Primal Estate: The Candidate Species (27 page)
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Authors: Samuel Franklin
BOOK: Primal Estate: The Candidate Species
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Rick looked in and threw his hands in the air. “Why not?” Carson slid the door open and gave the command to go through; “Go ahead.” They bolted out and surrounded Shainan. She collapsed in exhaustion and grief, lying on the grass. The shepherds huddled near her, plowing their shoulders to the ground and running themselves into her, their way of sharing her pain. Rick and Carson took one last look.
“This might be a stupid question, but is everything okay?” Carson asked. Then added, “Should we leave them out there?”
“This might be a stupid question, but is everything okay?” Carson asked. Then added, “Should we leave them out there?”
“Yeah, they’ll be fine for a while,” responded Rick as he walked in and closed the door. “It’s only a two dog night.”
Rick walked over to the kitchen, opened the door of the fridge, and took out a bottle of wine. He grabbed a juice glass from the drying rack next to the sink. He poured it to the top and beckoned Carson to have a seat. “Do you want something?”
Rick walked over to the kitchen, opened the door of the fridge, and took out a bottle of wine. He grabbed a juice glass from the drying rack next to the sink. He poured it to the top and beckoned Carson to have a seat. “Do you want something?”
“I’ll have what you’re having,” Carson replied, joking with a smile.
“Okay, but let’s not make a habit of it,” Rick replied, much to Carson’s surprise. “You’re gonna need it.”
“Okay, but let’s not make a habit of it,” Rick replied, much to Carson’s surprise. “You’re gonna need it.”
Rick poured his sixteen-year-old a glass of wine, and they both sat down at the kitchen table. Rick didn’t speak for a while. The only sounds were the humming of the refrigerator and the muffled crying female and whining dogs emanating from the back yard.
Rick was wondering how he should start, and he was trying out the order in his head. I’m a spy for aliens. Your mother is dead. We’ve adopted a cave woman. Humanity is a feed lot. Hmmmm. Maybe start with feed lot; that will put everything else in perspective. Or should I use ‘good news, bad news’? What’s the good news? It might be the cave woman part, but so far, it didn’t appear to be panning out that way.
Rick was wondering how he should start, and he was trying out the order in his head. I’m a spy for aliens. Your mother is dead. We’ve adopted a cave woman. Humanity is a feed lot. Hmmmm. Maybe start with feed lot; that will put everything else in perspective. Or should I use ‘good news, bad news’? What’s the good news? It might be the cave woman part, but so far, it didn’t appear to be panning out that way.
Rick and Carson talked for a little over an hour, a remarkably short period considering the subjects covered. When it was all over, and Rick had told Carson everything, almost, he couldn’t even remember the order in which it came out.
He didn’t tell Carson about his mother yet. He thought that would be too much for him. Carson was in disbelief throughout the chat. The two were so absorbed that halfway through their conversation, they finally became aware of a tapping on the sliding glass door and looked up to find a very naked and cold young woman and two dogs who wanted in. Rick brought her in and wrapped her in a bison hide he had over his couch.
He didn’t tell Carson about his mother yet. He thought that would be too much for him. Carson was in disbelief throughout the chat. The two were so absorbed that halfway through their conversation, they finally became aware of a tapping on the sliding glass door and looked up to find a very naked and cold young woman and two dogs who wanted in. Rick brought her in and wrapped her in a bison hide he had over his couch.
Large, luxurious animal skins draped around the house were one of the benefits of being an avid hunter in Colorado. And it seemed especially appropriate for her. She seemed to appreciate it. He told the dogs to lie down in front of the wood stove and motioned for her to take the couch, giving her a few pillows. She seemed more than happy to comply, and she was asleep in minutes.
When the talk continued, so did Carson’s skepticism. He suspected some sort of game. Rick’s only two proofs were his tag and the woman. The tag looked to Carson like a watch. Rick challenged him to try to get it off his wrist. He couldn’t. He had Shainan as proof, but, as Carson pointed out, you could get one of those most anywhere.
When the talk continued, so did Carson’s skepticism. He suspected some sort of game. Rick’s only two proofs were his tag and the woman. The tag looked to Carson like a watch. Rick challenged him to try to get it off his wrist. He couldn’t. He had Shainan as proof, but, as Carson pointed out, you could get one of those most anywhere.
