The Third Ten

by Jacqueline Druga

  “You could. Should you … no.” Elliott stated. “I believe, time and wisdom will make you into the leader you need to be.”

  “Time and wisdom,” Hal muttered. “That is it.”

  “Captain?”

  “Nothing.” Hal perked up. “I have to get back to this.”

  “I’ll leave you be. I hope I helped. Sorry if I did not.”

  “No, Elliott, you have given me an understanding I didn’t have. Thank you my friend, for your honesty.”

  Elliott nodded an acknowledgement ‘you’re welcome’, wished Hal luck and departed the office.

  Hal returned to his daunting task, knowing he didn’t have that much time.

  ***

  “So …” Dean moved swiftly about the lab, as he read from the chart. “DNA testing shows such a multitude of things, he’s pretty much a soup mixture of people.”

  Ellen sat at the counter, her face propped up against the palm of her hand while she stirred her cup of tea.

  “You with me?”

  “Yes.”

  “What did I say?”

  “He’s a soup person,” Ellen replied.

  Dean chuckled and continued, “I spoke to Fort and …”

  “I spoke to Frank.”

  “Huh?” Dean paused.

  “Frank. He’s being weird.”

  “When isn’t Frank being weird, El. He’s the strangest person I know.”

  Ellen nodded. “Go on.”

  “Thanks.” Dean tried to continue, “Fort was saying …”

  “Frank said … he said he was working on a new book. That’s why he was sitting in your office.”

  “Frank was using my office?”

  “Your desk.”

  “My chair?”

  “Of course.”

  “That’s not right. My laptop.”

  Ellen nodded.

  “Why?”

  “I just told you, Dean he’s writing a new book.”

  “Well, tell him to do it elsewhere, that’s my office.” Dean snapped.

  “He’ll argue with you on that one.”

  “Who cares ... anyhow …?”

  “He says it’s a human drama book or something.”

  Dean tossed out his hand. “Why is this important?”

  “His demeanor was different. Very down.”

  Dean stared for a second. “Okay, anyhow, Fort was saying that really only fifteen percent of the population, twenty tops is or rather was how should I put it, bred? Farmed.”

  “Something happened at their meeting today. I know it.” Ellen said.

  Dean placed the information down on the counter, whapping it as he did. “Do you want to talk about this?”

  “About what?”

  “Frank? His demeanor. What’s bothering him?”

  Ellen sat up. “Yes, Yes, I would.”

  “We will.” Dean lifted the information. “After we talk about this.”

  “Oh, my God.”

  “What?”

  “You insensitive dick.”

  Dean laughed out a “what”

  “That was really insensitive. Frank’s having issues …”

  “El.” Dean placed his face close to hers. “Frank has issues on a daily basis. This is important. This is our mystery, our work. Okay?”

  Ellen nodded.

  “I promise we’ll discuss Frank and even go to talk to him if need be. But after we finish this.”

  “Fine.” Ellen returned to stirring her tea.

  Before speaking, Dean stopped her, took the spoon then read from his results. “Back to what I was saying.”

  Ellen grumbled.

  “Not much of the population is farmed. They stopped farming nine years earlier in his time.”

  “Why are you interviewing my Containment people?”

  “Why are you interrupting me so much?”

  “Continue.”

  “Thank you.” Dean exhaled. “But … not all LEP hunters are bred to be LEP hunters. Some men just wanted to be them. They are an army in their own right. As put by Fort. We just happened to get a bred one.”

  “And the point in all this?”

  “Just trying to figure out the frame of mind of the LEP hunter.”

  “We don’t know that it’s a LEP hunter,” Ellen said. “He could have just gotten the suit. Remember? Fort said, not all Farmed people are normal. This guy could have been part of an abnormal bunch.”

  “That’s a good point.”

  “Dean.” Ellen stood up. “It’s the only point. I have yet to figure out why you kept interrupting my concern for …”

  “Wait. Wait. Me interrupting you?” Dean asked, stepping closer to Ellen. “I believe it was you interrupting me.”

  “I believe you have that wrong.” Ellen said with a smile.

