Chapter 7: Micah

All that remained was the ink-like fluid that had soaked into the ground, a scattering of bullets, and a trail that headed back into the woods. Carmella reached for the bike and noticed that one of the bullets had punctured the gas tank.

"No no no!" she screamed. She couldn't drive the damned truck into the woods! Why didn't she have two motorcycles? Carmella forgot about the stitch in her side. She ran as fast as she could, following the Blob's bloody trail.

How could it move so fast after being shot eight times? She knew it's nervous system was not localized in one spot but spread out within a matrix of that inky fluid, but eight shots should have done it in. Unless she hit it's brain or heart, it probably would be able heal itself. Her lips formed a grim, yet determined line.

Let's see if this bitch can survive being burned.

In her haste, Carmella didn't consider other dangers that might be awaiting her in the woods. She carried two of the kerosene lamps in one hand and a nine-millimeter in the other. The other gun was in her waistband for easy access. Her eyes were mainly focused on the black trail. It had to deplete itself at some point. It was a huge Blob, but eventually it would have to run out of that fluid.

She knew it was heading for the signpost and began jogging in that direction, her eyes still on the alien's trail. The chase made her remember the reason for her hatred, the reason that she was alone, and the reason that the world was now devoid of humanity. Now the chase was less about making sure that it didn't bring back others but about dishing out some payback. Just a little bit, on behalf of all mankind.

"I'm gonna kill you," she muttered. "Kill you!"

An unwelcomed memory caused her eyes to water. Micah's laughter. God, it was so crystal clear, as if it was twenty years earlier and her toddling baby boy was right there. She almost stumbled to a stop at the idea of him, a memory that she did not relish. A memory of Jody was one thing but not Micah.

Thinking about her baby hurt, even twenty years later.

II

Micah was born nearly two weeks overdue. He was a big pink baby with a head full of ink black hair. She cradled him in her arms in surprise because he was white. How did she have a white baby when she was nut brown? I mean, yeah Jody was white, but …

Jody kissed his son's forehead and then kissed her, a look of awe on his face. "Is … is he going to turn brown?"

She grinned in relief. Yeah, okay so she wasn't the only one wondering. When Mama came into the room to meet her first grandchild, she examined the baby's ears, his little nails and scrotum, and pronounced that he was white. She predicted that he might get toasty if he played in the sun, but that was it. For a moment an unpleasant thought flashed through Carmella's mind—if he doesn't look black, will he accept the fact that his mother is? Will he wish that he had a white mother? Will he accept his multiracial heritage?

When she kissed his silky curls, nuzzled his cheek with hers, and felt his responding yawn, those thoughts disappeared and never returned. Her focus was on loving her baby, and whether he would have ever had those feelings about his heritage would never be known.

He only lived to be two.

Jody was one of those fathers who happily wore a baby sling or pushed the baby carriage whenever they went out. He talked to Micah, he sang and told stories to his son, and he showered love on his new family.

"We should go to New Foundland."

Carmella's head had whipped around. "What?"

She likened it to a zoo, where aliens—or Centaurians, thusly named because their origins were from the Alpha Centauri star system—could interact with the humans in a controlled environment.

Jody always frowned at any derogatory comments made against the aliens. He completely believed the Centaurians would usher mankind into a new age of technology. He didn't like the term "Blob" and likened it to the 'N-word', which he also wouldn't dream of using.

"Why do you think we should go there?"

Jody had matured and didn't shy away from conversations that might create a difference of opinion. "I want Micah to grow up knowing that the Centaurians are a part of his life. As he gets older, he might want to visit the starship. Hell, I want to visit the starship."

"God, you nerdy guys," she had muttered. "I don't want my baby anywhere near those aliens. They are ugly, and I don't trust them."

Jody smiled. "They aren't ugly. There is beauty in the Centaurians, just as there is beauty in sea creatures." He rubbed her arms.

She tried to roll her eyes but found herself listening to his impassioned beliefs.

"Honey, they are the first step in creating a new existence of star travel. With their technological know-how we can leave this galaxy and explore new ones. We will learn what the Centaurians have seen. This is so exciting!" He calmed when he saw that she seemed less than thrilled. "And it's scary, yes I admit that, but they have made no threats against us. Mankind needs this, Mel. We need to move into the future."

She knew she couldn't continue pushing her fear off on him, so she reluctantly relented and agreed to visit New Foundland. They planned for the trip the way people made plans for Disneyworld. It would cost them a lot, but Jody's excitement couldn't be ignored. She wouldn't back out if it was this important to him.

Each continent had several places similar to New Foundland where humans could visit the aliens and see them up close. She'd seen them on television many times. A Blob had even been in an action movie. They were a part of pop culture. Songs and stories were written about them, and late-night TV hosts referenced them often in their monologues.

Carmella wasn't alone in her distrust. There were many hate groups formed whose purpose was to rid the world of the alien menace. Terrorists groups rose up attempting to close down visitation centers. The world was a mess because of the alien visits.

But six months after she relented, the family visited the aliens for the first time.

She remembered Micah's pudgy fingers pointing at the display area beneath them where two Centaurians roamed. "Bubbie!" he yelled in excitement.

Jody had bought him a Centaurian stuffed animal so that he would feel comfortable at the sight of them. It was fondly named Bubbie. Carmella watched the excitement on her son's face with trepidation. She was afraid, and maybe it was strange to be. Looking at Jody, all she saw was excitement, and it was mirrored in the faces of the others who had waited hours for their turn to be ushered through the observation area.

The Blobs were with human guards. Yes, the guards were armed, but you couldn't see the weapons. That day there were two Blobs, and they were in a green "natural" environment where they moved around easily. They didn't ignore the throngs of humans and often waved tentacles or approached the borders of their "display" area. There was no glass barrier or cages, but you couldn't move easily from the observation deck down to the display environment. If you did, you would fall into a moat that would surely cause shattered limbs.