The Third Ten

by Jacqueline Druga

“That’s weird.”

  “Tell me about it.:

  “So you don’t know what it is exactly.”

  “Nope. All alien to me.”

  Robbie chuckled. ‘Don’t let my brother hear that, you know what he’ll do.”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “So what now? Forget about it? What?”

  Dean shook his head. “Not in the least. This is a puzzle I intend to solve.”

  “How?”

  “First step is to take me where you found this. I need to see for myself this pool of fluid.”

  “Will it do any good?” Robbie asked. “Help?”

  “I don’t know. But … let’s head there anyhow.” Dean pointed to his temple. “I have a theory.”

  ***

  It wasn’t something Joe planned on doing, after all Andrea had packed him a nice lunch. Actually it was a bonus lunch. Not often are hams distributed in Beginnings. When they are, they are few and usually it’s a lottery. Andrea won the lottery and made sure she didn’t waste a bit of that ham. First ham for dinner, then she made and froze Ham soup. The last little bits were chopped to make a ham salad. And on Beginnings bread—which Joe would claim was the best he ever had in his life—the lunch was a one that he didn’t want to waste or not eat.

  But when Hal called and invited him to lunch with Jimmy and Elliott. Joe couldn’t refuse. He would just bring his packed lunch there. Where was the meeting?

  “The security break room.”

  Joe ran the community, and admittedly that was new to him. He didn’t want to sound as if he was clueless, but in order to find out where, he had to let the truth be known.

  “I haven’t a clue what you’re talking about Hal. Security break room? Since when is there a security break room?”

  “Ah, see,” Hal replied. “And I thought I was the only one who didn’t know about the break room. I had to ask Elliott. Seems Mr. Hoi converted the back office of holding into a break room while we were on vacation.”

  “Any particular reason why this was done.”

  “Seems the men had been complaining because everyone else had a place to take their lunch.”

  “Christ.”

  So off Joe went to the security break room. The smell of ham soup pelted him the second he stepped inside.

  Hal and Jimmy were seated and waiting. No sign of Elliott. The break room was nice. There was even a vending machine with Bakery goodies and a microwave.

  “Look at this,” Joe said as he took a seat at the head of the table. “Too bad I don’t like people more or I’d come in here often.”

  Jimmy looked dubiously at his father. “You … don’t like people.”

  “When have I ever?” Joe asked.

  Jimmy nodded. “True.”

  “Is that Ham soup?” Joe pointed to the small pot.

  “Yes,” Hal answered. “Andrea made us lunch. Would you like some?”

  “Uh, no. I got a sandwich. She packed mine as well. So, Jimmy …” Joe began to empty his sack. “What’s this I hear you’re starting a stir?”

  “I don’t know what you mean?”

  Hal stood and walked to the coffee pot. “A stir? Our brother? Over what?” he poured a cup and brought the mug to his lips.

  Joe waited. He saw it. Waited for Hal to take that drink, fill his mouth. Timing was everything. With eyes on Hal, Joe answered, “Having an affair with Jenny.”

  Sputter.

  After a brief choke, Hal sprayed his coffee outward. “Jenny Matoose?” He walked back to the table. “Please do not tell me you’re having an affair with Jenny Matoose.”

  “What’s wrong with Jenny?” Jimmy asked.

  “It’s Jenny.” Hal said.

  “Jenny is sweet …”

  Hal grunted.

  “Attractive.”

  Hal winced.

  “Sexy …”

  “Stop.” Hal held up his hand. “She is also married. Married. Married.”

  “And …” Joe added. “You don’t have permission to fool around with her. You have to go to John.”

  “Yeah, but Jenny … Jenny doesn’t want that.” Jimmy said. “She wants to be secretive because it’s more fun that way. It makes her hot."

  Hal grunted so loudly, he ejected himself from the seat. “Stop. Please.” He swiped his hand over his face.

  Nonchalantly, Jimmy said, “I know what your problem is Hal?”

  Hand on his mouth, Hal, stunned looked at jimmy. “My problem?”

  “Yeah, with me and Jenny.” Jimmy shrugged.

  “Please, tell me.”

  “Jealous.”

  “What!”

