Labor Day
~ 5 years after landing on Terra Alpha
Tanya cringed, again. She felt badly for June, but wished her friend could be more like Sandra. She dealt with the entire issue by being more, well, more discrete. And quiet. She looked at the man seated calmly at the wooden desk in front of her. How could he bear it?
Paul looked up from his work on his computer pad. A small smile crossed his face. As distracted as she was, Tanya recognized that smile. And she knew he watched her as she continued to pace the length of the room. She wondered what he saw, the many ways she had changed in the years they had been here. Still, their attraction for one another remained as bright as that time with the Black Sun. His smile certainly said so.
Paul pushed back from the sturdy desk and turned to face her. He seemed to study her more carefully. He was about to ask a question, but was interrupted by another cry from outside. He glanced out the front window in the direction of the June and David’s home. She knew all he could see were the dense evergreen trees that blocked the view in that direction, but not, unfortunately, the sounds. The prevailing breeze carried those right to their window. He took a deep breath and shook his head.
“I wish Mathias would come up with something she could take for the pain.” He looked over at Tanya, a wry grin of sympathy on his face. “I’m not sure who’s having the worse time of it, her or you.” He watched as Tanya again jumped slightly at the next cry, and then sat down on the edge of the nearest chair, still and tense.
Paul saved his ongoing research into historical woodworking techniques and turned the pad off. He stood and walked over to her, resting his hands on her shoulders and trying to massage away the tension he felt there. He looked down into her eyes, his full of compassion at her remembered pain.
“Hey, it all turned out alright. Both times.”
Tanya nodded her head, but bit her lip at the next cry. She knew this was necessary. June really had no choice. Neither did Sandra. Neither did she. She should be used to it now, given the number of children that were being born here in the young colony, but quite simply, she wasn’t.
She covered Paul’s calloused right hand with her own. And when he leaned down to kiss her forehead, she closed her eyes and wished the cries would be over with. It was so much worse when it was one of her friends. She felt Paul brush aside the hair on the side if her face.
“Go, Tanya. And you can take that daughter of yours with you. Maybe then I can have some peace and quiet for a change.”
Tanya opened her eyes and smiled up at Paul. She knew he loved Jean as much as if she were his own flesh and blood, but one could not argue the child was perpetually active and full of questions. Rather like John Koenig must have been as a child.
“Come back in a few hours. It should be over by then.”
Considering what she would need, Tanya stood and looked around the main room of their home. It was a generous room by Alphan standards, running the width of the front of their wooden home, and built with the help of many friends. Paul had faced the front of the building southward to catch the most sunlight. Solar panels lining the roof provided the energy for computer linkups, a hot water tank and various small appliances assembled from Alphan origins. The centrally placed, massive stone fireplace provided nighttime warmth. Tanya smiled slightly. It had been by the light of that fireplace that Michel was conceived. The room was still somewhat bare, but did have two simple cupboards, her loom, a large wooden table and four plain wooden chairs to augment the Alphan sofa. And Paul’s desk, of course. That was his first attempt at woodworking. Paul had built much of their furniture over the years, including her prized loom. His skills were growing with each piece he finished, and provided the basis for the trades that brought them many of the small luxuries they enjoyed.
The colony was growing steadily, setbacks thankfully rare and overcome with typical determination. The cohesiveness the Alphans mastered on their journey here was an undoubted factor in their ongoing survival. That, and being used to deprivation. At least here they no longer worried about atmosphere breaches, not enough space to be alone, or dying childless. Still, survival as a people was far from assured and essential products were held as common to the community… food stuffs, farming equipment, computer resources. And for the little ‘extras’ that made life more enjoyable, a thriving barter system arose. There was now handmade paper, fired clay pottery, metal pots, the last from an Alphan turned blacksmith, and tightly woven baskets of almost any size to carry odds and ends. Those had become one of Sandra’s specialities.
Tanya tensed at the next cry. Poor June. She was intolerant to almost every painkiller the Alphans had left after five years on Terra Alpha. She was twelve hours into this labor, with no end in sight. Her first child had taken over twenty hours to be born. Tanya felt very bad for her friend, but June did have David to stay by her side. She felt a strategic retreat was in order.
“Paul, I’ll take Jean and update the growth charts. You will keep Michel?” She was already gathering supplies for a day away from the main settlement… food for herself and 4-year-old Jean, a blanket for Jean to nap on, a small computer pad to record her measurements, and her knitting. She was still trying to replicate the wonderful crocheted moppet-hair afghan Sandra had made as a gift for Jean’s birth, but had yet to quite duplicate the yarn. Somehow Sandra had made the yarn very soft. Well, maybe a day away from the busy community would help her make some progress.
Putting her supplies in an old, orange nylon carrysack, Tanya felt Paul walk up behind her. His footsteps all but swallowed by the large room and the woven rush-reed mats on the floor. Tanya felt his arms wrap around her and pull her against his chest. She felt his warm breath against her cheek and she shivered, this time with pleasure. She stood straight and leaned back into his embrace.
