by Brad Murray
Josef paused to let his words sink in. “Does this story sound familiar, Wicker?”
Wicker stared blankly at the boy, the memory of that morning replaying in his mind.
“Because it sounded very familiar to me. In fact, I remembered reading about a very similar incident in your personnel file. The timeline and the details are far too close to be considered a coincidence. It appears that in your blind rage, you have destroyed the boy’s bloodline. And with it, any chance for us to understand his lineage.”
Wicker’s face twisted in confusion. “Surely you are not insinuating I did something wrong. I performed my duties as ordered. ”
“No Wicker, I’m not making any such charge,” said Josef, irritation in his tone. Wicker, he knew, was right. He couldn’t have known the consequences of his actions at time. Beating the Jews as they exited the trains was a common occurrence - encouraged in fact. The beatings helped to keep them in line. No, Josef couldn’t be angry at Wicker for that. What Josef wanted was answers. He yearned to unlock the the boy’s secrets before it was too late. And when he discovered it was Wicker who had ruined their ability to examine his bloodline, his disdain for the man had reached its peak. He brought Wicker along to make sure he understood the significance of what he had done – to put him in his place.
“I simply wanted you to be aware of the consequences of your actions,” said Josef, looking him squarely in the eyes. “You may very well have cost us our ability to solve the riddle that is this boy, and ruined our chance to restore the Reich.”
***
The boy sat up in his bed and locked eyes with the man who had killed his father and who had murdered his sister in cold blood. And now he knew his name.
Wicker. One of the Wicked Men.
It was not a name Benjamin Porges would ever forget.
12
Today - May 29, 2011
Jimmy surveyed the scene – the peculiar milky-eyed old man standing next to him, and the dozen or so paramilitary men he apparently commanded. He considered making a break for it – gunning the ambulance through the ditch and around the blockade. But he had the distinct sense he wouldn’t get far.
“I’m sorry Mister Bru—Brum—“
“Brumeux.”
His voice was smooth and eloquent, hypnotic. There was a hint of an accent that Jimmy couldn’t quite place - the way the syllables seemed to fall off his tongue, flowing softly and effortlessly like a silk stream – only adding to the man’s charisma.
“I’m sorry but I don’t have time for this. A man in the back of this ambulance needs help – now! I need to get him to a hospital but you’re blocking the damn road.”
“I see,” said Brumeux emptily. “James – may I call you James? James, I’m so very thrilled that you recall our previous encounter. Albeit brief, it was quite memorable for me, I can assure you. And so unexpected too! I hadn’t anticipated your sudden appearance that day, James. When you burst through those gymnasium doors…well, this old man’s heart nearly gave out.” Brumeux chuckled to himself.
“Honestly, I’m quite surprised you remember me,” Brumeux continued. “You were so upset that day. But I took care of it for you, James. Miss Monahan couldn’t be allowed to continue as a part of your life. I had her excused from duty, you see.”
“You’re saying that you had her fired?”
“Why yes, of course,” said Brumeux nonchalantly. “You are far too important to our cause to have a woman like that making you feel inconsequential. I would say you’ve dealt with enough difficulties in your life, have you not?” Brumeux’s one good eye shined.
“You expect me to believe that you just snapped your fingers and had her fired?”
“Well,” laughed Brumeux, “it wasn’t quite as simple as snapping my fingers, but in general that is in fact what occurred. Similarly, we could not allow your entrance into the military. Why, the thought of you risking your life was fundamentally out of the question. You are simply far too important to us, James.”
“Us? Who exactly is us?”
“In due time, my son. There are more pressing things for us to consider. I owe you an explanation, James. And you will get one, I promise. As for right now, I need you to come with me. I will explain everything on the way.”
“Are you sure you have the right guy? Maybe it’s another James Porter you’re looking for. It’s a common name you know.”
Brumeux grinned and shook his head. “No James, it’s you. It’s always been you.”
“Why me? You don’t know anything about me. I’m not - -”
“I don’t know anything about you? Other than the fact you are James Benjamin Porter, son of Andrew and Emma Porter, born on a wet and miserable March evening in Kansas City, Missouri at Parkland Regional Hospital, older brother to one Cooper Porter, whose tragic accident you blame on yourself. Other than that, I know little about you.”
