The Prometheus Effect

by David Fleming

  When Dawn entered the dayroom, she called to Mykl with her right arm in front of her and her palm slightly upturned. Her way of asking for a guiding pair of eyes. She cradled a bundle of extra clothes and a book on top of a shoebox in her left arm. He took that as a positive sign.

  “Mykl?”

  His leg was really beginning to stiffen up now. Awkwardly, he hopped over to her on his good leg while letting the other slide behind.

  “Mykl, what’s the matter? You sound like you’re hopping around like a bunny rabbit.”

  “Lori screwed up my leg. It’ll heal, but it’s very sore and stiff right now. Jack just went with James to get some dry clothes. They should be back in a moment. You want to wait for him on the couch?”

  “No, I want to speak to him in private. Take me to the cafeteria and then tell him I’m waiting there, if you would?”

  Mykl guided her into the dark cafeteria, then returned to the dayroom to wait for Jack.

  He had to cough to cover a giggle when Jack returned. The man looked ridiculous in the too-large, mismatched garments that James had donated to him. The outsized clothes drooped on Jack’s lean body like the clocks of some famous artist Mykl recalled from his Internet browsing.

  “It’s okay to laugh, Mykl,” Jack said. “I chuckled myself when I looked in the mirror.”

  “It’s a good thing Dawn is blind!” Mykl exclaimed. “She’s in the cafeteria waiting for you. She wants to talk to you alone.”

  “I shan’t keep her waiting then.”

  ***

  Jack wondered if Mykl had forewarned him about Dawn’s blindness on purpose. Either way, it was good information to prevent him from accidentally offending her.

  The cafeteria was dark, and he chose not to turn on the lights. A weak red glow emanating from an emergency exit sign reflected off the slick floor in a blurry red slash, outlining the sharp silhouette of a beautiful young woman sitting silently at a table, her eyes closed and head slightly bowed as if she were battling an inner sadness. Yet strength radiated from her confident posture. Anyone with the ability to maintain such spirit in the malnourished atmosphere Lori maintained was well worth salvaging.

  “Hello, you must be Jack,” Dawn said to the darkness.

  “Hello, Dawn. Indeed I am. May I sit?”

  “Please do.”

  “Thank you.” Jack took a seat opposite her. “Mykl said you wished to speak to me before making a decision to come with us.”

  “Of course. My mother told me never to accept rides from strangers.”

  Even in the darkness, Jack could detect her radiant smile. “Funny, I had the same conversation with Mykl less than two hours ago,” he said with a smile in his own voice.

  “I trust Mykl’s judgment, but I would be remiss if I didn’t make my own life-altering decisions. Someone else made the decision that put me into this abyss of neglect. If I am to be thrown into another, I want only myself to blame.” She clasped her hands in front of her on the table. Jack recognized her pose as that of one ready to enter into negotiations. “You didn’t complain about the lack of light when you entered. Why?”

  She had left the lights off on purpose; he was being tested.

  “Mykl told me you were blind. This is your interview, therefore, you get to dictate the atmosphere. You’ve had to live in a world of darkness; if you wish for me to experience a brief fraction of the obstacle you have to endure every day in order for me to better understand you, then I am happy to oblige. I can’t promise to make you see again. Nor can I promise that you will be happy where I take you. What I will promise is that you will have a chance to pursue happiness through a great many more opportunities than you will ever have here.”

  “What kind of opportunities?”

  “An education, for one.”

  “I haven’t seen my own face in eight years,” Dawn vented. “I can’t read anymore, let alone write. Who’s going to have the patience to teach a blind girl anything?”

  “You need only have the patience to learn. Our teachers will take care of the rest.”

  “And if I become a burden to you?”

  “Our resources, both human and material, are more than enough to prevent any one person from taxing them.”

  “I want to be productive and earn my keep. This charity shit makes me sick. Endless days of sitting on my ass, regardless of your ability to provide for me, would be nothing short of torture. What have you got for an uneducated blind girl to do so that she can feel like she’s making a difference in the world?”

  Jack felt like standing up and cheering. What Mykl possessed in raw intelligence, Dawn possessed in exceptional spirit. She had spent eight years in this asylum, yet not only had she survived, she had maintained a fierce desire to be more than a barely existing charity case.

  And he had the means to grant her an unbelievable dream.

  “While I can’t tell you any specifics about the nature of my job, I can tell you that we as a species are headed for dark times. You’ve lived more than half of your life in darkness and still managed to retain a vibrant spirit. Strength of will like that is extremely rare. You can help us find our way through the coming storm by maintaining that never-surrender attitude. You can earn your keep—of that I have no doubt.”

