The Protectors Read Free

a hodgepodge group of canines who take their duties seriously and had shown they were willing to die to protect their charge. Just last year Becky, one of my favorites, had died after fighting off a huge bobcat.
    Rodney, the large Doberman , runs up to me and I ruffle his head before I grab two pails. It is my responsibility, along with several other girls, to milk the goats and then lock them away in their pens for the night. Someone else would let them out to graze the next morning. The dogs would find their own way as they always did.
    Three other girls are there too. No one speaks. We simply divide the herd evenly as if by telepathy. That was one of grandfather's strange words, one I particularly like. Maybe that is how we are learning to communicate, I think. Sending and receiving messages without conscious awareness, like the flocks of birds that all turn in unison.
    Simeon, the old dam is giving me trouble. It's hard to milk the old goat when she's rubbing affectionately against me and trying to lick my face. I often find it odd that it is okay to get physical affection from an animal, but not humans. The Protectors would say that touch makes people love and love is forbidden. It was love that killed all of Newton's men they tell us.
    "Hurr y up girls," yells Jonesy.
    I peek in his direction and see that he is leaning back against a tree. No need to rush. I have time to finish milking and walk the full pails to the hand cart. Finishing the last two goats in my section, I trudge over and load the pails in beside the others and we cover them with old pieces of plastic sheeting to keep out the flies.
    Jonesy flicks his whip more for emphasis than effect, and I grab one of the front handles of the cart. Sarah, a girl who lives in the Dormitory takes the handle to my right. The remaining two girls will put the goats in their pen and then fall in behind us. We begin pulling the cart into town and Jonesy stays with us, probably believing his greater responsibility lies in making sure we don't sneak a drink of any of the goat milk.
    "May we sing?" asks Sarah. Singing is normally frowned upon unless it is part of working.
    Jonesy considers for a long moment and then nods. "Okay. Just knock it off when I say."
    We begin to pull and after a minute Sarah launches into a song we all know well with a beautiful tenor. I join her doing my best to provide harmony.
     
    There was a Golden Age,
    Many a long year ago,
    A ll our life a stage,
    A nd the nights a 'lectric glow.
     
    Our hearts were full to burst,
    And we knew no loss or fear,
    But then the earth was cursed,
    And our lot was dirty tears.
     
    The Plague took our life,
    And destroyed all we'd built,
    Men took up the knife,
    And fought 'til blood was spilt.
     
    Long were the dark dark years,
    Where hunger stalked its own,
    Then death was always near,
    And we reaped as we'd sown.
     
    But life is sweet and good,
    And we are the lucky few,
    Those left when all have stood,
    And the old has turned to new.
     
    Jonesy notices other workers coming our way down the road. He turns to tell us to "shut up", but before he can get the words out Sarah's voice rises in a loud clear anthem,
     
    For we are alive, alive,
    And he is alive, alive,
    And she is alive, alive,
    I am alive, alive!
     
    "Hush," hisses Jonesy slapping his whip across the back of the cart. "You damn girls don't say 'boo' until you get the chance to sing and then it's damn near enough to bring down what roofs are left."
    I glance over at Sarah and I catch the barest hint of a smile. Impressed at her daring I nod at her. It is a minor thing to do something we know the Protectors do not want, and gains little if anything, but it is a small victory.
    And it proves that we are capable of resisting, should we choose to do so.
    T hat we are indeed alive.
    *******
    The night is our only time of real freedom. The Shriekers used to check on us. Before the Treaty they even broke into homes at night. Now they leave us alone. We can