Capturing live animals is a bitch. I put a couple of spiders in a jar. That was easy. I thought the skinks would be next, as we would go for the least likely animals first. Skinks are small and fast and can get to all sorts of places as a bond. I can’t catch them because they are small, fast, and can get in all sorts of places. Even with Rich ‘herding’ them towards me, I missed them. It was a very frustrating hour. Then bloody Eliza swoops in and grabs one so easily. Then she eats it. At that point, I gave up on skinks as a bond.

  We tracked the possum next. It was sleeping in a tree outside the Anomaly Zone, but it had been in, so it was either mutating or had mutated already. It certainly was not in a coma and got away from me the first time. I thought they were supposed to sleep during the day. I got it on the third try in the second tree. Why can’t I just shoot them?

  We stopped for lunch with the ladies at that point. They had a blanket out, a drinks cooler, and snacks laid out. They were having a great time. There was a plastic lid on the grass next to the blanket with small piles of grape seeds in various groupings.

  “What is that smell, and where is Carla?” I asked.

  Ata just laughed.

  “Ah, yes,” Soph said, “that last bunch of grapes were from a not-so-great vine, and Carla is voiding her bowls and emptying her stomach. We did ask her to go further away, but I think it was urgent. We might need to relocate.”

  “Not pissing wine yet, huh? Going by the smell. Where is Amanda?”

  “She had to go to the hospital to see her patient. The good news is I have identified a difference in the patterns in the essence of the grapes, which means I can probably avoid this in the future,” Soph said.

  “That is good news. Maybe we should relocate over that way,” I said, starting to pick things up.

  It didn’t take us long to move upwind. Carla joined us a short time later but didn’t want lunch. She started to pull on my essence for healing. It is a cheat for her whole body to be able to do that. Good on her. Cheating is good.

  “Not spiders, not insects,” Soph said. “The emotions they evoke are not conducive to bonding.”

  “Not skinks either?” I asked.

  “No, but I wouldn’t necessarily rule out all reptiles.”

  “The possum?”

  “Maybe? I could perhaps bond with it. There is more involved than just my emotions; there is the animal, and I think the essence and the mutations. In this case, the essence is hostile, so I need more positives in the other areas, and I have no idea what its mutation might be.”

  “Hostile is an interesting way to describe it.”

  “I seem to have to fight against it. That was not the case in Waiheke and much less so in Yagoonya.”

  “Let’s leave the possum for now. It can sleep in the cage, and we can decide later,” I said.

  “Birds, rabbits and rats, I think,” Soph said.

  “The rats might be a problem as I don’t think I can get as far in as the shed,” I said. “Bird hunting after lunch,” I said to Rich.

  He ignored me.

  “Hey Carla, do you want to share this watermelon with me?”

  She gave me the finger and shifted further away.

  I had a fairly peaceful lunch after that. Ata just looked on, amused.

  Birds. Birds needed patience and a quick net. By late afternoon, I had caged a thrush, sparrow and a fantail. Rich was useless at bird hunting.

  I did see Enhanced military personnel come and go collecting samples and labelling things.

  I left the bird cage with Soph, and we went rabbit hunting. Rich was much better at rabbit hunting. He loved chasing rabbits. For this reason, I had the feeling they would not be a suitable bond. Nonetheless, we had two uneaten rabbits in a cage by dinner. I think Rich had had his dinner.

  When we got back, the birdcage was empty. “No luck?” I asked Soph.

  She smiled, and a small fantail fluttered around me. “Bob, meet Barbara. Barb for short.”

  “Barb? Not another bloody sportswoman, I hope.”

  “Of course. Barbara Kendell. Five consecutive Olympics, three medals, Sailboarder.”

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  “I am not interested in the original Barbara. What about this one?”

  “You should be. She is amazing. Barb here was the most compatible. I am still not quite sure why.”

  “I should be calling you Birdbrain. I wouldn’t think of calling Ata that,” I said

  “You had better not!” Ata responded. “I said she should call it Pī as the most common Maori name for a fantail is pīwakawaka. She ignored my advice.”

  “I suggested Manulele, but I also got ignored,” Carla said, “I think she is more interested in sports than I realised.”

