The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20

by Jacqueline Druga

  No one was going to tell Bev that she wasn’t smart enough to handle things on her own. Despite what Johnny thought of her, Bev knew better. It was only a matter of time before she and Johnny left Beginnings and an established inside team had not been made. She knew that could play a role in them not leaving, along with what Johnny told her on the phone about maybe staying a few days longer just so it didn’t kill his grandfather.

  Bev didn’t see the reasoning in that. What difference would it make if he hurt his grandfather the same day Andrea left or a little later? Same pain. Same difference. She would have to tell him that, perhaps give him an analogy. She was smart enough to do that and she was smart enough to help out her father. How much she would shine in her father eyes if she pulled off the biggest insider to date. And she had, like with Hector, the ground work to lay. Lay the ground work and ease into the proposition. So she sat and waited.

  Henry was a little perturbed and confused when he saw Bev smiling as she sat on his small porch. He had a long day, things were on his mind, plus he had to get ready to fill in as leader. That always made Henry a little antsy.

  “Hi Henry.” Bev stood up when he approached.

  “Is there something you want?” Henry asked.

  “A friend.” Bev held her hands behind her back, swaying some.

  “Don’t look at me.”

  “Why not? You’d be the perfect friend. Really, Henry.”

  “I don’t want to be your friend Bev. You ruined my life. You ruined my friendship with Ellen.”

  “So you think. But . . .you’re the one that did it, and more so recently, you nailed that coffin shut. Well, maybe, if it gets out.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  Bev pulled a tomato from behind her back. She handed it to Henry. “I had to work the greenhouse today.” She giggled. “It’s amazing the thing you learn.”

  Henry’s hand griped the tomato so tightly he almost squashed it. He just begged in his mind, that she, of all people, didn’t know.

  “Tell me, Henry. Is it a mentally difficult transition to make when you go from being inside of a woman to being inside of . . . a man?”

  Henry’s heart dropped. “How . . .”

  “I hid. I heard. You two really shouldn’t have talked so loud. But . . . did you know Hector has this reputation for bending over and down for just about any man? He’s the equivalent of a male slut.” Bev chuckled. “He and Ellen really ought to sit down and have tea one day and discuss how it feels to be everyone’s whore.”

  Henry’s eyes glared in anger. “What is your game, Bev? What do you want?”

  “You’ll find out. Knowledge is a very powerful tool to have. Isn’t that what Jenny preaches. Yep. Knowledge. You’re gaining quite the reputation of getting drunk and seeking out sex. I don’t know. That doesn’t sound like a very stable leader, especially in a growing world. How damaging would that be . . . if . . . if the news of your drunken fling got out? Not to mention how badly and cheap you made Hector feel about it. Use them and lose them. I’ve been there with you. Think about it. See ya.”

  Henry’s hand closed and his fingers tore into the tomato with such a vengeance the juice splattered out and ran down his arm. He didn’t think about it. He only watched with hatred as Bev walked away.

  ^^^^

  Bowman, North Dakota

  It was evening and he could sit safely before a fire without his hood. His journey days had been long searching out the Utopia he had left his home to find. Christopher knew when he stopped at the small town that looked as if recently ravished that he may have found a clue.

  He stared at the items before him that he had found in his search of a town that held remnants of a civilization that moved, patch that had the letters UWA, a pen, a lantern still filled with kerosene, along with food still in foil packets. The inside of many buildings lacked cobwebs, dust, and growth. They showed signs of residents that had passed. But the most important item Christopher found was a document with corrections made on it. It clearly showed that whoever lived in that town was trying to make with another place. A place much better, with so much to offer, A place close to the Utopia he had heard about. Through the wrinkled document that had amendments and correction upon it, Christopher discover his next route. He just had to figure out which direction to head because he didn’t have a clue where this place called Beginnings, Montana could be.

  CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR

  November 2

  Beginnings, Montana

  “She knows.” Henry followed in a storm behind Hector toward the main greenhouse.

