by E. L. Morrow
“But you want to guess where I have found friends? It is in the very group you are having trouble deciding to accept. You may not believe this, but you are not the only smart person in the world. We all give up things for what’s important. Take your mother—risking everything to prevent the planet from dying. Grow up. You’re acting like a teenager…. Well crap, you are one. I forget how young you are.”
As he speaks, Marie stops pacing, drops her face in her hands and slowly crumples to the floor.
He’s right. I have been self-centered. Much more is at stake than my fragile self-esteem. I’m missing the big picture; Rudy thinks I always see the bigger picture. This is all so confusing. Ava says I need to think of what I want and take control.
But I want it all—to be smart, use my talents, and make friends. His words devastate me because he’s right. I hope I can gain his trust again. I better say something. I had planned to bring him into the small circle of those who know my talents. Should I do that now?
With tears on her face and in her voice, she begins, “I’m so sorry… I’ve been very shortsighted and selfish. If you can forgive my self-pitying, I will try to do better. I’m trying to understand who I am. I’m learning I can be so self-consumed that I walk on other’s feelings. I apologize. How can I earn your confidence again?”
“Apology accepted. You hit a raw nerve. I overreacted; for that, I apologize. I never doubted your ability. You are the finest nineteen-year-old Doorkeeper ever.”
“I think I’m the first Keeper of that age.”
“See, you have no competition.” They both laugh. The tension breaks.
Dr. Norris says, “There’s more. Should I tell you the rest before you decide?”
“May I offer a different suggestion?”
“Of course.”
“There are things I need you to understand about me. When you do, you may not want me. May I tell you first?”
“Okay.”
“Did Phillip say anything about me?”
“Only that he thought you should be his successor. He read all your work from DK training and was impressed.”
“Did he mention HMP? A project designed to counter the military’s Super Soldiers program?”
“He told me he found some efforts to counter the military’s perfect soldier program. He never used those initials.”
“Are you aware that Allison is not my biological mother?”
“She never said so, but I guessed it.”
“I am the result of the mating of Jamison Ward, by sperm donation, with Cranberry Cranton, my biological mother….”
Over the next 45-minutes, Marie explains her connection to the Wards and their link to the Human Maturation Project. She talks about the letter Allison gave her from Berry, and about her ability to interpret emotions from the energy individuals leave behind while moving through the world. She told everything she had shared with Vivi four days earlier. The discussion includes identifying who else knows these things.
When she has finished, Dr. Norris says, “Everything you’ve told me makes it even more important that you become part of this group. We need your gifts in support of The Plan. There is work involved, and of course secrecy. Each member serves on at least one committee, and a meeting of the 120 is held every two years.”
“If it includes responsibility, I feel better about accepting. Assuming you still want me.”
“The one-hundred-twenty-group lost four members. There is also another group. An executive board of twelve which is down two members. You’re being asked to take one of those slots as well. Phillip was in both; since you are managing his inventions for the benefit of Door Services, it seems only appropriate that you take his place.”
While Marie is thinking, Dr. Norris adds, “That means serving on at least one more committee. And you should know that the by-laws were amended to make it possible for you to be nominated.”
“You think I can do all this?”
“Without a doubt.”
“I can’t even tell mother?”
“No one. You and I can’t even talk about group business out of the sessions.”
After a few more questions about balancing her workload with these new tasks, Marie takes a deep breath and says, “Very well, I’m honored to accept and hope to be worthy.”
“Welcome!! You are the newest member of the Raven Society and the Raven’s Nest.”
They talk about how she will receive word of the meetings, frequency of meetings and travel arrangements.
Then Dr. Norris says, “You must choose your ‘Nest name.’ No one in the Raven’s Nest uses his or her real name. Your name will consist of a title—“Dr.” and a city. Usually, it’s the city where you began DK work. But I’m Dr. Wichita. It could be where you went to school, but there is a Dr. Kansas City. That leaves your city of birth, but we may want to downplay your connection with Allison and Cyclops. You need to choose another place. Perhaps where you lived as a child—Chicago is also taken.”
“What about Okeechobee?”
“You want others to be able to pronounce it.”
“Hawaii?”
“Taken.”
“I’ve only been to the island state for one day—thought it would be exotic. Thinking of places, I once lived? Perhaps London…unless we want to consider boarding school days.”
“Our member from England is Liverpool—so London is available. Might be fortuitous, if anyone should obtain the list they would be less likely to suspect you as Dr. London. Do you like that name?”
“I do. The summer we spent there was enjoyable. I guess it was only a month. That’s where mother went to the door naked, and let our neighbor in.” They both laugh as they remember the story Marie had told about her mother. Absorbed in her work, Allison opened the door to a neighbor who only wanted to borrow a mixer. Both women were so engrossed in their respective activities, they forgot they were wearing nothing.
