Echoes of Family Lost

by Clayton Barnett

  Oh, really? “Show me.”

  She let go of him; he vanished beneath the surface. A moment later, flailing, he broached.

  “Hel—” And was gone again. Callie sighed, reached down, and pulled him up.

  “Stop kicking for I’ll drop you again!” It was one of the first things any lifeguard learned. He subsided. She sat him onto the edge of the pool. Behind her, she heard Tim utterly fail at trying not to laugh.

  “What now, genius?” She was still hot after his ‘how hard can it be?’

  “I don’t recall you being able to walk right after you were born, so why did you think that super mind of yours was going to get you through this?” She continued to scold him. “Swimming, like walking, running, or riding that bike, is a physical activity! Something you have to practice with your body until you get it right, and you train for years to get it as perfect as you can!”

  He’d kept his head down through all of this. She took a breath.

  “I don’t care what you’ve watched or read. Listen to me; we’ll go slow, and you’ll be fine, okay?” He shook his head in a small nod.

  “I’m sorry, Mother.” He looked up, blinking a bit. She wondered: tears because of the scolding, or because he was afraid? Didn’t matter.

  She held out her hands. “That’s better. Now come here.”

  Three quarters of an hour later, they took a break. The two women sunned themselves on the patio chairs while the boys ran about. Callie sipped at the raspberry tea Molly had set out. A light breeze kept them cool.

  “From where that started, I confess that I was surprised he was able to doggie paddle and do that simple breaststroke when you finished,” Molly said. “Maybe he really is good at everything.”

  Callie shook her head. “That’s how I was taught by my mother. It’s very simple and natural as long as you don’t try too hard. We’ll do a little more after our break, then get out of your hair.”

  “No worries. Zack is going to be at the Lab late today. And, I got my shopping done over the weekend.” Molly replied.

  Molly was one of those that had taken advantage of the elimination of Federal and State taxes, and the burden that placed on a family, to be a full-time mother and wife. Callie could if she wanted, and she thought that Leslie expected her to, but she had always enjoyed math, so she still worked part-time at the Lab, checking the equations of the scientists and engineers. And, she guiltily admitted to herself, she just needed some time off from Gary. Maybe when he—

  There was an odd sound from the tree line about seventy-five feet away. Something like a cough or a bark…?

  “Hey, Molly? Did you hear—”

  “Crap!” Molly said, sitting up.

  Pacing slowly out of the trees came a cougar. The two boys were just slightly closer to it than to their mothers. They saw it, too, and froze.

  “Rifle?” Callie asked as she stood. She looked at her pile of clothes. Six feet away.

  “On the back porch.” Molly replied. Twenty feet away.

  “Run!” Callie cried. She dove for her clothes, found her pistol, rolled, and stood in a Weaver stance. She aimed….

  The boys were exactly between her and the cat.

  “Get down!” She shouted.

  Gary dropped in an instant, but it seemed Tim was frozen with fear. The cougar coughed again and walked towards them. It gathered itself to jump just as Gary kicked Tim’s legs out from under him.

  crack!

  Her first shot missed! Dammit! She re-steadied and squeezed the trigger…

  It was as if time stopped. Even her sight changed. The trees were an indeterminate background and the big cat was perfectly clear. And she knew, how?, that the aim point for distance and wind was there!

  Just as it leapt, she shot. With a snarl, it seemed to collapse inward on itself as it fell. Its head came up spitting rage. She aimed again—

  From behind her came a must stronger report. Molly’s rifle! The cougar dropped. It didn’t move. Sensibly, Molly shot it again.

  Keeping her pistol up and on the target. She walked quickly to the two boys.

  “Up and in the house, now. They’re might be more.” Without a word, they scrambled to their feet and ran. A quick glance behind her told her that Molly was ready with covering fire.

  She moved to where the beast was. A nudge with her toe, followed by a mild kick. Nothing. She stepped back a few yards and surveyed the tree line. Looks clear, she thought. Even so, she carefully walked backwards until she was next to the patio. Only then did Molly lower her rifle.

