by L. E. Howel
“Get out,” Birch hissed at Edwards, taking care to conceal his weapon from the people passing by. “What is this place?” he asked hoarsely.
Edwards shrugged. “What does it look like?” he responded coolly.
Birch knew very well what the place looked like, and what it really was. It was a zoo! He didn’t need Edwards’ help to figure it out, but something in the tone of the answer was maddening. Furiously he pushed Edwards up against the side of the truck and mashed his face into the metal door.
“Don’t try to be funny,” he spat, “what are we doing here?”
“It’s for your own protection,” Edwards muffled voice could hardly be understood as his mouth was squeezed against the cold steel. “It’s what we do for any Ares we catch, to try to rehabilitate them. It’s the best way we can learn to help you.”
“Learn to help us?” Birch let the irony of the words hang in the air. His voice was barely a menacing whisper, but his actions were beginning to attract attention. He pushed Edwards’ miserable face deeper into the metal “Are you stupid, or do you just think we’re stupid?” Birch continued, oblivious to the crowd gathering about them. “I don’t know if I should kill you now or later.”
“Major,” Jane’s voice interrupted. She was still holding a gun on the guards in the truck, but she was now gesturing behind him. By now a crowd of some twenty men had gathered near the truck and was moving toward him. Birch spun around, finally revealing his weapon to them. For a moment they hesitated before moving again in his direction.
The crowd only seemed to be increasing as he threatened them off with his gun. He fired a warning shot that scattered them briefly, but it only seemed to strengthen their anger and resolve. Their flinty faces hardened like cement and they rushed toward them. Among the shouting tumult a single angry word seemed to rise above it all: ‘Ares’.
“I think you’re about to find out what we’ve been protecting you from, Major,” Edwards muffled voice sounded distant amid the din that surrounded them, “you might want to run!”
“Great!” Birch grunted as he pulled Edwards back into the truck. “Get us out of here,” he shouted to Jane. With Lauren’s assistance she had already thrown the driver out and taken over the controls, now she gunned the engine to escape the advancing throng; at least she tried to. Her first effort sent the truck lurching and coughing forward.
“Sorry,” she mumbled and raised her hands in acceptance of her mistake.
“Just shut-up and get this thing moving,” Birch barked as he shot another volley above the crowd. It didn’t slow them at all this time, but in the next instant Jane was able to accelerate away with a screech of tires.
“You’ll never make it,” one of the guards smirked. “There’s nowhere to go.”
In that instant Birch exploded angrily. His face and eyes flushed a fiery red, “Thanks for your concern,” he snapped, “but we’ll just find that out for ourselves. We don’t need you anyway so you don’t have to stick around to see what happens.” With that he grabbed the man and threw him through the open doors at the rear of the truck. The soldier rolled out and disappeared on the road behind them. A moment later the second guard had followed him, rolling and bouncing like a human ball on the pavement. Jane looked on in disbelief.
“What did you do that for?” she fumed. “There was no reason to do that!”
“We only need one hostage,” Birch raised his rifle to point at Edwards. “He’ll do fine. I think he’s more important than a couple of guards, and he’ll be less trouble. Besides, the other guy was giving me trouble. I don’t like that.”
Jane shook her head in disgust.
“You don’t change,” she complained. “You’re wild, and one day you’ll get us all killed for it.”
Birch gritted his teeth and looked though the window. “Maybe, but I think I saved you today,” he muttered.
FORTY-SIX
It took a moment for Birch to remember that what he was seeing wasn’t real. “Is there a way to turn this thing off?” he grunted to Edwards, gesturing toward the windows, “I’m tired of looking at happyland. Let me look at reality.” Edwards nodded and pointed to a button on the front panel. Lauren hit it and the windows brightened.
The change was not sudden. It took a while before there was much difference except for the lightening tint of the glass. Slowly though the old forms melted away, to be replaced by the buildings that surrounded them. The road stayed the same, but everything around it was different now. Jane had been driving with the aid of a small monitor next to the driver’s seat. Now, as the windshield cleared, she could see more easily and they picked up speed.
“Where do we go,” she shouted over her shoulder, “where is the nearest exit to this place?”
“Wait,” Birch responded as he turned to face Edwards. “You said this is the kind of thing you do to all the Ares when you catch them,” Edwards shrugged noncommittally. “So, is that what you did with the Ares boy you picked up with me?”
“He is here,” Edwards responded. “I can’t let you get at him though, he’s under our protection so I won’t let you hurt him.”
“I don’t want to hurt him,” Birch sighed, “I want to get him. We’re taking him with us.”
“Where?” Edwards asked doubtfully. “I don’t think you realize the position you’re in. You can drive around this spot for a while, but already the forces are after you and they’ll put you back. There’s nowhere for you to go.”
“I think you’re wrong,” Birch muttered, “but even if you’re right we’re going to get him so tell me where he is.” Birch had pushed Edwards into the corner of the truck and raised his hands menacingly to his face.
