Gravity Rising (The Parallel Multiverse Book 2)

by Ward Wagher

  “What will the police say?” Maggie asked.

  “I will deal with the police,” Wilton said. “Whatever is happening goes beyond their jurisdiction.”

  “What are you going to do with me?”

  Larry turned to look at Seb, who was shackled to one of the back seats next to what was probably a guard.

  “That remains to be seen,” Wilton said. “You would be wise to say nothing for the moment until we can sit down to speak with you.”

  “I was just trying to get Maggie away from those monsters.”

  Wilton nodded but said nothing further.

  “What on Earth happened at the lab?” Maggie asked.

  Larry looked at her and shook his head fractionally. He decided that if Jasper Wilton didn’t want to talk in the aircraft, he would oblige him. Plus, he had serious doubts about Seb at that moment.

  “Are you okay?” Maggie asked.

  “Things are really starting to hurt,” he replied.

  “We will land at the hospital in Indianapolis,” Wilton said. “I don’t know if you have looked in a mirror, but you definitely need medical attention.”

  The storm that had blown up as a result of the battle at the lab was moving eastward, and it appeared to be growing. The thunderhead was now assuming the classic anvil shape. The pilot was obviously giving the storm wide berth. After experiencing that wild ride with Arthur and Abby back in the winter, Larry was not disposed to complain.

  Thirty-five minutes later the craft sat down on the pad behind the hospital in Indianapolis. A group of wheelchairs and their minders were waiting at the pad. Maggie, Larry, and Abby were quickly wheeled into the trauma center and received medical attention. And, Jasper Wilton disappeared. Two men remained behind and followed them when they were taken to the fourth-floor conference room.

  “I feel like I just came home again,” Larry said.

  “What do you mean?” Maggie asked.

  “This is where Arthur parked me when you were in the hospital, here. I got to know the room well.”

  “I wonder why they put us in here,” Maggie commented. “They should have put you in one of the hospital rooms.”

  “The doctor that treated me said the abrasions were superficial. He seemed more concerned about my wrist.”

  Maggie looked at the cast on Larry’s arm. “They seemed to fix you up soon enough.”

  “I’ve got to come back tomorrow when the orthopedics guy is here. They may need to operate on it.”

  “And they want the orthopedic guy to look at my shoulder, too,” Abby added. “It still hurts.”

  “Was it really dislocated?” Larry asked.

  “Oh, you can say that again,” she said. “I nearly passed out when the doc here yanked it back into place.”

  “Yanked?” Maggie repeated.

  “Squirrelly little guy, for a doctor. They took an X-ray, and after he looked at it he came over and started asking questions about it. Then, in the middle of a sentence, he just grabbed it and jerked. Didn’t warn me or anything.”

  “I would have slugged him,” Maggie said. “I can’t believe somebody would do something like that.”

  “He told me it was better just to get it over with, rather than preparing you for the pain.”

  Larry grinned. “Was he right?”

  “Probably.” Then, Abby smiled. “But, I do like Maggie’s suggestion. I was so shocked I didn’t know what to do.”

  “It was probably a good thing you didn’t hit him,” Larry said.

  “I did swear at him,” Abby said. “I usually don’t talk that way. He just laughed.”

  “The question is,” Larry said, “is what are we doing here?”

  “I think Mr. Wilton needed to notify everyone about Arthur.” A tear rolled down her face. “I worked for him since just after I got out of school. He was the nicest, kindest man I think I have ever met.”

  Maggie rolled her wheelchair over and put an arm around Abby. “We all loved him. I think he was a great man. I can’t believe he is gone, just like that.”

  There was a knock at the door to the conference room, and Jasper Wilton walked in.

  “Please pardon me for keeping you waiting. I had several things to attend to that could not wait.”

  “Thank you for getting us to medical care, Sir,” Larry said.

  He walked over to one of the sofas and sat down across from Abby. “Everyone, sit down, please. I need you to tell me what you saw. We observed part of it from the airport, and when we were in the air, but there are a lot of missing pieces.”

