Taming a Planet (Trapped in Time Book 2) (27 page)

I’m sitting here now on the wall and I’m watching Carrie unfold her glider and start running up the beach to launch it. Her smile is huge and is growing larger as she leaves the ground. Linnae chose her to join us. She also chose me to be her mate. I have to believe that she knows what my heart needs to heal. I will marry Carrie and I will love her until the day she or I die. I can feel my heart opening and I love Linnae for teaching me the real joy of living. My destiny is to prepare my people to move into the future. Part of that task is to move forward with a loving heart.

This is my last entry. I intend to write more for those that follow me. But if I can impart any wisdom to those that read this, it would be that a heart is bigger than you would ever believe. Anything I say after this would diminish this lesson. I will not disappoint Linnae by choosing to live in sorrow.”

• • •

Andy pulled the book to his chest and felt his tears again. But this time they were different. Andy was right. His life wasn’t over; it was just beginning. He leaned back against the tree and fell into a sound sleep. No predators came near him that night. Was it Harmony taking care of him? Dinah also slept and felt the peace of her friend sleeping close to her.

M
elody walked her Cursor a hundred yards out and had her stop and immediately reverse direction. She had wanted to allow Melody to run at full speed but Lyla cautioned against it. The huge Cursor was incredibly nimble and could change direction in a heartbeat. She kept picking up speed and Melody had to command her constantly to walk. The previous four weeks had passed quickly and Melody knew it was because of the incredible Cursor she was riding. She saw Lyla motion her to come to the pen and she turned and headed toward it. Lyla was putting her Cursor in the pen and Melody said, “While you’re doing that, I’m walking out about fifty yards and then come back.”

Lyla smiled, “Just can’t get enough.”

Melody laughed, “You better believe it.” Lyla opened the gate after she removed the saddle and pointed into the pen. Her cursor ambled inside and she turned around to call Melody. Her eyes went wide and she sprinted away from the pen.

• • •

Melody smiled as they walked slowly up the beach. She said ‘stop’ and her Cursor stopped. Melody looked up the beach and saw something in front of them in the twilight moving toward her. She squinted and saw that it was some kind of dinosaur and it was moving quickly toward her. Her heart went into her throat. Lyla had the only weapons and she was defenseless. Suddenly, Melody shot forward at an incredible speed and she was barely able to grab the front of the saddle before she fell off backwards. In an instant, they were moving at a blinding speed and she started to yell stop but knew that if she did she would be thrown over the Cursor’s neck. She thought furiously and then yelled, “MELODY, SLOW!” She saw they were less than fifty yards from the dinosaur as the huge Cursor slowed and came to a slow trot. She ran up to the other dinosaur and stopped to rub heads with it. Melody fought to control her breathing and saw that the dinosaur was another Cursor. She looked and saw that an archer was riding it. She looked closer and saw that it was Andy. Her heart went into her throat and she thought, “Ohhhh noooo.”

Andy saw the huge Cursor bearing down on him and knew it had to be Melody. He was surprised to see someone was in the saddle. In a moment, he knew who it had to be. The giant came trotting up and began caressing her mother. Dinah rubbed her head on her daughter’s neck and both of them started moaning. Andy looked at Melody and said, “That’s a fine Cursor you’re riding.”

Melody was terrified at stumbling up on the one person in the community she wanted to avoid, “Ye, ye, yes she is,” she stammered.

Andy saw her fear and smiled, “Relax, Melody. I’m not going to fall off and curl up in a fetal position. What do you think about how fast she can run?”

Melody tried to catch her breath, “This is the first time I’ve been on her when she ran.”

“Oh. What can you do with her?”

Melody heard Andy’s soft voice and she brought her mind under control, “I can get her to go, stop, reverse, change direction, smell for predators…”

“If you can do all that, why haven’t you taken her out for a run?”

Both of them heard a voice behind them yelling, “Melody, get out of the way!”

Melody looked at Andy, “Lyla thinks it would be too dangerous.”

Andy looked around Melody at Lyla running at her fastest speed holding a blaster, “It appears you have upset your teacher.”

Melody turned around and said, “Yes, it appears I have.”

