Faye Kellerman - Decker 11 - Jupiter's Bones

by Jupiter's Bones

  Lauren rummaged through his clothes, then pulled out a small box.

  'Bring it into my line of vision.' Marge looked the apparatus over while holding the limp body. 'Okay. You can leave it on. Just don't press the red button. That will pick up our voice. Get his feet and we'll carry him back to the closet.'

  Lauren lifted the man by his ankles, but stared at the face. 'This is Brother Ansel. He's one of those who does purification duty - a first-class asshole.'

  Marge nodded, feeling better that she had cold-cocked a first-class asshole. Carefully, they carried him into the empty classroom, again taking measures to avoid the security monitor.

  Elise stared at the lifeless bulk of flesh. 'Is he dead?'

  'Don't think so.' Marge laid the body on the closet floor, and checked for a pulse. Strong. And he was also breathing. She examined the depression in his skull. It was thick with blood, but not spurting. 'He'll recover, but he's going to have one hell of a headache.'

  Elise said, 'After I tape and tie him, I'll bandage the wound.'

  Marge handed her the squawk box. 'His name is Brother Ansel. He's in charge of torture. He's an asshole.'

  Elise said, 'So if someone calls in, I'm a torture freak named Brother Ansel.'

  'You've got it,' Marge said. 'C'mon, Lauren. Now that he's out, we've got to step on it.'

  Again they made their way into the foyer, moving rapidly and quietly. Lauren stopped in front of a door. 'This is where the teens sleep.'

  'Boys and girls?'

  Lauren nodded.

  Marge raised her eyebrows. She opened the door, peeked inside. Eight beds, seven of which were filled with sleeping adolescents. No adult supervision. An ideal situation if no one went ballistic. To Lauren, she said, 'Make them listen to you like you did when you were their teacher.'

  Lauren was breathing rapidly, sweat streaming down her brow. She took a deep breath, then started with Vega, gently shaking her shoulders. The teen startled, then brightened.

  'Sister Andromeda!' the girl shouted.

  Lauren clamped her hand over Vega's mouth. 'Shhhhh!' She removed her hand and spoke. 'Vega, this is an emergency. We've got to go now!'

  The frail teen pushed black hair from surprised blue eyes. 'Go where?' she whispered.

  'No questions. You must trust me and follow me. And you must be very, very quiet.'

  'But where are you going-'

  'I said no questions!'

  'Yes, Sister Andromeda.' Having displeased her elder, Vega looked crestfallen. Lauren softened her expression. 'Vega, I'm counting on you to help me with the others.'

  'I will help you, Sister Androm-' She stopped talking and stared at Marge. 'Surely we are not going with the violators! Guru Bob said they might be coming to-'

  'Vega, listen to me!' Lauren spoke quietly and with intensity. 'If you don't do as I say, terrible, terrible things will happen. People will die!'

  'But Guru Bob says that death is a good thing. It means we will join Jupiter.'

  Lauren bent down and gently held the girl by her face, looking deeply into her eyes. "This is going to be very hard for you to accept, my sweet Vega. But Guru Bob is wrongl Now it is up to you... who you choose to believe. Bob? Or me?'

  Vega licked her lips. 'I will follow you, Sister Andromeda.'

  Lauren kissed her forehead. 'Thank you, thank you. Now you must help me convince the others.' Methodically, she began to arouse the others - first the four girls, then the two boys. They were equally excited about Andromeda's return, but also confused about what their teacher was asking them to do.

  The oldest was a girl named Asa - brown eyes and curly red hair - a teen version of Little Orphan Annie. She said, 'I trust you, Sister Andromeda, but we should not go without asking Guru Bob. This is not procedure. This is breaking vows and overstepping our bounds. It is also joining up with a violator.'

  The others nodded in agreement.

  Vega said, 'I agree it is odd, what Sister Andromeda is telling us to do.'

  An Asian boy of around thirteen piped in, his teeth wide and strong. His name was Orion. 'Perhaps our Sister Andromeda has been corrupted by the violators. This is what Guru Bob has warned us against.'

  Pointing the accusatory finger.

  'I think this is a trap.'

  They were running out of time. Talking at first in whispers, but the conversation, though still soft, was growing louder. Marge regarded Andromeda with pleading eyes.

  Do something!

  But it was Vega who stepped forward, her voice growing in command. 'Yes, she is a violator... one from the corrupt outside. But I assure you that she is not corrupt. She is a dreamer like our most holy Father Jupiter. A traveler of the stars of imagination.'

  'How do you know?' asked Asa.

  'I have talked to her.' A tear streamed down Vega's cheek. 'She understands our most beloved book - The Little Prince. She has read it in French.'

  Looks of admiration. Vega straightened her spine. 'I shall go follow our teacher, Sister Andromeda. I will trust her. I will go with the violator because I have read her heart. I suggest that all of you do the same. But if anyone should choose to stay, please... I beg of you... do not divulge Sister Andromeda's secret.'

