Page 14 of House Divided
Thoughts of his wife, long years gone, filled his mind with the same feelings of loss and longing that been his companions for a long time.Oh, my love. How long will I mourn you? Will it ever be enough? Will the only peace I find be the peace of the grave?The reality of the tasks before him loomed up in his mind.I’m afraid there is still much to do before that day.
“I’ll take those,” he said to Madeline, sealing her spoon and bowl into plastiform containers, along with his own dishes and cookware. He hadn’t seen any fauna, but there was no point tempting scavengers in the night to investigate the smells of food.
The lack of water was a concern. They had enough for at least the next day, and probably two, as long as they were careful. For a novice, Madeline had done very well on the march, staying hydrated without drinking too much. She had done remarkably well, hiking as far as she had despite the thin air. A strong woman.
Like Grace.
Enoch shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. Then he turned to Madeline and said, “As far as going to the bathroom goes, don’t go too far. Take a flashlight with you; it may get dark quite quickly.” He tossed her a pack of sanitary wipes and set a foldable shovel next to her. “Bury everything.”
The expression on Madeline’s face made it hard for Enoch to conceal his amusement, but he somehow managed.No one truly appreciates flush toilets until they have to do without.
He repacked everything, except what they would need for breakfast, then double-checked to make sure that all the food was firmly sealed in airtight containers. Enoch went through his mental checklist, and found nothing wanting.
The suns were down, and the sky was beginning to darken. He estimated that they had less than an hour of twilight before it would be fully dark. Enoch passed Madeline a flashlight.
“Clip this to your belt,” he said. “You should always know where your flashlight is; looking for it in the dark is not fun.”
Madeline accepted the small flashlight with a nod. Then, avoiding eye contact, she picked up the shovel and the sanitary wipes and walked off.
Enoch allowed himself one small chuckle then took a sip of water as he sat and watched the darkening horizon. The sheer enormity of the things he needed to do could overwhelm him, if he allowed it to. So, as always, he shrank things down to his immediate circumstances.Stay alive. Make contact with his crew.Everything else could wait on those two things.
Besides, there were worse things than being out in the wilds with a beautiful woman. He could have ended up in a pod with Jack, and they probably would have killed each other right away.
My daughter, old enough to be with a man.The thought shook Enoch more than he cared to admit. He knew, in the abstract sense, that Aria was a woman and not a girl anymore. But there was a difference between knowing that in the abstract and meeting the man she was surely sleeping with.
Grudgingly, Enoch had to admit that Jack Marx certainly had stones. The fellow had squared up to Enoch twice without hesitation, something that didn’t happen often. And he would probably have to get along with the fellow, considering how Enoch felt about the man’s sister.
Wait, what? Where in Hades did that thought come from?
“I’m back,” said Madeline softly, sitting down next to him. Enoch had been so far gone in his thoughts that he hadn’t even noticed her return. “Is everything all right? You looked a little lost there.”
“Fine,” he managed. “Just planning out how we’re going to manage our water supply tomorrow.”
“So many things I’ve been taking for granted,” Madeline sighed. “This has certainly been a wakeup call.”
Enoch grunted. “It’s a hard thing to realize how easily everything can be taken from you,” he agreed. “But then, when you realize that you can lose everything and still remain standing, you understand more about your own strength than you ever did before.”
“That’s a powerful thought,” admitted Madeline, “and spoken like a man who has lost everything.”
Enoch stood up, abruptly. “I’m going to check the perimeter of the camp,” he said. “Best get ready for sleep. We’ll pack up and leave at dawn.” He stomped off into the darkness.
Madeline watched the man go, wondering why she felt so disappointed.Why do you care about this man’s burdens? He’s a killer and a criminal.
And yet.
Madeline had to admit, she was fascinated by the man despite herself. Even out here in the middle of nowhere, Enoch Immanuel radiated power and presence. He was not a simple person.
The way I shiver, when his hands even just graze me…Madeline Marx was no stranger to sex, no shy virgin. But, she had to admit, it had been a long time since someone had been able to make her insides tremble with just a look. Come to that, it had been a long time since she had found release with anything other than a trusty battery-powered companion. Her career with the House had taken up so much time and energy, and then on top of that, it had been impossible to trust someone else enough to truly let go…
As evening turned to night, the temperature was falling rapidly. Madeline shivered. Using the flashlight, she unzipped the tent and went inside.
Not bad.A single, wide mattress, expanded by the same power unit that kept the tent up. Two sleeping bags. Madeline picked the one on the left and slipped inside, suddenly too tired to even bother removing her clothes fully. She just unbuttoned and loosened things to give herself a little room.
It wasn’t long before she heard the zip of the tent and saw the light of another flashlight. Madeline could smell Enoch: not anything bad, just the unmistakable smell of a man. He slipped into his sleeping bag and quietly said, “Good night.”
Somehow, this was Madeline’s emotional undoing. There was a simple domesticity to being wishedgood nightthat was entirely at odds with being blown up, chased, and driven to seek refuge on an alien planet, and with an inarticulate sob, she rolled over in her sleeping bag and into Enoch’s arms.
He seemed briefly surprised, stiffening, then drew her into an embrace.
“Hush, my dear,” he soothed, as he stroked her hair. “Hush. I know. It’s going to be all right. It’s going to be all right, I promise.”
His arms were strong, his touch was gentle, and his words were soothing. Madeline closed her eyes, clutched him fiercely, and fell asleep.
