“Where the hell is Ellen?” Dean snapped.
“I don’t know. Anyhow, he says if there isn’t any, can you please . . . and he did use the word please, make some more? Of course that’s after you’ve played with the seventeen samples of phlegm.” Johnny let out a long breath. He said what he had to say and then he stared at a quiet Dean. “What’s wrong?”
“Do you know where she is?” Dean asked.
“Who?”
“Ellen.”
“No, why? You don’t?”
“I thought I did.”
“If I see her I’ll tell her you’re looking for her. But . . . I have to go.” Johnny backed up. “Just wanted to leave those for you on my way to the . . . hey, this rec for the printer, do you want me to drop it off at mechanics?”
“Yeah . . . Johnny?”
Johnny stopped and turned towards Dean.
“Henry thinks your father kidnapped Ellen from Beginnings. She’s not around. Do you think that’s possible? Do you think your father would do that?”
Johnny just laughed. “Henry’s half baked. No. With all the shit that’s happened, my father wouldn’t leave Beginnings. No way. If he has Ellen anywhere I’ll bet it’s up in that wooded section beyond the fields. We could look for days for them there.”
“You really think?”
“I know my dad. The last thing he would do is take Ellen outside our walls where he knows it’s nowhere near safe.”
“Thanks, Johnny.”
“No problem.” Johnny proceeded to leave the cryo lab.
Dean stood from his seat and walked to the work that Johnny left for him. He slid it closer then looked at his watch again. “Frank, you’ve got until this afternoon to bring her back,” Dean spoke to himself, “then I’m coming up there and getting her myself.”
^^^^
Their unison counting carried to Robbie and, like a familiar scent or song, it took him back to his Army days. He pulled up to the training area. A place that used to be one square mile of land used for shooting and maneuvers was now built as something more. A barrack style building had been erected quickly and another one was in the process of being built courtesy if the new building crew or rather the twenty-seven defectors from the Caceres Society Army. They lived there and now trained there with the other fifty-four Beginnings men who worked security, both full time and reserve. Right there, in the morning hours of Beginnings, not a single one of them were building. Forty men, all the new additions, lined up four rows of ten. Dan called out as he slowly paced in front of them, barking out orders like a drill sergeant, and leading them in calisthenics before they would move on to other maneuvers for the day. Training.
Robbie stepped from the jeep, walked in front of it, leaned against the hood, and lit a cigarette. He watched them perform part of the training schedule Frank had set up. Frank planned their day from sun up till sun down. Every security person in Beginnings would train. If they held other divisional jobs, a time of training would be allotted for them. Gazing out at them, Robbie’s mind moved back to just a few days earlier when they realized how massive of a force they were up against. A simple meeting was held in Joe’s office. It made Robbie laugh because when was there ever a simple meeting in Joe’s office . . .
“Total structuring,” Joe stated to Frank and Robbie who sat across from his desk. “Frank, you have twenty-seven new guys, twelve SUTs, and seven coming from containment. Start with this crew for your new structuring.”
“I structure,” Frank said defensively. “I train my guys good.”
“Yeah, I know this, but you heard what Jess said. He was there. The society runs like the old world army and that’s what I want from Beginnings. This may end up bigger than just defending Beginnings and you know it.”
“So Dad,” Robbie interjected, “we’re gonna need more men. Have you given any thought to my suggestion?”
“What suggestion?” Frank asked. “If this is security, I need to know.”
Joe waved his hand to Frank. “Robbie made a suggestion and yes, I thought about it. I’ll speak to Henry and Danny today about making more of those Auralnator things. I think that’s the best way to go. Frank, I want you and Robbie to start training our men for Robbie’s . . .” Joe cringed, “four ‘S’ Plan.”
Frank looked curiously at Robbie.
“Sneak, squeeze, and seize the SUTs,” Robbie explained.
Frank nodded with a closed mouth approval look. “Excellent. O.K., so, structuring. You want strict military like the old days?”
