“These are Mirrillions, or what human beings might refer to as firestones. They will not emit any smoke or light while they burn. One stone should keep a twenty square foot area warm for at least twenty standard earth hours.”
Indeed, although the pebble had turned red at the alien’s touch, now it just sat there, a dull gray, and emitted so much heat that the humans in the room backed away in discomfort.
Steve Zakar spoke: “Would it be all right if I take this out to the living room? It’s been hard keeping this house warm.”
“Certainly, Steve Zakar, do everything you can now to stay warm,” Auntie said.
Uncle continued to speak: “You must move into one shelter. The large building…the barn should suffice. The Mirrillions will help to keep you warm, without alerting others to your presence. We are aware of the people outside of your perimeter fencing who want what you have. The cold will affect their plans, however. We calculate that they will not be able to function properly and will seek shelter to survive, before they plan another attack on your property.”
Uncle looked at each human in the room and said, “We are more concerned about the Urkuli and Dizoramulan fleets. They have harvested as much as they can from the urban areas and are now moving north. Our instruments tell us that this particular area is low in magnetic content; however, in these final days, the harvesters might try to extract even minimal amounts before they depart.
“Stay hidden, stay warm and well fed. Events are moving swiftly now, and my partner and I have done as much, if not more, than we can do to help you. The rest is up to you. Now, we must be going.” Uncle stood up, extending a hand to his companion. It occurred to me, suddenly, that the Tatularians were elderly. Auntie let out a rather human sounding woof of discomfort as she struggled up and out of her chair.
I couldn’t help myself. “Are you elderly? Are you married?” I wished I could pull the words back into my mouth the minute I uttered them, but the Tats glanced at one another, and back at me. Their joy in one another was plain to see, as Uncle bowed slightly, and said, “Indeed, this is my life partner…my wife. And yes, we are old, even amongst our people. We have been tabulating the timelines for over 300 years, since we were both very young.”
I nodded my thanks, and followed the Tats and their escorts out of the room. Many people had crowded into the house and stood staring at the aliens as they said their farewells. There was a flurry of hugs and tears. I saw Auntie take Naomi aside, and heard her murmur, “Take good care of Michael Anderson, child. I can see that he loves you, and you return his feelings. Love is never wasted, even during times of crisis like these.”
Tears ran down the girl’s face as she bent over to hug the little alien female. Then, at a high pitched whistle from her partner, Auntie stepped back and said, “Yes, we’ll be leaving now.”
With those words, the aliens left the house, boarded their ship, and flew away into the cold early evening dusk.
Chapter 32
To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heavens. Ecclesiastes-Ch. 3 vs. 1-8
Naomi – The End Event
The old woman was growing tired now. The audience could sense it in the way her shoulders drooped and in her son’s demeanor. Many knew, however, that the end of the story was drawing nigh, and that Naomi would not stop until the last word was spoken. The story was for the children; it always had been, and now, it was for what was left of the human race.
Josh poured his mother a glass of water, and parents reached down to calm their restless kids. A few moments passed, and then Naomi cleared her throat and began to speak.
“Sure enough,” she said, “within days of the Tatularians departure, the shield vanished. One minute it was there, stalwart and invisible, the next minute it grew opaque, stretched and tore away, with a loud popping noise, like bubble gum being snapped.” She shook her head. “It is amazing what we humans will take advantage of, take for granted, if you let us. The dome was an absolutely amazing piece of alien technology, and yet we acted as though it was there at our leisure. More than once, I heard Harmony members complain about the protective bubble that kept us safe. It was dirty, it blocked what little sunshine there was, it was weird!”
Naomi stared out over the audience, as many people shuffled their feet nervously, exchanging guilty glances. She grinned, adding, “Once, I saw Randy strike a match on it to light his peace pipe!” She glared at the old hippie for a moment, and then she giggled. “I used to tie my boot laces on it!” she laughed. The audience roared its approval, and Naomi sat back in her chair with a smile. “Well, we sure missed it when it was gone, didn’t we? I felt like a turtle with its shell torn off. The skies suddenly seemed much closer, the ash much thicker, the silence…well, it was the silence that got to me the most.” She sighed.
