by M. J. Konkel
“Yes? Go on.”
“He didn’t lose the election. I added up the votes that night. I moved fifty votes over from your husband to Mr. Span.”
“Why did you do that?” asked Karen although she already knew the answer.
“He made promises if I could somehow influence the election.”
“I see. Why are you telling me this now?”
“My time is nearly up. I want to do what is right before I go.”
“A guilty conscience? Who else knows?”
“Only Mr. Span.”
“I can’t believe I defended that bastard.”
“What?”
“It doesn’t matter. You never told anybody else?”
“No.”
“No one else was there to double-check the addition?”
“Each of the counters handed Mrs. Lynch and me their totals. Mrs. Lynch was tired, so I told her to go to bed and I would finish and double-check the addition.”
“And then you changed the tally. Telling me doesn’t change anything, so what are you going to do next?”
“I don’t know.”
“What if in the morning I bring a few people here? Then you tell them what you told me?”
“Who would you bring?”
“Sheriff Burser, Mr. Zanzi, Mr. Currents and maybe a few more.”
“I suppose so, but I am really tired right now. Could I sleep?”
“Sure. I will see you in the morning.”
*****
Joe went to pay a visit to Ron Lasgaard. It was evening meal time, but Ron was not anywhere around the cafeteria area and so Joe went to Ron's small camper and knocked. He glanced around the outside of the camper. There must have been at least a hundred garbage bags full of stuff around it. Some were under the camper or on top of it. What was in all those bags?
“Yeah, who is it?” called a raspy voice from inside.
“It's Joe Spechright.”
The door opened a crack. “What the hell do you want?” Lasgaard demanded, tossing a cigarette butt to the ground. Joe noticed it barely missed landing on one of the bags.
“May I come in?”
“No, you can’t come in.”
“Where is it?”
“Where's what?”
“There was a device in the physicist's room at the hotel.”
“I don't know what the hell you're talking about. I don't have whatever it is you're looking for. And another thing, just because you got elected to that useless council doesn't mean you can go ordering me around. I didn't even vote for you. I voted for Mr. Span.”
“If you prefer then, I can get Mr. Span.”
“Just because he got my vote doesn't make him my boss either. You’re all a bunch of useless pricks if you ask me.”
Joe stared at him several long seconds. There weren’t any real enforcers of decisions by the council, so direction and guidance are what they really provided. Joe knew that as a council member he would have to use reasoning and persuasion to lead people. But this case was different. “Do you have any clue as to what is going on here? That device could be the key to us getting back. A team just came off the river looking for it and they said it was gone.”
“What's it to me?”
“One of them was attacked by a dinosaur and may die from the wounds.”
“That is too bad for them, but that doesn't concern me.”
“I am betting everything you have that device, so you can either politely hand it over, or I can tell everyone that I think you have it and see how they react to that.” This was like the fight over who got the big camper all over again, thought Joe.
“You have no proof!”
“I would bet that they would totally tear your camper apart looking for it and I don't know what they would do to you or all of your other stuff. But I bet ...”
Ron raised his hand to indicate that he heard enough. “Wait a minute. I think I might know what you are talking about.” He disappeared inside for a couple of minutes before coming back with three silver boxy suitcases that he wordlessly handed over one at a time.
Joe took the cases. “You know if you had told us earlier that you had these, we wouldn't have sent that team back to the motel and that boy would not have been attacked. If he dies, I am holding you responsible.” Joe turned and then added, “One more thing, I'm borrowing your wagon here. You can come by the Professor's place in the morning to pick it up, unless the device is damaged. In which case, I will be back and I won’t be in a good mood.” He loaded the cases carefully into the red Radio Flyer wagon that was next to the steps, wondering what Lasgaard used the wagon for and where he got it. He spotted a couple of bungee cords under Lasgaard’s camper and grabbed those to secure the cases. Giving them as gentle a ride as he could, he hauled them over to the Professor's camper. Lasgaard watched Joe pull the wagon with the cases away, sneering and then sticking up his middle finger to Joe’s back. Joe saw it though when he peeked back at the cases in the wagon.
*****
That night they had the first death on the island.
Chapter 23
It was Sunday morning and there were six different clergymen, all wanting to hold services and all wanting the covered picnic area. Span called for a quick council meeting and all were present, except for Karen. She was tired from lack of sleep, but making her needed rounds nevertheless. Also, she didn't know what to do about Mr. Durst’s confession. With his death in the night from a heart attack, there was no proof. She would have to tell Joe, but she had to find the right time. That morning didn’t seem the right time. Joe was in a particularly sour mood from his confrontation with Lasgaard, Johnny’s injuries and Mr. Durst’s death. He was likely to fly off the handle and do something rash.
