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

by Jacqueline Druga

  Ellen hesitantly followed with a light snicker to her. “You didn’t need to do that.”

  “Why was he talking to you like that?” Robbie asked.

  “John? John always talks to me like that. I’m used to it.”

  “He what?!” Robbie began to charge back to John, but Ellen halted him.

  “No, don’t. It’s all right. He’ll trip up one of these days. I’m waiting for it. You know. ..about him working with George.”

  “Ellen.” Robbie covered his eyes. “I have told you, he wasn’t in on it with George. Didn’t Frank and I lock him in a room with us for three hours? Don’t you think we would have broken him?”

  “Nope. Cause he cried. I bet he cried.” She saw Robbie look away. “He did. See, it was his way out. And won’t you and Frank look like the big fools when the truth is finally known. I won’t hold it against you though. Why do you think he’s so mean to me?” Ellen rambled. “He’s threatened.”

  “I’m going to my Dad about this, if John is . . .”

  “No. Don’t. I don’t want John to think anyone else but me knows. And it will only make me look stupid. Please?” She tipped toed up and kissed him on the cheek. “I have to get back in there. Thank you for breaking John’s nose. That was great.”

  “Ellen . . .” Before Robbie could say anymore she had quickly made her escape. What he saw of John’s reaction and heard of John’s comments, sent the warning signals blaring. Though Ellen didn’t want him to, Robbie knew he had to look into it and speak to Joe. For his own peace of mind, before he left for Cleveland, he wanted to make sure that if this was the way John always was to her then it would be the last time it happened.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Ellen paced about in excited little circles in front of Joe’s office door. “What do you suppose it is, Henry?”

  Henry tossed his hands up. “Haven’t a clue. But it’s big.”

  “Yeah.” Ellen looked at the door; the same one Frank had stuck his head out to give the minute warning. “Oh. I know. Maybe it’s a surprise.”

  “Could be. Your birthday is coming up.”

  “And Robbie’s gonna be in Cleveland. Bet me they’re having a private party for me.” Growing more impatient waiting on the surprise, Ellen smiled when she saw Dean approach.

  “What’s going on?” Dean asked. “Joe said he wanted me here for you.”

  Ellen pointed to Henry. “He told Henry the same thing. They’re having a surprise party for my birthday. Only they don’t know I figured it out. Oh, Henry. How’s this look of surprise.” Ellen mustered up a shocked expression.

  “You have me fooled.” Henry nodded.

  “Oh, what’s taking so long?” Ellen returned to staring at the door.

  After tapping the folder on the edge of the desk, Joe walked around and extended a handkerchief to a seated John Matoose. “Here.”

  “Thank you.” John dabbed the blood then whined loudly. “The pain is awful, Joe.”

  Joe rolled his eyes. After looking at Robbie who stood in the office as well, Joe leaned against his desk and gave a motion of his head to Frank.

  Frank opened the door. “You can come in.” He stepped back opening the door wider.

  Ellen, all smiles, walked inside. The smile dropped.

  With a heavy breath, Dean ran his hand down his face, mumbling into his palm. “Surprise all right.”

  Ellen’s eyes angrily shifted from John Matoose to Robbie. “You son of a bitch! You went to Joe!”

  “El.” Robbie tried to defend. “Listen, I was worried and I . . .”

  “You had no right!” Ellen blasted. “Especially going to him.”

  With a slightly tilted head and an irritated look, Joe stood up from his lean on his desk. “Him? Why is that, Ellen? Why shouldn’t my son have come to me?”

  “Well.” Ellen let out a breath. “You’re a busy man Joe. Very busy. And these petty personal differences shouldn’t cloud up your day.”

  “Petty personal differences?” Joe asked. “Ellen. You’re beyond petty. Frank and I were very disturbed when we found out how he spoke to you.”

  “As well as you should be.” Ellen nodded.

  “And then . . .” Joe reached to his desk. “We find out after talking to John that what you’ve been doing to him would have been considered a crime in the old world.”

  Ellen scoffed a laugh. “And you believed him.”

  “No!” Joe shouted. “I believe this!” He whipped the folder causing papers and pictures to fly about.

