Roving
~ 10 months after landing on Terra Alpha
Sandra awoke with a start. She was certain it was crying that had awoken her, but the night seemed still now. She lay quietly in the darkness trying to sort out the various impressions tickling at her senses. For the first time in weeks she felt almost back to her old self. A soft, buzzing vibration next to her chest told her Blue had noticed she was awake. Well, that went along with the arm wrapped around her waist and the warm, regular breaths nuzzling her neck. Blue and Alan both liked to sleep close, and invariably she found herself sandwiched between the two, almost smothered in their shared bed. That was something that had taken her a while to get used to.
Glancing at the chronometer, she saw it was an hour or so short of dawn. Gently sliding out from beneath Alan’s arm, Sandra picked up the sleepy moppet and slipped out of the bed. She pulled light slippers on her feet and drew a blue Alphan robe about her shoulders as she watched the sleeping man, Blue now sitting and yawning on her shoulder. She smiled. Somehow, surprisingly, the birth of Danae had precipitated a détente between Alan and Peter. The two men coordinated their ‘baby-duty’ and ‘Sandra-watch’ in some fashion as yet a mystery to her, but which seemed to flow smoothly. She was rarely left alone in her bed, but would awaken not always knowing who she would find next to her. She sat back down on the edge of the bed and lightly ran fingers through Alan’s blond hair. He looked exhausted.
The Alphans were in the midst of a push to harvest the current crop of grains and vegetables as well as finish the remaining dwellings that had yet to be completed. Everyone was expected to pitch in, unless, of course, they were physically unable to do so. Sandra sighed as she looked down at her almost emaciated frame. She certainly had not been able to do much of late.
The birth of Danae had taken a heavier toll than first suspected. She had lost a fair amount of blood in the unexpectedly early and precipitous delivery, but had deferred any transfusions as others had greater need. And the day after the delivery she had awoken from sleep with deep, tearing pains. It had taken many anxiety-laden minutes in Medical Center, with both Peter and Alan as nervous, hovering wrecks, for the medical team to conclude she had suffered several internal tears. The subsequent emergency surgery had more or less repaired the damage and preserved her fertility, but recovery had been long and drawn out.
In Sandra’s absence, Alan had taken it upon himself to fulfill her share of the work, although that certainly wasn’t expected of him. He would either help the construction teams or fly reconnaissance missions on his duty days, and then on his ‘off’ days would help in the fields. And then there was the newborn Danae to help take care of. Peter pitched in also, but had the common sense to rest on his rare day at liberty. At first, Sandra had been too exhausted and weak to take notice of much, nursing Danae taking what strength she had, but of late she realized how tired the men had become. She intended for that to change, starting now.
Tucking the now wide-awake moppet under the covers next to Alan, Sandra rose to go check on Peter and Danae. She crossed the dark, shadow-filled room, barely lit by the light of the moons. As she made her careful way, there was a minefield of hidden obstacles scattered on the floor that repeatedly and painfully stubbed her toes. Well then, that would be one of the first things she attended to come daylight. She turned back by the door to make sure Alan was still asleep. He was, but the covers stirred as a dark blue shadow slid out from beneath the covers and trotted over to join her.
Sandra looked down into the bright eyes that regarded her expectantly. Her third self-appointed guardian. “Well, come along then,” she whispered with a smile for the small creature. “We will check on the baby first, then Peter.” She held the door until Blue had joined her and then closed it gently.
She walked the short length of corridor to the next room, the nursery. Her room had been constructed to easily have enough space for a newborn, but her need for rest had caused the men to care for Danae in this generously sized room. She walked over to the wooden cradle and found the two-month-old infant asleep on her back, her silver hair pale in the moonlight. Sandra lightly caressed the infant’s cheek. A sudden movement by her feet caused her to reach out and pluck Blue from the air as he tried to leap into the cradle.
“No, you don’t, little one. She will be awake soon enough and you can see her then.” Sandra tucked Blue under her arm to keep the creature from wriggling free. Alan and Peter had each told her of Blue’s fascination for the infant. The moppet would tirelessly stand guard over the child unless he felt an adult was paying adequate attention to her. Alan had laughingly said that Blue was a better baby-sitter than the sheepdog his parents had gotten to keep an eye on him as a child. He certainly seemed more intelligent than the average dog, and Sandra suspected he was growing moreso by the month. Sandra stroked Blue’s soft fur as he reached out his pointed muzzle and sniffed the air over the child. Apparently, all met his approval because he finally relaxed on Sandra’s arm.
“Alright, then?” Sandra asked softly. She would have sworn that the creature looked her in the eye and nodded. “Good. Let’s check on Peter.” She turned to leave the room, but almost immediately stopped again. Peter was stretched out asleep on the daybed. Walking over to the narrow, adult-sized, cot-like bed placed in the room, Sandra pulled up a wooden three-legged stool. She reached out and rested a hand on Peter’s chest, reassured by the steady rise and fall beneath her hand. He had become so very thin. Never a large man to begin with, he seemed worn right down to the bone. Sandra knew the food situation had improved significantly over the past few weeks, so she suspected it was more the hard work and worry that was the cause. She sat next to him for a few, long moments and thought of what she would do next. She was deep in thought when the crying started again. It was far away, farther even than the noise that had initially awoken her and most assuredly not coming from the yet sleeping Danae behind her. Blue stood and tensed, looking over his shoulder to the window outside.
Sandra strained to hear the sounds that were already fading. Perhaps it was another of the Alphan infants. She stood to walk to the window to look out, but was diverted by the sounds of an awakening Danae. Taking advantage of her momentary distraction, Blue launched himself out of her arms and into the cradle. Sandra walked over to see Danae looking up at her living stuffed animal who was rapturously rubbing his small head against hers. Picking up infant and moppet, Sandra left the room to the sleeping Peter and walked outside to enjoy the fresh air.
