Bridgetown's Eleventh Hour

by Shirley A. Roe

“Of course not, I just want the best for the two of you. Please Edna, just do it for the baby. I am going to take a shower.” He turned and left her staring after him.

  Water poured over his head from the shower spigot. Dan’s mind was in turmoil. Something was wrong with the water, but Mr. Carver kept assuring him that the situation was under control. When the new reverse osmosis filters were delivered, Dan began to have his suspicions. He remembered reading that reverse osmosis uses water pressure to push the water through a very fine membrane. This membrane stops nearly everything except very small molecules. Apart from removing most bacteria and viruses, reverse osmosis will remove typically up to 95 - 99% of salts and metal ions. He soaped his body mechanically. He was worried.

  Chapter Ten

  Out west, Jack worked with the bison in Elk Island National Park. His partner on the project was ecologist, Susan Crowfoot. She was a dark haired beauty with very strong opinions and Jack liked her. As time went by, they were developing a close relationship. There was definitely an attraction and he enjoyed her company.

  “Susan can you help me with the big fellow? He is the last one that we have to inoculate and then we can go and get something to eat. I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.”

  She walked towards him, her jet-black hair swinging across her back. She took her position at the head of the drugged, bison. “Go ahead, Jack.” He gave the injection and then the antidote for the drug. They both moved away while the bison came to. “I worked on a herd in Wood Bison National Park last year. It is on the north Alberta border and the herd there is three times the size of this one.”

  “Sounds like the numbers are coming back. That’s a good sign.” He packed up his gear.

  “That was a nice job, Giovanni; not bad for a white man.” He grinned at her. She was a full-blooded Blackfoot, born and raised in Alberta.

  “Never mind the white man stuff, Tonto. Let’s go.” He hopped up into the Ford pick up truck and she jumped in the passenger seat.

  “To the diner, Lone Ranger.” They both laughed out loud. The drive to town was spent discussing the bison recovery program. When they arrived they went to their respective washrooms to clean up before they ate. She arrived back at the table first.

  “Coffee please Marg, make that two.” Smiling at the waitress, she rolled up the sleeves of her navy blouse and fixed the scarf that she wore around her neck.

  “That’s better, did you order?” Jack slid into the booth opposite her.

  “Just coffee for starters, I don’t know what I want yet.” Marg arrived with the coffees and set them on the table. Pen and pad in hand, she gave Jack a questioning look.

  “I’m having the biggest burger you have, Marg.”

  “Fries?”

  “You bet and a big piece of that apple pie for dessert.” Jack rubbed his hands together.

  “Pig!” Susan teased him and then added, “I’ll have the same.” Marg laughed at them both; these were two of her favorite customers and she looked forward every evening, to their joking and teasing.

  “I don’t know why I’m asking, but ice cream with that pie?”

  “You bet.” Jack winked at her and she moved away to the next table, chuckling to herself. Jack turned his attention to Susan. “Tell me about Elk Island National Park, Susan.”

  “As I mentioned before, it is one of the most influential organization in re-establishing bison, not only in western Canada but also in the states. I was in Yellowstone last summer and their bison herds are growing rapidly. Now if the U.S Government will just stop trying to drill for oil in all the wildlife reserves, we can get on with our business. Damn governments, I hate politics.”

  “A woman after my own heart, did you like working in Yellowstone?”

  “Because I am full blooded Blackfoot, my people have moved back and forth between Alberta, Wyoming, and Montana for thousands of years. It is part of my heritage, my land if you will. I would give my life to protect it.” Jack reached over and took her hand. He raised it to his lips and kissed it. She smiled at him.

  “Okay Romeo, here come the burgers.” She pulled her hand away and reached for the ketchup, as Marg set the burgers in front of them. Jack focused on his plate and then lowered his head. Susan watched him with interest.

  “That ritual is more First Nations than Italian, Jack.”

  “My Uncle Paul was a nature lover and a truly spiritual person. He taught me to respect the planet and everything on it. You would have loved him.” Jack’s eyes were filled with love when he spoke of his uncle.