Brumeux’s recitation knocked Jimmy for a loop. He flopped back against the driver’s seat, stunned.
“You are reserved,” Brumeux continued. “You have few friends, and have had even fewer girlfriends, though if you desired you could have plenty of both. You are sensitive, one who yearns for love and acceptance but because of your lack of a father for much of your life, you have what doctors in the psychology field would diagnose as ‘emotional detachment.’ You believe yourself to be an abject failure, and you’ve punished yourself for far too long.”
Jimmy was astounded and, moreover, alarmed by the stranger’s intimate knowledge of his life. How did the old man know so much? How could he know so much? Was Jimmy that transparent – his life such a pathetic mess that even complete strangers could read him? No, there was much more to it than that. The old man knew too many specifics. Regardless, Jimmy felt naked; the shameful truth of who he really was exposed.
“You see, James, I’ve known you longer than you’ve known you. I know you better than you know yourself. I see you for who you really are. I understand your true identity; your true importance to this world. Please, allow me to show you.”
Brumeux extended a hand, beckoning Jimmy to exit the ambulance.
“I - I’m not going anywhere with you,” Jimmy breathed. “I have to get this guy to a hospital and – “
“Don’t worry about that, James. I’ll have my men attend to him.”
“I’m taking him to a hospital. You can follow me there if you want and I’ll go with you afterward. But you’re not stopping me right now.”
“I can assure you my men are well prepared for what ails your friend. They are well aware of the poison that has filled his lungs and they possess just the remedy to cure him. I will instruct my man, Mr. Stern, to treat him once we’re in the helicopter and on our way. Now James, I’m afraid we really must make haste.”
“I’m not leaving his side until I’m satisfied he’s gonna be okay.”
Brumeux exhaled deeply, appearing slightly agitated. He forced a smile and through his teeth said, “Very well. As you wish.”
He strode over to Barrel Chest, muttered a few words, and sauntered back to the ambulance.
“Mr. Stern will return momentarily with the antidote. In the meantime, James, why don’t you step out so that we might talk face-to-face, without this bothersome steel door between us? Please, indulge an old man.”
Jimmy tracked Stern’s movement, watching carefully as he retrieved a silver case from the bed of a black pickup truck and began jogging back to the ambulance. Reluctantly, Jimmy got out of the vehicle, leaving the ambulance idling in case he had to make a run for it. Jimmy was surprised to note the old man was a few inches taller than he. And that milky blue eye; it teased him, harassed him, begged him to look at it. Jimmy fought the urge; half out of pre-conditioned politeness, and half out of the fact he didn’t want to freak himself out any more than he already was.
“How is it you have an antidote? Is this some sort of government experiment gone wrong or something?”
“Oh no, we are not representative
s of the United States government, nor any government for that matter. However, you are correct regarding the notion that this morning’s events were the unfortunate result of an experiment gone wrong.”
Brumeux looked somberly to the horizon, in the direction of the accident. “It was not supposed to happen this way, James. You must believe me. We had planned to make the revelation to you in a different setting entirely, certainly not out here in the open. Certainly not at the cost of all those lives.”
“What are you talking about? What revelation?”
“The revelation of your true nature. It became clear to me long ago that we would have to show you in person to make you understand. You certainly won’t take it on faith. No no, you are one who requires proof. Unfortunately our pilot made a most egregious error, one that cannot be tolerated. Rest assured we have him in our custody, undergoing extensive questioning about the events of the day. And while there is certainly the chance he could be working for the other side, my instinct tells me it was simple human error.”
Jimmy flashed back to the crop duster just before the accident; how it arched so sharply skyward and how it came ever-so-close to the helicopter. He flashed to the pinkish-brown smoke, the animals, and the madness of the people, and of La’Roi.
“Your pilot – he dropped poison over the interstate? You - - your people caused this?”
“I’m afraid so, James. But –“
“And all because you have some screwed up idea in your head that you needed to prove to me I’m someone special?”
Brumeux sighed. He turned to Stern, who had just arrived with the silver box. “You are someone special, James. But more on that in due time – let’s attend to your man.”
