Now, the rush was starting to recede, and all I wanted was to take a scalding shower, curl up next to Jessie, and crash for the rest of the night. As I came in for a landing in the backyard, I found Jess sitting in a lawn chair, waiting for me. The look on her face made me doubt the whole cuddling part of my plan. Testing the waters, I asked, “Hey, baby, what’re you doing out here?”
“Oh, you know, the usual. Waiting while my fiancé risks his hide to do work the men-and-women-in-blue get paid good money to do.” She didn’t look at me during this gibe.
“Oh, I don’t know, honey, I don’t think the money’s all that good,” I said, trying to insert some levity into the whole thing.
“Way to skirt my entire point, Kade.”
“Honey. Babe. I’m sorry; I just cannot believe we’re having an argument over this. I thought you’d be proud.”
“I am proud of you, Kade.”
“Your worrying trumps your pride. Gotcha. Then what’s the compromise?”
“I don’t know. If you wanted to be a hero, you should’ve just enlisted, like Mason,” she said, unfolding a scruffy looking envelope from her jeans’ pocket. Tossing it to me, she added, “It’s from him.”
“I got a letter from Mace? Get out. Wonder if Stephen got one? He’ll be heartbroken otherwise,” I said, all smiles. My smile vanished quickly at Mace’s words. Catching my reaction, Jessie stopped me midway through, and made me start over aloud.
“Heya, buddy,” it began lightly enough. “It’s your old pal, Mace. Listen, I want to so badly start this – my first letter – by talking about how much I miss you guys (which I do), or about how I feel like I’m where I belong, doing what I was meant to (which I still do, despite the weird stuff that’s been going on).
“I’m getting ahead of myself. My point is, I can’t start off that way, because there’s just too much going down over here, and I only have a second to write this.” I stop and clear my throat, knowing what comes next.
“It’s your friend. The white-haired man. He’s been here. He’s been here a lot. He’s a monster, Kade. Not like when you call someone who’s cruel a monster, but the real thing. He’s evil.
“Soldiers … Rhonda, Dennis, Vale, they’re all missing. We’ve been told they died in combat, but … but there’s been no combat. Do you understand? We hear bombs going off, sure, mortar fire all around our camp, but we’re not allowed to go anywhere near it. We’re just supposed to wait for what General Douglas keeps referring to as the FINAL ASSAULT. He says it just like that, too, in all caps.
“That’s not the worst of it, bro,” I stop reading, and address Jessie, saying, “This is where you stopped me, earlier.” She doesn’t say anything, but, instead, motions for me to continue.
“That’s not the worst of it, bro,” I pick up, “We’re holed up in this warehouse-looking building. It’s got these four sets of tracks at the far end. Trains roll in and out with, like, a million cargo containers, all the time. And they’re filled with the dead. Our men and theirs. It’s horrible.
“I have to help unload them. They have us take them into this lab of sorts. Say they’re running tests on the bodies to make sure they’re not contaminated. To make certain it’s safe for them to be returned home. But Kade, we’ve never sent anyone back home. I’ve never even seen a single body again, once one enters the inner-labs.
“Are they burning them? I don’t think so. And the French soldiers? I just don’t know.
“And your Dark Monk is right there in the midst of it, always in-and-out of the labs, and constantly wearing that ghoulish grin. Who the hell grins in all that death? Why is he even there? He’s not even bothering with the shades anymore, either. Everyone acts like they don’t see those eyes, but they’ve got to. Right? I’m just thankful he’s leaving tomorrow. Says he’s left an experiment running in the states, and he really has to get back to it.
“If war is hell, then he’s the devil.
“Well, gotta run, Mace.”
Jessie was swaying, and looked like she was ready to tip over. “What’s all that about? What’s he got to do with the military? Or this war,” she asked, shaking her head.
“Or, the statue bombing? Remember, Stephen said he was there, too. To visit Van Parson. A man who’s been instrumental in pumping up President Perry’s war. We know Van Parson has a vested interest in weapons sales. We know there’s also something bigger going on between the CEO and our creepy old friend.
