He eyes me, and I see Mason stiffen as the shotgun follows his line of sight.
“Where are you all headed?” he asks.
“West,” Mason answers immediately. The man turns his attention, and his shotgun, in Mason’s direction, much to my horror.
I begin to focus on concentrating energy, not a lethal dose, I hope, but enough to stun the old man, should the need arise. I just hope if it comes down to it, I can be faster than he can be with that shotgun.
It’s at that point that Nate lets out a loud wail, and our cover is fully blown. The old man’s eyes shoot up towards the loft area, but he lowers his gun. “So, there’s more of you, huh. And children?”
I figure at this point, the truth can’t hurt. “There are five adults, including us, and one child.”
He nods his head, appearing to be thinking, stroking the few whiskers on his chin.
“We’ll be on our way shortly.” Mason adds.
The old man shakes his head, and then takes a step forward. “Probably be better if you all came to the house, had a real meal, then be on your way. The wife would have my hide, what with you having a child with you and all.”
The relief is instant, and I can tell by how Mason’s shoulders drop, that his is also. “It’s alright, Jared, you can open up and come down!” I holler up to everyone.
Making my way over to the ladder, to help get everyone down safely, I don’t miss Mason keeping himself between the old man and the rest of us. He sticks his hand out to the man. “I’m Mason, sir, pleased to meet you, and sorry about taking over your barn for the night.”
The old man shakes his hand. “Name’s Jack. Can’t say I mind that much, just got to be careful, what with all of these sick and crazy people running about. It’s the oddest thing though, the infection was running rampant, then it just stopped a little ways east of here. Ballooned out around us to the North and South, but nothing here at all.”
“We can’t thank you enough, Jack.” I say, now that everyone is safely down. “I’m Kat, this is Brie, Becky, Jared and Nate.” I shift Baby bear in my arms and Jack’s eyes bulge in disbelief.
“And that?” He motions to the fur-ball in my arms.
“This is Baby bear. His mom was infected and attacked us. He was orphaned when, well, when we took her down.”
“Is it safe?”
“Yes, sir, it’s just a baby.” Brie answers, before I’m able.
He nods. “Okay, then, follow me.”
He leads us around the back of the barn and up a trail none of us had noticed yesterday. After a short walk through the woods, a large white house comes into view. It looks a bit weathered, but it’s a glorious sight with its chimney plume of smoke and obvious electricity.
Jack’s wife, Mariette, is overjoyed to see us. She quickly begins fixing us a large breakfast, and gushes over Nate. She doesn’t even bat an eyelash at Baby bear, but sits him on a blanket in the corner of the kitchen with a small bowl of milk and a hunk of bread.
Their hospitality is overwhelming, but very welcome. Mariette offers for us to wash up, and the idea of a hot shower is too alluring for any of us to pass up. We let Becky and Nate go first, while Jared and Mason go grab our bags.
I’m amazed that their TV is working. When I ask Jack, he tells me they have a satellite, says nothing else would work this far out in the middle of nowhere. He’s tuned into CNN, and sure enough, they have a map up of the infection, which has spread much further than I’d hoped, and has a half moon cut out around it, right where we are.
I get so absorbed, that I jump when Mason puts his arm around me. We watch together, until it’s my turn to use the bathroom.
Then hot water is therapeutic, and I feel my muscles relax for the first time in days. My legs and shoulders ache from hiking through the woods, but it’s nothing I can’t handle. When I’m done I comb out my hair and put it into a long braid, getting dressed in clean clothes. I feel better than I have since, well, you know.
I think of my mom, and pain tears through my chest. I hope she’s alright, but I’m sure she’s infected. Downtown was lost almost immediately. She never even had a chance.
I fight the tears. I know she’d be happy to see that I’m safe, if only momentarily. I collect my things so Mason and Jared can have their turns in the shower. I check on Baby bear, sleeping happily on his blanket, and return my attention to the TV, where Jared and Brie sit with Jack while Becky and Nate help Mariette in the kitchen.
