Sand Storm (Quantum Touch Book 2)
Page 18
“I thought he’d never leave,” said the president. “He could have hugged them all at the other end. But they’ll make him happy at election time.”
“Mr. President,” said Fritz. “The whole world will know about the portal now. Our guys, the Israeli army, the settlers. How can you keep it quiet now?”
“You’re right, and I’m sorry, Fritz. Really. But he’s a decorated soldier. We discussed the need to clamp down. He understands the North Dakota lie. We’ve discussed a story for his people. His troops are well disciplined.” He took a deep breath. “The Eledorians will have no idea. And who would believe it? Now I want to visit the wounded. And I have a few things I still need to say to Colonel Mitchell.”
“Let me know when you want a lift to the White House. I’ll be cleaning up. I have classes in the morning.” The president nodded.
As the president entered the hospital classroom, George said, “We need to check and see if things are getting back to normal.” He and Lois went toward the cafeteria. Soldiers moved in and out, or packed their gear. Duffel bags and wooden cases filled with the remaining supplies began to pile up at the doorway.
“Well, we’re almost done. Lin, do you want to go home? Ash can take you.” She looked tired and a bit pale but shook her head. “Jim, do you need to do any traffic work?” Fritz asked.
“Not yet, Mr. R. When they start loading, I’ll go out. Guess what?” He had their attention. “Mr. Williams asked if I had any interest in applying for the Secret Service. He said he would help me.”
“It’s not a nine-to-five job, but good luck, Jim, if it’s what you want.”
“Thanks, Mr. R. When are you going to tell me how this all works?”
“Not tonight,” said Linda.
Fritz said, “Let me find out what I’m able to tell you. I need to speak to the president. I’m sure I’ll talk to him be in the next couple of days. Why don’t you stop by after school next week? I’m usually here for about an hour after class.”
Lois and George ambled back. With each step, George’s face said his story would be an epic tale. When they reached the group, he said, “The soldiers cleaned everything up. Even took out the trash and swept the halls. Less to do for the cleanup guys.” Then he looked at the wall and shook his head. “I hope the painters will be able to match colors.” He laughed again, and everyone joined him.
Fritz said, “Ash, you’ve missed the unfolding drama, but I think the portal has changed George’s personality. Really.”
“That’s great,” Ashley said. “George, can I have a raise?” Their cheerfulness expanded like a sponge in water.
The president left the hospital room, frowning and biting his lower lip. He cleared his throat. It didn’t help. Instead of the clear tones they had listened to for six years, a gruffly voice, hoarse and cracked said, “I don’t like this part of the job.” He sighed. “Thank you all again. I’m going back now. Colonel Mitchell will clear everything out shortly. Ambulances will be returning from the airport soon. Mr. Shaw, please see that we have no unwanted visitors, including your fellow police officers. Ashley, Jane will be moved to the airport, and she’ll be admitted to Bethesda Naval Hospital. The cleanup and repair crews are waiting. Fritz, I need to do some work at home, but I’ll be in touch. Let’s go now. And thanks, Tony.”
Fritz set up the trip to the Oval Office and returned to the hall. He asked the president, “Where’s Tom tonight?”
“He’s in Europe with a team. We’re organizing a conference, probably in Brussels, so they’re setting up the security.”
“Tell him we said hi.” The president shook hands with everyone, and so did James. Fritz opened the portal, and they walked through.
With the ambulances expected within five minutes, the medics brought out the soldiers who could walk and then wheeled the gurneys close to the door. Prepared for their exit, the teams lined the hallway. The medics brought out Captain Burnett and two other soldiers last. As they moved down the silent hall, each man stood at attention and offered a salute. When the ambulances left, Jim Shaw directed the procession of buses closer to the door. Men and equipment moved out with no wasted motion. The school emptied in less than ten minutes. The last to depart, Colonel Mitchell shook hands and thanked all the civilians. When he opened the door to leave, he said, “I hope I don’t see you all soon.”
When the cleanup crew headed to the door, George said, “Tom’s not here. Who’s going to close up?”
“Are you Mr. McAllister?” said a cleanup guy who had overheard the comment.
“I am.”
“Tom Andrews showed us what to do. We’ll take care of it.”
“Well…” George hesitated. “I don’t know.”
“George, it will be just fine,” said Lois, patting his arm. “It’s been fine the past two times, hasn’t it? Let’s go home and let them get on with it.”
“Okay,” George said. “Let’s go home.”
“It’s late,” said Ashley. “If I’d known we were doing this again, I’d have taken a nap during sixth period.”
“Maybe you should go home tonight and stay put,” said Linda.
“Lin, I want to talk to Ashley. Can you handle him a bit longer?”
“Sure, if I don’t have to talk to him.” She grinned. “I have to lie down. I’m exhausted.”
“Okay, Ash. Meet us at the house.”
As George and Lois walked past, George looked at them and said, “Remember that tomorrow is a school day.”
Chapter 18
DRIVING HOME, Linda asked what he wanted with Ashley. He told her he still felt wired and wanted some of the energy to dissipate so he could sleep. It would also get all the questions answered tonight, so he wouldn’t have to deal with it the entire next day. She told him that lying down on a bed appealed to her the most.
“Are you okay? This has to have been tough on you.”
“Fritz, if you had been able to spend time with the people you saved, you’d know I don’t mind. Those children were scared to death. Until we got there, they expected to be killed. You saw. Mostly women and children, the old folks. Most of the men were fighting. They don’t know what they’re going home to. I just wish someone could find a way to end this insanity. It’s been going on my entire life. Longer. Way, way longer.”
