Fall of shadows, p.10
Fall of Shadows, page 10
part #7 of Steven Gordon Series
‘So why did your mama and papa separate?’
‘Mama said he got himself a fancy piece of tail in town.’
‘Lindy! Stop pestering Uncle Jeb,’ the tone of her voice told Lindy that she wasn’t amused. Jeb’s eyes cast over his niece. He regarded her husband as a fool. She had a basket in her hand. ‘Go fetch some vegetables for our tea.’
Lindy ran over and grasped the basket. Jeb’s rocker creaked as he got up.
‘I’ll help.’
‘Ain’t no need Uncle Jeb. Lindy can do it.’
‘Sitting on my ass all day isn’t helping me feel at home. It just bores the hell out of me. What do you want?’
She shrugged and smiled, ‘Pick whatever you want.’
‘Right.’
They walked down to the garden together. About halfway down, Lindy slipped her hand into his. Jeb felt a strange warmth begin to flow through him.
‘What would you like?’
‘I like peas, but they are a pain.’
‘I’ll help you shell them.’
She smiled, ‘Cool, then let’s get lots of peas.’ She let go of his hand and ran off ahead.
Jeb was quite amazed at the variety in the garden. He was soon picking things on his own. After digging up some potatoes the basket was rather heavy. Jeb carried it back to the house for Lindy. He had grave doubts as to their ability to eat everything they had picked. He helped them prepare the vegetables. Some went into the fridge, others were frozen and packed away. Despite the fact that he lived on a spaceship, he couldn’t help but compare what they had when he was growing up to what they had now.
Things were still a little strained between him and his niece. This ultra-modern home simply wasn’t to his taste, but when he looked at Lindy, he began to forgive her. It was a nice home to bring up a child in. He decided to try a little.
‘I like the garden.’
She smiled, ‘Better than the house.’
He shook his head, ‘I’m getting used to it.’
‘I can move out if you want. I have enough money to buy or build one of my own.’
He shook his head. ‘Hell no. Who would look after the place when I am gone? An old log cabin with nothing of worth is one thing. This place is something different. It needs to be lived in, to be cared for. I would rather it were you than rent it out to a stranger. Then it gets awkward when I get home and I got to come stay with you.’
She laughed, ‘I suppose.’
‘You also got your business here, right.’
‘Yeah, and I got to start cooking and filming.’
‘I will leave you to it then.’
‘I had a call from a guy with a Jeep. He was an hour away then, that was almost an hour ago.’
‘I will go out and wait.’
‘Lindy, you can help me cook.’
‘Okay Mama. Can I go out and see Uncle Jeb’s jeep when it arrives?’
‘If we have the time.’
Jeb went back out to the porch. The little that was left of his lemonade now had a fly in it. He tossed it out onto the dirt and sat down to wait. It was only a further ten minutes before the Jeep arrived on the lack of a loader. The driver was a little star struck, as was the seller who had accompanied him. They shook hands all round.
‘Here she is sir, as promised.’
Jeb nodded, ‘Let’s get her off.’
He took a step to the side and let them handle it. The bed of the truck was tilted and lowered to the ground. The owner let her run off under her own inertia. Jeb walked over, the owner jumped out. Jeb slid in and ran his hands around the wheel.
‘You two look like old friends.’
‘I ain’t got that many friends left from that era. Drove a few of these. Had more than one shot out from under me. Thinking that if this guy has survived as long as I have, we needed to get acquainted.’
‘I have all the documentation. She was built in 1943. Went ashore on D-Day, saw out the whole war. Shipped home in forty-six and sold into private hands. Was used for ten years then stored in a barn. Lived there until ten years ago. Undergone a full restoration. I bought it five years ago. Barely used it. It just ain’t right. It needs to be driven; just didn’t want to sell it. Not to just anybody. When I heard you were home again, I thought that’s the guy I want to sell the Jeep too. That’s why I got in touch.’
Jeb nodded and turned the engine over. ‘Sounds good. Can I take it for a test drive?’
