Memory

Science fiction by Tony Bradshaw, North America

Samantha craned her neck as she looked around the darkened theatre. Her husband went outside to have a cigarette and she was concerned that he had been away too long. Thinking she’d give him a little more time, she settled back into her seat concentrating on the film. Finally, after several more minutes she rose, excusing herself as she squeezed past the other patrons, and strode angrily up the aisle toward the exit. Pushing the door open, she stepped into the foyer and realised for the first time that it was raining outside. Walking to the glass front doors, she saw that most of the footpath was wet. Pushing the front door ajar, she poked her head through the opening and strained to see as far as she could along the footpath in both directions but he wasn’t out there. Samantha irritably pushed open the glass door fully and stepped onto the empty footpath.

“Aaron,” she called loudly, but got no answer. “Where the hell could you be?” she said under her breath. Turning, she went back inside and walked up to the counter attendant. She described her husband and asked if he had seen him. The attendant replied that he had seen her husband go outside but didn’t notice him come back. She went back outside, trying to stay under the theatre’s awning to remain dry, and again looked down the street, but her husband was nowhere to be seen. Emptiness formed in her chest and her hand rose, gripping the throat of her coat tightly. She reached the corner and turned to the left, eyeing the entrance to the alley. The rain was coming down in sheets now and she hesitated before stepping out from under the shelter to look further.

Lifting the top of her coat over her head and watching where she placed her feet, she entered the alley’s mouth. Twenty metres away, a single circle of light was imprinted on the short alley and she saw something silhouetted at the periphery. She stared at it for a moment trying to decide what it was. Slowly, the shape of a shoe materialised.

Samantha knew she had to investigate but the sudden fear that it could be her husband held her back. Her first steps were halting but she soon broke into a run. The coat slipped off her head as she ran and the driving rain plastered her red hair to the sides of her head. She recognized his crumpled form while she was still five metres away and skidded to a halt beside him.

Dropping to her knees in the pounding rain, she rolled him as gently as she could onto his back. His eyes were closed as she reached down past his neck to lift his head and shoulders.

“Aaron, answer me,” she said hoarsely, as her fingers went to his throat to feel for a pulse.

She felt the heartbeat forcing life through his body and her breath flowed from her lips as she relaxed. She spun around looking for help but the alley and the street beyond were empty. Dragging his body by the shoulders into the circle of light, she checked his vital signs. Samantha was a qualified nurse but she never considered she’d have to work on someone she knew, someone she loved. She had to get help and, laying his head gently on the road, she fumbled in her bag for the mobile she kept there. Pulling it free, she dialled 000 and noticed the stain being washed by the rain from her fingers. She recognized the sight of blood immediately and, dropping the mobile, pushed his shoulders over so she could see his back. The cut in his jacket between the shoulder blades was easily visible and she expertly applied pressure to the wound. Her heart pounded in her chest as her free hand sought the mobile she had dropped.

“Hello,” she cried, “is anyone there?”

The emergency operator’s voice was calm and Samantha answered the questions she was asked. The ambulance arrived within minutes and she told them of the injury to his back. After they carried him into the ambulance, she ran to her car and followed the flashing lights to the hospital. The doctor came down the corridor toward her. Rising quickly, she walked to meet him.

“How is he?”

“His injuries aren’t critical. I found a relatively small incision beside the third vertebra that took two stitches. He’s lost a little blood but nothing to be greatly concerned about.”

“What do you think caused it?” she asked.

“He has a lot of bruising along his shoulders and scratches on his back and abdomen, but to tell you the truth, I don’t know.”

“Has he regained consciousness?”

“No, not yet,” the surgeon replied.

“Can I see him?”

“I gave him a general anaesthetic earlier and he should be out for at least an hour. So you have plenty of time to get something to eat before he wakes.”

“Thank you,” she replied as the doctor left her to continue his work. Samantha wasn’t hungry. She didn’t know the extent of the trauma he had experienced but understood that he would need to see a familiar face when he woke. She wanted Aaron to know that she loved him and she would be there for him.

Sitting at the side of the bed, she held his limp hand in hers and noticed for the first time the gravel rash on his nose and chin. She thought that he must have fallen forward during the attack. The hand that Samantha held to her mouth began to tremble as she realised that he could have died tonight. It occurred to her that she was totally unprepared to lose him. Finally the trembling stopped and she dabbed her eyes with a tissue from her bag. Samantha was thankful that he was alive and the child she carried would know her father. Aaron’s eyes opened slowly.

“Thank God,” she said.

“Where am I?” he asked, looking at the woman who had spoken.

“You're in hospital. Do you remember what happened when you went outside?”

Aaron had no memory of anything.

“Who are you?” he asked, his throat parched. He saw her bottom lip quiver as the pressure on his hand increased. A tear grew in her eye and broke to run slowly down her creek as she asked,

“you don’t know me?”

The next eight hours were hell for Samantha. She spoke to the doctor but he said there were no head injuries indicated and Aaron’s loss of memory wasn’t due to any physical wounds from the attack. Doctor Cranbrook, the hospital psychiatrist told her the trauma her husband experienced might have caused the memory loss. He told her that she needed to confront him with familiar surroundings in a hope that these would trigger his memory. If it didn’t return in a couple of days, she should make an appointment for her husband to see him.

