Primal Estate: The Candidate Species (37 page)
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Authors: Samuel Franklin
BOOK: Primal Estate: The Candidate Species
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Four hours earlier, Yootu had been resting quietly in his enclosure. All was a blur since he’d been told Shainan had been sent back to Earth. He’d lost track of time. He had no will to keep track nor to ask how long it had been. He’d recovered from his rage and the trauma to his body and brain. But somehow he felt very different, as though something in him had awakened. The ancient shaman instinctively knew that a new time was about to begin. It would be either his beginning or his end. He suspected that he now knew why his tribe had called him the Keeper of the Red Moon Spirit. It was now that spirit which gave him life.
They flooded his cell with a gas that made him unconscious. When he woke, he was strapped, arms and legs, to a table in an exam room. Both wrists were fixed with tags. This looked to him like a place where nothing good could happen. He figured this was the end, and he wanted to take a Provenger with him if he could. He waited for a technician to get near. Yootu determined he would have to break his bonds and lunge in one motion to have any chance at contact as the tags were activated. He would try for a fist to the throat. If he could crush it in one blow, he could kill it and leave his life with one small souvenir of defiance. With his last breath, he would tell them, in their own language, how stupid he found them to be and that no matter what they tried, humans of the Earth would never be tamed.
As a Provenger grew near, he summoned all the strength he had, as calmly as he could, expecting the searing pain from the tags that he must ignore. With a burst of force, he tensed every muscle at once from his thighs to his stomach. His arms curled and twisted in a rage that generated a magnified leveraged force against his bonds. They bent and broke easier than he thought as he turned this force into a lunge at the Provenger tending to the examining light above him. His right fist was aimed for the neck, but the wrist straps gave way like strings and his strike flew high and wide, his knuckles grazing the Provenger’s skull. Yootu was stunned that he had no pain, and with the absence of it, he was frozen with disbelief. Only a mild buzz ran through his nerves.
As a Provenger grew near, he summoned all the strength he had, as calmly as he could, expecting the searing pain from the tags that he must ignore. With a burst of force, he tensed every muscle at once from his thighs to his stomach. His arms curled and twisted in a rage that generated a magnified leveraged force against his bonds. They bent and broke easier than he thought as he turned this force into a lunge at the Provenger tending to the examining light above him. His right fist was aimed for the neck, but the wrist straps gave way like strings and his strike flew high and wide, his knuckles grazing the Provenger’s skull. Yootu was stunned that he had no pain, and with the absence of it, he was frozen with disbelief. Only a mild buzz ran through his nerves.
He quickly regained his focus, grabbed the Provenger’s neck with his hand, and pulled his head down into an accelerating left jab. His fist again hit the Provenger’s skull, glancing off the top of his head as the limp body, already unconscious from the first hit, was unexpectedly collapsing to the floor. Yootu popped his leg restraints. They broke easily and he glanced up at the adjacent control room, looking for any resistance to his escape. He saw another technician behind unbreakable glass that he knew he could break.
Watching from behind the glass, the Provenger was terrified. She saw everything from the beginning, but it happened so fast that she was only now reacting. The last thing Yootu saw was her lunge for the control panel, and he felt everything dim as the gas shot from jets positioned around the room immediately invaded every pore of his skin.
Watching from behind the glass, the Provenger was terrified. She saw everything from the beginning, but it happened so fast that she was only now reacting. The last thing Yootu saw was her lunge for the control panel, and he felt everything dim as the gas shot from jets positioned around the room immediately invaded every pore of his skin.
Yootu saw colors: red, blue, swirl patterns. He blinked his eyes and felt his head throbbing. He tried to remember where he was and grabbed at a Provenger that was not there. He held his head and rolled to his back. Wherever he was, he wasn’t strapped down. He could move, and he wasn’t being beaten or cut up. So far, everything was good. He sucked in a deep breath and could tell something was different. He could smell and taste something different in the air. It was life, small and large. It was the smell of things growing. Spores. Molds. There was the sensation of dust and dirt, the scents of wood and smoke, things of the Earth. He wondered for a moment what horrible torment the Provenger might be trying to inflict on him as punishment for his attack.
