by JK Accinni
Ginger Mae turned to Netty. “What’s this supposed to be?”
Netty came close, her hands clasped behind her back, wings smoothed down gracefully. “It’s a book.”
“A book? It doesn’t look like any book I’ve seen before.”
“That is correct, Ginger Mae. That’s because it is not from Earth.”
“You gotta be kidding me. Where the heck is it from then?”
Abby’s excitement streamed through her voice as she gave Ginger Mae the information she needed to make a fateful decision. Sweeping her hand to encompass all of the vignettes, she began. “These are all books. They are from different planets, different galaxies. Our galaxy, the Milky Way, has over one hundred billion stars. Did you know that? Planets of all composition such as ours, Earth, revolve around the stars.” She nodded her head at a blank Ginger Mae. “Did you know our galaxy is over twelve billion years old? How about if I told you our galaxy was just an acorn compared to other galaxies? Ginger Mae, there are over two hundred billion galaxies in just our universe. We have enjoyed the height of hubris to believe our race was the only life in existence.”
Abby strolled around the room like a child who has just been told she can stay up all night and watch her daddy make candy for Santa Claus and his reindeer. She pointed at the sheets of laser light, her cheeks flushed, and her tail twitched in unison with her exclamations. “Do you understand the ramifications? Did you get it when we were told months ago that ours was the six thousand, six hundred and ninth intervention by the Womb and the minions? That means the other interventions were on other planets. Planets with life! Can you possibly imagine the adventure waiting out there for us? All we need to do is grab at it.” Abby turned to face Ginger Mae, watching her struggle to find words.
“Well, that’s nice and all, but sorry, I’m not going anywhere. You do what you need to do. I like it just fine here with the animals and my daughter. Now, where is she?”
Crestfallen, Abby walked toward a small door in the wall of membrane.
Netty joined her and placed her hand on the knob. “Daisy is inside studying. She has been learning languages from life in other galaxies. The wondrous and unique quality of your daughter’s brain, never before encountered by any minion, allows her to solve the language complexities of any race. Any race.
“Let me explain the significance. It is an ability that the old Elders did not have. Nor the minions. The Womb does not communicate with life forms except for us and, for many reasons, does not travel well, except for the membrane that is merely an extension of the Great Womb. We have so much work to do. It is not always easy or efficient to rely on minions to communicate with foreign life forms using their auras. It is unsettling to many, to say the least. Not all life forms have a discernible brain to reach. Not all life forms are organic. But they all manage to communicate in one fashion or another. That’s where Daisy comes in. We have yet to discover an existing form of communication that she cannot decipher.”
Ginger Mae was stunned. “Oh, my God. She’s that good?”
The pride on Ginger Mae’s face gave Abby some hope. “Yes, she is that good. And she’s getting better the more she learns. It’s beyond our ability to understand how her brain functions. All language is based on metrics, or numbers. Sound is sound. Repetition is repetition. But not all language has sound. She is able to watch light images of other life—we call them books—and discern how they are communicating. She then learns the breakdown of their language.”
Netty swung open the door. “Let us show you.”
They walked into a small, dark room, the only illumination coming from the table on which Daisy lay. Her head was encased in a vaguely box-like structure that had a tube from one of the outside exhibits attached to the front where her eyes would face from inside the boxy structure. The container appeared to be supported by a thick column of membrane that ran from the wall of the room that was itself lined with viscous membrane.
Ginger Mae rocked nervously from foot to foot. “I . . . I don’t like the looks of this. I guess she’s safe. How long has she been doing this?” Abby and Netty remained silent. “You could have had the decency to discuss this with me first . . . but . . . I . . . guess it’s okay.”
From the tone of her voice, it was clear Ginger Mae wasn’t sure. Netty guided them to a wooden bench in the middle of the floor. “Ginger Mae, we have brought you here to ask you permission to do a procedure on Daisy.”
“A procedure? You mean an operation?”
Suddenly Baby appeared, startling them all. Ginger Mae cringed. “Where the heck did he come from?”
