Initiates (The Book of Adam 3)

by Scott Gelowitz

The other three agreed and they continued on down the hallway toward the maintenance area. They wasted time wandering around the pool area and the dead end tunnel they had explored the first day. They wondered how the steel radiation door opened and wasted more time looking all around for a clue. When it was nearing the time they had to be at the cafeteria, they wandered back the way they came and only saw a few stragglers when they arrived. Those that were left gawked at the group, and Mark waved at each one politely before they sat at a table to wait for Betty.

  Betty arrived right on time and beckoned them over.

  “So, I know you two,” she said in her thick accent as she pointed at Adam and Mark, “but I don’t know you two.” She pointed at Kevin and Jimmy.

  “Jimmy Jones,” said Jimmy.

  “Kevin Baranov. Nice to meet you,” said Kevin, shaking Betty’s hand.

  Betty looked impressed by Kevin’s manners.

  “Alright then, let’s get down to business. This is the tour of the Food Services area. This is the most important area in this place. You don’t eat – you die. Simple as that.” She gave a loud chuckle that made the boys smile.

  “Food Services is often overlooked by other areas, but it is essential. There will always be jobs in this area as long as people are alive, so it’s got a lot of security. I’m going to show you what we do here to feed nearly three hundred people every day. We don’t just feed you either – we provide three gourmet meals every day for all three hundred of you, and do it in a clean and safe way. Betcha didn’t think of it like that, did ya?”

  They shook their heads in answer.

  Betty grinned. “Put these on and follow me. We are going to go back into the Food Services area now.”

  She handed them each a hair net and then turned on her heel. She marched through one of the sets of swinging doors beside the coolers and the boys followed.

  When they stepped through the door, all of them were impressed. People in white scurried around the blinding white kitchen filled with stainless steel tables, appliances and utensils. It reminded Adam of an operating room he had seen on TV once, although the Food Services area was multiple times larger.

  Betty walked them through the entire area, pointing out that each section would prepare only certain types of food. She recited codes for food safety and emphasized that certain items only had a short shelf life so they had to be brought in almost daily. That information made Adam wonder just how they were able to handle that much food. It had to come in through the Radome, but then it would have to be carried a long way to the kitchens, and that wouldn’t be a small job at all.

  The smells from each area were so deliciously unique that even though Adam had just eaten an hour prior, hunger began stirring deep inside.

  Betty continued the tour, pointing out how a person would have to apprentice in the kitchen for a year before being allowed to prepare any item that might possibly be served. Her hands moved so fast as she talked that it looked like she was chopping broccoli, or possibly some other vegetable.

  When she reached another set of double doors, she warned the boys that the next room could be hard on the eyes since it was early in the afternoon. They didn’t understand what she meant until they pushed through and saw what was on the other side.

  Underneath a wide white shaft of light stood a miniature Radome.

  “This is how we get our food here,” said Betty. “We call this one Minnie. The RTS Hub sends us deliveries at least once a day. We can process up to eight shipments at a maximum of five hundred pounds each, but we only need one or two a day because most of the vegetables are grown right here in the Natural Science lab.”

  “I was wondering how you did that,” said Adam. “I didn’t think you would carry all of the food from the big Radome in the Arrival chamber.”

  Betty chuckled. “I’m sure we could have had Horton figure out some way of getting it here easy enough, but you don’t get much easier than this.”

  The boys nodded and then followed Betty back into the main area. She pointed out some large freezers against one wall. “Your dad put these in for us. He figured out a way to power them with some Teneo technology to ease the stress on our electrical system, which gave us more power for cooking,” she said, looking at Adam.

  “I heard that my mom worked for you,” he decided to say.

  Betty nodded. “It’s a shame that she got so depressed after your dad died. I just heard she doesn’t cook anymore.” She looked to Adam to confirm.

  Adam nodded. “When we heard that she worked in a kitchen and is actually a great cook, none of us could believe it.”