  A long pause. Then Orion said, 'Our Father Jupiter was an explorer of different worlds. So shall I be an explorer. I shall preach his word in the sphere of the violator.' He stood up. 'I will join up, too.'

  Asa was the next to agree to come with them.

  With three down, the others followed with scant protest. Marge told them to put their robes over their pajamas, then peered down the hallway.

  Empty.

  'Quietly and quickly,' she said.

  She lined them up and took them back to the empty classroom. Once inside the closet, away from the camera's lens, she began tying ropes around their waists. Their blind obedience to authority turned out to be their best asset. To Lauren, she said, 'You go first, they'll follow with Elise bringing up the rear-'

  'But with all those people in the tunnel, the oxygen will be used up quickly.'

  'Lauren, time's our worst enemy. We've got to take a chance. The kids have meditated. Tell them to breathe slowly and deeply.' Without hesitation, Marge held out her canister of oxygen. 'In emergencies, use this.'

  Lauren was reticent. 'What about you?'

  'I've got a good set of lungs,' Marge said. 'Least that's what all the boys used to say. Now go!'

  Vega said, 'Are you going to take the other children with you?'

  'As soon as you all have made it to safety.'

  'Then I shall stay behind and help you.'

  Marge looked at Vega, holding her fragile shoulders, which were attached to a determined young lady. 'If you do that, you may not make it.'

  'Correct,' Vega answered. 'But it is a chance I shall take. I am not afraid of death. But I am afraid of neglecting my duty. As our Father Jupiter stated many times, duty is paramount. Now my duty is to you. And you will need help to convince the children.'

  'Let's move it,' Elise said. 'The rescue team should be coming within the hour. If we miss the reconnaisance group, we're screwed.'

  'All right, Vega,' Marge said. 'You can stay with me.'

  'Correct.'

  To Lauren, Marge said, 'As soon as you can, come back and help me with the younger ones.'

  A muffled groan came from under a blanket. Brother Ansel was joining the present world. Marge kicked the bundle, and all was quiet. One of the kids asked about the noise.

  Lauren said, 'It is Our Father Jupiter giving us words of encouragement. Let's go.'

  Vega tried to reassure her friends. 'This is our first adventure into space. We shall make it positive and scientific and full of spirituality. Always remember our Father. Let us meditate and pray.'

  'To our Father Jupiter and his eternal spirit,' Orion joined in.

  The teens bowed their heads in solemnity. Elise was antsy, but held herself in check. Too much prodding could backfire. Lauren kissed the children's cheek
s - one by one. 'Well spoken, my dear children. To our Father Jupiter. Now let us begin.'

  Without another word, Lauren crept back into the murky channel of black ink. Working quickly, Marge and Elise threaded the children through the darkened needle. 'Keep your heads down,' Elise told them as they entered the tube. As she was about to go in, she regarded Marge. 'Good luck.'

  'Same.'

  Agent Stone disappeared underground.

  Moments later, the closet was stark still and quiet, the only sounds were the whispers of breathing.

  Time dragged.

  In the silence and fear, it dragged even slower.

  Vega said nothing, sitting on the closet floor, waiting for the next step. Completely self-possessed without any overt signs of fright and dread. That made some sense. How could she have any concept of danger... any concept of reality? Her young life had been lived in altered reality.

  Again, the tarp emitted groans.

  'Who is under the blanket?' asked Vega without emotion.

  Marge knew the girl was too sharp to accept a lie. 'Brother Ansel.'

  'You have captured him.'

  'Yes.'

  'Tied him up.'

  'Yes.'

  'You consider him an impediment to your operation.'

  'Correct.' Marge bent down and peeked under the blanket. Ansel was moving his head from side to side. Slowly, he opened his eyes. When he saw Marge, he tried to get up, but Marge shoved him back down to the floor. She put a gun between his eyes. 'One sound and you're a dead man. I'm not screwing around.'

  Frightened eyes. The head nodded in comprehension. Marge looked over the bloody gauze taped to his wound. Elise had not only done a fine job of restraining and muzzling him but of bandaging him as well.

  Abruptly, static beeped through his intercom. Marge threw the cover back over Ansel's head and stepped out of the closet. She didn't want Ansel's moans to be picked up over the squawk box. Vega followed her and shut the closet door.

  She said, 'Do you know the codes?'

  'Codes?' Marge's chest started drumming. 'No, of course not.'

  'The planets are in orbit,' Vega answered flatly. 'Brother Ansel's voice is medium in range for a man. A little bit nasal.'

  Marge nodded, depressed the button. A wave of static hit her ear, accompanied by a cryptic question. Marge looked at Vega. Vega nodded.

  She said, "The planets are in orbit.'

  Through the electronic interference, Marge made out another cryptic question. Internally, she started to panic, but managed to maintain her composure for Vega. Even though the teen seemed much calmer than she.

  Vega whispered in her ear. 'Say, "I repeat. The planets are in orbit. Do you copy?"'

