“Oh, without a doubt. Thank you, Joe.” Jenny stood up. “I’ll go to each and every person and tell them.”
“I’d appreciate it.”
She walked around the desk and kissed Joe on the cheek, following it with a hug.
“What’s that for.”
“Joe. We all love you. Just know we don’t want anything to happen to you. If something did, we’d all be in trouble.”
Her arm draped around him, and Joe gave it a rub. “If something should happen to me, this place would be fine. How can it not? To make sure of it, we have Jimmy. Hal, Robbie, and Frank …”
With a bang, the door opened and Frank burst through. “Fuckin’ squirrels are out of their fuckin nap, and eating away at sector twelve. Fuckin rodents with bushy tails. Can’t fuckin shoot them for squat. And great, my Father is making out with Jenny Matoose. Just what I needed to see.”
Joe raised his eyes to Jenny. “Scratch Frank from that list.”
***
Lars made a mental note to yell at Colt for driving the bus and all the Lodi Pilgrims so damned fast. Lars has been in pursuit for nearly two hours and they weren’t in sight. Promising himself he’d quit in an hour, Lars trekked on. He had to admit; somewhere around the one hundredth mile he started to get annoyed. He didn’t do anything. Didn’t make any indication that he knew, but … he knew.
They made side mirrors for that.
He remained a small speck in the mirror, traveling at the same speed as Lars. But even the speck wasn’t the indication, it was the noise. In a dead world noise was louder, and Lars was certain his cycle didn’t have a doubling effect.
Finally, about mile 140, Lars pulled over.
Mike caught up.
Lars stopped his bike, turned it off and dismounted. It was time to stretch his legs and his testicles were getting numb.
“Mike.”
“Lars,” Mike remained straddled across his bike.
“Why are you here?”
“You can go back, Lars. I’ll go tell my son.”
“Forgive me for not trusting you Mike. But I don’t believe one hundred percent that you’ll do that.”
“I drove all the way out here, didn’t I?”
“Yes, and it could be to pump sunshine up my ass.”
With a crocked smile, Mike shook his head and chuckled. “I’m not …." he smiled again. “Pumping sunshine up your ass. I really am going to tell him.”
Lars nodded. Good. He did a few legs squats, stretched his arms and hopped on the bike.
“Going back?” Mike asked.
“Nah, I think … I think I’ll just ride forward with you.”
Mike smiled, Lars started his bike, and they drove on.
***
Ellen didn’t pay much attention to what Dean and Robbie said in her office. They talked about the spread of chicken pox, but that was boring. She knew Robbie was there to take his mind off of things and that there was a lot on his mind. Robbie bit his nails. A sure Slagel sign that their nerves were on edge, that and drinking.
Dean came in her office right after her little skills room go around with Fort.
She was observing. Not staring. And Fort kept asking her why she was watching him.
Her answer of, ‘it’s my job’ didn’t hold water and he kept questioning her motives. Arrogantly rocking on the hind legs of his chair, trying to unnerve her by staring back.
Juvenile. She supposed he was trying to get out and by pestering her, he would get out quick.
Ellen had rules and she was going to follow them. Even more so the more he worked her nerves.
Then Joe showed up and scooted her out of her skills room saying he had to talk to Fort.
Robbie showed up, too. But Robbie didn’t stay; he opted for hanging out in Ellen’s office, talking about how Joe was going to try to break Fort for future information. Details. Despite the fact that Jason said it may not be the future his future self spoke of.
Ellen agreed with Robbie that the best course of action would be for Jason to fix the time machine and they just go to the future and find out for themselves.
“Done.”
That was the word Ellen heard. She cocked her head forward and looked to the door.
“You with us?” Joe asked.
Robbie smirked. “No, she’s not.”
“I’m done.” Joe repeated. “You can go back to your skills room. I’m heading to the quantum lab.”
“Any luck?” Robbie asked.
“Nah. He’s not breaking. I may have to try tougher interrogations,” Joe said. I’ll see you guys later. Oh.” He stopped. “Ellen, please stop picking on Fort.”
Ellen’s mouth dropped open. “He told you I was picking on him.”
“Sort of. Said you sit there and stare at him, make faces. Kind of juvenile, don’t you think?”
Ellen didn’t say anything. She waited until Joe disappeared from the door way and stood up.
Dean asked. “Where are you going?”
“I’ll be right back.” She made her way from the office, down the hall and directly to the skills room.
Fort sat on the chair, across from Chester-Chester. He rocked on those hind legs as if he were some sort of Slagel. She walked to him walked by him, and as she did, she swiped out her leg, knocking the chair back.
He slammed down to the floor.
“Tattle tale.” She said. “I hope you like Containment, because you’ll be here for a really long time.” Saying no more, and feeling better, after informing Chester-Chester that he was in charge of Fort, she walked out.
***
“It could be anywhere,” Henry said, hand resting atop of his own head as he stared at a computer screen in the communications room under the streets of Beginnings.
“How do we know it’s in here?” Jimmy asked.
Henry turned some in his swivel chair and pointed to Frank.
“Frank?” Jimmy asked. “Why do you think the treasure is down here?”
