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

by Jacqueline Druga

  “Yeah El, I know. But I also remember how bad Frank laughed on the flight. And for some reason I don’t want a repeat of that with Henry.”

  “I won’t laugh at her, Dean,” Henry said seriously. “I’ll just throw up right along with her.” He saw Ellen take the medication and watch as Dean leaned back and closed his eyes. “Are you going to sleep, Dean?”

  Dean opened one eye. “I’m going to try. Why?”

  “I wouldn’t do that. Not the way Johnny flies. Your body will just relax and he’ll make one of those Johnny turns and you’ll just roll all over the place.” He started to laugh and so did Ellen.

  “I’ll keep that in mind, Henry.” Dean closed his eyes again.

  “O.K.” Henry pulled out his journal and flipped it open. “Now, El, that we’re completely out of the ‘Dean is dead’ fog, I made some notes on what was different. For example, I tried to speak to Jenny about you and she just went off.”

  “What got into those two since Dean isn’t dead?” Ellen stated. “And here I was so forgiving of any and all things. But you know, the first time I saw John, he told me, get this, to blow it out my ass.”

  Henry gasped, “How rude.”

  “Yes.” Ellen nodded. “And I’m glad I’m accusing him, or the other me was.”

  “Will you continue to do what the other you did?” Henry asked.

  “Absolutely.” Ellen took time to yawn. “In fact we can discuss that in detail after we talk about the differences. I mean, we have a long flight to talk. And we can talk the entire way.” Ellen looked up when she heard Dean snicker. “Was that funny?”

  Dean opened his eyes, looked at his watch then nodded. “As a matter of fact, yes.”

  “He’s odd.” Ellen pointed to Dean. “He thinks me talking is funny.”

  “Maybe he thinks you’re a funny person,” Henry suggested. “Do you Dean? Do you think Ellen is funny?”

  Dean grunted.

  “Anyway getting back to the . . .” Henry stopped talking when he saw Ellen yawn widely. “What’s the matter El? You tired?”

  “Yeah.” She rubbed her eyes. “All of the sudden it just hit me like . . .” She tried to snap, but her fingers were too tired. “Henry, it really just hit . . .” Slowly she turned her head to Dean. He leaned against the wall of the helicopter laughing. “Dean? Why are you laughing.”

  Dean smiled. “Night, El.”

  “Dean why do you look like you know something?” She asked.

  “I do.” He opened his eyes. “Ellen, did you honestly think I wanted to deal with this old lady type chattering you two do the whole flight down?”

  “Dean!” Ellen exclaimed and yawned. She grabbed her head. “Whoa, I’m getting woozy. What did you put in that medication?”

  “Night, El.” Dean closed his eyes again.

  “You drugged me? Henry he drugged me.”

  “Dean,” Henry scolded, “that wasn’t . . .”

  “Very nice. I know. Night.” Dean adjusted himself more comfortable.

  Henry watched Ellen’s eyes start to get heavy. Her head swayed. “El? Maybe you should lay . . .” Before he finished his sentence Ellen had plopped sideways on a duffle bag. “El?”

  Dean peeked through one eye as Ellen groggily made herself comfortable. She snuggled to the duffle bag, like their daughter, Alexandra, to her pillow. Dean knew Ellen was out the moment her head went down. Relaxing, he closed his eyes and breathed easier. There was silence. Though it may not have been all that ethical to do that to Ellen, to Dean it was sort of funny, and at least it was finally quiet.

  ^^^^

  There was a twinkle in Joe’s eye when he peered up to Andrea. A burning desire took over him to take her in his arms and really go at it right there and then in her office. A desire brought on not by his need for affection, but by her brilliant thinking. But he had to put aside his physical wants. He didn’t think John Matoose--who was present--would appreciate the show.

  “Andrea.” Joe stood up from behind her desk. “This is excellent thinking.” He looked at the sheet. “And the details.”

  “You asked,” Andrea stated, “and when you said isolated yet practical, the first thing I thought was erect another structure like Jason’s lab. But then it hit me, why not roll one in.”

