“If your daughter is to come into danger with us then we think you should be with. Will you join us?”
“You need my protection? What of my people?”
“They are safe with so many here to help them.”
Her eyes showed her contempt, but Robert was not clear whether it was for the agents or for her own people. “I shall speak to my father.”
When she returned she had a small roll with her and a longer knife than she usually carries. Robert recognised it as being a product of their land. Curtly she told them, “We leave now.” They were more than happy to comply.
For the first time Fiera showed her nervousness when she saw how they would travel. She suggested that she run under them, but Cherine told her the vehicle will travel ten times as fast as she can run. When she saw her daughter enter without showing any fear, she forced herself to follow her.
It took her half an hour to unfreeze once they’d risen into the sky. As she saw them pass out of the land she knew, she gazed at her daughter with a bleak look, as if wondering what she’d committed them to. Soon the excitement and discussions of the others had her examining the terrain underneath.
“What are those things?”
“Plants that have grown big like trees. We entered it, but found it too dangerous to walk through. We’re flying over it because it is the direct route to where we want to go.”
“How do you know where you want to go since you say you have never been there before?” Alvers showed her their map and explained it for her. She pointed at San Francisco. “I think it is where our people came from, they spoke of water that came into the land. The stories tell of many deaths and no food.”
As they travelled south and slightly west, to their left was a peak and below them a river. The recent rains had swollen it so that it must have been larger than it used to be in the olden days. They saw a rising clear of plants and landed. The sun had almost set and they still needed to cook their food using the solar cookers. No tents were put up as they would sleep within their e-car. Everyone was in a good mood and jokes were shared and Jivers half sang half chanted an old song, the strange words and moody tune making the night and stars turn into a mystery that represented for each of them their awed wondering about their place in their universe.
Alvers was awake, maintaining the energy shield when the darkness greyed with pre-dawn light. With an exclamation he woke them and they stared with amazement. Because of the presence of so many healers, the e-car was almost completely covered by plants growing alongside it. Alvers had to climb out to cut the vines before they could lift into the air.
Since Bobby is only gradually learning the self discipline that is needed for any society to survive and prosper, he soon made felt his boredom and his energetic exploration of everything within the e-car soon made it uncomfortable for everyone. Cherine suggested they land on the beach for him to run around for a while. When they landed, Jivers insisted everyone stay inside until he’s scouted the land for any dangers. As soon as he walked back towards them, waving that all is well, Robert raised Bobby and sent him flying to the beach. He turned to look back, saw everyone is preparing to come out and he disappeared as he ran to explore the strange land that has unnaturally rounded pebbles and loose sand, while cautiously keeping his distance from the moving water. Jivers was still uncomfortable at sensing Bobby’s mind, so Alvers lightly kept a mental eye on him while they all walked to get the kinks out of their bodies and then examined the beach for signs of life.
Their healers converted whatever poison they found, but no plants grew.
Jivers stood downwind of everyone and lit his pipe. Anybody who has tried lighting a fire to cook knows that the wind loves to turn the smoke back into your eyes and the wind here was just as playful and they all inhaled the scent of his tobacco.
“It is not enough to heal the land and bring the plants back to life. Our healers are able to collect information from dried roots and seeds, but how do they help repopulate the world with the multitude of insects and animals required for any ecology to be healthy?”
“We are trying to re-seed the lands we heal with life from our lands.”
“Not good enough. Our own ecology is too fragile and is not viable in the long run if the missing parts of the food chain are not found or existing life forms do not mutate to replace them.”
Alvers said, “We are aware of the problem Jivers and that is one of the prime duties of all agents healing new land. They search for any existing insects or animals we do not have. It is hoped we will come across pockets where life survived and even by chance alone, never mind differences of climate, we should find a variety of life that we do not have. We have already had a small success with the farmhouse they found. There were three kinds of insects and some smaller life forms we did not have. They are being studied so that we can provide them with optimum environments for breeding.”
Jivers did not look convinced that it was enough so Robert added, “You might be right Jivers and perhaps we are doomed to failure or else the new world will change to become something new that does not include a niche for our species. However, if we do not try, then we are certain of failure.”
Cherine heard them, but her mind stuck to the original question. How can the healers bring back extinct species? Finding a bone or even an entire skeleton would not be enough for a healer to recreate the animal. Even if it succeeded in finding DNA and it formed the body, how could life be returned to it? Jivers next comment lifted her from the depression she was sliding into and then slid her right back.
“You could ask your healers to search back in time for previous mutations. No species began life as it is, everything mutated from previous species. Perhaps a variety of older species that occupied a different niche could swell the variety enough to give us a chance? As for pockets of life existing, I think it is very likely we’ll find substantial pockets as the world would not have a breathable atmosphere if they do not exist. The reason I asked was because of the sight of the ocean. The seas are the cradle of all life and if they are dead, we are in trouble, whatever life we find on land.”
