“No, it’s okay,” Davis picked the chewed leaf out of her napkin and inexplicably smelled it; it seemed like she couldn’t believe the flavor existed. Her nose scrunched up again in disgust. “That,” she said in a very accusing way, “is very pungent.” As if to clear any confusion that could still exist, she reiterated, “I really didn’t like that. But it’s weird, I didn’t love the eggs, but they weren’t that bad! There is no way I could imagine eating that cilantro stuff in any way again, though.”
“Well,” said Quinn, “There is also onion powder, salt, pepper, and a bit of garlic and chives in the eggs. Those are also strong flavors, and I didn’t use much cilantro.”
“Ah…well, if it’s all the same to you, I think I’ll skip the rest of my eggs,” Davis said while she scraped the eggs to the side of the plate as if she was trying to distance herself from them.
After everyone calmed down a bit from the cilantro excitement and finished their breakfast, Ana helped Quinn and Brookshire clear the table. Duffy and Hernandez took a few items and declared they’d get the dishes done before heading out for the day. Audrey said she would help them and then drive them out. Namaguchi got up and went into the kitchen, oddly, without carrying anything in. However, after a few minutes, he returned out with a tray of water glasses and a full pitcher. He also had two wet rags, one of which he handed to Ringo and one he kept to wipe down opposite sides of the table. Ana busied herself and sent each child to the bathroom individually to brush their teeth, wash up, and get ready for school lessons. As they came back in, she lined them up against the wall and then escorted Mae to the restroom, little Mae toddling next to her, Ana lightly holding her hand. When Ana returned with Mae, she gathered the used wet cloths and asked if they needed anything else before school started. Everyone declined, and Ana said very kindly, “Okay, kids! School time—March!” Off they went, Mae still holding her mom’s hand as they made their way through the kitchen door.
“Wow,” Davis looked as if she was trying to find something to say. “It seems like everyone pitches in around here and does something.”
Ringo answered her as he started passing out the cups and filling them with water. “We try to split up the chores; it’s only fair and right. And it’s the only way a community like this can survive and thrive. But some people do specific things; Ana is the only one who teaches. I’m the only one who putzes around with the computers and hydroponics, although others sometimes help harvest the garden. Quinn likes to cook, and she’s quite good at it. So, we leave her to that for the most part.”
Davis nodded her head in silent agreement. She also looked as if she was thinking about something. “Oh, I see, that’s pretty nice… By the way, Duffy and Hernandez said they were leaving for the day, and Audrey said she’d take them. Why does she have to take them?”
Ringo’s response was light and tentative. He explained to Davis how they had to maintain a secure location and trusted everyone there. Still, if someone were to get caught, imprisoned, and given the brain controlling drugs, they might become persuaded to tell the location. Even if they were immune, they could get tortured to show where the location was. To protect the bunker and especially the children, only Audrey and Ringo knew the exact location. He also reiterated they were somewhat isolated and had a lot of protection as the hills surrounded them. Ringo continued with the description even though Davis felt satisfied with the answer already. “All our solar panels are camouflaged as boulders or by plenty of bushes, trees, and the like. We’re tough to locate if you don’t know exactly where to look. But, still, it’s got to be a complete secret. So, this next part might seem scary, but we ask you to wear a blackout hood in and out. You are perfectly safe the entire time. We have a few electric transport vehicles here, and we have three meeting areas. One is about a mile and a half walk to the Pod you were staying at, and the two others are about a mile from a spot where you can get on a government-owned transport vehicle and go into one of the two town centers.”
Davis was mostly familiar with Town Center One. Right in its middle was the Everett Center, where she reported to her job. Town Center Two was where the factories and labs were. They were all located there whether they made those familiar brown sheets or the nutrition biscuits or the Marigold Inoculation formula. Davis was thinking of these things for a moment; Ringo noticed her staring off, her eyes focused on the wall as she picked at some dry skin around her nails. “Davis?” inquired Ringo. “You okay?”
