Carrier

by Vanessa Garden

  The great ship hissed and another hatch opened. A small aircraft shot out of the ship and zoomed overhead, leaving an electric trail of blue light as it flew south. The kids’ eyes nearly popped out of their tiny sockets.

  Within seconds, an ear-splitting boom rattled the night and a small ball of orange light flashed in the distance before gradually dimming.

  I turned back to Aticon, who was now staring intently at the children. They watched him, with wide eyes before they screamed and wailed, ‘No!’ in unison.

  ‘What did you tell them?’

  Aticon’s face betrayed no emotion, except a slight irritation in the crease of his brows.

  I merely informed them that their home was no more and that they were to come with us back to our planet.

  Chapter 21

  I threw my hands to my head and tugged at my hair.

  And you expect them to be happy about that? Why do want them? Why do you want any of us? You said that you’ve got your antidote. Why can’t you just go home and leave us alone!

  ‘Lena, what is he doing to you?’ Mum asked, coming to stand between us.

  Aticon moved in closer, until his lithe body loomed over Mum. After a few seconds of staring into her eyes, she moved away and sat down beside the children. It made me shudder to see Mum so passive and docile.

  Aticon bore his eyes into mine.

  It is you I want. I plan on taking you back with me and I assume the children will follow. The other humans are required to generate the emotions from you, the emotions that I particularly enjoy. I promise to do no harm. They will live well and be provided for, as will you.

  He glanced at my mother and the others, and they rose to their feet.

  No. You’ve got to stop controlling them, I said. It’s not fair.

  ‘Lena,’ said Mum, touching my arm. ‘It’s best not to fight. We want peace, and so do the Aticonans. We don’t want any more violence or deaths.’ Her dark, wet eyes flickered over the bodies of Jonny and Luke.

  I wished I could have used mental telepathy on my mother, like the Aticonan people did, to explain everything to her, about me being ‘linked’ and how everyone’s minds were being manipulated.

  The orange glow that was once the Terra’s Army barracks had now dimmed to only a speck of light. It made me think of the aeroplanes that had exploded in the sky.

  ‘You blew up the aeroplanes,’ I said aloud.

  You blew them up, Lena. Remember. Think back to yesterday afternoon, when your Patrick was driven away. You became very angry. You threw yourself at the ground and pounded at it with your fists like when you were a child. Your surge of anger surprised me, and at the time I was searching for you in one of our scope crafts. The human crafts flew by me at that moment and I expressed your rage by shooting them down.

  One…two….three…four… I counted, to control my rising anger.

  Well done, Lena.

  I ignored his praise.

  ‘Who were they?’

  Do you really want to know, Lena? It might stoke that uncontrollable rage of yours and I do not wish to harm another human being. Come.

  He paused and made a gesture with open arms, addressing us collectively.

  Your minds and bodies need rest. Our ship has many beds. He turned to me. Lena, they will willingly board the ship even if you don’t. But if you do not, then I will have to manipulate you by using force on your loved ones. The ship is geared to leave tonight. In half an hour we must all board lest it leaves without us.

  ‘We have to board their ship now,’ I said quickly, facing the others.

  They each seemed to be fighting some kind of inner battle, their faces contorted in confusion, as though their own will was fighting against Aticon’s mind control.

  I looked at each of Patrick’s brothers and forced a shaky smile.

  ‘Patrick and Markus are on the ship.’ I swallowed down the painful lump in my throat. ‘They are alive.’

  Aticon addressed us all again.

  Your brothers and the remainder of the country’s population — mostly males — have agreed to join the Aticonans. They are enjoying food, water and a place to rest. Aticona is lacking in the male species and we need human men to help operate the ship and tend to our harvests. There is nothing left for you here, only a desolate barren land. Join with us on our ship and live in eternal peace. We do not destroy each other as humans do.

  Patrick’s brothers were already running towards the ship.

  Mattie whistled between his teeth. ‘We should at least board to check on the others, to see if…it is telling the truth.’

  Streak hesitated.

  ‘It’s safer if we board the ship quietly,’ I said, hating myself inside.