Yootu heard a shriek, a scream of horror or joy he could not tell, but it was immediately followed by arms that were warm and loving. For a moment, he thought he might be dead and his mother was holding him. Then he realized he was in the arms of Shainan. Before he could open his swollen eyes, they flooded with tears, both for being with her and in fear that she was with him.
If they were on the ship, he knew that he would kill her before he would let the Provenger hurt her. He knew he could do it quickly. He opened his eyes and did not recognize anything. That was a good feeling. She held him tightly, and he realized her cries were of joy. That told him everything. He must be on Earth. He must be home. The rush of being with her gave him a momentary boost. They held each other and looked into the other’s face, then remained cheek to cheek. Yootu slowly checked the new environment around him, vigilant for a Provenger. He saw a man and a boy, no threats. He tried to stand with her help but stumbled and fell.
If they were on the ship, he knew that he would kill her before he would let the Provenger hurt her. He knew he could do it quickly. He opened his eyes and did not recognize anything. That was a good feeling. She held him tightly, and he realized her cries were of joy. That told him everything. He must be on Earth. He must be home. The rush of being with her gave him a momentary boost. They held each other and looked into the other’s face, then remained cheek to cheek. Yootu slowly checked the new environment around him, vigilant for a Provenger. He saw a man and a boy, no threats. He tried to stand with her help but stumbled and fell.
Four hours later, Yootu opened his eyes. Shainan was lying naked next to him on the bed, wiping a cool, wet cloth on his head. She had stripped him, cleaned him off, and put the bison rug over them both. She wanted everything to be as normal as possible when he awoke. She wanted desperately to be his woman in every way. She was undone with joy. But when he woke, she didn’t know what to do.
“Shainan,” Yootu whispered as he reached out to pull her in. She snuggled her body in tighter to his and positioned her face close as he turned to look her square in the eyes. The presence of humanity that had been so rare for the last ten years flowed into his soul, and he was lost in thoughts of what should have been. He tried to avoid thinking about the moment on the ship that she didn’t show for her visit. He wanted to tell her of the imagined day he’d planned, the game he’d killed and brought to her, the fire they would make, and the stories they would tell to their children. Before he’d been told she was gone, he’d planned it all. He wanted to tell her.
“Shainan, I had our day planned,” he explained in their dead language. “We had children, and we…” Yootu’s chest heaved and he sobbed. So much grief, so much pain for so many years welled up within him, choking out any words, the pain becoming the words he wanted to speak to her. And she knew. She knew exactly what he was going to say. He did not need to speak.
“Shainan, I had our day planned,” he explained in their dead language. “We had children, and we…” Yootu’s chest heaved and he sobbed. So much grief, so much pain for so many years welled up within him, choking out any words, the pain becoming the words he wanted to speak to her. And she knew. She knew exactly what he was going to say. He did not need to speak.
She could not get close enough to him. She wanted only for him to be happy. She wanted only to be with him forever, and yet the fear of being separated again forced great pain into the face of her joy. They both cried until they slept, in each other’s arms. And when they slept with the bison hide covering them, they could have been home. They dreamed of things ancient and wild, of their tribe and camp, of children and friends, of fires and hunting, of swimming in their river and loving. They dreamt of paradise.
Shainan was awake for an hour before she stirred enough to disturb Yootu. She hadn’t wanted to bother him because he looked so beat up. She remained motionless for as long as she could bear. It was still dark out, and she had no idea when day would come. Finally, her curiosity overcame her, and she started moving about with the express purpose of waking him. She wanted to know why he was there, how long he would stay, what would become of them.
