Primal Estate: The Candidate Species (41 page)
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Authors: Samuel Franklin
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To this group he’d added a few more people, mostly comprised of former Army friends who would only go so far as to commiserate with his beliefs and provide vague assurances that they’d be there for him when he needed them, for organizational and training purposes.
Shooting at the range that day was Tom Durham, a small business owner in Mancos, the neighboring town. He had a vendetta regarding the government’s recent socialization of medicine. Rob Godfrey, from Durango, was a recently discharged Air Force mechanic and had been pulled over by traffic cops one too many times. His friend Will Jenkins was a former rancher whose family had literally lost the farm and his wife in the debt crisis. They were indeed all former military, but their skills were spotty. When Tony thought about it too much, he doubted everything he was doing.
Shooting at the range that day was Tom Durham, a small business owner in Mancos, the neighboring town. He had a vendetta regarding the government’s recent socialization of medicine. Rob Godfrey, from Durango, was a recently discharged Air Force mechanic and had been pulled over by traffic cops one too many times. His friend Will Jenkins was a former rancher whose family had literally lost the farm and his wife in the debt crisis. They were indeed all former military, but their skills were spotty. When Tony thought about it too much, he doubted everything he was doing.
They were going to shoot for the rest of the day. They would practice a little pistol first, then some long range rifle to check zeros on their scopes, and then have a little competition.
Tony’s phone rang. “Yello.”
Tony’s phone rang. “Yello.”
“Tony? Marcus. What’s up man.”
“Hey, Marcus. How you been?”
“Hey, Marcus. How you been?”
“Good. Hey, I’m not gonna make the shoot today…had to stay home with the kids. I…” silence, “I…Count me in for everything else though…” Silence.
“Hello? Marcus? You there?”
“Hello? Marcus? You there?”
“Yeah, I’m here. Hold on.”
Tony heard Marcus put the phone down and was irritated. Marcus calls, then puts me on hold! What the…
Tony heard Marcus put the phone down and was irritated. Marcus calls, then puts me on hold! What the…
Crack!! broke the silence. Tony heard a rifle shot on the other end of the line
“Shit! Marcus, you there?” Tony heard fumbling on the line.
“Shit! Marcus, you there?” Tony heard fumbling on the line.
“Hello? Hey, sorry ‘bout that. I’ve been trying to get that bastard for weeks now. Finally did. Keeps coming over to my property.”
“What the hell are you shooting? Damn! I thought you’d been shot!” Tony exclaimed.
“What the hell are you shooting? Damn! I thought you’d been shot!” Tony exclaimed.
“No…Damn neighbor’s dog keeps coming over. Won’t be anymore!” replied Marcus.
This is the problem, thought Tony.
This is the problem, thought Tony.
Nwella stood just inside the door of the shed at the back of Rick’s property, beside the pile of hay. She was scared, more so than she’d ever been. She had planned to meet Rick in ten minutes. She knew he was thinking it would be another date. It wouldn’t. She arrived a little early to gain her composure and try to figure out what she was going to do, thinking it would come to her once she arrived, but it hadn’t.
She heard the dogs barking and peeked through the shed window to see Rick closing the back door, keeping them inside. He was early, too. She took a deep breath. Whatever happened in the next five minutes would change her life. He walked toward the shed in a space of time that felt both like an eternity and a moment.
“Nwella, I’ve missed you. What’s it been, twelve hours?” Rick joked with a smile
“Nwella, I’ve missed you. What’s it been, twelve hours?” Rick joked with a smile
“Yes,” Nwella said and was quiet. He knows something is wrong, she thought. They held each other, and she started to shake. Rick quickly pushed back and held her at arm’s length.
“What’s wrong?” he asked urgently. “Have we been discovered?”
“What’s wrong?” he asked urgently. “Have we been discovered?”
“We might as well be. Rick, I don’t know what to tell you, how to tell you,” Nwella stuttered, her chest heaving with swallowed breath.
“What?” Rick was starting to panic. His family’s lives were on the line.
“What?” Rick was starting to panic. His family’s lives were on the line.
“I have a child. We have a child. It must have been from the first time.”
