The Afterlife of Alice Watkins 2 Read online

  “It seems strange,” she said out of the blue, amidst the giggling, “that such a technologically advanced culture would have these accidents. Statesman Patrick, the first officer on the Significator, told me his father was injured in the line of duty.” Alice spoke with confidence and Mary and Jane, not yet familiar with the subtleties of Alice’s personality changes and believing her to be Alexis Langley—albeit with amnesia—viewed her comments as nothing out of the ordinary.

  “Are there no safety protocols in place?” Alice continued. “How could anyone be placed in an environment in which a chemical fire could be a hazard? At the university, we had vacuous safety packs for that very reason.”

  “The dampening was deployed, Alice, but Jane entered the area after, that was the problem,” Mary responded as if speaking to someone with at least a basic understanding of safety protocols.

  But Alice had retreated to a previously undiscovered corner of her mind, observing and listening to herself speak on subjects of which she knew nothing. For a few moments more, they spoke of chemical burns, combustion, causes and effects and the resulting investigation into the fire before Alice drifted back.

  As she reverted to her usual self, Mary saw the difference. Principal Katya told her that Alice was once a biochemist but had regained none of her memories, scientific or otherwise. Mary was also warned that, according to Dr Grossmith, there would be brief intervals when she appeared to ‘shift' and the scientist within would take over. It seemed to Mary she'd witnessed one of those intervals, but now, with Jane continuing the conversation about the chemical fire, she saw Alice was out of her depth, so she steered them away from the subject, deciding she would explain to Jane later.

  “Jane, Alice gave the chef at the Tabernacle cooking lessons.”

  “Really?” Anything to do with food preparation was close to Jane’s heart.

  “No, not really,” Alice shook her head and waved her hand to dispense with any ideas she was an expert. “I showed him how to make hamburgers and gravy, that’s all.”

  Jane picked up a portable registry and handed it to Mary.

  “Registry, hamburgers,” Mary said to the responder.

  “Well?” Jane looked over Mary’s shoulder and grinned at Alice.

  “Display,” Mary said, and the image sat out above the screen for them all to see.

  It was the only entry for hamburgers, describing their constitution and the method by which they might be cooked and served. The last part completely floored Alice.

  ‘Entry attributable: Dr Alexis (Alice) Langley.’

  “I didn’t invent hamburgers!” Alice protested.

  “Yes, you did.” Mary turned off the registry, still laughing at Alice’s surprise. “We hadn’t heard of them. Now I want to try them.”

  “I thought you might be vegetarians.”

  “We prefer,” Jane said, “but meat is OK occasionally.”

  “You can make hamburgers without meat,” Alice said. Michelle had made them a few times. “Hamburgers are the finished product; the meat part is called a pattie.”

  “But isn’t it a meat-only dish? Can it be adapted?” The idea of a vegetarian version interested Mary and Jane.

  "Yes, it can. In my time, we called them veggie burgers and were made of chopped-up vegetables and breadcrumbs and an egg. I've never made them myself, but Jane could probably work it out."

  Jane had indeed made such dishes but never considered using breadcrumbs as an ingredient. These mixtures are called blindies, she told Alice, small loaves with a potato base, sounding exactly like potato cakes.

  "Veggie burgers is a great name for them," Mary agreed. "We should try both types tomorrow. We would need to get the Providore, but if he came in the morning, we could take Alice to the city in the afternoon."

  A Providore? Principal Katya mentioned a Providore, but she should have asked for more information. A butcher maybe? Apparently, you didn't do food shopping in the city. Thinking about it, she didn't see a supermarket or anything like one when she went with Principal Katya. The aunties saw her puzzlement and asked what it was she didn’t understand.

  “It’s a whole new world,” she said. “Providores? I have a lot to learn.”

  "The Providore is located near the city; it's where we get provisions. We grow all our vegetables and fruit Alice, but anything else, we order from the Providore. We place a requirement via the registry, and it's delivered here."