“I’ll keep Michel.” Paul’s voice was low and gentle in her ear. His mustache tickled her earlobe as he started to nibble along her neck. His hands moved beneath her uniform top and over her stomach.
“Have you felt movement yet?”
“No. It’s much too early. Not for several months yet. Dr. Mathias says it’s only ten weeks.”
Paul took her by the shoulders and turned her about to face him. She reached up and ran fingers though his light brown hair. How she loved this man. She leaned up into his kiss, enjoying the warmth of his lips on hers and the feel of his hands running up and down her back. She could she the question in Paul’s eyes as he ran a hand down her still-flat belly.
“Mine, or John’s?”
Tanya chuckled to herself, being careful not to show Paul. She had been expecting the question for the past week, ever since discovering her third pregnancy. Paul was entitled to an honest answer, although she knew quite well he did not like to consider that aspect of hers and John’s relationship. She, Paul and John had formed an uneasy trio, trying to set an example of forming a family out of the necessities imposed by this new world. Other Alphans were having more success, or less, but at least the children accepted the arrangements. However, unlike Sandra, she hadn’t kept close enough track of her ‘marital’ duties to know who the father was this time.
“I don’t know.”
“Ah.” Paul’s expression was one of his usual reserve.
Tanya pulled Paul closer for another heart-stopping kiss.
After five years here on the planet the Alphans had colonized, life was settling into a comfortable routine of planting and harvesting, learning how to survive without high tech, and sex. An abundant amount of the last. Children were needed and the Alphans embraced this duty as they had any other to ensure the survival of their community. There were over a hundred children now, and most of the women who could bare children were on their second, or even third. Tanya’s eldest, Jean, was John’s daughter while two-year-old Michel was Paul’s. She rather suspected this new child would be Paul’s also, but would only know for certain after the birth. Dr. Mathias would not risk an invasive chromosomal analysis during pregnancy just to serve curiosity. And for the sanity of all involved, Tanya wouldn’t speculate ahead of time.
Another cry from outside was immediately followed by a knock on the wooden front door. Paul turned to answer it as Tanya left the front room, passing her loom now sitting in a ray of sunlight. She passed through the high, beamed doorway, turned left and walked down the wooden-floored hallway to the children’s room.
She entered the smaller, ceiling-beamed room flooded with the bluish light of their new sun and found her children hard at play. Jean was trying to change Michel’s shirt, and the toddler was having none of it. Jean was partial to the small, deep red shirt she held in her hands, the color of her father’s moppet. While linen clothing was gradually becoming more widespread, the old uniforms and clothes from Earth were still worn extensively, and scavenged just as extensively once their owner no longer needed them. Tanya still had no idea whose shirt this had been cut down from, quite probably someone who had died prior to coming to this new planet. Hmm, that wasn’t completely true. She seemed to have a vague memory of the botanist Mateo wearing something of this color, once.
“Jean, would you like to go on a picnic with me today?”
The little girl tried one last time to stuff her brother into the shirt, eventually sitting back in resigned frustration as Michel toddled away, successful at last in his escape. Then, as if her mother’s words finally registered, she looked up with a wide smile on her face. Tanya could see John in that smile.
“Can Gonzo come?”
“If your father allows.”
Tanya smiled as she watched Jean hop up and run out the door, presumably to see if John would allow his small pet to join them. Tanya rather imagined he would. John was very indulgent toward their daughter, and his small burgundy pet loved Jean almost to distraction.
Tanya walked over and picked up her almost two-year-old son and settled him on her hip. Paul’s boy. Cheery brown eyes smiled at her and thin arms wrapped themselves around her neck for a hug. She, who had never aspired to be a mother, loved her children utterly. She just wished… well, that couldn’t be helped.
“So, my soon to be middle child, you are for a day with your father. You will have much fun, no?”
Michel watched his mother’s face intently and laughed at the funny sounds. Tanya had been speaking Russian. She traced the side of Michel’s face with sad smile. Russian, soon to be a dead tongue. There were just too few Russian-speakers to keep the language alive beyond their generation.
Tanya stopped briefly at her and Paul’s room. She changed out of her red-sleeved uniform and into sturdy garden cloths make from some of her earliest attempts at weaving linen. The fabric was coarse and irregular, but perfectly suited to this task. With one of her fellow Russians, the head of Laundry, and several of the laundry staff, Tanya had learned to how to cut her fabric into serviceable shirts, pants and skirts. Her adjustable-waist skirts were particularly popular with the women cycling through frequent pregnancies. She settled her Alphan belt over her still slender hips and clipped on her commlock.
Returning to the Great Hall, as John had christened it, with Michel on her hip, Tanya saw the dark head and lean form of Peter Rockwell standing inside the door. He and Paul were speaking quietly, with Peter looking down frequently toward his feet. No, not his feet. As Tanya came into the room, she realized Peter had brought the children. Tiny Danae Benes stood patiently at his side holding a smallish open-mouth basket with long handles, woven from the papyrus-like plants found in the nearby marsh. Two little boys stood next to her, three-year-old Alistair Benes and four-year-old Caleb Osgood, their two sets of wide brown eyes watching the adults.