“Okay,” Edwards sighed. He was thinking of his old life, of the things he had grown to hate. It was strange how vital and lovely they seemed to him right now. In the face of terror he wanted it all back, both the good and bad. He would recant, he wouldn’t question anymore, if only he could get back to some sense of normality. For now though all he could do was go along with whatever crazy plans this madman from the past had and hope he would be rescued soon. Surely it wouldn’t take long. Catching the Ares in the capital should be the easiest thing in the world.
“Get over to the eastern side of the compound,” Edwards murmured, “he’s in the general Ares enclosure.” He directed them the rest of the way and soon the truck was skidding to a halt in front of one of the clear domes. This one was larger than most and even from this distance Birch could see it was full. Pathetic figures behind the glass moved through imagined lives while the crowds watched. Birch couldn’t see the boy.
“Open it,” Birch ordered gruffly, but Edwards shook his head.
“It’s not going to be that easy,” he retorted. “I don’t have clearance. I don’t work here you know. I’m from the west, only local officials and high rankers can get in there.”
“I guess we’ll need the more direct approach then,” Birch lifted the rifle and aimed at the enclosure.
“No, wait,” Edwards voice was panicked and he reached for the gun, but Birch pushed him away and shot into one of the control arrays high above the dome. With a sound of shattering glass the panel broke loose and came crashing to the ground. The crowd scattered as screaming bystanders ran to escape the falling debris.
“Stop it,” Edwards shouted, but Birch ignored him and fired again into another panel. It exploded in a shower of sparks that bathed the now fleeing crowd in a strange green light. The dome flickered and disappeared leaving the glass cage within. For the first time those inside could see their true surroundings. They stood blinking, staring dumbly at the world.
“That was pointless,” Edwards shook angrily at the destruction around them. “You’ll still never get in there, that glass is designed to withstand anything you can shoot at it. You may as well give up. With all that noise the authorities will be here to get you any minute anyway.”
“We’ll see,” Birch muttered as he lifted his rifle and shot at the c
age. Edwards had been right though; the glass remained undamaged.
“Great,” Birch looked at Edwards with disgust, “let’s try something different then.” He threw Edwards back into the truck. Jane and Lauren followed him.
“I hope you know what you’re doing,” Jane added as they traded positions and he took the wheel. “I don’t think we’ll have long to get away from here.”
“Don’t worry,” he revved the engine ominously, “I know what I’m doing.” The tires spun as he reversed the truck away from the compound. “It’s one of the oldest tricks, the smash and grab.” He slammed on the brakes and they shuddered to a halt. From this distance he could pick up some speed before they hit the wall.
“Are you sure this’ll work? That stuff could withstand a direct shot into it,” Jane was sweating. “I’m not sure we’ll get though!”
“I guess we’ll find out,” Birch grunted and gunned the engine. With a roar the truck lurched forward and hurtled toward the shimmering glass.
“You’re crazy,” Edwards was shouting. “You’re not supposed to do this!”
“Sure,” Birch smiled and bit down on his lip, “that’s why we’re doing it.” The glass compound was now almost directly in front of them as they passed through the blur of bushes and shrubbery that were supposed to give this prison a decorative appearance. A moment later they were smashing into the clear barrier that kept these Ares in their false reality.
With a thunderous crash they burst through into the enclosure. The inmates simply stared at this new wonder that had thrust itself into their dissolving world. For that instant they stood motionless, astounded by the events that had sent everything literally crashing down around them. Quickly realization dawned in their minds and some of them, seeing the hole, dodged trough the gap before the rest of them made a rush for the breech and escaped into the zoo grounds.
Birch couldn’t see the boy among any of the fleeing forms that passed him. He scanned the dirty, marked faces but none of them matched. “I thought you said he was here,” Birch spat at Edwards.
“He is,” Edwards answered sulkily. He pointed over to a small form huddled in a corner of the enclosure. “There he is.” It was him. Shivering and alone he was slumped with his head in his hands. Birch walked over and started to lift the boy up, but the young Ares recognized him, panicked, and wriggled free. Swiftly he ran toward the gaping hole in the glass.
“Get him,” Birch shouted to Jane as he chased after him, “don’t let him out!” Jane had advanced a few steps toward him and lunged at the boy as he approached. She missed as he leapt over her outstretched arms, but as he landed she had grabbed at his foot and made him miss a step. He stumbled to the ground. He quickly bounced to his feet again, but that moments delay was enough for Birch to catch him. With a grunt he shoved the boy back to the ground and pinned him there.
“Great, you got him,” Jane muttered. ”Now what?”
“Now you get caught,” Edwards smiled.
Through the transparent walls a line of vehicles could be seen approaching swiftly. “I told you you’d never make it,” Edwards continued haughtily, “there’s nowhere for you to go.”
“We’ll see,” Birch was pulling the Ares youth to his feet and pushing him into the back of the truck. “Everybody, get back in,” he shouted over the roar of the approaching engines. “It’s our last chance!” Edwards shook his head. This was pointless, but as long as Jane was waving that rifle at him there wasn’t any choice. He’d be rescued soon enough, he just hoped Birch didn’t get them all killed before it could happen.
