“Nope.” She stopped his reaching hand for the container. “And don’t touch anything I just cleaned in here.”
“Ellen, you weren’t supposed to be cleaning. You were supposed to be placing the tissue samples inside the sealed container with the compound.”
“I wasn’t opening that container. What if something went wrong and I’m not really immune. I would die in here. Alone. No way, I was waiting for you.”
“Ellen.” He tried to stay calm. “You stood not two feet from me when I placed a drop of it in there. You didn’t die then.”
“I wasn’t taking any chances.” She began to leave. “I’m going home.”
“We have to do these samples.”
Ellen stopped at the door. “We’ll do them at seven. See ya.” She stepped from the lab, rounding the corner in her own little world, not seeing Frank standing right there. His soft, ‘hi El’ startled her, making her scream in surprise. “Frank!” She yelled at him. “Don’t do that!” She smacked his chest. “Don’t you ever to that to me again! Ever!” She brushed by him harshly and ran off through the tunnels.
“What happened?” Dean ran from the lab. “I heard Ellen scream.”
“I don’t know. All I did was say hi to her and she lost it on me.” Frank was baffled. “Did something happen in the lab?”
“No. Maybe you should go after her.” Dean suggested. “She said she was going home.”
“Yeah, I think I will.” Frank still stunned by Ellen’s behavior, went down the tunnel the same direction she did.
^^^^
“El!” Frank walked into his house. “El.” It was empty. “Where in the hell did she go?”
His answer came when the front door opened. Ellen, Brian in her arms, Josh and the twins walked in. “Hi.” She said like nothing was wrong.
“What’s going on?” Frank bent down to greet the twins and took Brian.
“I don’t know what you mean.” She walked to the kitchen.
“You beat me up in the tunnel.”
“I didn’t beat you up.” She laughed. “God you’re so dramatic.”
“El, this isn’t a joke.” He followed her. “You lost it on me and all I did was greet you. What’s going on? Are you all right?”
Still laughing, Ellen shook her head as she opened the refrigerator. “I haven’t the foggiest idea what you are. . .”
“El.” Frank barked. “You screamed. You beat me up. You freaked out.”
The refrigerator door slammed as Ellen spun around. “You scared me all right! You scared me!” She brushed by him out of the kitchen.
“All I did was say hello!” He jolted when the front door slammed. So helpless, Frank looked down to the faces of the twins and Josh standing in the kitchen doorway looking for answers, then he peered to Brian. “All I did was say hello.”
^^^^
Dean knew he shouldn’t have. The long hot shower, washing away all the dirt that gathered on his body after being pummeled several hundred times by Frank and his band of merry men. His knee, the one the Frank shot none-the-less, aching even worse. He hobbled out of the shower, putting on his jeans. The bed looked so inviting as he stepped into his bedroom. He still had an hour before he had to get back to the lab to meet Ellen. What would it hurt if he just sat there, fifteen minutes, and he’d feel a hundred percent better. Dean didn’t even lay down completely, he let his head rest against the headboard as he semi-sat up. And that’s exactly how he woke up--two hours later.
“No!” Dean glanced at his clock. “No.” He jumped from the bed, slipped in his shoes and ran to the lab, finishing dressing all the way there. If he could feel any worse, he’d allow himself to. Ellen counted on those talks, she was starting to make progress, and Dean had to go and stand her up.
He could see as he ran down the tunnel, the light from the cryo lab shining into the dismal tunnels. The door was open. He flew in. Ellen was drying her hands over the sink. “El, I am so sorry.” He ran his fingers through his hair that was dry, in what frame it dried itself into, Dean was clueless.
“What did you do, fall asleep?” She walked over to him. She fiddled with his hair. “God, Dean, what happens to your hair when you sleep.” She tried to straighten it.
“I thought I’d wake up. I’m sorry. I feel really bad. Really bad.”
“Don’t worry about it. However if I come knocking on your door at three in the morning you’re not allowed to get mad at me.” She fussed at his hair like it was a mission. “This is awful.”
