“So you started a search?”
“Actually, no.” Sgt. Doyle shook his head. “In avoidance we took the longer route back with some hope of possibly seeing the president at the meeting place. That’s where we found the ring.”
“Maybe he left this behind as a message,” suggested Steward.
“No.”
“How can you be so sure?” Steward asked.
“Because we located that ring amongst the human remains we found, evidentially tossed and left for the animals to feed upon. But enough was left to determine it was President Hadley.”
“So they found him out.” Steward turned and moved to the window. “Just as we suspected.” He peered out, wishing he could see more of the city that George Hadley vowed to return to.
“Preparations have been in limbo for two weeks. Things were put on hold. What now?”
“Now,” Steward spoke softly, “we make sure all efforts were not in vain.”
“Sir?” Sgt. Doyle questioned, not really understanding.
“We continue on. We follow through.” Steward turned from the window and faced Sgt. Doyle. “We finish what the president started. Rebuilding the society.”
^^^^
The note left on Henry’s door that read, ‘Henry, plan to arrive a little earlier at the quantum lab tomorrow--Joe’ filled him with bitterness. Wasn’t Joe listening to anything he said? He hoped that the so-called meeting of events would turn out to be a reality check for Jason and Joe. And instead of them finding the perfect time frame for when they could save Dean, they would discover truth and see that both of them swam in such a deep vat of wishful thinking, they were drowning in delusions.
He crumbled the note within his fist and tossed it on his dining room table. Taking off his coat Henry saw his journal, pencil inside, still sitting where he had his morning tea. Henry really wanted to place an entry in that journal, a routine he had done nightly since he arrived in Beginnings. A routine that stopped the moment Dean died. It seemed from that point, all the things Henry like to jot down seemed so minuscule in the scope of things. And almost embarrassed to write those trivial matters, Henry stopped. But it was time again as it was a sense of therapy. And Henry did have the mouse story to share even if only to the pages of his journal.
In the midst of the thought, Henry remembered. Ellen. She had asked a week before to see the earlier journals, as if she wanted more memories, even if they were Henry’s, of Dean. Henry turned her down. They were his secret thoughts, but the more the dwelled on it, the more he realized it wasn’t a bad idea.
Running the happier years through his mind, Henry opened the cabinet in the dining room and searched out which of the four journals had that time frame. Finding it, Henry tucked the book under his arm and started to leave. He stopped when he remembered something else. The noodles he made that Ellen loved. Thinking, along with the memories, good food would help, Henry went to the kitchen and opened the fridge. Every good intention thought left Henry and they were replaced with vile ones, ones of Frank. There, perched on the top shelf of his refrigerator, complete with a note that read ‘thought you might be hungry’, was that dead mouse. Biting his lip in disgust, Henry grabbed a towel, tossed it over the mouse before handling it, and stormed from his house.
^^^^
The big oversized sweatshirt that used to be Johnny’s hung long on Alexandra’s tiny five-year old frame. Placed on over her pajamas, it not only was warm after her bath, but it played into the story Frank told her. Alexandra believed that it was a new rule in Beginnings, if it was winter you wore either more clothes or a coat in the house. Though it was wrong to tell Alexandra why she was wearing extra clothing, it was better than answering why Ellen wore that jean jacket in the house all the time.
“All done.” Frank smiled then kissed Alexandra’s tiny nose. “Can I comb your hair?”
“Henry will,” Alexandra replied.
“Sweetie, Henry’s not here. You won’t see him until tomorrow.”
“That’s OK, I’ll wait. “ Alexandra giggled and took off.
Frank set the comb down on the bathroom sink and shut off the water he ran into the tub for round two. He really wasn’t wanting to deal with the child arguments of getting a bath, but as soon as he walked down stairs, he knew no argument would be had from Billy.
It was obvious that Billy didn’t want to be there, but to appease Ellen he was. Like he was sort of forced to do every night, Billy sat on the couch next to Ellen, staring out as if waiting for escape. Sitting patiently while Ellen just gazed down to him, a lost look on her face as her fingers touched his hair. Frank knew why Ellen did that, she didn’t have to tell him. Billy looked so much like Dean it was scary. And Ellen needed him around her.
