The Children of Icarus

PROLOGUE

The two men stood on the edge of the bluff, looking down at the settlement below them.

The first was tall and rangy, with a set to his face that spoke of the cruelty lurking within. He took a long pull on the cigarette he was smoking, holding the smoke inside for a few seconds to savour it before releasing a cloud into the night air.

His companion, shorter and stouter by far than should be possible in these hard times, waved his hand irritably as the smoke wafted over him.

You should be more careful! Earl told his taller companion in an urgent whisper. The smell will carry down to them.

The tall man shrugged. They’ll have more pressing smells to worry about than this in a little while.

Earl sighed. Are we sure this is a good idea Jimmy?

Jimmy grinned at his partner. A town full of slaves for the picking? There’s possibly two or even three shipments down there. I think it’s worth it, don’t you?

I’m not arguing the numbers. Just the… logistics of it. There are so few of us… Earl worried.

We’ll be fine. Jimmy assured him. As soon as we’ve taken the town, we’ll get the first shipment readied and sent off to Ryerson. The rest can stay here, under guard in the mines, just as we planned. In the meantime, we get Ryerson off our backs and we get to enjoy the spoils of victory!

Earl frowned slightly. He’d seen what Jimmy thought of as entertainment some time ago and wasn’t fond of it himself. Jimmy had a warped sense of revenge and Earl had no doubt that some of the people in the town below were in for some rough treatment in the coming days.

That upcoming unpleasantness was why Earl had volunteered to take the first shipment of slaves south to the rendezvous point. Jimmy had nodded absent-mindedly at the offer but Earl knew that Jimmy understood the reason for the offer. Jimmy would have his vengeance and Earl would be spared having to watch it.

All that remained now was for them to take the town.

From the bluff overlooking the box canyon, Fortuna looked dead. No lights and no sign of movement. Yet it was an illusion. There were still more than two-hundred people in the place. The middle of the night, however, was not a time that anyone went wandering around, even within the confines of the relatively safe town.

Below, in the dark, Jimmy and Earl’s men were quietly moving into position in Fortuna. Each of them had a gas mask and each of them carried a large supply of the chemicals that made the gas masks a necessity. On signal, they would begin mixing the chemicals together. Given the nature of the canyon, and the lack of wind, it wouldn’t take long for the produced gas to reach a density that would ensure no one would stay conscious for long.

After that, it was just a matter of rounding them all up and sorting them out.

Earl didn’t doubt the gas would work, and work well. The Tribals they had already taken proved that. It wasn’t the townsfolk within Fortuna that worried him. It was the ones outside that gave him concern.

Many of the town’s more able men had been sent off to deal with the situation at Albertville. It was those that had driven Jimmy and Earl away from what had looked like a goldmine of supplies. It was those men, maybe thirty or more armed men, that worried Earl.

The only slight salve to his worry was the fact that the men thought they had driven off Nathan and his followers, not the slavers that he and Jimmy were. It would take them time to realise what had been going on in Albertville. When they did, however…

Then they’ll come and check on Fortuna, to make sure it’s still safe.

Earl intended to be on his way south with the slaves by then. If thirty armed men came calling at Fortuna’s front gate, Jimmy would have to deal with it.

A part of Earl hoped they would come back whilst he was gone. Come back and rid Earl of Jimmy and his friends.

Earl wasn’t even sure that he was coming back, yet. He’d drop the slaves off, for sure. There were supplies Ryerson would give him in exchange for the slaves. That much was worth it. But after that…

Maybe I’ll just run for the west coast.

Earl had been increasingly regretting his partnership with James McIlroy ever since it had begun. As far as he was concerned, it was well past time he ended his association with the man. Jimmy and his vendettas against various people were not conducive to good business.

The west coast has to be better than this. He told himself.

From below, in the town, tiny flickers of light began to flash at them. Their men, signalling that they were ready from various points in the settlement.

Jimmy flicked the cigarette away into the darkness. Show time, Earl. Let’s get this party started!

Earl watched as Jimmy raised the big battery-powered lantern over his head, aiming the business end down at the shacks below.

There was no sound from below, and precious little to see in the inky blackness, but Earl knew that, for the sleeping townsfolk, the ordeal had just begun.

CHAPTER ONE

The kitchen table was large. More than large enough for them all to sit around it and with plenty of room for food and drink as well.

Most of the food was from cans and jars, preserved despite the years that they had lain on store shelves awaiting being purchased by people who no longer existed.

