I nodded.
“Good, you’ll start tomorrow morning. I’ll have John collect you from the dormitory at 0600 hours and you can bring your gear down to the barracks.”
Damn, I hadn’t realised it would mean being separated from Ben and also Luke when he was released from hospital.
“Don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of down time to visit your friends,” Colonel Randall said, reading the look on my face. “We have nothing down here but time.”
“Okay.”
“So that leaves me with mining then?” said Ben.
“Yes. Are you okay with that?” asked Randall.
“Don’t have much choice, do I?”
28
Ten minutes later we had been brought up from the lower level and into the hospital wing. I had finally started to get some idea of the layout of the facility. If you had been looking down on it with X-ray vision, it would be shaped like a large three dimensional cross, with three layers or levels.
Top level, the one where my group was initially housed, was the science and research level where the Professor and also the Homeland Security detachment resided. The general population was housed in the Midlevel, along with the hospital and the lobby. Lower level housed the army contingent, greenhouses, storehouses and all of the machinery that kept the place operating with fresh air, water and power. Each arm of the cross was referred to as a wing—north, south, east and west—and of course depending on which level one was on, I imagined each had a different function. The hospital was in the south wing on Midlevel.
The soldier who escorted us (who I vaguely recognised from the night we were first brought in) waited outside in the corridor after Dr Radisson had answered the buzzer and led us into his small office.
“Hello boys, you’re looking a little healthier than when I last saw you.”
“How is Luke doing?” I asked.
“Well, why don’t you just wash your hands at the basin and I’ll take you through to see for yourself.”
I felt a buzz of happiness, I had not been confident that we would be allowed to see Luke, even though Professor Leahy had told us it would be alright. We scrubbed our hands and Dr Radisson opened the door. The office opened onto the same room where they had first taken the black bags off our heads. Now Luke occupied one of the beds, hooked up to an IV drip. He appeared to be sleeping peacefully.
The doctor told us quietly that he would leave us alone and gave us a gentle warning not to get the patient too excited. As we stepped up to the bed, I noticed that Luke looked different. Younger and more vulnerable. He had also been cleaned up. They had shaved off his scraggy beard, adding to his more youthful appearance, and his hair had been washed. It had dried into an impossibly fluffy, ginger afro. Smiling, I stepped up beside the bed and as if sensing we were present, his eyes opened and he grinned.
“Who the Hell are you two clean cut dudes and what have you done with Isaac and Ben?”
Smiling, my eyes filled with tears as I remembered the last time I had seen him. I had been absolutely convinced that he was going to die. I wiped my embarrassing tears away quickly and grabbed his proffered hand, leaning over and gently putting my shoulder into his.
“Good to see you awake Luke,” I said. “You were pretty banged up.”
“Yeah, still am from the feel of it.” He winced as he tried to pull himself up in bed a little.
I stepped out of the way so Ben could also get close and shake Luke’s hand.
“Well, for a moment then, I thought the doctor had taken us to the wrong room. I didn’t realize Ronald McDonald had found his way into the Safe Haven too!”
“Fries anyone?” Luke laughed, and patted down his hair self-consciously as we pulled up chairs beside his bed.
Over the next fifteen minutes we filled him in on what had happened since we had arrived in the facility. He was also suspicious of the Professor segregating the women and girls from everyone else.
“You know, he might be some sort of weird pervert. Maybe he wants it to be his own personal harem.”
A similar thought had crossed my mind, but I had dismissed it.
“I don’t think so, he doesn’t appear to be the type. It seems more like some misguided attempt to keep things on an even keel down here. Maybe to avoid conflict or other issues.”
I could see Luke’s mind ticking over. “Maybe he wants them as broodmares?”
“What?” I asked blankly.
“Broodmares, you know, breeding stock. Maybe he sees this place as some kind of Eden? You know, to start the United States over…maybe with a super race!”
“Man, you really do read too many comics,” I said laughing, refusing to admit his comment made me a little uneasy.
He changed the subject. “So what the Hell happened after I handed you the RPG? I don’t remember a thing. You took the chopper down right?”
I shook my head. “No, I missed it completely.”
“No way!” he yelled, then winced and settled back onto the mattress. “Dude you missed it?” I looked sheepish, and regret at his quick words flashed across his face. He patted my shoulder. “Don’t beat yourself up, it would have been a difficult shot even for an experienced soldier…or me.”
“No, you’re right, I was our last hope and I missed. I screwed it up bad and could have got us all killed or captured.”
“Well we weren’t killed or captured, right Ben?”
“Of course we weren’t, besides we wouldn’t have gotten to that point without you Isaac.”
“Yeah, I do seem to remember someone carrying me up the mountain, which probably saved my life, so I don’t think missing the shot at the end there is that big a deal.”
Their words did make me feel better, kind of put things in perspective for me. I shrugged off my self-recrimination.
“I only half carried you,” I joked. “Anyway, the Drake Mountain soldiers came out of nowhere, the Chinese had no clue they were there and it was over pretty quick after that.”
“Damn, I wish I could have seen them kick that Chinese ass. Hey, so when do we get to see Sonny?”
