The Third Ten

by Jacqueline Druga

  “True. I miss it.” Christopher nodded.

  “So maybe motivated Lars can help and you can …” Frank stopped walking at distribution.

  “What is wrong?”

  “Check this out.” he pointed to a flyer. “Looks like Lars is holding a lecture tonight.”

  “What is a lecture?” Christopher asked.

  “It’s when you get up before a lot of people and talk about something you know about. Like I would talk about shooting people, or protecting. If I lecture, then I am also trying to teach at the same time. Give people something to learn about.”

  “Ah … so Lars will be speaking about being a scientist.”

  “No, he speaking about romance. He knows about that because he wrote books about it.” Frank rubbed his chin and mumbled. “Eight o’clock. I may go.”

  “May I?” Christopher asked.

  “I don’t see why not. I don’t see where you have to be a woman.”

  “Oh, I would like to know about romance. Maybe if I learn, when I get the … desire back, I can use it.”

  “Maybe.” Frank chugged.

  “So how does a scientist know about romance books?”

  “From writing them. He took on a writing personality called …” Frank peered to the sign. “Madeline Von ….”

  “Welsh?” Christopher finished the sentence.

  “Yeah.”

  “Oh.” he clapped. “Oh. I have read many of her books. I am very excited to go to this lecture and meet Lars.”

  “Well, you’re going to meet him now. So you’ll get a jump on things.” Frank led Christopher to town. Just as they reached center, his phone rang. He answered it.

  “Frank,” said Joe. “You busy?”

  “Just taking Chris to the clinic. Why?”

  “I have Hal and Jimmy coming.”

  “Uh-oh, what’s up” Frank asked.

  “Looks like we may have to make a decision,” Joe said. “Seems Mike is on his way to the Society. He wants to …”

  “Fuck.”

  “What?”

  “Everyone in fuckin Lodi had that plan. Go to the Society and kill George.”

  “It wouldn’t get a bad idea if …”

  “If we weren’t facing the war. All right,” Frank looked at his watch. “Let me drop off Chris, hit Containment to check on things there and I’ll be up.”

  “Thanks, Frank.”

  Frank put his phone away.

  “Is everything Okay?” Christopher asked.

  “Yeah, it’s fine.” Frank answered but he answered less convincingly. His mind worked and spun about what he was just told, it was just another twist and turn in a strange line of events to befall Beginnings...

  ***

  It stunk. A foul, putrid odor that singed the end of his nostrils without Lars even having to take a breath. The vision of deformities, mutilations, some dead, some comatose, gave Lars shivers. It was in mad disarray, yet, oddly organized. And for as much as it disgusted Lars, it filled him with envy over the cryo lab.

  He was able to make a quick visit there just after getting Johnny settled, then he and Andrea settled into the lab while waiting on Christopher.

  “Day or two, not long,” Lars said. “I just want to make sure he doesn’t get an infection.”

  “I understand,” Andrea replied. “I think a day or two will not cause tension.”

  “I appreciate it.”

  “So, doctor,” Andrea crossed her legs. “Tell me. What do you think of Beginnings so far?”

  “I love it. Quaint, charming in a military installation sort of way.”

  Andrea giggled. “You’re gonna be quite the celebrity, you know.”

  “I just want to be known as the man who made people ask, “Dean who?”

  “Who?”

  Lars chuckled. “You are charming.”

  “Thank you.”

  He knocked on the open door, and then Christopher called out. “Am I early?”

  Lars turned to look. “Oh my, what has Dean done to you?”

  “No, no.” Andrea stood. “This is not Dean’s work. Christopher’s appearance is the reason Dean did his experiment.”

  “I see, and Christopher is it? Lars extended his hand.

  “Oh, I am not worthy,” Christopher bowed his head.

  Andrea smiled ‘He is so polite.”

  “Is this a usual custom in Beginnings?”

  “No,” Andrea waved out her hand. “Just Christopher’s.”

  “I see. No need to bow my little skinless friend,” Lars said. “I’m here to help.”

  “Do you think you can? Do you think you can stop the beast from emerging?”