Kandy looked at the people sat around the table. At what was left of their group.

Daniel Hayes looked tired. The small New Yorker with the foul-mouth had tried his best to assume the mantle of leadership in Nathan’s absence, but it was a role he was ill-at-ease with. Nevertheless, he had done his best to keep them motivated and busy during the days since their compound had fallen. He sat at one end of the table, for all the world like the father of a family sitting down to dinner. The patriarch of the group now that Nathan was no longer with them.

On his left sat Jenny. The young girl looked exhausted from looking after both her husband and daughter who were sick with the Cough.

I can’t think of her as a girl, really. Kandy decided. She’s done more than most adults would manage since I’ve known her.

Jenny was around seventeen now, but she carried herself and dealt with things like a mature adult. Without her, Kandy knew she would be dead of the injuries she had recently sustained. The young mother was struggling to stay awake, yawning and with a weariness that spoke of more than just tiredness from nursing others. She had been through hell and back when Jimmy had taken the compound.

Kandy herself sat on the other side of Hayes and next to her sat Cara. If Jenny was mature and tough beyond her years, then Cara made her look like a real softie by comparison. Cara seemed to shrug off both physical and psychological injury as if it was nothing. Her recent treatment at the hands of Samuel had shown that she was more resilient than any human had a right to be.

Kandy’s gaze flickered to Cara’s shoulder. Cara was wearing a vest-top so the tattoo on her shoulder was obvious. Kandy thought back to the tattoo that she had seen on the shoulder of the big Eyeless they had encountered and wondered, for the thousandth time, what it all meant.

Across from Cara, and next to Jenny, sat Bob, their mechanic. He was getting on in years but, like most folks these days, was wiry and fit despite the years. As well as his duties fixing things, he was a universal blood-donor, able to give blood to anyone. Kandy had little doubt that he had given her a lot of blood whilst Jenny had worked to save her life.

Kyle, Jenny’s husband, and Sarah, their daughter, were not present. Although Kyle was only just showing the symptoms of the Cough, Sarah was more far gone. Both of them were lasting well beyond the time that most people would have succumbed to the disease and died. As yet, Jenny was clear, but none of them doubted that she would get it, eventually.

The three remaining members of the group were Tribals. Da’Ran, their nominal leader, was the only one to have taken a seat at the table, down at the far end. His companions, Timo and Erla, stood to either side of him, clearly ill-at-ease with the situation. It was Da’Ran that had called the get-together, saying that they had matters to discuss.

Well… Hayes said at last. We’re all here. What’s left of us. What was it you wanted to talk about Da’Ran?

Da’Ran shuffled uncomfortably as all eyes turned to him, but he nodded and began.

We must decide what we are going to do now. He said bluntly. We cannot hide in this house any longer.

We’re recovering. Hayes pointed out. Not hiding.

Da’Ran shrugged. Perhaps. But hiding or recovering, we accomplish nothing just sitting here.

Well, we lost the compound. Hayes pointed out. We don’t have the people to take it back and the city is passably safe, so long as we take precautions.

The city isn’t safe. Kandy frowned at him. Were you not listening when Cara and I told you what happened at the mall?

I was listening! Hayes insisted. I just think that, whatever was going on with the Eyeless is little of our concern. If they want to fight amongst themselves, then I say let ‘em get the fuck on with it!

Kandy scowled at him. And what about the humans that are working with them? Who are they? What’s that all about? You can’t just bury your head, Daniel!

Well, what do you want me to do about it? Huh? Hayes glared. I’m just one guy, okay. I don’t pretend to understand what the hell is going on with the Eyeless! All I know is that you keep out of their damn way and let them kill each other.

Kandy shook her head. The argument was pointless and Hayes was right, after a fashion. There was nothing they could do. The Eyeless were numerous and extremely violent and, she had recently learned, highly intelligent.

We’re not the top of the food chain anymore.

Anyway. Bob growled in his gravelly voice from across the table. Da’Ran called this meeting. Why don’t we hear what he has in mind first?

Hayes nodded gratefully and held out a hand to Da’Ran. Please!

Da’Ran nodded. I think that staying in the city is still a possibility for the rest of you. But for us… He gestured at his Tribal companions. It is no longer an option. We will soon be leaving.

Hayes looked as stunned as the rest of them. What? Why?

We have gathered some information on where our clans were taken. Erla replied, her voice smooth and even. We mean to follow up on this lead. Hopefully we can find out the fate of our clans and, if possible, free them.

