Second Chances (97 page)

“And the smell doesn't go away for a looong time,” Mitch said. “And don't get him started on piss,” he teased.

Sam groaned again. “I got whizzed on by one Brachiosaur, and you'd think a skunk convention had been around,” he growled. Mitch chuckled.

“Okay, all this talk of bodily fluids...let's just change the subject shall we?” Sandra asked.

“Gladly,” Mitch said. “We're planning a holiday. A day, maybe two when the migration passes. Good food, dancing, the works. Our own version of harvest day,” he said. She nodded.

Sam grinned. He'd had a few liaisons in his travels all year but nothing concrete. Things were looking up. “Cool,” he said.

“I thought you'd like that. Even if you'll get your toes trod on,” Mitch said, slapping the man on the back.

Sam snorted. “I'll wear my steel toed boots then,” he said. Mitch chuckled.

------*------

Buck called in the warning the herds were passing Iron a day in advance, long enough for Mitch, Anne, Janet and the others to put the final touches on the planned holiday into motion. Jean and Janet had baked like crazy, and Vance had plenty of beer and alcohol on tap. Hejira and Sandra still teased them about the lack of wine, but they couldn't have everything.

When Phyllis warned them the herds were on the horizon the residents gathered in the motor pool and barns and then rode out in a parade to the walls to watch. A few people joked about the need for lawn chairs and popcorn; the easy going chatter helped everyone to relax.

Ducky bustled about with his binoculars and radio running about from one post to another taking notes of this creature or that. Maggie and Jeff did as well; it seemed all the animal people were excited about the various species.

Some of the audience seemed bored until they realized two things: the kids were getting into it, and they were seeing new alien species for the first time.

“I wish we'd been allowed to go out and explore more!” Ducky lamented, fumbling with his camera.

“Relax Doc, we did do a lot. I know Sam and Paul sent you video, pictures, and samples all the time. Plus all the data we picked up from the other communities,” Vance said.

“I...there is so much to process!” Ducky waved an impotent hand. “Each day more and more!”

“Well, you'll have all winter to process it,” Cassie told him.

“Not all winter,” Maggie said, turning to smile a bit. “He's going to be a bit busy from time to time with me,” she said with a coy smile. Ducky had the grace to blush as Cassie chuckled.

There were several new alien beings seen in migration, but the most striking were the four-legged spindly things three- to four-meters tall. They had four spindly legs that ended in broad feet much like an elephant or rhino. The body reminded Maggie of an insect with a thorax sticking out the rear. They had two long arms that ended in spear claw tips in what had to be the front of the animal. The creatures waved the arms like insect legs, sometimes rearing them up in a threat display or using them to spear material and then bring it daintily to the mouth's vertical orifice near the trunk. A thin thorax stuck out the rear and was covered in hard skin like armor.

The most prominent thing on the creature was a tall vertical ovoid that was half translucent flesh backed by darker flesh. Inside the translucent ovoid bubble was a stalk, with polyp-like structures arrayed sticking out the sides. Two whip-like antennas stuck out at the base of that structure. The creatures were a dark gray in color, trimmed and spotted in shades of green and yellow for the larger creatures and shades of blue for the smaller. The ovoid was also colored in a translucent version of the trim color.

“That's an eye!” Ducky said, blinking in consternation.

“Is it?” Cassie asked.

“The giant polyps inside, they are photocells I bet. That's how the thing can see! That's amazing!”

“If you say so, Doc...” Sam said as he shook his head. He twisted the cap on his beer, cracking it open. He held it away from his body to let the fizz bubble out a bit. “You know what? To me it looks like one of those Dark Protoss mechs but in flesh,” he said.

Maggie turned to eye him. He shrugged. “Well, it does.”

Mitch smiled indulgently. He watched the animals but then turned to make sure everyone was having a good time. From the look of it the parents were starting to get into things, pointing out this animal or that to the kids.

“So, a holiday?” Sandra asked, wrapping her arm in his. “What else do you have planned?”