The council agreed on a schedule for use of the picnic area for Sundays with the last group finishing up around two PM. The schedule would rotate every week so that it was fair to each group. Ridgeback's clergy did all agree that there should be a wake after the evening meal for the deceased. The wake was to be for all seven of those known to have died since the storm. Of course, many more were missing and whose fates were unknown. The clergymen also announced that there would be a funeral the following day, Monday. The only deceased people that they had bodies for the burials though were Danny Whitten and Jim Durst. They were to be taken by boat to an island not far away where they would be buried, and the sites marked with stones and crosses. It would be a safe place to visit and would not be dug up by scavenging dinosaurs, although it would probably be underwater during times the river went through particularly high floods.
*****
After the council meeting, Joe went to visit the Professor. He found him working on the SEAD, polishing a large crystal that looked like a ruby.
“So, is it going to work?” asked Joe. It was the question on everyone's mind.
“Well, that is a simple question. I wish I had a simple answer for you. If you want to know if the device is working, the answer is yes it will work, but one of the Wurtzberg crystals was fried. It was melted and now is amorphous. I am able to replace it with a spare.” He held it up, showing it to Joe. “But I don't have another if this one goes bad.”
“We can go back home then?”
“I didn't say that. I don't know how yet. Right now, if I power up the SEAD I can uncurl a hidden dimension revealing it for a few seconds before it collapses back to sub-atomic size and disappears from the detector. That is not the interbrane translocation that we need, but this instrument must be capable of producing the translocation somehow because it did do it once. Right now, I don't know why it did it or how to make it do it again.”
“Then we are stuck here?” Joe didn't follow what the Professor said, but he got that much out of it.
“For now. But given time, I should be able to figure out how to make it undergo the interbrane translocation again.”
“Time? How much time are we talking about?”
“Impossible to say. It could be a few weeks,
months or it could be years.”
“Or never?”
“Oh, I'll figure it out, sooner or later,” the Professor stated confidently.
“Yeah, I'm sure you will. Let me know what you need, and I will get it for you if we have it.”
*****
Anne had stayed with Johnny all night. She fell asleep in a chair to be awakened by Ellie who had relieved June. Ellie brought a sleeping bag for Anne who curled up in it and fell back asleep on the floor to the sound of Johnny breathing. Hearing him breathing gave her some comfort.
Anne woke to the sound of Johnny coughing. She sat up abruptly looking in his direction out of concern. He was on his back, but his head was turned; he was staring at her.
“I am sorry to wake you. Have you been here all night?”
“Uh, yeah. You scared me. I thought you were going on that chariot ride after all.”
“Me too. When that dinosaur had me in his jaws, I thought that was it.” Johnny gave a little chuckle that turned into a groan. “Oh, that hurts.”
“The doctor said that you have three broken ribs.”
“That would explain what I just felt. I guess my reputation has been shattered as the great dinosaur killer.”
“Nah, I think that this will only add to your reputation. Slain the great T. rex and then survived the jaws of the sail-back whatchamadodo dinosaur. I think that if you are trying to get a little attention here, you've succeeded. People will start to wonder when you are going to go out, lasso one of 'em and ride it back here on a saddle.”
“Yippee kay aye! Hah! Hah! Ooh! My ribs again. Please don't make me laugh. My ribs hurt too much. Whatchamadodo dinosaur?”
“The Professor said it was a spine … something.”
“Spinosaurus?”
“Yeah, that was it.”
“Did the doctor say anything else about me?”
“Yeah. She said you're lucky. Those teeth that punctured your belly somehow missed everything that really matters. Oh, and she has you on an antibiotic in case of infection.”
“My ribs and belly matter.”
“She meant stuff that could have caused serious problems if punctured. Like your spleen or your kidneys.”
“Yeah, I knew that is what she meant. I just said that because my belly and ribs hurt so much. But she was right when she said that I was damn lucky.”
“She didn't say damn. She wouldn’t talk like that.”
“Well, I am saying it. I was damn lucky.”
“Yes. Thank God.”
“What did I miss? The last thing I remember is that we didn't find the Professor's device and then that crazy dinosaur attacked me.”
“The device was already somewhere here on the island. Mr. Spechright somehow got hold of it. I don't know how.”
Coincidentally, there was a soft knocking on the door and a voice asked, “Can I come in?” After an affirmative answer, the door opened, and Mr. Spechright popped in. “I came to see how you are doing. I am glad to see you're awake and looking cheerful. Karen thinks that you are doing well and will make a full recovery.”
“Yes. I’ve been told that I am damn lucky. We were just talking about you. Anne told me that you found the Professor's device somewhere.”
“Yep. After your team came back and told me it was missing, I had a pretty good idea of where it went. Someone who shouldn't have touched it did. It was not harmed and, if it wasn't for what happened to you, I would have said that maybe it was a lucky thing after all. It was kept dry, and there was no damage done to it. But that person not stepping forward sooner almost got you killed.”
“Then who had it?” Anne asked.
“It doesn't matter. The person is sorry about it, you're going to be all right, and the Professor has his instrument back.”
“Can we get back home?” Johnny asked.
“Too early to say if and when. All I know is that it won't be in the next couple of days. For now, you need to take it easy and not reopen any of those wounds. Karen said that would slow down the healing process and could even lead to an infection, so let those ribs heal. They must really hurt. I've heard that broken ribs are about the most painful of broken bones.”