“I’ve gotta go over there, Jess; I’m so sorry.”
As soon as the words were out, I knew three things: 1.) I couldn’t take them back, 2.) She would hate me forever if I went through with it, and 3.) There was no way I could let that sway my decision.
2
She didn’t disappoint. We fought for the next hour, shouting for all the neighbors to hear – which was pretty loud, when you consider my mom lives out in the boondocks. When it was over, she cooled a little, but not enough to say she understood why I had to do it. I wanted her to continue to cool, so I had to keep the sarcasm and attempted wit to a minimum.
My mouth has gotten me into trouble all my life, but with so much on the line, I think I did pretty well. The only comment I made that came close to relighting that fuse was when Jessie made one final attempt to talk me into staying.
“Why don’t you just stay and fight crime locally like you wanted to do? I promise, I won’t say anything else about your patrols.”
To which I responded, “I thought you said I should’ve gone to war with Mace. The cops can handle this town. Remember? Besides, I’ve already cleaned up the streets of Ransom, and then some. It’s only natural I take my vigilantism worldwide.”
That was when she punched me in the arm – punched me hard, too! It was also when I knew she had conceded. “Go, then, you big jerk. You know, I’m only acting like this because I can’t lose you twice. You’ve been so distant to me since you came back into my life, and now that we’re starting to build things up again, you’re fixing to run out and place yourself in the middle of some freaky war.”
“Yeah, it will be dangerous. But I don’t plan on traveling alone. With the Dark Monk’s involvement, I think I’ll play it safe. Maybe stop by and talk to Aesculapus. See what he thinks. Maybe see if Caduceus is still hanging ‘round. Convince him to get over himself and come with me.”
She was shaking her head again, and had begun to cry. “I just don’t know. The war. And now Caduceus: you know I don’t like the influence he has on you. I’m thankful he saved your life, but I just don’t trust him.”
“Stoppit. Don’t worry. If all goes smoothly, I’ll only be gone for a few days. Go in. Crack some skulls. Check in on Mace. Come home to you. You’ll see.”
“Fine, but can you, please, wait till tomorrow? I’ve been thinking about you all day. I’ve missed you. In all ways. Tomorrow, you’re Mace’s or Caduceus’ or the world’s, but tonight, you’re mine.” She wiped the tears from her cheeks, and gave me a seductive look. This time, I couldn’t argue. I had run out of excuses. More than that: I wanted her, too.
3
That night, I slept and dreamt of Mao. Probably a guilt dream over mine and Jess’ fight. I was in the enchanted woods behind Ducie’s house, trying to catch my bearings. I was deeper in and could hear the crashing symphony of the waterfall. Mao’s small silhouette was poised before me, at the cliff’s edge. I went to her, and saw she was dangling her feet over its side. “Mao? What’re you doing here?”
“At the waterfall,” she inquired.
“In my dream,” I clarified, running my fingers through my unkempt hair. She looked so good sitting there and so real. No slinky nightgown or anything, just some overall shorts and a white tee. They looked a little ragged and worn. Not sure what that signified. Further manifestations of guilt, maybe. Maybe I feel like I tossed her out when I regained my memories, specifically, when I regained my memories of Jessie.
“This is my dream, too. Have you figured that out, yet?” She studied me for
an answer, before saying, “Of course, you haven’t. You’re too busy these days to even think about stuff like SDP.” She rolled her eyes.
“I don’t know,” I said. But I did know. I knew what it was, because she did; it was right there in her mind for me to pluck. That’s silly, I decided. Of course, I could read her mind, because this was a dream, after all; her mind was my mind. “SDP,” I stated, “Shared Dream Perception. Two persons sharing one dreamscape.”
“Two or more persons,” she corrected, coyly. There was a sudden flash from before, of her, Jess, and the Dark Monk.
“Okay, so, you’re saying we’re actually communicating, right now?”
“And it’s about time, too, Kade. I’ve been trying this for days. I’ve lost count, here in these woods.”
