The Third Ten

by Jacqueline Druga

  “Any time.” She said.

  Frank walked to the door and stopped. “Oh hey Dean. Don’t tell Hal or Robbie about the coyote. They’ll try to one up me and get it. This is my hunt.”

  “And it’s our secret,” Dean said.

  “Thanks.” Just as Frank opened the door he was faced with Jimmy.

  “Hey, I was just about to buzz,” Jimmy said.

  “And I was leaving, all yours.” Frank held out his hand.

  “Actually, Frank, I came to see you,” said Jimmy.

  “What’s up?”

  Jimmy looked around Frank’s body to see if Dean and Ellen were occupied and lifted a sheet of paper to Frank. “You have a situation.”

  <><><><>

  What would the Fonz do?

  To say he was frazzled would be an understatement. It was one chain of events after another. Roy, the clone, or Roy Replica, as he preferred to be called, was actually contemplating moving to that new place he heard them speak of called Creedville. Eavesdropping allowed him to know they walked around in cloaks all day.

  He wasn’t quite sure what a cloak was, or how he would get to Creedville. He could be his genetic counterpart, but it was risky.

  Each day that passed. Each day when he had to go out and seek food, was a risk.

  Admittedly, it wasn’t as difficult as when his counterpart was away. That was tricky.

  He had to go out only at night, and only when the guard watch was minimal.

  He kept asking himself what would the Fonz do? After the triple close calls of the morning, he just wanted to get his time machine working again. And he couldn’t even do that.

  The current, barbaric time machine wasn’t secure and it was a possibility he’d be zapped away forever.

  He was stuck.

  Too many multiple trips in one time period, combined with what he guessed was the automatic shutdown he added as his own safeguard, backfired on him.

  There was something he had to do and had forgotten about. Secure his own future. He had to. If by chance his presence was discovered, a simple destruction of his embryonic clone would cause what he believed to be an instantaneous, visual ripple for everyone.

  That was theoretic, but a very plausible theory.

  Had Roy never been born, the HG Wells wouldn’t have been invented, and so much, much more than people in Beginnings realized, would ripple before their eyes.

  It was quite possible that time would collide.

  A disastrous paradox.

  The results and possibilities were mind boggling and endless.

  So he had to secure his future. That was easy enough. He knew for certain Dean hadn’t destroyed all the clones and never does. So he switched his own with another. Moved his embryonic clone to another section of the freezer and noted who he was. Funny, he laughed; because that’s the story he was told.

  His clone was discovered in a protected space.

  But doing that meant he had to go out in public. Before sun up. Only a few were out at that time.

  It was the most human to human interaction he had.

  Any time trip interaction, Roy planned out. Planned out what he had to say. Wrote it down, rehearsed it. He didn’t have that option in Beginnings.

  It was improvisation at its best.

  Roy didn’t know how to improvise.

  His interaction skills were nil.

  He found out in his twenties that a ‘mother’ wasn’t a computer but a real live person.

  He never knew his mother.

  He knew his father. Or rather genetic partner. Not personally, not much, but from text books. Everyone in Beginnings made the textbooks, they were the new history.

  He drew upon the only interactive knowledge he had and that was gained from watching old shows that were given to him on disks.

  The first person he ran into was Josephine. Roy wanted to run. Run fast.

  He recalled his first run in with her. He had snuck into the Social Hall, and she was sleeping behind the bar.

  “Who’s there?” she asked in her drunken crass way, popping up from behind the bar.

  “Me,” Roy answered.

  “Ah, you, huh? Out looking for a little action?”

  Roy didn’t know how to answer that, he wasn’t sure what she meant by action, so he nodded.

  “Ya came to the right place,” She winked and then she walked to him, doing something that took Roy by surprise. She reached for his penis, cupping it in her hands though his jeans. “Like that?”

  Of course he liked his male anatomy. It provided him with the chance to relive the bladder pressure.

  “Do you know what this thing can do?”

