Fractal Geometries, Quantum Foam

A New Start

Chica eased aside the branches of the low shrub to peer at the building. Everything seemed quiet. He sniffed at the air; no fresh smells reached him. He turned and gestured to Chimmy and watched as her pregnant form waddled towards him.

“Here’s a place,” he said. He pointed to the smaller building, left of the larger one. “That place seems ideal for us. You’d think they knew we were coming.”

Chimmy, so close to time, wasted no energy on words and simply grunted agreement and walked past him. Startled by her acceptance, Chica made a sudden leap in front of her so he could lead the way. ‘Females,’ he thought. ‘No respect for males.’

The door wasn’t locked. Inside the little house seemed even more ideal; two beds and low table and chairs. He pulled one out from the table for Chimmy to sit on. There was even a water tap, which Chica tested immediately. Pure and fresh, so he opened a cupboard to find cups and plates. He filled a cup and brought it to his wife. Not many of his race had wives and Chica was very aware of her needs.

Chimmy looked at him with those beautiful deep brown eyes he loved so much.

“This is a good place for us, Chica. I feel it inside.” She smiled at him then groaned at a sudden contraction. “And just in time. He comes soon.”

Chica helped her to a bed then searched around the room. Cupboards in the corner held spare linen so he took a sheet and ripped it into strips, preparing for the birth. He’d read all he could in the GenTrust Centre before he and Chimmy left. Leaving wasn’t ezactly illegal, but with the sanctions in place against his race, they were supposed to stay within the safe boundaries of the Centres. He and Chimmy had opted to have their child in freedom.

Chimmy groaned aloud and he looked around. The contractions shouldn’t be coming this quickly this soon.

A cupboard below the sink provided pans, so he filled them with water. He had no way to boil it like the books said, but it tasted pure and he trusted his senses. Carefully he removed Chimmy’s smock and placed pillows beneath her. Since the change brought to his people, birth was no longer the simple process it had been for his ancestors.

In less than an hour Chica held a squirming wet bundle out to his love, his heart almost tearing with pride as she smiled through tears, first at her son, and then at Chica. She cuddled the baby to her breast and closed her eyes in pleasure as he began to suckle.

Dana wriggled in her seat as the flyer landed. Holidays were fun but she was anxious to get on Sensenet from her bungalow and talk to friends. Once down, she ran to the bungalow door, stopped in the opening, and turned, wide-eyed to her parents.

“Daddy, we’ve got Chimps!”