“You’re in the woods? Physically, I mean?”
She nodded. “Come, there’s someone I want to show you. See, down there.” She was pointing at the little beach below, where Ducie and I had sparred together in what seemed like a different life. At first, I didn’t see who she was talking about, but then some sort of dream perception kicked in, and I could see her. She was lying there, behind a screen of undergrowth. I shouldn’t have been able to see her from where I stood, but like I said: dream perception.
“That’s you,” I said.
“That’s what I was saying, I’m asleep down there, speaking to you up here.”
“How’s that meant to cure my skepticism, Mao?” She growled at me in frustration. “Did you just growl at me?”
“You’re being intentionally thickheaded.”
“But, you growled at me.”
“Shut it. Look, I really do not have time for this. One of us is bound to wake up sooner than later. Like I said, I’ve tried too many times to allow you to go, without saying what I need to tell you. If you believe me, then cool. If not: I tried. But I can already tell you believe me. At least a little, and that’s enough.”
“Just, whatever,” I said, wishing she would get on with whatever it was, so I could get back to my normal un-commandeered sleep.
“Caduceus is in trouble, Kade.” That got my attention. I had been wondering why she was alone, if this was truly supposed to be C’s woods.
“What’s happened, Mao?”
“Van Parson happened, that’s what. Just like always. They hurt him so badly. I don’t know if he’s still alive, but I’ve got to figure he is. They wanted information about this stream. About it’s secrets or whatever. I don’t think they’d kill him until he gave them up. But Caduceus: He’s not going to spill. Those secretes will go with him to his grave. I’m so scared for him.
“And I’m scared for me. I ran at the end. I ran, like a scared little girl. I want to go back up there, but I don’t dare. They’ve been down here, too: Van Parson and that other man – the one from before. He frightens me.”
“The man from before,” I knew who she meant. That S.O.B. just wouldn’t leave me alone.
“Here,” she said, let me show you.” She reached for my hands, pulling me into an embrace. When I stalled, she said, “Grow up, Kade. I know you’re with her. Don’t worry. It’s not that type of dream. Just trust me.”
So I did. And I saw. I saw everything: every detail of that day. The fight with Richard Van Parson’s gang played out before me in high-def. Then, I saw him: the Dark Monk. He was there, then gone, leaving just the two of us once more, alone on the cliff.
“What do I do? Do I go to New Jersey and rescue you?”
“I don’t think we are in Jersey.”
That was a surprise. “What?”
“I don’t think we are synced to the same place.”
Then where? I wondered. It was a thought inside a dream.
Mao answered with a thought of her own: I don’t know. I haven’t been able to get up to the house to see. I just felt it (when we moved, I mean), like a skip inside my head.
This time it was my turn to growl. I thought at her: Then, how do I find you? How do I stop them?
Come with me, once more. I have an idea. A place to start. She reached out, and I allowed her to pull me to her. Too close.
I couldn’t help but think of my attraction to her. A guilt dream, definitely a guilt dream. She smiled at me, and I suddenly remembered the nature of our communications. Oh, crap.
She shushed me, and then my head was filled with a million images and memories, swirling together, washing over me. Instinctively, I knew she was right. Somewhere, buried in one of these mental flashes, was the information I needed to bring this thing to a boil. The problem was: With such a slush pile to wade through, I would wind up sitting up all night just trying to glean some answers.
When she finished with the transfer, she let go of me abruptly and said, “Just in time. I’m waking. I think they’re finally coming for me. I’ve got to go. I love you, Kade.” It was matter of fact, rather than emotion-driven. “I’m not sure in what way, but I do. I love you. Goodbye.”
“For now,” I corrected, choosing not to answer her declaration of love. Just what would I have said anyway? Besides, it was all kind of moot. She was gone, and things were already starting to grow gray around the edges. Looks like Mao wasn’t the only one who was awaking.
4
Poor Jessie. She’s going to kill me for this. Couldn’t even wake her up. No, had to leave it all in a chicken shit note. Coward. To be fair, though, the girl does have some muscles.
