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

by Jacqueline Druga

  “Good. When he comes today for testing, I’ll speak to Jess about the sort of things he should look for,” Dean commented as he re-wrapped the samples. “You know, evidence that will indicate where they stopped with Frank.”

  “Why are you testing Jess?” Ellen asked. “Is he sick?”

  “No, not at all.” Dean noticed the clueless look on Joe’s face too. “You don’t know either? I thought that the Slagels had a rare mutation causing the immunity to be passed on more easily, because most cases were one parent, one child. I’ve never seen brothers. I stopped questioning and testing survivors after I found the similarities in your . . .”

  “Dean!” Joe yelled. “Quit rambling. I hate when you explain something medical. You ramble. Get to the point.”

  Ellen gasped. “Joe, are you rude.”

  “Yeah I am. Go on, Dean.”

  “Jess has you guys beat,” Dean said. “Not only did his father survive the plague but so did his two brothers. However they died of other circumstances.”

  Joe was speechless.

  Ellen was not. “So do you think they may be related to Joe?”

  Dean snickered. “No. I think that our community is so small that all we would have seen was the Slagel occurrence because of the rarity. But there are other families out there. We just haven’t come across them until now. I’ll know more when I test Jess.”

  Joe looked very seriously at Dean. “Did you tell Jess?”

  “Tell Jess what?” Dean asked.

  “What all he has to give up?” Joe spoke with a raised eyebrow.

  “Or rather . . .” Robbie interjected. “How much he has to give up.”

  “What are you guys talking about?” Dean asked.

  Robbie decided to clarify. “Try this. No dirty magazines, just a cup and the words of advice ‘enjoy’.”

  Dean scoffed. “All of you make too much out of it. Too much.”

  “Dean,” Robbie said his name firmly. “I was a young guy. You made me feel as small as my sample.”

  Dean swayed his head. “You guys whine too much. Almost every male did it. It’s no big deal.”

  “Did you?” Robbie asked.

  “Um . . . yeah. I gave a sample.” Dean started working again.

  Robbie snickered in shock. “You had help.” He shifted his eyes to Ellen. “Did you help him?”

  “I plead the fifth,” Ellen said. “Anyhow, this is going to be interesting because I’ll be involved in the Jess testing. I didn’t know when you guys gave your sample. Boy . . .” Ellen paused to think, looking so serious and tapping her lip. “I wonder if I’ll be able to look at him with a straight face when he steps out of the back room with his cup.”

  “Ellen.” Joe winced.

  Ellen ignored Joe. “Dean, will you let me know if you see the classic signs on my face that I’m about to laugh.”

  “Ellen,” Joe said her name stronger. “All right. Me and Robbie are out of here. We have to plan the run and get ready for the memorial service.” He took a deep breath. “Gonna be even harder knowing what we do know. So Ellen, grieve.”

  Ellen gave a thumbs up as Joe and Robbie started to leave. “Joe, Jason has that video camera in his lab to document his experiments. Would people think I’m odd if I taped Frank’s memorial service.”

  Joe just stopped and spun around, He back handed Robbie in the gut when Robbie laughed. “Ellen, why in God’s name would you video tape it? That’s sick, not to mention morbid.”

  “Joe, we can tell Frank all about it when he gets back, but don’t you think it will be worth it watching him watch it.”

  Joe took on a thinking look. “Actually, that’s not a bad idea and we can get away with it. Yeah, let’s do that for Frank.”

  “Thanks Joe. I’ll get it from Jason.” Ellen smiled as she watched Joe and Robbie leave. She turned to see Dean staring at her. “What?”

  “Video taping Frank’s service?”

  “Oh yeah. Trust me Dean, if I knew we were going to go back in time and bring you back from the dead, I would have videotaped your service as well. It was so nice.”

  Dean didn’t know what to say. “Thanks.”

  “No problem.”

  Still a little in disbelief, Dean returned to his work.

  ^^^^

  Binghamton, Alabama

  “He’s twitching,” Dr. Morris explained to George as they both peered into Frank’s room. “His left hand is moving, twitching often.”

