Chapter Text
As dawn approached, the darkened sky gave way to bright hues of orange and yellow over the mountain tops and the morning sun began its climb. Noni crouched near the riverbank and splashed the cool water onto her face. The sounds of water running rapidly over the rocks a few feet up stream mingled with the chirping of the waking birds in the nests of the trees surrounding them. Tiny squeaks from fledglings waiting for breakfast brought a smile to Noni as she patted her face dry with a small towel. Taking the bag from over her shoulder, she reached inside pulling from it a hairbrush and began to comb away the tangles in her long dark hair. So lost in the serene beauty of the early morning, Noni did not hear the sound of footsteps behind her. Suddenly, a hand covered her mouth while a strong arm encircled her, gathering her close. “Shh,” a familiar voice warned against her ear. “It’s me.”
Fear flooded through her; at the same time a warm and comforting feeling quickly overcame her panic as Alan held her next to him, his cheek leaning against her head. Again he whispered into her ear, “Look.” He pointed out across the river to the shadows of gorillas on horseback.
Getting to his feet yet staying low, Alan took Noni’s hand. “We’ve got to go.”
Noni stood, and like Alan, kept her stance low and hidden in the trees as she let him lead her back to camp where both Pete and Galen waited anxiously. No one spoke as the four fugitives quickly sprinted away in the opposite direction as the sound of the gorillas’ horses could be heard crossing the low running river.
....
“I told you I smelled cooking.” Izuku reminded the others as he stepped off his horse then crouched down near the now extinguished fire pit. He held a hairy hand over the embers. “It’s still warm. They haven’t been gone long,” he announced to his superior. Loka looked down from atop his steed. “Which way?”
“West.” Izuku pointed before standing and going back to his horse.
“We will have the fugitives apprehended by noon.” Loka proclaimed as he motioned the others forward, then spurred his horse into a run. The other gorilla soldiers abruptly followed suit.
....
It seemed as though they had been running for days. It took Noni everything she had to keep up. She was tired, thirsty, hungry and had fallen behind more than once. Even Galen was finding it hard to keep up the fast pace Alan and Pete had set, but it was necessary. The gorillas that chased them were relentless. The terrain was abundant with rolling hills, rough ground, trees, bushes, and gullies that hindered their path making the trek even harder to endure.
....
As the sun set and day turned to night, it was one of these gullies that had thwarted Galen’s attempt at proving he was not only more than up to continuing their journey but energetic about it as well. The group had stopped momentarily amongst a grove of trees and large rocks. Even Alan and Pete were feeling the strain of their day long nonstop race to escape their pursuers. Alan was adamant that they should keep going. The gorillas traveled by letting the stars lead their way. The clear day had turned to a cloudy night, the stars were not visible, and this was in their favor. Alan reached into his pocket and pulled out his handmade compass assuring everyone they could lose the gorilla soldiers in the cloudy darkness if they just kept going. But even he was feeling the pangs of exhaustion as he stopped, leaning heavily on a large boulder. Pete bent over, his hands on his knees, as he kept himself upright for fear if he sat, he would not be able to get up again. Noni let herself slip to the ground and leaned back against a nearby boulder unsure she could go on.
Galen, fueled by a sudden burst of energy and confidence in Alan’s, compass—the ‘handy craft’ as he called it— had bounded ahead of everyone despite Pete’s warnings. In the dark, he lost his footing as he crossed a minor path and fell, tumbling down a small gully encumbered by trees, bush and rocks, injuring his leg. All they had heard was his cry as he plummeted downward.
Alan and Pete wasted no time getting to him as Noni quickly got to her feet and followed. When they reached him, Noni sat down and cradled the wounded chimp’s head in her lap. Alan and Pete expertly dressed his wound. He was badly hurt and would be unable to walk. They did what they could but knew they needed to get him some place where they, or someone more qualified, could better care for him.
The two men worked rapidly to build a litter and it wasn’t long before they lifted their injured friend onto the stretcher and were again on their way. Pete and Alan carried Galen on the makeshift gurney while Noni had taken it upon herself to carry not only Galen’s but Alan and Pete’s packs as well as her own to help take some of the burden from the men as they carried Galen. Alan smiled at the gesture.
“I can handle it.” he assured her taking his pack.
Pete did likewise. "I normally don't mind a pretty lady handlin' my package, but if you can carry Galen's pack, I can schlep around the monkey and my complete stash of worldly possessions."
Noni looked at him quizzically. It was clear she had no idea what he had just said.
Alan shot his friend a scowl then looked over at Noni. “Take Galen’s pack. Pete can take care of his own,” he said with another scolding look at Pete before turning and stooping down, ready to pick up the litter. Pete slipped his pack over his shoulders then bent down taking hold of his end.
“One, two.” They both lifted Galen at the same time. “Lead on Boss.”
....
They had traveled through the night taking short breaks now and again. As morning loomed, they were drained of strength, all of them burnt out to the point of weakness when Alan spotted the farmhouse several yards below.
Noni watched and listened to Alan and Pete as they crouched on one knee laying the stretcher with Galen aboard softly on the ground.
“This could be it Pete. Show me a couple of smelly old tractors and it’s home sweet home,” Alan said trying to catch his breath.
Noni didn’t understand what he referred to. A tractor? What was that? She watched and listened hoping that now they could finally rest for a while.
When the two men again stood picking up the litter, Galen let out a soft painful moan. Pete looked back at Noni.
“You ok kid? Just a little farther.”
Noni gave him a very tired smile but nodded she was alright. She picked up her and Galen’s packs that she’d laid on the ground next to her and stood.
