by Sasha Cain
****
After a long, hot shower, and not only because of the water temperature, Brendan and Isela dried off and dressed.
“I suppose we should venture out and see what the rest of the household is up to,” Brendan said halfheartedly.
“Can we finish our conversation first, from earlier?”
Brendan cocked his head. “I thought we had.”
“No, we were interrupted, remember. I still had something to say.”
“Lay it on me.”
She took a step toward him. Walking her fingers up his abdomen then chest, she said, “You said you were willing to give up Social Saviors but not me, right?”
He nodded, his eyes meeting hers.
“What if you didn’t have to?”
“I’m not following.”
Isela smiled. “I have an idea.”
****
Awhile later, Brendan and Isela came into the living area of the house to find Darrios sitting on the floor playing with Lucan. Maggie stood in the kitchen over a steaming pot of something pumping out a delicious aroma.
“That smells like your famous spaghetti, Maggie. Dare I dream?” Brendan asked.
“It’s probably not going to be exactly the same. Different ingredients here, but I think it’ll be close.”
“It’ll be great, I’m sure.” He sat down at the table and pulled Isela onto his lap. “My sister makes the best spaghetti on the planet. Pretty funny huh? The Irish girl rockin’ the pasta.”
Maggie shook her head, chuckling.
“I, for one, am starving,” Isela said. “Maggie, can I give you a hand?”
“Nope. I’m all set. The sauce needs about another forty minutes and we can eat. Jezbah and Aunt Gin should be here soon.” She glanced up at Brendan and smiled. “Darrios told me about the Council’s offer. I thought we’d celebrate.”
Brendan and Isela exchanged glances, but said nothing. A knock on the door signaled that Jezbah and Aunt Gin had arrived. Naturally Aunt Gin made a big fuss over Brendan regarding the Council’s offer. Brendan glanced around the room at his family and then to Isela, who gazed back at him lovingly, and knew he’d made the right decision. Isela’s idea had been a good one. Now if he could get the Council to go along with it.
Isela set the table while Maggie put the finishing touches on her masterpiece. Gin poured Mulsket and set the glasses next to the plates. When they all sat down, Jezbah stood, holding his glass in the air.
“A toast,” he shouted, “to the Council’s findings on Darrios and to their generous offer to Brendan.” He looked directly at Brendan. “Whatever you may decide.”
Again, he and Isela exchanged a look, but said nothing. Maggie noticed. She arched a brow. “What was that?” she asked.
“What was what?” Brendan replied.
She pointed a finger at him, waving it between him and Isela. “That look you just gave each other. What was that about?”
“Nothing, Maggie. We’re merely weighing our options.”
“I thought you’d already decided what you were doing.”
“I know, but I want to be sure it’s the best thing for both Isela and me. I need to talk to the Council about this offer they made. Get some details firmed up before I commit. And I still have to return to Missouri and get a hold of Social Saviors.”
“No you don’t. I mean, if you never go back, they’ll figure it out, don’t you think?”
“Mags, you know that’s not how I roll. I can’t leave them hanging.”
Maggie sighed. “I know. I guess I’m a little afraid you’ll get back and change your mind. I really love having you here with us.”
“And I love being here, but I have commitments I need to answer to. I don’t plan on re-upping, Maggie. I want to come back.”
“Hey, hey now,” Aunt Gin piped in. “Stop pressuring your brother, Maggie. He knows we want him here, but it’s his decision. He and Isela need to decide what’s going to make them happy. Now, enough of the gloomies. This is a celebration!”
The rest of the evening went well, but Brendan suspected his sister was putting on a happy face for his benefit, but he couldn’t tell her his plans until he’d spoken to the Council. Why get her hopes up if it wasn’t going to happen?
****
Bernie arrived early the next morning. Brendan kissed Isela and bounded out the door. When he’d awakened that morning, he’d made a wish. Isela watched him go, silently hoping Avascon wishes always worked when the Council was involved.