Danae at four-and-a-half was the oldest surviving Alphan child. Jackie Crawford would have been almost six now, but he died as an infant, presumably from the trauma Jarak inflicted. Tiny Danae did not really resemble either of her parents, except for having Sandra’s fine boning. Her long silver hair and too-green eyes looked decidedly unnatural. Mathias attributed her appearance to genetic mutation, probably from Alan. The pilot had, after all, been all too close to NDA 2 when it blew. Thankfully, she appeared to be healthy and intelligent, which is all they could truly pray for in their children.
Tanya smiled at the little boys. Caleb had grown up with Sandra’s family since his mother had died in childbirth and his father had gone more than slightly mad. And Alistair Benes was a miniature copy of his father, Peter.
Peter looked at Tanya and brought her up to date. “Sandra went into labor overnight. Alan will stay with her, but I’m needed to run an urgent shipment to the researchers over on the island. Could you mind the children?”
Tanya looked at Paul. This was obviously news to him, too. She looked down at the three new arrivals. Danae would be able to come with her and Jean easily enough, but also watching Alistair would best be done here. Caleb could go either way. She looked pleadingly at Paul, unable to hide the cringe at a particularly sharp cry coming from June and David’s home.
Paul smiled and looked back at Peter. “We’ll keep them. Tanya has today off-duty and John can cover me easily enough. Go.”
Smiling in relief, Peter bent down to hug all three children. He left quickly, trotting off in the direction of the field where the Eagles kept on stand-by waited. Tanya was unsure if the mission was truly all that urgent, she had heard of nothing amiss, or only that Peter wanted to leave a situation he could do nothing about. This child was Alan’s and Alan had made it abundantly clear he would be the one to stay at Sandra’s side. While presenting a uniform front to the community and the children, Tanya knew not all was completely harmonious among the Benes household, either.
The children watched Peter until he was lost from sight and then turned back to solemnly look up at Paul and Tanya, Danae placing her bag at her feet. The bag wriggled and out popped the blue, fuzzy face of Alan’s moppet, Blue. Looking vaguely like Terran hedgehogs, but all hair instead of prickles, and coming in all shades of blue and red, the moppets were the small natives that had immediately adopted the Alphans. They filled the roll of cat, dog and Yoda all in one. They had no ears, couldn’t speak, or indeed make any sound beyond a warning whine, but they were very wise about their planet. On many occasions they had shown the Alphans resources that would have easily been overlooked. No one knew why the creatures liked the Alphans, but those Alphans they had befriended claimed the small creatures were attracted to human auras. Tanya remained skeptical.
Just then, Paul returned his commlock to his belt having finished the update to John. He clapped his hands, mischievously rubbing them together, then took Michel from Tanya and held a hand out to Alistair, smiling a welcome to Caleb. “Well, my boys, what trouble can we get into today, do you think?” The furtive look he cast in Tanya’s direction had the two older lads giggling. “However, first, I think a snack is in order.” Squeals of approval met this plan. After a series of quick kisses on Tanya’s cheek, the four headed off to the kitchen.
“Where’s Jean, Aunt Tanya?”
Tanya turned back to see Danae picking the bag back up and carefully placing the handles over her shoulder. Blue had climbed up on the child’s other shoulder and sat holding onto an ear for balance.
“She is seeing if Gonzo can come with us on our picnic.”
Tanya was pleased to see a happy look replace the pensive one of the child’s face. Danae was old enough to realize something could go wrong in childbirth. One woman had even died. At least Sandra could use the pain medicines to ease delivery. Tanya went down on one knee and gathered the child in her arms, Blue’s fur tickling her cheek.
“She’ll be alright.”
Tanya felt the child nod her head. She stood up again, and looked around for the nylon bag.
“Aunt Tanya?”
She turned to see Danae pointing to Blue, now on the ground and trying to pull the nylon bag in their direction. Tanya watched the animated purple dust mop dig his tiny feet into the rush mats and pull with all his might. She shook her head, having to smile at his futile efforts. How did the little beast know that was what she wanted? The heavy, food-laden bag moved maybe a centimeter. Three mighty tugs, and two centimeters later, Blue sat down with a thrump. Tanya and the girl looked at each other and laughed.
Tanya walked over and picked up the bag, patting the soft animal on its back. Blue ran his coat through her fingers as he ran back to Danae and hopped back up on her shoulder, his duty done. Tanya slipped the nylon bag onto her back and watched as Blue peered into Danae’s carry basket. He seemed interested in what ever it was Danae carried. Probably her stuffed toy animal.
“Come along, Danae. Jean should be at her father’s.”
