Primal Estate: The Candidate Species (26 page)
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Authors: Samuel Franklin
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Chapter 19
YOOtu’s last date
Yootu sat calmly in his apartment cell waiting for his visit with Shainan. This time he’d decided he wanted them both to act as if they were home with their tribe. He had it all planned. He braided his hair into two strands on the side of his head and tied them back away from his face, with a strip of cloth he ripped from his clothes. He’d bathed for her and rubbed one of the lemons he’d ordered in his hair to make it smell like Earth, rather than using the colognes the Provenger provided.
He’d also ordered a large fish, and it was laying on the table next to his cooking surface. That would be their meal, but he also would act like he’d just returned with a kill. They would pretend to skin it together, and he would build the imaginary fire bigger to accumulate the ashes to cook in. She would prepare the meat and tell him of all the other foods she had found that day and how she was preparing them. They would talk about the children they would have and the things they would teach them.
Yootu had been thinking about this since her last visit and couldn’t get his mind off of it. He’d gone over every detail. He could almost smell the fish cooking and feel her soft skin next to his. She was born before the great flood and remembered the time when the Provenger did not control their lives. Though Yootu had been born after their arrival, he had never cooperated nor followed Provenger ways. Yootu and Shainan were souls of the same spirit.
Yootu had been thinking about this since her last visit and couldn’t get his mind off of it. He’d gone over every detail. He could almost smell the fish cooking and feel her soft skin next to his. She was born before the great flood and remembered the time when the Provenger did not control their lives. Though Yootu had been born after their arrival, he had never cooperated nor followed Provenger ways. Yootu and Shainan were souls of the same spirit.
He’d not had red meat or taken prepared food from the Provenger almost the entire time aboard the Ship, since the time he realized they were eating people. He’d always insisted on meats that he could identify as a species that was non-human. And he always cooked it himself. For this reason, he ate mostly fish, a staple of his people for much of the season anyway.
The Provenger loved their meat in all forms, and accessing variety was not a problem for Yootu. He had even experimented with meats from other solar systems for a short time. He would cook it well, then eat a small portion of it, waiting a day or two. This was the way of his tribe with all new foods. After days of focus on how he felt, he would either continue if he felt well, or stop that food at the slightest sensation that something was off.
The Provenger loved their meat in all forms, and accessing variety was not a problem for Yootu. He had even experimented with meats from other solar systems for a short time. He would cook it well, then eat a small portion of it, waiting a day or two. This was the way of his tribe with all new foods. After days of focus on how he felt, he would either continue if he felt well, or stop that food at the slightest sensation that something was off.
One day while experimenting with something new, he had a bad experience. He was cooking a small portion of meat from some unknown animal from some unknown planet. It had been frozen when he put it on the hot surface, and he had turned his back to choose some seasonings he was allowed. When he faced it again, the chunk was trying to crawl across the cooking surface, making a kind of sucking sound that made Yootu feel that it might be in pain. He suspected some of his handlers had provided him with this new kind of meat, knowing he would find it horrifying. He disposed of it quickly and never experimented again. From that point on, he always asked for his food whole, so that he could identify exactly what it was. And he always requested something from Earth. He determined that he was not made, body or mind, for anything foreign to his world.
When Shainan arrived, they would live a day at home as a family. He couldn’t recall wanting anything more since he’d been captured, other than to be freed. The knowledge that she would soon arrive had him giddy, like a child, and he began to think that, perhaps, if he could spend it with Shainan, his life might take a turn and mean something. Perhaps the misery he’d endured would be infused with some joy.
When Shainan arrived, they would live a day at home as a family. He couldn’t recall wanting anything more since he’d been captured, other than to be freed. The knowledge that she would soon arrive had him giddy, like a child, and he began to think that, perhaps, if he could spend it with Shainan, his life might take a turn and mean something. Perhaps the misery he’d endured would be infused with some joy.
Bryock approached one of his observation windows. The look on his face made Yootu snap out of his fairytale and realize where he was. A feeling of dread overcame him. Bryock told Yootu, in his ancient language, that Shainan would not be here to see him. She had been released back to Earth and was gone for the foreseeable future.
