Asunder Chapter 45

Chapter 9.3 (45)

The Woman

The Beginning of the End

“I met the most peculiar otter today. She had three pups. One of the pups had a hook caught in its paw. I helped get it out. The momma was scared at first, but once I got it out, she warmed up to me. I hope he gets better soon. When I got home I noticed the Judge out behind the shed, he looked like he’d been crying. He didn’t see me. But he must’ve got himself into some paint or something because he had blue all over his face and hands. He’s such an interesting old man.” - Journal of Jane Rose - Entry 73

- Present Day -

- The Year 2296 -

Jane woke early to feed the baby. The morning light leaked through the stained-glass window and cast a beautiful myriad of colors over the area where they all slept. Even Enzo, a machine, appeared to be sleeping. She found him a curious addition to the group, but she had an innate trust for him. Even though he resembled all the evil in the world, she felt his shell did not define his heart. If a heart is what one would call it.

The Judge sat snoring with his hat draped over his eyes and fingers crossed over his chest. This was how he slept for as long as Jane knew him. Glancing at his hands, she noted how they resembled her father’s. The pieces began to fall together, and it made sense how her father was a descendent of his, and therefore, she was as well. It made sense why the Judge was so keen on staying close to her family and Jane. Jane wondered what his wife Barbara looked like and if the woman looked anything like herself. Jane, not resembling her mother much, figured she must’ve gained some of her features from her father’s side. As her father didn’t have any sisters, and her paternal grandmother died when her father was young, Jane had no reference for determining the source of the features she had inherited. She looked down at her precious baby, who resembled Jane in certain ways and her father in others.

When the Judge and Enzo finally awoke, they gathered their things. Jane surprisingly had the strength to move about, and now, without a child within her womb, she was able to bend over and contort her body in ways difficult to do for the past five months. Improvising a long piece of cloth to wrap around herself, Jane planned to use this to carry the baby for travel. Patrick, whom she had nearly forgotten in the events unfolding with the birth of her daughter, appeared from her bag. The mouse, looking quite full as crumbs fell from his mouth, had found her rations.

“Notice anything new, friend?” She asked the rodent.

A series of squeaks and chirps revealed he had witnessed the whole event.

“And you’ve yet to congratulate me?” She asked jokingly.

The mouse squeaked, and Jane stumbled to find an answer.

“Wow, I don’t know how to respond to that. You know, it isn’t easy to have a baby. Just because I only had one doesn’t make me less capable. How many did you say your mom had?”

He squeaked, picked up a crumb falling from his mouth, and shoved it back in.

“Thirty in one year? Holy smokes. Well, kudos to her, then.” Jane responded sardonically and rolled her eyes at the mouse, as his lack of empathy was palpable.

§

As mid-morning fast approached, they decided to pack up and quickly move along before any unwanted guests decided to come knocking. Enzo seemed as eager as ever to move along, continually peering out the windows and doors and sending HERAa on quick missions to patrol the perimeter. After Jane had created a makeshift sling to hold the baby to her chest, they exited the church into the daylight of the street. A calm wind blew, and they determined they needed to find the river, as this was their sure guide to the dunes.

HERAa had returned and mapped out a route she thought seemed the safest. The Judge hesitated to rely on HERAa alone, so he referenced the map book he carried, which contained his intricately detailed notes from their journey thus far. Patrick remained nuzzled within her collar and took to napping, which gave her some reprieve from his constant chatter.

With HERAa on patrol of their surroundings, they confidently made their way west to the expected river location. Passing through abandoned streets overgrown with trees and grass, they visualized old businesses with broken-out windows and plant life growing through the window panes lining the streets. After finally reaching the river flanked on the western side by large waterfalls dropping into a lower pool through an array of dark gray rocks, they followed it north, passing an enchanting large white-spired building. It still stood as though no one had touched it since the dawn of the machines. It resembled a castle, and she felt something whelm within her as she passed its majestic structure. After another half hour of travel, they eventually broke out of the city limits into old farmland.