  Marge took a deep breath, spoke low and with a twang. 'I repeat. The planets are in orbit. Do you copy?'

  More static.

  No response.

  'Do you copy?' Marge said slowly.

  One second... two seconds... finally, a crackly 'Roger' and then a sign-off.

  Letting go of the button, Marge exhaled quietly. Words of appreciation could not begin to tell the little girl what was in Marge's heart. She thought about it, then decided the best compliment would be to appeal to her intellect and sense of adventure. She said, 'Did you know, Vega, that in my world... the violator's world... they send people into space?'

  'Correct,' Vega answered. 'Astronauts. Our Father Jupiter was instrumental in sending them into space. But he has developed more spiritual ways of space travel - ways that do not require rocket ships.'

  Marge whispered, 'Of course. Spiritual journey is always superior to anything physical. Still, with someone as brilliant and as spiritual as yourself, if you don't mind my saying so, I think you would make a fine astronaut.'

  Vega regarded Marge with curiosity. 'But I am a girl.'

  Marge said, 'There are many women astronauts.' A pause. 'You know that, don't you?'

  Vega said nothing. Her face was impassive.

  'But I daresay,' Marge continued, 'that you are as brilliant and as spiritual and as heroic as the best of them.'

  Vega's eyes held back tears. 'I am a child.'

  Marge smiled, holding back her own tears. 'So was the Little Prince.'

  Vega's lower lip trembled, as her eyes erupted and salt water flowed down her cheeks. She didn't answer and Marge left it at that.

  Finally, Vega said, 'It is not good to fill the mind with fantasy when there is work to do.'

  She was right, and Marge told her so. The teen had so much to offer the 'violators" world. So much innate goodness along with a fervent desire to do good. Here, living in the confines of repression with murderers as leaders, was a morally superior being.

  Vega said, 'I must pray that I made the correct decision for duty.'

  At this particular time, prayer sounded like a fine idea. So Marge prayed for lives of the babies and children still housed in the building, prayed for the innocent adults subjugated by monsters, and prayed for Lauren and Elise. She also prayed for her own survival. But first and foremost, she prayed for Vega's welfare. Marge felt that after all the girl had done, she deserved top billing.

  It was taking too long. In theory, Marge had prepared for the unexpected, but she hesitated from implementing a major shift in plans. Time was indeed crawling, but reality dictated that a minute was still a minute. She didn't want her distorted perception to translate into rash actions, especially since Vega was under her charge. The teen, though steeped in prayer, sensed Marge's apprehension. Abruptly, she stopped meditating and regarded her newfound ally.

  'You think something has happened to them?'

  Marge tried to keep her voice level. 'No, not at all.'

  'Time has passed.'

  'Yes.'

  'Maybe the tunnel has collapsed?'

  'I sure hope not.'

  'But you do not know.'

  'No.' Marge refrained from sighing. 'That's true.'

  'You think that they were captured?'

  Marge said, 'Vega, I doubt that. We have many trained professionals watching for them. They should be safe.'

  'But we are watching, too,' Vega said. 'We are watching you.'

  Marge reminded herself to keep her breathing steady. She bent down and looked into Vega's eyes. 'What is the Order watching us do?'

  'Encroach upon the perimeters.' She waited a moment. 'There are things that will happen if the violators get too close. The adults think we children do not know. But we do know. We do not talk, but we listen.'

  'What do you know, Vega?'

  'I know the plans that Mother Venus and Guru Bob have made. I know what will happen if the violators break through. We have been instructed to follow our Mother Venus and Guru Bob into the temple. Together, they will take us to the other side.'

  'The other side.' Marge paused. 'Guru Bob wasn't referring to a physical other side, am I correct?'

  'You are correct. Our Mother and Guru Bob refer to a spiritual journey.'

  Marge felt imaginary brass fingers tighten around her neck. Mass

  suicide.'

  'Guru Bob and our Mother have told the adults that it is preferable to end their lives in this sphere rather than be corrupted by the violators. There are many in the Order of the Rings of God who agree. Contingencies are being set up.'

  Marge wet her lips. 'What kind of contingencies?'

  'There are wires being strung around the temple to end our earthly visit. Guru Bob plans to do it just as our planet was created - in a Big Bang. This appeals to him and to the circular nature of Father Jupiter's mission. Creation and destruction - the endless cycle.'

  Marge could do without the destruction part. 'So Guru Bob does have explosives?'

  'Correct. He has many types. But I think that Guru Bob and our Mother Venus will not detonate anything unless they feel that the spiritual journey is the Order's last hope.'

  Vega kept talking about the Mother Venus being in on the plans. The more Marge thought about that phone call, the more she was convi
nced of its validity. If it wasn't Venus, then it had to be Terra.

  Where was Terra now? What was she feeling?

  Vega broke into Marge's thoughts. 'It is in the violators' interest to tell Guru Bob that you are not planning anything.'