Yootu’s first reaction was an overwhelming conflict of the rage at his confinement and not having control, combined with immediate joy that she was free. Then, in a moment, he became suspicious that none of it was true. He tried to question Bryock, but he would only repeat what he’d already said. Yootu begged to see her one last time but was repeatedly told by Bryock that she was already gone.
Slowly, waves of emotion, grief then anger then denial, all combined with the frustration of his captivity and hit him with tremendous inertia. A searing heat seemed to develop in the core of his body. In a rage, with his hands clenched before his face and his soul escaping through his screams, he looked at his arms through eyes stuffed with blood and fire. He thought he could see the sweat boiling from his skin. The barbarity in him grew, and he felt he couldn’t bear to live. Yootu hurled himself across the room at the unbreakable door of his cell, trying to get to Bryock, hitting it head first with such force that it gave way under his impact. His legs giving out below him, he fell back stumbling and collapsing to his knees. He wanted only death or revenge. In a delirium, his thoughts were of a vow: he would kill the next Provenger he could get his hands on, or die trying.
Slowly, waves of emotion, grief then anger then denial, all combined with the frustration of his captivity and hit him with tremendous inertia. A searing heat seemed to develop in the core of his body. In a rage, with his hands clenched before his face and his soul escaping through his screams, he looked at his arms through eyes stuffed with blood and fire. He thought he could see the sweat boiling from his skin. The barbarity in him grew, and he felt he couldn’t bear to live. Yootu hurled himself across the room at the unbreakable door of his cell, trying to get to Bryock, hitting it head first with such force that it gave way under his impact. His legs giving out below him, he fell back stumbling and collapsing to his knees. He wanted only death or revenge. In a delirium, his thoughts were of a vow: he would kill the next Provenger he could get his hands on, or die trying.
Yootu looked at the door in front of him as his vision blurred. It was made of a material the Provenger had told him could not be broken. It was bent and bulged outward from his impact. In the center, there was a crack. He fell off his knees and to his back. The trauma to his head sent a searing pain down his spine. He struggled for breath as he stared vacantly at the ceiling. He thought only of his love, of Shainan, as his heart stopped and death took him.
Chapter 20
Shainan Visits Cortez
Rick found himself home again, but this time something was different. Held closely in his arms was Shainan. Back on the Provenger ship, before being shut in the room to wait, Rick had been guaranteed that Shainan would be vaccinated against all modern human diseases to which she would have no prior immunity. Synster had instructed Rick that to prevent the vaccines from adversely effecting her body, she should be kept on a strict diet of whole foods to include only meats and vegetables for at least the next month. Synthetic chemicals, refined carbohydrates, and especially the deleterious proteins found in all forms of wheat could, through various pathways, make the membranes of her body more permeable to the vaccines she’d been given and shock her immune system that was responding to them. A proper diet was critical to prevent potential autoimmune reactions.
Rick was told Shainan would be briefed regarding what was happening. She was to remain at Rick’s home until he allowed her to leave. She was to obey him and learn what was appropriate for her behavior. She had already been informed that she was thousands of seasons in the future and that she would not see anyone she knew from her tribe, nor would she see the area in which she had lived. She was told they were all dead and it was all gone. Her life would be very different, and she would have to relearn everything.
Rick was told Shainan would be briefed regarding what was happening. She was to remain at Rick’s home until he allowed her to leave. She was to obey him and learn what was appropriate for her behavior. She had already been informed that she was thousands of seasons in the future and that she would not see anyone she knew from her tribe, nor would she see the area in which she had lived. She was told they were all dead and it was all gone. Her life would be very different, and she would have to relearn everything.
What no one knew, human nor Provenger, was that Synster had promised her that Yootu would be following some time afterward, as long as she obeyed the rules she was given. She was ready, she thought, as long as she had a hope that Yootu would be joining her soon. She had no way to fight them; she had learned that. She had only one option, and that was to cooperate and believe.
