Perchance to Dream, Part 5
Etain Antrim
That evening, the winter camp felt deserted. Almost half their number was gone now that Morgan and Bess had left to find Grendlers to trade with. Baines had noticed Grendler paths a couple of miles away, and had helped the Martins set up camp near that area earlier that afternoon. Bess and Morgan were hoping to be able to find a trading partner the next day, pleased that their individual skills might help.
Magus was resting in her tent, since she had guard duty later that night, which left only seven gathered for dinner. Conversation lagged, everyone was tired and worried about Alonzo, about this new virus, and about the Terrians, but mostly about how unpredictable life was on this planet. Alonzo's illness underscored the fears they carried with them always.
Magus, in her tent, fretted and fidgeted, worried that she would be unable to fall asleep. Guard duty always torqued her internal clock. She could hear the dinner discussions, and then the sounds of the kitchen clean-up. Eventually, though, her eyelids drooped shut and she drifted off.
She was standing in an arid landscape that looked a bit like some of the scenery they had passed through the first year. A light warm breeze ruffled her hair as she stood on a red-stone bluff under a noon sun. Below the steep embankment she stood on was a make-shift camp of sun-shelters and tents. Some people were huddled behind cargo cases and barrels, in front of a red TransRover. With shock, she recognized the group as her own. Now that she knew who they were, she realized that Alonzo was squatting with a mag-pro just below her, and noticed he and Julia exchanging glances. Julia was huddled with a small group of colonists, Devon, Walman and Martin. Suddenly, Julia tore off her gear and bolted into the open. Magus felt a terrible deja vu when she saw Julia grab a mag-pro out of her own hands, and stand waving the gun in the air above her head. Magus knew this time and place, and she didn't want to visit it again.
"Hey Z.E.D., take me I've got a gun! Alonzo, get down!"
Magus felt dismay and confusion from every direction. Alonzo slowly stood up below her,
"Julia, get down! Get down!"
"Alonzo, please, get down! Alonzo!"
Zero was intoning, "I have a projectile approaching," when suddenly, Magus felt a sharp pain in her right thigh. She cried out and grabbed her leg in pain and fear. Below her, Alonzo bellowed in pain while Julia ran toward him shouting,
"Oh God, Alonzo. Alonzo!"
Julia grabbed Alonzo's waist and maneuvered her shoulder under his arm as she helped him to the Medtent. Magus, absorbed in her own pain and confusion, suddenly found herself in the tent with them, although neither of them noticed her. Julia gave the wounded pilot a pain-block, at which, as suddenly as it started, her own pain left. She watched along with Alonzo as Julia swiftly removed the still moving bullet. Walman had joined them in the Medtent before Julia began the operation, and he escorted Julia out to safely destroy the projectile. Magus could feel Alonzo's anxiety when Julia was out of his sight, and she suddenly felt a great distrust for Walman. Walman had not been at all sympathetic to Julia the night before last, but now he walked next to her, his hand on her back. Alonzo hated Walman, and he was jealous of him, knowing all the while that neither of these emotions was justified. At the same time, the pain block began to wear off and his/her thigh throbbed red hot.
"How are you feeling?" Julia had come in to check on Alonzo, who took one look at her and said,
"You're nuts, you know. What were you doing out there?"
Magus was just as mystified as Alonzo. What the hell had the doctor been doing? She was stunned and pleased at the reply.
"I just couldn't lose you. No one ever believed in me like you did today. That you came back for me..."
Magus wondered how she could feel love for another woman. Julia just wasn't her type... She had lived with the woman for well over a year, traveled with her, bathed with her, and had never given her beauty more than a passing, envious thought.
While she was pondering this, the scene suddenly changed again. Alonzo was sitting in the ATV, Julia by his side, in the post dusk hour that always seemed so dark, when they heard a shout of pain and terror. Julia started toward the sound, moving quickly into the brush while Alonzo grabbed for her and shouted, "Heller! No!"
Magus felt his fear and frustration. He did not want her going by herself. No, he didn't want her going at all! But he was helpless to stop her, his right leg once again making him useless. He hated not being mobile, not being able to do as he wanted, having to allow others to do for him. And now, the first woman he had ever loved, really loved, had put herself in extreme danger, and there was nothing he could do about it. Self-disgust filled his mind and fear tightened his chest until he thought he'd never breathe again.