CNN has two doctors arguing over the map. One insists that the small crescent is slowly, very minutely, pushing back against the infection. The other argues its impossibility, declaring their must be some magnetic field or energy anomaly that is holding the infection off.
As a commercial comes on Jared looks at me, cocking his head to the side. It’s nice to see his fear of me has faded along with my suspicions regarding him. “I wonder…”
“What?” Brie asks.
He continues to stare at me, as though piecing something together. “I just think it’s an odd coincidence that we happen to be in the middle of this uninfected area, and one of their theories is an energy anomaly.” He looks at me pointedly.
Now I can see the wheels in Brie’s mind turning, the same way as Jared’s.
“No way.” I tell them. “It couldn’t be.”
“Couldn’t it, though?” Brie says, turning to me. “Think about it, Kat. It’s totally possible. Remember Mr. Murphy’s class?”
I do remember, and I guess it’s possible, though highly unlikely. “I still don’t believe it.” I shake my head.
“Don’t believe what?” Mason asks, returning from his shower looking refreshed.
I sigh. “Jared and Brie think I’m the energy anomaly keeping the infection at bay.”
“Huh.” Great, now here he goes, too.
Jack, who has been sitting quietly this whole time observing us, pipes up. “Why do you think she’s responsible?” He asks.
The four of us exchange a look. What the hell, so far this whole ‘keep it a secret’ thing hasn’t really been working out anyway. I tell Jack the story, bracing myself the whole time in case he freaks out, but he doesn’t.
When I’m all done, he looks at me. “It sounds to me like a theory worth testing out.”
“Yeah, but how can we do it safely?” Mason asks.
“Well, if this guy on TV is right, we should just have to hike a little ways north or south and have Kat blast it.” Jared says, “Then wait and see if it starts pushing back.”
“You are all certainly welcome to stay for a few days, so we can test it.” Jack tells us.
“If you’re staying it will be here, at the house.” Mariette says from the kitchen doorway. “We have the room to spare.”
“What do you think?” Brie asks me.
What can I say? No, I’m not willing to try to stop those creepy nanobots from taking over the world? “Just point me where you want me.” I offer weakly.
Jack and Mariette ultimately convince us to stay for a few days. We are all absurdly grateful for their hospitality, and what’s more, a sense of normalcy.
That night, Brie, Jared, Mason, Jack and I go to bed earlier than we usually would. After carefully studying some local maps with Jack, we decided to head north about a half mile, so I can do my thing and we can test everyone’s theory.
Jack insists on coming along. I’ll admit that it’ll be probably an easier hike with someone who knows the land, but mostly, I think he just wants to see me zap something.
Mariette, Becky, Nate and Baby bear see us off early the next morning. Jack leaves Mariette the shotgun, with explicit instructions to shoot first and ask questions later. I shoot Becky a meaningful look of my own. She nods a silent promise to handle anything Mariette may not be able to.
Not that we’ve grown calloused, rather, I think we’ve just grown cautious and wary. The infection aside, all it will take is one hysterical person to bring our safe little haven to its knees.
We
go on foot. We offered the Jeep, but Jack insists the terrain will be easier on foot. It takes us about two hours, before Jack declares we’ve hit the area we were aiming for. Brie, Mason and Jared stay back. Jack begins to creep forward towards me, but Brie places a hand on his shoulder and gently shakes her head. I’m grateful, the last thing I would want to do is inadvertently hurt Jack.
I feel the familiar charge run through me. It’s more powerful today. I turn back to them. “How much juice should I give it?” I ask.
Brie and Jared shrug, Jack just gapes at me. It’s Mason who replies. “Give it all you got, I guess.”
Okay, all I got. No problem. This time, it’s as though the energy can’t wait to get out. I flex my hands, before facing them towards the other in front of me. The energy sphere glows a bright blue, much darker than any of the ones I’ve tried before. I call out behind me. “You guys might want to get down.”