  “He was your father’s brother, right?” Jack nodded. “Was your father a dedicated nature lover too?” Susan picked up a french fry and dipped it in the ketchup on her plate.

  “My father loves money and his business. He has one of the most successful restaurants in Toronto, but he and I don’t agree on most things. My Uncle Paul was a friend of David Suzuki, did I tell you that? He was the one that influenced my decision to become a zoologist. My father wanted me to study business admin.” Jack found Susan so easy to talk to.

  “I guess you are more like your uncle. Good food, I was starving!” She finished her burger and pulled the pie toward her. He marveled at the amount of food she ate and how she maintained her slim figure.

  After supper, they sat in the diner enjoying their coffee. “You know Jack, we have been fighting for two years for that moratorium on mining the Grand Canyon, but the ban is set to expire. We could use you in Arizona, because if the feds don’t renew it, a Uranium rush of mining is going to wreak havoc on the landscape.”

  “I know Susan, but I have a problem of my own back home that I have to take care of first. I might join you once that is done.”

  “This will scar the face of the canyon and lead to leaking toxic chemicals into the environment, devastating communities and endangering the water supply of millions of people.” Susan was passionate and intense when she spoke and Jack admired her immensely.

  “I know the mining lobbyists are pushing the U.S Land Management to let them start digging. You and your team will have a fight on your hands.”

  “What is it that you have to take care of back in Ontario, Jack?” He told her about the water sampling and the diverted results. He also told her that the water treatment plant had increased chlorine levels and the mayor had told the town’s people that everything was fine. She listened intently.

  “Did you know that Native people have the highest mercury levels of all people in Canada mostly due to fish consumption? The Northwest Territories contain the highest community averages of methyl mercury in human blood and hair in Canada and Inuit communities possess particularly high levels. Their water treatment systems are often primitive and unreliable.”

  “Older water distribution systems used lead solder to join copper pipe. If water sits in the pipes, small amounts of lead dissolve into the water,” Jack added; fascinated by Susan’s knowledge and the passion in her voice.

  “Maybe I should come back and help you. It sounds like you have quite the battle on your hands, small scale but just as deadly.” He took her hand in his. Did he want her to come to Bridgetown? He would have to think about that.

  “I think you have a fight of your own. That is one of the things I love about you, Susan; you’re not afraid of a fight.”

  “I come from a long line of fighters. My great grandfather was Crowfoot, who led the Blackfoot people in negotiations with the Canadian government. He was the adopted father of the Cree nation and one of Sitting Bull’s best friends.”

  “Wow, I’m impressed. What else did he do?”

  “Before he was twenty, he had been in nineteen battles and had been wounded six times, including being shot in the back by a Shoshoni warrior. The lead ball was never removed.” She was proud of her heritage and Jack was an attentive audience. She liked Jack, because he understood her dedication to her cause and her ‘do anything’ attitude. Plus he didn’t get bored when she ranted and raved about the governments of Canada
and the United States.

  “Remind me not to mess with you. Come on, I’m tired and I need a hot shower and a long sleep.” Jack helped her into her jean jacket and drove the pickup back to the motel, where they were both staying.

  “Coming in?” She removed her key from her back pocket.

  “Not tonight, I just want to sleep. See you in the morning.” He pulled her close and kissed her goodnight. She smiled up at him, tracing the outline of his face with her finger.

  “Good night Jack.” She opened the door to her room and slipped inside. He walked three doors down to his room. A shower and a good rest was what he needed. And some time to think, he thought to himself.

  Jack lay on his bed, his hands under his head, staring at the cracked ceiling. Susan is everything I always said I wanted. She is dedicated to saving the planet, she hates the government bureaucratic bullshit, and she is a sexy, attractive woman. So what is wrong with her, Jack? He looked up at the ceiling as if searching for an answer. Not a thing, but she is not Sarah! He hit himself on the forehead and turned off the light. Jack, you are an idiot.