  “Like a muscle reaction?” George asked.

  “It’s involuntary, yes. He’s also experiencing rapid eye movement. That’s something we haven’t seen in him before. So, he’s dreaming. And . . . his heart rate has been changing.”

  “He’s getting ready to wake up.”

  “I’d say so,” Dr. Morris answered.

  “All right, from here on in, nothing is said in his room on the outside chance he can hear it. Got that? I’ll order guards to be outside this door.”

  “Yes, Mr. President.”

  “Let me know as soon as he wakes up.”

  “I will.”

  Dr. Morris walked down the hall. George could have walked away too, but he didn’t. He couldn’t leave without looking at Frank and saying something to him. George walked into the room and close to Frank’s bed. “Soon Frank,” he spoke to him. “Soon you will wake up. I can’t wait to see your face when you see who has you.”

  ^^^^

  Beginnings, Montana

  Trish was annoying as she held Jason Godrichson’s camera. She stood outside of the chapel and took shots of the faces that entered the memorial service for Frank. She stopped recording and lowered the camera when she saw Ellen walking with Joe. She hurried to her.

  “Ellen. Can I speak to you?”

  Ellen released Joe’s arm and let him go in ahead if her. “What’s up?”

  “Well, remembering Princess Di’s funeral, I wanted to know what you would think if I got crowd reaction for the video.”

  Ellen shifted her eyes. “That might not be a bad idea. Try to get the faces of those who really didn’t like Frank.” Ellen started to walk. “Wait, scratch that. It could be very depressing if anyone rolls their eyes. Just get the sad faces.”

  “Got it.”

  Ellen moved from Trish, placed on her grieving face, and walked into the chapel.

  Reverend Bob read the scripture like he meant it. “ . . . and yes we are fully confident that we would rather be away from these bodies. Then we will be fully home with the Lord . . . Amen.”

  The congregation responded.

  Reverend Bob closed his bible. “Corinthians always offers beautiful passages, comfort in times of sadness, reassurance in times of insecurity, and words of wisdom in times of happiness. Ellen shared with me this morning that Frank often read from the book of Corinthians . . .”

  Ellen saw Joe and Robbie both look at her. “He asked me,” Ellen whispered.

  Joe rolled his eyes and looked forward to the reverend.

  “ . . . and when you know a man like Frank,” Reverend Bob spoke, “it should not be surprising to us that he lived by the Bible and often read the word of God . . .”

  Joe’s jaw clenched and he looked, over Robbie, to Ellen again. Ellen sucked in her lip and stared forward.

  “ . . . Frank was a rich man. Not of money, but of things that matter most in this life. He was a man rich with strength, with many friends, and with words of wisdom he shared with us all.”

  Dean knew it. He didn’t have to look to know what the childish expressions of Robbie and Ellen would be. But when he looked, his eyes glanced down to the leg nudging match that entailed between Robbie and Ellen. Dean merely reached his hand down, grabbed Ellen’s, and held it.

  Ellen leaned her head on Dean’s arm. “Sorry.”

  Dean wrapped his arm around her as he stared forward. He laid his hand on Ellen’s cheek, pulled her to him, and spread his fingers to cover any expression she made at that moment.

  Reverend Bob paused m
omentarily when he saw the sadness Ellen portrayed. “I could stand before you and speak words of comfort. I could read passage after passage but that isn’t what we need. We need to feel Frank. We need to share in memories. That is why we have this memorial service. So . . . because I’ve known Frank and have been a member of the community for quite some time, I have taken the liberty to ask a few of you to share some words about Frank. Eulogize him as only you can do.” Reverend Bob stepped back and took his seat.

  Ellen and Robbie’s heads immediately swayed to each other when Dan, one of Frank’s most trusted Security men, gripped emotionally to the edges of the podium, lowered his head, heaved his shoulders, and let out a single long sob.

