The Second Intelligent Species: The Cyclical Earth (29 page)

“Nick, you know I don’t believe in God because of my science. I didn’t talk to God when I was in that tunnel because I know he doesn’t exist. In my opinion, religions seem to be based on legends, and cannot be proven by any evidence, so that’s why…”

Maria let go of Beth’s hand, stepped back and crossed her arms.

Beth stopped briefly, losing her train of thought. “It doesn’t matter. Science has suffered a sizeable setback. It will be centuries before man can get back to where he was before this happened. With the future the kids will have, they will need faith.

Maria could hold her tongue no longer. “Beth, you think you know a lot about science, right?” She held Beth’s hand again.

“Yea, probably more than most. I was a teacher,” Beth answered.

“Well …” Maria hesitated. “When I was studying to be an X-ray tech, for two, three days they taught about the atom, and all the things it was made of. They talked about Einstein, parallel universes, eleven dimensions and particles that they haven’t even seen yet. It was all over my head, and I knew I would never see it again. But what if…” She paused again. “What if, one of those extra dimensions, is where God lives? What if one of those particles they haven’t even seen yet, is proof of God? Maybe we’re part of God, or he’s part of us. Maybe we’re both connected in a quantum dimension that science didn’t have time to discover.”

Beth was silent.

Maria continued, “Isn’t it possible that God does exist and you haven’t found him yet? Isn’t there still a chance you could open your mind to God?”

All three of us stood aghast looking at Maria. She had seldom spoken, let alone spoken out.

Beth stuck to her guns. “Unfortunately, I know what will happen to me if I die giving birth. My knowledge of science leads me to believe that when I die, my consciousness will become nonexistent. I will have no knowledge of ever being. My body will rot and …”

“Now that’s enough.” She was quitting already, and I wasn’t going to put up with it. “You’re talking stupid. You’ve got two experienced nurses who both have helped deliver babies before. You’re going to be fine. Now talk about something happier… Please.”

She rubbed my arm. “I think it’s going to be a long delivery, hon. You better get some sleep while you can.”

I slept beside Beth and was only awoken occasionally by her moaning.

Chapter 45

Praying

I was startled by Beth’s scream. “What’s wrong?” I asked Sarah. “How long have I been asleep?”

Beth grabbed my hand and squeezed.

“Are you okay?” My hand went numb.

Sarah took me aside. “Beth’s having a dry birth, Nick. This is going to be hard on her. You really need to be by her side. She’s been in hard labor for hours now. We’ve got to get this kid out of her.”

“What I can I do?”

Sarah asked, “Are you an atheist like she is? If not, then praying would be my suggestion.”

Her contractions spanned only about two minutes apart for what seemed like hours.

“Maria, are those towels dry yet?” Sarah asked. Beth had already soaked the ones under her with blood.

“Nick you better stay by her side from now on,” Sarah said.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

Beth latched onto my hand. “I’m hemorrhaging, babe. I’ve been at this too long and my old body isn’t up to it. You’re going to have raise this baby by yourself, sweetheart. I think that once I’m done with this I won’t have much more left.”

With a shaky voice I tried to scold her. “You just think positive and don’t you dare give up. Damn it! You know I won’t be any good at raising a kid. I need you. Now you just stop thinking stupid thoughts and try to relax and let that kid slip out.”

She tried to laugh, and her fake smile reminded me of the good times before this nightmare.

Instantly I was transported to a time of camping amongst the forest, when they held lush green leaves, not just scorched trunks, void of branches.

I remembered our grandbabies’ faces when Ninny bought them a new swing that Papa had to put together.

I had thousands of memories about hunting trips I had taken, but the times when she accompanied me were the most memorable.

I remembered all the fun the two of us had at the fundraisers for the fire department. I was so proud to be seen with her. Her beautiful red hair draped over my arm as we danced. Of course my other hand was on her cute little ass. Everyone who watched us was envious of our love and lust.
In fact, she was in every good time that I could remember.

“Okay, finally. We’ve got crowning… That a girl. Push … Push…Push…” Sarah said.

In between breaths, Beth yelled, “I am… Whew, Whew, Whew!” she continued her metronomic breathing.

I knew Beth was giving it everything she had. She said she had one more job to do, and I was watching her do it.

“Come on, honey, just a little more.” I looked at Sarah. The same fear I felt, was clear on her face.

“Maria, bring some more towels, and pack her tightly please.” Sarah was holding our child’s head in her in her hands. A few seconds later she said, “It’s a boy.” She immediately handed our son to Maria and turned her attentions to Beth.

Beth and I were crying in unison as violently as possible, without making a sound.

Once she caught her breath she ordered, “Name him Phoenix.” She gasped for more air. “I want you to concentrate on teaching Marcos… all the survival skills you know…he will be the one who teaches the young ones. Once the elders pass on… he will teach your son. It’s your duty to teach him… so he can teach Phoenix.”

“Just hold on and you can help me. You will be fine after you rest.” I choked for more words.

“Shh… Maria has enough milk for both Phoenix and Emanuel… Sarah and Pete said they will take Tara.” She trembled, but continued to speak. “Maria and Jorge will help out with the baby.” Her breathing increased, but speaking was more important than air. Tell Marcos…” She took three short breaths, and then slipped away without kissing me goodbye. My emotional mucus plug had come out, and like Beth, I bled out there that night.