“We have a child?” Rick stammered, “How can we have a child? Is that possible?” Then Rick paused and his face twitched. “How could things possibly get more complicated? I have a child! You do mean you’re pregnant, right? I mean it’s not somewhere here already?” Rick glanced around on the floor. “You know, the whole alien thing.”
“We have a child?” Rick stammered, “How can we have a child? Is that possible?” Then Rick paused and his face twitched. “How could things possibly get more complicated? I have a child! You do mean you’re pregnant, right? I mean it’s not somewhere here already?” Rick glanced around on the floor. “You know, the whole alien thing.”
“No, don’t be stupid.” Nwella bumped him on the chest with her fist. “It’s in me. We have them the same way,” Nwella explained.
Rick dropped to his knees and hugged her around the hips, burying his face in her stomach. “How are we going to do this? How is this going to work?” Rick asked looking up, nervous and confused, sounding like an inmate in a psychiatric ward. “Do I call Synster ‘Dad’? Will he kill me? You know you took me first.” Rick gasped and laughed. “How can this be? Does he know? Are you sure?”
Rick dropped to his knees and hugged her around the hips, burying his face in her stomach. “How are we going to do this? How is this going to work?” Rick asked looking up, nervous and confused, sounding like an inmate in a psychiatric ward. “Do I call Synster ‘Dad’? Will he kill me? You know you took me first.” Rick gasped and laughed. “How can this be? Does he know? Are you sure?”
“Yes,” Nwella replied.
“Yes to he knows, or yes to being sure?”
“Yes to he knows, or yes to being sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure.”
“You’re sure he knows, or that you’re pregnant?”
“You’re sure he knows, or that you’re pregnant?”
“I’m sure that I’m pregnant, you dope! I already said, it must have happened that first time, when I took you after your treatment by the Recombinant. The treatment must have done something to make it possible. It shouldn’t have happened.”
Rick was still babbling on his knees, apparently not knowing what to do, and Nwella could sense it.
Rick was still babbling on his knees, apparently not knowing what to do, and Nwella could sense it.
“Don’t worry, my love. Because of my condition, I have immunity, and so do you.”
“Immunity against what?” Rick asked.
“Immunity against what?” Rick asked.
“Against anything,” Nwella responded.
“What’s anything?” Rick asked rising to his feet again, still holding her close.
“What’s anything?” Rick asked rising to his feet again, still holding her close.
“Recriminations cannot be brought against us. It is the law,” Nwella explained.
“Well, we have laws, too, and they only extend to our species, sometimes just to citizens and sometimes not even them. Do your laws extend to humans?”
“Well, we have laws, too, and they only extend to our species, sometimes just to citizens and sometimes not even them. Do your laws extend to humans?”
“This law would have to. Its impetus emanates from the life within me, and only in that respect, affects us. We are the sources of this life. We are responsible for this life,” Nwella explained. “The law protects us only to protect the life within me. The lives of our children are of primary importance to us. My real violation is my aberrant sexual behavior. We have a strange unofficial rule regarding that. It can be done; just don’t get caught. But there is no hiding a pregnancy.”
“That sounds reasonable,” said Rick, thinking hard and fast. There was a long pause. “Nwella, I want you to know I won’t abandon you. I want to keep Carson safe, but other than that, I only care about you. Against all logic, I love you, Nwella. I think I have since that first day I saw you.”
“That sounds reasonable,” said Rick, thinking hard and fast. There was a long pause. “Nwella, I want you to know I won’t abandon you. I want to keep Carson safe, but other than that, I only care about you. Against all logic, I love you, Nwella. I think I have since that first day I saw you.”
Nwella looked at Rick, wondering if he could handle the next few bombs she was about to drop.
“What will you do?” Rick asked
“What will you do?” Rick asked
“I will be cast out,” Nwella whispered. “They won’t hurt us, but I will be cast out. If there was nowhere habitable to put me, I would be forced to remain on the ship, and I would be made to wear certain attire that would show everyone that they were not to speak to me. That would be for fifty years. It would be torture. I wouldn’t recover. No one ever has. But since we have access to Earth, I could choose to come here, especially since you are the father.” Nwella knew that humans sometimes terminated pregnancies. That had never been a Provenger way and never would be, as far as Nwella was concerned. Even if she did, it would have shown up on her next Recombinant scan anyway. She would then not only be an outcast but be subject to worse penalties for having terminated the pregnancy.
