by Jill Cooper
“When they start to blow up your boats.” Jane said.
Dirk silenced her with a look and she quickly apologized.
John chuckled. “And what should we do? Hide? Cast our friends away when we could help? We see what goes on in the world. We know what’s going on. How soon before it’s on our doorsteps?”
Dirk didn’t know the answer to that question, so instead accepted the refill of coffee Mary offered him.
“I’m not going to profess to understand all that’s going on.” John crunched his bacon. “I’m not going to say the glistenings are right or wrong. But I do know my friends need a place to go and this beautiful baby boy needs to be hidden. We don’t want New Haven to get their hands on him any more than you do and if that means taking a stand, well that’s what we’re going to do.”
Jane held up her glass of juice. “Then I say, to the Millers.”
“To the Millers.” Dirk mirrored with a twinkle in his eye. He didn’t know if he ever felt more grateful.
“It’s not just us.” Mary retook her seat and spooned some jam onto her toast. “We’re a small hamlet and when New Haven swooped in here, treated us like criminals and ransacked all our homes, destroyed our property looking for Wendy, we all got together. A town hall meeting, I guess you’d say. And we decided if ever we got to do it again, we’d do it differently.”
“We’d hide whoever it was for as long as we could. So you’re safe here. Your friends, colleagues are safe too. We don’t have much space, but we’ll set up whatever you need, to do whatever you need. Just tell us what and we’ll get you set up.”
“Thank you.” Jane said and the sincerity surprised Dirk. “We need some sort of laboratory. Travis needs medicine to stabilize his glistening blood pressure and while we have some, it’s not going to last long. I was able to grab some of my computer files before we left, so I hope it’ll be enough.”
John nodded as Mary took to the counter again. “There’s a lab in the high school. Not state of the art by any means.”
Jane nodded her thanks. “It’ll do. I’ll make sure of it.”
Dirk was trying his best not to look worried or stress about Travis, but it lifted a weight off his shoulders to know his boy was going to be okay.
Mary returned with a full container of cream. “And where’s Jenna? Is she following behind with some others?”
“We don’t know.” Dirk thought for a split second he might lose his breakfast as his stomach tumbled and rolled. “She was going after someone and…we haven’t heard anything since.”
Mary’s face fell and she hurried back to the counter to grab a dish cloth for no obvious reason.
John leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. “She’s strong. Able. Never come across a woman like her except maybe for her Momma.” John winked at Jane.
Jane laughed and Dirk tried to appear upbeat, but talking about Jenna grew a pit of despair in him. And it was getting bigger, overshadowing everything in him that knew what was right. He should have stayed with her. He shouldn’t have abandoned her, no matter what the reason. They were a team and the team always comes first. Always…
Dirk jumped when John put a hand on his shoulder. “Come on,” John said, “if you’re done I’ll show you around. House isn’t much but we have a few things Travis can use.”
****
People arrived in cars in groups of two. Dirk tried not to rush out and look for Jenna each time, but couldn’t help himself. By the time the fifth group had arrived and grabbed food, a mushroom cloud of grief and terror hung over his heart. So much that he could barely look at Travis without feeling like a failure, like somehow he was letting his boy down.
Everyone began to scatter, to the homes of people promising them beds and support. Jane was keeping herself busy at the high school lab with her assistants and friends. Dirk was glad, relieved, if he had to look in her eyes one more time and see the same terror in her eyes that he felt in his heart, he thought he might crack. He had to keep her calm, upbeat so she could do her work—keep Travis safe. But he didn’t think he could do it anymore. Didn’t think he could stomach his own lies.
Because they were. And he knew it. Dirk had been fooling himself. Jenna wasn’t coming. Something was wrong. He knew it in his soul that moment in their bedroom when the attack started. Maybe letting her go was the right thing to do, but Dirk should have grabbed her, thrown her over his shoulder and carried her out. Despite how much she’d hate it and maybe him, at least she’d be there now.
