The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series

by Jacqueline Druga

  “Then you are agreeing?”

  “Apprehensively. We’ll get things ready to ship some of your people out in the next few days.”

  “Thank you.” Joanna stood and extended her hand. “And what of possibly sending a few of your people down to help us out, perhaps for a week or so?”

  Joe didn’t want a single person of his to walk from the gate. But knew what better way to see what they were up to then to have watched first hand. “I’ll give some thought to who I can spare.”

  “Thank you again. You’re more agreeable than I expected.”

  “I just want the peace of my community back.” Joe stood up. “And since your arrival. People have been on edge. So in essence, I want you gone.”

  “Trust me when I tell you, we don’t want to live among you anymore than you with us.” Joanna began to leave. “Now that we have that clear. We can get past it and move on. Then we can start first thing in the morning with our preparations?”

  “Afternoon. I have to let everyone know.” Joe watched her nod her arrogant head and waltz out. He knew he’d have to brace everyone for his decision. But he also knew what he had to do. He could control them and what they learned. It wouldn’t be as easy getting information from Beginnings as they thought. Joe couldn’t allow them to know everything. Because he knew they weren’t telling him the whole truth either.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  July 8

  “No Joe.” Dean slammed down his fist onto Joe’s desk, his anger obvious, his voice stern.

  “Dean take it easy.” Joe held out his hands, trying to remain calm as he told the news to Dean and his son who sat across from him. “It’s not what you think.”

  “What I think?” Dean shook his head shouting. “You want me to let them into the Cryo lab? You want me to tell them about what I do?”

  “Look.” Joe leaned forward. “We know what we can tell them and what we can’t.”

  “And what about you sending a couple of Beginnings people with them?” Dean asked.

  “Exactly what I said. There is no better way, and you know it, to find out what they are up to then to send a welcome spy.”

  Dean turned to Frank. “Frank, you’re usually really cautious, what do you think?”

  “I have to agree with you. I don’t think they should have carte blanche around here. But like my Dad is saying, they’ll only think they do. I’ll be watching, my men will be watching.” Frank sat with confidence as he rocked back on the hind legs of his chair. “Everyone just has to keep me posted if they suspect anything or see anything strange.”

  “I don’t know.” Dean was so unsure. “I’ve cleared the Cryo lab of what they can’t see. But what if, what if they want to just reclaim their land. They stand a fighting chance . . .” He turned sharply to Frank who blew a huff. “I’m not kidding, Frank. We’re talking forty-two men. That’s almost as many as we have. Not even you can take on forty-two men.”

  Frank waved him off. “Please, they’re like scientists. It’d be like taking on forty-two of you.” Frank chuckled. “Kinda of like a live video game. Clear each level of Dean-type scientists.”

  Dean grew annoyed at Frank’s smugness as he rocked in his chair. “You tend to underestimate people.”

  “Like who?” Frank asked.

  “Like me.”

  “Right.” Frank folded his arms. “You? You’re like . . .” Frank lowered his hand two feet from the ground. “You’re like this big.”

  “Frank you are the most arrogant, egotistical . . .”

  “Bite me.”

  “Blow me.”

  “Boys.” Joe warned then in defeat, plopped down to his desk.

  “And . . . you don’t threaten me.” Frank re-folded his arms as he rocked. “See, cause I know you could never take me down.”

  “You don’t think?”

  Frank laughed as he turned his head to him. “I know you couldn’t.”

  Without any warning, Dean swung his foot out sideways, kicked into the two chair legs that Frank balanced on, swept forward and sent Frank crashing back. “I just did.” Dean sprung up, possibly considering running at that moment as an option.

  Joe lifted his head and stared at Frank and Dean, wondering to himself why in the world he asked those two to come together. Perhaps it was a momentary lapse of stupidity. Perhaps it was just the fact that subconsciously, Joe, was in the mood for a little nerve mutilation.

  ^^^^

  “Excuse me, are you Mr. Kusakari?” Jeffrey spoke peeking his head into back room of the bakery building.

  Henry took the red handled screw driver from his mouth. “That’s me.” He replaced it in his mouth and returned to working on opening the cover to the secondary breaker box.