By midday, they traversed well beyond the city, but the efforts of the birth just hours before started quickly catching up to Jane, and she felt like she had pushed herself too hard. She expended excessive energy in her milk production, leaving little reserves for her needs. The Judge, realizing her sudden weakness, gave her all his rations, as she required nearly double the water she had consumed before. A constant thirst nagged at her throat, requiring multiple stops for more water.

Finally, the group decided to take an extended rest period, so they sat below a large cottonwood tree between the river and an old farmhouse. The small homestead was heavily wooded and provided enough shelter to relax safely without concern for overhead surveillance. Enzo checked all of Jane’s vitals, indicating she remained slightly hypotensive. He recommended that she overhydrate to keep up with her milk supply and provide enough blood volume to keep her blood pressure at a near-average level. So Enzo and the Judge went to the river to refill the purifiers and overstock the water while Jane rested in the shade of trees.

After a snack, hydration, and a solid feeding session for the baby, Jane sat, ready to doze off with the infant in her arms. She felt the sweet purring of the baby against her chest. The girl’s little breaths provided solace to the pain and anguish Jane had been through the past year. Staring at the baby’s fluttering eyes, she soon felt the weight of her eyelids making their way shut. A sound caught their attention when her eyes were about to close. A rustling from behind an old skeleton of a shed, some twenty feet away, put them all on high alert. The Judge raised his rifle, and Enzo raised his palm, ready to take out whatever was now exposing itself.

Suddenly, rather than a machine, one part of an antler and another emerged behind the same shed. The antlers bobbed up and down, clearly indicating the bearer of the winding spikes had not taken notice of the group and instead readily grazed the grass. When the animal realized they were watching it, it stood immediately still, trying not to look at them. This obtuse reaction made Jane quietly chuckle. Clearly, they could all see the animal, but it acted as though it were not there. He was a rather large bull elk, and since there was no sign of a herd, he was likely a young one still trying to find his place in the world.

“Hello, friend,” Jane spoke quietly but directly at the Elk. The elk’s ears twitched in understanding.

“We won’t hurt you,” Jane continued. The elk snorted and slowly adjusted his front hooves.

“Maybe we shouldn’t…” the Judge started.

“My name is Jane. What is yours?” she motioned to the Judge and Enzo to lower their weapons.

The elk grunted.

“It’s okay, you don’t have to tell me.”

At this point, the baby unlatched from feeding and looked toward the elk. Her eyes were still too young to adjust to her surroundings, but somehow, she could still take notice of the animal. Suddenly, realizing the child in her arms, the Elk cocked its head as Imogene stared at the creature. Jane smiled and softly nodded to Imogene, “She’s my daughter.”

The elk, now less anxious due to the baby's presence, let out a high-pitched chucking that startled both the Judge and Enzo but had no effect on Jane or her child. Understanding what it said but surprised at the animal’s response, Jane replied, “How could you have known such a thing? She was only born yesterday.”

The bull elk yipped and then grunted.

“Well, those were some busy birds, then.” Jane snorted.

She looked at the Judge and Enzo. “He says he heard about Imogene’s birth. He said that nearly all creatures within a hundred miles have heard by now.”

She turned back to the elk, “We’re making our way to the dunes north of here. Do you know where those are? We’ve been following the river and…” she was interrupted by the bugling of the elk again.

“Really? That’s still a ways.”

Another grunt.

“Even longer if we followed the river?”

A grunt and a chuff.

“Do you really know a shorter route?”

Further warbling in the throat followed by a sneeze.

“Where is it?” She questioned all his answers.

The elk chuffed and grunted again. Jane could tell the sounds appeared similar to the Judge and Enzo, who sat silently watching the interaction.

“You would be willing to do that?” She continued.

The elk snorted and groaned.

