I was aware of Williams watching us, even though he appeared to be daydreaming by the door. The physical exam lasted about forty minutes and the doctor gave us the all clear. Apart from bruising and abrasions, neither Ben nor I had any serious injuries. Both of us tried to glean more information from Dr. Radisson, but he managed to fob us off without appearing rude or secretive.
“That’s an impressive scar on your cheek, lucky you didn’t lose an eye,” the doctor commented. I nodded, thinking it was a miracle I hadn’t lost a lot more than my eye. The last thing the doctor did was check our stiff, grimy hair for lice. For the first time I felt self-conscious about our general state of uncleanliness.
“Well you boys have been through the ringer,” said Dr. Radisson. “But I’m happy to report that you have no major health concerns. Officer Williams here will take you through to the showers now and supply you with fresh clothes. Remove your underpants and put these on please.”
Radisson handed us two green hospital gowns and opened the plastic bag to accept our unmentionably disgusting underpants. I wasn’t quite sure which way the gown went on and followed Ben’s lead so that the opening was at the back. I had only just managed to tie the string of the round collar behind my neck before Williams ordered us through the door. I skipped after Ben, with one hand behind my back trying to hold the flaps together.
While the hike from the ski lodge to the Facility had made me feel vulnerable and unsure of myself, our bare-assed walk through a handful of corridors felt almost as bad. It got a lot worse when we arrived at what Williams referred to as ‘the Square’. It was a large open corridor that skirted a cafeteria, rec room and a large quiet area and apparently was the communal area of the facility. Unfortunately for Ben and I, the cafeteria was full when we passed by its large glass windows.
We were of obvious interest to the few people (all women) in the room and I felt my cheeks, the ones on my face that is, burn in embarrassment as they looked up from their plates and observed us. I kept my red faced gaze straight ahead, positive that the cool air on my butt was not the only attention it was receiving.
Williams led us around a few more turns and at last opened a door into a long bathroom lined with mirrors and basins on one side and shower stalls on the other.
“Okay guys, you can shower here. Take as long as you want, you look like you need it. There are towels and other items for you to use there on the basin. You’ll find two sets of clothes in the lockers there. I’ll be outside the door if you need me.”
“Well that was bloody embarrassing!” Ben blurted, as soon as Williams had closed the door.
“You’re telling me!”
“What do you make of all this?”
“It’s definitely some sort of government facility, I don’t think it’s military though. It sounds as though it’s run by this Professor person.” I lowered my voice a little. “I noticed that the insignia on Williams’ uniform says ‘Federal Protective Services’, and I’m pretty sure those guys are Homeland Security.”
“Right. Well then, I say we keep our cards close to our chest until we find out exactly where we are.”
“Yeah, definitely.”
Ben went to the basin and grabbed one of the towels. A toothbrush, plastic shaver and tube of toothpaste spilled out of the folded linen. Ben snatched up the toothbrush and thrust it into the air as if it was Thor’s mighty hammer, his bare ass on full display.
“YESSS! Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve brushed my teeth, Isaac?”
All thoughts of Homeland Security, secret government facilities and our predicament were forgotten as we became happily lost in the simple, long absent routine of brushing our teeth. It was so refreshing, that I repeated the process.
After I had brushed my teeth the second time, I picked up the can of shaving cream that sat on the shelf between us and squirted a blob of cream into my hand. Suddenly overcome with a sense of mischief, instead of lathering it onto my face, I stepped up to Ben, who was just spitting out his toothpaste and slapped the side of his head with a wet plop.
“You bastard!” he guffawed, and snatched the can from me.
I evaded him for a few seconds, our silly hospital gowns flapping around our legs as we dodged and weaved in the confined space. He finally had his revenge, smacking a large handful of the foam into my face. We laughed like we hadn’t laughed in a long time and then got on with the serious business of bathing.
Shaving my scant and patchy teenage beard with a disposable razor was almost as refreshing as cleaning my teeth had been, but the best was yet to come.
To have a fresh mouth and a smooth face was amazing, but I can honestly say that nothing compared to the incredible feeling of steaming hot water coursing over my skin for the first time in months, especially after doubting I ever would feel it again. Both Ben and I stayed under the water for at least half an hour. We didn’t say a word to each other, just reveled in the small luxury that we had taken for granted not so long ago. I scrubbed the grit, grime and blood of our journey off my skin, then washed my hair three times. When I finally shut off the water and stepped out of the stall, the steam in the bathroom was like a heavy fog.
Our guard Williams hadn’t yet made an appearance, and I imagined that he knew how much we needed this time. You remember that old saying, ‘like a new man?’ Well, right then, I looked and felt like one.
I padded naked to the lockers as Ben finished drying himself off and found a neatly folded white T-shirt and a pair of black pants. Under those were a fresh pair of briefs, some socks and a pair of soft soled canvass shoes.
“I feel fantastic,” said Ben, joining me at the locker.
“I know, me too. I will never, ever take electricity or toothpaste or soap for granted again.”
