Annie2002

"Aftermath" (closed, but feel free to read along)

Sunrise, the next day:

When King stirred and sat up from his bed, he would find something inside his quarantine hut that he certainly would never have expected to find: Annie.

"Good morning," she said as casually and friendly as could be. She could see in his reaction the building panic and quickly said, "Before you freak out!"

She scooted closer to the fire to grasp the pot full of hot mate and poured a cup; as she explained herself rapidly, her Danish accent really kicked in, possibly making some of her English words unintelligible. "Papa told me that you and he were sailing north to look for that girl who was on your boat, and I didn't want you to go without me, and since Papa wasn't about to let me join you because he still doesn't know whether or not your infected with the Bug, and since if he did go with you and then would have to be quarantined himself and I wouldn't be able to be with him until he came out of quarantine, that it only made since for me to join the two of you so that whatever happens to him happens to me because I don't want to be without him if he gets sick and dies ... I'd rather be dead, you understand?"

Annie offered out the steaming cup after stirring in a big glob of honey; she was barely five feet from King as he sat upright in his bed, staring at her with surprise. She smiled, asking, "Makes sense, doesn't it?"

"Aftermath" (closed, but feel free to read along)

Annie had left her father and King on the hillside to finish her work down at the seashore. The village operated several types of fish and shellfish traps that were partially Annie's responsibility to empty, bait, and -- when necessary -- repair or move. She also had chores related to her family hut, including gathering seawood; hundreds of pounds of the sea weed washed up on the shore daily, and after a cutting, drying, stripping, and twisting process became logs that burned long and hot in cook and heating fires.

Once she'd finished her work, Annie casually went looking for King. Her father caught sight of her near the quarantine hut on one occasion and gave her a chastising look. She walked away as if she hadn't been eagerly wanting to see King. Finally, he came outside to sit and watch the work of the villagers unfolding about him.

"Feel better?" Annie asked from where she sat on a rock at the perimeter of the isolation zone. She knew by the fresh, village-provided clothes and slicked back hair that King had finally had his bath. "The village has a communal dinner each night. More efficient. I'll bring you a plate if you're hungry."

She hurried off, returning a few minutes later with a plate that she sat atop one of the cairns before moving back to her rock an appropriate distance away. As they ate -- together but apart -- Annie asked King to tell her more about the world beyond her world.

The temperature dropped quickly as the sun disappeared behind the tall mountains to the village's west. Bran came by to tell them, "Annie, you have things to do at the house ... and King, if you want ... I spoke to the Council members about your request to see the interior. It was a close vote, but ... it was denied ... for now, anyway. It's been decided that your quarantine continue for another ten days, at which time -- if you've shown no signs of illness -- you will be allowed to leave quarantine ... and go and do what you wish."

Annie's expression as her father was talking showed her initial disappointment at the restrictions, followed quickly by her delight that he would, ultimately, be released without those restrictions. She asked, "During quarantine, King will still be allowed to work, though, right...? Maybe help me with the shore traps, Papa ... and you with the snares?"

King studied his daughter as she spoke, again conflicted on how he felt about her infatuation with the newcomer. Bran didn't know this man, which was ironic because he knew him better than anyone else in the village. King could be the worst thing to ever happen to this community if he turned out to be infected with the Bug or any of a number of other ailments that had returned to ravage Human Beings. Or, if he was as healthy as both Bran and Annie hoped, he could turn out to be one of the best things that had ever happened to the village and to Annie.

"King, you can walk the snare route with me in the mornings and evenings," Bran offered, "and you can check the sea traps with Annie, too. Other than that, the Council wants you to remain here in or near your hut ... though ... if you need to take a walk on occasion ... stretch your legs ... I'd be more than happy to accompany you."

As either of the men might have expected, Annie smiled wide at hearing that she was going to get to spend time with King every day.

"Aftermath" (closed, but feel free to read along)

"I'd like to just sit here a while," King told Annie. "If that's okay."

