ALL IS SILENCE

by Robert L. Slater

“That wasn’t how it happened.” Lizzie fought for control. She glanced around for support. Her friends stood shocked. Don’t go Crazy Lizzie here. If her limbs disobeyed her, she would give Nadine more ammunition. “I raised my little brother. We saved Saj.”

  “And we’re saving him now. Do not let the sin of pride get in the way of choosing what is right for the child.”

  The door open and Bill came in. His eyes were wide and looking to Nadine for an explanation.

  Nadine turned away from him. “Rachael. Take the baby to the nursery. You may stay with him.”

  Rachael stood frozen with indecision between Lizzie and Nadine.

  Nadine gestured with her head. “Rachael,” she said more forcefully. “Now.”

  “Wait,” Lizzie pleaded. Saj was crying. Lizzie felt helpless. She did the only thing she could think of and threw her arms around Saj and Rachael. She hugged them both together, and slipped her cell phone into Rachael’s pocket.

  The guards took a step forward but Bill waved them off, letting Lizzie say goodbye.

  Rachael’s eyes leaked tears. “I’m sorry, Lizzie.”

  “Not your fault, Rachael.” Lizzie hugged them both. “Take care of him like he’s your own.”

  “Okay. Enough. Rachael, go. Bill, escort her out.” Nadine barked orders, more comfortable being the cold commander, than BFFs. “Guards, take them out front.”

  They guards, Nadine close behind, marched them back the way they came. Lizzie’s mind raced. Zach glowered. Nev was crying, and Charley clung to Spike like someone would take him away again. The Tank pulled up as they came out.

  Nadine spoke. “Leave. If you wish to return after you find your father, and be a part of our community and our Plan, you will be welcomed and reunited with Saj. But if you attempt to steal him, we will shoot you on sight. Do not force our hand. The human race is counting on you children for its continuation. You are the light of the life. Make your decisions wisely."

  “Fuck you. And your plan.” Lizzie turned to the others. “Let’s go.”

  “Follow the man on the motorcycle,” Nadine said to Zach, ignoring Lizzie. “Your escort will make certain you do not get lost.

  No one spoke as Zach drove, following the motorcycle. A Jeep filled with armed men drove behind them. They were guided back to I-84 South and then their escort stopped, waiting for them to disappear in the distance.

  As soon as the Jeep disappeared, Lizzie barked, “Find a place to turn off.”

  Zach pulled off at a truck stop called Sage Travel Plaza. He turned the Tank off and sat staring straight ahead.

  “Now what the fuck do we do?” Lizzie asked. She felt tears coming on. Dammit. Be strong. She blinked them back. “Saj is not going to be raised by any born-again birthers!”

  “Lizz,” Zach said.

  His voice grated on Lizzie’s nerves. “What?” she asked. “You don’t fucking care?”

  Zach blew up. “Fuck you, Lizzie. You think I don’t care? Saj is part of my family, too. But we can’t go waltzing into a machine gun nest and rescue him. We’re three teen-agers, a kid and a dog-man.”

  “I gave Rachael my phone. She’s gonna call or text. When she does…”

  “If she does.” Zach slammed his hands on the dashboard and this time it cracked. “But she won’t. Saj’s gone. She’s not going to call.”

  “You don’t know.”

  Zach opened the door and stepped down. “We’re going to find a place to crash.” His voice was measured, logical. “In the morning, when it’s light, we head south. We find your dad. He’s a vet, right? Maybe we bring him back and he helps us break Saj out. Okay?”

  Lizzie refused to answer.

  “We try to break him out now, somebody’s gonna die. Maybe everybody. Okay?”

  “Fuck you,” Lizzie spit the words at him.

  He slammed the door and strode toward a motel across the parking lot.

  “Lizzie?”

  She longed for Nev’s calm comfort. “Boys?” She turned to them and flipped the seat up. “Follow Zach.”

  They hopped out and raced across the parking lot after him. Lizzie turned to Nev.

  She looked tired and sad. “Zach’s right this time, Lizzie.”

  “Whatever,” Lizzie turned away hugging herself. “Go away.”

  Nev did. Then the tears came.

  26

  ZACH WAS RIGHT. BUT LIZZIE cared about Saj more than herself or her father. How could Zach possibly understand?

