Joanna didn’t seem the least bit concerned. She folded her arms and looked nonchalantly at Jeffrey. “A man of his size, his manual skills. We need him with us. He’ll just have to become a level four. Easy enough.”
“Very good.” Jeffrey looked down at his watch. “I must leave you know. I want to get some rest before I go back out and finish my plants. I’ve got the security rounds pegged so I have only certain times I can be at places.”
“Then I’ll speak to you later?”
“If I get a chance.” Jeffrey opened the door. “If not. Noon at the front gate.” He stepped outside with a hesitation. “A part of me is going to miss this place.”
“Yes I know.” She stepped to him. “But we’ll be back.”
^^^^
Ellen had spent the entire last hour in the community making her rounds, saying her goodbyes. She said her farewell to her baby and Dean promised he’d have the twins at the front gate to say goodbye to her. There was one more person she wanted to see before she left, Henry. He was busy and couldn’t make it to the gate. Henry didn’t want Ellen to go either. But he didn’t pester her quite as much as everyone else. She couldn’t figure out why they just couldn’t let her go. Let her have her ten days without feeling like she was breaking a law. All they way on her journey to Henry, Frank stayed on her mind. Would he be at the gate too? She only hoped. Ellen saw him earlier, he wasn’t happy. She thought he would have been at the nursery when she kissed Brian and held him, but he wasn’t. She was beginning to think she would wave from her seat on the bus, but she wouldn’t be waving to Frank.
Storage number two--clothing. That’s where Henry was. An odd place to be fixing something, but why question him. Henry stood outside pacing around nervously. “Henry?” Ellen smiled. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“I guess this is goodbye huh? My bus leaves in ten minutes. Have you seen Frank?”
“Um, no.” Henry shook his head then reached out his arms and pulled Ellen into them. “I’ll miss you. Be careful.”
“Thank you.” Her cheek pressed close to his. “I will.” She stepped backed, grabbed hold of his face and kissed him. “Watch my family while I’m gone.”
“I’ll do that. Oh . . .” Henry reached in his pocket. “I almost forgot. Here.” He handed her a small two inch square box. In the center of it was a brown button. It had a loop on top of it, almost as if it was suppose to be worn.
Ellen looked down at it curiously. “What is this?”
“Don’t tell anyone I gave that to you. It’s a transmitter. They used to give those to old people to press if they need assistance. Keep it with you. If you need help. Press that.”
“It won’t work Henry, I’ll be in Colorado.” She showed it to him.
“It’ll work . . . I think. But it’s worth a shot.” He rolled her hand around it. “I’ll feel better if you have the pendant.”
“Then I’ll take it.” She slightly unzipped the bag she had over her shoulder and dropped it in. “I have to go. If you see Frank, tell him I said goodbye.” Ellen backed up and turned around. She started walking away and didn’t make it far. A hand came from behind, covered her mouth, and she felt the air beneath her feet as an arm grasped her waist and lifted her. Kicking and fighting whoever it was, Ellen was not making it easy. Her fingernails ripped into the skin of the hand that cut off her air supply. In a backwards pull, Ellen saw the vision of the street leave her view and Henry as he covered his face. Trying to scream was a futile attempt. Before she knew it, she was in storage two, the door shut and she was placed in a chair.
It all happened so fast. Her hands pulled behind her, and rope tying them up quickly. She saw her attacker as he knelt to her side, tying her feet to the legs of the chair.
“Frank, you son of a bitch.” She tried to kick him with her free leg.
“It’s for your own good, El.” He blocked her attempts and moved to the other foot. He stood when he was finished.
“Let me go. I can’t believe you just did this.”
“I can.” Frank shook his head. “Listen to me. Don’t go. I’ll untie you if you don’t go.”
“No. And I’m divorcing your ass after this one. You can’t drag your wife across the street and tie her to . . .” A large piece of tape covered her mouth.
“Sorry. It’s for the best.”
Ellen flipped out in that chair. She squirmed and shook her head, shooting eye daggers at Frank.