  John interjected, “And when Andrea mentioned if I had seen one of those Center for Disease control mobile labs, I laughed. Hell, I see them all the time in any major city.”

  “What about power and water?” Joe asked.

  “Easy,” John responded. “That whole area where Jason is set up is built for growth. Just like Miguel hooked up power and water there, we’ll place the mobile lab in a position where we can link to the lines underground.”

  Joe looked to Andrea. “Are these things big enough to accommodate living space if needed?”

  “No.” Andrea shook her head. “But, speaking to John, there’s no reason, since there’s room out there, that we can’t attach one of those small trailers to it.”

  Joe’s view went back to John. “Will there be any problem bringing a CDC lab in, let’s say, ASAP.”

  “Frank probably won’t authorize any of his men to go, especially with the surveillance group out,” John answered. “But we can go as soon as they’re back. They only problem I see is finding one viable. Those mobile labs are near the major cities. And we pretty much know what the savages have done to the major cities.”

  “Unfortunately,” Joe said. “All right. Good work. Let’s get working on this.”

  John nodded, stepped to the door, and stopped. “Joe, can I ask what we need the isolation lab for? Does it have anything to do with Dean and Ellen’s mystery trip to Nebraska?”

  “As a matter of fact it does,” Joe answered, “but it’s under wraps from community knowledge what they’re doing. But I’ll let you know, John, it’s this new experimental weapon they’re creating.”

  “For the society?” Joe questioned.

  “Yeah. But uh, keep it quiet,” Joe told him.

  “Got it.” With another nod, John left.

  After John’s exit, Andrea let out a breath. “I thought for sure you were telling him.”

  Joe chuckled. “No. The ones that are supposed to know, know. That’s it. I want the virus information kept as secret as possible until we don’t have a choice but to let the knowledge out. The last thing we need is a fourteen month panic spree.” He walked slowly around the desk, pausing to kiss Andrea softly before leaving.

  Andrea smiled and touched her lips. “My, goodness Joe Slagel. Affection? If I didn’t know better I’d swear that little spontaneous peck was you pining for some romance.”

  Joe smiled and raised his eyebrows.

  Andrea giggled like a school girl. “Feel like taking a break to relief some of that stress?”

  “If that’s an offer, can I have a rain check?” Joe asked.

  “Not in the mood?”

  “Oh, yeah. Definitely, but I have a meeting with Frank in a couple hours and I’d really rather wait until I get that stressful event over with.” With a wink, an ornery grin, and a quick smack to Andrea’s backside, Joe left the office.

  ^^^^

  Ellen was like a limp sack of potatoes lumped over Henry’s shoulder as he carried her in the small building no bigger than eight by ten. His one arm held tight to her legs, the other hand braced her backside. “Where should I put her, Dean?”

  Using the light from the open door and a flashlight, Dean looked around. “Just put her on the floor.”

  “She is really out,” Henry commented.

  “It was a measure that had to be taken,” Dean said, and saw Johnny walking in with some gear. “Johnny, before you head out, lay a bag down for Ellen. I’m sure she’s getting heavy for Henry.”

  “Sure, Dean. Is she heavy Henry?” Johnny asked.

  “No. But I’m sure she’s gonna have a headache if the blood keeps rushing to her head like this.” Henry balanced Ellen as he waited on Johnny to prepare a spot.
>
  Johnny laughed at that and untied a sleeping bag. “Why did you have to knock her out for so long, Dean?”

  “Because I know Ellen. Besides the flight down with Henry, she’d complain the entire time Henry was getting the power up and running and you were checking out the place.” Dean set down the small metal case that contained the forty-four unidentified vials, a small case that was never far from his body.

  Henry laid Ellen down. “But that still wasn’t very nice. You put my friend to sleep. I had no one to talk to.”

  Dean gave a fake whine, “Too bad. Henry, this is the elevator control.” He shined the flashlight on it. “Let’s go back outside and I’ll show you where you can get the secondary power source going.”

  Henry picked up his tool bag. “Lead the way.”

  Johnny followed them out, checking his rifle. “I’m gonna go canvass the area to make sure it’s secure. I didn’t see any movement from above. Then again this place is like a jungle now. Thank God my dad did the coordinates or we would have been flying lost for a while. This place is hidden.”

