by Cindy Combs
Within minutes, they had created a hole large enough to crawl through. Josiah waved Frank in, then pulled off his dark jacket. He crawled in after Frank, using the jacket to cover up their entrance and hopefully future escape route.
Inside the mound was a dark tunnel of gray mud, lit by glow stones embedded in the ceiling. Throughout the tunnel walls were small alcoves. Josiah had noticed during his covert searches that the average drone or worker would duck into the nooks and cover his face if a female or Chosen One walked by. Josiah and Frank made use of them now, ducking into each one and checking for Roaches before darting to the next one.
Suddenly, Frank heard the shivery, clicking sounds of Roachian legs. He pressed himself back into the mud alcove, praying the enemy would not spot him or Josiah in the adjacent alcove. Slipping out the gun that Josiah had given him, Frank held his breath. He watched as three light gray Roaches, barely discernible against the mud, walked by. None of the three were over six foot and walked lightly across the ground. Must be workers. Frank was almost glad he didn't have to shoot. Workers were at the bottom rung of the Roachian ladder, sterile creatures who worked almost constantly during their short lives. Besides, it would have made noise that might lead the drones into discovering them. Once the sound of Roachian legs disappeared behind the bend, Frank and Josiah continued on their way.
Further down, Frank paused when the tunnel widened out into a small room. Tunnel openings could be seen spaced evenly around the oval. Off to one side, there was a small mud mound. Frank could see a couple of shovel-shaped tools resting next to the door. Using prearranged hand signals, Josiah indicated that it was a tool and supply hutch. During the construction, Josiah had discovered that such little hutches contained the items required for maintaining the mound, including cleaning supplies. They had decided ahead of time that Josiah would plant an explosive next to volatile cleaning chemicals. Such an explosion would create a diversion to cover their escape. Josiah waved to the tunnel that appeared to go in the direction of the jailhouse as he crept to the hutch. Taking a deep breath, Frank slipped into the tunnel. He really hoped he wouldn't get lost, because this was one place he definitely did NOT want to ask for directions.
Jail cell
Jane kept glancing at the silent figure curled up in the corner. It didn't take a genius to realize that the Chosen One's words had been some kind of threat. It was also obvious that whatever the item was that had been thrown to Jeff had devastated him. Yet even hours later, Jane could not bring herself to disturb the man she was beginning to think of as a friend. She could only wait and hope Jeff knew she would provide him an ear if he needed to talk. Yet the gloom she did not understand weighed heavy in the air. Even Felix had refrained from breaking the silence. When the outside doors clanked open, Jane and Felix again jumped to their feet. Jeff didn't move.
But instead of the Roach she had feared, a trim black man in dark clothing entered. He quickly studied the two scientists, raising a finger to keep them silent. Grabbing the key from a nail near the entrance, the man hustled to the locked door. Spotting the figure in the corner, he himself broke the still air with a quiet whisper. "Jeff?"
Immediately turning around, Jeff's red eyes widened. "Frank?"
By the time Frank had opened the door, Jeff was there to greet him. Frank pulled his pale friend into a gentle but warm embrace. "Easy, bro," he barely breathed, noting the weight loss and the slight tremors.
Jeff fought to keep from crying, soaking up Frank's strength. In his grief and turmoil, he had asked for a sign and here was his friend. Perhaps God had not abandoned him after all.
A couple of feet away, Jane smiled. For the first time, she herself had hope that they could escape. Watching the two men embrace, she missed the movement behind her.
Felix could no longer contain his anger. How did a human get in here? How dare he invade Roachian ground! He slipped a knife out from its hiding place and stepped towards the unguarded back of the rescuer.
~Spitz~ Jane, Frank and Jeff turned around at the soft sound, seeing Dr. Felix staring at the round hole in his chest as orange fluid flowed out. Jane and Jeff stared in horror as the figure collapsed. Frank quickly realized that this was one of the human Roaches Casey had told him about. He nodded his thanks to the man standing in the doorway.
