The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20

by Jacqueline Druga

  ^^^^

  Hal released a crying whine from under his pillow as he heard the knocking on his front door. “No,” he whimpered out. “Just an hour. Only an hour.” He rolled, literally, out of bed. “This better be good.” With attitude, and extreme irritability, Hal opened his front door. “Elliott.” Hal lifted a finger trying to be calm. “Go away.” He slammed the door shut.

  Elliott knocked again.

  “What!” Hal blasted as he opened the door. “I am trying to sleep. How you and my demented brother survive on nothing is beyond me, however, I need my sleep.” He started to close the door again.

  Elliott stopped him. “Captain, if this wasn’t important, I wouldn’t disturb your rest.”

  “What is it?”

  “Eight Society soldiers showed up at our border.”

  Calm, Hal nodded. “Eight society soldiers showed up?”

  “Yes.”

  Hal lost it. “Eight! Eight! Only Eight! For Christ sake, Elliot. Just shoot them. You can handle eight soldiers. In fact, you could piss on them and they’d probably run away.”

  “Captain, they did not come here to attack. They brought something. Or rather someone . . .” Elliott spoke seriously. “I think you should see who it is.”

  ^^^^

  “No, George,” Johnny pleaded so confused. “I don’t know what you’re talking about?”

  “Items, Johnny. Personal items.”

  “Yeah, so?” Johnny shook his head.

  “How did you know to ask for them?”

  “I . . . I just knew what I wanted.”

  “How!” George yelled. “If you’re fuckin around with me on this amnesia thing, I will kick your ass.”

  “I’m not.”

  “Then how! How did you know what to ask for?”

  “They were just basic items.” Johnny pleaded his case. “Ask Bert. Ask her. She’ll tell you.”

  “From your house.”

  “My Dad’s house, yeah.”

  “Your own house.”

  “I don’t have my own house,” Johnny said.

  “Sir,” Steward interrupted.

  “Not now, Stew.” George held up his hand while staring at Johnny.

  “Sir, this is important,” Steward urged.

  “Fine.” George pointed at Johnny. “I will deal with you later.” He faced Steward. “What’s up?”

  “There’s news from our scouts outside of Beginnings. A man wearing all black, head to toe, entered their front gates.”

  “What the hell do I care about that?”

  “Well, sir, seems, he must have been watched because at the exact moment he entered Beginnings . . . .” Steward paused. “IT walked into New Bowman.”

  ^^^^

  “I’m telling you, Frank,” Joe argued as he walked with Frank to his office. “The survivor didn’t ask for you by name.”

  “And I’m telling you Mark said he did.”

  “He probably overheard your name. Is Dean here?” Joe reached for the office door.

  “Yes. Wait, you’ll see. I’m famous in the wilderness now. I have an effect on people.”

  “Your ass,” Joe scoffed.

  Frank walked in.

  Christopher immediately rose from the chair, faced Frank, and then dropped to his knees at Frank’s feet. “God of Warriors, I am honored.”

  “See.” Frank pointed. “What did I tell you? My effect.”

  “Christ,” Joe mumbled. “Son, get up.”

  Christopher peered to Joe. “Are you Zeus?”

  “No, I’m Joe. I run this community.”

  “Then you are Zeus.” Christopher bowed at Joe’s feet.

  Frank laughed. “This is great.”

  “No it is not.” Joe reached down for him. “Get up.”

  Christopher hesitated. “Am I permitted?”

  “I’m telling you, aren’t I?” Joe snapped and yanked him. “Who are you?”

  “I am Christopher Columbus.”

  Frank’s head flung back. “There’s that name again. Fuck. What is it about him?”

  Joe held up a hand to Christopher. “Your name is Christopher Columbus?”

  “Yes.” He nodded. “I am so grateful that you have permitted me in your Utopia. I have searched for so long. The God of Testicular Fortitude showed me the way.”

  Joe rolled his eyes slightly. “Robbie.”

  “Yes.” Chris smiled. “But I am not to tell anyone I saw them. They are writing the Gospel in solitude.”

  “Your secret is safe with us,” Joe said. “Now what’s with the mask and get up?”

  “I cannot show my face. However Robbie said I may remove my mask in Utopia only after I take my mask off to Frank, God of Warriors.”