  Streak sighed. ‘If the others are on board, then I suppose I want to be with them.’ But his eyes darkened and he added, ‘Even though I hate them for killing Luke.’

  Petra sobbed quietly into Mattie’s neck and mumbled, ‘I want Daddy,’ before groaning softly.

  Your friends are wise, Lena.

  The grey guards led them to the ship, the kids squirming and shrieking in Mattie and Streak’s arms. I remained rooted to the ground and watched them, unable to bring myself to follow. Mum stood beside me, waiting.

  Your mother is waiting for you. I admire her protectiveness. Why do you hesitate, Lena?

  I’ll come. But I need to see Patrick first. There something I wish to say to him privately — and I want to do it out here, while we’re still home.

  Aticon watched me, a flicker of curiosity reflecting in his pale eyes.

  Your wish is granted. I have sent for him.

  ‘No!’ screamed Petra, just as they began treading the ship’s ramp. ‘I’m not going!’ She kicked at Mattie’s shins and ran off into the nearby bushes. Sammy screamed hysterically and let go of Streak’s hand before he charged after his sister. Mattie tried to go after them, but the grey guards stared into their eyes until the men both stilled and calmly boarded the ship.

  Find them, and bring them to the ship, Lena. If you don’t, we leave them behind.

  I resisted glaring at him and ran after Petra and Sammy who had both disappeared in the dark.

  ‘Petra! Sammy!’ I called out into the darkness. ‘It’s okay. We are going on an adventure.’ But after walking around in circles and calling their names until my throat was hoarse, I ran back to Aticon empty handed, a growing panic in my heart.

  ‘They’re gone!’

  Then we shall leave without them.

  ‘No! I promised their father, who you killed, that I would look after them and I will.’ I spun around in circles. ‘Mum? Where’s my mother?’

  She boarded while you searched for the young.

  ‘Yeah, because you forced her to.’

  Aticon stared at me, unblinking, before stepping aside to reveal Patrick walking towards me, two grey guards flanking him.

  Our eyes locked and I ran to him, relief spluttering from my lips in a loud sigh.

  ‘I want us to speak alone, without you inside our heads,’ I shouted back at Aticon.

  As you wish, Lena. I shall summon the children myself.

  ‘Don’t scare them. I’ll never come if you do that. They’ve been traumatised enough as it is.’

  Speak with your friend, Lena. Your privacy has a time limit.

  The grey guards and Aticon left us, before moving through the bushes, most likely scaring the crap out of poor Petra and Sammy.

  ‘Lena,’ said Patrick, rushing towards me.

  I took a step forward, tripped, and fell against him. He caught me in his arms and crushed me to his body, his hands stroking my back and my cropped hair. Burying my face into his chest, I could feel the heat of his skin and smell his earthy scent.

  We held each other like this for a long time, me with my cheek against Patrick’s heart, he with his chin resting on my head. He was breathing hard and I could hear his heart hammering against me.

  ‘You’re okay, thank God,’ I said, raising my
head to meet his eyes.

  ‘You too,’ he whispered, before swallowing thickly. ‘I was worried I’d never see you again.’

  ‘Have they hurt you? Any of you?’ I asked.

  He shook his head and stroked my cheek, his eyes soft. ‘Have they hurt you?’

  I explained how they killed Luke and Jonny and his eyes darkened.

  ‘They’re treating Markus. They said they’ll treat everyone and give us a new life as long as we agree to board this ship.’ He shook his head. ‘The inside of this ship is unlike anything you have even seen, Lena. There are all these levels and they even have crops in there.’ He found my hand and squeezed it. ‘It’s not home, Lena, but I’m not sure what home is anymore. Maybe home is not a place, maybe it’s wherever your loved ones are.’ His eyes turned glassy and he held me tighter. ‘My home is wherever you are, Lena.’

  Tears stung my eyes and thickened my throat.

  ‘I can’t board without Petra and Sammy. I promised Luke I’d take care of them.’

  Patrick chewed his bottom lip and shook his head.

