by Lynn Moon
“Because, this whole town is hiding something. Including you,” Carrie said. “According to my records you retired before I was born. You’re old enough to be my great grandmother yet you look much younger than me… and, if you really did retire all those years ago how is it only recently you were offered a job at another hospital?”
“Are you going to arrest us?” Lafie asked.
“What are you afraid of?” Carrie asked. “And what secrets are you trying to protect?”
* * * * * *
The walk back to their camp was strained and without talk. But once they were all snuggled in their warm sleeping bags, Skyler finally spoke up.
“Carrie, what in the world was that all about?”
“Yeah, I’d like to know too,” Lacey added.
“Just trying to get some answers,” Carrie replied. “Just answers.”
“You’re not right,” Lacey said. “…and exactly how old is that woman? Ninety, really?”
“That’s what I read,” Carrie replied as she pulled her sleeping bag higher over her shoulder.
The words stopped floating through Carrie’s ears and she was left to dwell in her own private thoughts. Nothing made any sense—nothing. How was it the old woman looked so young… and then there was her son who only goes out after dark and who hates the sunlight. Then the train with the weird people and those men who were not registered as National Geographic photographers. Not to mention the town had no real roads, yet the hotel was constantly booked. No—this place was hiding something and Carrie wanted to know exactly what that something was.
* * * * * *
Gabe sat quietly by his mother not making a sound. His mind raced with wild ideas as his temper rose. No one had come to talk to them except a few people who either drew blood or gave them food.
“Mom?” Gabe whispered.
“Yes,” she answered.
“Mom, look at me,” Gabe prodded.
“I told you we could not trust anyone,” she said.
Gabe slapped his knee. “Mom, look at me.”
But she refused.
“Mom,” Gabe yelled. “We had no other choice.”
Chapter 32
CARRIE JERKED AWAKE so suddenly she almost ripped her sleeping bag into pieces. As her feet hit the cold damp floor, disappointment crashed her thoughts. Her body would not move fast enough to catch up with her mind. It was as if she was in a slow motion movie, moving inch by inch, second by second. Carrie panicked as each of her limbs slowly grabbed the items her mind demanded. With her heart pounding, it took all her strength to break through the imaginary ropes that bound her.
“Shit!” Carrie yelled in frustration. “Shit… shit… shit!”
The faster she tried to get into her clothes, the more entangled she became.
“What are you doing?” Lacey whispered, flashing her light onto the frantic Carrie.
“Shit… shit…shit!” Carrie continued to whisper.
“What is it?” Lacey asked again.
As Skyler slept soundly, Carrie spoke. “I should have seen it, this’ll be all my fault.”
Lacey climbed reluctantly from her warm bed and into the cold night air.
“Are you still sleeping, Carrie?” she asked.
“No,” Carrie stated. “I’m wide awake. Don’t you see it? Don’t you see what we’ve done?”
“No, I don’t,” Lacey replied.
“Wake up Sleeping Beauty. We have to get to them before it’s too late,” Carrie ordered. “Before they do.”
“What are you talking about? Before who does what?”
“What in the world are you two arguing over?” Skyler asked sleepily from her bed.
Carrie sighed as she tied her shoes. “Gabe and his mother. We should not have gone there. They’ll come for them.”
“Who will?” Lacey asked.
Skyler was now wide awake and dressing as fast as she could.
“You’re dawdling, Lacey,” Carrie whispered. “Get dressed.”
“Will you please tell me what’s going on?” Lacey demanded.
“I’ll explain on the way,” Carrie stated, throwing Lacey her jeans.
The outside air was engulfed in a cold and a misty dampness that hovered just above the ground and muffled any noise. Small animals were no longer rustling beneath the fallen leaves, but sound asleep deep inside their burrows. Insects remained extra quiet in their dry and warm hiding places. All was tranquil, all was way too calm.
“I think we’re too late,” Carrie whispered.
