by Carver Pike
“That sounds like fun,” Tania said.
“What is a Frisbee?” Nita asked.
“It’s a plastic disc,” Hawks answered while holding his hands to demonstrate about how big around a Frisbee usually is.
“And you just throw it?” Twig asked.
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“So the other person can catch it, dummy. It’s fun,” Hawks replied.
Twig twisted his mouth to one side, showing that he wasn’t interested in the childish game.
“I think it sounds great, and we can do most of that stuff here. Segundo can play the music, we barbecue some kylo…” Emma joined in.
“…and cut the cup out of one of Haylay’s bras and toss it around like a Frisbee,” Twig interrupted.
Haylay had remained quiet listening to the sound of their chatter, but sat upright at the talk of molesting one of his bras.
“You touch one of my bras and I know exactly what we’ll be kickin’ around in place of a soccer ball,” he announced.
“All kidding aside,” Hawks said. “Careful. If this sun is anything like that of my world, it is not all that loving. It will burn you if you stay out in it for too long.”
“Oh come on, my friend, don’t ruin this great day for us,” Bronc said as he slapped his friend on the shoulder.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you, old timer.”
Haylay closed his eyes, refusing to let Hawks ruin his moment of warmth. Instead, he relaxed and remembered his life back in the Slums of York. He’d been a prostitute, for both men and women, and truly thought that was all he had in his life. He expected nothing better.
When Gabe and his buddies came along, trying to find Gabe’s deranged image, Cutter, Haylay’d thought them all crazy. He’d only tagged along for the paycheck. They’d called Gabe the Haissem, the savior of the dark world, and the one person meant to change both sides of the mirror for the better. He hadn’t believed it. Now, sitting under a hot morning sun, with laughter all around instead of the danger of the city life, Haylay finally accepted that Gabe may actually be what they claim.
“Hmm,” Haylay heard Twig mutter.
He glanced and saw Twig staring at his large, fake breasts, which were only contained by the white bra he was wearing. With no sun, bathing suit tops weren’t common on the dark side. No one else noticed Twig practically drooling while staring at the breasts.
Haylay slid closer to him and leaned over to whisper in his ear.
“Listen, you little hornball. You gonna get yo ass skinned if you don’t get your testosterone under control around here.”
Twig sat up straight.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s gotten into me,” he said.
“No need to apologize. I done been the object of many men’s desires, but you better button that shit up ‘round here. I’m bettin’ nobody’s told Segundo about the tryst you and Miss Tania had in the woods. So keep them eyes, and your little pecker, to yourself. You understand? We don’t need no fights startin’ ‘round here, especially not when everything is going so great.”
He slid away.
“I’m not gay, you know,” he informed Haylay. “It’s just, boobs are boobs, you know?”
Haylay rolled his eyes and leaned back. “Kids.”
***
Inside the cabin, Gabe lay on the bed with his eyes closed, Vincent sleeping peacefully on his chest. Lisa rested in a rocking chair, beside the bed, the gentle squeaking of the chair as she rocked soothed Vision to sleep.
“Gabe, you awake?” she asked.
With his eyes still closed, he answered. “Kind of. This is nice. I feel him on my chest as I breathe.”
“It’s gonna be great for them, growing up with a brother the same age. My sister’s much older than me. So we’re not very close,” Lisa said.
“My brother and I were pretty close,” Gabe replied.
He opened his eyes and turned his head toward his wife, passing her a smile.
“You never told me you have a brother.”
“Had a brother. He was a couple of years older than me. He died his senior year of high school. After the homecoming dance. His friend drove drunk and well, you know.”
“I’m sorry,” Lisa said. “That must’ve been rough.”
“It was. You never expect the guy you look up to to suddenly be gone like that.”
Vision’s eyes popped open and he kicked his feet happily.
“He’s smiling again,” Lisa said.
“It’s probably just gas. They say babies can’t smile that early,” Gabe replied.
“No, he’s smiling. I feel it. I get butterflies in my stomach. He’s happy.”
Vision cooed and Lisa hugged him tightly but carefully to her chest.
“Can you imagine what the people in the cities and all over the rest of this world must be thinking right now, with the sun shining?” she asked.
“Is it?” Gabe replied. “I mean, I suppose it is, but in a strange way it feels like it’s shining just for us.”
Lisa smiled.
“That’s a nice thought, but I’m sure it’s reaching everyone else as well.”
“Is that what all the Haissem talk was about? Is that it? Was I supposed to make babies and bring sunlight?” Gabe asked. He winked at Lisa. “Cause if making babies is all I have to do, this is a great gig.”
“Gabriel Cutter,” she said with a shake of her head.
