After the water works seemed to slow, she pulled out a perfumed handkerchief and used it to mop the girl's face and eyes. “Now that's over and done with, what's going on?” she asked, trying to keep her voice light.
“It's grandpa. He... he... he died.”
“Grandpa?”
“Yes. They said it was a heart attack. He didn't make it to the infirmary.”
“Oh I'm sorry sweety,” Annie said, at a loss for words. She'd been away when her family had passed. She'd taken the news as a cowgirl, she'd nodded, distance and time had made grieving seem silly. Her dad had taught her, cowgirls cry when there's time, when the animals need you, their ain't no time.
She stroked the girl's hair, finger coming it. Jane smiled a wan smile. “Mom and Dad are with Michael. Everyone's so proud of me for being brave. I just couldn't take it, hear them saying that, over and over and over...”
“It's okay to grieve. Death is a part of life. Your grandpa would have wanted you to be human. I never got the chance,” Annie murmured, voice catching a bit.
“I'm sorry to bother you...”
“No, it's okay youngin, it's fine. Fine and dandy,” Annie said, letting the girl up. “I don't mean to sound so gruff.”
“I know. It just hit me.”
“Sometimes things do.”
“What were you doing? Do you need a hand?”
“As it happens, I could use a hand, if you are up to it. I've got to get some more hay bales for the bottomless pits.”
“I'll help,” Jane said, smiling.
“You sure?”
“Like grandpa said, keep your mind on the job. Keeping busy will make me feel a little better.”
“My dad said something similar. Come on then, let's get it done,” Annie said, slapping her thighs as they got up.
...*...*...*...*...
The funeral for George Darling was brief, his body was sent to the reclamation and recycling plant in the bowls of the ship as tradition and practicality of being a spacer dictated. After the short ceremony his friends and family gathered for a brief memorial service in the multipurpose room. Annie put in an appearance at Jane's request, but quickly made her departure when she got the odd semi-hostile glance from some of the crew. As she was leaving Jane detached herself from her father's side to go over and thank the cowgirl.
“It's okay,” Annie replied, hugging the girl back. “You're okay?” she asked, ruffling the girl's hair.
“I've been better,” Jane said. She didn't look like she'd been crying when she looked up to Annie's face. There was acceptance there, that and a bit more maturity. Annie nodded.
“See what a good day's work will do for you? Make you so tired you'll sleep no matter what,” Annie said.
“There is that,” Jane chuckled. She like everyone else had put on their 'Sunday best'. She liked Annie's vest and thin necktie with its silver buckle. Jane nodded to Michael and his new girlfriend as they came over.
“What are you doing here?” the girlfriend asked with a frosty tone. Annie gave her a long look. She was one of the spacers, an assistant gardner who had apparently had her eyes on Michael for some time.
“Just leaving actually,” Annie said, keeping her voice level as she felt the girl at her side stiffen in outrage.
“She's here at my invitation. Unlike some people,” Jane said, eyes flashing.
“Easy kiddo,” Michael said. “Let's not fight,” he said, looking over to Wendy. Wendy frowned, but couldn't disengage herself from the people she was with.
“As I said, I'll be going, I've got feeding to do,” Annie said with a nod to Jane. She ruffled the girl's curly locks. “I'll be seeing you kiddo,” she said.
“Thanks for coming by,” Jane said.
“Yes, thanks,” Michael said gruffly, nodding to Annie. The woman at his side sniffed and turned away. Annie shook her head and showed herself out.
...*...*...*...*...
While mucking out the herd one afternoon two weeks after George Darling's funeral, Annie was kicked by a calf and suffered internal injuries. She was doubled over, wary of falling for some time, just trying to work through the pain. If she fell she knew she'd be trampled so she tried to breathe through the pain. She made it to the outer edge of the compartment, then leaned against it until she got to the gate. She sat down, taking a tearing breath as she fought back sobs and got her breath and equilibrium back.