Or avenge them. Timo added menacingly.

How did you find this out? Jenny asked.

Da’Ran looked uncomfortable. We have our ways. All that you need to know is that we know where the slaves are taken to be traded.

Traded? Kandy frowned.

For weapons and supplies. Timo scowled.

We know where this trade takes place. Erla explained. We mean to go there and await the next shipment the slavers provide. Then we will track the slaves to their ultimate destination and take what action is necessary.

What’s necessary? Hayes snorted. Kill all of them bastards! That’s what’s necessary!

Da’Ran nodded. If it is possible, that is likely what will happen. We cannot know what we might find, however.

Wherever they took the slaves is also probably where Nathan and Jason ended up. Kandy noted.

Indeed. Da’Ran agreed. It is most likely. If we are able to, we will free them, also.

Just the three of you? Bob scratched his chin. No offense, but that seems unlikely. The slave buyers have men and guns.

Not so many as you might think. Erla commented. Eyebrows rose, so she continued. Our… source… for this information suggested that the buyers, who are led by a man named Ryerson, might not have as many men as you fear. In fact, his numbers may be very limited.

Your source? Hayes wondered. How reliable is this information?

The man in question told me no lies. Erla stated simply and emphatically.

This man, I take it, was one of the slavers? Kandy asked.

Erla nodded, glanced at her companions and sighed when Da’Ran nodded at her to explain further. He was the man who fell from the truck when the slavers fled the city. With persuasion, he was most cooperative.

Persuasion? Jenny wondered.

She means torture. Hayes suggested.

Jenny nodded and muttered Good! under her breath.

You sure he didn’t just lie to save his ass? Kandy asked the Tribal woman.

Erla smiled. I am sure. In any event his information did not save him.

You killed that mother? Hayes nodded his approval.

Da’Ran nodded. He would likely have died of his injuries anyway.

So. You three are heading off to investigate this rendezvous place? Jenny asked.

Da’Ran nodded. We will do our best to recover our clan people, and yours.

Hayes exchanged a glance with Kandy and the others around the table. We might like to help with that.

We thought you might say that. Timo grinned. We would be able to travel more swiftly to this place with the aid of one of your vehicles.

I don’t think we can come along. Jenny stated. Kyle, Sarah and me, I mean. Kyle’s okay at the moment, but he will get worse and Sarah is in no fit state to travel a long way.

Well, we’re not just going to abandon you on your own. Hayes protested.

The three of us were on our own for a long time before you all showed up. Jenny reminded him.

He nodded. Even so, you’re part of our group now and you’re sick. We can’t just leave you!

An awkward silence propagated as they tried to think of a solution.

Look. Kandy said at last. No one wants Nathan back more than me, but it would make sense for Cara and me to stay here to look after Jenny and her family. To be honest, I’m in no shape to go bouncing around the desert in a jeep myself just yet. We’ll stay and mind the fort whilst the rest of you go and see what you can find.

Are you sure? Hayes asked. This place isn’t so safe anymore.

Kandy felt Cara squeeze her leg under the table. A silent gesture of agreement. We’ll be okay. Five of you out there and five of us back here. That seems fair.

Hayes nodded, then glanced at old Bob. You don’t need to come along. Our Tribal friends need a driver. They don’t need two!

Bob snorted. And what will happen if you break down? Besides, two drivers are better than one. If you got injured and couldn’t drive, it’s a long way to walk back here!

They all looked at each other, nodding at the arrangement.

It’s settled then. Hayes told Da’Ran. Bob and I will go with you.

Da’Ran nodded slowly. We will be glad of the help.

When do you want to leave? Hayes asked.

Tomorrow morning, I think. Da’Ran said. Will that be enough time for you to ready a vehicle?

Bob nodded. Hayes and I’ll go out after we’ve eaten and find something suitable. We’ll be ready.

They could have used Nathan’s vehicle, of course. It was still in working order, despite taking a lot of bullet holes recently. They wouldn’t, however. It was Nathan’s car and, by virtue of his relationship with her, it was now seen as Cara’s property. They’d find another rugged, off-road vehicle. There was no shortage of them in the city and most were in good repair.

The meal they shared was technically lunch. Hayes and Bob ate quickly and then departed to find a vehicle, followed by the Tribals who disliked being indoors at the best of times. Jenny gathered some food and went upstairs to feed Kyle and her daughter, leaving Kandy and Cara sitting at the kitchen table alone.