“Oh, a barbeque later,” he said, smiling. “Hot dogs and burgers, the basics. I think Maggie wants some drumsticks though, and I know Jean planned a few more creative dishes,” he said with a shrug. “I'm looking forward to the corn on the cob,” he said with a grin.

“Comfort food,” Sandra said with a nod, resting her head on his shoulder. “Oh wow!” she said, pointing to something that looked like a walking butterfly as it came out from behind the screening brush. Behind it more and more came, a glittering wall of color. Other people were gasping or clapping at the view.

“Don't look now, but the watchers are being watched,” Mitch said, pointing up. She turned to follow his finger. She blinked at the bird-like creatures sitting on the structure of the great wall. “Can they do that?”

“The wire's electrified, not the concrete or the metal supports,” Mitch said. He watched the thing, most likely a relative of the Archaeopteryx cock its head at them then swoop down to pick up some fallen food. It flew back up, startling a few people by the close encounter.

“A bird,” Sandra said. Mitch nodded. “The Jurassic equivalent of a pigeon. Great.”

Mitch snorted.

“So what else do you have planned?” she finally asked during a lull in the migration parade.

“Oh, this and that. Simple stuff. Karaoke as well as some live performances by the musically gifted among us,” he said. She nodded. They had a few people who could play the guitar or sing. Live entertainment sounded good. “I understand a lady wanted a bonfire and dancing...” he caught her sudden grin. “And her feet trodden on.” She made a face at him. “I've arranged a series of sitters, including me,” he said. She pouted. “But not more than an hour or two each, that way everyone gets a chance to have fun and relax,” he said. She nodded, eyes gleaming. “I think Jim's got the fireworks ironed out, so we'll see if he can deliver after dark,” he murmured.

“Awesome,” she said softly.

------*------

The next day everyone seemed relaxed and slow to wake up. Many slept in since they'd had a late night. Mitch could understand. A few people were a bit sore from all the activities, and more than one person had overindulged and had either slept in or were lying low with a hangover. He smirked at Bob and shook his head. The man looked like hell. He was also putting on weight; he had a much bigger paunch around the middle. If he wasn't careful, Janet or Sandra might catch him and put him on a diet and exercise routine.

He was a bit stiff from dancing with Sandra; she'd gotten him on the floor during a Pitbull and Ke$ha song, something about Timber that had nearly broken him with the pace. She'd had a ball though, so he'd enjoyed it. And he'd enjoyed their other activities later on that evening. He smiled softly at that. Unfortunately, they'd had to get up early, Sandra had been called off to duty so he took over with the animal duties to give Maggie and Ducky some extra time together.

With Sandra busy on a radio call, Mitch took a late lunch in the great room with the others. He took his turn helping out with the handout and cleaning, then Janet chased him off to eat as well. He made a plate and then looked around for a place to sit. He found Paul and Frances surprisingly without kids, so he took a seat near them. He offered to take all the kids for a day to give the parents time off despite the family time they'd had together during the migration holiday.

“No offense, Mitch, we know you mean well, but the last time you did that it didn't work out so well,” Frances said, shaking her head. “The kids are still traumatized by the picnic. No.”

“Okay, just offering,” Mitch said, spreading his hands apart as he retreated from the idea. “For the record though, that one wasn't my idea; I was just in on it.” He shook his head. “I know, whatever,” he made a face and paused for a moment. “You folks deserve some alone time,” he said finally. She nodded and then smiled to him.

“Thanks,” she said. She looked at Paul who shrugged. “When we need a sitter and the older kids aren't available, we'll look you up.”

“No problem,” Mitch said. “Ester could use a break too. That was what I was shooting for.”

“Getting yourself in over your head you mean,” Paul said with a snort. “I know these holy terrors. No way could you handle them all.”

“Oh, if I had the right incentive, like, um, driving a truck...” Mitch said with a grin. Paul snorted. Frances glared at him though. He turned to her. “What? What'd I do now?”

“You know perfectly well what,” she growled. “Those kids are way too young to do that and you know it! They could barely see over the dashboard!”

