Hearing a squealing young lass being chivied behind her, along with the cry of at least one baby, and seeing no one in front of her, she carried her charge to the far end of the shelter and, releasing him in front of a combat bag, was relived to see him squirm into the bag. She dropped to her knees and imitated him in a nearby bag, her helmet switching automatically to battle view.
The local view showed nothing but, with an abrupt command, she got the sector view, which showed several vague red circles representing possible enemy aircraft. Still way over by the front and, even as she looked, she saw a dozen or so blue dots lance out toward the red circles.
Just then she felt a small hand bump against her leg. “Aunt!” the voice said, “Join?”
She reached her hand and, when she touched the lad’s, triggered the sack ‘join’ capacity and, within seconds, the two bags had ‘joined’ making one, larger, bag.
“Join?” the lad asked, waving his hands toward where she heard (over the suit radio: the sacks did not allow sound to pass) a lass wailing. “Scared!” the lad said.
“Join,” she agreed, and the two reached out. The lass shrank back when they touched her, and Illoia shook her head and changed her view to local-intercom. She saw, in one view, a woman’s face, looking around hysterically.
“Override-local-intercom,” Illoia said. Then, when the woman’s face turned toward her in shock, she said, “Calm yourself!”
“Oh, oh, oh, ma’am, I’m sorry but… my babies!”
“We can deal with that in just a second. Now, reach out toward me and toward my hand.”
“How… oh!…” the lass said, wonderingly, as the local-intercom feature showed her Illoia’s hand, and the lad's, as they reached out toward her. When they touched Illoia commanded, “Join”, and the lass watched, amazed, as her bag ‘joined’ with theirs and seconds later they were all in the same ‘compartment’.
Illoia looked and the lass held one child to her breast, and two others were laying on the bag next to her. “Aren’t these your babies?” she asked.
“Oh, yes, but the other three!”
‘The other three!?’ This lass had been fertile! “They aren’t mine, well, this one is, but the other five all belong to Mrs Aleshia.”
Illoia supposed she should have know this, but children this young, who could remember them?
As the four year old moved over to ‘play’ with one of the children on the floor Illoia got busy with her com, and soon had the other three children located. They had all been scooped up by rankers and deposited with other lasses in other shelters. “Your babies are all fine,” she assured the lass. “They are in other shelters. Now calm yourself.”
Article 17
Article 17 is a military science fiction story with aliens and romance. It is set in a future reminiscent of Napoleon era Britain. The war was going very poorly until the military installed a dictator. This story follows one of the dictator’s great men: Cladin Tomirosh, Leader, and thrice decorated hero.
Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!
Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.
If I don’t write you back it is almost certain that I didn’t see it, so please feel free to comment and link to your post. Or if you just think I would be interested in your post!
If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.
Von also writes as ‘Arthur Yeomans’. Under that name he writes children’s, YA, and adult fiction from a Christian perspective. His books are published by Wise Path Books and include the children’s/YA books:
The Bobtails meet the Preacher’s Kid: A Christian historical fiction chapter book about four orphans who go to live with their aunt on a dairy farm.
The Bobtails and the Cousins: The sequel to Preacher’s Kid. The aunt has married, and the cousins come to visit. Meaning town kids dealing with chores and manure and…
The Bobtails go to France: The sequel to cousins. The Bobtails, and Preacher’s Kid, get to take a trip to New York, London, Paris, and a small town in France. To get some cheese.
and
No Ordinary School: A brilliant but socially clueless boy gets recruited for a special school. Where he makes a lot of money, gets a girl, and solves a mystery.
As well as GK Chesterton’s wonderful book, “What’s Wrong with the World”, for which ‘Arthur’ wrote most of the annotations.
Arthur also has a substack, and a website. On the substack you can listen to some of his published books. Free.
Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,
Von
Other Stories
Article 17 is not my only story on Substack. I have another light dystopia, or cultural sci-fi. And a Sci-Fantasy, with elves and dwarves. And a Morality Play, ala Aesop’s Fables.
Contract Marriage Intro
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11 SEPTEMBER 2023
And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
The Oracle at Toko-Ri
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1 MAY 2023
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Prologue IP0
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11 AUGUST 2023
Island People is a young adult fantasy book centring on a young prince. The book starts with his kidnapping and follows his adventures as he not only escapes from his kidnapper but gains critical allies and friends.
Without a Word
Without a Word is a historical fiction story set in 1808 and follows the struggles of a young woman, betrothed against her will to an older man. A Christian woman, and a man of very questionable morals.
Without a Word attempts to contrast Biblical advice against the advice of this age, even the advice of the church. It concerns a young, immature woman growing in her own Godliness through her obedience to an ungodly man. And who knows, perhaps she shall even win her husband.
Tom's training is paying dividends. Illioa did almost everything without having to look, then she calmed the hysterical woman and looked for the missing kids.
I especially liked the Aunt, if that's what all the littles call women who aren't their mothers.