~~~~~~~~
“Are you sure you’re up to this, Sahn?” Alan looked at her dubiously as he and Peter ate the breakfast she had laid out and waiting for them when they had awoken a few hours later. He dug into the extensive meal before him, but still did not seem pleased she had taken it upon herself to do all the work.
Sandra had walked the half-kilometer distance to the cavern used by Carol Cromartie and her dietary team for food preparation and distribution. Eventually, Sandra supposed everyone would prepare their own meals in their homes, but that was still a time away. For the present, everyone still functioned as they had on Alpha, with people tending to their specialized tasks or to the community-wide work forces as needed. As promising as things looked, their long-term survival was still far from assured.
The unexpected arrival of Sandra and Danae had interrupted the early morning dietary shift’s work of bread making and had been the cause of some consternation. For all that she was a mediocre cook at best, Sandra was still head of Service Section and Dietary fell under her purview. Most of the techs had originally served in various Earth armed forces and her arrival had carried the weight of an impromptu inspection, infant and all. She had dutifully admired the efficient set up and the ingenious blend of Alphan high-tech and pioneer low-tech food preparation skills. Within thirty minutes, she had been gifted with the freshest of baked goods and warmed leftovers from the night before and detailed a helper to carry it all home.
“I did very little, Alan, and the walk did me good.”
The disapproval on the chief pilot’s face was plain to see. Peter remained silent as he drank his morning ‘tea’ and watched the battle of wills. He personally saw nothing wrong with Sandra getting up and about.
“There is very little here to harm me in the middle of New Alpha.” Sandra said quietly, not about to back down.
“Just like those Skekses?” Alan countered. The small white predators that had threatened Sandra and John had not been seen since the encounter that had caused Sandra to go into an early labor two months prior.
Sandra looked up from the nursing infant in her arms. “I will not allow myself to be confined to quarters, Alan. The danger is minimal, and I was hungry.”
“You could have woken…”
“Alan, leave be.” Peter decided enough was enough. He knew Sandra wouldn’t back down and he disliked unnecessary conflict.
Alan cast Peter a glance of disapproval but finished his breakfast in silence. Sandra shared a small smile with Peter.
“What will you be doing today?” Sandra asked as she helped herself to a fresh apple. The transplanted trees, a legacy of an experiment in forced maturation on Alpha, were doing quite well and had produced their first fruit. The local insects seemed to find apple pollen quite to their liking.
Alan looked up to see Sandra watching him. “We’re almost done with Michelle and Patrick’s home. One more day’s hard labor should see that done, or at least as much as we need to get…” Alan trailed off. All three adults were silent and Danae’s small smacking sounds were loud in the room.
“Well she make it?” Peter asked looking at Sandra.
Sandra shrugged sadly; according to Tanya it would be a close call. “Michelle is failing fast, but her will-power is strong. Tanya believes she will.”
Michelle Osgood had been delighted to find herself pregnant soon after landing. All went well until she had mysteriously declined in the beginning of her third trimester. Now, she was very weak and barely able to speak a full sentence without gasping. She had been diagnosed with a weak, dilated heart, an extremely rare but not unheard of complication of pregnancy. The CMO had advised an immediate termination of the pregnancy but Michelle had adamantly refused. There had been no guarantee that an abortion would reverse the condition, and no guarantee that Michelle would survive the procedure much less live long enough to have another child. On Earth, there would have been the option of a prosthetic or transplanted heart, and even on Alpha there might have been the chance of making one, but not here. Patrick was almost beside himself, but was holding himself together by a thread for Michelle’s sake.
“Who will… help with the baby?” Peter finally asked.
“Maisey Watts.” Sandra readjusted Danae onto her shoulder and patted her back to help her burp. “She did a lovely job helping take care of Danae those first few weeks. She has already volunteered to help Patrick when the time comes.” Quiet Maisey had arrived on a regular basis to help feed Danae after the premature but timely birth of her own child one week after Danae. She had provided milk for both infants and seemed content to do so for yet another child. “That then leaves poor Patrick.”
Sandra was looking down at Danae and did not see the bleak expression the two men briefly shared. Too nearly they had almost found themselves in that situation.
“Alright, then.” Alan stood and pushed in the chair, Blue balancing with practiced ease on his shoulder. He walked over and gave Sandra a kiss on the cheek. “I’m off. Peter, mate, check on Eagle 6’s stabilizers, would you? There was a funny shimmy when we launched yesterday.”
Peter nodded his head in acknowledgement as Alan left. He looked over at Sandra as she and the baby studied one another, brown eyes to bright green.
“You will be careful, won’t you?”
Sandra turned to him and smiled. “Of course.”
~~~~~~~~
Sandra spent the first hour setting their home to rights. Peter was neat by nature, but Alan most assuredly was not. Their Roman-villa style home was far from complete, but Alan had seen to it that the bedrooms for the adults, the nursery and the Greatroom were completed. At present, it looked like the letter ‘L’ with the bedrooms on the upright and the Greatroom the horizontal. The ‘top’ of the bedroom wing , Sandra’s room, abutted a sheer cliff wall which sonar soundings said included several good-sized chambers. Alan hoped to eventually break into the caverns and make them into part of the villa complex. First, however, one more wing was planned on the side across from the open plaza that would complete the ‘U’ and include a kitchen and also house children as they grew. Sandra rather thought Alan had great faith in her ability to have more children.
Once everything had been put to rights, Sandra changed into one of her uniforms and picked up Danae to report to the command center. It had been a real find when storage cubes full of old, phased-out uniforms had been found among all the supplies stripped from the catacombs. No one had had the time during Exodus to catalogue what was shifted as Eagle after Eagle dumped loads of supplies in a nearby field. The old uniforms were actually more comfortable than the style favored at Breakaway, and the skirts had been easy to modify to accommodate the ever-changing waistlines of pregnant Alphans. Eventually, Sandra knew Tanya and Annette had hopes for the flax plants that were now being seeded to provide for fiber to weave into cloth for even more comfortable, sturdy clothes.
