“You said pockets of people were scattered to all corners?” She nodded. “We should start in China and work our way around the globe. It’s the fastest route.” Eve nodded again.
“So let’s go.” He took her hand, pulling her close. The snow stirred about at their feet, funneling upwards and bursting outward. Before the flakes settled back to the ground, the pair had touched down on Chinese soil.
32 Paru
Six Months Later
Zack sat on the front porch of the place he, Colin and his newborn daughter Madison now called home. A simple one-story white adobe structure, with a slanted roof and a covered porch. Nothing fancy to look at, that was for sure. The houses that lined both sides of the street and the next were all the same, as were the seven hundred and eighty houses that made up the town. Etched into his door was a symbol representing the number one. Ed and family, who lived to Zack’s right, had a symbol representing the number two. Kyle, Ada and McKenna were number three, and so on. All of the bunker group lived in this neighborhood on the same side of the street.
Across from the Londergan’s, resided Mr. and Mrs. Takaki, a thirtyish aged couple from Japan. Two Korean brothers lived with them, ages twelve and fourteen. No relation to the couple, but Mrs. Takaki never had children and the boys were orphaned. The Takaki’s weren’t the only mixed family living on Paru. Many adults who’d lost children or wanted children, were eager to adopt those who’d lost parents. No one cared about race. Zack had been surprised at the number of children who survived. He’d expected the count to be much lower, but it wasn’t low and continued to rise. Apparently after arriving on Paru, everyone wanted to make up for lost time. He knew of fifteen women who were pregnant and suspected more would be before the end of the year when the population control rule went into effect.
The neighborhoods were divided by streets made of sand colored stones of all shapes and sizes. Not rough cobble stones, but an even surface, like unpolished granite. Trees resembling palms lined the street on both sides. In the center of town was a community center that also served as the town hall. A few blocks further, was the medical facility surrounded by a beautiful park. All things needed and none customary. On the outskirts were the farms where their food was cultivated. The farms were overseen by the Svan. A sight to behold in itself and one that always made Zack think of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. No sir, they were most definitely not in Kansas any longer.
Zack stood up and stretched. He glanced towards the end of the street, as he did every day, making sure the portal was still floating in mid-air. The last group of survivors had arrived two weeks prior. One of them had handed Zack a note from Austin. On it he’d scribbled May sixteenth. That was it, May sixteenth. This date held no special meaning that he knew, other than it had already past, but that’s what the note had said. Maybe Paru was ahead of Earth by a month, being that June sixteenth was less than two weeks away. In any case, Zack planned to be planted on his porch on June sixteenth. Just in case something happened or his friend decided to drop in for an overdue visit, a long overdue visit.
In the meantime, he had three deliveries to make today. Anita Chavez, Gertrude Heinrich, and Jaclyn Froste. All three were having girls. Zack went inside to grab his uniform and to check on Madison. Jenny would be over soon to watch her while he went off to do doctor things. Right on queue he heard the knock on the door and went to let Jenny in.
“How’s my baby girl today?” Jenny asked when Zack opened the door.
“Sweet as a Georgia peach.”
“You doing a twelve hour shift?”
“Probably. There are several deliveries due and they all requested me.” He was one of only four doctors on Paru, along with twenty-seven qualified staff who performed various medical type duties and another thirty or so floaters who came and went as needed or as they pleased.
“Imagine that,” Jenny said with a knowing smile. “And the nurses?”
Zack shook his head and put up his hands. “I’m a dad now. Gotta be responsible. No time to play.”
“Well don’t become too grown-up.” She kissed him on the cheek and sent him on his way.
The facility was about a mile away or fifteen minutes on foot. On foot happened to be the only mode of travel allowed, by Adita rule. Zack didn’t mind the walk, it gave him time to think, to enjoy the peace and quiet. As he walked he couldn’t help marveling over his surroundings. Not because they were grandiose, quite the opposite. The house designs were simple and pleasing to the eye, but all the same. Aside from the number, each house looked exactly like the next. Same door, same porch, even the same number of walking stones leading to the same number of steps. On the inside, the floor plans were exactly the same, two to three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a common area and a kitchen. He could walk in any house and know, unerringly, where each was located.
