INNER SANCTITY WARS
CHAPTER FIVE
Beginnings, Montana
October 4
The clank of the wrench echoed in the hanger as Johnny tossed it in the tool box upon entering. He picked up a cloth to wipe off the oil that had gathered on his hands. How he got so dirty just from fixing the side door on the chopper, he’d never know. He needed to warm up. Even though it wasn’t that cold out, working on the chopper outside for so long made his hands numb. Johnny also needed to take a short break before going to the clinic. He heard rumors that twenty-two of those new soldiers his dad brought in had come down with a stomach flu and he wanted to get into the mind set before Dean had him examining fecal material for bacteria all morning and afternoon.
Stuffing his cloth into his back pocket, Johnny made it past the two choppers inside and toward the back hanger office. Just before he stepped foot into the glass walled room, he heard Bev call out his name. Stopping in irritation, he turned. “What?”
The heels of Bev’s little flat shoes clicked against the cement floor as she ran to Johnny. “I need to speak to you.”
“I told you tonight.”
“You avoid me.”
“For a reason,” Johnny stated.
“I’m getting nervous. You didn’t say whether you did or not. You haven’t said anything except that you’d get back to me. You haven’t.”
“Bev . . .”
“Johnny I’m just as much a part of this as you, if not more. I need my mind set at ease.”
With a huff, Johnny took her arm and brought her into the office. He led her to a chair and then he too sat down. “I hope you know you’re using up my relaxing time.”
“I’m sorry.”
“What do you need?”
“Did you?”
Johnny grinned. “And it hasn’t left my side. Just remember, Bev . . .” He pointed. “Your attitude is so important to this working.”
“I don’t like the attitude you want me to project. It’s not me.” She folded her arms with a pout.
“Well, you being you doesn’t wash around here, does it?” Johnny leaned back in his chair. “The new approach is best.”
“Isn’t it contradictory to what we’re doing?”
“You know, Bev, for as much as I am impressed by your usage of that word . . . no. It’s not. You listen to me, all right? You do what I say. You ran amuck too much before. You sucked at trying to get places. Trust me, I know these people better than you. I know how one action will breed the reaction I want.”
“Can I see it?”
“No.”
“Please.”
“It’s not gonna mean anything to you.”
“Still.”
“All right.” Johnny reached into his chest pocket. He pulled from it a tiny black case no bigger than two by two inches. He flipped it open. A round and shiny purple disk was in there. Johnny poked his pinky finger in the center of it and lifted it. He spun the round object around his finger tip with arrogance. “Here is the last seventy-two hours and the seventy-two before he left. If it worked., we have plenty.”
<><><><>
“No, this isn’t the one,” Danny Hoi spoke to himself as he started at the name ‘Blade Runner’ painted on the outside of the chopper that set in front of the hanger. “It has to be inside.” Carrying what looked like a briefcase and a tool box, Danny walked into the hanger. “Muff Diver. Muff Diver.” He moved to the second chopper. “There you are. Robbie’s.” Danny set down his things and looked at the name ‘Muff Diver’. He laughed and looked around. “How the hell do they get these choppers out of here?” He peered up to the high ceiling and shrugged. Bending down, Danny opened the tool box. “Shit. My wires.” He scratched his head and tried the briefcase. Nothing. Pulling his phone from his belt, he started to dial. Putting it to his ear, he heard the loud static. “Henry? Can you . . . Did I leave the wires . . . . Henry? Shit.” He shut it off and stood up. Snapping his fingers, he remembered the phone in the office and Danny headed that way.
<><><><>
“So you see.” Johnny blew on the disk. “If we did get . . .” The creak of the office door made Johnny spring forward.
“Hey,” Danny said with a smile. “What in the world is that?” He pointed to the disk.
“Um . . . .” Johnny was answerless. “A disk.”
“I never saw one like that, ever.” Danny reached for it. “Can I?”
“No.”
“No?” Danny chuckled. “Funny.” He lifted it off of Johnny’s finger. “Where did you get this?”
