Me, Myself and Ike

by K. L. Denman

  I say, “Hey.”

  “Kit?”

  It’s only then that I notice the girl I’m standing next to is Melissa. I stare at her, uncomprehending. How can she be here?

  “Kit? What’s up?”

  Someone else says, “You know this guy?”

  “I used to,” she says.

  “Melissa,” I say. “Hi.” I fix my gaze on her face, and it’s like a magnet finding metal. There’s an actual force, irresistibly pulling me into the field of her being.

  She blinks and exhales a fluttery little laugh. “So. Got some studying to do?”

  A few more chuckles circle the group, and I say, “What do you mean?”

  “Um, your backpack, Kit. Looks like you’ve got half the library stuffed in there.”

  “Oh. That. Never mind. Do you know who deals weed and meth around here?”

  She shakes her head. “What?”

  “I’d like to buy some.”

  She takes hold of my arm and pulls me aside. “Kit,” she whispers, “what’s the matter with you?”

  Her touch is amazing. Electricity zings through my arm, fires nerve endings, arcs straight into my heart. It’s unbelievable, as though her touch alone has sparked a circuit that could neutralize the nanos, melt them into nothing. “Wow,” I breathe. “Will you come with me?”

  “What? Where?”

  “To the mountain.”

  She shakes her head. “Something’s wrong with you, man.” Her hand drops away and her eyes narrow. “Are you really into this stuff now, Kit?”

  The withdrawal of her touch leaves me cold and weary. “No. Well, yes, sort of. I just need some for an…experiment.”

  Her brow wrinkles and she gnaws on her lower lip. I used to kiss that lip. I lean forward and brush my mouth across hers.

  She steps back. “What did you do that for?”

  I shrug.

  She folds her arms across her chest and looks around to see if anyone has noticed me kiss her. Then she looks back at me. “I think you should go.”

  “I will. But I need the stuff.”

  “Fine. Whatever. It’s none of my business, is it? See that guy over there in the black jacket?” She points.

  “Yeah.”

  “Ask him. He usually has everything.”

  “Will he sell to me?”

  Her gaze sweeps over me and she smiles. “Jeez. Maybe not. He’ll probably think you’re a narc.”

  “I’m not a narc.”

  The smile fades. “No. But you are…something.” Her foot taps the ground, beating out an impatient patter. “Fine,” she says. “Give me the money, and I’ll get it for you.”

  “You will?”

  “Yes. I don’t know why, but…Never mind. How much do you want?”

  “Whatever I can get for fifty bucks. Is that enough?”

  “It’ll get you something…not much.”

  I dig my wallet out of my back pocket, extract the money and hand it to her. She saunters over to the guy in the black jacket. I see the money change hands, see her receive one tiny package, and another. And then she’s back, handing me two small bags. I stare at them, the crystallized lumps in one, the curled buds of plant matter in the other, and Melissa hisses, “Put it away.”

  I stuff the bags in my pocket, and when I look up, she’s leaving.

  “Melissa?”

  She glances over her shoulder. “Bye, Kit.” She keeps going.

  I can’t tell if the thick fog of disappointment in the air is coming from her or me.

  I empty my backpack when I get home and stuff everything under my bed. Now what? I should finish my manifesto.

  Category Five: Religion

  I’m not a religious person I don’t go to a church though I did go to Sunday school for a while I do believe in a higher power which most people call God. Some people don’t believe in God because they think it’s a fairy tale or wishful thinking or something but so far as I can see life is mystery there’s got to be something bigger than us. if the universe started with a Big Bang, what made it go boom?

