The Third Ten

by Jacqueline Druga

Bling. ‘You have mail.”

  “Frank again?” Danny asked.

  Joe nodded. “He forwarded me a …” Joe opened it and read. “Send this to ten people in fifteen minutes or …. Goddamn it, two hours two goddamn hours and I get a chain letter. What the hell is the matter with these people? Morons. No, wait, my son is a moron. He started this chain letter.”

  “How do you know Dan didn’t send it?”

  “One, it’s not forwarded. Two, it’s all caps, there’s exclamation points at the end of each sentence, there are misspelled words and it says …. Send this email to ten people in fifteen minutes and you will get good luck. If not you will die a horrible death that not even Frank can save you from.”

  “Isn’t technology great?”

  Joe grumbled.

  Bling. ‘You have mail.’

  “Frank?” Danny asked.

  Joe looked. “No, Dan. He sent me the goddamn chain letter as well.”

  “You’re so popular.”

  Joe peered over his half square glasses. “Swell.”

  ****

  “El, come on,” Dean was everything he needed to be. Compassionate, understanding. His hand rested on her head, gently.

  “Sorry, I didn’t think this would all get to me.” She sniffed hard. “At least … at least Robbie called.”

  “He did. He’s doing well. We have another week here. Then we’ll be back.”

  “I can’t believe I’m this upset,” Ellen said. She swiped her hand under her eyes.

  “Knowing you as well as I do, yeah, I can see you getting upset. When I first heard, I thought right away how upset you were gonna be.”

  “I just … everyone will be ….”

  “I know.” Dean pulled her in closer to embrace her.

  From beneath his hold, Ellen spoke. “I’m so glad you aren’t making fun.”

  “Never.”

  “So you don’t think I’m being silly?”

  “It’s so Ellen.”

  Ellen pulled back. “So Ellen?”

  “Yeah, for anyone else it would be silly. For you, it’s expected. I mean … it was your thing. Right?”

  “It was. It really was.”

  “From all the stories you told me, it’s understandable how upset you are over it.”

  Ellen nodded. “And I’m missing it.”

  “Look at it this way.” Dean laid his hands on her shoulders and spoke peppy. “Look how many emails you will have waiting for you when you get home. Frank alone is gonna bombard you.”

  Ellen bobbed her head. “That’s true. I’ll have a lot to do.”

  “Good. So …” Dean gave her a squeeze. “Buck up.”

  Ellen mouthed the words ‘buck up’.

  “We have work to do.”

  “Right. Ok.” Ellen sighed out. “So we found it.”

  “We found it.”

  “Can we do it?”

  Dean tapped his hand on the counter. “I think. Yes. Yes. We can. Granted, it was something I didn’t even think of.”

  “Oh my God.”

  “What?”

  “You did solve it.”

  “When?”

  “In the future, obviously, you figured out how to do so.”

  “Why do you say that?” Dean asked.

  “Fluffy. The kitten that we think came through the time machine.”

  “Oh my god.”

  “What?”

  “What if it wasn’t me? El, I was dead in the future. So obviously, Lars figured out.”

  “But if he did then he figured out cats. I hate cats. I loved dogs. He’s been trying to figure out how to create the dog again. He has failed. You, my dear, will succeed.”

  Dean grinned. “Yeah, I will. It’s a matter of cloning. But the problem is …” He paused. “I need to find a dog.”

  At that moment Buzz entered the lab. “Did I hear you say you needed to find a dog?”

  Dean turned to him. “You know where to find a dog?”

  “Yep.” Buzz said. “Lots. Wanna see?”

  Dean glanced at Ellen. The produced a quizzical look. “If there were dogs why would he want to recreate …”

  “Maybe it’s a pet cemetery.” Ellen said.

  “That’ll work.” Dean stood. “Take us.”

  With a wave of his hand, Buzz walked out the door.

  ****

  Joe had a plan. All devised. He knew he had to do it when he could hear Andrea in the church when he was at the library, shaking his head at the line of people waiting to get on the computers and email.

