A fence was built across the highway, with a gate. Small quarters were set off of the road, and a small booth at the gate. Brandon led a team of eight, and those eight men watched that road. The main highway just before the turn into Beginnings. Not that anything would happen, but if they did they could alert Beginnings of forces, good or bad, making their way into the provinces.
It was about eight in the morning when Brandon himself saw it in the distance. The sun hit the back end, causing a reflection of light that headed toward them. The rear of it smoked some, and that alerted Brandon that they pretty much weren’t going any further than the gate.
The closer they drew the more he heard the choking and coughing of the engine.
He didn’t need to be a rocket scientist to figure out who it was rolling down the highway at a near snail’s pace. They had been expecting them.
He called to his right hand man to get the phone, and Brandon stepped out in front of the gate.
The bus came into view and then the bus stopped about fifty feet away.
In the old days, the destination of the bus was a marquee across the top front, the same held true with this bus. Beginnings was on the marquee.
The door opened.
Brandon had the number to Frank already dialed and he pressed send.
“Frank.” He answered.
“I believe the Lodi Pilgrimage has arrived,” Brandon said. “A bus. They’ve stopped. I think they’re broke down.”
“Has anyone stepped off the bus?” Frank asked.
“A child just stepped off.”
“Long hair to his shoulders.”
“Yes,” Brandon answered.
“That’s not a child it’s a little person.”
“Shit. I mean …”
“Don’t worry about it. Hold them there, don’t let them go any further. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
“Shall I notify Doyle Camp and Jordan?”
“I’ll have Danny Hoi get on that. We have to determine who is going where. We have more room in Creedville.”
“Roger that,” Brandon said. “I’ll hold them down.”
“And I’ll be there shortly.”
Ironically, as soon as Frank said the word ‘shortly’ Tigger approached. Brandon ended the call.
“Hey, how are you?” Tigger held out his hand “Anthony Manis, people call me Tigger.”
“Brandon Gray.”
“We’re from Lodi.”
“We’ve been expecting you.”
“Yeah,” Tigger sighed out. “I know we said we’d make this jaunt on our own, but we could use some help with our belongings. We don’t mind walking to where ever we have to go.”
Brandon nodded.
“And one other thing. We have a sick passenger. We have a doctor on board, but he’s gonna need more.”
“We have the hospital in Beginnings.”
“See that’s the problem.” Tigger said. “He’s not allowed in Beginnings. The passenger is Johnny Slagel.”
Brandon nodded his understanding. It didn’t matter where a person fell in the chain of command, or in the residency of any of the provinces; anyone who was around when Johnny Slagel ended his stay knew exactly what that meant. Directing Johnny to Beginnings was not something Brandon could do on his own, nor would want to. If it were anyone else who was ill, then yes. But not in the ‘Johnny’ case. He lifted his phone to make a call.
***
Using his shoulder, Joe shut the filing cabinet and grabbed a folder. He extended it to Frank, and then paused. “You know what? I’ll make the copies. I’ll get Dan to distribute it to every Lodi pilgrim.”
“And what about the other situation?”
“I don’t know what to do, Frank?” Joe walked behind his desk and sat down. “There are firm rules. We can’t move Johnny here. Hal doesn’t want him in his town.”
“How about this? That Lars person should be here any second. We get Andrea to make the final decision on it seeing that it is her clinic. Stabilize Johnny, if she gives the go ahead. Use Beginnings clinic and facilities until we can get him out. Lars can attend to him, and we’ll post a guard on the door.”
“I’ll present that to Andrea. But I think we should get an idea of his condition from Lars.”
“I agree.”
Joe picked up the phone. “I’ll get a hold of Andrea. How are you with the decision not to meet the bus?” Joe asked as he dialed.
Frank shrugged. “I’m fine with it.” As his father spoke on the phone, Frank turned to the window. He cocked back at the jeep that screeched to a halt, muttered out, ‘what the hell?” and reached for the door.
Henry, of course, was not expecting Frank to open it and he stumbled in.
