Ping Two - Across the Valley Read online

  She hated herself at the moment; instead of providing the help these people required, she’d made things more difficult. Her head throbbed, but she sat up anyway.

  Rose flopped down on the cushion beside her. “What’s he like?” she said, with a slight grin, her brows lifting curiously.

  “Kevin? Oh, he’s interesting. And smart.”

  Although she was obviously pleased, there was a profound worry in the woman’s dark eyes that Lucy hadn’t noticed before.

  “I thought so,” Rose said. “Just from that short time with him last night. Oh! He’ll be coming in a while.” She jumped up from the couch. “Lucy dear, are you up to doing some dishes?”

  Her body felt weighted but she got to her feet and then she put her arms around the woman. “Sorry I made your day difficult Rose.”

  “Well… you really are a sweet girl. Everything’s going to be okay.”

  “Is Kate coming to help?” Travis stared anemically at Rose with dark, sunken eyes. This neediness was uncharacteristic, Lucy thought.

  “Are you coming down with something?” Rose put her hand on his forehead and gave Lucy a concerned glance.

  “Kate needs to be with Jack and Ben this afternoon dear. But everyone’s coming in a few hours. We better get busy!”

  No wonder Travis wanted Kate more than anyone when something was wrong. Their connection had been strong from the beginning. Aside from Lucy’s pathetically self-indulgent pings, Kate had been his only responder, at first, before Sarah caught on. Lucy knew she had let the poor child down in an unfathomable and unforgivable way; she’d been a burden to him when he had needed her to be resilient.

  Kate, with no reason whatsoever to believe in her telepathy – except for the fact that Travis was incredibly persistent – had come all the way from Canada to search for him. Without her, neither Travis, nor Lucy would have survived. It had been Kate who had given Travis the fortitude to motivate Christopher to rescue Lucy.

  She supposed that, in a way, this had brought Kate closer to Travis than even her. But Lucy understood why he had so easily accepted Rose as his guardian. He felt extremely fortunate to have such a wonderful, nurturing person to raise him, and Kate had her hands full. The group wanted their first-born to do better than just survive – the infant needed to thrive in every possible way.

  Despite her fuzzy head, Lucy began to help out somewhat cheerfully especially for the benefit of Travis. Until Sarah arrived. Then she stiffened and fell into silence while Sarah and Rose bantered easily. When Lucy finished the salad she noticed Travis had disappeared. She found him sitting by Snowy’s cage.

  “What’s wrong darling?” she said.

  Travis began to cry. “Can’t you see? Look at him! Just look how sick he is!”

  Chapter Twelve

  Dinner with Aliens

  (July 27th, Year Two, PA)

  Kevin could tell it was getting late by the warm light filtering in through a small, leaf-covered window on the wall by his bed. He sat up on the side of the mattress, hung his head over his knees, and finally took the gun from beneath his pillow, staring at it for a while, and then slipping it back.

  They were an unlikely group; his visit with Lucy had only reinforced those suspicions. Peering up at the rafters he came to his feet and slowly rotated, examining every inch of the area. He then left the room and paced over to the window overlooking the small porch, where he stood rubbing his forehead.

  Poor, unlucky Hannah. Her symptoms had started the day after they’d been spying from the road. He walked over to the sink, put his hands in the tub of water on the counter and splashed his face. It had been wrong to finally conclude they were invulnerable to the plague; they shouldn’t have gotten so close to these people. And the fact that he was still standing did not make him in any way protected.

  Closing the door behind him, Kevin walked down the steps and behind the cottage, relieving himself in the bushes. He then paced down to the path by the lake hoping that, unlike Hannah, his resistance to the disease would hold a while longer, at least until he got the truth.

  ***

  Travis would not be consoled, and Lucy had to admit, Snowy didn’t exactly appear healthy. She peered at his feathers on the bottom of his cage, still amazed that he had survived this long. As birds went he didn’t appear to be all that clever, but he was definitely rare and very special to all of them.

  “He’s just moulting darling, I’m certain of it,” she assured him, but Travis kept on weeping.

