by David Harp
Chapter 37
Family
As Haley sat in her room considering Claude’s revelations, she realized that nothing mattered more than her mother’s connection to the vault. Becky’s involvement with the Institute raised some worrisome questions.
Did Mom and Dad know about me from the beginning? Did they love me or was I just a part of the job?
Even though she knew in her heart Becky loved her, Haley couldn’t find the courage to confront her mother. She put up a brave front on the trip to Australia and on Christmas vacation, but now she felt frightened and alone. Questions were swirling in her head.
What did Claude mean when he said I was genetically engineered? Was my birth mother a Hopi Indian or was I created in a test tube? How will Chris react when he learns I’m not human?
The possible answers were terrifying, but she had no choice. She had to learn more. Haley steadied herself and went to answer a knock at her door. It was Becky.
“Oh Momma,” she cried as they embraced.
“Claude called. He said you might need me,” Becky whispered as she held Haley and wiped away the tears.
“Come in Mom, you haven’t seen my place,” Haley sniffled as she took Becky’s hand and led her to the back of the apartment. She pressed a small button and the exterior wall became transparent like the back wall of the boys’ apartment. A half-moon was perched a few degrees above the horizon in the clear night sky. It lit up the marsh like a giant spotlight.
Haley’s mood quickly improved with her mother’s arrival. She asked, “What do think of the view?”
“It is amazing sweetheart. This whole campus is incredible! Ben and I completed our work here before you were born. The last time I was here was in April of 1983 when they were breaking ground on the college. This whole area was nothing but woods, swamp, snakes and alligators.”
“Come sit down Mom,” Haley said as she settled on a leather couch. “Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked softly.
Becky gazed at Haley with an expression of remorse as she sat beside her.
“I didn’t learn of your connection to the Nina Nizhoni until last year, and still don’t know much. I should have told you right away baby, but I didn’t know how. I hoped you would find some answers here at the Institute.”
“Too many answers Mom. Every answer brings up a dozen new questions.”
Becky realized what Haley needed more than anything else was to know she was loved. She spoke from her heart with tears running down her face.
“When we adopted you, Ben and I knew fate had brought the most beautiful child into our lives, giving us an opportunity we didn’t think possible. You see, Claude knew an accident left me unable to give birth to a child of my own. You are a gift from Heaven, the best thing that ever happened to us sweetheart.”
“How did you find out my connection to the Nina Nizhoni?” Haley asked.
“Your father never knew. I became suspicious when Claude called to insist we cancel the surgery set up by your ophthalmologist. He hadn’t contacted me in years and I could not understand how he knew about your medical condition. I refused to cancel unless he explained.”
“What did he say?”
“He wasn’t very forthcoming at first, but admitted he and J. Alfred were the ones who left you in the motel room in New Mexico. He said he knew the surgery would not help your vision, but could be very dangerous.”
Haley collected enough nerve to ask the most troubling question, not knowing if she was prepared to hear the answer.
“Do I have a birth mother or was I created in a laboratory?” Becky reached out and held Haley’s hands as she often did when Haley was a little girl.
“Yes, she’s a Hopi Indian. Do you remember the stories I told you about the Kachina spirit Earth Mother?”
“Yes,” Haley paused, lost for a moment in reflection of her childhood. “I loved those stories. The princess Kachina spirit rescued the world. The Hopi said she saved us from the koya, nis….” Haley couldn’t remember the word and asked, “What was it called?”
“Koyanisquatsi, it means ‘life out of balance,’” Becky said softly. “That story is part of an old Hopi legend that I thought made a pleasant bedtime story. I now realize it wasn’t a fairy tale, and it was no coincidence that you have glowing eyes.”
Becky leaned back as she shared everything she knew.
“Claude told me that when you were born, a medicine man declared you to be the physical reincarnation of the Kachina spirit Earth Mother and carried you to the Catholic Church. He said that is where he and Mr. Weston found you.”
Haley stared at Becky with an expression of confusion. “What were Claude and Mr. Weston doing there?”
“Claude and Mr. Weston were looking for you. The man you call Anastasius became aware that you had been taken from your mother. He used the equipment in the vault to locate you.”
Haley asked, “Why would a Hopi medicine man take me to a church?” Becky paused before answering.
“Many of the Indians were forced to convert to Catholicism in the late sixteenth century. My guess is the legend of the Nina Nizhoni was altered to fit the new religion.”
Haley smiled. “Whatever the reason, I’m glad I was left with you and Dad, but was it a coincidence that you were in New Mexico at the time?”
“No,” Becky replied. “We didn’t know then, but J. Alfred arranged to have your father and I assigned to the dig in New Mexico. Looking back, the whole situation was suspicious from the day we arrived until we adopted you. It was just so perfect we didn’t dare question it.”
Becky grabbed Haley’s hands again to emphasize her next statement. “You should know Claude and his wife Noreen wanted to adopt you, but Anastasius stressed how important it was for you to grow up in a normal family, away from the vault. He insisted keeping you away until your eighteenth birthday was critical.”
Haley acknowledged the answer and continued with her questions.
“How did you meet Claude?”
“We were all members of the Southeastern Archaeological Conference. “He recruited Ben and me for the initial excavation of the vault. It was very mysterious and the most exciting project your father and I ever participated in. You are the only thing in our lives that has been more rewarding.”
“I love you Mom.” Haley said.
“I love you too.”
Haley spent the next hour telling her dreams to Becky and describing the subtle changes in her perception of other people. Becky comforted and reassured her. Haley was laughing and relaxed when there was another knock at the door. She opened it to find Chris holding a bouquet of flowers. He didn’t wait to start talking.
“Claude stopped by to see me. He said you’re a Queen. Of course I already knew that from the first moment I saw you, and I realized you are more than flesh and blood when I touched the medallion. I thought, she’s an angel.”
Chris pulled Haley close and whispered in her ear, “This changes nothing. I will love you forever.”
“Hello Chris,” Becky called from the couch.
“Oh Hello Mrs. King. I didn’t see you.”
Chris had phoned a few people and before the evening was over, most of Haley’s friends had dropped by to support her. In a single night her feelings of despair were erased.
Anastasius correctly understood the importance of friends and family. All of the knowledge and power Haley was developing was meaningless without the support of those who loved her. She was back in Claude’s office the following day, but in a much better mood.
“Thank you Claude for sending in the cavalry last night,” Haley said with a smile.
“You’re welcome. Did you get the answers you needed?”
“Most, but I still wish you would explain your relationship to Mr. Weston and the ORION Institute.”
Claude explained, “Even though J. Alfred Weston and I appear to be the same age, he is my stepson. The ORION Institute was his idea and wouldn’t be here without his financial support
. I need to go back a little over fifty years to tell you about John Weston, J. Alfred’s father.”