  “I believe …” Dean reached out and poked her in the nose gently. “You haven’t a clue …”

  “Drs. Hayes.” Melissa’s rushed, concerned voice broke into the lab, causing Dean and Ellen to spring apart. She paused and spoke upbeat. “Oh my God were you two getting ready to kiss?”

  “Huh?” Dean asked. “No.”

  “Yes, you were.” She giggled “That is so great. Go on.”

  “Melissa.” Dean held back his bangs. “Is there a reason you rushed in here?”

  “Oh, shit, yes.” Melissa said. “Sorry. Bob Smith is awake.”

  After a quick look at each other, Dean and Ellen, as if in a race against one another bolted out of the lab.

  They flew like little kids, chasing after some prize, even trying to cut each other off as they turned the bend.

  Ellen contemplated a cheap shot by tossing a gurney out at Dean, but changed her mind at the last moment.

  In the end, just before the room, Dean gained momentum and in his sprint, passed Ellen.

  His tennis shoes squealed as he came to a grinding halt directly in the room. He took a second, caught his breath, regained his composure, and walked to the bed.

  Ellen, in a split second, was right behind him.

  “Cheater,” she whispered in Dean’s ear, then hands behind her back, strolled over to the bedside.

  Dean and Ellen could have been from the planet Pluto that was how strangely Bob looked at them.

  His nervous eyes switched from her to him.

  “Hello,” Dean said.

  Bob didn’t answer.

  Ellen spoke a bit louder and slower. “My name is Dr. Hayes. His name is Dr. Hayes. How are you feeling?”

  Dean winced. “God, Ellen, he’s from the future not deaf.”

  “How do you know?”

  “You’re right. I don’t.”

  The stranger suddenly became transfixed on Dean.

  Dean took advantage. “How are you feeling?”

  No answer.

  Dean pointed to the bandaged wound. “Pain?” he made a face.

  Bob stared down to himself and to the bandage.

  “Deaf.” Ellen said. “Bet me.”

  Bob shook his head.

  “Ha!” Dean pointed at Ellen. “You’re wrong. Bob …” he faced the patient.

  Bob cocked back in shock.

  Dean continued. “If you can hear us, can you speak?”

  He nodded.

  “We’re here to help you,” Dean said. “We can’t unless you talk to us. Tell us something.”

  Bob’s thicker lips parted. He moistened them, and then spoke. “Where the hell am I?”

  Ellen answered. “You’re at a hospital in Beginnings.”

  “Beginnings, Montana?” He asked.

  Ellen smiled. “That’s right.”

  “That’s impossible,” he said. “I know the year.”

  Quirky, Dean looked down at him. “Okay, you know the year. Why is it impossible?”

  “Because …” He said. “Beginnings, Montana was destroyed.”

  ***

  With the impact it would have on him, Joe figured he would be the hardest hit. But the look on his sons’ faces, and demeanor
, told him enough. When he last called his kids for a progress report. Frank and Robbie were working together … Joe figured as much. Jimmy was barely through the first half, and Hal had gone back to the sanctity of his office in Bowman to work.

  None of them were making impressive progress.

  Joe was finished. In fact, he finished rather quickly. He had taken notes and wrote the entire message filing in the blanks as best as he could. There was enough information in some aspects, but in others it was lacking.

  Danny Hoi didn’t want to work on the message. He had other things to work on, he informed Joe. Such as tweaking the message and finding out the missing parts. Joe didn’t see the point in that. But Danny did.

  Henry was brought in. He had to be. Obviously Henry had to be a part because Jason specifically mentioned him.

  While Danny played the message and explained things to Henry. Joe sunk into thought.

  He thought about things that he hadn’t in years. His sons as kids. In fact, one specific time came to mind.

  When Frank was in his first year of college. Jimmy was a junior, Hal ninth grade, Robbie in sixth, and the newest addition, Ellen.

  The family vehicle was packed that afternoon. Joe recalled. Jimmy was experimenting with chewing tobacco and Joe could smell it every time he popped a wad in his mouth.

