Garden of Serenity (3 page)

“The law enacted by the ancients guaranteed the human population would continue to grow,” Kylie said as the hologram of the Garden behind her melted away. The chirping of the birds seamlessly moved into muted strains of classical music. The picture was replaced by video of men lying in beds, three rows deep, their papery skin covering nothing but bone. A gasp rose from the group. Jahara had seen pictures like this before, but the suffering always made her ache.

“This is the plague that happened in the late twenty-first century, infecting women and decimating the male population. As you know, there are less than one million people in the Eastern Territory, by last census. Ninety-five percent are female.”

The old video slid flawlessly into a series of pictures depicting small groups of women standing with young children.

“In order to preserve their futures, young women isolated themselves in communal clans. They castrated their male young, ensuring them life, but stripping them of their ability to procreate. The government, fearing human extinction, inseminated clusters of women. Frozen stores of healthy sperm collected before the plague were distributed throughout the regions, hence, the small pockets of clans that have survived the generations.” A video of ancient healers covered in blue environ-suits replaced the women.

“Unfortunately, despite every effort to impregnate only healthy females, some women who had not suffered the effects of the virus were still carriers. The male fetuses were spontaneously aborted and few female children survived beyond the first month.”

The healers faded away and a graph appeared.

“When sperm supplies ran out, Congress decided they needed to reestablish a more heterogeneous gene pool and enacted the procreation law requiring all healthy women birth two children. Though our population has slowly grown, it has not reached the projected level the government had hoped to achieve by this century.” She motioned to the nearly level line beside her. “So, we continue to uphold the decree enacted nearly one hundred and fifty years ago. Some of you are third generation coming to the Garden to procreate.”

Jahara found Kylie’s bored voice and phony smile nauseating. Stewing in bitterness, she wondered for whom the woman before her preened. But the rapt fascination on her breeding sisters’ faces gave her the answer.

The graph became a hologram of a woman in what must have been her last trimester of pregnancy. Though she’d seen images of pregnant women in medical school, she’d never treated one. The woman’s breasts were heavy and enlarged, her abdomen swollen in disproportion to her small stature.

A gasp of surprise rippled through the room. Jahara’s stomach roiled at the thought of what a child would do to her body. No doubt Merenith would be repulsed by her body bulging out of proportion. A wave of disgust rolled over her, leaving goose-pimpled flesh in its wake.

“Birthing is a privilege few will accomplish. Our conception rate is high, but many fetuses, for medical reasons still unknown, are lost within the first trimester.” The woman in the hologram lay down on a bed. “Now don’t be alarmed by what you see next.” Healers moved in with scalpels, cutting the skin on her abdomen and removing a baby from her uterus. All the while, the birth mother kept her smile firmly in place. “As you can see, skilled healers will assist in the delivery, you will be fully conscious, but without pain.” One healer whisked the baby from the frame while the other moved in to heal the wound.

“That’s the birthing process. Simple and easy.” Kylie’s acidic words rode on a thick syrup of sweetness. “Our ancestors suffered many hours to bring forth their offspring, but that is no longer the case. You may be awake or in a hypnotized state so you don’t remember, the choice will be yours. You will notice,” the hologram showed the same woman post birth, “child bearing leaves no aftereffects on your body. Our healers take great care not to leave any scars.” Kylie slowly untied the bands of her skirt, letting it float to the floor. Though her mons was free of hair, the soft wisps covering her extremities offered more proof of her false clan representation. Jahara wondered about her reasons for hiding her clan origin.

“I am proud to say I have birthed two offspring and my partner still finds me as desirable as the first time I met her.” Applause broke out. There was no denying Kylie was a beautiful woman. Merenith showed no signs of the horrors Jahara had just witnessed. Of course the healers would not let patients leave their care with scars. She prided herself on leaving the wounds of her patients in a healthier state than they had been before an accident.

