“Dean,” Robbie called. “It’s hard to breathe.”
“The air’s different. Take shallow breaths until I test it,” Dean said.
Frank looked around. There was only one direction to go, one shore, the rest was water as far as he could see. “Shore isn’t far. Let’s head there. Dean, can you swim there?”
“I can doggie paddle.”
“Good, do that.” Frank grabbed hold of Chaka and made his way to shore.
Hal was the first to arrive and was slightly out of breath. He dropped his bags to the beach, helped Robbie ashore, then hurried out to Frank.
Chaka was visibly shaken when he stepped from the water. He stumbled a few steps and dropped to the beach.
Hal looked around, it was a mixture of desert and forest. The beaches and hillsides were brown and sandy but inland were trees. The water was the bluest Hal had ever seen,
“Dear God, can this be any more like Planet of the Apes?” Hal asked.
“Yeah,” Robbie said, taking off his boots. “All we need is a sinking ship out there.”
“We have Dean.” Hal pointed. “Should one of us go get him?”
Frank peered out to Dean who made little distance while frantically doing his best doggie paddle.
“I’ll go out.” Robbie ran out to the water and jumped in.
Frank took off his bag and opened it. “Man, Danny was right. Everything in here is dry.” He grabbed an ear piece, put it in his ear then tossed one to Chaka. “Listen up, keep your items near you. We don’t need the natives stealing it.”
“The three that came through obviously fell in the water as well,” Hal said. “Which way did they go?”
“We have to look for signs, they should be easy to find. They can’t be far.” Frank walked to the shore and helped Dean in. “Hell of a job swimming, Dean.”
“You’re an ass.” Dean took off the life jacket.
“All right, everyone,” Frank hollered out. “Keep your gear close. Let’s check every inch of …”
“Frank!” Chaka yelled. “Over here.”
Frank hurried over.
“Look.” Chaka pointed down. “Two sets of prints. A thick trail. They were dragging someone.”
“What did he say?” Hal asked.
“Two sets of prints, the third person being dragged. He’s the mighty tracker.”
“Frank, please,” Hal scoffed. “Footprints in the sand does not make a mighty tracker.”
Chaka crouched down and ran sand between his fingers. “Blood. Primal blood. One is hurt.” He pointed outward “They went to the trees.”
“Keep track of where we are,” Frank said. “We don’t want to get too lost.”
They followed the tracks, once they hit the tree line, the ground was covered with grass and brush, making tracks hard to follow.
“Which way now?” Hal asked.
Chaka sniffed and pointed, then led the way, walking far ahead of them.
Frank turned to Hal. “Wanna make fun of his mighty tracker skills now?”
Hal rolled his eyes.
“Here,” Chaka called out. “Found one.”
Frank and the others rushed that way.
A pair of legs extended from the brush, Chaka reached down, slid him out, lifted him and violently plopped him on the ground. His head was bleeding.
“Henry?” Hal questioned.
“You son of a bitch!” Robbie charged forward. “You tried to kill my brother!”
As Henry scurried to his feet, Robbie dove on him.
Frank reached down, grabbing Robbie. “Knock it off.” He pulled Robbie from him.
“He tried to kill you, Frank.”
“I didn’t try to kill Frank,” Henry defended.
“Oh, yeah, then why are you here?” Robbie snapped.
“Because I was doing what I was asked!” Henry shouted. “By him.” He pointed to Frank.
“What is he talking about?” Hal asked.
Frank exhaled. “When I knew who Elliott saw on the roof, I pulled Henry aside. I figured everyone believed he hated me, so why not have Henry befriend him, follow him.”
“Who?” Hal asked. “Who did Elliott see on that roof?”
“Fort,” Frank answered.
Dean whined, Robbie whined and so did Hal.
“Fort?” Hal asked. “It was Fort, damn it, it was that simple.”
“Yeah and you let him all in on that little rig the time machine shit,” Frank said.
