“I will tell you, but,” he released her, “for now, you go to bed. We’ll let my mother direct our day tomorrow.”
“She’s lovely. They both are. I’m glad we told them the truth, keeping it a secret makes my life a lie.”
He kissed her again and opened the door, giving her a wicked grin as he filled up the doorway, making sure she had to squeeze her body past him.
In her room, Alice went to the window, the scent of the honeysuckle filled the night air and she breathed in the perfume. All of this was beyond her wildest dreams. Just the thought of him…the pressure of his mouth against her lips and throat.
The moon was high above the trees, so bright she couldn’t see the stars. She was glad. The stars would soon take him from her.
Noah went back into the parlour. His father was playing the piano—an accomplished musician, he continued to play as he acknowledged his son’s presence.
“Your mother won’t wake up when Puppy needs feeding. I thought to stay up until the first feed, probably the second as well if I can’t wake her,” he smiled. “So, how are you son?”
Noah nodded that he was good. Very good.
“And Dr Langley—Alice?”
Ben stopped playing when Noah hesitated and took a deep breath. He gave his son his full attention.
“Alice has a lot to do with how I feel, Dad.”
“I suspected.”
“Did Mother?”
Ben raised his eyebrows and grinned.
“What do you think? Until today, she believed you’re married to the Significator.”
“She’s right, at least until I met Alice. I encountered her a few times before I realised…well, what I realised.”
“How drawn to her you are?”
“Yes. I can’t recall ever being happier than when I’m in her company.”
“And Alice, does she like spending time with you?”
“Yes, she does. We’ve become…close.”
“Then why do I sense a dilemma.”
“Patrick’s in love with her. He’s very persistent. Dad, you know him. I thought she was maybe a passing interest, but now I’m not so sure. He’s on the Accessor right now.”
“The Accessor? Why? Don’t you need him?”
Noah shook his head as he remembered the part he played in Patrick taking off to supervise Engineer Oakes.
“Ahmed asked me for Engineer Oakes,” he admitted, “who also has A’khet knowledge, to oversee the establishment of Patrick’s upgraded Gravidarum. I was inclined to refuse, so close to us leaving, but it would mean the Accessor waiting until we got back from our assignment, Ahmed didn’t want that. Oakes could have handled it; the systems on the Accessor are far less complex than the Significators. I knew Patrick wouldn’t let Oakes go without him, so I signed the order. Patrick followed the next day.”
“Leaving Alice without a friend?” his father nodded in understanding. “A role into which you gladly stepped?”
“Yes, with a little help from Aunt Katya.”
“And now you’ve fallen in love, replaced Patrick in Alice’s affections, and you have to keep this a secret from him for the next two years?”
“In a nutshell. But I haven’t replaced Patrick, she considers him a friend and only a friend, and yes, it is a secret at the moment. Principal Hardy asked me to keep an eye on the situation with Patrick, concerned that Alice is fragile and might get hurt. I’m ashamed to say I gave him the impression I didn’t care, part of me thought he was being precious because of who she is, and you know, I never make other people’s problems my own.”
“Alice isn’t a problem, Noah. For centuries she has belonged to us all, now, she’s on a journey to belong only to herself. Hardy’s concern for her wasn’t misplaced, he asked little of you.”
“I know, but Patrick, as you would expect, continued doing what he always does, with several female crew members.”
Noah sat down heavily on the saggy armchair favoured by the cat. His father stayed at the piano, but turned to face his son, leaning forward, his hands clasped loosely over his knees.
“What Patrick does at leisure is not your business, Noah, even aboard ship.”
“Dad, interpersonal relationships on a principality ship and sex as recreation are a normal facet of life. Patrick isn’t doing anything different to what most others do, I accept that, but it isn’t how Alice conducts herself.”
“It’s not how you conduct yourself either, Noah.”
“I have no power to rule on relationships unless protocols get breached. But then I saw a female crewman leaving Patrick’s quarters after I—well, noticed Alice.”