Tanya was anxious to get going. June’s cries were more frequent now. They left and walked the short distance through the woods to a very different home. This one was small, obviously only two rooms and had an organic, grown-from-the-soil, look to it. The walls were a reddish colored clay and smoothed all the way around. The roof had a very minimal incline, only enough to shed the rain and rare snow they had seen here in their sheltered valley. In no small fashion, it resembled the adobe homes of the American Southwest.
Soon after Tanya, John and Paul had formed their unorthodox family, John Koenig had been invited to stay in the main family home, but he declined. Unlike Sandra, Alan and Peter sharing a large home, this was not going to be how the Aleksandr family lived. And if Jean sometimes asked why her father lived apart from them, she at least had no doubt of his love for her.
Danae walked sedately at her side, not bouncing along as she usually did. Assuming she was worrying about Sandra, Tanya reached out her hand and took Danae’s free one, giving it a gentle squeeze of reassurance.
As they neared the adobe home, the door flew open and out flew the small whirlwind known as Jean. Tanya watched as John Koenig closed the door behind them, dressed in his new linen shirt and old Alphan slacks. She heard the beep of his commlock and watched as he removed it to answer the message. His face became stern, and he acknowledged her only briefly with a wave of a black-sleeved arm as he turned toward the path that led to the main Command Center. She hoped it was nothing significant. She was used to being close to the source of information, but that had become less so as her family grew.
It could be hard to understand John’s emotions just by reading his face, even for her. He relaxed only in private, and then rarely. She knew she had become a confidant of sorts, and only wished she could do more for him. So very much depended on his firm leadership.
“Can you make some shirts like that for Papa and Peter?”
“Hmm?” She looked down at Danae as Jean skipped the last few meters to join them.
“I like short sleeves, Aunt Tanya.” Danae grinned at her. “But we’ll need something to make orange!”
Tanya laughed. Old Alphan habits died hard, and still the old color-coding remained. Jean arrived just then in a flourish, one hand holding Gonzo balanced on her shoulder. The thin, dark girl was a head taller than the older Danae, and they were inseparable friends. Jean took Danae’s other hand and the three of them, and two shoulder-riding moppets, left to go on their picnic.
~~~~~~~~~~
The walk to the planting fields was not far, unless your legs were only four years old. Tanya shortened her stride and absently listened to Jean’s chatter as they walked the one and a half kilometers to her fields. Now out of range of June’s cries, Tanya was in no hurry. The day was pleasant and rain was not expected until sundown. The ferocious dusk and dawn winds had subsided to a pleasant, cooling breeze. They all looked up when an Eagle flew overhead, waggling back and forth in recognition of the waves from below. Tanya thought ahead to her next fabric project.
Although a communications specialist by training, Tanya had always had a fascination for weaving. Her mother nurtured her interest and set aside fields at their family dacha for growing flax to make into fine Russian linen. Her father, however, had not encouraged such a ‘low’ interest, instructing her to leave such agrarian interests to their tenant farmers.
Her beloved father, Ivan Aleksandr, had always aimed his only child higher, planning for her an influential career making important contacts to further the family name and influence. He had even selected a few suitable candidates for marriage. She had met a few of his prospective sons-in-law, to a man a decade older than she and Russian. Anton Gorski had been in that number. Tanya had always adored her tall, stern father and studied hard to please him. Had she returned to Earth, she well imagined she would have eventually selected one of those men.
And so, gifted mathematically, Tanya excelled in her scientific studies and won her post to the European Space Commission and then to Alpha. Her father had been proud of her, and she enjoyed her time among the stars. On Alpha, she supervised all interior communications, the Alphan news net, and functioned as Paul’s second. She often knew what was happening before Paul and the Commander. Very fitting for the daughter of a former KGB intelligence officer.
Then came Breakaway, and she used her knowledge to keep internal communication lines and the verbal dataflow intact, even… no, especially… at the times of greatest danger. She, Paul and Sandra had developed an almost seamless teamwork. Sandra coordinating all extra-Alphan data, and she the interior, and both refining and transitioning that information to Paul and then on to the Commander. She had lived in fear most of those dark months on Alpha, and had never felt so needed, or alive.
And now, once again planet-bound, the circle had come full about, and it was her knowledge and skills in farming that were the most valued. And she and Paul, and John, were now a family. A peculiar one. A most assuredly un-Russian one. And no-doubt to her distant father… an unnatural one. It was one thing for a man to have a wife and a mistress, as her father had, but for a woman to have two acknowledged and equal partners, well, that was assuredly revolutionary to say the least. And now all too common given the disparate numbers of women and men in their generation. Tanya smiled at the thought of her papa meeting Paul and John. One British, the other American. Both on the wrong side of the cold war her father had fought so long and hard prior to the Great War of 1987. No, Papa would have been unhappy on many levels. Until he met his grandchildren. That would have bought even an American entrance into the ancient, noble Aleksandr bloodline.