Dirk stood on the Miller’s front lawn watching the lights of Summerset twinkle off in the distance. The lake glistened in the moonlight. Under other circumstances it would be tranquil, stilling every nerve in his heart, but now it put him more on edge than he had been before. There was no sign of a final car ascending the steep hill that led to the Millers’ home.
There was going to be no final hurrah.
He drained the rest of his beer and went back into the house away from the chill of the night air. The door closed quietly behind him. In the living room, Travis was asleep in a port-a-crib while he heard soft voices in the kitchen.
Dirk stared at Travis for a long time, weighing his decisions. His choices. Jenna would want Travis protected above all else, but if Dirk stayed in Summerset, who knew what would come of Jenna wherever she was. He didn’t buy she was dead. Not in a million years. If she was, he would feel it all the way from his heart to his toes. She might be hurt, but she wouldn’t be dead.
He needed to find her. But to do that he was going to have to leave Travis behind. And he didn’t know if he could do that. Didn’t know if he was ready to trust Travis to someone else when the world was imploding all around them.
Dirk leaned over and kissed his head, giving the boy’s belly a rub. Travis smiled in his sleep and it stole Dirk’s heart. He was terrified to leave him, but afraid if he didn’t what would happen even more.
“I’m sorry, pal. I wish I had another answer. Your mom will want to hold you real soon. You get me? I’ll put us back together. Don’t worry.” He sighed and kissed his heart, taking in his sweet baby scent. It lifted his heart up and crushed it, all at the same time.
Damn you, Jenna, for making me do this. He could yell at her when he found her. If he found her.
“We packed you some supplies.”
Dirk spun around with a start. He saw Mary and John standing together. Mary was holding a small blue cooler.
“I thought you might want some sandwiches and some drinks for the road. No telling what’s out there these days in the rest stops.”
He took the offered bag, awestruck.
“You can close your mouth.” John snickered. “With Jenna not here…well, there’s only one decision you can make.”
“Asking you to take in Travis…”
“Is the best news we’ve had all season. Ain’t that right, Mary?” John asked.
Mary’s face lit up. “It’s no secret John and I always wanted our own children, but it wasn’t in the cards. We’d be happy to look after him until you get back with Jenna.”
“I can’t thank you enough. Thanks doesn’t even seem like it would cut it.” Dirk was thoughtful, his lips pursed together. “If they track us here, you’ll all be in danger.”
“Like we wouldn’t be before?” John’s eyes crackled with fury. “You’re good people. We want to do this in memory of Wendy. Jake, wherever he is. We owe it to them, considering what happened here.”
Dirk nodded. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Tell Jane, I’m sorry. She’ll help you with Travis. Just make sure Jane gets what she needs. The medicine is everything to Travis.” To Jenna too, but Dirk didn’t want to reveal all their secrets.
Mary squeezed his hands and went on tip toe to kiss his cheek. “God speed, Dirk. Call us, if you need anything.”
He turned and made a hasty exit. Dirk had to move fast to stay ahead of his regret before he changed his mind. He didn’t know where he would end up, but he had to get back to w
here it all began.
Time to drive back to Chicago.
Chapter Twenty-Three Victor
In Victor’s private room, a video camera was set up and directly in front of it was a hanging white sheet. As Liz was in her room freshening up for her big appearance, Victor took an important phone call.
“Senator Garcia, it is a pleasure to hear from you again.”
“The pleasure is mine, Sir. Our troops are managing to hold the line. The president has reached out to me, but I am letting him sweat.” Garcia laughed. “It has been a long time coming and I am enjoying it, probably a bit too much.”
Victor smiled. “Wonderful.”
“However,” Garcia sighed. “I would like to address with you.”
“Certainly.” Victor stifled a sigh. “Of course, Senator.”