I aim at the northern horizon and throw the brightly glowing orb as far as I can. It explodes instantly and the aftershock is immediate, and so strong it throws me back a few feet onto my butt.
I feel better instantly, which then leads me to worry. Do I have to throw these things every couple of days to feel better? That’s not an issue I’m ready to address, so I turn my attention to the others to distract me as I get to my feet.
Jack’s expression is priceless. The others are still shocked, but I’m sure Jack has never seen anything like this before.
Mason comes to my side. “You alright?”
“Yeah, I feel great actually.” I tell him. He gives me a quick kiss. “That was a big one.”
“Yeah,” Brie says, “that was freaking awesome, Kat.”
Even Jared seems relaxed this time. “If that doesn’t test our theory, then I don’t know what will.”
Jack seems to finally recover. I wait to see the wariness in his eyes, but it never comes. I see some awe, perhaps some newfound respect, but no fear. “We should probably get back.”
And so we begin the return hike. Upon our return I am bombarded by the fluff ball which is Baby bear. I never planned on getting so attached to him. I had hoped to rehabilitate him and let him go off and live a happy bear life. Now, it seems as though he’s chosen me as his family. I can’t say I’m upset about it.
Our little exploration group is starving, and lunch is very welcome. Mariette has the kitchen table spread out buffet style and we dig in, bringing our plates to the living room, all of us focusing on the TV.
We all watch, anticipating some reaction from our experiment this morning. Sometime mid-afternoon, with a cuddly Baby bear in my lap, and my head resting on Mason’s chest, I fall asleep. It’s Mason who nudges me gently awake again. I glance out the window to see the sun hanging low in the sky, but it’s the TV that Mason is staring at, mouth slightly agape.
I try to clear the fog my impromptu nap has left in my head as I try to focus on the screen. Brie looks at me in wonder. “Kat, you did it.”
That snaps me right out of it. I focus on the TV, watching the uninfected crescent on the map begin to bulge out to the north. Jared grabs the remote and turns the volume up:
“…as the infection spreads as far south as Georgia, and as far west as Virginia. Scientists are still baffled by the uninfected area in Eastern Upstate New York.” The face on the TV changes, “Thank you, Sam. What baffles us the most, is this newer fluctuation to the north. If we can figure out what is causing this, then maybe we can stop the spread of the infection…”
I can’t listen to anymore. Shifting Baby bear into Mason’s lap, I leave the room and go to the front porch, trying not to think of the implications. Sitting on the steps and watching Mother Nature paint the sky in orange and pink, I don’t realize I’m not alone until I hear the stair above me squeak.
Jack sits on the opposite end of the stairway, staring out into the sky. “It must be scary, having all of this thrust onto you.”
I glance over at him. “Yeah, you could say that.”
“Overwhelming, I’d bet.” He continues. I nod, waiting for him to get to the point. “See, if it were me, I’d feel obligated to do everything I can to stop it. But as an outsider, I can also stop and ask, at what price?”
“You lost me.” I tell him.
“Well, I was talking with Mason earlier, and he voiced his concerns about what could happen to you, if the higher powers discover your knack for stopping these things.”
“Oh, yeah.” I don’t have a better answer for him. I don’t even have a better answer for myself.
His voice softens. “You know you can stay here, as long as you like. Nobody else has to know, if you don’t want them to.”
As if his words finally steeled my resolve, I know what I have to do, what choice I have to make. My eyes tear up, and my voice is strained as I answer him. “Thanks, Jack. But I can’t just do nothing. If this is it, if I’m able to stop them, then how can I possibly not try to?”
He nods, stroking his chin whiskers. “I understand. I know we haven’t known each other very long, but I’m proud of you. Too many others in your situation would be more concerned with self-preservation than trying to stop this, this insanity.”
I feel myself blush. “It’s the right thing to do.” I say quietly.
“Yes,” Jack agrees, “yes, it is. Now come eat. You’re going to need your strength if you’re going to save the world.”