  He frowned at her and turned the Tank around, driving on. He pulled into a motel parking lot. Everybody but Lizzie got out and headed inside.

  No way Lizzie was going to let him think this was okay. When he back came out she said, “I’m sleeping in the Tank.”

  “Please don’t do anything stupid, Lizzie,” Zach said as he hooked his duffel bag over his shoulder.

  As soon as Zach was gone she pulled the shotgun from its hiding place up inside the seat. What the hell do I do now? She grabbed one of the extra phones.

  She texted her own number: Rachael plz call me. U r a mom. Dont let them take Saj from me. Please.

  She wiped her tears away and lay in the backseat waiting. A long time passed. Zach’s right. Dad can help. But he was at least a day or so away. And can I trust him to help, or will he say the same thing as Zach and Nev? There had to be something she could do. She took the gun and slipped out of the Tank. Lizzie scrambled across the parking lot and up the overpass. The street lights shone stark and bright against the dark sky. She ran across the freeway. There were lots of homes with cars in driveways.

  While she walked she tucked the shotgun under her arm and pulled up a map of the area on her new phone. The converted school was there, north. She started checking cars. On the seventh try she found keys in the ignition. The car smelled awful but she ignored it. Lucky for her it was an automatic. And it had a car seat. Karma.

  She got in and sat the shotgun in the passenger seat. She laughed a little too loud. “I got a shotgun riding shotgun.” She turned the key and the engine purred.

  It was a nice car. Lizzie slid it into drive and nudged the gas to get it rolling. When she got near the school she turned off the lights and found a place to park.

  She wrapped her hand around the cold gun barrel and got out. The air was icy and the stars were bright. She snuck around the building hoping to be able to see the front of the school. The gate was finished and closed; there was a cement mixer parked nearby.

  Lizzie didn’t see any guards, but that didn’t mean they weren’t there. She set the phone to vibrate. She returned to the car, flipped the trunk latch and checked what kind of supplies she had at her disposal. Not much. A giant beach towel with a giraffe on it, a first aid kit, a tool box and jumper cables. She opened the tool box grabbing a big wrench with a rubber-coated handle and a roll of duct tape.

  She wrapped up in the towel and tried to stay warm. Her eyes kept straying to the phone. It’s only been ten minutes. Her fingers traced the scars on her arms.

  Then the phone buzzed. “Shit.” Her freezing fingers slid over the screen and she read. Liz sorry 4 wait want to help u Saj needs u. Rach.

  “What do I say? Shit.” Rach thnxs im here. How 2 get 2 u? Liz.

  She rubbed her hands together.

  1 guard sleeping mayb more outside end of building

  Can you get out? I can come 2 u.

  Mayb when?

  Where ru? Which end of building?

  Left side frm frnt by slide jungle gym

  Im there 5 min brb.

  Lizzie took the shotgun, the wrench and duct tape. On a whim she took the towel and rolled the wrench and duct tape in it. She pulled the car to the end of the alley near the front gate, then slipped from the car and left the keys in it.

  She ran across the street and down the next alley with the blanketed tools under one arm and the shotgun in the other.

  Out the other alley she headed down the street toward the school. The cinderblock wall was almost as high as h
er head here, but not as tall as near the gate. She lay the shotgun and towel on the top and pulled herself up with her freezing hands. It took all her strength to get her leg up over the wall and then she worked her way up and threw her other leg across. The cement tore into her stomach. She gritted her teeth and lowered herself to the ground on the other side. She slunk down behind a tree and pulled out the cell and texted: Here by slide.

  She waited, pressing her cold hands against the warm welt on her scratched stomach.

  When light comes on.

  Locked?

  No i unlocked. Ready?

  Lizzie ran across to the building.

  By door ready.

  The light came on. Lizzie heard a male voice muttering. She pulled the door open and shoved the shotgun in front of her. “Be quiet or die,” she hissed.

  The guard spun, but his rifle pointed down.

  “Put down the gun. Or I’ll drop you.” Lizzie watched his eyes. “That’s my baby.”

  He set the gun on the floor. “What now?”

  “Sit in that chair. Rachael, take this and tape him to the chair.” She handed her the duct tape. Rachael set Saj down, pulled a long length of tape, and did as instructed.

