REDEMPTION

— by Jeff Karamales

Chapter 15
Leap of Faith
 

With the Victoria Skarbek debacle past, the Vulps of Abeona, the new Bastien colony, were able to return to the last of the lessons that they would need and bent themselves to their studies with a sense of relief that the woman and her people weren’t continuously interfering. The rapport with Andy Skarbek was used to disseminate what transpired before the news made it through other venues. The appearance of Maria Paccini and Daniel Holt on his show having been one of the factors that had caused the man’s sister to also try and access the Furs, though for her own gain and agenda, Andy felt somewhat responsible and began correspondence with Marcelo Delgado to produce proper documentaries for public consumption.

Of course, with the rather cold relationship the man had with his sibling, he was more than happy to assist in any way that would show the world what kind of person she really was.

Pleased that the late night show host was so willing to work with the Institute instead of against it, Marcelo made a proposition after going into greater detail about the events. When he received word back, the Director of the Furmankind facility couldn’t help but smile. The smile was still on his face as he left his office while putting on his jacket and headed for the Educational Wing.

 ***

“I’d love to be able to have the funding to do a real documentary,” Rob Knowels said with barely contained excitement as he looked at the man in charge of the Adirondack Institute. “It’s one of the reasons I put myself in debt going to school. I just don’t know where I’d find backers willing to take that kind chance for something that might not net them a return on their money.”

The others in the room looked at each other before focusing on Marcelo.

“It just so happens that I have two investors willing to finance a documentary. And they’re willing to do it without expectation of any kind of return. All you would need to do is ensure that the filming, narration and final product are honest and unbiased,” the Director told the younger man. “None of the stunts that Victoria pulled, no attempt to access information that is restricted, respect for the subjects you record…essentially everything that you’ve already demonstrated. And you would have creative control.”

While Robert’s mouth fell open in surprise, Charlotte, the Fur that he had become rather fond of, squealed with delight as she grabbed the man’s hands. “This is what you were telling me that you always hoped for! A chance to show that there is such a thing as proper journalism without the personal agendas! I am so happy for you!”

Robert only winced slightly as the vixen kissed his cheek noisily, the bruising from the beating he’d received finally fading, though he was still a few days away from having the few stitches he’d needed from being removed. “And I’d have control of it? None of the garbage that Victoria tried? I wouldn’t be told to do things that…that just aren’t right?”

“Complete control,” Marcelo said with his smile returning.

The younger man tried to frown in thought but his abused face still wasn’t ready for that level of mobility and display of expression and he winced with the lingering pain. “I guess I’d have to meet the investors…” He looked up at Marcelo. “Why me?”

“Because we know we can trust you.”

Jack Baines nodded in agreement. “He’s right about that, kid. You coulda just done what you were told, but you chose to do the right thing instead. That makes an impression on people.” The enormous man leaned back in the recliner he sat in, one that had been made with one of the Ursis Furs in mind, and sipped at a large mug of coffee before speaking again. “As for one of the investors, well, I’m right here.”

“Wow. Really?” Rob grinned when the large man nodded. “Who are the others?”

“Only one other,” Marcelo said. “And that would be Andy Skarbek, Victoria’s brother.”

The young man laughed, his normally soft voice high and clear. “Now that’s ironic! I knew of the rivalry between them…we all did! This is just too much!” Rob stood and held his hand out to the Director, still grinning. “You got yourself a deal!”

Jack also shook the young man’s hand. “Go ahead and start getting together a list of all the equipment, cameras and support gear, sound pickups, mixers and the like that you’ll need. Chances are I’ve already got everything, but let’s make sure. Also get together a list of people you trust. You’ll need a camera operator, sound tech, editor and all that.”

“I thought I was going to shoot the documentary?”

Jack shook his head. “If you want to do it like that survival guy that just runs around the woods with a little digital camera, sure. But what we’re looking for is a good and proper job, which means you’re gonna be busy directing. Get it?”

Robert looked like a fish out of water as his mouth worked up and down several times without any sound coming forth.

“That and in little more than half a year we’ll have the next Class of volunteers coming through,” Marcelo informed the young man. “That’ll give you time to get a crew together, maybe do a little filming until then to get into practice. When that Class starts, you can set it up so that you’re with them from day one until they get their certifications as Furmankind. And before you ask, headquarters has already approved. You may even be approached about doing documentaries of the other three Institutes depending on how your work on this one turns out.”

Richard and Sofiya had sat silent during the entire discussion, pleased that the young man had been offered the opportunity of a lifetime. “See, Robert? Sometimes the good guys do finish first,” the silver fox said.