  Henry adjusted his rifle over his arm as he walked. “Isn’t that funny that Frank was stationed here the first month Dean arrived? They didn’t see each other. Dean you could have known Frank years ago.”

  “See. I always knew there was a reason my life felt so empty,” Dean said sarcastically as he led Henry to the power hatch. “Here you go Henry.”

  Johnny peered in. “Need help before I take off?”

  “No, but thanks.” Henry became engrossed in the hatch. “Oh and Johnny, check out that clearing we saw one more time.”

  “Will do. I’ll hover for a while. But I think it’s fine. If so, I’ll lift off. But keep in mind…” Johnny explained. “. . . even with an all clear now, that doesn’t mean you’re safe. The chopper can be a calling for people to find you. So secure up,” he instructed as he started to walk. He stopped with a snap of his finger. “Almost forgot. Pap says if you find anyone normal, bring them back. If they’re not . . . shoot them.” Johnny lifted his hand in a wave as he walked off.

  Dean took a long blink. “Shot them? Do we in Beginnings value life or what?”

  “Of course we do, Dean.” Henry replied as he checked out his power source mission. “Or why else are we here?”

  ^^^^

  Slow, drawn out and articulate were how Josh spoke his words. “Diane .. . teacher.”

  With a proud swat to Josh’s back, Frank grinned and nodded to Diane “See? He’s doing good.”

  A pleased smile crossed the face of the fifty-some year old woman, small and petite, looking like the teacher she was in the old world. “Excellent Josh.” She looked to Frank. “At least he isn’t calling me ‘her’.

  “Yep.” Frank nodded. “We worked for a good half hour during rounds.”

  “You keep doing that,” Diane said, “together, we’ll get him back to normal speech patterns.”

  “Good . . . O.K. Josh.” Frank nudged the fifteen year old boy. “You go with her. I mean . . . Diane. She’s gonna work on your talking some more.”

  Josh nodded and stepped to Diane.

  “I’ll walk him home,” Diane said. She took the arm of the boy as if they were taking a leisurely stroll.

  Frank waited until they moved on some and then he headed to one of his remaining tasks for the day. Containment. His father was pulling a later day shift there, and by default it ended up being the meeting place of choice.

  It was like the buzzing and the opening of the door was an alarm to that new survivor they picked up nearly three weeks earlier. As Frank took his first step into the hall, he not only saw Joe, but the new guy as well. Frank barely caught glimpse as the shaved head, very skinny man scurried away. “Dad?” Frank pointed back with his thumb. “Was it my imagination or was the new guy Mike on his hands and knees.”

  “Not your imagination. He does that, you know, sniffs around. Come in.” Joe motioned to him. “And shut the door or he’ll come in here again. Pesters me.” Joe looked over some paper work.

  “He sniffs around?” Frank asked.

  “Yeah. He thinks he’s a dog.”

  “Dad, that’s not normal.”

  “No shit, Frank.”

  Frank lowered himself into the chair. “Why is he still here if he thinks he’s a dog?”

  “Ellen says he’s harmless. He hasn’t bitten anyone yet.” Joe shifted his papers. “According to Ellen, it’s like having a pet.”

  “Still.” Frank shook his head. “Don’t you think it’s time to get rid of him? I mean, the whole premise is you have to pull your weight around here. How can a man who thinks he’s a dog pull his weight?”

  “Ellen says he’s useful and he doesn’t eat much.” Joe rubbed his aching head. “Enough of the questions.”

  “Dad . . . I’m security. Don’t you think I have the right to know why a man who thinks he’s a dog is still in the community?”

  “All right.” Joe shook his head in disgust. “Ellen says that he barks whenever trouble starts with the survivors. Like a watch dog. And she thinks she can bring him around. We’re giving her a few more weeks. And she has made progress training him. At least now he’s no longer lifting his leg to take a leak everywhere.”

  Frank scoffed, “Have we established what kind of dog he thinks he is?”

  Joe raised his eyes up to Frank.