  Saj’s eyes looked like he’d been crying, but when he saw Lizzie, he flapped his arms like he would take off. He had a pacifier in his mouth and was sucking on it. Must’ve been a gift from Rachael.

  “Stay quiet, little man. Sissie’s gonna take you away.” She picked him up and hugged him. She handed him to Rachael. “You carry the baby. Whew. His diaper really is shitty!”

  “Yeah. Should we change it?”

  “No!” Lizzie hissed. “Later.” She reached off another stretch of duct tape and wrapped it quickly around the man’s mouth and neck. “Sorry.”

  Rachael tossed the strap of a diaper bag over her shoulder. “Let’s go.”

  Rachael had been ready. Lizzie opened the door. There was no sign of movement outside. She gestured with her head. “Let’s get to the wall and move alongside it.”

  “Here.” Rachael handed Lizzie’s phone back to her.

  Lizzie shoved it in her other back pocket. “I’ve got a car on the other side of the wall. Across the street and down the alley. Can you drive?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Okay. Take Saj and get in. Start it. I’m going to see what I can do to block the gate. Ready?”

  Rachael nodded. “Yeah. Good luck.”

  Lizzie ran across the open parking lot and up to the wall. They slunk along the wall. Please Saj, stay quiet. When they got to the gate Lizzie motioned for Rachael to go. She pointed across the street to the alley and made a steering sign with her hands. When she was on her way, Lizzie pulled herself up into the cab of the cement mixer. The keys were inside.

  “Thanks, Lady Luck.” Her cell phone dug into her hip. She had no idea if she could even get it to move. “Clutch on the left. Brake in the middle. Gas on the right.”

  Run and trust they won’t find you. She’d decided to sneak out and opened the door when lights came on at the schoolhouse and an alarm blew. “Damn it!” She turned the keys in the ignition. “Reverse is supposed to be easiest.” She pushed in the clutch and pulled the gear shift knob into the R position. It groaned as she let out the clutch. It ground; she shoved the clutch back in and used both hands to jerk the thing into gear. She let out the clutch as gently as she could and pressed on the gas. The giant vehicle lurched backward and gained speed.

  Lizzie felt a huge crunch. She knew she’d hit the new gate. She pressed the gas to the floor and the truck groaned in protest. It blocked the entire gate. She slid across the bench seat, shoving levers out of the way and threw the other door open. The truck spewed a dry gravel and sand mixture into the gateway.

  She jumped to the ground and ran for the car. Rachael had started it and the door was open. She slid into the seat; Saj was still quiet in the car seat.

  Lizzie stepped on the gas as she pulled the door shut. The car jumped forward, spitting gravel. “Shit. Take it easy, Lizzie.” The phones poked painfully. “Rachael, keep an eye back there. Anyone coming?” She pulled the phones out of her back pockets and dumped them in the catch-all between the seats.

  “Not yet. Wait. Someone on foot. Running after us. He’s got a gun. Oh, shit!”

  Lizzie shoved the accelerator to the floor, one eye in the mirror. She saw light burst upward and heard the rifle shot.

  Where should she go? She saw a sign for I-84 and followed it. After a minute a movement in the rear view mirror caught her eye. A motorcycle had gotten through her cement-mixer mess. She kept the car going as fast as she could, taking turns that might lose him.

  Lizzie’s hands gripped the steering wheel. “Rachael, hand me the shotgun.” She lifted it over the seat and set it comfortably close.

  Ahead Lizzie saw a sign that said Single Lane bridge. She sped around the corner and saw headlights on the bridge coming toward her. “Shit.” The truck stopped. “What the fuck?” There was a deer carcass on the roof.

  Lizzie slammed on the brakes; the car slid sideways. The truck door opened and a man in camo with a rifle in his hand stepped out. “Oh, shit. Duke!”

  Zach woke abruptly. He wasn’t sure why. Nev still lay cradled in his arms. His hand rested on her chest. He couldn’t hear anything. Maybe that was what woke him. He marveled at the warmth between his body and Nev’s. Yesterday had sucked, but it had ended well. He kissed her cheek and whispered, “Thanks for not keeping me at arm’s length.” He lay awake listening to her breathe, matching his own breath to hers until he slipped back to sleep.