“Yes.” Joe nodded. “Breed some pride and respect. Not that our men don’t have it, but there was nothing like the old days when a military man defended his home.”
“Got it,” Frank said. “Are we reestablishing ranks?”
“It’s up to you,” Joe answered.
Frank looked at Robbie. “I’m game.”
“So am I,” Robbie said, “as long as you don’t make yourself a general.”
“Now why would you say that?” Frank snapped at him. “Why would I make myself a general? I hated officers.”
“O.K. then make me a general.”
“No way. Whatever I make myself, I will outrank you.”
“Why do you have to outrank me?” Robbie argued.
“Because I’m older and I run security.”
“You just want me to have to salute you.”
“You better believe it, little brother.”
“Here’s my salute.” Robbie shot Frank the middle finger.
“Oh nice, very nice.” Frank held out his hand. “See Dad.”
Joe huffed as he ran his hand down his face. “Does this have to be decided now?”
Both Frank and Robbie answered, ‘Yes.’
“Tell you what,” Joe stated with irritation. “I’ll decide who is ranked what. No officer structure. Deal? We don’t want Dean coming in here thinking he has an ‘in’ because he outranked the both of you in the old world. It will be enlisted man ranking with . . . Frank being the highest ranked enlisted man.”
“Oh yes!” Frank clenched his fist.
“That sucks.”
“Robert,” Joe stated strongly, “experience dictates. You’re second. Frank, set it up from there on.”
“Got it,” Frank agreed. “What about you, Dad? Hey wait, I know. Robbie, he’s the Commander in Chief.”
“That’s too long to say,” Robbie argued. “We could call him. C.O.C.”
Frank looked serious then he snickered.
“What?” Robbie asked.
“You want to call Dad a cock?”
“No, that’s not what I . . .” Robbie shifted his eyes to Joe then laughed.
“Don’t even think about it. And it’s C I C you moron. Who the hell taught you to spell.” Joe pointed. “Just put this plan in motion, the both of you, and make it work. Make it work fast.”
. . . Robbie smiled one more time at that thought as he tossed his cigarette. He lifted himself from his lean on the jeep and walked closer to the training men. It was a plan still in motion, but it was moving fast, just like his father had requested.
^^^^
Scott was the inside mechanics man. He was the one, and always had been, who stayed behind and fixed the smaller things people dropped off. Henry, John Matoose, Robbie, and now Danny Hoi were the ones who moved about the community. Not going about the community suited Scott fine. He was never a people person and still wasn’t, even though there weren’t that many people left to have to be a people person. When anyone in Beginnings would drop things off, he’d rush them out, acting all busy. Some never got his hints. Those few were always women. Jenny always had a problem that no one else could fix. Trish always had the problem that needed to be fixed right then and there, and Andrea could never leave without sharing a story. Ellen couldn’t leave without bitching and Josephine wouldn’t leave unless she made some sort of sexual advance. Scott always felt he had the built in people detector radar. Robbie kidded with him often that they should hang hi
m from a tree instead of Danny’s tracking devices because Scott could sense someone approaching long before they got there. Of course that only applied to the time he worked in mechanics. His senses also kicked in when Henry neared mechanics but didn’t zoom in on the other person with Henry. His ears beat his senses to the punch when he heard a baby’s cry, loud, long, hysterical, and drawing closer and closer. Scott cringed.
Henry walked in, bringing a screaming Nick strapped inside a knapsack on his back. “Hey Scott.” Henry looked more frazzled then he did in the morning. He dropped his tool bag and grabbed the requisitions from the ‘In’ bin.
“Henry? Why isn’t Nick in the nursery?”
“Hap kicked him out. He hates my kid. He says he’s too fussy and I’m not to bring him back for two hours.”
“Maybe he’s sick. Did you take him to see Dean?”
Henry’s eye lit up. “You know what? I will. Good idea.”
