Into the Forest Shadows (3 page)

Grandma's soft lilting voice drifted with the
breeze, "There you are. We'll get you over this just like your
friends. You'll see."

Kate couldn't help but roll her eyes.
"Grandma, you really need to stop talking to your plants."

Grandma lifted her head, her eyes crinkling
as she smiled widely. "Oh dear, it is that time? How wonderful! And
look, you're wearing your cape."

"Yes, just like you ask. Each and every
time." Kate folded her arms over her chest. "You weren't waiting
for me when the shuttle arrived."

She pulled a black computer module out of the
other crate, "I've been so busy. Sick trees, you know. They just
can't be left."

"Should I have come a different day?" Kate
asked, moving closer.

"Oh no, don't think that. Today is fine.
You'll be glad for the cape today. The temperature will cool off
soon."

She recalled clear high-summer blue skies
from the shuttle ride. The air still held a lot of heat, making her
wish she could dispense with the cape. "The weather is suppose to
stay hot."

"Not tonight it won't. You just watch." She
held up a series of sensors on a connected line in her hand. Kate
stepped forward to take it. "Help me place them along the
trunk."

Kate wasn't sure she wanted to touch the
tree, suddenly nervous even though she felt sorry for it. It looked
so sick.

Grandma patted the trunk, crooning, "Don't
worry. You'll be better in no time."

"Grandma, it's not alive."

"Of course it's alive, dear. It isn't a rock.
Does it not emerge from a seed, grow, reproduce and die just like
you and I?"

A leaf fluttered down from the top, so
crinkled and dry that it looked as if it had been baked in an oven.
Kate knelt to start stringing the sensors around the bark in a
spiral pattern. "Okay, it's alive. But do you have to talk to
it?"

"It makes them feel better. And knowing what
is most likely wrong with it, it needs all the comfort I can give
it." Grandma took an instrument and placed it at the roots,
plugging the sensor leads in. "When it was brought to me I made a
promise to cure it if I could, and I will. I keep my promises. I'm
hoping a stronger tonic will help."

It must have been brought by the Gatherers.
Maybe a blight they've been seeing? Kate had to concede that
Grandma would have the best chance of figuring out what might be
wrong than anyone else on the world.

If only she didn't carry out conversations
with them. Grandma needed someone else out here other than trees to
talk to.

"What's wrong with it? It doesn't look
right." She reached out to touch it, but hesitated. Could trees be
contagious?

"I don't know for certain yet, but I have my
suspicions." Grandma finished winding the line of sensors around
the base of the tree while Kate plugged it into the base
controller. Grandma crooned at the tree, "And you'll feel better
soon. You'll see."

A bunt squealed from the edge of the orchard.
The forest went silent. Kate squinted, studying the undergrowth. A
dark shape moved behind one of the bushes. She felt a chill wash
over her and shivered. The shadow glided under another bush.

Then the movement was gone.

Only a shadow of one of the swaying trees,
she told herself. Nothing to be afraid of. Probably more bunts
running around or maybe one of the larger beetles that sometimes
appeared in the area. Either way, it was harmless.

"Time to head in, I think, and have a spot of
tea," Grandma suddenly said. "The air is already cooler. Help me
up. The knees aren't as young as they used to be."

Grandma reached out for her hand. Kate
stiffened to take the extra weight as Grandma pulled herself up
with the help of Kate's hand and arm. Tea sounded good, but it also
reminded her of a little problem back at the house.

"A few bunts got into the house when I took
the supplies in," Kate said.

Grandma chuckled, handing one of the crates
to Kate while taking the second one herself. "Doesn't surprise me.
They've been doing that a lot lately. I'll have the housebot do a
little vacuuming later on. They hate that. Meanwhile, time to visit
with my favorite granddaughter!"

"Grandma, I'm your only granddaughter."

"And you would still be my favorite!" Grandma
pinching her cheek. "Of course, then all of them would be my
favorite. How could I choose over such a thing? I wouldn't be able
to! Wouldn't be right anyway."

