“I don’t think the aliens will allow our numbers to increase like that again,” Skye mused, speculating now. “I think, once we reach a certain number, they’ll start to control the population.”
“What makes you think that? I don’t disagree, but why do you think that?” Ann went to answer the door and brought in a tray with two sandwiches, some sliced vegetables, and two glasses of apple juice.
“I think that because they won’t want to spread themselves too thin. That, and we were not going to be able to sustain the status quo for much longer, not the way things were going. That outbreak of super-measles in December 2019 nearly got out of hand. And that virus that was blinding people in Canada had started to spread down to us too. Then there was the rest of it. It was all just… getting out of hand. I don’t think we had long.”
“So why do we keep repeating it?” Ann asked, her hand on her stomach. “Why do we women put up with it?”
“That’s the million-dollar question right now, isn’t it?” Skye looked at Ann with a look that almost made Ann shiver. “I’m not certain we should put up with it.”
“We have power now, power that the men want, that the men need,” Ann said it softly, a spirit of revolution growing in her own heart, but it was a spirit that marched in time with Rager’s. With him, not against him.
“I think we might have something here, Skye.” She leaned back, sipped her drink, and took a nibble from her sandwich. After she swallowed, she smiled and looked at her friend. “It’s us that have been left to organize things and create what we need. Perhaps we should work on what we really need. To stop this nonsense about revolution and focus on making lives the best we can for all of us, not just a few.”
“How do we do that, though? We’ve tried so many times in the past. We’ve overcome a lot, but men still think they have to march off to fight a king’s war and we have to cater to them for it. They die for what? To be free of one yoke only to put on another? At least Earth men do. How do we stop that?”
“I’m not sure we can, but the aliens can. I know this much.” The flare of spirit quivered a little, but didn’t quite die down. “They won’t put up with much, and they have the power to turn this place into an ice sheet again if they want to. I don’t want to see that happen.”
“You have some influence with Rager, don’t you?” Skye asked, and took a bite of her sandwich. “You need to start talking to him.”
“I try not to say too much about what’s happening here. When he comes home, he’s had a hard day…”
“Fuck that, and fuck him. He’s the ruler here, he needs to hear what you’re concerned about. You need to stop being the little woman, and start being the leader you’re meant to be.” Skye’s bright blue eyes burned with icy fire as she spoke and Ann listened.
“But I’m not a leader. Not a very good one anyway. I had to insult Penelope just to get the luncheons to turn into something meaningful.”
“You did, but you did it because you knew you had to. And you haven’t backed down. I want you to rise a little higher, honey, keep moving up. And talk to your mate, for fuck’s sake. Help us.”
“Of course,” Ann answered automatically, but she blinked. How could she interrupt his quiet time?
“Ann, look. I know you want to care for your husband, but if you die, if that baby you think you’re pregnant with dies because you didn’t speak up, I’ll kill myself and haunt you!” Skye huffed and glared at Ann, but then she softened it all with a smile. “You have to think of more than just taking care of Rager now. You have to think of that baby, the rest of us, your people, Ann. Guide us and lead us, even if that means following an alien leader. Bring us this life you dream of.”
It was all very surreal to Ann, but she heard Skye, and understood her. She’d been playing at being a leader with the women at her luncheons, but she’d not truly been a good leader yet. Not until she did all she could to make sure people were safe, happy, and healthy. And that meant talking to Rager about a lot.
She hadn’t wanted to inconvenience him, but now she could see that was stupid. She’d been keeping things from him that he probably needed to know. “I’ll talk to him tonight. If I can manage to stay awake. I’ve been falling asleep really early. I get so tired suddenly, and then I’m gone.”
“That’s probably another symptom,” Skye said in an offhand way as she bit into her sandwich again. “Try, and if nothing else, write him a note and leave it for him.”
“I hear you,” Ann said, and took another bite. She chewed and thought about everything Skye had told her. She’d start with her Mom, she decided. She’d go see her tomorrow and talk to her about this baby stuff, and the rest of it too.
“I bet my Mom already has a plan in place. Her and Amanda, they’re both always whispering to each other. Two peas in a pod, those two.” Ann laughed and finished her sandwich.
“I’m glad you still have your mom.” It was a subtle reminder, but one Ann still heard. Most people in the world no longer had a mother. Even the group from Illinois was mainly single people or couples, no children or parents had made it into the bunker there.
“I’ll want to speak to the women from the bunker too. Let’s arrange something for them. Rager said they were being put into what basically amounts to crisis shelters. I can’t blame them for being angry about that. Maybe we can sort out better accommodations for them.”
“That would be a start, I believe.” Skye winked at Ann before she spoke again. “Good start.”
Ann smiled, not sure she was ready for all the things she now had on her plate.
15
“Mom! I’m here!” Ann called out the next day as she walked into her mother’s home.
“We’re in here, dear,” Amanda called back from the living room, and Ann followed her voice. “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“No, it’s fine, come in, meet the other ladies.” Mary started to introduce women that were either married in the old-fashioned way to other mayors or were mates of lower-ranking soldiers in Rager’s force.