  Get away from the madness and go home. The plan. In fact, Joe would be a great husband and make dinner. He heard Andrea was at the clinic … he really heard her there and decided before heading home, he’d go double check.

  The second he stepped into the clinic, he needed to no more confirmation.

  “You have a bit of swelling in your left testicle!” Andrea’s voice carried. “Rest it! Ice it! It’ll be fine!”

  Joe didn’t really want to know who she was talking to. He turned to leave. Hurry, he thought, and make it home.

  “Joe,” Danny walked in the clinic. “I was looking for you.”

  “What’s up Danny,” Joe tried to rush him out.

  Danny, oblivious, inched in.

  Joe grumbled.

  “I have a problem.”

  Joe smiled. “Let’s go fix it.”

  “Huh?” Danny asked. “I have to tell you what it is.”

  “Well, tell me outside.”

  “It’s cold.”

  “Danny …” Joe looked over his shoulder.

  “It’ll only take a second. See me …”

  “Joe!” Andrea screamed. “How wonderful to see you!”

  Joe winced. “Goddamn it, Danny!”

  “What?”

  “I can’t even pretend I don’t hear her.”

  “That’d be hard.”

  Andrea ran to him. “Joe! Are you here to see me?”

  Joe shook his head and pointed to the door.

  “Are you leaving?”

  Joe nodded.

  “Why are you here?”

  “Goddamn it,” Joe thought, not a yes or no. Then it hit him. He pointed to Danny, then to himself then outside.

  “Okay!” Andre shouted, “See you at home! I have to get back to Hap and his testicles!”

  After another wince, Joe darted a kiss to her and walked out.

  “Joe, wait,” Danny called to him. "My problem.”

  “Make my day and tell me it’s the email.”

  Danny chuckled. “No, it’s working great.”

  “Swell.”

  Again, Danny chuckled. “No, in all seriousness, Joe. Robbie called.”

  Irritation gone, attention caught. “What happened?”

  “Oh, nothing. He was giving me a heads up.”

  “On?”

  “George,” Danny said. “Seems he’s been calling me.”

  “George Hadley is gonna call you. For what?”

  “Callahan’s suffered a head injury. She has damage on the portion of the brain that controls mobility and sight. His programmers haven’t figured out the optical and mobility programs like I have.”

  Joe nodded. “He wants the program.”

  “Yep. And what do I do? It’s the Society.”

  “You have to answer that question yourself, Danny. I can’t,” Joe said. “All I can tell you is ask yourself. Everyone who invents something, invents it for a reason. Usually it’s ease or for good. Did you event the program for an easier time in Beginnings or for the good of mankind. You took the bad concept of the chip and made it good. If this was the old world, would you deny an innocent blind man doing his job in the Middle East simply because his country was our enemy?”

  “Yeah, but Joe, is Callahan innocent?”

  “Or is she just doing her job, Danny?” Joe reached out and gave a squeeze to Danny’s arm. “If George asks, it’s your call. Your choice. Your invention.”

  “My conscie
nce.”

  “You said it.” Joe smiled. “Not me.”

  ****

  Danny Hoi was the son of a Chinese immigrant who came to America to make his life better. Johsen Hoi struggled, but he managed in the end to be successful. Danny was always energetic and willing to work to help out the family.

  An intelligent man all his life, Danny, born in America, was eager to prove America was his home and the land of opportunity. He was motivated and even joined the Young Republicans in High school. Debate team, politics club, he worked on campaigns for governors and local legislators. All volunteer because he loved it.

  Danny Hoi didn’t just admire and love the message George Hadley put out, he stood on a street corner handing out flyers. The first presidential election he voted was the Hadley first term election, then for his reelection. Actually George Hadley was the only president Danny ever got a chance to vote for. The world ended.

  He recalled during Hadley’s second campaign, how Danny was invited to a rally and was picked to go on stage. All he ever wanted to do was shake George’s and, meet the president, and he did. On his father’s mantel was a picture of that.

  Something about a man who wore a baseball cap, flight jacket, levi jeans and flew jets.

