Melodies

The young couple, lost in thought, stared out into space for a long while. After a while, they started to talk about what the commander had told George; however, once Maria had learned the facts, she fell silent again, and the silence hung uneasily over them.

With no warning, the XX-emblazoned door swung open. It was Nell, carrying a small bundle wrapped in blue blankets.

“Here he is,” she said. “This is Giegue.”

Nell handed the bundle to Maria, who held it cautiously. Sticking its head out of the blankets was a baby of the aliens’ race. He looked at Maria curiously, with wide-open blue eyes. She smiled at him nervously, and he returned the smile.

“What happened to his parents?” asked George. “The commander… wasn’t exactly clear.”

“They were working on an experiment in one of our testing labs,” answered Nell. “It… didn’t go as planned.” She sounded uncomfortable. Resuming her composure, she spoke more calmly: “Our species does not age quite like yours. We reach adulthood in a time of about two Earth years, and our adult life lasts for many years more than that of a human.”

“He’ll be fully grown in just two years?” asked Maria incredulously, though she kept her eyes on Giegue’s.

“Yes. At that time, he will be inducted into society in an adulthood ceremony. Commander Relpa has decided that should your work in Unit XX be satisfactory until that time, you will be returned to your planet after the ceremony, your work complete.”

Giegue began to cry suddenly. Maria sat down on the bed and tried to pacify him.

“Is there anything else we should know, Lieutenant?” George asked, uncomfortable.

Nell stared thoughtfully at Maria and Giegue for a moment, and said, “He will grow quickly. Please treat him with kindness.” She turned to leave, adding as an afterthought, “And please just call me Nell.” With that, she exited into the hallway.

Giegue’s crying grew louder. Maria started humming a tune, and the shrill wail suddenly stopped. George recognized the lullaby as one he’d heard her sing for Elizabeth. It was a simple tune, but calming. Then she began to sing the words:

“Take a melody, simple as can be…” Giegue blinked at Maria in seeming confusion. “Give it some words, and sweet harmony…” He squirmed in the bundle of blankets. “Raise your voices, all day long now love grows strong now…” Giegue’s eyes started to close. “Sing a melody of love…” Giegue fell asleep.

“Oh, love,” Maria whispered.

========

George awoke to Maria’s screaming.

Instinctively he held her close. They were lying in the room’s bed; Giegue, asleep in his bundle of blankets in a basket nearby, was undisturbed.

Maria stopped screaming, and began talking so quietly that George couldn’t make out the words. “Maria, what is it? What’s wrong?” he asked in terror for her.

“I’m scared, I’m scared,” she repeated, so quietly it was almost inaudible.

“Did you have a nightmare?”

Maria took a deep breath. “I couldn’t remember the end of the song, George. The last bit of it.”

‘The lullaby?’ George thought. “Love, oh love,” he quietly sang.

“Yes, yes, that’s it. That’s it.” Maria stopped shaking, and seemed to drift back into sleep.

George tried to sleep as well, but his wife’s screams echoed in his mind.