“Not one that has hair on her legs and under her arms,” Rick replied.
“So she’s European. You picked up a tourist at Mesa Verde today, and she’s a nudist who loves dogs and hates lawns,” Carson quipped. “It’s not my birthday,” Carson joked again, “so I don’t think there is any kind of a themed surprise party.” Whatever it was, his dad seemed sincere.
“So she’s European. You picked up a tourist at Mesa Verde today, and she’s a nudist who loves dogs and hates lawns,” Carson quipped. “It’s not my birthday,” Carson joked again, “so I don’t think there is any kind of a themed surprise party.” Whatever it was, his dad seemed sincere.
Carson would take him at his word for now but really believed deep down that this whole charade would morph into something realistic in a matter of time. In the end, he expected the whole thing to clear itself up, probably by morning. Carson was growing tired of considering the possibilities and told his dad that he didn’t feel well. He wanted to go to bed.
After Carson had gone to his room for the night, Rick woke Shainan, who had fallen fast asleep in the large wooly hide. She was slightly panicked at first but quickly calmed and seemed very happy. Rick tried to take her to the guest bedroom, but she wouldn’t leave him. He tried numerous times to explain to her that this would be her room, but she kept talking and appeared to be getting worried.
After Carson had gone to his room for the night, Rick woke Shainan, who had fallen fast asleep in the large wooly hide. She was slightly panicked at first but quickly calmed and seemed very happy. Rick tried to take her to the guest bedroom, but she wouldn’t leave him. He tried numerous times to explain to her that this would be her room, but she kept talking and appeared to be getting worried.
At some point in their interaction, Shainan smelled the wine on his breath. She saw the glasses on the table and insisted on having some. When Rick produced the bottle to pour a glass, she took it from him with a smile, and holding it in her fist began to drink. Rick stopped her.
“No, no, that’s enough.” He tried to take it from her, but she wouldn’t let go. Rick figured she was just thirsty, but when he offered her water, she declined it, letting him know that she clearly preferred the wine. Rick then realized it was the alcohol that she wanted.
“No, no, that’s enough.” He tried to take it from her, but she wouldn’t let go. Rick figured she was just thirsty, but when he offered her water, she declined it, letting him know that she clearly preferred the wine. Rick then realized it was the alcohol that she wanted.
She continued to press him for something. He finally understood that she wanted to know where Carson was. Rick went to his room, woke him, and brought him in. To both their surprise, while holding the bottle in one hand, Shainan parted the enormous bison hide surrounding her and gave Carson a big frontal nudity, engulfing, embrace. Carson, initially annoyed at being woken, was groggy but now thrilled.
Through sign language and pantomime, she communicated that she felt they all needed to sleep together. After dealing with her for about fifteen minutes, Rick could see that Carson was tired, and he acquiesced. After Rick had gotten Shainan into some pajamas, all of them slept the night together in Rick’s room. Bison hide wrapped Shainan, Rick, Carson, and Barnes and Nobelle all slept on Rick’s king size bed. Best purchase he ever made. The entire night comprised a cacophony of snorting, scratching, and grumbling. The dogs made a little noise, too, but thankfully no sleepwalking.
Through sign language and pantomime, she communicated that she felt they all needed to sleep together. After dealing with her for about fifteen minutes, Rick could see that Carson was tired, and he acquiesced. After Rick had gotten Shainan into some pajamas, all of them slept the night together in Rick’s room. Bison hide wrapped Shainan, Rick, Carson, and Barnes and Nobelle all slept on Rick’s king size bed. Best purchase he ever made. The entire night comprised a cacophony of snorting, scratching, and grumbling. The dogs made a little noise, too, but thankfully no sleepwalking.
Chapter 21
BrothEr DavE
At six a.m., the phone started ringing. Rick didn’t get up. The answering machine picked up, but no one left a message. The calls continued. Rick was tired and wanted to sleep in. Between all three of them crowding the bed, he hadn’t gotten much sleep. He knew Shainan would be adjusting and didn’t want to be too hard on her the first night. He let her have her way. But from this point on, he would have to lead. He knew that.