  He always said if he ever had a chance to sit and speak to the president, he would give him some ideas. Never did Danny imagine he would have that opportunity. That the president he admired for so long would call him up and ask for help.

  Only problem was that president had to do so in the post-apocalyptic world. One Danny made his own.

  He didn’t give it too much thought, the Joe-Guilt trip handed to him on the streets of Beginnings pretty much snuffed any more debate Danny had. He could only prepare for the phone call that would or would not come.

  He went back to his business in Bowman, getting things set up and accepting help from Jimmy. Since Jimmy Slagel was the ace of the Slagels with computers, once the lines were established, Jimmy took over the rest for Danny.

  The call came just as he pulled into the line of utility buildings.

  “Danny, it’s very nice to speak to you,” George said pleasantly on the phone.

  Danny had to pause and wonder if it was the same monster everyone talked about.

  “Robbie said he prepped you for the call?” George asked.

  “Yes, somewhat. Callahan is down?”

  “Yes. Our CME doctors say if they had the right chip, they could implant it and possibly have a 90% of getting Callahan to recovery. The right chip that is, without memory loss... Robbie says you have that.”

  “It’s a piece of cake. I developed it some time ago. Tweaked it for Robbie’s arm.”

  “It’s a program?”

  “Yes,” Danny said. “I just don’t know how to get it to you. It’s not as simple as mapping it out. There’s no mail … wait. Even with dial up I can get it to you, it may take an hour to download.”

  “What are you talking about?” George asked.

  Danny pulled out a notebook. “I’ll email it to you, then you can put it on disk. You put it or burn it on disk for you programmers and the programmers or doctor can then download it to the empty chip. Make sense?’

  “The download part. Yes. The burning the program onto a disk. Absolutely.”

  “Cool, what’s your email?” Danny asked.

  George laughed. “You can’t be serious, can you? Email? No one has email.”

  Danny smiled. ‘Um, we do.”

  “I’m gonna assume you got that started.”

  “Reinstituted the server again here. I thought for sure we were behind.” Danny grinned with a clench to his fist.

  “No, you’re ahead.”

  Checking his position, Danny walked to Frank’s office and knocked one.

  “Come in,” Frank yelled.

  Danny continued to speak to George as he stepped in and waved to Frank. “I’m getting in front of a computer now. Do you have access to one?”

  “I can head to DC,” George said.

  “Are phone lines up there?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. That’s all we need.” Covering the receiver, Danny whispered to Frank. “Can I use your computer real fast?”

  Frank rolled out of the way. “Just doing emails.”

  “Again?” Danny asked.

  “Still,” Frank replied.

  “Still?” Danny looked at his watch as he sat down. Had Frank really been there since seven in the morning that would mean he was there for five hours? He adjusted in front of the computer. “Okay,” he said to George. “I’m back. I’m in front of a computer. I’m gonna start setting things up. When you get in front of a computer, by a working phone line, let me know.”

  “I’ll head to the CME lab now.”

  “Excellent. Call me then.”

  “Danny, thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” Danny hung up.

  “What’s up?” Frank asked.

  “Oh, Callahan was shot. Has a head injury. I am gonna send the SUT chip program to George’s CME doctors so they can implant her.” Danny’s hands worked. “They don’t have a program for mobility and sight like we do. So I’m sharing.”

  “Wow, really?” Frank asked.

  “The SUT chip may have been invented for piss poor reasons, Frank, but I invented to program for the good of all men.”

  “That’s deep.”

  “It is.”

  “So what are you doing now?” Frank asked, watching.

  “I have to send the program. I figured the best way would be to email but the Society hasn’t done a Danny and figured out email. So I’m going to walk George through set up. But right now, I’m setting him up an account.”

  “You’re … you’re getting George an email account.”

  “Yes.”

  Frank smiled.

  ****

  Her fur was a golden blonde mix, and name, Fifi. Her belly couldn’t have been no more than seven inches from the ground when she was on all fours. A tiny terrier mix and Ellen shrieked in delight when she saw her perched on the carpet, short furry front two legs and she sat on her rear instead of her hind legs.