  “I mean, what if he thinks he’s a Pitbull? They’re real nice at first but then they can snap and before . . .”

  “Frank! Enough about Mike thinking he’s a dog. We have other things to discuss.”

  “You’re right. But I can’t. Josh is having speech lessons and Hap says I’d better pick up the kids because he’s not watching them. So . . .” Frank stood partially and pulled out sheets from his back pocket. He handed them to his father. “My reports and some thoughts. Stop by later and we can talk about them.”

  “Sounds good.” Joe wasn’t really in the mood for a Frank style meeting. He supposed reading his thoughts would be less stroke provoking. He took the papers from Frank and shook his head at the crinkled mess. “Frank, could these be anymore wrinkled?”

  “Yes.” Frank stepped back. “Talk to you later.”

  “Whoa!” Joe called out causing Frank to halt in his reach for the door. “Perimeter seven. Again? What’s going on up there? Did you learn anything?”

  “I narrowed it as happening between the three a.m. rounds and when I do my seven. So the animal or whatever is hitting it is doing it then.”

  “Raccoon?” Joe asked. “They’re smart. They may be playing with the beam. Any bodies?”

  “None.” Frank shook his head. “I want to put a watch on, just an extra shift, hiding out and watching.”

  “Why?” Joe asked. “To catch the raccoon?”

  “No.” Frank shook his head. “If I didn’t know about that beam being knocked off track three times a week, I’d been fried by now. I want to watch to see if it’s possible that’s someone is doing it.”

  “In the community?”

  “I’d say more outside. Perhaps we have another band of survivors thinking that they’re real smart. Perimeter seven is a mile off from the back gate. It’s possible they’re moving in the deep woods without being seen. You know, being brave about trying to break in. Remember Moses had that band of men together. So nothing is impossible.”

  “You think they’re smart enough to move that beam?”

  “Anyone is,” Frank said. “All they have to do is watch for a while, reach in from the outside with a stick, and shove it. And when one of us walks by . . . Zap! I have my men toss something that way before they go near it just in case. But, I still want to canvas the area.”

  “Good idea. This started when?” Joe reviewed. “Two weeks ago. It was after the SUT raid. Any chance it could be them?”

  “Nah, they’re too stupid or at least the ones with the microchips are. They’re trained for one thing only.”

  “How about the savages?”<
br />
  “Possible. If they’re aware of the beam, they can do it.”

  “All right, how about we do a watch of the area first. Then if nothing turns up when Cole and the men get back, we pull a search of the area.”

  “Sounds good to me.” Frank stepped to the door again. “And let me know what you think about my Society thoughts.”

  After hiding the slight roll of his eyes, Joe nodded.

  “Then I’ll see . . .” Frank turned his head to the door. “What is that scratching?”

  “Oh that’d be Mike. Could you let him in the men’s quarters for me on your way out?”

  “Let him in?” Frank asked in surprise. “Why? The door’s unlocked.”

  “He can’t reach the knob and he has to go. Now, hurry before he has an accident..”

  “Dad!” Frank snapped in shock. “You’re joking right?”

  “No Frank, I’m not.”

  “This is ridiculous,” loud, deep and grumpily, Frank grunted as he opened the door. “My wife and father think a scrawny man is a fuckin dog and people talk about me.” He pulled the door closed shouting as he did. “Hey! Get off of me.”

  Joe shook his head at the loud Mike yelp, then prepared himself for a mental endurance test, reading Frank’s thoughts on paper.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  A four hour nap on a cold hard floor was not something Ellen wanted or planned on. She was upset with Dean at first, but ended up being a bit grateful because she slept through all the tedious waiting for them to get the power supply up. She was also spared the frightful first trip of the elevator. Not that she doubted Henry’s mechanical ability, but Ellen knew had she been conscious, she would have annoyingly expressed her fear before and during the entire ten story decent.

  The research facility was a sealed tomb, shut off from the world mid-plague. It was so air tight that the bodies of the diligent working infection fighters looked more dehydrated that decomposed. They spewed forth across the halls and in the labs where they worked. Most likely they dropped to their deaths from the cessation of oxygen rather than from the plague they were fighting to beat.