Frank walked to a console, wedged the phone between his ear and shoulder and typed on the keyboard. He then set down the phone. “You there Hal?”
“Frank, do you have me on the speaker phone?” Hal asked.
“Yes, I do.”
“I hate that.”
Jimmy raised his hands. “What does this have to do with my question?”
Hal asked. “What question?”
“Jimmy asked why I think the treasure is down here in communications,” Frank said. “I’m showing him why.” He pointed to the board that showed a lit map of the US. “Hal. What are we discussing?”
“Our vulnerabilities.”
“If we were to get attacked, how could be build a good offensive position?”
Hal replied, “If we saw them coming.”
“Bingo.” Frank said. “Henry, can you light this up.”
Henry groaned. “I hate doing that Frank, and then we see all the Society positions.”
Jimmy perked up. “We see all the Society positions? Why don’t we have the map monitored all the time?”
“Fuckin Society is staying put. They used to have positions close to our borders until Hal and the UWA pushed them back,” Frank said. “Good job, Hal.”
“Thank you Frank.”
Frank explained. “Fuckin ability lies down here, I’m certain of it. This map we see, has to be global, somehow, Henry just has to find it.”
“Why limit our looking though?” Henry asked. “We’re wasting time.”
“Nah,” Frank shook his head. “Just look here and other places, you’re good.” He gave a slap to Henry’s back and continued talking, I come down every morning. Check positions and see what’s happening. We pick up electronic signals, interference. But there has to be a lot on one area for us to get it.” He nodded. “Okay, you’ll see over in our area …”
The board lit up.
Frank smiled. “Life in Montana, oh, yeah.”
Henry sulked. “Now watch how depressing this gets.”
> Jimmy, curious, looked at Henry. “Why?”
Henry pointed. The map illuminated the entire east coast. “Look how big the Society is.”
“You can see here, in the Virginia area. See this signal moving?” Frank asked.
Jimmy nodded.
“Convoy or something headed southeast. And … wait. Fuck.” Frank turned drastically to the map.
“What’s going on?” Jimmy asked.
Hal called over the speaker phone. “Do you see something?”
“Henry,” Frank said. “Give me Ohio.”
Henry did.
Frank took a step forward, whispering, “What have we here?” he lowered the mouth piece to his radio. “Dad, come in.”
***
Joe had just made it out to the Quantum lab in enough time to share a sandwich with Jason and speak about the problems with the regressionator. Jason was making progress of at least thought he was. It wasn’t long, he told Joe, before he’d gave the problem solved and they could actually, perhaps go into the future and see what the hell his coded message was about.
Somewhere between bite of the new test luncheon meat, sips of lattes and wishing they still sold camel filters in soft pack, Joe got the call.
He instructed Frank to handle it until he arrived, and after grabbing his coat, Joe, with Jason flew out side.
Then came to a grinding halt.
He wasn’t going anywhere. At least not quickly.
Joe looked left to right. “Where the hell is my jeep?”
***
Robbie rushed in the communications room, “I’m not too late, am I?” he tossed off his jacket and threw it over the chair.
“No,” Jimmy answered “Frank’s calling them now.”
“What’s the situation?”
The fast, hard snap of Frank’s finger brought silence to his brother. He held the phone to his ear. “This is Frank Slagel of Beginnings. I need to speak to Chief Manis, stat.”
“He’s not here,” Buzz said.
“Where is he? Do you know? Anywhere accessible?”
Robbie mouthed ‘big word’ to Jimmy.
“No. I’ll have him call you back.”
“Uh … no, you won’t.” Frank said. “Okay, who is second in charge of your defenses?”
“Huh?”
“Fuck. Who protects your community?”
“Pretty much everyone does.” Buzz replied. “What’s up?”
“We have a situation. You have enemy forces approaching.”
“And that would be?”
Frank hid his grunt well. “The fuckin’ Society, that’s who it would be. Now you wanna get the fuck out of there or do you plan to stand your ground. Because in about a half an hour, you won’t have a fuckin choice.”
“We stayed behind, Frank, so they wouldn’t take us.”
“Good. Then your mission right now is to repel the enemy.”
“I’ll go tell everyone and we’ll arm up…”
“Stop.” Frank told him, remaining strong and rationally calm. “And then what? You wanna chance at the Society, a chance of beating them, you have to listen to what I’m telling you. Understand?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” Frank said. “You need to get the mission out there. You need to get the word out. You also need to find me the person most familiar with your public works system, the sewers.”
“That would be Stew.”
“Get Stew. In the meantime, you need to gather every available man and get me someone who can follow my instructions.”
“What do you mean instructions?”
“I’m gonna tell you exactly what you need to do.”
“I’ll call you back …”
“No!” Frank blasted. “Don’t call me back, just take the phone with you, it’s a fuckin cell phone.”
“Got it.”
Frank turned from facing the map, as he did, he did the typical Joe swipe down the front of his face to reveal a view of Robbie and Jimmy.
Robbie shook his head.
“What?” Frank asked.
“What are you doing?”
“Telling them how to do this, because right now they don’t have a fuckin clue.”