“Yes, sorry, just thinking. About nothing, really. My mind wanders a lot more than it used to. I don’t know why.” Davis suddenly looked so tired and overwhelmed; the older man felt for her. Ringo explained to her that it was natural. Her brain was still adjusting to life without brain control chemicals. Namaguchi then added that Brookshire and Quinn could come in, and they could discuss anything that Davis had on her mind.
“Well, I guess we might as well add a cherry on top of this sundae of a day. I’ve been wondering a few things anyhow,” Davis said, “if we want to get to that before they come in. It’s basic things, I guess. Not about me or anything specific like that.”
“Sure,” said Ringo and Namaguchi at almost the same time, but they were a little out of sync. Part of the “sure” started before the other, and it gave a weird drawn-out sound to the word. Still, Davis was able to get the idea it was okay to proceed. She asked them how Namaguchi, Duffy, and Hernandez had ever found Ringo and the rest of the people in the bunker. With all the security Ringo and his family had taken, she wasn’t sure how they all met.
Ringo took the lead on answering. “I knew Namaguchi, at one time, right before the Lombardi Plague started. We were friendly neighbors. Audrey and I had already started building the bunkers and moving things down here. We didn’t know a virus was coming or even when something would happen. We just believed something would eventually threaten our way of life. I told Namaguchi about it, and I said if his family and himself ever needed protection, to come to a certain place—I had a doorbell system set up in a hollowed-out rock. All he had to do was ring it, and it would alert me to pick him up. I told a few people about it; Namaguchi is the only one I ever heard from.”
Here Namaguchi interjected, “I had forgotten about it for a long time. It was only after Duffy and Hernandez came to me; we were friendly, and they had been monitoring the medical files and saw my immunity status.” At this, Namaguchi paused, looking concerned and sympathetic. “You know, Davis, I went through quite a time believing everything too, even though I had become ‘immune.’ You’re still grasping with learning that everything you ever were told by your government is a lie and done for ultimate control.”
Davis didn’t know if she fully believed that but nodded her head in agreement because it was easier. She also resumed picking at her nails. “So, you brought Duffy and Hernandez in too, is that right?”
“Yes, that’s right. Because of them, we learned of Ana and Quinn.”
“Ringo,” Davis asked. “You said there were a few people you gave the doorbell location to, but Namaguchi is the only one who ever used it. Are you missing anyone important? Can Duffy and Hernandez check on them?”
“All the people I gave it to, I wish they had shown up, naturally. I’ve had them all checked upon, and none have any records. I hold out hope that they ran to Canada or Mexico as I know many people did.” Ringo looked sad at this, then added, “You always have to have hope,” sounding like he had anything but hope.
“Well, how did you know that these people you told the doorbell about that they wouldn’t double-cross you?”
“These were my friends that I trusted. It didn’t occur to me that they could double-cross me. I also told them about it before things were as bleak as they are now. Even after time passed, I always hoped that they would only use it if need be, not for nefarious purposes. We do have our safety protocols in place, as well. We make sure there are no Scanner Drones or Security Patrols around when w
e make a pickup or following us when we leave.”
Davis felt saddened by the look on Ringo’s face and how sad and tired he sounded. Then she started thinking about all the families that became torn apart. If someone were a Natural Immune, they would likely be eliminated or sent to reprogramming. Even if they somehow escaped one of those fates, they would certainly never be able to talk to their families anymore. They would be at odds and believe such different things. How far does just love protect you? she wondered.
After a few moments of thought, Davis didn’t know if or how she should proceed with questions, especially since most of what she said seemed like banal and vapid general inquiries. But Ringo nodded her on, asking if she had any more questions.
“Well,” Davis felt stupid for bringing it up. “It’s a silly thing, but I’m just curious. Once Namaguchi and Ana got scheduled to be, er…‘eliminated’ as I believe the notation said, how did they avoid it?”