“Like I said, I’m here for you. I’m not sure what the implications of you being cast out are, but if it’s possible, I want you to come live with me. Utu can overcome his anger. Shainan can get around her fear. We can retrain the dogs.”
“Like I said, I’m here for you. I’m not sure what the implications of you being cast out are, but if it’s possible, I want you to come live with me. Utu can overcome his anger. Shainan can get around her fear. We can retrain the dogs.”
Nwella stroked Rick’s cheek and decided that now was the time to tell him.
“Rick, I need to tell you something else.”
“Rick, I need to tell you something else.”
With trepidation Rick readied for the worst. He looked at her, dead in the eyes, “There’s more? Go ahead.”
“Until recently, I was doing this for the thrill, nothing else. But, I guess since I’ve become pregnant, something has happened. It’s a feeling I’ve never had.”
“Until recently, I was doing this for the thrill, nothing else. But, I guess since I’ve become pregnant, something has happened. It’s a feeling I’ve never had.”
Rick was silent for a moment and then confessed, “The same for me. Until recently, I was also in it for the thrill, as well as the added security of having you involved with me. I was using you.”
“Okay, I understand that, and I was doing all that, too.” Nwella paused. “I think you knew that. I raped you while you slept, after all.” Nwella looked at the ground. “But I also mean something else.” Back to his eyes. “Rick, two nights ago, I had a dream.” Nwella stared at Rick, waiting for a response.
“Okay, I understand that, and I was doing all that, too.” Nwella paused. “I think you knew that. I raped you while you slept, after all.” Nwella looked at the ground. “But I also mean something else.” Back to his eyes. “Rick, two nights ago, I had a dream.” Nwella stared at Rick, waiting for a response.
Rick looked at her. “So what was the dream?”
“I don’t remember. I woke up in a panic. I wasn’t sure of what happened. I had to research it before I was sure. I found the studies done on Shainan.”
“I don’t remember. I woke up in a panic. I wasn’t sure of what happened. I had to research it before I was sure. I found the studies done on Shainan.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t understand,” Rick confessed.
“Rick, we don’t dream. Provenger don’t dream.”
“Rick, we don’t dream. Provenger don’t dream.”
“That’s right, I forgot. What does it mean?”
“I’m not sure, but when the dream studies were done on Shainan, our scientists were looking for something. They were looking to discover our history related to dreaming. Apparently, there were considerable resources being put into secret studies of this type, and since our last war, that research has been lost. Only fragments remain, so I have no idea what it means. But it’s obviously got to have something to do with the pregnancy.”
“I’m not sure, but when the dream studies were done on Shainan, our scientists were looking for something. They were looking to discover our history related to dreaming. Apparently, there were considerable resources being put into secret studies of this type, and since our last war, that research has been lost. Only fragments remain, so I have no idea what it means. But it’s obviously got to have something to do with the pregnancy.”
Nwella paused then, even more serious than before. She said, “Rick, there’s something more you should know. It’s bad, really bad. I’m afraid you’ll hate me when I tell you.”
Chapter 29
The mAmmoth hunt
“I’m Steinman Blake with CNN, reporting. Recently, turmoil has erupted in the medical community in the wake of new government recommendations regarding some of the most commonly-used pharmaceuticals. According to government experts with the Department of Health and Human Services, an updated meta-analysis, which combine the results of many research studies, have led government experts to the conclusion that most of the pharmaceuticals we take are not only damaging to our health but unnecessary, provided that humans follow the correct diet for our species. They’ve produced studies that indicate the vast majority of chronic disease and autoimmune disorders are epigenetic in nature, meaning they arise from the environment we create in our bodies from the foods we consume. They admit that genetics play a role in predisposition to particular ailments, but state that the environment created in the living cell is what makes this predisposition expressive. This renders us either susceptible to many infectious diseases or inclined to develop chronic maladies such as autoimmune disorders. Pharmaceutical companies are outraged and are complaining that their tested and approved medications are being sidelined to something as superficial as nutrition.”