  “That’s me.” Frank smiled. “Take it off.”

  Shaking his head, Joe turned around to close the door. “I’m killing your brother.” He pushed it shut.

  “Dad,” Frank said calmly.

  “What the hell did he do to this kid?”

  “He uh . . .” Frank cleared his throat. “He, uh, didn’t do this.”

  The subtle turn picked up a jolt and his arms flung out when Joe laid his eyes upon an exposed Christopher. “Well you had to ask what would be next, didn’t you, Frank?”

  Eyes wide, staring at Chris, Frank nodded. “Dean,” he called out.

  “Be out in a sec,” Dean responded from the other room.

  ‘Now, Dean,” Frank called again.

  Christopher smiled. “Ah, Dean. Small and Mighty God of Medicine.”

  “Yeah.” Frank nodded. “Dean!”

  Dean’s irritated ‘what’ evolved into a loud ‘uh’ of shock. The clipboard toppled from his hands and his tennis shoes squealed when he laid eyes upon Christopher.

  “Meet, uh . . .” Frank held out his hand. “Christopher Columbus.”

  “Holy shit!” Dean’s eyes went as wide as they could and his hand flung through his hair.

  “Christ,” Joe grumbled. “Can you be any more subtle?” He walked to his desk when the phone began to ring. “And you’re our scientist.” He looked at Christopher who was so happy and then at Frank and Dean who were both at a standstill as they stared at the more than slightly disfigured young man. In disgust, he shook his head and lifted the phone. “Yeah.”

  “Father,” Hal spoke.

  “Hal, I don’t have time right now.”

  “Dad, this is important.”

  “Not right now, Hal.”

  Calmly, Hal spoke. “Dad, you won’t believe what just arrived in Bowman.”

  “Well, I can guarantee it’s nothing compared to what just arrived in Beginnings.” Joe looked at Christopher.

  “Care to wager?’

  “Yeah,” Joe said, annoyed. “I’ll wager that one.”

  “And I’ll win.”

  “I . . . uh . . .” Joe whistled. “ I doubt that.”

  “Fine. Ready?”

  “Get on with it, Hal,” Joe rushed him.

  “Eight Society soldiers arrived at our border.”

  “Nope. Not better,” Joe stated.

  “They came in peace. They seek sanctuary under the province of Beginnings.”

  “Nope. Still not good enough.”

  “Actually they were escorting and protecting someone.”

  “Boring.” Joe commented.

  “That someone is Mrs. George Hadley.”

  Joe dropped the phone.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Margaret Hadley reeked class, even through the dirty Caceres uniform that was too big for her frame. She was a medium built woman, a little larger around the hips. She was mid-fifties, but had a face that looked younger. “Thank you, Joe.” She took the cup of tea he handed her. “Thank you for this.”

  “We have your escorts getting situated with Sgt. Timothy Doyle. Are you familiar with him?” Joe asked as he sat behind his desk.

  “Tim. Yes.” Margaret nodded. “Had it not been for him, I wouldn’t have had my escort or escape route set up. My escorts kno
w him well.”

  “Let me take a moment to introduce you to our Council,” Joe said. “You’ll get to know these men. We all run things. Our Jordan representative is not here. They try to go to bed early . . .” He gave a half shrug. “Anyhow, Jason Godrichson.”

  Jason rose from his seat and shook her hand. “Mrs. Hadley.”

  “Jason is one of our resident eccentric scientists,” Joe explained. “The other one, who is really the head of it all here . . .”

  “Dr. Hayes?” Margaret asked.

  “Yes. You’ve heard of him?” Joe questioned.

  “Just in name. Go on,” Margaret said.

  “Danny Hoi, resident inventor and civilization manipulator.”

  “Pleasure” Danny shook her hand.

  “Danny likes to bring back modern conveniences of the old world,” Joe nodded. “Actually, New Bowman is his baby. He turned it from nothing into a place everyone likes to go. Third council is Elliott Ryder, whom you’ve met, and you know my son, Hal.”

  Margaret smiled. “Hal. The Captain. His reputation precedes him in the Society.”

  Hal gave a tilted head blushing look.