Aaron stood at the dresser. He had seen the photograph of them both many times in the last four days but hadn’t felt anything. He knew the woman had been distraught but he couldn’t help her. She had tried everything she could think of to jolt his memory but had failed. He didn’t even remember his closest friends. He had lived in this little town for nearly five years and nothing triggered any memories. It seemed as if he had been born again and his old life had died. They slept in the same bed each night and she wrapped her arms around him but he edged away. This time the photograph on the dresser stirred something within him. She stood beside him and saw the first sign of recognition reflected in his eyes as he brought the photograph closer.

“Sam,” he said.

That single word made her heart swell. She was beginning to think that he would never remember her. Samantha joyfully leapt into his arms. She felt the familiarity of his body against hers. They held that position, her arms around him, crushing him, for several minutes. She was afraid to speak, afraid to break the spell. Slowly he pushed her back and knelt on one knee. His hand brushed across her stomach where their daughter had been growing for the last four months. His eyes rose to meet hers and he smiled. Grabbing him by the hand, she dragged him to the couch in the lounge room. The photo albums lay sprawled on the coffee table where she had tried many times unsuccessfully to jolt his memory. Grabbing one and randomly opening it, she waited for his response.

“You are a lousy skier,” he said, “but you look beautiful.”

Samantha’s heart boomed as she grabbed another album. The next two weeks were thrilling for Samantha as her husband’s memories flooded back. He had been a stranger when she brought him from hospital but, as his memories returned, he again became the man she loved, the man who loved her. Then the dreams started. At first he just moaned and rolled around but recently the moans had become more serious, almost muffled screams. She was sure he was reliving his attack and given time she hoped the dreams would stop.

She was preparing dinner when she recognized the glint in his eye. She hadn’ t wanted to press him but she needed him desperately. She had her clothes off in seconds. He lifted her bodily and carried her to the shower. The water droplets beaded on her breasts as Aaron lowered himself to his knees. Her breath came sharply as his tongue caressed the inside of her thighs and moved upward. Pulling him erect, she stroked his manhood and slowly guided him into her. He fell asleep as Samantha watched him. She lay beside him, studying him. She smiled to herself thinking that at last the worst was over and finally their lives could return to normal. He was himself again and she hoped the dream wouldn’t come tonight. He had woken screaming the last two nights and told her that something was chasing him but he didn’t know what it was. She hoped that tonight would be different as she slipped into an uneasy sleep.

Aaron dashed down the alley, his shoes slapping the wet bitumen loudly with each frenzied step. Adrenalin surged through his body as he ran for his life. The beating of wings drowned out the sound of the rain and he knew the creature was almost upon him. Fear drove his legs to greater speed. He tried to swerve but his shoe slipped on the wet road and he staggered. The creature swooped and spiny legs enveloped him. He stumbled, losing his balance and fell forward. Aaron felt the strength of the creature holding him down, squeezing his shoulders for purchase. The pain in his back between his shoulders was excruciating but nothing compared to the jolt he felt as something pieced the membrane of his mind.

“No!” he screamed as he positioned his legs below him. Driving with all his might, he flew backward. He was partially stunned when his body hit the bedroom wall and dropped to the floor. The bedside light, Samantha turned on, lit the room harshly. He saw her eyes widen and the blood curdling scream she emitted from her gaping mouth caused him to shudder and leap to her aid. He landed on the end of the bed and she tore her eyes from the bloodied corpse beside her and stared horrified at him. Aaron couldn’t understand the scene that confronted him.

He was shocked at the sight of his own body. His twisted, broken ribs were clearly visible and the flesh from his back was peeled away as if something had been torn out of his body. Blood soaked his side of the bed and he stood sickened at the sight. Aaron didn’t notice the sheet drop away from his wife’s naked body as she slipped out of bed and moved backward to the dresser. He was too transfixed by his mangled remains to observe her hand reach into the drawer and grip the weapon. Pulling the pistol clear of the draw, she dragged it around and before she could aim, terror caused her to squeeze the trigger twice. The bullets ripped through the air past him and slammed into the wall. He couldn’t understand as his mind reeled from the shock of seeing himself slaughtered in his bed. Seeing the weapon pointed at him, self-preservation caused him to leap backward off the bed as it again discharged. A shriek of utter desolation followed him from the bedroom as he ran. The front door came up fast but seemed far larger than normal. It splintered as his body crashed through and he stumbled on the concrete steps. Regaining his balance, Aaron leapt the gate and turned, bounding down the street.

He stopped in front of the corner store two blocks away and gasped at his reflection in the large window. His mind tried to find answers but nothing could explain the apparition reflected back from the glass. Lifting his arm, he saw the reflection’s blade move outward. The shock made him stagger backward and the insectile creature rocked away following his movements.