They had walked for about an hour before Bernie spoke about the meeting. “Address them with your head down. Don’t make eye contact unless they invite you to. And make sure to thank them for their offer no matter what you decide to do.”
“Okay, got it.”
Bernie stopped walking. “What are you going to do?”
Brendan glanced at Bernie and smiled. “I’m gonna make them a counter offer.”
He continued walking, leaving Bernie standing there with his mouth hanging open. He trotted up next to Brendan.
“Are you crazy? They just made you an incredibly generous offer, an unprecedented offer. You can’t go waltzing in there asking for stuff. It would be...well, not a good idea, that’s for sure.”
“First of all, I don’t waltz. I’m more of a disco kind of guy.”
“Brendan, I’m serious. You do not want to offend these people, not if you plan on staying here.”
“Bernie, if I can’t get them to see things my way, I’m not staying here. Trust me, okay?”
“Fine, but I want it on the record that I am very nervous about this.”
“Noted.”
After what seemed like an eternity, they finally arrived at Council Headquarters. The building smacked of pretentiousness, just as Brendan had thought it would. The pillars and stairs out front must’ve broken the backs of more than one poor sap when they built them with the kind of tools Celio had. The cool white bricks did not emit a sense of warmth and approachability. The only thing missing was a moat.
With a smirk, Brendan asked, “You ready?”
Bernie blew out a breath. “Guess so.”
Bernie reached for the door handle, but it swung open before he touched it. A tall, rail-thin man with gray, baggy skin stood before them. He looked down his long, pointed nose at Bernie and Brendan.
“The Council will see you now,” he said in a tinny, nasal voice.
Bernie elbowed Brendan when he snickered. They followed the man down a long, high-ceilinged corridor to heavy double doors.
Bernie whispered, “They like to make a show of things.”
“Clearly.”
The thin man swept open the double doors leading into an auditorium of sorts. A long table sat on a pedestal in the center of the spacious room. Four men and three women sat behind the table.
All seven Council members appeared to be perfectly groomed and manicured. They all had white hair and sat with their hands folded in front of them. None of them smiled.
Brendan whispered to Bernie, “You didn’t tell me they were zombies.”
Bernie shot him a look pleading with him to shut up.
The woman seated in the center stood up. “Welcome,” she said in monotone.
“Don’t make eye contact,” Bernie hissed from the side of his mouth. Brendan dropped his gaze to the floor.
“Step forward, Mr. Malone,” Monotone Lady said.
Brendan glanced at Bernie. He nodded. Brendan hesitated then moved forward to a small elevated step in the floor. He glanced down at it.
“Go ahead, Mr. Malone. Step up.”
Brendan did as he was told, remembering not to make eye contact. He began having second thoughts about his idea. The man on the left of the table stood up.
“Please look up to us, Mr. Malone.”
Brendan lifted his gaze to meet theirs.
“We are grateful for the service you provided us and the people of Celio,” he said. “Warden Guarros abused his position of power and thanks to you and your peopl
e that has been remedied. We owe you.”
“I was happy to help, sir.”
“We appreciate that, especially with you not being a citizen of our world. As a token of said appreciation, we offer you a home here, to become one of us.”
The woman spoke again. “We ask that you consider becoming a consultant so we may call upon you should we need your assistance in any future...situations.”
Brendan hesitated again. He shifted from foot to foot. The Council members glanced at one another nervously.
“May I speak freely?” he asked.
The woman nodded.
“I appreciate your offer. I really do. It’s extremely generous.”
“But?”
“Back home I belonged to an organization called Social Saviors. We helped people make better lives for themselves.”
The Council members exchanged glances. The woman furrowed her brows. “Could you please elaborate, Mr. Malone?”
“If a village had contaminated water, we showed them how to clean it up. If they had no food, we taught them how to farm. We helped kids learn to read. We gave assistance to people who didn’t know how to help themselves to become independent.”