  “I used to love coming and watching you compete,” Soph said, “I am an enthusiastic supporter!”

  “And how is our little grapevine growing?” I asked Carla.

  She scowled, “I don’t think I want to see another grape in my life. However, you may be onto something. It will take a lot more than a day, and I am sure my immunity to the essence needs to be much higher. Are you planning to stay overnight again?”

  “I was in two minds about it. I could do with a swim, but this opportunity may be taken from us at any time, so I feel we need to make the most of it,” I replied.

  “I am going to stay the night,” Carla declared. “I am not having grapes for dinner, though!”

  “We should probably set up a more permanent camp.” I looked at Soph. “Is my tent in the ute?”

  She nodded.

  “What are you thinking, Bob?” Carla asked.

  “Many things. Most recently, Essesence compatibility or immunisations are more important than I realised. There is probably some advantage to having one pure type, but I am not sure what it is at the moment. The blue-green of Yagoonya seems more versatile, as it allows easier access to others with green aspects and, I presume, also with blue.”

  “Do you think we should diversify, like Rich?” Soph asked.

  “That is a big risk. Definitely not for pregnant people,” I replied.

  “Not for you either!” Carla said.

  “But you are wondering, aren’t you? A second mutation means more volume of Essence. Would it be enough?” I said to her.

  “And it might make this change easier,” she added.

  “But…?”

  “But I can’t do that to Soph. You are my lifesaver, and you continue to save me because if you weren’t here, I would probably tempt another mutation.”

  “You know my price to stick around, now.”

  “Pissing wine?”

  “Pissing wine.”

  “It is probably not going to happen,” Carla warned.

  “Not with that attitude. Put some effort into it,” I said. I tossed her a small bunch of grapes.

  She gave me the finger.

  “What are you doing, Soph?”

  “I think this rabbit might be a good bond.”

  “Are you sure? I think Rich ate several of his relatives for dinner,” I replied.

  “No, this is different. Rich will be fine with another bond.”

  I looked over, and Rich was sitting watching us, and Eliza was standing on his head. I guess they were.

  “How many can you bond?” I asked

  I think I am reaching my limit, and I think it is a mental limit. I am going to take him back with me for the night.”

  “You never said what Barb’s mutation was,” I said

  “Here.” She pulled her knife and made a shallow cut to her forearm. She kept the fur pulled back, and we saw the blood. Barb landed on her arm, and the blood scabbed over. “It is a touch heal. For those of us with Enhanced skin, it is a small boost. It could help with more serious wounds but is very Essence-intensive. I think it could keep someone alive. For those without enhanced skin, it would benefit them the most. The essence does grate, so building immunity is important.”

  “Can she use it on herself?” Carla asked.

  “That is when it is most effective,” Soph replied.

  “Is it an essence ability or physical mutation?” I asked.

  “Essence, as I can use it as well.”

  “Any chance of finding out what the mutations are before you bond?” I asked.

  “Not yet, but I am getting better as I see more and different patterns. Barb had some small similarities to Amanda, so I guessed it was a health area, and I was right. The rabbit, I have no idea. He is very different.”

  “You did check he was a boy?”

  “Yes, he is a boy,” Soph said.

  “Do you want to stay the night, too?” I asked.

  “I think we all should, but Ata and I will go shopping first, and then we can stay.”

  Ata nodded in agreement.

  “Hey, if you bond the rabbit, are we going for Bugs Bunny or Roger Rabbit?” I asked.

  “Neither, you annoying Bastard,” Soph said definitively.

  “What’s up, Doc?”

  “Shut up!” sounded good in triplicate.

  I decided to stay with Carla. I wasn’t comfortable with Soph and Ata alone as Ata was slowing down some. Not that I would tell her that. There are no direct threats, but care is prudent. We sent Rich back with them, and they will return with more camping supplies.

  We weren’t the only ones camping out in the zone, as the army was setting up tents on the side near the farmhouse.

  “Bloody copycats!” I yelled at Ngoi.

  “We've got beer!” he shouted back.

  Carla and I drank with them before retiring to ‘our side’. There were ten in total. Ngoi seemed to be in charge.

  Carla settled in, still snacking on grapes. I went roaming with my senses out wide.