"Of course," she said without even thinking about it. There was no harm in letting the stranger out and about, so long as he maintained his distance from Annie and her people. The man with them nodded toward a rocky outcrop and wandered that direction; he needed to pee, which Annie figured out quickly enough.

"I like it here," King said. "It's nice."

"It is," Annie said, again without having to think about it. She liked her home; always had, likely always would. "It's a nice place to grow up. The ocean, the mountains ... good, loyal, friendly, hardworking people. What's not to love?"

A figure climbing the hill toward them caught Annie's attention. She grimaced seeing that it was her father; he was certainly coming to ruin the fun she was having with their visitor. She smiled to him, though, calling out, "Papa, hvorfor klatrer du op ad denne bakke?"

"I'm climbing this hill," he called to her, translating her Danish for King's benefit, "to tell you that you have chores." He looked to their guest, saying, "I'll keep King company."

Annie began, "But Papa, I thought--"

"That someone was going to do your chores for you...?" he cut her off. Jerking a thumb down the hill, he said with fatherly authority, "Get going."

She pouted out her bottom lip to her father, but when she realized that King had also seen the childish expression, she sucked her lip back in and turned away. She groaned before heading down the trail, "Fine." She stopped after just a few steps, though, turning to give King a wide, flirty smile. "See you soon."

She headed away, almost dancing down the trail. Twice before she lost sight of the pair -- the trio, once the peeing man returned -- Annie looked back, still smiling. Bran made some chit chat with King, during which the escort mentioned their guest's desire to climb the pass.

"I can take it up with the Council," Bran said after a moment's contemplation. "It won't happen until you've been released from quarantine, though. In the meantime ... I promise you some freedom to be out and about, like this morning. You'll need to be under guard, obviously. And ... if you aren't bored with her already ... I'm sure that Annie would be willing to keep you company."

It didn't take a genius to see that King liked the idea of spending more time with Annie. Bran reminded the man about the importance of maintaining his distance from his daughter and others, then told him, "I'm going to check some traps. Why don't you come with me."

They headed off on a trail that ran along the side of the mountain. It was a well-worn path that, at places, had been dug out of the hillside or built up with stones to allow safe movement. After a couple of hundred meters, Bran left the trail to check a snare in the rocks of an overhang. He came back empty handed, but a few minutes later at another snare, he lifted the corpse of a large, white hare.

They continued onward, checking another half dozen traps before Bran led King down another descending trail to the village. They delivered the hares to a woman and her daughter who went to work dressing the animals with obvious skill.

"Aftermath" (closed, but feel free to read along)

King’s answers to her questions left Annie disappointed about the world out beyond the village in and island on which she'd spent her entire life. She'd hoped for something different, something grand, something spectacular.

Even his answer to whether he was married disappointed Annie: "I would never do that to a woman."

Her hopes that the two of them might make a happy and exciting couple one day were quickly being dashed. Here told her, “...I'm not the settling down type.”

However, his explanation that he was a wandering adventurer piqued Annie’s attention. She'd always wanted to see what was out there. Perhaps King would take her with him when he left?

He is leaving, isn't he? she wondered to herself. She didn't want to ask the question; she didn't want to jinx herself. King had just gotten here. Annie didn't want him to even contemplate departing until they'd had a chance to … get closer.

They sat and just stared out upon the ocean for a while, until King said, "I think we should look farther up the shore ... down the shore, too,"

Annie felt a chill claw its way up her back as she remembered the corpses on the beach.

"If I could make it,” he continued, “someone else might have.”

He talked of how the others might be dying, saying. “I want you to promise to ask your father to make an effort to find them ... please."

“He already did,” Annie said, explaining, “The Elder Council met last night and ordered boats sent to the north and south. Going by boat, rather than walking the shore, is easier. There are rocky outcrops that block the way by foot.”

She saw the reaction to the news in King's face and continued, hoping this was good news for him. “They are traveling as far as Black Rock to the north and Cliffside to the south … to look for others from your boat … and to tell the villages about you. Our Elders thought that their Elders should know about you.

“Black Rock is more than 30 kilometers,” Annie continued. “Cliffside is even farther … maybe 40 kay. It will be a couple of days before we hear back.”