My unscheduled nap this afternoon throws off my sleep pattern. Now, at midnight, I give up on trying to go to sleep and wander downstairs, nearly tripping over Baby bear, asleep on the floor next to my bed.
I tread quietly down the stairs and find myself in the kitchen. I’m anxious, not really knowing what the future will hold, or the best course of action to take. It literally feels like the weight of the world is on my shoulders.
A noise from the living room draws my attention. As I go into the room, I find Jack in his armchair, the TV still on.
The volume is muted, but a familiar face is on the screen again. Dr. Julian Ford’s face looks much more tired and haggard than the last time he was on. I’ll bet he’s just as frustrated as I am.
Something clicks in my overactive brain. I turn to Jack. “Hey, I don’t suppose you have a computer here?” I ask.
“Mariette keeps one in her little office. I couldn’t tell you how to use it though.”
I smile. “I can figure that part out. Do you guys have internet access?”
He just stares at me blankly, so I ask. “Never mind, is it alright if I use it?”
“Go for it.” He goes back to his silent TV watching.
I find the computer easily. It’s an older model, but starts up without any problems. Keeping my fingers crossed I click on the browser. It takes a few minutes, but the window loads up, much to my glee.
I go to my favorite search engine and type in BioNano. I click on the link to their website and begin searching for Dr. Ford’s email address. It takes a little while, but eventually I find it. I copy it, then load up my own email:
From: Kat Greene
To: Dr. Julian Ford
Subject: Viable Information
Dear Dr. Ford,
I’m not sure if you remember me, I was with a group of students Mr. Murphy introduced you to a couple of weeks ago.
I have some information that might help you, regarding the uninfected area. I could also really use your help.
Thanks,
Kat
My finger lingers over the send button for a moment. Dr. Ford seemed very nice, but I don’t know him from the next guy. If I do this, then I know it will mean exposing myself to the powers that be. Maybe I should discuss it with everyone first? No, Mason would fight me on it. In my heart, I know I have to do this, if I have any chance of stopping these things. I click the button, and wait.
My email pings after a short while. Of course he remembers me, what information do I have, and how can he help. It’s all or nothing time. I begin by asking for his discretion for my situation. T
hen I dive right in, telling him the whole story. Again, I hit send and wait.
His response is what I was expecting. He’s more curious than anything, and wishes he could meet me. He provides what information he can, and tells me he has much more research to do now. He promises to be in touch again soon. As I shut the computer down, I see Mason in the doorway behind me. I guess I should get this part over with, too.
He gets mad. It’s our first fight, and part of me is very angry about it. If we weren’t in this situation, we wouldn’t be having it. His anger only escalates when I tell him that I intend to try to meet with Dr. Ford. Eventually, though, he calms. He sees the rationalization of it, even if he’s not happy about it. The he declares he’s coming with me, and I can’t do anything to stop him.
I don’t argue with him. It’s selfish of me, I know, but I don’t want to be without him. I don’t even think I can do it without him. Part of me cringes at telling Brie. Because I’m going to ask her to stay here, and I know she’s going to freak.
Mason and I talk until the early morning, before he demands we get some rest. When we get upstairs he tries to release my hand, but I don’t let go. I tug him onto the bed next to me, and curl up next to him before I drift off to sleep.
The sun wakes me. I don’t feel well rested, no surprise after how late I was up the night before. I just lay for a minute, my mind catching up to the rest of me. Baby bear found his way onto the bed, and he’s snuggled between me and Mason. I watch them both, enjoying the moment, not knowing when or if I will get to have it again.
We need to leave today. I’m not even sure where Dr. Ford is, but I know the longer we wait the worse it all will get.
I scoop up Baby bear and snuggle him next to Mason, so I can get moving. I grab some clean clothes and use the bathroom. When I get downstairs Mariette has breakfast cooking.
“Mariette, I hope it’s alright that I used your computer last night. I was hoping I could again quickly?” I ask.
“Sure, dear, not a problem.” She goes back to flipping sausage patties.
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