Blink of an Eye: Beginnings Series Book 8

by Jacqueline Druga

  <><><><>

  “A lottery.” Joe sat at his desk with folded hands watching Frank, Ellen, and Dean so seriously look back at him. “You think this is best.”

  Dean nodded. “It’s the best choice we have.”

  Running his hand down his face, Joe reached for a cigarette. “I have to be honest with you. I knew of the antiserum, but I thought it was gone. Not used in some experiment, but used by you two,” he pointed to Ellen and Dean, “injected into the kids.”

  Dean quickly looked at Ellen. “We thought ... we thought for as much as we’d like to do that, it wasn’t fair.”

  “No it’s not,” Joe stated. “Calling an emergency meeting and not letting anyone know ahead of time is best. I’ll start tomorrow writing down the names. We’ll pull the four names before the entire community. This is a hard thing to do, to pick only four children to be definite survivors if the new plague hits. It’s even harder knowing that they could very easily, without saying anything, be all of my grandchildren.” Slowly, Joe lifted his eyes. “I need to know whose idea this was. Ellen, you said you and Dean went to talk to Frank about it. Which one of you came up with this?”

  Frank answered for the three of them. “Let’s just say it was a joint effort.”

  “Good enough,” Joe said. “We’ll just ...”

  The door to Joe’s office burst open and in walked Robbie, smiling, standing tall, arms extended outward, and ... singing. It was a song from the sixties by the Rascals, ‘People Got To Be Free’, with Robbie’s own words. “Shout it from the mountain tops all over town. Beginnings should be grateful that Robbie’s around. Ba-ba-ba-ba.”

  “Robbie!” Joe shouted. “What the hell is this?”

  “I’m back.” He walked in and kissed Ellen on the cheek. “In one piece, and in victory mode. Wanna fool around, El? I’m in a good ...” Frank’s loud ‘Hey’ stopped Robbie’s line of questioning to her. “Kidding. Anyhow, like I radioed, we were successful and I need Frank to come to the garage. I have a surprise.”

  Frank stood up. “You got our SUT?”

  “You could say that, yeah.” Robbie grinned. “I have to head back there. Grab Henry when you come.”

  “Got it.” Frank turned to Joe. “You coming?”

  “Yes.” Joe stood up. “You get Henry. I’ll meet you there.”

  “Sounds good.” Excited, Frank raced to the door, stopped, ran back to Ellen, rubbed her head, and kissed her cheek. He chuckled and ran out of the office with Joe right behind him.

  Ellen looked to Dean in Joe’s empty office. “I guess our meeting is over.”

  “I guess so.”

  “Wanna sneak and see what they’re up to?”

  “Sure, why not. Lead the way.” Dean stood, holding out his arm, letting Ellen take it, and foolishly lead him out.

  <><><><>

  The banging, slamming, and grumbling all came from behind the Mechanics door when Frank approached. “What the hell?” He opened it up to see Henry. Henry banged the file cabinet drawer. Mumbled something, stomped about, and made just about as much noise as one person could make on their own. “Henry? What the fuck?”

  “Hey, Frank.” Henry sounded so down.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Everything.”

  “Did something happen?”

  “You could say that. I told Ellen about my Dean invention.”

  “And?” Frank asked.

  “She killed me, Frank. Shot me down, burned me, crucified me, and hung me out to dry.”

  “Whoa.” Frank looked and sounded shocked. “I’m sorry, Henry. I thought she would have been receptive.”

  “She hates me.”

  “Tell me what she said.” Frank walked closer to him. “Did she say, ‘Henry you suck. That’s a stupid idea.’ or what?”

  “No.”

  “No? Did she say she couldn’t care less?”

  “No.”

  “Well, what the hell did she say, Henry? Let’s take what she said apart. Maybe each statement individually may not look that bad.”

  “I doubt it,” Henry said.

  “Let’s try. What all did she say? Start by her first reaction.”

  “She dropped the cup she was holding.”

  “Good. Stunned. Not bad. What next?”

  “She said ... she said it was a good thing. I didn’t make her feel badly for once.”

  “Another good occurrence, Henry.” Frank nodded with approval. “And then she blasted you right?”

