Wisdom in the Dark

Chapter 12 - Jak

A full rotation of Callisto around Jupiter after Jak’s first patrol with the Ctik and the other Pyc Sylph pilots, and Jak had pulled more than his fair share of patrols. Just like the layout of their villages, Jak found the other consistency between the Wodniki and Pyc Villages were the patrol schedules.

“As husband to the leader of the Pyc Village you have to be seen more than the others,” Myra had said after a particularly long patrol shift two wake periods before. “Besides, we have people in the Holowycz forest. What if another Family finds them?”

It rankled Jak even more that part of his patrol was the forest he had discovered. While other members of the Pyc Family harvested the fruits of the trees and hunted, he flew overhead and kept watch. Jak wanted to hunt again and get another deer, or maybe catch a fox as a pet.

And while Jak was frustrated with his responsibilities, he was even more frustrated with the state of affairs in his marriage. He still slept in the same bed as Myra, but there had been no love making. He had tried to initiate it once, only to have Myra push him to the other side of the bed for the night.

There’s more than that, though, Jak thought as he cruised his Sylph over the southern edge of the Holowycz forest. Of course the physical attraction was there – it always had been. In the rotations before when the Wodniki had visited the Pyc on diplomatic missions it was clear that Jak and Myra had chemistry. However, she had been with Vlad then. Now, though, more developed between Jak and Myra. Each sleep period they lay together they talked and learned more about the other. As much as Jak desired the physical aspect of their relationship, as time went on he became even more attracted to Myra herself.

“Jak, Ctik checking in,” Jak heard over the comms in his helmet, pulling him from his thoughts.

“Good copy,” Jak replied with a shake of his head.

“All clear up north.”

Eager to show Jak just how good a Sylph pilot he was, Ctik had been adamant about patrolling with him regardless of the duration. That wake period Ctik patrolled the area around the dead Holowycz Village as Pyc Family members buried the dead, corralled domesticated animals, and repurposed materials and technology.

“Acknowledged,” Jak said. “All clear south. I’m going to swing back over Pyc Village.”

“Need to check in with your husband?”

“I don’t know what happened to Ctik, Myra. His Sylph just exploded.” Ctik’s barbs stung less if Jak gave as good as he got.

“Go to hell,” Ctik responded with a chuckle.

“I’m on patrol with you, so. . .”

“Hey I’m a good partner.”

“That’s not what your sister told me.”

“I hate you.”

“Hate you, too,” Jak chuckled. “Heading back.”

“Acknowledged.”

Jak pressed the pedals at his feet and immediately felt the G-forces press him back into his seat as his Sylph’s thrusters burned hotter to propel him on his course. Where it took over two hours to trek to the Holowycz forest, it was a matter of minutes before Jak could see the Pyc Village in his sights. The heads up display in his helmet’s visor immediately identified the village, the landing strip, the duo of massive shuttles – one of which Myra had told Jak had been decommissioned for the better part of a cycle in order to be cannibalized for parts to keep the other shuttle running.

Once post-flight checks were complete Jak wished Oguz farewell until the next patrol. Jak strode through the industrial sector of the Pyc Village, and realized it was just as quiet as Wodniki Village’s industrial area. Would these buildings burn with the fire of industry once more? Jak wondered. Will Myra’s and my union be a new beginning that will eventually breathe life into our villages’ manufacturing?

Jak moved on into the village’s residential area. As Jak walked through the Pyc Village he spotted a handful of girls sitting in the grass outside one of the huts in a circle and clapping their hands.

“In deep darkness

Between god and mortal

Find new life

A heavenly portal.”

Jak had heard the rhyme before as a child. The priest of Wotuos in the Wodniki Village was keen to repeat it during his sermons on self-improvement and finding one’s purpose in life.

“Keep those stanza’s in your head, young Jak,” Zdik had told Jak, just a cycle and a half old at the time, “and your life will be rich and full.”

There was more to the rhyme, Jak knew, but he couldn’t recall it at that moment. It was apparent the clutch of girls didn’t know it, either, and they repeated the same lines over and over again.

Finally Jak came to the Pyc Village Ting and entered through its main double doors. The great hall itself was empty except for Myra, her attendant Ylya, and an older man.

“Another miscarriage,” the older man said.

“That’s awful,” Myra said, a sorrowful look on her face. “How closely related are they?”

“Fifth cousins,” the older man said as Jak approached. “Barely even direct family.”

“And this is their third miscarriage?”

“Yes,” the older man said gravely. “Zlata wants to stop trying, but I am working my best to encourage her.”

Myra looked down at the ground, her face pained. “Zlata and I used to be best friends. Now I have to ask her to attempt another pregnancy, even though the risk of another miscarriage is so high.”

“No, I will ask her,” the older man said, almost pleading.

Myra suddenly looked up at the older man, her eyes intense. “No.” Her voice crashed through the hall with the command and finality of a goddess. “I will talk to Zlata. I appreciate your work, Doctor Sobik, but things are much more personal at this point.”

“I understand, Matriarch,” Sobik said, using Myra’s official title.

Sobik bowed and turned to walk away.

It was at that moment everyone seemed to finally realize Jak was present.

“I. . .” Jak began.

“My Patriarch,” Sobik said with a bow of his head.

“What news do you bring, husband?” Myra’s tone was still cold.

“No news to report,” Jak said promptly.

Myra sighed and looked back at the ground. “Good. I can’t use anymore bad news right now.”

Suddenly, Myra stood from her chair at the fore of the hall, then stomped down the stairs and exited the Ting out a back door.

“I seem to have come at a bad time,” Jak said.

“No time is a good time,” Sobik said. “You tell the leader of your village that the population is decreasing due to our inability to reproduce and see how well your wake period goes.”

“Uh-“

“Oh, you are one of the leaders of our village.” Sobik spat on the ground. “My wake period is doubly cursed then.”

“How long has this been going on?” Jak asked.

“Half a cycle?” Sobik replied. “Maybe longer.”

“When was the last healthy child born?”

“About the same time.”

Sobik strode up to Jak then and placed a hand on his shoulder. Jak was confronted with Sobik’s intense blue eyes boring into him.

“Please,” Sobik begged. “Please, give Myra healthy children.”

Jak had no idea what to say to that. Before Jak had to discern a response Sobik’s hand fell from his shoulder, and the older man shuffled out of the Ting.

“Yeah, Jak,” Ylya from the front of the Ting, “do your wifely duty and bear some children already.”

The words pierced Jak like knives, and he jerked as if he had actually been stabbed.

Jak whirled on Ylya. “What did you say?”

Ylya let out a sing-song laugh and covered her mouth.

“You should see your face,” Ylya said. “You know I’m just joking.”

Jak stared at her for a moment, unsure if her words were genuine or a cover for an insult.

“I’m just giving you a hard time,” Ylya said, still smiling. “It’s a joke. We all know you’ll get Myra pregnant soon. Just trying to keep things light.”

“Right,” Jak said, “a joke.”

Ylya had been the second person to refer to Jak in some way as Myra’s wife. Myra had told Jak not to worry about it. As Jak retreated from the Ting, though, he wondered how many more of the Pyc Villagers thought the same way, and it gnawed at him.