“I don’t understand what this has to do with us or our offer to you.”
“It’s my understanding that there are people in Midland like I just described. Isn’t our duty to help others who are less fortunate? I mean, if we can do something, shouldn’t we?”
“I suppose, but I still don’t see—”
“I want to start an organization like Social Saviors here, well not in Inland, but in Midland. I want to help the families there live safer more productive lives. I want to educate their children, build fortresses to keep the monsters away, maybe engineer better weapons to fight the monsters. There’s no limit to what we can do.”
“And you want us to fund it.”
“Well, yeah, but it would be a government organization. You’d have the control over what we do and don’t do. Think of the P.R., especially on the heels of this prison fiasco.”
One of the other Councilmen spoke. “He does have a point. That nasty business with the prison has diminished our reputation with the people of Inland. They’re questioning our ability to run things. A project like this would buy us a lot of goodwill.”
The woman who’d done most of the talking before pursed her lips like she wished the man hadn’t said that in front of commoners. She gave Brendan a tight smile.
“I’ll ask you and Mr. Bell to step outside, perhaps go to the lounge and get a beverage while the Council discusses your proposal, Mr. Malone.”
The gray-skinned gofer appeared as if on cue. Brendan turned before exiting and addressed the Council.
“Thank you...for everything. For your generous offer and for taking the time to listen to me and to consider it.”
He bowed his head and followed Bernie out the door.
****
At least an hour went by before the gray-skinned man returned to tell them the Council wanted to see them again.
“That’s good right?” Brendan asked Bernie. “I mean they didn’t just dismiss us.”
Bernie nodded. “I guess so. As long as they want to see us again, I’d say we’re still in the game.”
They pushed through the doors to find the Council exactly as they were the first time they’d come in.
“Holy déjà vu, Batman,” Brendan muttered.
The woman, clearly running the show, stood, her hands folded in front of her. She nodded to Brendan.
“Please come forward, Mr. Malone. Look up to us.”
Holding his breath, Brendan stepped back onto the pedestal and looked directly at the Council.
The woman glanced back at her colleagues. “The Council has decided to honor your request, with conditions.”
Brendan exhaled. “I’m listening.”
“We want a blueprint of the facility you require before ground is broken. It must be close enough to the passage to Inland that a tunnel can be constructed. Midland is dangerous and safety must come first. Projects will be approved ahead of time. The people who receive assistance must report to you on a regular basis so progress can be measured. If growth does not occur, we end the program. Understood?”
Brendan nodded enthusiastically, a grin spreading across his face. “Yes, ma’am. Yes, I understand. Thank you, ma’am. Thank you, all.”
The woman cracked a genuine smile. “No, thank you, Mr. Malone.”
Unable to help himself, Brendan jumped off the pedestal, ran to the woman, picked her up in a hug, and spun her around. Bernie sucked in a disbelieving breath. The woman squealed in surprise. The entire Council stared, mouths hanging open. Brendan set the Councilwoman down and stepped back.
She cleared her throat and smoothed her dress.
“I’m sorry, ma’am. I guess I just got carried away,” he said, smile fading.
“I should say so,” she replied sharply.
Brendan silently cursed himself for his impulsiveness, hoping he hadn’t blown it. A small smile danced on her lips.
“It’s heartwarming to see a young man so selfless and so enthusiastic about helping others. You are an inspiration to us all,” she said, surprising him.
Brendan let out a relieved breath. He glanced over at Bernie who gave him a wink. The Council members all approached him, shaking his hand and patting him on the back. It seemed he wasn’t the only one excited about the idea.
By the time they left, Brendan’s head was swimming with plans and ideas. They hadn’t even reached the street when Bernie barked out a laugh.
“Way to play the Council, my man. I am so impressed.”
“I told you I had it.”
“Yeah, but you don’t know them. They are the most uptight bunch of geezers I’ve ever known, in either world. You had them eating out of your hand. And when you hugged that old biddy and swung her around I thought I was going to piss myself.”
