Battle of the Ampere

by Richard Paul Evans

  Jack opened the door.

  “Buenas noches,” the man said, pushing his way in. He was carrying two large canvas bags. He set them down on the floor, then shut the door behind himself. “I brought you some food and water. I must warn you, the police are going door to door checking buildings,” he said. “You must not come out until I tell you it is safe. I will do what I can to keep them away. I have locked the blue door.”

  “Thank you,” I said. “We’ll stay inside.”

  “Good,” he said. “I must go back to the front before they arrive. One more thing. I have spoken with Jaime. He will be here early tomorrow morning to get you.” He opened the door. “I will pray to the Virgin Mary for your safety.” He walked out and Jack locked the door behind him.

  The room was quiet.

  “What’s the plan if they come?” Zeus asked.

  “Ian will see them long before they get here,” I said. “Taylor can reboot them.” I looked at Ian. “If we have to run, what’s behind the back fence?”

  “It looks like the back of a restaurant. It leads to a bunch of other streets. I think we could lose them.”

  “Can you see any vehicles?”

  “There’s a parking lot two blocks up. There are a few vans big enough to carry us all.”

  “Any with keys?”

  “No worries,” Jack said. “I can hot-wire anything here.”

  “Okay,” I said. “As a last resort we blow our way out of here, climb over the fence, then follow Ian to the parking lot. Jack hot-wires a van, and we drive to Lima.”

  “What if we get separated?” Abigail asked.

  “We don’t,” I said. “We stick together.” I looked around the room. The fatigue of it all was getting to everyone. “Got it?” No one spoke. “All right. Let’s try to get some rest.”

  *

  In spite of what I’d said, no one slept. Especially me. Watching Taylor fume was agonizing. An hour later Ian said, “Two policemen just checked the blue door. Now they’re going into the front door of the hostel.”

  Everyone was tense.

  After a moment McKenna said, “Tell us what’s going on.”

  “They’re talking to the old man. He’s just talking. He’s acting scared.” A minute later he said, “He’s taping a picture of us up on the wall. The police are leaving.”

  I breathed out in relief.

  Ian turned to us. “The man can act.”

  *

  Around one in the morning Ian came over and sat next to me. “I think they’ve given up. The police have moved out of the square.”

  “Completely?”

  “No. There are still a few left. They also have a guy on top of the cathedral with binoculars.”

  “Do you think it’s safe to go outside to the courtyard?”

  He looked over at Taylor, then back at me. I think he understood why I was asking. “You’re okay.”

  “Thanks,” I said. I walked over to Taylor. “Hey.”

  She wouldn’t look at me.

  “Ian said we can go outside.”

  “Good,” she said. “Maybe Tessa would like to go for a midnight stroll.”

  “Would you like to go outside with me?”

  She just sat there for a moment, then exhaled slowly. “All right.”

  I gave her my hand and pulled her up.

  “Hey, where are you guys going?” Ostin said. “We’re not supposed to go out.”

  “We’re just going out to the courtyard,” I said. “Ian said it’s okay.”

  “We just need some fresh air,” Taylor said.

  “I could use some too,” Ostin said.

  “Not now, you don’t,” I said. I pulled the door open for Taylor and she stepped outside. I held her hand as we walked down the stairway. We sat on a bench in a corner of the courtyard. We kept our voices down. Even though no one could see us, we didn’t know if anyone was close enough to hear us. Just hearing English might be enough to get tipped off.

  “Why are you giving me the cold shoulder?” I said.

  “You know why.”

  “I had my arm around her so they’d think we were tourists.”

  “You were pretty convincing.”

  “Do you really doubt how I feel about you? You can read my mind.”

  She frowned. “It’s not you,” she said. “I’m just insecure.”

  “About me?”’

  “About her,” Taylor said. “Tessa doesn’t like me.”

  “Why would you say that?”

  “I read her mind.”

  “Why wouldn’t she like you?”