  “Can you just go there and select items?”

  “No, some people are completely dependent on the Providore, I’m not sure they’d welcome people wandering around.”

  That night, alone for the first time on her first day, Alice sat at the window in her room. The moon reflected on the ocean exactly how Mary described, looking like stepping stones made from moonlight. Millions of stars lighted the sky. A boobook owl called from somewhere in the distance. Contentment spread over her in warm waves, and she sighed, knowing Mary and Jane welcomed her and were willing to share their home and life with her. Often throughout the day, she forgot to refer to them as "Auntie", but other times, when she remembered, they smiled, as if having a special title was important to them. Today was only her first day here, yet she felt blissfully at home.

  Alice woke to cocks crowing, horses whinnying and birds singing. The blinds weren’t automated so when Alice raised them, the morning burst through in a blaze of glorious sunlight. The aunties were up and about on the verandah that overlooked the smallholding on the other side of the house; dogs got underfoot, looking for scraps of breakfast.

  “Good morning!”

  Mary and Jane hugged and kissed her, their delight at her being here thrilling and humbling Alice. Home was never like this—even in her mother’s home, she’d never felt welcome.

  "You were right, Mary," Alice said when they were all seated at the table. "The view from my room at night is magical, but the view from here, over all those beautiful pastures is pretty special as well."

  “Mary says you originally came from Principality 19?” Jane asked.

  “We called it Australia, but yes.”

  “There are maps on the registry with the old names on them.”

  “There are,” Mary nodded, “I think the old names say more about a place than simply a number. I feel we lost something when we denamed the countries.”

  Jane didn’t agree.

  “We gained things too—fewer borders. In your day, Alice, I believe citizens required a document to pass between countries. Is that right?”

  “Yes, a passport. I didn’t own one. I never travelled.”

  Jane looked at Mary.

  “You were born in Principality 19?” she said. “But you weren’t found here, were you?”

  “No—a country called China,” Mary chimed in.

  Jane nodded, yes, China, she learned that at school.

  “From memory, I lived on the mainland of Australia,” Alice explained, “near Brisbane, all my life, I never moved from there. Those are my memories.”

  “The memories of Alice Watkins?” Mary asked, hoping she wasn’t treading in a too-sensitive area.

  “You know about that?” Alice was surprised. “I planned to tell you everything. I’d never heard of Alexis Langley until Dr Grossmith told me that was the name found with me in the cave.”

  “We only know what Principal Katya told us; that you hold the memories of an unschooled, middle-aged grandmother.”

  Alice nodded, she’d had this conversation before, but it sounded strange to hear it put like that.

  "I told Principal Hardy on Saturn Station that I don't believe I'm Alexis Langley, regardless of the so-called ‘proof' and my appearance. I told him they'd mixed up the labels. I don't know what he did with that information, but as time passes, it seems less and less likely I'm Alice Watkins either— it's just she's the only one I remember."

  There was sudden silence, and they both looked at her wide-eyed, then they laughed and laughed. So much so that Alice laughed at their
laughter before realising, as they had, what an absurd situation if— after centuries of hope and expectations—that the labels really were mixed up and instead of a super-duper scientist, they got a real life, frumpy old housewife!

  Chapter 3

  Over the next few days, the two newly christened aunties and their recently acquired niece spent all their time together, chatting, and educating Alice about the society into which she’d been adopted. Mary and Jane told her of the implications of choosing a path to the Calamities and tried to help her understand an ideology that eluded her—how can a couple go so far against convention and then get a clifftop house with a farm and gorgeous views?

  One afternoon, they asked Alice for details of the society she remembered. Alice reminded them these memories were probably false—but they encouraged her, having decided it would not be constructive for her to have no past at all, and not beyond the bounds of possibility some truths might be mingled in with the false and therefore, should not be completely discounted.

