The Third Ten

by Jacqueline Druga

  “Frank,” Jimmy said. “If you know you stepped on a bear trap, where does the dragon come into the picture? Why do you think a dragon set the trap?”

  Frank pointed to Joe. “Dad told everyone that a dragon did it.”

  “I did not,” Joe snapped.

  “Dad,” Robbie interjected. “You said.”

  “Hating to admit it,” Hal added. “You did say.”

  Jimmy tilted his head. “Ok, I see it now.”

  “Thank you all.” Joe shook his head and exhaled in relief when there was a knock at the door. “Come in.”

  Jason poked his head in. “Joe may I see you for a moment.”

  “Yes, absolutely.” Joe walked to the door. “I’ll let these four morons, continue to talk about how there’s a dragon in Beginnings.” As Joe pulled the door closed, he heard Frank say, “See he confirmed it again.”

  Joe moaned and stepped into the hall. He immediately went from ‘annoyed’ to concerned when he saw the faces of Jason and Roy. “What’s going on?”

  Jason pulled Joe farther from the door and spoke in a whisper. “We have a problem. We were running tests and sequences on the time machine to prep it for the LEP trip. And as always we tested it.”

  Concern caused Joe to immediately stand up straight. “How far did you go.”

  Roy answered. “We didn’t want to go too far, but we wanted to go far enough that it tested time distance. We went three weeks and one day into the future.”

  “Christ.’ Joe’s hand went to his face. “The war. Is Beginnings gone? Are we fighting early?”

  “No.” Jason shook his head. “This has nothing to do with the Great War.”

  “Then what is it? What has you guys so upset?”

  Roy shifted his eyes from Jason to Joe. “I went to the future. Joe … we have to do something. Because when I arrived in Beginnings twenty-two days from now …” Roy paused and exhaled heavily. “Frank is dead.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Hal knew. He knew the second Joe walked back into Frank’s room that something was wrong. His father, barely ever shaken, had a bead of sweat on his brow which furrowed more than usual.

  “What’s wrong?” Hal approached him and asked in a low whisper.

  Joe pursed his lips, shifted his eyes around, took a deep breath and lifted his phone. His fingers began to move.

  “What?” Hal asked. “You’re texting? You don’t text.”

  “I do now.”

  “Who are texting in the middle of me asking …”

  Beep.

  Hal looked down and read the text. “Oh My god.”

  “Yep.” Joe cleared his throat. “Ok, visits over. We have George waiting and while Jimmy is here, going to get him and Roy to join us in Communications. Let’s go.” A short whistle and Joe pointed out the door.

  “Hey!” Frank yelled. “I want to go.”

  “No, you will not go. You will stay in this bed until Dean says that leg won’t come off again. We don’t need you looking like that picture again.”

  “Yeah, me either. I didn’t know which way to walk.”

  Robbie laughed. “That’s funny. Did you try hopping?”

  “I should have. I am part rabbit.” Frank snapped his finger “Speaking of which. Can you tell Steve from Security he didn’t win my leg? I still have it.”

  “Sure thing.”

  “Let’s go,.” Joe gave a tug to Robbie’s ear. “Frank, I’ll be back to fill you in.” he walked to the door, waited for his sons to pass him, then Joe pulled the door closed and started to walk. “Robbie get on the radio. Get a guard on Frank’s door, ASAP.”

  “Anyone specific?” Robbie asked.

  “Just pick someone we can trust.” Joe said. “Hal, I need …” He noticed that Hal didn’t walk with them and Joe turned around.

  Hal stood outside Frank’s door.

  “What are you doing?” Joe asked.

  “I’m standing guard. I can be filled as well,” Hal said. “This is our brother’s life. I will stand guard.”

  Joe nodded.

  “And father, whatever it is you need me to do. Whatever … I will do it,”

  Joe walked to Hal, laid his hand on his cheek and gave him a fatherly pat. “I have no doubt.”

  “Am I missing something?” Robbie asked.

  “I’ll tell you on the way down to communications.” Joe led the way for Robbie and Jimmy.