“Yeah,” Henry said. “He made fun of you, too, Hal. I tried to warn you, Frank. Some other guy showed up last night, too. It was screwed up. I did everything like you asked. Next thing I know I am running through the time machine after him and I am at God knows where. I nearly drowned Frank. But at least you got my text message about the bomb. You found it?”
“No, I blew up,” Frank said. “But I stopped, dropped and rolled. You didn’t send a text.”
“I did.”
“Wait.” Frank opened his bag and pulled out his phone.
“You brought your phone?” Hal asked.
“I want to get pictures,” Frank said. “No. Here’s your text from this morning. ‘He got Johnny. Don’t go in the office. It’s rigid.’ Nothing about a bomb.”
Hal snatched the phone. “Rigged. Not Rigid, you illiterate asshole and what is this, Henry? Johnny?”
Henry nodded. “Joe had Johnny following you. He busted them last night, I tried to warn him but they knocked him out. That new guy is still in Beginnings and he convinced Fort to take Johnny to the future. Leave him there. They drugged him, Frank.”
“So let me get this right,” Frank said. “Not only are we gonna have to find Fort, we have to rescue my son?”
Henry nodded.
“We got this,” Frank said. “We can do this.”
“But it’s Fort’s time,” Henry said. “He knows this place, he set it to come back home.”
“No. It’s Johnny. Once he comes off that drug, he’s a force to be reckoned with.” Hal shook his head. “Plus, this isn’t the destination he planned on. Jason safeguarded the safeguard.”
“Where are we?” Henry asked. “Or rather when are we?”
Before anyone could answer a sound rang out. The blow of a tusk trumpet, a single long, sharp note followed by another.
Everyone looked up to locate the sound.
Robbie choked out a laugh of disbelief. “We aren’t hearing that, are we?”
Hal closed his eyes. “Oh my God.”
The horn rang again.
“Oh, yeah, hear that?” Frank cupped his ear. “I was expecting that. The future, falling from the sky, the lake, that being another sign from my Charlton Heston world.”
“Why does that sound so familiar?” Dean asked.
“It’s a round up call,” Frank answered. “Break out the nets. Catch the natives. Run for the hills. It’s real. Gentlemen…” He grinned. “Welcome to the Planet of the Leps.”
<><><><>
ESCAPE THE PLANET OF THE LEPS
Beginnings Book 28
ONE - Beginnings
It wasn't anything new. In fact, Beginnings had been utilizing the time machine for several years. Most of the trips were to gather information, and some of them were easy missions. Joe was confident that there would be no problems. After all, counting all the trips, there have only been problems several times. Flying bullets, a killer baby coming through, Indians chasing someone. Even with the one incident where Frank, Dean and Henry went through and supposedly brought back Robbie, things had been pretty seamless. Of course, in that occurrence, only Frank, Dean, and Henry really knew what had been done.
Then again, they went to the past. That was tricky, there was the risk of change...
He expected a smooth return. Joe didn't know how long it would take for his son's return. After all, this was the furthest distance, time wise, they had ever taken.
A thousand years.
Roy and Jason both estimated that because of the time distance, there wouldn't be a bl
ink of an eye return. It could be as little as a minute or as long as hours. Possibly even a parallel time. This was new. No precedents. No way to know. They also went through with four return pendants. There was even theorization that if they all used a different pendant, they could return at different times. Far-fetched as it seemed, it was possible.
So, when Frank and the others went through, and the door closed, Joe knew it was just a matter of waiting for their return.
Never in a million years did he think anything could go too wrong.
"I think I'll go outside and have a smoke and see what Ellen wanted," Joe said.
Just as he began to do that, it happened.
The familiar sound of electrical humming, the flash of the blue lights. Only this time, it was accompanied scream. A deep gut wrenching long cry out and Joe knew the voice. It came from one of his sons. It wasn't a painful scream as much as it was a preparatory scream as if waiting for something to happen.
If a son of his screamed, it had to be bad. It was. When Robbie appeared, he was alone. He wasn’t just standing there. He was bound to a post. His bionic arm showed signs of wear, wires protruding his body beaten, stripped of clothing with the exception of a single cloth covering from waist to his thighs.