  Henry, from the back, raised his hand up. “Uh, Joe. Is there a reason why I’m here? Because this sounds like a family matter and . . .”

  “Sit, Henry. You’re on council.” Joe ordered. “You and Dean have your work cut out watching her from now on. Keeping her in line.” His voice was directed to Ellen. “Not only, Ellen, do you verbally accuse this man of working for George, but you wrote notes accusing him too. That, Ellen, was stupid. You nailed your own coffin on that . . .” Joe lifted a handful of papers. “And if that’s not bad enough on the literary side, how many letters did you write forging George’s name?”

  Ellen folded her arms. “A couple.”

  “Try again. Fifteen,” Joe snapped. “All requesting John to be at the meeting place.”

  “I was trying to trip him up,” Ellen tried to defend herself.

  “Oh, yeah? Well how was it tripping him up by cutting George’s head out of a picture and pasting it over Jenny’s face!” Joe held up a photo that should have been John and Jenny embracing, instead it was John and George. Glaring, Joe’s eyes stabbed at Dean who laughed. “You think this is funny?”

  “Well, yeah,” Dean said. “I can’t believe you guys are just finding out about this. I thought everyone . . .”

  “You knew? You knew!” Joe yelled.

  “Joe, come on.” Dean held in his snicker. “Don’t you think you’re overreacting? I mean, John’s a grown man. If he can’t handle this then that’s his problem.”

  Ellen smiled. “Oh, my God. Thank you, Dean.”

  “You’re welcome.” Dean smiled back.

  Henry nudged his hand into Frank’s back. “See Frank. Unresolved. Brownie points for Dean.”

  Joe rubbed his eyes fiercely. “Ellen, I want you to stop this nonsense and apologize to this man.”

  “I will not!” Ellen stomped. “He broke into Henry’s house to get me and he chased me in the tunnel. He shot at me Joe!”

  “He did not!” Joe blasted.

  “Did to,” Ellen said snidely. “Why can’t we find the casing, huh? And . . . where was he? Where? I asked. He wasn’t in Mechanics or moving that trailer. Where, John?” Ellen peered at him. “Where? Calling George to tell him you failed?”

  “Ellen.” Joe had reached the boiling point. “John was with Rev. Bob all morning. Rev. Bob confirmed this.”

  Ellen’s jaw moved from side to side. “Well, maybe Rev. Bob is lying.”

  “Jesus Christ!” Joe brought his hand up to his own face.

  John stood up catching the blood from his nose. “I want an apology from her, Joe, and your son!”

  Frank reached out, laid a hand on John’s shoulder and shoved him back in the chair. “You won’t get an apology from my brother. From what he heard you deserved the punch. You’re lucky it wasn’t me.”

  Arrogantly, Robbie interjected with a laugh, “As opposed to what, Frank? Me?”

  “Yeah.” Frank nodded.

  “Fuck you. Are you saying I can’t throw a punch?”

  “I’m saying you’re not me,” Frank argued.

  “I broke his nose!”

  Frank tossed his head back with a laugh. “Pansy hit.”

  Dean nodded and held out his hand. “There, Joe. This is proof of misdirected mentality. It’s all right to get angry at Ellen for a few tricks, but these two can stand in a testosterone argument over who would have hurt John more?” He reached out and took Ellen’s arm. “Come on, El”

  “Dean,” Joe warned.
“Don’t you take her from this office. We’re not done.”

  “Yeah, you are.” Dean, still holding Ellen’s arm, opened the door, wiggled his fingers in a wave, and they both walked out.

  Not only was Frank filled with a burning outrage that Dean just took Ellen from the office but he was angry that his mind had to interject ‘hero’ theme music to the act. He grew even more irritated when he realized that Henry was humming the tune in his ear. With a spin, Frank turned around and vocally blasted. “Knock it off!”

  Henry backed up.

  John Matoose stood. “I’m leaving, Joe. Obviously nothing will be done about this and I need to lay down.” He grabbed the bridge of his nose. “I am in so much pain.”