  But her world hadn't contained a great deal. She knew little of anything beyond the four walls of her unit and the local shops, so she told them about her baking and crochet and jam-making and television, even relating stories about the soap operas she watched. The discussion stretched late into the evening, keeping Mary and Jane awake— despite Alice becoming too sleepy to continue the story—and perusing the registry for confirmation of the things Alice told them and leaving them with questions about their favourite soap characters to ask at breakfast the next morning. Alice was happy to oblige. Soaps, a coffee shop visit with Michelle or a barbeque at her house, a visit from Eliza, and maybe a phone call now and then from Steven covered the entire reach of her existence. She was surprised the primitive life she once led was so entertaining to others even if, at times, it was a struggle to recall the events accurately.

  High above them, nearer to the stars, Patrick flopped down beside Principal Ryan in the Significators officer’s lounge.

  "I swear Ryan; I could sleep for a week."

  “Problems?”

  “Not really.”

  “So?”

  “The core and Substance are in the same position. But having the extra Gravidarum collar seems to affect pitch.”

  “Pitch?

  “Only single word vocabulary tonight, Ryan? I was counting on something more constructive. Pitch as in sound.”

  “I know what you mean, Patrick. You have Engineer Oakes. He has A’khet Knowledge. What’s his conclusion?”

  "He's of the opinion it's the fabrication. I'm not so sure. I was specific in the formula but when I sliced the cylinder's expansion chamber and deconstructed the overhanging flange, the noble metal housing displaced, and Substance didn't light."

  Ryan raised one eyebrow at his first officer.

  “I didn’t attend engineering today because you didn’t report any issues.”

  In return, Patrick cast him a disparaging look.

  “I didn’t ‘attend’ the bridge meeting today. Didn’t that give you a clue?”

  “I’m a planetary scientist, Patrick. I can’t make intelligent conversation about Substance.”

  “You’re the principal. Perhaps you should pretend.” Patrick leaned back and closed his eyes, covering his face wearily with his hands.

  "Patrick, you are a metallurgist and an engineer, you and your family designed most of the generators and housings for all the ships. Moreover, you have A'khet Knowledge. I can't pretend to know more than you." Principal Ryan paused. "Or are you just venting?"

  “Just venting I think, Ryan,” he sighed, sitting up. “But an extra pair of hands would be good—if you and I can do the Albemarle equations for the navigational systems and wave forecasts, Oakes and the others can get into the portage cylinders. The ship’s other systems can wait until the magnitude generators are aligned, I don’t need your command codes for those, besides, they aren’t giving me grief right now.” He rubbed his eyes. “It might just be my neurons that aren’t firing.”

  "We'll get our new statesman involved too; she's keen to view the nexus for the communications array. We'll both be there first thing. Many hands make light work."

  Patrick rose from his seat, then hesitated.

  “Is that a joke, Ryan?”

  They'd been friends and colleagues for years, and the principal was not distinguished by his sense of humour. Ryan shrugged, he hadn't intended a pun.

  Patrick clapped him on the shoulder and left him to his reports; but instead, Ryan gazed at the blue Earth through the viewport. He should have asked Patrick about Dr Langley.

  The following morning, the usual light-hearted discussions over breakfast on the verandah were interrupted by a link on the main registry. Mary answered. It was Patrick. After the customary introductions, he asked for Alice.

  “It’s for you Alice,” Mary said. “Statesman Patrick.”

  Alice blushed, smiled her thanks and disappeared inside. Jane drew Mary close to whisper,

  “Statesman Patrick?”

  Mary nodded, looking towards the door and keeping her voice low.

  “He is the most spectacular-looking young man I have ever seen, Jane! And he’s contacting Alice! I wonder why!”

  "She's certainly very pretty. She mentioned Statesman Patrick before—from the ship."

  They talked amongst themselves so they wouldn’t overhear her conversation. They wanted Alice to feel truly at home and would afford her as much privacy as she wished.

  “It’s good to see you, Patrick,” Alice said.

  “It’s good to see you too Alice. Are you settling into your new home? Mary Greer seems most agreeable.”