“Because of Imogene? Well, she is exceptional, isn’t she?” Jane looked down and brushed Imogene’s cheek, who still stared wide-eyed toward the elk.

“I would very much appreciate it. Since the birth last night, it’s been difficult to find the energy to keep moving.” Jane continued.

She turned back to the Judge and Enzo, “He said he and his brother are willing to give us a lift to the dunes. He said they can travel much faster than we can walk, and also, they sighted a Watcher not too long ago.”

“A Watcher!?” HERAa piped up from her apparent analysis of Jane's conversation with the elk. “I have sensed no such thing!”

“Well, I think I’d trust these fellers more than I trust your handy dandy pieced-together computing software, little miss.” The Judge countered.

The Judge asked Jane, “Why would they be willing to do that? Help us out? They’re wild animals.”

“Because of Imogene. They want to help her and in so doing help us.” Jane replied.

The elk turned his head and made a loud bugling.

“What is he doing?” The Judge asked, surprised by the sound.

“Calling to his brother.” Jane laughed.

As they waited for a response, what at first sounded like a return call from another elk was, in fact, a deep and distant echoing siren—the familiar sound of the Watcher. As it was still very far away, it did not affect their ears. However, the noise caused the elk to stir and quickly approach Jane.

The elk reared and croaked deep within his chest.

“He said the Watcher is on the lookout and has sensed something. We need to be quick!” Jane stepped back from the Elk and warned the others.

“Well, where is this brother of his?” The Judge snapped.

Suddenly, HERAa began beeping and flying in circles. “The creature is correct. I am reading Isobian frequencies. We must hurry.”

At this point, another bull elk rounded the corner, surprised by the scene before him. The first elk chuffed repeatedly, calming the other elk, who approached the Judge after moments of realization.

Jane tied Imogene to her tighter and grabbed her bag. “He needs us to get on. They are going to go fast! Enzo, can you run?”

“Absolutely! Jane, here, let me help you onto the creature,” Enzo responded.

Enzo stepped over and hoisted Jane onto the back of the Elk.

The Judge looked nervously at Jane and Enzo as the second elk knelt to be mounted.

“Get on, Judge, we don’t have time,” Jane demanded. “He says to hold on to their antlers,” she grabbed and steadied herself.

The Judge reluctantly and awkwardly hopped onto the back of the animal with Enzo’s help and gripped the antlers. Suddenly, both elk took off into a sprint, nearly throwing their riders off. Enzo began running between the two beasts, attempting to keep pace. HERAa zipped on ahead.

“I will continue monitoring up ahead, friends!” She remarked as she cruised by.

Even in the flurry of their departure, Jane couldn’t help but consider the curious change in HERAa. Upon their first interaction, the artificial intelligence seemed almost angry with Enzo for his behavior and defection. Now, with her independent “body,” she seemed just as eager to escape the grasp of the Isobians as Enzo did. Anxious to remain free from the bounds of the Alpha.

The siren grew distant, and the elk’s huffing grew stronger as they galloped away from the river and into the old farm fields. After an hour of panic-stricken running, the elk slowed to a trot but still kept a much quicker and steadier pace than they could have accomplished on foot. They passed by more abandoned farmhouses as well as further dilapidated bridges. Finally, after not finding an adequately functional bridge to cross, the elk surrendered to the fact there was no dry crossing. So they found the shallow part of the river and crossed through. After another hour of traveling across dry grassland, they saw the river again.

“This is one winding river, huh!?” Jane yelled over the heavy breathing and rhythmic pounding of the elk’s hooves.

The elk grunted in return.

“Definitely! You weren’t kidding about a shortcut. We would’ve been following the river for days and likely been found by the Watcher!”

Further down the expanse, the river came back into view, along with an intact bridge. The elk, who by then had informed Jane his name was Nightbelly after his avid love for eating at night, mentioned he had seen the bridge before and was hoping it was still there. By then, Nightbelly and his brother Broadhorn were beyond tired and slowing significantly in their stride.