Now almost to her fields, high-pitched childish laughter caught their attention. Both girls stopped their frolicking and looked toward the tall plants kept restrained by the beaten footpath. A black and white football came rolling out from between several stands of tall, purplish bamboo canes followed by a Eurasian-appearing girl Jean’s age. Picking up her ball, she looked up to Tanya, pausing respectfully. She even bowed.
“Stavstveetia, Tanya.”
Tanya returned the little girl’s greetings, also in Russian. Tanya gave her daughter a quick glance. It was a small mystery, but Jean sounded just like her American father, despite growing up with Paul and herself. Well, just maybe, Russian would last one more generation.
The bamboo canes waved as an adult body passed through the small forest. Canh Xuan, father of young Nydia, stepped out and also bowed a greeting. Tanya just smiled.
“Good morning, Canh. Harvest soon?”
“This week the first crop will be ready, yes. I will send some to you to experiment with the fibers. Shall I also send samples to Sandra?”
Tanya thought for a moment. Canh must not know of the imminently arriving infant. “No. I’ll start the research on stripping bamboo fibers. In a few weeks, she’ll be ready to help.”
Now smiling broadly, Canh understood immediately. He bowed his head slightly. “I will await the good news of a safe delivery.”
The small Vietnamese botanist held his hand out to his daughter and they melted back into the bamboo forest. Tanya smiled. Canh formed one third of his own unusual family. He had somehow learned Russian in his youth, and although his accent was atrocious, it had impressed the formidable head of Laundry, Katya Glovaskaya. The two of them, and a quiet Brazilian construction tech-turned-blacksmith, lived to all appearances most congenially, and counted three children to their joint credit.
Returning to the worn footpath, Tanya could see their destination over the rocky outcrop ahead. She took in a deep breath, enjoying the scent of growing things. Her fields, though small, were very loamy and rich in organic matter. Quite a few of the Alphans-turned-farmers had coveted her land, but she had managed to convince the Commander that flax had many uses and deserved a high priority. And since Russians had long grown flax, her family among them, she was the best person for the project. That she made her point while making love to John Koenig had probably contributed some small measure to her success. As had been said before, Russians were nothing if not practical.
After
quick glances for permission, the girls ran ahead, Danae carefully steadying
the basket over her shoulder. Tanya
arrived at the edge of the fields just a few moments later and looked over the two
hectares of planted flax. This hilly
area did not include the main growing fields, those were on the flat plains
south and west, but did include small patches of irregularly sized lots good
for experimental crops and personal endeavors. She had several flax plantings in varying states of maturity, or pulled
from the ground and laying flat in a field to dry, the seeds carefully cut off
for replanting.
The flax plants in front of her were an accidental byproduct of an Alphan experiment. The European Union had commissioned research to produce a new variant of linseed oil to use as a low viscosity industrial solvent. The seeds sent to grow those industrial plants now grew into tall blue-flowered plants whose seeds and oils were used, among other things, as a substitute for eggs in cooking, and whose fibers already clothed many children.
This was her project, but when needed she could count on teams of Alphans to help with the sowing and harvesting. Everyone was expected to contribute to manual labor if able. Several of the more engineering minded, such as pilot Kevin Taylor, were even designing simple machines to help with the labor intensive threshing process, and the even more intensive process to prepare the fibers for spinning and weaving. Soon, she would have enough seeds to turn over to the farming supervisors for planting in the main fields. Then, it was only a matter of time until crop yield was large enough to fulfill her wish to see fabric enough to replace the tattered Alpha uniforms. Tanya smiled in deep satisfaction. All this from a minor Alphan research program.
“Mommy, I’m hungry. Can we eat?” Both girls had popped up almost under her nose looking flushed and happy. Of course they were hungry, when were children not? The plant measuring could easily wait.
“Yes, we will have an early lunch, and then you will help me in the fields?”
The girls nodded enthusiastically and flopped down on the blue Alphan blanket, Danae still being exceedingly cautious of her basket. Blue and Gonzo appeared almost magically and settled into the laps of their respective girls, Gonzo watching the food preparations, but Blue intently watching Danae’s carry-basket.
Kneeling down, Tanya set out a loaf of bread, peanut-butter, strawberry preserves, and half an apple-pie. There was also a salad of planetary greens that had become an Alphan favorite. Gonzo eyed the salad with transparent anticipation.
“Danae, what did you bring?” Tanya nodded toward the basket as she prepared the sandwiches. The child smiled shyly, then opened the basket carefully. Blue left the girl’s lap and poked his nose in the opening.
“You gotta move, Blue.”
Danae picked up the moppet who wriggled in her hands and made the transfer to Jean’s willing grasp a challenge for small hands. Giving her father’s pet a stern look to behave reminiscent of Sandra, the girl carefully reached inside the basket and pulled out a mass of white, almost translucent, roving. Tanya wondered why in the world the child had brought some of Sandra’s yarn, when the mass of white moved.