“Bill,” Frank called out as he moved to the couch. “Bath’s ready.”
Billy smiled. “Thanks.” He jumped from the couch and darted up the steps.
Ellen looked up to Frank. “He must really want to take a bath.”
“I’ve been bribing them.” Frank sat down next to her. “You know, giving them extra play time before . . .” Frank’s speech slowed down as Ellen just fell in a lean into him. “…before bedtime.” He put his arm around her and laid his lips to her head. She snuggled more against him as if wanting to crawl inside of him. Frank held her tighter. Just as they settled into the hold, a knock at the door caused them both to jolt.
Frank looked over his shoulder. “Come in.”
Henry stepped inside. “Hey. Am I interrupting?”
“No,” Frank answered.
Ellen sat up. “What are you doing here?” She asked.
“I came bearing gifts.” Henry held back his huff of irritation at Frank. “You may like it.” With one arm still behind his back he handed Ellen the journal. “Second-year here.”
Ellen gasped out a quiet ‘oh’ as her hand moved across the hard book. “Henry, thank you.”
“You’re welcome. That was the time frame that I fought with Dean the least.”
Ellen smiled. “I’ll read it all.”
Frank was ready. “Seeing how you’re still hiding something behind your back, I’m taking it that’s for me.”
Henry grinned with a tilted head. “Yep. Something special for you. Because you, Frank, are the special guy.”
“I am,” Frank said proudly. “So . . . what is it?”
Standing before Frank, Henry took on a smug look. “Before I give you your gift, I would like to say . . .” Henry flung out the cloth tossing the carcass of the mouse upon Frank’s lap. “You’re an asshole.”
Ignoring Ellen’s loud ‘Oh my God!’ Frank laughed and tossed it back to Henry. “He’s your friend.”
“Well you . . .” Henry threw it back in his lap, “killed him.”
“You . . .” Frank stood up and tossed it back still laughing, “wanted him.”
“Not in my fridge.” Henry tossed it back harder.
“Hold it!” Ellen called out stepping to them. “Why are you two playing with a dead mouse in my living room?”
“El, your sick husband has been playing with that dead mouse since six-thirty this morning,” Henry whined.
Ellen turned to Frank who threw the mouse to Henry. “Why?”
“I was saving it for Henry,” Frank defended.
“He put it in my fridge, El.” Henry slammed it in Frank’s gut and it rolled to the floor.
“Out!” Ellen ordered. “Right now!”
“Oh!” Frank held out his hand. “Way to go, Henry. Pissing her off.”
“Me?” Henry nearly shrieked. “I brought her a gift.”
“But you had to go and ruin it.” Frank pointed to the door. “Go on. Get out, you heard her.”
Henry laughed. “I don’t think she was talking to me, Frank.”
“She wasn’t talking to me.” Frank ridiculed. “El? Who did you kick out?”
Ellen only glared. She shook her head with a slight roll to her eyes. “Both. I’m going in the kitchen and when I c
ome back, I want you both out.”
So shocked, Frank watched her. “I can’t believe it.”
Henry slightly shook his head. “She threw us out. It really is unlike her.”
“True.” Frank nodded. “But, she’s having a hard time.”
“We should leave her alone to read my journal.”
“She probably needs that.” Frank took a thinking breath. “Social hall?”
“Why not,” Henry shrugged.
“Let’s go.” Frank led Henry to the door. He grabbed his coat and both of them left.
Ellen heard the shutting of the door. Letting out a breath of relief, she lifted her glass of water to her lips and took a drink. Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, she thought about the ‘hot potato’ game that happened in her living room and shuttered more. It was safe to go back. They were just fooling around. Ellen knew it, but it still irritated her. Feeling herself calm down, Ellen placed her glass in the sink and went back to the living room. She wanted to read that journal. Moving to the couch, Ellen stopped cold. Her inner anger began to rise. Henry and Frank did indeed leave, but they forgot to take the dead mouse. It still lay right where they dropped it, on the floor.