After crossing, they stopped at the river edge beneath the intact bridge for a water break. Their adrenaline had waned at this point, and there appeared to be no hint of a Watcher nearby. Enzo sat at the water’s edge and dipped his feet in. Lying back, he rested his arms behind his head. Since meeting the machine, he had become increasingly human-like with every passing day. Enzo slowly took on the Judge’s mannerisms, and Jane had even heard him use some of the Judge’s cowboy idioms.

They all sat in silence, stretching and taking in the much-needed break. The elk brothers had settled to rest their weary legs and snack on the river’s green grass. As they all basked in the warmth of the sun peaking beneath the bridge as it descended across the sky, all of their eyelids became heavy. The elk were the first to fall asleep, and soon, they all took on the same fate.

§

After she awoke, Jane barely remembered her dream. Something about her sisters, running through the woods near their home. It was an odd sensation for Jane not to have vivid dreams anymore. But in so doing, she felt better rested and didn’t dwell longer on their absence. Glancing down, she noted Patrick was feasting on pieces of her protein bar.

“I sure hope you don’t carry any diseases,” she commented, slightly exasperated.

The mouse looked up and chirped.

“Oh really, you? Offended? Please, you literally have no regard for other’s belongings.”

The mouse squeaked and chittered.

“That may be how it works in the mouse world, but this is the human world. You need to ask first.” She rolled her eyes and turned her attention to everyone else. The elk were awake and back at the river, hydrating themselves again. The Judge rifled through his bag for something when the last to wake, Enzo, suddenly sat upright and gasped as much as a machine without lungs could resemble the act.

“I saw them,” he said, exasperated.

“You saw who?” The Judge asked, slightly annoyed at the sudden interruption of the silence.

“I can’t control it. I keep dreaming. I see people. I see him. Mostly, I see him, but this time, I saw someone else, your brother.” Enzo looked at Jane.

“Where?” Jane asked, believing him unquestionably.

“In my dream, I was flying over the mountains. Then I saw something else flying through the clouds with me—a floating airship with a large blimp atop it. When I investigated it, he was there, staring at me. I didn’t quite know who he was until I saw the marks on his face as you described.”

“Your brother is a Disruptor?” HERAa interjected.

“Very much so,” Jane responded.

“He was there, Jane! I showed him where we were. He told me he’d find you… he’d find us.”

The Judge interrupted, “This is absurd! Machines can’t dream.”

“I can’t explain it, Judge, but it keeps happening. It happened when we were at the church. I saw him that time. I tried hiding, but he found us. I think he knows we were there.”

“Who?” Jane asked.

“The Alpha, I somehow entered his dreams, and now he is following me. I think he is trying to find us through my dreams,” Enzo replied hesitatingly in his digital voice.

“This is insane,” the Judge muttered. “If anything, you are giving us away. I knew it. I knew we couldn’t trust you. Making up some story as to why you are selling us out.”

“I promise you I am not,” Enzo spoke.

“It is true. I have noticed Enzo’s mind is entering a new state. It is working a thousand times harder than ever, and it appears his mind requires rest. Much akin to what you call sleep.” HERAa confirmed.

“A dreaming machine? You can’t be serious!” The Judge spat at the thought.

For some reason, Jane believed Enzo. “Can you somehow stop dreaming, just for now?”

“I feel like I can’t control it. It just happens. I don’t feel like I used to, almost like my mind gets tired of working, and then it sleeps,” Enzo spoke with regret.

“As I said…” HERAa began to interrupt again, but Jane cut her off.

“Well, what did my brother say in your dream?” Jane asked.

“I couldn’t hear his voice. Neither could he mine. So I spelled it on his palm, and he did so on mine.” Enzo continued, “I showed him where we would be just north of here. He appeared to understand.”

