by Alan Zendell
An hour later Janine sat by their campfire with Jordy in her lap. They'd cast their lines, and Janine was telling him about fish and other wild life, showing him how squirrels and chipmunks foraged for winter. She'd never been happier.
* * * *
Neither Mr. Bramis nor Miranda was eager to end their accidental tryst, but the sun was well above the horizon. Armed with their tachyon trackers, they picked their way down the slope.
They walked through a pine forest on a carpet of golden needles, Miranda feeling like she was in a magical place in a children's story. The valley below seemed to stretch forever, green along the foothills, ochre and brown in the distance, cut by a gray ribbon of concrete. She'd never seen its like on Eridani II, which was mostly desert and ocean. In her blissful state, Miranda almost forgot the gravity of their mission.
"How much longer, Adolfus?” Miranda asked, using Mr. Bramis’ given name.
"Soon, Miranda, you'll have your sweet Jordy in your arms."
Miranda felt stricken. Her image of Jordy wasn't sweet, and he usually avoided contact with her, squirming away when she tried to hold him. She'd never really learned to deal with him, never even wanted to be a mother, but Eridani II was an under-populated frontier world. Every woman was expected to do her part.
They reached the highway, which ran straight across the plateau. Mr. Bramis’ tracker pointed in the same direction. “We'll make better time following the roadway. Imagine, Miranda. Traveling across this huge country in wheeled vehicles."
Starting down a two-mile grade, Miranda walked quietly, holding Mr. Bramis’ hand. As they approached the valley floor she grew tense, her magical mood evaporating. She looked around searchingly. “Adolfus! I believe that's one over there."
"One what, my dear?"
"One of those road vehicles.” She pointed to an object parked in a shallow gully a quarter mile away. Mr. Bramis aimed his tracker at it. The device began beeping.
"I believe you're right, Miranda. What's more, I think we've found Jordy.” They reached Janine's truck at 11:03 local time, four hours before they would be flung back to Eridani. Jordy's over-garment, into which the tachyon generator had been sewn, was in the truck. Of Jordy, there was no sign. Another development they hadn't anticipated. Miranda began calling, her voice carrying in the clear, thin air.
Thirty minutes with no response found them sitting dejectedly on the dry, hard ground. The air had warmed and they'd unbuttoned their coats.
* * * *
Normally, Janine would have caught her fish and been back at her worktable by 10:00, but time flew that morning. Jordy explored and played like any other child, bringing her things he found every few minutes. He wasn't fooling her a bit, though. He was also making sure she was still there. You dear child, she thought. Hasn't anyone ever loved you?
By 11:30, Jordy was exhausted. She made a bed for him from her discarded coat, and he fell asleep with his head on her thigh. She watched him sleep, unmindful of the time.
* * * *
Janine awoke at 1:15, a Wyoming horsefly buzzing in her ear. Jordy was gone. She was beside herself with fear and recrimination. For all the love she professed to feel for him, she was no better than the parents who'd abandoned him.
Frantic, she called his name. What if he's hurt? He can't even tell me where he is. She reacted to every sound, starting forward in one direction, then another. In the end, she stood helplessly in place, willing herself to be calm. As the rush of blood in her ears slowed, she became aware of a wolf barking. Just one, the sound coming from upriver.
She raced along the bank, running recklessly over mud-slicked rocks, splashing through frigid shallows where the brush was densest, heedless of having left her guns at home. All that mattered was that Jordy was out there. Unable to see very far through the undergrowth, she blundered into a small clearing, almost trampling Jordy, who stood perfectly still, focused on the alpha wolf an arm's length away.
Startled by her arrival, the wolf tensed. No one moved until Jordy turned to Janine, his face a mixture of emotions. He felt her fright. Sad eyes apologized, but she also saw joy. He'd known the alpha was near and gone to find him.
Jordy approached the wolf and put his arms around its neck the way he had hugged Old Buck. His magic wasn't quite as effective on the wolf, but Janine knew the wolf wouldn't hurt him. As he had on the mountain, the alpha tolerated the hug as long as he could, then backed away. Jordy took Janine's hand. “Friend.” He'd come to thank the wolf and tell it goodbye.
Janine shook her head, filled with wonder. By the time they got back to their campsite, it was after 2:00. Time to go. They packed their things and hiked back up the trail.
* * * *
Miranda was distraught. Desperately afraid she would blame him if Jordy didn't appear, Mr. Bramis tried to console her. “Miranda, my dear. We'll try again. We'll have to abide by the minimum waiting period, but next time we'll be prepared."
Miranda suddenly jumped to her feet. “Someone's coming, Adolfus."
* * * *
Janine saw them first. Standing beside her truck, they looked comical. Their silver coats flapped in the breeze and they were dressed liked trapeze artists underneath the coats. The woman saw them and began jumping excitedly. Her breasts flounced wantonly, her nipples clearly visible through her skin-tight garment. Even from a hundred feet away, Janine was scandalized. The man had a foppish, aristocratic appearance. It occurred to Janine that they might be from Hollywood.
When Jordy saw the woman, he began running toward her and she toward him. Janine's heart sank. Those ridiculous people in their shiny coats were Jordy's parents. The woman was crying, calling Jordy's name. She scooped him up and swung him around then squeezed him, refusing to let go. Had she not looked away, Janine would have seen Jordy scrambling to be put down, but miserable and crestfallen, she walked toward the truck to stow her gear.
