The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series

by Jacqueline Druga

  “Dad?” Frank shut the door. “The history was changed?”

  Joe nodded. “I can’t believe this.”

  Frank moved in more. “Why would we mess with time so bad? Mostly, why would we bring him back?”

  Dean pulled the letters from his back pocket. “Henry brought these through the machine. This is the reason.” He moved his hand from Frank who tried to take them. “One is from you Joe, explaining the second letter.” He stopped handing them to Joe when Frank laughed. “What?”

  “I can’t believe we had a reason to bring you back,” Frank said.

  “If you must know Frank,” He said as he gave the sheets to Joe to read, “the first letter is from Joe, and the second letter is from . . . is from . . . is from you.”

  “Me?” Frank asked.

  “You, Frank. Yep, seems you begged Jason to change time back because of Ellen. She couldn’t live without me, Frank.”

  “Get the fuck out of here. Dad, can you please explain . . .”

  “Frank.” Joe looked up, a terrified look on his face. “Go get the scouting things ready. It is vital now. Please.”

  “Is he telling the truth?” Frank asked.

  “Yeah, Frank,” Joe nodded.

  “I wrote the second letter?”

  “Christ, no Frank. Go. I’ll explain it to you later.”

  “All right.” Frank reached for the door. “Tell me this, please tell me we had a good reason to bring him back.”

  Without verbally answering, Joe nodded with a closed mouth.

  “Thanks.” Frank opened the door.

  After getting the relief feeling of an office without Frank, Dean sat down across from Joe. “What do you think?”

  Joe laid the papers down and peered up. “I think move that case and monitor it constantly is foremost. But I also think . . .” He took another second to check out all the information given to him. “I think we have a couple of time travelers to question.”

  ^^^^

  Ellen thought she had to be somewhere other than the greenhouses. How she ended up there, she wasn’t quite sure. But she was glad Hector bought the excuse that she was checking on the progress of tomatoes when he questioned her aimless walking. Grateful that the greenhouse weren’t too far from the clinic--at least she thought--Ellen headed back, foregoing the thing she was trying to remember that she had to do.

  Holding the ripe tomato in her hand and contemplating taking a bite, she glanced up in her walk and saw John Matoose. She smiled, “Hi, John. How’s Caroline?”

  John skid to a stop and looked cross at her. “What is this?” he ridiculed, “some sort of new Ellen tactic.”

  “Um, no. I don’t think. Is it?” Ellen asked.

  John laughed. “Now, we’re playing innocent. I’m not buying it.”

  Ellen shifted her eyes in confusion. Was John being unusually mean to her? With all the help Jenny gave after Dean’s death, she thought she and John had put the bickering aside. Then it hit Ellen. No Dean’s death. “Um, John?” Ellen held up the tomato while questions laced her face. “Did I uh, I don’t know, offend you at all in let’s say the last sixteen days.”

  “Unbelievable.” John shook his head. “So now you don’t think constantly accusing me of working for George is offending?”

  “I did that?”

  John grunted. “Ellen,” He huffed, “blow it out your ass.”

  Ellen’s mouth dropped open as John stormed away. “Blow it out my ass?” Wondering if Frank knew the way he spoke to her, Ellen shrugged it off and started to walk.

  ^^^^

  “Dean?” Ellen tried to call his attention. “Are you listening?”

  Mumbling an ‘uh-huh,’ Dean kept his focus on the bright red tomato that sat on the lab counter.

  “So,” Ellen continued. “Midway back here, it hit me. Right? How brilliantly keen my non-grief stricken other self was. I forgot about it, Dean?”

  “El.” Confused, Dean pointed to the tomato. “Why exactly do you have this?”

  “Dean,” She huffed his name, “none of this matters to you?”

  “El. I’m tired of hearing your ‘John Matoose is involved with George’ theory.”

  “I never said it. Well, not me, the other me.”

  Dean closed his eyes.

  “And how easily everyone dismissed John just because he was the one who arrested George.”

  Dean quickly looked up. “What are you talking about?”

  Just as Ellen was about to answer, Joe strutted into the lab with Henry. “I found him. And I uh, see you found Ellen.” Joe nodded.