Magus could hear Julia talking to the Z.E.D. as she maneuvered close enough to use the sedative, and she could hear the Z.E.D.'s flat emotionless responses. The fear in her gut roiled, demanding some action, but, like Alonzo, she was powerless to react. Then Julia cried out in pain down the hill in the darkness.
Magus had not been with the group that had captured the Z.E.D., but she recognized the action from the descriptions she had heard. Baines and Julia had returned with broken bones, but with a sedated Z.E.D. and, most importantly, with a live Danziger. Knowing the ultimate outcome didn't seem to mitigate the intense emotions she felt. Why? And why was she dreaming about it, and why now? And with that thought she drifted back to real sleep.
Walman came in to wake her a short time later for her guard shift, and was surprised at the animosity she showed at being wakened.
"What? Walman, what the hell do you want?
"Uh, sorry Magus. It's your turn at guard duty. You asked me to wake you up. Remember?" He said defensively.
She sat up and rubbed her face, then ran her hands through her blond curls. Only after all her hair was standing on end, did she look back up at him. "Oh, right. Sorry Walman. I was having the weirdest dream... All about the Z.E.D. attack our first autumn here. Alonzo and Julia - when he came back with her. It all felt like it should have been Alonzo's dream. It was so real... And the fear... Shank, what a nightmare!"
***
Uly sat on a sleeping bag in the small cavern where they had set up house, having a desultory conversation with his mother. Devon was cooking a simple stew on the stove, using the food reserves that Alonzo had not finished. Julia and Danziger were sitting with Alonzo. Devon knew that Julia needed company and reassurance, and planned to have either John or herself sit with the doctor whenever possible. Devon suddenly felt the ground tremble and noticed that the pot on the stove was shaking. Two Terrians appeared in the middle of the room as Uly stood, ready to talk to them. Devon had to steady the stove and pot which she had knocked in her surprise.
One of the Terrians began to trill, speaking to Uly. The boy listened carefully, his head cocked to one side, then turned to his mother.
"Mom, they say that Alonzo's nightmares are so strong that the people back in camp are seeing them too. They want us to tell the rest of the crew what is happening. They can tell that people are upset."
"Is there anything they can do to help us not share Alonzo's dreams? Is there anything they can do to help Alonzo be more comfortable? Maybe if he was having happy dreams, he would get well faster."
Uly turned back to the Terrians and began to speak and his mother's stomach tightened as she watched her son trill like a Terrian. The Terrians trilled in response then disappeared back into the earth.
Uly turned back to Devon and shrugged in frustration. "It is hard to say some of this, it would be easier to dream it, but the Terrians say they can't dream now. Alonzo's nightmares scare and confuse them. The emotions are too strong, too human. They don't know how to help us or Alonzo. They say that Alonzo is such a powerful dreamer now that they can't change what he is doing."
Devon hugged her son in thanks, while silently thanking the heavens for communications gear. She left Uly in charge of the stew while she went outside to tell the crew about the dreams.
"Devon to camp."
"Yale here. Yes Devon?"
"Yale, I felt I should warn you. Apparently Alonzo's dreams are powerful enough that they are saturating the dreamplane. The Terrians say that you might experience them there in the camp. John and Uly have already seen one here."
Yale looked somber. "Thanks for letting us know. That explains the nightmare True had when she took her nap. She says she won't sleep alone again until her father returns. Will we all see them when we sleep?"
"I don't know, but it's a possibility. You should warn people to expect them. Unfortunately, Alonzo's dreams all seem to be frightening so far. John was pretty disturbed by his."
"I'll let the folks here know. Thanks for the warning. Is there anything you need? Or that we can do? How is Alonzo?"
Devon just shook her head.
"You'll let us know if something comes up? Yale out."
Devon thoughtfully removed her gear and turned to go back inside. Life on this planet never ceased to surprise her.
End of Chapter 5.
Author's Chapter Notes:
I saw all the parts but this one come through, so thought I'd repost. (Watch, the second I send this, Chapter 5 will appear!)