  “My name is Jeffrey Barnett, I was told you run the mechanical division here? Mr. Slagel said that, if you allow, I may observe.”

  “I allow.”

  Jeffrey stepped closer to him. “May I ask what you’re working on?”

  “Aren’t you the electrical engineer?” Henry shook his head. “A circuit box, gees.”

  Jeffrey laughed at Henry’s implication that he didn’t know a circuit box. “No, no. I know what it is, I was just curious about what exactly you’re doing.”

  “O.K. The bakery has increased its demand. We have these ovens called Revens. They circulate, round and round. Anyhow, they demand a lot of power, and it seems whenever we run all three ovens at the same . . . Bam. Lights out.”

  “I see.” Jeffrey looked. “You’re running a new line into your secondary power source.”

  “Exactly. Like you said. Simple enough. Opening the lid to this box wasn’t. I never thought we have to use it.” Henry pulled from his supply bag, a long rolled up bunching of wires.

  “Can I . . . make a suggestion?”

  “Sure.” Henry shrugged.

  “It’ll save you some time. Here.” He reached down and retrieved the tool from Henry’s box that he needed and began to fiddle with the wiring. “If you just do this.” Jeffrey pointed. “Move this here. Then that should work. There’s no need for a whole new line. That way you can conserve that wiring for later or another project.”

  Henry smiled. “That does work, doesn’t it? Hey thanks.”

  “No problem.”

  “You know.” Henry brought his finger to his mouth and fiddled with his lip. “I have some ceiling lighting that needs worked on in the chapel. No matter how bright a bulb we put in, things are dim. Care to take a look?”

  “Lead the way.”

  “Excellent.” Henry gathered up his stuff. He’d lead Jeffrey to the chapel. It was a perfect set-up Henry thought, play dumb, act ignorant to everything, and get someone else to do the work.

  ^^^^

  Ellen expected someone to show up to her division, but she didn’t expect the enthusiasm that she received from Dr. William Gafsky, the Psychological behavioral specialist that made the walk through of containment with her. He towered over her as they paced slowly down the hall. He was a big man, a tad on the heavy side, something that she would have thought a frightening sight for a man who worked with mentally unbalanced individuals. But after finding out from him that he had done extensive work with serial killers, and homicidal maniacs, Ellen knew he needed that size. Dr. Gafsky informed her of the several books he had published on the subject. Ellen pretended to be impressed but really wasn’t. Chalking it up, that the books couldn’t have been all that good if she never heard of them.

  Dr. Gafsky walked with a notepad in his hands as he listened with interest to everything that Ellen spoke of. “So in an essence, what you do here is what I am supposed to do with survivors. Work with them, make them civilized.”

  “Correct. I am the problem solver around here. I also have the title community counselor.”

  “It seems that you do quite a bit. I wanted to stop by this morning but they informed me you were working at the clinic?” Dr. Gafsky asked.

  “That’s correct. I work at the clinic. I work
here. Recently I’ve added more research time. And . . . we have social skills classes here in the evening.”

  “Quite the busy lady.”

  “Oh they work me like a dog. It’s disgusting. Taking advantage of my good nature.”

  “And you just gave birth to that special child also.”

  “Yeah he’s special all right.” She said with some sarcasm.

  “How is he doing? Is he speaking yet?”

  “Oh sure.” Ellen giggled. “It’s amazing. I think he just said da-da, at four weeks.”

  “Amazing.” He wrote something on his notebook.

  Ellen’s head snapped in surprise, she had to wonder what he wrote stopping. They stopped before the skills room. “Here we are. Observe away.”

  Dr. Gafsky peeked in to the crowded room “I have to tell you. I’m impressed very much with this program you have set up.”

  “Mine and Joe’s baby.” Ellen folded her arms and stepped back. “That’s why they call me, the survivor queen.” She began to leave. “I’m not joking about that either.” Laughing to herself, she left Dr. Gafsky alone while she tended to her own work load.