They continued to pick at the food for a while.

What shall we do? Cara asked.

Kandy wasn’t sure if she imagined it, but the woman’s voice had a hint of suggestiveness about it.

She won’t give me a minute’s peace! She thought with a wry smile.

Cara had made it more than abundantly clear that she was interested in Kandy. To be fair, Kandy liked her a lot more than she should have. Yet it wasn’t even two weeks since Cara had been with Nathan. Kandy didn’t pretend to understand the other woman’s seemingly lightning ability to move on. Nathan was probably still alive somewhere and would return… maybe. Kandy meant to resist the other woman’s charms if for no better reason than to avoid a difficult and painful conversation with Nathan if he did return. Cara, however, seemed determine to make that task as difficult as possible. However, there was one way to turn the tables on her.

Right then. Kandy announced. You want something to do?

Cara perked up eagerly.

Let’s get on with teaching you to drive!

*****

The driving lesson was an exercise in white-knuckle terror that Kandy hoped wouldn’t be repeated too often.

Cara grasped the concepts of controlling Nathan’s car, but she was utterly lacking in anything like coordination. For someone who was gifted - at times - with preternatural agility and senses, Cara made driving a task of Herculean proportions.

How did you manage to drive me back from that garage? Kandy asked her during one of the stopped moments, referring to Cara’s effort to get the wounded and unconscious Kandy back to Jenny for help.

Cara shrugged. I just did. I did kind of bounce from one side of the road to the other a lot.

No kidding! Kandy smiled. Nathan’s car, by then, sported a few more scrapes and dents than it had before.

Cara looked sheepish. I am trying!

I know. Kandy acknowledged. I haven’t seen you this sweaty for a while.

Cara was drenched in sweat from the effort of concentrating so hard. Getting everything to work together is harder than I thought. The rest of you make it look so easy.

Lots of practice! Kandy told her. Come on, why don’t we go try something you are good at - reading.

They found a small bookshop and went in, browsing the shelves. Cara’s reading level was still low, but it was coming along rapidly and she was picking out her own books to work with now. She also read very quickly, pausing only when she didn’t understand something.

Kandy smiled as she saw the sorts of books that Cara had collected. There were a couple of proper learn to read titles, but she had a few that were just designed to impart other knowledge. Animals, in particular, seemed to fascinate her, so she had a number back at the house that were essentially natural history books. It seemed to fascinate her that there were creatures that she had never seen before.

Nor is she ever likely to. Kandy thought sadly.

Most animal life had become extinct as the world had changed. There weren’t even rats or cockroaches anymore - life’s natural survivors. A few insects, some lizards and snakes and that was about the best you could hope to see.

Kandy wondered if the world was the same all over. Overcooked, full of alien life forms and microbes and increasingly hostile to humans.

Twenty years. She sighed. Just twenty years and our world is ruined.

Cara heard the sigh and misinterpreted it as frustration with the time she was taking to pick out her books.

I won’t be much longer, I promise. She said. There was enough of a nervous lilt to her tone to make Kandy angry. Not angry at Cara, but at the life that she had led which caused her to fear upsetting other people so much.

Nathan had done his best to bring the woman out of the shell which she had retreated into, but it wasn’t enough. Cara at least could talk to people now. In fact, Kandy noted with a smile to herself, sometimes it was hard getting her to shut up. The woman also had a mischievous streak a mile wide, but that only came out when she felt relaxed and comfortable with someone.

As she does with me, apparently.

Since she had gained the nominal ownership of Cara after rescuing her from Samuel, the woman had made her feelings on their relationship quite clear. Though she had promised not to give Kandy a hard time about it, there were plenty of moments each day where she was unable to resist teasing Kandy about their closeness. Or rather, the lack thereof.

If she is hoping to wear me down, she’ll have a long wait. Kandy thought.

She knew however, that the thought was more about shoring up her own weakening resolve, than it was an observation on her willpower. Kandy was strong-willed in a lot of things. Where Cara was concerned, however, was what her father would have termed a grey area.

Cara emerged holding an armful of books and with a sheepish look on her face as if she expected to be told off.

Kandy smiled and looked at the selection. More animal books and a few kids’ books. The selection mirrored Cara’s personality a little too well. Childlike in many respects, but with an animalistic nature buried just under the surface.

Come on, let’s get back. She smiled tolerantly at Cara, who beamed as it became clear Kandy wasn’t upset with the delay.