  “You’re jealous because Jenny turned you down. I understand.”

  “Let me tell you something, little brother …” Hal tapped his fingers on the table as he spoke. “Only in the far-off, deepest, darkest, demented, fantasizing corner of Jenny’s mind would I ever be jealous.”

  “That’s what you say.” Jimmy shrugged.

  Joe saw it. “Hal. Sit.”

  ‘But …”

  “Sit.” Joe pointed to the chair. “There’s only one person who won’t get frustrated while arguing over this. He may cause frustration.”

  “Frank.” Hal said.

  “Exactly, now sit.”

  “Fine.” Hal pulled out his chair, shaking his head and whispering. “Jenny Matoose.”

  Elliott entered. "Sorry I’m late. Did I miss anything?”

  “Hey, Elliott.” Joe waved. “Have a seat.”

  “Elliott,” Hal said. “My brother here is having an affair with Jenny Matoose.”

  “Yeah, I know.” Elliott sat down. “I busted them in the hall whispering to each other.”

  Hal gasped in disgust, turning to Jimmy. “You flaunt your torrid affair and you …” he looked at Elliott. "You knew?”

  “Yes, Captain.”

  “You knew and you didn’t tell me?”

  “I thought everyone knew.”

  “I didn’t!”

  Joe’s hand slammed to the table. ‘How in the hell did you not know, Hal?”

  “And you did?” Hal scoffed.

  “Yeah, pretty much confirmed when they were together at the garage and her bra was on the floor.”

  “She said she showed her breasts to the monster.”

  “You cannot possibly be that naive.” Joe said.

  Hal fluttered his lips. “Well, yes, I am. It didn’t cross my mind that she wasn’t telling the truth. After all, a Slagel with Jenny Matoose?”

  Jimmy huffed. “Enough, Hal, Okay, I won’t let you insult her. Say one more thing and I may have to ask you to step outside.”

  “Step outside?” Hal questioned with a smirk. “Look at you being all polite in asking me to step outside. And do what? Beat me up?”

  “If it comes to that.”

  Hal scoffed a laugh. “Sorry.” He wiped a smile from his face. “You honestly believe you can take me outside and … beat me up, Mr. Been out of shape, frozen for six years, pampered in a dead world, Cryo man.”

  “Yes.”

  Hal laughed.

  “You don’t think I can?” Jimmy asked.

  “No.” Hal answered quickly. “I think even Dean could give you a run for your money.”

  “What?” Jimmy laughed. “Dad? Do you hear this?”

  “I hear this.” Joe unwrapped his sandwich.

  “He thinks I don’t stand a chance.”

  “Well,” Joe tilted his head. “Hal brings up points.”

  “What!” Jimmy asked shocked. “I’m a good fighter. We all learned well. I’m tough.”

  “I’m sure you are,” Joe prepared his meal. “But you aren’t that.” He pointed at Hal.

  At first Hal faked a blush, and humbling moment, brushing lint from his pants, “Thank you father.” Then he looked at Jimmy and grinned arrogantly.

  Jimmy shook his head. “Nothing’s changed. Hal can still do no wrong.”

  “Absolutely,” Joe said and lifted his sandwich.

&n
bsp; Elliott interjected. “May I … may I change the subject?”

  “Please.” Joe replied.

  “Thank you, Mr. Slagel. I was just curious as to the voting results. I will wait until you post them if you prefer.”

  “No.” Joe shook his head. “I don’t mind sharing. It was a shock. Especially since Hal cast a vote and Hal was adamant about not letting Johnny anywhere near us.”

  “Why is that shocking?” Hal asked.

  “Because …” Joe looked up from his lunch. “The vote went to let Johnny move into the new Lodi, but not let him into Beginnings. He’s coming back.”

  “And what did that have to do with my vote?” Hal questioned.

  “Because you were adamant about not letting Johnny near here and yet … yet ... not one single vote was cast to keep him away.”

  Elliott looked at Hal. “Captain, you softy.”

  “I am not soft.” Hal defended. “I just … I just couldn’t do it. You know? He’s family. As much as I despise what he did. He’s family. He’s Frank’s kid. I did the best choice there was. Exiling him was not a choice.”