  Abby sat on her sofa staring at the floor. “I still do not understand what I saw.”

  “What did you see?” Larry asked.

  “We walked into the lobby of the lab building, and there was nobody around, as usual. Mr. Winkleman knew Larry would be in the lab itself. I heard a pop behind me. I turned to look, and this stout old lady stood at one side of the room. Arthur looked shocked. Alex and Brad immediately moved towards her.”

  “She reached out and smashed their heads together.” Abby’s voice wavered. “I heard the crunch of their skulls. I was so shocked I just stood there. Then she grabbed Mr. Winkleman. She broke his neck. Just like that.”

  “It was like something straight out of a nightmare. Next thing I knew, the old lady had hold of me and I was flying through the air. I think I finally woke up to what was going on when I hit the wall. I think she would have finished the job, except she saw Larry through the door.”

  “Where did she come from?” Maggie asked.

  Abby raised her hands in a helpless gesture. “This keeps playing over and over in my mind. The only thing I can come up with is whoever this was is not human. And what happened outside?”

  “Seb came along at just the right time,” Larry said. “I threw Maggie in the back seat of his car but didn’t have time to get in myself. The old lady knocked me down. I looked up and saw Mrs. Willow running across the grass between College Main and the lab. I mean she was bounding like a deer. I thought she was coming to kill me, but she went after the other old lady.”

  “This is just so weird,” Maggie said. “I missed all that. Where did the storm come from?”

  “Mrs. Willow and the other old lady started throwing lightning bolts at each other,” Larry added. “And then two more old ladies just popped in and joined the battle.”

  “So, it was three against one?” Wilton asked.

  Larry nodded. “Yes. The first old lady seemed to be holding her own, though.”

  “And you say they just popped in?” Wilton continued.

  “Right. I mean, there was a loud popping sound, and they were just there. And while they were fighting, storm clouds started rolling overhead.”

  Wilton turned to Abby. “You managed to get the grasshopper into the air. Give me some details, please.”

  “I saw the fireworks through the window, and Larry lying off to the side. I thought I could get him out of there. I ran around the other side of the building and got into the grasshopper.”

  “With a dislocated shoulder?”

  “It really hurt, Sir.”

  “And, you picked up Larry, and just flew off?”

  “I know it sounds strange, Sir,” Larry said, “But I was afraid for my wife. I didn’t know where Seb went. And, you’ll pardon me, but I really didn’t want to stick around for the fight. There was a tornado spooling up.”

  Wilton chewed on a fingernail as he thought. He looked at Larry.

  “According to Sebastian, that first old lady, who or whatever she was, had threatened to kill his parents if he didn’t do what she told him.”

  “What did she want him to do?” Maggie asked.

  “This is the strange part. She instructed him to stop Lawrence’s gravitational work any way he could. He had some thought of escaping with you, Margaret, and holding you hostage against Larry’s behavior.”

  “And I really thought he was our friend,” Larry said. “A lot of things are starting to make sen
se. Not all of it, though.”

  “Sebastian cannot stay here, obviously,” Wilton continued. “I made arrangements to pick up his parents. I can place them with him in a small town I know about. He was as much a victim as you.”

  Larry was thinking furiously. Finally, he spoke. “So, somebody really didn’t want me working on this stuff.” He shook his head. “That’s why all these weird things were happening. But who and why?”

  “That, I do not know,” Wilton said. “I was hoping you could enlighten me. Your work is important. It needs to continue.”

  “Is there even a school left in Urbana?”

  Wilton snorted. “I used to think they were silly for going to the expense of tornado proofing their buildings. Talk about an unusual city ordinance. However, there was very little damage to the college or the town. They will have some fallen trees to clean up, but nobody was hurt. So, the answer is yes. There is still a school there, and you two still have jobs.”

  “I thought Arthur was financing that. Who is going to take care of that with him gone?” Maggie asked.