The three men walked around the side of the ambulance, where Stern opened the rear door. Stern climbed in, carrying the silver box under one arm. Jimmy followed closely behind, dreading to receive confirmation of what his imagination told him would be La’Roi’s fate. He held his breath in hopes he was still alive, but feared the worst. La’Roi was on his back, the oxygen mask still affixed. Both eyes were closed, though one was purple and swollen; the reminder of Jimmy’s knockout blow earlier.
His breathing was quick and shallow; his chest rose and fell in short bursts. But he was breathing, and for that Jimmy sighed in relief.
“Did you place the oxygen on him James?” said Brumeux cheerfully. “Quite brilliant! I’ve always admired you for your quick wit. If this man survives, he owes you his life in my estimation.”
Jimmy didn’t respond, instead watched carefully as Stern opened the silver box. Reaching delicately inside with both hands, Stern slowly withdrew a cylindrical glass tube. Roughly the size and diameter of an ink pen, the tube contained a luminescent golden liquid; so brilliant it appeared to glow. Stern turned his attention from the tube to Jimmy, pointing to it with his nose.
“Here, hold this,” said Stern, cautiously handing it over. “Don’t drop it. If it breaks, he’s as good as dead.”
“What is it?” asked Jimmy, reaching out his hands as if he were handling high explosives.
“It is, in essence…you,” replied Brumeux. “We developed this because of you, from you, as a response to a threat.”
Jimmy rolled his eyes. “You know, every time you talk, my head hurts. You make about as much sense as a screen door on a submarine.”
“Your father used to say that…” replied Brumeux, eyeing Jimmy cautiously.
Jimmy jerked his body around sharply to face Brumeux. “How did you know that?”
“I’m sorry to upset you James. I will explain everything in due time.” Brumeux nodded to La’Roi. “Please, help Mr. Stern with your friend.”
Jimmy turned back to find Stern holding a syringe with a long needle. He motioned for Jimmy to bring the tube closer and injected the needle through a sheath centered in the tube’s metal cap. Stern slowly withdrew the plunger, and the luminescent gold liquid transferred into the syringe. Satisfied with the fluid level, Stern held the syringe high, and pushed a few drops of the liquid through. With his free hand he grasped a hunk of skin on the upper part of La’Roi’s arm and introduced the needle, jabbing it into the skin, pushing the golden fluid into La’Roi’s body. Jimmy held his breath, hoping for some sort of response. He watched closely for a sign, any sort of minute variation to the rapid, shallow breathing.
“Give it some time,” said Stern gruffly.
“How long will it take?” asked Jimmy.
“Depends,” said Stern, his voice booming. “Depends on how much poison he inhaled and how concentrated it was at the time of inhalation. Probably a thousand other variables too. We’ve done all we can.”
“James, we really must leave now,” said Brumeux. “This setting is dangerous, and I fear for your safety.”
Jimmy wiped the sweat from his brow and gave the old man a penetrating glare.
“You dropped a poison cloud over the very road I’m driving, causing some guy on a motorcycle to smash into a deer in front of me, flipping my truck and damn near killing me in the process! You fear for my safety? You sure have a helluva way of showing it!”
A pained expression emerged on Brumeux’s face. He was sullen; the color left his cheeks and his knees went weak. He caught his weight with his cane and sat on the bumper of the ambulance, turning his back to the men inside.
“The man on the motorcycle…he was wearing black – nothing but black?” he asked meekly, over his shoulder.
“Yes –”
“And did you speak with him after the accident?”
“No. He died. When I crawled out of the truck, I saw him…pieces of him.”
Brumeux hung his head and rubbed his temples with one hand.
“One of your men I take it?” asked Jimmy, a hint of callousness in his voice.
Brumeux nodded. “One of the best,” he whispered.
A hush came over the scorching hot box that was the ambulance. An occasional breath of wind and the huffing sound of La’Roi’s shallow breathing were all that interrupted it. Stern sat in silence watching over La’Roi, but Jimmy had the distinct feeling he wasn’t primarily concerned with La’Roi’s well-being. He could feel Stern’s eyes on him. Jimmy rubbed his palms together and tried to process the events of the morning; never in his life had so much happened in such a small amount of time. The call from Dr. Minkowski the night before, the man on the motorcycle, the accident, the patrolman who twice tried to kill him, and now the delusional one-eyed old man who had designs on kidnapping him…it was too much to sort out. He replayed in his mind the conversation with Minkowski and how he had warned him of danger. Had he somehow known about Brumeux? Had he known Brumeux and his men would try to capture him? Jimmy felt compelled to break the silence.