I had to fly, and I had to do it immediately. I know Jess hadn’t wanted me to go, but what could I do? I mean, no less than three of my friends were in trouble. Caduceus had been captured or killed, they’re coming for Mao, and Mace was standing guard over an enormous powder keg.
The last was based upon what Mao and Ducie had managed to ferret out. They had discovered some very disturbing things during their short-lived espionage run. During that time, Caduceus and Mao had teamed up to bring a handful of satellite VP cells to their knees. The end result, however, had been little more impressive than kicking a dragon in the shin, but the coolest part was this: at each place, Caduceus would make this humongous stink out in the open, while Mao would keenly sneak in all invisible-like, and slush through the enemy’s files, computers, whatever, taking what they needed to, one day, enable them to land the killing blow.
Thanks to those missions, I’m now armed with the know-how and co-ordinates to cause a major-league hiccup in the VP war machine. Mao’s flashes showed that the station where Mason is based as next on their short list of pressure points to take down. Moreover, they had plans to hit it hard, two days after Van Parson’s goons decided to pay a little preemptive strike to the Caduceus household.
Which brings me to my current predicament: me, outside of a French train depot, with my hands on my head and my back to a firing squad which was bedecked in the baddest sci-fi armor imaginable.
Mama warned me there’d be days like these. Good thing I wore clean underwear today.
5
“Just what is going on here? This isn’t some random so and so, this is an alpha level combatant,” a voice boomed from behind me.
I didn’t dare turn to see who the new guest was to my little execution party. I’m still not sure of using my powers against people. I’ve used them in training, and even on a small team of Van Parson’s men. Oh, and I put on a show for Dougie and friends, but this was different. These guys were, obviously, packing a bigger wallop than the ones I had faced the day I had first met Caduceus. They were a little more prepared, too.
I had approached the compound, in surveillance mode. Don’t really know what I was expecting. I guess my naiveté lead me to believe I could just do as I pleased, take it all in, and execute a lightening strike, saving Mason, the war, and ultimately, the whole day. That hadn’t happened, however. No, I had been sloppy, extremely so. And I had paid the price. As I circled the sky overhead, searching for any roof entrances, I had suddenly found myself blasted from the sky by a series of jump bomb attacks. I hit the ground. Hard. The enem
y converged on me, and boom!
So, this new guy with the booming voice was saying, “Turn him around so he can get a good look at the man who signs his death warrant.” Very Eastwood, I know. As they complied with Booming Voice, he continued his victory speech. “Ah, Mr. Truth, you’ve made me a very happy man. You see, my boss really, really wants you dead, and I really, really want to mount your head and wings for his trophy room.” Talmage towered over me, ready to drop the guillotine’s blade. Though this man had my fate in his hands, it wasn’t him my focus was drawn to. No, it was the soldier just behind and to his left. I had done it; I had found my old friend Mason. I was so glad to see he hadn’t been carted off to the lab with the rest of the dead, behind closed doors and never to be seen again. Of course, I could’ve done without the silver sliver of a weapon he held trained on me.
I was about to respond with a western cliché of my own, when the lawyer came running to join his bodyguard cohort. “Hey! Stop! You’ve got to stop. I just talked to Mr. Van Parson, and he says we are to take no action until he gets here. Says he’s got plans for our friend, here. Take the angel into the lab. Prep him for the procedure.”
Talmage growled, “The procedure? But I wanted to mount him.”
I really wanted to make some lewd comment, but my curiosity was piqued. I wanted to learn more, albeit not from firsthand experience.
Suddenly, Mason was on the move, breaking from the rest of the group. He marched toward where I was kneeling, keeping his weapon on me the entire time. He shoved it in my face and said, “You heard the men. Move!”
“How cute,” I replied, “Seems Dick’s lapdogs have their own lapdog.”
Talmage grabbed me by the throat, yanking me to eye-level. “It’d be wise to bite your tongue, before I do it for you, cur.” I had meant to push some buttons with them and had apparently succeeded.
Forging Truth (The Truth Saga) Page 28