Kate didn't miss Grandma's eyes going towards
the bush where Kate had seen the shadowy shape. The shivers
returned, lingering even after they moved down the path. Maybe
Grandma had a reason to lock the front door after all.

"By the way, does anything ever come up near
the house? Other than bunts, I mean."

"Whatever do you mean? Only trees, bunts and
such around here. That Uncle of yours trying to put a little fear
in you so you don't come out and visit me?"

"Both him and Mom. I ignore him anyway. He
isn't my father," Kate said. Rats, how did he get into her mind
again?

"Yes, not your father. You don't let him act
like it, either!" Grandma laughed along with a grimace, "I don't
expect you do let him. A barrel of fire you have. You let him have
it anytime he tries, dear."

"I have been, but now I have Mom on my case,"
Kate said.

"Don't worry so much about your mother.
She'll put up with the lout for only so long and then she'll come
around. Oh dear, look at this root system. I need to get more water
down here. Hello Green-Thrush, how are you today? Feeling better?
Oh, the flowers have come back!"

Kate held her tongue as they quickly walked
back to the cottage. She didn't agree. Mom married Father, hadn't
she?

She couldn't help eying the path behind them.
No movement or odd shadows, but she knew. Something was still out
there watching them, keeping the bunts quiet.

The bunts looked up as she and Grandma came
in. Kate cringed at how many more were under the furniture. "I
hoped they would go outside."

"No problem. Go put the crate in the lab.
I'll have tea ready for us in a jiffy."

Kate carried the crate down the hall, moving
the boxes she'd barricaded the hall with her foot. She retuned to
pick up the basket on the table, taking it into the kitchen. While
setting out the bread, crackers and few off-world spices she saw
the prescription bottle.

The bottle bothered her. The front of it said
something she could hardly sound out. She eyed Grandma as she
readied the tea. Grandma didn't move like she felt unwell.

Kate held out the bottle, "This is from your
doctor. Apparently you are supposed to take one right away."

Grandma picked up the tea tray, squinting at
it as she passed. "I didn't ask my Doctor to send anything."

"I guess he thought you needed it anyway,"
Kate said.

"Take it back to him. I don't need anything
other than what I have here. The forest has an answer for what ails
me." Grandma took the tea to the table next to her chair in the
living room.

Kate let her hand drop, the bottle of pills
untouched. She should have known Grandma would refuse them. Leave
it to Uncle to make her drop the big surprise on Grandma. Kate
didn't appreciate being put in the middle. Now she would also be in
trouble for not getting Grandma to take her first dosage.
Definitely a no-win situation.

Getting even for this morning wouldn't be
enough. Kate would have to come up with something much more
creative and long-lasting.

CHAPTER
THREE

She slipped the bottle into an inside pocket
of her cape and sat down on a chair where two bunts rubbed noses
underneath. She muttered under her breath, "Behave down there."

Grandma passed Kate the cup, "This is brand
new. I've found several highly beneficial elements in it. I might
even pass it on to a bio-tech firm for medicinal purposes."

Kate took a cautious sniff, "Does that mean
it tastes horrible?"

"Of course not. It tastes a little different
than what you might be used to, but it's rather refreshing. Now,
tell me what you've been doing with yourself."

Kate held the cup on her lap to let it cool
down a little. A war brewed in her. She suspected Uncle of wanting
Grandma to come into the city where he could control her. Perhaps
even force her to retire.

At the same time she wanted Grandma to come,
to have someone completely on her side. Uncle Travis would find the
two of them a united front against him, a force he couldn't easily
push aside or manipulate. And maybe they could talk a little sense
in Mom.

Time to just ask. "Grandma, are you sure you
wouldn't like to come for a visit, just for a short time? You know,
interact with other people?"

Grandma finished taking a sip of her tea and
then set it down beside her. Her steady gaze pinned Kate to the
chair. "What is this about, dear?"

Kate shrugged, "I just thought it would be
nice. I could show you the new fields and the fishermen have a new
boat. And you could join us for dinner. That would be really nice.
I could actually have a conversation with someone for a
change!"