At the sound of footsteps, she turned and found herself facing the fop. “Adolfus Bramis, madam. And you would be?” he asked, extending his hand.
"Janine Harding. I've been caring for your son.” Janine wanted to kick and scream, to beat these people with a stick for losing their precious child. Even more for coming to reclaim him.
"Son? Oh no, Miz Harding. He's not mine, he's hers. Miranda Thymes. I am her escort.” He was about to inform her that his presence was evidence of ETL's outstanding customer service, but caught himself in time. “Miz Harding, are you ill?"
In no mood to socialize, Janine assured him she was fine. “I'll wait in my truck, if you don't mind.” Mr. Bramis bowed slightly and walked back to Miranda, who was occupied with Jordy.
All was not well between Jordy and his mother. Miranda had tired of his kicking and squirming and set him down. She and her escort were arguing. He kept pointing in Janine's direction and Miranda began shouting at Jordy.
Janine's dander was up. The woman might be Jordy's mother, but ... but what? That was all there was to it. Janine looked around. There were no other vehicles. How had they gotten here? She got out of the truck and walked over to them. Jordy rushed to her and threw his arms around her leg. Miranda turned to her.
"I want to thank you for taking care of my son. He's become very attached to you."
Janine said nothing, but Adolfus Bramis seemed ready to erupt. “Eight minutes, Miranda. This can't be negotiated. Eight minutes and we're gone."
Miranda squeezed his hand and turned to Jordy and Janine. “It's time to go home, Jordy. Please. I've come a long way to find you."
Jordy didn't budge and Miranda addressed Janine. “I wish I could thank you properly, but there isn't time. Would you talk to him, please?"
Janine couldn't see what the rush was, but Miranda had a point. Janine reached down and lifted Jordy, feeling his arms encircle her neck. “Look at me, Jordy."
"Stay with you.” Had the others heard? Janine looked at Miranda. Apparently not.
"Jordy,” Janine said softly in his ear. “I've loved having you here. But
you have to go with your mother. There's no other way. I know you understand. Maybe you can visit me."
"That won't be possible,” said Adolfus Bramis. “You really must release him to his mother now. Time is very short, less than five minutes. We can't afford complications."
Janine looked around again. She wasn't confrontational by nature, but this wasn't making sense. “Of course Jordy has to go with his mother, Mr. Bramis, but I don't see what's so urgent. Why don't we let the boy calm down? It's not like you have a cab waiting. And speaking of that, how did you get here?"
"I'm not at liberty to explain that,” he said. “You wouldn't understand, anyway."
That did it! Janine had had it with men telling her what she could understand. “I have to put you down, Jordy.” He released her and she gave him to Miranda, who took his hand. Janine closed on Mr. Bramis, stopping with her face inches from his. “Try me, sir. I have a doctorate from Columbia. What in the name of heaven is going on here?"
"I can't tell you, Miz Harding, or Doctor Harding if you wish. You wouldn't believe me, anyway."
"Really? Then perhaps you can tell me what's going to happen in...” she glanced at her watch, “...three minutes. I'll soon see for myself, anyway. Convince me it will be good for Jordy and I'll do whatever you ask."
Adolfus Bramis was tongue-tied and Jordy again reached for Janine.
"We're not from Earth,” Miranda said. “We're not from now, either."
Janine considered that. It was ridiculous, but no more than anything else that had happened since the wolves had begun howling. Everyone was quiet. Janine knelt in front of Jordy. “I love you, Jordy. I want you to have a happy life. You must do the right thing now. Understand?"
Jordy nodded. She kissed him, picked him up, and gave him to Miranda.
"He wants to stand,” Miranda said. “Is that all right?"
Mr. Bramis was counting seconds. “Put him down then, but hurry. And hold him with both hands. You have to close the circuit or he'll be left behind."
Janine heard all that. It made no sense, and it made perfect sense.
"Twenty seconds,” Mr. Bramis said. “Fifteen. Fourteen. Thirteen..."
When he reached “three,” Jordy pulled his hands free. Startled, Mr. Bramis stopped counting and he and Miranda disappeared. Gone. Without a trace.
* * * *
Adolfus Bramis thought his heart would stop when Jordy broke free of Miranda's grasp. On Eridani II again, he was frenetic, thinking of how to comfort her.
"Miranda, my dear, you must be devastated.” He held out his arms, and to his surprise, she entered his embrace.
"No, Adolfus. He didn't break loose,” she said. “I kept my promise."
* * * *
Janine had a hundred unanswered questions, but all that mattered was that those two awful creatures were gone. They might return, but she'd worry about that later.
"Jordy,” she said. “How would you like to ride a camel?"
AUTHOR INFORMATION
Alan Zendell
home.comcast.net/~alanz/
Alan has many years of experience as an aerospace engineer and software developer, starting with development work on the Apollo lunar missions of the late 1960s and early 1970s. After decades of technical writing, including a NASA monograph on gravity, he has spent the last eight years developing a portfolio of short stories and novels. Conclusion: writing fiction is lots more fun!
Look for these other books by Alan Zendell at Forbidden Publications:
Karryn
Purloined Minds
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