“Have you ever noticed how quiet the birds used to get in the dead of winter? Granted, many birds used to fly south for the winter. But the ones who were unwilling or unable to make the trek, like the little gray wrens my mom used to feed every winter, usually made their way silently during the cold and the snow, anxious not to draw attention to themselves. It was as though they knew that the slightest peep might alert their enemies to their shrouded presence. Yet you could hear their soft squeaks, and rustling feathers as they flew back and forth from their nests.” She shrugged. “It was the blue-jays and the camp-robbers that I missed the most, oddly enough. They were raucous in their mission to find food. I used to hate them! They would fly onto the back porch and steal the dog and cat food out of their bowls. In the summer months, they would peck the crust off any pie my mom set on the window seal. Now they were gone, and I missed them.
“The crows were missing, as well. Loud, obnoxious scavengers that they were, I missed hearing their querulous squarcks, as they hunted for mice and tore chunks of meat from the carcasses of less fortunate animals.
“Now the air rang with an unearthly silence. I heard no crows, no dogs barking in the distance, no call from a flying arrow of southbound geese. The sky above was as inanimate as the metal side of a battleship: gray, silent, cold.
“I was just as cold inside as out. A day after the shield vanished, Zack and Steve came to me and said it was time to butcher the herd. I knew that the aliens had not lied to us. Within the last few days, the temperatures had dropped from a relatively balmy fourteen degrees Fahrenheit, to five degrees below zero. Most of us had already taken up residence in the barn. The Mirrillions were a marvel, but if you had to move away from them at all, the arctic cold wrapped its arms around you, and stole the very breath from your lungs.
“I knew the time had come. It was survival of the fittest now, and my father’s herd would be the key to our survival. Still, fresh tears of grief froze on my cheeks as I nodded, and volunteered to help.
“‘No, Naomi,’ Steve said, shaking his head, ‘Thank you, but this is going to be tough. No animal likes to see its herd mate being slaughtered, you know that. Normally I wouldn’t agree to this kind of thing, but we have no choice in the matter, do we? We are going to separate the animals as best we can. Zack will lead one group out, then Arthur and his boys, and finally me and my team. Maybe this way, the lead steers will not really know what’s going on, and panic the rest of the herd.’ He shook his head. “If there is a stampede or a mass panic, the meat will be ruined.’
“Zack spoke then, saying, ‘Naomi, we were thinking that maybe you could have an early story time…keep the kids distracted from what’s going on.’
“I nodded in gratitude, and walked inside to gather the kids together. First, I poked my head inside my parent’s room, and smiled at Michael. He looked much better, but I knew he was still as weak as a kitten. I told him what was going on and asked if he was well enough to play host to the Harmony children.
“He was silent for a moment, and said, ‘Come here, baby.’
“My heart skipped a beat. He had never used an endearment before now. I could sense that he was as nervous as
I was by the way he held his body and searched my face with his eyes. I walked over to the side of the bed and sat down. My heart hammered in my chest as I took his hands in mine. Then he whispered, ‘Kiss me, Nay.’
“The old woman started, and seemed to return from a place very far away as a whistle warbled through the air. There was a stir in the crowd, and whispered reprimands. Naomi pulled a handkerchief from her pocket, and said, ‘I’m sorry. I forgot where I was for a moment….’ She gave a small smile and continued with her story.
“‘Anyway, before too long every child on the Harmony ranch was enjoying a break in routine as I held story-time in the early afternoon, rather than before bed time as usual. It was hard for me to concentrate. Michael’s kiss still burned my lips, and I could hardly keep my eyes off his body, his face, his lips, his eyes, which smoldered now with more than love. Passion kindled sparks that seemed to arc back and forth between us, making my heart race, making it hard to breathe.
“Then shots rang out and I heard the startled scream of one of my father’s prize Herefords. The children jumped and cried out in fear. My trance was broken. I gathered the children close to me, and concentrated on Grimm’s Fairy Tales, reading louder and more eloquently than ever before in my life.
