Protocol One

by Jacqueline Druga

  Tony tossed up his hands. “What do you propose we do? Have a chat?”

  “Yes. Talk with them. We don’t even know how many are remaining at the fire hall...”

  “Every second we waste not getting together a strong defense is another second we put lives in danger.”

  “It’s not a waste of time to get more information.”

  “And I will, Anna, I will. It won’t be by gathering them all in a room, but I will. I am.”

  “Why you?”

  Tony seemed taken aback by my question. “Excuse me?”

  “Why are you the one doing this all? You aren’t the GSS anymore Tony, this doesn’t need to be attacked like it’s a GSS case.”

  “Really, Anna?”

  “Really.”

  In that silent tense moment, someone cleared their throat and another person let out a soft whistle.

  Tony stared at me. In the nearly two months that I had known him, I had never seen his angry face directed toward me. I did at that moment.

  He stared and then lifted his hand. “Will you guys excise us for a minute please?”

  Abe jumped up. “Absolutely. I need some water.”

  “Me too,” Tom stood.

  “I’ll stay” Peter added. “Someone needs to watch the monitors.”

  “Tony can do that.” Tom grabbed Peter and yanked him up. “Uh, Tony, keep an eye ... on that.”

  Tony didn’t reply. His eyes were locked on me.

  “Uh, yeah.” Tom nervously said and slipped out.

  Once alone, I stood leaning on the counter with my arms crossed. “I sense a fight.”

  “You think?” Tony reached back and slammed the door.

  I waited.

  “We don’t bicker, Anna,” Tony said. “Why are we starting now?”

  “I’m not bickering with you.”

  “Then you’re being argumentative.”

  “I’m playing devil’s advocate.”

  “If that’s what you think, you are walking a fine line.”

  “I do see your point.”

  “Do you?’

  “Yes.” I nodded.

  “I don’t think you do.”

  “Now who’s being argumentative?” I said.

  “You want me to believe that this man, Lenny, took food, morphine, lights, sneaked things out, waited in the dark and then left to go back to the fire hall and help out the people there, so they can all snuggle in during the minus thirty degree weather. And of course, let’s not forget he took the map which you know gives the layout of our bunker.”

  “It’s possible. I just want you to consider the possibility that’s all. You don’t seem to want to consider that.”

  “I did and I am. But the other possibility deserves our attention.”

  “You have given the negative much more attention,” I argued.

  “You have only looked for the positive.”

  “So we’re even. Stalemate. What now?”

  “It doesn’t hurt to be prepared for the bad. It does, however, hurt to be prepared for the good and dismiss the possibility of bad. Where is all of this coming from?”

  “I don’t believe this attack that you are waiting for is going to happen. I think you’re over reacting.”

  Tony gasped. “Over reacting? Just because you don’t think something bad will happen, doesn’t mean it won’t. I swore up and down the comet wasn’t going to hit and here we are. Stop for a second and think about this. We have six men, and three women. One is ill, two are older. If Lenny returns, even with one person and the adults from the fire hall all grabbed a butter knife, we are outnumbered. They don’t need a gun to kill us while we sleep.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  “And neither do you!” Tony yelled. “Where is this passive attitude coming from? I am working day and night on this.”

  “Yes, you are. And what about Joie?”

  “What about her?” Tony asked with edge.

  “You brought her to this bunker. Don’t you think she’s scared enough? And she’s not seeing you.”

  “Oh my God, are you questioning me as a father? Now you’re getting personal.”

  “I’m sorry, that was what got me thinking.”

  “My working and leaving my child with someone to watch made you suddenly think of playing the Positive Penny game. As if I stop leaving her, suddenly we won’t be in danger. I am doing this because I did this for a living and I am good at what I do.”

  “Did. This not the GSS.”

  He stepped back with such dramatics. “When you say that it’s insulting. And you’re picking on me.”

  “I’m picking on you?”

