Page 41 of Pierre
“I need you to push at the next contraction,” she instructed the woman. She shook her head, not wanting to feel the pain any longer. “Listen to me! Push or these babies will die!”
Her brother pleaded with her, and the woman nodded, finally giving a push as the first baby’s head appeared. On the next contraction, she pushed again, the little body sliding out into her arms. She handed the baby to Cruz, who wrapped her in a sterile towel and laid her on the mother’s chest.
“Okay, number two is coming,” she said calmly.
“You are not bothered by this,” said the brother. “You do this often?”
“I do,” she smiled. “I’m also a twin. It’s a wonderful thing, and your sister’s babies will be connected forever.”
When the next head of hair appeared, the woman pushed, and the baby made its appearance all at once. A boy. Slightly smaller than his sister, but healthy and screaming at the top of his lungs.
“A boy and a girl, both healthy,” said Jane.
Butch laughed, shaking his head with tears running down his cheeks. Cruz smiled, still awed by the miracle of childbirth.
“We should get them to the ship as soon as possible,” said Cruz.
“We’ve got a transport at the back of the house. Take them out there, and we’ll get them all back here,”said Pierre.
They loaded the mother, brother, and newborns into the vehicle and watched as they moved toward the ship. The doctors and nurses on board would do a thorough examination of both mother and children, ensuring that everything was fine.
Cruz packed up the surgical instruments, and they looked around the poor excuse for a home. Everything was dirty, worn, and not ideal for newborns. The twins would be lucky to see their first birthday.
“What do we do?” asked Butch.
“We can’t do anything,” said Jane. “What happens to them when we leave isn’t for us to decide. We’ll give them instructions on how to clean this place up and make it sterile for the babies, but believe me, babies have been surviving in this environment for decades. We can only hope that those two will as well.”
“It doesn’t make it any better,” said Cruz.
When they stepped outside, they could see the hospital ship down the hill and only a few blocks away. It felt further when they rushed to arrive, but now, they knew it was a short walk.
None of them said anything to one another until they saw three children scurrying away on the sidewalk. Cruz stopped, watching the children run up the hill and disappear around a corner. They didn’t appear to be in trouble, just running. Very early in the morning. Then, he started to walk away again and casually looked up and then back down.
“Are you seeing this?” whispered Butch.
“Fucking right I am,” said Cruz. “Jane? Get your sweet cheeks to that fucking ship, right now. Boys? You hear me? Meet Jane at the gates and get your asses up here now.”
“Roger that.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
They stood at the top of the hill, watching as Jane ran back to the gates. As they were opened for her, Pierre, Frank, and the others came toward Cruz and Butch.
“What the hell is happening?” asked Ham.
“Look up the hill,” said Cruz. “What do you see?”
“Women. Old women walking,” said Tucker.
“Yes. Three old women walking in the early morning hours. In pants, brand-name running shoes, sun hats, and following three children that were running in that direction. All three are decidedly Caucasian and not worried about being on these streets so early in the morning.”
“The old ladies the kid saw from the boat,” said Pierre.
“Maybe. I can’t be sure, but it was too much of a damn coincidence,” said Cruz.
“We follow,” said Pierre. “We follow and find out where in the hell they’re going and where those kids disappeared to.”
Ensuring that they stayed well behind the women, it became easier as the city awoke, people coming out of their homes and into the streets. Occasionally, the women would stop, speak to someone, and move along.