The hologram of the Garden returned and Kylie continued, unfazed by her complete nakedness in front of strangers. “The plague was horrible for the human population and it changed our ancestors forever. Over the generations, the virus that killed so many reconfigured the female DNA, giving many of us great gifts. Though I have the gift of instruction, some of you, the gift of machines, visions and prophecy or numbers.” Her mouth curved in a smile, but the emotion didn’t soften the hard look in her eyes. “But there is no gift bestowed upon any woman greater than the gift of healing. I know you don’t realize it, but you have among your breeding sisters one of the most talented healers of our time.”

Jahara swiveled her head, searching for one of her more-famous colleagues.

“Dr. Jahara Khateri, please, don’t be shy. Won’t you please stand?” Kylie waved her hand in her direction as applause once again broke out in the room.

Shaking her head, Jahara put her hand to her chest, unable to catch her breath. Heat rose in her face until she was sure the crimson flush on her cheeks was apparent even to those across the room.

Walking over to her, Kylie pulled her up by the elbow. “This is Dr. Jahara Khateri, birth child to the Honorable Ryniah Khateri, Chief Administrator of the Eastern Territory. We’ve been waiting a long time for her to arrive. This is her
first
breeding season.” Kylie emphasized the number with smug superiority. “You should be honored to call her sister.” The clapping and whispers rang unnaturally loud in Jahara’s ears.

“She’s not only here to breed, but she’s agreed to work in our healing facility. She may help deliver your offspring.” The applause grew louder.

Watching Kylie’s firm bottom retreat, Jahara dropped back into the chair, wishing the floor would open up and swallow her whole. Mortified by both the revelation that this was her first visit to the Garden and that she would be working in the birthing clinic was almost too much for her to bear. When she’d made arrangements to work in the hospital, no one had mentioned her responsibilities.

“You never said anything.” Attika spoke over the clapping. “Healers from my village talk about you all the time.” Attika rose to her feet, her hands slapping together with such enthusiasm the others couldn’t help but rise until everyone stood in the room, save for Jahara.

“Thank you.” Jahara waved them off. Her embarrassment now burned her ears. The clapping finally subsided and the women settled back into their seats. She had not expected such adulation.

“There is much to learn today, my sisters. This next part is my favorite.” Kylie rubbed her hands together with obvious glee. “The moment you all have been anticipating and probably secretly fearing for a long time. Your first look at an adult male breeder.” Stepping back, the hologram parted. “Please meet my current breeding partner Brenimyn.”

After the loud clapping, the silence reverberated throughout the room like a gong.

Chapter Three

The man walking through the holographic garden was just about the most perfect specimen of a human male Jahara had ever seen. The sleeveless, pale jade tunic was cut with a V that plunged just below his navel. The deep bronze of his skin glowed copper in the false sunlight pouring through the overhead windows of the low ceiling. His chest and arms were sculpted with muscles Jahara had only seen on the physiques of the trainers they used at the university where she’d honed her healing talents.

As he rotated for the women, the loose-fitting pants could not disguise the narrow hips or the tight, chiseled roundness of his backside. He walked to the center of the room and continued to model for them. The heavy set of his genitals swayed with each step of his bare feet.

The thick mop of blond waves on his head belied his ancestry. Unlike Kylie, he was true Olakuma. Only his eyes were different. They weren’t the deep blue of a raging river like Merenith’s, but the color of liquid ice. The irises were rimmed with a deep black ring that accented the pupil. Either his Dame or her male breeder had come from the Chinigan clan, like Jahara’s ancestors.

No doubt this male was the reason Kylie faked her ancestry. As the woman walked up behind him, Jahara couldn’t deny they made a striking couple. Kylie’s pride in her breeding partner was obvious in the possessive way she ran one hand up his torso, the other squeezing the firm curve of his buttocks. The male crossed his arms over his chest and smiled down at Kylie. With his feet spread nearly shoulder’s width, Brenimyn still towered over the instructor, and Jahara was once again drawn to the top of his thighs. The light from the holograph shown through the fabric, highlighting the heavy set of his masculinity.

