The Third Ten

by Jacqueline Druga

  Hal followed. “Ellen, stop.”

  “Sorry. It’s funny. She has conversations with Joe’s ghost or at least she thinks she does.”

  Hal rolled his eyes. “And you,” he said as Frank walked in.

  “What?” Frank asked.

  “You encourage.”

  “Absolutely, I am a very supportive person,” Frank said. “What am I encouraging?”

  Frustrated, Hal grumbled. “Andrea and her seeing Dad.”

  “How did I do that?”

  “You said hi to our father.”

  “Hal, who am I to say what she sees and doesn’t see. What if she sees him?”

  “Frank …”

  “No, hear me out. You never know. And if it is her imagination, who are we to say she’s fucking nuts? If she’s happy, let her be.” Frank shrugged.

  “Fine. Point taken. But I won’t say hello.”

  “And if it is his ghost, you’re rude.”

  Hal held out his hands. “Then I’m rude.”

  “Fuck, add pissy to that to.”

  “Are you ready?” Hal asked. “Can we try, if there’s time to add our other meeting to this?”

  “If there’s time,” Frank said. “I still have a ton of shit to do.”

  “Frank?” Ellen asked. “Another meeting?”

  Hal replied disgruntled. “Yes.”

  After a stern look to Hal, Frank turned to Ellen. “Yeah, babe, I’m sorry. This meeting is important. You’ll find out why later. And I have a ton of things to do afterwards, depending on the results.”

  “So, I should take it I won’t see you again?” She asked.

  “I’ll try.” Frank said, and then took notice of the sulk. “What?”

  “Well, I talked to you earlier. You said we could go to the Hoi-Hoi on the Range tonight. They’re having line dancing and two stepping.”

  Hal snickered.

  Frank winced. “I don’t know if I can go. You can go, though.”

  “I don’t want to go by myself. Eat by myself, dance by myself.”

  “Good God, Ellen,” Hal said. “It’s line dancing. That means everyone is there.”

  “Yeah, but I’ll have to sit on the sidelines and watch the two step.”

  Hal glanced at Frank. “Sounds like a wonderful time, Frank.”

  Frank snapped his finger. ‘You’re right. El, Hal wants to do it. He’ll meet you there.”

  “I’ll do …”

  Ellen cut Hal off. “Really? Oh, wow, great. Thanks, Hal.” She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek.

  “Fine.” Hal said defeated. “Can we do this meeting now, Frank?”

  Frank looked at his watch. “Yeah.”

  At that moment Danny Hoi poked his head in the door. “Oh, hey, Shortcake, all done. It’s installed. Now we don’t need a guard. Only those with a code can get in Darrell’s room.”

  “Thanks,” Frank said.

  Danny left as fast as he stopped by.

  Curiously, Hal faced Frank. “Was it my imagination or did he just call you Shortcake?”

  “Yep. Been doing that all day. His pet name or something for me.” A dart of a kiss to Ellen and Frank walked to the door. “I don’t know what it is about my effect on the men in this community. Man…” He rubbed his chest. “I make them want to be gay so they can have me. What can I say?” After an exhale, he walked out.

  Ellen bit her lip to hold back her laugh.

  Hal shook his head. “He’s is so not right.” He gave Ellen a kiss to her cheek. “See you tonight.” Then Hal followed Frank.

  <><><><>

  What were they thinking?

  In the clothing warehouse, items were often packed up and set aside. Items not used. At least that was what Roy figured. The box was marked useless.

  He took the clothing; if he was going to be in Beginnings any longer he needed a change of clothes.

  It was in the box he found the worn, brown, leather jacket.

  His first thought was that he couldn’t believe it was marked useless.

  Roy loved that jacket. So much so, he put it on, stood in front of the mirror, gave a double thumbs up, and say, “Hey”.

  He grinned.

  He stood admiring himself, even doing his hair in the Fonz style. He looked good.

  After a prolonged fashion pause, Roy returned to his notes. He wanted to work on them before sundown so he could get all the light. Notes on the HG Wells. A simple dome like contraption that was no longer viable.