  “Yes.” Dean stood straight. “She was at the greenhouse.”

  “So I heard.” Joe raised his eyebrow.

  “Look Joe.” Dean lifted the tomato. “Ellen brought us a tomato. Where did you find Henry?”

  With a pacifying tone, Joe spoke, “Looking for his Phillips Head screwdriver.”

  Dean shifted his views from Henry to Joe. “He carries that in his back pocket. Always.”

  Joe tossed his hands up. “I told him that.”

  “Joe.” Dean stepped to him. “Maybe this isn’t a good time to have that time traveler talk.”

  “I heard that,” Henry said. “And that isn’t nice. El and I are fine. It’s the ripple thing that has us.”

  “Yeah,” Ellen agreed. “None of this time machine memory loss boloney Jason is saying. So what’s with the meeting?”

  Dean moved to the pair. “Henry, this letter you gave me? The reason for you two bringing me back? This goes no further than this room. Is that understood? Ellen?”

  Ellen nodded, moving closer to Henry and reading the note. “Oh Dean.” Her happy face turned somber. “Oh, Dean.”

  Henry gulped and handed it back to Dean. “What do we do?”

  Dean took the letter. “I’m telling you two because one, Ellen, you have to work with me on this. You saw the date on that letter. It’s fourteen months away. And Henry, you have to help me with that case. We have to have it checked on constantly.”

  “Dean?” Henry questioned. “It said in that letter the antidote is in the vials. If that’s true, then everything is all right, right? I mean, you have the antidote in there somewhere. Copy it.”

  Dean exhaled. “I wished it were that simple, Henry. The antidote will most likely be synthetic, and if that’s the case, I don’t have the resources to copy it. What we have to do is first identify the vial with the virus in it, and then we will be able to easily see which vial has the antidote. But finding the virus will be tricky.”

  Ellen snapped her finger and breathed out in a revelation manner. “Half the problem solved. Dean, you’re smart. You can eliminate a lot of those vials by just reading the list and identifying which vials are not a virus.”

  “Uh yeah, Ellen.” Dean scratched his head. “Unfortunately, a list like that doesn’t exist.”

  “Sure it does.” Ellen stood up and walked over to the file cabinet. “I keep it locked right in here.” She proceeded to open the drawer. “Hey that’s funny. It’s not here. I wonder what I did with it.”

  Henry, nearly tripping as he went over to her in haste, shut the file cabinet. “Ellen. There is no list.”

  “Henry there is. You’ve seen it.”

  “Yeah, I have El.”

  “I wonder where it could be?” She brought her finger to her lip and looked around.

  “El.” He grabbed her shoulders turning her. “There is no list. Wanna know why? The only way there was to get a list was to unlock the password. Unlocking the password meant explosion. And since there was no explosion, there was no unlocking of the password. No unlocking of the password, no list!”

  Ellen closed her one ear to Henry’s yelling. “Don’t take that tone with me.”

  “I’m taking that tone with you because you screwed up.”

  “I did not screw up. I couldn’t have screwed up.”

  “El, you did,” Henry snapped. “You screwed up. See, see, you said the explosion didn’
t matter. It did.”

  Joe’s neck started to hurt from watching a round of Ellen and Henry bickering. Loudly he whistled, halting the two who seemed to forget anyone else was in the room. “Hey! What is going on?”

  Henry turned from Ellen. “Joe.” Almost sounding like a tattle tale he moved to him. “She was supposed to just tell herself to run after she typed in the password. Obviously she didn’t. There’s no list.”

  Ellen’s mouth dropped open. “I told myself that. And there has to be a list. How else did they get Joe out of the Salicain like the history said?”

  “You must have told yourself which vial contained the antidote,” Henry said.

  “Yeah.” Ellen nodded. “But I promised myself I wouldn’t use it, so there.”

  Screaming loudly, Henry stormed away from her. “I can’t believe you. How stupid can you be? You believed yourself? You know how manipulative you are.”

