“How are ya Frank?” she asked.
“Hey, you know my name.”
“Of course I do,” she spoke sweetly.
“Do I know you?”
“Perhaps yes, perhaps no.”
“Perhaps yes, perhaps no what?”
“Do you know me?” she said.
“I asked you.”
“And I answered you,” she said.
“No, you didn’t.”
“Yes, I did. I said perhaps yes, perhaps no.”
“Perhaps yes, perhaps no what?”
She shook her head. “Forget that. I need to talk to you about this trip you are taking tomorrow.”
“You mean the rescue mission against the mutant underground religious fanatics?”
“Yes and your upcoming fight with God.”
“I have no beef with God.”
“Not the God you worship.”
“What other God is there?” Frank asked.
“The one you’ll fight.”
“God?”
“Yes.”
“I said I don’t have a problem with God. Why would I fight him?”
“Because you . . .”
“That would be pretty stupid,” Frank snickered. “I mean, he’s God. He flooded the fuckin world. I’m good but I’m not so good that I can beat God. Or can I?”
“No.”
“So why am I fighting him?”
“Just . . .” Remarkably, she remained calm. “Let me explain.”
“OK. Shoot.”
“I just need to give you instructions.”
“On how to beat God?”
“No.” She rattled some. “On your mission.”
Frank laughed.
“What?” She asked.
“Uh, you’re gonna give me instructions.” He snickered again. “OK, go on. I’m listening. This ought to be good.”
“You are to lead them, Frank,” she said in a whisper. “You are to go west.”
“Hey, you’re pretty good. We are.”
“Yes. You are to take no food and no water. You are to leave this very day in the clothes you stand up in. I don’t know who, but one of you will fall by the wayside. The rest will be taken before this man Creed. Though mighty together, it will take the mind and wit of the innocent one you bring to lead the way for one of you four to face him.”
“Whoa. Wait.” Frank held up his hand. “One of us four will face him, but it takes the innocent we bring to come up with it?”
“Yes.”
“I’m no mathematician, but four plus one equals . . . .”
“Five.”
“Yeah. There is only four of us going.”
“May I finish?”
“Go on. You have me confused, anyhow,” Frank said.
“It is God’s will that you face him. I am not in the way of knowing if you will defeat him. I am not in the way of knowing if you will even make it back to Beginnings. But I know you will not falter and with God’s help, together . . . you will stand.”
“Together we will stand. Whoa. Wait.” Frank scratched his head. “I think I heard that before. Did I?”
CHAPTER TWELVE
January 27th
“You’re an idiot, Frank.” Hal slammed the back of the truck in the early morning preparations.
“Hal, I’m telling you.” Frank followed him. “Look, I took notes when I woke up.”
“Frank.” Hal stopped at the driver’s door. “I don’t care. We aren’t to take food? Water?”
“Yeah.”
“How shall we eat?”
Seriously, Frank lifted his head. “God will provide.”
“God has provided several units of food for us to take with us.” Hal reached from the top of the truck and lifted his cup of coffee.
Frank sniffed. “Hey, that smells good.”
“Would you like some?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, you can’t have any.” Hal took a sip. “God will provide for you.”
“No, the old black woman said nothing about not bringing coffee.”
“Listen to you,” Hal griped. “An old black woman sits on a porch by a cornfield. She plays a guitar.”
“Not well.”
“Oh, of course. She tells you we are to go west and take no food or water. We will fight this man. And one will fall . . .”
“By the wayside.” Frank nodded.
“Yes, I can see that happening.” Hal partially rolled his eyes. “Then she said . . . what was that powerful line you delivered?”
“Together . . . we will stand.”
“A-huh. And none of this sounds vaguely familiar to you?”
“Well, yeah, I just heard it last night,” Frank replied.
“No, Frank, I mean before that,” Hal said.
“Before what?”
“Before last night.”
“What about it?”
Hal growled, “Again, I will say, you’re an idiot.”
“What?”
“Never mind. I have to go get our father and Elliott. They’re waiting so we can go do this.”
“You mean . .. Stand.”
Withholding all outbursts of frustration, Hal only glared then turned.
“Hal, wait.” Frank followed. “Come on.” He trailed behind as Hal moved faster. “Do you think this is the way to . .. Stand?”
With a spin back to Frank and a snapping whisper, ‘I hate you’, Hal hurried away even faster.
^^^^^
The streets of New Bowman were still dark and holding her coat tightly to her body, Misha darted by the night guard and slipped into Ben from Fabric’s store.
The bell didn’t ding and Misha was grateful for that. Quietly she closed the door and followed the illumination to the back room. “Hello,” she whispered with a tiny knock.
Marma looked up. “I was hoping that was you.”
“Ben will not return until morning and he will not say anything. He hates Dean.”
Marma only nodded.
“How is it going?” Misha asked, walked into the room, and stood beside Marma.
“I cracked it. I have an understanding. He saved the sabotage program and, quite frankly, I can see why it went so bad. There was too much, too fast. It could have been deadly.” Marma shook her head.
“So you know how to make it work?” Misha asked.