CHAPTER FOUR
November 16
Standing almost in intimidation but not meaning to, Frank reviewed the single sheet of paper. His eyes moved from what seemed to be a list, to Ellen.
“Do you think it’s O.K.?” Ellen asked frazzled. “I mean this is what they wanted me to say today. I can be there. I just can’t speak it.”
“You don’t have to go,” Frank said. “I’ll tell my dad and Jason when I drop this off that you won’t be coming.”
Ellen shook her head. “No. I need to be there. I’ll answer any questions they have. It’s just . . . letting the words come from my mouth. I’ll get upset. It was our last day together.”
“I understand.” Frank leaned in and kissed her on the forehead. “And I have to go.”
“Will you be there?” Ellen asked following him across the living room.
“Yes. I will.”
“Good.” Ellen folded her arms. “Frank?”
Frank stopped just before opening the door.
“Frank?” Ellen stepped to him whispering. “Do you think it will work?” Her heart wanted to drop when she saw the same expression Henry had given her. “Frank?”
“El.” He let out a breath. “I don’t want to answer that.”
“Why? Because you don’t think it will work?”
“No. Because I want it to work so badly, my judgment is clouded.” Frank lowered his voice. “I really want it to work.”
His words made Ellen’s mouth tense up as she fought the emotions of hearing Frank talk about someone he had fought tooth and nail with since the day they first met. “Be careful.” She told him as he started to leave.
“Always.” Frank gave a sad smile and left.
Ellen stood there for a while, and then it was time, she knew, to pull herself together. It was the day they finalized the plans to bring Dean back.
^^^^
“Henry!” Joe yelled with depth as he clapped his hands loudly together. “Wake up and listen to what we’re saying.”
Henry rubbed his eyes and sprang up from his lean on the counter in Jason’s laboratory. “Sorry, Joe. Go on.”
“What the hell’s the matter with you anyhow?” Joe shook his head. “I never saw you fall asleep like that.”
“Your son, Joe. At three o’clock this morning your son is sticking a dead mouse in my pants.”
“Christ are you two still playing with that thing?” Joe asked.
“Not me, Joe. Frank. You know what they say,” Henry stated. “Simple things amuse simple minds.”
“Be that as it may, you need to start working on rodent control.”
“Aw,” Henry whined, “I haven’t any idea how to kill them.”
A bright look hit Joe. “Never mind. We’ll get Dean to do it.”
Henry grumbled and dropped his head back down to the counter.
Joe reached out and lifted Henry’s head up by the hair. “Stand up.”
“Why?” Henry asked with suspicion.
“Just stand up.” Joe repeated then looked at his watch. “Jason, it’s been seven minutes.”
“That it has.” Grinning, Jason walked over to his computer. He began typing. With a hard accented hit, he struck his final key. “There.” He turned and faced Henry. “Now, this is your transfer.” He handed Henry a silver two inch box and set in the middle, a small black keypad. “This has to go through with you. When you’re ready to return, punch in the code, which is your birthday, and it re-powers the Regressionator. To me and Joe it will be a matter of three seconds that you are gone. But for you, it will be however long you are there. Got that? Now . . .”
“Whoa.” Henry’s feet slid as he felt himself being pulled by Joe and Jason. “Where am I going?”
Joe pulled him along. “Behind that wooden archway.”
“For what?” Henry asked, nearing it.
“To walk through,” Joe explained, leading Henry to the other side of the archway facing the lab. “You have to go this way, so you can see the lab when you walk through.”
“Actually you can go through either way.” Jason explained, not paying attention to the confused look on Henry’s face. “But it won’t have the same effect if you go through the front of the archway and come out facing the wall.” Jason began to walk back to his computer.
“What . . .” Henry felt himself being shoved closer to the archway by Joe. “Wait.”
Joe didn’t pay any attention to Henry’s apprehension. “He’s almost there Jason let me know when.”