As she followed the woman out of the shop, Kandy reflected, not for the first time, that Nathan couldn’t possibly have known what he was getting himself into when he took up with the girl.

Any more than I do!

CHAPTER TWO

Sarah entered the junk room quietly. It was late and, ostensibly, she had gone to the bathroom. At least, that was what she had told her mother. But the bathroom break was just an excuse to go and see her new friend.

The last few days she had been sneaking off to see the creature at any chance she could get.

She had dubbed the animal Mr. Spider since that was what he looked like most of all. She didn’t know much about spiders but she doubted he was an actual spider. He wasn’t hairy and gross, for a start, and he only had six legs. Legs that were more like tentacles.

When she reached the corner of the room with the cloth-covered table, she had a surprise.

Mr. Spider had brought a friend along to visit.

The second creature was an almost identical size and shape to Mr. Spider, but it was a subtly different colour.

Oh! Sarah smiled. Who’s this?

Mr. Spider scuttled up onto her arm as he usually did, but the newcomer seemed a little scared of her. As she had done with Mr. Spider, Sarah made comforting noises to the new creature, interspersed with the ever present coughing that seemed to plague her almost constantly now. The mix of harsh and soft noises seemed to confuse the animal, so she made a special effort to not cough whilst encouraging it.

It took longer than it had for Mr. Spider to gain the newcomer’s trust, but she won it over in the end. It climbed slowly on to her arm alongside Mr. Spider and seemed to be using the other animal as a shield from her.

Mr. Spider and the newcomer touched tendrils for a time in a way that reminded her of hand-holding. She wondered if the new creature was related somehow to Mr. Spider.

I’ll call you… Mrs. Spider. She decided seriously.

Mr. Spider began moving around after a short time. It was something he did whenever she showed up. Up and down her arms and across her shoulders. He also liked to probe at her face with his tendrils, almost as if he was trying to check that none of her facial features were missing.

She bore it all with delight. The first time, it had been a little scary, but Mr. Spider was always gentle. After several days of this behaviour, it no longer bothered her. She imagined he was checking her temperature and making sure she was alright, just as Mommy did.

Mr. Spider’s inspection was a little more thorough than mommy’s examination. He liked to probe at the corners of her eyes and even put the tip of a tendril into the corner of her mouth. As gross as that was, he seemed not to be intent on hurting her. Sometimes she felt a slight suction, as if he were somehow using the tendril like a straw to suck at her spit.

She always chastised him when he did that. It wasn’t right.

In a similar vein, if she hacked up some of the vile green phlegm in a coughing fit, Mr. Spider was on it at once. This, Sarah didn’t mind so much. She had thought Mr. Spider was simply thirsty. She had managed to get a bowl and fill it with water for the animal but all Mr. Spider did was bathe in it, not drink it. The animal liked to roll around in the round bowl, spilling water over the sides and seemingly enjoying itself.

She refilled the bowl whenever she visited the bathroom across the corridor - Mr. Spider made a mess with his bathing and the water went everywhere - but it was always empty when she returned and the water stains on the floor told the tale of Mr. Spider’s enthusiastic ablutions.

Sarah had never heard of anything like Mr. Spider, so she assumed he was not a part of the normal world around her. Not that she was sure what normal was. Mommy and Daddy had talked about it. All of the others did now and again, but Sarah had never experienced it, so to her their words meant little.

Now that Mrs. Spider was here, she’d need a bigger bowl, or at least another one, for her.

She stayed and played with the creatures until Mrs. Spider seemed more at ease with her, then said her goodbyes - it was always good to be polite, even if the creatures couldn’t understand a word of what she said - and then left.

She went straight down to the kitchen to look for another bowl. The big old house had a plentiful supply of crockery, so she was sure she would be able to find something. If anyone asked, she was looking for something to drink.

The kitchen, like the rest of the house, was silent at that time of the night. Silent, and very dark. The others had talked of getting the power working, but they were afraid it might tell the monsters where they were, so they hadn’t done anything other than talk about it. Instead, Sarah had a flashlight to help her get around at night, just as everyone else did. Uncle Daniel had gone to great pains to make sure everyone used them safely. No waving them around or out of windows. They had to point them at the ground and keep them there. The monsters hadn’t found them yet, so maybe Uncle Daniel was right. He wasn’t as good as Uncle Nathan, but he did make her laugh with the rude words he sometimes said.