At around six thirty, the dogs were up and had to go out. Rick was surprised but glad they’d slept so late. He dragged himself out of bed. He didn’t feel well. Something about his whole life turning upside-down the last few days had unsettled the normalcy he’d wanted for the last ten years of his life. He had a headache.
At around six thirty, the dogs were up and had to go out. Rick was surprised but glad they’d slept so late. He dragged himself out of bed. He didn’t feel well. Something about his whole life turning upside-down the last few days had unsettled the normalcy he’d wanted for the last ten years of his life. He had a headache.
Rick watched his dogs run around the back yard, and he started to calm. All this stress had made him remember he was a dead man any way things went. He had completely lost control over his destiny, and it seemed to free him. He could do just about anything right now, and it wouldn’t matter. Planning for retirement, not an issue anymore. His own health issues, not an issue. Custody of Carson, not an issue. Carson. Actually his health was still an issue. Regardless of what happened to Rick, Carson must live on. He would have to. Rick wouldn’t have it any other way.
While Rick was contemplating his vision of the future, Ryvil was planning it. On board the Provenger ship, he had reported to his station for the day and then slipped away. He had obtained temporary use of a Provenger battle gauntlet, a weapon not normally available to the average Provenger. His plan was to transport to Rick’s house.
It had taken him days to access the file regarding the location and layout of the home. It was still early in the day on Earth, and he hoped to catch Rick by surprise. He would have to eliminate anyone who saw him. He couldn’t risk discovery.
He was running late. Ryvil knew that Rick had been through a lot lately and would be tired. He guessed that he would still be in bed. Ryvil had to keep his presence in Rick’s house at under two minutes; otherwise, the Provenger scans would notice, so he had to work fast. He would arrive cloaked, even though he knew Rick might have his tag on him and the cloak might not work. Ryvil knew he might be discovered, but he needed to act now. He was desperate and was running out of time.
Ryvil entered the coordinates, tuned his disruption wave to a needle thin beam, and initiated transport. Ryvil found himself standing in the corner of Rick’s bedroom. He knew he needed to work fast.
They were both there, crumpled in numerous layers of pillows and blankets. Under an animal skin was the woman that had been given to Rick, sprawled with her legs sticking out. Next to her was Rick’s form under a blanket with a pillow over his head. They were both fast asleep. They probably already had sex, Ryvil thought. That’s not good. Go for the chest, he considered. You don’t have much time. Ryvil aimed for Rick’s torso, high in the chest, and gave the slightest pulse. I can’t create too much damage, he thought. It would be too obvious.
After the shot, Ryvil saw movement. Good. A hit. As Ryvil initiated transport back to his ship and only twenty seconds had passed, he heard a bell ringing in the other room and was back on board the Provenger ship.
The phone started ringing again. Rick was standing next to it in the kitchen drinking his coffee. He picked it up. It was David, his brother, the successful one of the family. He was the one who’d always gotten good grades, had become a doctor, and was now with the Department of Health and Human Services, the lead policy advisor for the Department on all things medical. Rick and his brother had a falling out over the government healthcare takeover and hadn’t spoken in years. Dave was panicked.
In a matter of about thirty seconds, he told Rick about what had happened to him the night before. It was either real or a dream, as he said, and at the end of it he was instructed to consult with his brother for confirmation. Apparently, the Provenger had anticipated that all humans, upon being released from their abduction experience, would question its veracity. The only way to confirm it would be to check with another person, someone they know and would trust. So now Rick was to be the collaborator.
In a matter of about thirty seconds, he told Rick about what had happened to him the night before. It was either real or a dream, as he said, and at the end of it he was instructed to consult with his brother for confirmation. Apparently, the Provenger had anticipated that all humans, upon being released from their abduction experience, would question its veracity. The only way to confirm it would be to check with another person, someone they know and would trust. So now Rick was to be the collaborator.
“So what do you expect me to say, Dave?”
“I want you to tell me I’m losing my mind!” David pleaded.
“I want you to tell me I’m losing my mind!” David pleaded.
“No, you aren’t,” Rick responded, wondering how many of these calls he was going to get now, realizing, almost hoping that his role would be only to act as a reference, advising people that the Provenger were not a figment of their imagination. “They’re for real. So is the tag on your wrist.” Dave hadn’t yet mentioned it, but his silence on the matter confirmed that he had one.
