“Really,” Joe continued. “Seems he has a degree in architecture and electrical engineering.”
“Really.” Henry raised his eyebrows at Danny. “Where did you go to school?”
“UCLA.”
“Frank said you made some sort of tracking device.”
“Oh yeah.” Danny nodded. “Against the um ... SUTs, that’s what you guys call them.”
Henry looked down as Joe handed him the tracker. “This is it?” Henry asked looking at the video game. “How is this it?”
“I gutted it and redid the inside,” Danny answered. “I just thought using the game gave it a neat appearance.”
Henry laid it on the table and turned it over. “May I?”
“Sure,” Danny said.
Henry reached into his back pocket and pulled out a screw driver and began to undo the back.
Frank had to get his comments in. “Careful, Henry, don’t break it. Danny worked real hard on that.”
Danny snickered. “Don’t worry about it, Henry. I’m sure you know how to put it back together.”
“No he doesn’t,” Frank said and received a sour look from Henry.
Henry removed the back of the unit. “Fuck.” he spoke softly, slowly sitting down as he looked. “Where did you get these parts?”
Danny leaned in closer. “The board here I got from one of those radar trackers people used to use to detect the cops. Here ...” Danny’s finger pointed in the unit. “Here’s the microchip I got from one of those SUTs.”
“You’re using it as a conduit.”
“Exactly.”
“Impressive.” Henry began to replace the cover. “And you actually made this?”
“Yes. It was fairly simple, as you can see. But it took the idea first and that was difficult. As you know, Henry, putting it together, finding the right parts, that takes time.”
“Of course.” Henry handed the unit back.
Frank gladly took it. “Yeah, these little things are gonna be part of a grand scale beef-up to our security system.”
Henry faced Frank. “How do you mean?”
“Danny here is gonna work on making these things large scale. You know, stick some trackers in the trees. Pick up the SUTs miles away. Man, those things won’t have a chance.”
“The whole entire perimeter?” Henry asked. “Frank, that is gonna take a power supply to run it. We could make the battery units but that could take time. You’re talking one hell of a system.”
Joe stood up—slowly. “That’s where you come in, Henry. You’ll help out, won’t you?”
“It’s a big project, Joe.” Henry looked at Danny. “Do you realize how big of a project it is?”
“Yeah I do,” Danny stated, “but putting the project together won’t be as difficult as finding the parts to do it. By the way you’re talking, that’s a lot of microchips and detectors.”
“Not to mention,” Henry interrupted, “the reception unit. Right? It would have to be built larger scale then the handheld unit.”
“Yes and then like you said, there would be the power supply. We could use the battery units.”
“But you run the risk of having them fail or die,” Henry stated.
“True. What about channeling the power supply that powers the perimeters now?”
Henry shrugged. “Possible. Again, a lot of work.”
“I don’t mind.” Danny looked at the faces. “Really, I don’t. I mean I can start designing it now while I’m in here. Correct me if I’m wrong, but by what I saw when I came in here, you guys run off of hydro and primarily solar energy. That’s the only problem I will have when I design the system. I have some knowledge about those energy sources, but hardly enough to work with it.”
Joe gave a pat to Henry’s back. “Henry knows all about it. He’ll teach you. Won’t you, Henry? Henry is the king of solar energy.”
“You’re kidding?” Danny’s eyes widened brightly. “Wow. Is that what your degree is in? Where did you go to school for it?”
“I didn’t.” Henry looked crossly at Danny. “I taught myself.”
“Man, that is impressive.” Danny nodded. “Do you have blueprints of the power system here? I’d like to look at them if I could while I’m designing the new system.”
“Yes we do,” Henry told him, “but I can’t give them to you to view.” He saw the stares from everyone over that, especially from Joe. “No, Joe. Sorry. We go to great lengths to protect this community. We go to great length to ensure that those who walk amongst are a part of us. I’m sorry, Danny, you just arrived here. In my opinion, though you gave us something that possibly works, you still just got here. We don’t know you. I for one, will not be responsible for showing where we can be vulnerable to someone who has yet to prove themselves.”