“Bev had it. She . . . uh found it in some of her stuff. I hadn’t seen one since I was a kid. It was for a hand held video game.”
“Weird. I never saw one this small, or this color. ” Danny handed it back. “You should let me take a look at that. Maybe I can figure out a way for you to play it again.”
“Maybe.” Johnny set it in its case again.
“Cute.” Danny referred to the black case. “You must have been one of those video junkie kids.”
“You can say that.” Bev answered, impressed with her quick thinking answer.
“I need to use the phone.” Danny pointed. “Do you mind?”
Johnny shook his headed. “Not at all. Go ahead.” He watched Danny walk around to the edge of the desk, sit on top of it, and dial. After hearing Danny--with his back to Johnny and Bev--argue with Henry that he didn’t place a crank call, Johnny gave a breath and facial expression of relief to Bev.
^^^^
The beeping heart monitor, the clicking of the respirator, and Jenny’s occasional sniffle were the only sounds in John Matoose’s room. His bed was slanted. His body swollen and pale. He barely looked like his usual thin self.
“O.K.” Ellen pulled up a chair by Jenny. “He has an infection. When Dean initially did the emergency surgery, they did it under extreme circumstances. Do you understand that?” Ellen spoke factual and calmly.
“Yes.”
“Now, had Dean not done the surgery, John would have died right there and then.”
“He’s dying now,” Jenny sobbed.
“He still could live.”
“But you said his organs aren’t functioning properly.”
“We’re keeping them going. Hopefully . . .” Ellen held up two crossed fingers. “Last night’s surgery cleared a little of the infection and the anti-infective strain Dean is using will start to kick in.”
“But it hasn’t yet,” Jenny stated.
“That’s why we tried something new last night with the anti-infective. Yes, we’re pumping it into him, but the area that holds the infection most is the stomach region.” Ellen slid her hand over her own stomach. “In chemotherapy, the technique would be called a peritoneal wash, where the chemical is placed directly inside and the area submerged. That is what we did with the agent last night. We went into the body cavity and gave it one big dose. John’s body is shutting down what it can in order to conserve his energy. It doesn’t mean he’s dying. It doesn’t. O.K.?”
Jenny nodded.
“Don’t give up hope.” Ellen gave a squeeze to Jenny’s hand and stood up. “I have to go get ready to leave for Bowman. You can call me at Hal’s if you need me. All right?”
“Thank you, Ellen. Thank you for taking the time with him.”
Ellen only nodded. She picked up John’s chart and slowly left the room. Before pulling the door closed, she looked back in. No matter what John had done, Jenny had become her friend and it was disturbing watching her go through so much pain. Ellen closed the door and walked down the hall, trying desperately to get herself into the mind set she needed for her trip to Bowman with Frank.
^^^^^
Bowman, North Dakota
“There has to be laws.” Hal reviewed a large stack of papers with Elliott. “Unfortunately, Beginnings laws are few and strict.”
“And we have to follow these?” Elliott asked.
“They really aren’t too bad. Actually, m
y understanding is Bowman rules will apply to New Bowman, but in the final decision, it boils down to Beginnings’ law.”
“Maybe we can use some influence over them.”
Hal snickered. “Over my father? I highly doubt that. And his Council, well, they’ll do just about anything he wants.”
Elliott glanced at his watch quickly. “We’ll have to really form our own . . .”
There was a knock at the door.
“Come in,” Hal called out.
“Sir.” Len stepped into the office and stood at attention.
“At ease, Len. What’s up?” Hal leaned into his desk and folded his hands.
“Sir, my scouts have not returned from the north. They were due back this morning. As of yet, we have heard nothing.”
“Stan and Bud?” Hal questioned.
“Yes, sir.”
Hal reached to his right, picked up a folder, and opened it. “They went to Washington. Perhaps they got held up in the colony. But still, let’s not waste too much time. I’m leaving for Beginnings. Rest assured if they don’t return tomorrow, Sgt. Ryder will select a search party to find them. Just make sure you supply him with the exact route they took.”