By the time they had reached the farmhouse, Noni could do no more. She fell to the ground next to Galen as Alan and Pete set the litter down. She was out of breath and out of energy; she was spent. And so was everyone else.
“I’m beat. I don’t care if this farmer doesn’t have a daughter,” Pete panted as he knelt on the ground.
While Alan went over to the farmhouse and knocked, Pete went to Noni’s side and handed her a canteen. She sat up, taking it and drinking her fill then giving it back to Pete.
“Hang tight kiddo. We’ll rest here.” He looked over as Alan backed away from the door and a large, older chimpanzee with greying hair peered out of the open door.
“Get away from here,” he shouted. “Now! I’m warning you we have clubs and corn knives.”
Virdon held his ground. “Our friend, he needs help.”
“We don’t help humans,” the ape insisted as he walked out holding some sort of club in his hand followed by a much younger male.
Virdon turned gesturing to Galen laying on the ground.
Pete took Noni by the hand and helped her up, then stood protectively in front of her when the large ape farmer walked over to them followed by the rest of his family.
The older ape was clearly the head of the household. He seemed stern yet not unreasonable. The younger one held tight to the machete shaped corn knife in his hands. He looked at them suspiciously with angry eyes. He made Noni nervous, and she clung closer to Pete. An older female came into the yard followed by two younger apes, a female and younger male not yet half grown, and seemed more curious. The young female seemed especially inquisitive about Galen. It was clear she was immediately smitten with their injured friend laying on the stretcher. Her eyes batted as she smiled sweetly at him.
“Who are you?” the older Ape asked.
“My name is Galen, and these are my friends,” he weakly motioned to Noni, Burke, and Virdon.
“His tired friends,” Burke put in.
“You’re their prisoner; they captured you,” the young male declared as he brandished his sharp weapon at them.
“No! Please help us,” Galen begged, feeling weaker by the moment. His leg pained him, and the loss of blood was zapping his energy.
“Are you rich? They’re your bonded humans, right?” the youngest ape asked almost excitedly.
“Nooo,” Galen answered a bit agitated as he sank down onto the litter.
Noni bent down putting a hand on Galen’s forehead. A worried look emanated from her eyes as she realized Galen’s condition was worsening. She looked up at both Pete and Alan with concern.
Pete looked from the farmer to the younger one still holding his large knife so menacingly. “Hey,” Pete growled. “Put that thing away and help him, will you!” he shouted, irritated.
“We’re no danger to you!” Alan added.
The older female ape made her way over, looking down at Galen’s wound. “Oh dear, bring him inside and I’ll see what I can do.” She turned to her husband slightly disturbed at his hesitance. “Ask your questions later,” she ordered. “Can’t you see he needs help?”
Alan and Pete bent down and picked up the litter intending to carry Galen into the house, but the elder chimp stopped them.
"Not you three. You can stay in the barn," he instructed then added, "And no funny business."
Alan and Pete stood back as the farmer and his eldest son picked up the litter. Galen let out a soft whimper as they started for the house.
Worried about Galen, Noni tried to follow the apes inside. Alan gently touched her arm, shaking his head, no.
Since she and Galen had been on the run with the two astronauts, Pete, who had a deaf cousin and had learned to communicate with signs at an early age, had been trying to teach her sign language, patiently showing her how to talk with her hands. Alan and Galen were also learning so that both would be able to understand the mute girl. It had only been a few weeks since Pete offered her this wonderous gift and she was not yet proficient but, then again, neither were the other two members of the group.
She threw Alan a bewildered look when he touched her arm and began to sign something. The blond man glanced at his friend for interpretation.
“She wants to go help.”
“He’ll be alright," Alan assured her. “You need to rest…all of us do.”
Reluctantly, Noni looked back as the apes disappeared into the house. Alan was right; she was exhausted and felt as if her legs would give out at any moment. She nodded that she understood and followed behind the two men to the small barn several feet from the house.
While Alan and Pete quickly found a spot to sleep and all but flopped down into the soft hay in front of the stall, they barely noticed the cow inside it. Noni, however, noticed it right off. She smiled and stepped over admiring the animal. It mooed softly as Noni reached out to touch the cow’s nose. A feeling of peacefulness fell over her as she smoothed her hands over the bridge of its nostrils and down its forehead. Then her eye lids began to close, and she felt herself swaying on her feet, the exhaustion taking over. The quiet girl left the cow and found a spot in the fresh hay across from Alan and Pete. She slumped to the ground and laid her head in the sweet-smelling straw and was fast asleep.
....
They didn’t know how long they had been sleeping, but it couldn’t have been more than a few hours when they were rudely awakened by the farmer’s oldest son Anto.
Pete felt a sudden sharp jab to the back of his legs jolting him upright from a dead sleep.
“OUWE Hey!” he yelled as he quickly began to scramble to his feet, turning to see the farmer’s son, a sharp pitchfork in his hands.
“Get up!” the ape ordered angrily.
“OK! Geeze take it easy there sarge. I didn’t even hear reveille.” Pete swiftly, but wobbly, made it to his feet as did Alan who’d also been roused unexpectedly from his deep slumber.
“Why did you sleep so close to the cow?!” Anto asked as he jabbed his pitchfork at them.
“Well, if she doesn’t object, why should we?” Pete remarked, still trying to gather his wits about him after being so abruptly awaken from an inert sleep.
“We meant no harm to your cow,” Virdon interrupted before looking over to see Noni, who had also been startled awake by Anto’s rant, getting to her feet. Frightened by the angry ape, Noni stood partially behind a wooden post watching them. Her eyes glanced at Alan who motioned the scared girl over to him.
In the stall, the cow let out a moo.
“See! Everyone knows humans are a curse to cows!” Anto barked.
