“Why do you ask? Are you interested in a young girl?” he asks.
“Sort of,” I say. “It’s complicated. She’s older than me. I’m having that feeling of being an idiot as well.”
“Well, what I have learned is that the idiot that you’ve turned into is going to turn her away. The person that she likes was the person you were before you turned into the idiot. Be a man first and a lover second, and as a man, you must take care of priorities first.”
Bill was right, even though I was stupefied by what happened with Biel and me, I still had to save my friends and myself. With what I know now about my father’s unfinished business, Biel would be a huge help in completing the task.
“Besides girl problems, what else seems to be bothering you? Seems like you may have something else on your mind.”
“When you were in the military, were you ever afraid of killing your enemy?” I ask.
“Yes, I’d say so. I can remember my first time heading into combat. It was a beautiful morning, that is until the bombs and mortars started to walk their way up to our position. That feeling of imminent death, knowing that the guy you had lunch with earlier may not be having breakfast with you in the morning. It was long ago, but I can still feel myself shaking like a leaf in the wind. A real greenhorn I was. But with fear comes respect. Never underestimate your enemy. If you do not respect your enemy, then your arrogance will cause you to be defeated.”
“I think I’ll take some of that tea that you always drink,” I say.
“Well now, I knew you would give in one of these days. Okay, give an old man a few minutes.”
While Bill was busy making that skunk piss, I was ruffling through his large wooden chest where he kept the chess set, looking for the revolver that I had seen the first time I came here. I find it, flip open the chamber and count six shiny unspent shells. I then quickly stash it inside my backpack just as I hear Bill limping his way from the kitchen.
“All right, a fresh batch of my best,” he says as he rounds the corner in his rhythmic gimp.
“Thanks,” I tell him, picking up the tea cup. I take a sip and my face crumples in disgust. “It’s strong,” I say, coughing and choking out the words.
“Yes, it will clear the sinuses,” Bill says. “You get used to it.”
“I don’t know how anyone could ever get used to this,” I say, forcing myself to keep sipping the horrible-tasting beverage.
“You’d be surprised what you can get used to. Have you ever fired a gun before, Dwight?” he asks, staring at me with piercing eyes.
I pause with the cup of tea hovering at my lips. “No, I never have,” I say, curious at the timing of his question.
That relaxed face he always carried quickly morphed into a man of seriousness.
“Shooting a gun is easy,” he says, leaning back in his chair with his cup of steaming tea in hand. “I can remember combat training like it was yesterday. We shot at targets down range. Black silhouettes with numbers on them, cold and waving in the wind, no fear or courage involved. They didn’t move or bleed or scream when you put a bullet in them. They didn’t have names. They didn’t have eyes that looked at you, faces you would remember, siblings, a wife, or kids, buddies that they drank beers with. Most important of all, they didn’t shoot back. Those targets were easy because they were lifeless. It’s when I got in the field and I had a flesh-and-blood target in front of me that didn’t want to die, just as bad as me, that is when things changed.
“The first time I killed a man, he was ten feet in front of me, so close that I could see the sweat running down his face from underneath his helmet. We were hunkered down in a trench, trying to escape mortar and machine gun fire. They began to try and flank us, and the enemy began to take positions on both sides of us. My comrades bailed for it to try and escape the flank, but I was so petrified that I was left behind. All of the attention was directed toward my fleeing friends, and that’s when I saw him run into my view. He didn’t even know I was there. I raised my rifle at the man, took aim, and pulled the trigger three times. I heard nothing. I could smell nothing. All I could see was his body drop after I pulled the trigger. Before I shot the man down, I felt like I was shooting myself. A poor kid that was thrown into a war that he didn’t start. However, after I killed him, I felt nothing. It was him or me. When shooting someone, never hesitate. I did a lot of killing in the field after that, and it never felt the same after the first one. You can almost say I got used to it. In a way, I even became proud of myself. Check and mate.”