  “She’s probably the best cook I’ve had,” replied Betty. “She’s also the reason your dad worked so hard installing those coolers. They weren’t dating yet but she batted her eyes at him and complained that we didn’t have enough power in the kitchen. That made him work on it day and night for a couple of weeks. You tell her hello from me next time you see her.”

  Adam agreed and couldn’t think of anything else to ask.

  “That’s the end of the tour. Go away now, I’m busy,” she said with a large grin.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Since they were done so early, the boys went back to the Men’s dorms and hung out in the common area where they played some of the board games that were there. The Game of Life didn’t go so well for Adam, and his character retired with the least amount of money.

  “That’s the story of my life,” joked Adam, again making his friends feel somewhat awkward.

  “Should we go get an early bite to eat?” asked Kevin.

  The others agreed.

  “I’m starving already,” said Mark.

  “For once, I’m not going to tease you,” said Jimmy.

  “Hallelujah,” said Mark, waving his arms in the air.

  “Those smells on the tour were making me hungry even though we just ate,” Jimmy continued.

  “Me too,” said Adam as they all began shuffling out of their seats.

  They had to wait for a while in the cafeteria as they were still a little early for all of the food to be ready, and as soon as it was out they began eating. Before long they were finished and the first of the other classes were making their way down the stairs, each person trying to both look and not look at the group. A few minutes later, Derek appeared on the stairs and waved to them, so they waved back. Kevin pointed to an empty seat beside him, and Derek gave a thumbs-up in reply.

  “You’ve warmed up to him,” said Adam.

  “He’s alright,” was all Kevin replied.

  Adam grinned.

  A little while later, Derek sat down at the table.

  “We heard about your adventures today,” he said, barely able to keep the information to himself.

  “We kinda figured that out earlier,” Adam replied. “Everyone was looking at us funny at lunch time so we took a walk.”

  Derek nodded. “I would have too if I were in your shoes. When we’re done eating, let’s go find a quiet place to talk and I’ll tell you what we heard. You might be interested.”

  The others looked at each other and silently agreed.

  Derek took a mouthful of food and started chewing. As soon as he swallowed, he asked, “Do you know somewhere we can talk without everybody listening?”

  Adam thought about it for a moment before nodding his head.

  Derek gave him another thumbs-up as he chewed.

  “Where’s Kassie?” asked Jimmy.

  Derek swallowed hard. “I think she was waiting for your brother. His class wasn’t done yet.”

  They continued talking about nothing in particular while Derek ate, and Mark started to tease Jimmy about the girl he had taken the self defense class with, mostly because she kept glancing in his direction while talking to her friend. They were seated across the room, directly behind Jimmy.

  Suddenly, the two girls stood up and started walking in Jimmy’s direction. Mark’s eyes widened and he told Jimmy what was happening.

 
; “You’re just pulling my leg,” Jimmy managed to say a moment before he felt the tap on his shoulder.

  His face first went white and then red with embarrassment before he managed to turn and face the girls.

  “Is it true that you guys saved your town from Larix and the Decreta?” she asked him.

  Jimmy managed to nod his head ever so slightly.

  “Wow,” she said, looking at her friend.

  “I’m sorry I’ve been giving you a hard time, you’re just an easy target. I’m Kim and this is Pam.” She held out her hand in his direction.

  Jimmy had frozen, staring directly at her.

  “Our friend has a problem when girls are around, if you haven’t noticed yet,” said Mark.

  “That’s OK,” said Kim. She bent down and whispered something in Jimmy’s ear and he instantly came out of his trance.

  “Oh, yeah,” he said, taking her hand and shaking it. “I’m James…Jim…Jimmy.”

  “Nice to meet you James Jim Jimmy,” she said with a smile. “Bye,” she finished, and then she turned and walked away, with Pam right behind her.

  Jimmy stared after her, back in another trance.

  “I think she likes you,” said Kevin.

  “Who knows why,” said Mark.

