“Nah.” Ellen shook her head and walked back over to the bed. “I’m waiting to hear back from Pap about Dean. Staying here will keep my mind occupied. Funny . . .” Ellen gave a soft sad chuckle. “I’m trying to camouflage one concern by burying it with another.”
***
“Dean!” Denny jumped up from his lying position as the door opened. “Dean!” He shouted excitedly and ran to him, embracing him up and lifting him from the floor.
“Easy.” Dean grabbed his head, then planted his feet firmly. “I’m glad to see you.”
“Oh, gosh. Me, too.” Denny noticed Dean was alone, no one followed him. “Are you here to rescue us? I’ll grab the kids.”
“No, I’m not.” Dean told him.
“We’ve been kidnapped, you know.”
“Yes, I do Denny. So have I.” Dean looked about at the sleeping small children. “How are the kids?”
“I’ve been watching them. They cry a lot.”
“How have they been treating you?”
“They’re O.K., they’re aren’t mean if that’s what you want to know. Except for that guy Moses. He’s not very nice. Robbie is though. He says he didn’t really kidnap us, he just borrowed us for a while because everyone at Beginnings was mean to him, especially Frank.” Denny’s eyes widened. “Frank! Frank’s the cool guy, he’s gonna come and rescue us isn’t he?”
“I don’t know, Den. We may have to think of something else. But right now, I’m here with you. I’ll do my best to protect you.” Dean rested his hand on Denny’s back.
“No offense Doctor Dean, but who’s gonna protect you?”
“Thanks Denny, thanks a lot.” Dean squatted down before Katie. “How’s your sister?”
“She’s fine. She cried yesterday because she peed her pants, and now she has no underwear.”
Dean ran his hand over Katie’s blonde hair. “We’ll see what we can do. If they’re gonna keep us here, they’ll have to be some changes.” Dean stood back up, moaning as he did and walked to the door. “I’ll be right back.”
Robbie stood in the door when it opened and Dean stepped out. “Satisfied, Dean?”
“Not one bit.”
Robbie took hold of Dean’s arm and led him down the hallway. “What’s the problem?”
“Do you want a list?”
“No, not really. They’re fine. We’re not hurting them.” Robbie opened another door, it led to the library. The large room that once was dusty and dark, was now bright and set up like a command headquarters. “But tell me anyway.”
“First, you have five kids in a room no bigger than ten by ten. I want them kids moved with me somewhere with more room, so I can watch them. Second. I’m worried about the food situation.”
“We’re feeding them.”
“I’m sure. But you have to understand. These kids are now used to eating a certain type of food. They drink pure water. Their delicate systems will not handle anything that you pump into them. You are going to end up with a bunch of sick kids on your hands.”
“That’s why you’re here.” Robbie sat down behind a large desk. “You’ll make them well.” With typical Slagel mannerisms, he leaned back in his chair, rested his head in his cupped hands, and gave that I-know-it-all look.
“With what?” Dean looked around. “We wiped out this town long ago. There’s nothing left. Nothing of use that is. How long are you planning to keep us?”
“That remains to be seen.”
“On what?”
“That too remains to be seen.”
“Don’t play games with me, Robbie!” Dean pointed at him. “You took these kids as a bargaining tool. You should’ve been more prepared to handle them.”
“I took the kids as a smoke screen. I took them to cover up the fact that I was going in the very next night to get you.”
Dean’s heart sank to his stomach, a sickening feeling fell upon him. “They mean nothing to you?”
“I wouldn’t exactly say that. They can be useful tools if we need to enforce what we want.”
Dean knew exactly what that meant. The kids were expendable. They were Robbie’s bargaining chips. “You would really hurt them?”
“Dean, I don’t see it coming to that. I really don’t. Beginnings doesn’t want those kids harmed anymore than I do. We will get what we want.” Robbie stood up and walked around his desk. “In fact, in the long run, I think you and I will be friends.”
“I highly doubt that.” Dean spoke sarcastically.