  Dan sniffled loudly and long and then raised his head. He ran his hand down his reddened face. “I’m sorry.” He held up his hand. “It’s just a very . . . it’s an emotional time for me. I guess it didn’t seem real until today.” He let out a heavy breath. “I kept hoping to see him come back.” Dan’s lip quivered. “When I first came to Beginnings, and I was one of the first survivors here, Frank . . . he saw something in me. He took me under his wing. I thought, sorry Ellen, I thought when I first met him he was one of the meanest men I had ever encountered in my entire life. But when you got to know Frank, you saw that he had a heart as big as he was. He taught me how to do things I never thought I could. He taught me how to take care of myself and anyone I’m around. I loved Frank and I’m gonna miss him. This community will never be the same without him, but I’m sure there’s always gonna be a little bit of Frank hanging around.” Closing his mouth tightly, Dan stepped from the pulpit and walked to Ellen. He extended his hand and gripped hers. As Dan looked at her, he lost it again, crying as he made his way back to his seat.

  Ellen whispered into Robbie. “Frank will never let him live that down.” She felt Dean’s arm move from around her and curiously Ellen watched Dean stand up. “Shit.” She whispered and looked at Robbie. “Dean?”

  Dean stood silently before everyone. “I promise not to bore you with anything medical.” He brought from everyone a light rumble of emotional chuckles. He cleared his throat. “When Reverend Bob came to me yesterday morning and asked if I would speak second today about Frank, I . . . I kind of laughed. Frank and Dean being used in the same sentence usually meant impending disaster, but then I started thinking.” Dean leaned on the podium. His wrists rested against the edge of it and he spoke relaxed. “I thought, what would I say? I thought this after the laugh and then I got serious. Someone once told me there is a fine line between love and hate and for as much as I hated him at times, I guess . . . I guess I loved him too. I never realized how much life and spirit he brought to me until now.” Dean paused. “I miss him. I miss his walking into my lab and calling out my name really loudly to make me drop things. I miss his fighting with me over Ellen. I miss his telling me I had little-man-attitude. Without Frank being around, his children will miss knowing one hell of a father. There is nothing I wouldn’t do, if I could bring him back. Beginnings is not the same without Frank. None of us are the same without Frank.” Dean straightened up. There were strong sniffles in the chapel. He walked solemnly down and sat next to Ellen.

  “Oh Dean.” She kissed him on the cheek. “That was really nice.”

  “I wrote it yesterday before I knew what I knew,” he whispered to Ellen. “Don’t worry. I do want him back, even if it is just to kill him for kidnapping you.” Dean patted her hand then looked up when Henry stood before the congregation.

  “Frank.” Henry spoke his name. “He was my best friend. I knew him well. A lot of people really didn’t know Frank, probably because they didn’t like him.” Henry shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess if you look at it, you can see their point. He could be really mean…and loud.” Henry shook his head with a loud breath. “Boy, could he be loud. How about when he would yell over the radio? He’d yell a lot but that was just Frank.” Henry looked at Johnny who sat in the same row as Ellen. Johnny’s head was down as he stared at his hands. “Johnny, when I look at you, all I see is your father. You should take pride in that because your father was someone to be proud of.”

  Johnny lifted his head and smiled a sad smile at Henry. Joe reached over and grabbed Johnny’s hand.

  “Your father saved my life more times than I can count. He saved a lot of our lives and he did it with style. He did it without regards to himself or to his life. It didn’t matter who it was, Frank’s life played second to whoever he tried to help.” Henry’s hands held to the podium. “I forever will be grateful for having known him, loved him, and been his friend. I will never forget him. I will make sure, for the rest of my life, no one ever forgets Frank Slagel.”

  Ellen watched Henry sadly step from the podium and back to his seat. She saw Robbie standing up through the corner of her eye. Her hand grabbed his as he slid from the pew and walked to the front of the chapel. She thought how strong he looked and handsome he was dressed in a grey shirt and black tie. His hair was combed neatly instead of spiked up and tossed about.