  ^^^^

  Andrea was the woman of the hour, or at least she felt that way. She walked tall as she paced with pride from room to room at the clinic, showing it off as if it was her own birth child. “And we have one patient scheduled for surgery tomorrow.”

  Dr. Emery, a smaller, meeker gentlemen spoke up. “I’m a surgeon. What was your specialty Dr. Winters.”

  “Mine. Mine was nursing. I was a nurse for over twenty years before I came here. They gave me the main doctor title because of that. Now Dr. Hayes, he’s an actual doctor. A scientist. However, his main focus is the lab.”

  “Who is it that does your surgeries then?” Dr. Emery asked.

  “I handle them mainly.”

  “And how is it that you learned to perform such surgeries?”

  “Some of them, from what I’ve learned hands on in New York. Others, text books.”

  “And you do all types?” Dr. Emery continued in his questioning.

  “Oh yes. Knock on wood . . .” Andrea knocked on the plaster wall. “We’ve been pretty successful.”

  “I must say, you certainly have earned the right to call yourself Doctor Winters.” Dr. Emery complemented. “You are a remarkable woman.”

  “Oh.” Andrea lowered her head and grabbed her chest. “You flatter me.” She lifted her head with a smile. “Shall I show you our lab?”

  “Love to see it.” Dr. Emery followed her. “Dr. Winters. You mentioned you are performing surgery tomorrow. May I inquire what kind?”

  “Of Course. It’s another first for me. We have a patient who appears to have a tumor on his pancreas. Tests show it’s benign but it’s been causing him great discomfort and it needs removed.”

  “If it’s not too much too ask. I’d like to be present, possibly assist. I used to be quite adept in pancreatic surgery.” Dr. Emery said.

  Andrea stopped in her pace. “Dr. Emery I would be honored to have you perform the surgery and allow me to assist.”

  “It would be my pleasure dear lady.” He took hold of her arm and walked with her. “And please, can you start calling me Preston?”

  “Preston.” Andrea smiled touching the hand that held on to her. “Then I must insist you call me Andrea. And here we are. Our Lab. Dr. Hayes’ world.” She knocked on the archway to the open door. “Dr. Hayes?” She called in pleasantly. “May I show our visitors the lab?”

  Dean looked up from his computer and turned his head. “No.” He returned his views to his computer.

  Andrea was shocked, not to mention embarrassed. “Excuse me for a moment.” She stepped in the lab and closed the door. “What’s going on?”

  “I’m working.” Dean answered.

  “Dean, don’t you want to show off all that you’ve accomplished here.”

  “Not to them I don’t.” He faced her. “I don’t want them in my lab. This is my lab.”

  “Are you a little jealous perhaps. The smartest kid on the block has a little competition and now he won’t share his toys?” She asked motherly.

  “Andrea . . . no.” Dean turned from her.

  Andrea shook her head disapprovingly at him.“ Fine Dean. Be a baby. I’m going to go show our visitors the X-ray facilities instead.” After dramatically tossing her head, Andrea walked to the door. “And you mister, better grow up.” She slammed the door on her exit.

  “Grow up?” Dean took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. “I just don’t want them in my lab.” He said to himself. Stopping to take a moment to sulk, Dean’s lab door opened again, this time it was Frank. Frank stuck his hand in and locked the door, then shut it. Dean’s curiosity was peaked. He rotated his stool to watch what Frank was doing.

  Frank stood on the other side doing some weird routing. Stand up, hunch down, turn the knob, open the door, closed it, and shove on it with his shoulder. And then he repeated it, never saying anything to Dean. After about six times, Dean had enough.

  “Frank!” Dean shouted at him. “What are you doing?”

  “Oh.” Frank stepped inside. “I’m checking your doors and windows.”

  “I can see that. Why?”

  “I’m gonna install a keypad, like the one in the cryo-lab. I was just checking for security and tightness of your doors and windows.”

  “You’re securing my lab?” Dean stood up. “I appreciate it. Thanks, Frank.”

  “No problem, I . . .” Frank’s head tilted up. “Yeah?” He called into his headset. “El . . . El, calm down. Calm down.” Frank shook his head. “I’ll be there in ten seconds.”