“Let me get this right?” The Judge interrupted. “You, a machine, I might add, had a dream about Jane’s brother flying in a zeppelin of sorts, and YOU, a machine, I might again add, in this dream spoke to him, and he wasn’t even remotely frightened by this? By a Taker confronting him? Even if it’s true, you dreaming and all, I can’t believe any human would rightly take comfort in a Taker approaching them. I dang near shot your head off when you first came to us.”

“It’s challenging to explain, Judge, but in my dreams, I am not a machine. I have a body like you. Well, not exactly like you.” Enzo rebutted.

“Really?” This explanation sparked Jane’s interest.

“Yes, and so does the Alpha. He appears attracted to the idea of having a body as well.”

“Fascinating,” Jane replied.

“Yeah, real fascinating,” the Judge rolled his eyes.

At this point, the Elk had returned to the group. Nightbelly nodded and clicked his ankles. Jane understood the sign.

“Nightbelly says we need to keep moving.” She interpreted it to the rest of the group.

“Nightbelly?” The Judge remarked.

“It’s his name… the other’s is Broadhorn.”

The Judge shook his head, “Whatever you say, Janey.”

“Well, let’s hope he did understand you, Enzo,” Jane nodded.

Enzo nodded in agreement, and the Judge hoisted himself back onto the elk. Patting the animal's mane, the older man softly said, “Broadhorn, huh?”

The elk chuffed, and The Judge looked to Jane for interpretation.

“He said ‘darn right,’ but… in much more… explicit terms.” Jane grinned.

“Ha, I like him already.” The Judge chuckled and stroked the elk’s ear.

§

They began their travels again as the sun set low on the horizon. Nightfall fast approached, and according to the elk, they still had a few more hours of travel. HERAa ensured them there was no further sign or sound of the Watcher in pursuit, so they let much of their guard down. The elk continued at their steady trot, and Patrick was soon fast asleep in her collar once again. Enzo kept pace with the Elk but also kept much to himself since the birth of Imogene. Jane wondered at Enzo’s earlier remark about the Alpha following him in his dreams. The machine seemed disturbed by the prospect, which had also bothered her. She trusted Enzo wholeheartedly up to this point. Still, with his speculation of the Alpha’s overall knowledge and omniscience, she began to falter in her belief of his complete defection from the Isobians.

As the sun descended behind the western ridges, a sudden cry from above in the sky broke her from her thoughts. It was the screech of a bird of prey. Sounding like a greeting, Jane saw a large hawk sailing overhead. Nightbelly bugled in response.

“Yes…” Jane squinted in the dim dusk light. “I think I know her,” she shouted in response to the elk’s question.

After a moment, the bird descended from its great height and carefully landed, perching itself on Nightbelly’s antlers.

The Judge looked over with wide, surprised eyes. “Janey, you look like you're starting yourself a zoo over there.”

“A what?” She responded.

“Oh, never mind,” he chuckled.

“Originally known as a Zoological Garden. A zoo was an establishment or facility where humans housed wild animals for exhibition. It was essentially an attraction designed by humans to trap animals and keep them in cages for the amusement of its guests,” HERAa spoke authoritatively.

“That sounds terrible! No! I am absolutely not starting a zoo.” Jane retorted.

Jane turned back to the bird perched on the antlers, cleaning its feathers with its beak.

“Hi there, friend. Am I wrong to think you are the same bird who saved me from that nasty snake a few days back?” She questioned.

The bird chirped, swallowing its loud screech, making it quieter.

“That’s what I thought,” Jane smiled, “thanks for the help.”

The bird chirped and then bellowed a low screech, followed by tapping and scratching its claws against the bony antlers.

“Oh really? Well, thank you kindly for the warning, friend. We heard the call of one earlier and were worried it would find us, but it eventually stopped.”

The bird continued preening its feathers. A scratching sensation began around Jane’s collar, and Patrick poked his head out, quietly chirping in her ear. This noise caused the bird to stop preening and look directly at the mouse quickly.

“Of course, we can trust her. She saved us before.” Jane chided the mouse.