"Aftermath" (closed, but feel free to read along)

“I have no problems sticking to the quarantine rules,” King said, looking at Annie and smiling, “now that I have someone to talk to.”

Annie felt her face burning with a blush. She was excited to spend time with the stranger and couldn't wait for her father to leave.

They talked about King's deceased traveling companions, after which King returned to his breakfast. Bran headed for the trail to the village, saying, “I'll go arrange for that bath we spoke about.”

Stopping close to his daughter, Bran said in a soft voice, “Maintain your distance, Annie, and pay attention to wind direction. You're a smart girl. Don't do something stupid.”

Looking back to King, Bran said, “I hope you won't be offended, but I'm going to put a man with you as well. I'll send him down in a few minutes.”

Annie began in a complaining tone, “Papa! You don't have to–”

But she went silent when she got the look. Grumbling, she said, “Fine. But not Paul.”

Bran smiled, leaned in to kiss his daughter’s forehead yet again, and confirmed, “Not Paul.”

He headed up the trail, peeking back over his shoulder once early, then once just before losing sight of the pair. By then, Annie had already taken Bran’s earlier seat and begun her inquiries:

“Where's Newfoundland…?”

“What's there…?”

“How many people live there…?”

“Are they just like us…?”

“Why'd you leave…?”

“Where were you trying to go…?”

“Who was with you…?”

“Are you married?”

"Aftermath" (closed, but feel free to read along)

"I'm a wanderer,” King said, speaking of his philosophy.

The stranger wanted to stay a while, and Bran was okay with that. He was also okay with King earning his keep; every member of the community worked for the betterment of it.

“I'm sure we can find something for you,” Bran told King. He considered his words before he continued, remembering his previous evening's discussion with the Council. “There's one more thing, and … this is a must … non negotiable. You can't speak of the outside world with anyone but the Elders.”

Bran paused a moment before clarifying, “We … the people guiding this community and many of the other communities nearby … we have made a conscious decision to forget … to do without … many of the technologies of the past … many of the things that, when used together, led our world to collapse.

“I don't know how deep your knowledge of the Old Ways go, Mister King,” Bran continued with a serious tone, “and honestly, I don't know if I want to. I ask that … no, I demand that you keep what you know to yourself–”

Bran tapped a fingertip to his temple, finishing, “--in here. We are happy with our world the way it is. We are safe … secure … prosperous … as prosperous as we need to be anyway.”

Bran stood from where he'd been sitting, offering, “If you have something to share … an idea, a process, a technology, that you do not already see in use here now … bring it to me. I have been designated by the Council to be your Gå mellem … your go between … liaison. You knew this word, yes?

“You are welcome to remain in our community, Mister King,” Bran said with a sincere tone, “for a few days … a few months … a few years … so long as you do not become disruptive. We are happy the way we are. Be happy with us … for as long as you wish.”

Bran glanced back up the trail towards the village and found Annie standing there, watching the two men with great interest. He drew a deep breath and released it as an audible sigh.

“I have another request, Mister King,” he said. “My daughter, Annie … she's the one who found you on the beach … she has developed a bit of a fascination with you.”

Bran looked up the hill again, contemplating whether or not he was doing the right thing. He was conflicted yet continued, “You will need someone to help you through your quarantine period … while you are still in isolation … or you'll go tosset … nuts. You know this term, yes…? Crazy?”

Without waiting for King’s approval, Bran waved Annie to join them on the beach. Unsurprisingly, she rushed down the trail. Bran warned King, “ My daughter is a curious person. I hope you will remember what I have said about new knowledge.”

Annie arrived, circling around King at a respectable distance to stand near her father. She stared at King with a beaming smile.

Bran began, “Annie, Mister King here needs someone to help him during his quarantine–”

“I’ll do it,” she cut in, her wide smile widening even farther. “Whatever he needs, Papa.”

Bran was already regretting this. He spent a minute reminding her of the quarantine rules, stressing at the end, “If Mister King is sick in any way and you--”

“I understand, Papa,” Annie again cut in. “Three meters at all times–”

“Five!,” Bran corrected. She nodded to him. He looked to King, asking, “Can you work with this, Mister King?”