  “I’m going to try. But first I need to see the beast.”

  Andrea gasped.

  Christopher stepped back.

  “No, need to be frightened. I have to see what I’m dealing with.” Lars explained.

  “How?” Christopher asked.

  “A little Beginnings Viagra equivalent and …” Lars looked at the door when there was a knock.

  Jenny walked in. “Did you ask to see me, Lars.”

  Not only did Lars say ‘yes’ with a smile. Christopher grinned from ear stub to ear stub.

  ***

  They happened more than Joe would like. Sometimes out of need, other times by chance, but most of the time they were vastly unproductive. Even if they were laid out minute by minute Joe was certain they would veer far off the subject at least three times. It was a rare occasion that a meeting went off seriously and without a hitch. The last meeting they had not a few days earlier, was one of those rare occasions. Which told Joe, the next meeting was going to be a dozy. No way. No how, would it be calm two times in a row.

  So he prepared … mentally. By that he went to his office early, had a shot of whiskey, kicked back and absorbed the silence while thinking of what he wanted to say.

  Joe was proud of the fact he remembered to invite Jimmy. His second eldest seemed to get lost in the shuffle since he had returned. In fact, Jimmy was the first to arrive, followed by Danny, then Frank. Frank was the only one who knew what was going on. Joe would call Robbie once Hal arrived.

  Where was he?

  “Taking care of something,” Danny said. “He didn’t get into it. A sort of an uproar in New Bowman.”

  Joe eyes rose. “You don’t know what it is?”

  Danny shook his head. “Henry was the one that brought it up.”

  “I know what it is,” Frank said.

  “How do you know what it is?” Joe asked.

  “Guessing. I’m smart like that you know.”

  “I’m sure.”

  “He’s playing with his new toy.” Frank added sarcasm to the last word while looking at Danny.

  “Honestly, Frank,” Danny helped up his hand. “Beginnings will get a system as soon as we protect the unprotected towns.”

  “They’re protected,” Frank said.

  “Not by a perimeter they aren’t.”

  Joe held up his hand. “Hold on, what a surprise.”

  Frank explained. "Fuckin’ Danny set up infrared cameras in Bowman and monitors, and if the monitors don’t match up because of an IFFY then alarms go off.”

  “Danny, why didn’t I know about this?” Joe asked.

  “I wanted it to be a cool surprise. Plus it was put in place based on a theory, I didn’t know if it would work.”

  Joe nodded.

  “Oh.” Frank grunted. “That’s not right, He breaks rules and you nod.”

  “What rules did he break, Frank?”

  “The rules.”

  “What rules?”

  “Your rules.”

  “Which rule?”

  “The one that says he can’t do it.”

  “There is no goddamn rule that states that,” Joe said. “You want to try again.”

  “Yeah, I think we should make one. When are we having a law making session? I think we should do that,” Frank said.

  “Actually, Joe,” Dan
ny said. “That’s not a bad idea. Have our own constitution.”

  Jimmy nodded. “Based on the U.S Constitution.”

  “And we have time to do this when?” Joe asked. “We have a war to prep for.”

  The door to the office opened. “Sorry, I’m late.” Hal walked in. “Bit of trouble that I’m resolving.”

  “What’s wrong?” Joe asked.

  “You aren’t gonna believe this.” Hal sat down. “There are some men causing an uproar because Ben from Fabrics is re-introducing the personal massager, they’ll be on sale in his shop next month.”

  Danny shirked. “No. Joe he can’t do that.”

  “Why not?”

  “The women will buy them.”

  “And they will,” Hal added. “Or should I say, have, he has preorders for fourteen.”

  “Oh my God.” Danny exclaimed.

  “Really?” Joe asked. “That’s wild. How are you handling it?”

  “Free enterprise, the men have to bear it.” Hal responded.

  “No.” Danny argued. “Joe that’s not right.”

  “Why is it not right?” Joe asked.

  “Well, they’ll use them to … you know.” Danny shrugged.

  “So. The men … you know. Why can’t the women?”

  “The men ... you know, because there aren’t many women. The women don’t need to... you know. Because they have the men. And if they use that to … you know, they may not need the men.”