Andy swore it was Harmony that said it and he smiled. Lyla came running up with the blaster raised and saw Andy. She slid to a stop and said, “Oh crap.” She bent over and put her hands on her knees and tried to catch her breath.

Andy shrugged, “Do you always allow your students to go out unarmed?”

Melody turned to him, “I only took her fifty yards from the pen. She took off when she saw you coming.”

Lyla lifted her head breathing hard, “Exactly that.”

Andy looked at Melody, “How did you like the run?”

“I wasn’t ready for it. I barely managed to grab the saddle and I was frightened out of my wits that if I commanded her to stop I would be thrown over her neck.”

Andy shook his head, “She would have raised her head to give you something to push against. She wouldn’t allow you to come to harm.” Andy turned to Lyla, “When were you going to turn them loose?”

Lyla was standing erect breathing hard and said, “I don’t know. How do you prepare someone to ride the community’s fastest Cursor?”

Andy extended his hand to Lyla and pulled her up behind him. He looked at Melody and tilted his head slightly, “Tell you what. Meet me at the pen at day break and I’ll take you out with Dinah. We’ll run until you get the feel. Once it feels normal, I’ll teach you how to control Melody’s speed.”

Lyla looked at Andy, “Are you sure you want to do this?”

Andy looked at her and nodded. Melody immediately started crying. Andy turned to her and said, “It’s ok, Melody, I miss her, too.”

“It’s not that, though I do miss her.”

“If not that, what?”

“I’ve been frightened that you would hate me and the people who worship you would hate me as well.”

Andy rode up closer to Melody and reached up and lifted her chin, “Melody, if I hated you I’d be hating Harmony as well. Seeing you reminds me of all the wonderful moments we shared and I’m sure seeing you in the future will keep those memories alive.”

Melody looked into Andy’s eyes and knew what her sister saw in him. “Are you sure?”

“I am. Let’s go put these Cursors to bed and get some rest.”

Lyla said, “Where have you been?”

Andy looked at her and said, “Finding peace.”

“Did you find it?”

Melody stared at Andy and heard him say, “Yes…I did.”

She tried not to feel it but she looked forward to the morning.

• • •

Lyla went into her quarters and Maxius said, “Back from babysitting.”

“Yes, but my babysitting chores are done.”

“Oh, realllly?”

“Yes, she has a new trainer.”

“Who?”

“Andy.”

“WHAT!!”

Lyla shook her head, “That goofball of a Cursor she was riding saw him coming and took off at full speed to meet him.”

“And she stayed on?”

“Barely. He volunteered to teach her how to handle its speed tomorrow.”

“How did he…”

“He talked with her and didn’t appear to be out of control. I think he’s found peace, Maxius.”

“I pray you’re right. Harvey will want to see him first thing in the morning.”

“He’ll have to wait. He’s taking Melody out at Daybreak.”

“ALONE!”

“Don’t get your uniform in a wad. Either he can handle it or he can’t. We might as well find out now.”

“Easy for you to say. We need him desperately.”

Lyla looked at Maxius and lowered her head, “So does she. She just doesn’t know it yet.”

“What on earth do you mean?”

“Maxius, I’ve spent the last four weeks with her and she has done nothing that would give me any indication that she’s not Harmony. They are so much alike it’s unbelievable. If Harmony fell for Andy hook, line, and sinker, could she be any different.”

“But he can never love her!”

“That’s what he has to discover, my love. Only the fates will make that determination.”

Maxius stared at Lyla and wondered if she was crazy. Once you love to the depth that Andy loved Harmony, there could never be another.

• • •

Melody was at the pen waiting before the sun rose over the horizon. Andy walked up and saw her rubbing her Cursor’s head, “Are you ready?”

Melody looked at him and smiled, “You better believe it.”

Andy took Dinah out of the pen and Melody’s Cursor was not happy at being left behind. She began whining and didn’t stop. Melody looked at the saddle Andy was putting on his Cursor, “What is that?”

“This is a training saddle. It has a seat behind mine that you can sit in.”

“Oh.”

Andy finished strapping it one and jumped up on Dinah’s back. He extended his hand and pulled Melody easily up behind him. Melody knew she weighed at least a hundred and twenty pounds and he had easily pulled her up to the tall Cursor’s back with one arm. He was incredibly strong. He nudged Dinah with his knees and she turned away from the pen and started up the beach. “What did you just do?”