“I really don’t remember you having this much attitude. Is this something new? Why are you being so hostile?”
“You can’t be seriously asking that question? And I thought you were the smarter Slagel brother. I’m being hostile because I have been kidnapped! Or haven’t you noticed you took me against my will?”
Robbie just laughed and folded his arms, leaning against his desk as he did so.
The door to the library flung open, and with a large stomp, Moses made his entrance. “It’s eight o’clock. It’s time.”
Dean looked to the huge man that just entered, then to Robbie. “Time for what?”
“To radio Beginnings and let them know we have you. They’re probably missing you right about now.” Robbie moved toward Moses. “Dean, this is Moses. My partner in all of this.”
Dean just grunted and turned his head away from the introduction.
“Hey!” Moses shouted. “He introduced you to me. For a brilliant scientist you sure rude! That’s wrong.”
“Wrong?” Dean was at his breaking point. “And I suppose taking someone against their will is perfectly all right.”
Moses stepped forward. “Better than what you folks in Beginnings do. Shutting out the rest of the world. Do you not know that the Bible says ‘thou shall not have more than thy fellow man, thou shall share the fruits of thy labor’ Palms, chapter eight verse ten.”
“What?!” Dean turned his head around to him, glaring at Moses without a single ounce of fear. “The Bible does not say that. And it’s psalms, not palms, you big ape.”
Moses charged for him, picked Dean up by the collar and lifted him above him.
Robbie reached for Moses’ arms. “Put him down! We need him. Ignore him.”
Moses set Dean down. “He’s got a mouth on him. How long do we have to put up with that?”
Robbie pulled Moses aside, away from Dean’s earshot and whispered. “As long as it takes. He’s the ace in the hole.”
Dean stared at their brief entanglement and he finally realized his value. And he knew he would have to use that to his full advantage. Dean had a plan to get him and the kids out of the kidnapping situation, he just had to figure out what it was. Ideas were spinning through his mind so fast, Dean just needed to grasp them in order to implicate them.
***
Ellen folded her hands over her nose and mouth, breathing slowly as she paced around Joe’s office. “This isn’t happening.”
Henry put his arm around her, trying to get her to sit. “Come on, El, just sit down, please?”
“I can’t. I can’t relax until I know.” She moved away from him. “Are you sure Joe?”
“Almost positive.” He sat behind his desk, radio in front of him. “I’ve tried every station, if they hear me, they aren’t answering. We’ve looked everywhere. We can’t find him. Robbie having him is the only explanation.”
“But how Joe? Dean is a grown man. How did they sneak him out?”
“We think Robbie hid out in the community until things calmed down. It’s feasible that Dean is who they wanted all along. Dean is the perfect hostage. They know how bad we need him.”
Ellen just shook her head. “You seem so sure.”
Henry approached her. “El, I’m the one who convinced Joe that it happened. I went back to the social hall to check it out. That’s where I think they got him. Behind the bar, there was some broken glass. It looked like it was scooted out of the way. I also found a few drops of blood.”
�
�Oh, my God.” Ellen had to sit, she reached behind her for a chair. Henry helped her. “What if they killed him? What if that’s why we haven’t heard from them at all?”
Joe shook his head. “I don’t believe that’s the case. There is a bright side. If they have Dean, they surely won’t hurt him. Having him in there is at least some protection for our children. Also, we have to remember, Dean was a scientist for the Army. He was military. If by any chance they let him talk to us, we have to pay close attention to what he says. He may be giving us some sort of information.”
Ellen shifted her eyes from Joe to Henry. “You mean like say something in code? Dean? He’s smart but . . .”
“Anyone would try to do that.” Joe said.
“Dean?” Ellen questioned again.
“Attention Beginnings!” Moses made his announcement over the radio. “We have someone here who you may want to speak with.”
Robbie handed Dean the microphone. “It’s all yours, Dean. Keep it short. Tell them nothing.”
Dean took the microphone and pressed into the button. “It’s me.” His voice was soft.