Gathering a small kit of infant supplies, Sandra came across the large sack of white moppet-like hair recently dropped off by Kevin Taylor. The Canadian pilot had clipped the pelts of the dozen white creatures that had menaced her and the Commander, one of whom had severely bitten Jack Pearson. The attackers had had the general conformation of the friendly moppets, but were half again larger and in possession of many, many sharp tearing teeth. They were also uniformly white as opposed to the blues, purples and maroons of the Alphans’ small friends. The Commander’s little moppet, Gonzo, had deflected an attack aimed at Koenig’s face at her own expense. She still remained very weak. Sandra had christened the predators ‘Skekses’ after the evil creatures from a film she had loved in childhood, and the name had stuck.
She ran her hand through the soft, cleaned and carded white fibers. Unpleasant associations aside, she was loath to waste the rare resource. The ten-centimeter long white hairs would make for wonderfully soft yarn that would contrast with the blues and purples she had already made into yarn and had crocheted into a simple, small square afghan. A band of white several rows thick around the central block of blues would provide a nice contrast. And perhaps an additional band of blues outside the white. Yes, she thought that would do quite nicely. Simple and colorful.
Learning to use the wooden drop spindle made by Kevin was an accomplishment of her recovery time. Making more thread and then yarn was going to be a nice break from simply crocheting the blue yarn already made. And once finally done, the small afghan would be a nice gift for Tanya’s soon to arrive baby. Sandra neatly placed the carry-all with its white skekses hair along with the drop spindle next to the growing afghan on the work table in the Greatroom and headed out.
The kilometer walk past houses in various stages of construction, across the open gathering field and up the graded incline to the command cavern was almost too much, but Sandra would admit that to no one. She had taken advantage of the frequent interruptions by early morning Alphans stopping her to admire the baby to pause and catch her breath. Now, holding Danae close to her chest in the makeshift sling, she gratefully leaned against the entrance wall and waited for her eyes to adjust.
The cave’s high ceiling eerily mimicked the old Main Mission dimensions and the Main Screen and workstations were set up in the familiar layout. The scavenged computer banks were stacked parallel to the cave walls to provide easy access. Even the floor was the original Main Mission floor, its slightly raised buildup allowing the safe layout of connecting cables underneath. That the floor dipped unpredictably in spots due to the uneven cave floor couldn’t be completely avoided. No one knew just how long they would be able to keep everything up and running, but the Alphans planned to utilize every opportunity and computer minute to study their new home and catalogue its resources against future need. She saw Paul, Kano and Kate quietly working on some project, Alibe manning data analysis and Koenig standing with his back to her, although she could see a small, pointed muzzle peeking around the Commander’s side in her direction.
Koenig was the first to notice her. He immediately walked over and guided her back to her seat, quickly vacated by a just barely pregnant Alibe. She sat down slowly, trying not to make it obvious that she needed to do just that.
“Sandra, should you be here?”
“Yes, Commander. If I stay in my quarters another day, I’ll go batty.”
John looked at her closely. “Did Wandell or Mathias clear you?”
Sandra choose to focus on running the system status programs and then, running out of things to do to avoid Koenig’s eyes, looked up to the frail blue and red moppet he steadied as it lay on his forearm.
“How is she?”
Koenig looked down at Gonzo and stroked her fur. “Getting better slowly. The poison in that creature’s bite really knocked the wind out of her sails, for all that Jack took the brunt if its attack. No wonder these guys fear them so much.”
Koenig would not be deterred. He looked at Sandra critically, still seeing the dark circles under her eyes and the pale, almost translucent, quality to her skin. “You’ve not been cleared, have you?” Sandra would not meet his gaze, but he could sympathize with her need to do something productive.
“Alan’s helping out around here today, isn’t he? Why don’t you call him to join us for a working lunch? Paul can report on the status of the second community and what needs to be shifted there by Eagle.”
Sandra cast a quick look in Koenig’s direction, but complied. “Yes, Commander.”
John knew Alan would make sure Sandra didn’t over-extend herself. They actually could use her skills here this morning and then Alan could take her home. Problem solved.
~~~~~~~~
“I suppose scolding you wouldn’t do much good.” Alan walked alongside Sandra as they slowly made their way toward home after the lunch meeting. Alan held Danae to take even that small burden off Sandra.
“No.”
Alan grimaced. He really didn’t like to see Sahn push it so hard. She was almost as pale as Michelle Osgood and seemed to tire almost as easily. To be honest, it scared him. She paused yet again to catch her breath, which was finally one time too many for him. Looking around, he saw one of the few women not currently pregnant and called out to her.
“Sister Betty? You got a moment?”
The Catholic nun walked over and smiled at Sandra, but then became concerned at what she saw.
“Yeah, she’s pushed it too hard. Will you take the baby?”
Sister Betty happily accepted the waking infant as Sandra protested being swept off her feet.
Alan ignored her and carried her the remaining way home while keeping up a mostly one-sided conversation with the nun. Leaving the good Sister and Danae in the Greatroom, he deposited Sandra in her bed, pulled off her shoes and told Blue to make sure she stayed put. He glared at her and then turned and left, only to return shortly carrying a freshly changed Danae. He passed the fussy infant over to Sandra who put the child to her breast. After standing still for a few moments watching the two he for cared most, he sat down on the edge of the bed and reached out to run his hand over Sandra’s soft hair.
“I know you’re bored, love, but take it easy, huh? Give it another few weeks. Doc Mathias said he’d come over and check on you.” When Sandra looked at him in protest, he placed a finger over her lips. “Just be grateful I didn’t ask Wandell to do it.” He paused. “Sister Betty said she’d wait in the Greatroom for you to take care of Danae. She wants you to show her how to use that drop spindle thing Kevin made.” He leaned over to kiss her. “I need to get back to work.” He stood and looked down at her. “Don’t do anything foolish, or I’ll tell Peter.”
Sandra sighed. She had to admit she was tired. Maybe Alan would finally let her get a word in edgewise. She looked up at him and smiled. “Thank you, Alan.”