“Hmm, live and learn,” Pete retorted.
The cow let out another moo and all eyes turned to her. Noni’s eyes softened and she reached to touch the animal.
“Get away!” Anto shouted, getting increasingly angrier as he jabbed his pitchfork at her.
Alan quickly pulled Noni behind him. “She’s not going to hurt your cow!”
“Hey!” Pete growled, “don’t get your baggy pants in a wad there, buddy. Point that thing somewhere else. She’s the least of your worries.”
“Five years I’ve waited!” Anto began, neither his tone nor his temper diminishing. “Five years for a bull calf! Then I will be granted my own ox …to start my own farm. And nothing but female calves…heifers. For the landlord!”
“Look… put that stabber down pal! Maybe this’ll be your lucky year.”
Virdon looked over at Pete then back to Anto. “I don’t understand?”
“You understand!” Anto mimicked suspiciously. “When a son becomes of age, he must wait for a bull calf to be born before he can start his own farm. Five years I’ve waited, and the signs were against me, but this year I knew the signs were right…until you came.” he frowned.
The cow mooed again, this time seemingly more anxious, fueling Anto’s resentment even more.
“You hear that! You’re a bad omen! If you’ve put a curse on her, I may kill you.”
“Hey wait a minute!” Alan objected.
“Remove the Curse.” Anto ordered. “Go away, today!”
Noni clung to Alan’s arm watching Anto cautiously. She was afraid of what he might do. She tugged at Alan’s sleeve and pointed to the door indicating they should leave when the youngest of the farmer’s children rushed in. He was bubbling with curiosity, information and promoted his authority.
“Hey…you two, Galen’s awake. He’s asking to see you and the girl.”
Noni smiled at the news. She was glad to be able to finally see Galen and even more happy to get away from the ape with the pitchfork still in his hands. She stayed close to Burke and Virdon as they started for the door until Anto stopped them once again, using the sharp object in his hands to keep them at bay.
“Wait! It’s bad enough having humans in the house but wash first. There’s a smell about you.”
Burke and Virdon looked at each other sharing a shameful glance.
“Well, nobody’s perfect” Pete pointed out with a shrug.
....
Outside the barn, a clean tub of water sitting on an old stump, awaited a few feet away. It was Alan who found the bucket sitting next to the tub. Taking the pail, he filled it full of water from the tub then motioned for Noni to follow and carried it over behind the barn to give her some privacy to clean up. Noni smiled, nodding her thanks to him.
Returning to where Pete had already started to wash, Alan began to do the same as a satisfied Anto returned to the house.
Noni cautiously looked around making sure she was undoubtedly alone before she began doing a subtle cleansing. The cool water seemed to wake her senses and made her feel refreshed. She wished there had been a river nearby; she would have much rather taken a full bath and washed her hair. It had been several days since she’d been able to do that. She made a mental note to find a place soon to take a proper bath, but for now, this would have to do.
Still feeling uncomfortable in this strange place, Noni finished quickly, drying herself with the towel that had been left for her. She readjusted her clothing and started back around the building when she heard the older ape along with the youngest talking to Alan and Pete.
“I’ve made up my mind,” he was telling them. “You can stay until your friend is well or at least able to walk.”
“No!” came the angry objections of the ape’s oldest son as he walked up to him.
“Enough! You’ve heard my decision!” Polar barked. He was head of the house after all, and his word would be respected.
Anto reluctantly backed down. “Alright, but the cow is my say! They stay away from the cow!” he retorted as he walked off in the opposite direction before his anger erupted, and he disrespected his father.
“He’s right about that— the cow is his say until the calf is born,” Polar said, settling with his oldest son.
Virdon glided his shirt over his head and slipped his arms through the sleeves. “Sure, anything you say,” he promised as he exchanged looks with Pete who only shrugged and nodded his agreement.
“But you’ll work. Every day,” Polar went on. “And the girl, too. Just as if I could afford you.”
“You got a deal,” Pete said as he finished drying himself off and put his shirt back on.
“Just as though I owned you.” Pete and Alan exchanged an uncomfortable look at the chimpanzee’s remark. “And the girl will help my wife,” Polar finished.
Remus, the farmer’s youngest son, looked up with delight and excitement. “I get one of them. One of them is mine.”
Polar smiled at the boy’s enthusiasm. “We’ll see.”
Noni watched from the side of the barn. She could not hear their conversation all that well, but she had seen the look on the eldest son’s face. He was angry, and that must mean that they had been granted permission to stay by the father. She was glad for it. Galen needed the rest and time to heal. Galen, she was anxious to see him and make sure he was alright. Suddenly in the distance, Noni caught sight of dust rising from the path. A horse and rider were coming toward them. She could not see what the rider looked like, but horses meant gorillas, and gorillas meant trouble, for all of them. Wasting no time, she hurried over to Alan and Pete and began franticly pointing at the approaching rider.
Polar had already caught sight of the dust coming up the path. “Mounted patrol!” he gasped. “Are you sure you’re not escaped bonded slaves?” he asked apprehensively.
“I promise you; we are free humans,” Virdon answered nervously.
Polar looked at them, still unsure if they were telling the truth, but with the thought of having three `slaves` of his own for a time, he decided it was worth the risk.
“Alright, hide, over there,” he pointed to the barn. “I’ll talk to him, and you will work for me?”
“Yes, yes,” Virdon answered as he motioned Pete and Noni toward the barn.
Pete took Noni’s hand as the three of them raced back toward the barn and hid inside while cautiously watching through the slits between the barn walls while Polar conversed with the trooper on horseback.
Noni watched fearfully standing behind Pete and Alan. ‘He find us,’ she signed.
