After a minute that felt more like an hour, Antony tossed the phone back onto the pew. “We gotta get moving,” he said.
“Are you sure you wanna do this?” Eddie asked. “I mean, you realize it’s just a trap, right?”
“It’s not a trap. It’s a challenge. We know there’s gonna be a bunch of them, and not a lot of us.”
“Yeah, by my count, I got two,” Eddie said. He looked to Charlie and shrugged. “Sorry about that, but you don’t exactly count right now.”
“I’ll be ready,” Charlie said as he stood upright without the aid of the pew railing; however, his weakened body begged to differ and quickly gave way.
“Save your energy,” Antony said. “We’ve most likely got a long walk ahead of us.”
Charlie swallowed his pride and sat down.
“Do you really trust JP to hold up his end of the bargain?” Eddie said. “He killed Malika.”
“No,” Antony said. “I don’t trust him at all. I’m sure he has something up his sleeve. But if we don’t go, Naomi dies for sure, and we’ll definitely lose the drive.” He took a deep breath, continued, “I might never get a better chance to save my dad. I need to take it. Even if the odds are against us, which they definitely are. I believe in myself.”
“The odds have always been against us,” Charlie said, “but we can’t control the odds, only our actions.”
Charlie explained the serenity mantra to the guys. He had them repeat it so that they could truly focus on just the things that they could control. He also relayed the secret that Malika had told him, which helped give Eddie the little boost he needed to regain his full confidence that they could conquer the task before them.
“All right, I’m in,” Eddie said. “I believe in myself.”
“I do, too,” Charlie said. “I believe in myself, and I’ll support you guys any way that I can.”
“I know you will,” Antony said. “Now let’s bring it in.” He put his hand in for a cheer to break their little huddle.
Charlie laid his hand on top of Antony’s, and then Eddie added his to the pile. “So, what exactly are we cheering to?” Eddie said. “And don’t say team. We’re better than that.”
They all thought about it for a brief moment.
“The Orphans?” Charlie suggested with a shrug.
Antony and Eddie considered the name.
“I dig it,” Antony said, nodding his head.
“That is exactly what we are,” Eddie added.
“All right, then. Here we go, Orphans on three.”
They all recited the cheer, and then threw up their hands.
◆ ◆ ◆
The clock was ticking, but Antony and Eddie knew that they couldn’t concentrate on their dwindling amount of time. They had to remain mindful, focused on the moment. There were plenty of matters that they needed to address before they could even set off on their way.
Their first order of business was dealing with the leftover vessels. While the vessels had shown themselves to be rather harmless on their own, waiting patiently in the clearing in Antony and Eddie’s absence, the guys knew that they couldn’t risk just leaving them there for someone or something else to stumble upon. Better to tie up their loose ends.
“A little extra practice never hurt anyone,” Antony said as they challenged all of the remaining vessels at once.
“Tell that to Mariano Rivera,” Eddie jokingly replied.
After they had made quick work of the vessels, they rounded up a couple squirrels, and then the three orphans indulged in a quick meal to make sure they were well nourished and to minimize any potential internal distractions.
With their bellies adequately full, there was only one thing left for them to do before beginning their trek. They all took five minutes to bring awareness to any negative thoughts that had entered their minds following the most recent and unfortunate events, from JP’s betrayal to Malika’s passing. They knew that such thoughts would only serve to distract them, and so they released them with each conscious breath.
Feeling rejuvenated, they cleaned up their camp, dousing what was left of the fire. They each grabbed their own cloth pouches from inside the church to carry their snakes—Charlie grabbed a few extra snakes and pocketed JP’s cell phone, just in case he tried to call them again—and then the three began their journey down the long gravel road.
The setting sun proved to be a useful beacon when they came to the same fork where Charlie had previously struggled. It was clear that the paved road to the left led west, while the similar option to the right would take them east. Going only off of what Malika had told them about their location, that they were north of Lake Tahoe, Antony figured that they would need to follow some combination of west and south to reach Truckee. So left was the direction they headed.
They continued in that direction long after the sun had disappeared beyond the horizon, traveling for miles and miles as they made their way up and down the winding mountainous road. Antony and Eddie took turns serving as a crutch for Charlie, who, much to the surprise of Antony and Eddie, only seemed to get stronger with each mile.
◆ ◆ ◆
It was shortly after two in the morning when the orphans finally encountered their first sign of civilization: a gas station. Once they were within a hundred yards, they went off the road, slipping into the woods. They carefully surveyed the surrounding area as they crept closer to the sole source of light in the otherwise pitch-black wilderness.
The flickering neon sign in the front window indicated that they were open for business; however, at that hour, business appeared to be worse than bad. An overweight, middle-aged attendant, who was relaxing with his feet up on the counter while he read a magazine, was the only person inside the main building, which also served as a minimart. The parking lot was empty, save for the late ’70s Chevy Chevette, almost certainly the attendant’s, which was parked off to the side and out of view.
“You think you can hotwire that car?” Charlie whispered.
“Usually, the older the car, the easier it is,” Antony said.