~~~~~~~~
Sister Betty walked around the generous, adobe walled room admiring the view out the front windows of the not so distant river and also the large fireplace with its hearth along the adjacent wall. This was a place, as new as it was, and with as sparse furnishings as it currently had, that felt like a home, something Alpha never quite managed in her estimation.
Walking around the room under the wide roughly-hewed wooden beams placed overhead for support, she admired the few pictures in frames on the fireplace mantle. One of a young Alan Carter with his arm around an odd-eyed black and white sheepdog, his family gathered behind him, and another of a middle-aged couple she assumed were Sandra’s parents. A needlepoint rendition of the Acropolis in a rough wooden frame also rested on the mantle next to the pictures, along with a bunch of slightly wilted wildflowers. She had seen Sandra work on that painted canvas on and off while they had still been on Alpha.
There were several of the ubiquitous, white plastic molded chairs about and one overstuffed, beige armchair placed where one could sit, nurse an infant, and admire the view. Betty wondered where that most un-Alphan piece of furniture had come from. Along with two low, plastic sofa tables placed near the chairs, there was a long, simple wooden trestle table placed along one wall and currently holding neat stacks of precious hardcopy, a bowl with two apples and a carrybag full of white hair and a wooden top-shaped item. She picked up the small blue and purple pile next to the sack and laid it out carefully on the table. It was the beginnings of a crocheted wrap, or perhaps a small afghan, made from brushings of moppet fur. She had seen Sandra working on it during her recovery from the child’s birth and was very interested to see how it progressed. Betty had seen other nuns knit and crochet in the convent back home, and had learned how to herself, but she had never questioned where the yarn had come from. She had welcomed Alan’s suggestion that she ask Sandra about it, although she realized it was a ploy by the pilot to keep Sandra quietly distracted. She looked up when she head booted footsteps approach.
“Thanks, Sister. Can you spare an hour or two? I’d appreciate it if you kept her company until Tanya can come over. She’s pushing herself too damn hard, and there’s no need.”
“Certainly, I’ll be happy to visit. She will be all right? She looks very pale.” Sister Betty hated to express her doubt, but Michelle’s illness was a worry. They could ill afford to lose so many potential mothers, not to mention good friends.
Alan snorted. “If we can keep her down long enough for her body to heal, Mathias says she should do just fine.”
Alan thanked her again and headed out. Betty folded the afghan and laid it back down on the table. She walked to the other end of the table and carefully leafed through the printed sheets, not surprised to see explanations on how to make looms and spinning wheels as well as the mechanics of preserving foods by canning and drying. She picked up a report on how to grow espaliered fruit trees and walked over to settle in the comfortable armchair and await Sandra’s appearance. She anticipated a very pleasant afternoon.
~~~~~~~~
Two weeks later…
The wooden drop spindle twirled gently, the rhythm of the spinning almost hypnotic. Sandra had become very proficient over the past months and could do this while thinking of other things, be it learning how to preserve food or the latest computer gremlin to debug. From the large pile of Skekses hair she was just about done making thin, single white threads. After dinner she would start to ply them together into yarn. From that she would crochet the border of white onto the existing blue and purple afghan square; she had about one week to complete everything. In short order, Sandra gathered up the completed single off the spindle and stored it in her carrysack as Danae started to fuss in the cradle next to her.
She smiled down at her tiny child. About two and half months old and almost, almost, sleeping through the night. Once Danae slept through the night she anticipated her nightlife improving. She had finally healed well enough, and had gained enough strength, that Dr. Mathias had given his blessings for her to resume normal activity, although, to be honest, she had not waited for permission.
She picked up Danae and put the hungry child to her breast; a quick dinner for that one before Alan arrived home. Peter was again off with Kevin Taylor rounding up beasties for their growing herd of shaggy quadrupeds. The scientists were still studying them as a source of protein, but at the very least their fleece should contribute to making woven goods. Soon full, Danae looked up at the footsteps heralding the return of her father. It was no surprise when Blue jumped up and landed on the chair’s arm happily rubbing up against Danae.
Alan leaned over and kissed her, sniffing the air as he did. “A quick nappy change, I think.” He picked up the delighted baby and Sandra took the opportunity to return the carrysack to the safety of her bedroom. Some of the moppets did not approved of the Skekses yarn, although Blue seemed blasé about it.
Sandra entered the room and paused. There it was again. The crying that had haunted her days and nights and was just barely audible. She walked around the bedroom. Yes, the cries were definitely clearer in the back of the room near the cliff face that made the fourth wall. She rested a hand on the cool stone but felt nothing that was unexpected. She looked down at Blue who had followed her into the room and now stood still with his head cocked, his eyes slitted in what appeared to be concentration. Sandra couldn’t begin to guess what the creature ‘heard’. Moppets did not have any ears that the Alphan scientists could recognize as such, and yet they clearly responded to sounds. Suddenly, Blue rubbed briefly against her legs and ran to the window and jumped to the broad ledge, then to disappear into the woods carrying something small in his mouth. The cries soon stopped. Sandra remained puzzled, but turned to rejoin Alan and Danae for the walk to dinner.
~~~~~~~~
One week later…
The sun was setting and the evening winds were picking up, its whispering sounds moaning though the treetops. Michelle Osgood was fading quickly. The mood among the Alphans had become grimmer and grimmer as the entire community was caught up in the dying woman’s silent battle to provide her unborn child a chance at life. Sandra looked out their front door toward the far side of the small community where a vigil had already started. Another few days and the child would almost assuredly have a fighting chance. Even just one more. An eternity.
Footsteps came up behind her and an arm wrapped around her waist. She leaned back into Alan’s embrace as he nuzzled into her neck. His quiet words sent shivers down her neck.
“Pat’s grieving already. He puts on a good enough show for Michelle, but he just falls apart whenever she’s asleep. Tony’s there for him, but even that old friendship just isn’t enough.”