  “I know she knows.”

  “You know?”

  Hector stopped walking. “Yeah, I know.”

  “Wait. Are we talking about the same person?”

  “Bev,” Hector stated.

  “Where is she?”

  “I gave her the day off, so where do you think?” He shook his head and moved back into the greenhouse, heading straight to his office.

  “Why?”

  “Because personally, I don’t want to be around her.” Hector waited until Henry stepped in the office, then he slammed the door shut. “If you’re here to accuse me of saying something, don’t. Don’t go there. I don’t want it out as much as you don’t want it out.”

  “But you failed to tell me she was working when we started to talk.”

  “How the hell was I supposed to know she’d eavesdrop? I left her in the other greenhouse. Fuck you for even blaming this on me.”

  “I didn’t say . . .”

  “You don’t have to. Now what is it that you want, Henry? Are you here to see if you can be more of a dick than you were yesterday?” Hector glared at him.

  “Excuse me for being pissed right now that some little girl is holding it over my head.”

  “Yeah, I’m pissed too, but you know, Henry, if you weren’t so bitter, you would stop and think about how much better it would be if we worked together to figure out her game plan instead of against each other.”

  “I won’t work with you.” Henry moved to the door.

  “Then why did you come up here?”

  “To lash out, I guess.”

  “Why do you hate me?” Hector asked. “You walked into our situation. Yeah, I admit I started it, but you finished it. To be honest, I’m scared to death of you.”

  Henry stopped in his reach and turned around. “Scared?”

  “Yeah. Do you even comprehend the authority you have, the position you hold here in Beginnings? You hate me, you blame me, so what happens to me now? How much longer will I enjoy this job I worked hard for? You can so easily make my life miserable and I can’t say a word.”

  “What would make you think I would do that?”

  “Because of your attitude and it surprises me because you never struck me as such a mean person. But you are. You have to be to tell someone you were intimate with that they make you sick to look at.”

  “Hector, that’s not me,” Henry spoke softly. “It’s not. I was so upset yesterday and it . . . it wasn’t just what happened with us. Just so you know, it goes back. The hostility is pretty deep seeded.”

  “What? Were you a gay basher in the old world?”

  “No. Not that far back. Just know, not too long ago, I was almost raped by the Savages. It was painfully close so I think that has something to do with it.” Henry opened the door.

  “I’m not a Savage. Just know there’s an open invitation, despite how you are, if you want to talk and work out what you’re going through. You can talk to me.”

  Henry just nodded then left.

  ^^^^

  “Oh, she arrives,” Dean stated as Ellen walked into the house. “You got back an hour ago.”

  “I had to stop at the Clinic. Sorry, I forgot the kids didn’t have school.” She shut the door.

  “Well, I have to get down there.”

  “There’s an Elliott sample, Dean. He was sick this weekend.”

  Dean slowed in his leaving. “How
bad?”

  “Low grade fever, prominent glands, fatigue.”

  “How is he now?”

  “He’s good.” Ellen nodded. “But just run the test. I don’t want to look.”

  “I’ll do that.”

  “How were the kids?” Ellen asked.

  “Fine. We had fun. All except for . . .” Dean hunched when Alexandra’s whining scream of aggravation carried to him. “That. God, if she weren’t so young, I’d swear she was premenstrual.”

  “Daddy!” Alexandra stormed into the living room. “Where’s my freakin cat? If Billy hid him again, I’ll freakin kill him.” She stormed back out.

  “See.” Dean pointed. “And she’s using the word ‘freakin’ as a substitution for the word ‘fuck’.”

  “So.”

  “So?”

  “Yeah. I would rather have her running around using the word freakin.”

  “I’d rather have her not use any means of vulgar exclamation. Can you get her to stop?”

  “No.”

  “Why?”

  “It’s cute,” Ellen said.

  “It’s annoying.” Dean marched to the door.