  When they were out of sight, Hal exhaled and leaned against the wall. He wanted more information than the text message gave, and he was certain there had to be more. He’d find out. Hal kept staring at his phone.

  The message said, ‘Roy went ahead in time three weeks. Frank is dead.’

  Reading it made Hal’s heart sink, but it jumped when the door to Frank’s room opened.

  “They gone?” Frank asked.

  Hal spun, Frank was dressed. “Frank. Get back in bed.”

  “No, I’m good. See. My boot fits again.”

  “Frank. You just had major surgery.”

  “Flesh wound.”

  Hal cringed.

  “I wanna go to the meeting.”

  “Dad will fill us in. I’m here to make sure you stay in bed.”

  “Uh, Hal, I’m out of bed. You failed. I feel fine. Want me to hop on the leg to see I it falls off.”

  “No!” Hal held up his hand. “Don’t hop. If Dean says you can go, I’ll take you down but you have to be on crutches.”

  “Why?”

  “Because you just had surgery to attach your leg, that’s why.”

  Frank tossed out his hand. “Flesh wound.”

  “You’re an ass.” Hal lifted his phone. “I’ll call Dean. Deal?”

  “Fine. Call.”

  Hal took a moment to calm his frustration. If standing guard for five minutes was any indication what it was going to be like being Frank’s twenty four hour a day guard, Hal was going to be in trouble, or at least a full fledged alcoholic when the bodyguard mission was complete.

  <><><><>

  “Dean, get over it.” Ellen said, watching Dean while waiting in the cryo lab.

  “I am.”

  “No you aren’t. You just told Hal it’s alright for Frank to go to the meeting. You send a doctor’s note via text.”

  “I don’t understand this.” Dean tossed up one hand.

  “Get over it, it’s not a big deal.”

  “Oh, yeah, maybe to you it isn’t. But I have two friends. Two El on Hoibook…”

  “Dean …”

  “And to make matters worse, what is this. A warning.” He showed Ellen a phone. “I got a warning for friend requesting people. Someone turned me in.”

  “Dean.”

  “It isn’t right. I’m gonna talk to Danny about this.”

  “Weren’t you the one who could care less about this whole thing?”

  “Now it’s the principal. I cure this community and no one but you will accept my friend request.”

  “Dean just ...” The knock on the cryo lab door caused Ellen to sigh out heavily. “Thank God.” She walked over and opened the door. Jenny stood there holding a big pot and a basket was draped across her forearm.

  “Sorry, I took so long. I had to heat it.”

  “Oh, no problem. Come on in.”

  “I brought bread, too. Since Frank says he’s civilized.”

  Dean laughed.

  “What’s so funny?” Jenny asked.

  “He ate several of our men.”

  “But in his defense,” Ellen said. “He seasoned them and didn’t know.”

  Dean shook his head. “Jenny why didn’t you accept my fiend request?”

  “Dean!” Ellen snapped. “Let it go.”

  “I can’t.”

  “I’ll accept the request Dean, I’ve just been busy.” Jenny walked across the lab. “Is he in the deer room?”

  “Yep.”

  Jenny shivered in a breath. “I’m a little nervous.”

  “I think this will work. I don�
��t want to be cruel,” Ellen said. “But he has to eat and this is just a way I think he’ll take the food without getting angry.”

  Jenny stepped before the window and immediately, the future LEP moved closer.

  “Aw, he looks sad.” Jenny said. “And calm.”

  “Watch.” Ellen said. “Dean, can you walk over here?’

  “Yeah,” Dean replied, and while staring at his phone walked in Ellen’s direction. No sooner did he get in the view of the future LEP, the future LEP went ballistic, growling, screaming.

  “Wow,” Jenny commented. “Someone doesn’t like Dean.”

  “Apparently …” Dean said as he moved from the window view. “A lot of people don’t like me.”

  Ellen rolled her eyes. “Oh my God, get over it. I would have hated to see him before the plague. Anyhow, let’s try this. I have a tranquilizer gun ready. But I honestly think he won’t hurt you.”

  “Me either.” Jenny lifted the lid.

  “Oh, that smells good.”

  From across the room, Dean asked. ‘What did you bring?”

  “My famous Hog Head Stew.”