Joe hung up the phone. “Henry? What’s going on?”
Out of breath, Henry shut the door. “I had to hurry here first. I had to be the one to tell you.”
Concern laced Joe’s face as Henry took a seat. “What is it? What happened?”
“I went down with Dan to meet the Lodi bus.”
“I know.”
“Joe.” Henry gasped out. “I met the Lars person. The one who hates Dean. Remember the actor, Peter O’Toole.”
“Yeah.”
“You’d think it was him. Even has that pompous British accent too.”
“Really?”
Henry nodded. “Amazing. I can’t wait to see him and Dean together.”
“How do you know he hates him?” Joe asked.
“Danny told me. Lars has a Dean Dart board.”
With a partial smile, Joe nodded. “We always can use some liveliness around here.”
“But that’s not all Joe.”
“What?” Joe asked.
“A first. I had to forewarn you. One of them is a little person. The one that led them here is a little person.”
“A little person?”
Frank, believing his father was confused. Decided to clarify. “Yeah, you know, a small person. Smaller than normal. Smaller than Dean and I know you didn’t think that was possible.”
“I know what a little person is, asshole.” Joe snapped.
Henry nodded. “Joe, he is.”
“And,” Frank added. “Tigger, is the one who was sleeping with George’s right hand man.”
“Uh?” Henry shrieked. “A gay dwarf in Beginnings.”
Joe pointed a pencil. “Don’t get any funny ideas Henry.”
Henry gasped. “Oh my God, how rude. Are you implying that I’m gay?”
“Uh, yeah, Henry you are.” Joe said.
“I am not.” Henry gasped. “I went through a phase. I’m not gay.”
Joe laughed. “Do you still live with Hector and share a life.”
“Not sexually.”
Joe winced.
“You asked.”
“I did not.”
Frank interjected. “Tigger isn’t gay. George’s right hand man is a woman Henry.”
“Okay, that’s better.” Henry turned in his chair at the sound of the jeep outside. “Here they are, Joe. Don’t stare.”
“Why would I stare, Henry?”
“Because he’s little.”
Joe grumbled.
The door opened after one knock. Dan peeked his head in. “Hey Joe, I have Lars and Tigger.” Then Dan whispered. “Tigger’s a little person, don’t stare.”
“I got news for you, Dan., I have to stare if I’m gonna talk to him. Christ.”
“I’m not a little person.” Tigger said as he walked in. “Just small. And not deaf.”
“But he is quite annoying at times,” Lars added as he entered. “And trouble if you let him loose.”
Joe stood up.
“Mr. Slagel, Lars Rayburn.” Lars introduced himself with a handshake. “And, Frank.”
“Lars.” Frank nodded.
Joe began to sit. “Have a seat gentlemen. You met Henry, our resident neurotic ambassador?”
“Yes,” Lars smiled. “We share a common interest. A disli
ke for Dean.”
“Well, you’re gonna share a common interest with a lot of people,” Joe spoke with a chuckle. “He’s not popular.”
Lars smiled.
“Tigger Manis.” Tigger shook hands. “It’s very nice to meet you. I heard a lot about you.”
“I hope it was all good.”
Tigger nodded. “Actually yeah. Except the part where Johnny shot you.”
“He shot Frank as well,” Joe said.
“Twice, mind you.” Lars added. “He did quite a bit of damage, I heard.”
“He did. So you can understand our apprehension about letting him back in Beginnings,” Joe said. “In fact. It was voted that he wouldn’t be allowed in Beginnings or New Bowman.”
“I do understand that. But in any event, even in the old world. A person’s health takes precedence. I propose allow me to use your clinic, pump him with intravenous antibiotics and we can move him in a day or two.”
“This is one of those decisions I hate making,” Joe said. “As a leader and as his grandfather. Okay, since the clinic is Andrea’s domain and she is the Health Ministry around here …”
“Andrea?” Lars interrupted.
“My wife, yes.”