 ***

 Embracing his friend before also giving the vixen with him a hug, Jack stood next to the open door of his SUV and looked at the Institute rounds on the other side of the fence one last time and smiled.

“And to think, the next time I come here it’ll be as a client,” the large man said with a chuckle.

“Are you sure you want to do that?” Richard asked with a slight tilt to his head.

“Yeah, I do,” Jack said after several seconds. The man sighed, his breath fogging around his head for a moment in the cold air. “I guess we’ve got that in common…the need to be a part of something…to do something that has meaning. Hell, all I’ve been doing these years since we got out of the Corps is spin my wheels. Money ain’t made me happy. Trust me on that one. I’ve seen and done near everything I can here. Maybe doing something like exploring another world will fill that place inside me that feels empty.”

Richard nodded and put a paw on his friend’s shoulder. “I know,” he said softly. “Believe me, I know. It’s a hard thing to live without a purpose, brother.”

The moment passed and the two males tried to lighten the mood with banter until both again fell silent.

“Do you know what you will choose?” Sofiya asked giving both something else to think about.

Jack nodded. “I’m bouncing back and forth ‘tween two. I don’t know if I wanna go Canis, or if I should do the smart thing and choose Ursis. I’ve always liked wolves and stuff, but even if I lost weight, I think my build would make the bears a smarter choice. I’ll be talking to Doctors Aristotle and Lacross to figure out what would be the best way to go. Doctor Aristotle thinks I’d make a pretty good wolf or one of the larger dog breeds, but he definitely recommends I lose a little weight first.”

“Just remember that we can still receive messages from Earth, and would like to stay in touch with our friends,” the red fox vixen said with a smile as she gave the large man another hug.

“You bet I will,” Jack replied, his voice growing a little thick and the Fur all but vanishing in the circle of his huge arms.

“You better,” Richard told his friend, also embracing the man once more.

Jack stepped back. “I guess this is so long then, ain’t it?”

“Yeah. I suppose it is,” the silver fox agreed.

“You two keep each other safe, alright?”

“We will, Jack. It was very good to meet you,” Sofiya said.

The large man smiled before turning to open the door of his vehicle. No more was said as he worked his bulk in behind the wheel and started the engine, though he did wave once before putting the SUV in gear and headed out of the parking lot. As soon as Jack made the first turn on the road that connected the Institute with the state highway, Richard and Sofiya turned to head back into the heart of the complex.

“What is wrong?” the vixen asked, taking Richard’s paw in hers and cradling it between the pads of her palms.

The silver fox sighed. “Realizing that there’s one person I’m really going to miss when we leave. Jack’s a really good guy.”

“He is like family,” she commented with conviction.

“Yeah. He is.”

“I do believe that he will do well if he volunteers. It will give him what he is needing. Both of you…even myself, we need a purpose. Now our purpose is to go and create a brighter future.”

Richard looked at the vixen and smiled, his bronze eyes warm and full of affection. Before Sofiya could react, the silver fox pulled her into a tight embrace and she could feel the slightly shuddering breath he let out. “Do you know how happy I am to have you?”

“As joyful as I am,” the vixen replied with a twinkle in her yellow-green eyes.

They squeezed each other a little tighter before resuming their walk back to the Educational Wing. They both waved to some of the other Furs from different Wings as they walked.

“There is one more thing that I need to discuss,” Sofiya told the male next to her. “It is being very serious and important.”

“Oh?”

“I need to select a first officer…someone to lead the colony if I am not there. Or if something happens to me.”

Richard nodded. “That makes sense. Do you have anyone in mind?” When he looked down at the vixen he found her looking up at him with a pointed and serious expression. “No…oh, no! Not me!” he said with a chuckle.

“But…you have experience leading. From when you were a Marine. It is the logical choice,” Sofiya countered. “I also discovered that you were one of the potential candidates for the position of colony leader. It is best for the group!”

The silver fox shook his head. “Maybe the logical choice, but not the smart one.” He saw the red fox bristle slightly and hastened to explain. “I might have experience, but we’re…well, we’re a couple, right? The others might see it as favoritism…of you giving me the position because we’re together. That would cause more problems than it would solve.”

“But you are the best choice! Surely the others would understand this?”

Richard shook his head again. “Intellectually, maybe. But whenever there is more than two people involved in anything, intellect has very little to do with accepting things. Do you know who the other candidates were?”

Sofiya nodded. “Lu Chin Yao from Toyohashi and Hector Alejandro de la Vega from Buenos Aires. Their scores were just a little below ours.”