  When he woke next Nev was shaking him. “Zach. Lizzie’s gone.”

  “Aww, shit.” He sat up glanced around, looking for his pants in the pre-dawn light. “Those people ain’t messing around.” Lizzie was busting his ass again. She was gonna get herself killed. Her self-centered self made him angry. “Get Spike and Charley in the truck. NO! Never mind. I need you to stay with the kids.” Zach tied his shoes.

  Nev knelt in front of him. “Zach.” Her eyes filled with tears, but she fought them. “Don’t let her get you killed. I need you. We need you.”

  Zach stood up and pulled Nev into a hug. “I want to stay with you, right here, right now.” He let his breath out. “But I will come back.” He kissed her and ran outside. “Stupid, stupid, stupid. Shoulda known she’d pull this shit.” He jumped into the Tank and headed for the school.

  He spun the GPS out of street view and studied it. There was a winding dirt road running near the school’s playing field. Maybe he could get close without getting noticed. Nadine’s last words came back to him. “If you attempt to steal him, we’ll shoot you on sight.” This was not the time for Crazy Lizzie to pull a stupid stunt.

  An alarm blasted in the distance. Zach heard gunshots.

  “Shit!” He stepped on the gas. The Tank groaned as the tires gripped the street. He swung left around the corner. The scene at the gate was chaos. Men with guns were running everywhere. No vehicles could get out. A large cement mixer blocked the gate.

  The man on the motorcycle, their escort from the day before, revved his engine and took a run at the truck. Zach held his breath, expecting the motorcycle to somehow leap over the truck like a movie stunt. Instead at the last minute the rider slid the bike horizontally, clean under the truck and then spun back to vertical and raced off down the street. Probably chasing Lizzie. He pulled out from the curb to follow the motorcycle.

  Zach drove halfway down the block. The cement mixer backed into the road. Zach swerved in behind a parked van and ducked. Vehicles filled with men and guns poured out of the compound.

  The last vehicle out of the gate was a Jeep with Bill Johnston at the wheel. Zach let them have a good head start, and then followed the Jeep. They wound through city streets. He heard more shots in the distance. “Come on, Lizzie. Don’t be stupid. Please.”

  The Jeep crossed an irrigation ditch and then pulled a hard right. The city had turned in
to countryside, tree-lined with small rural farms. Ahead all the vehicles and men lined up across the road. The Jeep pulled in and the men allowed it through.

  Zach passed over the ditch and slowed down. He rolled the Tank to a stop at the row of men with guns, swung open the door, and stepped down. He walked toward the group, his hands upraised. “Take me to Bill Johnson, please.”

  One of the men stuck the barrel of a gun in Zach’s gut. “Keep your hands over your head.” He had a few missing teeth on one side of his mouth and a livid scar that seemed to match. His smile said he enjoyed the violence of playing army man.

  The rest of the men split to let Zach through.

  Bill turned away at Zach’s approach, shaking his head.

  Zach tried to sound annoyed. “I told her not to go. She was asleep, I assumed... She’s a dumb, crazy girl. Please, let her go and I’ll make sure she doesn’t come back.”

  Bill gave Zach a sad look. “Go look. See what’s left. Stupid girl. Four casualties today, such a waste of human lives.”

  The wall of men and guns stepped aside. A man’s body lay next to a motorcycle face down, blood still red and liquid in the dust of the road.

  Smoke was rising from below a rusty metal bridge. Zach’s gut sank. He didn’t want to move forward. But he had to know. There was a car at the bottom of the hill, its front end sunk in the water. Flames engulfed the interior and the back window. Bullet holes riddled the trunk. He could make out a body in the front seat, but the heat of the flames held everyone back. Bile rose to his throat. Zach’s stomach contorted and yesterday’s meal came up.

  “Can’t hack it, huh?” The guy with the missing teeth chuckled.

  Zach spun on the asshole. The gun came up in his face, but Zach stood toe to toe with him, his glare locked onto the mock-soldier’s eyes. But it wasn’t worth it. Nev and Spike and Charley still needed him. Lizzie didn’t. Lizzie never needed anyone. Zach turned back toward the Tank.

  The gunman returned the barrel to Zach’s back. Several guns cocked and leveled at him. He ignored them and kept walking. He half expected bullets to rip into him.