“Too late for what?” Lacey whispered back.
As they hurried toward Gabe’s old yellow house, Carrie explained as best she could. It wasn’t easy, for she didn’t quite understand it herself. But something told her Gabe and his mother were in danger.
“Whoever destroyed that hospital was trying to cover something up,” Carrie said as they hurried. “Gabe’s mother said she worked there. Gabe is young. He had to have been born after his mother retired. I’ll bet anything he’s a by-product of that hospital and whatever they destroyed.”
“Are you sure you’re not still sleeping?” Skyler asked.
“Look you two.” Carrie stopped and glared at the two frightened agents. “That explosion was not an accident. Someone caused it for a reason. No one blows up half a mountain just for fun. Gabe’s mother looks young and there’s something strange about Gabe. I couldn’t put my finger on it until tonight. He’s different somehow and that hospital has something to do with it. We went to their house. Whoever blew up that hospital is not stupid. They know we visited Gabe and his mother tonight. We put them in danger.”
Carrie marched off and left Skyler and Lacey to their thoughts. When they finally caught up with her, a bright light danced through the forest ahead.
“Damn,” Carrie yelled. “Let’s go.”
The three ran as fast as they could without tripping over the fallen branches and exposed tree roots. The trail was not easy to find in the misty darkness, but as they got closer to Gabe’s house the area became brighter. Dancing orange and yellow light lit the forest and created an ominous orange hue.
“We’re too late,” Carrie sighed.
As Skyler and Lacey ran ahead, Carrie called The Agency on her cell phone. The girls watched as the flames danced high into the night’s sky. The roof was gone, already crashed inside the small wooden structure. The large outside light had melted and the remaining metal was sliding down the burnt pole. Glass crackled as it shattered from the high heat. Carrie wasn’t sure if she was angrier at the people who did this or herself. Shrieks from the dark forest filled their ears.
“Carrie,” Lacey yelled. “Someone’s alive in there.”
“No way.” Carrie ran toward the house, but the hot flames did not allow her to get very close. “Is anyone in there?”
“Carrie!” a voice yelled from out of the darkness. “Carrie, help, please.”
“Over here!” Skyler screamed. “Over here.”
On the far side of the yard, a small area once cleared was now overgrown by wild brush of various types. Perhaps it’d been cleared for a small shed or garden that was never built. Crouched in the darkness were two small figures huddled under a blanket.
“Gabe?” Carrie yelled. “Is that you?”
“Hurry,” he shouted. “They’ll see you.”
As the girls knelt down in front of them, a helicopter flew overhead. When it passed, more helicopters followed and a shower of water hit the five people in the small clearing.
“Water?” Gabe asked.
“Help is here,” Carrie said with a grin. “You’re safe now.”
“Who are you?” Lafie asked.
“Nobody,” Skyler said. “We’re just here to help.”
The fire in the house slowly died with the heavy bombardment of water that was laced with special chemicals. Without the burning light, the area was once again consumed by darkness.
“Agent Clarke?” It was a man’s voice echoing from the da
rkness.
“Over here,” Carrie yelled flashing her light above her head. “We’re over here.”
Several men in black uniforms ran toward the huddled and frightened people. Lafie tried to back away, but Lacey took her hand.
“You’re safe now,” Lacey said with a smile.
Carrie stood and approached the men. They spoke for a few minutes before Carrie allowed them to take the boy and his mother away. As the helicopter rose above the treetops, she glanced over at her two partners. For once in her career, she got there before the bad guys did and it felt good.
“How do you know they’re from The Agency?” Skyler asked.
“I just ask them about someone special who used to work there,” Carrie whispered. “If they don’t know who that person was, then they’re impostors.”
“Who Lewis?” Lacey asked.
“Nope,” Carrie replied. “Maddie… just ask them who Maddie is.”
Lacey smiled as she ran toward the waiting chopper. “You amaze me, Carrie.”