The golden creature approached Ginger Mae, staring directly into her face, his expression solemn. His finger reached out to trace down her forehead to her temple.
“Do you feel his aura probing your mind?”
“Yes, but he does that every once in a while. I thought he might like me and want to talk. But nothing yet.”
Netty smiled fondly at the creature. “He is just attempting to understand how you produced such a wondrous offspring. On Oolaha, the minions are all born exactly the same, with the same abilities. To some extent, it is the same here on Earth. Many here are born with different abilities, but it is all within a constant measurable and quantifiable range. Until now.”
“Yes, well, when he figures out how I did it, please let me in on it.” Ginger Mae rose. “Meanwhile, I’m taking Daisy out of here.” She waggled her fingers toward the table. “Please, get her off there. She’s coming with me. There will be absolutely no discussion about an operation on my daughter. You have a lot of nerve to even think I would consent to anything of the kind.”
As Ginger Mae left with a surprised Daisy, Baby shuffled behind them, trying to keep up. He swiveled his furry face back to Netty and Abby, waving and sending an aura to calm their disappointment.
“Do not fear, Sister Netty, Sister Abby. Sister Daisy will be back. Her mother will relent in time. We have much of that.” The two visions of feminine beauty and other-worldliness clasped hands, praying that the little creature was correct.
Chapter 11
“Come on, Emma. I need your help.” Salina’s arms were overburdened with supplies she planned to take to Jennifer and Lorna. “Can you please pick up that bucket of hot water? It should still be warm when we get there. You can bathe one while I do the other.”
“But Mama, I have to deliver lunch to the growing fields. And Bonnie’s waiting for me.”
“Well, she’s just going to have to wait a little longer. Dezi is going to deliver lunch today. I need your help. Now let’s go.”
Shrugging disconsolately, Emma picked up the bucket of hot water to follow her mother to the sleeping quarters, grateful she’d spotted Clyde making off with Seth. She tried desperately to stay out of his way since the day in the bathing caves. So far, she’d been successful, but she dreaded every meal where the power of Seth’s covert evil glances seared crystal clear messages into her nerves. Seth’s eyes would follow her around the kitchen, causing her to drop dishes, spill hot tea and stumble. Most of the others had noticed, but laughed good naturedly.
Since the day at the caves, Emma had let her appearance go. She no longer brushed her hair in the morning or took pains with her toilet. She found she was too nerve-wracked to eat most of the time, her energy level eroding. She wondered how long she could keep this up. Maybe if she could talk to someone . . .
Salina bustled along at a good clip, Emma struggling to keep up while carrying her big bucket. Arriving at the sleeping caves, they entered the room where the two women lay on their stone dais, healing tendrils from the membrane walls still connected and working hard to bring them back from the brink of starvation and radiation poisoning. She set her bucket down to scoop warm water into the basin they would use to wash the two women. She looked up to see her mama staring down at Lorna.
“Mama?”
Salina glanced at her daughter, pity pouring from her eyes. “What this poor woman must have
gone through. She deserves to pull through.”
Emma dipped her sponge into the warm water and crossed to Jennifer, wondering if she could discuss Seth with her mother. She carefully sponged off the young girl’s face.
“Mama . . . I’ve been wanting—”
“Emma, come here. Right now.” Emma hurried over to her mother’s side. She held Lorna’s hand in hers, the few tendrils of membrane now thicker on the woman than Emma recalled.
“Look . . . her fingernails are longer. They aren’t spilt and cracked like they used to be.” Studying the healthy redness of her nail beds, they both searched for improvement in the older woman’s face.
“Do you think her face looks fuller, Emma? I don’t think she looks the same. She seems filled out. I think she just might make it after all, God bless her soul.” Emma saw her mama wipe away a tear from her face, turning away from her daughter.
“I think we need Clyde to take a look. This is the news he’s been waiting for. Can you go find him, hon? I’ll wait here and finish up. Just leave your sponge in your basin. I’ll finish Jennifer.”