“Wait!” Henry pulled away. “What is going on?”
“Think of it as a trip, my boy.” Joe slapped him on the back. “A trip back in time six or seven minutes.”
“What?!” Henry shook his head, his hair flinging about. “No. I’ve seen what he does to those rabbits, Joe. I’ll be charcoal. No.” He felt himself being pushed.
“It’s the only way, Henry.” Joe grabbed him again. “I did it. Jason, fire away.”
Henry’s eyes widened in horror as the sound of powering was heard and suddenly the entire archway was filled with a bright white light. “No, Joe.” He felt pushed.
“Don’t forget the code or you won’t get back.” Joe shoved him. “Have a nice trip.”
“No!” With a warm shock through his body, Henry was pushed through the whiteness. His long, loud scream ceased as soon as he emerged on the other side. Standing there was Jason and Joe, they faced his entrance. And sleeping on the counter was himself. Henry’s mouth dropped open.
“Son of a bitch!” Joe exclaimed as he saw a shocked Henry. “Jason, I guess you did prove it to him.”
Jason quickly looked at his watch. “I’ll mark the time. Henry, walk around so you can go back through. We have to wake you up now.”
“Huh?” Trembling and not wanting to believe what he was seeing, Henry punched his birthday into the small keypad. He watched Joe and Jason wave to him as he stepped slowly backwards through the archway.
He didn’t face the bright white light this time, his back did, but Henry felt the warm sensation as he went through again. Landing on the other side, his face still holding the expression of shock, he was greeted with another surprise. Three bright flashes of light hit him in the face. “UH!” He screamed covering his face. “I’m blind. I’m blind. Your machine blinded me!”
“Oh for crying out loud,” Joe said with disgust. “I took your picture.” Bending down, Joe picked up the three instant pictures that fell to the floor. He began flapping to dry them.
Henry rubbed his eyes. He grew annoyed at the floating green spots that dangled in his view.
Jason, proudly pulled Henry back into the lab. “So, what did you think?”
“I think you’re both nuts.” Henry swung his hand out as if waving about the residue of the flash in his fac
e. “Parlor trick. I don’t know what you guys did to me when I was sleeping but you two . . .”
“Henry!” Joe yelled. “You went back in time. Now believe it for Christ sake.” Joe looked down at the developing pictures and laughed. He quickly showed them to Jason then Henry. “You really looked funny when you came through.”
Henry’s heart still raced. “Don’t you think you should have asked for my permission before you shoved me through something that uses extreme heat?”
Joe and Jason answered at the same time, “No.”
Though in a way, Jason proved his machine to Henry, it still irked him. Before he could yell at the two older gentlemen anymore, Ellen walked in.
“Hey, everyone.” She spoke softly, shutting the door then shivering. “God it’s getting cold out there. Sorry I’m late. It’s really going to . . .” She saw the expression that still hung on Henry’s face. “Henry?” She walked up to him. “Are you all right? You look weird. And were you sleeping? You have a red mark on your cheek.”
“Check out the shots of Henry.” Joe showed her the photos. “Funny, huh?”
Ellen smiled and reached for the second one. “Could I have this one Joe, he looks so cute with that expression on his face.”
“Sure, go ahead.” Joe shrugged and shoved the other two in his pocket.
Ellen giggled and looked at the picture. “I’ll put this on my dresser mirror at . . . Henry why are you posing for pictures for Joe?”
“El.” Henry firmly grasped the tops of her arms, placing his face close to hers. “I went through the time machine. I saw myself sleeping on the counter. Ellen . . . it works. It really works.”
It was if Ellen was shot with an arrow of hope. All the air escaped her warmly. “Henry?” Her eyes questioned him.
Henry nodded to her slowly. “You know what this means don’t you?”
“We can . . .” Without another word Ellen quickly embraced him. “Oh, Henry! Thank you.”
Joe was annoyed by this. Especially watching as Henry held Ellen tight, lifting her from the ground. “Why are you thanking Henry? It’s Jason’s machine.”
The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series Page 160