“Two weeks later the temperatures dropped another twenty degrees. It was either the 3rd or 4th of January, and it was now anywhere from twenty to thirty degrees below zero. I knew that we would all be dead, or dying, without the Mirrillions. A hundred and thirty nine people huddled together for warmth. The alien rocks kept our water from freezing and allowed us some privacy for the toilet, while the weather outside grew worse and worse.
“Clouds moved in and dirty, gray snow fell from the sky. Within days, the drifts were eight feet high. I stood shivering in the hayloft with my brother, Michael and Steve as we watched the tree-line for movement. We’d heard screams the night before, and wondered whether the aliens had underestimated Dwight Engle’s determination to take the ranch.
“I strained to see through the blowing ash and snow, and felt Michaels hand on my waist. I leaned into his body and tried to stay calm as I saw that dreadful silver cross move through the trees toward my home.
“‘They’re desperate,’ Steve grumbled through his beard. ‘They must have run out of food, or water. I don’t think Engle would have risked a battle in this weather, otherwise.’
“I heard the distinctive two-bell alarm. It seemed especially loud now, as it had been moved inside the barn. There were shouts rising up from below, and I knew that this was it. We would either die here today, or Engle’s army would. I gasped with fear. Michael’s arms held me close and I turned into him with a sob.”
Naomi stopped speaking momentarily, and a blush colored her cheeks. “A week earlier, Michael and I had consummated our love for one another. I won’t go into any details here….” The old woman winked to the delight of the audience. “Suffice it to say that it was everything I could have hoped for, and more. Much, much more….” Naomi trembled slightly with emotions held in check.
“It seemed to me that within minutes everyone on the Harmony ranch knew about our relationship, which was crazy, since we had snuck out in the night with a borrowed Mirrillion and a stolen blanket, hardly making a sound, even as the earth seemed to shake with the force of our passion for one another.
“Nevertheless, the next morning I was shaken awake by my brother, who told me to get up quick because there was a meeting underway and the people of the Harmony ranch needed me present. I ran my fingers through my hair and yawned, flushing with the remembered pleasure of Michael’s fingers on my body. I grimaced with distaste at the smell of my old coat, wrapped a quilt around myself and walked downstairs, wondering distractedly where everyone was. The barn was almost empty, and I grew alarmed. What’s happening? I thought, and ran outside in a panic.
“That’s when I saw Michael, standing tall and proud, surrounded by all the members of the Harmony ranch; Zack and Steve, Dr. Grossman and Steven by his side. Zack called out, ‘Come here to get hitched, Sis. We can’t have you two living in sin, now can we?’
“He grinned as everyone present started cheering. I met my lover’s eyes and he held his arms out to me. I ran to him, and after a short ceremony led by Andy Grossman, I found myself a married woman. There was no wedding cake or pretty, white gown, brides-maids, or bouquets, but, for a moment, I was the happiest woman in the world.
“Now, though, it was all coming to an end. I trembled as Michael said, ‘Hush, Nay. It’ll be okay.’ The Remi squirmed against me and I realized that I must be squishing it with my ardent embrace. Stepping back, I saw it poke up out of Michael’s pocket. Michael winced and held out his right hand. The Remi flew into Michael’s palm and disappeared. I saw the look of pain on my lover’s face, and wanted to yank the fierce little creature away from his body, but knew that it was here to help us, to defend us, and it would protect my husband with all its might.
“Zack whispered in my ear, ‘Give me a hug, Nay.’ I turned around and squeezed his neck as hard as I could and kissed his cheek.
“‘Be careful, Zack. I love you,’ I said. My heart broke at his beauty, and I didn’t know what I would do if he was killed in the hours to come.
“I knew, though, that chances were we would all be killed in the next few hours. Engle’s army was vast compared to ours. We no longer possessed the alien’s protective shield, and it was so cold I couldn’t even imagine pulling the trigger on one of our frozen weapons. Still, the time had come. I decided to go out fighting.