“Not Dr. Hayes’ domain.”
“The labs are his domain,” Joe answered.
“Interesting. I would have thought with his pre-plague stance that Dr. Hayes would have run the whole show.”
Joe shook his head. “Dean doesn’t want the whole show. He’s too wrapped up in his experiments. Plus, God knows what would happen to the medical community here if he runs things.”
With an hmm, Lars nodded. “Well, shall we go speak to Andrea? I am very interested in seeing your hospital.”
“Absolutely.” Joe stood. “But there is something that you folks need to know.”
“What is that?”
“Frank?” Joe called him.
“Not long after your pilgrimage took off, and I’ll assume it was after you left to meet up with them …. Lodi was hit by the Society.”
Tigger was confused. “What do you mean hit? They attacked us?”
Frank nodded. “The men of Lodi fought hard. Mike arrived after the attack.”
Joe intervened. “Frank managed to get them to cease fire before they finished the attack. But, there was a lot of damage. A lot of men injured … killed.” Joe’s head dropped. “I’m sorry.”
Lars closed his eyes. “Do we know any final information? Losses? Names?”
Joe shook his head. “No. Hopefully soon. Dean and Ellen flew out there ASAP and have been working nonstop. We expect to hear something soon. Again, I’m sorry. I know another pilgrimage is on its way from your town as we speak. And this may be something you want to tell your men before they get settled.”
Lars nodded.
“I’ll do it,” Tigger said. “I’ll tell them.”
Joe, closed mouth, nodded once. “Frank. You want to go with Tigger? Get The Lodi men settled?”
“Yeah,” Frank replied. “I’m gonna send a Dan Tram for them and we’ll put them in Creedville.”
“Sounds good,” Joe said.
“Frank?” Tigger asked. “What is Creedville?”
“Man, you’re gonna love it.” Frank led Tigger to the door. “Most of the house have blackened windows because the people don’t have any skin.”
“A town of skinless people.”
“Yes.”
“Cool.” Tigger walked out.
Lars looked at Joe. “That’s a joke, right?”
“No, unfortunately it is not.” Joe said.
“Tell me how Dr. Hayes created an entire town of skinless people.”
Joe chuckled. “As much as Dean would like to take credit for that, he can’t. However the skinless people are nothing compared to the mutated monster he made that transforms when he’s sexually aroused.”
“DNA mutated, you say.” Lars rubbed his chin. “Was this an accident?”
“According to Dean, yes. Right now, he’s trying to solve the problem, but hasn’t been able to.”
Lars nodded slowly. “And when does Dr. Hayes get back?”
“A week maybe.”
Lars smiled. “Then I have a week to cure his monster.”
“You think you can.”
“I have great incentive to try.”
“And what is that?”
“Keep my mind off of Lodi and … Simply to over shadow the little man,” Lars said.
“Can I ask what Dean did to you?” Joe asked. “Not that it matters. But I’m curious.”
“Snubbed me.”
“And?”
Lars shrugged. “That was it. Snubbed me like I was a nobody. From there it just built in my mind.”
“Works for me.” Joe grabbed the door. "Let's go to the clinic.”
“Lead the way.”
Lars believed he was going to enjoy the rest of his introduction to Beginnings, and although he was going to miss his opportunity to kill George. He felt at home and glad to be in the land of new adventures.
***
There was something about Hal’s apartment that Jimmy just liked. Maybe because he didn’t have a place of his own, and anywhere in Beginnings was sterile. Hal’s apartment, though small was warm and old world.
He fixed a cup of coffee, placed jam on some bread and seated himself at the table.
It used to be an old office supply place on the outskirt of Bowman, or rather formerly Miles City. Jimmy had an idea and headed out there, only to be upset when he saw the doors chained, boarded and a sign on the door stating to contact ‘Danny Hoi’ for entrance.
Danny had claimed it as his own.
