Echo

lost on her, realizing their home never existed here. Sadly, home called from the vanished jungles and watery bias of Western Africa. These sentient gentle great apes were mothers and father, babies and youngsters; families. Just like Homo sapiens, for man was a great ape too. But better, of course. Man … the chosen one … he who shall inherit the earth. And once again, she noted frightfully to herself, Man destroyed.
    Her eyes glazed as she noted the complete absence of color, life or warmth around her. The horizon was a palette of black and gray barrenness, benumbing ashen hopelessness and bone crushing godforsaken loneliness. What happened here? Such wanton destruction. Abby struggled, a sudden crush of emotions coalescing, too much to bear. Trying to break the grip of the tableau, she panicked, instinctively calling for her mother; beggin g for her mother. Out of her mind with grief and loss, she confused the emotions in her nightmare with the unresolved heartbreak of her mother’s abrupt absence from her life. Here, the nightmare always ended, leaving Abby a helpless wreck.
    Without warning, Abby felt pulled away from the zoo. She beheld herself in a new and foreign environment, appearing to be a large cavern. Light shone but the source eluded her. She felt neither warm nor cold. An enveloping layer of something soft and undulating, exuding the smell of organic dampness clung to the walls of the cavern. How could she smell if she was dreaming?
    Further down the cavern, a golden glow approached; a figure. Abby caught her breath, an unexplained premonition sending goose bumps down her arms. The emerging figure formed into that of a woman. The alluring vision glowed with the fine golden fur draping her body. Like Abby, she sported a long mature tail with a bulbous end floating languidly around her. Her golden white hair reached, full and glossy, down her back. A pair of exquisite wings framed her statuesque figure. From her hairline, emerged two gracefully crystal horns, swirling with silver and gold liquid. Her eyes sparkled with the colors of the rainbow. She smiled benevolently at Abby. With a start, Abby realized she looked familiar. She racked her memory but could not place the lovely face.
    “My dear, we have not met. You are here because you have much to do. We are relying on you. You must save those you can. Time is short. We had hoped to do things differently. Man has conspired, fatally, to abort our plans. We must be quickly reactive. Gather the materials you need and do the best you can.”
    “Madam, how am I to know what to do?” Approaching Abby, the woman placed her hand on Abby’s shoulder as her right horn split and peeled back, releasing a drop of liquid, its’ color flashing and filling the cavern. The woman held out her other hand to receive the drop. Reaching up to Abby’s ear she placed it inside. Disappearing, the flashing colors slowly faded as the drop moved deep into her ear. Abby’s eyes closed slowly. She blinked, her eyes closing again. They finally opened with a stoic acceptance of purpose and clarity realized.
    “I understand completely. I hope to see you again soon,” Abby said. Taking Abby into her arms, the woman embraced her warmly.
    “You will, my dear. Remember, you have Echo to aid you. I must send you back now.”
    “Wait. Please, who are you? What shall I call you?” The vision began to recede. She found herself in her own bed, on the verge of waking. From a great distance, she heard the woman’s voice.
    “I was once known as Netty Doyle, my dear. You may call me Netty.” Abby gently drifted deeply into a sound slumber, the details in her dream dissipating. She slept soundly.

Chapter 3
    Peter pulled his BMW away from the parking lot at the Sarasota Airport. He waved to Jose who stood in line for the security bus to the checkin counter at the airport, ready to board a flight to Newark Airport that would hopefully reunite him with what was left of his family. Peter’s happiness for Scotty and Abby knew no bounds. He appreciated how long it took them to get this far.
    As he drove back into town, he observed the night life in Sarasota preparing to heat up as the party hour approached, crowds thickening on the streets. Peter had sampled very little of it, even though, as a single man, the venues of bars and eateries were made to order. Some of the most predatory and beautiful women in the country flocked to Sarasota, hoping to land themselves a wealthy husband.