“I’ve been told twice today that I’m in danger. I want to know from what. And I want to know right now!”
Brumeux stood and, leaning on his cane, turned to face Jimmy. His good eye was puffy, swollen and red. Jimmy realized he’d been crying.
“This other person who warned you of danger - did he identify himself?”
Jimmy nodded.
“Dr. Minkowski I presume?” asked Brumeux.
Jimmy nodded again. “He warned me that I was in danger, after the accident. I think he was warning me about you.”
“We’re the good guys, James.”
Jimmy scoffed. “Yeah, sure I –“
“You’ve been our secret weapon for quite some time. It was only recently that Dr. Minkowski was compromised, and it appears the secret of you has been compromised as well. They know about you now, and because they do, not only are you in danger but the very future of mankind is in question.”
Jimmy put his head in his hands and rubbed his eyes. “You are one kooky son-of-a-bitch, you know that? Just when I think you can’t possibly say something more bizarre, you up the ante. I don’t even --”
A loud cough interrupted him. Jimmy spun around to find La’Roi sputtering, trying to sit up. Jimmy rushed o
ver to his side and, along with Stern, struggled to hold him down. La’Roi’s eyes opened, darting up and down, left and right, before finally settling on Jimmy’s.
“Calm down, relax! You gotta lie still!” Jimmy put his full weight on La’Roi’s forearms. “You’re gonna be alright La’Roi, calm down!”
After several minutes, La’Roi’s thrashing waned, and his breathing slowed to a normal pace. Jimmy warily released his arms, half expecting that as soon as he let go, La’Roi would start thrashing again. Instead, La’Roi calmly lifted the oxygen mask and set it aside. His eyes were alert and clear. He licked his lips with his tongue.
“I think I found Jesus,” he croaked. “I feel like I’ve been born again.”
Stern smirked, showing the semblance of an emotion for the first time. “I think your friend is going to be just fine,” he said.
“Amazing,” breathed Jimmy. “Whatever that gold shit is, you could save the world with it.”
Brumeux smiled. “Precisely. He’ll be back to normal in no time at all. Now then, James, I’ve kept my end of the bargain. We’ve got a helicopter to catch.”
Jimmy locked eyes with La’Roi who, though alert, appeared extremely weak.
“He comes with me,” said Jimmy, nodding to La’Roi. “I’m not going to leave him out here on his own.”
“But…” Brumeux began to protest.
“No buts,” said Jimmy firmly. “He’s coming with us.”
Brumeux pursed his lips and clenched his jaw. He briefly glanced at Stern, who shrugged his shoulders.
“So be it,” said Brumeux reluctantly. “While I’ve always admired your stubbornness, James, right now I have no time to contend with it. Stern, please help James get his friend out of the ambulance and onto his feet.”
***
Five minutes later, four silhouettes moved in concert down the interstate and towards a churning black helicopter. Through the blazing heat of the mid-day sun, Brumeux, Stern, Jimmy, and a still weak La’Roi ambled ahead - La’Roi with one arm wrapped around Jimmy’s neck. It was useless to try to talk; the beating of the blades would have drowned out any voice, even at full throat. Brumeux stopped at the chopper’s side and pulled open a door. Greeting the men with a solemn expression, he gestured for them to step inside. Reaching around from both sides, Stern and one of his men detached La’Roi from Jimmy’s neck, relieving him of the burden of his weight. Stern jumped up into the chopper and, with an impressive feat of strength, pulled La’Roi up while the other man pushed from below. They carried La’Roi inside and manhandled his dead weight into a seat against the rear wall. Satisfied with their efforts, Brumeux again motioned for Jimmy to enter, this time more emphatically. Jimmy paused and considered the fact that once he entered there was no turning back. He and his new friend had effectively become their prisoners, subject to whatever plans they had in store for them. Concluding there was no alternative, Jimmy followed his friend and jumped inside.