  Joe nodded. “I voted the same.”

  “Do we know what Frank voted?” Hal asked.

  “Frank didn’t vote.” Joe said.

  “Why?”

  “Eh, Frank will tell you he knows where he stands. But, I know better. Frank’s confused. He really is. He’s torn between fatherhood and home loyalty. He just doesn’t know which way to turn on this one.”

  “Wow,” Hal leaned back, exhaling long. “If that’s case. I wonder how he’s handling being in Lodi.”

  “Avoidance.” Joe answered.

  “Avoidance?” Hal asked. “Not Frank.”

  “Yes, Frank.’ Joe nodded. “If I know my son, and I do, he’s avoiding it all together. Eventually he will hit it head on, and when that time comes, not even Frank knows what he’ll do.”

  ***

  What was it about Lodi? Frank wondered. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. He was invited to take the ride into town with that Lars person, Ellen and Danny, but Frank declined. He really wasn’t ready to face Lodi, or rather an individual in the town.

  Despite the fact that Lars told Frank before he took him to Mike, he was going to take Danny on a tour after dropping off Ellen, Frank still declined.

  But he also didn’t wait long to start his walk into Lodi.

  Though cold, Frank didn’t mind. He was used to walking long distances in the cold.

  He didn’t make it into town, that he avoided. But he took his time taking in the scenes out of town. The railroad tracks were interesting. Viewing the over grown weeds, made him think of how right Danny was about what it would take to get the tracks in order.

  The grade school was boarded up, a huge WHO sign hung on the door, telling Frank that the school was used during the plague.

  The library.

  It struck Frank that he was curious as to the condition of the library. In Beginnings the library was visited as often as the bakery. But the Lodi library was overgrown, and the painted sign was chipped and worn.

  The library, or rather former library was located in a little white house about five blocks from town. Frank made his way through the weeds, broke the window on the door and entered.

  “Fuckin’ disgrace.” Frank said aloud. The cobwebs were so thick they were like curtains. He chuckled at the sign that read ‘we have a computer’. One computer? Lodi wasn’t that high tech.

  Were the surviving residents that uncultured that not a single person kept the library going at all? That left Frank to wonder what kind of resident Beginnings was taking on.

  Was it boredom that caused Frank to explore and straighten the library? More than likely not. It was avoidance, and Frank was avoiding the town as much as he could. Eventually he’d make it there, but until he knew how to handle Johnny, the library was a great place to hang out and hide.

  “Are you always this pleasant?” Danny Hoi was sarcastic as he posed the question to Mike in his office.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Pleasant? Happy?” Danny shrugged. “I’m being facetious.”

  “Oh.” Mike nodded.

  “Look, I’m doing my job. Okay? I’m not here to start trouble.”

  “Am I not answering your questions?”

  “Sure, you are, but you can be a little … congenial.”

  “I don’t know how to handle you people.”

  Danny chuckled. “Handle us ‘people’. What exactly do you mean?”

  “You.” Mike said. “You come in here, all cleaned up, wearing dress shirt, slacks, and tie. Carrying your little laptop computer, typing away while asking me inane questions about the town.”

  In a rare occasion, Danny turned. No longer was he Mr. Upbeat, but rather, he shot into some shrewd lawyer mode. “Look,” he said without a smile. “No one is forcing you to make this move. We certainly aren’t. If the prospect of civility scares you, I’m sorry. But that’s us. That’s Beginnings and we are not your enemy. I come here with my laptop, asking my inane questions, because I need to mathematically calculate how we can efficiently move your town under our province. But like I said, we’re not telling you to do so, we’re helping. If you don’t want our help Chief Manis.” Danny slammed the laptop lid and stood. “Do it yourself.” He gave a snide smile and lifted the laptop. “Have a nice day.”

  Just as Danny was about to leave, Buzz knocked once on the office door. “Chief. Sorry to bother you. We have a problem.”

  “What’s up?”

  “Got a straggler. He broke into the library. He looks like trouble and is heavily armed.”

  “Where’s he at now?” Mike asked as he stood.

  “Library. Want me to send a group over?”

  “No. One man. I can handle it.” Mike checked his revolver.

  “You sure?”