She found a suitable bowl and turned to retrace her steps. Her family was on the ground floor whilst everyone else was on the floor above. She knew that was to try to stop their illness from spreading to the others, but it seemed silly to her. Now, though, it meant that she only had to worry about dodging Mommy and Daddy in order to visit Mr. Spider.

Mr. AND Mrs. Spider! She corrected herself, smiling to think that she now had two new friends. The hardest part of being sneaky in her condition was trying not to cough. Or at least, she had thought it was. As it turned out, she quickly discovered that people tuned out her coughing, and now her father’s as well. Sick people, as it turned out, were expected to make noise.

As she turned to leave, she gasped and nearly dropped the bowl in surprise.

Mr and Mrs. Spider had followed her from the room down the corridor and sat atop the kitchen table. And they had brought her a present.

The two creatures sat a little apart from one another and, in the middle, wrapped in a tentacle from each of them, like they had been carrying it between them, lay a lump of stone.

At least, Sarah thought it was a lump of stone. That was what it looked like in the flashlight’s glare as she pointed it at the animals. Remembering Uncle Daniel’s words, she hastily pointed the beam at the floor and moved closer.

You shouldn’t be out here! She hissed urgently at the two spiders. There was, as usual, no outward sign of recognition or understanding from either of them, but she liked to think they understood something of what she said. The others won’t like you!

In truth, she had no idea what any of the rest of her housemates would make of the two animals, but she doubted the reaction would be positive. They were too used to seeing monsters everywhere. Anything new and unknown was a threat, in their eyes.

Mr. and Mrs. Spider seemed unmoved by her exhortation but they did respond. They pushed the rock-thing towards her and released their tendril grip on it. The lump rolled a little further towards her and then stopped.

Holding her fingers over the flashlight so that only a little light came through, she looked at their offering with curiosity.

The lump was roundish, and rough. In one of the books her mother had found for her to look at, there were pictures of all sorts of animals. Animals from before the monsters had come. It was where she had seen pictures of spiders and many other animals. The lump on the table before her brought to mind an image she had seen in the book. An image of a creature that had lived in the sea.

Some kind of… She struggled to remember. Some kind of shellfish?

She wasn’t certain of the word, but she recalled the creature had a rough exterior and was covered with lumps and even had things growing on it. The thing that her new friends had brought her was like that. Lumpy and bumpy and with plenty to suggest it had spent a long time at the bottom of the sea.

Mr. and Mrs. Spider seemed to be a little impatient with her. Mr. Spider gave the rock a nudge with one tendril, sending it rolling another couple of inches towards her.

Alright! She told him in a whisper. I’ll look at it, but then we go back to the junk room. You can’t be out here!

Tentatively, she reached out to touch the rocky lump. To her surprise, it was warm. She had been expecting it to be cold, or room temperature. That it was warm made her more curious and she delicately picked it up in one hand, using the other to direct the flashlight’s muted glare at it.

The surface was rough and pitted, but the warmth suggested the stone had been out in the sun for a while. Either that, or…

With a flash, she realised it wasn’t just a lump of rock. It was something alive. The warmth wasn’t tremendous, but it was warmer than either of the two spiders. That they had brought it to her…

Her imagination worked overtime, weaving in the already decided relationship between the two spiders.

Is this… is this an egg? She whispered at Mr. Spider. The animal was still now. Both he and his mate seemed to be waiting for her to take the lead.

I bet it is! She smiled, delightedly. It’s a spider egg! You’re going to have a baby spider!

Forgetting where she was, Sarah sat down on one of the chairs and examined the egg more closely for a time.

It’s getting warmer. She thought.

Indeed, it seemed as if the egg was getting hotter.

And then it kicked in the palm of her hand.

She gasped and almost dropped it, catching it at the last moment. The rock egg was twitching in her hands as something - a baby spider, she presumed - struggled to get out.

Completely oblivious to all else, she began whispering words of encouragement to the infant spider, urging it to struggle to free itself. She supposed she could try and help it, but she wasn’t sure if that would do more harm than good, so she limited herself to verbal praise.

She had the egg on the table again and Mr. and Mrs. Spider continued to stand by, seemingly unimpressed by the impending arrival of their offspring. Sarah got a little annoyed at them for just watching, but she focused on the egg. If the baby’s parents didn’t want anything to do with it, then she’d look after it, no matter what everyone else in the house thought about it.

I’ll give you a home. She told the egg.

Moments later, the shell cracked, allowing a cotton-thin tendril to come out, probing the air of the new world it was about to emerge into.

