Read Online Intervention: A Science Fiction Adventure by J.W. Huemme - Free Book Online Page A

right for you to do
things just now? I mean being pregnant and all?”
    “Of course, silly. I
can do everything I always did before, for a while anyway. I’ll let
you know when I need help. Now sit down and eat before it gets cold.”
    After dinner Mary
cleaned up as usual, then settled into her new pastime of doing
crossword puzzles. She also liked word puzzles—actually, she liked
any kind of puzzle she could find. Joe thought it was odd since she
had never even looked at puzzles before. But if working puzzles made
her happy, then Joe was all for it.
    The months passed by.
Mary started to show a little earlier than normal. She was only in
her third month when she felt the baby kick for the first time. Her
doctor told her, “Your development is a little faster than normal,
Mary, but I don’t think it’s anything to be concerned about.
You’re in good health and you take good care of yourself. You don’t
drink or smoke, so if there are no unusual problems, you and the baby
should be just fine.”
    “You’re sure it’s
all right to be showing and the baby to be kicking this early? I just
don’t want anything to go wrong. Joe and I have never been
happier.”
    “If you have any
problems, you come see me right away. Otherwise, enjoy your little
miracle.”
    Two months later, Mary
was back in Dr. Percell’s office. He said, “I must admit, this
amount of activity in only the fifth month is most unusual.”
    “This amount of
activity is unusual in any month according to my friends,” Mary
replied.
    “I think we can
forget about the due date I gave you before. This little fellow isn’t
going to wait the full nine months. However, I don’t think we
should think of the baby as premature. I believe he’s just
developing a little faster than normal,” commented the doctor.
    “A little faster? I
think this is more than a little faster. Don’t you think?” Mary
responded.
    “I would never be
anything but honest with you Mary, you know that. No, this
accelerated growth is not normal. Nor is the amount of activity
you’re experiencing either. But it seems to be going well. I really
think it’s going to be all right. But if anything, I mean anything ,
unusual happens, you come see me right away.”
    “I will, and thank
you for being honest with me Dr. Percell.” Mary got up and gathered
her things to leave. “I think I’d better pack that bag and keep
it by the door. I’m going to need it sooner than we thought.”
    * * *
    “Joe,” Mary paused
for a moment. “Joe, wake up, honey. It’s time.”
    “It can’t be time
to get up yet. The sun’s not even showing through the, oh
my lord! It’s time? That time? Why didn’t you say so?”
    Mary calmly smiled. “I
just did silly. Take my bag and put it in the car. Get the Chevy
warmed up, and then come back and help me out. I’ll put something
on while you do that.”
    Joe was as nervous as a
cat in the dog pound. “Are you all right, honey?”
    “I’m fine. Now go
start the car and come right back.” Joe flew out the front door,
then remembered he had forgotten the suitcase Mary had by the front
door. He ran back in, grabbed the suitcase, and flew back out to the
car. He put the suitcase in the back seat and went to work on the old
Chevy. “Come on baby, don’t fail me now,” Joe mumbled as he
pulled out the choke, pumped the gas, and turned the key.
“That-a-girl!” Joe exclaimed, as the old Chevy sparked to life.
    “Now be careful on
the steps, honey,” said Joe, his breath plainly visible in the
brisk December air as he helped Mary down to the car. It took extra
effort on Joe’s part not to speed. He knew it would upset Mary and
that would be the last thing he wanted to do at a time like this. The
hospital was less than a mile from their house, but tonight it seemed
like a hundred miles.
    “My wife’s having a
baby. Hurry!” Joe shouted to the personnel in the emergency room as
he grabbed a wheel chair and headed for the car. Moments