  Robbie swallowed before he said anything. He held his hand up a little above the podium. “I remember,” Robbie closed his eyes, “when I was six, my father let me walk to the store for the first time, but I had to walk with Frank. I can still hear my father yell out the screen door. ‘Frank, hold Robbie’s hand’. I didn’t see it, but I’m sure, knowing Frank, he winced. But I didn’t. I was so little for my age, and Frank, he was so big for thirteen. My little hand was so lost in my big brother’s hand.” Robbie stared at his own hand. “And I loved it. I was so proud to be walking with my big brother. I felt like the coolest kid in the world, thinking, ‘hey, look at me. This is my brother Frank.’” Robbie snickered. “And it’s funny, isn’t it. I still feel the same way when I would walk with him, proud to be seen with him. I guess every kid who has a big brother looks to them with pride. I always looked up to Frank. He has gotten my butt out of trouble for as long as I can remember. Man, the shit he could do.” Robbie swayed his head with a smile. “To work with him, to fight side by side with him, and to even stand next him are the greatest privileges I will ever know. Yeah we had our ups and downs. We’re family. But from kids on up, I wanted to be like him.” Robbie grew very serious and his words gasped with emotion. “He’s been my hero since I was three years old.” Biting his bottom lip, Robbie looked forward, stepped away from the podium, and walked straight out of the chapel.

  Through the silence of the chapel, Ellen stood up, slipped past Dean, and followed Robbie out. He stood in the quiet empty street with his back to the chapel.

  “Robbie.” Ellen walked up to him and laid her hand on his back.

  “I know . . . .I know he’s out there, but he still needs us, El.” He turned around. “I don’t think I can ever remember a time where Frank really needed help. He needs our help.” Robbie closed his eyes as he spoke with passion. “If I have to give my life to do it, I’m making sure he comes back. I want him back.”

  Ellen, with no words to say, stepped to Robbie. Her arms went around his waist and her head fell to his chest. While the service finished inside without them, Robbie and Ellen stayed on the street in their own emotional embrace.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Bowman, North Dakota

  Hal’s stomach grumbled in anxiousness. He just wanted to get it over with. He knew it was going to happen. It was just of matter of when. Like a bomb going off, Hal waited for doomsday to arrive.

  “I like the teams you picked,” Sgt. Ryder told him as they sat in Hal’s office. “Captain?”

  “Huh?” Hal looked up. “I’m sorry.”

  “Deep in thought?”

  “Deep in dread.” Hal took the paper Sgt. Ryder handed him. “You didn’t say what you thought of my teams I picked out?”

  “I’m sorry. I like them.”

  “Good, I’ll start prepping them tomorrow. We might as well send out the Mathias scouts as well as the Wild Cats scouts. We should also be hearing from someone regard
ing the search for our men and Beginnings man. When is he due back for supplies?”

  “Tomorrow morning,” Sgt. Ryder answered. “Boy, you are in deep thought. Usually you know exactly . . .”

  “Shh.” Hal held up his hand. “Listen. It nears.”

  “I’m leaving.” Sgt. Ryder started to stand up.

  “You’re staying. Prepare.”

  There was a knock at the door, only one. It opened and Grace walked in. She looked back into the hall. “Wait there and don’t leave. I will not walk these streets alone.” She straightened her moo-moo style dress and closed the door. “Captain. Can we be alone?”

  “No,” Hal answered as he sat down after playing the gentleman and standing on her entrance. “Elliott must be here. He’s learning the tricks of the reigns if I must leave.”

  Grace smiled some. “Elliott, that will be a welcome change. Perhaps you can make your men behave like civilized human beings.”

  Hal waited for it. He wanted it over with so he figured he might as well get it started. “I’ve spoken to my men. They said nothing out of the ordinary occurred.”

  This was a mistake on Hal’s part. Like a monsoon wind, she blasted him. Hal thought--only for a second--that he saw fire spit from her mouth. “Where do you get off taking their word over mine!”

  Hal leaned back.

  “Do you realize, Captain, that three of those men had dirt ... dirt imbedded in the grains of their skin? Dirt! Do you believe that? Dirt!”

  Dirt. Dirt. That word started to make him smile.

  “Is it any wonder you find yourself in this position?” Grace asked loudly.

  Upon her words, Hal seemed to leave that office and escaped the pain of that moment for the pain of another . . .