Henry burst into the storage room. “Frank you didn’t say anything about tying her up. You said you needed a few minutes alone to try to stop her.”
“I did need a few minutes. And look, I stopped her.”
“Frank this isn’t right. Let her go.” Henry stated.
“Nope.” Frank walked over to Ellen and kissed her shaking head. “I’m going up to the front gate to tell them she changed her mind. Watch her.” He waved his fingers to Ellen and trotted out of the door.
^^^^
The bus was ready to go when Frank arrived at the end of the tunnel at the front gate. Joe stood with Joanna and Miguel when he arrived. Dean was there with the twins waiting on Ellen.
“Frank?” Joe saw him. “What’s going on? Where’s your wife?”
“Got some bad news.” Frank placed his hands on his hips. “Ellen changed her mind. She isn’t going. She couldn’t face you guys with it. Sorry.”
Dean didn’t buy it. Especially as he glanced at Frank’s right hand, and the fresh bleeding scratches on it. He walked closer to him, pulled him back, and whispered. “Where is she?”
“She’s not coming. Trust me, she’s not coming.” Frank kept his voice low.
“What did you do to her?” Dean asked. “Is she conscious?”
“What, do you think I’d knock out my wife?”
Dean shook his head and stepped away. “Big mistake if you didn’t.”
Joe faced Joanna. “I don’t understand what happened. Ellen was set on it.”
“I think Frank was just trying to get us to depart with out her.” Joanna pointed to the jeep that was emerging from the tunnel. “Here she is now.”
Ellen rested her hand on Henry’s before she jumped from the jeep. “Thanks Henry.”
“No problem. I’m just gonna back out of here now and hide. Frank’s gonna kill me.”
Ellen winked, grabbed her bag and closed the jeep door. “See you in ten days.” With a huge grin on her face he waltzed up behind Frank and smacked him in the back of the head. “Prick.” She moved to her children and knelt down before them. “Alex, Billy.” She took their hands. “I have to go. I won’t be gone long. Be good for Daddy and Uncle Frank.”
They both nodded and hugged her tightly.
Ellen kissed them and felt the warmth of their hugs. She stood up to Dean. “Watch Frank for me.”
“I will.” He grabbed her hand, squeezing it. “Can I at least say goodbye properly?”
“Sure.” She smiled.
Dean reached out his hands and placed them on her face, softly he pressed his lips to hers, holding them there briefly. With a loud Frank ‘Hey!’ he pulled back. “Come back.”
“I will.” She moved to Joe and embraced him tightly. “Bye.”
“Sweetheart, be good, and be careful.” With a father’s pat and kiss to her cheek Joe turned her to Frank.
Ellen stepped one step to her husband, then changed her mind. “I’m ready.” She walked to Miguel.
“Wait.” Frank grabbed her arm and pulled her back. “Don’t go without saying goodbye to me.”
“Goodbye Frank.” She turned away and walked to the gate.
“El.” He chased her. “El.” He took hold of her face. “I love you.” He pressed his lips hard to hers. “I love you. Don’t leave hating me.”
“I won’t. I’ll save it for when I get back.” She walked backwards though the gate, but stopped. Rushing forward she ran into Frank’s arms and embraced him with everything she could.
“Be careful.” He rel
eased her.
Ellen, clutching her bag, stepped back slowly releasing her hand from his. “Always.”
Frank’s heart dropped as he watched her step on to the bus. No matter how many times she looked back, waved or mouthed the words ‘I love you’ to him and the twins. It still hurt to watch. Seeing Miguel getting ready to board the bus, Frank charged to him. “Miguel.”
Miguel paused as he stepped up.
“Watch her.” Frank requested passionately. “Watch her with everything you are. Promise me.”
“I promise you.” Miguel reached out his hand and shook Frank’s. “I’ll watch her with my life.”
“Thanks.” Frank moved from the bus and out of its way, watching the doors close, hearing it shift into gear and seeing it move. He stood, looking like his world had come to an end. Trying his hardest to ignore the fears that built in his heart, and praying to God to bring his wife back. He didn’t want what was happening. His gut told him it was wrong. But it was out of his control.