There was continued silence on the other end of the line. Rick understood. He’d been there a few times himself, trying to assimilate this information into his personal form of reality. Everything gets upset; everything has to be reordered. Some beliefs need to be obliterated; some need only slight modification. It starts the moment you hear it and the implications percolate for days after.
There was continued silence on the other end of the line. Rick understood. He’d been there a few times himself, trying to assimilate this information into his personal form of reality. Everything gets upset; everything has to be reordered. Some beliefs need to be obliterated; some need only slight modification. It starts the moment you hear it and the implications percolate for days after.
Rick was patient. He waited. Then he felt like he was waiting too long.
“Are you still there?” Rick asked.
“Are you still there?” Rick asked.
“Yeah.”
“You need me to say it again?”
“You need me to say it again?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay. The Provenger are real. Obviously, I don’t know exactly what they told you, but they are here, and more than likely you’re going to have to do what they say. I’ve seen what they’re capable of, and we have to cooperate.” Rick added this last part, thinking as he spoke that he had no idea who might be listening to this call. He’d better sound on board, he thought. “Every indication is they monitor everything we say.”
“Okay. The Provenger are real. Obviously, I don’t know exactly what they told you, but they are here, and more than likely you’re going to have to do what they say. I’ve seen what they’re capable of, and we have to cooperate.” Rick added this last part, thinking as he spoke that he had no idea who might be listening to this call. He’d better sound on board, he thought. “Every indication is they monitor everything we say.”
“They told me that I would have to conform health policy to their guidelines. I’ve got a list of pharmaceuticals here as long as my arm that they’re telling me to recommend as dangerous. They want us to recommend that people stop eating wheat; start eating whole foods, avoid preservatives, artificial sweeteners, and wean themselves off their medications. This is insane! I thought aliens invade and destroy things, not issue dietary guidelines!”
“Yeah, those are Hollywood aliens. Real aliens are very health conscious. A straight-up fight would almost be preferable, if I thought we’d have a chance,” Rick added.
“Yeah, those are Hollywood aliens. Real aliens are very health conscious. A straight-up fight would almost be preferable, if I thought we’d have a chance,” Rick added.
“I can’t recommend these things. I’ll be the laughing stock of D.C. I’ll be asked to resign. Then I’ll be useless to them.” Dave started sounding whiny.
After all Rick had been through, he wasn’t in the mood. He had to deal with a patriot whack-job building a private army per his direction, a pain amplifier masquerading as a wristwatch attached to his arm, and a Paleolithic woman in his bed with his son and two dogs. Rick had never let the dogs on the bed! Five years of training down the tubes all because of a drunken Cro-Magnon with a nice smile and an incredible rack. Now, all his brother had to do was make some recommendations that would actually help people, and pass them off as the government’s. That was his difficult task. “Yeah Dave, the government recommending things that make sense would immediately make people think aliens have taken over.”
After all Rick had been through, he wasn’t in the mood. He had to deal with a patriot whack-job building a private army per his direction, a pain amplifier masquerading as a wristwatch attached to his arm, and a Paleolithic woman in his bed with his son and two dogs. Rick had never let the dogs on the bed! Five years of training down the tubes all because of a drunken Cro-Magnon with a nice smile and an incredible rack. Now, all his brother had to do was make some recommendations that would actually help people, and pass them off as the government’s. That was his difficult task. “Yeah Dave, the government recommending things that make sense would immediately make people think aliens have taken over.”
“This isn’t a joke, Rick!”
“You’re right for once. My advice would be to make the recommendations. Then, if your boss tells you to resign, do it. And be glad you have no more responsibility. Hopefully, they won’t kill you as long as you keep your mouth shut. You’ll be glad to know I put you on my no-kill list.”
“You have a no-kill list? I didn’t get a no-kill list.”
“You have a no-kill list? I didn’t get a no-kill list.”
“Believe me, Dave. They’ve contacted others, and those people are being told to do the same thing. The quicker you come out with the recommendations, the more you’ll look like a leader, a maverick…if it’s your career you’re worried about.”
“Dad!” Carson yelled from the other room. “Dad!”
“Dad!” Carson yelled from the other room. “Dad!”
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