down the stairs on Patrick's arm, Alice. In all these years, I never saw a glow about my nephew like the one I saw that day! Oh, there were girls here and there during aptitudes and in his university years, but he never told us of them, they came to our ears as gossip from his sisters! His mother had quite given up hope,” she laughed. “Even as a child, he always looked to space and sought what was beyond our own solar system—perhaps something magnificent and splendid to discover just beyond the next star, or hidden in the next nebula. But I believe this time, he will find it wanting because you are here. And now, his child is here.”
“Principal Katya, I didn’t want to ruin his career. And now when he comes back, he won’t be able to pursue what I know is his lifelong passion.”
“Alice, if he had learned of the baby, he would not have abandoned the mission. I accept it would have been a long two years and he would be desperate to see you and his child, but it is his duty to stay and complete his work. I do not understand why you think having a family would ruin his career?”
“Because he must stay here, Principal Katya. I know that when a couple has a baby, the requirement is that both parents are available and only given assignments that allow them to care jointly for the child until it reaches 15 and goes to aptitudes.”
“Who told you this?” Principal Katya smiled, Alice had been misinformed.
“In my first lessons with Educator Sebel and from what I learned from the registry. There’s so little on military rules, but Statesman Hennessey told me it would be a bad career move to remain on board the Significator with a wife and child.”
“Alice, he was right. It would have been a bad career move—for her. Sylvia Hennessey breeds dairy cattle. Space exploration does not require dairy cattle. He continues in his profession, and he is well-matched to it. And you are wrong. There is provision for Military Principals to take their families with them. It seldom happens—and I cannot think of one instance where a child is involved, it is usually only married couples—but there is no reason to deny a principal his family. We would need to assign you, but Noah can take you with him. His career will not be affected at all. In all honesty, I believe it will be enhanced now.”
What a blunder! The aunties and Amelia had tried to tell her, but in her shame and panic, she’d refused to listen and now, Alice had made a difficult situation a dozen times worse.
“Military conventions are separate to public policies and not available on general registers,” Principal Katya explained further. “Educator Sebel would have taught you only civilian rule. Principal Best from the Argos has his wife, a botanist, on board. They do not have children and she is also in the military, but they are together, and not the first married couple assigned to the Argos.”
“But I’m not in the military and I’m not a scientist.”
“You are designated as Dr Alexis Langley. A scientist. You need not be in the military.”
Tears streaked down Alice's face, “What have I done, Principal Katya?” she gulped, “Mary and Jane tried to tell me I was wrong, even Educator Sebel said she thought wives do go on starships. I wouldn't listen, I was so frightened and ashamed. In the end, they stopped speaking of it because I got so upset.” Her weeping disturbed the sleeping Eliza, who decided to join in. “I've put Jane and Mary and my dear friend Amelia through all this because of my stubbornness and ignorance. I'm such a fool!”
“There, there, you are new to our ways, we will permit a few errors in judgement,” Principal Katya soothed, tucking Alice's hair behind her ear and kissing her forehead, then she clucked and cooed at Eliza until the baby stopped crying and turned new eyes on a few stray sunbeams.
“Your aunties appear to have forgiven any stubbornness,” Principal Katya lifted a hand in the direction of the verandah, “I suspect they are delighted with the addition to their family. But I would like you to tell me the reason behind your secretive relationship with Noah, was it to protect Patrick somehow?”
“Patrick claims he is in love with me.”
Principal Katya roared with laughter, slapping her hands on her knees.
“Of course, he is my dear! Along with most of the single males at the Tabernacle!”
Alice’s mouth dropped open, “Oh—I didn’t know,” this was news to Alice, she had no idea. “Noah and I didn’t realise our decision to keep our relationship private would take on such gargantuan proportions. Can you forgive me, Principal Katya? Us?”
“There is nothing to forgive, Alice. Patrick is dear to us all at the Ta
bernacle. He was the only child brought up amongst us and believe me, he may indeed love you, but he loves all women, and tires of them easily. I can't say he isn't genuine in his feelings for you, he may well be sincere. I did once wonder if he might capture your heart,” she laughed and patted Alice's hand. “I believe he is capable of deep love, but you haven't responded so he is still chasing you. I can see why Noah hesitated to tell him, Patrick would not be gracious in defeat. He was jealous when he knew you and Noah had spent time together.”
“I still feel like a fool,” and then she remembered an important issue. “The original chip I had, Dr Grossmith didn’t replace it. That’s how Eliza happened. Presumably, it didn’t occur to him I might start a relationship.”
“Well, keeping an affair secret is one thing but keeping a baby secret is another. I find myself mostly saddened for the two grandparents who would love to meet their new grandchild.”
Ben and Selina! Alice covered her face with her hand, how stupid she had been. How selfish.
Principal Katya understood and reassured her, all the while making sure Alice was aware she disapproved of all the secrecy but forgave her because she knew Alice had, in her innocence, did what she did to protect Noah. But now, Principal Katya took matters into her own hands. There was business to attend to, emotions must be put aside; her voice took on a no-nonsense, stop being self-indulgent tone that made Alice sit up straight and cease her tears.
“Our protocols naturally expect the father to be the first to know. I am vexed with Noah he didn't marry you when he realised his feelings, but I will give him the opportunity to explain himself when he returns. Now, you have both involved the World Principal in your scheming and Eliza must receive a chip and Moses Pathogen immunisation. Both parents are required to attend for DNA sampling…” she hesitated, that couldn't happen right now, but there was a way... “Alice, may I use this registry?”
Alice had only ever seen Principal Katya taking charge in matters of food and handicraft. In matters of law and government, a different quality emerged, one of brisk efficiency and a sharp mind.
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