‘Sure, if you let me go with you.’
‘Jump in.’
Just then Lindy ran up, with her mother close on her heels. Jeb waited.
‘Can I go with you Uncle Jeb?’
‘I did add seatbelts,’ the owner told him.
‘Sure jump in.’
‘Barely got started,’ his niece puffed as she arrived.
‘Strap yourself in.’
‘Can I film this for my channel?’
‘Sure, why not.’ They all got in, ‘Ya’ll need to hang on tight.’
Jeb sped out of the yard and down the track. As he reached the bridge, he swung left and went down into the creek bed. He ran along it for a good hundred yards before spotting a likely spot, and swung it up the embankment. The screams of his passengers were music to his ears. He sped up the fields and around his property, crossing another creek at the other end. He drove into the yard and slewed to a halt.
‘Yup, I’ll take her.’ He held out his hand. The owner was a little shaken. In the back Lindy was laughing fit to bust.
The owner grasped his hand. ‘Sold. Now I understand why they were so popular back then.’
His niece got out of the Jeep. Despite getting soaked, her eyes were gleaming. She grabbed Lindy and dragged her back to the house.
They had to get washed and changed. Both were still laughing. When they returned to the kitchen, Lindy peeked out of the window.
‘What is Uncle Jeb doing?’
Linda also took a peek, ‘I don’t know.’
Lindy screwed her face up, ‘He is just sitting there in that Jeep with a silly smile on his face.’
‘I think he is reminiscing hun.’
‘What’s that?’
‘Memories sweetheart. Don’t disturb him.’
Chapter 23
Jeb was beginning to look forward to the start of each day. He was helping out on the farm a lot more. Linda had hired out the paddock and stables to a friend of hers who had a riding school. Jeb realised his niece had a head for business. There were no crops on the farm and most of it was growing wild. Yet the wild flowers themselves drew in business. A local beekeeper paid her in honey for allowing his hives onto the property. She herself had a YouTube channel in which she received money for advertising. She had a huge following for her garden and cookery videos. Jeb thought she was a genius; she in part put it down to having a very famous uncle.
Jeb took over the task of taking Lindy to school, in the Jeep of course. Everyone waved as he passed. Lindy was full of strange questions, weird notions, and ideas, that kept him entertained for hours. One day he suddenly realised that this was what he and his friends had fought for all those years ago. All the crap he had heard about kids being bad these days was washed away. He still found it a bit hard to take to strangers though, but through the ship he could keep in contact with his friends.
A couple of weeks after Lindy had returned to school, he received a very unexpected visitor. Babes landed in the paddock, and a single person got off. He knew exactly who it was at first glance. Babes took off again and the person let herself through the paddock gate. She ignored the panicking horses and strode boldly across the yard.
Jane adjusted her sun hat and peeked below her designer sunglasses.
‘I have come to visit.’
Jeb was lost for words for a moment. Her eyes turned cold as a very attractive young lady came out of the house, wiping her hands on an apron.
‘What was that Uncle Jeb?’
‘Just the ship. Gave the horses a bit of a fright. This here is Lady Jane Montgomery Royce. This here in my niece Linda.’
Jane approved, the dark glasses slipping back into place. She offered her hand.
‘A pleasure Linda. I am sorry about the horses, they do seem to be calming down a little.’
‘Yeah, sure,’ Linda took the offered hand, but wasn’t quite sure how to take the sight before her. The bright summer dress and hat were completely out of place and oozed class in a way she was very uncomfortable with.
A suitcase materialised on the porch. ‘I have come to visit America.’ She turned to Jeb, ‘Could you put me up for a few days?’
‘Sure. To what do I owe the pleasure?’
‘Find me a seat and I will tell you.’
‘Wait a moment,’ Linda disappeared and returned with a chair moments later.
‘Thank you,’ Jean took the offered chair and placed it close to Jeb’s. She sat down in a manner that begat her breeding. Linda was mesmerised by her beauty.
‘Would you like a lemonade?’