“Yes, sir.” Len nodded and saluted. “Thank you, sir.” He took a step back, turned on his heel, and walked out.
Elliott looked at Hal. “You’re not worried.”
“Nah.” Hal shook his head. “Stan did that the last time he went out. He tends to stop earlier and not utilize all his day . . . day . . .light. Elliott, why do you keep looking at your watch.”
“Sir?”
“Your watch. That’s the eighth time you looked at it. Is it broken?”
Elliott smiled, almost embarrassed. “No, I was wondering what time your brother is arriving?”
“They were supposed to be here, but my father wouldn’t let them come until Frank had his head examined.”
Elliott tried not to laugh.
“Funny, isn’t it? Why the interest in my brother?” Hal questioned.
“To be honest.” Elliott cleared his throat. “Actually, it’s Dr. Hayes, I can’t wait to see.”
“The female Hayes?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sick?”
“No, I mean, I may be, I don’t believe so.” Elliot coughed. “I might be coming down with something.”
“Really? Are you sure you aren’t developing a little crush on her?”
“No.” Elliott shook his head. “It’s not that. She’s very nice to me. She talks to me like a human and not like I’m a criminal such as our women speak to me, I like that.” He fiddled nervously with his hands. “It’s nice to have a woman talk to you. In fact, I’m hoping to steal some conversation. I sent her a book. I figure that will open the lines up.” He nodded.
Hal laughed. “Elliott, if you spend time with Ellen, my brother Frank will . . . will . . .” Finishing the thought ‘will be so pissed off’ in his mind, Hal leaned back in his chair. “Be grateful. I’ll have him so busy that poor Dr. Hayes will be at a loss on how to spend her time. You should set up an agenda, as I will for Frank.”
“Do you think he’ll mind, or get angry? My last conversation with your brother showed his temper and, not to mention, he was placing a bullet in the heads of dying men.”
“Nah.” Hal shook his head. “He won’t notice, not at all. Now . . .” Hal snapped forward. “These laws.”
“Laws, yes.” Elliott smiled. “Captain . . . thank you.”
Hal winked, thought of Frank, smiled at the pleasantries of Frank’s irritation, and returned to working on the laws again.
^^^^
Beginnings, Montana
“You know, Dean.” Frank sat on the side of the table in the examining room. “I can’t believe I’m sitting in here. I outta have my fuckin head examined.”
Dean paused in his looking at the x-rays to peer over his shoulder at Frank. He shook his head with a laugh and looked back up at the scans.
“Pretty funny, huh?” Frank bit his nails.
“Sort of.” Dean flicked off the light.
“So, Dean what do you think about me and El going to Bowman?”
“I don’t worry.” Dean turned around. “I trust my wife.” He grabbed a stool and slid it over to Frank. “It’s you I don’t trust.”
“Understandable.” Frank bobbed his head from side to side. “So what are the results? I literally had my head examined. What’s up?”
“It’s bad, Frank.”
“You’re shitting me.” Frank hit his own head. “It feels good.”
“Well, you’re not gonna feel major brain damage.”
Frank’s mouth dropped open. “Brain damage?”
“Yes. It’s affecting your reasoning and thought process.”
“How bad is it?”
“You can function.” Dean clapped his hands together once. “But, let me phrase it this way. If you were a child in the old world, you’d be riding the short bus to school.”
“Oh my God. I’m retarded now?”
“What in Christ’s name?” Joe quipped as he walked in the room.
Dean stood up laughing.
“Dad, did you hear?”
“Christ, Frank.” Joe stepped into the examining room. “You believe him?”
“Dean?” Frank looked at him with question.
“Frank, you’re fine.” Dean faced Joe. “He’s fine. The injury is still healing, but that’s nothing to do with Frank. Frank is . . .”
“Cool.” Frank nodded.
“No.” Dean shook his head.
“Awesome.”
“No.”
“The hero?”