“No,” Pete whispered reassuringly. “It’ll be alright.” He put a soothing hand on her shoulder.
‘Galen? ‘
“Galen will be fine.” This time it was Alan who offered her comfort. “They won’t turn him in. And I don’t believe they will report us either.”
Satisfied with his answer, but still uneasy, Noni watched warily along with Virdon and Pete as Polar and his sons met the gorilla patrolman in front of the house. The soldier stayed mounted as he conversed with the older farmer. They could not hear the whole conversation, bits and pieces here and there for the most part; however, the gorilla’s surly attitude could not be missed.
“I’m looking for escaped bonded slaves. Have you seen any?”
“Humans?” Zantes, Polars wife asked innocently as she came out of the house when she heard the noise.
“Of course, humans, what else?” the soldier snarled back.
“We know nothing of bonded humans,” Polar was saying. “We’re only poor tenant farmers.”
“Yes,” Zantes chimed in. “We can’t help you.”
Pete, Alan and Noni ducked farther behind their hiding spot just inside the barn as the patrolman looked their way, glancing around the area before he finished his conversation with the ape farmers. He insisted they report any stray humans, bonded escaped slaves to be precise, and finally rode away. A sigh of relief escaped the three humans as they watched him leave.
“He didn’t look like one of Urko’s men,” Burke observed as he watched the trooper ride off.
“Eh, don’t kid yourself Pete. He’s some kind of local patrol, but they are all Urko’s men.”
As the two men shared concerned looks, the cow let out an uncomfortable moo.
Pete turned, looking over at it. “Ah, don’t tell me your troubles. We got enough of our own.”
Feeling safe for the moment, Noni walked over to the cow and began petting her, calming the heifer.
Alan and Pete both shared a smile. “You got to admit, she does have a way with animals,” Pete pointed out.
Alan nodded in agreement. “Noni,” he called to her, holding his hand out, motioning her to follow. “Come on, let’s go check on Galen.”
....
Anto watched guardedly from the doorway as his father and little brother led the three humans into the house and into Galen’s small room.
“Come with me Remus,” Polar urged his very inquisitive youngest son before they made their way out leaving their new visitors to talk.
Pete watched them leave then turned back to his friends. “I don’t think we better stay here too long. That Anto seems a bit too hostile for my taste.”
“And unpredictable,” Alan put in.
“Just give it a few days. I should be better by then. I can’t walk yet, and you two can’t carry me for long,” Galen implored them.
Alan and Pete looked at each other. “He’s right you know,” Pete shrugged.
“I know,” Alan admitted, glancing at the door before turning to Galen. “You get some rest. I think Pete and I have some work to do.”
“Work?”
“Oh yeah,” Pete said sarcastically. “We’re the new hired hands. Hired to work for room and board. Well, if you count the floor of the barn as a room and a bucket of gruel as board.” Noni and Galen shared a look, both confused by Pete’s words.
“I will speak to them about giving you something more than a board to eat from,” Galen offered.
With a slight shake of his head, Alan nudged his friend and motioned toward the door. “We’ll check on you later Galen.”
....
Out in the main living area, Polar waited with his youngest son. “What are your names?” he asked as the three humans emerged from Galen’s room.
“Virdon.” Alan pointed to himself first, then to the others. “Burke, and Noni.”
“Alright then. You, Burke, you’ll do as Remus says. He’ll show you where to repair the fence. And the girl here will help Zantes,” he motioned to his wife who gave the girl a welcoming smile. “And Virdon, you’ll come with me.”
“Come on then.” An overzealous Remus motioned for Burke to follow him, excited to assert his authority and be like his father.
Pete shrugged as he and Alan exchanged amused glances. “Alrighty there boss, lead the way.”
As Polar and Alan made their way out, followed closely by Remus, Pete suddenly stopped and turned to Zantes.
“Oh, uh, Zantes, about Noni. She, uh, isn’t just quiet; she can’t talk.”
“Can’t talk? Oh dear,” the ape female looked over at the girl with concern.. “Then how can she comprehend anything?”
“No, you don’t understand,” Pete explained. “She can’t talk but she can hear you just fine. I just didn’t want you to think she was being disrespectful if she didn’t answer you.”
Zantes smiled and looked over at Noni. “Well in that case, I’m sure we’ll do just fine.”
....
The rest of the day Noni had been shown around the farm by Zantes and Jillia making sure she knew where and how to harvest the vegetables from the garden. Zantes was pleasantly surprised by how smart the girl was and how well she knew her way around the housework. But then Galen had mentioned Noni had once been a servant for his family.
Alan worked alongside Polar making sure equipment was ready for use among other farm duties, inspecting the farmland and monitoring for pests. They had begun to remove some of the rocks in one area until dusk fell upon them, and the rest of the work would have to wait. Pete had been instructed by Remus to clean the barn and put down fresh hay for the animals. By the time night came they were all exhausted, still tired from running from the patrol the last couple of days. Sleep was a welcome relief.
....
They settled into their chores the next morning with Alan following Polar back into the fields and Remus dragging Pete toward a weathered corral. As instructed by Zantes, Noni carried a bucket of fresh water over to where Pete was building the fence. She stood back for a moment, watching and listening as he talked with Remus. She could only hear parts of what they were saying from where she stood. Remus was arguing that Pete was building the fence wrong, and Pete trying to explain that his way was better. In the long run, Pete had won the argument.
Noni smiled at how Pete seemed to be able to sway the young chimp’s way of thinking to his own and make it look like the child’s idea. He was gentle with the youngster and Remus seemed to enjoy having Pete to order around. It made him feel important. Noni did not believe Pete hated it as much as he protested.
As Remus left Pete to finish his work, Noni carried her bucket of water over to the dark-haired astronaut tapping him on his shoulder.