  Hiding his grumble, Joe nodded to John. “I’ll get back to you on this.” When the door closed, Joe looked to Henry. “Henry, can you get Dean and bring him back here. I need to have a word or two with him.”

  “Um, Joe.” Henry scooted out from his shadow of Frank. “Look. I’m not defending what Ellen did. I’m not. But I’m gonna defend what Dean did.”

  “What did he do, Henry?” Frank barked. “He took advantage of the situation to smell like a rose to my wife.”

  “No, Frank,” Henry corrected. “He acted like not only her friend but her family. And he really is. I’ll tell you three, family sticks together. Instead of coming down on Ellen, try sifting through her logic. She has valid points. And Dean at this moment deserves to smell like a rose. Because he did what you three should have done all along. Stood by Ellen.” Almost apologetic for speaking his mind, Henry gave a closed mouth look and walked from the office.

  Joe’s long slow breath through his nostrils filled the silent office. He stepped backwards to his desk, his hand being a guide across it as he moved to his chair. Sitting down, his elbows rested on the desktop and his fingers did a slide down his face. “I think we all just ate a big old slice of humble pie.”

  Frank scratched his head. “Come to think of it Dad, I don’t think I’ve eaten anything today.”

  Robbie hearing and seeing his father’s head fall to the desk barged to the door, flinging it open. “Is he fuckin adopted or what?”

  “No!” Frank screamed at the empty door. “You should know better!” Shaking his head, Frank followed Robbie out. “And people call me dumb.”

  When the door banged, so did Joe’s head--again--to his desk.

  ^^^^

  Former Quantico Marine Headquarters

  “Sit down.” Steward said with a bit of enthusiasm, and pointed out his hand to George’s chair. “Please.”

  The lines on George’s face wiggled annoyance as he did as requested, getting more irritated by Steward’s smile. Behind his desk, in his chair, George laid his hands on the desk surface. “I’m sitting. Now what?”

  From the corner of the desk, Steward lifted the phone and laid it before George.

  “O.K.” George looked at it.

  “Wait.” Steward said. “Any second.”

  George tapped his fingers on the desk. “I’m waiting.”

  “Just any second.”

  “You said that a second ago. How many more . . .”

  The long ring of the phone caused both men to jump.

  “Holy shit!” George looked at it.

  “I knew you’d be pleased.”

  “You couldn’t have told me the phone lines were up,” George said as the phone kept ringing. “You had to be all dramatic about it.” He picked up the receiver. “Yes.” He fell back into his chair and looked up to Steward. “It’s Beginnings.”

  “Yes.” Steward nodded. “We have to be careful of you calling there. They have no phones. But our person can call here. Until, well, you know.”

  George returned his attention to the phone. “How are you?” He asked the Beginnings person then nodded. “Good. I understand. Not everything will go as planned. Just keep trying. Yes.” He listened. “Oh, while I have you on the . . .” George paused to smile. “…phone. I don’t know if it’s your Morse code or our deciphering but what the hell is this cedic thing they moved into the community. Cedic.” George repeated. “You said ‘cedic is in place’. Work will start on bio . . .” George nodded again. “CDC… those morons. So that’s where they’re working on it. Anything else?” Immediately George snapped forward and his elbows slammed on the desk. “Repeat that . . . They’re going where? Why?” He let out heavy breath. “Well let me know if you find out.” George, without saying goodbye, hung up the phone.

  “Problem?” Steward asked.

  “It makes no sense,” George nearly mumbled. “None of this. I understand them using the time machine to go to the past for information about us. I understand this trip to Cleveland. What I don’t understand is why. …“He stared at his hands. “…Why they’re going to the future. What is there that is so important?”

  After a breath and a thinking shrug, Steward apprehensively gave his guess. “Us?”

  George immediately looked up.

  ^^^^

  The Plains, VA

  It was a small town encircled with trees that trickled from Manassas Battlefield National park. While some men opted to take over a home, tents were erected for those who wanted to stay outdoors. All the small burning campfires were hidden within the overgrown thickness of nature. The Captain preferred the outdoors until it was time to get some sleep. He had a lot of men to talk to and wanted to speak to each individually.

