by Eve Langlais
A vehicle zipped toward them, similar to a golf cart but with a more rugged appearance and painted black.
The driver appeared very soldier-like with his dark uniform, shaded sunglasses, and granite countenance. When he exited the vehicle, she noted the gun holstered by his side.
It didn’t help her anxiety. Why did he need a gun?
What did ease her somewhat was the man in the suit accompanying the guard. The same man who’d interviewed her a few weeks ago. Mr. Lowry, company lawyer and the one lugging around several inches of paperwork for hiring new staff.
“Miss Henley and Miss Frederickson. Delighted to see you again and so glad you chose to join our establishment.
“As if I’d say no,” Becky gushed with enthusiasm. “This place is just gorgeous.
Margaret remained more reserved. A woman in her thirties shouldn’t be bouncing around like a sugar-intoxicated child. “It’s nice to see you again, Mr. Lowry.” In his late forties, possibly even his fifties, Lowry was tall, trim, and wore his white hair in a short cut that gave him a scholarly appearance when matched with his small round glasses.
“I trust the trip in was uneventful.”
“Epic ride,” Becky enthused, her red hair bouncing in time to the syllables. “The air up here is so crisp and fresh.”
“Brisk too,” he advised. “I do hope you both brought sweaters.”
Along with a warm winter coat, boots, gloves, hat, and even a scarf. Margaret’s tenure here would end mid-February, so she came prepared.
“I’m sure I’ll find a way to keep warm.” Becky giggled.
It took effort not to roll her eyes. Margaret had had heard enough chatter before boarding the helicopter to realize Becky was the type who thrived on fraternization.
“If you ladies will accompany me, I’ll show you the facility and your quarters.”
They climbed into the utility vehicle and sped off toward the only building in sight. A building that better have magical properties when it came to parsing out space given what it supposedly held. Cafeteria, lounge with pool table and televisions for viewing and others for gaming. Suites with private bathrooms. That was just for the staff. Then there were the actual patients themselves.
As if sensing her question, Lowry pointed. “Don’t let this building fool you. Most of our facility is underground in order to preserve the natural beauty of this place. We were fortunate that we found a series of interlinked caverns that provided a controlled temperature environment.”
“We’ll be living in caves?” Margaret’s nose wrinkled. She was a person who thrived on daylight.
“Caves only in the basest of terms. I assure you the accommodations are spacious and well appointed.”
“With no windows?” Or escape. What if there was a fire?
“Unfortunately, no, however on your off time you are more than welcome to roam the grounds. While we don’t recommend swimming in the lake, given the frigid temperature caused by the ice melt, there is an outdoor track if you like to run and an area set up with picnic tables if you wish to take some meals outside.”
“What about the woods? Any trails? I am a huge bird watcher,” Becky remarked. “I brought my camera to see if I could add to my montage.” A surprising hobby given what Margaret knew of her thus far.
“We don’t recommend entering them given the ease with which you can get lost. You might also want to restrict your outdoor time to daylight hours.”
“Why can’t we pop out at night?” Margaret asked.
“What she said,” Becky added. “I totally want to check the stars. Can we see the Northern Lights from here?”
“Again, it’s not recommended, as it is more difficult to protect you at night.”
“Protect us from what?” asked Margaret.
“Wild animals, of course.” Lowry partially turned to reply over his shoulder. “Given this location is too remote for most hunters, the natural predators are plentiful. Wolves. Bears. Mountain cats can be dangerous as well.” Lowry gestured in the distance.
“They attack people?” It surprised her. Then again, as a city girl, she’d not ever done much with nature.
“This valley is a bit of locked-in ecosystem, so their menu choices are limited. We keep a lookout posted to watch for any that might stray close to the clinic.” Lowry pointed to a man on the rooftop of the building.
“Why not cull them if they’re dangerous?” Becky asked with blithe ignorance.
Lowry shot her a sharp look. “We don’t kill things around here unless there is no other choice.”
“Yet your driver is armed with a gun.”
“Which is loaded with tranquilizers. Not bullets. Man or beast, our clinic is a place for healing.”
Now that they were actually here, Margaret felt comfortable asking, “Healing what and who?”
“You’ll soon see,” was the cryptic reply as they reached the metal door into the building. Mr. Lowry held up a black card with a golden lion on it. “You’ll each receive one of these programmed to access your specific quarters, the common areas, and whatever section you’re assigned to work.”
“You keep everything locked?” Margaret asked.
“Given industrial espionage is a concern, and the value of the equipment, we feel it is best if we remove temptation.”
Margaret didn’t point out the fact there was no way to sell information or equipment. Not to mention, she had no interest in snooping. She was here to work and earn a living the honest way.
Lowry ran his access card over a plain black panel. There was a click, and he opened the door. “Ladies.” He gestured for them to precede him.
Becky went first with Margaret following, frowning as she noted the square antechamber with its plain gray walls and another door ahead of them. There were ventilation grills in the ceiling and on the walls close to the floor. She also spotted the iris of a camera watching.
But no security guard to sign them in, which surprised her. Then again, who would come here and walk in unannounced?
