THE PASSAGE

A SERIOUS DISCUSSION

Chapter 40

I realize what Solstice is suggesting about a mate for Cain later in life. I've thought of it myself, but I wasn't going to mention it. However, since Solstice had brought it up, it may be a good time to discuss the matter.

"You mean you would like us to share Toby?"

"Jamie, it's just a thought. Understand that I'm a rohf-AH, and my mind analyses everything on a scientific level. Through circumstances that we had no control over, we ended up here, the four of us, with no other human existence besides ourselves."

"As far as we know," I add.

"Yes, I can't help but think of what our future is going to be like as the years go by when we learn to adapt better, and Cain starts to grow up."

I look down and run my hand back and forth across the water a few times, thinking about our situation. I look back up at her and giggle.

"I've had these weird visions of little kids running around naked," I say, "mine and yours, isn't that crazy?"

She laughs and splashes water at me, I splash water back at her, and we do that back and forth for a few moments.

"Solstice, seriously, if it comes to that, what would happen when our kids grow up, and they have kids together. Wouldn't we risk the possibility that their kids would be born deformed?"

"No, our children wouldn't be first-degree relatives. There would be very little if any chance of that happening."

"What are first-degree relatives?"

"It means siblings born to the same parents."

"As opposed to a half brother or sister?" I ask.

"Yes, exactly. You see, we are born with the basic instinct to repel physical attraction to our first-degree relatives. I don't have any brothers, but when I was studying to be a rohf-AH, we discussed the subject matter of attraction between first-degree relatives. And of the ones who did have first-degree brothers, the thought of finding physical attraction towards them seemed disgusting. Do you have first-degree brothers, Jamie?"

"Yes, and the thought is disgusting, Solstice. I don't even want to think about it."

"So, as you can see, we are all born with that instinct. Even animals have it. If first-degree relatives were to go against their better judgment and procreate, there would be a fifty percent chance that the child would be abnormal.

"But the same does not apply for half-siblings. They can develop a physical attraction with each other. They can procreate without the risk of abnormality in their children."

"Are you absolutely sure?"

"Yes, absolutely."

"And I suppose you know how to deliver a baby?"

She looks at me as if I have insulted her.

"Never mind. It was a stupid question to ask a rohf-AH I suppose."

We are quiet for a moment, with Solstice staring off in the distance, a blank look about her now. She looks back at me and giggles.

"What is it?" I ask.

"Now you've got me thinking about little naked kids running around."

I splash water at her, and she shrieks.

"Oh god, Solstice, what are we getting ourselves into?"

"A new way of life, I suppose. And we didn't get ourselves into it. We were put in this situation by the universe."

I fall backward and float on my back, close my eyes, and try to clear my mind, focusing on the warmth of the sun up above and the water caressing my body. I feel so much at peace right now, and I am excited by this recent conversation. I look over my shoulder and see Solstice floating next to me, propelling herself around with her hands. I grab her hand, and we both lose our balance and sink, quickly coming back up to stand in chest-deep water, then brushing the hair out of our faces.

"Seriously, Jamie, it is kind of exciting to think about how we're going to evolve in the years to come. I love children, do you?"

"I never thought about it too much in my past, but I'm already in love with Cain."

I gaze over to the other side of the creek, thinking about Solstice and me and Toby, and wonder why I am not bothered by thoughts of this recent conversation, ideas that should disgust me.

"Solstice, I think that this conversation is a bit premature. We've only been here for a few days. I still have the feeling that we're not going to be here that long, and I don't want to risk getting pregnant just yet. I'll need to have a talk with Toby about that also."

"Yes, Jamie, I understand. Like I said, my mind analyzes everything, and I usually just blurt out what I'm thinking at the moment. It has gotten me in trouble before. I'm glad that I did not get you angry with me."

"Solstice, with as much as we have been through and everything that you have already done to help us, I don't think I could allow myself to become angry at you. And I promise we will revisit this subject matter if our situation does not change soon. For now, maybe it would be best if I slept with you instead of Toby to avoid temptation. Would that be okay?"

She giggles. "Better yet, you can have my bed, and I'll sleep with Toby."

I tackle her, and we both go down into the water, but I don't hold her down very long. We both stand to catch our breath, and she says, "You do realize my last statement was just a joke, right?"

I stare at her. "Hmm, after the conversation we just had, I'm not so sure."

She giggles. "Anyway, I hope that you're correct in your thinking that this is just a temporary place for us. However, from what I know, I'm inclined to think differently. And you also need to consider that even if the Passage allows us out, the place we end up could be Nod."

I stare at Solstice blankly while I consider what she just said.

"I haven't even thought of that possibility. But I suppose that you may be correct. Nod. The thought of it seems a bit scary."

"Know that if that is what happens, I will remain by your side, even in Nod. We'll get through this, no matter what our future holds."

After we tire of playing in the creek, Solstice and I proceed to dry off, and then I slip back into my dirty clothes, wishing now that I would have washed them out.

"Solstice, your dress is wet. What are you going to wear now?"

"I suppose nothing."

"Nothing? Are you serious?"

"If it bothers you, I could wrap this towel around my waist until my dress dries."

She takes her towel and wraps it around her waist tightly, tucking the edges in all around before looking at me for approval.

"What about your boobs?"

"Does that bother you as well?"

"No, it doesn't bother me, but what about Toby?"

She giggles. "I'm fairly certain that it won't bother Toby either."

Good grief, what am I going to do with this girl?