Black Cat Weekly #91

Chapter 5-2

You mean my embryo’s brain. My Madeline.

Correct. Emma Four.

Madeline goddammit. What’s with the numbering.

I had to take into account…not all survive. I uploaded the same scans…Jareds social science. Amelias mathematics. Tylers natural science. Williams applied science. Emmas humanities music and art.

How can they understand…only kids.

They don’t have to…just transcribe the words onto paper as they appear in their mind’s eye…beauty of it.

Beauty. You…you…why children. Why.

Think about it. How could one preserve…if all our infrastructure went up in flames. Computers are useless without…couldn’t even count on solar power…nuclear winter. But I could…children alive. Children with genemod brains…times more powerful than any computer.

Holy s**t.

Yes. It’s rather elegant…say so myself.

How many…kidnap. How many.

Originally thirty. Three…antibiotic-resistant infections. But kidnap…connotations. I prefer rescue.

Do you care about them at all…only about the knowledge…carrying.

Both.

Bullshit.

…can think whatever you…care about them as children and about them as vessels…silly to distinguish…one and the same.

You’re insane. You’re f*****g insane.

No. I’m saving the world.

Open feet. Nonono. Open eyessssss. Mothermamama eyessssss ssssssoft. “Ma.”

“What did you say?”

“Ma.”

“Oh my God! Don’t go back to sleep, Emma. I’m going to get David.”

Shshshut down. Shshshut.

“Emma?”

Open. “Ma.”

Mothermamama eyessssss cr-cr-cr-cr-cry. “Did you hear that, David? She said, ‘Ma’! She thinks I’m her mother.”

“Don’t be an i***t, Charlotte. She’s probably just making one of the first sounds that all babies make. We’re only guessing it means ‘Mother.’”

More open. “Ma. Ma.”

“What’s her real name, David?”

“Oh, for Christ’s sake.”

Mothermamama gu-gu-g*n up. “Tell me. Or so help me God, I’ll…”

Father ha. Ha. “You’ll what? Kill me? You wouldn’t survive a week down here without me.”

“Tell me, you s**t!”

“Fine. It’s Anna. Anna Hollander.”

Gu-gu-g*n down. “Anna. That’s beautiful. Hello, Anna. Hello.”

“Ma,” I ssssssay. “Ma.”

Shshshut.

Boing boing boing bouncy bouncy bounce that’s it baby girl look at those strong

Boing boing boing bouncy bouncy bounce that’s it baby girl look at those strongAnna banana plays the piana all she can play is the Star-Spangled

Anna banana plays the piana all she can play is the Star-SpangledHuh huh huh you’re my big strong girl you’re my big

Huh huh huh you’re my big strong girl you’re my big“A” my name is Anna and my husband’s name is Alan we come from

“A” my name is Anna and my husband’s name is Alan we come fromUh-oh oh no did you fall down did you shh shh shh you’re okay you’re fine let mama kiss

Uh-oh oh no did you fall down did you shh shh shh you’re okay you’re fine let mama kiss

…here again Charlotte. Seems…a lot of time…bedside.

…trying to help…recover.

Why…looking to adopt…replace your…

Maybe. Is there…wrong with that.

She’s…daughter. Seems unhealthy. Psychologically.

You would know.

Ooh…to the quick.

Besides nothing about…is psychologically healthy. Have you even…the surface.

No. What…

…rubble…soot black rain mountains of ash. Human bodies…animals…parts…no birds no sounds at all just…small groups of survivors…armed.

…good thing my colleagues and I read the tea leaves…collected the children…down here a week before the first bomb hit.

Quote unquote collected…kidnapped.

…six of one…the bottom line…saved them all.

Not all.

How many…do I have to say it…my best.

Yeah yeah. You said colleagues. Who…

…four of my lab assistants…true believers…called them Uncles and Aunts.

…happened to them.

The two women…suicide pact three years in. I killed…because he started to show a prurient interest in…you killed the…by the way…meaning to ask. How did you find us.

My brother…ex-Marine. Bobby. Doomsday prepper. When you stole Madeline…

…rescued.

…stole Madeline…lost my mind…to die. Bobby…me into the bunker he built. We surfaced after…look for her…heard rumors from a pair of survivors…scientists and children…abandoned missile silo.

How did the survivors…

They said…radio transmission right after the first…

Radio transmission. Who…

…called himself The Librarian.

The Librarian. That jackass. We agreed no…keep our location secret.

Well it’s not. Does this…you have a radio.

Had. Battery died years ago.

Have…other visitors.

No. Give me a minute. This…upsetting.

…see that.

Well. What’s done is done. What happened to your brother.

He’s dead.

What…

Those survivors who told…asked us to join… kill you for your food. So we shot them.

We.

Bobby and me. But one of their shots hit…bled out.

Hmm. Seems I owe you a debt of gratitude.

…me a lot more than that.

And now we’re both alone.

…for yourself. I’m never alone…Madeline I have Bobby…people I loved and who loved me. You have no one.

Wrong. I have you.

Open eyes. See Mama. “Mama.”

“Honey,” Mama say. “How did you sleep?”

“Mmm.” Yawn.

“Good, Anna. That’s good. Can you say, ‘Hi’? Try to say ‘Hi’.”

Hi hi hi hi. “Huh.”

“Try again.”

“Hhhhuh. Huh.”

Mama smile. “Don’t worry, baby, we’ll get there, okay?”

Okay. “Mmm.” Okay. “Ohhh.”

“That’s my girl. You can do it. You will. It’ll just take time. And we’ve got plenty of that, right?”

