The Third Ten

by Jacqueline Druga

  George did. “Christ.”

  “He’s clicked,” Orson commentated.

  George began to type.

  “He’s filling in his password and user name …” said Orson. “Connected …”

  A few in the room gasped.

  “Downloading.”

  “Will you stop?” George snapped.

  The bling and the ‘you have mail’ rang out and everyone cheered.

  George winced. “Why do I have mail? I’m supposed to email him to let him know I’m connected.”

  Orson shrugged. “Click on inbox and find out.”

  George did. “Odd. It’s from Frank.” George moved the mouse. “Son of a bitch.”

  “What? What is it?” Orson asked.

  Annoyed, George looked up. “A chain letter.”

  ****

  ‘You have mail’

  “Oh, yeah.” Frank smiled. “I got mail.” He clicked don the box. It was from George.

  “What the hell is the matter with you,” The email read.

  Frank laughed. He enjoyed that email, and couldn’t wait to get one from Dean, when Dean returned. He believed he sent him three.

  “Yeah,” Frank picked up the phone when it rang.

  “Are you coming for dinner? We aren’t holding it much longer. Everyone is here.” Joe questioned.

  “Dinner?” Frank asked. “You mean lunch.”

  “No, Frank. I mean dinner. Sunday dinner.”

  Frank looked his watch. He knew it was getting dark, he thought maybe just rain clouds were moving in. “Fuck.”

  “What?’

  “It’s seven thirty.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “I ... I was really caught up. I'm on my way.”

  “We’ll wait.”

  Frank hung up and looked at his computer. He hated to do it, but he booted down and headed home.

  ****

  Her hand smacked against his lightly, but her voice blasted. “Joseph Slagel, no picking!”

  Joe winced. “Christ, Andrea.”

  “What?”

  He waved out his hand and snatched another homemade crouton from the salad. If he was going to be yelled at, he was making it worth it.

  Phone still in hand, Joe stepped from the kitchen.

  “Anything yet?” Hal asked.

  “He’s on his way. So is Jimmy.”

  “I know that Jimmy was held up in Bowman giving email instructions.”

  “Christ, what is it with everyone and this email?” Joe shook his head.

  “It’s something new. Well, old world that’s new again. Allow them their excitement.”

  “Have you checked your email?”

  “Me?” Hal shook his head. “No, good heavens who would email me.”

  Jimmy’s voice answered as he stepped in. “Frank. Sorry I’m late.”

  Hal turned with an extended hand to his brother. “Frank? Frank doesn’t use email.”

  Jimmy laughed. “Frank is the email king today. He hit me twelve times.”

  Joe asked, “What for?”

  Jimmy shrugged. “No particular reason. He’s been hitting everyone all day.”

  “I thought he was working all day.”

  “He was, I guess. Ask him.” Jimmy pointed.

  Frank was walking in. “Hey, Dad. Hal. Jimmy.” He shut the door. “Sorry I’m late.”

  “Where were you?” Joe asked.

  “Working.”

  “Where?”

  “In Beginnings.”

  Joe grumbled. “Where in Beginnings?”

  “In my office.” Frank said. “I was doing stupid reports all day. In fact. I decided since I now have a computer, I would do them on that. But I fucked up and lost it all.”

  “A ha.” Joe nodded. “You handwrite faster than you type.”

  “But it’s easier,” Frank defended. “Now I have to do all the reports over again.”

  “Jimmy said you were emailing people all day long.”

  “I was not. Liar.” Frank shook his head. “Where’s Andrea?”

  “In the kitchen.”

  Frank leaned to the kitchen doorway. “Hey Andrea!”

  “Frank! Glad you made it!’

  Joe crinkled his face. “Why does he get her to talk?”

  “You are so rude,” Frank said. “Not wanting our stepmother to talk.”

  Andrea emerged into the dining room. “Did you say something Frank?”

  Joe tilted his head. “Why does she hear him when he speaks normally and no one else?”