  Caught up, Roy barely heard when the front door to the trailer, opened. Quickly he gathered his items and prepared to escape into his hiding spot. Until he head the call of his name.

  He could relax. It was his one and only friend in Beginnings. The one and only person that knew he was there. That he was a genetic recreation.

  He stood from his seat on the floor and went to the living room where he knew his friend was waiting, and possibly bearing food.

  <><><><>

  Frank made them wait. Not too long, but long enough for him to walk around the table where Hal, Robbie, Henry and Danny were seated. He held the sheet of paper Jimmy had given to them earlier.

  “Beginnings doesn’t have a clue, or the people of Beginnings don’t have a clue yet about the impending war. We’re going to have to tell them we suspect something, because … our once arch enemy, and soon to be ally, is ...” Frank dropped the paper on the table “On his way to Beginnings.”

  Unison, ‘what’s’ erupted, and everyone grabbed for the sheet.

  “Notification,” Frank said. “I called Lang and told him we got the fax. He’s traveling alone. Robbie, I need you to man the radio controls for when he arrives. He is flying in and will need coordinates.”

  Robbie nodded. “Got it.”

  “No.” Henry argued. “No, I hate him now. He can’t come here.”

  Hal spoke, “How are you going to explain this one to the community?”

  “I have to call a community meeting. A quick one. Hal, you’ll have to be in Bowman for when he arrives.”

  Hal nodded.

  “If possible be on the landing strip.”

  Hal nodded.

  “Secure him a place to stay.”

  Another nod from Hal.

  “In New Bowman,” Frank said.

  “What!” Hal blasted. “I don’t want him, Frank.”

  “Tough. You have to have him.”

  “Says who?”

  “Me. I’m the fucking president.”

  “And I don’t want to hear that bullshit.” Hal quipped. “He can’t stay in New Bowman. I have to inform my own men. We have to send Henry, the ambassador to Jordan and Creedville to explain this.” Hal sighed. “He should stay here, in Beginnings. He’s more contained.”

  Henry gasped. “We don’t want him here either, Hal.”

  “Gentleman he can’t be the enemy anymore. We have a common cause. Maybe this is the thing that will bring this country back together.”

  “Under whose rule?” Hal asked. “You think George is gonna give up his leadership.”

  “I don’t fucking care.” Frank said.

  Hal grumbled. “This feels weird.”

  Robbie added. “Tell me about it.”

  Henry whined. “This sucks.”

  “Weird as it is,” Frank said. “Awkward as it is. He’s coming.”

  “Can I ask why?” Hal questioned.

  Frank replied. “As he stated in his letter. To mend fences, build better relations, and a unity with Beginnings in preparation for possible war. It says a lot about his intentions, because he’s coming alone. No right hand man. No soldiers. Alone.”

  Danny, who had remained silent, spoke up. “Can I say something?”

  Everyone nodded.

  Danny stood. “Let’s talk about the community as a whole with George. OK? Provinces and all. Creedville, well, they aren’t going to have a problem because Creedville doesn’t really know about him. Jordan, AKA, Texas Town, them either. Doyle’s camp, yeah, they may.
But they are all soldiers and they will, too understand. Hal, your men listen to you and have fought against the Society and against the oppression they delivered. Frank, you and Robbie. You guys were personally affected by this. But that’s the originals. Most people in his town really are clueless about what goes on with the Society. They know the Society as the enemy. They know what we tell them. We have been at war with the Society, correct?” Danny waited for an agreement. “We battled, we’ve fought. Hal argued, George won’t give up leadership. Am I the only one in this room, right now, that sees this as a victory? Our Victory. The victory of the Western Alliance and Beginnings. The provinces will not have a reason to reject this. The provinces will accept and welcome this. Am I the only one who sees it?”

  “No,” Frank said. “I see it, too.”

  Hal raised his palms up. “Then you must be reading his mind. Inform me where he was going.”