  Rose, who had left her duties in the kitchen, felt the boy’s forehead again. “Lie down Travis and I’ll take your temperature dear.”

  “I’m not sick,” he whined, allowing the woman to lead him to the couch and slip the thermometer under his tongue.

  Lucy sat with him and when she heard the beep, Travis checked for himself. “It’s normal,” he mumbled despondently, gazing up at Lucy with such a lost look in his eyes that she swallowed back a sob.

  “Thank goodness,” Rose sighed, but only after she had viewed the thermometer for herself was she satisfied. She started back for the kitchen to join Sarah. “We’ll keep our eye on Snowy my dear. I’m sure Jack will take a look at him when he comes. Put his cover on the cage so he can rest. Lucy’s right about him though, he’ll be just fine.”

  Kevin was unable to get Hannah out of his mind as he sidetracked around each cottage, sneaking beneath the windows and even concealing himself behind branches. By the time he reached the strangely eerie presence of the hotel, a round, haunting moon was glowing above it. From there he gazed at the light blinking through the trees from Rose’s kitchen.

  Everyone was well into their drinks and appetizers out on her porch where they could see the glittering lake. He was greeted with a warm chorus of pleasantries as Chris escorted him up the stairs and Lucy pulled out a chair, inviting him to sit beside her.

  Jack, in the middle of a conversation regarding his plans for the hospital, shared his attention with Ben, who squirmed on Kate’s lap. Sarah sat directly across from her sister, joined presently by Chris who handed Kevin some whiskey. The only way to tell the twins apart, Kevin decided, was by Sarah’s more flamboyant style of dress and the fact she wasn’t holding a baby.

  By his second drink he realized the experience was becoming increasingly more pleasant; the meal — served outside in such a serene setting with conversation and laughter — was both delicious and comforting and it had been far too long since he had felt as civilized. Not until they took shelter from the mosquitoes, gathering in the living room by a stone fireplace with their bumble-berry cobbler, did they put the spotlight on him.

  Chris cleared his throat. “Speaking of our dwindling supply of medications Kevin, I hope it doesn’t bother you if I bring this up, but, we’re all quite curious about how the plague affected you.”

  Kevin’s cobbler went down the wrong way. He coughed and Lucy patted his back. He wiped his watering eyes with his napkin, sipped some water, and realizing that they were still waiting for a reply, he began, “I mean, the worst for me was seeing what happened to everyone else.”

  “Were you with your family?” asked Sarah sympathetically.

  “Well no… normally, I would have been away from them, taking classes. I — I was supposed to be at Boston University. My family was back in the big apple, where we grew up.”

  “What were you taking there, son?” Chris inquired, casually enough.

  “First year of a master’s degree – electrical and computer engineering. “But I – well, I was actually down in Florida at the time it hit. Kind of, well, on sort of a vacation combined with some business, type thing, in Miami.”

  Kevin shifted in his chair. He could feel his forehead dampening. “Never did get a chance to speak to anyone. None of them answered their phones.”

  “Same happened to me,” Kate offered supportively. “I was snowed in and, had no idea what was going on — completely cut off from the rest of the world until spring.”

  Jack too
k Kate’s hand. “She was very brave to wait it out as long as she did,” he said.

  “I’m truly sorry to hear that,” Kevin said. All eyes were on him again. Lucy had said they all had nearly died. He’d been sober enough to keep quiet after that since his experience had been so entirely different. This called for a change of subject. “Am I detecting a slight southern accent from Sarah? Good thing, or I don’t think I could tell you apart. Were um… the two of you living apart, then?”

  Kate shifted her eyes to Sarah and then to Jack. “That’s right, we were… very observant of you. As soon as the snow melted, I drove down south, to get her. Twins have a sense about each other you know. And, I had a strong feeling she was okay.”

  Sarah raised her eyebrows and nodded. “I knew she’d be coming for me.”

  Travis, who had been quiet all evening, suddenly spoke up. “Sarah and Kate came to get me, and then we drove here in an RV with Snowy.”