It hurt like hell, she felt her side. The kick had hit her low, between her hip and rib cage. She was glad she didn't have any broken bones, had that been a bit lower it would have shattered her hip. A bit higher and she would have broken ribs that would have speared her lungs. Carefully, her quizzical fingers felt the tender edges of the massive bruise. She sucked in a breath at the pain though, and the livid bruise already forming into an ominous black mark the size of a dinner plate. She waved off Jane's concern and got to her feet.
“Are you sure you are okay? Annie, go to sickbay!” Jane urged as the cowgirl brushed her shirt back down.
“No,” Annie ground out between gritted teeth. She sat down again, almost fell, and took out her canteen. She fumbled the lid off and took a pull. Whiskey burned the back of her throat, but some of the pain ebbed. She took another swig then capped the canteen and set it aside. She needed to stay sober to keep a keen head.
She worked through the pain, favoring her side, ignoring the look of concern from her young helper. “Kid, the work don't stop just because you're hurting. These need tending to. They need food and water, same as we do.” She hid a gasp of pain as she turned the wrong way. She looked again, she had a massive bruise on the right side of her abdomen that just seemed to be getting bigger. “Well hell, don't that beat all,” she grimaced, dropping the shirt back down once more.
She worked through feeding, doing her best to put the pain out of her mind. “Are you mad at them?” her helper asked carefully when she noted the usual affable Annie was a bit short tempered.
Annie shook her head. “Hell, no, I'm not. Not their fault. He just lashed out and I was near. He's scared.” She coughed, hid a grimace and wiped blood on her handkerchief. She wiped her mouth and then mumbled something about must of bit her lip.
She finished up, sweating and tired nearly an hour later. “I reckon I'm for bed, I'm plumb tuckered out. Be seeing you around feeding time tomorrow morning kid,” she told her helper and waved. She walked stiffly off. She brushed the corridor wall with elbow, being careful to hug the wall to dodge running kids. She winced at the pain in side. She wiped the sweat off her brow, breathing shallow. She might have bruised her gut, her abdominal muscles, that might be why it was so painful. She entered her quarters and sat on her bunk. She hissed as she bent to pull her boots off, then kicked them off. Woozy she laid down and was immediately out.
...*...*...*...*...
Her helper was worried the next morning when she didn't show for the morning feeding. Worried Jane called, but Annie didn't answer. Now really worried, Jane put in a call to the XO.
“Are you sure?” the high elf asked. She had to remind herself Jane Darling was a good kid, she didn't cry wolf.
Jane shook her head. “I'm not sure about anything, but it's not like her to miss out on the job. She's never missed a day. Can you look into it? I'm covering for her, but I don't know, I feel... wrong about all this. She might have been hurt more than she let on.”
“Hurt?”
“Yeah, she was kicked yesterday. She refused to go to the infirmary though.”
“All right,” the high elf said. “I'm near her quarters, I'll take a look.”
The high elf found the woman in her quarters. She brushed her hand over the woman's sweaty temple. She was running a high fever, clutching at her right side. She looked, slowly pulling the shirt up to see the massive black bruise. She turned and called the medic.
Annie was out as they carried her litter to the infirmary. Once she was there she was immediately scanned and the news was grim. Her internal organs were ruptur
ed, spleen, pancreas... there was internal bleeding as well. The medic did what he could, but he knew the damage was too extensive, and it had been hours old. “Damn it! If she'd come to me sooner! When it had happened! I could have done something maybe! Caught it in time!” he wailed. The XO patted him on the shoulder.
Annie woke slowly, sleepily aware she should be feeling something wrong but wasn't able to pinpoint quite what. Her eyes fluttered, finally she came too in the sickbay. She looked up blearily, then gasped as she tried to move. A helping hand pushed her back down. “Lay back, rest,” the voice of the nurse said. She laid in bed, confounded. After a moment the doctor came in.
“Annie, I'm sorry. You've taken a hard hit. A very hard hit.” His face told her it was bad. The doctor gravely told her the news, the damage was terminal. Unfortunately they didn't have an available stasis pod for her either.
“Nonsense doc, I've been kicked by worse.”