  “Because she wants what I have,” Taylor said.

  “What’s that?”

  “You know what.”

  I looked at her. “Why would you say that?”

  “I told you. I heard her thinking.”

  I just looked at her.

  “You’re making me feel like a Peeping Tom,” she said.

  “You are.”

  “I’m not trying to be. It’s just that we’re in these small places, backs of trucks, hotel rooms . . . with Tessa around magnifying my power I can hear everyone’s thoughts without even touching them. You have no idea what’s going on in there. We’re a mess.”

  “Like what?” I asked.

  “Like, Jack is completely blaming himself for Wade’s death. He plans to die in Lima sinking the boat. Tessa hates Abigail and me. And Abigail is ready to call it quits.”

  “She was ready to call it quits in Pasadena.”

  “Well, now she’s really ready.”

  “And me? What have you read in my mind?”

  “You feel bad because I’m being cold to you and you love me.”

  “Maybe it’s not all bad then.”

  “I’m sorry. I just got jealous.”

  “Why would you get jealous over me? You’re way out of my league.”

  “I don’t know why you always say that,” she said. She leaned in to me. “Will you please just kiss me already?”

  I put my arm around her and we kissed.

  When we parted she said, “For the record, it’s the other way around.”

  “What’s the other way around?”

  “You’re out of my league. You’re just too nice to know it.”

  I pulled her close. After a few minutes she asked, “What are we going to do about everyone? They’re falling apart.”

  “I don’t know,” I said. “I really don’t know.”

  While I was thinking, someone starting shouting in Spanish. Then we heard glass break.

  “We’d better go back in,” I whispered. I took Taylor’s hand and we climbed the stairs. Inside, everyone was sleeping, though I noticed Tessa glance up at us as we entered. I wondered how long it would be before Jaime arrived.

  The room’s blinds were glowing from the first rays of dawn when there was a soft rap on our door, quickly followed by another. Everyone in the room woke at the sound, except for Ostin, who could sleep on an airport runway.

  I looked at Ian, who had been sleeping on a blanket on the ground but was now rubbing his eyes. “Is it safe?”

  “It’s Jaime,” he said groggily. “And the old man.”

  I got up and opened the door. Jaime’s appearance shocked me. His head was wrapped in a bandage that covered one eye. Still he smiled.

  “Mr. Michael,” he said.

  We embraced, then I stepped back and both men entered quickly. I shut the door behind them.

  “What happened to you?” I asked Jaime.

  “Our escape was not as easy as I hoped. They found us and they shot at us. I barely escaped.”

  “And your friends?”

  He shook his head. “They were not as fortunate.”

  “I’m sorry,” I said.

  “Me too,” he said. “I am much grieved.” He looked around the room. “Is everyone here?”

  “Not everyone,” I said.

  His eyebrows raised. “You are missing someone?”

  “We lost Wade. He was s
hot by an Elgen guard.”

  Jaime shook his head slowly. “I am sorry. We have all had losses.” He walked to the center of the room. “My friends, the police have given up their search, but the army is on their way here. They believe that you are still in Cuzco. We must get you out before they arrive. I have a truck outside. We must leave immediately.”

  “Where are we going?” Zeus asked.

  “We will drive to Lima, where we will wait for the Elgen fleet to arrive.”

  Suddenly Abigail stood. “I’m not going.”

  Everyone looked at her.

  “I can’t do this anymore. I never wanted to come here. We’ve suffered so much. Jack’s been shot. And now we’ve lost Wade.” She breathed out heavily. “I’m going home.”

  “Home?” Ian said.

  “You still won’t be safe,” I said. “You’ll never make it alone.”

  “She’s not going alone,” Zeus said. “I’m going with her.”

  I looked at him in surprise. “You’re leaving us?”

  “I’m sorry, but Abi’s right. It’s too much for us. Look at us. We’re a bunch of teenagers. We can’t stop them.” He looked around, then said in a softer voice, “We might as well make the most of the time we have left.”