He certainly had to give props to the Elders. When he’d opened the pod door expecting to be sitting in the middle of nowhere, possibly about to be plowed down by prehistoric looking beasts, he couldn’t have been more surprised. Yes sir. They’d seen to everything. Their concerns over not having all the necessary comforts vanquished upon entering their new homes. Indoor plumbing, lights, refrigerators; the homes were fully equipped. He’d been shocked to hell and back when he found out the town ran a system similar to what he’d designed for the bunker. The Elders had taken to modifying the design with a few minor improvements. But of course, Zack remembered thinking when they told him. Yes sir, he repeated to himself one more time. The Elders had taken care of everything. Not one detail had been overlooked. A nervous quiver threatened, but he straightened his spine and shrugged it away. Life was as good or good enough and he didn’t want to rock the boat by thinking things over too much.
Sattya and two Svan, had been the welcoming committee. Zack and the others didn’t know it then, but that little reception would be the one and only time an Elder would step foot in their town. And although the Svan went through great measures to not frighten anyone, they were daunting creatures none the less. Over the weeks he’d become accustomed to seeing them patrolling on the edge of the town and on occasion walking the streets at night. It was a bit of a mind fuck trying to grapple with the fact the very species responsible for wiping out almost the entire human race, now lived amongst them as their protectors. Eve had tried to explain by saying they had only been following orders. Did that make it ok? He didn’t think so. Did that excuse work for the Nazi war criminals? Not in his book. Should it work for the Svan? No, not really, but at least for now they were more interested in protecting humans, than ripping them apart. Zack tried not to think about the morality of it all. Besides, what was he going to do? Wage war against a superior being? He thought not.
The medical facility was up ahead. He could see it now, towering over the tree tops. Many discussions centered around this building and for various reasons, some more than others and one more than all. At fifteen stories, it was the tallest structure in town, the equipment was the most advanced anyone had ever seen. The facility was top notch, which made learning his job easy. These were topics covered repeatedly, exhaustively, but were not the top topic. Not the utmost topic, the one rousing people’s curiosity, the one raising their anxiety levels. This subject matter had to do with what took place on the top three floors of the medical building. On these floors was where they came to give blood, they as in the humans. All day long, every day of the week, except the last Sunday of the month.
Each day of the week groups of people, ages five and up, came to the medical facility to donate. This part of their deal weighed heavy on his mind. He’d expected to give samples every couple of months, not every damn day. And after one week Zack was floored by the discovery that every human on Paru was O negative. So the question of what the Elders were doing with the donations kept him awake, kept feeding that nervous feeling that something wasn’t quite right in Paruville.
At the end of each week, on Sunday afternoon, the same two Svan would collect the sa
mples. Zack being Zack had managed to befriend the collectors, Shaud and Jy, who he convinced to teach him to speak Svan. Zack always worked the weekend shifts, being he was the only non-religious doctor on staff. That the others chose to continue worshipping their gods baffled him, but who was he to question, to judge. Blind faith was something he’d been born without and would probably never understand, despite the numerous philosophical conversations he and Ed had on the subject of religion and in more particular, of the Almighty.
Zack stopped to chat with Jeremy, who worked part time at the facility. Since everything in Paruville was free, no one had to work, but the peculiar thing being, everyone wanted to work. Everyone wanted to be busy, to feel important, to feel needed, anmd to once again have a purpose in life. Part of the desire to work stemmed from the need to have a return to normality. For those who weren’t part of the original bunker group, the test subjects as Zack referred to their group, coping with this new reality turned out to be more difficult than expected. He made a mental note to discuss this with Austin when he arrived, thinking perhaps Eve could work her magic on those who needed it the most.