“You know, that’s been my name my whole life, but ever since I found out about my image, I feel like that name doesn’t belong to me anymore. Let’s just go with Gabe. Cutter sounds evil, somehow.”
“Well, Cutter’s dead. I don’t see why you should give up your family name because of that evil prick.”
“Maybe you’re right.”
“Besides, it was your brother’s last name, too. And you loved him,” she reminded him.
“Gabriel Cutter,” Gabe said softly to himself. “Vincent and Vision Cutter.”
“Should we give them middle names?” she asked.
“Maybe later. Right now I think they’re fine with Vincent and Vision.”
He lifted his head and stared down at the tiny bundle resting on his chest. Vincent’s fists were smaller than a plum, the tip of his nose the size of a dime. Gabe stared at the baby, wondering how life would change now with two more lives to take care of. Protecting Lisa was always a concern, and now he had two infant boys to look after.
Vincent inhaled through his nose and blew short breaths out through his lips. Gabe was fascinated by this simple act.
Suddenly, Vincent’s eyes shot open and stared at him. His breathing sped up, like he was angrily huffing. Gabe jerked slightly, caught off guard. To say that he was afraid would be ridiculous, but something about the way the baby looked at him brought goose bumps to his flesh. Vincent’s lip curled up on one side in a sly grin. He looked over at Lisa and Vision and somehow his face looked angry. Almost like his mouth had turned to some sort of frown. If asked to explain it, Gabe would never be able to, but somehow he knew that Vincent was glaring at his brother. Vincent’s eyes grew heavy and closed. His breathing returned to normal, and the baby slept.
Gabe looked over at Lisa, who was staring at Vision, smiling as she ran her fingers through the tiny white hairs atop his head. She hadn’t noticed the incident with Vincent, and as Gabe looked back down at the dark-haired baby lying on his chest, he began to doubt that what he’d seen had actually transpired. He was tired, but could he have imagined the whole thing?
“What’s wrong?” Lisa asked.
He looked up to see her watching him. He didn’t answer. He just looked back down at Vincent.
“Is something wrong with the baby? You look strange, like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Gabe laughed under his breath, calming his nerves.
“No, I’m okay. I just…I just realized we’re now responsible for these two little lives,” he lied.
She turned her head to one side and smiled
at him. It was the smile that had won his heart. She’d always been in love with him, and at this moment, he remembered that.
“Aww, it’s going to be fine, baby,” she assured him. “You’re gonna be as good a dad as you are a husband.”
A knock at the door cut their conversation short.
Gabe stood, waking Vincent up in the process. This time the baby behaved normally, yawning, his tiny tongue stretching out. Gabe opened the door to find Bronc and Hawks standing on the front porch.
“Sorry to bother you guys, but we need to talk,” Bronc informed them.
Gabe and Lisa carried the babies outside. The sunlight met them with warmth, and Gabe closed his eyes for a moment, soaking it in like a hot shower.
“Look at them,” Lisa said, pointing at the rest of the group enjoying their picnic at the center of camp. “I’ll leave you guys to man talk. They look like they’re having more fun.”
Lisa walked toward the steps and Gabe grabbed her arm.
“Are you sure you’re okay to walk already?”
“Yes,” she laughed. “It was a clean birth. I’m fine. A little sore, but fine. I can’t stay in that cabin any longer. You hang out with the guys, I’m gonna find something to eat.”
He helped her down the steps and then turned toward the two natives standing in front of him.
Bronc told Gabe about Hawks’ image attacking during the birth of the twins. Gabe listened to the story. He’d been completely unaware of the events that had taken place.
“I’m afraid this place no longer safe,” Bronc said with a sad look on his face.
“Oh, come on,” Gabe replied. “Don’t you think you’re jumping to conclusions?”
He looked at Hawks.
“Your image could have returned at any time,” he continued. “I agree it’s strange, but what if it’s only a coincidence?”
Hawks looked down at his feet and kicked lightly at the wooden plank below his boot. He lifted his eyes to look into Gabe’s.
“And if not?” Hawks asked.
Gabe shook his head and held an open palm out toward the others having such a good time at their picnic.
“Guys, we’re in the mountains. We’re safer here than any other place I can imagine,” he said. “And…and…this is our home now. We made it this way. I’m…I’m not even sure what you’re suggesting right now.”
“Maybe we find different home,” Bronc suggested. “This place not safe.”
“Since when?” Gabe asked. “I’ve never felt unsafe here.”
“You are naïve,” Hawks said with a shake of his head. “We have never been safe. Not in this world.”
“Well, you all seemed to feel pretty safe the other night when everyone was singing kumbaya by the fire,” Gabe said angrily.