"Aftermath" (closed, but feel free to read along)

"As badly as I smell," the stranger said, "I doubt I'd smell you, sir."

Bran had to laugh at the man's self-deprecating comment. "I'll make a tub and some water made available for you. And a kettle for heating it, of course."

As he ate, King spoke of the places he'd previously lived -- visited, really. Bran knew of Newfoundland, though not specifically of the settlement of New Eastport. Nova Scotia and New England were also familiar names. He'd heard of North Carolina and South Carolina, so he safely assumed that the Carolines were the same general area.

New Memphis was unknown to him entirely, though. Bran knew of the Mississippi River, but as King hadn't mentioned it in particular, he didn't understand that the mighty river that had once divided the eastern and western portions of the United States -- also a familiar term -- was now a wide, inland-reaching bay.

"The Bug," King continued, "It's still out there, unfortunately. It pops up once in a while."

He talked about how it was less frequently found yet also more deadly when it was. This news only made Bran more convinced that keeping King in quarantine had been the right thing to do. He and the Elders would have to decide whether the news that the Bug was quicker to appear would mean less time in quarantine for the stranger.

"As far as the wars go," King continued, "those are over."

Bran wasn't sad to hear this news. It hadn't just been an apocalyptic pandemic that had doomed Humanity; ever-increasing global warming and nuclear war had struck as well. To hear that peace was more common now than conflict was a relief.

King spoke of how Human population was rebounding but also spreading out into areas that had been depleted by the ravages of the Bug. This Bran didn't care for. Even though King told him that Greenland was likely safe from infestation by emigrating populations, Bran couldn't help but think to himself, Well, if YOU got here, others can, too.

When the newly arrived stranger spoke of trying to reach Ireland or even England, Bran asked, "Is that still your destination. I mean ... if you wish to leave, I can speak to the Council about it. We didn't lock you up in the quarantine hut because you're a prisoner. We did it to keep our village safe."

Bran wasn't entirely certain which answer he wanted to hear from King: stay or leave. Taking one more person into the community would not present any sort of hardship, particularly if he was healthy, fertile, knowledgeable, and hard working. Bran suspected that Tyka the Matchmaker was already going over her breeding rolls for the best candidates to be seeded by an entirely new bloodline. And it seemed pretty obvious to Bran that his own daughter had eyes for the man from afar.

At the same time, though, King had every right to depart the island and continue his venture to reach what had once been called the British Isles. Of course, the village would have to construct an appropriate vessel for him, as their current boats were only made for fishing in the waters just off the shore.

Not wanting King to think that he had an agenda aimed at getting him the hell off his island, Bran clarified, "If you do decide you want to remain here for a while, you'll just have to continue your quarantine until the Council feels it's safe for you to exit it and mix with the rest of the village. It's your decision."

"Aftermath" (closed, but feel free to read along)

(OOC: For anyone reading along, Annie’s father, Bran, is a shared character. My turn to write him. :) )

The next morning:

Bran exited his and Annie’s hut and took a short walk up the rise to the east. The hillock hid the village from the sea, a decision that had been made generations earlier for security reasons. Bran often wished his ancestors – the original Elders – had placed the village within sight of the ocean. He loved the view of the vast sea.

The sun was just rising as he arrived. Unsurprisingly, he found his daughter already here in what he knew to be her favorite place in the world. A few steps to the right was a stone, engraved to mark it as her mother's final resting place.

Bran’s wife, Emma, had died during childbirth, as had her seriously premature child, a daughter who would have been Annie’s only true sibling (meaning Bran had been the father, not some other breeder). Bran had never considered remarrying; he'd dedicated himself to the upbringing of Annie, who'd been only six years old at the time.

“Are you going to see the stranger?” she immediately asked upon seeing her father coming. “Can I come?”

“No,” he answered softly as he knelt to tip her head back and kiss her forehead, a typical greeting between the two. He could see the disappointment in her expression but ignored it. “Some of the Elders and I are going to take a walk with him. There are things to be discussed.”