“You really aren’t mad?” Dean grabbed her hand. “I let you down.”
“No you did not. You’ve been more of a help to me than you know. It’s all right. Really it is . . . you know, you should stick your head under the sink again.”
Dean smiled in relief. “Thank you.”
“Oh.” Ellen snapped her finger. “I did the tissue samples for you.”
“You did? Did you record the results?”
“They’re right next to the glass container. I opened the container like you said. Boy, let me tell you my heart was beating, and I placed the tissues in. I believe they were Clint’s buttock tissue samples. How gross. Recording the results were simple enough. Take a look.”
Dean walked over and picked up the glass container. “Did you take the tissue out?”
“Nope.” Ellen answered.
“But I don’t see anything.” Dean picked up the jar.
“You won’t.” Ellen took the jar and set in down, then handed him her report. “The tissue sample, and it was a big one, disintegrated before I could even pick up my clipboard.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
September 7
George patted his stomach, a gut that once protruded over his belt, now was flat. “This, Joanna, is one more reason to get back to Beginnings.”
“We’ve all suffered weight loss. But we are surviving and we do have food.”
“Terrible food.” George sat down. “I did bring you here for something other than a culinary complaint. Beginnings hasn’t tried anything yet. This tells me that they are planning something big. I want to get back to Beginnings try to divert whatever it is they’re planning. I have Joe to take care of. I’m giving them two more weeks. If they don’t make a move, I want two of our men to take me on the back roads up to Montana. Drop me off just past Miles City, I’ll walk the rest of the way, and tell them I made my escape weeks ago.”
“And Miguel?”
George folded his hands across the desk. “Miguel was killed by savages on our way back.”
“How can you be so sure they’ll believe you?” Joanna asked.
“Because . . .” George leaned back. “It’s me. I’m George. The trusted Original.”
^^^^
Dean had a sort of gloating look on his face as he watched Frank walk up toward him. Dean would look at his watch, then at Frank, and he’d keep doing it until Frank noticed. “Now look who’s late. I could yell, like some people, but . . .” He took a deep breath. “I’m a nice guy.”
“I know, I know. I had things to get ready for our war games shortly.”
“Oh, those. So . . . what are we doing?”
“You can’t tell?” Frank indicated to the equipment on the ground. “I realized yesterday that you are the only one who isn’t versed in this. At least I don’t think you are.”
Dean glanced down. “Archery? Are we playing cowboys and Indians today Frank?”
“No Dean. Now take this serious. This is how we’re going to take out anyone who is around the installation when we arrive. We don’t want to alert anyone inside. Besides, I dragged Brian all the way up with me to get this shit laid out for you.”
“You brought Brian up here?”
“Yep. Might as well get him used to seeing it now. When he can, all this shit, is what he learns first.” Frank picked up the bow and two arrows.
“What about reading, Frank?”
“That’ll come.” He handed the bow to Dean. “Have you ever shot?”
“Then let me show you first. It’s pretty simple.” Frank raised the bow. “Pulling back will be difficult for you at first. See your target and adjust your level.” He pulled back and released the arrow. It hit dead center of the target. He placed in another arrow. “The trick is . . .” Frank released the second one. “To see if you can hit the same spot twice.” He watched the arrow land directly on the other one and split it. “Here, you try.”
Dean stood amazed. “You want me to follow that.” He held the heavy bow.
Frank walked to the target. “Don’t shoot until I’m back.” He grabbed the arrows and ran back to Dean.” He handed him the one that wasn’t split.
“Is there anything you don’t do well, Frank?”
“Uh . . .no.” Frank helped Dean. “Raise up. You see your target?”
“Yep.” Dean pulled back. “This is hard.”
“You’re O.K.” Frank stood behind him checking. “Try.”
Dean’s released the tension and sent the arrow to sail. Not only did it hit it’s mark, it hit dead center. “Yes.”
“Good job.” Frank handed him another arrow. “Try it again.”
Dean tried again, he didn’t split the first arrow, but it landed right next to it.