As Emma backed away from Lorna, she quickly turned to Jennifer. What the heck? Emma did a double take as she swore she saw Jennifer’s eyes close. Leaning into the young girl, she examined her rosy face. The girl looked healthy. Why hasn’t she woken? Am I seeing things? Is my mind playing tricks on me?
Her nerves shot, she turned to her mama again to talk. “Mama, I need to talk to you about something. Something that happened a few days ago.”
Salina looked up. “I was wondering when you’d get around to this. I didn’t want to pressure you, Emma. I knew you’d talk to me when you were ready. I didn’t quite buy that explanation for the shiny bruiser you had there.” She smiled encouragingly. “Can it wait until you find Clyde? We’ll sit down and you can tell me all about it over some tea in the kitchen.” Emma glanced down at Jennifer distractedly, and opened her mouth to speak just as Salina came over, holding her arms open for a hug.
“Now you run along. I’ll finish up here while you find Clyde for me. Then I’m all yours.”
With one last look at Jennifer, Emma kissed her mother and ran out the doorway, feeling the best she had in days.
*
Ginger Mae tallied her morning list of creatures. Everyone was accounted for except one of Tulip’s babies. At this time of day, they usually congregated around their mother before setting out to find Tobi and the rest of the herd. She was positive she hadn’t made a mistake. She never did, although today she’d started earlier than normal so she could spend some extra time with Daisy. Taking her along with her for the count hadn’t worked. Daisy just wasn’t as interested in the animals. She wanted to get back to the library and her studies. Well, that’s not going to happen.
Ginger Mae still hadn’t gotten over the temerity of those women asking for her permission to operate on Daisy. The disclosure of the kind of studies Daisy was immersed in was frightening in itself. What could Daisy possibly gain from learning their languages? It was a good thing she’d nipped that in the bud. Daisy would just have to find another interest to keep her busy. Maybe some arts and crafts. If she needed further education, Ginger Mae intended to handle it herself. It couldn’t be that hard with all the books available in the library.
Forcing her mind back on the light count, she took another look at Tulip and the piglets. Still one missing. Sighing, she decided to enlist Dezi to help track it down. No sense in alarming everyone. The last thing she needed was dirty looks when they were forced to help find the piglet. When the little rascal turned up, she’d be left looking like a goat, just the way Dezi used to.
Arriving back at the kitchen, Dezi was nowhere to be found. Netty was washing vegetables and Karen was sorting dishes.
She approached Karen, anxious to keep the information from Netty. She didn’t know Karen that well. She stuck like glue to Cobby whenever she found the chance, which was usually at meals when Ginger Mae had free time. She wondered idly if she might be jealous of the tall, pretty pilot. It must be easier to attract a man of substance with your brain than your breasts. Nah, she thought, laughing to herself . . . that’ll never happen.
“Hi, Karen. I thought Dezi would be here.”
“No, he left to deliver lunches. Salina needed Emma to help her with Clyde’s wife and granddaughter. Why? What d’ you need?”
“Well . . . I think I miscounted one of the piglets and wanted his advice, maybe some help to find it.” Ginger Mae watched as Karen’s face froze. She turned slowly to see Netty standing behind her.
“You can’t find one of the piglets? Why didn’t you report this to me immediately? You know the rules, Ginger Mae.” She untied her apron, tossing it on the table. “Karen, round everyone up and have them meet us by the elephant’s watering hole. The keepers and probably Bonnie and Peter will be there. I’ll swing around and collect Salina and Emma. Dinner will just have to be late tonight.”
*
As Emma searched for Clyde, she was astonished to find everyone seemed to have vanished. She checked the library and found not a soul. That’s odd. Swinging back toward the kitchen, she peeked in the supply cavern. Empty as well. Rushing to the kitchen, she realized everyone must have decided to have lunch there. She must have been left out of the loop today when her mama dragged her away to help.
Arriving at the kitchen, she could see it was deserted except for the macaw that Abby and Scotty had rescued from the Big Cat Habitat in Sarasota. Not even a sign of any dogs or piglets. Nothing. She couldn’t ever recall a time the place had been completely empty except when Dezi used to miscount an animal and they were all dragged out to help find it. Emma decided to go back to her mama in the sleeping caves. Something must be up and she would want to know about it as soon as possible.