Josiah quickly studied the two prisoners. While the lady was small, she appeared reasonable fit considering the circumstances. However, Frank's friend looked like a light breeze could knock him down. Josiah reigned in his anger at the dark bruises and bandages, wondering what other damage was hidden beneath the gray sweats. He added the abuse to the column of evil he kept against the Roachians, then put it out of his mind. Now they had to complete their escape. Glancing down and realizing the prisoners only wore socks, Josiah resigned himself that they still had a long way to go. He waved to the others to follow him. Jane swiftly joined him at the door, eager to get out of the cell she had spent 35 day in. Frank draped Jeff's arm over his shoulder and gently wrapped his arm around Jeff's waist. Together they walked out the door and towards freedom.
Once they had reached the hutch, Josiah waved them ahead. With a smirk, Frank took the lead, still supporting Jeff on his wobbly legs. By the time the three had reached the hole, Josiah had caught up. "Let's keep moving," the big man whispered.
By the time they had reached the bottom of the embankment, all could hear the explosions inside. Exchanging grins, Frank and Josiah hurried their charges down the road.
At the crossroads
"Will you stop pacing, JD. You're making me dizzy."
JD threw an exasperated glance at Casey, who was leaning against the packed off-road vehicle, known as an ORV. "What time is it?"
Casey rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms. "About one minute more than the last time you asked."
JD only grunted and continued pacing. Finally he mumbled, "I should have gone with them."
"Preacher said that more people would only make it easier for them to be caught," Casey pointed out. "Besides, who would have driven the ORV here? You won't let me touch it since I haven't got my permit yet." Casey still felt miffed that JD had so little faith in her abilities. She would have gotten her permit, if the invasion hadn't happened when it did.
JD ran a hand through his hair. "I know. I just hate waiting. I keep wondering if they're okay."
Casey's face softened. "I know, me too. But they aren't late yet, so we shouldn't be worrying so soon."
A few minutes later, both heard the shuffle of gravel nearby. Grabbing their guns, they ducked behind the hood of the ORV until a familiar large shape came into view. They stood up, grinning their relief.
Josiah smiled back at them. "Get the engine running, JD. We've left a group of angry Roaches coming after us. Once they've put out the fire, that is."
JD jumped into the driver's seat as Casey quickly opened the door for Mr. Colton and the man he was helping. "Jeff, Jane, this is Casey Rider," Frank introduced. "Casey, meet Drs. Jeff MacGregor and Jane Mullway. JD Dunn is the young man at the wheel."
"Howdy," Casey greeted, then helped the woman to the other side.
Frank helped Jeff up into the ORV, then stared into his exhausted eyes. "What's wrong?"
Jeff gave him a weak smile. "Just about everything. But it started looking up the minute you came through the door."
Frank narrowed his eyes as he whispered, "Details, bro. I want details."
Jeff sighed. "I'm exhausted, my body hurts everywhere, my stomach is doing loop-de-loops, and I can't feel Sam."
Frank frowned. He was one of the few who knew of Jeff's gift. "What do you mean, you can't feel Sam?"
Jeff shook his head. He looked so beaten and worn, Frank's worry increased tenfold. "The interrogation drugs did a number on me. Mullway says I was having convulsions when they dumped me in the cell. All I know is that ever since I woke up, it feels like my mind has been wrapped in layers of insulation cloth. Hell, I knew there was something wrong with Felix, I just could
n't put it together."
Frank sensed there was more, but decided to at least reassure his friend about the last bit. "Jeff, there was no way you could have know he was a Roach. Hell, he looked pretty human to me."
"I knew that the real Dr. Felix was over 60 years old. There was no way that guy could have been him. I just didn't remember that fact until your friend shot him."
Frank rubbed Jeff's back, careful to avoid the bruises and sores. "You need to give yourself some time to heal, bro."
Then Josiah softly called from the other side. "You guys ready to go?"
Jeff slipped across the seat so Frank could climb in. Then JD pulled away, heading north.