  Hal chuckled. “He has a big mouth.”

  “Not as big as Andrea’s now,” Joe mumbled.

  “Oh!” Frank snapped. “Wrong. Rude.”

  “What?” Andrea asked.

  “Dad said you have a big mouth! And not to let you talk!”

  Andrea’s eyes widened and she stormed from the dining room.

  “Very nice, big brother.” Hal said. “Way to get Dad in trouble.”

  Joe shrugged. “Doesn’t bother me. When she’s mad, she gives me the silent treatment. Thanks, Frank.”

  ****

  The sky was crystal clear, and the air chilled, yet not too cold. Joe sat with his sons on the front porch of his home.

  That’s what I want,” Joe said.

  Frank exhaled and stood up. “I understand where you’re coming from. But how do we know Robbie will want to do this.”

  Hal interjected. “Robbie will love the responsibility. He’s there, Frank. He’s face to face.”

  “And...” Jimmy added. “George likes Robbie. He’ll get a better reception from the news than you, Dad, or Hal will.”

  Joe nodded. “Robbie informing George of the Great War and the time machine news is the best option.”

  “Will we brief him ahead of time?” Frank asked.

  “Absolutely,” Joe answered.

  “If I may?” Hal said. “I think it’s good to give this to Robbie.”

  “If you think about it,” Jimmy said. “We’re already changing the course of the war because we’re getting George’s help ahead of time.”

  “Anything to change the outcome,” Joe said. “And Robbie, right now, needs this. I’d feel better with a face to face. Just …” Slowly Joe stood up. “Holy Mother of God.”

  “What?” Frank asked.

  Hal saw and he, too stood. “Good Lord.”

  Jimmy swallowed.

  “What?” Frank asked.

  Joe instructed. “Hal, contact Jordan and the sky guy. Let’s see what he says.”

  “I’ll have to run into Jordan, they don’t have phones.”

  “Email them,” Frank said.

  “They don’t have email.” Hal replied. “I’ll ride in.”

  “I didn’t think it was real,” Joe commented looking out.

  “What?” Frank asked.

  “It’s real,” Jimmy says. “And here.”

  Finally, Frank caught on. He looked out to where his father and brothers stared. The spot in the sky, bright and large. Frank grinned. “Oh, yeah, the meteor.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  March 12th

  When the butt of the rifle smashed against his face, it not only broke Mike’s nose, but left him unconscious for a couple days.

  George didn’t worry. He actually didn’t care. When the doctors told him Mike was out of danger he had him moved back to a holding cell.

  But it was time to face him, to find out where his mind set was.

  Although George was preparing to find a place for Robbie when he got out of the hospital, he made it a point to stop and see Mike.

  The guard opened the cage, but stood by, just in case.

  George wasn’t frightened, Mike didn’t intimidate him. In fact, Mike looked pathetic.

  Mike never stood. He sat on the edge of the cot, hands folded to his face. He raised his eyes. “I could kill you with my bare hands right now,” he told George.

  “You probably could. Then you’d die.”

  “You think I c
are?” Mike asked.

  “See that’s what I don’t get. Why you want to die. Why you have a death wish.”

  “You wiped out my town.”

  George chuckled. “Oh, I could have done far worse. I hear you have people left.”

  Mike slowly turned the other way.

  “Men are still standing in Lodi,” George said. “That was not my intent.”

  “And my intent wasn’t to have you standing here either.”

  George shrugged. “I figured as much. Was it your intent to bring down the mother of your grandchild?”

  “If she was in the way.”

  “Was it your intent to bring down Robbie Slagel?”

  Mike looked up. “If he was in the way.”

  “Well, if it was your intention to bring down those who stood in your way, then Mike you passed. You didn’t fail. You didn’t kill them, but you brought them down. You failed see... to bring me down.”

  “I’m still alive. Once I get out of here, you won’t be.”

  George nodded. “Right now you’re in an eight by eight room, encased by concrete, secured by thick steel bars, and two guards. You gonna get out?