Rick tried to feel embarrassed and stupid about his crying so that he could stop. He couldn’t indulge himself in grief. He’d decided to dispense with all things that did not lead to the destruction of the Provenger. He must be single-minded.
Rick tried to feel embarrassed and stupid about his crying so that he could stop. He couldn’t indulge himself in grief. He’d decided to dispense with all things that did not lead to the destruction of the Provenger. He must be single-minded.
Shainan let go of him, and her arms flopped to her sides. Barnes and Nobelle growled for a moment but then, seeing Rick’s calm, walked cautiously over to them both. Shainan hadn’t seen a dog in ten years. She’d had many that she’d called her own. She felt they were part of her family and had missed them as much.
On seeing them, she immediately knew she was no longer on the ship. The Provenger hated dogs, all pets, in fact. They didn’t understand them; they weren’t capable of loving them. Shainan ignored her immediate instinct to remain aloof from them, and she dropped to her knees and held her hands out to be sniffed, eager to greet them. The dogs were cautious at first, smelling the Provenger-made clothing she wore, but they sensed her genuine nature and in a moment moved in to lick her face as she scuffed their necks. She made a breathy panting sound with a heaving chest. She swayed her hips side to side as they moved about each other, playing with them as she had as a child. The dogs were immediately touched with love for her.
On seeing them, she immediately knew she was no longer on the ship. The Provenger hated dogs, all pets, in fact. They didn’t understand them; they weren’t capable of loving them. Shainan ignored her immediate instinct to remain aloof from them, and she dropped to her knees and held her hands out to be sniffed, eager to greet them. The dogs were cautious at first, smelling the Provenger-made clothing she wore, but they sensed her genuine nature and in a moment moved in to lick her face as she scuffed their necks. She made a breathy panting sound with a heaving chest. She swayed her hips side to side as they moved about each other, playing with them as she had as a child. The dogs were immediately touched with love for her.
Rick wiped the last tear for Sarah from his cheek and stood there looking down on Shainan and his dogs with his mouth slightly open. This wasn’t exactly what he’d imagined when he considered the return of the Paleolithic woman. But after witnessing the joy beneath him, it made perfect sense. They both spoke the same language. It was an innate semantic, a language shared by two different species of the planet Earth, two species with a long and ancient history of living and working together. Perhaps she could tell the dogs how to use the toilet, Rick thought, if she even knew herself.
This love-fest between Shainan and his dogs came to an abrupt ending on Shainan’s terms. In a moment, she established her dominance over them as she decided their greeting was done. She stood and looked at Rick, directly in his eyes as if she wanted to remember his face forever. She then quickly looked around and spotted the sliding glass door and darted for it. It was evening now, and the subtle reflective glare showed her that the glass was in place. Rick thought she might run through it, but she put her hands out in front of her. They hit the glass as Rick followed up behind her. She began pleading, frantically. She obviously wanted to go outside. Rick could understand that. He reached down, unlatched, and slid the door away.
This love-fest between Shainan and his dogs came to an abrupt ending on Shainan’s terms. In a moment, she established her dominance over them as she decided their greeting was done. She stood and looked at Rick, directly in his eyes as if she wanted to remember his face forever. She then quickly looked around and spotted the sliding glass door and darted for it. It was evening now, and the subtle reflective glare showed her that the glass was in place. Rick thought she might run through it, but she put her hands out in front of her. They hit the glass as Rick followed up behind her. She began pleading, frantically. She obviously wanted to go outside. Rick could understand that. He reached down, unlatched, and slid the door away.
Shainan ran out into the yard, just past his patio of concrete pavers, and dropped to the ground. She ripped at the poorly kept sod with her hands and came up with fists of grass and soil which she put to her face while she drew in a deep breath. Rick followed her out, closed the door behind him so the dogs wouldn’t get out, and watched in amazement from the patio. Then, on her knees in a fetal position, she splayed out her arms as if to try to embrace the earth. She stretched out and rolled over twice, coming to a stop on her face. She was crying and laughing at the same time, and Rick thought it was a good thing he didn’t have any close neighbors. She remained that way for about five minutes as Rick let her have her reunion. It was about fifty degrees outside and dark now, and Rick began to grow concerned about her. Then all hell broke loose.