  “I’m not reading his mind,” Frank said. “I see it. You should, too. And I think if presented this way, so will everyone else. The Society is coming to us to resolve, to repair. They’re coming to us in peace. War’s over. That war is finally over. In a sense … we’ve won.”

  <><><><>

  The meeting ended with the resolution that George would indeed stay in Beginnings. The house next to Henry was semi vacant, and George, who oddly, traveled alone, would stay with Dan.

  After Danny had left, Frank, Hal and Robbie sought out John Matoose. With George and the immediate town meeting, time was limited. They couldn’t wait until the next day to discuss what was going to be done with the clone. There wouldn’t be a chance.

  So they met to discuss it.

  They were to each come up with an idea on what to do. Ironically, they all came up with a similar idea.

  It didn’t take long, not long at all to set a plan in motion. They knew what had to be done.

  It was just a matter of how and when to implement it.

  For that, it rested with Frank.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  In the old world, before the plague, before the country divided, the single unit nation had people for different aspects. Different jobs that they carried.

  Although Beginnings people all had their jobs, as did the other provinces, Frank had to delegate responsibilities for government.

  Hal was without a doubt, second in charge. Vice President. As far as the Secretary of Defense, Frank took that honor. Or at least headed it. They’d run like the old Beginnings’ council, only slightly. Aside from joint decisions and problem solving, Elliott Ryder would be the sort of Secretary of State. Meeting with other leaders. Henry—the liaison—was the go between with the provinces. Elliott could and would be the go between with all. Second to him was Danny Hoi.

  But Frank was going to utilize Danny in another way. The best way possible. Danny had a way with people. Like Elliott he spoke concisely, without favoring a side, impartial, and factual, passionate when needed. He was creative and funny, and not a person in Beginnings didn’t like him.

  Danny took on a lot of jobs, but that was his choice.

  And when Frank gave him one more, Danny thanked him and told him he would proudly do it.

  He would have to work closely with Elliott. Having their own meetings if needed. But Danny, would be, the speaker. The Person that explained things, perhaps public relations.

  They didn’t have much time.

  Tim Doyle, who was aware of the pending war, was informed about Hadley. Danny and Frank brainstormed before the town information gathering, getting together facts on what would be said.

  They would explain the new structure of the way things would be run,

  Danny would talk of the war, and what facts he had, and then he would talk about George.

  There was one point everyone agreed upon, that one person should be in charge of handling George, and since Elliott Ryder was the Secretary of State of sorts, he would be the one.

  “Elliott, you agreed,” Hal told him as they walked to their own town meeting.

  “No I did not. I agreed to be Secretary of State. A prestigious position. If history serves me right, leader to leader.”

  “It’s a new history,” Hal laid his hand on Elliott’s back as he reached for the door to the hall. “And possibly a new best friend for you.”

  Elliot grumbled.

  <><><><>

  “Got everything?” Frank spoke softly to Danny.

  Danny nodded and arranged his cards. “I have two prepared statements. I set up a microphone over there. No raising hands, they have to get in line.”

  “Who is working the PA?” Frank asked.

  “Jimmy.”

  Frank nodded. He looked around. The meeting was being held in the center of Beginnings. The podium set up on the steps of the clinic, the question answer microphone, on the bottom of the steps to Danny’s left. “It should go well,” Frank encouraged then looked at his watch. “Hopefully, fast, too. We have an hour and a half before George arrives.”

  “Housing secure?”

  “Henry’s on that now, then he’s heading off to make sure all is well with the news breaking in other towns.”

  “Looks like everyone’s starting to come.”

  “Give them five minutes,” Frank said. “Anyone not here, will have to get caught up through the Beginnings gossip channels.”

  “It may not be the same info we deliver here. I thought of that,” Danny said, pointing to a camera. “We’re filming it all.”

  From behind the camera Denny waved.

  Frank smiled. “That’s why you’re the man.”

  “I am.”

  Frank’s eyes widened, almost offensively. “That’s my line.”

  “I know.” Danny grinned.