Without a word, Robert sheathed himself and walked directly into the sea. He had planned to walk on the seabed but found it difficult to prevent himself from floating and had to take dives. He did not see anything apart from algae. Seeing a patch of fronds waving with the currents he forced himself down until his face was within inches of the fronds. Both his eyes and his healer saw life. His eyes saw tiny molluscs attached to the fronds. Excited he shot up, levitating as he rose above water.
“There is life!” he shouted exuberantly.
Sitting around a small fire, drinking tea to warm themselves, they discussed what they had learnt. Cherine wanted agents to be trained to go under the surface and use their healers to encourage whatever life there is to multiply. Jivers was against the idea.
“They breed according to the food available. What is the point in encouraging them to breed beyond that?”
Fiera softly asked her daughter whether she understood what they were talking about. Just as softly she tried to explain, “When we used to search for worms we sometimes found a different worm that cannot be eaten. They are saying there should be many and many kinds of worms. They are saying it is the same inside the water.”
Alvers turned to her. “We have not been told about the worms you cannot eat. Where do you find them?”
“We choose a place outside the village to rid ourselves of food that has gone bad and for burying those who die. In those places.” Fiera answered.
He looked at Robert. “I better report that to POL urgently as they might decide to clean such areas for reasons of hygiene.” Robert nodded so he teleported back to the city.
Robert grinned as he spoke to Bobby. “It is wonderful how talking gives us new ideas.”
Robert had long since capitulated to Cherine’s joy at flying at high speed, so they did not teleport as he’d projected. She maintained a low altitude so that she could feel the speed while he concentrated on the shield. When they were hit by an air current Alvers made a note for new equipment to be added, explaining that if the current had been at more of an angle and stronger it would have been like smashing into a concrete wall. They landed close to what used to be Santa Rosa in the late afternoon and Jivers went on an exploration of the town. When he returned he was levitating for speed.
“Everyone get back in, there are about forty men coming this way.”
“You and Alvers get back in with the others. You must maintain the field while Alvers keeps the e-car ready to fly. Cherine and I will meet the men to try and reason with them. Bobby, get back in and wait there!”
Robert prepared for hostilities by agreeing with Cherine the points they should teleport to if necessary. “Keep your shield up love, if you don’t protect yourself I’ll only be more vulnerable.”
The men quickly spread out to encircle them and then drew in. Robert called to Alvers, “Take it up by about ten metres, we don’t want any of them climbing in.” The men stopped when they saw it rise into the air. They argued among themselves and then two men walked forward.
Harshly one of them demanded, “Where be you from?”
“North.”
“Nothing north but death. Where be you from.”
“Past the rain forest, many days. You are right, that place is dangerous, that is why we had to fly over it.”
“Make city, television? She make clothes?”
“No, we buy our clothes from shops.” He grinned. “Would you like to see?” Robert had realised by now that the other men were surreptitiously closing in, thinking he was concentrating on their spokesman. He put out his hand, carefully keeping his fingers on Cherine. “Touch my hand - you can place your spear against my chest if you fear I intend harming you.”
He was a big man but terribly thin with red hair and a fiery beard, dressed in very strange clothes. They must have preserved many rolls of a thick plastic canvas used on ships and though it was already rotting, it was obvious they set store by their clothing. With no animals and no plants, they would soon be reduced to being naked and they were aware of it. To them the biggest wonder of the strangers was their clothing, not the flying vehicle. He flushed at Robert's insinuation and reached out a hand. Instantly he teleported them to the city.
“There are the shops.” He grinned at Cherine. “Shall we buy him a pair of trousers and sandals?”
The man was petrified, but he gave his name as Kirkby. “Where be this? Is magic? You witches?”
“Follow me. All your questions will be answered Kirkby, but first we must get some decent clothes for you.” As winter would be coming soon, they bought him long pants, a shirt and sandals. “We’ll go to our home where you can have a shower before putting on your new clothes and we’ll prepare a meal for us to eat while we talk.” Robert touched him again and they jumped - just in time as crowds were gathering round them.
Kirkby was not afraid of the shower as he is a good swimmer, diving to collect algae. The idea of using water to clean himself did seem strange, but he’d had so many shocks that he did as they asked without arguing.
“I’m warning you from now, the food will make you suffer because you are not used to eating it. We’ve only put on your plate some meat, you should enjoy the taste.”
“Know meat.” He picked up the meat with his hands and tore at it with the few teeth he had left.
They gave him the meat off their plates as they stared at him, filled with excitement. Once he’d finished, they asked, “What kind of meat do you know? Do you have animals?”
“Meat? You meat, she meat. We catch, we eat.” They were so disappointed that they forgot to be horrified.
“How old are you Kirkby?” He did not even understand their question. “He looks close to forty but he’s probably closer to twenty. Let’s take some boiled sweets with.” Sucking on a sweet he allowed Robert to touch him and they teleported back to his people.
“Any trouble?”
“They’ve tried throwing spears at us but otherwise, no.”
