When Aliens Weep Read Online Free PDF Page A

minds. Her shimmering thoughts swirled brighter and brighter.
    “We have much we must do, my Sister and Brothers. The Womb is not pleased you are here but again, accommodations will be made. I am happy to be able to join my long lost brother and sister minions at last. I have much to do myself. A feast is being prepared for you in your private quarters. There will be time to present you officially to our population later. We will be allowed time to grieve and you can acclimate yourself before your jobs are assigned.”
    Some of the survivors began to mutter. Bonnie stopped dead in her tracks.
    “Work? What do you mean, Echo? We can’t work . We need to find out where my husband is.” Agitated, she turned to the small crowd, her eyes resting on Hud. “And Ginger Mae . . . we need to find them, right, Hud?” The strain of hysteria in her voice was pronounced. Hud rushed to her side. He held her in his arms.
    “Damn straight, Bonnie.” Over her head, he searched the faces of his fellow survivors. Wil stepped toward them.
    “Of course, my friends. We will do everything we can to find Peter and Ginger Mae. Echo was just thinking ahead. No one will push you until you are ready but we all have long lives ahead of us and we must plan.”
    Bonnie struggled in Hud’s arms, her face blotchy from tears, and a flash of anger surfaced. “It’s bad enough I just lost my mother. But my life is overwithout my husband . . . don’t youunderstand? ” Breaking free of Hud,she stood before Wil, gesticulating wildly. “I need to see the Womb. Let me see him. ” She grabbed on to Wil’s arm as Hud and Abby rushed to calm her.
    Eluding them, she threw herself at Netty. Grabbing the alluring Elder by her shoulders, Bonnie shook her hard.
    “I know you can fix this. Let me speak to the Womb. Let me speak to him . . . now !” Bonnie screamed her frustrations and broken heart at Netty, who stood stoically until the distraught woman burned down, reduced to sobs.
    Bonnie finally slid down the length of Netty’s figure to collapse on the ground. Tears of sympathy from the other survivors didn’t help. Dezi stooped down to Bonnie as her sobs changed to hiccups. He pulled a dishrag from his apron, extending it to help her dry her face. Bonnie just stared at the rag, her face a mask of hopelessness. They stared into one another’s anguished eyes while the other survivors held their breath.
    “Hud, give me a hand.” Dezi and Hud struggled, trying to bring Bonnie to her feet. Her hold on her emotional state collapsed along with her body. Taking hold again, Hud lifted her in his strong arms, his face set and grim.
    “Okay, Wil. Please . . . let’s just get to where we need to go.”
    Silently, the group trudged on, the clatter of their airborne entourage soon joined by the worrisome trumpet of Tobi as she left her herd to dash forward as soon as she realized Hud was carrying Bonnie.
    The group parted to let the worried pachyderm approach Hud. Tobi’s trunk roamed over Bonnie’s limp body. She listened for Bonnie’s heart and the sounds that would show her lungs still drew breath. Soft rumbles from deep within Tobi’s huge bulk marked her concern.
    Taking wing, Echo left Barney to alight atop Tobi’s back where she proceeded to relax the matriarch and prod her back to her herd. Rejoining the survivors, Echo’s swirling projections urged the group on toward the city that now rose high up over them.
    As the survivors got closer, the pastel effect diminished, fading into an iridescent glow. They stood transfixed. Cobby spoke for all of them.
    “What the heck is this?”
    For the city resembled a colossal beating heart, clearly alive. Its walls were made of a clear organic substance riddled with giant pathways throbbing with life and resembling the same veins and arteries contained in their own bodies. Though they contained something quite different than blood; something that gave the luminous iridescent quality to the minions and the