At that point, Sarah didn’t appreciate just how literally the egg’s inhabitant was going to take her promise.

But she swiftly learned.

*****

Cara found Sarah in the early morning light, still sat at the kitchen table.

Cara had gone down to the kitchen from the room she insisted on sharing with Kandy to get her something to drink. Kandy, much to Cara’s amusement, often slept with her mouth wide open, snoring quite loudly. As a result, she often woke up with a horribly dry mouth. Normally, she kept a bottle of water handy for such situations, but she had forgotten to bring one up that evening.

Kandy had been quite prepared to simply go and get a drink herself, but Cara was still in a ‘mothering’ mode after the other woman’s near fatal shooting and insisted on fetching and carrying for her.

Kandy was clearly embarrassed by being waited on hand and foot but, as with the general slavery issue, she quickly learned that Cara could be obstinate and stubborn about certain things.

What kind of slave doesn’t do what her mistress tells her to do? She resorted to at one point in an effort to stop Cara fussing over her.

There was a flicker of uncertainty in Cara’s eyes at that, as she tried to work out whether Kandy was being serious or not.

Apparently satisfied that the comment was jokey, she replied. The kind that knows what’s best for her owner.

Kandy had winced a little at the reply, just as Cara had intended. As odd as Nathan had found the whole master and slave thing, Kandy was worse. Cara had learned that, if she wanted to make Kandy uncomfortable for any reason, talking about their ‘relationship’ was sure to do it. Casually throwing out words like ‘owner’ and ‘slave’ usually did the trick, or just mentioning how much she liked Kandy. All were certain to get an embarrassed and uncomfortable reaction from Kandy. Quite often, that reaction led to the woman giving in to whatever Cara wanted.

For Cara, the novelty of manipulating someone was something she had not been able to indulge in before. Even the thought of such mental games would have once sent her into a panic as the potential consequences of her action could have been very painful. She found she was enjoying the new freedoms that first Nathan, and now Kandy, were affording her.

As always whenever she contemplated her own state of being and her nature, a hand managed to find its way to the little padlock that held the golden collar fastened around her neck. Kandy had noticed it and had told her it was a psychological thing. The lock reminded and reassured her of her place in things subconsciously, regardless of what kinds of rebellious thoughts she might be having.

Not that she really had those. Rebelliousness was usually punished harshly in her experience and she had long since stopped having such thoughts. With Kandy, however, the thoughts were more mischievous and playful, than outright rebellious. She was quite content to stay with the woman. Having a female owner was a novelty that she fully intended to explore to its utmost.

Kandy, of course, didn’t understand how she could have gone so swiftly from being fixated on Nathan, to fixating on her. Cara didn’t really understand it either. It was just how her head worked. How it had always worked. Once she passed to a new owner any attachment to the previous one just melted away.

Nathan was a little different. She had liked him before she belonged to him. She still liked him now, but the bond caused by the collar no longer drew her to him in the way it now drew her to Kandy.

Even so, whenever she thought of Nathan, there was an empty feeling inside her, as if something were missing. She didn’t feel entirely whole without him around. It wasn’t that she wanted to belong to him anymore - the bonding with Kandy had removed that - but it was just that she… missed him.

It was with such thoughts in her head that she entered the kitchen and found Sarah slumped over the table.

At first, she thought the girl was merely asleep. It was early and the light from the dawn was only just bright enough to see to move around. As she moved closer to the little girl, however, she could see that the girl had been sick down her own front, her slumped position hiding it somewhat.

Sarah! Are you alright? She asked, giving the girl a gentle shake. She seemed very warm to Cara’s touch. There was a moan in response to the stimulus, which showed the child was at least still alive, but which also served to give her grave concerns.

Why had she been sick? Cara wondered. Sarah was ill, but not in that way. Maybe she had a really bad coughing fit and then threw up?

It was then that she noticed the objects on the floor. Two rough lumps, like bits of stone, lay near the girl’s chair. She bent down and picked them up, thinking that the girl might have eaten something poisonous.

She almost dropped them as she recognised them. Although much smaller than the ones that Nathan had led them too, the object was clearly one of the…

What was it Nathan called them? Geodes?

The objects looked like stone, but they were two halves of a larger whole. They reminded her of an egg, or a large seed-pod, when she put the pieces together, complete with a space within where something had been. It was a smaller scale version of the geodes they had found in the industrial complex some time before.