“We can only back you if you have one hundred percent certainty this will succeed. Holding food storage is one thing, but a full scale military assault is another. I cannot send the people of Mexico back into the stone ages. If we were to make a move and lose, it might be Mexicans living in those bubbles.”
“I understand your concerns and if I were you, I’d have them as well. When I am done with the United States, they’ll no longer be able to oppress you. And once power shifts to me, you have my word Mexico will be sovereign once again.”
“Beautiful. Beautiful.” The joy bubbled off his voice. “When will we know when it’s time to launch?”
Victor played with a paperweight on his desk as a knock came from his door. “Keep an eye on the news and you’ll see everything that is needed to be seen. I’m sorry to cut this short, but I have a lot to prepare for.”
“Thank you, senor. I look forward to the day where we can stand together as friends, shaking hands.”
“I am counting the days, senator.” Victor hung up the phone as Liz entered. She looked unsure of herself, gripping her fingers, but she was beautiful in a light pink dress that fell to her calves. Her hair was swept back off her face and a delicate pink was brushed across her cheeks.
“You look beautiful, Liz.” Victor took her hand and kissed it.
“I hope I don’t screw this up.”
Victor led her in front of the sheet and positioned her for the camera. He held both her hands and put them in front of her. Running her hands down her arms, he flashed a brilliant smile. “You will be marvelous. Just take a slow deep breath and then we’ll get started. Just like we rehearsed. You did fine then and you’ll do fine now.”
He stood behind the camera and watched Liz’s chest rise and fall with a few deep breaths. Calm overtook her and when she opened her eyes, she gave a nod. “I’m ready.”
“Yes you are darling. Remember, we can edit it later. Just speak and everything will go as planned.” Victor pushed the record button and gave Liz the go ahead. He watched her though the camera’s view finder. In front of him, was a young, naïve but confident woman. She would be fine.
She was perfect for him. For this.
“I’m Elizabeth Nuefeld and a few nights ago, I was dragged from my home. By people I knew most of my life. They broke into my house and took me to an empty field to kill me. They wanted to kill me because I was friends with a glistening. I was friends with Jake Monroe, the young man who went before Congress to broker peace. And because of that, I was to be killed by some of our own.
“I was badly injured and I should have died that night. But I was saved. Saved by a group of glistenings and since then I have been in their care. They have taken good care of me and shown me true kindness when my own people, were prepared to leave me for dead.”
Liz took a deep breath. “The glistenings I’ve come to know since then are kind. Nice. And their concerns are our concerns. Just like the Canadian people, they want to be free. They want to live their lives away from the US government which wishes to oppress them, control them. But they don’t wish us any harm.”
“They now are watching you suffer and they hate it. I see it in their eyes and in their voices. Their war isn’t with you, but with the government. They don’t want you to suffer anymore. They only want to help you.
“Food, shelter, water, and friendship is what the glistenings have given me and what they offer you. If you are willing to accept their friendship, they will take care of you too. All they ask is you look past your prejudices. That you come to the Monroe farm to work as a community. To come together and accept them as one of us.
“If you don’t want to come, they won’t force you. But if you are tired of suffering. If you are hungry and cold, the glistenings have offered you a safe haven here on the farm. Please, come. And you will see what I have. Glistenings are just like us and they’re our friends. You will see their kindness, their humanity first hand.”
Liz took a deep breath. “How was that?”
Victor stopped the recording. “Wonderful, dear Liz. Wonderful.”
“And my family, you’ll make sure you find them?”
“If they are out there, I promise we will find them.”
Chapter Twenty-Four Mark
Swift Current Comprehensive High School
Rural Saskatchewan Territory of the Canadian State
He fought against the crowds, pushing his way to the front of the line. “Get out of my way!” Mark said gruffly and shoved back as people who used to be his friends, allies, tried to keep him from reaching the front of the pack.
A hand planted on his face, its fingers gripping his teeth and his head teetered backwards, Mark screamed. He made a fist and swung it at the air. The bastard snatched his arm in the air and twisted it behind his back. “Wait. Your. Turn.” The low grumble of a voice said, like that of someone who spent years huffing on cigarette smoke.