  “Spit it out,” Joe ordered to the back.

  “What?” Jimmy asked clueless.

  “Jimmy I can see it and smell it. You can’t hide it. Besides what are you doing with the spit?”

  No answer.

  “Uh!” Hal shrieked. “He’s swallowing it. Dad, he’s swallowing it. He has to be.”

  “Don’t swallow that shit,” Joe ordered. “You’ll get sick.”

  “I’m getting sick," Ellen said. “Makes me gag to think about swallowing it.”

  “Jimmy, spit it out.” Joe instructed.

  “Fine.” Jimmy wound down the window, and launched the wad of tobacco from his mouth.

  Ellen gagged loudly.

  “Knock it off.” Joe snapped.

  “Please, don’t yell at me,” Ellen said. “You make me cry.”

  Robbie innocently peered up to Ellen. “My dad makes you cry?”

  Ellen nodded.

  “Oh, I do not.” Joe snapped. “Stopped that.”

  Robbie watched. “Dad, her eyes are watering.”

  “That’s because she gagged over your brother’s chew.”

  “Why are you mean to her?” Robbie asked. “She’s nice.”

  “I’m not mean to her,” Joe said. “She’s just weak.”

  Ellen gasped. “Why am I on this trip?” she questioned. “I don’t get it. I’m not a Slagel. I think I’m missing a test.”

  “I don’t care," Joe said. “And Frank. Wake up.”

  Frank, head against the window snapped his head straight. “What?”

  “Wake up.” Joe ordered.

  “Why?”

  “Because if we have to listen to Ellen bitch, so do you.”

  “Unfair,” Frank said. “I listen to her bitch daily.”

  Ellen inhaled a gasp.

  “Yeah, yeah," Joe peered to the rear view mirror. “Keep doing that and I won’t help you when you choke on something that flies in your mouth.”

  Hal laughed. “Dad, you’re so funny. Say Dad …” He leaned forward.

  “Sit back, Hal.”

  “Yes, Father.” Hal sat back. “Where are we going? You didn’t tell us.”

  “Yeah,” Frank added. “You only said pack a bag; we’re leaving for a spur of the moment vacation.”

  “Where are we going?” Jimmy asked.

  “Well,” Joe answered as he drove. “I got a call from a nun.”

  “Nun?” Hal asked. “As in a Bride of Christ.”

  “Yes, Hal,” Joe said irritated. “A nun. A Mother Superior at St. Joseph’s retreat. She was trying out a youth program, and asked if I wanted to help her test it out.”

  Hal asked. “A youth program. You mean like a camp?”

  “Exactly. A summer camp.” Joe said.

  “It’s winter,” Frank said.

  “I know.”

  “Why did they pick us?” Frank asked.

  “I just told you,” Joe replied. “She knows me. We... uh went to school together. And this is a test weekend.”

  Jimmy added “I can probably get a lot of reading done.”

  “Probably,” Joe said.

  “Are we gonna have to go to church?” Robbie asked.

  “Probably.”

  “Confession?” Robbie asked.

  “Probably.”

  Hal said, “I’m going before Frank.”

  “No.” Joe said. “I remember what happened the one time.”

  “Say dad?” Hal asked. “How is this supposed to be fun if we’re going to a religious place, praying, and confessing?”

  “Well, look at it this way. The nuns and priests do it, right? Well, they wouldn’t do it if they didn’t have some special secret way of making it fun.”

  “Wow.” Hal said. “We’re gonna learn the secrets of the God Society.”

  Jimmy laughed.

  “What?” Joe looked at him.

  “Dad, secret way to have fun?” he snickered.

  Joe snapped a glare his way. “You don’t believe me?”

  Jimmy cleared his throat. “Of course I do.”

  “Good.”

  “Are there gonna be games?” Robbie asked. “A campfire?”

  “If not make one,” Joe said.

  “What if they try to brainwash us?” Hal asked. “Make us all into priests. Sister Ellen. Father Hal.”

  “Wouldn’t mind if one of you boys were a priest. Not a bad thing.” Joe said. “But, that is pretty funny about Ellen being a nun.”