  We studied religion in Social Studies I’ve watched some documentaries about it too. at this tiMe there are three main Western religions which are Christians, Jews, and Muslims. I don’t know why they’re called Western because they all started in an area we currently call The Middle East and all of them say Jerusalem is their Holy City and they fight over it. Go figure. There are other religions too, like Hinduism and Buddhism and stuff, plus there are Pagans which I think are people who believe the planet Earth is alive and it’s called Gaia. All religions believe there’s something bigger than puny people but they argue about who is right. they all got together one time to see what they agreed on. Here’s what they came up with: Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you. the Golden Rule if they all believe in it, then why don’t they follow it? people go to war about religion and blow each other up, but do they want someone to do that to them???? I don’t think so.

  I hope by the time you read this people will have just one religion and that will be that. Or none. Possibly aliens will attack and fix this. maybe the only way the people of our planet will unite is if they’re attacked by an outside force that makes us look pretty stupid, doesn’t it?

  In Hinduism they believe that people get reincarnated and if they’re right then I’ll back here soon in a different body in which case cloning me and getting my Mind back wouldn’t work would it!!! Is the mind the same as the soul? Maybe not. I think only the soul comes back and where you end up has something to do with your Karma. If you did something bad during this lifetime that would give bad Karma and it would stick with you into the next life until you balanced it by doing something good. This is why there’s a caste system in India. I wonder why more people don’t do real work as in grow food and make things? And spend more time together Most people in India are Hindus and it’s the oldest religion on the planet and they figure if you were crummy person last time around you’ll be born back into the low caste which is the Untouchables. These people are treated badly and live in extreme poverty but other Hindus there don’t really feel sorry for them since they figure they deserve what they got and things will be better in the next lifetime. Also, the cow is sacred in India so when people say, “Holy Cow!” that’s why. The only holy book I’ve got with me is the bible. Jews and Christians use it. Muslims use the Koran. One last thing on this category I know some religious people think if you kill yourself that’s very bad Karma or you will go to hell I’m not really killing myself I’m preserving myself Right?

  I can’t keep writing. There’s plenty more for me to do, but I need to gather my thoughts. I sit on the bed and I guess I doze off because the next thing I know, Fred is standing beside me.

  “You still sick, man?”

  I rub my eyes and consider this. Was I sick? Yes, I had a stomach bug and now my body feels like sand runs in my veins; it’s far too heavy to move it from the bed. I nod.

  “That’s too bad. I thought maybe we’d go out somewhere. Get a burger or something.”

  I shake my head.

  He sits down at my desk, tilts the chair back and locks his hands behind his neck. What does he want?

  “Seen any good movies lately?” he asks.

  “No.”

  “I saw one the other day. It was pretty good. Sci-fi, lots of action. You’d like it.”

  “Yeah?”

  “For sure.” He glances at me, then asks, “How did your mountain report go? Get a good mark?”

  “What?”

  “You told me you had to write about snow on the mountains or your experience or something.”

  “Why are you asking me this?”

  He shrugs. “No special reason. Just thought we could talk a bit. You want to help me out with that?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, tell me something. What’s new? What’s happening? Whatever.”

  “There’s nothing to tell.”

  “No? Come on, there mus
t be something. Hey, you remember when you were going to build a boat? I was thinking, maybe we could work on that together. It’s almost spring, and if we got the plans ready now, we could probably start building it soon. What do you think?”

  “I don’t want to build a boat anymore.”

  “Why not? It’d be cool. We make the boat, and then we could go fishing, right? Didn’t you want to make one of those old-school canoes out of cedar or something?”

  My nightmare explodes in my mind, and goose bumps ripple over my skin. I stare at Fred. He knows about it? How?

  “Kit? What’s wrong, dude?”

  “How do you know about that?” I ask.

  “About what? The canoe? You told me about it, remember?”

  I didn’t tell him about it. I know I didn’t.

  “So what do you say? You want to try it?”

  “No.”

  “Why not?”

  “Why are you hassling me?”

  Fred drops his hands and leans forward. “I’m not trying to hassle you, Kit. I’m just trying to…Man, I don’t know! I’m just trying to talk to you, okay? What’s up with you anyway?”

  “I won’t be here.” Shit! Shit! I said that out loud? Did I?