  “Oh, he was very specific in his will,” Wilton replied. “He left a lot of money to the school. And, both of your positions are fully funded for life. And, honestly, people, what Lawrence is doing is so important, that if the funding runs low, I will support it.”

  “That’s assuming someone else doesn’t try to stop me,” Larry said.

  “That is very true, I’m afraid,” Wilton said. “I would like you two to stay here in Indianapolis until I can get to the bottom of this. I think if we put you back at the hotel, you will be safe enough.”

  Larry stood up and began pacing the room.

  “There was so much going on all at once,” he said.

  He stopped and spun around to look at Maggie. “You said you moved your legs?”

  She nodded, her eyes glowing. “I think it was the fear or the stress, but I definitely got them to move a little bit. I told the doctor here, and they want to run me through some tests. Who knows?”

  “That would be one good thing to come out of this,” Wilton said. “But, we have an incredible mess to sort out.”

  “Anything we can do to help, of course,” Abby said.

  “Thank you, Abby,” Wilton said. “I am definitely going to need your help. It seems to me you were closer to Arthur than just about anyone.”

  “I don’t know about that,” Abby replied, “but he did talk to me a lot.”

  They were interrupted by another knock at the door. Wilton stood up and walked over to open the door. He cursed and backed up two steps. Mrs. Willow stepped into the room and seemed to glare at everyone in it.

  CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN

  Jasper Wilton backed up further as Mrs. Willow marched into the room. Larry quickly pulled Maggie’s wheelchair back and stood in front of her.

  “What have you done with my guards?” Wilton demanded.

  “Your guards have not been injured. It is necessary that I speak with you.”

  “You didn’t kill us before, and now you’re here to finish the job?” Larry asked. “I’m getting really tired of this.”

  She sneered at Larry and then sniffed.

  “I am not here to kill anyone. My task was to protect you all, particularly you, Mr. Berthold.”

  “You had a funny way of showing it,” he responded.”

  “Nonetheless, it is important that you complete your research and development in Urbana. I have been placed here to protect you against inimical forces.”

  “What inimical forces?” Larry asked.

  “You are not human, are you?” Abby suggested.

  “No.” she replied.

  The others waited for the old lady to explain further, but she said nothing. Finally, Wilton spoke.

  “You are going to have to provide more information than that. I cannot in good conscience allow the Bertholds to return to Urbana without some hard and fast assurances for their safety. They were nearly killed.”

  “I do not have to tell you anything,” she snapped at Wilton. “Even though I must deal with self-important humans, I do not enjoy it.”

  “Then why might you be here, pray tell?” Wilton asked.

  “As I already said, if you had been listening, that I came to tell you it was safe to return to Urbana.”

  “And why should I take your word for it?” Wilton said. “You have been present in nearly every part of this adventure, and I think everyone is rightfully suspicious. Several people have been murdered, including the leader of our nation. People are demanding answers. It’s not just me.”

  “And I am under no obligation to provide answers to you. I do not particularly care what answers you devise for the people who are asking. It is simply not my problem.”

  “So, you do not particularly care whether we live or die,” Abby commented. “Isn’t that what you are saying.”

  “I honestly could care less,” Mrs. Willow said.

  “Then why should we believe you?”

  Mrs. Willow turned red and seemed to swell out. Outside, they heard a rumble of thunder.

  “Oh, for pity’s sake,” Maggie said. “Are you going to start throwing lightning bolts at us?”

  “I am sorely tempted,” Mrs. Willow said through clenched teeth.

  There was a sound like a balloon popping, and another old lady was standing in the room. She eased over to Mrs. Willow.

  “Willow, you are not handling this well. Please leave for now.”

  Mrs. Willow glared at the intruder, then she disappeared with the sound of a bubble popping. The new visitor turned to the group.

  “Please accept my apologies for Mrs. Willow’s attitude. She is sometimes… impatient.”

  “And who might you be?” Jasper Wilton asked.