‘Water?’ she signed with a questioning look in her eyes, asking him if that was the right sign for the word.
Pete looked over at her and smiled. “That’s right, Water,” he repeated the sign. “And yes, thank you.” Pete signed the words although she understood him to help her practice the signs. He reached over, taking the dipper from the pail, filled it, and he drank eagerly.
‘I think boy like you.’ she signed.
Pete looked over at the departing Remus and chuckled.
“I think he just likes ordering me around,” he said, returning the dipper.
Noni looked at him and grinned. ‘I think you like boy.’ she signed.
“What makes you think you’re so smart ,huh?” Pete asked jovially as he continued with his work.
‘I not speak. Nothing wrong my eyes.’ she quipped.
“Listen to you,” Pete chuckled. “You’re getting better with your signing; you catch on fast,” he praised her proudly.
“Thank you…teaching me, good have way talk.”
“Any time,” he mumbled as he set another rail on the fence. “Soon as you get proficient, I’ll teach you to spell the words.” He glanced back at her and smiled. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Remus and Jillia standing a few feet away, watching them.
“I, uh, think we better get back to work,” he told her, giving a slight nod toward Polar’s, two younger children.
Noni spared a glance as well and nodded before she made her way toward Jillia.
“Mother wants you to gather the vegetables from the garden,” Jillia told her, not impolitely, but with an authoritative tone.
Noni nodded and made her way to the garden. As she did, she noticed Alan near a wagon full of hay with Polar and Anto standing by, watching him. She smiled inwardly at the sight of the handsome blond astronaut from a different world, and she felt her heart skip a beat as she hurried to the garden. But instead of gathering what was needed, Noni stood, unseen, watching as Alan labored tirelessly tying ropes under and around the hay that he’d just finished pitching into Polar’s wagon. It was a hot day; perspiration ran down his temples and his shirt was drenched in sweat. Stopping his efforts for the moment, Alan lifted his shirt over his head revealing his smooth, chiseled torso. After using the garment to dry his damp skin, he tossed it aside.
Noni’s eyes fell lustfully upon his bare skin. Unable to move or turn away, she continued to watch him as he indulged in a cool drink from the canteen that hung on the wagon. His thirst quenched, the astronaut poured some of the clear liquid over the back of his neck letting the water run over his back and chest then replacing the cap, he set the container back in its place.
Noni felt her cheeks flush at the thoughts running rampant through her mind. She dreamed of what it would be like to run her hands over his bare skin, to be close to him, to feel his lips press against hers, to finally be able to tell him how her heart longed for him. Noni felt an unfamiliar warmth fall over her ,and her body quivered at the thought of being so near to him. She had seen human men bare chested before. She had seen Pete without his shirt only moments ago, but watching Alan…well, it was different. She didn’t look or feel about Pete the way she did Alan Virdon. She wondered what he would say if she told him how she felt. Would he push her away? Would he feel the same? Sometimes when she looked into his eyes, it was almost as if those feelings were there, hiding behind the pools of blue, afraid to be seen. She let her mind drift wondering what it would be like to love him the way a woman should love a man…
“Noni, what are you doing?” came Jillia’s childlike voice of authority, abruptly breaking the silent girl from her revere. “You were supposed to bring in the vegetables from the garden. Mother wants them for dinner,” she scolded.
Noni’s cheeks turned a nice shade of crimson as she looked at Jillia then gave a quick glimpse Alan’s way to see if he had noticed she’d been staring at him. Seeing he was oblivious to her, Noni quickly turned her attention back to Jillia and signed her apologies to the young ape girl who had no inkling as to what the human girl was doing with her hands, and immediately set out toward the garden. An embarrassed silent groan escaped Noni, and she inwardly chastised herself for being so obvious. But these feelings she harbored were so new. She’d never felt like this before. Alan had brought out sensations in her she had never dared to even think of before.
With one last lingering glance Alan’s way, Noni quickly followed Jillia into the garden.
Jillia was quiet for the most part while she helped Noni gather the vegetables for dinner. As they finished and Noni put the last potato into the basket, Jillia finally spoke. “You like him a lot, don’t you?”
Noni looked at her questioningly, not understanding.
“Oh, come on, I see the way you look at him. You can’t hide it from me,” she said glancing back toward where Alan had been working, showing Polar how to use rope and the ox to lift the hay into the loft. “Virdon, I can see it in your eyes.”
Noni blushed and shrugged.
“I won’t say anything. You can tell me. I think it’s kind of romantic, if humans even know what that is. Do you? I mean do you feel things like we do?”
Noni’s brow furrowed but she kept her annoyed look to herself, as she stood and brushed the dirt from the front of her dress.
Jillia did the same.
“Noni,” she hesitated, “do you know Galen well? I mean you are or were, his servant.”
Noni looked over at her with a small shrug and a nod.
“You’ve known him a long time, haven’t you?”
Again, Noni nodded.
“I know you can’t tell me anything, I mean, I know you can’t talk and all, but you can nod yes or no.”
Noni looked at her quizzically before she picked the basket of vegetables up from the ground wishing the ape girl would get to the point.
“I mean, um.” Jillia looked down at the ground a bit embarrassed. “Galen, does he, have someone? A special female, maybe? Someone waiting for him I mean?”
Noni smiled, shaking her head no, as they began to walk slowly back to the house.
“Do you think, maybe, do you think he’d ever want to be a farmer?”
This time Noni stifled a laugh then looked over at her and shrugged, shaking her head indicating she didn’t know.