  “Oh?” Kevin gulped the last of his water.

  “Did you get very sick?” inquired Rose.

  He looked around. They were all expecting him to elaborate. “I did. I had a rash all over my body… very painful, worst pain ever. Fever, vomiting.”

  “How long until you recovered?” Jack wanted to know.

  “Guess I lost track of time.” Kevin worried that had come out a little too defensively.

  Travis put his legs out for Kevin to see his scars. “Look, Lucy has them too. Everyone has them. Why don’t you?”

  Kevin had noticed them before and had hoped this wouldn’t have come up so soon.

  “You must have extraordinarily good skin,” said Chris.

  Then Jack piped in, “Well, some people are less prone to scar formation. That’s genetics for you.”

  “Oh, please don’t worry about the details tonight, my dears,” pleaded Rose. “The main thing is, that you made it to us safely. Let’s put all that nasty stuff to rest, at least for now my dears, and enjoy the evening. This is a celebration after all. And we’ve got happier things to talk about, don’t we Jack.”

  “Exactly what I was about to say,” said Jack, glancing at Kate and then back at Rose with a mild grin. He scooped a last bit of dessert onto his fork and put his plate down on the coffee table. Then wiping his lips with a napkin, he swallowed. “It’s already been decided, but we wanted to announce it while we’re all together.” He turned to Rose who took her cue.

  She inhaled deeply and tucked her legs beneath her in the large winged chair. “Yes, well… Ben is doing so wonderfully now, and with his health being so perfect, he’s given us the confidence to go ahead with our plans. Of course there are no guarantees. But we want to stay positive and don’t think that is a reason to delay things any longer. We should just move on as if things were normal. That’s the best option. Jack and I have decided that we’re going to get started right away and try to get pregnant.” Her dark complexion flushed.

  “Yay!” Travis cried, apparently the only one besides Kevin who didn’t know.

  Everyone laughed, except Kevin, who wondered how Kate felt about such a decision and catching his look, she seemed to read his mind.

  “It’s all right with me Kevin. I’m excited!” she insisted. “Ben is going to have a half-sibling if all goes as planned. Congratulations Rose.”

  Rose’s eyes twinkled, and she nodded. “Thank you Kate. And, by the way, Sarah has something to announce as well.” She gleamed at her.

  Sarah gave Lucy a quick, concerned glance. “Chris and I are trying too. It will be a race to see who’s pregnant first — Rose or me.”

  They all appeared pleased, except for Lucy, who abruptly went to the kitchen and began stacking dishes so aggressively Kevin thought something was going to break.

  “She’s just a little confused right now,” Chris explained. “Lucy needs to embrace her youth for a while longer, but, it is our goal to do all we can to ensure the survival of the human species. It seems we might be all that is left.”

  Jack cleared his throat and gazed at Kevin soberly. “We don’t know how you feel about staying with us Kevin, though I can’t see much of a life out there for you. We hope you will decide to join us and, um… eventually — only if it suites you of course — help with our objective to repopulate,” he mumbled awkwardly.

  Kevin swallowed. “You’re right about that Jack — out there sucks. But fatherhood certainly wasn’t something I had in mind. Bringing a kid into this world… the way it is now—” He had no more words.

  “Well,” Chris added, “We certainly wouldn’t want you rushing into anything.”

  Kevin’s head was throbbing and their plans seemed absurdly unsound to him. It was great to have Ben — but only for their sakes. It was cruel to be thrusting another being into a world that had little left to offer, except a painful struggle for existence. He wished the evening would end so he could fall into bed.

  “No pressure son. If you do decide to stay, there will be plenty of time to discuss it in the future,” Jack said.

  “Jack,” Kate cried, “give the guy a break!”