  “Yes. Yes, I do.” Roy asked.

  “You know, this bad boy can do a lot of work when it’s … standing at attention.”

  Roy blinked. “Attention?”

  Josephine raised a bony finger upwards.

  Roy understood, “Yes, I suppose.”

  “Know how that happens?” she winked.

  Roy smiled. “Yes. It starts with the brain. A message from the brain causes the relaxation of the corpora cavernosa muscles. This allows blood to flow in and fill the open spaces. The blood then creates a pressure in the corpora cavernosa, making the penis expand. The tunica albuginea trap the blood in the corpora cavernosa, this is how the erection is sustained. But as I said, it begins with the brain. A thought, usually, fantasy; mainly an arousing visual can start the process.”

  “An arousing visual, huh?” At that moment she ripped open her blouse exposing her breasts. “How’s that for arousing?”

  Roy ran.

  That night he ran.

  He had later learned through rumors that the wicked old woman was telling people he had used his erection on her.

  The thought of that disturbed him.

  And there he was face to face with her again in the early morning hours of Beginnings.

  She raised her hand high, stumbling drunk, and yelled out, “Wanna fool around.”

  Games or no games, he wasn’t going to fall for her Tom Foolery.

  So he spun on his heels and took a different route. The Fonz wouldn’t allow himself to be in that position. Roy felt like the Fonz with her and the effect he seemed to have on Josephine.

  But no sooner did he turn, there stood Dan from Security.

  “You are out and about early,” Dan said.

  “Running?”

  “Running?” Roy asked.

  “Getting in shape?”

  “Actually, my body is in top physical shape for its age and weight. Should I begin running, I could burn off more calories than needed; therefore I wouldn’t sustain the desired weight needed to make my body healthy.”

  “Oh, yeah?” Dan asked. “Wow. OK. See ya.”

  He left.

  Roy was relieved.

  Just as he made it to the tunnel area he saw Henry.

  Immediately he wondered if anyone slept in Beginnings.

  But he couldn’t remember his name. Was it Henry? Danny. Roy made the mistake, he thought he was cordial to just nod an acknowledgement when passing someone. Keeping his head slightly down, hands in his pockets, he merely gave a nod, and a, ‘hey’.

  “So, are you being a dick or what?” Henry asked, stopping in the tunnel.

  Roy turned around. “Why would I change my name?”

  “I’m not talking about your name. I’m talking about your attitude.”

  “I’m sorry. Did I do something wrong?”

  “No, you never do anything wrong.”

  “Thank you.”

  Henry shook his head. “Man.”

  “Yes.” Roy smiled. “Man.” He pointed to Henry. “See ya, Danny.” He turned back around.

  “Henry,” Henry corrected. “My name is Henry.”

  “I’m ... I’m sorry. In this light you look alike.”

  Henry gasped. “That was like the worst racist remark you ever made. Next time you need a favor, don’t come to me.”

  “I
won’t.”

  Whatever was said, or however he took it, Henry stormed off.

  Roy finished his mission, but not without a bad case of nerves. He returned to the trailer before dawn, and huddled in a corner. Taking solace in being alone

  Solace. Isolation. Seclusion. That was Roy’s way of life, and the way he preferred to live. He just wanted to get back to the future.

  If he couldn’t get back, there was always Wisconsin. He dreamed of going to Wisconsin. A place he firmly believed was untouched by plague or war. At least in his mind, anyplace was less stressful than Beginnings.

  <><><><>

  .

  The horse brushed by Elliott so closely, he nearly spun on his heels losing his balance. Was he not paying attention? Walking in his own world?

  “Sorry, Sgt. Ryder,” the young soldier yelled out as he continued his ride down the main street.

  Elliott watched. The horse moves side by side, to the left, right.

  He had to be new. Once and a while, a new rider would lose control. Such as the private, he had begun to scream for help.

  The Captain saw it. He knew what was happening. In fact, Hal stood at the corral fence, holding it open, laughing.