He woke up slowly at first. Then suddenly he was with her, his eyes blinking, his vision competing with the swelling all around his face. He’d assaulted a Provenger, and even though they had determined he was incoherent at the time and would be released anyway after his exit physical, the guards charged with his security had not been easy on him. But now he was free and again on his Earth, something he’d never thought would happen. All he had to do was heal from his minor wounds and he would be complete again. He would be with his love, Shainan.
He woke up slowly at first. Then suddenly he was with her, his eyes blinking, his vision competing with the swelling all around his face. He’d assaulted a Provenger, and even though they had determined he was incoherent at the time and would be released anyway after his exit physical, the guards charged with his security had not been easy on him. But now he was free and again on his Earth, something he’d never thought would happen. All he had to do was heal from his minor wounds and he would be complete again. He would be with his love, Shainan.
Yootu rubbed the crust from his eyes and noted a minor headache. He was amazed, considering the drubbing he’d sustained by the guards, recalled only in semiconscious slow motion fragments. He looked at Shainan. There was so much he wanted to do. Had this been the time he’d been preparing himself for? He wondered. What situation would he find himself in?
During his time with the Provenger, Yootu had learned a great deal about what humans would have to overcome in this new world. Eavesdropping during his captivity had taught him many languages as well as providing a fairly comprehensive picture of much of the Provenger technology, all without their knowing. If they had been aware of what he knew, they never would have released him, he thought.
During his time with the Provenger, Yootu had learned a great deal about what humans would have to overcome in this new world. Eavesdropping during his captivity had taught him many languages as well as providing a fairly comprehensive picture of much of the Provenger technology, all without their knowing. If they had been aware of what he knew, they never would have released him, he thought.
“Shainan, my love,” he began in their ancient tongue. “Though I have not always known it, I know now. This is the moment I have been waiting for my whole life. I want more than anything for you to be my woman. I will bring you game and give you children. I will show our tribe…” Yootu realized they no longer had a tribe. “We will found a new tribe, and you shall be the mother of our new nation, and they will honor you always if you will be my woman.”
Shainan looked alternately from his right to left eye as she tried to hold back her joy and listened to his words. She knew well that all of this was just too good, and she didn’t ever want to lose him. She would be his woman. She caressed his face with both her hands and kissed him slowly, first on the mouth, then on his cheeks, then his nose, working her way all over his battered features. “I will always be yours.”
Shainan looked alternately from his right to left eye as she tried to hold back her joy and listened to his words. She knew well that all of this was just too good, and she didn’t ever want to lose him. She would be his woman. She caressed his face with both her hands and kissed him slowly, first on the mouth, then on his cheeks, then his nose, working her way all over his battered features. “I will always be yours.”
Yootu flipped over on top of her as she encircled him with her legs. Yootu had not been with a human woman for over ten years, and he was overcome with lust and joy, knowing that their union could create a life, a child of their tribe, an heir to their blood, and they would truly be one. He buried his face in her delicious hair, grabbing on both sides of her head. He looked deep into her swimming brown eyes and saw ripples of color reminding him of their river in full flood on the open plains of the Earth, something he had not enjoyed in ages.
Shainan grabbed Yootu by his long hair and wrapped her legs high around his hips, holding him hard. She pressed herself into him, wanting to feel his strength. They loved for themselves and for the life they both instinctively wanted to create, the life they had dreamed of all those years in captivity, the life that would truly make them one and give them, again, the tribe they missed so dearly.
Shainan grabbed Yootu by his long hair and wrapped her legs high around his hips, holding him hard. She pressed herself into him, wanting to feel his strength. They loved for themselves and for the life they both instinctively wanted to create, the life they had dreamed of all those years in captivity, the life that would truly make them one and give them, again, the tribe they missed so dearly.
For years, Shainan had beaten back every Provenger advance that she could, but now she had her man with her, a man of her choosing. She took him quickly, as if in fear that he might be taken away. She had so many hopes over the years, so much sorrow and loneliness that she could not expel, a massive void of cold, and now she felt warm, filled with warmth. She reveled in his flesh, his skin, soft, yet hashed with scars. His smell was distinctly human. Shainan loved everything about this moment. She knew that she would be doing this every chance she had.