“Yes, I do but . . .” Marma tapped her fingers on the desk, “Misha, I’m not real sure about this. I don’t want anyone hurt. I don’t.”
“But Marma, you are brilliant.”She reached down and took Marma’s hand. “I am sure you will find a way to make it work without hurting anyone.”
“If it was just going to be almost like a joke . . .”
“Then do that,” Misha said bright. “Come up with a way where it is not hurtful and it is funny, yet it gets the message across.”
Marma breathed out. “I don’t know.”
“Perhaps you are tired. You have been at this for hours.”
Marma nodded. “I have.”
“What about a break? Some rest? Maybe your bed calls you.” Misha gripped Marma’s hand tighter.
“Misha. I can’t. The more I think of this the more I know I can’t do this to him. I like the female Dr. Hayes.”
“Marma, please.” Misha tugged harder on her hand when Marma tried to turn away.
Marma needed her hand back. It was grasped between the two tiny ones of Misha. She didn’t want to get forceful but she needed to shut things down. “Misha, I . . .”
“My heart is broken. Feel my pain.” Misha placed Marma’s hand in the center of her chest.
Slowly Marma turned around. She gazed up the arch of her raised arm to see her hand and its placement. She allowed the palm of her had to feel the uprising of Misha’s breath.
“Do you feel it?” Misha asked. “Feel it.” Misha slid Marma’s hand over to the left.
It was soft. Marma swallowed then noticed Misha close her eyes. “What is it?” she asked Misha.
<
br /> “Your hand has caused an ache in me.” Misha stepped into Marma. “An ache I have not felt in so long. We work so well together, Marma.” She dropped her voice to a whisper, “Let us not end our work now.”
Marma pulled her hand outward and stood up. She debated. Her eyes went from the computer, to Misha, then back to the computer. Her hovering hand fell again, only this time instead of feeling the cloth of Misha’s nightgown, she felt the flesh of her bare chest. Marma shifted her eyes from the computer.
Misha held open the top of her nightgown. “Work with me. Do this for me.” Misha stepped into Marma. “Teach . . . me.”
No more convincing. The decision was made. The reaction and action was quick and fervent. Marma’s hand plunged to Misha’s breast while her other hand swept around, almost in a slam, and braced Misha to her. They were locked, consumed instantaneously, body to body, mouth to mouth, in a passionate kissing embrace, right there in Ben from Fabric’s Unique Boutique.
^^^^^
“You’re an idiot, Frank!” Joe snapped while walking toward the truck near the back gate.
“But, Dad.” Frank said. “We’re supposed to . . .”
“Stand. Yes, I know.” He rolled his eyes then looked quickly to Hal who snickered.
“Sorry.” Hal raised his hand. “I told him to share it with you.”
Frank nodded arrogantly. “Laugh. Go on. At least Elliott believes me.”
“Speaking of which . . .” Joe said. “Where is he?”
Frank pointed.
Hal’s mouth dropped open. “Good God.”
“See.” Frank smiled.
With a guitar strapped to his back, Elliott approached the stopped pair. “Sorry I took so long.”
“A guitar?” Hal asked. “You had to do that, didn’t you? Let’s encourage the small minded man.”
Elliott smiled. “I just thought how symbolic after hearing what Frank said.”
“See.” Frank grinned.
“Shut up!” Hal snapped. “Well, I will have you know, Elliott. You’ve just marked yourself.”
“How so?” Elliott asked.
“You have the guitar. That means you’ll have to face him. Good thing I’ll be with you,” Hal said.
“How do you figure?” Elliott questioned.
Hal explained. “The black woman. Guitar. Two at the end. Me and you.”
“Wait,” Frank interjected. “How do you know it’s not me and Elliott?”
“Because just knowing . . .” Hal said smugly. “Elliott has the guitar, so he’s a given to last. Dad is the oldest so he stands a chance of getting shot. One will fall by the wayside. That will not be me.”
“Won’t be me,” Frank argued.
“It won’t be me,” Hal rebutted.
“Hal, I’m telling you it won’t . ..”
“Hey!” Joe yelled. “Knock it the hell off! No one is falling by the wayside. No one is getting shot.”
Frank tilted his head. “Elliott’s not. He has the guitar. Maybe we should all get a guitar.”
Joe gave a pausing stare. “Maybe, Frank. Now let’s just go. It’s pushing four in the morning and I want to get on the road. Let’s get in, boys.”
Hal moved to the driver’s side while Elliott got in the back.
“Hey!” Frank yelled. “How come he gets to drive?”
“Because you suck.” Hal smiled and got in the truck.
“Fuck.” Frank shook his head. “I have to ride in the back with Elliott.”
Joe gave a pat to Frank’s arm. “I’ll ride with Elliott. Give the truck a once over and get in.”
“I just checked the truck before I came for you.”
“Check it again. It’s been sitting there a half hour.”
“Dad, I don’t think . . .”
“Just check it again for crying out loud!” Joe yelled.
“Fine.” Frank marched to the back of the truck and lifted the tarp. He looked in. “I’m checking. I’m looking. It . . . It.”
From around the side of the truck, Joe peeked. “It what?” he saw Frank just staring. “What’s wrong.”