Shainan stopped her sobbing and jumped from the ground, whimpering and talking, obviously nothing of which Rick could understand. Then she began screaming and pulling at her clothes. She tore off her shirt, by pieces, directly from her body, not over her head, and tried to do the same with her shorts, but the fabric was too strong. She fell to the ground as she lowered them down and over her legs. No sooner did she have them in front of her, she began looking around for something, still ranting.
Shainan stopped her sobbing and jumped from the ground, whimpering and talking, obviously nothing of which Rick could understand. Then she began screaming and pulling at her clothes. She tore off her shirt, by pieces, directly from her body, not over her head, and tried to do the same with her shorts, but the fabric was too strong. She fell to the ground as she lowered them down and over her legs. No sooner did she have them in front of her, she began looking around for something, still ranting.
Shainan spotted the concrete pavers lining the patio and leapt for one. She picked it up with a single hand like she was grabbing a small stone, then turned on her clothing with murderous intentions. She knelt in front of her garments, apparently cursing in her language, epithets not spoken on Earth for perhaps ten millennium, and repeatedly plunged the heavy brick into the clothing until it turned into a shallow hole in the ground. Despite the cold, she worked up a sweat.
Rick continued to leave her to it. He realized she might have some issues to work out, but he was beginning to become alarmed. He had an absolutely beautiful naked woman in his back yard, pummeling her clothing into a hole with a large paver, uttering swears in a dead language with all the passion she could muster. Rick found himself glad to be on the sidelines during such an aggressive outburst.
Rick continued to leave her to it. He realized she might have some issues to work out, but he was beginning to become alarmed. He had an absolutely beautiful naked woman in his back yard, pummeling her clothing into a hole with a large paver, uttering swears in a dead language with all the passion she could muster. Rick found himself glad to be on the sidelines during such an aggressive outburst.
For the second time, he found himself a little fearful of this ancient woman. He wasn’t quite sure how the evening would be resolved, but he was pretty sure it wasn’t going to be normal. And then there was Carson. What would he tell Carson?
Rick turned toward his house, and there was Carson, standing behind the sliding glass doors with his hands in the pockets of his blue jacket and his mouth hanging open. He was staring at a beautiful naked woman in his back yard using a patio paver to hammer a hole into the ground.
Rick turned toward his house, and there was Carson, standing behind the sliding glass doors with his hands in the pockets of his blue jacket and his mouth hanging open. He was staring at a beautiful naked woman in his back yard using a patio paver to hammer a hole into the ground.
Carson had been out to the movies with his friends. Nothing special was going on afterwards, and despite numerous suggestions and invitations, he decided he’d just get home and go to bed. He wasn’t feeling that well, and he was tired. As he walked to the front door, he heard something in the back yard and thought it might be the dogs. He went inside expecting to see his dad at the computer working on his blog while ignoring the dogs who wanted to get in. Carson walked through the kitchen, into the living room, turned left and up to the sliding glass doors to find the dogs on the inside looking out, whining with the occasional bark. He looked past his father to see what he was watching. It was quite a spectacle.
Sometimes his dad surprised him. It was typical of him to have innovative ideas, eccentric interests, and unconventional projects going on. But this time, Carson thought, he really had to hand it to him. He never doubted that his dad had things under control; he just couldn’t imagine what the explanation would be. So he stood quietly watching, waiting for it. He thought for a second he might turn and walk away, give him time to straighten things up. But then he thought he’d stick around to see what happened. Besides, whoever this woman was, she was pretty hot.
Carson watched his dad put his head in his hands and slowly massage his temples. He walked slowly to the door and looked up at Carson who asked through the double paned glass, “Should I let the dogs out?”
Carson watched his dad put his head in his hands and slowly massage his temples. He walked slowly to the door and looked up at Carson who asked through the double paned glass, “Should I let the dogs out?”
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