“Well, I was just sort of, asking you know, just curious, he…he treats me like I’m a child. But I’m not, I have plenty of young apes who…well, I mean, how do I get him to see that I’m…? Do you think it would be possible for him to…? Oh you know what I mean?... Don’t you?”
As Jillia stumbled for her words, Noni stopped her, putting an understanding hand on the ape girl’s shoulder.
“Oh, you’re just human, you don’t understand…do you?”
Noni gave her a sympathetic smile and nodded her answer. She smiled inwardly thinking of how embarrassed Galen would be if he knew Jillia had such a crush on him.
As the two girls passed the barn on the way to the house, they could hear an argument going on between Alan, Polar and Anto. Though the complete conversation could not be understood, it was obvious it was about the cow. Anto believed that the way the hay was loaded into the barn had somehow tainted it. The cow now seemed to be ill. And Virdon was explaining that she was due to birth soon which justified her strange behavior.
Noni stood at the doorway listening along with Jillia. Both girls quickly stepped back as the barn door flung open barely missing them, and Anto stormed out heading in the opposite direction away from the house. Noni looked worried as Jillia only shrugged and motioned that they continue to the kitchen.
A few minutes later Virdon and Polar exited the barn as well, lost in conversation. They did not seem to notice the girls standing nearby as they made their way back to the wagon and resumed their work. Noni spared a glance Alan’s way before following Jillia back to the house.
....
Later that evening, supper finished, and the aftermath cleaned up, Polar and his family allowed the humans to relax in the house with them.
The fireplace crackled bringing a glow to the room as Pete leaned back against the hearth sketching what he called a windmill onto a rough board.
Noni sat with Zantes near the fire, holding the wool as Zantes wove it into cloth on her loom. Jillia sat with them sewing on a garment of clothing.
Across from them, Polar was busy mending a harness rope and weaving together the loose ends. Alan sat on the other side of the room talking with Galen as he lay recuperating on a soft cot.
Remus relaxed on the floor; a bag of corn next to him as he pulled the small ears from it, shelling the corn into a clay pot.
Virdon watched him from his spot next to Galen until he moved from Galen’s side to sit next to Remus.
Noni watched and listened as Virdon explained to the disbelieving youngster why he should use the best corn for seed and not the small ones. It seemed Polar and Zantes also found Virdon’s explanation something to think about as they, too, listened intently. Virdon’s demeanor suddenly changed as he talked about how he used to sit around the fire the same way they were now, with his own son. Alan suddenly became very quiet and left Remus to stand in front of the fireplace. A sadness fell over him as he leaned up against the mantel and stared into the flames, his eyes glistening as he fought back tears.
Noni watched from her spot. Her heart ached for him. She wanted to go to him, console him. Instead, she stayed seated, glanced once at Galen whose face also mirrored the sorrow he felt for his friend. Noni lowered her eyes to the floor hiding her sadness, there was nothing she could do to offer him comfort and it tore at her heart.
Remus quietly stood and walked over to his mother, tugging at her sleeve. His mother leaned over to him.
“Is something the matter?” he asked her in a hushed tone as he glanced over at Alan.
She smiled, then comfortingly patted her young son’s hand and whispered. “Well…they have feelings too…just like us. Now hush.”
After a few moments Alan turned back to face them. “I think I’ll turn in. Good night, everyone.”
“Ya that sounds like a good idea,” Pete agreed as he too got to his feet and started for the door.
“Noni can sleep in here tonight,” Zantes spoke up as the two astronauts made their way to the door. She turned to Noni whose eyes were still on Alan. “I’ll make a bed by the fire for you.”
“That’s a good idea,” Pete replied approvingly. “You won’t have to listen to the cow snoring.” He smiled giving her a playful wink.
Noni only nodded that she understood.
....
Later that night, Noni lay curled up under a blanket in front of the fireplace after everyone else had gone to bed. The room was dark, save for the warm glowing embers from the fire. She closed her eyes and tried to sleep as her mind drifted back to earlier in the day as she had watched Alan work, his pale skin glistening under the bright sun. He seemed content as he labored alongside the ape farmer showing him more convenient ways to make his work easier and more productive. Noni smiled to herself; a sense of pride fell over her as she had watched him, or was it something else? The feelings that had flooded through her then still lingered; it happened whenever she was close to him. The warm fuzzy feeling, her stomach felt as if it were tied in knots and butterflies fluttered with in. She had never known such feelings before, not until she met the handsome blond astronaut from another world.
But there was a sadness about him, especially when he looked at the picture of him with a human female and male child, or thought about the family he had lost. Noni would give anything to ease his sadness, she would—her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the door to the outside opening then closing again and heavy footsteps scraped across the floor. She opened her eyes just enough to see the oldest of Polar’s children making his way to his sleeping room. The ape mumbled something about dirty humans before he disappeared behind the draped doorway. Noni wished she was sleeping somewhere else, knowing he was in the house now made her feel uncomfortable and she was certain she would get no sleep. But sleep did come, slowly but surely, when her hands stopped shaking and her body no longer shivered. She was soon lost in the warmth of the fire. She felt her body relax, and let the quiet and the crackling of the burning wood lull her into sleep.
....
The next day, Noni was up early attending to her daily duties helping Zantes. Every once in a while, she would catch a glimpse of Virdon and Burke outside, building…something. Whatever it was, they were intent on finishing it. She stood gazing out at them until Zantes called her over, handing a plate of food to her.
“Would you take this to Galen, Noni? I’m sure he’s hungry by now. Then you can take something out to Virdon and Burke.”
Noni smiled, taking the plate from her. She nodded before turning and going to Galen’s room. She stopped at the door when she heard Jillia’s voice coming from inside.
“Why don’t you just let them go on?”
“I can’t,” came Galen’s answer. “You keep asking the same question different ways. Just like a female.”