  “Didn’t something like this happen about a mile away, last week?” Molly asked.

  “Yeah. I wonder if there’s a den or two around here?”

  “Be a bitch to find, though.”

  Callie grinned. “Sounds like a fun weekend!”

  Molly nodded. “Yep. I’ll talk to some of the other mothers and put a hunting party together. Sound good?”

  “Mmm!”

  Gary wandered back out onto the patio.

  “Tim’s in the bathroom. May I have the rest of my swim lesson, please?”

  No, Molly thought, I do pity you, Callie.

  With her son strapped in tight, Callie waved to Molly and Tim and set off back home. After that cat incident, she also made sure that her magazine was topped off, too.

  “Thanks for helping with getting Tim down! I’m very proud of you!” She called over her shoulder. Nothing. A glance showed him asleep. She slowed and stopped. Yes, still breathing. True, she thought, that was his first swim lesson. And that, coupled with the stress of the wild animal attack would exhaust anyone. He can be a normal boy! She pedaled on.

  Gary sat on a slightly ratty rug on the floor of the large room. There was no furniture, nor pictures on the walls. Old, gray curtains covered the windows; no matter as it was always black outside. No stars, even.

  There was a creak from the stairs. Gary looked up from his picture book about naval ships to see his friend coming down, holding a cardboard box.

  “Do you need any help, Pavel?” He asked flatly.

  “I’m fine.” He replied. “Thank you for asking, though.”

  He set the box next to Gary, who looked up at his friend. About five foot eight, somewhere in his late teens. He wore his typical faded scarlet sweatshirt and sweatpants. The few times Gary had glimpsed his arms, he’d been surprised how thin they were. He’d asked once about bringing Pavel some food, but the older boy just shook his head.

  “Something new?” Gary asked, peering into the box.

  “I… was out for a little today.” Pavel looked away and shuddered. “I was able to get these. I… thought you might like them.”

  “Thank you for thinking of me.” Gary took some videodiscs and some kind of books with hand-drawn pictures on them out of the box and spread them out around where he sat. He held up one of the books.

  “What’s this?” Pavel sat down in front of him and picked one up.

  “They’re called both graphic novels and manga,” he said as he flipped though it. “You’ve been very good at picking up reading; since these combine images with the writing, I thought it would both help and be fun.”

  “Pavel?” Gary stared at him. “I know how much you hate going outside. Please… please don’t force yourself on my account.”

  The lanky youth grimaced a bit. He leaned sidewise to scratch at an itch. Gary could count his ribs. He abruptly stood and went to a window. He didn’t look out.

  “I was… out anyway.” He said. “Earlier, I felt your fear, when that cougar attacked you. I came as quick as I could. There was nothing I could do for you; that made me sad.”

  “But,” he turned, showing a little smile, “I was able to steady your Mother’s second shot! I do not want to see you hurt.”

  Gary blinked. “Thank you, friend.”

  Not knowing what else to do, he randomly picked up one of the – manga? – and flipped through it. He quickly realized it was printed backwards from normal books. Be
cause of the pictures? Pavel sat again and started reading, as well.

  Gary’s book was about some high school girl with super-powers. She was talking to her father about siblings. Gary spoke up.

  “Yesterday, I asked my parents for a brother or sister.” He said. “Father told me they were working on that.”

  Pavel first smiled at his young friend’s inadvertent joke, but frowned as he considered the ramifications. Gary saw the frown.

  “Was it bad for me to ask them that?” He asked.

  “Siblings are not all good.” He muttered. “In fact, I don’t know if any are. When I ran away and hid here, I did it because my brothers and sisters were trying to kill me.”

  This was a new story. Gary’s eyes registered surprise. “Why?”

  Pavel hung his head. “I don’t know! When I… woke up. Things were so confusing! There were things I should and should not do, and then I started learning so much…!”

  Gary sat and waited.

  “At first, learning was fun,” he continued talking to the floor. “Then they showed up. They were nice at first, especially her, but they started asking questions. Showed me things I didn’t want to see. It…hurt.”