  “What’s wrong with Ellen?” Dean asked.

  “It’s not Ellen. It’s Josh. She’s says she has a problem with him.” Frank took off.

  Dean, curious also, chased after, shutting the door to his lab.

  ^^^^

  “Frank!” An hysterical Ellen flew to him as he entered the containment hall.

  “El, calm down.” He placed his headset around his neck and laid his hands on her shoulders. “What happened?”

  “It’s happening again, Frank. I went into the skills room and there he was.”

  Frank looked past her and dropped his hands. “He’s all right.” He walked by her toward the skills room.

  Ellen ran to follow him, Dean next to her. “Wait till you see him Dean. It’s a flashback.”

  Frank shook his head as he stopped mid-skills room. He saw Josh huddled in a corner. He clenched tightly to his big blue book, and Josh’s head twitched. He stormed over and stood above Josh. He looked down to the trembling boy with reproachful authority. “Josh.” Frank spoke mildly to him. “Josh.” He called and received no response. Frank rubbed his hand over his mouth and goatee, and deepened his call. “Josh! What the hell are you doing! Get up! Get your ass up now!”

  Josh stood to his feet quickly, still cradling his book, looking at Frank.

  “Josh! Stand up straight and look at me. Now!” Frank’s hand barreled down pointing at him. “Now what the hell is wrong with you acting like this?” He placed his face close to his, he spoke, soft, gruff and strong. “What is wrong with you? And you better answer me and answer me now!”

  Josh stood straight and held up his possession. “Book. My Book. MY BOOK!” Josh grasped it tightly to his chest. “MY BOOK!”

  “Did someone try to take it from you? Did someone try this?” Frank pretended to try to take it. Josh nodded. “Want me to handle them for you? Want me to make them stop?”

  Josh smiled and nodded.

  “Fine.” Frank placed his hands on his hips and turned to the eleven other survivors who seemed to gather in fear together. “None of you people touch his fuckin' stuff. Is that clear? Clear.” They nodded at him. “Good . . . now Josh . . .” He re-faced Josh only to see him pointing. Frank’s eyes followed the direction. They led to Dr. Gafsky standing at the opposite end of the room. Frank moved only his eyes to Josh. “Wa
s he the one who tried to take your book?”

  Josh nodded.

  Pissed off, Frank stormed over to him. “Don’t touch him or his stuff again, do you hear?”

  Dr. Gafsky a man as large as Frank did not back away in fear from him. “I believe that boy has something that belongs to us. That book belongs to our people.”

  Dean stepped in. “That book has been part of our collection since we got here. In fact it’s mine. Physics is my pastime.”

  Dr. Gafsky rolled his eyes. “I think you might be confused on that point. Now if you won’t get it, I will. A simple request is all I ask.” He tried to get past Frank, but Frank, palm against Gafsky’s chest, pushed him back.

  “Look pal. Don’t touch my kid. And don’t touch my kid’s stuff.?”

  “Your kid?” Dr. Gafsky gave an arrogant chuckle. “Well then that explains his behavior.”

  “What is that suppose to mean?” Frank asked, hand rested in intimidation on his hips.

  “It means, it figures he behaves as such, being created from the genes of a sociopathic, inarticulate simian being like yourself.”

  Frank with confused eyes, shifted them to Dean.

  Dean leaned into Frank and whispered. “He just insulted you Frank.”

  Frank tilted his head to Dean. “Was it bad?”

  “If I were you, I’d deck him.”

  “Thanks, Dean.” With a Frank fisted blow, he nailed Dr. Gafsky and sent him to the floor.

  Ellen shrieked. “Oh my God Frank.” She ran to Dr. Gafsky’s side and knelt next to him.

  “El he insulted me.”

  “Don’t you think you’re over reacting? What the hell is the matter with you?” She looked at a stunned Dr. Gafsky. “I’m so sorry for this. Are you all right?”

  Dr. Gafsky held his jaw and slowly nodded his head. With Ellen’s little help, he stood.

  Frank couldn’t believe what he was seeing. “El, what are you doing helping this man?”