It took the keycard to get past the next door, and then they were in a hallway with an elevator in front of them and nothing else. Not even doors. Why have a hall? Perhaps to allow the windows at either end to spill in natural daylight?
The elevator proved a decent size, allowing her to move to the back while Becky yapped at Lowry. “How many levels is this place?” Because there were no buttons inside. Just the use of the keycard and Lowry saying, “Habitat level.”
“There are two floors above ground and six below,” he replied.
“Six?” Margaret queried. “How deep are those caverns?”
“Pretty deep,” Lowry admitted as the cabin slowed and the doors slid open. “Welcome to the first level. This is where you’ll be housed during your stay.”
Exiting, they found themselves in a vast space. To the left, a bunch of trestle tables with benches. Empty for the moment, but the stainless-steel counters beyond them with plastic hoods showed where the buffet started. To the right, scattered couches around a massive television currently playing the latest Marvel superhero movie—still in theatres she should add, yet they were screening it in this remote place. A few people lounged watching it, the silence kind of uncanny given they all wore headsets. Only the occasional chuckle emerged as someone laughed at the antics on screen.
Lowry noted her gaze. “Rather than create a series of closed-in spaces, we felt it easier to provide headsets to control some of the noise.” He waved to a farther screen with La-Z-Boy-type seats and more people concentrating on screens, remotes in hand. “We do our best to provide entertainment. Food as well. You’ll find our selection to be varied and excellent. Breakfast is from six a.m. until nine, lunch from eleven until two. And dinner is five to eight.”
“What if you need a midnight snack?” Becky added. “I’m a chip-aholic myself.”
“There are dispensing machines with snacks and beverages in the corridors where your rooms are situated. They don’t actually require
any money to use, just make a selection.”
“You seem to have thought of everything,” Margaret remarked.
“We had to,” Lowry confided, giving them a smile. “When confining a large number of people to an area, keeping them content is paramount. It leads to less conflict. Which reminds me, while we don’t condone fraternization, we also don’t prohibit it. We are conscious that sexual needs require an outlet. But that doesn’t mean you have to say yes to anyone who asks. If someone makes unwanted advances and persists after being asked to cease, then please notify me or Mr. Dillinger, who is the human resources manager in charge of dealing with situations.”
“How is it dealt with?” Margaret asked.
“A first offense will receive a strongly worded warning. A second will see the offender fired and removed from the establishment.”
Good to know they didn’t screw around and reassuring since Margaret had no intention of getting involved with anyone.
As they strode through the room, a few sets of eyes glanced their way. Hands raised in a welcoming salute.
Becky waved enthusiastically back. “You have a lot of hot-looking guys,” she noted with absolutely no shame.
“Coincidence, I’m sure,” Lowry stated with a smile. “Could also be the fresh air and regular exercise we encourage from all our staff. Healthy minds start with healthy bodies.”
Given Margaret was a jogger, she totally agreed. Nothing better than a morning run with crisp morning air filling the lungs.
Exiting the common area, they found themselves at a literal crossroad. Lowry paused and pointed. “To the left are the male quarters. And to our right, female. It should be noted that for the comfort of others, you are restricted to your wing and cannot have guests from the other sections.”
“What about the hanky-panky you said we could have?” Becky asked.
A groan remained caught behind the tongue Margaret bit. Did the girl have no shame?
Lowry didn’t seem to mind. “We have rooms set aside off the main chamber that can be used.”
Sex rooms? Margaret couldn’t help a wrinkle of her nose. Kind of gross, however Becky beamed and clapped her hands. “Epic.”
Figured.
“What’s straight ahead?” Margaret asked, noticing the third hallway.
“Nothing. The area is undeveloped.”
A man with auburn hair and freckles against a tan—that belied the common rule of thumb regarding redheads and sun—approached in track pants and a form-fitting shirt. He gave them a nod of acknowledgement as he moved to head around them, only to halt as Lowry said, “Beckett, do you have a moment?”
“Sure thing, boss.” The guy paused by them.
“Do you mind showing what happens when unauthorized personnel attempt to enter the wrong wing?”
“So long as it doesn’t get put on my record.”
“I’ll make sure it doesn’t,” Lowry promised.
The handsome fellow stepped into the woman’s corridor, and the light overhead turned red. A female voice emerged from a speaker the ceiling saying, “Warning. Warning. You are entering a restricted area. Please exit the area immediately.”
“They get a warning?” Margaret’s voice might have held a hint of mockery.
“The first time. Beckett?” Lowry inclined his head, and the guy sighed.
“Ah, boss, seriously? You know that shit sucks, right?”
“I know, but I want to reassure these ladies that their virtue is safe while they work here. I’ll arrange for a bonus on your next check.”
“It better be a good one,” Beckett grumbled as he stepped back into the corridor. This time while the light flashed red, there was no verbal warning. Just a buzzing sound and then the big man hit the floor.
It took Margaret a long stare before she blinked and said to Lowry, “What just happened?”
Becky understood. “He was zapped.” She made a buzzing sound.