“Dean.” Frank smacked him on the back in good gesture, sending him a foot forward. “I think we’ve found your niche.” He handed another arrow to him. “Here, try again.” Frank was impressed, he really was. And not very often did Dean do something to impress him.
^^^^
There wasn’t a soul to be seen in Beginnings, the war game on the hill left it a ghost town. All but the women. Women didn’t get to participate in the games. That didn’t bother Ellen much, but she always thought, if the feminist movement would still be alive they would have a fit to see how far Beginnings had set it back.
The streets were empty, and that was better than perfect for Ellen. No one saw her go into the clinic. Walking with her hands behind her back, head held high--whistling as she checked each room in the hall.
Seeing no one around Ellen walked into the lab. Hurriedly she made her way to the specimen fridge. “It’s here, somewhere.” She checked every labeled specimen tube. “Yes.” She found what she wanted and stuck it in her pocket.
“Ellen?” Questionably, the voice called to her.
Her hands shook a little as she turned around, keeping her hands in her pockets. “Jason. You aren’t playing the big war game?”
“No I’m not.” He walked to Ellen suspiciously. “Someone has to watch the clinic.”
“Oh that’s too bad . . . see ya.” Ellen tried to dart past him, Jason held out his arm.
“You took it. Didn’t you?”
“Took what?” Ellen looked to the ceiling.
“You know what I’m talking about. You and Dean have been asking for days for it.” Jason held out his hand. “Give it back, it’s ours.”
“I don’t have anything. I was um, putting something in the fridge. Ours is full.”
“Ellen, give me Melissa’s amniotic fluid. We need that.”
Ellen slowly pulled it from her pocket and stuck it back in. “Come on Jason, we’re all on the same side here. We need this. It’s the only baby who isn’t immune.”
“We need it.” Jason stayed calm, hand held out. “I can’t believe you and Dean have resorted to this. My sample please.”
Ellen, moping placed it in his hand.
Jason laughed, and took the sample to the refrigerator, “We’re finishing testing it tomorrow. You can have what we don’t use.”
“Ellen!” Melissa cried out painfully from the doorway, her hand sliding across the counter causing a huge crash. “Help me.” She held to her stomach.
“Shit.” Ellen ran over to her. “What’s wrong?”
Melissa’s knees began to bend. “The baby. I’m in labor.”
“No, you can’t be. We’re doing the ‘C’ section in two days.” Ellen placed her hands on her stomach, it moved violently. “Shit.” She lifted Melissa’s shirt and flew back. Watching the roundness of it distort and noticeable limbs moved about. “It looks like Alien.”
Jason took hold of Melissa’s arm. “I’ll take her to the back, and send Patrick out for Andrea. Go to the field and get Dean.”
“I’m on it.” Ellen looked one more time at the obvious agony on Melissa’s face. She gave a reassuring smile to Melissa, turned and panicked as she ran down the hall thinking the entire way how screwed they were.
^^^^
Frank wasn’t happy at all during the games. Standing next to his father in what they called the ‘free space.’ He shuffled his feet, holding a clipboard, watching the games, and John Matoose referee.
“Quit being a baby, Frank.” Joe scolded.
“I was looking forward to this.”
“I know, but you take all of the fun out of it for everyone. No one gets to shoot or get shot when you’re in the game.” Joe snickered as he talked. “As for now, you’ll just have to play strategist with me, and watch your men come in.” Joe checked out the statistics. “We’re winning.”
“You wouldn’t be if I was in the game.”
“No we wouldn’t, but now we’re having fun. You’re not, but every . . .” Joe looked past Frank to the jeep pulling up. “Why is your wife up here? And Christ, she can’t even put the thing in park.”
Ellen finally succeed in her parking task, and jumped from the jeep, nearly tripping as she did. “Frank.” She ran fast.
“El, why are you here?” Frank kissed her on the cheek. “You could get shot.”
“Where’s Dean?”
“Dead.” Frank pointed to him. “He’s with the casualties, why?”