“I thought you might never notice,” she said wryly, looking at him, a small smile crossing her lips.
Deciding it was a good time to interrupt, Noni moved back the hanging curtain in front of the door and walked in.
“Noni!” Galen breathed a sigh of relief as he saw her. “Thank goodness” he mumbled.
Jillia shook her head and started for the door, stopping when she reached Noni. She leaned over with a huff. “Males, they’re so clueless.” With that, she strutted out of the room.
Noni watched her leave then turned to Galen, looking at him as if he’d done something wrong.
“Now don’t you look at me like that. She is much too inquisitive for her own good.”
Noni walked over to where Galen repositioned himself on his cot. She handed him the food and signed, ‘She like you.’
Galen took the plate paying careful attention to what she was signing with her hands. He was still very new to this new form of communication Pete was teaching the silent girl and he was far from being able to understand too much of it yet.
“Now, now, if you’re saying what I think you’re saying, you just hush. I’m much too old for her, and besides I’m no farmer.”
Noni chuckled while Galen enjoyed his lunch, mumbling something about females being much too complicated for his liking. Sounds from outside drew Noni’s attention to the window. Out in front of the house, the two astronauts were hard at work building their newest gadget, something she had heard them call a Windmill. They paused momentarily when Polar walked over to them followed closely by Remus and Anto. They were too far away to hear their words, but by the way Anto and his father acted, and the concerned look on Pete and Alan’s faces, she guessed it was something serious.
It wasn’t long before Alan and Pete made their way to Galen’s room. Noni stood back and listened as Galen explained how he had only been able to stand for a few minutes while Alan and Pete to think of a way they could leave before Anto decided to turn them all in or the cow gave birth to a baby heifer instead of a baby bull and the humans would all be in danger of losing their lives by his hand. In the end, it was the general consensus that they were stuck where they were until Galen was well enough to walk.
....
The following day, Virdon and Burke hurried to finish their windmill. After making sure it worked the way it was supposed to, they began their next project.
By mid-afternoon, the next invention was complete, and of course, Pete and Alan had to try it out to be confident it was working properly. Pete was anxious to show their new invention to Noni and quickly set out to locate her.
He found her near the barn feeding the chickens.
“Noni,” he called to her excitedly as he reached for her hand. “Come with me. I want to show you something. You’re gonna love it, I promise!”
Noni looked at him confused and tried to argue that she had work to do.
“These birds can wait, come on.” he urged her, taking the bucket of chicken feed from her and setting it on the ground. He took hold of her hand and led her over to their new creation.
Alan stood near the new gadget, fully dressed but it did not escape Noni that both he and Pete’s hair was still wet as if they had drenched their heads with a bucket full of water.
“You know how you wanted to go to the river so you could bathe?” Pete asked, signing some of the words as he spoke.
Noni simply nodded, studying Pete’s hands intently.
“Well, now you don’t have to,” he announced, pleased with their surprise for her. He stopped and pointed toward a large tub that had been raised on a simple scaffold. Around the scaffold, a barrier made of wood with a swinging door at the side encircled it. A single rope cord hung from the tub above.
Not understanding, Noni looked at Pete as if he had lost his mind before she glanced at Alan who stood grinning, waiting for Pete’s explanation.
“It’s a shower! Like a waterfall. You stand under here,” he motioned toward where the rope hung down, “and then you pull this.” Alan reached over and tugged once on the cord. Water showered down, indeed like he had said, a sort of waterfall.
“It’s uh, kinda cold. Alan didn’t put the hot water in yet,” Pete joked, “but it works. We, uh, sort of thought you might like to try it out, so we’ll go find something else to do to give you some privacy.”
Noni curiously walked around the so-called shower. She opened the door then reached over and carefully took hold of the rope, giving it a tug. Water rained down splashing her feet and clothes. She quickly let go of the rope then smiled. Turning to Alan and Pete, she waved her hand at them to go.
“I think she wants us to leave.” Alan nudged Pete.
“I knew she’d like it.” Pete grinned as he and Alan headed off in another direction.
....
Finished with her shower, Noni dried herself with a towel that had been left for her. Once dressed, she used the towel to soak up the water from her damp hair then made her way toward the house to find her pack and retrieve her hairbrush. That’s when she heard the low resonance of a hollow bell being rung repetitively . Virdon and Burke rushed toward the barn followed closely by Polar, Zantes, Jillia and Remus. Letting the towel drop to the ground, Noni quickly followed.
Anto knelt next to the ceramic bell, striking it time after time as he weaved back and forth moaning that the cow was dying.
While the others stood back, Alan rushed into the animal’s stall a worried look on his face. Concerned about the cow’s fate, Noni followed him.
The cow lay still, clearly in distress. Alan knelt next to the beast assessing the poor animal’s difficulty. Noni fell to her knees near the animal’s head gently stroking her. She looked up at Alan for confirmation just as Pete entered.
“Trouble doc?”
“If I could just remember what the vet used to do,” Alan answered as he got to his feet.
“Try hard,” Pete urged. “I’ve got a feeling we don’t want to lose this patient.”
Noni looked over at Alan and signed ‘You help, yes?’
“She wants to know if you can help,” Pete translated.
“I don’t know, but I can try.” Alan answered then quickly left the stall.
Pete held out a hand to help Noni to her feet before the two of them followed Alan.
Alan’s urgent pleas to Anto as he explained to the distraught chimpanzee that his cow was having a premature birth— the calf was turned, and she needed help— seemed to fall on deaf ears. Anto continued to ring the bell and chant until suddenly his anger exploded. Dropping the mallet and shoving Virdon hard enough to knock him to the ground, Anto snatched up the pitchfork and turned it on Virdon, his rage emanating from his eyes.
