The Foundling Saga: Revelation (17 page)

At this point, several other men appeared and secured the rebels hands. The rebels appeared shocked at the sight of Kurk and the others lying dead.

Some of the foresters were told led away from the scene whilst others helped their injured. Tane came over to Keller, who had gotten to his feet, and threw her arms around him. “Keller.” She said, almost in tears. He held her. Then he said “Let’s find Bula.”

One of the camouflaged men stopped them. “Sorry Keller, we need to take you to Plymouth Rock.” Keller looked at him and almost pleaded, “We have a friend injured here. He has a renegade uniform - he needs help.”

Keller then saw Bula being helped along by two of the renegades who were under the guidance of one of the governors’ men. Tane and Keller explained the situation. Bula had been mistaken for a renegade due to his uniform. Tane led Bula away to receive first aid with the help of one of Carla’s friends.

Carla herself had a bloody nose and was being comforted by the other foresters. All in all the renegades were responsible for the deaths of nine people in the settlement. It was a real tragedy in such a small community.

Jay came over to Keller. He had been speaking with the governor’s guards and told Keller that from what he had heard had happened back at Macau B and several other locations, Rayleigh was well rid of this man and his followers. There was no joy in this statement as he looked around at the aftermath of their ordeal. Keller could see that he was still in shock. He wondered if Jay would ever get over this.

The prisoners were flown out in some large helis that arrived from beyond the hills. The helis brought with them some medical teams who immediately went to assist the affected foresters. Tane came over to Keller, who was talking to some of the governor’s guards in the main circle. Tane had heard that Keller was one of those being flown out before shortnight. “Bula is okay. He’s been sedated but he’s fine otherwise. We just wanted him to sleep,” she paused then held Keller tight “Keller, It was a brave thing you did when they threatened the children. Another minute out there and you could have been dead,” she looked up at him and nodded her head sadly and said “Goodbye, Keller.” He held her tightly for a little longer. He wondered if he would ever see her again.

Tane, Bula and some of the governor’s guards were going to spend shortnight in the settlement and would then move on. Keller felt he was being summoned to Government House, rather than invited, but he accepted that he needed to get to Plymouth Rock to stand a chance of returning home.

The news of Kurk’s death was already putting out any other sparks of rebellion elsewhere. Keller heard that the Governor had found that several of her junior officials were involved. This had turned from an act of clandestine sabotage to an outright attempt to take control of Government House by force. There had been casualties on both sides but Kurk’s renegades had been defeated.

In Fourtrees Prison, Kurk had control but hadn’t counted on some of the prisoners being loyalists. This had caused rioting which had gotten out of control as soon as Kurk and his men used lethal force. In the end, Kurk’s men had been overwhelmed and fled, choosing instead to pursue Keller. The sight of so many dead bodies outside the prison had quelled any thirst for rebellion amongst many of the Macau B sympathisers who seemed to realise that nothing was worth the bloodletting they had witnessed.

Keller finally met his birth Mother. His heli had touched down in the grounds of what was clearly a grand building in comparison to others in Plymouth Rock. It was certainly modest in terms of the old palaces and government houses that had been built in the boom years of Earth’s history. Those times were over. It was, however, still the centre of this planets democratic offices.

Governor Whelehan welcomed him. She took his hand and walked him into her private office. She held him for a long time and there were tears on both sides. Keller felt for her. He couldn’t imagine what it must have been like to have left a child in such a manner. They ate together. They both asked many questions of each other but particularly the Governor. His birth mother was keen to hear of his upbringing and was glad that he had such a loving mother in Nola. Keller was asked to stay for longnight, he of course agreed. In the morning they ate breakfast together. The Governor had some engagements and was out for several hours before she returned. She then returned with Ash and introduced him as her security adviser and future husband. Ash had recovered well and Keller found them to clearly be fond of each other.

They spent several days together, sometimes Keller with his birth mother on her own, sometimes with all three. Eventually, he said to Ash, that he needed to go home and didn’t want to hurt the Governor.

“Keller, she knows you want to go home,” Ash had said. “Its fine, just talk to her.”

They booked him on a flight due a six days later.

The Governor had a more work to do each day and he could see she had a world to run. Ash had told Keller that the Government would need to try and address the concerns that had led to the support, albeit limited, that Kurk had enjoyed. His birth mother would lead this effort. There had been concern from other worlds. Not just worry about the stability of Rayleigh, but also they wanted to know how this dissatisfaction had fomented, concerned that it may happen on their own worlds. The fact that a conflict had escalated so quickly, although it had clearly been planned for a while, was a frightening thought. It would focus the various Governors’ minds for some time. The death toll on Rayleigh during this short period of rebellion was 132. This level of violence was unheard of. The Governors pledged to ensure it wouldn’t happen again in their lives. The loss of so many people ensured, to some extent, that the beliefs of Kurk and the likes of him would be associated with these deaths. The worlds were still trying to maintain populations, and one day perhaps grow them again, so any deliberate loss of life was an aberration. This value attributed to life was one of the unique aspects of this period of mankind’s history.

Keller travelled home. His goodbyes were a joyful occasion as the Governor felt blessed that she had finally met her son. That, in itself, was a pleasure she thought she would never have. Ash took Keller to his transport and bade him farewell. He promised him he would look after the Governor and made Keller swear to keep in touch by whatever medium was possible.

Keller’s arrival back at Suffolk Road was overwhelming. His mother Nola wouldn’t let go of him for a long time and alternated between anger and joy. He didn’t understand the anger. His Aunty Ida took him to one side and told him that such a period of worry could sometimes make people a little angry but it would go eventually (as long as he didn’t wander off again). Ida told to him to remember that, to Nola, he was more than a son, he was her foundling, her gift.

