“No. The last time we . . . we were together it wasn’t picture perfect.” Frank swallowed. “It wasn’t the way it should be. I want the next time we make love to be perfect.”
“Yeah, well, now is.” Ellen pulled at him. Frank still didn’t budge. “Frank? Now isn’t?”
“No. Now isn’t. Let’s make the whole night special. The whole thing. Let me do that. I feel I have to do that.”
“But I feel it now. Right now.” Ellen beckoned some.
“And you’ll feel it tomorrow too,” Frank said softly. “If we’re gonna do this, jump up the steps, can we not do this when I have to hurry, pull up my pants, and go to a meeting downstairs with my Dad?”
Ellen nodded, “You’re right.”
“How about this?” Frank kissed her quickly and pulled back. “How about tomorrow night after we finish with this time trip? You and I, we’ll have an evening. We’ll have dinner, hang out, and we’ll make love the right way.”
Peacefully Ellen looked at Frank realizing how badly ‘doing it right’ meant to him. “All right then.” She smiled. “Tomorrow.”
Frank returned the smile. “Tomorrow.”
^^^^
Former Quantico Marine Headquarters
The information George reviewed was sketchy, of course it was delivered in Morse code. From Beginnings, the information came, a message short and to the point.
Trip back in time tomorrow. Information Gathering. Society Search.
Basic knowledge was all George needed and thinking like Joe, he knew what Joe was trying to do, finding out what he could about the society. But what George didn’t know was how far back in time they were going. And that frightened him. Too many times in history, they left things wide open and themselves vulnerable. There were people that could be found. Data uncovered. And vital ‘organs’ as George called them, revealed.
Staring at the simple Morse code message, and wondering when communications would be up in Quantico, George heard the light knock on the door. He was certain when the door opened and Sgt. Doyle walked in, what was going to be told was not good.
“Finished,” Sgt. Doyle said.
“Don’t tell me.” George leaned back in his chair.
“Any single listing that ever existed in this camp containing the names from sector 48B is gone.” Sgt. Doyle stepped closer. “It’s taken all day, but we pulled the remaining men. Got every single one of their names and the crew and I went to Harv’s.”
“Cross check the names with the files there.” George nodded with a smile.
“Our thinking exactly,” Sgt. Doyle explained. “But no such luck. All names given had an information folder at Harv’s. And just as suspected, when they killed Harv, they took any and all information about themselves. It’s as if any participation they had with the society never occurred.”
Though the numbers were small, George worried. It wasn’t their defecting, but how they did it. They planned it down to a fine detail. He didn’t like that idea much and as soon as he could figure where they were, he’d get rid of them. George already had one small community that was a pain in the ass to him. He didn’t need the small handful of defector growing into another.
HENRY’S JOURNAL
November 24
Mentally preparing myself for this next time trip is harder than the last. I have to deal with Frank and Dean and their constant threat to use the time machine against each other. I am grateful that we shouldn’t run into anything that could cause mishap. Hopefully when I return, the information from the history disk should be the same as the one Trish will have printed and waiting. (Fingers crossed)
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
November 25 - The Trip
“So then . . .” Frank took a second to shift gears in the jeep then peer into the rearview mirror to Dean who sat in the back. “Dean, are you listening?” After getting a grunt from Dean and a snicker from Henry in the front seat, Frank continued, “So then, there I was, hand on Ellen’s breast and I, Frank Slagel, stayed in control.” He looked back in the mirror. “Did you hear that, Dean?”
“Yeah.” Dean rolled his eyes. “You’re the man, Frank.”
“Oh, yeah.” Bringing his eyes back to the road, Frank stopped to look in the mirror. “Whoa. Look how good I look Henry.” Frank rubbed his goatee. “My beard’s all defined.”
“You’re the handsome guy, Frank.”
Frank laughed. “And the chosen time guy.” He lifted his head to the quantum lab. “We’re here.”
“Thank God,” Dean said from the back.