As the agents hopped aboard, Carrie grinned at Lacey. The night might be over, but their assignment was just getting started.
Their camping gear had already been packed and was waiting for them onboard. Skyler giggled. As the helicopter rose, the morning sun winked at them from behind the mountain ridge. As they flew off toward the west, Carrie sighed. She wondered if Lacey was thinking of another helicopter ride many years before. But instead of flying to a ship just off shore, they were now heading toward Oklahoma City and the safety of The Agency.
Chapter 33
SPANGLEHOLTZ PACED THE boardroom shaking his head. All eyes were focused on him. He was going to blame someone in that room today.
“I cannot tell you how disappointed I was to see this article. I want to know who leaked the story.” The doctor glared at everyone.
“Sir.” Hope spoke up. Her voice was soft and she constantly cleared her throat. “How would we have known what happened? The child was not born here. We had no idea how the baby looked until she arrived this morning.”
“Not quite,” he replied.
“What do you mean?” Hope asked.
“This picture in the paper?” Spangleholtz held up the newspaper for everyone to see.
“Yes sir,” Hope replied.
“This was the picture I took with my phone in the hospital. I sent it to one person and one person only.”
“Oh no,” Hope answered.
Hope was a sprite young woman in her mid-thirties, and was Spangleholtz’s right-hand person for the last five years. She was not tall since she stood just a few inches over four feet. With her brown hair cut unevenly about her shoulders, she would be considered anything but sexy. Overweight by about thirty pounds, Hope relied on her brains not her beauty to get into the position she held. Self-sufficiency was all Hope strived for in her quiet life. After watching her family and friends endure heartbreaking and financially devastating divorces, Hope decided to remain single. Her work was her family now and it was Spangleholtz she enjoyed spending the days with. As long as she owned her own home and could pay her bills, she could tolerate his daily outbursts of anger and his hot-blooded nature.
“Oh yes!” Spangleholtz turned to gaze at her. “What happened to that picture, Hope?”
“Oh my,” Hope said with a sigh.
The hate emanating from his eyes cut jaggedly through her soul. Hope worked there long enough to know unless she could produce a good explanation and quick she would be facing more than just a job termination—it was her life at stake now.
“Is that all you have to say, Ms. Roth?”
Hope glanced around the room at the now-relieved faces. Their fears of retribution were gone since Spangleholtz was focused on her. She felt betrayed by her co-workers and very alone.
“Sir,” Hope began. “My phone was stolen the day you left on your trip. I have not seen it since. And that’s the truth.”
Tears formed in her eyes as she watched the man she had counted on for support over the last few years turn against her. She could see he stepped past the point of hatred and entered the stage of loathing, revulsion and disgust.
“I wouldn’t lie to you,” Hope pleaded as tears ran down her face.
Spangleholtz stopped staring at her and looked down at the floor. After a few terrifying and long seconds he asked, “Where did you see it last?”
“It was on my desk. I forgot to take it to lunch with me and when I got back it was gone.”
* * * * * *
Hope Roth couldn’t decide whether she wanted the chocolate cake or the banana cream pie. Both were tempting and looked delicious. As she reached for the cake a voice scolded from behind.
“Perhaps you should stick with just the salad.”
“Oh, hi Fannie,” Hope replied as she placed the high-calorie dessert on her tray.
Fannie pushed her tray behind Hope’s. But her tray held only a simple salad and water. Every once in a while, Hope grabbed something from the counter and added it to hers. When they reached the cashier, Fannie finally made conversation.
“Mind if I sit with you?”
“Why not?” Hope said accepting her change from the cashier.
Once seated, Fannie kept her focus on her food.
As Hope took another bite of her hamburger she looked up at Fannie and asked, “How’s your care?”
“Oh?” Fannie replied. “She’s fine, just fine.”
“Good,” Hope said, taking a sip of soda.
“You were smart to report your phone missing as soon as you did.”