  “No. She did say that it was a great thing and she was proud of me.”

  “My God, Henry, could she have gotten any meaner with you.” Frank was sarcastic. “Now where exactly in the conversation did she kill you with words?”

  “When ... when ... she wouldn’t walk with me, Frank.”

  Another dramatic gasp came from Frank. “She tells you it was great and she’s proud of you, and you’re pouting because she wouldn’t walk with you? Henry! That’s stupid.”

  Henry raised his head and his hand dropped from the filing cabinet. “I guess you’re right.”

  “A step, Henry. We’re taking this one step at a time. This method is not an express elevator to the Peaches and Herb floor of being reunited. Got that?”

  With a snicker, Henry nodded. “You’re right. That Peaches and Herb comment was funny.”

  “I’m a funny guy. And ...” Frank walked to the door. “... the good news guy. Robbie got you your SUT. It’s at the garage.”

  Henry shrieked. “The Auralnator worked!”

  “I guess.”

  “Yes!” Henry paced to the door then backed to his desk where he grabbed his radio. “Danny, Danny, come in. Meet me at the garage and hurry. It worked, Robbie got a ...” not wanting to say it over the airwaves, Henry coded it, “... a recipient of the Auralnator. Hurry.” Hooking his radio on his belt, Henry hurried from Mechanics so fast Frank couldn’t catch him right away.

  <><><><>

  Proudly, Robbie stood before the closed garage door, occasionally banging his fist against it with a smile, yelling at Neal, Curt, and Steve inside, who wanted out. “Wait until everyone’s here.”

  Joe was his usual perturbed self, standing in front of the closed garage doors. What was the big deal? Why did

  he have to wait? His annoyance was coupled by Ellen who whispered her commentating to Dean, truly believing she was not being heard.

  Robbie could see Frank and Henry coming up over the hill. They stopped to wait for Danny then all three walked to the garage.

  “First off.” Robbie held out his hands. “Henry, Danny, I have to tell you that thing was so cool. Man, the SUTs drop like flies, buzz and down.” Robbie grinned. “So, knowing this and feeling like I was in a Lays potato chip mood ...” Robbie lifted the garage door, “I came home the victor.”

  Neal ran out first, stopping at Joe. “There is something not right about your son.”

  “Yeah, I know,” Joe commented.

  Henry and Danny stepped in first, the shrieks of laughter prompted Joe to race in.

  Joe stood shocked. “Twelve? What in God’s name, Robbie? I told you one.”

  “I know, I know. But, Dad, it was so easy and now we have our fist squad.” Robbie pointed to them. “What do you think, Frank?”

  “You did this with that thing they made?” Frank whistled. “Henry, I want every single one of my men to have one. Can you make them?”

  Henry, who was bending down in a squat to a SUT, looked back at Frank. “We need the supplies and we’ll do it.” His hand reached to the SUT who just stared outward. “Danny?” Henry whispered. “Do you think we messed him up?”

  “No way. I think the thing was lobotomized and the chip told him how to function. You know, program CME-IS-2: Replacement of Normal Function, Infantry Soldier Directed. And ...” Danny sniffed. “That would explain the really bad smell.”

  Henry inhaled and made a gagging face. “What is that?” He covered his nose.

  “He doesn’t know ho
w to control his bodily functions.” Danny’s back of his hand covered his nose. “Man, rank.” He blew out. “We’ll have to clean these guys up before we take them to the basement to reprogram.”

  “You mean they all will just go ...”

  “Where ever they feel like it,” Danny said as he watched Henry stand up. “Watch that puddle Henry your gonna ...”

  Henry let out a loud ‘uh’.

  “... step in it.”

  With his eyes watering from the smell and the thought, Henry took off running with his hand over his mouth. He raced from the garage, his stomach pulling and turning. The second he stepped outside, he released his hand, turned to the side of the building and vomited.

  Ellen saw this as she led Dean to the garage. “Must be good in there, Dean. Henry just puked.” As she walked by Henry, she tapped him on the back. “You OK?”