  He rolled over and tried to sleep, but it was hours of tossing and turning before exhaustion finally won out. He dreamt of Sarah.

  Susan went to her room, but she didn’t go to sleep. She paced her small motel room, thinking about her situation with Jack. You are a sweet, dedicated man, Jack and I think you and I could have a good future together. But now I have my answer. She thought back to earlier, when she suggested going back to Bridgetown with Jack. She had done it intentionally to get his reaction. She knew right away that he didn’t want her with him. She also knew that whoever he left behind in Bridgetown still haunted him. Go to Arizona and do what you do best, Susan. Forget about Jack and concentrate on saving the Grand Canyon. Besides the weather is much better in Arizona in winter, she resolved.

  Feeling as if she had reached a decision, she turned out the light and climbed into bed. She was feeling sad and filled with regret, but she knew what she had to do and she would do it. Susan Crowfoot dealt with her feelings, and then let them go. She didn’t hang on to them.

  Back in Bridgetown, Sarah lay in her bed, thinking her own thoughts, with tears running down her face. Edna is not well and in danger of losing the baby. Poor Mrs. Oliver is dead and Jack is gone. I know I sent him away, but I miss him. I need someone to talk to. Oh Jack, I don’t know what I want. Do I want you, or just someone?

  The next morning, Jack and Susan met for breakfast in the diner, just as they did every morning. “Good morning Jack. Did you sleep well?” Susan was waiting in the booth, with a plate of pancakes and sausage in front of her.

  “Look’s like you did, are you really going to eat all that?” Jack ordered coffee and bacon and eggs from Marg, and then slid into the booth.

  “Every bite, we are working with trumpeter swans today and we will need our energy. Besides, pancakes are my favorite.” Susan dug into the tall stack of pancakes and popped the forkful into her mouth. Sweet syrup dripped down her chin and she caught it with her napkin.

  “Trumpeter swans, excellent! They are endangered, I believe.” Jack sipped at his coffee while he waited for his meal.

  “They are, and we have been introducing them to Elk Island since 1987. The scientists brought them in from Grand Prairie, because this was a former breeding ground.” Marg arrived with Jack’s breakfast and after showing his respect, he dug in.

  “What exactly are we doing today?”

  “We’re checking band numbers on returning swans. Since the reintroduction, we check them every year to see how many return to Elk Island to breed.”

  “This is delicious. I don’t know how they make bacon and eggs taste so good.”

  “The pancakes are good, too. We have lots of time, Jack; we don’t have to be at Elk Island until eight.” They ate their breakfast and then read the newspaper while they drank their coffee. Marg appeared to refill the cups.

  “You two look like an old married couple, both of you with your noses buried in the paper.” She laughed and they both looked up over their paper at her and smiled.

  “More coffee please waitress. Don’t you have other customers that you can harass?” Jack teased her. “We like to read about what the government has been up to so we have lots to discuss later. In case you haven’t noticed, we are both anti-government and anti-religion.”

  “Don’t get started, I’m out of here.” Marg left quickly, pretending to escape another of Jack’s diatribes.

  “She is a lot of fun. I bet she makes a fortune in tip money,” Jack laughed.

  An hour later they were driving through Elk Island National Reserve. The scenery was breathtaking. They passed a herd of white tail deer grazing on the grassy plain. Susan explained that Elk Island had the second highest population of grazing animals in the world, next to the African Serengeti.

  “Now that is a place I would love to visit.”

  “So would I, but we had better take care of North America first. It is a big world, Jack and every continent is suffering because of human intervention. Do you know that if humans disappeared tomorrow, it would have no affect on the rest of the species except to make the air cleaner, the water purer and the ozone layer thicker?”

  “We are a blight on the earth all right, that is why people like you and I have to work so hard to repair the damage we have already done, and teach people how to avoid future disasters. Look there is a trumpeter swan in the wetland.” Jack watched the beautiful bird, in awe.