“Yeah.” Frank stopped the jeep. “El and I are gonna work this all out. I know we’re supposed to follow the twelve step plan and all, but . . .” He stepped from the jeep rambling as he walked with Dean and Henry. “But, tonight, tonight we get back... I don’t know if I can handle all that sex. Ellen will be yelling . . .” stopping to open the quantum, lab door, Frank added a female sound to his voice. “Frank, oh, Frank. Dean who?”
“Yeah, yeah, Frank. You’re the champ.” Dean nudged him inside. “Let’s do this so we can end this working relationship.”
Frank, laughing in a taunting manner stepped in. “Sorry we’re late, Dean had to get his hair cut.” Frank’s eyes smiled when he saw Ellen standing with Joe and Jason. “Hey, El. What are you doing here?”
Joe answered for her. “Leaving.” He gave a slight push to Ellen. “She thinks she’s getting some of those fries first.”
Frank whispered to Ellen as she passed him. “I’ll hook you up with your own order.” He winked.
“Thanks Frank.” Ellen kissed him. “Good luck.” She stepped back. “Dean. Henry.” She gave a thumbs up. “Good luck. Enjoy it. I envy you.” Giving a nervous smile to them, Ellen turned and left the lab.
After seeing Ellen leave, Joe gave a single loud clap. “All right. Let’s do this.” Motorcycles behind him by the archway, Joe stepped aside and stood by Jason who was waiting and ready to charge up the machine. “Henry, disks?”
Henry held up the purple panda pouch. “Got them.”
“Good.” Joe faced Jason. “Wanna take it now?’
“Don’t I always?” Jason smiled and put out his cigarette. “I just need you three to take your positions. Frank and Dean holding the bikes, single form line.” He watched them get into position. “Both going and returning, when the archway illuminates, quickly go through. It’s only open for seven seconds. Organization is everything in timing. Also, when you step through, nothing should be there. Not even the archway. So if you go to take a leak Henry, mark the spot. Any questions?”
Frank raised his hand. “What if Dean gets hit by a car back then?”
Joe kept his cool. “You’ll make sure he won’t Frank. Now be ready.”
Jason began to punch his sequence. “Dean, you have the sack to carry the information, and the money you need?”
Dean raised it up. “Right here.”
“I’m ready.” Jason held off on pressing the final key. “I am sending you back ten years ago to April 14th. I know we said four years, three weeks. But Joe remembered what he was doing this date because. Why was that Joe?”
Joe, almost embarrassed rubbed his head. “I got married that day and I remember hiding out at the office until three, debating on what to do.” He heard Frank’s annoying laughing. “Enough. Can we do this?”
Jason checked one more time at Dean, Frank, and Henry. All three looked just a little nervous. “April 14th, 9:00 a.m.. Ready?” He watched them nod, and with the final stroke of the key, the doorway lit up and instantaneously Dean, Frank, and then Henry disappeared. “Five seconds and they’ll be back, Joe.”
“Whoa.” Frank’s comment was the sentiment of all three as they walked from the middle of a laboratory into a high weeded, wide open field. “Shit.”
Henry looked up at the sky and coughed. He felt a heaviness in his chest. “Is it me?” He coughed again.
Dean began to choke. “No.” A tickle hit his throat. “Look at the sky.”
Frank looked up too. “It looks . . . God, it’s been a while since I saw haze.”
Dean shook his head and sniffled. “The air is different. Frank your allergies will kick in big time.”
“Swell.” Frank took one more look around. “It’s so silent.” He felt the tingle in his nose. “Man, why is it hazy when it’s April?”
Henry answered. “Pollution.” He placed his hands on his hips then stomped. “Damn.”
Dean faced him. “What’s wrong?”
“I forgot my book.” Henry shook his head.
Securing his helmet on his head, Frank began to push the bike. “Take a nap or something. Let’s go Dean, I got the keys, we’ll push these to perimeter eight and shoot around the back. I hope there’s a back trail. It was here when we got here.”
Dean followed Frank. “Good luck, Henry. Frank . . . I’ll give you the money when we get to town. And Frank? You’ll look real cute in that helmet.”