  “Maybe this ought to tell the men something.” Joe said then turned to Frank who had his hand raised. “Yes, Frank.”

  “What are we talking about?”

  “Hal’s problem in New Bowman,” Joe said.

  “With the IFFY watching system.”

  “What?” Joe asked.

  “Is that where the problem is?”

  “No!” Joe snapped. “Hal just said, Ben from Fabrics is bringing back the personal massager.”

  “Okay.”

  “The men are upset about that.”

  “I don’t understand why.” Frank said. “I mean that’s not a problem.”

  “Thank you,” Joe said. “Glad to see you agree.”

  “Why wouldn’t I. I think it’s a great idea. Someone ought to pat Ben on the back for it. If someone needs a personal massager then they should be able to use a personal massager.”

  “You would think that,” Danny said. “You have a woman.”

  “And what does that have to do with it?” Frank asked.

  “Aren’t you worried that she’ll use the personal massager?”

  Frank snorted. “Who cares? My hands are too big and hurt her …”

  Joe winced. “Frank, enough.”

  “If I can’t do it for her, then she should be able to. I mean, not like she takes care of me in that respect.”

  “Frank …” Joe tried to intervene.

  “Although, I’d like to learn …”

  “Frank.”

  “Maybe watch how it’s done so I can learn …”

  “Frank!”

  “What?”

  Joe snapped. “Keep your personal life ... just that … that’s too personal.”

  “If I may,” Hal lifted his hand. “As much as I am enjoying my big brother diminish his own sexual fidelity, I don’t believe he knows what we are speaking of.”

  Frank looked at Hal. “You don’t know what we speaking of, Hal. What the fuck does sexual fidelity have to do with a personal massager?”

  Hal smiled. “Point proven.”

  “What?” Frank asked.

  “Personal massager Frank,” Hal said. “You know what that is.”

  “Um, yeah, Hal, it's someone that gives massages.”

  Hal shook his head.

  Frank tried again. “It’s someone that gives massages … personally?”

  “No!”

  “Hal,” Joe warned. “Let it go.”

  “It’s someone that gives massages personally to you?” Frank asked.

  Hal shook his head with a smug look.

  Jimmy huffed. “Hal, stop.”

  Frank ignored him. “It’s someone that gives personal massages to people who shop at Ben’s shop?”

  Again, Hal shook his head.

  “Frank,” Jimmy tried. “Stop. A personal massager is a PC name for a vibrator.”

  Frank just looked.

  Hal grunted. “Dildo you moron.”

  “Oh,” Frank nodded then his eyes grew wide. “Oh.”

  Joe covered his own eyes.

  “Fuck,” Frank said.

  Danny nodded. “Exactly. Now what do you think about Ben selling vibrators to our women?”

  Frank nodded. “I think it’s cool and I stand by what I said earlier I hope El lets me watch.”

  “Frank! Enough.” Joe yelled. “You know … you had me. You almost had me today. I thought maybe you finally were on a smart track. But … but ….after this, I see it was a momentarily lapse.”

  “What was?”

  “Never mind,” Joe said. “Let’s just start the meeting.”

  “Is it senility?” Frank asked.

  “Is what senility?”

  “Your momentary lapse.”

  “No, it was you.”

  “What did I do?”

  “Nothing.” Joe yelled. “Just shut up and let’s start this meeting.”

  “Man,” Frank shook his head. “I didn’t do fuckin’ nothing. I’m sitting here …”

  “Frank.”

  “Minding my own business…”

  “Frank …”

  “You guys are talking about dildos …”

  “Frank.”

  “I innocently interject …”

  “Frank. Enough.”

  “All right.” Frank yelled back. “But it’s all Hal’s fault. He wants a purple one.”

  “Good God, Frank.” Hal gasped. “What is your problem?”

  Frank shrugged. “I don’t have a problem... You have a problem, you and Danny with dildos.”

  Hal shook his head. “I don’t have a problem with the dildos.”

  “I do.” Danny said.

