The Third Ten

by Jacqueline Druga

  “I know. I’m just not ready yet, that’s all.”

  “I understand. I’m glad you came out for the meeting.”

  “Actually, I didn’t know there was a meeting. I came to town for distribution and some bread and tomatoes.”

  “You should stay, Jason. this is big news.”

  “Do you know what it is?” he asked.

  “Actually, yes, I do. I found it out before anyone and told Jimmy. Jimmy told Frank and you know how it goes.”

  Jason nodded.

  “So you’ll stick around.”

  “I don’t feel like being around anyone. I feel compelled to work in my lab. Now that Lars has arrived, there’s breathing room for me to work on my work.”

  “I don’t feel like staying either. If you’d like, how about we grab a cup of coffee at the bakery, hang out and I’ll tell you what it’s about.”

  Jason stared at her for a second. “I’d … I’d like that.”

  “And I’d like to see you out and about more. Jason, Joe wouldn’t want this.”

  “I know.”

  “Let’s work on what Joe would want.”

  Jason nodded.

  “Shall we?” She held out her arm.

  Jason gave a polite smile and instead, held out his arm. Jenny looped her arm through and they left the square.

  <><><><>

  The last Richie Martin knew, Fort was stuck in Containment forever. In fact, when he left his shift at Containment the day before, there was no word on Fort getting out. Bob Smith had just arrived in Containment, and Fort and he were getting buddy-buddy.

  But there he was, standing outside of Containment, back of the line, waiting for the town meeting to begin.

  Fort.

  He didn’t get much sleep; Dean was making a ruckus before dawn had even broken. It was impossible for Richie to live with him and he was regretting ever being assigned housing with Dean.

  He wondered if Jess and Robbie had room.

  Spotting Jess standing by the bakery gave Richie the chance to find out two things.

  Find out about Fort and about rooming.

  “What’s up” Richie asked Jess upon arriving at him.

  “Oh, hey Rich.” Jess shook his hand. “I didn’t expect you here. You were at Containment pretty late.”

  “Yeah, well, try living with Dean.”

  “Impossible.”

  “It’s like living with your mom and trying to sleep in on a Saturday.”

  “He wasn’t running the vacuum was he?” Jess asked.

  “Try his mouth. I swore there were two of him. One minute he’s there, the next he isn’t, then he’s there. Christ.”

  Jess snickered.

  “Hey, so what’s going on with Fort?”

  Jess looked over his shoulder. “I released him about an hour ago. Frank is getting him housing.”

  “We released him.”

  Jess shrugged. “The need for information is no longer there. According to Frank, that according to Jason, they both have a different recollection of time, the future, and Beginnings, so it isn’t going to do us any good. We found out shit, so that automatically changes things.”

  “I said that to them. They didn’t listen.”

  “We’re not doctors of time.”

  “Speaking of doctors, does my sister know he’s released?”

  “Not yet.” Jess said hesitantly. “I tried to call her. She didn’t answer. I got her voice mail.”

  “You left a message?”

  “Yep. No reply yet.”

  Richie cringed. “This isn’t going to bode well.”

  “I know. She hates him.”

  “Now he’s free.” Richie nodded seriously, paused then smiled. “Wow. Great idea.”

  “What?” Jess asked with a crocked smile.

  “Nothing. Just … an idea I had. Talk to you later.” Richie gave a swat to Jess’ arm, and turned, calling out. “Hey Fort. Wanna visit the clinic?”

  <><><><>

  Frustrated was an understatement.

  Robbie was near out of his mind. He didn’t know how Jimmy did it. Locking himself in one room, trying to solve a puzzle. Robbie was head of Security and had other things on his plate. Even though Frank told him to stick to this one thing.

  Match the fingerprints.

  He looked at the time and even though he didn’t have to be at the town meeting, he needed a break. So he left the tiny computer lab and walked toward town.

  Rounding the bend from between the buildings he passed the bakery, and in there he saw Jason.