Before he could come back with a Frank comment, Frank sneezed loudly. “Shit.”
They grew smaller and smaller as they disappeared into the high weeds. Nervous, Henry watched them. He knew it was going to be a long three hour wait. And though upset with himself for forgetting his book, Henry was glad he brought along a copy of his journals. He could kick back and read them. One thing was for sure, at least by reading his own thoughts, Henry wouldn’t be bored.
^^^^
Frank looked at the guy, really looked at the guy as he took off his helmet in the entrance of the parking lot. He was a clean shaven pudgy man with the bald head who chewed . . . gum. Something Frank hadn’t seen in so long.
The man tilted his head to Frank. “Did you hear me pal? Park the bikes in the back.”
“Pal?” Frank mocked him. “Pal?”
“Frank.” Dean called to him. “Just move the bike.”
“Fuckin called me pal.” Frank, shaking his head in disgust followed the pointing finger of the man. He waited for Dean to pull aside him, and Frank got off the bike. “Was it me or was the whole ride in weird?”
“There was traffic Frank. It was weird. I thought I was dreaming.”
“It seemed like it, didn’t it? Give me twenty dollars.”
“For what?” Dean reached in his pocket and handed Frank the bill.
“I’m not carrying these helmets.” Frank, walking in his rough way, headed to the parking attendant’s booth. “Hey pal. You wanna make twenty bucks?”
Chomping his gum, the man leaned against his dirty stool. “Doing what?”
“Watch our helmets.”
“Twenty bucks?” The man grinned. “Sure.”
Frank took Dean’s helmet and handed it to the man, causing him to grunt as it hit him, and then Frank handed him his helmet causing the same sound effect. “Here’s the twenty.” He gave the man the money. Frank turned and saw Dean had moved away from him. “What?”
“Frank, remember, try to be civilized.”
“I am. Look at all these people. And all the . . .” Frank’s eye caught her, the tall brunette whose sweet smell of perfume carried by as she past them. Frank’s head turned at the same time as Dean’s. “Women.”
“Yeah.” Dean watched her then shook his head. “We have work. Any questions before you go make that phone call.”
“Yeah,” Frank said seriously. “How should I handle it if I get hit on?”
Dean grunted. “Frank. Here.” He handed him more money. “Go get change and call your father. I’ll meet you at the library.”
“All right, I’ll be at the library in fifteen minutes.” Frank began to walk in a different direction than Dean but he stopped. “Dean.” Frank reached into his pocket. “Check out what Ellen gave me.”
“What it is?” Dean moved closer. His eyes grew wide. “No, No Frank.”
“Ha.” Frank wiggled Dean’s VISA. “Says right here you were a card member in this year.”
“Don’t use it, Frank. I was debt conscious back then,” Dean warned him. “Don’t.”
“Now would I do that to you?” With an arrogant smile, Frank stuck the VISA in his pocket and moved down the street. The payphone wasn’t far. Stopping at the newspaper stand ten feet from it, Frank got change and a pack of gum, just because. The ten dollars’ worth of quarters he paid the man twenty dollars for, barely fit in his palm. He moved to the empty booth and stepped inside slamming the quarters down. Pulling out the tiny sheet of paper, Frank dialed, and then inserted the astronomical amount of money the recorded voice asked for. “Yeah, Joe Slagel, please.” Frank pulled the phone from his ear. “This is weird.” He commented to himself when he heard the guy again. “Tell him Frank.”
“Frank? What’s up?” Joe answered sounding so much younger.
“Dad?” Frank started to laugh. The phone for some reason seemed fun. “Hey.”
“Frank, are you drunk?” Joe asked.
“No, I’m not drunk. Hey, I’m uh, working on something very important and I need . . .”
“Are you coming down with something, your voice sounds awfully gruff.”
“I am gruff. Dad I’m in a pay phone and this babe’s gonna come on and ask for more money. I need your help.”
“What’s up?”