“Calm down, brother.” Bronc placed a hand on his shoulder. “I only ask you see that if Savage Bear come here for babies, something bigger, something evil know about them, and more enemies will come.”
With his hand still on Gabe’s shoulder, Bronc looked down at Vincent. Their eyes locked. Vincent’s black eyes stared deep into Bronc’s. Neither of them blinked, until Bronc finally gave up and backed away nervously.
“Brother?” Hawks asked, confused by Bronc’s sudden change in demeanor.
Bronc looked at Gabe, then back down at Vincent, and once again back to Gabe.
“Which baby born first?” he asked.
Gabe raised Vincent’s hand.
“Vincent. He’s the more serious of the two,” Gabe joked.
Bronc passed Hawks a worried look, then turned and walked off the porch.
“What’s his problem?” Gabe asked Hawks.
“Our friend has heightened senses. Something startled him,” Hawks answered. “Look, he’s serious. He really thinks we’re not safe here. I’ve never seen him like this. I think we should think about what he’s saying.”
Gabe slapped his hand down on the porch railing.
“There’s nowhere else to go!” he said through clenched teeth.
***
Later that afternoon, as the trees were beginning to cast shadows across the trail they walked along, Twig and Tania held hands and made their way past a field of coral reeds, two young lovers finally getting the chance to spend time with each other. Tania hopped onto Twig’s back in a forced piggyback ride. Twig’s skinny frame struggled to hold up the girl, who was about his size.
“Have you ever tried coral?” she asked.
Twig wriggled free of her grip, sending her crashing to the ground. She squealed and he plopped down on the ground next to her.
“No, never. I’ve heard nothing but bad stuff about it. You heard what Bronc and Emma said. They were both addicted to it a long time ago,” Twig replied.
“There’s so much of it here, and it’s kind of pretty looking, the red reeds in the orange sun,” she said, running her hand over one of the stalks.
Tania sat silent, staring out at the field of coral, most canes four feet tall, some taller and some shorter. They resembled bamboo, but were thicker and softer. She knew a lot about them, mostly from what either Bronc or her father had taught her.
Typically, these reeds would be harvested by coral farmers, who extracted the juice, similar to that of sugarcane. The farmers would then boil the juice, let it cool and harden, then crush it into a fine powder that became the popular drug known as Coral. This field sat untouched, undiscovered by the dark side farmers.
Bronc had always been concerned about the field’s close proximity to the camp. He was afraid the untapped resource would one day be discovered by a band of bad guys, who might attack the camp in the process of snatching up the reeds. The larger farms, mostly owned by the quadrant lords, were operated by slaves either sold into the life or grabbed simply because they lived close to a good supply of the drug. For this reason, Bronc burned the field once a year, wiping out the crop. It was almost time for this year’s burning.
“Do you see that?” Twig asked, jolting Tania from her thoughts.
She looked around, not sure what he was talking about, when he cupped her chin in his hand and turned her face toward the end of the field, closer to the camp. She couldn’t see anything.
“Something was moving over there,” he said. “In the reeds.”
“Shit, do you think it’s my dad?” she asked.
“Does it matter? We’ve always been friends. It’s not like we were in the middle of having sex or anything.”
“Not yet, anyway,” she joked. “Let’s go see who it is.”
She grabbed Twig’s hand and pulled him up from the ground. They walked toward the end of the field, but found no one hiding and spying on them.
“You’re such a whimp,” Tania said as she punched him on his arm.
Twig didn’t laugh. His concentration was on a dirt mound at the center of one of the coral reed rows.
“I think that dirt just moved,” he said.
“Come on,” she said, pulling his arm. “Knock it off.”
“I’m serious,” he argued. “I’m sure it moved forward. Look behind it, there’s a trail of dirt. It moved.”
“So what?” she said. “It’s probably a freakin’ hedgehog or whatever those things are called. Animals eat the coral all the time. It’s harmless until boiled.”
She turned his attention away from the dirt mound and back to her.
“Have you ever eaten it?” he asked.
She nodded.
“Once. On accident. It’s nasty. It’s really sour and sticky. Makes your mouth feel funny, but a lot of animals survive on the stuff,” she informed him.
“So you’re a coral head,” he joked.
She slapped his shoulder. “You take that back!”
”I will not.”
“Take it back!”
“Make me,” he said.
She jumped on him, tackling him to the ground. She reached into his pants and gave him a hard squeeze.
“Are you crazy?” he asked as he pulled away
. “We’re like fifty feet from camp.”
“It’ll make it more exciting,” she argued, but then gave up and rested her head on his chest.
“Two babies, can you believe it?” she asked, daydreaming as she considered what it might be like to have a baby herself. “Even one baby is unheard of.”