  Dean grunted.

  “Hey, buster, don’t knock it to you try it.”

  “As long as you don’t think about what it is,” Ellen said. “It’s amazing.”

  Jenny lifted the lid and placed a spoon in the pot; she lifted a spoonful and walked to the window. “Hungry?” she tasted the mixture and rubbed her stomach. “Mmm.”

  The LEP knocked three times on the window.

  “Ok,” Ellen grabbed the tranquilizer gun and placed it behind her back. “I’m gonna open this, but remember I got your back.”

  Jenny lifted the pot.

  “Dean are you ready?” Ellen asked.

  “A huh.” Dean stared at his phone.

  “He’s not paying attention. If Frank’s leg wasn’t on backwards we’d have him here.”

  “We fixed that.” Ellen said.

  “Oh, good.”

  “Ready?” Ellen reached with one hand for the door, unlocked it, stepped back and then Jenny bravely pushed it open.

  Ellen aimed. “Just set it down and close the door.”

  Jenny walked in.

  “Jenny.” Ellen yelled. “Dean, Jenny went in there.”

  “A huh.”

  Ellen waited; she was prepared for the LEP to do something. Something violent, instead he sat down.

  Jenny stood before him, never taking her eyes off of him; she placed down the pot and the basket.

  “Dean, you have to see this.”

  “A huh.” Dean said.

  “Asshole.” Ellen watched. “Jenny, leave please, I’m getting nervous.”

  “You eat,” Jenny told him. “I’ll be back.” She took a step backwards, hesitated to see what the LEP would do, then raced out of the room.

  Ellen shut and locked the door. “That was amazing. He likes you.”

  “And look. He likes my stew.”

  The LEP hungrily slurped up the meal.

  “We should name him.” Jenny said.

  Dean called out. “Frank calls him Skippy.”

  “Skippy?” Jenny shook her head. “He can’t be a Skippy. Josephine calls you Skippy. No, he’s too big and strong. I think we should call him Bart.”

  “Bart?” Dean asked.

  “Bart.”

  “I like Bart,” Ellen said. “Much better than Skippy. Oh look he’s done.”

  “He was hungry.”

  “I think he has to go to the bathroom.” Ellen commented. “Dean he has to go to the bathroom.”

  “Then he can go in there.”

  “No,” Ellen shook her head. “I think that’s beneath him. He wears clothes, Dean. And … Look there’s no waste in there at all.”

  “Ellen why do you care? I’m the one that cleans it up.” Dean said.

  “It’s not right. We can’t treat him inhumane.”

  “Why not, Ellen, he didn’t think about being humane when he ate Hal’s men.” Dean argued.

  “True.”

  “Or took advantage of Jenny.”

  Ellen looked at Jenny.

  “I plead the fifth,” Jenny said.

  After taking a deep breath, Ellen reached for the door. “I think we should get the pot. He’s done. He likes you, do you mind?”

  “Not at all,” Jenny replied.

  Ellen readied the tranquilizer gun. “Dean, put down the phone. We’re opening the door again.”

  “Ellen don’t open …”

  The second Ellen opened the door, the LEP charged out.

  Ellen screamed.

  Jenny yelled. “Hey.”

  Dean called out, “Shoot it.”

  The LEP looked left to right, growled loudly and Ellen raised her weapon. Just as she was ready to shoot, he raced into the small lavatory that was in the lab.

  The door shut.

  “Oh, look how polite,” Jenny said.

  “Guess he did have to use the bathroom.” Ellen shrugged and put down the gun. “This is going to be interesting.”

  <><><><>

  The entire communications board took on a whole new appearance with just a couple codes punched in by George. The entire globe was seen.

  “Alright,” George said. “Look at the Atlantic.”

  Joe stepped to the map. “What am I looking at?”

  “Nothing.” Georg answered.

  Joe tossed out his hands.

  “That concerns me. This entire Great War is why this system was designed and why I wanted to it back. If Roy is right, and I assume he is because we have those troops up north, then where is the invasion. If it’s due in a couple months, we should see it. We don’t. Just a hell of a lot of people in Europe.” George looked at Roy. “Am I right?”