  "Yes, her wife is Jane, and I call them auntie. I hesitated when Principal Katya suggested it, but she wanted me to make a family connection. I'm OK with it now, though I often forget and just say Mary or Jane. It's as though I've come home and I have a family now. I did fear being alone."

  “Of course. Principal Katya has done well in finding your ‘aunties’!”

  “How are the engines?”

  "Well, that's why I am contacting you. I may need to remain here on the ship a bit longer, and that would mean I might not get back until the Cotillion Ball."

  “Hennessey mentioned a ball. I don’t know what a Cotillion is, but he thought I would receive an invitation.”

  "We call it a Cotillion, a kind of formal dance; there are two each year, one in Spring and one in Autumn. Some people call them the Spring or Autumn Ball. You'll get a formal invitation, but Principal Katya suggested I mention it to you today. I told her I was contacting you. I want to be your escort."

  “I’m nervous about going to a ball, Patrick.”

  “You’ll be with me the entire time. Dr Grossmith always attends in Spring. Statesman Mellor, Principal Katya, the Hennesseys will be there this time as well, so there will be people you know.”

  “Alright, Patrick. Thank you. I’m sorry you can’t get away, I would have loved to have shown you my new home.”

  "I might still, but I don't know when. I'll contact you as often as I can. I won't have you forgetting me!"

  “You’re not easy to forget, Patrick.”

  He blew her a kiss before signing out, and Alice rejoined the aunties on the verandah.

  “He seems nice,” Mary adopted a conversational tone, trying to hide the fact she was dying to know more.

  "Yes, he is nice," Alice agreed but chose not to offer any additional information.

  But Mary wasn’t going to let the matter drop.

  “The link was from the principality ship. Did you meet him there?”

  “Yes, he was the officer assigned to me.”

  The aunties exchanged looks— they simply had to have details!

  “Oh, do tell, Alice!” Jane declared.

  “Actually, there isn’t too much to tell. Principal Hardy on Saturn Station wanted me to attend a dinner with officers from the Significator.”

  “And?”

  "Principal Ha
rdy couldn't go, and Statesman Patrick collected me from my quarters—I know you noticed his good looks," she added, grinning.

  “Well, he is handsome,” Mary grinned right back.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever met a more handsome young man in my life.”

  “Young man? He must be older than you?”

  “Well, to my recollection, Auntie Mary—Alice Watkin’s recollection—I’m 65 years old.”

  “Alice, do you honestly believe that? Have you seen yourself? You have glorious red hair, flawless skin, gorgeous green eyes and a stunning figure!”

  “I can’t explain it.”

  Alice liked the compliment, in her old life, praise didn’t come her way too often.

  “Statesman Patrick,” Jane couldn’t contain her curiosity. “Tell us more, come on.”

  So, Alice related most of the story of meeting Principal Ryan and Statesman Hennessey and Statesman Patrick, and the concert, leaving out the embarrassing parts and not mentioning playing the piano.

  "I remember a Statesman Patrick once assigned to Principal Hallam," Jane said. "This must be his son."

  Alice nodded.

  “He told me his father was assigned to the Tabernacle a long time ago.”

  “Why is he contacting you now?”

  "There's a dance at the Tabernacle. Patrick wants to take me, but I've never been to a dance."

  “A Cotillion!” Jane and Mary cried in unison.

  “How lovely!” Jane fetched the portable registry.

  “You must have a ball gown,” Mary said, barely able to contain her glee. “We can all have a hand in designing it. Will we get to meet Statesman Patrick then?”

  “I don’t think so, Mary. He’s working. I expect I’ll meet him at the Tabernacle.”

  “When is the ball?”

  "Soon, I'm not sure exactly, Patrick said Principal Katya would invite me formally."

  “Well, we should go to the tailor and get your dress ready and select your accessories.”

  But Mary’s delight was dampened at the expression on Alice’s face.