“Then that piece of crap should be a piece of cake,” Eddie said. “It’s a crap cake.”
“I was with you up until the last part,” Antony said.
“You can’t win them all,” Eddie said with a shrug.
“We should probably distract that guy,” Charlie said.
“I’ll handle that,” Eddie said. He nodded to Antony. “How much time do you need?”
“At least five minutes,” Antony said.
“I’ll get you six, just to be safe. Hoot like an owl when you’re ready.” Eddie started to make his move.
“Wait,” Charlie said, stopping Eddie. “Get a map and some waters. Maybe a couple snacks, too.”
“Good thinking. I’m on it.” Eddie crawled out of the woods and crossed the street for the gas station.
The attendant couldn’t have been more surprised when Eddie opened the door. The sudden ringing of the welcome bell made him flinch so violently, he threw his magazine in the air and his body almost went flying out of his chair with it.
“Jesus Christ!” the attendant said as he steadied himself. He picked his periodical off of the floor. “I didn’t hear you coming. You drive one of those electric cars or something?” He scanned the parking lot, looking for Eddie’s ride.
“No,” Eddie said. “I walked. I’m just staying down the road.” He pointed in the direction from where they came.
The attendant stared at Eddie, instantly suspicious. “There ain’t nothing down that road for just about eight miles,” he said. “You mean to tell me you walked all that way? At this hour?” He kept his eyes on Eddie while he slowly moved his hand from the counter to just below.
Eddie noticed his own reflection in the one of the mirrors and was reminded how he hadn’t showered or shaved in about a week
. He didn’t exactly look like the most upstanding citizen. The attendant clearly thought he was up to no good, but a much different no good than he was actually up to.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Eddie said, quickly covering. “Wait a second. Did I say down the road?”
The attendant nodded, leaving his hand hidden beneath the counter and steady.
Eddie chuckled to himself, trying to deflate the tension. “I meant up. Up the road.” He pointed in the other direction. “Up, down, left, right, I always get it confused. I’m just visiting for the week. I still don’t know my way around.”
“Okay,” said the still-hesitant attendant. He had only partially bought Eddie’s story. Just enough that he stopped reaching for whatever was concealed below the counter.
“Speaking of figuring out my way around,” Eddie said. “You don’t happen to have any maps of the area, do you?”
“Over there.” The attendant gestured to the far side of the front counter. On the lowest rack was a small selection of cheap folding maps.
“Thanks,” Eddie said. As he made his way to the end of the counter, he sneaked a peek out the front window, catching a glimpse of Antony and Charlie hobbling across the street, perfectly lit in the exterior light.
The leery attendant, whose eyes had never wavered from Eddie, started to crane his head to match Eddie’s gaze.
Eddie caught him out of the corner of his eye. “Hey!” he shouted, catching the attention of the attendant, who jerked his head back just before he could spot the others. “Were you talking about these maps?” Eddie grabbed one of the maps and held it up.
“Do you see any other maps?” the attendant said, glaring at Eddie, clearly annoyed.
Eddie watched over the attendant’s shoulder as Antony and Charlie disappeared into the darkness. He smiled. “Nope. Just making sure.” Eddie tapped the window on the roller grill, which rested on the counter just above the maps. “How new are these hot dogs?”
The answer was obvious. They looked like they’d been on the grill since the turn of the century, and not the most recent one. But Eddie had to kill time, and that meant small talk.
“They’re new to you,” the attendant said.
“Good one,” Eddie said with a grin. He whistled Rod Stewart’s “Do You Think I’m Sexy” as he casually made his way to the beverage fridge in the back and grabbed three waters. Eddie kept his whistling going while he completed a loop around the store and back to the checkout. “Name that tune,” he said as he laid his drinks and map on the counter.
The attendant silently rang up Eddie’s things.
“Come on. You gotta know it,” Eddie said. “‘Do You Think I’m Sexy.’ And that wasn’t a question. That’s the song.”
The attendant bagged Eddie’s stuff without a word.
Eddie continued, “This is kinda on-topic, but how are the ladies in the area? I imagine they’re pretty low-maintenance.”
The attendant didn’t acknowledge Eddie’s newest question. He had no interest in small talk. He just wanted Eddie gone so he could get back to his reading. “Is that it?” he said.
“Actually, I’ll also have three bananas and three apples,” Eddie said, pointing to the fruit basket on top of the small black-and-white tv that displayed the in-store security feed.
But just as Eddie finished asking for the fruit, the feed on the tv switched to an outdoor shot that showed Antony crawling into the car while Charlie waited next to him.
“Never mind!” Eddie blurted out.
The attendant was halfway turned around when Eddie’s scream startled him. His body shot upright, stiff as a board. He took a second to calm his jolted nerves, and then scowled at Eddie even stronger than before. “What the hell is wrong with you, kid?”
Eddie watched the tv out of the corner of his eye as the feed switched to a third camera angle. “Nothing. I just realized it’s too late for fruit. It has more sugar than you think.”
“It’s too late for a lot of things. Like putting up with all of your crap. You can pay for your map and drinks, and then you need to leave.”