By now a barricade of vehicles had formed outside the compound. They blocked their exit. There was nowhere to go. They had no choice; they had to go forward. Birch pushed hard on the accelerator and little flecks of dirt spun from the tires as they flew forward. He would rush for the other side. The compound was big and it took a few moments before the glass from the far wall came into view. By this time the barricade behind them had broken up and a twisting snake of trucks was slipping through the hole after them. Other vehicles had come crashing through the glass at points closer to them and were now rushing alongside them. Birch swerved the wheel to hit one, but the enemy’s truck had instinctively dodged the maneuver and was inching ahead of them to block the way.
“Fire at them!” Birch shouted over the engine’s roar. Jane had taken up the gun position and let loose with a barrage at the truck that had now pulled ahead. It exploded in a burst of orange flame and toppled over in front of them. Birch pulled hard at the wheel and sent their truck spinning in an effort to miss it. Their tires slid on the soft earth and when they stopped they found themselves facing the mass of approaching vehicles.
“We need to get out of here,” Jane shouted as the truck settled back on its wheels. She shook her head, trying to clear her addled brain.
“Really?” Birch snapped. “Thanks, but shut-up!”
“You would be better staying here,” Edwards interrupted. “You can see they haven’t shot at you, even when you have fired at them. They’re just trying to help you, so just stop.”
“No thanks,” Birch was revving the engine again. “Nobody needs that kind of help.”
They pulled away in a burst of speed and came fast to the clear, crystal wall at the other side. With a determined grimace Birch slammed hard on the accelerator and smashed through the glass, bursting through into the crowded concourse at the other side. People screamed, scattered, and cleared a way for the truck to rush on, away from their foes.
The three vehicles closest to them followed their example and crashed through the barrier to get at them. The strain finally seemed too much for the structure though, and with a thundering crash the whole dome of glass came down on the remaining trucks in a shower of crystal rain that cut and sliced through anything under it. Looking back toward the sound Edwards shook his head.
“Wow, you’ve really burned it now,” his voice was pale and despairing. “Won’t you stop?” No one answered his plea, but Lauren raised the rifle she had been keeping trained on him a few inches higher, as though warning him that he shouldn’t try anything. He shook his head again and gazed hopefully through the rear windows. The trucks were coming. Only three had made it out, but they now chased their fleeing target with all speed.
It was a dangerous pursuit. People dodged into doorways and hugged walls as the fleeing truck sped by. An instant later they were forced back to safety again as the three vehicles chased after it. The gap was closing. Soon it would be over as they drove aimlessly along the maze of concrete walkways, seeking escape.
Inside the truck Birch sweated as he drove on. Finally he saw what he had been looking for, a gate that would take them out of the zoo and into the outside world. But the gates were closing. Birch ignored that and sent the truck smashing through, sending crumpled metal flying into the air. The truck shook violently under the impact, but kept going into the relative freedom of the city streets. Behind them the pursuing trucks pushed aside the remains of the gates and hurtled after them.
“It’s useless,” Edwards shouted. “Where will you go? You could never make it back to the plains and there’s nowhere to hide here. Every citizen will be looking for you. Just give up.”
“No,” Birch kept his eyes ahead but his voice was enough to tell Edwards his hopes of talking his way out of this were useless. “There is a way out,” Birch continued. “When I met with Michaels, he said something about a Hypnos base here in Washington, at Metro station twenty-three. That’s where we’re going. Tell me how to get there!”
“What’s the use,” Edwards’ voice was strained, “If you get there all you’ll find will be a bunch of rusting, old equipment. That’ll get you nowhere. Besides, it’s a restricted area. Nobody’s supposed to go there.”
“Just get us there,” Birch snapped. Turning in his seat he glared wildly at Edwards for a moment before looking again to the road ahead. “We’ll worry about the rust when we get there.”
Edwards si
ghed. He looked at the guns and the desperate faces around him. He knew the danger he was in. The trucks behind them seemed to have lost a little ground as they swung through the streets. They might not get caught for a little while and perhaps diverting Birch’s attention to a futile escape plan would give them the time they needed to catch him. Without that hope Edwards worried that Birch might do something even more desperate.
“Okay,” he muttered, “I’ll lead you there, but don’t expect it to do you any good.”
“Fine,” Birch answered, “Just get us there.”
FORTY-SEVEN
They raced through the city streets. Some of what they saw reminded Birch of their imaginary home in the envirodome. The world there hadn’t exactly been a lie, but an exaggeration. It was clear that they were trying to achieve the things that the illusion had shown, but they hadn’t succeeded. It was crowded in the bustling city of reality. The roads were all paved and the buildings had a less natural look. Most striking, however, was the color; it was like stepping from a Technicolor movie back into the drabness of reality.
Birch’s driving continued at a wild pace. When Edwards gave a direction he waited until the last possible moment to make the turn. He screeched around the corners, hoping this would throw off the three trucks that persisted after them. This gained them a little space, but he knew it wasn’t much, so when Edwards finally told him to stop outside one of the city’s Metro stations he rushed to get the others inside as quickly as possible.
He couldn’t get the Ares boy to move however. He just lay shivering in the corner of the truck A look of blind fear filled his eyes, and as Birch came to lift him out he snapped and growled like a wild animal.