  “That’s it.” Ellen waved her hands about. “I’m out of here. Pick my brain later.” She stormed to the door. “I refuse to stand here and take anymore verbal abuse. I’m going to containment.” Folding her arms, and throwing her head back, Ellen turned right as she made the dramatic, overacted exit from the lab.

  Joe calmly watched the door. He heard the stomping footsteps stop. Then a few seconds later he saw Ellen walk by.

  She paused with an embarrassed snicker. “Containment is uh, that way.” She pointed and headed in the correct direction.

  After a whistle, Joe turned to face Dean. “Now, I’m curious. I just thought you tested. How exactly did you find the antidote?”

  Dean pointed to the door Ellen walked out. “She told me.”

  “She told you?” Joe questioned, “about being warned?”

  “No.” Dean snickered. “She told me which vial had the antidote. And when I tested it, she was right. We gave it to you.”

  “What made you believe she was right?” Joe asked.

  “She said it came to her in a psychic dream.” Dean saw Joe’s mouth open. “No, Joe. Stranger things had happened. I myself had a dream that you were standing in my living room warning me to get her out of the lab.” Dean looked at a laughing Henry. “What?”

  “That wasn’t a dream,” Henry explained. “Joe was there.”

  “No, I wasn’t,” Joe said.

  “Yeah. From the future,” Henry stated. “You went to warn Dean. But it didn’t work. So Ellen went. Her warning was two hours later so it didn’t change your waning. It only erased your knowledge of it.”

  “Christ.” Joe rubbed his eyes. “I’m confused.”

  “Imagine how me and El feel.” Henry nodded then sat down.

  “No,” Joe interjected, “image how we all feel. Now . . . back to business. The vials.”

  “Move on them ASAP,” Dean said. “I was thinking. I have to go through the unidentified ones and test them. Look for virus structures. But . . . I don’t have the safe resources here.”

  “Here meaning you have an idea,” Joe said.

  “Yes.” Dean nodded. “And that’s just half the problem. I was hoping, with your O.K., Joe, you could allow me and Ellen to go to my old lab in Nebraska. I have the equipment. Take Henry with us to help get the second power source up and running. There aren’t that many vials. Two days tops.”

  Slowly Joe bobbed his head, agreement on his face. “Henry?”

  “I’m up for it.” Henry lifted his hands. “Whenever you want.”

  “Dean?” Joe questioned.

  “As soon as possible,” Dean stated. “I would even like it to be tomorrow if we can get it together. Eliminate the vials or find the virus in there.”

  “I’ll speak to Frank.” Joe paced some. “He’s supposed to go on the surveillance. I’ll need him to stay back with the kids. Besides, I think he should. He did just get back from that long search for George. And I . . .” The rattle, bang and thump, made Joe spin to where the noise came from. Henry was on the floor. “Henry.”

  Henry stumbled to a stand. “Please. Please don’t tell me George is still alive.”

  After looking at Dean, Joe looked at Henry. “Yeah, he is.”

  Henry whined a little then growled. “How? How is he alive? How did he get away? Never mind.” Henry tossed out his hand. “No explosion. No cockiness. No hanging around. George booked.”

  “Yes,” Joe said then let out a breath. “O.K. back to what we were talking about.”

  “Joe.” Henry seemed so offended. “Aren’t you mad Ellen made George be alive again?”

  “What do you want me to do? Go back in the time machine and yell? No.” Joe returned to Dean. “Now, you mentioned another problem. You said identifying it is half.”

  “Yes.” Dean nodded. “If we find it, if we identify it, I have to work on a cure. I need an isolated area far from everyone.”

  Joe rubbed his chin. “Let me work on that. Let’s get it out of the case first.”

  “If . . .” Dean’s voice went soft, “if it’s in the case. Joe, I really think we should approach this problem at all angles. Let’s not put all our eggs in the basket with the vials.”

  Joe was a bit lost. “But the letter said the vials. And about the antidote.”