“Don’t know, he should be interviewed sometime today I hope. That’s what the Professor promised anyway, we should be able to see him not long after that. How long will you be cooped up in here?”
“The Doc said he’ll get me up and moving tomorrow. It will be only be light walking on the treadmill, but he’s happy with how the wound is looking.”
Almost on cue, the Doctor came back into the room and told us that our time was up. We said our goodbyes.
“Say Doc,” Luke said, as we were heading out. “Isaac and Ben told me that the girls have been segregated to another wing and aren’t allowed to mix. What’s that all about?”
Dr Radisson paused and looked at us. “The Professor deemed it necessary to separate the females from the male population. I don’t really know more than that, except that he seems to think it’s better for the safety and security of all involved.” He was singing the same song that everyone else was, and I couldn’t help the feeling that he also wasn’t letting on all he knew. I couldn’t wait to talk to Paul that night. I knew I’d at least get a straight answer from him, even if he didn’t know a lot.
Luke looked as dissatisfied as me at the answer but held his tongue. “You concentrate on getting better,” I said, pointedly. “We’ll keep you updated about what’s happening.”
“What now?” I asked the soldier, as he led us back towards the Square.
“You have the rest of the day to yourselves. I’ll take you to the Rec rooms, you can play pool or pinball or whatever you want I guess.”
As we walked, I wondered when I would run into the redneck Leroy again. I was sure he would be quite talkative, given that he didn’t seem too bright. I couldn’t believe that he’d been given a position in Homeland security. My first impression was that he didn’t seem like the kind of man who should hold any position of authority. I was curious to know what sort of discipline the mysterious
Mr. Ragg might have dished out and exactly what his position in the Facility hierarchy was.
“Okay, here you are,” said the soldier, as we arrived in the square. “Have fun.”
“Will do, what was your name by the way?” I asked.
“Tony Gould.”
“Okay Tony, thanks.”
“What now?” Ben asked as we stood outside the quiet room.
“How about the Rec room? I wouldn’t mind a bit of a work out in the gym or maybe a game of pool.”
“Okay sounds good, although I’m not much of a gym junkie. You know, weights and dumbbells and all…”
I laughed. Dumbbells, I hadn’t heard that word for a long time, and not for the first time it struck me that Ben would have been right at home in one of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five novels. He looked a little indignant at my laughter.
“Sorry, it’s just that no one uses the term dumbbell anymore and it always struck me as a funny word… maybe you can just ride the exercise bike or treadmill? You’re obviously fit, we all are given how much walking and running we’ve done.”
Appeased he said, “That sounds fine.”
We entered the main Rec room, it was empty besides us, and we were approaching the pool table when the door opened behind us. It was Williams.
“The Professor wants to see you now.”
“Oh, okay,” I said and both Ben and I turned to follow him.
“Not you,” he said to Ben. “Just Isaac.”
“Oh.”
“Back soon,” I said to Ben, who looked a little out of sorts at being snubbed.
Williams set off at a brisk pace and I had to run to catch up.
“Is this about Sonny?”
“Don’t know. I’m sure you’ll find out in a few minutes,” he said, without turning to look at me.
Rude prick, I thought to myself.
He didn’t say a word to me as we rode the elevator to the top level, and I didn’t bother trying to make conversation with him either.
29
A few minutes later he had led me into a part of the top level I hadn’t seen while we were housed there. As far as I could tell, it was in the south wing, directly above the hospital on the middle level.
We came to a door that was guarded by an armed Homeland officer and Williams rapped on it sharply without acknowledging the officer.
“Come in.”
Williams opened the door and put his hand on the small of my back, guiding me in before pulling the door closed. It was the Professor’s office, book cases lined the walls and the man himself sat behind a large, impressive desk. He looked relaxed and had a welcoming smile on his face. The man standing beside him, Ragg, didn’t appear quite so welcoming; his intense gaze was already creeping me out a little.
“Young Isaac, come in, come in. Please, sit.”
I ignored Ragg and said thanks to the Professor as I sat down.
“How was your first night on the Midlevel?”
“Good thank you, Sir.”
“Excellent, did you have any questions?”
I had a ton of course, most specifically about why the women were being segregated. For the moment though, I didn’t say anything that might cause a problem or prevent me seeing Sonny. Assuming that’s why I had been summoned, of course.
“No, Sir.”
“All righty then, as promised I’m pleased to inform you that Mr. Ragg and I interviewed your friend Sonny this morning and that it went very well. Would you like to see him?”
“Yes please, that would be great. Will he be moving to Midlevel with the others now?”
He paused and seemed to weigh his words very carefully before answering. I got a sinking feeling.
“Alas, no. Not yet anyway. He will remain on the science level with us for the time being.” He stilled my protest with a raised hand. “It’s for his own protection, you understand. I know that you think of Sonny as an American, but unfortunately all that the general population will see is one of the enemy…I don’t think it would end well if one of the rasher inhabitants got a silly notion into their head.”
“He is an American, it’s not just what I see, it’s what he is and we have rights. Can’t you issue a directive letting them know that he’s not one of the enemy?”