A couple of hours later
Jane's eyes flew open when the ORV shifted on the mountain road. Holding her breath until the teen had maneuvered the rut, she then turned to look at her seat mates. Jeff appeared to be asleep, resting against his friend's side. She lifted her eyes to meet the other man's. "How's he doing?" she whispered.
"Sleeping soundly. I haven't seen him this exhausted since Harbor Bay was first bombed."
Jane frowned. "Something happened when the Chosen One visited, but I don't know what." She quickly explained the situation to Frank.
Frank's own face turned into a scowl as he gently pried open Jeff's fist. The sight of the star medallion sent a surge of grief through his own soul. He could only guess at how much it had devastated his friend.
"What is it?" Jane asked worriedly.
Frank took a deep breath. "It's a medallion Jeff's eldest son always wore. It was all Blair had of his mother after the Clarian invasion. In fact, that was the reason I was at Jeff's home when he was abducted. Blair had been working in Sealand, which had been invaded only a couple days before that."
Jane's face grew stricken when she realized the meaning behind the necklace. "So 'the one who is gone' is Jeff's son?" No wonder Jeff had crumbled before her. "And 'the other'?"
"Jeff's younger son, Sam." Frank gently laid a comforting hand on his sleeping friend's head. "Those two boys mean the world to him."
They both fell silent, worrying about the man whose friendship they shared.
Dawn, seven days later, one mile from Sealand's Northern border
They were almost there. Josiah could see the border from the rocky ridge they were perched on. It felt good to be so close to their goal. While the trip from Delroy to the Sealand border once took only two days, it had taken their party over three times that. Not only were they forced to travel mostly by night, but they had often had to detour around the construction of new Roachian installations. It had been a long, often tension-filled trip.
But there was the border. After much discussion, everyone agreed it would be better to watch the border patrols for a day to discover the pattern. Then they could sneak across without raising suspicions. Josiah figured all the Roaches were on the lookout for them by now, especially since the escaping scientists were with them.
While it was nothing short of a miracle that the drugs had not worked on MacGregor, Josiah was certain it made the Roaches just that much more angry to lose him. He glanced at the pale figure staring over the rocks. Josiah had heard the conversation between Colton and Mullway the first night. It made him all that more impressed with MacGregor. For an important scientist who was ill and had just been dealt a tragic loss, he was surprisingly humble and considerate. That made Josiah want to get him home just as much as he wanted to get the kids to safety. If their luck held out, they should all be safe on the other side in a day or two. Unfortunately, life had taught Josiah that luck was fickle.
The morning air has a bite in it this morning. It feels like fall may be arriving early. That's okay, because that would fit my dark mood perfectly.
The medallion around my neck is a constant reminder of my loss. I know Frank keeps giving it and me worried looks. But it was so precious to Blair, that I can't just pitch it or tuck it away in some corner. There should be something left to proclaim that my son had lived. I also know Frank wants to discuss it and what had happened in the cell. I can't yet. I have to keep it together until we get back to the safe zones. There is too much riding on our return to fall apart now.
That is the one thing that keeps me going: to reach Sam as soon as possible. I know with certainty that the Chosen One's words were not idle. My refusal to cooperate and subsequent escape has put Sam on the Roachian abduction list. Yet I could not trade Sam's and everyone else's future for his current well-being. All I can do now is hope Pete has put Sam under tight security after my abduction. It sounds like something he'd do.
I miss my link with my sons. It's so strange not to feel their emotions as well as my own. I can only hope this is temporary. How much I wish I could fly like those dactyls and just wing my way home. Wait a minute...
Frank tossed another worried glance at his friend, staring out over the valley. Jeff had been strangely quiet since the escape. It probably was due to grief, but he looked sick as well. It angered Frank to see the damage the Roaches had rained down on his friend. Jane suspected that several of Jeff's ribs were cracked. Frank believed her, seeing Jeff wince with pain whenever he climbed in or out of the ORV. Typically, not one word of complaint had passed through Jeff's lips.
