Night Lights Book Two Chapter Two
2/24/02
For a week after his death, Jim watched his wife grieve from his vantage point in the colony. He had known it would not be easy for her, but he had not expected the depth of pain she expressed. All he could do was watch helplessly. “They” told him this process was “normal.” He must be patient until they could make their first contact. Improvement would be certain after contact. Meanwhile, specific rules existed to preserve the existence of the “others.”
The past year had been good to Jim. He had felt well enough and been capable enough to put all of his affairs in order and tie up a few loose ends. His wife would not need to be concerned about finances now that he was gone. Everything he had done in the past year had been done for her. Jim had not relished the idea of dying. He had chosen to pass on in his sleep because he felt it would be less painful for Emma. Death was unfortunately a part of the bargain. Still, Jim felt he had made a good deal. Meanwhile, he would keep an eye on her while he learned his new role as a member of the colony.
They selected Jim for his age and experience as a veterinarian. Although he had retired several years ago, he had kept up with the field through journals and occasional consultations with colleagues. They were also recruiting Emma for her work as a veterinarian nurse. If Emma received the same treatment as he had, all would be well soon.
Jim’s first assignment was twofold. First, they gave him the task of monitoring his wife’s behavior. This first task was easy since he would have kept his eye on Emma any way. Then, he was to catalogue all that he could remember about his treatment of the various animals he had examined. This task was more daunting. Jim was mentally reviewing information covering forty-five years. The field of veterinary medicine had changed greatly during this time. Environmental and cultural changes also contributed to the types of animals treated and the diseases they carried. Jim needed to document all these aspects plus classify his patient base into type of animal, scope of existence, and common ailments. The only reference Jim could rely on was his memory. Even so, Jim felt this would keep him busy for many years.
As Jim thought back to that first night over a year ago, he shivered when he thought of the calculated efforts of the “others.” The “sinkhole” created upon the landing of the Beacon was part of the recruitment efforts. Jim had been a name on the roster of “possible candidates” for many years. The “others” had directed many of his life decisions so that he fit their criteria for recruitment. These decisions even included issues of child birth. He and Emma had wanted a large family. The “others” calculated that two children were enough. They had ensured healthy deliveries of one baby of each sex. Several miscarriages between the two births had Jim wondering if those miscarriages had been boys.
Their original plan had been to have Jim lead a quiet life where he would not receive scrutiny from other people, including children. Both of his children were married and had families of their own. The fact that both moved great distances away was also part of the plan. If Emma had not also been on the roster, they might have seen her life as interference as well.
Jim’s appearance at the crash site determined the final stage. Had he ignored the Beacon, their recruitment of him would have been over. They would have removed his name from the roster. He was unsure if any other action would follow the noncompliance. The “others” were generally not happy when their plans failed.
Jim did not want to think about these things. He understood the benevolent rules governing their own kind. Jim instinctively knew, though, that they would treat outsiders less kindly.
The hardest part about that night was the secrecy involved. They only permitted him to divulge a small part of the events to his wife. They had made this clear from the start. The only reason they allowed any exchange was to relieve suspicion aroused by his activities. Jim often felt that he needed to share his experiences. Each time, though, he received a gentle reminder that this could not be. The first time, of course, was the day he took Emma to see the “sinkhole.” Before he could say too much, he developed a tickle in his throat that prevented him from speaking. He understood now that they allowed the visit to the crash site since it was reported on the news. Also, it was human nature to be curious about the unknown.
The next incident was at the town gathering. He was about to share information with his neighbor, Mary. As it was, Mary laughed at him. This had given him sufficient time to recover. He had suffered a sudden pain in his stomach–as if someone had kicked him! He was sure that no one noticed his discomfort. Since then, he had been very careful about what he said. As he thought about it now, he realized that he could have shared more with Emma. He had been unwilling to test his limitations. Even now, he was still on edge.
Most of the time during that year, Jim felt he was right to join the colony. A couple of times, he had wavered. Once, Emma had been sick with a bad case of the flu. She had been bedridden for a week. Jim nursed her around the clock. The gratitude and love he saw in his wife’s eyes were enough to break his heart. Who would take care of her when he was gone?
Another time, Emma had woken him in the middle of the night because she heard noises on the porch below their window. Jim had felt like a hero when he discovered a racoon tangled in his rocker cushions. Not only had Emma been relieved, but the racoon seemed grateful to be freed as well. Jim received only a few scratches for his rescue effort. Who would be there the next time?
Jim thought back to all those times he wished on stars for the reunion of his family. He recommended the practice of wishing on the night’s first star to everyone. His wishes had all come true. He was content, his wife was healthy, and he had seen his children again. His children had, in fact, smoothed his concerns about leaving Emma behind. Had he changed his mind, Jim was sure his death would have come sooner and been much more painful. His family may also have suffered some ill will.
The family reunion at the end of last summer helped to reduce Jim’s anxieties. It was a happy occasion. Both of his children and their families came. It had been a few years since they had all been together. Both of the children had been emphatic that one or both of their parents would have a home if the need ever arose. Even the grandchildren echoed these sentiments. The way it worked out, there was only a one-year period in which the couple would be separated. At the time, Jim had not been aware that they would also recruit Emma.