Joe raced over to him. “Help me untie him.” He told Jason and Roy. As he reached for Robbie’s arm, the pendant dropped from his hand.
“You’re back. You’re okay,” Joe said, he lifted Robbie’s face.
“Dad,” Robbie said weakly.
“Dear God.” Joe placed his hand on Robbie’s cheek. “What happened to you?”
“Joe,” Jason said. “His hand is busted pretty badly. Probably was excruciating to press that pendant.”
“The bionic arm shorted out, too.” Roy reached down and grabbed the pendant. So he didn’t lose it, or it didn’t get stepped on, he looped the tag attached to the pendant over Robbie’s wrist... “Looks like someone tried to take it apart.”
Joe’s hand shot to his mouth, he felt horrible for his youngest son. Heartbreaking, hand shaking, he seemed to only be in the way.
“We got this, Joe,” Jason reached at the same time to cut the bonds, but when he did, Robbie flickered. As if his being was an image on television with bad reception. He flickered, turned a bluish hue, and with a rush of static, he and the post were gone.
“What happened?” Joe asked, panicked. “What did you do? Where did he go?”
Roy stood there dumbfounded and Jason rushed to the computer. “The read out shows he came through, year unknown.”
“Why would it say year unknown?” Joe asked.
Jason shrugged. “Roy any suggestions.”
“The arm could have caused the pendant to malfunction. Sent an electrical charge. He tried to comeback, but it wasn’t strong enough to keep him here.”
“And when you moved the pendant,” Jason said. “You probably jarred it and it reset.” He looked at Joe. “It would have happened no matter where he was when we lifted the pendant. Next time this happens, I disable the pendant right away.”
“Where did he go?” Joe questioned.
“He reversed, He went back, same spot, same time, maybe a minute later,” Jason replied. “But that isn’t all.”
“Christ.”
“That was pendant number three. It wasn’t Robbie’s, it was Hal’s.”
Joe closed his eye briefly. “What did we do?” He exhaled. “I need to step out. Excuse me for a moment.”
He left the quantum lab and stepped outside when his phone buzzed. He looked down at it to see text messages from Ellen. She had been trying earlier to call him.
‘Sorry Joe. Elliott is awake. He scared me. Was talking crazy from a coma dream.’ – That was text one.
The other read, ‘If by chance you are sending them to the future. Can you wait? I know it sounds crazy. Elliott says it’s a trap.’
Joe exhaled. “It’s not crazy at all. I just hope to God, Elliott is wrong.” He put away his phone and headed over to the trailer.
TWO – POLW (Planet of LEPS world)
The tusk trumpet rang out capturing the attention of Frank, Hal, Robbie, Dean and Henry. Even Chaka looked up in surprise.
“Oh, yeah, hear that?” Frank cupped his ear. “I was expecting that. The future, falling from the sky, the lake, that being another sign from my Charlton Heston world.”
“Why does that sound so familiar?” Dean asked.
“It’s a round up call,” Frank answered. “Break out the nets. Catch the natives. Run for the hills. It’s real. Gentlemen…” He grinned. “Welcome to the Planet of the Leps.”
After turning to tune in Frank took off running.
“What the hell is he doing?” Hal snapped and ran after him, calling out in a harsh whisper. “Frank. Frank, you asshole, where are you going.”
Frank stopped. “I want to watch the round up. When the Leps come down on horses and throw a net on humans.”
“What if you’re one of them?” Hal asked.
“Hal, please. They’ll never catch me.”
“Okay, that’s true, but they’ll catch me, or Robbie or Dean.”
“And me,” Henry added,
“Who cares,” said Robbie.
“That’s not very nice, Robbie. I was helping Frank or I wouldn’t be here.”
“Gentlemen,” Hal called out. “Doesn’t matter. None of us want to be captured. Frank, can you not run off halfcocked until we have a plan?”
“Fine.” Frank retreated his steps. “Hey Chaka, what does the horn mean? Round up?”
“I do not know. I told you this world, at least here is not like mine. Nor is the one in the book.”