“Sounds like he’s teething, ” Scott commented.
“So why is crying? He should be happy. I know I would want to have teeth instead of just those gums. He probably just misses his mom.”
Scott looked at Henry, laughing. “Ellen? I can’t recall ever seeing her with Nick.”
“O.K., he probably misses Frank. Frank kidnapped Ellen, you know.”
“Yeah, yeah, I heard it all from you this morning.” Scott rolled his eyes. “Can’t you shut him up?” Scott asked as he held his ear closed. “Feed him or something.”
“He won’t eat for me. I think he likes to cry to hear himself.”
At that second, the mechanics door opened and Danny Hoi walked in. He immediately started laughing. “Oh my God, Henry. I bet you were exactly like that when you were a baby, whining all the time.”
“Very funny.” Henry resumed looking at his requisitions.
Danny dropped a pile of papers on the counter. “These are done.” He walked behind Henry and grabbed Nick from the knapsack. Nick stopped crying. “There, that’s better. For as wiry as your dad is, I wouldn’t want to be strapped to his back either.”
Henry looked up and about. “Hey, Nick stopped crying.” Henry seemed surprised, especially when he looked and saw Danny was holding the baby. “Danny, good job. Thanks.”
“He needed to be held. You know what?” Danny asked.
“Huh?” Henry reviewed the orders from the work Danny did. “Excellent job getting these done so quickly.”
“Thanks. Anyway, I think you should let me have this kid,” Danny joked. “He looks more like me than you anyhow.”
“O.K.,” Henry said and set down the work orders, “but just until Frank gets back because Frank likes him.”
“Henry, I’m kidding.”
“Aw.” Henry whined. “You shouldn’t do that Danny on such serious issues.”
“Don’t you want your kid?”
“Not when he’s crying.”
Danny laughed. “Then you must never want your kid, because anytime I ever see him with you, he’s crying. What is up with your hair today?”
Henry ran his hands through it. “Oh, I’m just frazzled.”
Scott heard Henry’s response and he immediately looked at Danny, giving him a warning not question Henry any further.
Danny wasn’t paying attention. “Why are you frazzled? We did all the work.”
“Ha, ha, ha. Funny. No. In case you didn’t hear, Frank kidnapped Ellen.”
Scott’s hands slammed down on the table. “And for those of us who did hear it a million times, we now have to hear it again.”
“You’re kidding. Frank kidnapped Ellen?” Danny asked.
“Yep. He took her right from Beginnings, left a note and everything,” Henry explained.
“How is something like that dealt with around here?” Danny questioned. “I mean, when Frank gets back, do they let him back in. What?”
“They’ll let him back in, but I’m sure Joe will yell at him really badly,” Henry nodded, “And Dean is going to be so pissed off when he finds out.”
“Dean doesn’t know?”
“He doesn’t realize it’s true. I told him. He thinks I’m crazy but I know Frank took her. They all think he has her somewhere on Beginnings property. I know better because I know Frank.” Henry took a stack of orders over to the file cabinet and laid them on top.
“Since you have to watch your own kid now, does this mean I have to find someone else to help me build more Auralnators?”
“No,” Henry answered, “I’ll find someone to help out with him. In fact, I’ll speak to Joe during our meeting this afternoon.” Henry looked as his watch. “Speaking of which . . . I’d better hurry up and look at perimeter twelve ahead of time. I know Joe will ask about it.” Henry hurried and lifted his tool bag. “See you guys.” He darted out the door.
“Henry. You forgot . . .” Danny held his hand out then dropped it when he saw Henry was gone. Danny looked at Nick in his arms, “…your kid.”
Scott snickered. “He did the exact same thing to me this morning.”
“What am I supposed to do with him? I can’t just . . .” A bright smile hit Danny.
“What? What’s that look for?”
Danny nodded his head. “I’ve got a great idea.” He moved to the door with Nick. “It’s time to put Henry’s true paternal instincts to test. See ya.” Danny left with Nick.