  Henry badly wanted to answer. Ellen was speaking to him and nicely too, but he couldn’t. All he could do was let her go see the SUTs for herself while Henry finished releasing the remnants of the contents of his stomach.

  <><><><>

  A cool breeze blew in through the bedroom window, lifting the curtains. It was a great breeze and odd for an August night, Ellen thought. She stood by the window, a brush in her hand, staring out to the empty street below. Her hair was still slightly damp from the shower, and she looked down to her watch. How peaceful and quiet the house was and Dean wasn’t even around to enjoy it. What he could possibly be working on at the clinic was beyond her. Maybe it had something to do with the twelve new members of the community. Ellen certainly hoped that they weren’t going to come into Containment, especially when none of them were toilet trained.

  Though there were times when a person truly enjoyed being alone, this was not one of them for Ellen. She could wait for Dean, but seeing that it was nearly eleven at night, he probably would just go to sleep when he returned. She could do what she used to do in the old world. Many of summer nights were spent just sitting on her front porch. More times than not, someone would also have the same urge and they would walk out to sit outside also, so would start that endless summer night conversation. A part of her missed that feeling, sipping a drink, talking away, looking at her watch, and seeing it had crept closer to morning than she thought.

  But there was one thing certain about Beginnings. It wasn’t filled with the night owls. Frank was pulling extra rounds. Robbie was beat and Henry ... she didn’t even want to consider him. Then she remembered, she had another friend, a new one, and that was who Ellen decided she would go see. Danny invited her by many times. Hoping that maybe she could entice Danny into a summer walk and one of those long conversations about nothing, Ellen set down her brush, slipped on her shoes, and headed over to Danny Hoi’s.

  <><><><>

  “Danny, we’re getting ahead of ourselves,” Henry spoke as he reviewed the papers scattered about Danny’s coffee table. He sat in the chair, elbows on his knees as he leaned forward. “One thing at a time.”

  “Sorry.” Danny plopped down the couch. “But I think we should do the first reprogram tomorrow.”

  “I’m not going near them when they smell.”

  “Robbie said he’d hose them down. He’ll be fine. You need to get over it, it’s body functions.”

  “Danny.” Henry rose is head very seriously. “I have stomach problems.”

  Danny laughed. “You do not. OK, back to the tracking.” Danny’s hand slammed down. “Preliminary tests I did this evening show that the chip you made works as well as the one taken from Harold the SUT ...” Danny started to snicker again.

  “What’s so funny about that?”

  “Harold the SUT. It makes me feel like singing. Remember that movie Howard the Duck? Get it? Harold the SUT, Howard the ...” He saw Henry was not amused. “Maybe not.” Danny shrugged. “What program are we gonna put into the first test one? I think we should do one of the ones you made. If it’s screwed up, we can just erase it. What do you think?”

  “Sounds good, however I am curious about the one pre-made program. We’ll talk about it tomorrow.” Henry’s hand smoothed across the paper. “I’m looking at this, Danny. Can what you have planned to use, actually sustain what you have planned in size?”

  “Let’s hope. We’re doing what, five of these instead of one big one? Connecting them should be ...” Danny’s head lifted. “Was that a knock?”

  “It was light. Could be Dean.”

  At the second knock, this time a little harder, both Henry and Danny looked at each other in unison. ‘Nah.’

  Danny stood up. “I’ll be right back.” He walked to the door. He was so surprised when Ellen was standing there. “Ellen.”

  “Hi.” She smiled. “What are you doing?”

  “Working on the tracking system.”

  “Oh.” She folded her hands. “Are you really busy?”

  “Not for you. What’s up?” He opened the door wider for her to step in.

  “It’s a great night, Danny. I was hoping you and I could take a walk and ...” Ellen stopped cold when she saw Henry sitting in the chair. “Never mind.”

  Henry, who was taking a drink, lowered his glass as he stood up. “Hi, El.”

  “Henry.” A flash of a brief smile and Ellen turned back to Danny. “I’ll just leave.”

  “No wait.” Danny stopped her. “What’s going on? You said something about a walk and ...”

  “No. Forget it now. Work on the tracking. I didn’t know Henry was helping you.”

  “We’re working together on a lot of things.”