“Well that’s not quite correct,” he said, the smile slowly fading. “We’re not Americans anymore, we’re survivors and our rights have been taken away from us by a ruthless enemy. It has fallen to me to ensure the safety of one and all in this facility and it’s not a responsibility I take lightly. Your friend will remain in custody…protective custody you understand, until I work out how to integrate him into the general population. Okay?”
I could see he was not going to be swayed and decided not to argue the point any further. Choose your battles wisely, I remember my father saying to me years ago. This wasn’t a battle I could win right now.
“Okay,” I said quietly.
Professor Leahy’s oily smile returned in an instant.
“Excellent, I’ll have Mr. Ragg escort you to see him now, you can visit for twenty minutes or so.”
“Thanks,” I said. “Will we be able to come visit while he’s locked up here? The others would like to see him too, especially Allie.”
“I will work something out,” he said, looking vaguely annoyed, probably at my choice of words. “Enjoy your visit.”
Apparently that was conversation closed and he turned to his computer screen without another word. It could have been my imagination, but Mr. Ragg seemed to deliberately invade my personal space as he walked by me and opened the door.
The compact man didn’t say a word as he led me back down the corridor of the south wing. I took the chance to examine the forward facing Ragg a little more closely than I had before. Beneath the fabric of his grey suit I could see a hardness to his shoulders and torso. He wasn’t overly muscled but from what I could see, he was tough and toned. We took a left at what I supposed was the equivalent of the Square on the floor below us. On this level, it was a large open area with sofas and tables and a sink and coffee making facilities. Two off duty Homeland officers were playing cards and talking. They clammed up when we passed. Whether it was my presence or Ragg’s that prompted their sudden silence, I’m not sure.
For his part, Ragg ignored them and took us left down the same corridor Williams had taken us on our first day. This time, instead of turning when we came to the glass wall, Ragg stopped in front of it. The two guards stepped aside as Ragg opened the airlock and led us through, waiting for the first door to close before opening the second. I felt the air pressure change, and swallowed to unblock my ears.
“Why is he being kept in here? He’s not contagious you know...”
Ragg kept walking, and for a moment I thought he wasn’t going to answer me. When he did, he didn’t bother looking at me.
“The Professor thought it best, in case word leaked out that we had a…had someone who might be mistaken for the enemy here. It’s the most easily defended area in the complex.”
Something about the explanation didn’t quite ring true but I chose not to question it. On our left we passed, what I could only describe, as cells. I’m sure they probably called them observation rooms or something harmless, but the square, sparsely furnished rooms with glass walls on the side facing the corridor seemed to have a dual purpose to me.
The whole area, corridor and rooms included, was topped with a low glass ceiling a few feet below the actual concrete ceiling. To our right was the occasional door and through the tiny reinforced windows I could see that they were also labs.
The third and final ‘cell’ contained Sonny. He was laying on a cot reading what looked like a paperback novel. He looked up when he saw me, his face creasing into a smile. The Kung Fu expert sat up, clearly happy to see a familiar face. Unfortunately the smile only highlighted the large fading bruise on his cheek. My own smile faded a little. I was pretty sure that bruise hadn’t been inflicted when he had been zapped back at the l
odge.
Ragg stepped up to the lock and swiped a card, pulling the door outward and allowing me through. I saw Sonny eye him but couldn’t read his expression.
“Twenty minutes,” said Ragg evenly before swinging the door closed and stepping back to stand in the middle of the corridor, staring at us through the glass. I couldn’t help but feeling like a bug in a specimen jar.
Sonny’s eyes left Ragg after a moment and looked back to me.
“Isaac!” he said, stepping up and grabbing me in a bear hug which I returned wholeheartedly.
“Hey Sonny,” I said, as he clapped me on the back. “How are you?”
“I’m fine,” he said and grasped my wrist, leading me to his cot. We sat side by side and he nodded surreptitiously to a camera positioned in the top corner of the room. “Tell me, how are the others, Ben and Brooke? Allie, Indigo?”
“They’re all fine. Worried about you, of course. How have they been treating you?” I asked him earnestly. He glanced at Ragg who was still watching us, his reptilian eyes barely blinking.
“Well, it’s been okay for the last few days. I did actually have a run in with our friend there on the second day. But the Professor called him off.” He leaned in close to me and gestured to the bruise on his cheek. “You need to watch that one, he’s dangerous and…efficient.”
My uneasy feeling about Ragg was confirmed. I didn’t know the circumstances of course, but unless Sonny had been restrained, the fact that Ragg had managed to mark his face meant that he was clearly skilled in hand to hand combat. It wasn’t his potential prowess that bothered me so much though, it was his whole demeanor.
“What about you? What happened to you guys after we were brought in?” Sonny asked.
I spent the next ten minutes telling Sonny as much as I could remember about what had happened. He didn’t say too much, but I could tell he was as bothered by the segregation of the girls as I was.
“It doesn’t really ring true, this whole ‘for their own safety thing’,” he said. “Unless the bulk of the male population is a pack of women hungry rapists, I’m pretty sure that the mixing would be healthy and normal. It’s not as if they lack personnel to keep things under control. I think you’re right, it stinks.”
Fight Like Hell [America Falls Series | Books 1-6] Page 34
