by Thom Reese
“I’ve been meaning to ask you about that. You own the mine.”
“I and two other financially secure reyaqc.”
“But, you don’t support the existence of packs. You think the idea outdated, that it hinders the intellectual and emotional growth of the reyaqc.”
Donald attempted a grin, though he knew this gesture irritated the woman. “Sometimes in the interest of a greater good, we are party to things we find adverse to our sympathies.” He paused. “Have you heard news from Charles?”
Julia kissed her child on the forehead and then responded. “Yes. Your connections at the state level were a great help. He had the rogue declared mentally unstable and unfit to stand trial. He’ll be transferred to a mental facility within forty-eight hours.”
“Very good. We’ll have better access to him this way. Perhaps we can even affect an escape before his true nature is realized.”
“Charles was reluctant to become involved.” Julia smiled as the baby burped and then cooed.
“He had already involved himself prior to my making his acquaintance. But by maintaining his pretext as the rogue’s attorney, he was able to avoid inevitable disciplinary action, possibly even disbarment.”
“He became involved in order to rescue me—from you.” She added the last with a broad grin.
“And, I suppose his continued involvement is meant to win your favor.”
Julia’s grin faded. She dropped her gaze, now stroking the child’s head.
“I won’t pry,” said Donald.
Julia expelled breath in a long sigh. “Maybe I’d feel better if someone did pry. It seems everyone’s afraid to touch the subject—except Charles, of course.”
“And?”
“I don’t know. I’ve got a child now. A child that has very specific and specialized needs. One of the reasons Charles left was because he was tired of waiting for me to decide to have children. But this isn’t the type of child he wanted. He’s still very cautious about the reyaqc.”
“Of course. And how do you now feel about the reyaqc?”
Julia chuckled. “I’m the adoptive mother of one. What choice do I have?”
“You could give the child to a reyaqc female. She would be raised with care.”
Julia shook her head. “No. Not an option.”
“Your promise to the birth mother?”
“Yes… No. More than that.” She gazed at the child with a tenderness that went beyond words.
“You love the child,” offered Donald. “And in doing so, you’ve decided to remain here among the reyaqc, regardless of the consequences to your personal and professional life.”
Julia nodded. “I suppose I’ll figure it all out as I go along.” She readjusted the child, resting the infant’s head on her left shoulder. “It will either work out with Charles or it won’t. I guess he’ll always be a part of my life, but I’m in the process of change. Maybe the change will draw us back together, maybe not.” She turned her full attention to Donald and he knew she had something on her mind. “I’m not the only one facing change,” she said.
“No. I suppose not.”
“You took a sabbatical from the university, but you’re not comfortable here, not as a chieftain.”
Donald gazed out upon the devastated community below. “Like you, I’ve had responsibility thrust upon me. And like you, I refuse to run from it.”
“But?”
Donald hesitated before speaking. Did he really wish to share his inner struggles with this young woman? Was he comfortable with that level of honesty? Yes, he decided. He supposed it best that he did. His wife was still in Boston and would not be joining him to live within the pack. He was chieftain here. Chieftains didn’t share their problems with their followers. It caused concern among the ranks, lack of confidence. Julia wouldn’t harbor such notions. Turning to face her directly, he said, “Through my writings, through my research, I’ve tried to offer the reyaqc something better, something more in keeping with the true greatness that I know lies within. There are many reyaqc who live as I have among human society. But many more are savage. They have no desire to learn, to grow. With our numbers so few, and with human population growing and technologies advancing, it’s only a matter of time before we are discovered by society as a whole. I feel the burden of our survival as a species.”
Julia paused for several seconds before responding. “Donald, a leader can’t save his people. Though, God knows if you listen to campaign speeches, they all seem to think they can. But in reality, the best they can do is to offer structure and direction. In the end, each of us, either reyaqc or human, is responsible for our own destiny.”
Donald smiled, a true smile, not one fabricated to mimic that of a human. “You’re trying to free me of my burden.”
“It’s not your burden, Donald. It never was.”
ABOUT AUTHOR THOM REESE
Thom Reese is the author of the novels, The Empty, The Demon Baqash, Dead Man’s Fire, and Chasing Kelvin, along with the short story collection, 13 Bodies: Seven Tales of Murder & Madness. Thom was the sole writer and co-producer of the weekly audio drama radio program, 21st Century Audio Theatre. Fourteen of these dramas have since been published in four collections. A native of the Chicago area, Thom currently makes his home in Las Vegas.