“I know. I came so close to being canned in more ways than one. Fan, if I hadn’t ordered another one right away, I wouldn’t have the proof I wasn’t the one who leaked that photo.”
“Any idea who did?”
“No, but I sure wished I did,” Hope said with a frown. “I mean…we must have someone here that doesn’t like what we’re doing. After all, our work is important. I mean, we’re helping the human race to survive right? Why would people be against that? I don’t understand.”
“Well,” Fannie said. “Some people feel we have souls at conception. So any tinkering with those embryonic cells is considered immoral. That’s why we have those stupid laws that make it necessary for us to hide our work.”
“But Lizzie is so cute and sweet. How can anyone say she’s immoral?”
“She is a darling little thing,” Fannie said with a smile. “I’m so lucky to be assigned to her. I mean she’s growing so fast.”
“I know. Every time I see her she seems bigger. How’s her mom doing? Do we know what went wrong yet?”
“No, the tests are not back but her mom’s great,” Fannie said, taking another bite of her salad. “I mean she’s on heavy tranquilizers so I guess she has no idea what’s going on. But she shares a strong connection with Lizzie. I mean they can almost read each other’s minds.”
“Really?” Hope asked, enjoying her delicious sweet chocolate cake. “Like what?”
“Not anything conclusive. But the researchers are doing all kinds of tests. So far they can’t figure out how or what it is exactly. But it’s really cool. Show Lizzie a picture and Mom in the next room can pick it out of several photos. But she doesn’t know why the image pops in her head. It’ll be cool to see what happens when Lizzie gets older.”
“If she gets older,” Hope added, lowering her eyes.
Chapter 34
LEE GLANCED AROUND at everyone in the room. She recognized some of the faces but not all. Why she’d been chosen to come to this place was anybody’s guess. She recognized a few presidents right away. But those who wore the uniforms didn’t ring a bell. Not to mention the men in the business suits. It dawned on Lee she was the only female in the room. Strange, she thought to herself.
“May we all be seated?” a voice from the pedestal asked. “Please, take your seats.”
Lee looked around for her nametag with a small American flag. Her general emblem was her first clue. As she
approached her chair, the name General Longhorn was a warm and comforting sight. Taking her seat she smiled and nodded to the other men around the table. To make it even more intimidating, she was the only military person in her group. Across from her sat five men in suits who she decided ranged in age from fifty to eighty, but to her delight they were all much older than her. It was an uncomfortable situation, but because of her career choice, Lee was used to uncomfortable situations.
“Please stand for a prayer and our pledge to the New World Order,” the man from the podium announced in a loud voice shaking Lee from her thoughts.
Everyone stood and raised their heads and hands to salute the New World Order. Lee listened intently to the quick prayer then the strange chant. The eerie deep voices echoed through her mind and caused her inner alarm to scream warnings. But then at the same time, the chanting was somewhat soothing and trance-like.
“I pledge a vow of secrecy, to live my live devoted… to surpass manhood and gain the carnal understanding, and touch the hand of God… all is good and all is for the conscious awakening whilst we are still in the flesh…it is the realization of our fundamental unity and identity with the ultimate of ultimates… we stand here today to pledge our loyalty to truth, justice and God… we let no other put asunder the true meaning of life… we allow no government to command the abstract… but to carry out the deeper meaning from here to eternity… let death be our new beginning.”
What in the hell is that supposed to mean? Lee asked herself as the chant was recited from everyone in the room except her. She glanced around only to see every head raised and all eyes searching the heavens. It was obvious these people where committed to whatever was going to take place here, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to know what that was. Once the prayer and chant was finished, they were told to take their seats. As the dinner was served, not one word was spoken. At the same time, Lee had the strangest feeling every eye was on her. Other than the quick glances in her direction from the different people, no one seemed to remove their eyes from their food. The only noise in the room was the sounds of forks hitting the plates and glasses clanking on the tables.