Everyone was silent. Danny felt the awkwardness in the room. He lowered himself back down to sit, holding his hands up. “I completely understand. I would be the same way. Really I would. But I’ll still work in the design of that system and possible things we can use to create it. I’ll do that while I’m here.”
Joe was glad to hear that and glad that Henry’s blunt tactlessness didn’t frighten him off. “Good, Danny. I’ll get you some things to start. But Henry has one point. You do have to prove yourself fully. To me, proving yourself mentally is where my concerns lie most. Not with trust. I’m pretty good at the trust part. My gut instinct never fails me. Nor does Frank’s, and Frank’s gut is not in doubt of you. So ...” Joe clapped his hands together once. “I’ll let you get settled into Containment and I’ll see you this evening for our skills class for which you’ll be here, right, Ellen?”
Ellen smiled. “Oh without a doubt.”
“Good.” Joe backed up. “Danny, we’ll work on the tests and get you and Bentley where you’re needed, out there with us. Hopefully no longer than a week. Ellen, opinion?”
Ellen shifted her eyes to Danny. “No offense, Danny, but I’ve been burned, so I’ll hold off judgment or opinion at least for another day.”
“No offense taken.” Danny laid his hand on Ellen’s with a pat. “Joe, there’s no problem with me staying here in Containment. I understand your rules. I’ll abide by them because I want to stay. And ...” He smiled at Ellen. “Ellen’s here with me, right, so how bad will this place be?”
Frank snickered, stepping into Henry and whispering into his ear as low as he could get, “He touched her, Henry. Ellen let a Survivor touch her on the first day.”
Henry didn’t need for Frank to tell him that. He saw it and his eyes never left Danny.
Frank watched Henry and the expression on his face. He thought that maybe it wasn’t a good idea at first to egg Henry on, that his instigating only caused Henry to not give Danny the chance he should have been given. But after Frank thought about it, he chucked that thought right out of his mind. The look on Henry’s face made it all worthwhile, and not to mention, brightened his spirits. Frank knew he’d needed his spirits to be up, especially if within an hour, he was going to begin living with Dean.
<><><><>
“Here we are, Dean ...” Frank opened the front door to his house. “Home sweet home.”
Dean stood there in the doorway, hesitating, really hesitating before going in. “I’m not too sure about this, Frank.”
“Sure you are, Dean.” Frank gave him a pat to his back and carried Dean’s small bag in for him. “Come on in. Don’t just stand there, and watch that step.”
“OK.” Dean stepped forward ready to take that first step as Frank put it, and his foot hit hard on the carpet. He stumbled a little. “Frank, there isn’t any step there.”
“You should know that.”
“I’m going home.” Dean began to turn around, but stopped. “Where’s Henry?”
“I thought you were going home.”
“I can’t get there alone, Frank.”
“Sure you can.” Frank set the bag down.
“No I can’t. I’m blind or did you forget.”
>
“Now how can I forget that? But there should be no reason you shouldn’t be able to make it home. You’ve lived in this place for almost seven years. Just like there should be no reason that you didn’t know there wasn’t a step in my house. These houses are all alike. Blind or not blind, eyes open or closed you, Dean, you should have no problem getting around because you should know this place like the palm of your hand.”
“The back of my hand, Frank, that’s how the saying goes.”
“Dean, knowing how long it was that you were without Ellen, I’m willing to bet you know the palm of your hand better than the back.”
Dean grunted. “Why did I agree to torture myself like this?”
“I don’t know. You tell me.” Frank smiled widely when the front door to his house opened. “Look who’s here. Sorry. The troops.”
Henry looked tired as he toted, not only Nick in his arms, but Brian dangling from his hip. Alexandra and Billy ran in past Henry, and Joey came in through his legs. All of the ones who were self-mobile were also loud. “Help, Frank.”
“Henry.” Frank shook his head. “I do this shit every day.”
“It’s a well-known fact that you’re Superman, Frank. Help.”