  “I may.”

  “Then you’ll be shot. I was nice once, I won’t be nice again.”

  “Why didn’t you kill me?” Mike asked.

  “I don’t know.” George said. “I just don’t know. Clouded judgment. Who knows? I made the mistake of letting you live once. I won’t again. Enjoy your new home Mike Manis. You’re gonna be here until you rot.” George turned, opened the bars and walked out. There was no more to be said, and a world of other things to do.

  ****

  Joe cleaned out his inbox of his email

  Delete

  Delete

  Delete

  Delete

  Fuckin’ Frank.

  Delete

  Delete

  Delete

  Delete

  Goddamn it. And just because, he opened a new message, typed the words, ‘son of a bitch’ and sent. He knew he was opening himself up for a world of heartache with Frank via the email, but it was a chance he had to take.

  Knock-knock.

  “Yeah,” Joe called out.

  “Hey, Dad, Hal called. Did he get here yet?” Frank asked as he walked in.

  Joe raised his head, looked around. “No. Gemma dropped flowers off for you.” Staring at his computer, Joe pointed back with his thumb to the arrangement on the floor.

  “Why did she drop them off here?”

  “She said your office is filled.”

  “Yeah, it is. The wedding is going to be awesome.”

  “If your bride makes it back.”

  “Thanks.”

  Frank pulled out a chair. “What are you doing?”

  “Deleting your emails.”

  “Did you read them?”

  “No.”

  “Uh, Dad, that’s not right. You should read them. I spent time on them.”

  “Why should I read them Frank? They’re all chain letters, you moron.”

  “Not all. I sent the one to you about schedules.”

  “Goddamn it.” Joe quickly maneuvered. “Now I have to check my delete folder.”

  “You should have read them. I know El will read hers when she comes home.”

  “I’m guessing you sent her a ton.”

  Frank shrugged. “A lot.”

  “Christ, Frank. How much are you emailing?”

  “A lot.”

  At that moment, Hal walked in. “Sorry if I’m late. I couldn’t get out of Jordan. I called Frank.”

  “He told me,” Joe said.

  Hal closed the door.

  “Hal, did you get my email?” Frank asked.

  “As a matter of fact, Frank. No, I haven’t. I haven’t checked my email at all.”

  “At all?”

  “At all.”

  Joe looked up. “Then this makes sense.” He held a paper.

  “What is it?” Hal asked.

  “From Danny.” Joe tossed it Hal’s way. “He said to tell you to check your inbox, you’re overloading the system.”

  Hal looked at Frank. “How many emails did you send me?”

  “A lot.”

  “Have a seat, Hal,” Joe told him. “We’ll get started.”

  Hal did.

  Joe said, “I spoke to Robbie. Frank spoke to him. He’s ready. He fully understands what he can and cannot say and will get back to us.”

  Hal nodded. “Any idea when he’ll be talking to George.”

  “He said today.” Joe said. “Now, what’s up?”

  “Well, I had quite a nice chat with our local sky guy,” Hal reported. “The meteor arrived early and tracking it’s course told him it had to have been ping ponged by another object.”

  Joe whistled. “It could have been bad for us.”

  “Oh, yes, it could have.” Hal nodded. “It seems the meteor landed in four pieces. All four landed within hundreds of miles, he estimates.

  “Which would be?”

  “No ocean hit. Land. Asia.” Hal said.

  “Makes sense.” Frank said.

  “What does?” Joe asked.

  “I’ve been racking my brain trying to figure it out. We have this Great War. We’re invaded by a hell of a lot of people. I’ve been trying to figure out not only where but also why. Before the plague, we had one-tenth the people that Asia had. It only goes to figure, post plague we have one-tenth the amount of survivors they have. Homeland in ruins. If they had knowledge about this, they planned. They had to find a new home. And that only makes sense that the new home is here.”