  “There is a lot of talk about his freedom movement,” Margaret told. “Sgt. Doyle truly knows where and to whom to spread the word. Mr. Slagel, your son is very genuine and such a gentleman. I cannot wait to meet your other sons.”

  “Well.” Joe cleared his throat. “Robbie is out of Beginnings for two more weeks. and well, Frank. Frank is Frank.”

  “Why is he not here?” Margaret asked.

  “He has to take care of a visitor we received, but I’m sure you’ll meet him.”

  “I can’t wait,” Margaret wisped. “He is your son. I’m sure he is absolutely charming.”

  Bam. The door to the office burst open. “Fuckin Christopher Columbus.” Frank stepped in. “Man, is he brutal.” He whistled and looked around. “Hey, is this a meeting?”

  Almost embarrassed, Joe cringed. “Yeah, it is, Frank.”

  “How come I wasn’t invited?” Frank shut the door. “I am acting Council member. What’s going on?”

  Hal interjected, “We were discussing how charming you are.”

  “I am.” Frank snickered. “Who’s the broad?”

  Joe could have sunk into his chair. “Can you be any more of an ass, Frank?”

  “No. I’m not being an ass. I’m being me. Didn’t you tell us to always be ourselves?”

  “Yeah, I did, Frank, but I also taught you to be polite,” Joe griped.

  “Am I not being polite?”

  The entire room, except for Margaret, replied with a ‘yes.’

  “Fuck. Fine. I’ll just get my file and go.” Frank moved to the file cabinet.

  “Frank, wait,” Joe stopped him. “You need to meet her. Frank this is Margaret Hadley.”

  “Ma’am.” Frank leaned with an extended hand. “OK, I’m out of here.” He walked back to the file cabinet, opened up the top drawer, and pulled out a folder. “I want to start my own report on Chris. He’s tough to look at, you know, but I’ll get used to it. Dean says he’s gonna grow him some experimental skin.” He shut the drawer. “See ya.”

  “Frank,” Joe spoke up. “You aren’t gonna say anything?”

  “About?” Frank asked.

  “Her.” Joe pointed to Margaret.

  “What about her?”

  “Father.” Hal lifted his hand. “If I may.”

  “No, you may not,” Joe replied.

  “Fine,” Hal said smugly, “You are hereby responsible for your own stroke.”

  Ignoring Hal, Joe looked at Frank. “Nothing? No remark.”

  Frank shook his head. “Chris has me tapped out.”

  “No, Frank,” Joe said with irritation. “About her. Margaret Hadley.”

  “Dad, what do you want me to do? Insult her? That would be rude. You just told me not to be rude.”

  “No!” Joe snapped. “Her name.”

  “It’s a nice name.”

  After moaning with everyone else, Joe continued. “Hadley. Margaret Hadley. Ring a bell?”

  Frank shook his head.

  “Try this,” Joe said. “George Hadley.”

  “I know that name.”

  Joe stared for a second. “Then you know hers. Margaret Hadley. George Hadley.”

  After a moment of thought, Frank’s eyes grew wide. “Oh my God! Are they related?”

  Hal did a dramatic, yet near silent, exhale with a slight throwing back of his head. “Yes, once again he shows that he was indeed a short bus rider in his youth.”

  “Hal.” Joe warned, then returned to Frank. “This is his wife, Frank. She escaped the Society.”

  “And you trust this?” Frank asked.

  “Don’t you.” Joe gave a motion of his head to Margaret then widened his eyes.

  Frank took a step towards Margaret and looked upon her. His eyes did a slight dance of shifting about her as he locked in a for a moment. After clearing his throat, he looked at Joe. “She’s good.” He stepped back. “Now back to Chris.” He moved to the door. “Maggie, welcome to Beginnings.”

  Hal’s eyes remained closed for a few seconds after Frank’s departure. “You’ll have to excuse my brother. He is a bit rough.”

  “No,” she said peacefully. “As I expected, he is charming in . . . in his own way.”

  After a ‘hmm’ of disagreement, Joe continued. “So Margaret, tell us what brought you here?’