“Would you expect it to be? After all we’ve gone through, to lose her now just when we’ve started a new life?” Sandra’s eyes filled with tears. “I just hope the child will survive.”
“Yeah.”
Sandra turned in Alan’s arms to hold him close, and then went back to the nursery to tend Danae. She and Peter were to spend the night at the Osgood’s to help as needed. As they left Alan to care for Danae, Sandra was sure she could again hear the sounds of crying in the distance.
~~~~~~~~
Sandra was tired. The night before with Patrick and Michelle had been long, Michelle needing help to simply reposition herself in bed, much less use the rudimentary hygienic facilities that Alan and Jack’s construction teams had built into the small home. Sandra had been excused from her shift in the command center today and had napped for a few hours after returning home. Now awake, a quick check in the nursery found a note that Annette had Danae in her care. Sandra walked to the front Greatroom and retrieved some fresh fruit, flatbread and vegetables one of the men had left behind for her on the wooden table. She ate a light early afternoon snack and idly watched Blue as he groomed himself. Distracted by the contortions the animal went through to reach each part, she chuckled. It was easy to think of Blue and his kind as no more than two kilograms of animated roving. Almost as if he had heard her thoughts, Blue looked up at her and sneezed. Sandra quietly laughed out loud. The indignant animal fluffed his coat, and then froze, his head cocked to one side. Sandra stilled… yes she could hear it also. Blue trotted out, determination plainly evident on his small face. Sandra followed.
She followed Blue, for some reason now carrying a small rock in his mouth, across the clearing between their home and the woods and into the shade under the tall trees. Blue trotted to the cliff face, the same cliff their home abutted, and then a few dozen meters more to where the dense, fern-like fronds now thickly covered the ground under the tall trees. The gathering shadows soon made tracking the small moppet difficult and Blue was almost lost to view. As if he realized she was about to lose him, the moppet slowed down and waited for Sandra to catch up.
Sandra took a few deep breaths and looked around. It was still and quiet with dappled sunlight brightening only the occasional patch of the forest floor or cliff wall. She looked down to just catch a glimpse of Blue walking toward the cliff face… and then into it. Sandra blinked in surprise. She walked to where the moppet disappeared and leaned over. There was an opening about one meter tall and half a meter wide hidden in a ‘fold’ of the rippling rock wall, the shadows all but obscuring it. She almost fell backward in surprise when Blue poked his head out and then darted back inside. She was obviously being summoned.
Sandra pulled her commlock off her belt as she bent over to peer inside. She quickly gave her location to the duty officer sitting in the command center as she took a few steps into the opening. She didn’t plan on going far; just enough to see if this was a cave or tunnel.
The narrow opening almost immediately opened up into a cavern and she was easily able to stand up. The air did not smell all that musty and, interestingly, there was a dim glow about the room. Her eyes slowly adjusted to the low light and she was able to appreciate the size of the chamber. Why, it must extend up at least three meters and the length was lost in the shadows. Lost in her thoughts, she almost jumped out of her skin when something brushed against her legs.
“Blue, please do not do that,” Sandra almost squeaked. The moppet trotted toward the back of the cave a dozen paces or so and looked back at her. She shook her head. Neither Alan nor Peter would be pleased if she took off into a cave without proper back-up and supplies. And to be fair, neither would she.
“No, I do not think this is such a good idea. We should have some lights and perhaps let someone else know about this. Let’s go back.” Sandra turned to leave and stepped back outside, having to pause to let her eyes readjust to even the low light under the vegetation. Blue reluctantly joined her. For some reason feeling somewhat unsettled, Sandra returned home.
The crying started as soon as they left the cave.
~~~~~~~~
That afternoon, before she could tell either Alan or Peter of Blue’s find, she was called to the command center. The glitch with the satellite relay did not take long to correct, and with David’s help the hour passed quickly. She excused herself to return home; Danae would need to be fed soon. In only three weeks time her endurance had improved dramatically and the walk back was pleasant. It would be a long time before she took simple things like fresh air and warm sunlight for granted.
“Alan? Peter?” No one seemed home and a quick check found the nursery empty, but a note said Danae was at Tanya’s now. Sandra smiled. Finding childcare was certainly not a problem, but keeping track of her daughter’s active social life was. She headed over to the log-framed Aleksandr home. It was not very far away, only a couple of hundred meters, and had the unfinished look common to all the dwellings. Off to the rear, under the trees behind the main house, she could see the small, reddish adobe-style home of the Commander. Its windows were open but no movements were to be seen inside, which was not unexpected at this time of day. He was undoubtedly out and about supervising and assisting some task or another. She knew Tanya fretted over his driven nature and his inability to properly rest.
She knocked on the doorframe to the open door and walked inside, looking about for Tanya and Danae. With Tanya due at any time, she had cut back her working hours in the command center to complete preparations for her child’s arrival. She said she was happy to care for Danae, if only to get some practice.
“Tanya?” She called softly as she walked back to the nursery and then quietly entered the room. She paused, thoroughly surprised to find Danae being gently rocked in the arms of the Commander. It was almost unheard of to find him here in the main living quarters; he preferred his own place, even when Paul was away on a scouting mission.
“Shh, she’s finally asleep.” Koenig stood and slowly walked the infant to the cradle and placed her down inside. Sandra came to his side and watched her daughter stretch slightly and settle into a deeper sleep. She tucked the blue blanket, cut down from a standard sized Alphan blanket, around the baby’s legs and stepped back. She turned to find the Commander outside in the hallway waiting for her. She followed him back to the main room.
Koenig smiled down at her. “Tanya and Paul are out. I think Tanya was planning for some activity that will hurry along her labor.” He smiled again as he helped himself to a cup of water from the plastic pitcher and poured another for Sandra. “I volunteered for ‘diaper detail’. It’s a nice change from listening to plans for more grain fields or how to make arbors for fruit vines, as important as those are. A humble astronaut from New York City doesn’t really belong in those sorts of conversations.”
“Unless he is the Commander.”
Koenig raised his glass in acknowledgement and then finished off the drink.