  “You released him?” Elliott asked.

  “Yes, it was funny.”

  “He could get hurt.”

  “He could,” Hal shrugged. “Net time he’ll learn to listen to instruction and poke his sword into the horse. Accident or no accident. What brings you here, Elliott? Other than to question my authority on riders. No pun intended.”

  “No pun taken. I just received a phone call from your brother.”

  Hal patted his chest, then pockets. “Shit. My phone.”

  Elliot held it up. “I took the call.”

  “See,” Hal grinned this is what makes you a good right hand man.”

  “My ability to be a secretary.”

  “Yes.”

  “Hmm.”

  “Hmm?” Hal asked. “Did you just Hmm me?”

  “I believe I did. Your brother needs you in Beginnings stat.”

  “Is there a family emergency?” Hal asked.

  “No, he said it’s for a meeting.”

  “Another meeting? Is this the same one we’re having tomorrow?”

  “No, I asked. This one’s not about the clone. It’s about something else. He wouldn’t tell me anymore.”

  “Good Fucking God, Elliott.”

  Elliott stumbled back. “Good ... fucking God. Did you just add the ‘F’ word to you stock phrase.”

  “Yes, yes, I did.” Hal snatched the phone from Elliott’s hand. “And you would too, with a brother like Frank. Him and these stupid meetings. Good …” He dialed. “Fucking God.”

  <><><><>

  “Hal!” Frank blasted in the phone. “I don’t care. No, let me repeat that. I really don’t fucking care. It’s ten fuckin miles from there to here.” He grunted. “Take a fuckin horse, or drive. Be here in one hour. Fine! Send Sgt. Ryder. But you’ll be sorry you missed it.” Frank hung up. “Fuckin asshole.”

  A single knock on the trailer door, and Robbie poked his head in. “Hey, Frank.”

  “Hey, Robbie.”

  “You were calling? I can’t get a signal in the lab for some reason.”

  “I did call. Yeah, I just wanted to have a meeting in an hour.”

  “You’re getting pretty good with these meetings.”

  “I fucking hate them. I wish everything would happen at once so I can have one meeting.”

  “And this can’t wait until tomorrow.”

  Frank cocked his eyebrows and shook his head. “So … no signal. Did you talk to Danny about that?”

  “Yeah, he said a too small space with the computers may be interfering. I needed to speak to you about something anyhow.”

  “Come in.”

  Robbie did.

  “What’s up?”

  “We have a problem.”

  “Fuck.”

  “What?”

  “Another one?”

  “Sort of. I have a problem.” Robbie pulled up a chair. “I was running a fingerprint match. I figured why waste time on searching.”

  “Run Dean’s.”

  “Exactly.” Robbie held out his hand. “I did.”

  “And?”

  “No match.” Robbie handed him a sheet of paper. “I ran it four times Frank. Dean’s prints do not match the prints on the explosive or timer.”

  Frank raised his eyes. “Would the clone have different prints?”

  “No. Same.” Robbie said.

  “This doesn’t make sense.”

  “Not at all. The clone was there. Seconds before the explosion. I thought for sure he set the device.”

  “Obviously he didn’t.” Frank ran his hand over his goatee. “You know what this means don’t you?”

  Robbie nodded. “The clone may have dropped it off. But he wasn’t the one who built and set it. I thought we had it. I was certain.”

  “Someone else was in on killing, Dad.” Frank exhaled. “But who?”

  “I have to start running prints. Everyone’s. Where do I start? Who do I start with?”

  “I don’t know, little brother, I don’t know,” Frank said defeated. “Who would want to kill, Dad? You have your work cut out.”

  <><><><>

  His trip was delayed by three hours. As long as he was flying in during daylight hours, George didn’t mind the delay.

  Besides, the reason wasn’t a bad reason. Bertha was up and really motivated. The doctors were impressed at her quick recovery and felt it was going to be even less time until she was back on her feet.