Pete quickly grabbed Noni, pulling her behind him.
Zantes screamed out for her son to stop as Polar held her back. Remus and Jillia took a step back in fear of their brother’s anger. But Anto’s fury would not be silenced.
“You’ can’t claim a life yet!” Polar shouted. “The cow still lives.”
Reluctantly, Anto held back still holding the pitchfork menacingly at Virdon.
“Your cow doesn’t have to die Anto!” Virdon shouted. “I can help!”
“NO! You’ve worked your last trick! When she dies, you die!”
“Anto!” Galen yelled angrily as he hobbled into the barn, leaning heavily on one crutch. “Stop!”
Noni watched as the chaos ensued. It seemed no matter who pleaded with the angry ape, his mind was closed. Even at his mother and father’s urging, Anto would not listen. His mind was set— the cow was dying and he would kill the humans for causing the curse.
Pete suddenly scooped up Remus menacingly holding something to the young chimp’s back as the boy reacted with fear.
“Drop the sticker, Anto or your baby brother gets it!” Pete threatened.
“Ow, ooo he’s not fooling, please do as he says Anto,” Remus begged.
Noni looked over at Pete confused until she saw the “knife” he was holding to Remus’s back was nothing more than his own finger, and she suddenly understood, Remus was playing along.
“You heard him!” Pete growled “Drop the fork!”
“Do as he says!” Polar begged his son.
Finally, defeated, Anto dropped the pitchfork.
Galen quickly hobbled toward him, picking up the fork. It seemed everyone in the room let out a silent sigh of relief.
“If you want it to be a bull,” Galen said sternly, “ring the bell.”
As Alan rushed to his feet and hurried into the stall with the cow, Noni left Pete’s side to help Alan. Making her way over to the cow, she sat in the soft straw lifting the cow’s head in her lap and began stroking her soothingly.
“That’s it Noni, just try and keep her calm.” Alan smiled albeit with a concerned look still hovering over him.
Noni watched in awe as Alan concentrated on his work. She did her part by keeping the cow calm, and as relaxed as she could while Alan did what was needed to turn the calf. It seemed like several excruciating hours before the first calf was born, and several minutes later when the second one appeared.
The ambience in the barn was a welcome change from fear and desperation to one of rejoicing as Pete announced the birth of the twin bulls. Anto’s anxious, angry, bout of rage had turned to one of grateful thanks and delight as he gazed upon his two young bulls.
Getting to his feet, Alan washed his hands and arms in a nearby bucket then dried them with an empty gunny sack that was slung over the rail.
“Good job there, doc,” Pete congratulated his friend with a proud slap on the back. “I’ll never knock a farm boy again.”
Alan grinned. “Well, I couldn’t have done it without my nurse.” He smiled over at Noni. “If she wouldn’t have kept the cow calm, well, things could have turned out differently.”
Noni rewarded the compliment with a smile that lit up her eyes as she looked over at Alan and signed, ‘Good together.’
“I think she’s trying to say you make a good team,” Pete translated.
“Police! Police! all kinds of police!” Jillia shrieked from the doorway.
Polar looked out the barn door to see several troopers riding toward them and turned to the humans.
“Quick,” he pointed to the loft, “Up there.”
Galen hobbled over to the stairs and started up when Burke and Virdon motioned Noni up next as Pete snatched up Galen’s crutch. He and Alan followed. Polar and his family emerged from the barn to meet the oncoming troopers.
Galen and the three fugitives watched unseen from the loft of the barn concealed by mounds of hay as Polar and to their surprise Anto, who was comically doing his best to assure Urko and his troopers that the humans they were looking for were not there. Still unconvinced, Urko looked over at one of the troopers. “Search the barn, eyes that deceive once can deceive again.”
As the trooper dismounted and entered the barn, he looked around. Noting the loft, he made his way over and started up the stairs until he heard the two calves bray. Turning, he looked down into the stall at the two bull calves standing near their mother. The trooper shrugged then started back down the steps glancing in at the two calves once more before he walked back out of the barn.
“No humans here sir. There are two new calves inside with their mother. They would have been eaten had there been humans here.”
Still suspicious but with nothing to go on, Urko looked over at his troopers barking orders to demote the trooper who reported the humans here in the first place before he turned his mount and road off back toward his garrison.
....
Several days passed before the fugitives gathered in the main room of the cottage. Galen’s leg was now fully healed as Virdon, Burke, Galen and Noni said their goodbyes and made ready to leave Polar’s farm. The sun had recently set. Alan insisted that they take full advantage of the cover of darkness to resume their journey. Their packs full and extra food packed away for good measure; they made their way outside.
After saying goodbye to Galen, Jillia walked over to Noni. “You know, I’m really going to miss having you around. I mean, who else am I going to tell my deep, dark secrets to and trust you not to say anything.” She spared another glance Galen’s way. “And I know you wouldn’t say anything even if you could talk,” the ape whispered.
Noni smiled nodding toward Zantes.
“My mother? Oh I, she wouldn’t be the same,” Jillia stumbled then let out a sigh. “You know, humans aren’t so bad as friends after all.”
Again, Noni gave her a comforting smile and squeezed her hand before following Galen, Alan, and Pete as they headed out.
Not far down the road, Noni stopped and turned looking back toward the farm. Taking notice, Galen went to her.
“What’s wrong?”
Noni shrugged.
“You liked it there, didn’t you?” he smiled.
Giving him a small smile, she nodded.
“Well, perhaps one day, you will have your own farm to look after.” He patted her hand.
“Come on you two.” Alan called to them, “We don’t want to get caught on the road come daylight.”