  Elliott spotted the Captain standing from his recent talk with a group of three men. Rubbing his hands together to keep them warm, he approached the Captain. “I’m heading in for the night.”

  “I have a few more to speak to then I’ll do the same.” The Captain walked with Steward’s log book under his arm.

  “Are you explaining things?”

  “Wha’st there is to explain?” The Captain stopped. “This isn’t just a restructuring of the United States that the Society is doing. It’s a totalitarian society where if you don’t fit the bill . . .” He lifted the log. “…they make you fit the bill. More are taken against their will than agree to join. There’s still so much to learn.”

  “But in the meantime,” Elliott asked, “do we stay put or head home?”

  “Oh, we definitely head home,” The Captain said. “God willing, our men have kept things up. We have fresh water, food, shelter. That’s the place to be. In fact, I’ve picked out two teams of four to send back. First team leaves at first light, the second that evening.”

  “Want me to map safe passage around the Indian wanna be regions?” Elliott asked.

  “Could you?”

  “Not a problem.” Elliott assured. “What about the rest of us? When will we leave?”

  “When we have things ready. We need vehicles. There are some remaining in this town. You and I can get them up and running.”

  “Power up a small generator? Hook it to a pump and drain what we can from the old gas station reserves?” Elliott suggested.

  “Like we did before.” The Captain smiled. “How long do you think?”

  “No more than a week.”

  “We’ll try to lay low while we get ready.” The Captain nodded. “Our supplies will hold up and that also gives me some time to find this . . . ‘spoiling camp’ where they have our women. Get them, our other two men, and head west.”

  “Captain, can I ask you something?” Elliott waited for a nod of approval. “Are we sure heading west is the best choice.”

  “I’m positive.” The Captain said with certainty. “See I’m learning from the society’s past in order to know their future. And the way I see it what they hit, plan to hit, it all tells me they want to secure the Eastern portion of the United States first. Staying west is where we have to be.”

  “And then what?” Elliott asked.

  “Then as a whole community we decide, do we just ignore what the Society is doing, or . . .” The Captain took a deep breath and started to move on. “Or do we try to stop them?”

  Elliott w
atched the Captain walk away knowing full well what the Captain’s personal choice was. And though there was no question in Elliott’s mind that he himself felt the same way, he did however have to question . . . how they would go about doing it.

  ^^^^

  How many times did Frank look out that window? There was nothing to see, but a part of Frank felt it helped. Looking out into the peaceful night of Beginnings that was such a contrast to what he felt inside. The wee hours of the morning were approaching the time he himself usually got up. But since Robbie was leaving for Cleveland and Frank wouldn’t have the extra help while he was gone, Robbie decided to do the morning checks for Frank. But the extra sleep was not to be had.

  From the window, back to pacing, and to his little list. Dean and Ellen were the cause of that list and surely Frank would add them to it. He had thought about speaking to Rev. Bob after talking to Henry. And when Dean stood up for Ellen, the urge to see the good Reverend hit him again. But the second Ellen dropped off the kids so she and Dean could work, said thank you and nothing more, was the second Frank knew the proverbial talk was warranted. Perhaps Rev. Bob didn’t appreciate Frank’s late night interruption but it took Frank that long to get the nerve and words together. Rev. Bob listened to Frank and told him he would consider speaking to Ellen about possibly moving back in if Frank could compile a list, simple, short, and no more than ten things. Ten reasons why the twelve step plan would be more detrimental than good. Frank thought it was easy until he had to start the list. A part of him prayed for interruption, that one of the kids would get up. He had five in the house. Surely one was having a nightmare or something. But nothing. Silence. Until . . . The boom of his front door being burst open made Frank immediately drop his list, dive for the night stand and retrieve his revolver. After he checked it, he flew from the bedroom into the hall.

  “Dad?” Josh stepped from his bedroom.

  “Josh, get with the kids. Stay put.” Back against the wall of the staircase, Frank rushed down in a gun readying position. He lowered his weapon when he reached the bottom. “Sarge.” Frank closed his eyes, shaking his head. He looked at the tied up, gagged, and squirming man on his living room floor. “Why is John Matoose tied up?” Frank walked over to John.