The Agent lead Carmel out of the room of his headquarters near Seattle, taking her deep underground to the furthest reaches of the facility. When they arrived outside at a long ill kept and very dirty room, he paused for a moment at its door where he flicked a few switches. “In here is what I want you to see.”
He opened the door to a room now emblazoned with bright light, where Carmel could see a small group of people sitting against the far wall. Each one of them had their hands covering their eyes, indicating to her they had been previously been held in total darkness. When she had adjusted to the light herself, along with a couple of the others who had taken their hands away and were blinking their eyes as they looked to see who had come in, Carmel immediately recognised them.
The Agent noticed this, “Ah, don’t speak, they’ll barely respond. Just look at them. See how pathetic they are? See how weak they have become at my hand? Oh, and see how utterly powerless they seem? Well they are, and they have been. Think of this my former superior officer one. These people have been asleep for most of the past eight years. They have barely been outside of a room for all of that time, and they have not had any contact with the outside world…none. See what I can do? And they thought I was a powerless fool when they first met me. But I put them in darkness you see, and I made them sleep for such long periods of time, with barely enough intravenous fluid to sustain their pathetic lives. I do so like to have them near though, so I brought them with me when I came to this facility, and now I can enjoy their suffering…and yours. Yes my former superior, you know who they are don’t you. You also know that at one time, I interrogated two of them whilst you watched over me, and you were condescending to me.”
“I have kept you here in isolation these last few weeks because I wanted you to witness the worst of my viruses before you met them. And now that I have destroyed the hearts of so many, I do feel so inclined to include just a few more, but…not as fast as what you have just seen. No. I intend to break these…and yours ever so slowly, so I can indeed, enjoy the destruction I will make apparent.”
When he had finished, he ushered Carmel back out of the room, and then flicked the light switches back to off, before he demanded she follow him to the quarters he had held her in previously. When she sat there alone a short time later, Carmel felt such dismay and sorrow, causing her to cry. The Agent was slowly destroying the very people whom at one time she had apprehended, and then she had seen as those who had inspired her to leave the services of the authorities. Raynie, Jake, Lyle, Jenna, and Chan Lee had been captured in Australia when the former leader of the dark sect had stolen the Torus of Eternity, and then after the Agent had returned to Earth in the stolen spaceship to take over control of the sect, he had delighted in keeping them, and had done so at the edge of death for eight years.
Carmel could not tolerate this position for herself and certainly not for the others. As she lay awake for hour upon hour, she grew ever more determined that now was a time she could do something for them, and so she set about attempting to devise a plan to undo all this horror. Within her stirred an awakening in contrast to the darkness of spirit around her. It was a new type of feeling for her, as if her strength had suddenly found even more of itself.
Chapter 20
Kerry Ann delighted at John’s strength as he ground the wheat grains into flour with the old millstone. They had accepted each other as friends since the day he had returned to her house with Frieda, and since then, they had continued to build a relationship they both knew could never be forced apart. John had considered using Carmel’s steam engine to drive the mill, but decided against it due to the stone’s heavy weight being too much work, and he also thought it best to leave it in condition for Carmel. When he had ground enough flour for Kerry Ann to make some dough, he went to check Frieda, which was something he did a few times per day.
Kerry Ann’s house was small with a rear garage John had converted into a stable. It was not far from the house, but as Kerry Ann had told him of the desperation some had to find food, he went to check on her regularly. She was fine and again, welcomed his visit. Frieda was John and Carmel’s and he tended to her as if she was as much an important part of his life as Carmel, and now Kerry Ann were.
“How is Frieda?” It had become a regular question from Kerry Ann.
“She’s fine. What are you making there?”
“Oh, just some flat bread. I think we are going to need it.”
“Need it? Sure we need to knead it to eat it, and yeah…”
“I think you know what I mean John.”
“Oh yeah. I was going to discuss that with you tonight, but it looks like you beat me to it.”
“I knew it was coming John and I am a bit worried. You know, leaving where I have lived for so long, and trying to get to the eastern sector. The fence runs the entire north south of the United States. We surely cannot go around.”
“No that is not possible. By the time it runs out in Canada, there is nothing but cold wilderness. We need to get through at Omaha and I am thinking about how we might do that.”
“So you have a plan?”
“Well, sort of. I have a few ideas. It is just getting through the fence, or the gates that will be our biggest problem.”
“What about the laser canons?”
“I have an idea on that. In my bag is a few items I have been keeping for many years now, and I think I can fool their automatic sensors.”
“So you are going to use some of those electronics you have?”
“Sure will. That part is easy.”
“Perhaps I can help.”
“How so Kerry Ann?”
“You know I have the shed out there.”
“Yes.”
“Well, I bet you don’t know what is underneath it.”
“What do you mean? I didn’t see any door or hatch when I set it up for Frieda.”
“That is because it is hidden.”
“Why didn’t you tell me before Kerry Ann?”