  ‘You’ll die out here if you stay, Lena, and I can’t leave my brothers again. You have to come with us, it’s the only way.’ He shook his head. ‘I know it can’t compare to the coast and swimming and ice-cream…but maybe that can never be. My brothers might die out here if we all stay. And if one day I go missing like my dad, then there’s no hope. This is the only way we can all be together and start a new life.’

  A tear slid down my cheek. ‘If I find the kids, then I’ll come.’

  Patrick gasped with relief and held my head in his hands, as his thumbs caressed my jaw. ‘I’ll help you. We’re never going to be apart again, Lena, ever. I’ll never leave your side.’ He bent down and brushed his lips over mine and a small whimper of surprise left my throat.

  I wrapped my arms around his neck and threaded my fingers through his hair, tears running down my face as I kissed him back. Patrick moaned softly and kissed me harder, and drew his arms around my waist tight, as though he never wanted to let me go. Perhaps it didn’t matter where I lived, as long as I was with Patrick, and Mum and all the others. We could make it because we had so much love between us all.

  Patrick and I drew apart and two guards appeared at our sides. They stared at Patrick who nodded.

  ‘They said I need to board the ship with them and that you will follow with Aticon and the kids.’ He stared at me and sighed, before reaching for my hand. ‘I want to stay and look with you but for some reason I just…’ a frown wrinkled his brow, ‘I just have to go board the ship.’ He shook his head but his eyes softened. ‘I love you, Lena.’

  His words took my breath away and at the same time, sent a stab of guilt to my heart.

  ‘Wait,’ I said, my stomach swirling sickly. ‘There’s something I have to tell you and it might change the way you feel about me.’

  Patrick stared at me, his brows knotting again, but this time for another reason.

  ‘Your dad is dead, Patrick. I’m so sorry.’

  Patrick opened his mouth to speak but I shook my head to stop him.

  ‘I only know this because my mother was the one who shot him.’

  With pain in my heart, I watched Patrick’s face gradually transform as he experienced shock, then anger, then sadness and then disbelief.

  ‘Did you know this on the first day we met?’ he asked in a whisper.

  I nodded, another tear sliding down my cheek.

  Patrick sucked in a deep breath and swallowed thickly, his eyes reddening before he turned away.

  ‘I’m so sorry,’ I said. ‘I didn’t want to hurt you.’ My throat burned as Patrick turned away. I reached for his arm but he shrugged me away.

  ‘I love you, Patrick. I really do. I know this because you’ve been my every thought since the day I met you. You’re my best friend.’

  The guards moved toward Patrick and, without even looking back, he walked towards the ship, stepped onto the ramp and disappeared though a wall of light at the entrance.

  Aticon appeared before me, his long, lean shape blurry through my tears.

  Everybody has boarded. The children are gone. They are no longer your concern.

  The ship started to make a deafening, high-pitched, whirring noise.

  ‘No, I have to find them. I won’t board your ship without them.’

  He moved towards me, his eyes cold, and I staggered back before I turned and ran, my tears drying in the cold breeze that blew against my face.

  Bushes slapped my face and scratched my skin while I ran blindly, calling out the children’s names. I couldn’t leave them behind, alone. I would rather die.

  ‘Petra, Sammy,’ I called into the night. ‘Quickly, we have to join everyone or else we’ll be the only ones left here, all alone. The ship is leaving. Streak and Mattie and my mum are waiting! Please!’

  Patrick was waiting on that ship too. And if I didn’t board now I’d lose him forever.

  A loud scream came to my far right and my heart stopped when I saw Aticon staring down at a trembling bush. He’d found them.

  ‘Stop it! Stop whatever you’re doing. I’ll make them come.’

  I am sending them repeated images of their father dying, to teach them a lesson and remind them of what could happen should they disobey me and run away again.

  Mentally I cleared my mind so that Aticon could not read my thoughts; one…two…three…

  Tugging my slingshot out of my back pocket, I dug around in the front of my pants until I felt Sapphire’s stone, cool and smooth and heavy between my fingers.