“Well, back to work.”
Sandra took a deep breath and decided to speak up. “Commander, have you heard the crying at night? Not Danae, not a… human sound.”
Koenig raised an eyebrow. “No. Have you?”
Sandra nodded. “No one else seems to hear it but me and Blue.” She could tell the Commander was skeptical. “Thank you for watching Danae.” She picked up the sleeping infant and slipped away before the Commander could question her further. She made it home just as Peter arrived to pick her up for dinner.
~~~~~~~~
Early the next morning, Sandra watched as Blue once again rooted around the ground until he found a small rock, one he could comfortably carry in his mouth, and then left for the woods without a backward glance. She took a deep breath, the distant crying sound just at the edge of her awareness. This was one mystery that had gone on long enough. While normally expected at the command center, today she was due back at the Osgood home by midmorning to help the nurses and had been left with a few hours to herself. Danae was already with the Fraser’s for the day.
“Alan, can you spare an hour or so?”
Alan looked up from his computer pad, the pervading sadness from Michelle’s situation blunting his usual good humor. “For you, always. What’s up?”
“Come with me.”
Alan glanced in Peter’s direction and spoke quietly but hopefully. “It’s too soon for that, isn’t it?”
Sandra ignored his question. “I want to see where Blue has gone.”
“Yeah, where is he?” He looked around for his small friend.
“That is what I want to discover. He is your moppet, so come with me. And bring a torch.”
Sandra walked over to Peter to let him know their plans and then led the way out, a bemused Alan shrugging in Peter’s direction as he pulled on his jacket and picked up a light.
~~~~~~~~
In Alan’s company, the walk to the cave she had discovered the day prior was brief. As they approached the hidden entrance they could see Blue rooting around in the ground for yet more small rocks. They watched him retrieve three small rocks, the final time noting their presence and looking over his shoulder at them repeatedly as he returned to the cave. Sandra walked to the entrance and bent over to enter when a hand on her arm stopped her. She looked back. “Alan, I don’t think there is anything in there that will harm us. Blue would not be so anxious for us to go in if there were.”
“Yeah, I know that hairy mop wants us to go in. But I also know this planet still has some surprises. Do I need to remind you of your Skekses?” He darted a glance at Sandra who grimaced.
Alan took her arm and firmly placed her behind him. Taking the rechargeable torch from her, he unclipped his laser and held it at the ready. He glanced back at her and then turned to lead the way in, Blue almost beside himself with evident anticipation.
“Alan, cast the light low.” Sandra did not want the torch light to overwhelm whatever odd natural light there was.
She followed Alan in and stepped to his side as he paused inside the cavern. He put an arm out barring her way further as he looked around, shining the light up against the walls against Sandra’s suggestion.
“Damn. This place is huge. And I bet it goes all the way over to our place.” He shined the light against the ceiling and walls quickly surveying the cavern for size and dangers. The large space seemed empty.
Sandra let Alan step out ahead of her, taking the light with him. She deliberately waited by the entrance for her eyes to readjust to the low light. This time, she did not jump when Blue rubbed up against her legs. She could just make out his bright eyes in the dimness.
“Alright, now you can lead the way.” She followed the moppet as he trotted out to the center of the cavern. Sandra followed cautiously; casting a quick glance every so often to Alan’s bobbing light at the far end of the cave. She stopped as she reached the far wall, approximately five meters away. She reached out a hand and touched the rough surface. It had a faint luminescence that rubbed off onto her hand. Something suddenly moved in her peripheral vision. She stepped back in surprise as she heard, faintly, the same small crying sound that had plagued her nights.
She startled as Blue hopped up to her shoulder and head bumped her encouragingly. He just as quickly jumped down again and trotted off into the darkness. Sandra stood still, not feeling quite so brave.
“Alan, please come back here.”
He almost materialized at her side.
“What is it, love?”
‘”There, in front of us. About two meters.”
Alan sent the light along the empty walls and then down to the floor when he realized that was where Sandra pointed. It all happened quickly. The crying turned into a keening as Alan took aim at the white threat on the floor, a blue shadow throwing itself in the way as Sandra knocked Alan’s arm up to the ceiling. The laser bolt briefly caused the rock to glow.
“Alan, no!” She called as Alan pushed her behind him and aimed again. She stumbled to her feet and pulled Alan’s arm hard, forcing him to miss his second shot.
“Dammit, Sandra, let me go!”
“No, it’s not what you think! It’s not a Skekses. Please, just look.”
Alan paused. He kept the laser aimed at the white creature but withheld his fire. When he looked closer he could see what Sandra had already noticed. Cowering behind Blue was a small, white moppet-shaped creature. The eyes that looked fearfully in his direction were not the angry golden eyes described by Sandra and John, but the pale red eyes of an albino.
~~~~~~~~
The woman’s breathing was almost undetectable, her hand cold in Patrick’s. Dr. Wandell stood at her side, his face impassive but his eyes gentle.
“We’ll have to do a Caesarian very soon.”
“That will kill her!”
“Pat, that’s the baby’s best chance.”
~~~~~~~~
Sandra knelt down by Alan’s feet, reaching an outstretched hand in the small creature’s direction. Blue had moved to stand behind the moppet, gently trying to nudge it toward her. The cries had again become soft in the back of Sandra’s head.
“Are you sure?” Alan didn’t stop her, and had even turned his laser away from the animals, but his voice was concerned.
“As much as you were when you met Blue.”
“Hmm.”
Sandra remained still, watching the small animal and making soothing sounds. She could feel Alan twisting slightly behind her, no doubt looking about the room.
“Sahn, do you remember the wavy lines on the cave walls by the waterfall?”
“Yes.” She had been a frequent visitor to the trysting spot with both Alan and Peter until her pregnancy with Danae had made her too ungainly. She was looking forward to returning there some day soon.
“Those same lines are here.”