I felt a sudden horrible emptiness come over me for the first time in my life. Sarah handed me my new son. I looked at him, scarcely able to make out his thin, but obviously red hair in the dim light.

I kissed her, then him, as I wept.

Maria said prayers for her soul, and then slipped the necklace with the cross on Beth’s neck.

Chapter 46

Alone

All I could do was sit there and watch as Pete dug her grave. A sand pile behind the steel building would be Beth’s final resting place, for no other reason other than easy digging. Pete’s body had emaciated to the point his muscles ached. He struggled, but still found the strength to help Maria and Sarah lower Beth into the shallow grave. Her body, wrapped in a cocoon of beaver skins, soon disappeared under a pile of sand meant to bond cement to make concrete.

“No! We can’t leave her here. Something will dig her up. It’s not deep enough.” I ran to the pile and started pulling sand off the mound.

Pete grabbed me, “Nick, I found some sidewalk tiles on the other side of the building. We are going to place them over her grave as a marker. They will keep anything out.”

I knelt in the sand thinking. “Okay, but I want to place them. You guys take a break. This is something I want to do alone.”

Pete helped me carry them all over to the sand pile, and then joined the others.

My main concern was to keep animals away from her body. As I placed the tiles on sand, I interlocked each one as tightly as possible, lifting each one several times. My fingers bled from jamming them between pieces. My back hurt and pain radiated down my legs, but I continued. This act of covering her body to prevent scavengers wasn’t enough. How could I mark her grave so others would know who she was? Maybe letting Maria put the cross on her neck was a bad idea. But it wouldn’t matter to Beth now. I didn’t have the energy to get fancy. I just wanted to finish. I had to stop and catch my breath.

“You okay over there? Take your time,” Sarah said.

“Almost done.” I forced myself back to work. My chest pains had come back about the time Phoenix was crowning. I’d learned to ignore them, but these were the worst. A half dozen blocks remained and I wouldn’t quit until it was finished. I dropped with five left.

“Hey, you ok?” Sarah said running to my aid.

“Yeah, I just need a longer break.” I couldn’t catch my breath, but tried to get back up.

She held my wrist as she guided me to the ground. “Sit down and we will finish that. Now slow down your breathing and relax.”

“No, I want to make sure it’s right.” My left arm went numb, and both hands tingled. “I have
to finish this now.” My breathing escalated. I tried to stand.

“You’ve got to slow your breathing down. You’re hyperventilating.”

“She deserves…better…than this.” I tried to yell, but didn’t have the wind.

Sarah held my chin with one hand. “Nick, you have to calm down!

I needed more air, and pushed her hand away. I needed to breathe, but her hand was obstructing me. I thrashed trying to push her away.

She firmly held my head in both hands. “Nick, calm down and listen to me. I’m going to help you breathe. I’m going to place my mouth on yours and we are going to breath into each other’s lungs. Do you understand? Trust me.” She then lowered her mouth to meet mine.

I tried to fight her, but couldn’t.

Her breath was hot, but I couldn’t get enough of it. I sucked for more. She held the seal so tight, controlling my intake, no fresh air got through. After three rounds of controlled breathing, my fight evaporated. I accepted what she was doing. Her lungs took the place of a brown bag. After about a minute she pulled away.

“There now keep taking slow deep breaths. Slow…That’s good.”

“I want to be buried alongside her.” I took another measured inhalation.

“You’re not going to die today. You’re just having a panic attack. You’ve been through a lot lately. Do you have any pains in your neck or arm?”

“No, but my chest feels like someone is standing on it. I feel like I am dying. I feel so bad that I haven’t done enough to keep everyone from starving to death. If Beth had been fed better, she would probably still be alive.” My breathing increased.

“Slow down. Slow down your breathing and be quiet a minute, I want to listen to your heart.” Sarah lowered her head, placing her ear on my chest. “Everyone quiet!” Everyone obeyed, except for the insects. She kept moving her head to different areas of my chest. Then she moved to my back.

Sarah backed away and knelt on the sand. “First of all let me say this: Beth might have survived if she had more food, maybe she was just too old. She did have enough energy to give you a son. Phoenix is going to need you. Marcos still needs you. You still have a job to do.” She held my hand. “You will get the time to do it.” She put her other hand on my leg. “But you have to take it easy. That means you get to ride Jorge from now on.” The woman, who just open mouth kissed me for two minutes, looked at me with a wink of reassurance.

As doomed as I thought I was, I looked at Jorge, his big stupid grin looking me right in the face. I burst out laughing, tears running down my
face. Everyone joined in, hugging and kissing me when I needed it most. Again I felt drained emotionally, but I needed it. We were family, and I felt loved.

Pete grabbed a stone, so did Sarah and Maria. The children tried to lift them. I watched while I rested. I knew one of them would pinch a finger, but I let it go on. The last of the blocks were placed, securing Beth’s resting place.

The sun poked out from behind thick clouds. Her grave looked very nice and secure, nothing more than she would have wanted. Maria wanted to place a cross to mark it. I said no.

I saw a shadow move along the road in the distance. It was Marcos running, dangling an opossum by the tail in each hand. He found us.

To my left, one of the babies dropped a stone on her fingers while piling stones up like the big people did. The rest came to her rescue.

I left them alone, except to say, “Sometimes we need to learn things the hard way.” Then I lay down to take a much-needed nap.