I look at the board, and he beat me in twelve moves.
“You’re a tough player to beat, Bill,” I say, extending my hand in sportsmanship.
“You’re getting better, yourself,” he says, shaking my hand.
“Oh, and Bill,” I say as I stand at the door, “I may need a favor from you very soon.”
“Just let me know, young man,” he says. “An old man like me is full of favors.”
With my mind filled with certainty and my heart filled with content, I left Bill’s house compelled by an unknown force. Maybe it was love, or maybe it was life’s unshakeable instinct to survive. Whatever it was, I didn’t want to stop it. The thoughts in my head after the travesties mixed with euphoria didn’t change, and after taking Bill’s gun and recycling what he said to me, my resolve was never stronger. A power pulsed through my veins like I had never felt before. I felt unstoppable.
Back at the Rose, I’m excited about school tomorrow for the first time in my life. I have detention for missing Mrs. Biel’s class. My buddies couldn’t figure out why I had a smile on my face when I told them I was in trouble. They thought I was insane for being happy all day just to get detention.
Steve has been complaining of headaches, kind of like the ones that I’ve been having. I guess I’m not the only one who is not responding well to a moldy room. Kim, on the other hand, is just having a hard time after the stabbing. One more year, Kim, and everything will be good.
School became joyful. Every day I no longer looked forward to the bus ride that I so enjoyed for many years, but instead I looked forward to math class. Getting yelled at—I knew it was just an act to get after-school detention a few times a week.
I told Biel about the Rose and what had been happening and what I intended to do about it and how I needed her help for all of this to work. She agreed, and then I made love to her. The guys are still in the dark about our relationship. It’s better that way until the right moment.
I must act as if nothing is happening and that everything is normal each day. The relationship that I have with Biel is the biggest benefit to the entire plan. She has access to her husband’s resources, which will fund us throughout our journey.
Winter break is over, and there is less than five months of high school left. Everything is in place, and I get the first of many moves going.
“Hey guys,” I say as I sit at the lunch table. “There’s been something that I’ve wanted to tell you for a few months now.”
“You’re gay?” Ron jokes.
“No, you moron,” I say, curling up my lip in annoyance.
“Well, what is it? Spit it out,” Ron says.
“I know a way to get out of this hellhole of a county for good.” Everyone turns and stops eating and gives me a look of skepticism.
“What are you talking about?” Steve asks.
“I’m talking about a way for us to get out of here for good, get back at the people who hurt us, and to never have to worry about money for the rest of our lives,” I whisper.
“Yeah, you’re a mastermind all right,” Ron says, pointing at me with his plastic fork. “Remember what happened to your last money-making plan? Gave us all splinters and almost got us killed by a devilish old man.”
“This time it’s different. This time I have help and resources. You know the old pepper mill about a mile from Shady Oaks? Meet me there tomorrow at four.”
“Where did you say you were going?” George interrupt
s, walking over from the other table. Everyone starts to eat again like we were talking about nothing.
“Nowhere, George,” Steve angrily says. “You’re hearing things.”
“Yeah, you said something about the pepper mill. You know, you’re going to get in big trouble if you get caught. Can I come? Being cooped up in that old place all day is the worst. It would be good to get some fresh air.”
All of the guys were looking at me, waiting to see what I would say.
“George,” I say as I turn to him, patting him on the shoulder, “sure, you can come. Make sure you’re not late.”
“Great!” he says. “I knew we would be buds one day.”
“Oh, and George, remember to bring me that money you owe me when you swindled me the last time. If you don’t have it I’ll kill ya.” I say laughing.
“Sure thing.” He says in sarcasm and leaves in a chipper mood.
“Hey, man,” Ron says. “Why in the hell did you do that? Now whatever cockamamie plan you had before that wasn’t going to work, is really up the sheep’s ass now that you’ve invited that buzzkill.”