“You don’t have to yell verbal commands. A Cursor can be directed using your knees. There are times when roars from predators will drown out your voice and you’ll need to know how to use your legs to direct her.”

“Show me what you did.” Andy demonstrated and said, “Give it a try.”

Melody did and said, “Nothing happened.”

“Dinah will only follow my instructions. Harmony was the only other one she would follow.”

Melody thought for a moment and said, “Change places.”

“What?”

“Change places.”

Andy shrugged and stood up on Dinah’s back as Melody slid forward between his legs. Andy sat down in the rear seat and Melody tapped Dinah with her knees. Dinah immediately changed direction. Melody looked back at Andy and saw the shock on his face. “What’s wrong?”

Andy smiled and slowly shook his head, “It appears Dinah can’t tell the difference between you and your sister.”

“Is that bad?”

“That’s the exact question Harmony asked me when I found Dinah following her commands. It can’t be bad. I’m going to stay back here and hold you in the saddle when we start running. However, first I’m going to teach you how to direct her with your legs.”

Melody smiled and didn’t stop all day. When Andy finally told her how to direct Dinah to run, she nudged her with both legs and the Cursor exploded ahead at full speed. Melody held on with one hand and saw the ground screaming by under her. Andy had his hands on her hips and her blonde hair was whipping in the wind. She raised both hands over her head and screamed her joy. Andy watched her and felt his heart gladden with her. He leaned forward and said, “Take both heels and pull them back along her side.”

Melody turned her head back, “What will happen?”

“She’ll come to a stop. Use her neck to brace yourself.”

Melody jerked both of her heels back and the huge Cursor slid to an immediate stop. Melody reached forward with her left hand and pushed against her neck and managed to stay in the saddle. Andy gripped the rear of the training saddle and easily remained seated. She heard Andy say, “Why did you use your left hand to brace yourself?”

Melody shrugged, “I assume that at some time in the future, my right hand will be holding a weapon. I want to be ready for that time. Let’s do it again.”

Andy laughed, “You’re in the lead saddle.”

Dinah exploded forward and after several hundred yards Melody said over her shoulder, “How do I slow her down without stopping her?”

“Pull back with one leg and tap her on the side you want her to turn with your hand. Keep the hand on her until she is moving in the direction you want and then take it off.”

Melody pulled her right leg back and tapped her hand on Dinah’s left shoulder. The Cursor turned left and kept turning until Melody removed her hand. “This is incredible!”

Andy nodded and said, “Take us back.”

“How do I get her to walk?”

“Put both hands on her shoulder.”

Melody reached forward and Dinah slowed to a walk. Melody put her left hand on her and tapped lightly and Dinah turned toward the pen. When she was moving in the right direction, Melody lifted her hand and Dinah headed toward the distant pen. “How far are we from home?”

Andy shrugged, “About ten miles.”

“WHAT?”

“Dinah can cover a lot of ground in a very short time. That last sprint was five miles.” Andy paused, “Your cursor will cover the same distance in almost half the time.”

Melody turned around and stared at Andy, “You have got to be kidding me.”

Andy shook his head, “Dinah and Melody are the fastest Cursors in the Community. Melody is as much faster than Dinah as Dinah is to the others. I’ve seen her at full speed and it’s really something to behold.”

“When do I get to take her out to run?”

“As soon as you learn to use a weapon to defend her.”

“I’ve never used any kind of weapon. Couldn’t we just outrun predators?”

“Most of the time you probably could; however, Raptors work in packs and they could set up an ambush that she couldn’t escape. It is your responsibility to prevent that happening and to defend her if it does.”

“You or anther warrior could go out with us.”

Andy shook his head, “Melody, you would leave us so far behind that we’d be no help at all. I’m telling you, Melody is a different breed of Cursor. I’m almost convinced she’s a different evolution of her species.”

“Both of us having the same name is a little disconcerting.”

“Not much you can do about that. She learned it from Harmony as soon as she came out of the egg. Just understand that she will only listen to you so anyone else saying it is talking to you and not her.”