Back into town Jimmy rode, found Danny and got access to the store. It was obvious that it was Danny treasure trove and Jimmy knew why. The store was impeccably cleaned and items on the shelf just as they were ten years earlier. The warehouse was still somewhat stocked, but Jimmy knew exactly what he was looking for and he found it with ease. After noting on a chart what he took, he locked back up and returned to Beginnings. After he returned the keys, he headed to Hal with his items.
Hours had passed and Jimmy was engrossed. He didn’t hear or see anything other than his project at hand. Which caused him not to hear Hal when Hal walked in.
Hal was surprised to see his brother, and after Elliott followed him inside, he closed the door.
Jimmy didn’t move. He sat with headphones on, staring at a computer screen.
Upon receiving no acknowledgement of his presence, Hal walked over to Jimmy, leaned down toward the computer and grinned.
Jimmy jumped. “Shit. Hal. Sorry.” He clicked something on the laptop and removed the headphones.
“Been here long, little brother?”
“Nah, I …” Jimmy looked at his watch. “Have been here a really long time. Shit.”
Hal pulled out a chair and sat down. “Can I ask why?”
“Privacy.” Jimmy said. “Plus, I wanted a home feel while I worked and your home offers that.”
“What are you working on?”
“Jason’s message.” Jimmy turned the computer to Hal, showing what looked like a grouping of bunched up lines. “I’m deciphering.”
“Any luck?”
“Not much. Getting there though. I went to the Danny Hoi Office Supply Center …”
Hal raised his eyes to Elliott mouthing the word ‘Danny Hoi Office Supply.”
Jimmy continued, “Yeah, and I was able to find this software I needed. It will help me clean up the message. It’s one step at a time, though.”
Elliott asked. “But if it’s a broken message then …”
“That’s just it,” Jimmy said. “It’s not broken or missing, just covered. The words are there, we just have to pull them out.”
“But I heard from Dad,” Hal said. “That we’re not going to worry about this. That Frank has figured out ways around finding out what the message says.”
“I know,” Jimmy shrugged. “Call
it my contribution. But if we can find out what’s being said. What we are missing, then we can be ahead of the game. No matter what Frank decides. Our Father’s life is at stake here, Hal. I want to find out when and …” Jimmy stopped when he saw Hal’s eyes shift. “What?”
“Elliott is unaware of what the message said.”
“Oops.” Jimmy said nonchalantly.
“The message says Joe dies?” Elliott asked. “Does it say how? When?”
Hal nodded. “But unfortunately we can’t hear the how and when.”
“Unless I break this,” Jimmy said. “And I’m working on it now.”
“How long will it take you?” Hal asked.
“Doesn’t matter,” Jimmy replied. “I’ll work on it as long as I need to and as hard as I need to. Fuck everything else. In my opinion, everything else will fall into a better place if we stop Dad’s death. Unlike was said, it’s not a link, it’s the catalyst. I want to kill the catalyst.”
Hal laid a hand on Jimmy’s back. “Then do what you need to do, use my home as you wish. In the meantime.” He faced Elliott. “In sworn secrecy, I will tell you about the message.”
“Captain, you don’t need to, I understand …”
“No, Elliott. You are insightful. Perhaps … perhaps you can lend some insight we are all missing.”
“Then I would be honored to be told.”
Hal nodded. “Jimmy can you?”
“Absolutely.” With a few clicks, and program openings, Jimmy began to play the message.
***
The amputation looked good and was a healing. Ellen looked at that as a good sign, and worried a little less about the low vital signs on Lodi-I32. She hated that they were tagged with numbers, but there was nothing that she could do. She and Dean didn’t have times to take names, they simply gave them numbers.
Cold. She knew it. But as soon as Mike finished what he was doing. The collecting of bodies, identifying them, and burying them, then he had to go about the clinic and give names to those who only had numbers.
Two days.
They still had numbers.
Ellen wanted to intervene. She wanted to tell Mike, the deceased weren’t going anywhere and those injured needed a bit more dignity. But Mike’s mood was foul and the man who always treated her with respect was cold, callous, and withdrawn.
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