“Do you mind if I ask you a favor?” She spoke to the bird now.

The bird quickly turned its gaze from the mouse to Jane.

“Could you be our other set of eyes? We have a friend zipping about looking out for us, but having a natural set of keen eyes like yours wouldn’t hurt. We are on our way to the dunes, and knowing if any of those big machines are lurking about would be mighty helpful.”

The bird stared at her and then flapped its wings, screeching.

“Oh wow, thank you so much, Wind-Winder. Which, by the way, is a beautiful name. I truly appreciate it.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a dried piece of fish. She presented it to the bird, but instead of taking it, she fluffed her chest and shook her head—a small screech emitted from her throat.

“Save it for the baby? So you know, too, huh?”

The bird nodded.

“Well, thank you, friend,” Jane responded.

With this, the bird fluttered its wings and launched into the air.

The Judge stared at her in expectation. “Well?” He prodded.

“She said there is a Watcher some miles back. It’s not moving right now, and it’s staying in the city. It must have known we were there.”

“That is what I was referring to about my dream. I think the Alpha discovered our location through my dream.” Enzo spoke up as he jogged next to the trotting elk.

“Well, let’s try not to let you sleep anymore,” Jane responded kindly, smiling at the machine. “I asked Wind-Winder to be another set of eyes for us.”

“Wind-Winder?” The Judge asked. “Jane, you are about to know every animal in this here country on a first-name basis if you keep up at this rate.”

“Did I hear you say another set of eyes?” HERAa suddenly appeared, returning from patrol. “Do you not think I am the most aptly programmed sentient being to be looking out for this party?” The offense was palpable in HERAa’s tone.

“You are doing a remarkable job, HERAa. I just thought another set of eyes wouldn’t hurt.”

“Humph,” HERAa retorted and sped off, muttering indignantly to herself.

“Now you are offending the little AI, Jane?” The Judge joked. “She’s our best bet at staying away from them, Watchers.”

“Well, aren’t you the pot calling the kettle black, Mr. I-Hate-All-Things-that-aren’t-a-human, as well as the man who is annoyed with anything or anyone who doesn’t get your weird jokes?”

“Hey! I don’t hate you, and you clearly don’t get my jokes,” he winked. The man looked silly as he bobbed up and down awkwardly on the back of the elk. Jane glared a smile and focused back on the baby.

The same trotting motion of the elk eventually lulled Imogene into a deep sleep. Though grateful for the ride the elk provided, Jane was beginning to feel extremely sore. With the birth of her child and now the necessity to be straddling the creature with its incessant bumping up and down, her whole lower body ached.

They continued their travel for hours until the sun finally set, and the stars illuminated the sky. The moon was just on the horizon, and the stars acted as a distraction from the pain as she tried to name all the constellations.

Enzo suddenly interrupted her focus, “Are you alright, Jane? I sense a rise in your heartbeat and body temperature.”

“Yeah, I’m fine, Enzo. I’m just sore,” Jane said, shifting her weight.

She was not exactly fine and was, in fact, counting down the seconds to which they would arrive at their destination. The moon began to rise, and the surrounding landscape began to brighten as it did. They were no longer traveling through fields of old farmland but had transitioned to harder, hilly ground interspersed with sagebrush and shorter grass. The horizon would vanish as they sank into the gullies, only to reappear as they ascended back out. The constant elevation change required them to hold even tighter to the elks’ antlers, which she could tell was extremely uncomfortable for the creatures, so she held her tongue as each bump sent jolts of pain through her body.

“I can carry you if you prefer, Jane,” Enzo offered.

As much as she would do almost anything to change her discomfort, she remembered the awkward pains developing after being cradled by metal arms, so she resolved to continue on the back of the elk.

The landscape eventually transitioned back into farmland, and not too long after traveling this new fertile ground, the most beautiful sight she had seen since the birth of her child appeared on the horizon—moonlit white sandy peaks.