"You know a certain someone and I don't get
along. And I hear he's been asked to dinner a lot lately."

Kate grinned, "Exactly! Two against two."

Grandma sighed and picked up her tea cup to
take another sip, "I get plenty of interaction through the
communication link-up. You would be surprised at how much I know is
going on in the city. And then there are the Gatherers traveling
through the area once in a while. Plus, I have your visits to look
forward to."

So much for moral support. So, like usual,
she would take care of things herself.

She would let Mom return the pills to Uncle
Travis or to the Doctor. A few extra study periods at school to
stay out of the way until she plotted out and executed her revenge,
and all would be good. Uncle Travis wouldn't see her vengeance
coming.

The thought filled her with perverse
pleasure. Oh, she was going to enjoy taking him down. She just had
to come up with the right way to do it. Maybe something to do with
the Oburos Directory? A short time ago they'd been rather angry at
him. Maybe she could find out what that was all about and use
it.

"Besides, I can't leave my experiments. I
have sick trees to tend to. Dear, drink up before your tea goes
cold." Grandma turned to add a little more hot tea to her cup.
"I'll have to show you what I'm up to in the lab. I think I'm on
the brink of a breakthrough."

Kate lifted the tea and blew on it. It
smelled okay, with an underlaying aroma of spice and mint. Grandma
liked things to taste good. The off-world spices were the few food
items she brought in from outside the forest. She tipped the cup
and took a deep swallow.

Bitterness flooded her mouth. Kate's eyes
went wide.

Where was the spice and mint? Kate forced
herself to swallow, just to get rid of it. She glared down at the
cup. Grandma thought this tasted good?

"Drink up, it's good for you. Now, tell me
about school. How have your classes been going?" Grandma asked.

"Uh, going okay. No big problems. Nothing
like at home," Kate said, considering the dark liquid. She wanted
to throw it out. She doubted even the bunts would like something
like this, and they ate almost anything plant-based.

Kate took a deep breath, held it and gulped
it down. The vile taste ran over her tongue, making her want to
gag.

Nope, doing it that way didn't help. Now she
had it all over in her mouth. Kate set the cup on the table on the
other side of her chair where Grandma wouldn't be able to refill
it.

Kate rattled on about school. Not that she
had much to say as school usually bored her. Two more years of it
and she would be done and could go do something she wanted.

Kate realized she'd stopped talking. Her head
felt funny. She peered at Grandma, "What was I saying?"

"Book reports? School?" Grandma sipped at the
tea, settled comfortably in her chair. "By the way, have you ever
read "Flight of the Monarch Butterfly"?"

A wave of dizziness flooded her. The image of
two bunts rubbing noses under the dining room table spun and waved
in her vision. Kate squeezed shut her eyes as the sensation grew
worse.

She took a deep breath and opened her eyes.
The bunts had moved to sit under the couch. The vile taste of tea
lingered on her tongue. She should get some water to get rid of it,
but she wasn't sure she trusted her feet yet.

"Done with that cup, dear? My, you were
thirsty. We've nearly finished the second pot," Grandma said. "Oh
yes, I remember what I was saying. School on the colony ship. Yes,
that was interesting. Still had a great education, but I definitely
missed working with students and teachers long distance. But the
communications system was completely destroyed in a hyperspace
radiation burst. That's why I'm so careful to keep in touch with
people, even though I live somewhat isolated."

Kate looked down at her lap to realize she
had the dreaded teacup back in her hand. When did that
happened?

"Grandma, I really don't like the taste of
the new tea," Kate finally said.

Grandma looked down at her cup, "Hmm, maybe
more of an acquired taste? I can see about flavorings. Or maybe you
would enjoy one of the teas with the new edible berry we found. You
like the sweeter tastes."

"I vote sweet," Kate said, carefully setting
the tea cup back on the table.

"I do have a sweeter mix you can take home
with you. Let's see, when should you come back? In three weeks or
so?"

"I have no problem with that. I doubt Mom
would, either. Although, Uncle Travis will certainly say
something," Kate said.