CH 21

Bama had been restless. The little man had thrown down some old clothes from stray luggage to give her something soft to lie on. Being the ever-doting mother hen, he would not allow anyone in the area except for the tricky lady. She knew about puppies and they thought she could help. Bama was pacing in a circle and digging the clothes up into a pile.

"She's nesting. They make a comfortable place for the babies. It should be anytime now." Bama looked at her. Easy for her to say. She was in so much pain. Her belly would contract and bring her to a standstill. She would hang her head and wait for the pain to subside then she would walk some more. Vincent had to wait outside. She guessed that was okay. He would probably just annoy her anyway. The little man was there and for that she was glad. Who better to share this with than him? She scratched the last of the clothes into a pile and circled three times then lay down. The babies were active in her belly and she was going to be so glad to get them out of there. Another contraction hit her and she pushed against the pain. She licked herself and felt the nub of a little tiny paw.

"Look! Here they come!" The little man knelt beside her and rubbed her back. He had no idea how good that felt. "I need something to do. What can I do?"

The tricky lady smiled at him. "Puppies can take hours for the whole litter to be born. Would you mind playing for her? I see how she lays by you when you do. It might help to sooth her and keep her relaxed."

"Right, then." He picked up his guitar and played a soft melody. Bama loved to hear him play and found it to be just what she needed. Another contraction hit her and she pushed again. The little man stopped playing and watched. Bama yelped as the little body slipped out from inside her. Half covered in its birthing sac and very gooey, laid a little yellow puppy.

"Its a Vincent!" The little man exclaimed. The tricky lady had picked it up and was drying it off with a piece of a ripped up beach towel. The little body writhed and wriggled squealing loudly. She laid it at Bama's belly and let her finish bathing it. "What is it?"

"A female."

"Oh, right then. A Vintcina. Excellent." Bama licked the head of her little girl. She was so pretty. She had her father's color and big feet like those that he did.

In the next hour, she had three more. Two that were black like her. A male, female, and another yellow male. The little man played in intervals as quietly as he could and marveled at the little squealing litter. He would occasionally sit with Bama and rub her back and with the tip of his finger pet the tiny little heads. Half an hour had passed and Bama once again contracted.

"Sweet Jesus, there's more!" Bama pushed hard and delivered another little black puppy. It lay on the blanket lifeless. The little man's eyes got big and he picked it up with a towel and began to softly rub it. He looked at the tricky lady as tears welled up in his eyes. "Help me. This is Bama's baby. Please. Tell me what to do."

Her eyes softened at him. "Stand up and swing it head down between your legs and back up again. It may have stuff in its lungs. You have to be very gentle and keep rubbing it. He did as instructed but the body of the puppy remained limp. Bama watched him with concern in her eyes. He tried it again.

"Oh please dear God in heaven don't let it die." He blew on its face and rubbed softly and vigorously. He prayed under his breath until the faintest squeal of life came from the little black ball in his hands. He laughed through his tears and kissed the tiny head. "Look Bama its OK. He, she...she is OK. He held the tiny baby until it was squealing and wriggling like the others. He brought her tiny body in front of his eyes and looked in her little face. "I will always take care of you." She lifted her tiny head and squealed as if to say okay. He reluctantly put her down with the others and she soon found a teat and began to nurse. Bama contracted once more and within minutes delivered the last of her family. Another yellow male found its way into the world with the little man there to help it along. He knelt down and hugged Bama. You did it girl! Six babies! I am so proud of you! He then hugged the tricky lady. "Thank you."

He went out to the fire circle to deliver the good news. "Bama has just given birth to six puppies. Three are black and three are yellow. There are three males and three females. Mother and babies are doing fine!" There were cheers of joy and everyone wanted to see them. He told them they could peek but not touch as the new mother was exhausted and needed her rest.

Later that night, he sat with Bama and the puppies. He picked up the little black female and looked at Bama. "May I keep her? I shall name her Merry and will love her always." Bama laid her head on his leg. There was no one she would rather have watching over her babies than the little man.

Her person finally came in to see her. "Oh Bama! Look at your babies! They are so beautiful." She bent down and kissed her head. "Thank you, Charlie. I couldn't be here with the baby and all. I know she loves you and well anyway, thank you."

"Claire? May I have two of them? I want this little girl and that yellow male there. He's the runt."

"Sure Charlie. I know Bama would like that."