His Uncle Cormic was away when he arrived back at the field. He had, along with some others, been scouting for a new field for the family. In earlier years they had moved more frequently, but they made a sombre decision to remain in place for longer in deference to the missing Keller, in case he returned. When Cormic arrived back the next day, he took Keller in such a bear hug that Keller thought his rib-cage was in danger. His uncle apologised quite emotionally for letting his guard down the night Keller was taken. He had known Keller hadn’t gone off on his own whim. He knew him too well, despite the notes they later found. He also knew that the notes were, at least, an indication that he was alive.

Cormic was, however, immensely proud of what he heard Keller had done.

“We need to bring you back down to Earth - Suffolk Road Earth,” he had said when they sat down to eat later. Nola had served up a fine rabbit stew and they sat around the fire talking and laughing, filling Keller in on local gossip and teasing him for being an ‘Outsider spaceman’.

As the evening wore on, some of the families returned to their own tents. Cormic smiling, sat next to Keller. He looked over at Keller’s mother, who hadn’t left his side since the food was served. Ida and Nerys were helping her out so that she could make the most of being beside her beloved son again.

“Nola,” he said at last. “I may be mistaken, but I think that grin is going to be permanent.”

They laughed and Keller gave his mother a hug. “Don’t let him tease you mother. You can smile all you want, I am just glad to be back here with you eating good food again. They eat fish everyday on Rayleigh, and I thought I might end up looking like one if I stayed.”

Nola hugged him again. Cormic chuckled warmly, “Keller I do believe you might be confused about where you home is, here or out there,” he said, pointing up at the sky.

“Uncle Cormic, this is my home. My family are here. They make it my home. If we move upfield or downfield, it will still be my home as long as my family are there.”

Cormic’s eyes seemed to be watering. He put his hand on Keller’s shoulder and managed to say “Right. Very true, well said,” before he made an excuse to go and add wood to the nearby fire, which actually didn’t need it.

Keller excused himself from Nola. He got up to speak with Merna who had returned from taking some of the plates to the stream to rinse. Merna smiled her natural smile. Keller felt that she had known he would come across, which emboldened him, though he wasn’t sure why. Merna spoke first, “Keller, it’s been lovely today. The family are so happy again. I’m happy again. It’s been hard for all of us. How can you sleep so long like you did last night? And how come you still look tired?” Merna laughed.

She is teasing me a little, he thought. He liked this. “Merna, I did think about you when I was away. I had no idea if you would be settled on my return.”

The firelight danced off her face and he couldn’t quite see what was behind her smile. “Keller, are you asking me to walk with you?” She held out her hand.

This took him by surprise. He couldn’t always read the signs but this one was clear. “Of course, come.”

Keller caught Cormic’s eye as he left. Cormic grinned and nodded back. Nola looked away pretending to be busy with something on her skirt, as though to offer him privacy, but Keller could see a gentle smile on her face as she turned away. They left the tent hand in hand.

They walked between the tents, still hand in hand, down to the stream and sat down leaning against each other.

They talked for several hours, huddled together against the chill. He wanted to know everything that had happened since he left and of course she asked him about his own adventures. He heard some laughter nearby at one point and knew a couple of younger ones had sneaked up on them. He then heard his Aunt Nerys whispering a scolding to the youngsters and their sounds faded as she led them away. The older ones were giving them time and Keller appreciated the gesture.

They didn’t quite wait for dawn. Keller took Merna back to her tent which she shared with two of her aunts. They kissed goodbye and held each other in a warm embrace. Merna then made him agree to call on her later in the day and, she added, every day after that. She went inside smiling back at him as the tent flap closed. Keller watched her go.

He felt euphoric as he walked back to his tent. He was home with his family. His relationship with this wonderful girl he had admired for so much of his youth had finally blossomed. Dawn was already here and he could smell the wood fire and hear the cooing of wood pigeons. A new day. He felt content inside. This was his new beginning.

Certain events change a person. Some change a nation, some a world. The leaving of a baby for safe-keeping in Suffolk Road was a significant event that allowed this foundling to grow to manhood. It was an event that changed the worlds.

The continued existence of each of the human-occupied worlds was precarious to varying degrees. This uncertainty was due to natural barriers, such as lack of natural resources, climatic extremes, population, distance
etc.
However, as the apocalyptic war on Earth had shown in the past, mankind could create its own self-inflicted barriers to survival at any time.

Earth didn’t have enough uncontaminated areas for a large population and the off-world colonies were too small to be both advanced and totally independent at the same time. Cooperation between worlds and within worlds would allow mutual survival and provide a future for mankind to once again establish itself with a firmer foothold on the universe.

Following the “Rayleigh Incident”, as it became known, the Governors of the worlds had a rare conference at the New Exeter hub. The chairman of the Governors, a rotating role, borrowed a number of Earthly quotes when he aired the following views at the opening speech of the conference:

“We should all know…..that cooperation is not a matter of choice but a matter of necessity. We also know that necessity is the mother of invention…that invention is a means to our survival.. and that, fellow Governors and peoples of the worlds…that very survival, for the time being, is triumph enough…”

Ida’s Rabbit Stew Pot

As carefully sewn onto cloth by Aunty Ida as a young woman

For 6 People

3 Rabbits,

2 Fennel Bulbs

6 Large Sliced Carrots

3 Large Quartered Onions

Apple Cider

Fennel Seeds

Rosemary, Salt

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Cut Rabbits into Joints

Soak In Cold Water for 1 Hour

Fry Joints for 10 minutes

Fry Onions & Fennel Seeds for 3 minutes

Add Water, Cider & Rosemary

Gently Stew for 5 Hours

Add Salt to taste, Serve