“You brought Beaker!” Jean squealed happily and clapped her hands, dropping Blue to the ground in the process. The blue moppet ran about Danae’s feet in frantic circles, suddenly jumping up to land on her shoulder. As light as the moppet was, a bare kilogram in weight, the jump’s momentum was enough to knock the tiny child off balance with all three of them, the girl and both moppets, ending up on the ground.
Laughing at their predicament, Tanya reached over and helped right Danae. Her laughter stopped at the odd expression on Danae’s face. The girl was protectively hugging the white moppet.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s Beaker, she’s not feeling good. That’s why I brought her. I asked Mommy and Papa to help her, but…” The girl shrugged, tears glittering in her eyes. “Could you?”
Tanya absently nodded. No doubt things had been a bit chaotic in the Benes home this morning with Sandra in labor, Alan and Peter engaged in quiet posturing and one-ups-manship, and three small children underfoot. Danae and Jean were very attached to their parents’ pets, and the feelings were obviously mutual by how both girls and all three moppets were now huddled together seeking mutual reassurance. Tanya could well imagine a worried child taking matters into her own hands and arranging to bring her mother’s ill moppet with her.
Tanya could see the albino creature appeared much less active and alert as usual. The girl’s worry seemed well placed. Unfortunately, very little was known about the physiology of these small creatures. Thermographic scans and blood analyses only went so far. And of all the adults Danae might have asked for help, Tanya was just about the worst. Animals were meant to be productive members of a farm, not coddled playthings. Tanya knew next to nothing about these creatures, and to be honest, she had very little desire to learn.
“Danae, I’m sorry…” She shrugged her shoulders, hating to see the hope fade from the child’s green eyes. Tanya watched as Jean gently stroked the limp creature in Danae’s arms, Blue and Gonzo now sitting on Jean’s shoulders and watching their albino companion intently.
Tanya turned back to laying out lunch, but the girls seemed to have lost interest. “Here, Jean, your favorite.” She held out a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a dreadful combination that Jean loved. They could thank John for this. Jean just shrugged and shook her head. Tanya offered the sandwich to Danae, but the child seemed oblivious to her surroundings, utterly wrapped up in comforting the small white animal she held tenderly.
Tanya sat back down on her heels, placing the untouched sandwich and rest of the food back in the nylon bag. She found she was no longer all that hungry, either. She felt helpless, and sighed, wishing there was something she could do. Well, she came here for a reason. The growth of the flax plants still needed to be monitored and correlated with the variables in their environment. The soil here held certain proteins and chemical unfamiliar to the Alphans, and everything needed to be studied and analyzed carefully for its impact on the Alphans. And for the Alphans impact on the environment. She gathered her sensors, calipers and computer pad and stood to head off. The girls would be in line of sight at all times here on this small rise.
Soon, Tanya was immersed in her work, glancing less frequently at the quiet girls. It took her by surprise when Jean ran up to her and pulled hard on her sleeve, her face flushed and brown eyes wide.
“Mommy, Mommy, come quick! Beaker’s dying!”
Tanya looked back up the hill in alarm. She could see the silvery glint of Danae’s hair, but that was all at this distance. She grabbed her field kit quickly and gestured for Jean to lead the way. Jean took a direct path across rows of upright plants, but Tanya didn’t even think to scold her. They arrived quickly and Tanya took in a confusing scene.
Danae was hunched over the white moppet. Tanya could see the creature was curled up in a small ball and panting hard. And even she could appreciate the creature was in acute distress. Gonzo was pacing around the perimeter of the blanket obviously quite agitated and Blue was struggling to pull Danae’s carry basket toward the girl.
Tanya knelt down on the blanket. Perhaps she should try to gather up the poor creature and return to the settlement. Perhaps someone there might be able to help. She reached out to scoop up the tiny animal when Danae held out her hands protectively and shook her head. Tear-filled eyes flashed in her direction.
“Aunt Tanya, no.” The girl tried to explain. “I think, maybe…”
Tanya nodded encouragingly when the girl paused.
“I think, maybe she’s trying to have a baby.”
Tanya quickly looked back at the distressed moppet in surprise. The creature looked the same size as usual to her. But then again, Tanya didn’t see the albino creature all that often as it rarely left the Benes home, and in any case, what did she know about moppets?
She leaned forward and looked more closely. Was there was a pattern to Beaker’s panting? And yes, she did seem to be straining. Tanya watched as Beaker nosed at her nether region as tiny paws appeared and then retreated back inside their mother. Well, then. Trust Danae to realize the obvious.
Tanya felt relief. Beaker should be all right then. Eventually.
“I think something’s wrong.” Danae looked more sure of herself now that she had a grown-up to rely on. Much more certain than a child of her age should, thought Tanya.
“Oh?”
Danae nodded decisively. “The baby’s stuck.” She looked up intently at Tanya, apparently knowing what needed to be done, and ready to delegate that task to the most able. “You need to unstick it, Aunt Tanya. Now.”
Tanya flinched. What did she know about moppets? What did she even know about childbirth, really, except that it was terrifying and hurt desperately? She had never liked anything to do with medicine. She barely survived her mandatory ILC first-aid sessions. Only the thought of her father’s disappointment had kept her from resigning her commission then and there. The sight of blood always made her ill.