‘No thank you.’
‘Try it,’ Jeb persuaded. ‘It ain’t that stuff you get on the ship.’
‘If you recommend it.’
‘Uncle Jeb?’
‘Yes please.’
Linda retuned with some lemonade and cakes on a tray. Jane was pleasantly surprised.
‘These are wonderful, thank you.’
Linda knew by the simple tone of her voice that she wanted to talk to Jeb privately. She made her excuses and left.
They sat for an age in silence. Jane’s eyes were busy. She eventually broke the silence.
‘So, this is your little homestead. I thought you told me you had a rustic old cabin.’
‘A twister came and blew it away.’
‘Twister?’
‘A tornado, a big one.’
‘I see.’
‘Linda designed and had the house built in my absence.’
‘It doesn’t quite fit with your personality.’
‘I don’t suppose it does, but I’m fine with it now.’
Just then Lindy burst out of the house, ‘Woah!’
Jane smiled, ‘And who is this young lady?’
‘I’m Lindy,’ she burst out before Jeb could answer. ‘You’re the real Lady from the crew, ain’t you?’
‘It is “aren’t you”, and yes, I am.’
‘Wow! You are very beautiful.’
Jane smiled, ‘You are very pretty yourself.’
Linda appeared and dragged her inside with a yelp.
‘It would seem you have your hands full Jeb.’
‘She is a handful, but I can’t remember ever having enjoyed myself as much on leave.’
‘They are staying with you.’
‘I think I’m more staying with them. Linda and her husband have split up and she was staying here until she could afford a place of her own. In the meantime they turned this place into a home. A nice home. I asked them to stay on.’
‘I see. She is just your niece?’
Jeb’s mouth dropped open, ‘Shit! Of course she’s just…’ he bit his tongue. ‘Just my niece and her daughter.’ He snorted, ‘Did your sister kick you out?’
Jane laughed, ‘No of course not. My nephew is also delightful. I just wish they would hurry up and toilet train him.’
Jeb relaxed a bit, ‘So what takes you here?’
Jane only hesitated for a second, ‘Because I missed you.’
Jeb felt a thrill run through his entire body. ‘I know the feeling.’
‘I was waiting for you to visit Europe, and was going to grab you on the way past.’ She had a strange smile on her face. ‘Have you forsaken your friends in Berlin?’
Jeb shook his head, ‘Been comfortable here. Ain’t been lonely.’
‘I can see why. Your niece’s daughter is quite delightful.’
‘We get on real well. It’s the first time I have really connected with anyone. You know. Made me feel like all that we did was the right thing.’
‘What we are still doing?’
He found he had to agree, ‘What we are still doing.’ He took a sip of lemonade and she joined him. ‘You okay Jane?’
‘Feeling a little better now. I can’t believe I was abducted twice.’
‘Or me. I didn’t even wake up this time. I wonder how Charlie is getting on.’
‘Haven’t you been watching the news?’
‘Never got into the habit of watching that box yet.’
‘I have been watching the Modloch news. Lord Noch Man Drich is currently fighting with the Modloch forces. I think they have moved on to the third Albany planet. They have completely destroyed two so far.’
‘No shit!’
‘None at all. They are causing complete devastation. I have never seen anything like it. There are now billions of Albany heading to their original home planet. It is chaos. Their economy has collapsed, they are looking for worlds to take in their refugees. Starvation is setting in. It is horrible.’
‘You feel sympathy for them?’
‘Not at all. It is just horrible.’
‘Yeah, it ain’t nice, but I can’t find any sympathy for them either.’
‘Nor I. They have guided themselves down a path of self-destruction. I wonder why the Modloch Emperor has taken it so much to heart. I feel Charlie and Mya are only an excuse. Yet their territory is so far from his, I cannot see the advantage.’
‘Of all the races, the Modloch have gained far more than any other from their connections with Humanity. They are still gaining. It also puts Humanity further into their debt.’
‘That is true.’ She couldn’t find fault with his reasoning. ‘Why didn’t you go with Charlie and the others?’