  “Why is that funny?” Ellen asked. “I could be a nun.”

  Hal said. “You have to be a virgin.”

  Ellen’s eyes widened.

  “I know you feel that time with my brother doesn’t count, but to God it does,” Hal said. “Not a virgin.”

  “Hal,” Joe warned. “I don’t want to talk about Ellen and Frank’s sex life.”

  “Uh!” Robbie shouted. “They do not do that. Do you, Ellen?”

  “No.” Ellen said. “Not at all. I’m saving myself for marriage.”

  Hal laughed.

  Joe turned on the radio.

  The car trip to the retreat was full of questions, but it wasn’t full of the correct answers. The whole entire test kid retreat was bullshit, and Joe figured his kids, because they weren’t exactly kids, would have that figured out.

  But they didn’t. They didn’t know the truth behind the trip until years later.

  The truth was, Joe had to hide them. There was a threat on his life, a viable threat on his family and he couldn’t take a chance.

  Joe felt secure in the fact the kids were safe. There were agents undercover in there.

  When he arrived, the boys and Ellen were full of energy, making the best out of it, while Joe slipped into the back room with the Mother Superior.

  He gave her documentation and had her witness his statement, that should something happen to him, his kids were to go to Sgt. Pletcher. She was their nanny and friend, and had already agreed to take the boys in any event.

  The Mother Superior had the legal documents, and that was what Joe needed. Inner security that should something happen to him, his kids would be fine.

  He always feared something happening to him while his boys were still young. He figured that fear would ease as time went on. But the truth was, it didn’t.

  He still held the same concerns at sixty that he did at forty.

  “Joe,” Danny called his name, snapping him from that memory. “You with us?”

  “Um,” Joe blinked. “Am now.” He smiled. The smile fell quickly when he finally noticed Henry.

  Henry looked as if the world around him was about to explode. In a sense it was.

  “Joe,” Henry seep
ed out. “What … what is it exactly I am supposed to do?”

  Joe nodded at Danny.

  Danny explained. “Something is in Beginnings Henry, something valuable. From what we gather it is crucial to some war.”

  “Where?” Henry asked.

  Joe replied. “That’s where you come in. You have to find it.”

  “How?”

  Joe shrugged. “Can’t help you there.”

  “Why me?” Henry asked. “This is an awful big responsibility, Joe.”

  “Yes, it is. And you are perfect for this. Weren’t you the one who discovered the wall?”

  Henry nodded.

  “You’re relentless Henry. You’ll do this.”

  “I don’t … I don’t even know where to begin.”

  “I wish I could help you there. Give you ideas, theories, but to be honest Henry, my mind and focus have to be elsewhere.”

  “I understand.” Henry slowly nodded. “I can do this.”

  “Yes, you can.”

  At that moment, following a knock, the door opened. Hal walked in. “Am I late?”

  “No, early,” Joe said. “Come in.”

  Hal reached to close the door.

  “Don’t shut that,” Jason stated as he clipped through.

  Jason didn’t get to close the door either, within a second, Jimmy arrived, then Frank and Robbie. They were all together.

  The chairs were set up and in a half moon circle they held their meeting.

  With an introduction of, ‘Jason has something he wants to say’, Jason stood.

  “I just want to make it clear that what gets said here, what we learned today must stay with in this room. Any … I mean anyone finding out could possible effect what happens. Us getting that message could have very easily already affected that message.”

  Henry raised his hand. “I have a question.”

  Everyone groaned.

  “Yes, Henry?” Jason called on him.

  “If this deals with our future, and the message needs to be clarified, why don’t we just go to Fort.? I am sure he has information that can help us.”

  Joe answered, “Two reasons Henry. One we want to keep this in this room. We don’t know Fort. We don’t know his plan.”

  Hal interjected. “As far as we know he could have come through the time machine, not chasing some clone, but to be the one to assassinate our father.”

  Joe nodded impressed. “That’s a good theory, Hal.”

  “Thank you.”

  Frank fumbled.