Mitch snorted, treasuring the memory of a couple of the little ones who'd insisted on driving on their own and working the gas, brake and wheel. They'd had to stretch quite a bit to do it, and it'd been comical. Fortunately, he'd kept a hand on the wheel the entire time.

The smarter kids had let him sit in the seat with them in their lap. It had been a fun encounter for all involved.

“I could give them a tour or get their help washing the trucks and gear down,” Paul mused.

“Oh yeah, that's all we need. A bunch of sopping wet kids shivering in the cold,” Frances growled at him. Paul merely smiled. “No,” she said. “They catch the flu and make me take care of them and I'll
kill
you.”

“But honey, you'd look good in a bikini!” Paul said. Mitch chuckled as Frances glared at the both of them. She finally sighed and got up. “No,” she said, even more firmly than before. “You should have thought of that in the summer. Not now.” She took Paul's plate with her own and left. Mitch shook his head as Paul watched her go.

“So much for that idea,” Mitch said.

“Look, Mitch, I appreciate what you are doing and all, but we're okay. We're truckers; we're used to it. A trucker family. It's hard I know. Scary here. But I wouldn't trade it for a moment. If you hadn't come along, I'd still be out there on foot hunting and gathering or worse some dinos dinner,” Paul said turning to Mitch.

Mitch looked in his eyes. “You deserve a break. Something special. You guys earned it. I'm proud of all of you,” Mitch said softly.

Paul looked at him for a long drawn out moment. Finally the other man exhaled slowly. “And you don't? Mitch, you've busted your tail right along with the rest of us. I know you don't think you've done enough. I tend to be one of the people who disagree. And yeah,” he waved a hand. “I've spouted off a time or two. I was blowing off steam and you know it. But you've stepped right up and filled my shoes to give me time off. I appreciate that. So thanks but we're fine.” He turned his head to spot his wife chatting animatedly with Selma.

“I still want to think of something,” Mitch growled. “And yeah, I fully agree with your delivery plans. We do need to iron out the details.”

“Well,” Paul said, getting to his feet. “You've got all winter to figure it out. Come spring we're back in the saddle again,” he said. He pretended to tip his hat to Mitch and then walked off whistling. He smacked Frances on the rear making her yelp in protest, then grinned slyly at her over his shoulder as he sauntered away. Mitch snorted, watching him go.

------*------

During the morning meeting, Jolie reported on the Tropics chatter. Mitch scowled but Anne and Sandra waved him to silence when he asked to move on. “No, I want to hear this,” Sandra said firmly, shutting him up.

Jolie blinked and then nodded to the doctor. “I haven't talked to Doctor Pierre directly. But from what I've overheard it is some sort of alien parasitic plant native to the tropics.”

“A plant? What's so dangerous about a plant?” Bob asked.

“Plants can be poisonous. Like mushrooms. Some can be toxic and you don't know it for weeks,” Hejira replied, looking at the man. He blinked at her and then looked away, clearly embarrassed.

“It's a fruit plant, like a bush. Colorful, I've heard them talk about how they've made all sorts of treats and even fermented it for drinks,” Jolie said. She gulped. “I asked Ed back in the summer if he could send me one of the alcoholic drinks they made with it. He said he'd do it next year.”

“Obviously not going to happen,” Hejira said firmly. Sandra, Janet, and Anne nodded.

“Okay, so it's edible. You eat it? Then what? Poison?”

“It's...” Jolie gulped. “It's hard to talk about,” she said. “A fruit, but inside is a parasite covered in the sweet fruit meat and a soft outer rind. When you eat it,” she gulped again, looking a bit green. She shifted uncomfortably and then looked at her tablet.

“Let me see that,” Hejira said. She took the notes and read it briefly, then winced. Her eyebrows rose. “It's as much your department as mine, Doc,” she said, still reading. “From what it says here, the host's digestive juices digest the outer rind. When it gets to the inside and the body begins to process the meat it awakens the eggs.”