  They worked well together and the day passed with no problems. Neither one of them discussed their personal issue. That was for personal time, not during working hours. They were very similar in their attitudes and their work ethic, perhaps too similar.

  Later that night, they relaxed in Jack’s room watching a movie on HBO. During the commercial, Susan decided to say what was on her mind.

  “Jack, I have been thinking about Arizona and as much as I would like to go back to Ontario with you, I really need to go to the canyon. It is a very important issue.”

  He breathed a sigh of relief. “I think you are right, Susan. The Bridgetown calamity, although very important to Bridgetown, is not on the same scale as the canyon pillaging. You go and do what you have to. I will go back to Bridgetown and see if I can get to the bottom of this.”

  The movie came back on and they settled back for another half hour. She was thinking that she felt better having told him she wasn’t going and he was definitely relieved.

  When the movie ended, she got up to leave but as an after thought she turned back towards him. “Jack, at Audrey Hepburn’s funeral, they read a poem that she had written and one line from that poem applies to you. ‘People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.’ I think you need to make your peace with someone in Bridgetown.” She moved toward the door. “Good night, Jack.” She walked out, leaving him staring after her. He sat still, staring at the door long after she left him.

  He spoke out loud to the empty room, “Perhaps you are right, Susan. I need to take care of more than just the tainted water in Bridgetown.” She amazed him, she was so perceptive and he wished he could love her. Maybe he already did. He was so confused.

  The next morning Jack called Bernie and learned of Mrs. Oliver’s death and the other two cases of a similar cancer in the hospital. When he hung up, he started piecing things together in his mind. He had to get back as soon as possible.

  Chapter Eleven

  Matt walked out of Dr. Hardy’s office and Christine was waiting in the waiting room. “Well, what’s the matter with your arms?”

  “Doc says it is an allergic reaction to something. Like I told you, it is probably those box hedges. Anyway, I have a prescription and I have to get to work. Can you drop me off at the chemical plant? I have to check on the new trees.”

  “Sure, I am going that way anyway. Mr. MacIntyre called me and asked me to come out to the farm, but d
idn’t say why. It was all very mysterious.” Christine dropped Matt off and continued along the country roads to the MacIntyre Farm. She admired the spectacular fall colors of the red maples, yellow poplars and beautiful orange oak that turned the countryside into a beautiful landscape. She pulled her car up in front of the house, just as Mr. MacIntyre and another local farmer came out of the house. “Christine, you know Ivan Vladovich from the next farm.”

  “Mr. MacIntyre, Mr. Vladovich, nice to see you. What can I do for you?”

  “We wanted to let you in on what has been going on for the past week. Since you are writing the weekly environmental report, we thought you might have some answers for us. Bloody ‘G-Men’ won’t tell us nothing.” Now Christine’s curiosity was peaked.

  “I’ll tell you what I can, but from what you just said, I don’t think I know anything. Maybe you had better tell me exactly what has been going on.” They walked into the house and sat in the sunny, farm kitchen. Mrs. MacIntyre placed a large pitcher of iced tea and three glasses on the table before she disappeared into another room.

  “For the past week, every farm in this area has been visited more than three times by people from Ontario Water and Waste management. They test our wells, our earth and walk around in our fields with clipboards, but they won’t say what they are doing. ‘Just government business, we are conducting some tests that’s all’ is all they say.”

  “Ivan called me after the first visit and the rest of the farmers have had visits too. Something is going on and I told you, Christine, my record keeping and manure management, is done by the book and so is Ivan’s. We won’t be the scapegoat for some government cover up.”

  “I blocked my front gate. No one gets in unless I let them in. I’ve had enough!” Ivan added. “Every time I turn around, someone wants to test something. Well, not anymore.” Christine could see that the farmers were upset.

  “I wish I could give you some information, but this is the first I’ve heard about this. Let me go back to the Banner and do some investigating. I’ll call you as soon as I know something and Mr. MacIntyre; I appreciate your calling me.”