Namaguchi took this question. “Luckily for us, Ringo is quite skilled with computers. And he can get into a part of the main system when he wants. He fixed my overall records, saying it was a clerical error that my name got crossed with Ana’s. Then, Duffy and Hernandez gave me a full workup and ‘free and clear,’ and said everything was in order with my physical. It was reported they eliminated Ana, but she was secretly brought here. Plus, I learned to go along with things, even when it bothered me—”
“What types of things bothered you?” interrupted Davis.
“I’d rather not go into that, I’m sorry. I just try to do my work, keep my head down, and know that the unpleasant things will end one day. I also need to protect Ana and the kids. My other wives are not immune, so they are safe at our apartment at the Palace. When I’m here, they think I’m working. I plan most of my days off to be here, but not all. Just in case Everett came by the apartment or my family wondered why I never had a day off. None of the wives ever asks questions, though, and Everett is in control, so he doesn’t need to ask questions.”
Brookshire had recently come in with Quinn, and Davis looked his way as she asked, “Is it a similar situation for you, Brookshire? With work and your spouses at an apartment at the Everett Palace?” Davis lifted her eyebrow so that her face asked what her voice could not.
“I don’t need to schedule days here at any particular time. My work with President Everett causes me to be out of his office often. I’m Head of Security and Surveillance, so frequently, I take trips to different Pods, analyzing data at the medical centers. And, well, I never married. I, uh, wasn’t able to marry who I wanted, so I just didn’t. I get questions about it sometimes. Sometimes, President Everett sends some of his servants to go back to my apartment with me in the evening for, as he puts it, ‘amusement.’ But I just play cards with them, or we read in the library. I’m not interested in that, but you don’t say ‘no’ to President Everett.”
Davis had no more questions at the moment. She couldn’t think of anything else that could be lies or potential pitfalls in the story that Ringo, Namaguchi, Quinn, and Brookshire told her. At the same time, Davis did not feel fully convinced.
“Do you have any more questions, Davis?” asked Namaguchi.
Davis paused and looked at each man and Quinn, staring at them for a few seconds before looking to the next one. She was trying to look stern and severe. Davis wanted them to know she was serious and meant business.
Sensing Davis was starting to get angry and fed up, Brookshire and Quinn decided to calm and comfort her. Brookshire slid a little closer over to Davis, and Quinn took her hand. Instead of calming down, Davis’s heart started thumping, and it felt as if her stomach dropped out on the floor. Feeling a nervous tension in the air, Davis got hot and sweaty and incredibly thirsty all of a sudden. She asked Quinn if she wouldn’t mind getting her more water, to which she shook her head no and stood up to refill the glasses from the pitcher that was still on the table.
“Let me just say, Davis, I know this will be a shocking thing to hear. I want to remind you that you’re safe, we’re here for you, and you can say no.” Ringo nodded his head as he said this as if to affirm his words.
“We are here for you; that’s number one,” Namaguchi included.
“Yes,” said Quinn as she sat back down and put her arm back around Davis’s shoulder. “Nothing you can do or say will upset us.”
Brookshire squeezed even closer, and as Davis already felt as if she were baking in a hot, humid oven, she felt both comforted and claustrophobic packed in like this. She wished they would just get to the crux of the matter.
“Well…let’s see…” Ringo seemed to be searching for the right words. “The thing is, when you are set free, you can claim you got kidnapped.”
“Right, kidnapped,” said Namaguchi.
As Davis tried to comprehend what they were saying, she had to push back on Brookshire slightly and ask Quinn to scoot down for a bit of room. Davis felt like she was being rude but feared passing out if the great squeeze-in continued. As Ringo spoke on, Davis tried to comprehend everything. He was going on about how it would be news if she got kidnapped. That Davis was already newsworthy, considering who she was. The next thing Ringo said made Davis choke back; she felt she must have misunderstood him.