Unfortunately, neither had much food. Jeff tried to cover up how hard it was for him to eat, but Frank knew him too well to be fooled. Jeff's metabolism rate was high, so he normally ate almost as much as his teenagers while still staying trim. Weight seemed to be melting off him now. Frank glanced over to where Jane and Casey were fixing breakfast. Maybe Jeff will eat more today.
Also, Jeff had been sleeping way too much. At first Frank had thought it was his friend's way of handling his intense grief, but Jane had mentioned he had slept most of the time in the cell before receiving the medallion. Frank just wanted to get him to a medical facility in a safe place as soon as possible.
The object of his concern suddenly turned in his direction. "Hey Frank, do you guys have any binoculars?"
Frank traded glances with Josiah. "Just a minute," Frank called back. JD reached back into the ORV and pulled out a good pair of binoculars. Josiah quietly took them, then he and Frank joined Jeff on his rocky perch. "What's up?" Frank questioned.
Jeff didn't reply, training the field glasses downward. "Damn," he whispered.
Frank was chilled by the defeat in his friend's voice. "What?"
Jeff sighed then handed the binoculars to Frank. "Look at those dactyls flying over there." As Frank adjusted the lenses for his eyes, Josiah squinted in the direction Jeff pointed.
Once he focused on the colorful, flying reptiles, Frank asked, "What about them?"
"None of them are flying near the border."
Josiah frowned. "You're right. Why are they avoiding it?"
Frank turned his wide eyes back to his friend. "They couldn't have it up this early...could they?"
Jeff shrugged. "They invaded a lot of land at one time. With a fence up, that gives them some security while they get organized before winter."
Josiah turned puzzled eyes to his comrades. "What fence?"
"The Roachians put up a directional microwave fence on the border of their land during the winter," Jeff explained absently, voice full of disappointment. "Roaches can cross it, but it cooks any human to a crisp. It prevents us from retaking the land in winter while they stay in their warm mounds. The fence also hurts the dactyls' hearing, so they avoid them."
Frank carefully set the binoculars down, then violently threw a rock down towards the ORV, muttering curses under his breath.
Josiah stared down at the border, trying to see the invisible fence. "Is there any way to disable it?"
"The equipment that creates the fencing is heavily guarded." Jeff pointed to a mound near the border surrounded by drones. "The covert ops guys have special equipment to get through, but it would be hard to duplicate without the specialized material. The only other way is to fly over it, but you have to climb pretty high up i
n the atmosphere to clear it."
"Sounds like we need another meeting," Josiah replied slowly. The three men slowly climbed down from the perch to break the bad news to the others.
Jane's face was serious as she stared at Jeff. "Is there any way we can pass through the fence in the ORV?"
Jeff shook his head. "Metal simply focuses the energy and cooks you faster."
"Can you tunnel under it?" JD asked.
"You would have to start a tunnel far from the border in order to not be discovered," Josiah pointed out.
"And that would probably take all fall and winter to dig," Frank added sourly.
"Well," Casey thought out loud, "If we can't go through, can't crawl under, and certainly don't have the wings to fly over it, is there any way to go around it?" Everyone turned to stare at her. "What?" Casey blurted, wondering what she had said wrong.
"Out of the mouths of babes," Josiah muttered.
"Would they extend the fence into the ocean?" Frank asked Jeff.
Jeff nodded his head thoughtfully. "They usually take them out at least a mile or so. To go that way, we'd need a boat. Only there can be some pretty wicked storms brew up this time of year, and then we'd have our own sea barriers to contend with. However, Roaches hate the high mountains. They might not have extended it out over the Talbet Mountain Range."
"If we go that way," Jane added, "I know of a private school at Gillard. We may be able to get supplies there before trekking over the pass."
"We should have enough to last that far," Josiah replied after doing a quick inventory in his head.
"And if we can't take the mountains, perhaps we can pick up some wings." Jane smiled at Casey as she said 'wings'. "There's a small airfield near the school."