  “Oh I truly believe that antidote is in the case but the chances that Johnny, Ellen, and Henry being naturally immune are too slim,” Dean spoke with seriousness. “Finding the virus in the vials would be a godsend. However, we have to remember there are other ways to hit us with it. We have a pretty big enemy out there.” He took a deep breath. “We cannot . . . cannot, rule them out.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  Frank knew he had that same dopey expression on his face that he used to get when he was seventeen and listened to Mr. Wetzel instruct on the confusing parts of basic math. He felt it, the opening of his mouth, the wide eyed puppy dog look. But he couldn’t help it. Just like Mr. Wetzel, Jason Godrichson confused him.

  Jason blinked a few times after his explanation as he stood next to Frank at the social hall. “I lost you.”

  “No.” Frank shook his head as he leaned against the bar.

  “Then you understand?” Jason asked.

  “No.” Frank shook his head again.

  Joe grunted then slammed his hands. “Forget it, Jason.” Joe just wanted to sit there and enjoy his drink.

  “No.” Frank held up his hand. “Just tell me, was that in laymen terms?”

  “Frank!” Joe snapped. “The man said they would experience temporary subconscious memory loss from time traveling. How much more laymen do you want it?”

  “More than that,” Frank said turning his body from his father. “O.K., clarify. Memory loss, meaning?”

  Slowly and calm Jason explained. “They won’t remember.”

  “Subconscious meaning?”

  After a nostril breath, Jason took a small drink then answered. “They may not remember things they take for granted.”

  “Like going to the bathroom?” Frank asked slowly. “Should we be prepared for . . .”

  “Frank!” Joe yelled.

  “Dad!” Frank snapped back. “I’m trying to understand why my wife and best friend are acting so weird.”

  “Well it isn’t from the time machine, “quipped Joe. “They’re always weird.”

  “Your father has a small point,” Jason interjected. “The time machine wouldn’t make them act weird.”

  Frank huffed. “But you just said it would make them not remember.”

  “Yes.” Jason nodded. “Memory loss. Not act weird. Then again the memory loss could make then act weird but I doubt it. They were acting weird right away. Time machine memory loss takes a few hours. Or at least it did with the rabbits.”

  “Oh, now, see.” Frank rubbed his eyes and stood up straight. “Now you’re confusing me. Rabbits act weird but people lose their memory?”

  “Frank.” Joe blasted. “Stop. Go home. I’ll meet you there.”

  “But I’m confused,” Frank defended.

  “You’re always
confused. Go!” Joe pointed. “Let me have my drink.”

  “Fine.” Frank moved to the door mumbling. “Town drunks.”

  “Oh, Frank?” Jason called out. “One more thing. You may want to be aware of initiating any sexual behavior for the next two weeks. It may cause schizophrenic violent behavior.”

  Frank nodded slowly. “Thanks.” He shrugged. “But I should be fine. I’m in control, just confused.”

  Jason watched him leave then swayed his head to a snickering Joe. “I thought it would work.”

  “It was worth a shot.”

  “Speaking of shots.” Jason lifted a bottle. “You may need one more before your meeting tonight with him.”

  “Absolutely.” Joe pushed his glass forward.

  ^^^^

  Three hours wasn’t really all that long to be walking around the living section. Ellen did enjoy the peaceful feeling without sadness. The fresh air revitalized her even though it was cold, and she knew it wouldn’t be long before she made it home.

  Turning the bend from the third row of houses in the living section, Ellen stopped. Henry turned the other bend as well.

  “Hey, El.” He lifted his hand then returned it to his pocket. “Still mad?”

  Ellen let out a breath. “Nope. The uh, walk and air removes it from you.”

  “Sure does.”

  “Walking too?” Ellen asked with seemingly fake pleasantries.

  “Oh, yes,” Henry sighed out. “Love to. Did Dean tell you about Nebraska?”

  “Yes.” Ellen nodded. “I hate leaving the walls but it has to be done. When do we go?”

  “Tomorrow or the next day. We’ll have fun. We’ll drive Dean nuts.” Henry grinned. “It will feel good to do that after crying about him for so long.”

  “Yeah.” Ellen released a peaceful smile then a breath. “Well, I have to go.”

  “Me too.”

  Ellen turned, took a step, and then spun back around. “Henry.” She said with worry. “I can’t go home, because I don’t know where my house is.”

  Henry exhaled his relief. “You either? I’ve been wandering around for hours.”