  I looked around at the group. A heavy despair had settled on the room.

  “Anyone else planning on leaving?” I looked at Taylor. “Taylor?”

  “You know better,” she said. She walked to my side.

  “Ostin?”

  “Of course I’m staying.”

  “Tessa?”

  She glanced at Taylor, then back at me. “Sorry. I think Zeus is right.”

  “Jack?”

  “I’m in this to the end.”

  “Ian?”

  Ian looked the most conflicted of anyone in the room—like he was being torn in two. Abigail looked into his eyes. “Come with us.”

  He looked down for a moment, then back at me. “I’m sorry, Michael.”

  I exhaled slowly. Everyone looked at McKenna. She was the only one who hadn’t picked a side.

  “McKenna?” Abigail said. “It’s the three of us. It’s always been the three of us.”

  McKenna glanced at Ostin, then back at Abigail. “You’re probably right. But I can’t let these guys down. They saved us from the academy.”

  The room fell into silence.

  I turned to Zeus. “Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure,” he said.

  Ian looked at me. “Come with us, Michael. This is too risky. You don’t want any more blood on your hands.”

  Jack exploded. “Wade’s blood isn’t on Michael’s hands!”

  I put my hand on Jack’s arm to calm him. “It’s okay, man. He didn’t mean that.”

  “No, I didn’t,” Ian said. “Wade’s blood is on the Elgen’s hands. And they’re not going to stop until they’ve taken all of our blood. The only way to win this game is to not play it. We’ll go someplace the Elgen will never find us. We’ll live together.” He looked at Jaime, then back at me. “It’s like Zeus said, if the world’s going to ruin, then we might as well enjoy it while we can.”

  Jack’s expression turned hard. “Sometimes there are bigger things to live for than yourself.”

  “Jack,” Abigail said softly. “Ian’s not being selfish, he’s being rational. And I don’t think you’re thinking about living.”

  “Then there are things worth dying for,” Jack said.

  “We’re not arguing with you, Jack,” Zeus said. “You’ve suffered as much as any of us. But that’s precisely our point. Haven’t you suffered enough? Why suffer any more?”

  “Because there’s a chance we might be able to stop them,” Jack said.

  “And what if you can’t?” Abigail said. “What if they’re just too big?”

  Jack looked down for a moment as everyone anticipated his reply. Then he looked up, his eyes strong. “Then we’ll fail in glory.”

  The room fell into complete silence. Then Jaime said, “You stay or you go, it is your choice. But for now everyone must leave Cuzco.” Jaime looked at the dissenters. “When we reach Lima, I will arrange for you to fly back to America.”

  Jaime’s offer stung. Not just because I was losing my friends, but because deep inside I really wanted to go home with them.

  Jaime had parked a meat refrigeration truck in front of the hostel, and when no one was around, he backed it up as close to the blue door as he could so we could enter without being seen by anyone in the alley. When he gave us the signal we took turns climbing in. I was the last to enter. Once I was inside Jaime shut the door, leaving us in darkness. McKenna lit up just bright enough so we could see one another.

  “What kind of a truck is this?” Tessa asked. “It smells back here.”

  “Is that blood?” Abigail asked, looking at the floor.

  “It’s a meat truck,” Ostin said. He rubbed his face. “I feel like such a ham hock.”

  In spite of the tension, I laughed.

  *

  The ride to Lima was long, nearly seven hundred miles and more than fifteen hours. Jaime stopped only once to get gas and let us use the bathroom. We slept through much of the drive, as much from trying to escape anxiety as from fatigue. Less than an hour out of Cuzco, a convoy of more than fifty army trucks passed us.

  No one spoke about the fracture of the Electroclan, but the division was obvious. Consciously or not, we now sat in our own groups—those who were staying and those who were going.