  Joe winced. “Can we just call Robbie and start this. Please. Please. Because if we don’t get off …” He paused in irritation when Hal and Frank snickered. “Nice, very nice. Mature too.” Joe shook his head and lifted the phone. “Robert. Good. I’m putting you on the speaker.” Joe clicked a button. “I have you turned on.”

  Frank and Hal laughed.

  “Assholes,” Joe said. “Robert.”

  “Hey, Dad, I’m here. Hey, Frank, Hal and whoever else is there. How’s it going?”

  Frank answered “Good little brother, how about with you? How’s El?”

  “Good.” Robbie replied. “What’s going on there?”

  “Not much,” Frank said. “Just this meeting. Dad and Hal were talking about dildos while waiting on you.”

  “Frank.”

  “Dildos?” Robbie asked.

  “Robert.”

  “Dildos” Frank replied.

  “Enough! I won’t say it again.” Joe huffed out. “Can we begin?”

  Jimmy raised his hand. “Is this about the future message from Jason, if it is I want to get …?”

  “No,” Joe said.

  “Okay, cause I made some progress but that can be at a later time.”

  “What?” Joe asked shocked. “Progress on what?”

  “Deciphering what Jason said,” Jimmy shrugged. “Not much. I tried to get straight to the important parts but it’s weird, it’s almost like it won’t let me, like I have to build the puzzle piece by piece. I can bring you what I got later.”

  “Please, thanks,” Joe said. “Obviously, it isn’t vital or you would have told us sooner.”

  “Not the vital parts, no,” Jimmy said bashful. “I’m getting there.”

  “I know. I’m proud of you. Ok.” Joe stood up. “The point of this meeting.” He paced around to the front of his desk and leaned against it. “Seems … Seems Mike Ma
nis has decided to retaliate against the Society. Alone.”

  Hal sat up some. “Alone, what do you mean?”

  “I mean, he went to Quantico to kill George.”

  Frank added. “Probably thinking like we all have done. Cut the head off the snake.”

  Joe nodded. “Exactly. Now, a month ago …” He shrugged. “This wouldn’t be discussed. We’d probably slap him on the back, say good luck and have a humdinger of a party for him. But … that’s not the case now. So what do we do? Can it be done? Thoughts. Hal.”

  “Yes,” Hal said. “Quantico is easy to infiltrate, there’s very little protection. Finding him... how hard is it going to be? How many houses are there? Not many. Mike will get in, get George. So yes.”

  “No,” Jimmy added. “You’re forgetting a very important factor. Callahan. When Doyle was in charge he was lax because he knew eventually he would defect, so he left things wide open. When Callahan took over she closed a lot of doors. Not only is she readily available to protect him, she has Quantico tight. So I disagree, Hal, no, it can’t be done.”

  Robbie buzzed in with a buzzing sound. “I’m with Hal. It can be done. Quantico is shit. It’s easy. It’s always been easy. Mike was a Navy Seal. He can do this with ease.”

  Joe nodded. “Frank?”

  Frank exhaled. “No. It can’t be done.”

  Robbie laughed out a ‘what’. “Frank…”

  Frank bit his bottom lip with a twitch of his head, trying to talk while the arguments entailed.

  Robbie continued. “It’s Quantico. Are you telling me you think the walls are that strong?”

  “Shouldn’t matter,” Hal said. “One well trained man can do a lot of damage.”

  “Maybe!” Frank said loudly to silence everyone. “One well trained man can do a lot of damage if he is still in that mode, if he was where he was twenty years ago and fifty fuckin pounds lighter. Mike can’t sneak past a fuckin Mack truck, he has no agility, and he’s slow as fuckin shit, and sorry, lost his edge. But. ..That’s not the reason it won’t happen. It won’t happen because we’re not gonna let it happen. Like Dad said, before, a month ago, yeah, but now we know what lies ahead. As much as I hate fuckin George and want to see him dead, he is still the head of the snake. He dies; the Society goes into confusion and disorganization. We are gonna need every available Society soldier if this thing takes hold, this Great War. It’ll be a hell of a lot easier grabbing hold of those soldiers if they are still organized. The death of George … that ain’t gonna happen.”