Hara's Legacy (22 page)

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A few days later, the silver craft landed in the far pasture once more. Jane was afraid when she saw the ship. She didn’t know what might happen and she feared for her daughter. Mara had taken one of her children already, perhaps she wanted the other as well.

“Stay here.” Caleb stopped to reassure her before he went out to meet the ship. “Don’t worry. I think this might be good news.”

That offhand comment gave her strength to wait the precious few minutes, holding Callie close in her arms. She felt the emotions from her missing baby long before she saw him. Harry was back!

Carrying Callie with her, Jane rushed to the back door, waiting only for Caleb’s discreet signal that everything was okay before she raced out the door. Mara walked toward the house with Harry in her arms. The brothers were with her, smiling broadly as she spoke and then handed the baby to Justin.

“Hello, Mara.” Jane fought for calm as she met the group. Mara nodded a cool greeting. “What’s going on?”

Caleb put his arm around her shoulders, smiling hugely. “Harry’s going to be staying with us for a while.”

“How long?” Jane whispered, not daring to get her hopes up too high.

“Until he is grown more, at least,” Mara answered. “The boy demanded to be brought back to you.”

“Demanded?” Jane didn’t see how a ten-month-old could demand anything.

Mick smiled and stroked Harry’s downy head as Justin held him close.

“Seems our little man is quite the telepath. He managed to get himself understood well enough to convince his mother to bring him back, though it was a bit of a strain, considering his age.” Mick’s eyes crinkled up as he thought through the implications of Harry’s astounding telepathic abilities. “I’ll want to examine him to make sure he’s okay.”

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Mara nodded, eyes alight with interest as she followed Mick toward his office, her companion Helas Prime in tow as they discussed the possibilities associated with Harry’s extraordinary talents. Justin held back, giving Jane a chance to see Harry. She moved up close to father and son, laughing when both Callie and Harry reached out for each other. Callie’s tiny hands waved toward her brother, but Harry had a great deal more motor coordination and strength. He nearly launched himself out of his father’s arms in his eagerness to touch his sister and stepmother. Callie cooed and Harry giggled, clearly happy to see his female family members again. Jane bent down to kiss his chubby cheek.

“I’m so happy you’re back.” Her voice broke. “I love you so much, Harry O’Hara!” She stepped back, right into Caleb’s arms as Justin took the boy to Mick’s office for a quick examination.

Caleb took his women back to the house. He was quiet, thinking over the possibilities he’d seen with his gift. The flashes had been quieting down lately, but the few he’d received revolved around Harry. He hadn’t quite known how it would work, but he’d hoped what he’d seen of Harry’s childhood on their farm would now come to pass. In the future Caleb had seen, Harry was happy and strong as he grew.

Caleb felt free to share some of these visions with Jane and his brothers now that Harry was back.

For the next half hour he told Jane what he’d seen, watching as her eyes lit with a happiness he hadn’t seen since Mara had come and taken Harry away. Their family was complete now?at least for the time being. Caleb didn’t share too much of what he’d seen about the passel of kids they all had with Jane. No sense scaring her off! He chuckled as he thought of the bright future ahead of them all.

When the brothers returned with Mara and Prime, Caleb helped Jane rustle up a small meal for them all.

They discussed Harry’s telepathy and the way he’d made his demands known.

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“He was able to enter my dreams even more strongly than when he was in my womb,” Mara explained as they ate, shocking them all except Mick, who looked on with narrowed eyes. “In the dreamstate, he was able to express his desire to return here by injecting images of your farm and your family into my mind directly. In addition to that, Una O Mara and her daughter were able to communicate on a more direct level with him, much like Mick can do. After several double blind tests it was confirmed he was actually communicating via telepathy and the message was made clearer.” Caleb nearly crowed as tears of relief crowded behind his eyes. His dicey trip into town all those weeks ago had been worth it after all.

“You have Una, Julie and Bill together, I hope?” Caleb had to put in a good word for the family if he could.

Mara nodded. “I have given them quarters near my own. The women were assisting with the care of the baby, but now I will give them tasks more suited to their scientific minds. It is interesting to see how the Mara genetics blend with human DNA. The male is good with numbers, though I am uncertain of his genetic make-up. Still it will be useful to study his DNA in relation to his daughter, and the women have petitioned me repeatedly to keep them all together.”

“I hope you’ll do so.” Caleb spoke quietly, his voice low and rumbling in a way that the family recognized as his statement of will. Even Mara seemed to recognize the note in his voice as her head tilted, listening and thinking.

Slowly she nodded. “I have already given my word to Una O Mara. Like you and your family, she is known to carry DNA of my race. I could do no less than consider her wishes as they submit to our study.”