He kissed her a second time, rose, and said as a consolation, “Get your traps checked, and–”

“Already checked them, Papa,” she cut him off. Jumping to her feet, Annie, asked with excitement, “So, can I go?”

Bran couldn't help but laugh at his daughter's enthusiasm. He gestured her into his arms, gave her a long, tight hug – she murmured into his chest, “Can't breath” – then released her and compromised, “You can walk with me down to the stones, but you stop there.”

She agreed, and they headed down the hillock, then down the shore trail. Some of the Elders, as well as some younger men and fewer women – all armed with spears or bows – were already gathered; others would soon descend the trail, too.

The stones about which Bran had spoken were stone cairns – small in height, just 3 feet high – that encircled the quarantine hut to indicate a safe isolation distance. The others were gathered there, waiting.

Bran was the first Elder to have dealt with the stranger; the newest of the villagers to join the Elders Council; the youngest of the current Elders, which sounded like a contradictory oxymoron; and the most prolific breeder of the bunch of them, something that was publically praised as worthy of great respect and privately the source of teasing barbs about Bran being a man-slut.

With the exception of the latter, those traits were the reason for the Council choosing Bran to be their liaison between the ruling organization and King. He'd accepted the responsibility without question, of course, as he had lots of questions to ask of the stranger, as well as statements to be stressed regarding the man's stay here, if King was allowed one.

After a lengthy discussion with the Elders, Bran moved to stand with a pair of guards on the door side of the quarantine hut. They told him that King had been awake for some time, asking for food and answers regarding his fate.

“Mister King, you may come out,” Bran called after excusing the two guards. When the man exited the hut, Bran showed him a basket, explaining, “Food, water for drinking and washing up if you need … and some mate.”

The last item mentioned was pronounced mah-tay. Not knowing whether or not King knew what it was, Bran explained, “It's a hot caffeinated drink, a tea of sorts. You won't like it–”

Bran smiled and chuckled softly, adding, “--but it grows on you. I have some sweetener, too. We trade dried and smoked fish and things made of sea shells and the like with a village located inland … over the range.”

He nodded his head toward the steep mountain range that ran north-northeast to south-southwest for as far as the eye could see. Some of the peaks were over 2,000 meters high and were impassable, but there was a pass that led northwest through them that, while still a hard walk, was used by the people of this village and others inland to conduct trade and arranged breeding as well.

“Why don't you take a walk with me, Mister King,” Bran offered, already turning toward the trail leading back to the beach. “We have many things to discuss. I hope you won't find me unfriendly if I ask you to maintain your distance and walk downwind of me when possible. I promise not to fart into the wind.”

They descended the trail to the beach, where Bran set the basket on a squat, flat topped boulder. He positioned himself upwind and said, “Please, eat. One of the Elder’s wife is quite the cook. There's bread, meat, cheese, fruit. Goats milk. The mate, as I said, it should still be warm at least. It's the only caffeine drink left in our little part of the world, to the best of our knowledge.”

Bran paused, becoming a bit more serious sounding as he continued, “Speaking of knowledge...”

He waited until he had King's attention before beginning his inquiries. “What can you tell me about what's happening out there in the world? First, where did you come from? My daughter said something of Newfoundland. Is that where you are from?”

He paused for an answer, then continued, asking about the Bug and the wars that had nearly wiped out the Human Race. He wanted to know how many people had survived, whether or not Human population was rebounding, whether or not technology was doing the same, and more.

Lastly, and with a serious tone, Bran asked bluntly, “Should we worry that – like you – they will be coming here, too? I mean no offense, but … honestly … we're happy with the way things are now. We have no desire to once again be part of that world out there.”

"Aftermath" (closed, but feel free to read along)

“Me…? Really?”

Belle giggled at Bran’s surprise. She'd expected it, despite Tyka telling Bran that she'd suggested he father Belle's first child. And Belle had talked to Bran about it a few days ago, too. It had been a very brief conversation, with her asking if Tyka had spoken to him, Bran saying yes, and Belle nodding before turning and hurrying away.