  That was all Kevin could take. He told them he had a migraine and apologized for having to leave early. Lucy followed him out onto the porch to say goodnight. Armed with the flashlight she put in his hands, he walked the path beside the lake wondering if they were so desperate for his sperm that if he took the car and headed for the hills they would try to stop him.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Romance at Moonstone

  (August 23rd, Year Two, PA)

  Travis appeared more than happy to stay the night with Kate. The two were already cozy in their pajamas with popcorn, chocolate drinks and a game of cards. Relieved, Jack checked himself in the mirror one last time and opened the door. Kate, shuffling the deck and laughing at something the boy had done, simply chirped, “See you later,” apparently too preoccupied to glimpse his way.

  Jack walked briskly along the path gazing at the twinkling windows of Rose’s cottage through the trees and inhaling the lush night air. She had postponed their plans for several weeks after Kevin’s arrival party, feeling it necessary to direct her energy to Travis whose declining health had everyone deeply concerned. Using a telepathic form of therapy that involved Kate and Lucy as well (at the boy’s request), the women seemed to have achieved some positive results.

  Hesitating outside Rose’s door for a moment to gaze at the stars, he rapped three times, listening to the clicking of high-heels coming towards him.

  “Come in,” Rose greeted him, wearing an exceptionally low-scooped, sleeveless blouse and a scant jean-skirt. Scented candles flickered along the mantelpiece, on the table in the corner, and a soft, wavering light could be seen through the open bedroom door.

  “You certainly have created a mood,” he laughed, not able to help himself from staring at her voluptuous figure. She shut the door behind him and strutted into the other room. He followed, his gaze on her shapely legs and firm thighs.

  “Come and sit,” she smiled, perching on the edge of the couch and offering him a dish of chocolate candies. “Travis helped, we made three different types.”

  “I brought some champagne,” he said, putting the bottle down, popping a candy into his mouth and peering over at her.

  She giggled and her large eyes were filled with the humour of the situation. “This is rather…”

  “I know,” he laughed, admiring her attractive features and suddenly cupping his palm over her cheek.

  Gazing up at him through long lashes, she became uncharacteristically shy and blushed.

  “This is an excellent champagne. I’ll be back in a minute,” Jack assured her, going to the kitchen cupboard. “Ah… just what I’m looking for,” he said, bringing the glasses back to the coffee table. He sat down beside her, popped the cork, and began to pour.

  Rose shook her head and stared down at her feet. “Kate says she’s okay with this… but I can’t help —”

  “Shhh,” he said, pressing his finger on her l
ips and handing her a glass of cold, fizzing champagne. “She couldn’t be happier for you. So, put her out your mind for now.”

  But her softly determined eyes were tinged with distress. He lifted his glass, spontaneously weaving his arm through hers so they were interlocked, making her laugh. Then they looked in each other’s eyes and sipped.

  She laughed again and he followed the line of cleavage down to her round breasts beneath her thin, silky blouse. Her body excited him. He’d only ever made love to a black woman in his fantasies, but Rose had something special; it was a combination of maturity, depth and an unusual spice to her character that he found extremely alluring.

  He began to stroke her arm slowly up to her shoulder and then to the nape of her neck, touching her hair. Her gaze had softened, yet he still wondered if she found him attractive.

  “I really want to do this,” she whispered with her lips now on his neck, “I want another child.”

  “Our children will be extraordinary,” Jack whispered close to her cheek. “And you are a wonderful mother.” He’d observed her with Travis. She knew what was important and was sensitive to his needs. It seemed to be her calling to nurture.

  “You’re so fine Jack,” she whispered, putting her lips up to his ear.

  “I am?”

  “Don’t you pretend with me – you know women desire your bad-boy qualities.”

  She was right. Some women had.

  “Are you hiding something from me?” Rose slid back against the cushion and at the same time managed to grab her glass from the table, which he’d already refilled, and after she’d gulped what was left, began to pull up his shirt, searching him curiously.

  He was definitely excited about where this was going. “You’ve seen me bathing in the lake woman. What are you looking for?” he laughed.

  “Just checking, I didn’t see everywhere,” she said, stroking him timidly at first, and then, suddenly, ripping his shirt over his head. He was lying beside her now and she gazed at him for a moment. “I’ve always liked this six-pack,” she mumbled, breathing heavily.