“You aren't feeling pain because we gave you pain killers,” the medic explained. The medic showed her images of her torn up insides. “Quick heal can't do anything about this. I've tried. I tried patching you up, but there are bleeds all over the place. I pulled your spleen. Your liver ruptured too. I did what I could, but I don't have the replacement organs. We've got some donor plasma and blood in you, but...” he shrugged helplessly.
“How long doc?” Annie said, sounding delirious. It was hard to think, to concentrate. She should feel something, upset about it, but for some reason it didn't bother her. She wasn't sure if it was the drugs or not.
“I don't know. A day at most. I'm sorry,” he said. “If you hadn't been so hard headed,” he said shaking his head.
“I know doc. It's the New Texas way,” she said roughly as he squeezed her hand. She tried to squeeze back and was dismayed that she couldn't. Her arms and legs were already feeling numb, the blood in her body was pooling in her abdomen away from her extremities.
“Is there anything I can do miss?” he asked roughly.
“Not a blessed thing right now. Except maybe get me a steak and a beer later,” she said with a wan smile.
The medic chuckled. “Well, it's breakfast, but I'll see if Cookie can oblige ma'am,” he said, patting her hand again. She smiled another wane smile as he retreated. She let out a deep breath, glancing around to see her hat and boots nearby. She stared at them, feeling her vision waver.
Annie teared up, and then remembered what her daddy had told her, cowgirls didn't cry. Angrily she wiped at her eyes. Jane came in for a visit, hastily she cleaned her face. From the look on her face, Annie guessed she knew the news. She gave her hat and gear to Jane, putting the hat on the girl. She told the girl roughly to take care of them for her.
Jane cried, throwing herself into Annie's arms. Annie stroked the girl's hair, feeling her breath, feeling herself slipping away. Her fingers combed the girl's locks. She wished she could see the girl grow up. She wished she'd had kids of her own now. “Cowgirl's don't cry lass. It's life, it's a wild ride. Sometimes you get bucked. I don't blame the steer, you shouldn't either.”
Jane nodded, biting her lip. Her eyes shinned. Slowly she straightened and then put the cowgirl hat on. “Looks good on you,” the woman murmured, eyelids slowly closing. “Wear it in good health,” she said with a smile. The girl nodded. The cowgirl's eyes fluttered and then closed. She sighed, falling asleep.
Jane glanced at the hand on her shoulder. Doc was there. His face grim. “Let her rest Jane, that's all we can do for her now.” Jane nodded and walked away, forcing herself to not look back.
Annie slipped into a coma and died a few hours later. The ship held a brief service for her over the intercom as her body was laid to rest in the recycling plant. Jane stood there, listening to the service, holding her hat in her hands. She felt the felt, watched the striped feather twitch and fought the tears.
“Life goes on. We've got work to do,” a worker said. Someone hissed at him and nudged him, pointing to Jane. Jane took the hat and placed it on. She adjusted it just so. It would take some getting used to, but she'd wear it. She saw her mom bite her lip and turned away.
“No, he's right. It's what Annie would have wanted. The work don't stop just because you're in pain. And we've got work to do,” she said gruffly, turning to the animal pens. “Mucking out and feeding. Time to get back to work.”
Her mother watched her go, biting her lip. She looked at her husband. Both realized what had happened was a rite of passage, the death of a friend on top of George's death brought a new level of maturity out in their daughter. But also foretold an end to her innocence of youth. Her mother leaned into her husband's arms and cried softly. He patted her, hugging her for a long moment. “Come on,” he said gruffly. “She may not need our help, but the more hands, the faster it'll go.”
“All right,” she said softly as he steered her to the open hatch.
The End
From the logs of the Io 11
The following takes place from Fools Gold until just before Plague Planet.
Seti Alpha 4:
Io 11 made orbit of the planet Seti Alpha 4 after a short but uneventful journey from Pyrax. Even though it was a rather boring journey for the bridge crew, the engineering crew and some of the medical staff had their hands full arranging their surprise and keeping the doctor in the dark about it.
That was hard, Mindy was never good at secrets. Her mother kept the girl as busy and as far away from the doctor as possible. Which meant doing class work or babysitting in the crèche with Dorah Dita.