“Danae, perhaps we should take…”
“Mommy, you have to do something now!”
Tanya looked at Jean only to see her daughter watching a frantic Blue. The moppet was almost beside itself running back and forth helplessly. Looking back to Beaker, Tanya realized the baby was now partially delivered, but limp and lifeless. There was a pale blue moistness covering the small body. Rather like the color of the flax flowers, she thought in passing. With tightly controlled revulsion, she placed the fingers of her right hand around that limp, partially born body, held firmly, and waited. When Beaker pushed again, Tanya took a deep breath and reached down and pulled the baby gently, feeling a firm resistance and the sense of bone grinding on bone. The newborn was indeed stuck.
Beaker’s pointed face had a look of desperation. Tanya deeply sympathized. Jean had been breach and almost impossible to deliver. Mathias had done something to turn her about inside the womb, but the pain had been dreadful and the fear of losing her first born, John’s child, almost overwhelming. The fear had been worst than anything she had ever experienced on Alpha.
Tanya nodded to herself. With two fingers on either side of the tiny body, she took a firm hold on the limp infant and waited for the next contraction. When she saw Beaker get that distant look in her eyes she prepared to pull, and when Beaker pushed she pulled with increasing force, until… there was a sudden pop and a gush of blue liquid. The baby was out. Beaker lay limp and panting, her eyes closed. Tanya hoped she would survive. She looked back down at the baby and placed a fingertip on its tiny ribcage. No, no heartbeat. So sad. All that pain for nothing.
There was silence. In fact, Tanya realized, the entire event had taken place in almost utter silence, the only noise the whine of insects in the fields behind them. She watched as Blue came over to sniff and nudge the stillborn baby, then walk over to Beaker. Perhaps he was the father? It would certainly make sense.
She looked at the blue liquid now drying on her hand. For some reason, this blood did not seem to elicit the same visceral fear that proper, red blood did. She looked up to realize Blue and the dead infant were gone. She hoped he would be back from his task quickly; she wanted to collect the children and their pets and return home. She would rather be there, even if June had yet to…
“Aunt Tanya?”
Tanya looked up at the odd tone of voice. Danae was looking at Beaker who once again was panting. By holy St. Marina… was there to be a litter? Feeling desperately out of her depth, she reached for her commlock to summon help. Suddenly, there was a flurry of activity, and… pop!! … a squirming three-centimeter miniature of Blue appeared upside down, paddling all four miniscule legs futilely against the soft yielding fluff of its mother’s white fur. Gonzo crept up carefully, stomach low to the ground. She stopped next to Beaker and sniffed the new arrival. Tanya and the girls watched as mother and moppet midwife severed the cord and cleaned up the necessary mess. Beaker settled down. Tanya fervently hoped this meant no more. By the time Blue returned, alone, the baby was dry and fluffy and nursing contentedly.
“It’s so cute!” Jean cooed happily leaning across her mother’s lap and watching the happy scene. Tanya stroked her daughter’s dark brown hair. She had to agree. Danae sat cross-legged next to the moppets and gave pets to all.
“Ready to return?”
Danae looked up, her bright eyes now perfectly happy. She pulled her carry basket over and opened it wide. She pulled out a small patchwork quiltlet she had obviously used for padding and rearranged it carefully. She looked at Beaker and patted the bottom of the basket. “Come on, Beaker. Time to go home.” The new mother stood slowly and awkwardly, and again Tanya felt a deep wave of sympathy. Still obviously weak, Beaker bent over to pick up her baby by its scruff. She walked over to Danae and the basket, and to Tanya’s surprise, placed her only baby trustingly in Danae’s lap before slipping into her ride home. Danae picked up the baby and held it to her cheek. She looked at Tanya with delight.
“So soft!”
With one fingertip, Danae gently petted the baby’s back, ruffling the bluish fur. She suddenly stopped, and then parted the plush fur more carefully, holding the sleeping infant closer for inspection.
“Aunt Tanya, look!”
Tanya and Jean leaned over, Tanya with a wash of concern. Was there a problem?
“Look! Under the blue fur, it’s green!”
Tanya looked. The undercoat was a much lighter color. A definite blue-green, leaning solidly toward the green.
Danae laughed happily as she placed the baby next to Beaker and made room for Blue who jumped in also. Gonzo seemed content to stay on Jean’s shoulder.
“Wait till I show Mommy!”
“Show your Mum what, love?”
“Papa!”
Danae hopped up and jumped into her father’s arms, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck for a hug. Tanya looked up very surprised to see both Alan and John standing behind her. She hadn’t heard anyone approach. She looked closely at the men’s faces. Why would have Alan have left Sandra this soon? Had something happened? Danae obviously feared the same.
“Is Mommy alright?” The little girl once again looked fretful and worried.