  Mark’s insult snapped Jimmy out of it again, and he turned toward Mark, throwing what was left of his bun at him.

  “Pick that up,” Betty yelled across the room at Jimmy. The cafeteria had been reasonably quiet up to that point, but Betty’s yell sucked all of the noise from the room.

  Mark picked up the bun for Jimmy and showed it to Betty saying, “Sorry.”

  She turned away.

  “How did she know I did that?” said Jimmy.

  “Maybe she’s got a crush on you and can’t help watching – like a stalker,” said Adam.

  “Get lost,” said Jimmy, and then he shuddered which made the others all laugh.

  “I’m done,” said Derek after chugging what was left of his drink.

  “Follow me,” said Adam, and he led the group toward the stairs leading up to the main hall.

  Almost every eye in the room was on them as they walked away, so Mark looked around and waved goodbye to various people.

  Adam knew the best place to take Derek for privacy. It would be at the end of the Restricted Area hallway. After a couple of turns and a lot of walking they arrived in front of the steel door.

  “This should be pretty private. Does one of you want to keep an eye on the hallway?” Adam asked.

  “I’ll do it,” said Jimmy stepping away from the group.

  “OK, what did you learn,” asked Adam.

  Derek cleared his throat. “Our instructor, Andrea, told us that Langenburg and Waldron had been surrounded by a fog that disrupted electronics and wouldn’t let people through, and when it cleared, all of the people were gone and the towns were in shambles. The League had an idea what was going on because the fog was Teneo technology, but it had been modified, so they were scrambling trying to find out who leaked the information. Then Andrea told us that you guys discovered secret tunnels under your town that are only accessible to League members, and somehow you found out that the League was hiding a weapon of Larix’s. Larix and his men were searching for that weapon in the other towns, but the League thought it was well protected in Grayson. When Larix came to find it, you guys used the tunnels to stay safe while he used some sort of gas to turn all of the townspeople into zombies. You saved the town by releasing your head of security from his own jail cell, woke some of the Senior members and captured Larix. Then she told us that Larix escaped on his way to the League prison. She also said that you are the first people in a century to meet him and not end up dead. Does that sound about right?”

  Adam nodded. “That’s generally how it happened, although there are a lot of details missing.”

  “Yeah, I know,” said Derek.

  Adam looked at him with suspicion, and Derek looked guilty. “What do you know?” asked Adam.

  “Well, I know he was looking for the Heartstone, and I know that it gave him a whole lot of power,” said Derek, sheepish.

  Before Adam could ask how he knew, Derek told him.

  “You can’t tell this to anyone else, alright? I’m trusting you guys. You’ve met my Dad. Somehow he has always known about the Heartstone, even though I don’t think he was supposed to. He’s talked about the Heartstone all my life. I’ve known about the League and Larix since I was probably five years old. Dad has always been obsessed with the Heartstone because of all the power it holds - hard to believe, right? Why do you think he wanted to be Number 2 so bad? I don’t know the details of what happened to you guys, but I know that the Heartstone was supposed to be hidden in Grayson and it’s missing.”

  Adam wasn’t completely surprised by Derek’s admission, but he was surprised by his honesty.

  “Thanks for telling us,” said Adam. “Now we know what everyone’s been told.”

  “No problem,” Derek replied with a smile. “I’m trusting you won’t tell anyone what I just told you. They might kick me out of here or wipe my memory if they think I know too much.”

  “We won’t tell anyone,” said Adam.

  Mark and Kevin agreed, and Jimmy nodded from further up the hallway.

  “I just have one question,” said Derek, “and you don’t have to answer it if you don’t want.”

  “Ask away,” said Adam.

  “What the heck were you doing at Brutus Killaly’s grave? I know you saw me watching you.”

  Adam wasn’t sure if he should tell Derek anything, but since Derek had been completely honest with him, he decided to share the information.

  “His gravestone opens up a secret storage area,” said Adam.