The feel of new, clean clothes took my breath away. Yet another thing that I wouldn’t have thought a luxury just a short time back. I finished tying my shoelaces and went back to the basin to look at myself in the mirror.
With all the grime washed away and freshly shaved, I could now see the differences between the old Isaac and this new version. If I had to sum it up, I would say that I looked…harder. My face was thinner and tanned, even though we had been travelling in the dead of winter. While I had never been fat, any traces of the softness of a well fed fifteen year-old were gone. My cheekbones were more prominent, and the livid scar on the right one gave me an edgier look that I was not expecting. My hair was longer too, it had grown almost down to my shoulder and fell in a long dark sweep across my brow. I guess I looked like someone who had done some tough living in a short time.
Ben joined me at the basin, and tried to pat his clean, blonde hair back into place. It had fluffed up after being washed and he cursed softly. “Wasn’t sure I’d ever have to worry about my bloody girly hair again, but here we are…”
At that point the door opened and Williams stepped in. “Good stuff, you two look like new men. Follow me please, the kitchen has a meal ready for you.”
I smiled at Ben and clapped him on the shoulder. I knew it was just the buzz of being clean and the promise of food, but I suddenly felt amazingly alive and positive…more positive than I had felt since before my parents had died. He grinned back at me and we followed Williams out of the bathroom.
21
Five minutes later we were in the clean, sterile looking cafeteria that we had passed earlier. It was now empty besides us, but whether this was by design or just that the meal time was over, I wasn’t sure. Regardless, I was somewhat relieved that I wouldn’t have to face the strangers who had seen my backside not so long ago. Ben and I stepped up to the counter. A heavyset and stony faced man in an apron stood behind it. Without greeting us he picked up two plates and put them down beside the bain-marie before starting to slop food on them.
“I’m Ben, this is Luke,” said Ben pleasantly, as the man dipped his ladle into the second container. He glanced quickly at Williams, who had stationed himself by the door before looking back a
t us.
“Theo,” he said, with a finality that indicated he wasn’t inclined to talk.
I slotted their little interaction away and watched Theo add to the peas already on the plate. He dished out roast potatoes, carrots and what I thought might be roast beef followed by a generous ladle of gravy. The smell of the food was amazing, even if it looked like it had been sitting there a while, and my mouth was watering as I thanked him and took my plate, barely able to resist dipping into the meal with my fingers. I grabbed a bread roll and knife and fork and headed to the nearest table.
About halfway through the meal, I paused and called to Williams, asking him when we would be reunited with the girls and Sonny.
“Soon.”
Girls or no girls, Ben and I wolfed our food down as if it was the last meal we would ever have.
Ben had returned to the counter for seconds and I was just mopping up the last of the gravy on my plate with the bread roll when the doors slid open. A guard in the same uniform as Williams entered. Behind him were Brooke, Indigo and Allie.
All three girls looked clean, radiant and happy. They broke into smiles when they saw us. Brooke made a beeline for her brother, who had just put his tray down and turned to her as she swooped into his arms. Indigo was either outrun or let Allie reach me first and I stumbled, only just managing to keep my feet as she jumped into my arms.
“Hi Allie,” I said and she pulled away slightly.
“Where is Sonny?” she frowned.
“He’s fine, they are monitoring him because he hit his head when they zapped him.”
“Well they shouldn’t have zapped him, he was just trying to talk to them.”
“I know, we’ll talk to them about that. How are you feeling?”
“I’m great of course! Everything is great now. We found the Safe Haven!”
Hearing the words, I felt a mild pang of sadness for the ones we had lost…and the ones we had left behind. We might have been able to save John and Mark, after all, the Facility’s medical resources were obviously top class. And of course if we had brought them, Samara would have been here too. I pushed the guilt down as Allie moved to the side and allowed Indigo through.
“Hi,” she said simply.
She looked beautiful. Her clean hair fell in soft blonde waves over her shoulders and her skin was glowing. Under the fluorescent lights, I noticed for the first time that she had a spattering of pale freckles on her nose. They didn’t subtract from her beauty, if anything they enhanced it. I didn’t say anything, just reached out and we hugged and held each other for a few seconds before Ben and Brooke joined us at the table.
“Well you two scrub up all right, don’t you?” Ben said to Allie and Indigo as he hugged them. I returned an enthusiastic embrace from Brooke.
“Do we know how Luke is?” she asked as we separated.
“He’s fine, I’ll tell you more in a second but you should get some food first.”
I followed them to the counter and got seconds. Back at the table we talked quietly as we ate our fill. The girls had a similar experience to us. They had been examined by a doctor after their blindfolds were removed. Brooke was the only one who had required any sort of treatment; the doctor confirmed she had a sprained ankle and had strapped it after her shower.
The shower. They all spent a good few minutes discussing how good it had been to bathe, clean their teeth and dress in fresh clothes. When we had exhausted that subject we got down to more serious topics. I told them how we had seen Luke being treated and that the doctor had assured us he would fully recovery. The girls were as happy about that as Ben and I. Again I was reminded what an integral part of our group he was.