“Don’t worry about it,” I say. “He’s harmless.”
The old pepper mill is a good spot to meet since it’s been abandoned for over ten years, so I don’t have to worry about anyone coming around, and it isn’t too far from the school. I already have an alibi for that day, and we will need it.
“All right,” Steve says, “I’m in.”
“Kim?” I say. He replies with a head nod.
We all turn to Ron. “Ah, screw it,” he says, folding his arms, “I’m in. All I have left is my dignity anyway.”
We all smile and punch Ron in the shoulders.
“Guys,” I say as we calm down, “no one comes between us. You’re the closest thing to a family I will ever have. No matter what, friends forever,” I say, putting my hand in front of me, and they all place their hand on top of mine and repeat, “Friends forever.”
“Okay,” Ron says, “I’m growing a vagina. Enough with this pussy stuff. I’m going to class.”
The next morning I wake up and my head feels the best it has ever felt. Maybe it was because I was so concentrated on the big day ahead that I was psyching myself out of the pain.
“D, c’mon, we’re going to be late for the bus,” Kim says.
“You go ahead, Kim. I forgot something in the room.”
I make it back to the bus just in time. “You almost were left behind, D,” Kim says.
“I know, buddy, but I couldn’t forget something important to me.”
We make it to school, and the Dead Ends were worked up into a lather over what happened with George over the week. He blabbed about them having knives stashed somewhere at the school, and the staff were all up their asses for the entire week.
At lunchtime we meet at the basketball court. Ron tells his crew to take a walk while we talk.
“Guys, after school, I need everyone to be at the end of the dirt road. The bus driver will be informed that we have after-school detention, so he’ll be taken care of,” I say.
“Yeah, but what about detention?” Steve asks. “We can’t possibly miss that.”
“Don’t worry about it,” I tell the group. “I’ve got that covered, too. When you get to the pepper mill, there will be four large silos. The third silo down from the road there’s a utility storage building and a busted metal door. That’s where we will meet. Knock three times and I’ll let you in. Got it?” I get head nods from everyone to ensure they have the directions.
They’re all in. Now to link the final pieces.
Chapter 20: Exodus, Part 2
Tomorrow couldn’t have come fast enough.
The last bell for the school day sounds and my heart is racing. It’s now or never.
Walking straight out of the school building, I bide my time, waiting for the kids to clear out from in front of the school. I start strolling down the road past the school grounds, then Bill’s house and past the corner where the bus turns to go back to the Rose. As soon as I’m clear from sight of the school building, I run as fast as I can toward the mill and set things up. I’ve managed to salvage some chairs and a table out of all of the rubbish that was left behind when the mill shut down years ago. It’s damp and dark in here and smells of machine oil and ammonia from rat piss. Just enough light gets through the holes in the roof and the one dirty wire-reinforced window to dimly light the room.
Four o’clock rolls around and no one is here yet. “Dammit!” I say to myself, pacing back and forth. I kick one of the chairs over and figure that they chickened out. Ron and Steve probably argued the severity of the meeting to nothingness and got Kim all scared and they probably just went back to the Rose.
My argument with myself is interrupted by three knocks, followed by what sounds like two people yelling over one another. I open the door and it’s my buddies, arguing at each other, with Kim behind them being his usual spectator self.
“Hey!” I yell with a whisper. “Can you not be so damned loud? We’re not even supposed to be here.” They quiet down for the moment as I invite them in. “Have a seat over here,” I say.
“Wow, this is some great place you have us in,” Ron jokes as he spins around slowly with his hands up, looking around at the room. “Where’s the butler? I want my tea with three lumps and the afternoon read. What’s this all about, man?”
With the guys getting settled in, I take a hard swallow.
“My friends, we’ve had rough lives. Our families are either dead or have abandoned us. Instead of us having family members to take us in, we’ve been thrown into the mouth of the beast. This hellhole we’ve been in is a prison and not a salvation. They treat us like shit, deprive us of knowledge, proper living conditions, and growth.” Ron raises his hand and I raise my eyebrows and turn my palms up in annoyance.