  ****

  George had found him a little place to stay in Washington DC. The same hotel Robbie stayed in during the Savage Wars.

  It wasn’t much, but it would help him rest until he was able enough to fly and head back.

  Doctors ordered him rest and continuous blood counts. Robbie was feeling better and just wanted to fly to Lodi. He could rest there under the care of Dean and Ellen.

  He’d leave in a day.

  But first. He had the important task of talking to George.

  He called for an official meeting.

  That surprised George. The word ‘official’ made him pause. Robbie discussing important matters. Perhaps it was about Mike. George didn’t know.

  Until he asked George to bring in his advisors. With that, George had an inkling.

  The meeting room was dusty and George had people clean it and stock it. Robbie was on crutches and the last to arrive. When he did, George was seated with four other men.

  “I wish I had documents and paper work. I don’t,” Robbie said. “As you know I was unprepared for my stay, and was given this job to talk to you.” He paused. “I’m not sure how much you’ve talked to these men and what they know about the regressionator, but you know, George and that’s what’s important.”

  George nodded.

  “A few weeks ago, being the annoying brothers we are, me, Frank and Hal convinced Jason to let us try the new key for the regressionator. He sent us a year into the future. No biggie, right,” Robbie shrugged. “But when we got there, nothing was there.”

  “Did he over shot the time?” George asked,

  Robbie shook his head. “Nope. It was white. Bleak, and the lab was in ruins. Jason showed up in a radiation suit.”

  George shook his head. “We would not have destroyed Beginnings, Robbie.” George stated. “If we wanted to do that we would have. Beginnings is too valuable. Did the lab get destroyed on its own? Jason used Plutonium …”

  With a nod of his head, Robbie held up his finger. “That was our conclusion as well. Then Jason, sitting in his lab got a message, from himself. Through the computer. Do not send us through, the machine was going to break down, etc. But that wasn’t the problem. The message was. In a nutshell, within a year, this war happens. It’s called the Great War, and we nearly lose.”

  George rubbed his chin. “We as in the United S
tates.”

  “It’s an outside source that comes in. Because the message said we, Beginnings and the Society form an alliance.”

  George spoke up softly. “When we hit Lodi, Frank alluded to that fact, I pulled a cease fire because one of the things I have said and said again was one day the East will make its way over. Can you imagine how many survived over there? That has to be where it comes from.”

  “That’s what we are thinking,” Robbie said.

  “They didn’t destroy Beginnings. We did,” George said.

  “Why do you say that?” Robbie asked.

  “It’s valuable. It’s the hub. So …” George sighed out. “The message from the future states this Great War takes place. I’m gonna assume we get invaded and we didn’t see it coming. By the time we knew about it, they were here, and by the time we gathered and joined forces, they were kicking our asses. We probably wiped out ourselves to control them”

  Robbie nodded. “But unfortunately we are working to descramble the entire message, some got garbled. There’s something though, and we don’t know what it is. You supposedly know about it. They call it a treasure.” Robbie shrugged. “Jason said if we knew ahead of time we could have had a better defense for the Great War. And to put Henry on it. Or something. Do you know what that is, George?”

  “Absolutely,” George said. “And I was just about to tell you about it. You realize, Robbie by just getting that message and coming to me, we have already changed the future.”

  “Oh, I know it.”

  “A message from the future is as good as God himself telling us something. It’s our defense right there. We don’t know when exactly, we know within a year, so we can’t piss around. We have to start now to prepare. It could be tomorrow, next week, next month. But we have to start. You guys know this,” George said. “And that little treasure, Robbie, is the key to changing it more than you realize.”

  Robbie glided back into his chair. George was giving it up; at least that’s what Robbie thought.

  Mission accomplished.

  ****

  It was still an early day for Joe, and he wasn’t planning on going home, but when Robbie called, he locked up, told Frank to hang tight at his house that he was on the way.

  There wasn’t time to wait for Hal to come in from Bowman, he’d call him, but Frank needed to know the information first.