“That’s why I’m ambivalent about the portal, Lin. On the one hand, it’s been disruptive; on the other, I think it’s done a great deal of good. But one thing is certain; it’s keeping me from preparing new class material. I need a day off.”
When they got home, Linda went up to the bedroom. Fritz and Ashley sat in the kitchen. Fritz poured sodas.
“Got anything to eat? I didn’t eat dinner,” said Ashley.
“I forgot. None of us did. I guess we’ll have the chicken tomorrow. There’s some ham, turkey, and cheese slices in the fridge. I’ll go ask Lin if she wants anything.”
“Do you want a sandwich?”
“Yeah. I’ll be right back.”
When Fritz returned, he told Ashley that Linda wanted one, too. He took her the first one, and Ashley made another, which Fritz found when he returned.
“Thanks, Ash. Lin said to say good night. She’s really tired, and she’s been on her feet most of the night.” He bit into the sandwich. “How’s Jane?”
“She got shot in her left arm, near the shoulder, the only bullet that did any damage. The Kevlar stopped half a dozen others. But she got knocked against a wall and smacked her head. Big lump there. The stitches opened, the dress absorbed most of the blood, but it ran down her legs and into her hair. Just a bloody mess. Before they patched her up, she used my phone to call the airport and get them all rolling. They had to knock her out to get her to stop. And I guess she’ll need to buy a new dress for D.C. functions.”
“Ash, this portal is turning into a nightmare.”
“It’s had its benefits.”
Fritz noted Ashley’s grin. Not a smirk, not a smile. Almost thankful, but very different. His e
yes, happy, not mischievous. Fritz chose not to ask him, at least not then. “I could handle it if a new crisis didn’t pop up every day. I hope this is it for a while. But somehow, I feel like it’s the president’s portal. I haven’t had a good night’s sleep since spring.”
“It’s good practice. Pretty soon, you won’t be getting any. This will just make diapers and middle-of-the-night feedings seem easy. I know I told you not to use it, but Fritz, I think it could be more important than either of us contemplated. But keeping it secret is going to be really hard.”
“Ash, something weird happened tonight. You saw. With the door open, we couldn’t see in. When Jane crawled in, all we could see were her legs. But we could see the Oval Office when the president left. I wonder why.”
Ashley looked at the ceiling. “Just guessing. When the soldiers were in the portal, we had two entry points. Maybe that’s it. Like Naria.”
“When the settlers were coming out, we could see inside between flashes. When they left, their exit lulled, like stopping to hug the prime minister, it was black again. Maybe feet crossing the threshold has something to do with it.”
“I wonder how many people are having this conversation now.” Fritz ignored Ash’s wisecrack.
“This is serious, Ash, and now it’s international. I hope the Israelis don’t want to use it, too.”
“We’ll find out more tomorrow, I think,” said Ashley. “I wonder if the president will even get to sleep tonight. I’m not sure I will.”
“I will. I’m fading now. Let’s eat, and you can go home.”
“Here’s your hat, what’s your hurry?” Ashley asked and took a bite. “You and Linda need to talk, Fritz. She’s worried—the baby, her job, school, and especially your adventures. Or should we say what she’s afraid of is misadventures. Her fears are not unreasonable. I should never have said a thing about where we’d come from when we were in Paris.”
“Ash, I know. I don’t want to upset her, but I’m anxious too. Besides I like visiting Lee. Maybe I am being irresponsible. We don’t know if our travels change history and even if they do, maybe it’s for the better. Though I suppose we might cause ourselves never to be born. Still, our trip to Paris was, well, fun. Don’t you think?”
“Sure. Of course I do. I’ll write this off to your last burst of immaturity before you become a steadfast father. But if Linda divorces you, I have first dibs. She won’t have to worry about me. When my classroom door opens, it’s only for educational activities.”
“Go home.”
“WHAT?” THE MAN ASKED. Still at his desk, he listened to the report. “What do you mean, only bodies? How could there be no one in the building?”
FRITZ AND ASHLEY struggled through Thursday’s classes. Fritz yawned all day, but he had updated his lessons enough to get through. Overnight, a fall nor’easter had met with a slow-moving weather system coming from Indiana. The perfect storm filled the day with constant thunder and lightning. Some teachers commented that years had passed since they had weathered such an awful storm. Awful? I love this weather. By the end of the day, Fritz had already placed the paperclip. He followed the ninth graders out and waited for the hall to clear. Ashley stood in the hallway, watching.
Fritz waved to Ashley to join him. “Want to go see Lee?”
“Haven’t you had enough this week?”
“Does that mean you don’t want to come?”
“Of course I do. But what are you going to say to him?”
“Don’t know, but something will come to me.”
Fritz tapped the doorknob. He grinned, pulled the door open, and Fritz and Ashley crossed the threshold into Robert E. Lee’s office. The general looked up, and with a welcoming voice, said, “Mr. Russell, Mr. Gilbert, how nice to see you again. Please sit down.”
“Thank you, General.”
“Mr. Russell, I have a question. Are we changing history?”
A Last Request
Dear Reader,
I hope you have enjoyed this book. My goal is to entertain you with my stories. If you wouldn’t mind, I have a request. Please leave a review on AMAZON, GOODREADS or any social media site you choose. Be honest. If you liked it, say so. If not, say that too. Your comments will make me write a better story next time.
All writers want to know that their effort is worthwhile. We all endeavor to find new ways to entertain, inform and educate. Only our readers can tell us if we have succeeded. All writers will thank you. Certainly, I will and I do.
Michael R. Stern
sternmike52@gmail.com
@sternmike52
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