Ann smiled politely and greeted each one as she was supposed to, with a nod and a slight dip of her head. It was the way she’d learned to greet the women that came to her own luncheons. She hadn’t known her mother still had the same thing with the lower-ranked officials of their sector.
There wasn’t really a hierarchy set in place to follow, and now that she thought about it, she understood that it had been the ladies themselves that had created it. She’d soon put a stop to that. There’d be meetings of all the women soon, she thought, and decided that part of the empty hospital would serve her purposes.
She wondered now how Skye had ended up at the meetings and figured it must have been something Rager had suggested. She made a note to ask her later and went about the business of being sociable. An hour later, the women started to gather together and say goodbye. Each one was pleased to speak to Ann, and they all walked away with little smiles on their faces.
Ann knew Rager had to maintain his image as the leader of the new world they were creating, and that hierarchy would naturally evolve, but this ass-kissing didn’t suit her. She hated to see so many intelligent women turned into simpering simpletons. It just wouldn’t do.
“Let me help you, Amanda,” she said as Amanda began to clear dishes away. Ann noted that several women stopped to stare at her as she picked up dishes to take to the kitchen to be washed. Fuck them, she decided. She would lead by example, and if they didn’t like it, they’d either get in line and learn or they’d fall out of that line. It was their choice.
“Thank you, honey, but you know you don’t have to help.” Amanda quickly glanced behind them at the women that now whispered behind their hands. “You don’t want to cause yourself problems.”
“As I was recently reminded, I’m basically the queen of our world now, Amanda, and I can damn well do as I please.” Ann winked at her old friend and walked ahead of Amanda to put the plates down. She walked back to the liv
ing room and picked up glasses and more plates to carry back. When she came back to the living room from dropping those off, she saw a couple of the women had picked up a few dishes too and now carried them back to the kitchen. Good.
Ann smiled and by the time all the dishes were gone the women had said their final goodbyes and left. Ann was up to her elbows in soap bubbles and dishwater when her mother finally came in to sit down. “Thank you, honey. I appreciate that.”
“You’re welcome, Mom. How are you?” Ann had noted Mary looked a bit pale and seemed tired today. More than normal, and she remembered her suspicion. She looked intently at her mother and saw her mother blush before she grinned.
“I have some news, baby. News that might seem dreadful to you, but, well, you’re a big girl.”
“What? What is it, Mom? Are you ill?” The idea had finally occurred to her, her mom might not be pregnant but sick! Ann rushed over, her hands wrapped in a towel as she sat down by her mother. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong, Ann.” Mary laughed and brushed hair back from Ann’s cheek. “I’m pregnant, honey.”
“Oh.” Ann had suspected, but to hear her mother confirm it was another matter. “I’m going to be a big sister?”
“Yes, you are.”
“Oh.” Ann was stunned, even if she had suspected. “That’s so lovely, Mom. Are you okay?”
“I seem to be. I’ve waited to make sure, but well, it’s been a few months now. I think it was when we were in the bunker. Oh, listen to me, I’m babbling. Anyway, I’m fairly certain now. I’ve waited long enough, and well, I’ve got this.” Mary stretched the loose summer dress she wore over her stomach and Ann saw the bump that had started to form there.
“Mom!” Ann’s hands came out and she wrapped them over the slight bulge. “It’s so little.”
“I never did get very big with you, this is a lot bigger already than I was with you, so it doesn’t seem little to me.” Mary laughed and touched Ann’s cheek. “You’re happy about it?”
“I am, Mom, as long as you’re healthy and the baby is healthy.”
“I’m an older woman, there are risks, but I should be okay. Amanda and I are keeping track of everything now.” Mary looked at her friend and Ann could see the bond they had. It was a special one, and Ann was glad her mom had Amanda.
“And Dad? What does Dad think?” Ann could just imagine him, he’d either be quiet and ponder it studiously, or he’d be ecstatic.
“He’s worried about me, my age and everything, but he’s happy too. We always wanted you to have a sibling, but it was hard in the old world. So much time away from home with work, just to keep a house and the bills paid. Now? We don’t have to worry about that, do we?”
“No, I suppose you don’t. I’m happy for you, Mom.” Ann leaned over and kissed her mom. When she turned around, she saw Amanda with a note in her hand. Amanda put it away, but Ann saw the symbol on it, the symbol she’d seen on the buildings, a wolf in a circle. Ann watched her, but turned back to the dishes, to see what she’d do. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Amanda back up to the fire and drop something in before she quickly moved away.
“And what about you, Amanda, have you got news for us too?” Ann heard the way Amanda inhaled quickly before she sat down with Ann’s mom.
“No, nothing to report for me. I never was very good at doing what I was told to do.” Amanda played it all off, and laughed. “I can take orders here, but it doesn’t mean I’m great at following them.”
“I hope you’re careful about that,” Ann hinted, her eyes on the glass she now washed. “There are rumors going around, and I’ve heard there’s trouble brewing.”
She’d come out and been a little more direct about it, just in case.
“Yes, I’ve heard some of the soldiers aren’t happy about you,” Mary said and got up to dry the dishes Ann rinsed off. “We’re both concerned about that, and we hope they’re just rumors.”