Nod. Okay. “Mmm. Ohhh. Kuh kuh kuh.”

Eyes wide. “Did you say ‘okay’? Say it again—‘okay’.”

Nod. “Ohhh kuh. Kuh kuh kuh kay. Ohhh kay.”

Mama cry. “I knew it, Anna! You’ll get your words back. Just don’t give up. Never give up.”

Nod. “Ohhh kay. Oh kay.”

“Say it again.”

“Oh kay.”

Mama grab hand. Scratch.

“Ow.”

Mama laugh cry. “Sorry, honey. Sorry.”

Pat. “’S oh kay.”

Ooh ooh let’s put your hat on it’s starting to get peek-a-boo peek-a-

Ooh ooh let’s put your hat on it’s starting to get peek-a-boo peek-a-Skinnamarink a dink a dink skinnamarink a doo I love

Skinnamarink a dink a dink skinnamarink a doo I loveLook at my big girl how big is Anna so big so

Look at my big girl how big is Anna so big soI love you in the morning and in the afternoon I love you in the evening and by the light of the

I love you in the morning and in the afternoon I love you in the evening and by the light of thePeek-a-boo peek-a-BOO where’s Anna where’s

Peek-a-boo peek-a-BOO where’s Anna where’s

Is she asleep Charlotte.

I think so. She was tired. She worked hard today.

It’s been six weeks. Are you making progress.

Yes. She still has trouble speaking but she understands me.

Interesting.

Why do you seem so surprised.

Well she sustained considerable brain damage. And you’re not a speech pathologist are you. Or are you. I don’t remember. What did you do before the war.

Insurance claims adjuster.

Ah. I never understood the utility of insurance companies. What did they contribute to the betterment of society. Like the lilies of the field they toiled not neither did they spin. That’s a biblical reference by the way.

I know it is you pompous jerk.

So tell me. In your expert opinion as an insurance claims adjuster do you think Emma Five will regain full use of her faculties.

It’s Anna not Emma Five. And you know I have no idea. Why.

Why do you think. Surely you know enough about my little project by now to hazard a guess.

You want to know whether she’ll ever be able to Download again.

Bingo.

And what if she can’t. What will you do with her then. Why are you staring at me like oh s**t. Are you kidding.

You should also know by now that I have very little sense of humor.

But why. Why can’t you leave her alone.

What did I just say about the lilies of the field. The military kindly provided us with abundant rations but they won’t last forever. Everyone here has to earn their keep.

But you told me the other Emmas are carrying the same information. What does it matter whether or not Anna will be able to Download again.

If she can’t she’ll just be another mouth to feed.

So you don’t care about her after all.

Of course I do. But I’m a pragmatist. I can’t let emotion overshadow reason.

You can’t. Fine. Just give her to me then. I’ll take her up to the surface.

Don’t be stupid. How far do you think you’ll get with a partially paralyzed child. Besides. You owe me a guard. An eye for an eye.

You son of a b***h. You can’t keep me here.

I can and I will. The child too. One way or another.

Oh my f*****g God. You are.

I know I know. A monster etcetera.

So my only option is to get Anna in shape to Download again. Is that right.

That is correct.

I’ll need some time.

What’s the magic word.

What.

What’s the magic word. You want special dispensation you have to ask me nicely.

Are you shitting me.

Again. No sense of humor.

Fine. Please. Please please pretty please with sugar on top.

Try it without the sarcasm.

You are such a.

I’m walking away.

Okay okay. I’m sorry. Please David. Please. Give me more time to work with Anna.

That’s more like it. Request granted.

How much time.

How much time do you need.

I don’t know.

You’ve got eight more weeks.

Eight. That’s arbitrary.

As I said our resources are limited. Eight weeks is as much as I’m willing to risk on what is likely a losing proposition.

But.

Now you thank me. Say thank you David.

But.

Take it or leave it. Say thank you David.

Thank you David.

Now that wasn’t so hard was it.

Door open door close. Anna open eyes. Anna cry.

“Oh, s**t, Anna,” Mama say. “Did you hear everything?”

Nod. Anna brain broke. Father disappoint.

Mama sit on bed, slide arm under, hug. “I’m sorry, honey. Don’t worry—I’ll help you. I’m going to get you better, okay?”

“Oh kay.” How? Anna keep cry because Anna brain broke.

“You’re going to be all right. I’m not going to let David hurt you.” Mama pat g*n on hip.

Anna stop cry. Feel white cold. Father hurt Anna?

Mama wipe eyes, put cloth at nose. “Now blow. Hard.”

Anna blow. Mama nice. Mama help.

Mama talk talk talk. Anna talk talk talk.

Anna tired.

Anna sleep.

* * * *

Smile smile clap clap clap that’s it baby come to mama come to ma-

Boom did you go boom here hold my

Ring around the Rosie a pocketful of

That’s it that’s it just take another step what a big girl what a big girl you

Ashes ashes we all fall

* * * *

“What are you doing here, David?” Mama is surprised and afraid. So I also am afraid.

Father smiles. “I’ve come to see our patient. Assess how she’s doing.”

Mama’s fear smells like metal. “But it’s only been four weeks. You said I had eight.”

“And so you do. This is merely an interim assessment.” Father turns his smile on me. “How are you feeling, Emma Five? Or should I call you Anna?” His eyes scrape me from head to toe.

My throat is dry. “Anna.”

Father’s voice curls like black smoke. That was the wrong answer. “Anna it is,” he says. “How are you feeling, Anna?”

My eyes seek Mama’s. She gives a small nod. “Okay,” I say. “Okay, Father.”

“Raise your right arm, please.”