Oh yeah, she did. Bama woke up exhausted. The babies had woken her up many times to nurse and they squealed with every move they made. She didn't really mind. They were her babies and they were beautiful. Vincent had looked in on her last night but his boy made him go home to sleep. Bama felt the hair on her hackles rise when he was near. She did not trust him and she would do everything in her power to keep him away from her babies. She hoped that the impending trip on the raft would keep him from wanting one. It should. They were due to leave soon. She prayed they did not take Vincent. She needed him more.

The little man finally stirred and bid her a good morning. "How's my girl today?" He reached over and pet Merry's tiny head. Then he pets the little yellow male. "I must think of a name for you as well. Hmmm? Well, Merry's best mate was Pippin. So, you shall be."
He gave Bama a back rub and belly scratch, put fresh water in her dish and told her he would return shortly. Bama laid her head down and fell asleep.

She did not know how long shed been out. It could not have been too long. There was this humming…soft humming in her dreams? No. What then? She opened her eyes and jumped. The big guy was sitting there with the little yellow female in his arms humming to it. "Sorry Bama, I didn't mean to wake you. I just wanted to um, see the babies. I would very much like to um, have this one here. Do you think they might let me?"
The little man interrupted him.

"I think that could be arranged. I wont be able to keep track of all of them and I think a pup might be good for you. Those two there are mine. Merry and Pippin."

"Dude, you like went all Lord of the Rings." He laughed.

"I saw the movies. Bloody brilliant they were. I named them after the two funny guys. Such comedic timing they had. Loved it. What will you name her?"

"Lucky." The little man laughed.

"Oh yeah, you being wealthy and all right?" He rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, something like that." He put the little puppy back with the rest and it burrowed into the pile and fell asleep. "How can I mark it as mine."

"Fingernail polish. I shall borrow some from Sawyers stash. Some 'come get me red' ought to do the trick. I'll mark her tail for you."

"Thanks dude. I will visit her when I can so she can get to know me."

"No worries mate. Might want to let their eyes open. Bama is not to keen on anyone holding her babies. Give it a week or two."

"Um, thanks." He left the little man and headed to the fire circle.

The little man picked up his guitar and started to play. Bama closed her eyes and listened. He had started to write again. The little man seems almost happy! He plays then writes, plays then writes. Her person had finally come over with her brother in arms and laid him in his cradle. She pulled a pair of scissors out of her pants pocket.

"Ready?"

"Yes."

"Do you mind if I dabble while you do that?" He plucked out another melody on his guitar.

"No, just keep your head still." She took the scissors and began to trim his hair. "Charlie, hold still." He began to sing.

Bama watched Vincent's boy working on the boat with his dad. She hoped they left Vincent behind. He would not like being out on the high seas knowing his family was back on the beach. Unfortunately, for her, she was a dog and really had no say in what was to happen. The dark haired girl was talking to the boy's father and none to pleased with what he was telling her. Bama could only assume it had to do with the raft.

Her puppies were feasting at the present and hearty eaters they were. They squealed as they fought for nursing stations and pushed each other from one teat to another. Bama bathed each one as they nursed and moved them to the position by her head. It was not to long after they had eaten that they piled up and went to sleep. She took a moment to excuse herself and went into the trees. She never went further than she had to. The little man and her person were sitting outside of the tent, so she knew that her pups were safe. She saw that the dark haired girl was burning something. Whatever it was, it smelled bad. The scruffy man soon joined her and there again were words exchanged that did not look too pleasing.

Bama was beginning to feel like a town gossip. Well to a point. She could only tell Vincent and the hunter, but she did see a lot. If she could truly talk to anyone, she would wish to be able to talk to the little man. He understood her and she him. Well she thought she did anyway. She wandered back over to the tent and lay down beside him. The pups would be out for a bit, so she had some time for herself. Vincent was over with his boy and that was fine. Anything to keep the boy away from her and her babies.

There was a bit of chaos by the raft and the boy ran off into the trees. A small group surrounded the boy's father and helped him into the shade. Vincent came running over and lay down by Bama.

"What's going on?" She was looking at the boy's father lying under some trees. She turned her attention back to Vincent.

"Not sure. He was talking to his boy and then double over. The boy went to get the important man." They lay there waiting.

"I'm going to go see what's happening. I'll be back in a tick." The little man headed off. Bama looked at her babies and they were still sleeping.