For a week after his death, Jim watched his wife grieve from his vantage point in the colony. He had known it would not be easy for her, but he had not expected the depth of pain she expressed. All he could do was watch helplessly. “They” told him this process was “normal.” He must be patient until they could make their first contact. Improvement would be certain after contact. Meanwhile, specific rules existed to preserve the existence of the “others.”
The past year had been good to Jim. He had felt well enough and been capable enough to put all of his affairs in order and tie up a few loose ends. His wife would not need to be concerned about finances now that he was gone. Everything he had done in the past year had been done for her. Jim had not relished the idea of dying. He had chosen to pass on in his sleep because he felt it would be less painful for Emma. Death was unfortunately a part of the bargain. Still, Jim felt he had made a good deal. Meanwhile, he would keep an eye on her while he learned his new role as a member of the colony.
They selected Jim for his age and experience as a veterinarian. Although he had retired several years ago, he had kept up with the field through journals and occasional consultations with colleagues. They were also recruiting Emma for her work as a veterinarian nurse. If Emma received the same treatment as he had, all would be well soon.
Jim’s first assignment was twofold. First, they gave him the task of monitoring his wife’s behavior. This first task was easy since he would have kept his eye on Emma any way. Then, he was to catalogue all that he could remember about his treatment of the various animals he had examined. This task was more daunting. Jim was mentally reviewing information covering forty-five years. The field of veterinary medicine had changed greatly during this time. Environmental and cultural changes also contributed to the types of animals treated and the diseases they carried. Jim needed to document all these aspects plus classify his patient base into type of animal, scope of existence, and common ailments. The only reference Jim could rely on was his memory. Even so, Jim felt this would keep him busy for many years.
As Jim thought back to that first night over a year ago, he shivered when he thought of the calculated efforts of the “others.” The “sinkhole” created upon the landing of the Beacon was part of the recruitment efforts. Jim had been a name on the roster of “possible candidates” for many years. The “others” had directed many of his life decisions so that he fit their criteria for recruitment. These decisions even included issues of child birth. He and Emma had wanted a large family. The “others” calculated that two children were enough. They had ensured healthy deliveries of one baby of each sex. Several miscarriages between the two births had Jim wondering if those miscarriages had been boys.
Their original plan had been to have Jim lead a quiet life where he would not receive scrutiny from other people, including children. Both of his children were married and had families of their own. The fact that both moved great distances away was also part of the plan. If Emma had not also been on the roster, they might have seen her life as interference as well.
Jim’s appearance at the crash site determined the final stage. Had he ignored the Beacon, their recruitment of him would have been over. They would have removed his name from the roster. He was unsure if any other action would follow the noncompliance. The “others” were generally not happy when their plans failed.
Jim did not want to think about these things. He understood the benevolent rules governing their own kind. Jim instinctively knew, though, that they would treat outsiders less kindly.
The hardest part about that night was the secrecy involved. They only permitted him to divulge a small part of the events to his wife. They had made this clear from the start. The only reason they allowed any exchange was to relieve suspicion aroused by his activities. Jim often felt that he needed to share his experiences. Each time, though, he received a gentle reminder that this could not be. The first time, of course, was the day he took Emma to see the “sinkhole.” Before he could say too much, he developed a tickle in his throat that prevented him from speaking. He understood now that they allowed the visit to the crash site since it was reported on the news. Also, it was human nature to be curious about the unknown.
The next incident was at the town gathering. He was about to share information with his neighbor, Mary. As it was, Mary laughed at him. This had given him sufficient time to recover. He had suffered a sudden pain in his stomach–as if someone had kicked him! He was sure that no one noticed his discomfort. Since then, he had been very careful about what he said. As he thought about it now, he realized that he could have shared more with Emma. He had been unwilling to test his limitations. Even now, he was still on edge.
Most of the time during that year, Jim felt he was right to join the colony. A couple of times, he had wavered. Once, Emma had been sick with a bad case of the flu. She had been bedridden for a week. Jim nursed her around the clock. The gratitude and love he saw in his wife’s eyes were enough to break his heart. Who would take care of her when he was gone?
Another time, Emma had woken him in the middle of the night because she heard noises on the porch below their window. Jim had felt like a hero when he discovered a racoon tangled in his rocker cushions. Not only had Emma been relieved, but the racoon seemed grateful to be freed as well. Jim received only a few scratches for his rescue effort. Who would be there the next time?
Jim thought back to all those times he wished on stars for the reunion of his family. He recommended the practice of wishing on the night’s first star to everyone. His wishes had all come true. He was content, his wife was healthy, and he had seen his children again. His children had, in fact, smoothed his concerns about leaving Emma behind. Had he changed his mind, Jim was sure his death would have come sooner and been much more painful. His family may also have suffered some ill will.
The family reunion at the end of last summer helped to reduce Jim’s anxieties. It was a happy occasion. Both of his children and their families came. It had been a few years since they had all been together. Both of the children had been emphatic that one or both of their parents would have a home if the need ever arose. Even the grandchildren echoed these sentiments. The way it worked out, there was only a one-year period in which the couple would be separated. At the time, Jim had not been aware that they would also recruit Emma.
posted by Vickie at 4:51 PM
1 Comments:
my favorite yet, as far as strength and quality of writing. Nice.
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