Ellen watched through her window the vision of Frank and her children get smaller and smaller. They didn’t move as they watched the bus. Pressing her hand tightly to the tinted window, Ellen saw the Beginnings’ gate soon disappear.
The bus jolted and jumped on the dirt road they took that would soon lead to a main one. A roadway Henry and other men from Beginnings kept clear for when they made their runs.
Ellen wasn’t expecting to see what she saw as the bus finally drove onto what once was a major interstate. The last time she was out there, it still was a road. Now the branches of trees that had overgrown and reached outward toward the road, scratched against the sides of the bus as Miguel rolled it down the new growing jungle. The world looked different then what she remembered it. Perhaps a part of her thought it would not have changed at all. Perhaps that part didn’t want to believe it could. As the bus moved along seemingly picking up speed, a feeling hit Ellen. An emptiness. A fear. She didn’t expect to feel it, nor wanted to. But she had left her safe haven and felt lost. Besides the security of the walls, Beginnings gave her a sense of security she didn’t know she needed until that point. Frightened a bit, she lifted herself from her fourth row seat on the silent bus and moved to the front. She rested her hand on Miguel’s shoulder as she sat in the seat directly behind him. She would stare out then look into the mirror above Miguel’s head for a reassuring smile from him. She sat quietly with him on the journey watching ahead. The visions, new ones to Ellen. The bright green leaves of trees, sandy colored grass and multitudes of wild flowers bellowed out along the road and on it. It was God’s green earth, flourishing with life. How ironic that they blossomed in a dead world.
BEYOND THE WALL
I envision God’s hand touching down again.
Giving back a gift that we’ve long took advantage of.
A gift we ourselves, helped to destroy.
No one can ever tell me that if it happens, destiny, pre-destiny played no part.
For those of us who are left, those of us who remain, we are the chosen ones.
Not chosen by God’s will, but by life’s will. And God’s intervention.
Some who remain will see it as a blessing. Others will see it as a curse.
Either way, we who remain are amenable for what is then left.
We must embrace it. We must use what’s in us--our instincts, our abilities--to survive.
We must pray for the wisdom to use our chance wisely.
The new world, and the continuance of mankind is now our responsibility.
Without selfishness we must rebuild.
And use with gratitude, the resources that will flourish with abundance at our feet.
By the grace of God, the sins of the past, will remain just that--the past.
Any mistakes made here on in, are our own.
--Excerpts from the novel, THE WORLD’S LAST STAND.
By Dr. Forest Caceres, creator of The Garfield Project.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Perimeter seven lay at the northeast sector of Beginnings. A one mile trudge up a small grade to the twenty foot fence that was part of keeping the community safe. It was Frank’s least favorite spot to check. Not that it wasn’t accessible--it was--but because of the wide open area that lay behind it. An open invitation to the larger animals to try their luck at the gate. They always failed. And their botched attempts were made known by there carcasses that stuck like velcro to the metal fence.
Frank saved that perimeter so that Josh could be there with him. That was Josh’s last stop of the day before going home. Make sure the dead animals were clear from perimeter seven. A dirty job, Frank knew, but someone had to do it. And Josh didn’t mind. He actually seemed to like it at times.
It looked clear from where Frank could see as he walked with Josh up the grade. Maybe the only thing Frank would have to check it the--as Frank called it--the fryer beam, and make sure that some large animal didn’t knock it off its track.
Frank glanced down at his watch, it was one minute after three. Just on time. Frank made his check there every day at that time. Everyone knew that. Unfortunately for Frank, so did the visitors that had just left.
^^^^
Dean didn’t feel much like working the rest of the day. Heavy would be a mild word to describe how Ellen was on his mind. But knowing he had things to do, Dean returned the twins to school and headed back to his clinic lab. Walking in, he headed straight to his work area. The vision of Johnny reminded him of those slides he had to do. Slides meant using the microscope and that entailed a new routine in the lab since Joe took away his power strips. Bend down, unplug his dialysis machine pug in the power scope. All because Joe promised Henry would get to the new outlets right away. Henry did get to it right away, finishing the task was still up in the air. With aching knees Dean lowered himself to the floor and reached to the plug. As he did, he heard John Matoose stroll in. Dean stayed hidden, he knew it was about Jenny or the baby.
