Ancient Hunter
Chapter 21

My vision slowly returned, I blinked my eyes in the harsh sunlight. We were standing on a dirt road facing a wooden five-barred gate. A wooden chest high fence flanked the gate and beyond that was a house. I recognised this place instantly. The house was familiar but the grove of trees leaden with bright yellow fruits partially hidden by it wasn’t. Nor was the sounds of birds or the cluck of hens.

“You can let go of my hand now?” Jennifer commented reminding me I wasn’t alone here.

I let go of her hand. “Sorry,” I apologised.

“And put those away.”

I stared at her puzzled. “What away?”

“Those,” Jennifer pointed at me.

I realised to my horror there was set of wings either side of me. “What!” I exclaimed. “I don’t know how?”

“I can help you with that but we will talk about this later. I don’t have the time now.”

I cringed at she reached out with her finger. “I won’t hurt you I can’t.” Jennifer touched my forehead with her finger and wings retreated back into me with a snap almost pitching me forward.

Jennifer grabbed me before I fell flat on my face. “Thanks,” I managed to burble out.

“That’s better.” She smiled at me. “And you’re welcome any time.”

I opened the gate to the property and followed Jennifer as she led the way in. I’d spent eight weeks here six of those helping a traumatised Keeper. I really hoped Scout was safe I wasn’t going through that again. Jennifer walked towards the house like a woman with a purpose. I trailed after not knowing what to expect. It was complicated the Keepers had created a body to house what they called my ‘essence’ while my real body travelled in a Cell Stitcher back to Alfheimir. Or that’s how Mouse had explained it to me. Even after all this time I was still confused about that. Ahead of us was a figure hoeing a vegetable patch. She was wearing a pale yellow blouse and a long blue skirt that reached her ankles. On her feet were a pair of high-heeled boots and on her head was a broad brimmed straw hat. She wasn’t facing us but I knew who she was as much as I knew myself. My doppelganger her body housing my mind while I resided here.

“Hello!” Jennifer called out.

The woman turned to us and I felt my stomach drop she was an exact copy of me. With the Keepers they’d all looked like a variation of me. But this was like looking into a mirror.

“Visitors!” my copy said with a smile.

“How are you?” Jennifer asked.

I wondered if they knew each other.

“I’m fine. It’s nice to have company after so long.”

“How long?” I asked automatically.

My copy blinked at me. “About six months.”

That was on the same time line. I’d lost contact with the Keepers about then.

My copy looked at me puzzled. “You look kinda familiar?”

“Gwen Hunter,” I replied waiting for the shocked gasp of surprise but it never came. “This is Jennifer Valden.”

My copy smiled. “I’ve heard that name before.” She shook her head. “But for the moment I can’t place where I heard it. I’m Juliana Chambers.”

It was my turn to be shocked. That was the name of a vidstar I’d idolised as a teenager. She’d been both famous and infamous. She embezzled money from a charity she had been the chair of. Then killed herself before her trial started. There had been several conspiracy theories as to her death. The plain truth was that she had stolen the money to fuel her lavish life style. “Good to meet you,” I replied through gritted teeth wondering why that particular name?

“Like wise,” Juliana said. She waved to sky and the sun bright in it. “How about we take this inside I’ve got cold lemonade freshly pressed.”

That surprised me lemons didn’t grow well within the Confederacy. No Earth originating fruits did except raspberries. I followed Juliana inside. The furniture was the same as the last time I was here but there were additions. On a cabinet was a holo screen and on one wall were several bookcases. There was even a Datapad on the arm of one of the chairs. Juliana hung her hat on a hook by the door.

“Please sit I won’t be a moment.”

I waited for Juliana go into the kitchen be asking Jennifer. “What’s this all about?” I demanded.

“I just need to keep you safe while I investigate. Please just be patient.”

Jennifer vanished before I could do anything.

“Shit!” I spat out. She’d abandoned me on an alien world with my doppelganger.

At that moment Juliana returned bearing a tray with three glasses of a cloudy yellow liquid. “Oh where’s Jennifer?” she said.

“Gone, left me here.” I couldn’t keep the bitterness out of my voice.

“Please sit you are still welcome here. Here take one I know I’m having one.” She placed the tray on a table and took one of the glasses.

I took the other to be polite. I wasn’t going to take out my anger on an innocent. What I couldn’t help was my urge to smash things. I dialled back my anger this wasn’t my home anymore and when I was here it was only temporary. I took a sip of the lemonade finding it pleasingly refreshing. It had the perfect balance of sweetness and sourness.

“You know you could tell me what’s troubling you. I am a good listener?” Juliana asked me.

I didn’t want to but I had to be honest. “I really can’t.”

Juliana looked thoughtful and carefully placed her glass on the table. “Then you can help me.”

“Help you with what?”

“Lemons. I need your help to harvest the rest of the lemons.”

“Sure,” I said wondering what I was getting myself into but I needed to be proactive and not reactive.

Outside I let Juliana take the lead and followed her around the side of the house. The orchid if I could call it that had a dozen trees laden with fruit. There was no way this was natural. This was all grass the last time I was here. Juliana picked up a woven basket out of a pile and handed it to me.

“I’ll cut, you catch,” she announced picking up a pole with a pair of shears on the top. Near the handle at the bottom was a lever to open and close the shears. “Before it’s been a little hit and miss. I don’t want to spend time chasing after errant fruit.” She pointed to the basket I was holding. “We’ll start high. I’ll cut the stalks and you catch them in the basket?”

Seemed simple enough but in practice it was harder than it looked. Still with timing, skill and my speed we managed to get into a rhythm.

Three hours later we were sitting in the shade with several of those baskets full. I wiped the sweat off my face with a towel Juliana had provided. She sat at my side.

“Thanks,” she said. “This would have taken me ages to finish.” She gave me a small smile and continued. “Perhaps you can be of further help?”

“Help?” I said cautiously.

“I just wanted someone to talk to about the holes in my memory.”

I stared at her unable to put my thoughts into words. “What do you mean by that?”

“I remember my childhood.”

She described my childhood and that me worried what else did she know? “Ok?”

“I can’t remember the rest all I’m seeing are shadows. Nothing make sense.” Juliana made a sharp gesture with her hand. “The only thing I can remember is waking up here?”

I had to ask. “How long ago was that?”

“About a year ago.” Juliana replied.

I winced at that. It was about the time I turned up on Alfheimir naked in a freezing blizzard. I had to tell her the truth. “The life…” I never finished what I was about to say Jennifer suddenly appeared.

“This is nothing to do with you,” Jennifer said to Juliana. She fixed me with a glare.

“We have to go!”

“Go where?” I was a little angry with her she just dumped me here and disappeared.

“Back to Saros there’s a crisis brewing.”

“And Juliana?” I didn’t want her to be left on her own again I knew what that was like.

“She’s coming as well.”

“Can I?” Juliana asked. “Oh what about the chickens?”

“They’ll be looked after.”

Juliana stood. “I’ll get packed.

“No time for that!” Jennifer demanded grabbing her hand as she grabbed mine. “We had to go now!” She paused then continued. “It will be a long journey. I explain when we get there.”

Suddenly there was a flash of bright light.

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