Shrugging Frank walked up to him. “Look at this shit. You got my kid dangling from your fuckin leg like a Christmas ornament.” Frank placed his arm around Brian’s waist and lifted him then smiled at Brian’s ‘Da-da’ and then he reached for Nick. “You have this newborn all bent back. Look at his head, Henry. All the blood is rushing there. He’s gonna end up stupid.” Frank backed up, kissed Brian, and extended him out to Dean. “Dean, can you hold him.”
Dean felt the touching little hands of Brian, and he reached for the baby, taking him into his arms. He hugged him tightly.
“Very good, Dean,” Frank commented as he set Nick in a baby seat. “Henry, where are you going?”
Henry was trying to make an escape, but failed. “I have work to do.”
“No, you don’t. You left it for Scott, remember? Besides, you agreed to help out this first day. Why don’t you want to?”
“It’s not helping out Dean. It’s not you, Dean,” Henry told him. “It’s the kids. I just carried them all the way back here to your house, Frank. It was difficult. I have a headache, and I’m still sore from you beating me up.”
“Knock it off about that shit.” Frank walked to the door and closed it. “Hang tight. If you don’t want to be around the kids, start dinner or something.”
Henry pouted then whined, “All right.” He stomped his foot and went to the kitchen. For starters, that was the lesser of the two evils.
“Henry’s gone. And ... hand over my kid.” Frank took Brian from Dean and immediately tickled the baby with his chin causing Brian to squeal. “Hey, Bri.” Frank kissed him. “How was Henry? Was he mean to you? Fuckin Henry.” Frank kissed the baby again, over and over. “I missed you. Yeah.” Brian grabbed hold of Frank’s nose. “Wanna go in your walker and hit everyone in the legs?” He took Brian over to the awaiting baby walker. “OK, Dean, I’m putting Brian in his mobile thing. Watch out for him when you’re wandering around the house for the next hour.”
“Explain wandering around the house.”
“You, Dean, are going to try to walk around the house and learn it. I’ll be with you. Hell, I’ll be nice and let you know if you’re gonna run over Brian or something like that.”
“You want me just to walk around your house.”
“Yeah. It’s like yours, only I have three bedrooms. No biggie, you should still have no problem. In fact this house should be your comfortable turf. The place that you’re secure with. You’ll know the setup, where everything is.”
“You keep making it out like it’s so easy, Frank. Well it’s not.”
“Then I’ll find out and you can shut me up. Right?”
“What?” Dean asked.
“Tomorrow after my morning rounds, you and I are spending the day together, or at least a few hours. I call it the BBB Day. Blind Buddy Bonding Day.”
“I’m afraid to ask.”
“Then don’t. Your first task on this first day together is taking your bag upstairs.” Frank handed Dean his bag. “I’m even being nice, Dean. I’m giving you my room while you’re here. Aren’t I nice?”
“Swell.”
“Just so you have pleasant thoughts,” Frank leaned closer whispering, “Ellen and I had sex in that bed you’re sleeping in.” Frank stepped back. “Oh, Dean, I’m smiling. You can take your stuff up. You know where my room is, don’t you? Top of the steps, to your right. If you follow the wall you’ll walk right into it. Of course don’t get to used to that wall. You should be able to get there without its guidance.” Frank turned Dean to face the steps. “You’re facing the staircase. Go about three feet and you’ll hit the railing.”
“Will you come with me?”
“To my room?” Frank asked. “Dean, I didn’t know you felt that way.”
“You’re an ass, Frank.”
“Yep.”
“Help me up there. OK.”
“You really think you need help?”
“Yes, Frank, I need help. You keep forgetting that,” Dean snapped.
“OK, I’ll help. How?”
“What do you mean?”
“You want me to hold your hand, Dean. Sure I’ll hold your hand.” Frank reached for Dean’s hand.
Dean felt his touch and pulled away. “That’s not what I mean.”
“Sorry. How about I place a reassuring grip on your shoulder like this?” Frank stood behind him and gripped Dean’s shoulder.
“Frank.” Dean grew more annoyed.
“Or you can hang on my arm like my prom date.”
“Frank!”
“Wait, I got it.” Frank snapped his finger. “I can carry you. Yeah, hell you’re little.”