  “What do you mean you won’t be here?”

  I did say it out loud. I am so stupid. Think, Kit. Think. “I mean I won’t be here because…I’m thinking of going traveling. For the summer.”

  He grins. “Really? That’s awesome. Who’s going with you?”

  “Ike.”

  Fred says, “Yeah? Don’t think I’ve met him. What about Ben? Is he going too?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Good stuff, man. So what’s it going to be, a backpacking trek or a road trip? Where are you guys going?”

  I shrug. “We haven’t decided for sure. Maybe backpacking.”

  “That’s cool. Have you told Mom and Dad yet?”

  “Nope.”

  “Well, just in case they think it’s a bad idea, let me give you some advice. If I were you, I’d mention it soon so you’ve got a few months to work on them.”

  I don’t have a few months to work on anything, but I don’t say this out loud. I only say, “Good idea.”

  Fred nods. “You want me to be there when you tell them? Back you up?”

  “Sure.”

  “Excellent.” He looks as if he wants to say something more but doesn’t know what. He starts whistling and tapping his fingers on my desk. Then his hand bumps the mouse and the screen flashes awake, displaying a web page on nanotechnology. He starts reading.

  “Screw off,” I say.

  He startles and turns to me, frowning. “What?”

  “I don’t like people looking at my stuff.”

  He blinks. “Dude. It’s a website. What’s the big deal?”

  “It’s on my computer.”

  He holds up both hands, palms out. “Sorry. Didn’t know it meant so much to you.”

  “It does. And it’s none of your business.”

  He sighs. “Yeah? You know, you actually used to like me. Remember that?”

  This is confusing. It’s as if we were playing basketball and then somehow we’re suddenly playing chess. I can’t think of anything to say to him.

  Fred gets to his feet. “Whatever. You know, maybe you’d feel better if you had a shower. You look like hell, and you don’t smell too good either. Catch you later.” And he goes.

  I lie back on my bed and try to figure out what’s going on with everybody. I can’t. Or maybe I just don’t want to face the fact that the entire world is screwed up, and the reason I have to go on my mission is so that one normal human will be preserved for the future.

  The enormity of this realization washes over me in cold waves. It’s down to just me, Kit Latimer. Maybe Ike too, but that’s another thing; I haven’t heard from Ike since the day we took the Blackberry. Maybe he was caught and I’m on my own.

  It’s too much. I can’t do it. Only maybe it’s like Frodo in The Lord of the Rings. He didn’t want to be a ring bearer, but it was his appointed task and he had to do it. I have to do this.

  I haul myself off my bed and sit at the computer. I pull up my artifact list and skim through it. The only things still possible for me to buy are more books and the solar energy panel. Do I need more books? I don’t. Do I need the solar energy panel? I can’t even remember why we had that on the list. Something to do with powering the laptop computer, which I’m not getting anyway? Must have been that. So I don’t need it either. Which means all I have left to do is transfer the music onto the Blackberry, shoot a one-minute video of myself, finish writing the manifesto and pack everything onto the sled.

  TWELVE

  It’s late when Ike shows up, almost midnight. I’ve finished transferring the music and am about to get going on completing my manifesto when suddenly there he is.

  “Are you ready, man?”

  “Jeez, Ike. You scared me. How did you get in?”

  He sniggers. “I have my ways. I saw your light on, so here I am.”

  I keep my voice low—I don’t want to risk waking anyone. “Where have you been?”

  “Around. So are you ready to go?”

  “Now?”

  “Hell, yes. Now.”

  “Um, almost. Just need to finish the manifesto and pack up.”

  “You haven’t finished that friggin’ thing yet? Shit, you writing a novel or what? Trust me, dude, you don’t have that much great stuff to say.”

  “I’ve been sick, okay? But I got the weed and the meth and the condoms. Got the music on the…”

  “Did I say I wanted every single stupid detail? Have you got a map?”