  Dawn knew he was holding back significant details, and his creepy talk of a coming darkness piqued her survival instincts. But his voice sounded kind and honest. Mykl was indeed a good judge of character. And she felt as if she were about to be delivered into a new world where she would be limited solely by her desire to succeed. There was only one more question to ask.

  “And James. What will become of him?”

  “James appears to be a savant of sorts. What he lacks in certain areas, he more than makes up for in others. I think he will find plenty of chances to use his skills. In fact, I expect he and Mykl will make a pretty good team.” He leaned across the table to lay a hand gently over Dawn’s. “Dawn, I will not force anything. I am not in the business of kidnapping children to turn them into slaves. Ultimately the choice is yours. But I would like nothing better than to bring all three of you with me.”

  Dawn hoped Jack could not see the tears trickling down her cheeks. She squeezed his hand in acceptance of his offer and softly said, “Okay. Walk me to the door, please?”

  ***

  Mykl and James watched as Jack emerged from the cafeteria with Dawn holding his arm. She looked like she had been crying, but she wore the serene smile of someone who had recently been emancipated.

  “Kyle, we’ll be escorting three to our home,” Jack said with satisfaction.

  “Yes, sir,” Kyle replied. He was still hovering over Linda.

  “How are things looking with the records?”

  “She’s clear. There doesn’t appear to be anything that would show collusion or incriminate her. The rest of the children are all accounted for.”

  “Very well.” Jack turned to Linda. “As I told you when I got here, you have a tough road ahead of you. I suggest you mind your duties to the children here and treat them better than stray animals. As for these three, they’re coming with me.”

  Linda swallowed once and nodded. Mykl felt bad for her. She was still expecting Lori to show up to relieve her in the morning. She had no idea.

  “Shall we go?” Jack asked of his traveling companions. He draped the ranger’s jacket back over Mykl’s shoulders.

  Mykl was overcome by a sudden impulse. He looked up at Jack with what he hoped was his most innocent smile. “Can we stop for an ice cream cone?”

  Jack stared down at Mykl intently.

  “Hey, you might think I’m some kind of genius, but I’m still only five!”

  “Are you sure you’re only five years old?”

  “Might be six, I don’t know. I do know that I like ice cream.”

  Jack laughed. “Sure. We can stop for ice cream.”

  ***

  “How long will it take to get there?” Mykl asked as he licked at his ic
e cream cone.

  “About five hours,” said Jack.

  “And where are we going?”

  “North,” Jack replied cryptically.

  “Then how come we’re headed south?”

  “We need to switch into a different vehicle. Our storage area is to the south.”

  “What’s wrong with this one?”

  “It’s going to feel a bit cramped after a few hours of driving.”

  “What are we going to switch into?”

  “You’ll see when we get there.”

  “I don’t see why we couldn’t go in this one.”

  “Have you ever traveled long distance with a five-year-old before?”

  Mykl puzzled over the question. “No. Why should that matter?”

  “Trust me.”

  “Okay.” After a pause to lick his ice cream cone, he added: “Are we there yet?”

  CHAPTER 27

  Motor homes, boats, and travel trailers filled the storage yard. Rows upon rows of recreational vehicles sat gathering layers of dust and spider webs. Given the price of fuel, it could cost an average person almost a month’s wages to fill a tank, so they rarely saw use.

  In front of an average-looking motor home, another SUV waited for them, this one green. The man waiting beside it exhibited an air of wizened distinction. His silver hair glowed like a halo in the ghostly light. Jack got out and greeted him like an old friend.

  Mykl’s leg had stiffened up, and he had difficulty getting out of the vehicle. Kyle quickly came over to help.

  “Think you can tolerate me carrying you into the motor home so Dr. Johnson can have a look at it?”

  Mykl wasn’t looking forward to being carried, but he wasn’t sure he could even walk at this point, so he had no choice. “Please don’t jostle me too much?”

  “You got it, kiddo.” Kyle carefully lifted Mykl into his arms. James followed, guiding Dawn.

  At odds with its dusty exterior, the inside of the motor home smelled fresh and clean. Kyle set Mykl on a bench seat near the entrance. A man stood waiting—a doctor, judging by his medical bag.

  “Hello, Mykl. I’m Dr. Johnson, but call me Stan,” said the doctor. “I need to have a look at that leg of yours to see if it’s going to need any stitches.”

  Mykl shuddered involuntarily. Stitches meant needles.

  “You’re going to have to drop your pants though. I don’t want to have to cut these up,” he explained as he tugged slightly at Mykl’s pants.

  Mykl glanced over at Dawn.