“Melissa is in labor.” Ellen ran over to Dean who was seated on the ground. “Dean. Melissa’s in violent labor.” Ellen looked concerned. “Repeat of Sarah. Only worse.”
“Shit.” Dean jumped to his feet. “Did you bring a jeep?”
“Yeah, this way.” Ellen followed Dean, they jumped in the jeep with Dean driving, and sped off to the clinic.
^^^^
As they scrubbed quickly, they could hear Melissa’s cries from the operating room. Informing Patrick to keep Mark as far from the O.R. as possible, Dean and Ellen flew inside.
Melissa’s body convulsed on the table, it lifted and fell rapidly, side to side. Jason and Andrea tried to hold her down, they were failing.
Dean could not believe his eyes as he set them upon her even larger stomach. A stomach that had grown since he had seen her just the day before. The baby moved under the skin, like some kind of animal kicking its way through a plastic bag. “Andrea.” Dean neared the table. “Why haven’t you started yet?”
Andrea shook her head. “We can’t knock her out. We can’t even numb the sight. She has rejected everything we’ve given her. Dean, her cervix is tight. It’s closed tight.”
Melissa threw her head back, arching her neck and tensing her jaws. “Cut it out of me! Cut it out!” Her legs kicked abruptly and blood filled the table beneath her. “Oh God Help Me!”
Dean grabbed the surgical tray and took it to her side. “Ellen, you and Andrea hold down her chest. Jason. Hold down her legs. Use your body if you have to.” Wiping her exposed and moving stomach with an anti-bacterial, he lifted the scalpel.
Andrea looked in horror. “Sweet Jesus, Dean, she’ll feel it.”
“She’ll die, Andrea! We have to get this baby out.” Dean cringed as Melissa’s anguish filled screams engulfed the room.
Jason held tightly to the kicking legs. “A natural anesthetic will take over.”
Dean lowered the scalpel and stopped.
Ellen, held all of her weight against, Melissa. She saw the hesitation in Dean’s eyes. “Do it Dean. Just do it.”
With heavy breathing and a steady hand, Dean reached his arm around the stomach to hold down some of the motion that emanated from the infant inside who tried to be free. Dean found
his spot, then quickly, inserted the sharp edge of the instrument into Melissa sending a searing, burning pain into the woman. She screamed with painful tears as Dean cut straight through and across. Dropping the scalpel on the tray he began to separate her skin. “I’ll worry about the sac after we cut open her . . .Oh my God.” Dean looked up. “It’s ripped the uterus.”
“Get it out of me! Please.” With one more cry out, Melissa stopped convulsing, yet her stomach did not.
Dean was horrified. “Is she alive? Someone tell me, is she alive?”
Andrea felt for a pulse. “She passed out.” She closed her eyes and said a prayer.
Dean reached his trembling hands into Melissa’s open flesh toward the violently moving sac covered infant. Before he could secure the sac, a small hand struck forth, and the infant shook itself in an emerging roll from its mother’s body. “Ellen, help.”
Ellen flew from Melissa’s chest, and in just enough time, her hands, with Dean’s grabbed the infant. “I got him. I got him. We need the anti-serum.”
“I’ll get it.” Dean bumped into the surgical tray. “Jason, you and Andrea work on Melissa. We’ll deal with the baby.”
Ellen flew with the heavy infant, still rolled up in a ball and shaking, to the table with Dean. “Inject him.”
Dean tried gently to insert the syringe. He lifted his eyes to Ellen, “It won’t go in.”
“Nail him, he’s dying.”
With all he had Dean pounded the needle through the skin, and injected the serum they called Hope. “Put him on this table.”
“He’s huge.” Ellen lay the slowing infant down. As she did, she got her first real glance at him. She didn’t say anything, she looked at Dean.
A sickening look was on Dean’s face as his hand touched down on the child who was actually bigger than Brian. Its skin was not the normal pinkish blue it should have been, but a brown, looking as if the skin had scales. It felt like leather to the touch. His huge body, almost sculptured, gave the appearance of muscles. “Look at his face, El.”
The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series Page 121