‘He didn’t tell me what he was up to.’
‘Would you have gone?’
‘I would have made myself.’
‘Yes, I know that, but how would you have felt?’
Jeb took a deep breath, ‘I wouldn’t have wanted to go. I just felt tired. I’m glad I didn’t go. This trip has grounded me a little. Living with people again, with family, it has put me back in touch with what is really important.’
‘Keeping them safe.’
‘Sure thing.’
‘I felt ridiculously out of place. I wanted to buy my old home back, but that grocer still has it. I did realise that, the moment I do, I will have to stay behind. I’m not ready for that quite yet. In fact, I am terrified we will never get back.’
‘We will get back Jane.’
‘How do you know? The crew has split up. No one is talking about going back. Komoru has disappeared.’
‘I am an old soldier, I can feel it in my bones. Everyone got a shock; we all took it hard. It was a close call. We all need time to recover is all. Regain our courage, deal with it.’
‘This sounds very like the way you excused Charlie’s bad behaviour on the ship.’
‘He went through something. Sooner or later the bad shit that happened to you along the way comes back and bites you on the ass. We live with it, we deal with it. We support our friends who are going through it, because come the day it’s our turn to go through it, it is they who will look after and protect us.’
‘I am slowly beginning to understand the soldier’s mentality.’
‘Like it or not Jane, you are in the frontline now. It is a different war, that’s for sure, but we are still at war. One a friend is helping us win, because our hands are tied politically.’
Jane looked startled, ‘Goodness, that is quite deep for you.’
He looked her straight in the eye, ‘I’m glad to see your sense of humour is coming back.’
They both burst out laughing. She reached out and took his hand. ‘Thank you Jeb, I needed that.’
chapter 24
Komoru felt the serenity of the shrine sink into her soul. She had taken to sightseeing, something she had rarely bothered doing before. The beauty of her own country sometimes took her breath away. It had been a wonderful experience. Still, her mind was often invaded by thoughts of her recent adventures. She was regularly recognised, and people bowed in respect. Occasionally, a young girl or boy would dare to ask for an autograph.
She had steadfastly refused any official engagements or work requests. Once a week she found the need to speak to Lewis. He was always waiting, and it filled her heart with joy to see him so happy. As always, she valued his counsel. Steven had stayed a couple of weekends, but was very busy with the family business, as he put it. After a hectic couple of months he too disappeared off the scene.
‘Komoru Kaizu!’
She looked up, a little startled, to find an elderly monk standing there. She hadn’t heard him approach.
‘Yes, can I help you?’
‘I was going to ask you the same question.’
‘I don’t understand.’
‘Ours is quite a small society. When celebrities visit our shrines, word does spread around quite quickly. This must be the tenth one in the past few months at least.’
She smiled a little, ‘It has been more than that.’
‘You are a scientist, you travel to the far reaches of space, and I am sure that you are not a religious person. The question then to be asked is – what is the answer you are looking for?’
‘I may not be religious, nor am I looking for spiritual salvation. Simply spiritual recharging.’
‘May I sit with you?’
‘It is your temple.’
He sat with a smile, ‘I suppose it is, but I would not wish to pry where I am not welcome. I see that recent events have taken their toll on you. The news is that your fiancé has also taken a sabbatical.’
‘Steven, yes.’
‘I saw that documentary. It made me shudder when I saw what they had intended for you. Is true that they did that to hundreds of captives?’
‘Nearer thousands I think. They were breeding them like cattle.’
‘It was the way those blades were designed to terrify the captive before killing them; I think that was the part that shocked me the most.’
Komoru remembered them well. Once they had the machine working again, the blades had stabbed upwards only a short way. The would have nicked, rather than killed. It would have terrified anyone trapped inside or watching. Eventually the movements of the blades increased to inflict more serious and painful wounds. The terror for the victim must have increased exponentially. Eventually all four blades would have delivered a killing stroke, and a few seconds later, the person inside would have been turned to pulp.