  He tapped on the widow and waved, then opened the door, popping his head inside. “Jason, can I see you for a second?”

  “Sure.” Jason stood, excusing himself from Jenny and walked outside with Robbie. “What’s going on?”

  “Hey, question, just a fast one. I’m reading this book called, The Shroud.”

  “Good book.”

  “Yeah,” Robbie smiled. “Anyhow, is a clone the exact match to the person that was cloned? Or will here be differences?”

  Jason exhaled. “A clone is an exact replica of the genetic marker it is created from and theoretically from the time he or she was cloned. For example, if you were cloned right now your clone would be missing an arm. The mapping of the moment is captured. But the clone would look like you, sound like you, be identical to you down to the fingerprints.”

  Robbie nodded. “Thanks.”

  “You’re asking because the clone of Jesus in that book is seven feet tall, right?”

  Robbie paused for a second. “Yeah, actually, that’s exactly why I’m asking.”

  “To be honest I couldn’t figure that out myself. My only reasoning is the author was infatuated with height. Don’t drive yourself insane over it.”

  “Thanks.” Robbie grinned. “That helps.”

  But it didn’t. It aided his frustration. He was hoping that Jason would give him something he didn’t know. But he didn’t.

  He left the bakery and spotted Frank.

  He needed to vent.

  “Hey ya’,” her sloppy, drunken voice called out. With a hiccup. “Hot stuff.”

  Robbie chuckled. “Hey Josephine. Been drinking?”

  “Absolutely.” She nodded. “It’s a town fucking meeting. When did we not drink at them?’

  “Rarely.”

  “And Frankie is running it.”

  “True.”

  “That’s worth at least a bottle.”

  Robbie laughed. “True.”

  ‘Wanna join me and sneak in the social.” She winked, swayed, and winked again.

  “I might just do that.”

  “Wanna have sex.”

  “Um …. Not today. But thanks.”

  She tried to give a thumbs up, but couldn’t. “Maybe I’ll ask that brother of yours. Nah, never mind. He’s giving it to Jenny. A ha!”

  Robbie smiled. ‘What?”

  “Dean.” She nodded. “He’s always free to pull out that penis.”

  “Yeah, I heard that.”

  “Showed you, too?”

  “Several times.”

  “Fucking huge.”

  Robbie laughed. “That’s what I heard.”

  Josephine tapped her fingers to her mouth. “I think I’ll find him.”

  “You do that. Good luck.” Robbie walked by her and over to Frank. “Hey, big brother.”

  “Hey, little brother. I’m surprised you’re here.”

  “Yeah, me, too,” Robbie said. “Actually, I wasn’t planning on coming. I already know what it’s about.”

  “Yeah, well, we better get moving or else George is going to be here before we tell them.”

  “That would be fucking funny. Where’s El?”

  Frank shrugged. “I don’t know. All I know is Lars said her and Dean aren’t coming, aren’t concerned and begged me not to tell them what it’s about.”

  “Are you?”

  Frank grinned. “Fuck no. They can’t come? Too bad. Let them be surprised
.”

  “Frank that’ll be fucking funny.”

  “I know.”

  “You got a second?” Robbie asked.

  “Yeah, sure, what’s up?”

  Robbie pulled him from ear range of anyone else. “I’m getting frustrated.”

  Just as he said that, Josephine walked to him. “I told you I could help you,” she said, “Change of mind?”

  “Um, no.”

  “Maybe later.” She gave a playful punch to his arm and walked off.

  Frank laughed. “She’s in normal form. Drunk.”

  “Check this out. She says Dean is showing his penis around.”

  “You think it’s the clone?” Frank asked.

  “Yep. I just don’t see Dean doing that. Now we have a perverted clone.”

  “That’s fucking funny if you think about it.”

  Robbie snickered. “Yeah, it is. Anyhow, check this out. No match.”

  “Yet?”