  “Yes, you are picking on me totally. Fighting over everything I do. Calling me a bad father.”

  “I did not.”

  “Giving me excuses … that’s it, isn’t it? You don’t want me handling it. Is that it? Want me to step back? I can step back, Anna. How about I turn it over to your buddy, Pete?”

  “Guys,” A voice called from the other side of the door. “I’d appreciate you leaving me out of this.”

  Tony’s jaw dropped and he spun to the door yelling. “Quit eavesdropping! Go away.” he turned back around to face me. “Unbelievable!”

  That was it. That was what the moment needed. Peter on the other side of the door making a comment. At least for me, the tension was broken. I tightened my arms and lowered my head.

  “What?” Tony asked.

  And then, for the first time in weeks, I laughed. I genuinely laughed.

  “Oh my God, you've lost it.”

  “No. I didn’t.” I smiled. “I’m sorry. That just made me laugh.”

  “Anna …”

  “Tony.” I stood straight. “You’re right. We don’t bicker or argue. I don’t want this to be a habit. I just want you to see the other side as well. This scares me. The possibility scares me.”

  “I know. And I know that’s where this fighting is coming from. And I do, Anna. I see the other side. I don’t think you realize it. I am preparing for the worst, because there’s no reason to prepare for the best. Make sense? You said you trusted me. Please trust me on this one. I know people. Characteristics make them predictable. It’s almost as if you know when you open a door...” Before I knew it, Tony had swung open the door, exposing Tom, Abe and Peter standing in shock. Peter was actually slightly bent over sipping from a drink box. “That.” Tony said. “Will be waiting for you.”

  The three men looked busted. No excuses.

  Tom walked in the room. “We just knew it was time to come back. Great timing, huh?”

  Shaking my head I walked by them and to the door.

  “Wait,” Tony called out. “We’re not done.”

  “I have things to do, you don’t need me to lay out your surveillance schedules and beat walking stuff.”

  “Are we done fighting?” Tony asked.

  Peter answered nonchalantly. “I don’t think so... if you ask me.”

  “I didn’t ask you,” Tony said.

  I shook my head. “Not fighting, Tony. Just in a stale mate.”

  I left the office. While I really wasn’t angry or agitated any more, I still wasn’t convinced that Tony saw my side or even considered the possibility that nothing was going to happen.

  Then again, I had to consider the fact that I was being absolutely ridiculous because really, what harm would come from being prepared?

  33 – Underestimating Tony

  Sometimes all it takes is to step away. The moment I stepped away from the meeting, I started plotting my own course of action. If Tony was preparing for an attack, I was going to find out if he was justified. He hadn’t, to the best of my knowledge, talked to any of the fire hall people.

  I thought about gathering them up and just having a group talk with them.

  While he had a point in what he said about Lenny, he also seemed to want to watch the newcomers, as if they were all part of the plot.

  From the depth of my being,
I truly believed people were good. That the bad were outnumbered, no matter what the circumstances of the world. That may have been wishful or naïve thinking.

  But, even if just for myself, I needed to know.

  I had missed breakfast and although I usually didn’t eat much in the morning, I was hungry. I walked over to Hive Two, figuring I’d grab something to eat and then find Nelly. She was working with the kids on the lower floor of Hive Two and for some reason she seemed like a good person to ask for advice. I wanted her take. Age really does bring wisdom and she was smart.

  When I opened the kitchen door, I jumped back. Spencer was walking out and we nearly collided. I grabbed my chest. “I’m sorry.”

  “No, I’m sorry.” He cleared his throat, then coughed.

  “You all right?” I asked, walking to the food cupboard.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. I just brought up that other box of magazines from the storage. Don’t know why they were there, but they were. Nelly is making use of them. Kids are doing … well, interesting collages. Good thing whoever stocked this place, thought of arts and crafts.”

  “You shouldn’t be making the trip from the lower level. Get one of the others to do it.”