“Thank you.” Caleb’s words were heartfelt and perhaps the tone communicated itself to Mara because she nodded with both respect and acknowledgement.

“I took Hara’s wishes into consideration as well. It is quite obvious he is not like my people and judging by your reactions to his abilities, he is not like your people either. Still, I think his needs will more easily be

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understood by you, since you share extrasensory abilities. He has a depth of emotion my race has long put behind us and though it is in our distant past, our scientists duly documented the needs of children born to our more emotional ancestors. I’ve consulted the historical records in great detail and came to the conclusion his demands to be brought back here were better answered than denied.”

“Human children need love and affection. They can die without it.” Mick put in from the side of the table.

Mara nodded. “So too were our people, once upon a time. Even now, the incubator stations have attendants who come in each day to simply touch our newborns. Even without the same emotional makeup of our ancestors, the touch of another being is important to the youngest of us.” She turned back to Jane. “Hara made it plain he needed you and your family to thrive and even though he was created to be the subject of study, he is still a member of my race, as well as yours. As such, he has certain rights.

One of which is a decent environment in which to grow.”

“So you’ll let him grow up here, on our farm?” Jane seemed to want to be sure before she got her hopes set.

Mara nodded. “I will, of course, be monitoring his progress and will expect regular reports from you, Mick.” She turned to the doctor of the family, then nodded to her alien companion. “Prime will give you a list of items we wish you to monitor in his development and equipment to record your observations and transmit them to me. I will also visit every six solar months to see him for myself, and compare his growth with Callie’s.”

Mick nodded and Jane smiled broadly. Caleb felt a vision coming over him and was helpless to stop it.

He let it come, tuning out the conversation that continued around him.

When he came back to himself, Mara and her friend Prime were standing to leave. Caleb caught the speaking glances from his family and knew they’d picked up on his little vacation from the conversation but were covering for him. Caleb walked out with the group, escorting Mara

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and Prime back to their ship. Just before they boarded, Caleb stepped forward and took Mara by the hand, surprising her, he could tell.

“You’ve made a good decision here today, Mara. Future generations of both our peoples will benefit by your willingness to open your mind to other possibilities, and your conscientious study of your people’s past.”

Mara cocked her head to one side as she considered Caleb’s words. He saw the light dawn in her eyes when she remembered his precognitive powers.

“You’ve seen this?” she asked in a whisper, as if she were truly astounded by the idea.

Caleb nodded solemnly. “By your actions here today, the possible futures have coalesced into more certainty than I’ve seen in a long while. I can tell you this?your son will be a great leader for both our peoples in his time. He will broaden your understanding of your own genetic code and bridge the gap between what’s left of humanity and your culture. He will be an instrument of healing?for this planet and for our peoples.”

Mara looked almost afraid, though it was doubtful she could feel fear. Intrigue showed more than anything else in her expression. Caleb almost feared he’d said too much, but the scientist in her won out as he breathed a sigh of relief.

“I will look forward to learning what he has to teach.” She gave him a small nod, shaking Caleb’s hand in the human gesture she’d apparently learned from watching the people she studied in her city. It was a sign of respect that wasn’t lost on him and he returned the gesture with genuine warmth.

“You are a credit to your race, Mara. I thank you for trusting us with your son. He will know only love and happiness here with us, and will grow to be a strong man who will make you proud.”

“Thank you for sharing your vision of the future with me. I will hold it as a hope in my heart.” Mara touched her brow in a sign of respect he’d seen in his visions of the aliens and he followed suit, surprising her, he could tell.

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The silver craft took off as soon as they’d boarded and the O’Hara family converged on the kitchen for a celebration. Harry was welcomed with kisses and hugs, the baby smiling happily to be back among his true family. He reached out with his chubby hands for his half-sister and Jane settled the babies next to each other so they could touch and coo, reestablishing their bond.

Caleb looked on, proud of the family they’d formed from the wreckage of their world. They were happy and healthy and God willing, they’d have a good future together. Jane came and cuddled under his shoulder as he watched his brothers play with the children.

“This is a happy day for the O’Hara clan, Caleb.”

He hugged her close. “A happy day for humanity, my love.” She pulled back to look up at him. “Then all that saving the human race stuff is really going to happen?” Caleb nodded as the brothers looked up, having heard her question.

“Let’s just say, with the events of today, it’s much more likely than not that our Harry will play a very important role in the continuing safety of our family, and humanity as a whole.” Justin picked up his sleepy son, worry in his eyes. “That’s an awful tall order for such a little guy, Caleb.” The eldest O’Hara nodded solemnly.

“He’s already done more than any child his age should be able to, Justin. Give our boy a little credit.

He’s up to the challenge. He’ll make us all proud.”

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