“So far, but a few men have gone too far in public. Rager has dealt with them.” She missed him now and wanted to be in his arms, but she knew he had a lot to deal with. “Besides, I’m hidden away in that compound. Between that and the aliens that stand guard everywhere I go, I think I’m alright.”
There was one outside now. They were on rotation, and Ann had learned to tell them to wait for her outside of where she was if she wanted privacy. Today, her guard stood watch outside her mother’s front door.
“Good, I’m glad he’s taking it seriously,” Mary said, pecked a kiss on Ann’s cheek again, and put the glasses away in a cupboard. “Now, what would you like to call your little brother or sister?”
Ann thought about it for a little while, plates and glasses were cleaned and then she spoke up. “Sarah if it’s a girl, or Alistair if it’s a boy.”
“Okay, I can see Sarah, honey, but Alistair? Where on earth did you get that?” Mary looked at Ann astounded.
“I read it in a book once. I like the sound of it. We could call him Ally for short. I like it.” Ann feigned hurt over the rejection of the name, but smiled. “It’s not for everyone, I suppose.”
“No, maybe not.” Mary patted her arm and took the plates away. “Maybe Marcus, or Amos. I like those.”
“Amos, Mom? You can’t do that to a kid.” Ann laughed and placed forks and knives in the sink to rinse. “That’s a terrible name.”
“It’s a little old-fashioned, but I can’t name him Ann, or Hans. That would be worse. Amos is at least an A-name. I’d like to name him with you in mind.” Mary looked sentimental as she walked back to the sink. “My first baby needs to be part of my next baby.”
“Then what about the girl’s name?” Ann was confused, but that seemed to be her perpetual state lately, so much so she was almost used to it now.
“I’ll name her Sarah for you and give her your name as a middle name.”
“Mom! That’s so sweet!” She was the one to lean over to kiss a cheek this time. “Thank you.”
“Well, I don’t want you to feel left out or unloved. It will be odd enough for you having a baby brother or sister as an adult.”
Ann didn’t add that she might have a baby of her own on the way. She’d come to ask for her mother’s guidance on the matter, and a few other things, but her mom’s news had changed her direction. She’d let her mom have this day, and talk to her about her own concerns later.
“I just want you both to be healthy, that’s all I care about. Oh, go see Meg at the hospital. She’s got a clinic and she’s reviving stuff at the hospital. She might even be able to take an ultrasound of the baby.” Which sparked her own idea. Maybe Meg would be able to do one on her? “Do you know how far you have to be to see the baby?”
“Around 6 weeks, I think. I was two months along when I saw you on a scan for the first time. They had to do the one that they put up in you though. I hate those, so disgusting.” Mary shivered, and then saw Ann’s face. “Right, you weren’t old enough for those when we went underground, and then you’ve not had any tests or anything. How do I explain this, Amanda?”
“It’s like a wand, they put it up, ahem, inside you, and have a look around from below.” Amanda’s cheeks were as red as her mom’s and Ann laughed a little at them.
“I don’t think I like the sound of it either. It sounds invasive!”
“It is, but it does the job.”
“I’m almost glad I’ve missed all of that,” Ann said and let the soapy water drain from the sink. She doubted she was far enough along to have a normal ultrasound if you had to be that far along to see the baby. That wouldn’t tell her anything then. Unless Meg had that device her mom mentioned. As far as she knew, it was the normal version of an ultrasound. She’d had one done on her stomach once when she was a child and had a very bad infection, so she was familiar with them.
“I would say you should be, but those exams are good to have, or were. They caught a lot of cancer and other problems women have,” Mary said softly, and looked at Amanda. “It�
��s not all roses, without our technology.”
“No, it’s not, but we’re working on it,” Ann told them, and leaned back against the sink, the dishes done. “We’re trying to find out what women need, in one of my groups. What kind of care we need that isn’t being provided. You’ve just told me one of those services.”
“Good. I’m glad to hear that,” Mary said and sat down again. “We’ll need them, even if there’s not a lot we can do about them.”
“What about those health scanners they used on us when they took us on the ships?” Amanda said and both Mary and Ann looked at her. “Don’t you remember? They scanned us to check to see if we were healthy or not? I bet they have stuff up there we’d give an arm and a leg for down here.”
Ann’s eyes widened as she remembered that day. “They did scan us with something, didn’t they? I’ll talk to Rager about it.”
That might just be the perfect way to find out if she was pregnant or not for sure. “In fact, I’m going to head home and see if I can get in touch with him. I think we could use that scanner sooner rather than later, don’t you?” Ann kissed each woman on the cheek and started to leave. She paused before she made it to the kitchen door. “If I get hold of one, I’ll let you know. You can come over and we’ll check you over, shall we?”
“Of course, Ann. Love you, baby, and thanks for helping.”
Ann waved and almost ran to the door. She heard her guard behind her and waited for him to climb into the transporter before she started it. The drive home was quick, but she felt as if it took far too long. She tried to call Rager, but he didn’t answer. It was early afternoon, he was probably in meetings, but she finally left him a message and asked him to call her back. She added the word urgent and hoped that would get his attention.
His to Mate Page 11