Did something come out of it and attack the girl?

Not knowing what else to do, she lifted the little girl up onto the table and turned her on her side, putting her in what Jenny had told them was called ‘the recovery position’. The girl’s mother had managed to give them all some basic first aid training in the previous days and weeks and Cara had helped her out at the little medical clinic they had set up back at their compound, so had learned a little more than the rest.

Sarah was hot to the touch. Feverish. Yet she wasn’t sweating at all and was completely unresponsive to being moved.

After making sure the girl was still breathing, she hurried to fetch Jenny and wake the others.

*****

Sarah remained unconscious for the rest of the day. Cara showed the rest of them the stone-like pod that she had found and reminded them of Nathan’s discovery. Not that Hayes needed reminding. Like Cara, the New Yorker recognised it almost at once.

Holy fuck! He swore. Did one of those things get Sarah?

What are they? Jenny demanded. They had moved Sarah back to their room and into their bed. Everyone, including the Tribals had then gathered around the kitchen table to discuss the turn of events, leaving Kyle to mind his daughter.

We don’t know. Cara admitted, still a little awkward talking in front of so many people. Nathan didn’t, either.

Where did she get it from? Erla frowned. Where is this place that you found them before?

An industrial area, out on the edge of the city. Hayes replied. But that place was dead. All the… eggs… had hatched already. There were just the shells left.

She hasn’t been out of the house, in any case. Jenny said. How far away would you say it is to this place?

Hayes shrugged. From here? A couple of miles, maybe. Way too far for her to walk in her condition.

She didn’t know where that was, anyway. Cara told them. Only four of them had been in on the find and of those, only Cara and Hayes were left.

Well, Kandy began. If she didn’t walk there then she must have found it elsewhere…

…and if she hasn’t been out of the house… Cara finished.

They all exchanged worried looks.

There could be more of those fucking things around. Hayes scowled. I knew we should have searched the whole bloody place thoroughly when we got here!

Jenny laid a hand on his arm. It’s not your fault, Daniel. Kyle and I have stayed here before. We assured you the place was safe. If anyone is to blame, it’s us.

Have your people come across anything like this? Kandy asked Da’Ran, who was turning one of the shell halves over in his hands.

He shook his head. No. But then we avoid the city if we are able.

There are, however, things about the city we do not know. Erla noted. For instance, the reasons that we avoid it are not just because it houses the Eyeless.

Eyes turned to her.

There is, or was, also the Whisperer. Nathan and Da’Ran destroyed its lair - the hospital - but before then we avoided that area entirely.

And there have been instances of clan members simply… disappearing… on foraging trips around the edge of the city. Timo added. Despite searches, no trace of them, or their fate, was ever found.

Da’Ran nodded. So it is with good reason we avoid this place. He looked down at the object in his hands. But we have no knowledge of whatever came out of this.

Right! Hayes said. First of all, we need to search this place thoroughly. If there are any more of those eggs around, we need to know about it!

Agreed. Erla nodded. We will help you look.

In short order, they were paired up and detailed to search the house.

If you find any, bring one back intact. Jenny ordered. Don’t just destroy them.

I do not know that we can break them. Da’Ran noted. He tried to snap the half-shell he held in his hands. They could all see the strain as he put real effort into the task. The shell did not snap.

I guess our departure is a little delayed. Hayes smiled at Kandy.

CHAPTER THREE

They failed to find any more of the round eggs after searching the big house from top to bottom. Whilst a relief, it was also a concern. Without another egg to look at, they had no idea what exactly had come out of the one Sarah had found, or what the thing that had emerged might have done to her.

Outwardly, she had no injuries. No wounds or puncture marks. No bites or marks of any kind. Yet she was unconscious and running a sweat-less fever.

Jenny put a saline drip into her, fearful of dehydration and they did their best to try and cool her. Cara repeated the story of finding the little girl several times as the others tried to find any scrap of information that might help them.

We could go back to the place where we found the broken shells. Hayes suggested. We might find something there.

He didn’t sound too hopeful. All they had found the first time were more questions, not answers, but it was better than sitting around waiting.

Erla went off alone to look for medicinal plants to help with the girl’s fever, whilst Hayes, Kandy, Cara and Da’Ran went off to the industrial unit.

Unit forty two was exactly as Hayes and Cara recalled. At least, it was on the outside. Within, they found a different story.

Where the fuck is everything! Hayes exploded as they went through the little door. Inside, the place was empty. He turned