“You’re gonna lead a battle over the phone?” Robbie asked. “If it were our men then yeah, I could see it. But these are farmers Frank.”
“Yeah, well, farmers fought for this fuckin country, they sure as shit can fight for a town.”
Hal’s voice rang out over the speaker phone. “Jimmy, what does the Society have? Do they plan their attacks; I always saw them as unorganized.”
“They were,” Jimmy said. “But more recently, since Callahan has taken over the leaders have been pretty good.”
“Frank?” Hal asked. “What do you think? What do you see?”
Frank looked at the map. “They are definitely planning a feint. I’m looking right now at the feint, south of Lodi. But the bigger movement is coming in from the north. Bet me they’re using the river as the ultimate cover.”
“I’m here, Frank, you still there.” Buzz asked.
“I’m still here.”
“Got Stew.”
“Good. Now can you follow everything I say and get it in motion?”
“Absolutely.”
“Good.” Frank began to rattle off. “I need you to get every available man and divide them into two groups. Those who can shoot and those who can shoot well.”
“Got it.”
“Take your best forty. They’re gonna be your snipers and will be your best line of defense. I want fifteen positioned south of town, on your highest points and concealed. I want the rest at the north end of town. Make sure you position them in trees, on the trestle, building tops and they are to stay hid.”
“Got it.”
“Take a good seventy five men position them as far back, and north as you can. Keep them by the river bed and down. This is where your biggest attack is gonna come from. I want a man positioned on every single street corner. Like I said I want them in roof tops, trees, you name it. I want men in the sewers. Get Stew to get them down there. Especially on the curb drains, that’s your best position. You with me?”
Buzz sounded off his response.
“Take any extra men you have and get them to move vehicles, tractors, you name it. Move them south about a block passed the school, line them up to slow the push. Next make sure you got about thirty men working from the school. But there’s a fallout shelter in that school. I want men in that shelter.”
“Then what? Once we do all this. Then what?”
“You’re gonna fight your ass off.”
“We can do this, right, Frank?”
“Absolutely. And Buzz. You’re my eyes and ears out there. You have to keep me posted. Now get moving and let me know. You have about …” Frank turned to Henry for an answer.
“Twenty-two minutes,” Henry said.
“You have fifteen minutes,” Frank informed Buzz.
“We can’t do all that in …”
“Yes, you can. Now get on it.” There wasn’t direct talking to Frank anymore, just the sound of voice’s Buzz’s voice, dictating orders that Frank had given him. With an exhale, Frank faced his brothers.
Jimmy, closed mouth, stood up. “You can’t do this Frank. Tell them to pull back.”
“Frank?” Hal said. “You’ve been there. What do you think?’
“I think it can be done.”
“No, way.” Robbie said. “There’s no way.”
“Frank.” Jimmy spoke passionately. “Pull them out. Send them West.”
“Yeah, take them through the school and out,” Robbie added.
“Little brother, I can’t believe you’re talking like this. All of you. Come on.” Frank said. “These men stayed put to fight. I have faith. It can be done. I know it. In the meantime …” Frank stared at the faces of his brothers. They lacked confidence, he then turned to Henry. “Get me George on the phone.”
“George?” Hal question
ed. “Why are you calling George?”
“Because this is fuckin’ ridiculous.” Frank faced the board again and watch the signals move in closer.
The sound of heavy artillery came through the phone as the clear signal turned to crackles and static.
Henry had pumped the call through the speaker system, Hal had made it to Beginnings, and in that communications room, Hal, Robbie, and Jimmy were on their feet, facing the map and the speakers as if watching a television show.
Frank didn't waiver. Although the constant indentation of his jaw gave way to his frustration, worry and tenseness. His voice remained calm, he remained focus.
Each shot that rang out, explosion that blasted, and cry out of anguish, reflect in reaction on Hal, Robbie, Jimmy and Henry’s face.
“Buzz,” Frank spoke out. “Buzz.” A sniffle, rub under his nose and a hard, fast exhale, Frank called again. “Buzz.”
“Frank…”
There were shots and a few background screams.
Henry exclaimed, in a whisper, “Oh, my God, Frank.”
Frank’s nostrils flared. “Buzz.”
“Frank …” Buzz spoke emotionally. “They just …. Pushed right through. A path, Frank. They blew it up. They’re shooting and ...” another background scream. “God, Oh, God. Bill Benton was just shot.”
Robbie spoke up, “It’s a slaughter, Frank, come on. They don’t know what they’re doing.”
Buzz cried out. “We’re dying here left and right. We’re heading for the river, Frank.”
“No.”
“Frank, you’re wrong. Nothing’s coming that way.”
“Buzz …”
“The guys aren’t staying put. They ain't fighting. They running and getting shot.”
“Buzz, focus. You have to fuckin’ focus. Stand your ground.” His bit his lip and twitched his head, then muted communications. “Fuck.”
Robbie spoke again. “Pull them out.”
“Pull them out?” Frank asked. “I can’t fuckin tell them to pull out. You think they’re being picked off now? They hear pull out, they’re scattering and they become nothing but fuckin target practice. What the fuck. They got two hundred solid men. This should not be this easy for the Society. It should not.”
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