“What book?” Henry asked.
“So, basically, we’re missing an opportunity to see how the natives work,” said Frank.
Hal shook his head. “We’ll have plenty of opportunity. We need to formulate a plan.
“What book?” Henry asked, again.
Hal answered. “The one that Roy was hiding that told of the future. And Frank, what are you doing?”
Frank stood a few feet away, holding his phone out at arm’s length. “Group selfie. I’ll post it later.” He grinned.
“Oh my God,” Hal put his hand to his face.
Robbie laughed.
“Does the book give any insight?” Henry asked.
“We didn’t read it … all.” Hal said. “Only the portion where Danny Hoi went to the future.”
“But the dates are wrong,” Dean said. “They’re off.”
“Am I in it?” Henry asked. “Because if I’m not then that means I die here or get stuck here.”
“Oh,” Robbie commented. “A book with a happy ending.”
“You’re not funny, Robbie.”
“Yeah, I am.”
“Can we …” Hal held out his hands. “Get our things from the beach and cautiously follow the trail. Agree?”
Frank nodded. “Remember, I can’t stress enough not to take off your clothes.”
“We’ll try to remember that safety tip, Frank,” Hal said and mumbled as he walked off. “Idiot.”
“What?” Frank shook his head. “Man, he is so much like Dad.” He trailed behind the group. “Hey, Hal you even have the same bald spot in the back of your head.”
Hal grumbled and kept walking,
Frank lifted his phone and took a picture.
THREE – BEGINNINGS
K?
Really, Joe? Really? Ellen thought.
She sent him what she thought was a pretty important life or death message.
‘Sorry Joe. Elliott is awake. He scared me. Was talking crazy from a coma dream. If by chance you are sending them to the future. Can you wait? I know it sounds crazy. Elliott says it’s a trap.’
Elliott was deep in a coma, woke up choking and coughed out water as if he were drowning. The whole thing was strange. Combine his rambling words with the fact that Dean was also acting mysterious. Not only did Dean suddenly leave, he took sup
plies as he headed to the quantum lab.
Maybe she was thinking too much about it.
Still.
Joe responded with simply a ‘K’. After tapping her phone on her hand, Ellen calmed, figured there was nothing to worry about, and returned to Elliott’s room.
Melissa walked out of the room as Ellen entered. “He’s well,” Melissa said.
“That’s great.” Ellen entered.
Andrea was placing oxygen on him when she noticed Ellen.
“Everything okay?” Andrea asked.
“Yeah, yeah. Just wanted to let Joe know what Elliott said.”
Elliott pulled the mask from his face and his hand was quickly swatted by Andrea. His words were muffled.
To Ellen it sounded like he said. ‘Strut in the space’, and she crinkled her brow.
“What can you pay?” Andrea tapped his hand. “Oh, sweetie nothing. No charge here.”
Elliott shook his head and muttered his words.
“What bay?” Ellen asked.
Frustrated, Elliott moved the oxygen from his face. “What did I say?
“When?” Ellen asked.
“Ellen,” Elliott said, holding back frustration. “You said that you told Joe about what I said. What was it? I don’t remember saying anything.” He stopped Andrea from putting the oxygen on him. “I’m fine, please, I don’t need it.”
“But you were drowning,” Andrea said.
Elliott looked around. “In a hospital bed?”
“We’re trying to figure that out,” Ellen replied. “Anyhow, you rambled something about a trap.”
Elliott shook his head. “I don’t recall. The only thing I remember is dreaming about Frank. He kept popping into my dreams asking me questions. Wait... why am I in the hospital?”
“You were shot,” Andrea explained. “It was a close call. Do you remember?”
“No, the last thing I recall is walking out of the Social Hall.” Elliott shook his head. “I feel pretty good. Was it bad?”
“You were bad,” Ellen said.
“Shot in the head.” Andrea added.
Elliott reached up and felt. “Where.”
“Above your left temple,” Ellen said.
His hand felt around. “I don’t feel anything.”
The Third Ten Page 204