Zack greeted Riri, the young nurse who usually assisted him in the deliveries. Once upon a time she’d been a pop music singer. She was a native of Brazil, in her mid-twenties, gorgeous, full of spunk and had a crush on Zack. The old Zack, the pre-Madison Zack, would have already had her in and out of his bed, but those days were well behind him. He was happy to have her on staff and that was as far as his feelings went. The patients liked her, which was a plus. When she worked the night shift, they were treated to her singing as she walked performed her rounds. He guessed she missed the life. At least on Paru she didn’t have to worry about paparazzi stalkers. But maybe she missed them as well. Zack came to a closed door and switched into doctor mode before knocking and entering the room. “Good morning Mrs. Chavez. Mr. Chavez. How are we feeling today?” he asked, using impeccable Spanish.
***
In the glass room on top of the jungle, Sattya sat alone at the table, his gaze directed out towards the ocean, his mind in a distant place. Matri entered and sat across from Sattya. She knew where he’d gone and why. The why being the reason for the rigidity in her posture. She waited in silence for his return. After a few minutes Sattya blinked and turned to Matri, his expression solemn.
“Eve has made her choice,” he said.
Matri dipped her head down and then up in a slow nod. “And the captain?”
“He will follow Eve wherever she leads him.”
“I think you underestimate him dear.”
“While his human side is in control, I do not think there’s risk he will surprise us.”
“And of our word given to the humans?”
“Our word is to honor the Adita creed, no other promise or covenant can come before this. We must do the right thing for us Matri. The Elders demand it. Our people demand it. Our future is dependent on it.”
“Are we doing the right thing?” she challenged. “What if we’re wrong?”
“We aren’t wrong. We must protect our way of life--”
“By all and any means necessary,” she finished for him. “Yes, I am quite familiar with the Adita laws. I helped write them. But laws can be changed. Are we not more advanced? Are we so backward that we can’t change antediluvian rules?”
“You know it’s not that simple.” He walked over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. “What can I say that will ease your mind? Tell me and I will say it.”
Matri laid her hand over his. “Say you will find another way.” She turned in her chair and looked up at him. “Can you say that to me? If you can and you speak with truth, my mind will be at ease.”
Sattya looked down into her face, but said nothing for he could not say it in truth. Matri brushed his hand away, stood up, and walked over to the window. If by her beckoning, storm clouds thick and ominous formed on the horizon. Bolts of lightning crisscrossed the sky, electrifying the atmosphere.
“There’s a storm coming Sattya. And this time I don’t think the Elders will be able to control the outcome.” Sattya reached for her hand, but she pulled away. “We should allow the council more time to debate the merits of such a tremendous endeavor as war.”
“Wars can’t be fought in comfort. They are not meant for the thoughts and meanderings of scholars as such that fill our council. If one is to wage war, then one must do so, and do so with passion and the commitment to dominate your enemy. Not the desire to win, no. Anyone can desire things. Humans desire things. Victory is not achieved by desires or wishes or whims. Sitting about in comfort, discussing the merits of war has no place in fighting a war. Wars are fought on the battle field. You cannot have one foot in and one out. You must commit both feet. You must drink the blood of your enemy to claim victory.”
“War is not a brutish battle alone, fought by savages, as you make it sound,” Matri argued.
“Ah, but you are wrong!” he exclaimed. “War is precisely brutal and those savages fighting are brutes in mind and body. But superb intelligence also guides the savage warrior, and the wisdoms they follow are not in the nature of those belonging to the meek and mild mannered. To those intellects who debate war while maintaining their own personal comfort. Warriors are brutally intelligent, not comfortably wise. Do you understand the difference?”
“I do not need a lesson on war nor on words from you. I understand quite well how wars are won.”
