New Birds

The Surrogates Part 15

Tilly's long itemized list of dos and don'ts were posted on the back wall of the nursery. The first stated not to open the incubator unless necessary, but Louis cautiously opened it anyway. He wasn't about to rely totally on the monitor. The last thing he needed was her arriving home to a dead chick simply because the monitor hadn't warned them that the little thing had hatched and was hungry. Within, one olive coloured crane egg sat unperturbed. Satisfied, he carefully closed the door and returned to Marshall, who had all seven remaining adult cranes standing around him as if he was delivering a speech to them.

Tilly's note had stated that she had hired him because he had a natural way with the cranes. It was hard to argue with that. Her often fidgety birds were completely at ease. Two days ago, Louis was bewildered over Tilly's trust in this boy, but now he was fine with her decision. The boy was a natural. An all-around birdman, who was proving invaluable. Not only down here, but in helping him test Simon and Lady Anne's cognitive abilities. They were far more co-operative with Marshall. It was as if they wanted to please him, rat or no rat. He would have to discuss hiring him full-time with Tilly, but it was high time they had permanent help around here, and he could think of no better candidate.

First, though, he had a few more questions, especially regarding the fresh grave he had happened upon when surveying a stretch along the outside wall.

He looked over at Marshall, who was feeding Greg crushed pine nuts from his outstretched palm. Louis cringed. Hand feeding was on Tilly's list of don'ts.

"You should at least wear gloves, Marshall," he said.

"Okay. If you think they're necessary."

Were they? Louis was still scratching at his dry skin after using the soap Tilly had set out for him. He wasn't sure what it contained, but she had labeled it Tilly's microbe assassin and he had to use it each time he entered the bunker. But maybe it was time to stop guarding these cranes from every microbe, toxin and change in the air quality that came along. If she ever wanted these birds to get out of here, at the very least she had to start fluctuating the temperature. "Are we finished?" he asked.

Marshall nodded, dropping the rest of the pine nuts at the feet of the birds. Louis cringed again and looked over at the steel bowls Tilly had secured along one wall. Regardless, he was satisfied with just how well Marshall looked after them these last four days. Her birds were quiet. At peace. The air exchanger was working fine, and the temperature registered a perfect sixty-four degrees.

Louis reached over and brought the temperature up to sixty-five degrees. No time like the present to adjust their climate. He sighed and turned it back to sixty-four again. But best to have Tilly start the modifications.

Louis followed Marshall up the steep steps and into the yard. Marshall walked with full ownership of the space he held. Or as if he had been granted far more space then he ever expected. It was difficult to explain, since the boy seemed slightly unsure of most other things.

"I was thinking I would make your brother a marker," Louis said.

"A marker?"

"A slab of stone with his name on it. To mark where he lays."

"He would like that." Marshall nodded.

"But I'll need his full name." This was Louis's third attempt at finding out a little more about Marshall and his brother.

Marshall didn't answer.

"And I will need his age. How old did you say he was?"

Marshall stopped walking. Louis, who followed literally in his footsteps, almost bumped into the back of him.