“Steinman, let’s not make the mistake that the government has turned holistic on us. The health care community has also recently been blindsided by ‘Gallbladdergate,’ the new initiative to compel all statistically overweight people to, at least, schedule to have their gallbladders removed in a noble effort to reduce cholesterol. Detractors are calling for congressional hearings regarding the delivery of those gallbladders to the government for research purposes. Steinman?”
“Steinman, let’s not make the mistake that the government has turned holistic on us. The health care community has also recently been blindsided by ‘Gallbladdergate,’ the new initiative to compel all statistically overweight people to, at least, schedule to have their gallbladders removed in a noble effort to reduce cholesterol. Detractors are calling for congressional hearings regarding the delivery of those gallbladders to the government for research purposes. Steinman?”
“That’s right, Bob. This is starting to create a pattern of outrageous moves on the part of the Department of Health – moves that seem to defy everything they’ve been s
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Utu turned the volume all the way down. Listening to the television had helped him to improve his English considerably in the last few days. Every word that he heard used in context was confirmed. The patterns of syntax rapidly congealed in his mind, and English speech became a part of him with almost no effort. Rick told him it was good that he didn’t sound like Tarzan anymore. When Utu searched “Tarzan” on the internet, he found pictures of muscular men wearing animal skins. He suspected that perhaps he should feel insulted.
Utu had been glued to the computer every spare moment that he wasn’t enjoying himself at his new earthbound home. He’d learned much since he was first shown how to use it. His unique ability to learn language appeared to overlap into written communication, and he was already reading and writing at a rudimentary level. He was getting access to more than just pictures. The isolation he’d suffered during his captivity resulted in a ravenous appetite for knowledge of his new world, and Utu was amazed that he could learn just about anything he wanted if he knew some basic words concerning the subject and searched the correct terms on the internet.
Utu had been glued to the computer every spare moment that he wasn’t enjoying himself at his new earthbound home. He’d learned much since he was first shown how to use it. His unique ability to learn language appeared to overlap into written communication, and he was already reading and writing at a rudimentary level. He was getting access to more than just pictures. The isolation he’d suffered during his captivity resulted in a ravenous appetite for knowledge of his new world, and Utu was amazed that he could learn just about anything he wanted if he knew some basic words concerning the subject and searched the correct terms on the internet.
The loud squeak of the door to the back patio slowly opening and closing gave Utu the impression of either someone who was deep in thought entering, or a deaf person trying to sneak up on him. It compelled him to look. Rick was standing there with an ashen face.
“We need to talk, Utu,” Rick said. “Are you ready to trust me?”
“We need to talk, Utu,” Rick said. “Are you ready to trust me?”
“Maybe,” he replied stoically. For a moment, Utu thought Rick had come across the two mule deer carcasses that he’d hunted and had hanging in a large cedar tree about a hundred yards behind the house. He’d cleaned them and had managed to eat most of one among himself, Shainan, and Rick’s two German Shepherds, which were now his best friends.
Utu couldn’t avoid the temptation. He had searched the house and found the rifle Rick had shown him one evening. Rick had demonstrated to him briefly how it worked and how to sight it. Utu had been exposed by the Provenger to many technological wonders since a boy, when he thought they were magic. He’d also experienced and heard about many amazing machines on board the Provenger ship. He wasn’t your typical Cro-Magnon. He expected these miracles to work. He took technology in stride, especially if it could be used to hunt.
Utu couldn’t avoid the temptation. He had searched the house and found the rifle Rick had shown him one evening. Rick had demonstrated to him briefly how it worked and how to sight it. Utu had been exposed by the Provenger to many technological wonders since a boy, when he thought they were magic. He’d also experienced and heard about many amazing machines on board the Provenger ship. He wasn’t your typical Cro-Magnon. He expected these miracles to work. He took technology in stride, especially if it could be used to hunt.
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