“You judged him?”
“I guess I did.”
“And you wanted Alice?”
“Not consciously at that point, then later, I couldn’t stop thinking about her. After the Cotillion Ball, I used Hardy’s concerns as justification for encouraging Patrick to the Accessor. I conveniently disregarded the fact Alice turned my ordered life on its head. Dad, Patrick loves easily and then discards. I thought he would do the same to Alice. Then Aunt Katya, with her sixth sense, realised what I’d done and sent me to Tibet with her. A few days later, I took her to Machu Picchu. After I returned to the ship, we spoke over the registry, later, I asked her to come here.”
“And Alice has told you she doesn’t return Patrick’s affection?”
“I know for sure she doesn’t.”
“He obviously knows nothing about this?”
“Nothing at all. He knows about Tibet and Machu Picchu but believes they were at Aunt Katya’s behest. Patrick is convinced I’m so dull, spending time with me must have been an ordeal for Alice.”
“You are a very solitary man, Noah, few truly know you. I haven’t heard you say this much in years, and I’m your father! I assume A’khet requested you visit them? Why?”
“They requested Alice. Aunt Katya said they were curious, I accompanied her but the darndest thing, I swear they were expecting me.”
“I can see why they would be curious about Alice, but now you have a situation with your oldest friend.”
“I don’t know what to do, Dad. I can’t say, ‘Patrick old boy, guess what, we’re in love with the same woman, but she chooses me’. From what Alice has told me, he’s convinced he’ll win her over when we get back.”
“Does she choose you?”
Noah didn’t speak, the silence giving his father the answer he’d anticipated anyway.
“You believe telling Patrick would be a risk?”
“I believe so. He would see this as a betrayal.”
“And now you have two years apart from Alice to dream up a suitable story for when you return, and he finds he didn’t win her over because she’s been involved with you since before you left?”
“It sounds underhand put like that,” Noah rubbed his eyes, suddenly feeling very weary. “I did consider telling him, but then realised if he’s genuine, he might withdraw from the mission and ask for local reassignment. Then he would be here, and I would be out there,” he gestured towards the window. “And Alice would be here as well.”
“I imagine the Tabernacle wouldn’t find his reasons for withdrawing at such late notice valid, Noah, not without extenuating circumstances. And you don’t give her credit, she’s not a child. You need to have some faith.”
“That’s the whole point, she is a child. Everything is new to her.”
“If you are so certain of her feelings, have you thought about asking her to marry you? You could take her with you.”
“She’s only just returned to the world, Dad—to living, breathing, learning and discovering. I can’t bundle her off to space, not now, when she needs time to learn and grow. And can you imagine me taking her on board as my wife without telling Patrick first?”
“There would be some fallout, but I suspect he’d get over it. Noah, starting a relationship with a lie may be a mistake. You are a principal, not a teenager in a first crush. I have never seen you blur th
e edges of your decisions like this, that is why the most important ship in the fleet is under your command, and not in the hands of another, less singular commander.”
Ben watched his capable, strong-willed son struggle, for the first time in his life, with emotions he’d previously denied himself in favour of career. He waited.
“Alice plays the piano,” Noah said at last.
“Splendid, perhaps she will give us a recital.”
“She never remembers playing. Sometimes, random memories surface, revealing her education, her intelligence, her brilliance and at those times, she is outgoing, confident and larger than life, completely sure of herself. Other times, she is shy, quick to learn, humble, sweet.”
“And you love both ascensions?”
“I find now I can’t separate them; there appears to be two distinct elements, the one you met tonight and another, the scientist who emerges when I least expect it. Together, they make a third person, contrary, wise, gentle, educated, all the things I described.”
“Is it wise then, to take her to the Top of the World?”
“Why not?”
“If she elects to visit the wave, it might confuse her.”
“It might give her clarity.”