Ellen leaped from her chair when she heard his voice. “Ask if he’s all right. Ask if he’s all right.”
Joe held up his hand to her, and lifted his microphone. “Dean, are you all right?”
“Aside from being kidnapped, and having a huge gash in my head. I’m fine. The kids are fine too.”
Joe put his head down in relief. “What do they want?”
Moses’ voice interrupted. “That’s a big no-no question. Ask another.”
Dean snatched the microphone away from Moses and gave him an agitated glance. “They won’t let me tell you anything right now. They’ll get back to you. I wanted to talk to you, Joe.” Dean had grasped one of those flying ideas and hoped that Joe would understand what he meant. He wanted to try to convey that Robbie underestimated Beginnings, because Robbie believed Frank, Beginnings best weapon, to be dead. “I didn’t get a chance to tell you I was sorry that I couldn’t save Frank. I’m sorry your son died.”
Joe lowered the microphone and looked up at Henry. “He’s on our wavelength . . . Yes!” Excited about Dean trying to pass on information, Joe forgot to show despair when Dean conveyed his condolences. “Thanks, Dean I appreciate that. Look . . . we’re all concerned about you guys. Ellen is very worried about you.”
“Tell Ellen don’t bother.” He handed back the microphone to Moses. “I’m through talking. When you have something for me to say to them, then I’ll do this.”
Moses depressed the button. “That folks was the world renowned Doctor Hayes, with a bit of hostility to that Helen person.”
“Ellen!” Dean snapped. “Ellen. Not Helen. Don’t you pay attention!”
“Will you shut up!” Moses shouted back. “You’re getting on my nerves!”
Robbie removed Moses’ thumb from the microphone button. “If you two are going to argue, could you not let Beginnings hear you? Please!” Robbie began to speak to his father. “Dad, before you say anything listen to me. We are in control now. I will contact you. Don’t try to call us.” With the last of Robbie’s words, a static came over the radio.
The silence now in Joe’s office was a terrible reminder of whose game Beginnings was playing. Joe became angry. The only peace he had in the whole mess was now, they had Dean, and Dean was driving them nuts.
“I don’t think they’re coming back in.” Henry said.
“We can’t be sure. We underestimated them once.” Joe stated.
“Yeah, but they got exactly what they wanted. Dean.”
“And we have to start working on a plan to get them back. A rescue operation.”
Henry shook his head. “We won’t be able to pull that off without Frank. We need Frank.”
“So we need time. How do we ask for time without taking a chance on them realizing what we are doing?”
“Dean obviously knows.” Henry commented. “He has to. He must realize that in order for us to go in there and help him we need our best man . . . Frank. In order to have our best man, we need time. Ellen?” Henry noticed Ellen standing and walking to the door. “Where are you going?”
“I can’t sit here and listen to you two talk about this so tactically.” Ellen fought her emotions. “I don’t know how much more I can take. You guys are talking about buying time. Please realize they have Dean. It’s Dean. My children need him. How do I explain to them where their father is? How do I buy them more time? I’m sorry.” Ellen ran from Joe’s office. She wanted to escape and wake up from the bad dream that seemed to be happening to her. Every single part of her life was affected. There wasn’t a single soul in Beginnings not feeling the same frustration and anger that she was. The urge to fight back and regain what was theirs, was overshadowed by the inability at the time to do so. Beginnings was in stale-mate with the small band of men they underestimated. The small band of men who believed they could, and eventually did, hold them at bay.
***
Dean shook his head back and forth as he listened to Robbie ramble on. “It’s not a perfect plan, Robbie. You keep repeating the word, perfect.”
“You’re trying to bring me down on this one. I’m smarter than that, you know.” He leaned across his desk to Dean.
“I know. That’s why I find it hard to believe that you actually think that they are just gonna let you in and reside there. When do you think they’ll do this? Tomorrow, the next day?”
“When they realize what they are missing. If they don’t realize it, then we take drastic measures. We send them messages. That’s where the kids will come in handy.”