  “Yet.” Robbie tossed up his hands. “Frank, I don’t know what to do. I’m running each one twice.”

  “You went through the obvious.”

  “Obvious what? People who’d want to kill Dad? I can’t think of a single person. but I went thought all the obvious. First the list of those who survived the explosion. Elliott, Hal, Dean, Ellen, Jason all of them.”

  “Nothing.”

  “Nothing,” Robbie said. “Then I started hitting everyone else I know. I’m at about thirty people and still nothing.”

  “Fuck.”

  “Yeah. If I don’t find a match in Beginnings, you know what this means don’t you?”

  “We’ll have to hit the other towns.”

  “Fucking six thousand people Frank.”

  “I know.”

  “They aren’t registered with the fingerprint system.” Robbie closed his eyes. “I do want to print Fort and Bob Smith.”

  Frank nodded. “Good idea.”

  “I checked with the front tunnel. They said that the day dad died, there were only twenty visitors.”

  “Did you get the names?” Frank asked.

  “Yep, and the visitor had to set the explosion within an hour that’s all the timer was. But … we still don’t know if the visitor made it, and Dean Clone set it.”

  “Wearing gloves.”

  “Exactly.”

  “So the person may have never stepped foot in Beginnings that day.”

  “Exactly.”

  “It’s someone in Beginnings Robbie,” Frank said. “I feel it.”

  “Really?”

  Frank nodded.

  Robbie sighed out. “I’ll run everyone then.”

  “It’s always the last person you’d check.”

  “Isn’t that the truth?”

  “You’ll do it,” Frank gave a firm squeeze of Robbie’s arm for assurance.

  Robbie’s eyes shifted. “Hey, Frank, Danny’s calling you.”

  A quick look to his watch and Frank, nodded to Danny. “It’s time. Wish me luck.”

  “Good luck.”

  Frank winked and walked to the steps of the clinic.

  Robbie stood there. He debated on staying or going. After thinking about it, he opted to stay. After all, they were informing Beginnings that George was on his way and Robbie didn’t want to miss the crowd reaction to that.

  <><><><>

  “We have a new format,” Danny said over the microphone. “And a means of doing things, so I hope everyone can adjust. To my left you’ll see a microphone. If you have a question after my statement, please get in line and I will do my best to answer them. Think of this as … a special news bulletin. Let’s face it, Beginnings and its provinces are growing. We’ve designed a more effective means of government to run it, as all of you know. A lot like the old world. One change will be that I’ll be speaking a lot on behalf of news that you need to know. I will try to present it as clear, concise, and factual as possible. So why are we here?” Danny presented a much more relaxed feel as he spoke. “Two reasons. Neither is meant to alarm you. I need all of you to be open. It has been brought to our attention through intelligence …” Danny smiled. “Yes, we have our means of intelligence. That … that a US invasion in not only possible but probable.” He waded through the immediate rush of voices, holding up his hand. “We are working diligently to find out the details of this, and to fend off any attack before it happens upon our soil. By a US attack, I mean as a continent, as a whole. Not the Society, not an internal force, but an external force. It has been said we are the fertile country. That our land feeds the world. Well, if you think about it, the world outside of this country is starving. Where are they going for food? They haven’t contacted us, so therefore any presence they make will be considered hostile. Our intelligence points that it will be a hostile invasion. A lot of you may be thinking, maybe they can’t contact us. Here’s our way of thinking, if they can get here, if they have the means to pull an attack, then they have the means to contact us. Period. This very reliable information. You will be informed when we know more. Right now, we have uncovered a source that will enable us to detect their presence before they get here. Allowing our determination of their cause and our course of action. We wouldn’t have had the means to this information or this very, very valuable communication link, which works like NORAD. We would have it if it wasn’t for the Society giving us the data and the information needed to tap into the resources.”

  Another pause. Another group question.