“Um…I had to get to know you. Sorry John, but you know how it is. It is only tonight…now, when I spoke to you, that I thought I could tell you about the shed.”
“O, I understand. But what is it? Something good I suppose.”
“Oh yes, but we will have to be careful John. We can only use it at the moment we are ready to go from here. Once we do, there will be no turning back…it will be that obvious.”
“Let me guess, you have some transport?”
“You guessed right, but you need to take a look at it first John. I have had it here for a long time. I am not even sure if it will work.”
“So you haven’t used it for years then?”
“No, not since just after the Agent started making himself known around here. Since then I have kept it in hiding.”
“But how will we get it out?”
“Oh, that’s Ok, we can just drive it out. There is a ramp that leads to a trap door underneath that grass you see in the front of the house. I planted it there when I decided to hide the transport.”
“What is it?”
“A common vehicle people used to own…from ten years ago I think. But it needs a charge John. I think the cells would be flat by now.”
“No problem there. I have a plan already to re-charge them.”
“How?”
“Well, you know Carmel’s steam engine?”
“Yes, but…”
“Yeah, I thought that too, but I don’t think she would mind for this, and it won’t damage it if we just charge the cells and then shut it down.”
“But what about Frieda?” John asked, suddenly remembering her and horrified at the thought of leaving her behind.
“I already thought of that,” Kerry Ann smiled at him, and John wondered how she would have. “It is a utility type of vehicle John. She can ride in the back, if she is prepared to cram in for a while and lie down.”
John laughed a moment, “I’m sure she won’t mind.”
After dinner, Kerry
Ann showed the vehicle to John and he was elated to find it was still in good order but for the power cells, which would require John to re-charge using Carmel’s steam engine.
“I’ll get to work on it straight away.”
“Yes, I think so John. We should go tomorrow if we can. The others are getting closer each day and we cannot afford to remain here much longer than a day or two at the most.”
Kerry Ann brought him some refreshments a while later, where they took a break to discuss their plan. “The fence is electric John.”
“Yes, I am going to work on that. Another device I have will be able to create a reflex static field that will neutralise the charge over an area big enough for us.”
“So we just drive thought. Do you think the vehicle can get through the wire?”
“Only if we attach something to the front. Do you have any ideas?”
“Well, there are some metal pieces we could sharpen and attach above us in the shed.”
“Yeah, I thought about them. Perhaps you could get to work on filing the edges, while I continue here. Then I’ll reconfigure my devices whilst the engine charges up the power cells.”
“Good idea. I can file them to an edge.”
“Bring them down as soon as they are ready.”
A few hours later, their vehicle was charged and had the cutting plates affixed to the front. John brought Frieda down the steep stairs into the lower room to get her used to the vehicle. He showed he the rear space inside where he had stashed some straw and some blankets, and comforted her as he helped her into the space for a try out. There was enough room for her to lie with her head up, but too short to stand at all. She seemed Ok as he speculated that after all they had been through together, she was likely to accommodate whatever it took to remain with him. “You are remarkable girl,” he said to her when he took her back upstairs to rest until they were ready to leave.
“I have put a lot of supplies together John. Food, blankets, and other things we might need. I think we are ready to go whenever we decide.”
“Let’s go in one hour. By then, dawn will still be a little way off, but there will be enough light for us to drive without using the headlights.
The drive of twenty miles from Fremont to the fence took them only fifteen minutes as John drove as fast as he possibly could in the low light without using the headlights. They encountered nobody during the journey, and now they were parked within sight of the fence, but just out of reach of the sensors and scanners.
“As soon as I have these devices calibrated correctly and switch them on, we have to go.”
“Ok. Is there anything I can do?”
“Um, go to the back and give Frieda a pat and a few words for me will you?”
“Sure John.” Kerry Ann returned a minute later. “She is fine. Quite calm for a horse in the back of a utility.”
“Good. Well, we are right to go then. I’ll switch these on…now!” A second later he pushed the accelerator to full and sent them headlong towards the fence. Within a few seconds, the vehicle had reached eighty miles per hour where John kept it, save for going too fast and losing control at the moment of impact.
“Well, here go your cutting blades Kerry Ann.” With a screech of metal and a few serious jolts, they burst through the fence, and continued driving. Alarms began to sound the instant they broke through, with officers appearing from nowhere to attend to the commotion. But they could see nothing besides a large gaping hole in the fence. John’s devices had worked perfectly - they had avoided the laser canon, and the electricity. Without hesitation, the officers tended to at first guarding the hole, then others arrived to mend the hole. They could see a few people running towards them from inside the western sector, so they shot them with laser pulse rifles, whilst the others attended to the fence. Within ten minutes the repairs were complete and there was no sign anyone had made a hole just shortly before.
John had driven on for a few hundred yards and then parked the vehicle inside an abandoned shed, where they just sat there for a minute coming to terms with the fact they had made it through successfully.
“We cannot keep this vehicle Kerry Ann. They are forbidden in the eastern sector,” he said breaking their silence.
