Chapter 10 Children of the Moon

Chapter 10

Children of the Moon

   An impossible image that should have scared Kress away only ignited her curiosity. The silver object hovering over the southern horizon began to take on the shape of a great bowl as Captain Mark’s ship rose slowly from the water.

  Kress zipped across the gleaming waves all the while telling her self she must be dreaming, but as she drew near, she could plainly see a huge silver bowl was sitting over the sailing ship apparently drawing it up somehow.

   Afraid for the Captain and his crew she flew headlong toward the outrageous image. Suddenly the air around her tiny frame began to tingle. Her hair spread out, each strand repelling from the others. Her wings stiffened as if drenched in wax, instantly useless and paralyzed. However, she did not fall from the air; she became caught up in the same invisible updraft that now engulfed the ship.

  Trapped by the unseen force she looked up, desperate to find some way out only to see a great circular opening in the bottom of the silver bowl. Blinding white light suddenly flashed down through the opening as she saw the Captains’ vessel slide up and disappear into the giant bowls’ hollow belly. Then it was upon her, a great mouth coming down on her like the maw of a massive hungry beast swallowing her whole. That was the last thing she remembered…

   Warm air caressed her body. Something clung to her legs and torso. It slid and twisted about her limbs as she rolled across a soft smooth surface. Amber light filtered in from the left. She turned her head toward it and squinted.

  “Sorry little one,” a sweet female voice softly spoke. “You’ve grown accustomed to making light, not having it blind you. Well those days are over. Welcome to your new home Kress. Welcome to humanity…”  

   Try as he might he might Kian could not help from being impressed with Read’s office. So, he decided to use it.

  “Come,” Commander Read said, lifting his head and reaching across the desk toward Kian.

 Kian responded looking at all the huge pictures as he padded across a thick green carpet, “Well now I know why Chimera has such strange assortment of people,” He said as approached the massive desk.

  “People,” said Read, bemused, “please take a seat.” He them tapped the screen on desk display. A panel opened in the wall five feet from Kian left arm. A large antique chair with carved wooden legs and arms floated across the floor coming to rest directly behind Kian. “Wow,” he said and sat down smiling, “This is something.”

  “Yes James, this not Chimera just as the creatures inhabiting it are not people.” 

  Kian dug his teeth into his lower lip, wiped his mouth and cleared his throat, “They certainly don’t look people, than again neither did I, what with the wings and all.”

   “You have certain religious inclinations; we thought it might be interesting to make you and your mate angels. Your first meeting was, fun.”

  “Fun,” Kian snorted.

  “You’re angry James. I understand. You are also unique. Apparently, you have a soul or some such thing. It’s all quite fascinating, life after death. And you’re living proof there is such a thing, at least for you. That raises all kinds of questions, questions that haunt my dreams, turn them into nightmares.”

  “This is an old conversation, sir.” Kian said the word with particular bitterness.

  “Now, now James,” Read could see Kian’s anger all over his face. “I may not be as blood thirsty as Doctor Miles but I will not tolerate an insubordinate attitude. I know about your conversation, I know every thought in your head, every word in your mouth. You may have already had this conversation, but not with me.”

   Kian sighed as he settled back in his chair, “What can tell you, you haven’t already heard.”

 “Nothing, I just wanted to look into your eyes and touch you." He shook his head, "We can make practically anything but we can’t make you die,” there was  a solemnity to his voice that chilled Kian bones.  

Read stood up walked around the desk heading straight for him. Kian stiffened not knowing what to expect.

  Laying his right hand on Kian’s shoulder, Read leaned over, his features clenched tight with intent, “They call me and my kind Technocrats, a derogatory title but I do not take it as such. I am a scientist, a ferret of facts. At this moment, my hand is touching something that cannot exist, it is both exhilarating and terrifying. We have a warehouse filled with your cloned bodies. If I pulled out a knife, stabbed you in the heart your body would die, “ he grunted, “ Your soul, your essence, however would immediately find its’ way into one of those other bodies, if we destroyed all of your other bodies your soul, your inner being would still continue somehow somewhere. That makes you a God Kian, a mystery; a puzzle any true scientist would dedicate his entire life to solving. You are our God.”

  “No I’m not Commander Read, I’m just like you, a living soul.”

  Blood rushed into Read’s face, but it was not from anger but fear. He yanked his hand away and slapped Kian across his face with all his might. “Get up, get out!”

   Kian face stung but he heard fear Read voice. “Yes sir,” he said standing up, towering over the short little fool.

   On his way out, Kian was biting his lip again, biting it to keep from laughing. For all their knowledge and power these mighty Technocrats were just scared little kids frightened of the dark, frightened of the unknown, frightened of death and even more frightening of life after death and what that might hold.

   Doctor Miles was waiting for Kian when he exited Read’s office.

  “So are you ready to go to work.”

  Kian sighed, “I’m ready to save my wife and friends, if that is what you are asking.”

 Miles snickered,  “it is,” he replied as they slid back to the car….

  Kress did not understand. Her body felt different. Her back felt naked. Cloth covered her slender frame. No light shone from her skin. Lifting her arms to her shoulders, she sat up in the bed, leaned forward and pushed her hands as far back as  she could.

 “My wings,” she cried, “where are my wings?”

  “The same place Penny’s tail fin is,” Said a petite young woman dressed in a white old- fashioned nurse’s uniform, “back in the fairytale book where they came from.”