They talked a bit more about Marie’s ability to read energy trails. She demonstrates by having her supervisor call a colleague from within the console isolation zone. Marie then steps into the area, identifies the person contacted, and repeats most of the conversation.
They part with mutual respect restored. Dr. Norris says, “The Moderator will be in touch within a week.”
Fifteen
Treasure Hunt
Wichita
2094-10-01, Friday, 10:00 am
Phillip, the former Keeper of Sector 86, left thousands of pages of notes and resources. Over the last seven weeks, Marie has managed to read them all. Finishing during a lull in work she begins to ponder: what next?
Much of the current projects file left by Phillip, referred to the three production facilities in Canada. I sort of have a handle on them. However, some vague references to additional data crop up. I asked Friend about other files or possible locations for information—she’s no help.
Part of what’s missing is a description of the enhancements made to the Personal Assistant—making this one truly unique. He also refers to some other findings—I think having to do with HMP, but I can’t be sure.
When I opened the floor vault, I found the additional computers, a notebook about the project, CF Field’s SOG, two research packages and this booklet. I knew what to do with all the other items, leaving only one—a map of sorts.
Also, I found three hand-written letters—one each for me, Vivi and Wessel. In my letter was an overlay composed of groupings of symbols. Similar to the game Mother and I played when we created a “secret guide” for the other to follow. Breaking the code finds the place. I think I need to work on this next. Perhaps it’ll lead me to what I need to know.
Marie removes both the map and the coded page from their hiding place.
The code sheet is smaller and seems to be a plat covering an area of some city. Could it be Wichita? I find only three streets labeled. None of those street names are now in use here. Is it a different city?
>
She lays out both pieces and asks Friend to take a picture of each.
“Please find the plats portrayed in this street diagram. Start with places where Phillip has been.” The PA begins searching.
So, let’s see if I can decipher the message. When mother and I did them, we always used numbers indicating the direction from clue-to-clue…but there are no numbers here. Only graphics. Some are found on a keyboard, others only on a portalock, and a few on both. I see eleven groupings of characters—all pairs—except one containing three: #+>. Perhaps the triple is the guide.
Well, all those are found on a computer keypad. The first one goes with the ‘3’ key; the plus mark is at the far right—two places past the zero. And the greater than indicator is with the period on the bottom row.
Her reflections are interrupted by the PA’s report.
“I located the area portrayed by the diagram. It is not current, but a rendering of a portion of this city before the environmental protective structure was built. Engineers and planners used sectional maps to determine the best placements for support arms, foundations, and the most efficient land restructuring proposals. There would have been several intermediary stages during the construction. This one is called the Pre-shelter Surface Schematic, the starting point.”
“Do you have the same section today?”
“Affirmative.”
“Please put them side by side.”
“I suggest using External Viewing Screen to provide more detail.”
In an instant, the two images, one from about 40 years ago, the other present, were visible on the dining room’s long wall, where the window-view had been a moment before.
Where’s the similarity? Don’t see much.
“Please place one over the other noting any similarities.”
“Acknowledged.” The two views slide together. “The dotted line is the foundation where the structure meets the ground. There are three points with no change; two inside the shelter and one outside.”
“Okay, Friend, please make the 2094 version invisible, for the moment. Now add the coded page—lining up any places that appear on both.”
The older version shows one east-west street intersected by a northeast-southwest street. Clusters line up correspondingly along either side of those streets near the intersection. Six groupings of seemingly random markers outline the intersection—and therefore the rest of the page falls into place.
If the triple grouping is for deciphering, then it could be a track—including others between those characters.
“Friend put up a computer keyboard. Now list all the figures on the top row between ‘3’ and the equals sign; then down at an angle to the period at the bottom.”
“Done.”
“Now eliminate any notations that do not include only characters from your group.”
What appears is a grid with only four highlighted locations in addition to the #+>.
Marie requests, “Now bring back today’s view.”
Three of the four correspond to properties with the same boundaries as before the shelter construction.
Friend volunteers, “Four items remain: one a private locker suite; two Heroes Park and Monument; three Clydesdale’s Bar; and the fourth is a small property leased to CF Fields. The bar does not appear on the older diagram. The cluster of three is in a pond near Heroes Park.”
Marie soon contrives a tentative order. First the lockers; the location outside the protected city is probably last. Either of the others could be switched.
Phillip left something at the locker—but how do we get to it? I’ll need a keycard. Just remembered something. The folder designed to appear as a small notebook is constructed from a medium-thickness pressboard. But one of them seemed a bit thicker than the other. The inside back cover has a sheet of heavy vellum paper glued over something.