By the time they had reached the dunes, it was late into the night. Enzo helped Jane from atop the animal, and she immediately sat down on the soft sand, taking a large drink of water and turning to feed the baby. The elk took them straight to a small lake at the southern end of the dunes. The area appeared surrounded by large poplar trees, providing enough cover for the small group. Struggling to stay awake but overcome by exhaustion and pain, Jane felt herself slipping into a slumber. After grazing and drinking, the elk collapsed beside her, providing her with the warmth of their bodies. The last image before she dozed off was of Enzo standing as a lookout, keeping himself from falling asleep, and the Judge scribbling on his homemade map he used to keep track of their locations and travels.

§

Jane suddenly awoke to the sound of a familiar screeching. As her eyes adjusted to her surroundings, she noted that the elk still surrounded her. However, they were now stirred from their slumber by the sound of Wind-Winder flapping her wings and attempting to get Jane’s attention. Looking over, Jane saw the Judge sleeping near the other elk, and Enzo stood further in the distance, supposedly keeping watch. A sense of deep worry crossed Jane as she noted his head slumped as he leaned against a tree. Her stomach sank. They needed to keep Enzo awake.

The hawk screeched again—its words formulated in Jane’s mind more clearly this time.

“A what? You saw a what?” Jane responded groggily, wiping the sleep from her eyes.

The bird chirped a deep guttural sound and flicked its wings.

“An aircraft? Did it have a big balloon atop it?” Jane asked.

The bird cocked its head, clearly not understanding what she meant. Jane adjusted the baby in her arms and, with her free hand, drew a large oval in the sand.

“A balloon shaped like this?” She motioned for the bird to look.

It rotated its head to examine the drawing and excitedly began hopping and clicking. Jane burst with excitement. The bird confirmed seeing Abe’s airship.

Jane called to the Judge, “Judge! Judge! Give me your pencil and some paper! Judge, wake up!” This awakening startled the Judge, who reflexively tossed the hat from his eyes with his rifle readied and aimed.

“Judge, it’s me!” Jane barked, “I need a pencil and paper. Wind-Winder found Abe.” She looked at the bird and motioned for the Judge to hand her some paper quickly. The bird chirped and shifted its weight. Trying to shake the sleep from his eyes, the Judge responded.

“Sorry, my what?”

“A paper and pencil!” Jane said eagerly.

Setting his rifle aside, he reached into his bag, retrieved the items, and passed them to Jane.

“Wind-Winder, can I give you a note to take to my brother up in the aircraft you saw?” Jane asked the bird.

The bird clicked and fluttered its wings.

“Thank you! Thank you! Let me just write it out really quick!”

She paused momentarily, and then, knowing what she needed to write, she scribbled on the paper. After finishing the message, she turned to the bird and rolled up the note.

“Please, when you see the craft, make sure there is a man with black lines across his face. If it is anyone else, do not approach.” Jane cautioned the bird.

She rolled the paper up and then tore some thread from her blanket. Then, fastening the thread around the paper, Jane carefully tied it to Wind-Winder’s leg.

“Is this comfortable?” She asked the bird.

It nodded and then jumped a few times, testing the weight of its new cargo.

“Be careful,” Jane warned, and with this, the bird took to flight. She watched as it disappeared into the night. Then, saying a small prayer in her heart, she looked down at the Judge, who intently stared at her. The elk had fallen asleep already, clearly recuperating from their earlier travels.

“Well, I guess we know Mother Nature beats the mechanical wonder.” The Judge spoke sleepily.

“What do you mean?”

“The bird has been much more help than little Miss HERAa… speaking of that tin can, where is she?”

Jane looked back at Enzo, who had not stirred with the bird’s commotion.

“Enzo looks like he has fallen asleep again.” She pointed for the Judge to see.

Quickly turning his head, the older man cursed under his breath. “Tarnation, I’m gonna kill that bag of nails.”