“Frank!” Joe yelled. “Knock it off.”
“Frank is shirtless.” Frank grabbed his tee shirt and placed it on. “I hate being this way in front of Dean. He gets excited.”
Dean rolled his eyes. “Anyhow, Frank is just healing. I was paying him back for cementing the hinges to my bedroom door.”
Joe looked oddly at Frank. “You cemented the hinges on his bedroom door?”
“Yeah, so it wouldn’t close.” Frank slid off the table. “Hey Dean, when I get back are you gonna try to kill me?”
“I look forward to it.”
Joe shifted his eyes. “Frank, you’re telling Dean to try to kill you?”
“Yeah. Not for real. It’s like a challenge between us, which he knows he has to be creative.”
“Glad to see you boys are semi-getting along,” Joe stated awkwardly. “Before you be-bop off to Bowman, Frank . . .” Joe raised an eyebrow when Frank snickered. “I want you to know when you get back, we’re moving on a patrol to look into these killer babies. Dean, any chance I can get you in later for a suspect meeting.” Frank’s loud ‘aw’ made Joe turn back Frank’s way. “What?”
“How come I’m not invited to the suspect meetings?”
“You will be when you’re around. Right now, aren’t you leaving for Bowman?”
“Not right now.”
“Frank, I meant . . .”
“Later, but not really later. It wouldn’t be later. But it wouldn’t be now,” Frank rambled.
Joe turned to Dean. “And you checked him out?”
“Unfortunately.” Dean took a chart from the counter. “As much as this pains me to say, Frank is fine to go to Bowman.” He saw Frank grin. “And don’t touch my wife, Frank.” Dean moved to the door.
Joe reached out and grasped Dean’s arm. “In all seriousness, get back here.”
Dean backed up. “What’s up?”
Joe saw Frank getting ready to leave. “You as well. Wait. Now, I know Frank living at the house isn’t a good thing.”
“I like it.” Frank nodded.
“You would,” Dean said back.
“Shut up Dean. It’s your fault. I don’t have a house.”
“We thought you were dead.”
“Obviously, cause you snatched Ellen right up.” Frank snapped his finger. “So, fair is fair.”
<
br /> Joe shook his head. “Never mind what I was going to say. Forget I was going to say anything.”
“Dad? What?”
“Yeah, Joe spit it out.”
Joe rubbed his forehead. “I was just going to make the suggestion that maybe now, with understandings being as common place as marriages were in the old world, you two should maturely, scratch that, you two should seriously, that’s the word, seriously sit down and lay out an understand so this fighting shit stops.”
Dean shook his head and lifted his shoulder. “I’m not having an understanding with anyone, Joe. Not at all. Not yet.”
That surprised Joe. “Dean? Henry had one with you? It’s almost a way of life.”
“It’s not my way of life.” Dean looked down to the folder he held. “I know it’s not right, and I know it’s something I should do. Chances are, I will, but if I do . . .” Dean turned to Frank. “Sorry, Frank, it won’t . . . it can’t be with you. My mind is made up. If I have an understanding with anyone, it’ll be with Robbie. I like him. He and I get along. Sorry.” Dean walked from the office.
At first Frank’s jaw twitched and then his anger showed. “I won’t wait for your permission, Dean,” Frank called out, causing Dean to stop. “I’ll just take her.”
Dean only lifted his shoulders and walked away.
Slowly, after watching Dean leave, Joe swayed his views to Frank. “You’ll just take her?”
“Well . . .” Frank shrugged. “I was pissed.”
“That attitude really helps in getting an understanding with him.”
“Dad, I don’t want an understanding with him. The way I see it, he took Ellen from me. He knew I was alive, he married her for face purposes, and now he’s taking it seriously.”
“So is Ellen.”
“For the time being.”
“Frank . . .”
“No.” Frank held up his hand. “Wait.” He nodded. “That’ll change, trust me.” He walked to the doors. “I have to get the truck ready.”
Joe let a long breath as Frank walked out.
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