Sandra looked up to where Alan was shining the light. There were lines in various shades of red that swirled and overlapped in some fashion that just seemed to tease at some sort of a pattern. She would have to examine them closer. Later. She looked back at the moppets to see that Blue had succeeded in pushing the white animal to within centimeters of her hand.
“Come here, little one. I’ll not hurt you.”
The little animal was close enough that Sandra could see that the eyes were not really red, but a pale, pale slate grey, the red an artifact of the light reflecting from Alan’s torch. Its hair was almost translucent in the beam of light. The creature canted its head to the side and there was the usual soul-searching look as the moppet examined her closely, and then visibly relaxed, the crying in the back of Sandra’s head dimming to a quiet murmur.
She reached out slowly and let the creature touch her fingertip with its pale nose pad. She was almost used to the wash of silver and blue she ‘saw’ when they first touched. She picked up the shivering moppet, bringing it close as it leaned trustingly against her. She stood slowly and reassured the animal with gentle pets as Blue left its side to return to Alan’s shoulder. Alan squinted in the dimness as he looked closer at the small animal.
“Sahn, why are its eyes wobbling?”
“Nystagmus.”
“What?”
“It’s common in albinism. The communication between the eyes and the brain is faulty and the eyes move to and fro on their own. I had a friend at McGill who had the condition. I helped with his computer aided reading devices and he kept me in leftovers for two terms.”
“He?”
Sandra smiled slightly but choose not clarify the completely platonic friendship she had had with Gene. “I’m more curious as to why it is hiding in the cave.”
Alan snorted. “That’s pretty obvious. We’ve seen purple moppets, blue moppets and even that almost red one of Maisey’s, but the only white critters were those Skekses that tried to take a bite out of you. If you looked like public enemy number one, you’d probably hide out, too.”
“Mmm, I suppose.” She held the animal closely as she walked around the cave, Alan obligingly lighting her way and the cave walls she passed. She stopped to more closely examine a break in the flowing pattern. She started counting.
Keeping the torch light cast by Sandra, Alan walked to the side of the cave and bent over a small pile of carefully placed rocks he had noticed, each about the size of a moppet mouthful. He picked up few, saddened by what he found underneath, and then returned the small stones with a sigh.
“Sandra? I know what Blue was doing with those rocks. He was making a cairn for that one’s mum.”
Alan came behind her. She absently felt the white moppet reached out toward Blue who gave a reassuring whisker shake, but she did not stop counting.
“Sandra?”
“Three hundred and eleven. No, twelve.”
“What?”
“There are three hundred and twelve lines in groups of eight.” She pointed out the small clusters.
Alan walked next to her and saw where she was pointing. The short lines were near the ground and clustered in irregular groupings, but distinctly in repeating groups of eight. Some of the lines seemed to have hatch marks through them and one short one had been nearly erased and then apparently drawn over.
“Huh. That’s pretty amazing. So these little guys can count. I wonder how they know so precisely how long the local year is? That’s a pretty good representation for the three hundred eleven days and seven hours to the solar year here.”
Sandra nodded but that answer did not feel right. She suspected they might mean something else, but that answer seemed even more preposterous.
~~~~~~~~
“We’ll keep Pat busy on designing the wind turbines after…” The Commander spoke quietly as they awaited the news outside the free-standing Eagle pod transformed into a surgical bay. The outcome would not be good, no matter what, and Koenig felt deeply for the man’s loss. He knew what it felt like to be widowed. “At least he’ll have his son to remember her by.”
Tony shook his head. “I don’t know, Commander. He feels the baby is the cause of Michelle’s illness. I’m not sure he’ll have anything to do with it.”
Koenig looked at the younger man in alarm. He had not considered this possibility, but Tony and Pat had been friends long before Breakaway and he had no reason to doubt the insight. Seeing the pain in the man’s face, he recalled that Tony also knew what it felt like to be widowed. And he had left a small daughter behind to add to the misery. John ran through options quickly.
“We should have Sandra as well as Maisey standing by. Those two can care for the infant until things settle out.”
Verdeschi nodded and unclipped his commlock.
~~~~~~~~
“Alan, what if the lines are not the days in a year, but how many Alphans there were at Breakaway?”
Alan shook his head. “Nah, there’s no way they could’ve known that. Blue’s lot is smart, but not that smart. Anyhow, why would they care? And there were only three hundred and eleven of us at Breakaway, not three hundred twelve.”
“Sue Crawford was pregnant with Jackie at Breakaway. Count the lines crossed out. Fifty-nine. That’s the number of fatalities we had before our landing here. They’re aliens, Alan, for all we have made them into pets. They may have there own necessities that we are unaware of. They do build those bubble homes out of the clay, and these wavy lines are similar to those outside their dwellings.” Sandra paused. She hoped Alan would not make fun of her next statement. “I think Blue is much more clever than when we first met him. So are the others who have bonded with Alphans. I… I think somehow being with us has made the difference.”
Alan did not say anything but looked about the cavern and then at the two animals. This was interesting, but he still wasn’t sure it wasn’t all some crazy coincidence.
“Come on, Sahn, let’s go.” He looked around one last time as he held out his hand for Sandra. “We might be able to link this cave into our home somehow. That would give us extra ready-made space, what do you think?”
“As if we need more.”
“We will. One day.”
Alan led the way out through the narrow opening, and almost immediately both commlocks started chirping, Sandra’s with a priority tone.
“Benes.”
It was Tanya. “Sandra, we were becoming worried when you did not answer. Is Alan with you? Good.” The woman’s face did not relax. “Michelle has taken a turn for the worse. You are needed at the Medical pod.”
“Michelle?” Alan looked over Sandra’s shoulder.
The Russian woman’s face was pale. “She’s gone.”
Both small moppets hung their heads low with grief as the sounds of crying filled the minds of Alan and Sandra.
~~~~~~~~
That night…
John stood by the fireplace, tiredly watching the three in front of him. Against his expectations, they were comfortable together. It had taken most of their new home’s planetary year, but Alan, Sandra and Peter had made a family out of the situation they found themselves in. Alan was seating himself from seeing Maisey out the front door and was unusually quiet. Peter was speaking, but his profound fatigue made it an effort to focus on the man’s words.