“I know. As soon as I did it, I thought my shit was weak, but then she was okay.”
“Okay? She freakin’ loved it. You don’t understand how huge this is. They hate other-worlders. Hate them, but you they loved.”
“As long as they liked my idea. That’s all I care about.”
“Oh, I’d say you’re in, dude.”
Bernie slapped him on the back and they both laughed.
****
It was early evening by the time Brendan and Bernie made it back to town. Bernie wanted to stop off at the farm, but Brendan was too anxious to get back and tell Isela the news. After all, it had been her idea.
When she smiled warmly at him as he came through the door, his heart skipped a beat. He cleared the distance between them. She stood up when he neared. He gathered her in his arms, burying his face in her hair, inhaling deeply. Honey and lilacs.
“Mmmm, I missed you,” he said before kissing her full on the lips.
“I take it things went well?” she asked hopefully.
“They went for it...all of it. In fact, they’re all into it.”
“You should’ve seen this guy,” Bernie said, smacking Brendan in the chest with the back of his hand. “He was on fire. He could’ve sold them anything, he was so good.”
Maggie came in from the other room. “How did things go?”
“I’m staying, Mags,” Brendan said, beaming. He draped his arm across Isela’s shoulder and kissed her temple. “We’re staying.”
Bernie agreed to stay for dinner, and he and Brendan relayed the details of the day to everyone while they ate. The energy and excitement in the room practically hummed.
Thirty
The plans had been submitted to the Council for a facility. They’d promised a final decision in two weeks. It was to be a combination temporary housing shelter, rec center for kids, and clinic. Jezbah had offered his services as well as agreed to train others in medicine.
Aunt Gin and Maggie had volunteered to teach children to read. Sandra and Isela had offered their servic
es in the kitchen. The trustees offered to teach farming. Everyone had agreed to contribute something.
The tunnel was already under construction. When it was finished, it would lead from the gates of Inland to the location of the facility. That way, the volunteers and employees from Inland could reach the center safely, without fear of the scabras and viocomen.
The Council had agreed enthusiastically to the name Brendan had chosen for the endeavor. Celio Services. They had assured him the inmates at the prison would be making up flyers describing the services the organization would provide. Now it was just a waiting game.
Brendan paced around Maggie’s kitchen. Isela peeled vegetables for dinner while Maggie tried her best to coax Lucan to eat his dinner. Unfortunately, he was far more interested in watching his uncle stalk around the room.
Maggie set his spoon down with a sigh. “Brendan, will you please take a break? At least until I get some food into this child?” Lucan giggled and snorted, smacking his lips.
“I’m sorry, Mags. I hate sitting around waiting.”
“Why don’t you get Bernie to take you back to the states for a few days? You could take care of your car and any other unfinished business you have,” Maggie suggested.
Brendan stopped pacing and glanced over at Isela. “What do you say, Isela? Wanna see the other side?”
Isela’s eyes lit up. She inhaled sharply. “Really?”
He nodded. “Well I sure as hell don’t want to go without you. We’ll take a few days. I’ll show you where I come from.”
“I’d love that. I mean, I’ve never been anywhere.”
“I’ll go find Bernie right now,” he said.
****
Isela could barely contain her anticipation. She woke up early, too excited to sleep. Bernie had arrived right after breakfast to take her and Brendan to the other world. Brendan’s world. She was finally going to get to see what she’d spent years hearing about, fantasizing about, but not quite believing. The fact that Brendan had asked her to go, that he’d wanted her to, only made it that much sweeter.
They walked the same path that took them to Midland, but just before the entrance to the passageway, Bernie changed direction, almost seeming to double back around Inland. He stopped abruptly.
“Here we are,” he declared. “Here’s where you cross over. The Council said they’d give you a decision in two weeks. Time’s slower here, so I’ll come for you on the other side in three weeks. Brendan, same place I picked you up last time, okay?”