“Sure,” Eddie said, pretending to be perfectly agreeable as he handed over a couple bills. But he had already determined that he couldn’t leave just yet. The guys had come up on the security feed again while the attendant was getting his change, and it was apparent that he still needed to buy more time. At least three minutes.
“There you go,” the attendant said as he handed Eddie his money. “And now you go.”
“Okay,” Eddie said, but he didn’t move.
“Hit the road.”
Eddie just stood there, racking his brain. There were many things he was uncertain of, like how far the nearest police station was, or if the attendant really had a gun and was willing to use it. But Eddie knew for certain that he needed an excuse. He knew that if he were forced to leave, it would only be a matter of seconds before they would all be caught, and he would have the answers to more questions than he cared to know.
The attendant cleared his throat. “Do I need to help you? ‘Cause I can.” He started to reach below the counter.
Eddie’s eyes made a last-ditch scan for a play and found one. “Ho Hos,” he said, finger-gun pointing to the half-eaten package next to the register.
The annoyed attendant paused. “What about them?”
“That’s just a very good call. A dessert novice might go with the Swiss Rolls. But if you’re picking between the two, the Ho Ho is by far the superior choice.”
The attendant stared at Eddie for a second before easing up. He raised his hand above the counter. “You know, my ex-wife thought they were the same.”
“I can see why she’s your ex. They couldn’t be more different. The Ho Ho wins on all three counts: creamy filling, consistency of the cake, and the chocolate exterior.”
“I can tell you’re obviously not a novice.”
“Guilty as charged,” Eddie said, raising his hands as if he’d been busted by the police. A slight grin crossed the attendant’s face. Eddie smiled back and lowered his hands. He knew he was in. He could talk for hours about his old favorite snacks. While the cravings were long gone, the knowledge remained. “I’ll tell you what,” Eddie said. “If you ever really wanna treat yourself, you need try a Bergers cookie.”
“Are you kidding me?” the attendant said, his eyes lighting up. “They’re my favorite. I got a cousin who lives in Baltimore. He sends me them for Christmas.”
“You know what I call that? A great cousin.”
“Me, too. He’s always been my—”
The attendant was cut off by an unexpected clangor from outside. It wasn’t the hooting that Eddie had hoped for. It was a harsh, metallic cough. A short-lived sputter, no more than half a second long. But the sound was unmistakable: It was an old engine struggling to turn over. And both the attendant and Eddie immediately knew exactly where it came from.
All of Eddie’s goodwill was gone in a flash.
The attendant turned to Eddie, his eyes filled with rage. “You,” he said through gritted teeth. “I knew you were up to something.” His hand shot under the counter, going for his gun. This time, without the slightest hesitation.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Lack of indecision on the part of the attendant notwithstanding, Eddie was still much quicker on the draw. In one swift motion, he retrieved the snake from his pouch—the serpent turning into a staff in a rapid burst—and wielded his newly formed weapon, meeting the attendant’s shotgun while it was still on its upswing.
The weapons collided with a loud crunch.
“You’re dead,” the attendant yelled as he recovered his handle of the gun, only to fail in his attempts to pump the shell into the chamber. He eyes examined the weapon, searching for a solution. But his problem required more than a simple fix. The shotgun barrel was now bent like a boomerang. Fear was
hed over his face. “Who the hell are you?”
“I’m, uh,” Eddie said, pausing to give himself time to come up with an explanation that would lead to the least amount of pushback. “From the future!” he said. “I’m from the future.”
The attendant’s eyes went wide, his jaw slack. His hands fell to his side, and the shotgun fell to the floor.
It was more than apparent to Eddie that the attendant had completely bought his story, and Eddie was perfectly happy to run with it. “You’ve seen Terminator, right?” he said.
“Of course, like a thousand times,” the attendant said, nodding emphatically. He stopped abruptly, his eyes going even wider, as a realization dawned on him. “You’re here to save me so that I can save the world, aren’t you?”
“No. I’m actually here to save the world by myself.” Eddie let his staff return to snake form and slipped it back into his pouch. “Well, I’m doing it with other people, too. But not you.”
“Oh.” The attendant slumped, disappointed.
“But you never know,” Eddie said, attempting to lift the attendant’s spirits. “That doesn’t mean you won’t do something great after I save the world. If you believe in yourself, you can do whatever you want. Trust me on that.”
“I do,” the attendant said, a smile returning to his face.
“Good. I need you to do me a favor.”
“Anything.”
“First off, you can’t let anyone know I was here. Also, I’m gonna need to steal your car, like the Terminator would do.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone. And you can just borrow the ‘vette.” He reached into his pocket for the keys.
“I have a feeling we’re probably past that point. But I actually will take the bananas and apples.”
“Here you go,” the attendant said, grabbing the fruit and handing it over. “Good luck with everything.”
“Thanks,” Eddie said. He hurried to the door, stopping in the exit. “One more thing. All those desserts are good, but you might wanna cut back. Everything is better in moderation. Your future self will thank you.”
The Orphans (Orphans Trilogy Book 1) Page 24