  “By all accounts they should be at sea. They waited there for some time.”

  Robbie asked. “Could something have changed? I mean, Roy did come back to stop or lessen the Great War. Maybe he succeeded. Or maybe this person is an assurance he does succeed.”

  Joe shook his head. “Nah, because we still have the twenty-four hundred. It’s almost as if they changed their plan, like they’re trying to come up with something new.”

  George shook his head. “In order for them to make a major change and delay, someone would have to be telling them something. I can’t think of a single person living in this country that would do that.”

  Jimmy questioned. “Could one of the twenty-four hundred inadvertently be here and a spy.”

  Robbie shook his head. “No, they’d stand out. Being new they’d really know nothing.”

  Joe looked about the room. “Anyone have theories.”

  A simple and unusual ‘Uh-oh,’ Came from Jason.

  “Uh-oh?” Joe asked “Is that a science based theory.”

  “It’s something me and Roy discovered. Now it might make sense,” Jason said. “We were cleaning out the memory bank on the Regressionator and logging all trips. We came across one we originally thought came after Roy. But after recalculating, we saw it came at the same time. So we actually dismissed it this morning as a glitch. But now I’m wondering.”

  “How long ago did they arrive?” Joe asked. “We can look back.”

  “Twelve years ago, give or take a month.”

  Everyone in the room gasped a ‘what’

  Roy said. “We talked about it. When we thought he came after me, we thought maybe he or she wanted to stop the plague, did not succeed. But they came thru the exact same time as I did. And with this information … who knows.”

  Joe huffed. “It can be anyone. Can this get any more puzzling? Ships that aren’t coming, a traveler from the future … which explains Jason’s riddle. And Frank dead in three weeks.”

  Frank’s 'Oh, yeah’ Rang in the room. “I die in three weeks. Looks like I’m on borrowed time.”

  “Frank.” Joe snapped. “What the hell are you doing here? You’re supposed to stay in bed.”

  “Dean said. I got a
note. See.” Frank held up his phone.

  “Dean did say,” Hal stated.

  “Christ.”

  “So, what’s going on about me dying in three weeks? Or I’m already dead in three weeks.” Frank asked.

  No one said anything.

  With a ‘Ha!” Frank swung a point to Roy. “You haven’t learned to block me yet. So you traveled in time ahead three weeks and I was dead.”

  “Darn it.” Roy stomped.

  “Did you get any details … no wait. Don’t think it, I want to be surprised.”

  “You’ll be surprised all right Frank,” Joe snapped.

  “I’m confused,” George looked at Joe. “Frank reads minds now?”

  “Yeah, how screwed up is that. Just think basic math, it confuses him.”

  “So this makes things kind of tricky,” Frank said. “I wonder if it’s the dragon that eventually gets me.”

  “Frank!” Joe snapped. “Why can’t you get hurt and be down and out like normal people.”

  “I’m not normal.”

  “You can say that again.”

  “I’m not normal.”

  “Frank.”

  “You said to say it again.”

  “Frank …”

  “If you didn’t want me to say it again, then why did you tell me to say it again?”

  “Because I’m a goddamn asshole asking for it!” Joe snapped.

  Hal mumbled. “You can say that again.”

  “Hal!” Joe barked.

  “Well?” Frank asked. “You gonna say it again.”

  “No! No I’m not! And you need to take this shit seriously!” Joe pointed. “You hear me.”

  “Dad. Please.” Frank scoffed. “I’m not gonna die.”

  “Yeah, Frank, you are.” Joe argued.

  “Well, eventually we all die. Unless it’s you, then you come back. But then again …”

  “Frank.” Joe grumbled.

  “You weren’t really dead.”

  Silence.

  Joe looked up.

  “What?” Frank asked. “What’s wrong?”

  “Usually you go on and on.”

  “No.” Frank shook his head. “I’m done. Not dead. I won’t die. If I do, I’ll just get up. I got like nine lives. I think. Not sure how many I have left. Robbie? Do you know?”

  “I think seven,” Robbie replied.

  “Robert.”

  “Seven, see?” Frank held out his hand. “Not an issue.”