“Indeed, he was. Given we take the safety of our staff—especially the sometimes more vulnerable female members—seriously, we have measures in place to ensure the rules are followed. As you noted, a warning is only good if obeyed. We wanted something for the more stubborn rule breakers.”
“Seems kind of drastic,” Margaret remarked. “How often do you zap your employees?”
A faint smile curved Lowry’s lips. “Not often. Usually the infractions we see are more a result of a few too many alcoholic beverages leading people in the wrong direction than actual intent.”
“You serve booze?” Becky exclaimed. “Sweet.”
“Surprising, I would have said,” Margaret added. “Isn’t it usually protocol in confined populations to limit or outright prohibit alcohol?”
“Again, this is not a prison. We want our staff to be happy and feel at home. Nothing wrong with a few beers or a glass of wine after a day’s work.” Lowry had a smooth answer for everything.
This place sounded a little too good to be true. “Do those rules also apply to drugs?”
“Given Canada’s stance on marijuana, we do allow its use when off duty but nothing else, as we don’t want people to be experiencing psychedelic episodes or dealing with truly addictive substances.”
“Is there a manual we can read with all the do’s and don’ts?” Margaret planned to read up on the place.
Whereas Becky scoffed. “I just follow one general rule. Don’t be a dick.”
“Um…” Was there really a reply to that?
Becky laughed. “Oh, your face, girl. It is priceless.” She snickered. “My aunt used to say it all the time.”
“And it’s probably the most encompassing way of saying it. Don’t be a dick and you’ll be fine. ” Lowry chuckled. “Shall we continue? While we don’t have a manual per se, we do have a forum you can access that will help you find your way around. The console to access it is in your room which is next on the tour.” He waved them ahead once more.
Margaret let Becky skip ahead first, and when she didn’t hit the floor beside the still passed out Beckett, she followed, eyeing him as she passed.
“Will he be okay?”
“He’ll be fine. Someone will be along shortly to put him to bed. He’ll wake in a few hours with no ill effects.”
A peek behind showed Lowry following them without setting off the alarm. The rule restricting entry didn’t apply to him it seemed. Who else had special dispensation?
The hallway went for quite a distance and branched off a few times. The place was massive. It made her wonder how it got built. Did they fly in all the supplies and equipment? It must have taken years. How did no one notice? Or maybe they did but didn’t care.
Lowry stopped in front of a white door marked W21. “This is Miss Frederickson’s room.” He handed Becky a card. “Your key.”
“Sweet.” She slapped it on the console and popped in once the door opened. “This is huge,” she exclaimed. “And a bed big enough for two.”
For a moment, Margaret feared they’d be roommates, but Lowry pressed a card into her hand. “You are in the next room. Take a moment to look inside.”
The door opened onto a bigger space than expected. Large enough to handle a full-sized bed with a nightstand on one side. An oversized plush chair. Even a desk with a stool equipped with a monitor and keyboard.
Lowry pointed. “Your connection to the outside world. We have internet access, so you can check and reply to email. There is also a hookup to the Chimaeram Clinic forum. Ask questions, make friends. Read the rules.” Said with a teasing smile.
The fact she could use the internet surprised her. Especially given the security. “Is our usage monitored?”
“Everything on company property is monitored; however, that is only to ensure no one is stealing secrets.”
“So don’t expect privacy,” she murmured, yet couldn’t complain. The contract did warn they’d be supervised closely.
“There are no cameras inside the bedrooms or bathrooms. The only things we access when employees are in
the privacy of their quarters are messages sent and received.”
Seemed fair enough. She wandered deeper into the room and felt a slight huffing breeze. She noted the grill in the ceiling and another by the bottom of the floor. So long as there was power, she wouldn’t asphyxiate. Not a good thought to have underground.
Margaret pointed to the bed. “Fresh bedding is…”
“Taken care for you once a week. More often if you request it. We also provide laundry services.” Lowry pointed to his left. “That is your bathroom. You’ll find basic toiletries in the cabinet under the sink. More are available via the dispensers we passed in the hall.” Which were inset into the walls and comprised of a window showing their wares and a dispensing slot at the bottom. “You can also place an order with Marsha, who is in charge of supply management. She is the first door when you enter the women’s wing. But it’s probably easier to send her a message via the terminal.” He waved to the screen.
“What happens if there’s an emergency? A fire or something else?” Margaret did her best to not think about the fact there was no window. No easy escape.
“The whole place is equipped with fire extinguishers.” He pointed to the ceiling. “Smoke and extreme heat will trigger them. Needless to say, no lighting any joints or cigarettes inside.”
“I don’t smoke.”
“Not many here do. In the case of an emergency, an alarm will sound. You’ll be asked to exit your room. Depending on the area of the problem, there are different exits. A series of light strips will activate and show you the way to go.”
“If there’s power.”
Again, he smiled. “You should have been part of our design team. Given the concern about that, the emergency services have two backup power sources. A generator and also solar power run off already full batteries.”
“That is good to know.” If true. She had a hard time believing someone spent that kind of extra money and time building in multiple failsafes. “Do you have a lot of people working here?” she asked.
To her surprise he gave an exact number. “One hundred and twenty-three at the moment.”