“If you off any of the kids then you are opening yourself to them coming in here and annihilating you. They will risk it. In order for them to let you in, they are gonna really want back what you took. Then and only then will they bargain with you.”
“How long do you suppose that will take, knowing them as well as you do.”
“Why . . .” Dean paused. He had to hide his grin. Robbie just asked him ‘how long’. It was too perfect, too easy. Dean had to try. “Why would I tell you?”
“Because I’m a nice guy. And you’re stuck here so . . . how long?”
Dean began to run quickly through his mind the healing process. How long until Frank wakes up, on his feet, has his strength. “A few weeks maybe.”
“Oh, we can’t wait that long.”
“Good.” Dean brought to his face a confident smirk. “Then you’ll fail. But answer me this. Suppose on the slim chance they let you in. Do you really think it will be a peaceful co-existence?”
“Sure. At first.” Robbie sat back. “See, they’re gonna expect us to try to overrun them. We won’t give them that satisfaction right away. No. We will let them start to trust us, then, bam, gone, all of the originals . . . dead. All except you and your family of course.”
“Oh, of course.” Dean shook his head again. “You keep bestowing such honors on me.”
“I do. You know you won’t die. You know your children won’t die. Hell, I even cleared the way for you and Ellen to be Frank-free.”
“Swell. Thank you. But . . .” Dean rested his aching head on his hand as he leaned sideways in the chair. “I don’t want her.”
“Mind if I take her. There are no women, Dean.”
Dean raised his eyes while slightly rolling them. “Sure.”
“Thanks. And because you’re being so generous . . .” Robbie went back and re-sat behind his desk. “I’m gonna be nice. I want you to tell me what you need me to do for the kids.”
There was nothing short of sending them home, that Robbie could do. Dean stared at Robbie a long time before he would rattle off the list of unavailable necessities that could only be brought by Beginnings. Things that could open up vital lines of communications if Dean could convince Robbie to let Beginnings bring the items. Robbie was a personality contrast. Besides an air of smug and evil, Robbie held an air of innocence and naivety Dean could take adv
antage of. And still basking in the fact that he grasped onto another one of those flying ‘getting out of Egypt’ thoughts, Dean began to give Robbie the list.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Dean snapped his fingers several times in front of the face of Moses, who just stared off. “Hello?” Dean snapped again. “Are you paying attention to me?”
“Does it look like I’m paying attention to you? I’m thinking here.”
“What in the world could you have to be thinking about?”
“Ways to cool you’re attitude, Mr. Scientist.”
Dean waved his hand at him. “Pay attention this is important.” Dean showed him what looked more like a bunch of plastic containers with tubing, instead of the water purifier. “I didn’t spend the last six hours making this to have you screw up using it.”
“You know, just keep it up with the mouth and I won’t care what Robbie says about you. You’ll be history.”
“Do you really think I care? If I did, wouldn’t I be a lot more nicer to you? Now listen up.”
“Let me give you a little proverb here.”
“Don’t! . . . There is nothing more irritating then hearing someone wrongly quote the bible, when chances are, they can’t read. Now ten minutes. Ten minutes minimum you boil the water for. After that, it gets poured through here at the top. Watch yourself boiling water can be hot.”
“Ha, ha, ha.” Moses began to fiddle with the tubes. “This isn’t going to purify anything. All you did was stick a bunch of things together that you found at the hardware store.”
“I quit.” Dean threw his hands up and walked away. “I’m going to my room. I have a headache and you’re making it worse. But let me leave you with this. It does work. Just because tinker toys are advanced for you doesn’t mean I can’t build something that works.” Dean stormed away. As he walked to the hall that led to his room, he passed Robbie, who had been watching.
“Being pissed at the world isn’t going to make this situation any better.” Robbie followed him. “This is war here. Shit happens. You are making this situation a hell of a lot worse than it needs to be. We aren’t hurting you. We aren’t torturing you. You aren’t stuck in some dungeon.”
The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series Page 67