  “Nah, I’m good. How are you? I heard you and Tony got into a pretty nasty spat.”

  I cocked my head back in surprise, it had only been a few minutes. “Did you hear us?”

  “No, Peter told me when he came to grab a juice box.”

  “We’re fine. We were just disagreeing on something.”

  “That happens,” Spencer said. “Well speaking of Tony, I better get going. I’m sitting with birthmark guy and talking about the area.”

  I muttered out an 'okay’ and thought that was odd, even more so that he said, ‘speaking of Tony’.

  Spencer left and after grabbing a granola, I headed down stairs.

  I saw Nelly immediately when I entered the second floor. Not only was she seated at the card table, she was with one of the fire hall women. The kids were at the very far end of the room, sitting on the floor. Magazines were spread around them, along with markers, scissors and glue. They were engrossed. I worried some about the scissors , while they weren’t huge, they weren’t ‘safety’ ones.

  Nelly must have heard me come in because she spoke up as soon as I did. “Hey there, kiddo. How are you doing?”

  “I’m fine. Thank you.”

  “Good. I heard you and Tony got into quite a fight.”

  I cringed. “It was a disagreement. Did Peter tell you?”

  “He did. When he came up for a juice box. You need to ration him. Those are for the kids. He sucking them down for the sugar like a dope fiend.”

  “I will ration him. I’m gonna check on the kids, since you’re busy.

  “Did you need something?” she asked.

  “Maybe later.” I flashed a quick smile to her and walked quietly to the children. Joie sat with two other kids. They were all around the same age. They didn’t see me or hear me approach.

  Finally Joie looked up. “Are you done fighting with my dad?”

  “I wasn’t fighting with your dad. We were talking loud. What are you guys doing?”

  “Oh, fire hall girl and fire hall boy were just telling me about where they were when the comet hit. They were in a basement.”

  “I heard,” I said.

  “They were scared, especially because the grownups were fighting. I told them our grownups don’t fight. But then you fought with Daddy.”

  “I didn’t fight with Daddy. You’re being careful, with those scissors, right.”

  “Yes,” Joie held them up. “They aren’t too sharp.”

  “What are you working on?”

  “We’re playing dress up ladies and then we’re cutting out pictures for the future kids so they can see what our world was like before the comet came.”

  “That’s a really good idea.”

  “It’s a really big project.”

  As I wondered what she meant by ‘dress up ladies’, I glanced down and nearly choked. “Joie … what ... what …” I stopped, I didn’t want to bring attention to anything nor make the kids feel like they were doing anything wrong. “That's dress up?”

  “Yes. They didn’t have any clothes on.”

  “I see that.”

  “Look how pretty I made her.” Joie held up a picture of a woman. She was previously nude, and Joie took it upon herself to draw clothes on her. “She really needed clothes and it wasn’t easy putting them on her when she was posing like this.”

  “Good … good job.” With widened eyes, I stepped back with the intent of going back to Nelly.

  As I approached, I heard her conversation.

  “It was scary,” The woman with her said. “Maybe fifty of us all going to that fire hall. They said they had supplies. But I asked... how long would they last? No one …” She stopped talking when I approached.

  “I’m sorry,” I said. “Nelly, did you know those magazines were pornography?”

  “Not all,” She replied. “And they aren’t porno. They’re Playboy. Tasteful poses of nudity. They’re fine.”

  “Oh. Okay.”

  “Are you going down to the farm?” Nelly asked. “My granddaughter says she has a batch of eggs that need to be brought up. I was going to make breakfast for dinner. Any chance I can get you to grab them?”

  “I can go down.”

  “Thank you.”

  It was something to do, so I made my way down to agriculture. I couldn’t wait to tell the others about the kids drawing clothes on the naked models.

  I heard the chickens as soon as I hit the floor. They were loud and I could smell them. I stepped into the pen, to get some of the ultra violet light. It was cooling down in the bunker and I didn’t want to think about how cold it would get. I hated the chickens. I knew they sensed it. They were brazen and always seemed to go after my ankles.