Scott shook his head and returned to his work. “Test Henry’s paternal instinct?” Scott chuckled, “He’ll fail.”
^^^^
Opheim, Montana
Ellen huffed. Her arms were folded to her as she stood outside with Frank. He faced one way over a small hill. She faced the opposite way yet they stood close enough their arms almost touched. She peered at the truck twenty feet away and huffed once more.
“Enough,” Frank told her.
“Frank.” Ellen tapped her fingers anxiously. “Do you think you could take any longer?”
“I wouldn’t take this long if you weren’t breathing down my neck.”
“I can’t even reach your neck.” She tilted her head back and peeked at him. “You didn’t even go.”
“How can I go when you keep watching me?”
“Why did we even pull over?”
“I told you I had to go.”
“But you haven’t.”
“That’s because you keep telling me to hurry up.”
Ellen let out a disgruntled breath. “You would think after twenty years you wouldn’t have a problem peeing in front of me.”
“I don’t have a problem peeing in front of you. I have a problem starting when you keep fuckin watching.”
“Then I’ll stand by the truck.”
“Don’t stand by the truck. I want you by me in case there’s trouble.”
Ellen tossed her hands in the air. “Frank, you either have me stand here, telling you to go, or I stand by the truck to let you go in peace. Either way… GO!”
“All right! I’m going.”
“Thank God.” Ellen exhaled and shifted her weight. “You make me stand by you.” She shifted her weight to the other side. “How in the world are you supposed to protect me while you go to the bathroom?”
“Ellen, shut up.”
“What are you gonna do, Frank, hose them down?”
“El, be quiet.”
“Why are you talking to me like that?” Ellen bitched. “Would you please finish. This isn’t a marathon. I’d like to . . .”
“Ellen!” Frank zipped up.
“No, I’d like to get going.”
“I’m done! Now will you shut your fuckin mouth?”
“Fuck you, Frank. I can’t believe you are taking . . .” Ellen shut up when she saw Frank reach into his shoulder harness for his revolver and pull it out. He spun to her, stepped back, and lifted it.
“What are you gonna do. Shoot me?”
“Duck.” Frank laid his hand on her head, shoved her down, extended his revolver, and fired a shot. There was a grunt, followed by a thump.
>
Ellen screamed, spun to look, and saw what looked like a savage lying not three feet from her. His forehead was now missing from Frank’s shot. “Shit.”
“Where’s there’s one, there’s more.” Frank helped her to her feet and spoke calmly. He checked his clip. “Stay behind me. Hold onto my waist and whatever you do, don’t let go.” He began to move with her.
“Should we run to the truck?”
“No, move with me. With savages, I take no chance. Just stay ready. Don’t be surprised if . . .” A loud hooting, the traditional cry of war from the savages began. “. . . that happens. Fuck.”
One came from the left, two from the right, and another jumped up on the truck. Frank fired straight ahead. It hit the savage on the truck and sailed him backwards. He turned to his right and aimed. A spear came flying at him with a high pitch whistle. Like a batter waiting for his pitch, Frank swung the hand that held the gun and knocked the spear to the side. He rose up again, shot twice, and hit them both. Then he shifted to his right.
The last savage leaped forth as if he were an attack dog. Frank looked more perturbed than anything else, seeing the thin, smaller man lunge for him. Frank merely clenched his fist, grunted in anger, and delivered a hard blow to the savage, just as he neared within inches. The savage’s eyes rolled, his body spun quickly the other way, and then dropped to the ground. Frank reached down with Ellen, still holding her tightly. He lifted the still breathing savage by his hair, braced him, and with a quick jolt of his head, Frank broke the savage’s neck.
Ellen’s face was buried so deeply into Frank’s back, her nose actually hurt. Slowly she lifted her head. “Is it safe?”
“Did you think it wouldn’t be?”
The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series Page 347