"Will you stay with the babies, Vincent? I want to go with the little man." Vincent laid his head on his forepaws and looked at his children. They were a mixed bag of fur piled in a small heap.

The little man led the way with Bama following. They arrived over to the shady area as the important man showed up. Bama sat next to the little man watching.

"Have you eaten today?" He asked.

"Yeah, ate the same thing as Jin."

"Drank any water?"

"Yes, three or four bottles."

"Alright, stay down and in the shade here. Let me see what I can find out." He headed down the beach followed by the little man and Bama. They met up with the hunter and big guy.

"So what do you think, Jack?" The hunter stood with his arms crossed.

"I think someone has been poisoning his water. He and Jin ate the same thing and Jin isn't sick."

"But who would do that?"

"Possibly Sawyer." The important man looked down at the sand then back at the circle of men.

The big guy chimed in, "What about Kate?"

"What about Kate?" replied the hunter.

"You know that whole fugitive thing."

The important man looked at the big guy, "What, no one knows? Well how am I suppose to keep track of who knows what around here!"

"Ask the dogs," thought Bama.

The hunter looked at her and smiled. "Why Doc you've been holding out on us. Don't you think that is info everyone should have been privy too?"

"It didn't seem necessary. Besides you didn't seem to feel the need to inform us of the hatch."

"Touché"

"Well now that we are all in agreement of who is holding what info from whom for whatever reason can we get on with trying to figure this out." Bama loved when the little man stepped up and took charge. It usually just got him looks from the others but this time they heeded his request and moved on.

She followed him back to their tent and peeked in on the babies. There lay Vincent with all the puppies snuggled up against him.
He winked at her.

"I am just giving them some daddy time."

Bama was very happy when Vincent stayed the night with her. The little man had gone over to her persons to sleep so they had the place to themselves. Vincent laid about a foot apart from her with the puppies in between. They were quite the family.

Morning came with cries from his boy. He got up and looked at Bama. "Stay here!" He ran out to find his boy, his father and pretty much everyone in the camp standing around staring at a strange woman. She stood looking around with a rifle in her hand. Bama's little brother started to cry and the French lady could only stare. The scruffy man said it was the French chick. Bama watched from afar, as the curly haired man approached her.

"Danielle, what are you doing here?" She paused and looked at him.

"They're coming." She looked back at Bama's baby brother.

"Who is coming?" Everyone stood listening.

"The others." She went on to tell the crowd how she had arrived about 7 months pregnant and delivered her own daughter. She had only had her a week when the others took her. She hasn't seen her in 16 years. She spoke of black smoke spiraling in the sky and said that is when they would come. She left the crowd silent.

The important man and the hunter went down to see the boy's father working on the raft. The talk was that they were to launch that day but there was more talk of it not being ready. Bama witnessed the discussion and then the important man came back to camp. He gathered everyone together and headed back to the raft. With combined effort, they pushed the raft toward the water. The snap and fall of something halted production. While they attended to fixing it, Bama saw Vincent's boy leading him over to the wheezy girls camp. After a quick conversation that looked intense, Vincent trotted back over and lay down with his family.

"What was that about?" Bama could see sadness in Vincent's eyes. She reached over and licked his face. "Vincent? What is it?"

"I don't know whether to be happy or sad right now. He's leaving me. He just gave me to the wheezy girl. Just like that. He has been my boy for so many years and he just gave me away. The good side is I get to stay with you, but I cannot believe that someone who professes to love you unconditionally can just give you away like that. I feel like I just lost my favorite plaything."

Bama licked his face until his eyes stopped leaking. "You have me, Vincent. I will not leave you. We have our babies and you will be a great father to them. The wheezy girl will be good to you. She knows what we have done for her. Her heart is broken right now with the loss of the pretty boy. She will rely on you as the little man relies on me. Be her comfort. Listen to her. Show her you love her. One day she will unload on you, and when she does. Lick her hands, her face. Kiss away her sadness. Vincent, he gave you a gift. He let you live. He may not. No one talks of that. Its true. They may not come back."

"Bama, don't say that. He will be fine!" He shook with fear and sadness.

"I'm sorry Vincent. I just want you to keep it real. You know the risk they are taking. They know the risk. They chose to do this. He truly does love you enough to let you go."

Vincent whimpered. He laid his head on his forepaws. The babies began to stir and little Pippin nuzzled him. He gently nosed him toward Bama so he could eat.

"I love you, Bama." He licked her face.

"I know."