  Danny continued, “Which is the second point to today’s meeting. The Society. They have been the enemy. I know. Like the days of the Civil War, North versus South, in this day and age, the civil war of East versus West must, will, and has stopped. We have not only been in constant communication with the Society, but we have embarked on an alliance with them.”

  Danny hid his wince at the uproar.

  “Listen to me and allow your logic to set in. We are few. Those who are coming are many. We as a country cannot stand, cannot be victorious, if we as a country cannot stand together. Period. So we as a country must mend fences, we must put aside our differences and we must start anew. New sheet of paper, the past … a past which all of us felt, has to be just that. The past. We have to start blank and with unity. The biggest initiator of this new alliance is George. He has shown us that his intentions are with the good of the country, and his resources as a military presence are at our disposal as well. Combined with Beginnings strength, knowledge, and expertise, this country united, will stand stronger than ever. But we need your support. The support starts here, today. George Hadley is on his way … alone, to meet with us and to pull together a defensive and offensive strategy that will keep this country safe, sound, intact, and standing strong in the face of impending confrontation. We must do this. We must be not only a community but a country. And when this is all said and done, when this great challenge we face is met and finished, then with victory, we will no longer be a country of the Eastern Ceceres Society and the Western Alliance, but we will once again be, as a whole, the United States of America.”

  Pause.

  “Thank you. I’ll take your questions.”

  A round of applause bright and hopeful rang out.

  Frank, after biting his bottom lip, stepped to the podium and excitedly gave a nudging punch to Danny’s arm. “That was fuckin awesome, Danny. Awesome. Gave me chills. Look.”

  Danny smiled. “Thanks. But I can’t take all the credit. Elliott Ryder helped me with that.”

  “Fuckin knew it.” Frank smiled and stepped back. He pointed. “Your line forms.”

  Danny nodded and returned to the microphone.

  “Good luck,” Frank said.

  Danny took a deep breath and faced his growing line of questioners.

  Dan from Security was the first to ask his question. “So are you saying we can trust George again?”

  “I’m saying we have to trust George. He stands to lose as much as we do.”

  Next person, next question. �
��This war … are we safe here in Beginnings. I like to think we’re safe.”

  “I like to think so too. That is why we are taking precautions,” Danny replied. “Next.”

  “When is George arriving?”

  “Today.”

  “If we are forming an alliance with George, and we are going to be one country again. Who’s the president?”

  Danny shifted his eyes to Frank, and then answered. “I don’t know about you, but we voted on our president. The Society did not. I would say, Frank. But more so the true leader will emerge.”

  Gemma approached the microphone. “Personally, I wasn’t affected by George, but a lot of people were. How should we act toward him?”

  Danny replied. “The same way you would any other visitor here. Although I haven’t spoken to George about his visit, from the letter we got, it’s informal, so treat him as such.” He pointed to the next person.

  “Where will he be staying?”

  “He’ll be staying here in Beginnings. For how long, I don’t know. It seems it’s an extended visit. And he’ll be rooming with Dan from Security.”

  “What?” Dan looked up surprised. “That’s my new temporary roommate. I thought it was Fort. People are gonna hate me Danny for having him live with me.”

  “No they won’t,” Danny said. ‘You’re fine.” He looked the line was done. “If any of you have any questions, please feel free to email me. I will be addressing questions via email one hour a night, so get the questions in before eight PM, and if that’s all …”

  “Wait. Wait.” Dan from Security rushed to the microphone. “I have one more question.”

  “Shoot.”

  “Should we allow him back in the dart league while he’s here?”

  “I don’t …”

  “Because he’s good. He’s really good. No one can beat him. Right now things are fair.”

  “Then don’t let him,” Danny said.

  “But if we don’t it may look like we’re not letting him play because of who he is not because of how he plays.”

  Danny replied, “Then tell him it’s because he’s too good.”

  “I don’t think he’s gonna believe that. I really torn on what we should do here.”

  “Then let him play,” Danny said. “This really isn’t that big of a deal.”