Noah’s father smiled sagely and returned to the piano. Noah bowed a goodnight and turned towards his room. His father looked up as his son stopped in the doorway.
“You and mother were unbelievably restrained when I introduced Alice. Thank you.”
“Believe me, Noah,” Ben grinned, “when the information sinks in, I suspect I will experience another episode of disbelief. Alice is a member of our society now, and we will afford her all the privacy she requires. I promise we will tell no one.”
“I didn’t tell Aunt Katya I brought her here,” Noah admitted, giving his father another reason to sigh.
“I’ll tell your mother about Patrick’s involvement with Alice and the part you played in his reassignment. She’ll understand the implications and won’t tell her sister. Not if I ask her not to, but Noah, you need to sort this out.”
“I know, Dad. Thank you.”
Noah passed Alice’s room and for a moment, stood, wishing he could just open the door, climb into bed beside her and let her convince him he should stay with her. He bit his lip, trying to adjust to the fact in a few days, he would have to leave her. So little time, so few opportunities and now, he’d involved his family in a secret, a secret he hoped he wouldn’t come to regret.
Closing the door to his room, he peeled off his clothes and stepped into the shower, letting the warm water cascade over his face, he closed his eyes and reflected on his conversation with his father. A movement behind distracted him and, with his lips curling into a soft smile, he felt Alice’s hands, lightly touch his back, encircle his waist and slip slowly upwards over his chest.
Chapter 26
An unexpected scene greeted Alice on the patio next morning. Breakfast had been laid out by the Providore, and it seemed as if every animal in the neighbourhood received an invitation. Selina was busy feeding titbits to the three dogs and the goat with the missing leg; Ben perused world affairs on the registry; and Noah hand fed the puppy on his lap from a bottle, all the while brushing away a few wild, and not so wild birds that came in search of food, eventually finding their way to a crumb tray on the table. Noah and his parents looked up as she joined them.
“Good morning Alice,” Selina smiled. “Please excuse us; we tend to spoil the animals a little.”
Noah grinned as she sat down—he’d reluctantly dragged himself from her embrace much earlier to help his parents with the animals. Ben acknowledged her with a quick bow of his head, then went back to the registry, but couldn’t concentrate. He’d spent a good part of the night reading up on her, though almost all information stopped at 15 years since. This morning, he wanted to stare at their guest, finding it hard to believe one of the most remarkable puzzles ever presented to science stood here, with his family, on his patio.
Noah placed the puppy in Alice’s lap and gave her the bottle so she could continue feeding him.
“I’ll get you some coffee and breakfast,” he said, tickling the puppy under the chin. “Puppy needs encouragement to suck.”
“Yes,” his mother said, “rub his chin, he likes it. His sucking and swallowing reflexes are not well developed.”
The puppy didn’t want the food from Alice. He fussed and spat, so when Noah came back with the coffee, he showed her how to encourage him to open his mouth and where to put the teat, so the puppy didn’t spit it out. While she was engaged in the task, a little bird came to share her breakfast. No-one made any effort to shoo it away, even when two of its comrades flew down to join in the feast. Mealtimes here were even more liberal than at home, but Alice loved the harmony between humans and animals, even the horses drew close to the family, grazing nearby. Fleet nudged Noah on the shoulder, gently at first, then less gently, until he gave her a morsel from the table.
The puppy dozed off with the bottle in his mouth, and Alice ended up drinking rather cold coffee before attempting the pecked pastry. The question of hygiene never came up.
“You like animals, Alice?” Selina smiled her approval.
“Yes, we have animals at home; dogs, a cat, horses, goats and chickens and a little cockatiel who is my special pet.”
“Alice’s home overlooks the ocean on one side, and pastures on the other,” Noah said, tacitly letting his mother know he visited there. “It’s glorious.”
His mother noticed, pleased that it was not too early to rekindle hope.
“Do you live there alone?” Selina asked.
“Oh, no, not at all. I live with the aunties, Mary and her wife, Jane.”