“Don’t worry, Commander. We can keep the boy until Patrick is ready. However long that takes.”
John looked at Alan who nodded agreement. He then looked over to Sandra who was seated in the overstuffed chair, holding the fed and sleepy newborn. The infant was blissfully unaware that his father had left the surgical pod without even glancing at him.
“We’re set up for Danae, adding Caleb won’t be a problem,” Peter added.
“Caleb Osgood. Michelle choose a nice name.” Sandra looked up at the men and sighed. “We all will help take care of him. Maisey and Annette will be able to help feed him. Tanya also after she delivers. He can live here for as long as needful.”
Koenig nodded. That left Pat to deal with. He’d go find Tony and help with that.
~~~~~~~~
Four days later…
The crying had stopped.
Sandra sat in the stuffed chair by the fireplace, the two infants asleep in their cradles as she worked on the afghan. One more purple row around the perimeter and she would be finished. And just in time. She looked up from her crocheting as Beaker chased Blue around the room, poor Beaker occasional bumping into furniture as her poor depth perception failed her yet again. The albino moppet had filled out some and seemed relaxed in the company of Alan and Peter. She still hid whenever a stranger visited, but it seemed Blue was working on socializing his small companion to the adult Alphans. There had been no need for that when it came to the children. Beaker had the same protectiveness toward the infants as Blue, and it was common to find Danae asleep with her hands twined in soft, white moppet fur.
Sandra could only imagine the small one’s mother desperately hiding her child in the cave. An almost futile effort to preserve the little one from the moppets’ phobia against white, given that Beaker would have most likely starved after the death of her mother, even with Blue’s help. Sandra wondered if it had been the mother who had made the markings on the cave walls as she hid her child. Beaker just seemed too young and childlike to be responsible. Sandra sat up straight with a thought. Perhaps it was Blue who had made the marks? Now, that had a measure of logic about it. She had watched the small moppet as he intelligently followed conversations and even seemed to anticipate Alan’s requests. She found it eerie how easily the little alien had adapted to the Alphans and to a completely foreign life-style.
There. She was finished. The whine of Eagle’s engines in a landing approach caused her to look out the window. No doubt it was the Commander returning. Alan had corralled the man early that morning and had volunteered him to help with the day’s surveys. That Alan could keep him away for most of the day was quite an accomplishment. No one else was ready to take on the Commander when he was in such a mood except Paul or Tanya, and they were otherwise occupied.
Gentle hands on her shoulders distracted her from the window and she turned slightly to find Peter perched on the arm of the chair.
“Finished?”
“Umm. And just in time, I do believe.”
Through the side window they could see the distant comings and goings from the Aleksandr home. Dr. Mathias and his young resident Joanne Rysdell had just left. From their step, all looked to have gone well.
“I’ll watch the children, you go.” Peter lightly touched Sandra’s cheek.
Sandra stood, as did Peter, and they shared a moment of closeness. She gathered up the afghan and folded it to hang neatly over her arm. Briefly checking on the still sleeping children, she smiled at Peter and left. A brief visit, just to see the baby, was all Sandra planned on. She imagined Tanya would have no shortage of helpers once that Eagle was shut down. She enjoyed the walk over in the coolness of the end of the day.
The door at the front to the home was open and Sandra stopped just inside, pausing to let one of the nurses leave with the bloody bed clothes. She was surprised to see no others about.
“Tanya? Paul?”
She followed the welcoming voices to the bedroom in back and found Tanya propped up against the headboard, a small, dark haired infant in her arms. Paul was seated in a chair by her side holding her hand. Sandra sat lightly at the very foot of the bed.
“All is well I see.” Not a question. The contented looks told her that. “Here, a gift from us and the moppets.” She unfolded the small afghan and spread it over Tanya’s lap.
Tanya ran an appreciative hand over its softness. “Thank you. It will be well used, but just until your next child arrives, I think.”
Tanya laughed at her nonplused expression. She had not thought anyone else knew of her pregnancy. She had not told either Peter or Alan, both of whom she knew would be furious with her for conceiving so soon. And certainly not Paul who looked equally surprised. Time for another subject.
“Where is everyone?” She would have expected a medico or two and a few of Tanya’s close friends to be in attendance.
“No one wants to be here when John arrives.” Paul looked fondly at Tanya. “Only Tanya is brave enough to face him with the news.”
Sandra knew that Tanya had kept the paternity of the child to herself until a safe delivery had passed.
“Ahh. I believe I will be leaving then. I saw the Eagle land and he should be here soon.” Sandra felt a strategic retreat was in order.
“Wait a moment; I’ll walk out with you.” Paul leaned over to kiss Tanya and then joined a bemused Sandra.
“The child…” Sandra asked delicately.
“Is John’s.” finished Tanya in a tired but pleased voice.
Hurried footsteps could be heard from outside the house. Sandra tossed Tanya a smile and slipped out the bedroom door, Paul close on her heels. She was not surprised when she was passed by the Commander who barely acknowledged her. He certainly was in for a pleasant surprise.
Accepting Paul’s congratulations as he parted ways to go to the command center, Sandra returned home. She knew without a doubt that this child was Peter’s. She had all but seduced him to make quite sure of that. She paused in her tracks and grimaced. As pleased as she was at the success of her plan, she dreaded the scolding Alan was certain to give her for becoming pregnant so soon. Perhaps it might be best to break it to him gently in the cave by the waterfall. After she had ended his period of celibacy.
Pleased with her plan, she finished crossing the short distance to home through the gathering shadows. The movement of bodies inside the adobe shelter on occasion blocked the warm firelight spilling out from the windows as Alan and Peter moved about tending to fussy babies. As she passed through the door, Blue and Beaker ran in happy circles around her feet and she smiled. The sounds of children, hearth and family welcomed her home.
20 November 2006
MGK