“So what do you think of this place, Isaac?” asked Indigo, after we had eaten our fill.
“Hard to say until we know more and meet this Professor. It seems he is in charge of the whole place even though there’s a military presence and Homeland Security.” I gestured to our two escorts. “I wish Luke was up and about so I could pick his brains, he know lots more about government and military stuff than me.”
“One thing I’m pretty sure of is that it’s top secret. I’ve heard about the government having secret bases where they research new weapons or hide the President or Joint Chiefs if we come under attack. Cheyenne Mountain is the name of one.”
“Oh my God! Do you think the president is here?” Allie asked excitedly.
“No, I don’t think so.”
“I agree,” said Ben. “I think if the President or anyone important was here we wouldn’t have been rescued from the Chinese. They wouldn’t risk discovery.”
“Maybe, but don’t they usually have a secret name for the President, like the package or Eagle?” Brooke asked. “Maybe President Ryan’s code name is Professor?”
“You’ve been watching too many movies sis…”
“She’s right, I have heard that too. I think President Clinton was Eagle. Anyway, I don’t think President Ryan is here. The virus moved pretty quick, and the last I’d heard he was in the air. If he’s not dead he probably went somewhere safe like Australia or England,” I said.
“Maybe they’re planning a counter attack?” Allie chimed in.
“Let’s worry about here and now. They told me we can meet the Professor after we eat and rest. We should be able get some answers to our questions then.”
As if on cue the two Homeland Security officers came over to our table. My eyes went to the holstered guns on their belts as Williams addressed us.
“Okay kids, all fed and happy?”
It was probably churlish, but I bristled at being called kids after all that we’d been through. I didn’t let my annoyance show.
“We sure are sir, thank you, it was amazing.”
“Good stuff. Okay, it’s time for you to get some sleep,” he looked at his watch. “We’ll be taking you to Top level now. You’ll be quarantined from the rest of the facility’s population for a few days so we can debrief you and make certain there are no underlying health issues. It’s just a precaution, the Doc has given you the all clear but the Professor thinks it best. Follow me please.”
“Top level?” I asked, as we walked.
“Yeah, it’s the research and development level. It’s where all the labs are and the Professor’s office. Also where my men and I are stationed.”
“Oh, you’re not stationed with the army guys?”
“No,” he said, without offering any further explanation.
“How many levels are there?” I asked.
“Three. This is midlevel, it’s where the civilian living areas are, along with the hospital. Under this level is ‘Bottom’. It houses the military, storage and greenhouses.”
Williams wouldn’t answer any more questions as he led us through the white corridors of the Midlevel, promising all of our questions would be answered in due course. After a few turns we came upon a glass walled lobby. He led us through the doors which were guarded by two more Homeland security officers. The large, high ceilinged room was quite opulent, and reminded me of the lobby of a five star hotel my family and I had stayed in once. I felt a little stab of sadness in my chest. Funny how, even after all I’d been through and all that had happened since, thinking of them could still affect me.
Like the rest of the facility, it was painted a stark white but instead of being plain, it was richly furnished and decorated. There were paintings on the walls, and instead of the polished concrete floor of the rest of the facility, the lobby had rich, dark brown carpet. The expensive looking furniture—sofas, low tables and chairs—were placed strategically around the cavernous space. Opposite the doors through which we had entered was another set of timber double doors. To the left of that was an expansive reception desk with no one behind it.
We were led past the desk to an elevator at the far left of the lobby. It wasn’t guarded but the two Homeland security guards with automatic weapons patrolling the Lobby made me wonder what…or who they were guarding against.
/> I saw Allie looking around in wonder, and tried to put away my natural suspicion. It was time to switch off. Despite the rude way in which we were brought in, we had been rescued. I could relax now. It was time to let go of the constant state of wariness and be a kid again. Even as I thought it, I felt the tension drain out of me. When we stepped into the lift I maneuvered around everyone so that I was next to Indigo. I felt goose bumps break out on my skin as our arms bumped against each other. When she looked at me and smiled, I felt a warm glow of happiness and a long buried hope.
22
The Top level looked much as Midlevel had. It was all white, glass and metal, and looked even more sterile. We were led past several heavy looking doors with small viewing windows and even though I didn’t have time to stop and look closely, I could glimpse enough through the small windows to see that they were fully equipped labs.
Eventually the corridor we were following came to an end at a glass wall that sealed the entire passage. It had a large airlock in its center, beside which two Homeland Guards stood sentry. They both carried automatic weapons. Only about five feet behind that wall was another. It was glass too and I wondered briefly what sort of research would warrant such heavy duty precautions. Trying not to be too obvious, I peered through the glass.
Further on, the sealed corridor looked similar to what we’d seen already, except there was a glass wall down one side and behind it I thought I could make out rooms or cells. For observation, perhaps? My thoughts were interrupted when I felt Indigo’s warm hand find mine. I looked down into her clear blue eyes.
On The Run Page 14