  More so than Bertha on her feet, George was glad she was in her right mind. She remembered everything and her brain was what he wanted most. She knew what she was doing.

  Along with Bertha, even though he was a defector, Tim Doyle was a brilliant man and George looked forward to working with him again. He was confident that with the warning on the impending war, things were going to be quite different than the future depicted.

  He was over Ohio when the radio call came from Stewart. “Gotcha, Stew, where am I to land, did they say? I know there isn’t anywhere specific in Beginnings.”

  “Sir, they didn’t say.”

  “Repeat.”

  “They didn’t say. We haven’t heard back from them.” George looked at his watch. “We sent the fax six hours ago.”

  “Yes, sir, I know. They haven’t responded.”

  “Did they get the fax?”

  “I phoned and spoke to a …. Trish.”

  “And?”

  “She screamed and hung up.”

  “Christ.” George exhaled. “Do we know where Robbie lands and takes off from?”

  “I believe it’s New Bowman, Sir. But, I can’t find that on a map.”

  “Probably a town renamed. Well, I’ll be in radio range soon. So keep me posted.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Out.” George lowered his mouth piece. He obviously wasn’t making a surprise visit. If Trish got the fax, chances were they knew. But how long did it take to get to them from the flighty history worker.

  George relaxed. He was confident that when he flew over Beginnings he would spot the town. There weren’t many around and he had a good idea which one as New Bowman.

  More than likely that was where they had set up the landing strips for Robbie.

  He glanced out the window and to the world below. It wasn’t going to be long before he arrived. There were actually a lot of things he looked forward to. A lot of people he liked in Beginnings. Not to mention, Margaret was there. How would she react? Would she welcome him? Hate him?

  A lot had occurred and changes had to be made between the interactions of both sides.

  The thought of going to Beginnings actually gave him a twitch of nervous excitement. He couldn’t shake it, nor could George shake the happy unexplained feeling he had of going home.

  <><><><>

  “We
ll, just send a few men out,” Hal spoke with irritation on the phone as he walked across the main way of Beginnings toward the clinic. “How far out did he go?” He huffed. “We don’t know. I know I opened the gate, but I thought he would stop. OK. OK. He couldn’t have gone too far, the horse will eventually tire. Get some men out as a search party and see what you can do. Right now I’m heading into the clinic.” A pause. “Because my brother Frank is retarded and wants me to meet him here and walk with him to the boring room as he put it.” At the steps, Hal stopped again and smiled. “Slowly but surely, it may mean my stroke, but my brother is coming back. Talk to you soon.”

  Shutting off his phone, Hal hooked it on his belt and walked into the clinic. A short ways up, by the clinic lab door, he saw Ellen. He was going to wave, but the way she was slightly hunched over, leaning toward the door, told Hal she didn’t want to be announced.

  Her eavesdropping antics were obvious when she turned around with a finger to her mouth in a shush manner.

  Hal gave her a curious look and mouthed the words, “What's going on?”

  Ellen waved him down, and when Hal didn’t hunch far enough, she grabbed his ear to bring him closer. He released a silent ‘ow’.

  “Andrea is in there talking to Joe.” Ellen snickered.

  One eyebrow raised and Hal, sneakily peeked in. Andrea moved about the lab.

  Ellen pointed to her own ear conveying she wanted Hal to listen.

  “I wish you would be verbal,” Andrea said. “I do not understand why. OK. Try this again. You were in History today.” A pause. “I’ll take that as a no. That’s the rumor. I don’t want to doubt my sanity by thinking you’re with me and having someone else say you’re with them.” She exhaled loudly. “I have rounds and since you’re not talking. I figure you have your reasons.”

  Both Hal and Ellen backed up when she neared the door.

  “Oh,” Andrea said, and then smiled. “I see why. Hello you two.” Turning she walked down the hall.

  En route, Frank walked the other way toward her.

  “Hello, Frank.”

  “Andrea,” Frank said in passing. “Dad.”

  Ellen snickered and walked into the lab, hand covering her mouth.