“What kind of dream is this?” his mind screamed in torment. It stood less than a metre high. The domed head sat rigidly on the narrow shoulders. What could have been multifaceted eyes were perched near the sides of its head. The lower part of its face held six tiny, jointed finger like appendages. There were three on each side leading to two rough plates with razor sharp edges on either side of what he knew was his mouth. Large serrated blade like weapons hung on either side of his armoured body. A greenish carapace surrounded his body making it resemble a beetle. He stood erect on two large grasshopper-like legs. He was still staring in shock at the disgusting creature reflected in the window when he tasted the aroma on the light breeze. He saw the armoured sections covering his abdomen slide over each other, exposing a soft sac. Small scaly nodes appeared on the sac as he stared at his reflection in horror. The urge he felt was undeniable as he turned to face the breeze. Spreading his translucent forewings, his powerful legs thrust him skyward as his hind wings burst forth and gathered the wind beneath him. Instinct drove him to follow the scent to its source.

He landed noiselessly in front of an old dilapidated wooden shed. He felt drawn to it. The nodes on the sac below his abdomen ruptured and a sweet smell invaded the air around him. He noticed an old rusted car parked at the side of the structure. His legs seemed to move by themselves and carried him through the doorway. He found two other creatures like himself inside. The cacophony of noises echoing in the confined space was almost deafening and he heard his clicks and whistles joining with the others. One of them advanced toward him. Instinctively he lent the top half of his body backward and thrust the sac toward it. Aaron felt revulsion as the flower like appendage on the tip of the male’s arm brushed lightly past his exposed sac.

It expelled a puff of dusty blue substance and almost immediately his sac began to shrink. The hard exoskeleton of his carapace closed around it and a soft tube extended below his abdomen. The tube immediately began to harden, the end angled like a large needle. The fertilised egg he now carried was safely enclosed in the armoured protection and he knew nothing could harm it. He didn’t notice the tube extended below the abdomen of the male.

His mind became aware of these creatures. They were mindless, marauding insects driven by instinct to survive and propagate. As soon as the larvae entered the body, it shot tendrils into the brain absorbing its host’s survival instincts and gaining control of the body. They would breed and feed until the world was nothing but a desolate husk. When the food supply was exhausted, they joined into packs of thousands and strived to continue their migration. The great volume of air driven by their powerful wings pushed the formation to incredible speed. Many would die and fall away from the pack as they sought to break from the gravity well of the planet. The carapace of those few that survived would envelope them, sealing them into a seed shaped shell. He didn’t know how long they could survive in this state but somehow two of them must have reached Earth. Their life cycle had no purpose except destruction. Aaron understood that the human, he had once been, died that stormy night in the alley. The creature growing inside him had absorbed his instincts and in doing so had eventually assimilated his memories. He was a functioning collection of human memories in the body of an alien bug. However, he not only had a memory of being human but also a memory of a family and an undeniable instinct to protect them. A white hot hatred lanced through his mind as he searched for a way to destroy these invaders.

He saw the familiar outline of a two hundred litre drum as he moved through the shed. He drove the blade that used to be his arm into the side of the drum. It sliced through the steel with ease and he wondered again how humanity could possibly stand against these creatures. The pungent stench of diesel was all around him. He knew what he had to do, knew how he could stop these creatures destroying his planet. He believed he was the first offspring and, if the creatures were to be stopped, he needed to act now.

Aaron left the shed and moved quickly to the vehicle parked outside hoping it was still intact. Cutting open the bonnet to expose the battery, he sliced through the cables and fastening clamps and lifted the battery awkwardly between his forearms above his deadly blades. Looking around the shed, he found eleven partially full drums of diesel. The two alien creatures didn’t move as he dragged the drums around the inside of the shed. He put three drums in front of the doorway, hoping to stop them escaping.

He moved from one drum to another, slicing each open. The diesel gushed from them, flowing across the floor. He was beginning to feel the need to find a host for his larvae. Concentration was difficult. He felt his hind wings beginning to open and his legs tense. Grabbing the battery, he threw it toward the open drums as the last of his will succumbed to instinct. A flash lit the inside of the shed as the battery discharged against the metal drum. The diesel caught instantly and the flames mesmerized him. Instead of trying to escape, the aliens were drawn to the flame. He didn’t try to stop himself as he also stepped into the flames. There was no pain, no burning sensation. As the flames roared up his body, burning out his senses, he thought of his wife, thought of his unborn child. He wouldn’t be there to see his daughter grow and they would never know what he had done to save them. He was still thinking of his family as his mind faded and his blazing insectile body crumpled to the ground. The shed burnt quickly and within minutes was nothing but a glowing pile of embers.

The night was cool. The soft breeze carried the low tones of the night creatures across the land as the insectile alien landed soundlessly fifteen metres from the still smouldering ruin. The small scaly nodes on its abdomen were clearly visible, as it sampled the air. The scent it had followed was dissipating and soon was gone altogether.

Three hours passed before the creature’s body effected the necessary change. The flowery appendage on its arm opened. The nodes below its abdomen ruptured as the powdery substance settled on the exposed sac. Immediately the sac began to shrink as the larvae formed. The hard exoskeleton of the creature’s carapace closed around it, protecting it. The creature stood unmoving, waiting for its offspring to develop, waiting for the need to fly.