“In the Calamities, then?”
Alice wasn’t sure how to answer. Segregation of a portion of society, but with complete acceptance, still filled her with a sense of injustice.
“I’ve met Alice’s aunts, Mother,” Noah smiled across at Alice, fueling his mother’s hopes anew. “They are delightful—retired medical doctors.”
“How wonderful to recover your health in the company of close family members, Alice. Family is everything to us. Now, let us put these animals down. Noah, please take Puppy from Alice and put him in his crate, the small one, we will take him with us so we can feed him. We will go now and enjoy our day.”
Noah took the puppy from Alice, blowing her a secret kiss as he leaned over her. She smiled a secret smile back at him. Even being close to him made her feel flushed and breathless.
“Noah mentioned the crop formations interest you, Alice,” Ben said. “There are two we can visit if you wish, and he tells us you have an interest in architecture, so Selina has suggested we go to the old city. We’ll take your shuttle, Noah. I’ll pilot.”
Alice and Noah sat together in the back of the shuttle, Noah’s large frame took up most of the room and made it very snug. He discreetly linked his fingers with hers.
The first crop formation was close to the house and only took a few minutes to locate. The lack of design and blatant ordinariness disappointed Alice after her high expectations. The registry’s images, showing intriguing and elaborate designs, drove her to expect much more than two simple interlinked circles with square protuberances at either end, all of which slightly underwhelmed her. They hovered above, and Ben piloted a full swing to see it from all angles.
“Noah told me some individuals believe aliens make these,” Alice tried to see meaning in the shapes below.
“That’s correct, Alice,” Ben looked over his shoulder, “but we’ve never seen anything out of the ordinary around here.”
“Aren’t the A’khet aliens?” Alice thought they would qualify.
“Not anymore,” Selina and Benjamin chorused together.
Alice stared down at the formation.
“I could make that pattern,” she said, more to herself than the others, “and I have no artistic ability.”
“A lot of the
designs are primitive, Alice,” Ben said. “A bit of fun by local children flying one-man shuttles or tubes. We hold that belief even if there is a complex mathematical element that confounds science,” he laughed. “It makes living beside them more comfortable. Noah and his sisters made one once.”
Alice was astonished. “You were a hoaxer?”
Noah grinned, “We didn’t think so. We grew up with the formations, and I suppose we didn’t take them too seriously. It was just fun at the time.”
“Surely wrecking a farmer’s crop is vandalism? Did you get caught?”
“We did, and as punishment had to replant the part of the field we damaged using traditional methods. It was back-breaking work, but we learned a lot, and not only about respect.”
“Do all these crop producers use the dome-field and drone methods to raise crops? Mary and Jane grow corn and vine vegetables like that.”
“Yes, they do, Alice,” Noah pointed out the housings that kept the field in place. “Apart from my experience with repairing the damage my sisters and I caused, you’re the only person I’ve met who grows fruit and vegetables using the traditional method.”
“I like getting my hands dirty. Wouldn’t the dome-field alert the grower to a presence on the field? Alien or human? The dome-field at home goes red if we step inside.”
“That’s because it’s detecting a life form and assessing what it needs to do to help it grow. Does it clear after a while?”
“Yes, but couldn’t they attach an alarm and catch aliens or people in the act?”
“It’s been tried, Alice,” Noah should have paid more attention to crop formation science, he’d never anticipated answering questions on the subject.
“That’s right,” Selina seemed to know more than her son. “They installed double annular-fields, like the bubble domes used on Mars, they reach below the surface for several hundred metres, and above, the same distance. Nothing can penetrate, atmosphere, life forms, nothing known to mankind, even so, the formations appeared, paying no attention to all our cleverness! This formation is simple, Alice but we will show you the other one, it is new and more complex. Like other, more intricate formations which have appeared overnight, it is being investigated.”
The Afterlife of Alice Watkins 2 Page 21