Still, Belle understood his surprise. She was, in fact, the sexual target of many young and older men. Most of them were all about the sex, though, using the Clan’s tradition of arranged breeding as a way to put their cocks inside women who often would not entertain the thought of parting their thighs for them.

Not every Clan did things the way Clan Kyst did, of course. The Coast Clan had instituted arranged breeding shortly after its creation, to ensure healthy, strong children in a time when the future of the Human Race was in doubt.

Other Greenland communities – whether they called themselves clans or not – had taken this path. Some had stayed with the old ways. Some operated somewhere in between, often with the help of Clan Kyst’s breeding males.

Belle knew that Bran had fathered many healthy children, of course. Breeding itself was kept generally private. But the birth of a new, healthy child was celebrated, as was the parentage.

Belle knew that Bran had fathered at least a dozen children. Annie was his only Clan Kyst child. More than that, though, she was more than just his afkom, his offspring. She was his daughter.

Bran had married Annie’s mother, Nina, and begun a family with her. Honestly, Annie had been a surprise. Nina had had twelve arranged breedings over six years without a single conception. She'd been written off as a breeder, something that had been disappointing to Nina and others as well.

Bran had fallen in love with Nina and married her despite her shortcomings, as villagers such as Tyka had called it. Ironically, Nina birthed Annie just two years into the marriage. Annie was considered by many as a miracle. Others considered Bran the miracle, with plenty of lewd jokes having been told about his seed.

After Belle tempted him with what his daughter had said about the stranger, Bran told her about fathering her child, “It would be my honor, Belle.”

She smiled wide, telling him without any sense of embarrassment, “Annie thinks the stranger might have a big cock.”

She laughed loudly enough to gain the attention of the other two guards. She waved them to go back to their own conversation. She stood, looking down to Bran with a wide devilish smirk. She wanted to ask him if he had a large penis, too, but couldn't bring herself to say the words.

“I have to pee,” she did say, suddenly rushing off into the darkness as she told Bran over her shoulder, “My replacement is due soon. Cover for me!”

She probably should have returned, but she wouldn't. It had been Bran’s order to post guards on the quarantine hut all night, so in Belle's opinion, he could share some of the responsibility.

"Aftermath" (closed, but feel free to read along)

“What did my daughter have to say about this man?” Bran asked Belle. “If telling me wouldn't violate any sort of confidence, I mean.”

Belle giggled like a young woman would when asked such a question by such a man about his daughter. “I don't know if I should tell you or not.”

The other two guards laughed about something they were discussing in whispers from their own guard posts. Belle wondered whether if it was about her and Bran, but a moment later she overheard some of the conversation and concluded it wasn't.

She looked to her best friend’s father, again smiling. There would be something that others from the village could talk about that involved both Belle and Bran, but that time was still months away, if ever.

“I informed Tyka of my choice this morning,” she whispered to Bran. He looked at her with an expectant expression. Her lips widened in a delighted smile. “I chose you, if you are willing…”

Belle didn't know what to expect from Bran, but she hoped for his acceptance of her offer to let him father her first child. Tyka, the Clan’s matchmaker, was the one to suggest Bran for the duty, despite him being not just her best friend’s father but also 5 years more than twice her own age of 19.

There were plenty of younger men – from this village and others – who would have loved the opportunity to be the first to fill Belle’s garden with their seed. But for most of them, it would have been more about just wanting to fuck her. She was a beauty and a virgin, as was Annie, and men both young and old ogled her without shame.

Bran was a healthy, fit, handsome man who had proven himself to be a successful breeder. Each of his children had been healthy, fit stock, and any woman in the Clan would be happy to bear his child. Additionally, Belle and Bran were well separated from one another genetically, with no known blood relative shared by them back to the founding of the community which, correctly or not, called itself a Clan these days.

“You accept,” Belle tempted Bran with a devilish smirk, “and I'll tell you what your daughter said about the stranger.”

She giggled again, knowing how badly the man wanted to know what Annie thought of King.