“Sorry to interrupt,” he says, “but when did you become so damned articulate?” Steve looks at him in annoyance as well. “What?” Ron whispers to Steve.
“Anyway, nothing is done when we are attacked by the local gangs, and half of the priests at the Rose are fags. I’ve learned of some truths about what happens to kids that don’t get adopted. They either release you to the wolves with no chance to survive once you hit eighteen, or they put you into an adult dorm building and shove you into a work program where ninety percent of the crumbs they pay you goes straight back to their pockets. And to me, that’s slavery. What does society have for a Jap, Rat Face, a mongrel, and a spear chucker? Absolutely nothing!”
My speech is interrupted by the sound of the heavy metal door moving.
“Hey guys, I heard talking, and I thought it was you. It was hard to find this place. You know, the guys are going to kick your ass for being here if they find out,” George says as he stamps in, knocking over chairs and stumbling over everyone’s shoes.
“Nice of you to join us, George,” I say. “Please, have a seat. Now guys, I have a plan that will put us in control of our own lives. We will live off of the grid, and if we need something, whatever it may be, we can just call upon one another and stop begging for handouts from anybody. No one will be able to get in our way. The first thing we’re going to do is get good grades, in all of our classes. Even you, Steve.”
Everyone looks at each other and starts to chuckle. “Straight A’s, huh?” laughs Ron. “So you want us to convince the lot of them that we’re smart? Great first step to a wonderful plan. The first A I get, I’ll be accused of cheating.”
“That’s okay. We have inside help,” I say. “Secondly, we will graduate, and every one of us will join the military.”
“Hell no, I won’t do it!” Steve says angrily. “I’m not joining any brainwashed military. Yes, sir. No, sir. Screw that. I’ll take my chances in the streets.”
“Steve, I have it all taken care of,” I say. “Third, I’ve come across some information that will have us set for the rest of our lives. Picture us with money in our pockets all of the time.
Saying kiss off to the people who put us here. We will live where we want, eating the best food, breathing the best air. Whatever our heart desires, we shall do as we please.”
“What are you talking, a few thousand bucks?” Steve asks.
“No, I’m talking a few hundred million.”
The guys start to chuckle again.
“And how are we going to do that?” laughs Ron. “You’ve found a magic lamp? Maybe this inside help is a leprechaun or an enchanted elf? No, no wait, we’re going to break into Fort Knox. Knock off a few banks,” Ron says, laughing in between each joke.
“No,” I answer, “we’re going to knock off fifty-three of them.”
Everyone starts laughing uncontrollably; even Kim starts to laugh a little. I crack a smile as well.
“I have information and some important contacts that will get us what we want,” I explain, talking over their laughter. “In a few years, a new technology will be developed that will be available to the public and will connect millions of people and can transfer information at the speed of light. This technology will allow us to get into all of the banks using an information program called a worm. This program is designed to reprogram information inside of banking systems’ money transfers and get into valuable accounts from fifty-three banks all over the world. They will be tapped into and then be slowly syphoned over three years, pulling out very small and untraceable amounts over that time period. We will set up five dummy accounts that will be controlled by us. We will all have false identities and will work for a dummy corporation dealing in iron ore mining and other minerals. That dummy corporation will have subsidiary companies to absorb most of the bulk of the expenditures.”
“Your vocabulary is growing with every sentence my good man.” Ron says.
“We all will have special assignments. Kim, with your unprecedented discipline, you, my friend, will be in law enforcement in the great city of Las Vegas, and you will commandeer a man named Hanz Gluwen. He gambles profusely, and his vice will be our opportunity. We’ll use his weakness to gain access to his banking information. Your code name will be Tiger Shark.”
Chess Players: Atlantis and the Mockingbird Page 13