  “Like when you opened up the mouth on his statue?” asked Derek.

  Adam nodded. “Yeah, but underneath the grave cover directly behind it there are steps that lead to an underground room.”

  “Did you find the Heartstone there? Was it hidden in Killaly all this time? That would drive Dad insane!” Derek grew excited and then calmed down. “Of course, you don’t have to tell me what you found if you’ve been told not to say anything.”

  “I don’t think it’s a problem,” said Adam, “because all we found was a note saying the Heartstone is gone.”

  “Really? Wow,” said Derek. “Did it say who took it?”

  Adam shook his head. He wasn’t sure if he should tell Derek the rest, but decided to continue. Maybe Derek had heard something from his father that could help.

  “The note was signed with an E.M., my father’s initials, and it looks like his handwriting.”

  Derek’s eyes opened wide at the news. “Sorry…but your dad is dead, right?”

  “It’s alright. Yeah, he died when I was two.”

  “So he moved it over twelve years ago, hid it somewhere and then he died. Wow, talk about well hidden,” said Derek.

  After a few moments of silence, Adam spoke again. “That’s all we know.”

  “Thanks for telling me, and thanks for trusting me. I really appreciate it. If there’s anything I can do for you, just ask,” said Derek.

  “If you remember anything you’ve heard that might help, just let one of us know,” said Adam.

  “Will do. Maybe if I think about it for a while something will come to me,” said Derek.

  Jimmy ran toward them. “A couple of people just turned up the hallway,” he said.

  “Let’s head to the gym for a while,” said Adam, and the five started walking.

  As they came around the corner, they recognized the two people walking toward them. It was Kassie and Trevor. Trevor was pulling Kassie along, which was strange because it was usually the other way around.

  “There you are,” Trevor said to Jimmy as he neared. “I’ve been looking for you. Can I talk to you alone for a minute?”

  Jimmy eyed Trevor with suspicion.

  “I guess,” he answered slowly while looking
at his friends in wonder.

  “Just down that hallway it turns to the right. It's pretty private,” said Adam.

  The two brothers walked away while the others watched. When they had turned out of sight, Kassie spoke.

  “He just found out what you guys did last summer,” said Kassie.

  “Derek told us that the instructors didn't give you a lot of details,” said Kevin.

  “They didn't, but I filled him in – as much as I know anyway. I knew Jimmy was the one to free Ben and that was pretty brave, so I made sure to emphasize that part of the story. I think he has a lot more respect for his brother now.”

  “Didn't his parents tell him what happened?” asked Kevin.

  “You know him. He refused to listen to anything that would make his brother look good.”

  The others shrugged and nodded.

  “I’m just hoping that now he’ll treat Jimmy a little better,” said Kassie.

  At that moment, Jimmy and Trevor appeared from around the corner.

  “I just wanted to say it’s pretty cool what you guys did last summer,” said Trevor as soon as he made it back to the group. “And it sucks, everything that happened to you this summer,” he said to Adam.

  “Thanks,” replied Adam.

  “You guys wanna go to the gym and play some basketball or something?” Trevor asked.

  It was strange, because Trevor had never included them in anything he was doing before.

  “Sure,” said Mark.

  “You realize that there isn’t an arcade game called ‘basketball’,” said Kevin with a grin.

  Mark rolled his eyes. “He said ‘play basketball or something’. I just thought maybe I could convince you all to go to the shooting range again so I can show you how it’s done.”

  “You guys have been in the shooting range already?” Trevor asked.

  “Yep,” replied Mark. “And I made these guys look really bad.”

  “Would you like to try?” Trevor asked Kassie.

  She smiled. “Sure. I’m willing.”

  “Let’s go then,” said Mark, and he led the way toward the gym.

  Kevin, Adam and Jimmy hung at the back of the group and after walking a while, Kevin whispered to the other two, “Kassie’s been shooting gophers on the farm for years. She’s a great shot. Mark doesn’t realize how much competition he’s in for.”