“Yes I know, but maybe we should hide it all the same. We might be lucky and be able to come back for it.”
“Ok, good idea. I’ll take Frieda out of the back.” She was in a reasonable state for a horse that had just taken a wild ride, and as soon as John let her out of the back, she began to eat some of the straw he dragged out with her.
“She is beautiful,” Kerry Ann said as she came around the back of the vehicle.
“Indeed,” was all he could say.
Tobias had wondered what all the noise was when heard something going on at the fence, just a short distance from his house. It was still too early to be out due to the curfew, so he could only speculate that someone may have tried the divide before dawn and had been caught. He decided he would go and have a look as soon as the curfew lifted – in about an hour. Until then, he thought of trying out his ray gun again, as he was now wide-awake and certain he would not go back to sleep again. It was there in the hiding place he had made underneath the basement and he gave it a few test runs to see if it was still working. Its’ now familiar hum sounded first and then when he pulled the trigger, the bolt of electricity shot out again and hit the target tin can he had set up to test its accuracy. “All good,” he said aloud. He tried a few more times, before deciding it was time for coffee.
When the curfew time passed, Tobias left his house and went towards the fence to see if there was any traces of the event an hour or so before. When he arrived and stood as close as was permitted from the eastern sector, he could see no evidence of the hole or any officers about. They had been very thorough with the repairs and as soon as they had finished, decided there was nothing worth lingering about for, and so they had entirely left the scene.
It was on his way back home when for a moment, he thought of having his ray gun with him. There were two people inside the abandoned old shed just down the street and he knew it had been unoccupied for years, so he was immediately suspicious. There was nothing in there of interest – he knew because he had looked inside a few times over the years and found nothing aside from a few old broken tools. As caution was the way to survive out on the fringes, he took to hiding his presence as he dared to get closer and check out who was inside. When he had reached a corner where he could slink along the wall and take a look through the dirty glass window, he began to feel somewhat at ease, which was a complete surprise to him. What was even more surprising was when he looked through the window, where he could see John with a woman he did not know, and a horse. Tobias could hardly contain himself as he ran to the front and burst inside. John reacted as if the authorities had found them and he pushed Kerry Ann to hide behind their now covered vehicle, before he sought cover for himself.
“John? John, it’s Tobias. John…it’s Tobias!”
“What?” John said as he came out from hiding, hardly believing his eyes. “Tobias! Man, am I glad to see you. Kerry Ann, it’s Ok. I cannot believe it, but this is a friend of mine. Come out and meet Tobias.”
Back at Tobias’ house, the three of them shared a meal of berries, truffles, breads, vegetables and meat, whilst Frieda was content with some fresh feed and comfortable lodgings in one half of the rear shed. It was a celebratory feast, where the two men caught up on everything since their last meeting over a year before, and where Kerry Ann joined in with the feeling. She was happier than for a long time in herself, having missed the company of others in a situation where all the cares of the world seemed distant.
When it came to John telling of the conditions in the west, Tobias was dismayed to hear of the horrors he had encountered, including Carmel’s capture by the Agent. “I have a feeling I am about to do something, but I am not exactly sure what it is.”
“There must be a meaning behind our meeting here
after all I have done in coming to the eastern sector. Carmel and I agreed there was something we needed to do, but like you, we were unclear on the precise purpose of our travels, besides just to make it to the east. I am thinking we need to go and get her somehow. The Agent is in Seattle, so that is likely going to be our destination.”
“Back west?” Kerry Ann said. “But we just made it through the fence honey.”
“Yeah, it seems a bit absurd to come through and then go back, but we won’t be able to do it straight away. You will not have to come with us Kerry Ann…”
“I’m sticking with you. I have nobody here in the east. The only people I knew were lost somewhere in the west. So where you go, I go.”
“Are you sure?”
“Sure as I can be, given the times of late.”
“Great, because we need to be all in for this, as travelling to the west is going to be more and more confronting the further we go in distance and with time.”
“You’ll need weapons then…”
“Hey! I’ve already started on that.”
“What do you mean Tobias?”
“I’m sure you’ll like it John. Come and have a look.”
Tobias fired up the ray gun and took a few shots at the target, which impressed both John and Kerry Ann very much.
“That’s a great gun you have there. You guys are geniuses. Being with you two, makes me feel safer by the minute. What do you think John honey?”
“I’m impressed. It looks like you really did learn a few things off me all those years ago.” He gave Tobias a friendly punch on the shoulder, and Tobias pretended to point the gun at him. “Hey, don’t point it at me, it might go off.”
“No, I killed the circuit, it can’t go off.”
“Well that is one thing sorted, but we will need more weapons. At least one each and one spare just in case. Do you know any leads for finding some Tobias?”
“None really. It is pretty deserted in these parts, and where there are authority outposts, they are heavily guarded.”
Höllenbadt: Book two of the Torus Saga Page 16