“Michael gave me one last, lingering kiss. Somehow, he managed to convey all his love, loyalty, commitment and passion in that kiss, and I clung to him for a moment after it ended. Then he stepped back and said, ‘It’s time, Nay. I would like it if you stayed back, away from harm, but I don’t know if it will matter in the long run. Just know that I love you with all of my heart.’
‘I nodded and said, ‘Love you, too,’ and then he was gone. I took the quilt off and walked up to the weapons cache. My friend Lori searched for a moment and found my deer rifle. She stepped close, gave me a quick hug, whispered, ‘God’s speed!’ and turned away to arm the next man in line.
“Four steps and I was outside in the freezing cold and swirling snow. I saw that Engle’s army was halted about fifty feet away from our fence. Michael, Zack, Steve, Dr. Andy and his partner Steven were facing the army with an air of expectation and menace. Fifty more men were arrayed behind my husband, weapons cocked and ready to fire. I walked up to join them, and then thought, no, my place is on the front line with my family.
“I moved to stand by my husband’s side. He didn’t wince, or protest; no one did, and I knew then that no one expected to survive this day. I felt a surge of love, pride, fear, and rage while the snow fell in dirty heaps on the ground, and my teeth began to chatter in my mouth.
“I saw something stir behind the front ranks of Engle’s army and stared through the snow to see what was approaching. It was a group of children. Engle stood amongst them and herded them toward us with soft words of encouragement. His men at arms walked on either side of the kids. Their machine guns were trained on the children’s bodies.
“An older woman kept pace with the children. Her poor face was black and blue, swollen with bruises and broken teeth. I could hear her gasping sobs. ‘No, Mr. Engle don’t, don’t do this evil thing, please!’
“One of Engle’s lieutenants, a huge man with wild, unkempt black hair, turned around and hit the woman across the face with the butt of his machine gun. She fell to the ground with a cry. Dwight Engle smiled and pushed the children forward. His eyes were on mine, and I heard Michael whisper, ‘No…no Naomi, look away!’
“Engle and the children had come to a stop about twenty feet away from where I stood. I watched, open-mouthed, as one of Engle’s soldiers stepped up, put a pistol to one of the kids head, and pulled the trigger.
“‘Nooooo!’ I cried, and sagged to the ground in shock a
nd disbelief. I stared as the big man, the beast who had hit that poor woman in the face, stepped up from the other side, aimed his machine gun and mowed two more children down in front of my eyes.
“‘No…stop!’ I howled with grief. ‘Stop, please. I surrender! Just…just don’t hurt any more of the kids, please!’
“Engle lifted a glove-covered hand and smiled. ‘Wait…what’s this I hear, boys? Did I just hear Naomi Adams say that she surrenders her ranch to the Angel’s Sword? Eh…I’m not sure I heard the words right.’
“I hated his mocking words and smug face. For a moment, I didn’t care if he killed every kid there was left in the world. I wanted him to die, and I wanted to be the one who killed him.
“Engle must have seen the murderous rage in my eyes, and sensed my hate, because he shrugged and gestured toward the children again. This time a dapper, little man stepped up and leveled his pistol at the head of a beautiful, blonde haired girl, who was about ten years old.
“‘No!’ I shouted. ‘I mean it! I surrender!’
“I heard Michael groan, and could feel my brother trembling by my side. I could never live with myself if I stood by and let one more child be harmed. I stepped forward, laid my rifle on the ground and held my hands in the air.
“Walking forward, hearing Michael wail in grief behind me, and seeing Dwight Engle grin in triumph before me, I saw the woman—the woman I know now to be Lydia Spence—get up off the ground, and with a mighty roar of rage, run forward. She charged the big, black haired man, bowling him over in rage and defiance. Then she bent at the waist, somehow managing to scoop four of the five children up into her arms, and started running toward the ranch.
“I seized the moment, and rocked sideways as bullets flew through the air. I grabbed the little blond girl and spun around to run back home. I saw that the woman had collapsed at the feet of my own soldiers and most of the children were being herded to the back of the ranks. I grinned as I saw Michael lift his hand and saw that the Remi was firing red-hot.
Story Time Page 23