  “I see.” Ellen nodded her head. “Goodnight.” She started to leave. Again Danny stopped her.

  “El, I’ll uh ...” Danny looked back at Henry. “I’ll walk. Henry can review these alone.”

  “No. Night.” She waved to Henry. “Night, Henry.” She walked from Danny’s house.

  Danny shook his head so confused at Henry, then held up his hand to him and followed Ellen out. “Ellen, wait.”

  “Yeah?”

  “What was up with that?” Danny made it to her. “I thought you and I were gonna be buddies. I told you anytime you wanted to, I would make time to talk.”

  “I changed my mind about that. You’re great guy, Danny but what really made it great for me was that you had no connection to Henry what-so-ever. It was sort of like you were my friend. You were the only one in Beginnings that was just friends with me, not Henry. Maybe it’s a little juvenile, I don’t know, but last I heard, you weren’t getting along with Henry and now you’re working with him.” She started walking again.

  “Ellen, come on.” Danny stood looking like he was pleading.

  “Night, Danny.” She smiled at him and continued walking.

  Danny tossed his hands up in the air and let them fall with a slap. He looked at Ellen walking down the street, then at Henry who stood in his doorway. He felt for the first time like a real Beginnings resident, pulled like everyone else who knew Ellen and Henry. And in Beginnings, that was everyone. With a community as small as Beginnings, Danny felt it was a shame that a gap had widened so far between two of its people.

  <><><><>

  A glass of iced tea, a refreshing breeze, and a seat on the last step of Dean’s porch was Ellen’s scenario. Waiting for someone to walk by, watching—like the end to a Walton’s episode—the lights on the houses go out one at a time. Her position on the last step caused the rise of her knees. It was enough of a rise that Ellen could rest her elbows on her thighs, hold her glass of tea, and bring her mouth to it, slurping it in laziness.

  Mid-third slurp, Ellen ejected the ice cube from her mouth when she heard the footsteps. They were too heavy to be Dean’s. Ellen lifted her head to wait on the poor unsuspecting soul she would pounce on for conversation. Hopefully, it wouldn’t be Henry.

  The footsteps stopped. Did she imagine them? She heard the subtle clearing of a throat in the darkness, followed by a poetic whisper.

  “Stranded on her fro
nt porch. Looking really down ...”

  Ellen shook her head with a crocked smile. It was Frank. Was he doing that song from Grease making up his own words? No.

  “... what Ellen really needs is Frank Slagel a-round.”

  “Frank.”

  “Ellen ... Baby ...” he sang.

  “Frank.”

  “I’m in misery ...”

  “Knock off the Danny Zucco bit, Frank.”

  Frank laughed and peeked his head around the bend of the house. “Hey.” He walked up to her. “Porch watching?”

  “Yeah, but porch watching nothing.”

  “Beginnings sucks like that. No old man Cramer ...”

  “No late night barbecuing.”

  “Hamburgers on the grill.” Frank smiled.

  “No Mrs. Jargon with her spiked lemonade.”

  “Lemon-icers,” Frank corrected with a point. “Did you ever have one of those things?”

  “Many of times, especially when she fought with her husband.”

  “Strong.”

  “Very.”

  “Can I join you?” Frank asked.

  “Who’s with the kids?”

  “Robbie is staying there. Can I?”

  “Please. But you are forewarned that I will talk.”

  “Then I will listen.” Instead of beside her, Frank sat behind her, a leg on each side of Ellen. “What are you drinking?”

  “Tea.”

  “Can I?” Frank reached down for it and took it. “Wait.” He leaned down to her. “You weren’t doing that Ellen thing of playing with the ice cubes and spitting them back in were you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Just curious.” Frank took a long drink and handed it back to her. He heard Ellen snicker. “What?”

  “That never bothered you.”

  “You mean putting something in my mouth that was in yours?” He whispered in her ear, “Sweetie, we have been far more intimate than that.” He kissed her on the cheek.

  “I love you, Frank.”

  Frank’s heart stopped. “What was that for?” He rested his hands on Ellen’s shoulders, gently rubbing them, not wanting her to see the huge grin on his face.