  “And you’re pissy.”

  “I’m late.” He hesitated. “El, just so you know, I really did enjoy staying here with the kids. Going out on a limb is there any chance I can move back in soon.”

  “Absolutely not.”

  “Just checking.” Dean opened the door and left.

  Chuckling, Ellen began to clean up the mess scattered about the living room. Just as she started picking up the disarray, there was a knock at the door. Figuring it was Dean and trying to think of the best insult to throw at him when she saw him, Ellen set down the toys and opened the door. The smile dropped from her face. “Bev.”

  “Hi.” Bev looked around her. “Is Jess here? I have to ask him something.”

  “Jess is working. Why would he be here?”

  “Doesn’t he live here?”

  “No.”

  “Gee, I thought he did, considering you two are practically living together and hiding it from Robbie. O.K., bye.” Chipper and nonchalant, Bev turned, skipped down the steps of the porch, and walked away.

  Ellen was bowled over.

  ^^^^

  New Bowman, Montana

  “Please be seated,” Grace spoke somberly as she took her seat behind the bench. She stared into the tense court room packed with people, many from Beginnings. “I have a long list of people who would like to speak for and against Mrs. Slagel, but . . .before we begin, I’d like to explain these proceedings. We are here today to decide Mrs. Slagel’s fate. When and where she goes. Do we help her? However, with all the talk of what people want the punishment to be, I want all to know, another option has been brought to this court’s attention. An option that I feel is a viable consideration when reviewing the testimonies. In a growing community, medical knowledge is vital. Mrs. Slagel has that medical knowledge. If we lose that, we could lose a lot. If we could find a way . . .”

  “Stop.” Andrea stood up.

  “Mrs. Slagel, please be seated.”

  “No,” Andrea spoke softly.

  “Andrea.” Danny whispered. “Sit.”

  “No.” She held out her hand to silence him. “No option. I need to speak. May I speak?”

  The courtroom became attentive.

  ^^^^

  Beginnings, Montana

  Mark had learned his lesson well in Tracking so when the first indication of a beep was heard, he gave it his full attention. Setting down his book, he looked at the screen. “Shit.” Lights flashed and blinked all over the place. “Shit.” His fingers moved rapidly across the keyboard for the answers he would have to get before he made the call out.

  “Ellen.” Elliott tried to remain in control as he quickened his pace to Tracking.

  “You aren’t taking me seriously. I’m coming to you Elliott, so don’t be a dick.”

  Elliott stopped walking. “I don’t understand why this has you bothered. Why is this a big secret? Let it get out then you’ll have nothing to fear.”

  “What about Jess, Elliott? He has so much to fear. You know about that note. You know what would happen to him. If there’s a known connection to me, the both of us . .. Oh my God.”

  “What?”

  “What if . . . what if?”

  “Ellen, I really must get to Tracking. I have to do a history.”

  “Elliott, what if Bev typed that note to Jess? That means she is working for the Society.”

  Elliott took a second. “Where’s the connection? I don’t see it.”

  “Think about it. She writes a note to Jess telling him she knows. Then . . . then she drops a subtle hint to me that she knows he and I are lovers.”

  “I hardly see where the truth about you and Jess has the same community impact as the truth about his participation.”

  “Because if the truth gets out about me and Jess, I can go down right along with him. I don’t want Jess going down.”

  “Then find out who wrote that note.”

  “Bev did. Yeah.” Ellen smiled.

  “Ellen, if you really think that then you have to find a connection to Bev and the Society, a connection that everyone else has failed to find. Just make sure you aren’t . . . hold on.” Elliott lowered the headset microphone. “Yes, Mark.” His eyes widened. “I’m there in thirty seconds.” He backed up.

  “Elliott?’

  “Ellen, where are your children?” He spoke rapidly as he moved.

  “Home with Josh.”

  “Go there. Get them. Get below. Now!” he ordered out. “Get a jump on the horns. We’re under attack.” Elliott took off running.