“So, President Everett, he’ll want to marry you. As you know, you can’t turn that down.” One reason Davis wasn’t sure she had heard him right was that Ringo rushed that part a lot quicker than he had the other parts of his speech. It was almost as if he said it fast enough, he thought maybe Davis would miss it and agree without fully understanding what Ringo said. For her part, Davis sat there with eyes large and round, pupils dilated, and mouth agape. She also didn’t realize how hard she was squeezing Brookshire’s hand. Ringo continued after a pause that felt ten hours long. “And…well…we want you to marry him. When you get close enough to him, say, your wedding night, you assassinate him.”
Davis sat there and blankly stared for at least ten minutes. Many things were going through her mind, and she wasn’t sure she had heard Ringo correctly. She couldn’t believe she heard him right, because it was so absurd. Davis certainly didn’t know what to say, but murdering someone was not something she would or could do. For sure, she knew now, helping these people was not a part of her future. Finally, Davis spoke, “I can’t do what you’re asking. And while you have given me some compelling information, you’re also asking me to murder someone: The President! A very popular and much-loved President. I can’t. There is no way I can murder anyone! You guys are truly insane for even asking it. I just…I just, the idea of it makes me sick. I can’t help even a little bit. I need to go back to my old life now.”
“Okay, we understand,” said Ringo. “But, honestly, nobody would know you did it. We know that it is asking a lot to take a life, even a vile one; it is a huge ask. Beyond any request we should ask of you. But nobody would know it was you. The President is highly allergic to bee venom. All you have to do is slip it into his food or drink. He’ll go into anaphylactic shock quickly. They’re not prepared for it because they’ve eliminated the possibility of bees even being at the Palace. There are no flowers; they fumigate regularly; they won’t be able to handle it. Even if someone figures out you slipped him the venom, the Security Patrol would not want it publicized that they failed to protect him. The news headlines the next day will blame a rogue bee, or they’ll come up with a complete lie, but it won’t be that you murdered him.”
“Still no,” Davis said flatly and curtly before an exasperated chuckle, “No, never in a million years can I or will I murder President Everett for you guys or anyone.”
“One last thing,” Namaguchi said as he slid a folder across to Davis. “You need to know, Davis, that your mom is alive. Ruby is alive.”
September 2, 2056 –
Depression
Davis found herself back in her room, lying on her bed. She wasn’t even quite sure ho
w she got there, not knowing if she had passed out. She didn’t even know what day it was or if any time had passed at all. Her stomach was knotted and twisted; between hearing her mom was alive and being asked to murder someone, she felt tormented and disgusted. Her head pounded, she thought, even worse than when she was getting the brain control drugs out of her system. The folder was on her bedside table. She opened it quickly to make sure the words Namaguchi had said about her mom were not just in her head. Inside was a photo showing a woman older than Davis. Yes, she was older, but she thought, She looks so much like me. Davis traced her finger along this lady’s jawline as hot tears streaked down her face. She couldn’t read the report right now; she couldn’t even keep looking at the picture. She laid her head back down and fell into a troubled slumber.
The nightmares she was accustomed to haunting her dreams returned. But instead of the boy screaming and being dragged into the blackness, Davis herself snatched the boy and laughed maniacally. She awoke many times in the night, and she would blink, realize where she was, and then turn over as if in denial of her life, only to fall asleep and have the dream again.
Several days passed. Davis refused to look at the file. She only left the room to wash her face in the morning and go to the restroom a few times a day. She had even ceased to shower or change her clothes. Nobody seemed to be around or bothering her. If they saw her in the hallway, they would give her a small, shy smile and then look away. A few times a day, Quinn would knock lightly and speak through the door, asking her how she was doing. Davis never answered. She would open the door and find a tray. There would be a pitcher of water, a glass, a plate of food, a napkin, and utensils. She never ate the food, except maybe a bite or two, and she had a few glasses of water a day, but she mostly took the plate and scraped the leftovers into her trash can.
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