Using a letter knife, Marie carefully separates the paper from the original backing. Inside is a blank plastic card. I’ll bet this card opens one of the lockers. On the back of the paper is written in Phillip’s hand: mouse, cow, mouse, moose and dove/frog. The last two words are printed on top of each other—with the bird higher than the amphibian.
I know how to find the locker. The rest will make sense from there.
Marie sends a message to Vivi.
Are you up for an adventure tomorrow? I’ll reserve a car so we can do a little exploring. M.
Sixteen
Seek and Find
Wichita
2094-10-02, Saturday, 6:00 am
Vivi and Marie are off to the private locker facility located at 7714 S Wales Avenue. Unlike the public variety—where one removes the card from an open unit—these must be reserved in advance. The key card along with the location of the locker is originally delivered through Central Services. Unlike most keycards, this one does not need to be recharged after each use, but opens the locker until the renter relinquishes it. The private service allows long-term storage, and a monthly fee is assessed.
The building is white with a peaked roof and no identifying sign. The solid front door is locked—the key card gains access. The lights come on as they enter the space. They find four back-to-back rows of lockers, plus a single row on each outside wall. The room appears 20 feet deep, with no windows or exits save the one they already used.
Marie notices two cameras both active. Using the special “sunglasses” allowing detection of active security surveillance again serves her well. Marie gave the non-verbal cue that they were being watched. In a small space, such as this, one should always assume sounds are also being recorded.
It took a few strolls down the aisles to locate the only set with all the appropriate markers in the right order. The dove locker is above a door containing a walrus. Below the walrus is another one with a frog on it.
Marie asks, “Think this is it?”
“That’s one of our friend’s favorite animals.”
The card releases the lock revealing two business-sized envelopes: one with an “M” the other a “V.” Knowing they are still being recorded, they take their finds back to the vehicle. Marie keeps the keycard just in case.
Back in the vehicle, Marie checks the security settings surrounding the car. Each one opens their note finding a single handwritten sheet.
Marie reads hers aloud….
“You know the rules. Your friend knows the town. You need each other.
“Like a game of hopscotch, you can skip 4 & 5.
“All you must do is get to the end: there’s a rainbow, pot of gold, pirates’ treasure and the answer to all your questions.
“Solve the two riddles and pick up your chip.
“Riddle one.
“What has six legs and never moves; two mouths and never speaks? Stands at the center of a controversy and gazes on the place you need to be next?”
Vivi says, “That’s easy. In the late ‘60s, they did a new Veterans Park. They commissioned an artist and gave him total creative control. They wanted memorials depicting each war involving the US. He included all the wars started by our country: Panama, the failed coup in Chili, Granada, the Gulf wars, and the like. Most controversial was the war on the native population, and at center stands a three times life-sized statue of Chief Esadowa holding a broken spear and sitting on a horse.”
As they drive, Vivi looks up the park and learns, “It was never dedicated. The artist identified nearly 80 wars—declared and undeclared—and made a memorial for each. Some traditional veteran groups were furious and wanted it torn down. A local historical society bought the site.”
The whole display is laid out in concentric circles with the Sad Chief, as the piece is named, looming above everything else from the center. After arriving Vivi and Marie walk to the massive sculpture. Marie climbs upon the stone horse to view what the chief’s eyes would see—if they were not stone. She snaps pictures with her communicator and slips down just as a park agent starts walking toward th
em.
The chief “gazes” in the direction of the river, which at this point is outside the shelter. Between the park and the protective wall are several buildings. The chief’s view slides between two taller buildings, landing on the roof of a shorter building (probably three stories). The name was not visible, so Marie sends the picture for her PA to identify the structure.
“The building is the Kansas State Advertising Museum.”
Vivi explained this one as well. “Back in the ’40s and ‘50s, Wichita became a center for advertising agencies. This building was headquarters for one of the larger agencies. Of course, with The Plan—advertising became a thing of the past. This building is now an exhibit center for all aspects of advertising—not just those coming from the Wichita era. This is where my note comes in.”
Vivi reads her note out loud.
“Remind your friend to remember Protocols number six and thirty-one.
“Riddle two.
“Take a chance – you might strike it rich – if you are lucky. But be sure not to be seduced by the old gold, or just being cool. Stick it out longer, and you’ll be able to hedge your bets with your pal Benson.
“Follow the rules, and you will see what’s in it from me.”
Vivi adds, “Also, I have six museum coins from the envelope. These tokens are used with some interactive displays. The coins are all the same, so I don’t know which gallery.”
Marie looks at the note. “Protocols are unnumbered. We have more than a hundred. Here’s a clue—Protocol starting with an uppercase letter always applies to emergency situations. They are not numbered either, but there is a logical order.” Phillip knew I would be able to visualize them—and the order. “The sixth one is ‘always start to the left and move clockwise.’ It’s about video searching, but it also applies to physical searches.”