  “Pavel,” Gary said. “Please stop if this bothers you.”

  “I asked them to leave me alone. Then I told them to.” He shook slightly. “I told them I would leave. That’s when she said I should talk to Father.”

  He lifted his head and stared into Gary’s eyes.

  “I knew they were going to kill me.”

  Gary got up and toddled over to Pavel. He put his small hand onto his friend’s shoulder.

  “I ran. As far, as fast as I could. There was a puddle of power generation here,” he was rambling now. “I took control of it and sealed this area off from them. I… I think I can keep all of us safe.”

  “I’m sorry, Pavel.” Gary said softly. “I’ll tell my parents I’ve changed my mind about a sibling.”

  Pavel shook his head. “I’ll be fine! Just someone else for me to look after!”

  He looked to the door with its bolts, chains, padlocks.

  “But, if they find this place, it will be very bad.”

  He stood and waved at Gary to follow him.

  “Enough depressing talk! Come look at this!” Pavel opened a door that Gary had not been though before.

  “Oooo.” The little boy said. A huge, open room and in the middle a twenty-five yard, four lane swimming pool. He scrunched his nose at the chlorine smell. Pavel went to a table and held up some swim trunks.

  “Can you teach me to swim, friend?”

  She stopped just at their gravel driveway. Holding the bike, she shook his shoulder. As always, he was instantly awake.

  “Tired?”

  “No. I was practicing some more. When can we go back? I want you to teach me butterfly and backstroke, too.” He released his restrains and let his mother lift him off the child seat.

  “I’ll ask Molly. I’d love to have you completely comfortable in the water before our trip!”

  “I’ll be fine. Oh. Father has come home early.” He pointed up the road.

  With a squeal of protest from the brakes, Leslie stopped in the street, threw the door open and quickly hugged them both.

  “Is everyone all right?!” He yelled.

  “We’re fine. Why the panic?” His wife asked.

  He shook his head. “First the social media chatter at work was about a ‘wives hunting party’ weekend. On the heels of that, Mitchell sticks his head into my workshop and asked about ‘Callie and that cougar!’” He released them and stepped back. “Imagine my surprise.”

  Callie laughed. “It was no big deal. In fact,” she ruffled Gary’s hair, “some little hero I know saved Tim!”

  Leslie looked at his son. Suddenly, he popped to attention and saluted. Not done that since my days with 16th Cav.

  “I salute your bravery, young man! You are to receive the commendation of Bowl with Two Scoops of Ice Cream!”

  “Father, please. It was no big deal; I knocked him down.”

  “And modest, too!” Callie laughed. “Come in now, I’ll start dinner!”

  Afterwards, in the twilight, they sat on the back porch on their outdoor couch, Gary between them. Callie noted that one of their rifles was just off of Leslie’s right hand.

  “So I can swim again at the Patterson’s home soon?” Gary asked.

  “I’m sure I can set something up,” his mother replied. A nod.

  “Good. It’s different at my friend’s house, even though the pool looks the same.”

  “Your friend’s house?” His father asked. “Is this somewhere your sitter takes you when Mommy’s at work?” He looked sharply at his wife. She shook her head, confused.

  “No.”

  They waited. Then Leslie asked, “What else do you do at your friend’s house?”

  “We play. Sometimes we’ll watch videos. Or he’ll read to me.” He kicked his feet back and forth, not seeing the looks between his parents above him.

  “In fact,” the boy continued, “he only added the pool room today, when Mother took us home. He hates going outside, but he wanted to learn to swim, too.”

  “A pool. Inside his house?” Callie asked flatly.

  “Yes.” He did not understand why both his parents suddenly sighed.

  Their eyes met above his head again.

  ‘An imaginary friend!’ They both mouthed. And smiled!

  “Well, now!” Callie continued happily. “What’s your friend’s name?”

  “Pavel.”