Suddenly, they were no longer inside, the wind blew, and the scent of cedars filled their nostrils and the air whispered through their limbs. The dark fur of the bison hide under them was becoming warm with the direct glare of the sun. They felt its warmth on their skin and saw around them the hills and forests of their ancient land. Yootu raised his head from her hair and laughed, “Look!” He lifted his weight from her body, and Shainan, seeing only sky, flipped herself over on her stomach and looked out.
Suddenly, they were no longer inside, the wind blew, and the scent of cedars filled their nostrils and the air whispered through their limbs. The dark fur of the bison hide under them was becoming warm with the direct glare of the sun. They felt its warmth on their skin and saw around them the hills and forests of their ancient land. Yootu raised his head from her hair and laughed, “Look!” He lifted his weight from her body, and Shainan, seeing only sky, flipped herself over on her stomach and looked out.
She couldn’t believe. Not wanting it to end, she moved to her knees, and she pressed herself back at Yootu who returned to her with equal force.
Yootu took the back of her ear between his lips and whispered, “Look at our ancient land.”
Yootu took the back of her ear between his lips and whispered, “Look at our ancient land.”
It was all there. They were atop a cliff and the valley was spread out before them. They could see their village in the distance, its smoke trailing off to the east, the great river just visible through the trees in the distance. Shainan reached back over her shoulders and supported herself by the back of Yootu’s neck, pressing her cheek to his lips. She closed her eyes, more content to feel his touch than to look again on her ancient homeland. He held her tightly around the waist and across the chest.
What magic was this? What power was this, she wondered? They both cried and laughed. They were home. Shainan brought her lips to his ear. “You have brought me here, my shaman, my love, my husband.”
What magic was this? What power was this, she wondered? They both cried and laughed. They were home. Shainan brought her lips to his ear. “You have brought me here, my shaman, my love, my husband.”
Shainan lay exhausted in his arms when she noticed the sun was rising, a dim yellow light forming outside the bedroom window. Yootu was also awake and looking straight at the ceiling. He noticed the glow and realized he hadn’t seen a sunrise for a very long time. He slipped out of bed and limped to the window. His legs were stiff, but everything seemed to work. He had certainly proven that through the course of the night. Yootu stretched, looking outside at the light coming over the horizon. It seemed like the first sunrise of his life. He felt very much like this was a completely new existence. After their surprise of possibly being back in their homeland during the night, Yootu realized that something very strange had transformed in him. He felt powerful, capable. It was a feeling he knew he didn’t yet understand.
Shainan watched him from bed. He rivaled the Provenger in size and strength. His body was crisscrossed with the scars from the injuries he’d suffered at their hands. Shainan noticed for the second time since she had cleaned him that night that his back was painted with the form of a circle with pointed petals extending out from the center. “Why the flower on your back?”
“It’s not a flower,” replied Yootu. “You are so precious. It’s the sun.”
“It’s not a flower,” replied Yootu. “You are so precious. It’s the sun.”
She’d remembered stories of his birth told by her friend and cousin, Noanan. The tribal shaman had said that he was of the Sun god and that Noanan had been stolen from her bed and the god had assumed the form of the river to avoid burning her and had put a child into her. Shainan remembered Noanan becoming pregnant with Yootu before she was kidnapped by the Provenger and missed his birth. Noanan had told her that Yootu would be their savior.
Yootu looked out on the Earth from the window of a twenty-first century ranch house in southwestern Colorado. The last he’d seen Earth had been over twelve thousand years before. It is still the same, he thought. Still beautiful, still for me.
Yootu looked out on the Earth from the window of a twenty-first century ranch house in southwestern Colorado. The last he’d seen Earth had been over twelve thousand years before. It is still the same, he thought. Still beautiful, still for me.
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