“I need . . .” Frank fumbled with the awkward phone. “Hold on. I need some information on a few people. I have birth dates and one social security number. Also I need information on an organization. It’s highly confidential. It’s important, I need it immediately and only you can access it for me.”
“Thorough or standard.”
“Whatever is fastest. I actually need it pretty fast. Can you help me now?”
“Why not. I’m trying to waste time here. Am I faxing this to your base?”
“No,” Frank answered, “I’m on a…uh… detail, yeah. I’ll give you the number.”
“Go on. What do you need?” Joe sounded annoyed.
Pleasantly surprised that his father’s crass demeanor hadn’t changed in all the years, Frank began to spew out the information to his father. After getting instruction to call back in an hour, Frank said goodbye and headed straight to the library. He wanted little interaction with people, not just because he didn’t like them, but because he didn’t want to cause one of those ripples.
Dean was really enjoying the feel of the library. It looked so much differently from when he was held prisoner there. It didn’t cause as many bad feelings. Slip of paper in hands, Dean searched out the books he needed in the quiet institution. It was a good feeling and so unlike Beginnings, until Frank walked in. Dean didn’t see him. He didn’t have to. Frank’s blasting ‘Dean! Where are you!’ Not only caused the startling screams from the people in the library, but it caused Dean to hide in embarrassment.
^^^^
It was fine with Frank that the librarian kicked him out. He was getting bored waiting on Dean to make copies of all the books and magazines he found. Of course, before he left, Frank--in order to help Dean’s copy task move faster--did shove a few of those books and magazines unknowingly into Dean’s knapsack. And then Frank left the library, peacefully too. He did flinch a little, fearing a Rambo episode when the librarian yelled at him for viewing pornography on the library’s Internet computer. But he knew all would be fine if he just walked out after the fourth warning. No problems, no disruption, no mark in the old time frame. The last thing Frank wanted to do was cause one of those ripples.
Unlike any of the broken and robbed out stores he had been into since the plague, the large national chain drugstore was huge to Frank. He grabbed a couple of those little red riding hood baskets and trotted through the store. He had some time to waste se he’d thought he’d use that time to figure out what else Beginnings needed aside from those French fires and the cartons of Camel Filter cigarettes.
Careful not to talk to anyone--with the exception of the security guard who asked Frank if he needed any help--Frank took his items to the counter. He was proud of his shopping trip and had to admit he liked it. N
ot only did he get lots of stuff, he didn’t make one of those ripples and he even got to get revenge of Ellen’s behalf when he used Dean’s credit card for that two-hundred dollar purchase.
Time flew by. He had to call his father, make sure the information was faxed, and then head to the library to get Dean so they could retrieve those background checks. Change in hand, he went back to that telephone booth.
“What?” Frank whined miserably as he adjusted the two knapsacks on his shoulder. Someone was on the phone. Almost stomping like a child, he walked to the booth and stood next to it. He could hear the woman cackling on and on. Figuring intimidating stares worked with the survivors, he might as well try it on the forty-some woman wearing a fast food restaurant uniform. Frank placed his hands on his hips, tilted his head and stared into the open door. The woman turned to him and shut it. “Fuck.” Frank knocked on the door. She ignored him. He knocked harder. “Lady, come on!”
She slid open the door. “I am on the phone.”
“No shit. I need to use it.”
“Wait your turn.”
“Get off the phone,” Frank snapped at her.
Giving him a dirty look, she spoke into the receiver. “Hold on.” She looked at Frank and started to bitch. “You know, if you would be a little nicer, you could get a lot further in this world.”
“Why the fuck should I care, everyone is gonna be dead in four years anyhow.”
Her eyes shifted quickly. “Let me call you back. I’m a little scared of this man by me. Don’t forget, you have to show up. Be early too. No, just be there, Robbie.”
Frank’s eyes hit with a zoom when he heard the name. He knew she wasn’t talking to his brother, but something about just hearing the conversation made his heart race.
“All yours.” Snippily the woman brushed by Frank. “Oh yeah, I have a cold. I hope you catch it.”
The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series Page 178