“They were chasing you to eat you Jivers. Alvers, careful, you look nice and tender, they’ll be eager to have you.” Robert noticed that Fiera was angry, but he left that for dealing with once he’d formed some kind of agreement with the men. He gave the sweets to Kirkby and told him to give one to each of them.
Robert laughed. “I hope that sweetens them so that they are willing to listen to us.”
Cherine grinned. “You are corny but nice.” She gave him a kiss.
Jivers complained to Alvers, “We’re faced with cannibals and they stand there joking and kissing! How have they survived this long?”
The men were impressed by the clothes Kirkby was wearing and it was obvious a few of them were thinking of attacking him to steal them. Robert quickly told them he will be bringing clothes for all of them.
“Fiera, climb out the hatch so that I can bring you down to us.”
She stood next to them, staring at the men proudly, her hand on her knife and her mind ready to form the fire warrior. Cherine touched her arm. “Gently Fiera, we wish to make friends with them, not fight. Look at them, they are all starving, we must bring them some food.” She looked up. “Jivers, can you and Alvers teleport the e-car back to the city and bring meat for them?”
There was an interesting side effect. The men tore at the meat, juices slicking their fingers and when they finished they licked their fingers. Bobby watched them, turned to look at how Cherine was eating and then picked up a fork and knife for the first time. He found it frustrating, but he sat single-mindedly struggling until he finished his meal.
Jivers and Alvers asked that only the two of them walk into town while the rest wait safely in the e-car. Cherine refused and Robert backed her. “We’ll all walk in, except for Jivers who’ll stay behind to keep the shield strong. Only two men walking into their town with women and children should convince them we are not a threat.”
The attackers were not from Santa Rosa, they were from Vallejo, so they rode to the outskirts and started walking. They walked along the seafront and Cherine found that the water contains a higher percentage of poisonous chemicals than she’d sensed anywhere else apart from the mines. “If they are swimming in that and eating what they get out of it, their bodies must be full of damaging chemicals. We are going to need a lot of healers.”
The town had mostly collapsed, been burnt or vandalised, only one section still occupied and its condition was not much better. As they walked they saw poles with skulls set atop them and if they represented the number of people eaten, it suggested they’d adopted this eating habit a long time ago.
Silently men closed in behind them, keeping a distance but blocking off any retreat. Bobby could not understand why they were not reacting to the men behind them and he continually looked back, sometimes a silent snarl on his face. Birshima took his hand in hers and he stared at her for a moment and then decided she needs his protection, so he allowed the familiarity.
Kirkby alone waited for them, the rest, men, women and children keeping a distance. He waited for them to walk to him with an arrogant look, his attitude more of a message to his people than to their visitors.
Robert called out, “This must have been a beautiful city, you must be proud of it.” Kirkby showed his puzzlement for a moment, for he’d never given the ruins a second thought, they just were, a part of his life. He straightened with pride. “Our father’s fathers built it. They were gods.”
“As we all are Kirkby, give us time and allow us to help your people and you’ll see I speak the truth. We have shown you how this world should be, you have seen the green of plants and trees. We will bring that here and your people will eat food that is healthy for them.”
“We have green. You see?”
“Please.”
He led them to an enclosed space that was carefully tended, even now a few older persons guarding the plants. Cherine knelt and passed her hands just above the plants. “Robert, my healer says they are edible and have strong healing powers! What are they?”
“Jinja and arlik. Make meat taste good.”
Alvers, his voice betraying his excitement, spoke softly, “Robert, these two plants are on the POL list of plants we must try to find! I think they are ginger and garlic.”
“I’ve never heard of them. Why are they important?”
“The one helps purify the blood, the other I do not recall its properties.”
Robert thought of trading meat for a few of the plants, but then he decided it was not ethical since they planned feeding them anyway. He decided he’d have to trust to their goodwill.
Kirkby shifted from one foot to the other nervously so Robert stood up. “What is it Kirkby?”
“Some say, good talk, maybe you bring meat like yesterday. Some say no, must eat.” He refused to meet Robert's eyes. “They take little male to eat.”
Dear visitor, if you only joined us now, welcome.
Boy, I think you have missed some beautiful parts of the story of Cherine and Robert (and Bobby).
If you feel the same way, this is a reminder, you can go to the top of this page and use the link to return to Post 01.
Thereafter, each post has the next link at the end of the story. Or else, from post2 onwards, all you need to do is alter the url, increasing the post number by one.
If you enjoy the story, I do not ask that you resteem or upvote; those to me are just bonuses, a sign you enjoyed reading Boxee. All I really want as encouragement is that you recommend the story to all your friends; those you think would enjoy a romantic fantasy story.
I would like to add a personal note, which is also a hope of mine. You may or may not enjoy my way of keeping my writing simple where I can; you may or may not enjoy the style of the adventures experienced; but, I am very confident you will each grow to love at least one character.
Is that character going to be Cherine, Robert, Arthur, Bobby, the Fire Woman or her daughter, or one of the others you will come to know? I will not even try to guess, but I know you will, for I have loved each of them and written of them with love :)
Thank you.