Just as Dean felt Frank’s hands touch for him, he jolted away. “Frank! Knock it off! Fine. You don’t want to help. Fine. Asshole!” Lifting his bag harshly, it swung out hitting Frank in the leg, and Dean walked forward.
Frank folded his arms and chuckled as he watched Dean so mad, so upset. But no matter how mad Dean was at Frank, hitting him in the leg or not, Dean was walking up the steps and he was doing it alone.
<><><><>
Robbie didn’t expect to see his father when he walked into his home that early evening. “Hey, Dad.”
“Robert.” Joe leaned forward, reports spread out on the coffee table as he read them. A cigarette burned in the ashtray, and Joe looked up at Robbie over the rims of his half-square glasses. “Are you done?”
“Yep. Finished early. I came home to eat and ... don’t you have a social skills class tonight?”
“Yep.” Joe shifted a paper.
“Well I’m done with my work. Want me to take it?”
“Nope.”
“OK.” Robbie walked farther in. He sniffed loudly. “Dad.” He smiled. “What are you cooking? Man, that smells good.”
“I’m not.”
“Who is?”
“Robbie!” Andrea’s cheerful voice called to him as she perkily walked from the kitchen. “Oh, sweetie, you are just in time.”
Looking at his father, his mouth moving to the word ‘sweetie’, Robbie felt the sudden pinching on his cheek.
“You’re staying to have dinner with us aren’t you?” Andrea asked. “Please tell me you’re staying. We have plenty.”
“I uh ...”
“I won’t take no for an answer.” She shook her finger at him.
“I uh ... Dad, uh ...”
Joe looked up. “Robert. You’ll eat.”
Andrea smiled brightly. “Ah, Joe, isn’t this nice. We didn’t even expect Robbie home for dinner. Isn’t this nice? Robbie, you run along and wash up. Dinner will be ready in about fifteen minutes so we can feed your hungry father and shuffle him off to his social skills class he has in an hour.”
Robbie’s mouth opened with a silent laugh. He swun
g his head to look down at his father. “A late social class? Is it because you previously had dinner plans?”
“Robert.” Joe ignored him and kept reading.
“Dad, I will be really glad to take over that class tonight so you can hang out after dinner.”
“Robert. No.” Joe’s eyes rose again. “No.”
Andrea giggled. “Isn’t your son sweet, Joe, offering to help you out, knowing how long of a day he had shooting people and everything. Robbie, you are so sweet.”
“Um ... thanks. But, Andrea, don’t ask me to play tonight. OK?”
Andrea waved her hand, then covering her mouth she laughed. “Sunday I will. Anyhow, did Paul speak to you? He said you two would record that ‘Silly’ song for me. Isn’t that nice of Paul? Oh!” Andrea stepped back. “I have to get back to my dinner. You go get ready.” She stepped back, then stepped forward. “And ... I made brownies.”
“Really, Andrea?” Robbie spoke so chipper. “Wow. Gosh. Gee thanks.”
“Sweet.” She winked at him, and with a bright smile Andrea darted off to the kitchen.
“Brownies? Dad?”
“Don’t ask.”
“Man.” Robbie looked down at his watch. “I’ll be back.” He headed to the door.
“Robbie, dinner is in fifteen minutes. Where are you going?”
“I have to share this with Frank while it’s still fresh on my mind. I’ll be back.”
Joe gave a grunting goodbye to Robbie and returned to his work. His head lifted again when he heard Andrea humming that ‘Silly’ song, slow and blues-like, in the kitchen. Joe dropped his pencil, rubbed his eyes, and grabbed his cigarette. He wanted to politely tell her to knock it off, but he didn’t. That dinner smelled much too good to chance losing, all over Andrea’s singing. Doing something Joe was quite accustomed to in Beginnings, he blocked her out completely.
<><><><>
Clapping his hands together once loudly, Frank led Dean into a sitting position at the dining room table. “OK, Josh has Alex, Billy, and Joey at the playground. We can proceed.” Frank moved Dean’s chair closer to the table.
The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series Page 296