  “Yeah, I got a map book of the roads in North America, plus I downloaded some world maps and stored them on my computer. And I put on a bunch of Wikipedia articles and saved some Google Earth satellite shots too.” Ike is making a snoring sound, so I stop.

  “You done?” he asks. When I keep quiet, he says, “Thank you. The map I was talking about was one of Strathcona Park. You think you’re just going to drive up to the perfect spot, park and, poof, there you are?”

  Damn. He’s right. I’m familiar with some of the trails in the park, but I’m going to need to know which one to follow for the ice mountain. Can’t believe I didn’t think of that.

  “As usual, you’re not thinking, doofus. You’ve got to plan ahead, don’t you?”

  In reply, I type in a search, and within seconds I have several hits for the park. I click on a link and, bam, there’s a file for trails. I click on that and I’ve got a map. “Satisfied?” I ask.

  “So, you going to print it or do you intend to memorize it?”

  “I can’t print it now. It’ll make too much noise.”

  “So in other words, we can’t go now, right? Figures.”

  “I thought we’d go Friday night. That way, Mom won’t be stuck without her car to go to work the next day.”

  “You’re so considerate, Kit. Your mommy’s going to be so happy with you.”

  “Shut up,” I hiss. “Besides, everyone usually sleeps in on Saturday. If we go after they’re in bed on Friday night, we’ll be long gone before they suspect a thing.”

  “You think? Whatever. Okay, what day is this? Thursday? We can go tomorrow night?”

  I try to remember what day it is, but I can’t be sure.

  Ike repeats his question. “We’re going tomorrow night?”

  “Yes. Tomorrow night.”

  “Fine. You be ready then. No more bullshit whining about this or that not being done. You promise?”

  “For sure.”

  Ike chuckles, soft and low. “Awesome, man. I’ll see you tomorrow night then.” And he goes.

  It’s only after he’s gone that I realize tomorrow is only Thursday. It must be because I was supposed to go to school and get that letter from Mr. Porter. As if. Well, too late now. Guess Mom will just have to take the bus to work on Friday morning. No biggie.

  I min
imize the map of the park and bring up the document for my manifesto.

  Category Six: Science

  Science today is mainly divided into biology chemistry physics some things just don’t fit neatly into those slots and there’s some overlapping too For example when a plant goes through photosynthesis I’d say that’s a mix of biology and chemistry. Okay that’s quite boring I guess i want to say that I like science and find it quite interesting although its bad when science makes things like nuclear bombs and manufactures anti-matter at secret laboratories places like CERN in Switzerland. Speaking of Matter this is what we currently know about the universe. Almost nothing Scientists estimate that only 4% of the universe is made up of the sort of matter known to us a lousy 4%. They call this known type of Matter baryons. They figure that 73% of the universe is something called Dark Energy and 23% is Dark Matter And get this They don’t know what dark energy and dark Matter really is All they know is that dark matter is cold and it’s invisible that seems hilarious like they’re trying to impress us saying there’s this invisible stuff they know about. Turns out they do know something is there because light rays coming from distant galaxies bend around the dark matter like light bends through the eye glasses.

  Still wearing eyeglasses? Plus they launched a space telescope called Chandra and since its clear of the earth’s atmosphere it can see things like x-rays. X-ray vision just like Superman I would like to be SuperMan BatMan. SpiderMan. Hero. what do x-rays have to do with the dark Matter? can’t remember If I were smart enough I’d like to solve the mystery of dark matter. The conspiracy people know It’s supposed to be out there in massive patches like clouds or enormous banks of fog But it seems impossible to understand something that is so unlike us We even have trouble understanding ourselves never mind thing like that Maybe you’re having a laugh now because dark Matter is old news and all understood. But I wonder…ever figured us out?

  I’m tired. The clock says it’s 2:00 AM, but I still have a lot to do. I better keep going. Just one more category to write. Only, if I’m not going to school anymore, I can finish everything during the day tomorrow, can’t I?