“A war of words my dear is quite different than a war of power and brutality. Words can be debated, heatedly even while maintaining one’s contented position, in the comfort of a chair or your lover’s arms,” he paused and Matri stiffened. “Don’t bristle love. I know of your desires and do not hold blame. It was I who failed you. I hold no ill will against those who stepped in to do that which I have not. No dear, your desires of the flesh do not nibble away at my mind, they do not advise of caution, or warn of being wary.”
“What of my thoughts causes you caution or otherwise to think you need to be wary?”
“Your loyalties love. Do they sway back and forth or are they steady and sure.”
Matri did stiffen at his comment, for it bothered her more than him admitting he didn’t care that she found another’s embrace preferable to his. Her loyalties had never been in question and certainly not by Sattya. “My loyalties do not sway in the least. I have always been loyal to the Adita creed and always will.” Matri walked to the door and turned to face Sattya. “Be careful in your pursuits dear, for as comfort will, blindness can cripple the greatest of men.” She left him alone with his thoughts.
Sattya crossed his arms and turned back to the windows. Storms were always brewing, wars were always being waged, and sacrifices were always required. This was part of life. Matri had been too long away from the battle. The thrill of victory long forgotten, but not for him, for him the sweet taste lingered on, the longing deep in his spirit. Soon it would be the Adita’s time to rise, to conquer, to once again dominate the universes. In less than a fortnight the necessary steps would be taken, those actions that would guarantee their victory. Sattya glanced out to the horizon. The storm continued to brew, the clouds turning more sinister, the lightning’s long tentacles stretched out across the sky. For a split second, a minuscule shred of doubt flitted by. He waved his hand in front of his face as if swatting at a pesky insect. Life was and always would be about endurance, about power struggles, about conquering one’s enemy. He knew this. The Elders knew this. Soon Eve would know and understand the full implications of their edict. The wheels of this colossal machine had been set into motion long before the Elders had arrived at their decision and, even if he’d entertained the thought, he was powerless to stop the machine now.
Behind him Pala and two other Svan entered the room. Sattya turned to them and said, “It is time.”
“Do you want them all?” Pala asked.
“Leave the good doctor and his daughter behind for now.”
“As yo
u wish.” Pala nodded to Sattya and they left the room.
Excerpt from Part III
June Sixteenth
Colin kissed Charlie goodbye, jumped off the porch and headed down the street towards his house. He turned once to wave good-bye and she blew him a kiss. He almost ran back to get the real thing, but he’d promised Zack a hot breakfast, so he kept on walking. A look of disgust crossed his face thinking about his brother. Since moving to Paru Zack had become domesticated and it was driving Colin insane. Zack as his brother was hard to live with at times, but Zack acting like his parent was downright excruciating almost all of the time. At least the medical facility and the other doctors kept Zack busy. A captive audience his brother could bend and twist words with, which in turn allowed Colin peace for ten to twelve hours each day.
A strong breeze blew some leaves down the street and onto the lawns. If he had a rake, he would have been more than happy to put it to use, but alas those things weren’t needed on Paru. The Elders took care of everything. Tomorrow the leaves would be gone. Poof! Like a magic trick. Colin paused at his walkway and glanced down the street towards the portal, wondering again what would happen if he dove into the murky center. The wind gusted again, this time accompanied by a rumble of thunder. He looked to the sky, but saw not a cloud anywhere.
“Must be out on the ocean,” he said out loud, but not too loud. He didn’t care what Zack or the others thought about Paru, he thought the place creepy.
A large object flying above cast a shadow over the ground, blocking out the sun for a brief moment. Colin shielded his eyes, but couldn’t see the culprit. He shrugged and went inside to make breakfast.
***
Across town Zack handed Cathy Fox a bouncing baby girl. Young Fox was the fifth girl delivered in the week and he was worried. What were the odds of not having a boy after fifty-two deliveries? Three more were due at the end of the week, all were having girls. It defied reason, and after discussing this with the other doctors, they’d decided to run tests. Which tests to run, they hadn’t determined.
The Harvest (Book 2): Eve of Man Page 35