  Then I threw myself in front of the children like a shield, all the while repeating the numbers one to ten to empty my mind.

  Come this instant. The ship is leaving. I have summoned guards who shall have to use force.

  One…two…three…

  Aticon stood several metres away, his head bent in concentration, as though trying to reach into my mind.

  He raised his head as I drew back the sling, aimed, and watched as the stone sped through the air to hit Aticon right between the eyes.

  He stepped back, stunned, before falling flat on his back, dust rising all around him.

  Two guards appeared just as the ship started to make an urgent churning sound.

  They looked at Aticon and then at me, their faces frighteningly impassive, before they bent and lifted Aticon from the ground, effortlessly, one at his head and one at his feet.

  I wrapped my arms around each of the children and we crawled to hide behind a bush.

  We must leave, earth child. But know that he will come back for you. You will never escape Aticon. You and Aticon are one and the same.

  You’re wrong! I mentally screamed back at them.

  I peeked through the branches of the scrub and watched as they carried Aticon toward the now flashing ship. A ring of orange dust rose in a great cloud.

  More grey guards spilled out of the ship, before speeding the unconscious Aticon up the ramp.

  As the ramp eased to a close, the grey guard spoke once more.

  This barren land is no place for a female and two young. You will regret this choice. The children will perish.

  His words sent a chill through me. I seized both of the children’s hands and began running, half dragging them, toward the ship.

  ‘Wait! Wait for us!’

  The churning, whirring sound rose to a deafening shriek. I covered the children’s ears with my hands. Dust clouded our eyes and a strong blast of air from the ship knocked us off our feet.

  The kids lay on their backs, whimpering quietly as the ground shook, their cheeks wobbling.

  I rolled over to take them under each of my arms and together we watched the great ship as it rose from the ground, emerged through the orange dust, and disappeared into the sky, leaving behind an electric blue streak that faded in an instant.

  Chapter 22

  Tears coursed down my face and my heart contracted in pain, as though somebody was stand
ing on it, grinding their heel in.

  ‘Goodbye Mum, goodbye Patrick,’ I whispered to the stars.

  The children sat up and rubbed at their eyes.

  ‘The bad man is gone,’ Petra said, almost cheerily.

  ‘Yes, the bad man is gone,’ I said, wondering if he could actually hear my thoughts from so far away, from wherever they were in outer space.

  ‘What will we do now?’ asked Petra, staring off in the direction of Luke’s motionless body.

  I thought of the exploded barracks and of Desert Downs and even Patrick’s house, but not one of these choices appealed to me. It gave me the chills to think that none of the people who once inhabited those places would be there to wander the halls and sit at the empty dinner tables.

  Now that the ship was gone, I could see the army trucks all parked in a row.

  I told the kids we’d sleep in the back of a truck tonight and then go on an adventure and drive to the coast tomorrow, to see the beach.

  If the country was now free of Carriers and we were the only inhabitants, then we may as well start our new lives on the coast where we’d be visible to rescue crews. The planes Aticon had destroyed would not be the last planes, surely.

  Warm blood pumped into my heart, giving it new life. There was a possibility that we would be rescued by the UN, just like Dad had always dreamed. Perhaps the kids would have a chance at a normal life. These thoughts gave me a sudden sense of purpose, as though all the death and destruction in the past twenty four hours, and the fact that I’d never see my mother or Patrick again, could somehow be balanced out by the children’s survival.

  After making sure I chose a non-Carrier truck, I settled the kids down in the back. Luckily there were blankets, only the grey scratchy kind, but better than nothing. I doubled them up for pillows and then tucked them in, using three to keep away the cool chill in the air. The kids fell asleep quickly, clutching each other and their teddies while I went out to bury Luke and Jonny.

  It was a difficult task, but I just couldn’t bear to leave them out for animals to pick at. With my bare hands and the end of a shotgun, I scraped at the earth and dug out two shallow graves. By the time I was done, my arms were ready to fall off and the easterly horizon had paled, heralding dawn. But the last thing I wanted was for the kids to see their dead father in stark daylight.