  “What’s happening?” Elliott questioned in his rush into Tracking.

  “There are four hundred and thirty-two heading straight at us at a steady pace,” Mark indicated. “We have seventy percent heading straight to the back gate. The rest are scattered in groups heading to different regions.”

  “New Bowman?”

  “Nothing.”

  Elliott called into his radio. “Tower hit the horn. Security base, come in. Mobilize the town, living section, and clinic teams to move in now. I want everyone who is not supposed to be topside, below. STAT. This is not a drill. I want every available man at their posts. Double up at the back gate. I’m heading to armory now.” Elliott raced to the door. “Mark, keep me posted. Get New Bowman on the line. Since nothing is headed their way, tell them . . . we’re going to need more men.”

  ^^^^

  New Bowman, Montana

  “There is no option,” Andrea spoke softly before the court. “There is nothing to be decided. I don’t want to be let go. I don’t want to go to the Society. I don’t want to live in that world. Simply . . .” Her voice trembled some. “I want my life . . . to be taken from me.”

  The gasps that took over the courtroom were silenced with a slam of her gavel. Grace looked at Andrea. “Mrs. Slagel, do you have any idea what you are requesting.”

  “Yes.” Andrea dropped her head. “I want to be put to death. You live by the sword . . . you die by the sword.”

  “Andrea.” Joe stood up, shouting. “Dear God, you don’t know what you’re saying!”

  “Mr. Slagel.” Grace called out.

  “No!” Joe yelled. “No, Andrea. You are not guilty. There is no reason to even ask this. We’ll find a way to get you . . .”

  “Joe!” Andrea cried out with a sob. “I know . . . I know what I’m asking. This is what I want, Joe. This . . . this is what I want.” Her tear filled eyes looked to Grace. “Order it. Please. The sooner the better.”

  Grace’s eyes closed, her voice cracked. “So be it . . .”

  “No!” Joe stood up again, crying out. “No!”

  “Tomorrow morning, by firing squad this case will officially end.” Raising her gavel amongst the commotion in the room, Grace brought it down with a final drop. Just as it hit with a ‘slam’, the sirens in New Bowman blared.
/>
  Frank, Robbie, Johnny, and Hal jumped to their feet.

  Moving to the door, Frank lifted his radio. “Beginnings, come in. What’s going on? I have sirens here.”

  “Attack is imminent. Looks like that missing camp is moving in. We need men,” Mark came in.

  “Fuck.” Frank lowered the radio. “Robbie, you and Johnny follow me. I’m going to need you in the air.” Frank barreled through the wooden doors, calling out as he spoke. “Hal, secure your town then prep the second army and ride them to Beginnings STAT. We have incoming in masses.” Without missing a beat, Frank grabbed his M-16 from the guard post outside the courtroom and took off running, ahead of and faster than everyone else.

  Outside, Frank jumped on his awaiting motorcycle and took off.

  Ellen never realized how muffled and distant the sirens sounded where her home was located, especially when she burst into her house and the stereo played, blocking out any indications to Josh that there was a problem. “Josh!” She called out franticly as she snatched up baby Nick from the walker in her race.

  “Hey El, what . . .”

  “Let’s go. We have to go to the tunnels. Help me with the kids.”

  “They’re in the back.”

  “Billy, Joey, Alex!” Ellen called out, handed the baby to Josh, and ran toward the hall. “Let’s go. Hurry!”

  Billy and Joey came from their room.

  “Mom?” Billy questioned.

  “Let’s go.” Ellen grabbed his arm, “Joey, move fast. Both of you. Run straight to town, straight to Containment and to the hatch. Move.” Ellen looked around. “Where’s Alex?”

  “She’s not here,” Billy answered.

  Pushing them to move down the hall, Ellen headed back into the living room. “Josh, where’s Alex.”

  “She went out to play. I think to Kimmy’s.”