  “Positive.” Mike nodded. “Excuse me Mr. Hoi.”

  Danny stepped out of the way with a motion of his arm. “Be my guest.”

  The moment Mike left, Danny smiled. He could have been nice and told Mike that he was willing to be the bad news ‘straggler’ heavily armed, was Frank. But Danny opted against it. If Mike was frightened and taken aback by the civil likes of Danny, then Mike needed to see the other side of Beginnings, and what better way than being face to face with Frank. After that thought, Danny set down his laptop, and hurriedly left the station to follow Mike. He didn’t want to miss it.

  It rattled, choked, sputtered and coughed, but it amazed Frank that the backup generator at the library worked. He didn’t need the lights, what he wanted power for was the computer.

  Out of curiosity, he wanted to see if that too, still worked.

  He swiped the dust, sat in the swivel chair, and booted up the computer. It beeped as it entered its sequence. “Oh, yeah,” Frank graved. “We have a computer.”

  In the mists of his amazement, Frank’s head cocked, and turned at the sound of the door. Quickly he reached for his revolver.

  “Hold it!” Mike emerged, gun extended.

  Frank stood.

  “Don’t.” Mike ordered. “Let go of the weapon.”

  “Why don’t you put down yours?” Frank said, keeping his hand on his gun.

  “Hands in the air!”

  “What the fuck? Calm your ass down.”

  Mike aimed closer. “Calm my ass down? Your trespassing in my town, Pal.”

  “Your town. Well ... pal … this is a public fuckin library.”

  Mike laughed sarcastically. “What are you, an idiot?”

  “An idiot?” Frank titled his head. “You did not just call me an idiot. Now get the fuckin gun out of my face. Now!” he blasted.

  “Stand down now!” Mike yelled back.

  “Or what big man?” Frank asked. “You gonna shoot me.”

  “Don’t test me.”

  “I already did. Guess what? You failed.” Fast, Frank knocked into Mike’s arm, swinging his hand out of the way as he jabbed outward, naili
ng Mike square in the nose.

  The force of the surprise hit sent Mike stumbling back, and Frank snatched his revolver from his hand. As soon as Mike bounced forward he was face to face with his own weapon.

  “Wanna try this again?” Frank asked. “Because I’m not too fuckin’ keen with you as the welcoming committee.”

  Danny Hoi rushed in with a ‘stop’. He hurried to the intertwine men. “It’s Okay, Sorry. I tried to catch up to you, Chief. It dawned on me who the straggler might be. Did …” Danny pointed outward. “Did you know your nose was bleeding?”

  Mike swiped his hand under his nose. “You know this guy?”

  “Absolutely.” Danny smiled. “He’s our resident bad boy. In a good way.” He winked at Frank.

  “Who?” Mike asked.

  Frank, with typical Slagel arrogance, smiled that half raised smile, and twirled the revolver around his index finger, returning it to Mike. “Frank.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Elliott received the frantic call from Dan in security just about the time he was finishing his lunch. He answered Joe’s question of, ‘Problem’ with a simple shake of his head and, ‘no, not really’. Elliott declined to add that it could be dangerous.

  He arrived at sector thirty two and saw from himself.

  Robbie stood on the outer side of the fence, peering out. Where was Dean? Was he dead? Reports said that he had disappeared into the Killer Baby region; perhaps Robbie was waiting for back up to go and check.

  A lump formed in Elliott’s throat. “Robbie?”

  “Shh.” Robbie held up his hand. “Keep your voice down, please.”

  “What’s going on?”

  Robbie waved him out.

  “Uh, I’ll pass.” Elliott moved closer to the fence. “What’s going on.” he whispered. “I heard Dean’s out there.”

  “He is. See?” Robbie pointed.

  Elliott looked. Sure enough, Dean was out in the middle of an open area. He wore goggles, and gloves and had a pouch over his shoulder. Squatting, Dean collected samples of something into jars and put them in the pouch.

  “What is he doing?” Elliott asked.

  “Getting samples of the sperm.”

  Quickly he shifted his eyes to him. “Sperm.”

  “Well, not really, he’s just trying to determine what it is. There’s a swamp of sperm looking stuff out there.”