Jordan listened to him with wonder. His gurgling and giggling as his mother reached into the crib to stroke the soft thatch of hair on his head. His mother was a virgin. She had never slept with a man, never lain with one in an effort to procreate. And yet, here was the child. A new born baby boy who was as naked and perfect as all new born babies could be.
Jordan clutched the drum. It was December 25th, and the child had been birthed in the cold hours of the early morning. The traditions were known, as were the old customs, and they wanted to honour them as best they could.
Meryth lay on the bed, smiling.
"Shall I play for him?" The drum lifted at the question and she nodded. Grinning, cheeks flushed with excitement, the strap of the drum was settled, sticks were raised and unseen, Meryth pushed a button next to her.
Pa rum.
Pa rum.
Pa rum pum pum pum.
The sound of the drum built slowly finding the rhythm, months spent practising the tune. The baby in the cradle stilled, as Jordan's eyes closed, getting lost in the beat.
Pa rum pum pum pum.
Rum pum pum pum.
The sound of the drum filtered through speakers and all through the ship, women raised their heads from their tasks, stopping to listen to the sound. Some recognised it, and slow smiles spread across their faces. They listened to the song, the old carol of Christmas and the song of the birth of the saviour.
They listened and they wept.
They listened and they laughed.
They listened and then they made their way to the H-Deck where the med-bay was, and where the mother and her baby lay listening to the Little Drummer Boy played, not for a poor boy, but for the only boy.
As Christmas Day dawned in space, the ship full of women rejoiced in the successful birth of the artificially inseminated first male child in a hundred years.
He would be their race's saviour.
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