Emma ran as fast as she could to the sleeping caves. Rounding the bend to the cave opening, she slowed to catch her breath. As she stepped through the opening to Lorna and Jennifer’s quarters, she was astounded to find Seth bending over Lorna with his hands over her mouth and nose. She could see weak movement of Lorna’s legs. Frozen to the spot, Emma watched as Lorna’s legs stopped moving.
“How do you like that, you sour old bitch? What’cha gonna complain about now? Try . . . nothing.” Seth wiped his hands down the side of his tunic, giggling devilishly. Suddenly he turned, catching Emma cowering in the doorway.
“Well, what a surprise. My favorite little cocktease.” Seth eyes raged with fever; his face was flushed but his voice whispered—calm and relaxed. He began to hum, the tune jumbled and flat.
Abruptly, his voice reached out like a whip, unexpected and paralyzing. “Come here.”
As Emma’s heart thundered in her chest, Seth bounded across the room, grabbed her arm and, before she could protest, punched her hard in the face. Her head snapped back toward the wall, jackknifing forward as she was engulfed in pain and darkness, urine trickling forlornly down her legs.
*
Emma woke to the metallic taste of blood in her mouth and a wickedly thrumming headache. She lay flat on a hard surface, her eyes shut. Moaning, she tried to sit up and was shocked to find she couldn’t move her hands or feet. Opening her eyes, her memory came rushing back. She attempted to suppress the urge to vomit; failing miserably as she heaved it up, chunks from breakfast gushing over her chin and down onto her neck. Choking, she rolled her trussed body over, discovering she lay on the ground of a huge cavern that cowered over her with its cathedral grandeur.
“For Christ’s sake, Emma. You don’t expect to kiss me now, do you?”
Her heart dropped like an anvil as she located Seth sitting next to what looked like a campfire. The slight hint of grease in the air made her queasy stomach roll again.
“Untie me.” She tried to lift herself into a sitting position. Seth watched her struggle without comment. “Why are you doing this?” Emma suddenly remembered the sight in the sleeping room.
“You tried to kill Lorna. Whyyyyy? Why woul
d you do that? You were all like family.”
“Family? Why would being a family give anyone a pass? What the heck is this stupid sentimentality between a bunch of people that don’t even like each other, just because they live in the same house? I don’t get it. Do you think that stopped me when I burnt down my parents’ house when I was eleven? How else could I stop them from interfering with my . . . hobbies? I’m sorry to say we don’t have time, Emma, or I would regale you with my exploits with our neighbors’ pets . . . or should I say pests? Unfortunately, they weren’t all as tasty as a fat little piggy I know.”
“Please!” She began to cry, praying for God to help her. “Where’s my mama?”
“Stop bawling, right now. You’re getting on my nerves. I don’t know where your mama is anyway. She’s probably out looking for the missing porker. Ha, ha, ha. They should have been looking for him last night.”
Seth flipped a rib bone at her and it bounced harmlessly off her shoulder. He stood. “I’m sorry I can’t stay to chat, pumpkin. I need to get back to join the hunt before they miss me. This was just the opportunity I was waiting for, but I didn’t figure you into it. I can’t have you spoil it for me now, can I?”
Seth strolled over to Emma, sliding his hands under her body to lift her high in the air. Emma struggled with her bonds as he carried her close to the edge of the cliff.
“No, please . . . I won’t tell.” Her heart stopped with a gush of panicked adrenaline.
“That’s right, baby doll. You won’t.”
With those words, Emma felt herself airborne. Her young body tumbled over in the air giving her just enough time to sob, close her eyes and whisper “Mama,” before she met the lethal embrace of the merciless ground so many stories below.
*
Ginger Mae walked slowly, quiet and stunned. No one spoke as the dinner was served by Salina, Dezi, Karen, and Billy, who agreed to pitch in to cover for Emma’s unexplained absence. Netty and Wil had said they’d be late even as dinner was delayed, due to the unsuccessful hunt for the missing piglet.