When they arrived they were greeted by a cold reception by the planetary radio network. However they had planned for it.
The crew arranged for the doctor's family to meet him at the space port without his knowledge. Despite all their careful planning and arranging, in his zeal the doctor got past the group and rushed home, where he found it empty. Dejected he returned to the port to find everyone there looking for him.
He frowned in puzzlement, scratching his head until a familiar scent caught his nose. He closed his eyes and turned. “Hi stranger,” a soft voice said close by. He opened his eyes and was surprised by his beautiful wife who grabbed him and kissed him soundly. “You're in so much trouble,” she teased, scolding him.
He chuckled. “I'll take any punishment you'll dish out, as long as it's you doing it,” he said, kissing her again.
“Deal,” she said, holding him close. She kissed him again, long and lovingly. That amused the crew who stopped and Ahed in appreciation.
When she finally let him up for air with a smile he turned, holding her hand. “Everyone, this is my wife Soline. Soline, the crew of the Io 11.”
“We've met,” Soline said with a chuckle. “While you slipped off we had a bit of a talk,” she said as a friend handed her a squirming toddler. She had to stop talking at the sound of turbines in the air. The baby wailed and she turned to coo at her. A shuttle came in, flaring it's flaps and dropping its landing gear. They shaded their eyes to watch it land.
A pair of forklifts sprang into action. Girls bustled about, mixing with the natives. He smiled, but then blinked when he saw the cargo hatch of the shuttle pop open and pallets of gear came out.
A forklift passed close by and he blinked at the medical cross stenciled on the plastic wrapping.
Nurse Mindy came out with her mom, she waved to some, then shyly ducked behind her mom when she noticed Soline and the doctor. For once the teenage nurse was tentative, shy. She toed the ground and apologized for taking the doctor.
“I'm going to take my time forgiving him for his part in it. But he's no worse for wear,” Soline said, eying her husband.
“You can check me over more thoroughly when we get home,” he teased.
She blushed. “Watch it, I plan on it,” she growled. He laughed softly.
Mindy and her mother cooed at the baby. “Isn't her red jumper so cute?” Mindy said, smiling and waving at the baby.
“What's going on? What's with all the gear?�
�� The doctor asked. “Specifically medical supplies?” he asked.
“They're for you young man,” a familiar gravelly voice said. The group turned to see the Captain come out of the building beside them. “For you for all your efforts on our behalf.”
“For me?” he asked bewildered, looking at the piles of equipment coming out of the shuttles and moving into a nearby wooden warehouse. There was quite a bit there, including an MRI scanner and some things that looked tantalizingly familiar. Not that he had any intention of looking at them now, with Soline and little Selina so close.
The Captain grunted softly, leaning on the cane in front of her with both hands. “It's our way of thanking you for what you did, and an apology. We can never make up for the time you've lost, but maybe this will help you and your people have a better future.”
“Thank you Captain.”
“You've more than earned it lad. Put it to good use for your family and your people,” the Captain said, tugging on her trademark shawl in discomfort. Giving away such material was a new experience for her.
“We've got so much for you! I've been ready to explode for weeks about the full hospital! A full planetary class hospital! Mister Admiral showed us how to do it and Mom helped!” The teenage nurse gushed excitedly.
The doctor raised an eyebrow. He knew they had been up to something, but this was the first he had heard of their plans. Obviously he had been distracted to have missed it.
The doctor's wife leaned closer to him as the girl squealed and capered about with teenage abandon. “You were with her all day every day?” she asked softly.
“Yes,” he sighed in exasperation.
“Oh honey, I'm so sorry,” she murmured, giggling in sympathetic dismay for his benefit. “You must have been ready to climb the walls,” she said in sympathy, shaking her head.
“It's good practice for when our little one gets older I suppose,” the doctor said and caught her chin. He stroked it with the tip of his thumb and then kissed her soundly.
She smiled. “Good answer,” she said, nuzzling into his arms.
13 Degrees of Separation Page 4
