The Seeds of New Earth by Mark R. Healy

Author:Mark R. Healy [Healy, Mark R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2014-12-17T05:00:00+00:00

Part Two

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17

I sat and watched the open door as sunlight streamed in, the azure sky clear and bright, the breeze ruffling stalks of wheat and causing the long grass across the street to dip and sway gently. There was more than a touch of chill in that wind. The summer had been meek and short-lived, and now autumn seemed destined for the same fate, giving way to winter almost before it had run its course.

Another harsh winter. Another season of struggle. It didn’t seem fair.

I could hear them coming now, footsteps slapping against the asphalt as they ran toward the house. I tried to discern how many there were, how many sets of feet were headed my way. At least two. Maybe three? Idly, I wondered what they would have in store for me this time, these little people who barely gave me a moment’s rest.

I roused myself and prepared to meet them.

Getting to my feet, I couldn’t help but feel old, as though the coldness in the air was already seeping into my bones and stiffening my joints, tightening my limbs and making them creak. I clasped and unclasped my fingers, shook them out. Maybe it was just the sound of these exuberant youths that made me feel ancient in comparison.

The boy trampled across the edge of the wheat patch and alighted in the doorway, breathless and wide-eyed, a mop of dark hair tumbling across his face as he slid to a halt. He was a whirlwind of great destructive force, this one.

“Brant! Brant! I saw one!”

He brushed the hair out of his eyes and waggled his finger back in the direction he’d come, hopping excitedly like he was standing on hot coals.

“What did you see, Atlas?”

He ducked his head back out the door and pointed again. “A real one! A real live one! Come see!”

“A real live dinosaur?”

He made an exaggerated scowl. “No, silly. Grasshopper!”

Ellinan and Mish caught up, appearing behind him and sharing his excitement, albeit in a more restrained manner.

“It’s true,” Ellinan said. “We saw it too.”

“You better show me,” I said, and as soon as I began to move, Atlas turned and burst past the other two, promptly landing in a heap on the path, then picked himself up without bothering to check for damage.

“Careful, Atlas,” I admonished, but he had already started along the street.

“Is it really that exciting?” I said to Mish and Ellinan, amused.

“It’s pretty cool,” Mish said.

Out on Somerset Drive the street was lush with plants, grass, and small saplings. Although burgeoning, much of it was turning brown due to the cooler weather and a lack of rain. The past two winters had been harsh, and the crops hadn’t gone ahead at quite the rate I’d hoped, but there was still enough food to go around. Our grain stores were decent, and there was corn as well as wheat, enough to last another tough winter if needed.

I hoped things would start getting easier soon.

Atlas charged on ahead, barefoot and grubby, seemingly leaner and taller every time I looked at him.

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