  “Freedom. Escape. Mr. Slagel. I was a prisoner in a house. I was called ‘It’ by my husband because I was so upset and violent toward him.” Margaret took a moment to sip her coffee in her story telling. “When I came out of stasis, I was in Baltimore. I didn’t know what happened. It was seven years post plague. I was very angry that George had decided to preserve me as some sort of token, then when I found out what he was doing, I grew worse. I just wanted out and it took a while to do so. So here I am. As you know, war for this country will be inevitable. I want to be here. I know what the UWA stands for and I am behind that. I just wish I had something to offer you. I have no valuable information regarding the Society. Nothing. Only this . . .” Margaret pulled out two photos from the jacket she wore. She handed one to Joe. “Because she is so much like her father, greedy and selfish, I believe she is here working as a spy. Beverly.”

  Joe’s eyes closed when he looked at the picture and he handed it back. “I’m sorry, Margaret. Was. Bev . . . Bev was here. She died in an accident not long ago.”

  Margaret swallowed hard. “Was she executed?”

  “Not on purpose, no,” Joe answered.

  A sad sniff escaped her.

  “I’m sorry.”

  Slowly Margaret shook her head. “I expected as much. I knew she was cryogenically preserved in North Dakota. She never made it to Quantico but George spoke of her, so I figured she was here. Now him . . .” She handed Joe the picture. “I know nothing of him. He and his father never saw eye to eye. He isn’t in Quantico or anywhere with the Society. Sgt. Doyle confirmed that. I don’t even know if he was cryogenically preserved. I just figured if Bev and I were, why wouldn’t Peter be?”

  Joe shook his head as he looked at the picture. “I’m sorry. I don’t know him.” He handed the picture to Danny. “Recognize him.”

  Danny looked. “No.”

  Elliott held out his hand. “May I?” He waited for the photograph and then checked it out. “Captain.” He gave it to Hal.

  “Well,” Hal spoke as soon as he saw the picture. “You are absolutely correct that he isn’t part of the Society.” He returned the picture to Margaret.”

  Joe was puzzled. “You recognize him?”

  “Oh, absolutely,” Hal responded. “He’s one of mine.”

  ^^^^

  From the small frame house in New Bowman where they had settled Margaret Hadley, Hal walked Joe and Jason to the awaiting Jeep.

  “And he’ll return?” Joe asked.

  “Probably within the week,” Hal rep
lied. “He’s on a scouting mission. Most of them are close now because of winter.”

  “You’re sure he’s not a traitor.”

  “I am positive.” Hal stopped with his father and Jason. “Aside from the fact that we found him before we had any means of communication and before the Society even knew who we were. Bill, or Peter as his real name turns out to be, was pretty much wandering aimlessly when he was picked up. At first we thought it was a SUT gone bad. You know, the microchip stopped working. But we couldn’t find any signs of a lobotomy. He was mobile. Yet he couldn’t speak or reason past a fifth grade level. In fact, it took a lot of work and getting him around people for him to make progress. His memory began to last longer. Christ, we’d teach him something and he’d forget it. Now he still is not what we would call bright but we always attributed the lack of memory to trauma.”

  Jason knew the cause. “It had to be the brain regression syndrome of the cryo process. He just didn’t suffer heavy brain damage like our Beginnings field workers.”

  “Can it ever come back?” Joe asked.

  “I’m not sure,” Jason replied, “but if I were to guess, I’d say no. Look at Frank.”

  “Ha-ha-ha,” Joe said sarcastically. “Get in the Jeep.” He walked around to the driver’s side. “Night, Hal. You gonna finally get that sleep?”

  “Absolutely. Mind and body both,” Hal answered then waited until his father and Jason started the Jeep and began to drive off. He lifted his hand in a wave as they passed him. And as he turned to begin his journey to his home not far away, his phone rang. Calmly, Hal answered it. “Captain Slagel.”

  “Hey, Hal,” Frank spoke on the other line. “I’m pretty wired. You wanna hang out?”

  Hal hesitated, then he smiled. “No.” With a beep of the ending call and a sigh of relief, Hal headed home.

  ^^^^^

  “Maybe . . .” Frank said with a tilted head to Dean. “Maybe this was actually what I needed.” He lifted his coffee, took a sip, and set it back down.

  “We haven’t been talking much.” Dean held a letter in his hand.

  “I know. I think it’s me,” Frank commented. “I’m just feeling really lost right now.”