  I spotted Melissa though the window of her office. She was talking to someone and when I drew closer, I not only saw it was Breast Feeding woman, but I heard them.

  “I was following the conspiracy sites for a while,” said the woman. “So I was fearful.”

  “That was just really good thinking to bring the breast pump. I appreciate it,” Melissa said. “I kind of took Baby John as my own. I couldn’t have kids, so this was a gift. And now knowing he is getting nutrients, I can’t thank you enough.”

  “No, I can’t thank you enough. I know my own child will get what she needs because I am getting fed here. They didn’t share the food equally.”

  I knocked on the door frame to alert them of my presence.

  “Oh, hey Anna,” Melissa said. “You know Meagan, right?”

  “I do.” I smiled and was glad to finally know her name.

  “What brings you down here?” Melissa asked.

  “You grandmother said you have eggs for her?”

  “Oh, I do.” Melissa stood, said excuse me to Meagan, and walked from the office. “This way.”

  I followed her.

  “So, Anna, are you okay? Did you need to talk?”

  I stopped walking. “Why do you ask?”

  “I just heard you and Tony got into it.”

  I sighed out. “Peter has the biggest mouth.”

  “It wasn’t Peter. Tom radioed me. Said I should make time to just have girl chat with you and that you were edgy and picking on Tony. I told him you are still dealing with a lot.”

  “I appreciate it, Melissa. But I’m fine now. And for the record I wasn’t picking on Tony.”

  “I figured you weren’t.’ She handed me a basket of eggs. “Tell my grandmother to either put them in the fridge or prepare them. They were down here for an hour waiting on Skyler. But I think he’s sleeping.”

  “I’ll take them.”

  “And I better get back.” She pointed to Meagan. “I have to report to Tony in an hour.”

  I nodded as if I understood. But I didn’t until that second. I watched Melissa return to h
er office, smile and re-engage in a talk with Meagan.

  I wanted Tony to find out what he could about the new people. He said he was on it, and I didn’t believe it. But he was. Melissa, Spencer, Nelly and even Joie were doing their part.

  To get information you have to act like you aren’t getting information.

  Tony was doing just that, but not being obvious. Even I learned a lot by pulling a ‘Peter’ and eavesdropping.

  When Tony said he was working on it, he really was. I underestimated him. He actually was considering my theories a lot more than I was considering his negative possibilities.

  I wondered if something actually was pending, or if it could be a combination of both of our thoughts. Unfortunately, unless Meagan or the others stated, ‘Lenny was up to something’ or 'he went off to be a good guy', we wouldn’t know until it actually happened.

  I was wagering on Tony be more right than me. After the little I heard, the fire hall wasn’t such a good place.

  I actually started to feel kind of bad for arguing with him.

  34 – Trading Time

  Craig told me that I needed to lay off the brandy and if I absolutely felt the need for a drink, to consume something that would have some medicinal value. So I drank wine.

  Everyone that wasn’t on a post had turned in. Tony was heading to his room early. He said he had work, and made it a point to tell me, “Along with spending some quality time with my daughter.”

  He wasn’t the same. He wasn’t letting it go that I argued with him.

  Typically Tony hung out with me after he got Joie to sleep. He made no mention of it, so not being tired and not wanting to be in my room, I played cards with Craig while allowing Skyler to look through the tablet and at Jackson’s pictures.

  “So what do you think?” I asked, laying down my card.

  Craig shrugged. “Not to disagree with your feelings, but the man took my morphine. That was the key that he was doing something wrong.”

  “You don’t think he was taking it for someone injured?”

  Skyler laughed.

  I quickly turned to him. “What picture made you laugh?”

  “Oh, no not a picture,” Skyler said. “At what you said. I was talking to one of the fire hall people. Bill. He said Lenny was a nasty man and was glad he was gone. He even said he thinks he’s up to no good.”