Civilization

Chapter 1-2

Right after Mei Lee saw Murdock leave the overlook ledge, she started missing him. She didn’t, however, let the fact that she didn’t like the periods of absence keep her from her own responsibilities. She did have three kids to care for and another close at hand. She never had to go through childbirth alone and wasn’t about to think about it now. She knew her husband would be there for her, if at all possible.

After herding all three kids into the residence cave, she made sure they all had some smoked venison and plenty of water. When all the kids’ needs were met, she loaded the cart for the trip home.

Even though Murdock had originally built the cabin for himself and Rose, Mei Lee still thought of it as her home. She had lived there with Murdock and Rose as their co-wife. She had delivered Chun Hua there. She had helped Rose deliver Andrew there. I have always belonged there, she thought. It is my home.

Andrew and Chun Hua were helping her with the loading as best they could. When everything was ready, she loaded all three kids onto the cart and levitated it, and herself, down the mountainside from the overlook ledge. Once on the ground, she stopped at Rose’s tomb, as was her ritual whenever she passed this way, and took all three kids over to the stone tomb. As usual, she told Rose all about everything that had happened since the last time she had stopped and shown her all the children, especially her namesake. When the girls were finished, Mei Lee made an effort to explain the whole story of Rose to Andrew. She was attempting to ensure that Andrew knew all about his brave mother through repetition, if nothing else.

When they were finished at the tomb, Mei Lee levitated the front part of the cart and used her telekinetic power to pull the cart on the trek home. Chun Hua was charged with watching over capricious Rosa Lea, to ensure that she stayed on the cart. Andrew had chosen, of late, to take his job of protecting the womenfolk very seriously.

Murdock had made his son a spear that was nearly twice as long as Andrew was high. Mei Lee had trained him in its use and now, he had decided to lead the females to the cabin. As she walked, she first felt and then saw Bridget approach.

“Walk with you?” Bridget flashed, politely. To Mei Lee, their politeness was one of the many endearing traits of the Oomah.

“Yes. Happy for company,” Mei Lee responded. She had met Beron’s favorite mate a long time ago, with Rose, and they had maintained the relationship even after Rose’s death.

“Brave one,” Bridget stated with pride, indicating Andrew with a tilt of the head in his direction.

“Very,” Mei Lee responded with pride in her son. He may not be from my body, but he is, nonetheless, my son, she thought.

“Soon?” Bridget asked and Mei Lee knew she meant her swollen belly.

“Yes, soon,” Mei Lee responded as she unconsciously felt her belly through the buckskin dress that Murdock and Rose had made for her. “You?” she asked Bridget.

“Not soon,” Bridget responded. Mei Lee knew that Bridget had several cubs and was expecting another.

They walked on for a while and Mei Lee had the impression that there was something that was bothering Bridget.

“Wrong?” she asked finally. Mei Lee knew Bridget was too polite to burden her, without prompting, with her concerns.

Through an onslaught of mental images, Bridget managed to communicate to Mei Lee that she was concerned with the new transport pod and its occupants. Were they friendly or murderous? Would they hunt down and kill the Oomah? To Bridget, it was chaos to her once orderly life, and she was having trouble coping with it.

“Murdock will keep us informed,” Mei Lee said, doing her best to calm her friend’s fears and try to get Bridget to stop worrying so much about things that no one knows the answer to. “If the situation changes, he will tell us. I am certain Murdock will do whatever necessary to protect Oomah.” This seemed to calm Bridget significantly.

Mei Lee stopped for a quick rest to get some water and see to the kids. Bridget was watching the young humans. After a brief rest, Mei Lee was once again headed home. She had thought that Bridget would have left soon after her fears were dealt with, but she didn’t, and Mei Lee was starting to suspect other motives.

“Murdock ask you watch over us?” Mei Lee asked her large friend.

“No,” Bridget responded with a shocked tint to her response. Mei Lee knew the Oomah had never lied to her or Murdock. They may not offer any information, but if asked a direct question they would answer directly and truthfully, or give no answer at all.

“Beron?” Mei Lee asked. Bridget gave no answer, which to Mei Lee was an answer. “No need you guide me home,” Mei Lee pointed out to Bridget.

“Like you company. Like you cubs,” Bridget responded excitedly.

“Like you as well,” Mei Lee responded with a smile. She did like having Bridget with her on her trip home. Her speculation was that since Beron and Murdock had to be gone, Beron had asked Bridget to see to it that Mei Lee and the kids got home safely and watch over them until Murdock got back. If true, Mei Lee was thankful for it. I don’t mind taking care of the kids alone at home, she thought, but I don’t like us out on the trail without Kevin.

It took Mei Lee the better part of the day to get home from the caves. She and Bridget had engaged in a mental chit-chat, which Mei Lee wasn’t used to and, as a general rule, had no use for. This time, however, she did it to make sure her friend knew that her presence was wanted and appreciated. Mei Lee would not have been so rude as to ignore Bridget. I owe far too much to all the Oomah to ever be rude to any of them.

After the cart was emptied and stored, Mei Lee herded the kids inside and bid Bridget good night. I know Bridget is outside somewhere keeping watch, she thought. I find it…comforting.

Shortly after entering the cabin, Mei Lee, with some minimal help from the two eldest, built a fire, fed everyone, and got the kids off to bed. It did take some time to accomplish, considering her condition. Once the kids were asleep, Mei Lee stripped off her buckskin dress and boots and went out to the spa for a hot bath.

She closed her eyes as the hot water gently caressed her body. The more she relaxed, the more her thoughts turned to Murdock and the circumstances that had led to them being together. She’d stayed with him, after Rose’s death, because of a promise she’d made to Rose — and, to a lesser degree, to help herself in her own time of loss. Murdock and Rose had been there when Tom Collier, her husband, had died protecting Rose. She had initially lived with the couple to give herself and Chun Hua a safe place to live after she was ousted from her leadership position of the first colony. Somewhere along the line, she wasn’t sure exactly when, she had fallen in love with him. Currently, she couldn’t envision a life without him.

When she finished her bath, she went inside to dry off in front of the fireplace. As she stood in front of the flames, she closed her eyes and let the heat caress her, further relaxing her already abused muscles. The comforting crackle of the fire eased her further by letting her mind know that all was as it should be. Once dry, she climbed into bed and as she lay there, she found that she desperately needed Murdock’s arms around her. I always seem to sleep better when he’s home, she thought. He makes me feel safe.