Sweeping one arm behind him and one at his waist, the man bowed low as he spoke. “Welcome, cherished of humans, females of breeding age, gifted women and bearers of offspring.” The deep timbre of his voice vibrated through Jahara like a bow pulled slowly across a violin string. As he straightened again, his eye trapped hers and he smiled. “It is a privilege and an honor to be in your presence.” Inclining his head, Jahara felt his gaze on her like fingers caressing her cheek. Instinctively, she wiped at her cheek, trying to brush away the sensation.

Her reaction to this man both stunned and amazed her. Unlike the young girls ogling this male like an extinct animal, she was a healer with years of experience. She had seen countless numbers of naked men brought to the healing facility with horrendous wounds. Construction workers and miners who needed her to mend a thigh or stomach wound. She had no idea what it was about this particular male that piqued her curiosity.

Suddenly feeling vulnerable by his frank perusal, Jahara folded her arms over her chest and crossed her legs to cover her nakedness. Heat rose in her cheeks once again and she flushed as his stare trailed embers down her arm.

This was foolish, Jahara chided herself. Every female must be experiencing this same illusion of touch. It must be something Kylie was doing. But when Jahara pulled her gaze from Brenimyn to look over at Attika, she saw only Attika’s slack jaw and bulging eyes. Amazement painted her face, not the flush of an intimate touch that Jahara was attempting to erase from her skin.

Kylie looked up at her mate, the curve of her mouth reminding him she was in control.

He cast his eyes at his feet.

“Today, I become not your hostess, but your teacher,” Kylie said. “Mating is a very misunderstood ritual, but a necessary one if we are to continue increasing the female population. There is no guarantee, however, that when you are impregnated you will carry a female child.” She looked over her shoulder at the regal man whose eyes remained focused on the floor.

“Prior to the plague, sperm was collected from males and routinely mixed with the eggs of women and implanted back into the uterus. Fetuses developed normally and offspring were birthed. Everything about those children was normal. Since the time of the virus, however, the fragile systems of the men who survived have made this technique impossible. Sperm exposed to air dies immediately, rendering it useless. Until such time as our esteemed researchers can perfect impregnation without the use of sperm, it is a necessary evil to foster the growth of male fetuses and ensure the continued survival of the human race.”

Jahara hadn’t thought much about men and their role in the world. They were laborers and breeders. Everything about their demeanors suggested they all accepted their lot in life. In her twenty-eight years, nothing had disproved this notion. But the way Kylie spoke, she understood the instructor insinuated the continued existence of
females
specifically. Kylie intimated that there would be a day when only human females walked the earth. But all creatures were on the earth for a purpose, weren’t they? In the twenty-first century, humans had caused the extinction of many animals and plants, but steps had been taken to ensure it would not continue to happen. Surely the creators of the Gardens weren’t expecting to decimate half a species, were they? The thought soured the meager meal in her stomach.

“Unfortunately, mating is something all females must endure until impregnated,” Kylie said. “The male’s life essence must travel directly from the breeder’s body into the female womb or conception will not take place.” The women shifted uncomfortably in their chairs. Everyone knew what Kylie’s last sentence intimated—copulation.

“There are only three laws here at the Garden.” Kylie lifted her index finger. “The first and most important law—no man may ever mate with a woman without her verbal permission and once given, the woman may at any time ask the mating to stop. You ladies are in control at all times.”

She held up another finger. “Second—the life essence of a man, which contains the life-giving sperm, must never be wasted. A man must leave his seed only in a woman’s vagina. Never,” she paused for emphasis, “may a man ever pleasure and waste this natural resource. And three,” she held up her ring finger, glinting with a gold band of commitment, “you have the right to choose one man for breeding, or mate with multiple men. Again, the choice is yours.” She searched the faces of each of the women to be sure all understood.

Satisfied she’d conveyed the three laws, Kylie continued in her lilting tone. “After today, you will be expected to mate with a male at least three days out of seven, except during your menstrual cycle. If your supervising healer confirms a regular ovulation after the second month it may be necessary only for you to copulate during a fourteen day timespan. But not every woman is that fortunate. Once you are with child, you must move out of the breeding wings and be housed with other pregnant women and those with female infants. Of course for the safety of the fetus, copulation is forbidden. Also, once you are impregnated, you will not be allowed outside visitors to the Garden.”