PART 2 • EPISODE 1
by Jonathan Shepherd
“She’s a very fortunate woman.” Said the Doctor, pressing a few
buttons on the palm-chart he was analyzing. “It’s remarkable that she
survived, but even more so without any broken bones or internal damage.
After a mining accident like that, just being here at all today is a
very lucky thing for her.”
“Well,” Edward said, grinning at the positive prognosis, “Tanya is a
strong person. She must have put herself in a safe place to avoid the
brunt of the cave-in and managed to find her way to the abandoned access
tunnels where we found her. Thank you so much for all your help,
Doctor.”
The others were assembled in a tiny waiting room, and looked up
expectantly when Edward returned.
“What did they say?” Asked Jenna. “Is she okay?”
“Other than a heightened state of brainwave activity, which they’re
saying is shock and will wear off within days, she’s fine and just needs
some bed rest and TLC.” Edward hugged Jenna and sat to join them.
“I can’t believe it’s over…” Alex said flatly. “I mean, of course
I’m ecstatic that Tanya’s okay… but it just seems kind of weird that
this tragedy you’ve all been fighting against for years has been
averted, and now I’m not sure what I’m going to do. It’s like we’ve
all had this driving purpose, and now the rest of the world has come
into focus again.”
“Well,” said Jonas, “I for one have got to get back to Mars. Now
that we know Tanya’s going to be all right, I think I’m going to book
passage and catch up on all the work that’s been building up these last
few months.” He stood and gathered his things. “You’ll keep me
posted, right?”
“Of course,” said Edward, “we’ll let you know as soon as there’s any
change. Right now she’s sleeping anyway; they’ve got her on some mild
sedatives and they’ve recommended quiet and bed rest, so we might all do
well to get going.”
Jenna was smiling for the first time in what seemed like years.
“It’s going to be too weird back at Ganymede 2 for a while. I’m
thinking about breaking contract and staying here on Earth for a while…
I can’t believe I’m sitting here talking about breaking my contract and
I still can’t stop grinning! Let’s go get something to eat. This safe
feeling has got my appetite riled back up. It’s like knowing that
everything is okay after looking over your shoulder for a lifetime…”
***
The woman looked over shoulder. She was sure she’d heard a footstep
on the pavement behind her, but the dark wet street revealed no one. It
had been raining for days, and finally had let up, thankfully. She’d
been with a man tonight, and things didn’t go well. He wanted sex, she
wanted company, and neither of them wanted to wait. She left not
realizing how late it had become, and the trains quit running an hour
and half ago. So her heels clicked on the wet street as she made her
way back to the north side, where she could afford a cab the rest of the
way.
The sound happened again, like someone or something jumping down to
the ground behind her. She snapped her head around and peered into the
shadows. The streets were deserted. There was no sound except for the
faint drone of the highway a few miles off. Her heartbeat jumped into
her throat and stole her breath for a moment, and she turned back to
walk, more quickly this time.
Just another block or so, she thought, and I’ll find a major
intersection, and I can make the call. Now the sound happened again,
but closer. This time she just kept going, her pace becoming a light
jog. Her calves ached from moving so quickly in her imitation Italian
pumps, but she pressed forward, letting the burn set in. She heard
breathing behind her, and assumed it was her imagination, until it
started sounding more like a buzzing… or like bells in the distance….
“Heather… Heather, there’s no need for you to run.”
She stopped and turned, bracing her hands on her knees for a moment
and catching her breath. There was a man behind her in a sleek gray
trench coat and the dark fedora on his head covered his features in
darkness.
“Who are you?” She said, taking deep breaths. “How do you know my
name?”
“We know you’re afraid. But you must not be. We will help you find
your way.” He reached out a black-gloved hand and tilted his head
upward slightly, looking in her eyes. His eyes shone from within like
tiny golden mirrors and Heather felt a wash of calm over herself.
“I… I just need to get to the Northside. I’m… glad you showed up,
it was getting scary….”
“Scary indeed. Now you can be safe with us. We’ll show you the way…
that’s a promise to keep.” He put his hand on her shoulder and they
turned and began to walk together.
“You keep saying we?” Heather looked over at her new friend and
smiled, “I’m not sure I caught your name…”
“I’m Mr. Flout. The pleasure to make your acquaintance is all
ours….”
***
Tanya’s body was still. The hospital life-monitors connected to her
body beeped rhythmically and her breathing was slow and measured. She
looked peaceful, her red hair spread out on the pillow beneath her head
and her eyes occasionally moved beneath her eyelids.
An orderly came into the room and began checking her vital signs and
straightening the tangle of cords around her. He was humming under his
breath and didn’t notice when Tanya’s eyes flicked open.
“What’s your name?” She whispered up at him.
He jumped from the startle and smiled at her, “You gave me a scare
miss… I’m Shawn. I’ll be looking in on you tonight. It’s great that
you’re awake! I’ll go and get the doctor…”
“Wait…” she said, “come closer… please…”
The young man leaned down close to her face and whispered, “Is
something wrong? Are you okay?”
She looked at him for a moment in silence, and his eyes glazed
over. Later he would swear he had heard the sound of insects buzzing.
“No… everything is fine Shawn. Thank you for your concern. I’ll keep
in touch. Don’t bother the doctor, okay?”
He backed away and took a deep breath. “Um.. yes ma’am. No
doctor. You’ll keep in touch. Have a nice night, ma’am.”
She closed her eyes again, and the orderly finished his business and
left the room.