Tanya watched as Alan sat down on the ground and situated Danae comfortably on his knee. Alan had a smile on his face, to Tanya’s relief. She looked up to John, and saw another, more reserved, smile on his. Jean stood by John’s side leaning against him, his arm around her thin shoulders.
At the sound of Alan’s voice, the basket had begun rustling, and now Blue’s head had popped up over the edge, however, he showed no inclination to leave his family.
“Yeah, she’s just grand. And you know what?”
Danae shook her head.
“You have a baby sister.”
Danae clapped her hands with delight.
“Her name is Eliza and she has beautiful green eyes, just like you.” Alan tapped his fingertip on Danae’s nose to a round of happy giggles. “Now, what’s this you’re going to be telling your mum?”
Grinning, Danae stood up and walked over to her basket. After a quick check inside, she carefully picked it up and walked back to her father.
“Look, Papa. Kermit!”
Alan’s eyes went wide with surprise and he looked inside, “Well, look at that.” He shared a wide, matching grin with his daughter. “Let’s go show your Mum.” He reached into the basket and ruffled Blue’s fur. “Good job there, old man.” Holding the basket out for his daughter to take, Alan pushed himself off the ground. He scooped the girl up with both hands and placed her on his shoulders, the basket cradled carefully against her chest. Tanya watched as Alan gave her and John a shrewd glance.
“Hey, Jean, why don’t you come with us? I bet Eliza would like to meet you, too.”
Jean looked back at her, obviously liking this idea. Jean loved babies of all kinds. “May I go, Mommy, please?”
Tanya cocked an eyebrow at Alan who returned her gaze guilelessly. “Of course. Mind your Uncle.”
“Yes’m.” She hugged her father. “Can I keep Gonzo, Daddy?”
John chuckled as he ran a hand down ‘his’ pet’s back. “Certainly.”
And with that, Alan and the girls trooped away.
John folded his long legs and sat down next to Tanya.
“Kermit?” she asked. He had seemed to understand the nonsensical exchange between father and daughter.
John laughed. “A small green puppet frog with ping-pong balls for eyes. He had a pig for a girlfriend and a bear as a sidekick.”
Tanya shook her head mystified. Westerners.
With a glance for permission, he opened the orange nylon sack and grinned to see the uneaten peanut butter sandwich. With a look about to make sure they were alone, he pillowed his head on Tanya’s lap and munched his way through lunch.
Tanya smiled to see him so relaxed. This was a rarity indeed. She picked up a hand and ran her fingers through his silvering hair. He reached up, lightly capturing her fingers for a kiss, then paused.
“Tanya, why are they blue?”
Tanya studied her hand as if it belonged to a stranger. “Dried moppet blood. I midwifed Sandra’s moppet.”
“You?”
Tanya laughed gently at the look of incredulity on John’s face.
“Yes, me.”
Tanya suddenly recalled her earlier worry.
“Sandra?”
Eyes closed, enjoying Tanya’s touch, John smiled.
“Just fine. The labor went easily according to Bob.” At Tanya’s unladylike snort, John opened his eyes and smiled widely. “The baby is healthy. Larger than Danae was, and she has the most amazingly red hair.”
“Red? I wonder who in Alan’s family had red hair.”
“Sandra’s Irish great-grandmother.”
Tanya laughed. Alphans were full of surprises.
“And before you ask, Tanya, June is fine also.”
Tanya sighed with relief. That had gone quicker than she could have hoped.
“A boy. David is acting like he did all the work.”
And before Tanya could make a tart reply to that bit of ludicrousness, John reached up and pulled her down for a light kiss, then rolled off her lap and looked to the nylon bag.
“Do you have anything else to eat in there?”
Tanya thought, then smiled. A very sultry smile.
“Well, it’s probably crumbles by now, but I did pack apple pie.” Tanya paused for dramatic effect. “But, as you know, apples are still very rare and precious.”
“Oh?” John grinned back, willing to go along. His love of apple pie was well known to his immediate friends and family. “And what is it worth in trade?”
“Mmm… a personal performance review, perhaps?” Tanya smiled at John’s laughter. She stood and gathered up computer pad, blanket and the various small things the girls had left behind. She took a moment to use the drinking water to rinse the blue off her hand. Quickly dried, she held that hand out to John and he stood and joined her. They stood very close. Tanya looked up into John’s blue eyes. She had grown very close to this strange, intense man. Perhaps at first she had only thought of the prestige in bedding the Commander and bearing his children, the status she would accrue, the protection he could offer on this strange world. Now, though… “I’d love to visit your home. It has been a while. Too long.” And she had news to share.
John took the nylon bag and tossed it over his shoulder. “Paul has the boys.” A statement.
Tanya nodded. “You have time? No emergencies?”
“Yes, and no.”
John leaned down to kiss her again. This time the kiss was in earnest and she wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned into his warmth and affection. Now flushed and tingly, smiling in anticipation of the delightful afternoon ahead, she took John’s hand and led the way home.
22 June 2007
MGK