“Dean?” John Matoose called out. “Andrea said for you to give me this medication. Dean?”
Dean rolled his eyes, he knew it. “What’s it for?” Very well finished switching plugs, Dean stayed under the counter.
“Jenny has a breast infection. Tenderness, swelling, discharge, you know the stuff.”
Dean winced, what a horrifying thought. “Johnny, give John what Andrea says please. I’m busy.”
Johnny snickered and hit his large hand on the counter above Dean’s head. “Let’s see Mr. Matoose.” Johnny grabbed the small sheet of paper that Andrea had written on. “Oh I’ll get this. It’s already mixed.” He went to the large cooler where Dean kept all of the medications, he opened it. “Uh Dean. Where are the meds?”
“The pre-mixed ones are in the case.” Dean knew if Johnny took any longer he’d eventually have to emerge from his safe haven.
“I’m in the case Dean. They aren’t.”
“They are, Johnny.” Dean, annoyed, stood up with his usual bang to the top of his head. He flicked the switch to the microscope as he moved to Johnny. Not one step did he take before he heard the hissing and cracking. He looked back, sparks shot from the microscope and smoke from the outlet. He ran back over to it but John Matoose intercepted.
With the back of his hand, John gave a fierce sweep at the microscope sailing it across the room and enabling the cord to be ripped from the exploding outlet. Grabbing Dean’s lab jacket that lay on the counter, John put out the flames that started.
Dean stood shocked, and looking upon what could have been worse. “What happened?”
“Bad over load I guess.” John remained calm like this was an everyday occurrence. “I’ll tell Henry to get over here. But . . . my wife is in pain, may I have her medication.”
Stunned by his sudden change of subject, Dean stepped back. “Sure. I’ll just get them . . .” He peered into the empty case that Johnny stood waiting to show him. “Johnny, where in the hell are my medications?”
“Not here. Did you use th
em all?” Johnny asked.
“No.” Dean pulled out his set of keys. “I don’t know what happened to them.”
John Matoose grew a little impatient. “Can I have Jenny’s medication please.”
With the end of his request, Henry walked into the lab, holding a box. “Dean we have a problem . . . man what’s burning?”
John Matoose held his hand to Henry to stop him. “I’m first Henry. You’ll have to wait.”
Henry tried to make it past. “But John this is a problem.”
Dean turned sharply around. He almost exploded, he just had a fire, his pre-mixed meds were gone, and John Matoose wanted a prescription for Jenny. He unlocked his ingredient cabinet and sighed in relief to see it filled. Without saying anything, he ignored Henry and John who were going back and forth with ‘my problem’s more important . . . no my problem’s more important’ and went to the computer. “John, I’ll just mix you another one up.”
Henry set the box down to Dean. “We really have a problem.”
John Matoose again extended his hand and pulled Henry back. “Henry, wait your turn.”
Dean pulled up a stool and entered his program. He went into his file on anti-infection agents. “What?” His mouth dropped open. “No . . .” He tried again. “This isn’t right.” Pulling up another file, his expression didn’t change. “No . . .no.” He quickly ran from his stool and grabbed his supplies of disks. He looked for the one he needed and popped it in. Empty. “Where are all my formulas?”
Henry lowered his box forward. “Probably with all the cryo-data--gone.”
John Matoose took a brief moment before his said anything. He saw the confused looks on both Henry and Dean’s face. But he didn’t have much time. “Does uh, this mean Jenny’s not getting her medication?”
^^^^
“Yeah I miss her too Josh.” Frank spoke softly as they walked near perimeter seven. “Gone three hours and . . . hey.” Frank snatched the ball from Josh and dropped his clipboard. “Wanna play Josh? It’ll take my mind off of things.”
The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series Page 106