“So who had the higher score out of the two, and who is the one the others get along the best with?” Richard asked as he opened the door to the building, following the vixen into the Educational Wing and the stairs, both having chosen to use the elevator as little as possible.

“Lu Chin had the higher score, but Hector tends to be more…outgoing. He is also very experienced being in the wild and used to work with the Amazon Conservation Agency. He is very skilled in the wilderness.”

Richard smiled. “Well, there’s your answer. If he was traipsing around the Amazon, he should be pretty good with things on Bastien. At least he won’t get so wrapped up in something he doesn’t pay attention to what’s going on around him. The Amazon’s a dangerous place”

“Let us go talk to him, then,” Sofiya decided. “We do not have long before we go to the training center in the State of Washington. It would be good for others of the group to learn that he will be the one to talk to if anything happens to me or if I am unavailable.”

 ***

“Come in, my friends!” Hector said cheerfully when the other two Vulps knocked on his door. He was at the opposite end of the corridor from where Sofiya and Richard stayed.

The former Argentine had selected a South American grey fox as his donor, and the fur coloration was complemented by the Fur’s black, wavy hair that had already started to silver at the sides before undergoing the McEwen Process. He’d been a lawyer in the city of Buenos Aires, but had used that to fund his staunch support of conservation of South America and its rain forests, realizing like so many others that the slash and burn methods of clearing land for agriculture was killing the planet. Despite his best efforts with other conservation groups, he’d been fighting a losing battle and decided to join the AHCP to go to a world that promised a better way of doing things when the tract that he’d been focusing his efforts on was destroyed.

“Do you have a few minutes?” Sofiya asked pleasantly.

“Of course! I just finished making coffee that my cousin sent to me. I believe it’s his way of thanking me for giving up my law practice, and eliminating half of his competition. Please, come in and share a cup,” the grey fox offered.

“If it tastes as good as it smells, absolutely!” Richard replied enthusiastically.

Hector set about getting the coffees, putting them in temperature stable plastic cups with straws built in that had become all the rage with the fully formed Furs. “So, what can I do for you today?”

Sofiya set her drink down without tasting it. “I have something very important to ask you, and it is something that I have spoken to Richard about and we have come to the agreement that you are the best choice. When we leave for Bastien, I am to be selecting a person to be my first officer…a second in command of Abeona. I offered this to Richard, but it his idea that this might be misunderstood by the others and my choice would be because of our relationship. I contacted headquarters at Stockholm and learned that you are one of the other three that was considered for colony leader. For this reason, and as you have experience of being in the wilderness, are very intelligent and trusted by the others, I would like for you to have this position.”

This was the last thing that Hector had been expecting, not even aware that he’d been considered for the position of colony leader. He stroked the fur on his chin, almost as if he still had the well trimmed beard he’d worn prior to joining the AHCP. “I didn’t know this,” he admitted. “And it is certainly something to give thought to.” He chuckled. “To be honest, I never thought of anything like this. If anything, I was expecting to be part of the exploration and survey team, not the assistant colony leader!”

“You will still be able to be on the exploration team,” Sofiya told him quickly. “This is more of a precaution should something happen to me. And it will also help the others to come to us if there is a problem and one or the other is unavailable.”

“Senorita, we shall fervently pray that nothing happens to any of us!” Hector told the other two Furs sincerely. “But I can understand this line of thinking.” He sipped at his coffee, obviously relishing the rich flavor and aroma, letting the hot liquid roll over his tongue before speaking more. “May I ask for the indulgence of a few days to think about this? I don’t want to rush to a decision and would like to give it the contemplation it deserves.”

“You may absolutely have a few days, Hector. I know it required some time for me to think about the offer of colony leader.” Sofiya turned the conversation to lighter topics so that she and Richard could enjoy the shared beverage, as was only good manners, before making ready to leave.

“A moment, senorita,” Hector told her as he stood when the other two headed for the door. “If I may, why did you accept the offer of colony leader?”

It was a fair question and Sofiya nodded. “I did not know any of the rest of our group, and was worried that another might not keep the lives or safety of my friends as important when we were sent to a colony.”

Hector nodded and smiled. “Perhaps a better reason than many others I have heard. And an admirable one, I might add. As it is, I will have an answer for you in two, possibly three days at the very latest.”

“Spasiby. Thank you, Hector,” the vixen replied. “That is acceptable.”

The door clicked closed behind the two foxes as they turned and headed for their shared room. “You know, I think he’ll make a great second,” Richard commented.

“I truly hope he accepts,” Sofiya admitted.

— NEXT CHAPTER —

Unless otherwise noted, all material © Ted R. Blasingame. All rights reserved.