Epilogue.
While the Prime Minister didn't formally announce the Soay base could be used by
the satyrs, there was an informal agreement not to pursue them if they returned,
provided they kept their public appearances to the minimum as they had before
the kidnapping affair. He also requested they cover their genitals when near
members of the public. The frigate and the fishery protection vessel both left
the area and didn't return except for routine visits.
Aisha and the others returned a few at a time until by the end of the month all
were back and the colony was running as before. A satyrs web site was
established and hundreds of girls of all nationalities applied to be satyr
mates. Naomi and Freida interviewed the twenty or so that seemed suitable and
eventually each satyr had a partner. Naomi insisted the satyrs no longer 'owned'
their girls. Naomi also insisted the girls use oral contraceptives for the first
two months during which time they would get to know their satyrs and then they
could chose or agree on a partner. It was rather like a courting period where no
girl belonged to any one satyr.
Within a week, Kerch was flying again and Freida and she enjoyed being in the
air together. She kept in touch with Nic and Hin. Nic had moved in with him and
were living together. Towards the end of September, there occurred an incident
which enhanced the public's tolerance of the satyr colony. Nic called Naomi from
work, something which she never did because the hierarchy frowned on the
contact.
"Hi Naomi, this is Nic. Sorry this is not a social chat. A seven year old boy is
being blown out to sea on a Lilo from Howmore in South Uist. Do you know it."
"Yes, Lovely long white beaches. Few tourists."
"Good. It seems the boy was lying on the air bed when his mother wanted to pee.
She went over the dunes but by the time she got back, the boy had decided to put
to sea and was some way off. And there is a strong off shore wind. She ran to
the nearest croft and phoned for help. The nearest lifeboat is at Castlebay and
is on its way but it will take some time and it could be dark before they really
begin to search. The air sea rescue chopper has an engine problem which will
take at least an hour to fix."
"Where's the woman?"
"On the beach."
"I'll see what I can do."
Naomi mustered six of the satyrs, four with riders. By now each satyr and its
rider were equipped with radio contact head phones and led by Naomi on Kercher,
they flew in formation to the beach at Howmore. A small crowd had gathered and a
boat with an outboard motor was setting off from the beach. While the others
circled Naomi landed and spoke to the mother. "Hi," she greeted the woman who
didn't seem to want to get close. "There's nothing to be afraid of. We are here
to help find your son."
"Will they ....?"
"No. They won't rape or abduct you. They all have their own women now. "How long
ago did this happen?"
"About an hour." The woman was now in tears.
"What's the boy's name and what is he wearing and what colour is the air bed?"
"Mark. Only red trunks and the Lilo was blue."
"Would you like to come with us on the search?"
Hesitatingly the woman said yes. It was obvious she was still very unsure of the
satyrs. Naomi called Zeik down and assisted the woman, who she now found was
called Daphne, on to Zeik's back and fitted her with Zeik's headset. "You'll
have to relay the instructions to him now and you will be able to hear what is
going on."
The six formed, gained height and Kercher headed due west, two others headed at
15 degree intervals to the south of her and the other three at similar intervals
to the north.
"Daphne can you hear me?" On receiving confirmation, she went on, "Are you
okay?" Again it was hesitatingly confirmed. "Don't worry, the first flight is
always a bit scary. We are gaining height at the moment because the eyes of the
satyrs are 200 times better than ours and they can scan the area better from
higher up. The light won't last too long so we need to find him quickly."
Ten minutes later, Xenon called he had sighted the boy and was going down. Xenon
was two satyrs to the north of Naomi and once the sighting was confirmed all the
others converged. "Careful not to panic the boy, Xenon. Freida make him descend
slowly and wave to the boy."
It all went well and Xenon scooped up Mark and cuddled the cold boy to his
chest.
"Daphne, we'll fly to Castlebay and get Mark checked out at the hospital. Tell
Zeik to follow Freida and me. Thank you everyone. The rest of you can return
home. We don't want to frighten the Barra folk too much. One of you let the boat
people know."
Naomi and the others landed in front of the casualty department, much to the
surprise of the staff but they soon had the boy and his mother inside. As usual
the press got hold of the story although they were too late to film the rescue.
An amateur photographer took pictures of the arrival and made a little from
selling the pictures.
The press elevated the rescue from mere routine to a daring epic and this helped
to lift the profile of the satyrs. In the coming months they assisted with
several rescues from boats at sea when the other services weren't able get to
the scene quickly enough.
Nine months after the abduction and within days of each other Freida and Naomi
gave birth on Soay to satyr boys. Both were disappointed. A week later Mary did
the same. All three survived. There were huge arguments over Mary's baby because
the delivery was done in a local hospital, whether or not she should be allowed
to keep the baby satyr. In the end she was. However her husband refused to even
acknowledge the child and this led to a divorce in which he was given custody of
the other children. Mary returned to Soay and visited her children whenever she
could. Margot had her conception terminated and most of the others hadn't been
off the contraceptive pill long enough to conceive. Aisha and Doctor Bernhart
Reisener considered that perhaps the way the satyr genes were arranged it could
be they would never produce girls. Still if they had a supply of willing human
girls would that matter?
Despite the births, the colony on Soay only increased in size to 20 adult
satyrs. Several of the original members left for other bases where the weather
was less inclement. Many of their mates came from warmer climes and this may
have influenced their decisions.
Freida and Naomi became staunch friends and seemed like the mother figures in
the colony, although some of the 'wives' were older than they were.
And they all lived happily ever after???
Finis
