STORIES
SIX
Sotto voce, Wil moved close to him, "What are you doing, John?"
"Shush," he whispered. Then just at that moment, it dawning on him what in fact he actually was doing, he added, "I'm using a page from the official Captain Jack Harkness playbook."
"What?"
"I'm punting."
"John, do you even know what the word punting means?"
He leaned in closer, shoulder touching shoulder, "Um… no. Not really. But I know it has something to do with looking really good when everything else around you is going to hell."
Her eyes flashed but she said nothing because they both happened to notice Halikaarn Jaad staring at them, or at least he was openly observing them with what appeared to be a pronounced stare. You know aliens: sometimes it is kind of hard to tell for sure what they're doing…
"Childrrrennn," he said. It was not the translator, it was Jaad himself, and working hard at it too, it was obvious. "Childrrrennnn," he nodded exaggeratedly. "Yesssss…" There was sibilance in his voice but the words were unmistakable. "We agreeeee…"
Wil met John's eyes and she shivered involuntarily. Perhaps she had gotten through to the Erasmii leader after all, but this outcome was not among the set of possible outcomes she'd hypothesized. While the response should've made her feel better, it instead filled her with dread. But she could tell just by glancing at his face that maybe, just maybe, John believed it was better than nothing; the problem was that she wasn't at all sure she agreed.
"John," she murmured. "How are we…? What are we…?"
He raised his hand and touched her cheek with his fingertips. "A first step, this is only a first step, Wil. Let us try to embrace more modest desires and expectations for the time being." She shook her head but he continued, his eyes conveying his strength and certitude, although his voice was gentle, soft. "I know you're anxious, I feel and share your need to act. And don't doubt it, we are. This is just a beginning, but it's a good beginning. And it beats the crap out of a story full of endings."
He sensed a slight calmness washing over her and she smiled, albeit only half-heartedly.
John Hart dropped his hand and turned again to Halikaarn Jaad, who was waiting patiently while they'd taken their discussion off-line, so to speak. The two of them had learned early on that the Erasmii gracefully tolerated these very private conversations made in distinctly public venues. It was a cultural thing, John believed, related to how close together they still lived – even after immigrating to a new and wide-open frontier it seemed they required very little "personal space" because a deep respect of privacy was so profoundly engrained in their psyches. Or at least in the beginning he'd believed his conversations with Wil to be private; now he wasn't as sure as evidenced by the Halikaarn's rather startling use of English. Still, in the end the confidentiality hardly mattered. There were no secrets being kept here, there simply was no time for them.
"That's a good decision," John said slowly, as he took several steps toward the Halikaarn. He noticed the translator was quiet but Jaad was looking at him intently and undoubtedly following his words. "We'll transport your children as soon as possible to a safe haven, a safe world, a planet we know of called Orolo." He glanced briefly over his shoulder at Wil and she nodded in agreement.
Then John added something Wil absolutely did not agree with. Although she was not within his field of vision, he knew exactly how her eyes, her face, and her body language changed when he uttered his next two sentences. "My friend will escort your children to safety in her ship. I'll stay here with you for the time being and assist with the preparations to defend your world."
Halikaarn Jaad nodded once then turned and left the room, his assistants soundlessly trailing after him with the last one closing the door behind them. And it was probably a good thing he closed that door because Wil's voice suddenly was quite loud.
"What in the hell are you doing?"
John turned to face her, took a deep breath and although it didn't come easily to him, forced his tone to be tranquil, reasonable. "I'm trying to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat."
"You're talking like Jack."
"I'll take that as a compliment," he responded, even though it hadn't sounded much like one. In fact it had sounded more like an insult.
She said nothing.
"Listen," he explained, taking one of her hands between his. "I have a plan. I'm sorry but it just came to me and there wasn't time to discuss it with you. Let's round up their kids and have you take them to Orolo. I'll stay here and continue to work on the Halikaarn and the rest of the Erasmii. Once their children are gone, they may be more amenable to abandoning their home. After you return we'll try again to get them to leave. If it doesn't work out… well, we've given it our best shot and at least their children will be safe. What do you say, Wil? It's worth a try, isn't it?"
She closed her eyes for a short time and then opened them again. The golds and blues were muted, and she was blinking back tears. "Oh John, I'm sorry. You're right. It's a good plan and I'm so very sorry for snapping at you." She shook her head angrily, "I don't know what's wrong with me… I feel so out of control."
"Come here," he said, opening his arms wide to her. She allowed him to envelope her in his warmth and he felt her body relax as he held her close. "What do I always tell you," he breathed into her hair. "Everything is going to be all right."
She pulled back and smiled at him. "That's a song by Bob Marley," she said. When John shook his head uncomprehendingly, she sang a snippet of lyrics:
Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right…
He smiled back at her, "Catchy tune."
She kissed him deeply and he resolutely returned the sentiment. After the kiss ended, John lightly touched his forehead to hers. "I'm going to miss you. Hurry back home to me and don't be late."
As he always did when they were about to separate, he unbuckled his wristband and fastened it around her wrist.
Then he kissed her again.