  The old lady shrugged. “I am Mrs. Wallace. I know that does not mean anything to you. We are a group of people who are tasked with interacting with people like Mr. Berthold, here. It is important that he complete his research.”

  “I think it’s important, too,” Larry said. “But, why this circus?”

  “Let us just say that there were some individuals who were opposed to your accomplishments, Mr. Berthold. It required the efforts of three of us to solve that problem. Unfortunately, those activities were rather more energetic than we desired.”

  “What about the people who died?” Abby asked, suddenly. “What about Arthur Winkleman?”

  Mrs. Wallace looked very sad.

  “Allow me to apologize for not watching out particularly for Mr. Winkleman, Abby. By the time we realized what was happening, he was already dead. And we regret the deaths of his guards. If I had thought to look at that time segment, we would have intervened sooner.”

  “So, you’re saying it was just an accident?” Abby spoke louder. “You allowed a wonderful friend and a great man to die, and it was just an accident? And how do you know my name?”

  “Abby. I will always regret my error. Arthur Winkleman was indeed a great man. But, his death, no matter how tragic, was in the Maker’s plan. I am not normally allowed to give such information, but within another year, Mr. Winkleman would be dead from natural causes. And he would have died in great pain. It is perfectly right to grieve.”

  “Why are you even here?”

  “We are tasked with guiding some events. As I said, Mr. Berthold’s work is very important. It is so important, that others made great efforts to stop it.”

  “But, why is it so important?” Maggie asked. “I mean, what he is doing will bring great benefit, but so was Arthur Winkleman’s work.”

  Mrs. Wallace nodded. “Because of Mr. Berthold’s work, mankind will reach the stars. It is important that his work is completed and be completed in this milieu. It is the Maker’s plan.”

  “But, who are you, anyway?” Wilton asked. “Obviously you are not human. Are you from another world?”

  “I am ruBrack,” Mrs. Wallace said. “We are not from another world. We are tasked with keeping things on the paths lai
d out by the Maker. Unfortunate, we are not perfect creatures.”

  “I should hope to say you aren’t,” Larry commented.

  Mrs. Wallace chuckled softly. “As you are not either, Mr. Berthold.”

  Maggie laughed. “You got that one right.”

  “So, we just go back to what we were doing, and pretend everything will be fine?” Wilton asked.

  “Everything will be fine,” Mrs. Wallace said. “Margaret and Lawrence will return to Urbana to pick up their work again. Mrs. Willow will continue to live next door. You will be at peace.”

  “But Mrs. Willow hates me,” Larry said.

  “I will speak with Mrs. Willow,” the old lady said. “Hate is a strong word, and probably not accurate. Let us say that she gets impatient with you. She needs to learn patience.”

  “And how are we going to explain everything that happened?” Wilton asked. “I don’t mind telling you I am rather exasperated about this. In fact, I am furious.”

  “As well you should be. All I ask is that you work to minimize discussion of the ruBracks. We work best in the shadows.”

  “The events in Urbana were somewhat out in the open if you know what I mean. A lot of people witnessed it.”

  “And there was a lot of confusion,” Mrs. Wallace said. “In time, the talk will die down. The events of today will ultimately become legend. Other people will not be disposed to believe the stories they hear. As you rule, you will find it works best to minimize discussion of these happenings. And I suggest you not discuss our part in it. Do you have any questions?”

  Jasper Wilton laughed. “Oh, maybe one or two dozen. You… ruBracks seem to get around. Where did you come from?”

  “It is not that I do not want to tell you more,” she said, “but I am not allowed. If it became widely known that we guide some events, our task would become much more difficult.”

  “But, why do you do this?”

  “As I said, it is in the Maker’s plan. There are those who wish to thwart the Maker, and He does not allow that. In some cases, this requires our direct intervention. Some very evil people wished ill of Mr. Berthold. I can assure you that Mr. and Mrs. Berthold will be unmolested in the future. Now, if there is nothing else?”