  About three feet from the clinic doors, just inside the hall, Ellen stood with Dean watching the happenings with Frank and Danny.

  Ellen leaned toward Dean. “Isn’t it ironic, Martin Luther King was a minority and so is Danny.”

  Dean laughed. “Martin Luther King? What made you think of that?”

  She shrugged. “This is like a political rally.”

  “True. It is. However, I don’t think anyone is going to shoot Danny,” Dean said.

  “Do you suppose they thought anyone was going to shoot King?”

  Dean shrugged. “Possibly. Anyone in the public eye.”

  “Danny’s in the public eye.”

  “Yeah, but it’s Danny.”

  “Wasn’t Martin Luther King shot while he was standing on the steps of some hospital?”

  “I think it was a courthouse,” Dean said.

  “No.” Ellen tapped her lips. “It was a library.”

  “Are you sure?” Dean asked.

  “I think.” Ellen nodded. “He was giving a speech.”

  “Was it the ‘I had a Dream’ one?”

  “I think so. Not sure.” Ellen said, “History Repeats. A minority on the steps, giving a speech. What do you think?”

  Lars' voice interjected from behind. “I think Joe would be totally aggravated at you two. Brilliant scientific minds and ignorant to History. Martin Luther King was shot standing on a balcony at a motel.”

  “Oh.” Ellen said. “Yeah, that’s right.” She reached over and playfully smacked Dean. “Man, you should know that.”

  “I did. I forgot.”

  “Figures.”

  Lars sighed. “Can you even hear anything being said out there?”

  Ellen shook her head. “Nope. They even tested the PA, nothing. Sound proof.”

  “And you’re staying here?” Lars asked.

  Dean nodded. “We’ll find out eventually. A quiet clinic is better than a town meeting.”

  “And what if it’s important news?” Lars asked.

  Dean shrugged. “It’s Beginnings, how important can it be. Come on, El, we have tests to run.” He took hold of her arm and led her down the clinic hall.

  “Well,” Lars said to himself softly. “I’m not telling them anything, and I’ll ma
ke sure no one else does either.” He gave a scolding look backwards as Dean disappeared into the lab, and with a whisper as he opened the door, he said. “Arrogant snip.”

  <><><><>

  Jenny knew. She did. Well informed about what the town announcement was, she wasn’t as anxious as everyone else, and was able to look around. After thanking Jimmy for a heads up, and a naughty whisper in his ear, she decided she was going to go enjoy the peace of the classroom while everyone else heard the speech.

  Until she saw Jason.

  How long had it been since she saw Jason? It took Jenny aback for a moment because she had to think. Days, weeks? He hadn’t been working. Hadn’t been in Bowman hearing cases—there were none.

  It dawned on her that Jason hadn’t been seen or heard from since Joe had died.

  He looked worn, tired, and drawn out. Was he missing his friend so much that he turned into hibernation?

  She watched him.

  He walked eyes shifting, barely making contact with anyone. His hair was a mess, tossed and grayer.

  He looked genuinely sad.

  Jenny made her way to him, placing on her brightest smile. “Jason, my goodness, where have you been.”

  He cleared his throat. “Jenny.” And forced a return smile. “How are you?”

  “I’m good. You?”

  “Dealing.”

  “Jason … where have you been? Have you been ill?”

  He shook his head. “Working. Working in my lab. Andrea knows. I’m working on something with the time machine.”

  “I heard Frank outlawed it.”

  Jason said, “Hmm.”

  “Are you OK?”

  “Actually, Jenny, no I’m not.”

  “I’m sorry. Can I help?”

  “No. Unfortunately, no one can. I lost my best friend and I just can’t seem to shake it.”

  “I understand.”

  Jason exhaled. “I have no reason to come out in public. Not yet. It’s too painful. Everything is Joe. Everything reminds me of Joe.”

  “But Joe is still here, Jason,” Jenny said. “Hal, Jimmy, Robbie, Frank. They’re all part of Joe. His wife. You can still feel him; know him, by being around them.”