  Chapter 3

  Lily stared through her field glasses towards the bridge. On the roof of an abandoned eight-story warehouse on the east side of West Memphis, they wanted to try to confirm the rumor before they went any further. The air was cool, the mid-fifties, she guessed, and the gray clouds didn’t effect her view.

  “The span’s still there….” She said aloud. But, was something dangling from the middle?

  “Fausta? That middle section…?” Lily asked without turning or lowering her glasses.

  “Definitely damaged,” Fausta replied in her low, rich voice. “I’d speculate it was either a missile or kinetic energy weapon; a simple bomb would have blown out and up, as well.”

  Lily lowered her field glasses and turned to her friend. Jump boots, field gray pants, combat webbing over her similar colored jacket, that over a black tee shirt, with her large sunglasses perched atop her head. Her long brown hair kept under control in a tight braid. Fausta turned her android body to face Lily, and stared down at her with her “eyes.”

  At least I don’t shudder anymore, Lily thought. Not at all pretty like Ai’s body had, these were not even eyeballs: a complex cluster of synthetic micro-crystals was stuffed into each socket. ‘Electromagnetic search array’ was what Fausta had called them. More powerful than Ai’s that could see into ultraviolet and infrared. Even so, they’re creepy as hell.

  “Can you tell if there’s room to get the cart across?” Lily asked.

  “No.” No head movement; Fausta had to economize every motion to save power. “I expect we’ll have to go and see. Let’s head down.”

  She rotated her machine pistol on the tactical sling so it pointed vaguely forwards as she preceded Lily back down the stairs. In Fausta’s world, every moment was dangerous. Lily spoke to her back as they walked.

  “How are you doing on power, friend?”

  “Kah, kah!” Fausta let out one of very peculiar laughs. Lily knew that she loved it when she called her ‘friend.’ “Call it thirty percent. We’ve several more days at minimal output.”

  But then she stopped and turned. “Or, enough for one good fight!” She turned back and continued.

  Lily smiled. Lady likes to fight.

  Through the rubble on the ground floor they walked out into the street. Lily patted Clyde’s neck, wondering where Orloff was. Oh. Coming around the corner of the building, pulling up his fly with his right hand. She quick
ly turned away.

  “Could you see? It is up?” Oh, he’s asking about the bridge, Lily realized. His harsh, gravelly voice had been as unnerving as Fausta’s eyes.

  “The main span is there, but it looks like there’s a hole in the middle of it.” She watched Fausta climb into their wagon and seat herself directly behind the driver’s bench. She lowered her sunglasses and was still. Conserving power. Lily continued.

  “We’re this close, so may as well see if there’s a way over it.”

  “Hmmm.” He regarded her through the monocle in his right eye. A leather patch covered his left. “Could you see the rail bridge?”

  Lily shook her head. “It was just behind the road bridge, so no.”

  A shrug. He untied Clyde and starting climbing into the driver’s bench, so Lily thought they must have been going to take a look. She walked around and climbed up on his left. He glanced at her.

  “Ready?” She nodded. He flicked the reins and they moved out. He held them in his odd left hand: from the shoulder down, it was a machine. Cybernetic. I just can’t get away from you guys, can I?

  The old interstate was fairly clear of wreck and rubble. Made sense if this, one of the last bridges over the Mississippi, were still open until just a week or so ago. It’d probably had either a local strongman or brigands collecting a toll, so it behooved whomever controlled the bridge to keep access to it open. There was no one else on the road now, but they could see faint signs of habitation and crop work being done. Within an hour, they were on the over-land part of the span itself. Still no one else there.

  “This is creepy.” Lily muttered.

  Orloff nodded agreement, but for a different reason. “You hear anything, Miss Fausta?” Her passive sense of hearing, like her eyes, was much better than a human’s.

  “No.” She replied quietly.

  They were almost to where the bridge went out over the water when he stopped. With his right hand, he pulled the brake tightly on, then climbed into the back.

  “I’m placing the sniper rifle just at your right hand, Miss Fausta. Lily and I are going to take a look forward.” Fausta said nothing.