“I have never had a broken bone before, but I will testify that these hurt like hell.”
“Well, take it easy and get lots of rest. I will stop in again when I have time to see how you are doing. And Anne, I expect you to keep him out of trouble the time being. Good day then.” And out the door he went.
“I'll bet it was that creepy innkeeper,” Anne exclaimed the moment Joe stepped out the door. She never liked nor trusted Lasgaard.
“Like Mr. Spechright said, it doesn't matter.”
“He almost got you killed. He should at least have the good grace to come in here, and say that he is sorry. Maybe polish your shoes while he's at it. With his tongue.”
“Yes, he should. Apologize, that is.” Johnny changed subjects. “I suppose that I will be sleeping here a couple of nights.”
“Suppose so.”
“At least I won't have to sleep in my camper.”
“Things not working out between you and your roommate?”
“Amos is a nice enough guy. It's just that he snores.”
“He snores. That shouldn’t be a big deal. Is it?”
“Well, he also passes gas. All night long.”
“Gross!”
“I guess that is why he has his nickname.”
“Nickname?”
“Yeah. Toots.”
“Gross.”
“Think that you could get me some food? I am starving.”
“You're hungry? I am just a little grossed out right now!”
“Hey! I haven't eaten anything since noon yesterday.”
*****
Almost everyone on Ridgeback attended the wake that evening. The only exceptions were two boys standing guard at the bridge, those unable to attend such as Johnny, and a few, such as Anne, who just simply hated funerals and wakes so much that they refused to attend them.
Afterward, Joe and Karen took Robbie and James back to their camper and got them into pajamas and then took them out front where there was still enough light left for Joe to read to them a bedtime story. After, Joe took them into the camper and tucked them in for the night. Karen gave them each a good night kiss and left. Joe sat in a chair and stayed until they fell asleep. He found that just sitting there in the dark gave him time to meditate on the day and their whole situation. There was always a lot to think about. This evening, his thoughts were on what he learned about the election and what he should do about it. His first inclination was to march over to Spanky’s camper and wring the filthy jerk’s scrawny neck. He was trying to learn patience and thinking through his plans more before acting. This was as good a test as he was likely to find.
Chapter 24
Several weeks passed without the Professor making any progress on the problem, not that anyone could tell. He spent a lot of time working on a set of computers and on pads of paper, scribbling equations that looked to everyone else like script found at Roswell. Only he knew whether any of it made sense. He occasionally turned on the SEAD and fiddled with a dial. He was the subject of a lot of speculation, but very few people dared to ask him a question. Most people were either intimidated by him, thinking he was so smart that they couldn't fathom what he did, or they were afraid of interrupting his concentration just when he might be onto a breakthrough that might get them all home. Everyone knew that he was the key to whether they got home or were stuck in their new dinosaur world forever. Mr. Span was one of those who avoided saying anything more than “hello” or “nice weather today” to him. Joe left the Professor alone, because he knew the Professor was working as hard as he could. Karen was one of the few who would ask the Professor how his progress was going, and that was another reason that Joe did not feel a need to ask.
*****
Joe and Karen were already seated for dinner when Joe noticed the Professor approach
them and sit down next to him. The boys, Robbie and James, had already eaten and were off playing down by the playground. There were teenagers there that watched over the younger children. Rob Tascoe and Mike Juniper had already seated themselves opposite Joe, and they were in a discussion when the Professor arrived.
“That first week here on the island was like a big party.” commented Rob, between bites of grilled fish. Fish had quickly become a staple on the island whether it was grilled, fried, baked or smoked.
“Yeah, but the party is over now,” said Mike. “People are fighting over the silliest little things. Yesterday, Miss Higgins and Ron Lasgaard got into a row over a statue that Miss Higgins put out.”
“Old Grace Higgins? What was that about?” asked Joe. He was not surprised that Lasgaard was rubbing other people the wrong way.
“Yeah, sweet old Grace Higgins. She put out this statue of Jesus with one of those things on the back that looks sort of like a bandshell. Lasgaard complained that it was on his property and told her to move her 'Jesus on the half-shell.'”
“That's what he called the statue?” asked Karen.
“Yeah and Miss Higgins was really offended, and they started arguing. Some others were offended too, but Miss Higgins was just fuming. Finally, Jerry Comlin came along and suggested that Miss Higgins move the statue closer to her camper. She agreed to that but still demanded an apology from Lasgaard.”
“Did she get it?” asked Joe. He was pretty sure he knew the answer already.
“Are you kidding? Lasgaard apologize? Not that guy. Jerry said that he even stuck up his middle finger at her after she was walking away.”
“There was a fight that broke out between Ron Daxson and Jimmie Hallbert yesterday too. Hallbert was saying some things that apparently were derogatory to Daxson, and he was loud about it,” said Rob.
“The problem is that people are crammed in closer together than they are used to, and the campers and RVs are small and so people are feeling confined, and they're venting at their neighbors,” said Joe.