“Nothing.” Frank dropped the tarp. “Everything’s good.”
“You sure?”
“Yep.”
“All right let’s go.”
“Let’s do this.” Frank took a step and stopped. He backtracked, lifted the tarp, and peeked back into the truck. Hearing the yell of his name, snapped him from his semi-puzzled state. After shrugging it off and dropping the tarp, Frank joined the others.
They were underway.
^^^^^
It had been too long since he stood before his bedroom mirror and too long since John Matoose wore that uniform consisting of a crisp white tee shirt and green military pants. With his hair combed neatly, John fastened his revolver in his belt and then picked up the long sleeve shirt. He took one more look at his appearance in the mirror. It felt good, really good and he liked being back.
The coffee aroma hit him as he reached the bottom of the staircase and the scent of breakfast made him feel bad. Jenny was cooking and John didn’t have to time to eat. He lifted his brown leather jacket and put it on, figuring the visual of him in his coat would be the prelude to the verbalization that he had to go.
“I’m ahead of you.” Jenny stepped from the kitchen. “Travel mug.” She handed it to John. “And . . .a breakfast sandwich.”
“Jenny. Thanks.” He kissed her on the cheek.
“I know you have a full day. Will I get to see you?”
“Later, maybe. I have rounds, then I have to meet with Sgt. Doyle for the maneuvers that Hal set up. I have a short meeting with Sgt. Owens in New Bowman, then one with Danny late morning. Lunch maybe?”
“That sounds great.” Jenny walked with him to the door. “John, I am very proud of you.”
John nodded. “It’s good to be back home. Jenny . . .” There was some reluctance, but John turned around. “Jenny, I had a debriefing with Joe and Frank last night. Joe seems to think the women are starting some sort of mild uprising. He wants me to keep an eye on it in his absence. You . . you are very strong with the women. This is my chance, Jen. I have been waiting to gain Joe’s trust again for quite some time. Please, I’m not asking if you are involved. I’m just asking if you know anything about it, could you just steer clear at least while I’m in charge? I don’t want anything to interfere with my homecoming.”
“Of course, John. You don’t have to worry about it.”
“Thank you.” After another kiss to her cheek, John walked out.
Jenny slowly closed the door behind him. It was the first night in what seemed forever that she had her husband home with her. John was all she had in the world and not only would she do what he asked, she would do her part to try to dismantle a situation that she had pretty much begun.
^^^^
Robbie had stopped sending out sparks many hours before and Ellen had to wait for the opportunity to speak to him free and clear.
He wasn’t locked behind bars or kept under guard. Robbie pretty much was placed in a room, a nice one at that.
From staring out the window, Robbie turned around when the door opened. “El,” he said her name in relief. “I tried to see you earlier but they wouldn’t let me.”
“I slept in.” Ellen walked to him and embraced him. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah. Fine.” Robbie huffed out. “I woke up pretty quickly last night but everything I touched, I zapped.” He looked curiously at her when she snickered. “What?”
“Kind of like when Frank got electrocuted.”
“Yeah. Man, whatever he hit me with . . .”
“Lightning bolts,” Ellen answered.
“What?”
“Not real ones. He created these gloves that generate balls of electricity. Tangible balls you can throw. The more you generate the current in the glove, the more potent the bolts.”
Inquisitively Robbie glanced at her. “How did you know?”
“I asked.
He told me.”
“Lightning bolts?”
“It was a god like weapon.”
Robbie whistled. “A cool weapon. Man, Frank would love those.” Robbie smiled then lost it. “El, about last night. Nothing happened between you and . . .”
“No. No.” She shook her head.
“Good. I couldn’t forgive myself if it had.”
“No, last night was fine. He thinks you tried to kidnap me. I played distraught, then I played the injured woman. I told him I wasn’t ready for the physical step yet. I wanted something special especially after being abused in this world for so long.”
“And he bought it.”
“Yeah, he did. We ended up having a nice talk.”
“Did you get out what he wants from you?” Robbie asked.
“Me. He wants a companion in this world, a normal looking companion and he will stop at nothing to keep me. You, on the other hand, are a disposable god. I really don’t think he cares if you live or die, stay or go.”
“I don’t think so either. That’s what makes me . . . that’s what makes me want to go. I’m obviously not getting you out of here. I’m gonna leave and try to get you by coming from outside.”
“Can you?” Ellen asked.
“I’ll try. I will come up with some sort of plan. I’ll watch this building from a distance and see what I can figure out. If after a day or two I can’t come up with a plan, I’m gonna try to make it back home or get close enough to contact them. Is that all right with you?”
“I think it’s the only way. If he catches you trying to kidnap me again, he’ll kill you, Robbie. Did you see what happens to him when he gets mad?”
“Yeah. What the fuck was that?”
“Gamma rays,” Ellen answered.
Quickly, Robbie looked up. He was surprised she even had an answer. “Gamma rays?”
“Yeah, like the Incredible Hulk. It’s emotionally activated only he doesn’t turn green,” Ellen said nonchalantly.
“El, come on.” Robbie laughed.
The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20 Page 311