  In such a confined metal room, and with Tessa present, Taylor couldn’t help but read everyone’s thoughts, even though she struggled not to. I didn’t have to read her mind to know how angry she was at Abigail. But I wasn’t. Even at the academy, Abigail had wanted to go home. I supposed that I felt as if I’d deceived her. She had stayed only because I’d convinced her that it was for her own safety. But what we’d dragged her through since then was hardly for her own safety. What we were now planning, sinking the Ampere, certainly wasn’t for her safety. I couldn’t blame her for leaving. I couldn’t blame anyone for leaving. Like I said, I wanted to go with them. But I couldn’t. Something held me—something my mother always said. All that’s required for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing.

  We arrived in Lima at two in the morning. We woke to the shuddering of the truck braking and shutting off, then the stringent smell of the ocean breeze as Jaime opened the back doors. I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t this. Jaime had brought us to a beautiful tile-roofed villa that overlooked the South Pacific. The house was on ten acres of fenced property at the end of a long, private gravel road surrounded by palm and white-washed orange trees leading up to a large fountain.

  Wherever we were, we seemed to be miles from anything else, and for the first time in days I felt safe. Jaime unlocked the villa door, and we went inside. For the first time in what seemed like an eternity we all crashed in real beds with clean, sweet-smelling cotton sheets.

  *

  I awoke the next morning long after the sun had risen. I just lay for a while enjoying the comfort of a real bed, then got up and walked out to the kitchen. The smell of coffee brewing filled the dining area. Taylor was already up. She was thumbing through a travel book about Peru.

  “Good morning,” I said.

  She looked up and smiled. “Good morning. I’d ask how you slept, but I think I already know.” She smiled again. “A real bed with real sheets and a real pillow. I almost felt like a real human again.”

  “You look like a real human,” I said. I walked toward her. “What are you looking at?”

  “Just this book that was here. It has pictures of Peru. Did you know that there are almost four thousand native varieties of potatoes in Peru?”

  “No,” I said. “But I bet Ostin does.”

  “Of course Ostin does,” she said. “He’s Ostin.” She set aside the book. “Come sit by me.”

  I sat down next to her on the couch.

  “Hav
e you looked outside?”

  “No.”

  “It’s beautiful. There are flowers and palm trees. It’s a real Spanish villa.” She looked at me. “It’s the calm before the storm.”

  “I’m afraid you’re right.”

  We sat a moment in silence, then Taylor said, “Jaime left.”

  “Where?”

  “He said he had some business.”

  “When is he coming back?”

  “A few days.”

  “Did he say anything else?”

  “There’s food in the fridge and no one should leave the property.”

  “House arrest again?” I asked.

  “Villa arrest. But at least this time we have real beds.”

  “With pillows.”

  Just then Ostin walked in. “Morning. What’s for breakfast?”

  “Potatoes,” Taylor said.

  “Doesn’t surprise me,” Ostin said. “There’s almost four thousand different varieties in Peru.”

  In spite of our luxurious surroundings, the next three days passed in a dull emotional haze. There wasn’t much to do. Lima had some electricity, so we could watch TV, but the stations were all in Spanish. So were the books in the house. There were playing cards, and all of us except Jack played Hearts or Texas Hold’em until even that got boring.

  All that was left to do was to talk, and I suppose that was the thing we were all avoiding. After all we had been through, it was as if we were suddenly strangers again. Most heartbreaking to me was the tension between Abigail, Ian, and McKenna. I suppose all of them had reason to feel betrayed.

  The least sociable of all of us was Jack. He didn’t join in cards or talk or anything. He either stayed in his room or exercised in the garage, improvising exercise equipment from things he found around the house. He stuffed a laundry bag with sheets, hung it from a pergola, then pounded it for hours like a punching bag. He also ran in place, lifted large rocks, and did like a million push-ups. We all were worried about him. I couldn’t stop thinking about what Taylor had said about him not planning on surviving the attack.

  The evening of the second day, Taylor, Abigail, Zeus, and I were making dinner when Jack walked into the kitchen. His arm was covered with blood.