“You’ve already got your food!” Mark fought back. He saw Greg running from the front of the line with a small basket. Half a loaf of bread, some fruit and cheeses. Mark’s mouth watered just at the sight of it, he could almost taste it.
Greg threw a glance over his back as people left the line, following him. “This is mine! My family is starving!” Hands grabbed him, ripping off pieces of bread, someone stole his water. Greg pivoted to fight, his fists flying hard and fast. He took a kick to the stomach and a punch to the head.
His arms wrapped around his head defensively and he fell to his knees as people descended upon his position like scavenger pigeons, sniping a bite of bread, a nibble of an apple, anything they could get their hands on.
“Leave him alone!” Mark screamed but it was drowned out by the glistenings coming in to separate them. The expanse of their wings was formidable and just with a few flaps, it attracted people’s attention. A huff of smoke out of their nose and a dangerous growl was all it took to drive the people back in fear.
They scurried like rats and Mark used the opportunity to scoop up some fallen loafs of bread, a bottle of water. He found some day old cheese, some apples with a few brown spots and hurried back to his injured wife, Jackie.
She was where he left her, resting on a cot. An old shirt under her head was used as a pillow and her breath was haggard. Her face was bruised and her arm wrapped in heavy gauze was brown with dried blood. At least the wound hadn’t reopened, thank the stars. Mark wished he could blame her injuries and the pain in his ribs on glistenings, but he couldn’t. Couldn’t blame any of it on anyone but humans.
His friends.
And with Liz missing…
Mark just wished he hadn’t yelled at her. Had been nicer. More understanding. With no word on where they took her or what happened, Mark was losing hope she was out there. Or that he’d ever find her. The glistenings weren’t letting them leave the school. And when he looked out the window all he saw was black, dingy soot with huge wafts of smoke.
His home was gone. His farm destroyed and he had no hope for the future.
“Drink.” He ordered Jackie with a whisper as he unscrewed the water bottle. He held it to her lips while his other hand cradled her head and forced it up.
She moaned, her parched lips parted and Jackie took in several gulps of water. She licked her lips. “More.” Her voice was a croak. The former beauty of her voice a fair of memory.
Mark remembered their lives from yesterday so clearly, but now all he saw around him was despair, destruction. The school reeked of body odor, sweat circulated through the old air conditioner and even when he was around food, Mark couldn’t smell it. He couldn’t smell anything but their slow, dwindling lives circling down the drain.
How long could they go on like this?
Jackie’s eyes blinked open. “You brought food?”
Mark nodded and tore off a piece of bread. What he managed to get was stale, but he sandwiched a piece of cheese between the pieces and squashed it down flat. He held it to her mouth and fed her like a toddler. Just like he had done for Liz so many years ago that it seemed like it never happened.
Sitting on their porch in the hot sun, the wheat fields behind them wafting back and forth in the breeze like it was a rhythmic dance. Liz’s hair had always been in two braids. Her smile, sweet innocent and with the speckle of freckles across her nose he loved.
Now where was his baby? Where was Liz? Had the men hurt her? Did her face contort in a scream? Pain? Had they raped her before they….before they killed her?
Jackie chewed and swallowed before asking for more. “Have you seen Liz? Is she here?”
Mark shook his head. It was all he could do as emotion lodged deep in his throat and it made his heart skip a beat. It may as well have been torn from his body and stomped on. “I’ll keep looking.”
Sitting up, she grimaced and let out a pained breath. Mark put a gentle hand on her chest and made her lay back down. “Not yet, Jackie. You’re not strong enough.”
Her eyes flashed. “She’s our daughter. She needs us.”
“You need your strength. You need to heal. If your wounds get infected,” Mark shook his head, “I don’t know where we’ll get antibiotics or if they’ll even give them to us.”