  “Oh my God, how cute.” Ellen extended her hand down to pet her. “You are so precious. Isn’t she precious, Dean?”

  After swiping his hand over his mouth, Dean folded his arms. “Yeah.”

  “Can I pick her up?” Ellen asked Buzz.

  “Sure.”

  “Oh my God.” Ellen lifted Fifi.

  Dean winced.

  Buzz said, “She even has a leash so you can walk her.”

  “No fucking way.” Ellen giggled. “Oh, you are just the cutest thing.”

  Buzz smiled. “When Aunt Jane used to walk her, people would stare. But no one really said anything because she was so damn cute. Look how inventive. How easy it is to walk her.”

  Ellen held Fifi up more. “Wheels.”

  “Yep.”

  Again, Dean swiped his hand over his mouth.

  “Look, Dean,” Ellen showed him “Instead of those leather things on the bottom of a paw, she has wheels.”

  “Does she have wheels on her butt as well?” Dean asked.

  “Let’s look.” Ellen flipped her. “Yes, she does. I have to take her back to Beginnings. What do you think, Dean? I’ll be the envy.”

  “Ellen … Ellen it’s sick.” Dean said. “And this is coming from me, a man, who does sick things to animals. But that is sick.”

  Ellen gasped in offense. “You’re insulting Buzz. This was his aunt’s dog.”

  “Yes it was,” Dean said. “And that was his aunt’s dog. “ He pointed to a beagle. “And another dog.” He indicated to a poodle. “I bet that was her cat. No wait. Three cats.”

  Buzz shook his head. “Actually she bought that stuffed family at a flea market. She couldn’t resist.”

  Ellen smiled. “Your aunt sounds like a wonderfully warm woman rescuing pets.”

  “Dead pets,” Dean corrected. “They are
n’t toys Ellen they are actual dead pets. Stuffed. Taxidermy.”

  “I know, but they’re still cute,” Ellen said. “And again, you’re offending Buzz.”

  “Nah,” Buzz shook his head. ‘No offense I knew she was out there. Everyone did. But, Dean, will it work. Can you get what you need from these?”

  Dean nodded. “I can get a DNA sample from the fur. Yes. Okay. We got one let’s go.” Dean reached for Fifi and Ellen backed up. “What?” Dean asked.

  “You’re not taking Fifi,” Ellen cradled the dog.

  “El, we need her DNA.”

  “Dean, there’s two other dogs. You aren’t touching this one. She’s my new pet.”

  “She’s dead.”

  “She’s still my pet, and you will not experiment on her.”

  “You know what? Fine. Fine. I’ll take Snoopy.” Dean walked over, snatched up the beagle, tucked it under his arm and walked out.

  ****

  The first thought that came to George’s mind when he arrived at the Society Genetics Institute was ‘didn’t anybody work?’

  Usually one or two scientists greeted him at the most. But when George walked in, all twelve were standing by waiting to follow him to Dr. Orson’s.

  “You have to be excited,” the one said.

  “This is a monumental day,” another stated.

  “Do you suppose, we’ll be able to use it?”

  “May we watch?”

  George ignored the questions, since he had an idea what it was pertaining to. It obviously wasn’t the monthly meeting and inspection.

  Dr. Orson waiting in the hall outside his office door as George led the curious minds like the pied piper.

  “I can’t wait,” Dr. Orson said. “This way.”

  George stepped into the office, as did all other people. Finally, annoyed, George turned around. “Is there a reason all of you are here? Don’t you have jobs?”

  Dr. Orson spoke up, “We’re just excited about email. I’ve downloaded everything you need. It was amazing calling into the computer.”

  “I bet.”

  “Please. Sit.” Dr. Orson held out a chair before the computer.

  George walked around the desk and sat. The onlookers stood huddled waiting. With room for only himself, Dr. Orson positioned himself behind George and to his right.

  “Click on the Asian man head.” Dr. Orson instructed.