  Dawn must have sensed his reluctance, as she said, “Oh, come on, Mykl. Do you think I’ve been faking this blind bullshit all these years? I promise I won’t peek.”

  “James no peeks either,” James said. He turned his head to gaze at the back of the motor home.

  Mykl grumbled and bared his legs for Stan.

  Stan removed the bandage that had been applied to Mykl’s wound. “I doubt she bothered to sterilize that corkscrew before she stuck it in you, so I’d better give you a dose of antibiotics as well as a tetanus shot. The good news is, you don’t need any stitches.”

  “Two shots?” Mykl whined.

  “I’ll kiss it and make it better if you like,” Dawn teased.

  “James gives hugs too,” James said, turning around.

  “You’re not supposed to be peeking!” Mykl said.

  James quickly covered his eyes and sucked his lips between his teeth to suppress a smile.

  “Two shots, that’s all,” Stan said. He removed two syringes from a zippered pocket in his bag. Pulling out a padded red pouch, he selected two vials and began drawing their contents into the syringes. Mykl’s eyes widened with growing trepidation.

  “Tetanus shot first,” Stan said. He wiped Mykl’s shoulder with an alcohol prep. The harsh antiseptic odor of the alcohol caused Mykl to tense up and grit his teeth in preparation for the coming sting.

  “There. That wasn’t so bad, now was it?” Stan said as he stuck a small bandage over the injection site.

  “Um, no. I guess not.” Mykl rubbed his shoulder.

  “See. Don’t be a baby, Mykl,” Dawn taunted.

  “You’re not the one getting the shots!” he shot back at her.

  “All right, one more and we’re done.”

  Mykl twisted to offer his other shoulder, but Stan raised his bushy eyebrows. “Sorry, Mykl. The antibiotic needs to go in your butt cheek. You can choose which one though.”

  Dawn tossed her hands in the air. “I take it back. I’m not kissing it to make it better!”

  “Very funny.” Mykl leaned to the side to let the doctor finish his task. “Ow!”

  ***

  Less than two hours into their trip, Dawn discovered that she suffered from severe motion sickness, and claimed sole possession of the only bathroom in the motor home. The doctor hadn’t come with them, so it was just James, Mykl, and Jack in the passenger area. James slept. Kyle drove.

  Mykl had an uncomfortable feeling. “I have to pee,” he declared.

  “There’s a rest stop about thirty miles ahead. Can you hold it until then?” Jack said.

  “Nope.”

  “Kyle, find a place to pull over for a pit stop.”

  With assistance getting down the steps, Mykl and James—and Jack and Kyle—took care of business at the side of the road. Kyle’s shoes crunched on the sharp rocks; the others, in their socks, took mincing tender-footed steps. It was three thirty in the morning, and breath-foggingly cold.

  Mykl gazed into a dark, moonless sky and gasped. Stars. Brilliant stars. Too many millions to count, the likes of which he had never witnessed in the quad, dazzled his eyes. He turned a slow circle to take in the majestic spectacle.

  “Beautiful, aren’t they?” Jack asked.

  “I never knew they could look like that.”

  “The dark skies out here are the next best thing to actually seeing them in space.”

  Mykl was much too distracted to catch the implication of Jack’s words. He just stood there, staring up with his mouth agape, shivering.

  “Let’s get back inside, Mykl. It’s too cold to remain out here very long without a coat or shoes.”

  “Stars pretty, Myyykll,” James said as he stumbled into the motor home.

  “Yeah, they are,” Mykl replied absentmindedly. He took one last gander before following James. “How much farther, Jack?”

  “Another two hours or so, you may as well try to get some sleep.” Jack leaned over to whisper to Kyle, “Stop at the next town, see if you can find some motion sickness medication for the girl.”

  Everyone slept while Kyle drove toward the sparse lights in the distance. Everyone except Dawn—feeling no immediate relief from the anti-nausea medication, she continued to endure her woes in the bathroom.

  ***

  The glow of an imminent sunrise greeted them as Kyle pulled the motor home into an old ranch and parked inside a faded barn. Mykl stretched, and discovered, much to his surprise, that his leg already felt better. He rotated his arm and found that his shoulder no longer hurt either—weird. Not that he was complaining. He’d had enough of being punctured for one day. “Where are we, Jack?”

  “We are almost there.”

  “But Kyle said…”

  “This is as far as we go in the motor home. The rest of the trip will be taken by tram.”

  Having emerged from her private accommodation, Dawn let out a miserable groan at the prospect of having to suffer through another moment of rolling motion.

  “I’m sorry, Dawn. Rest assured, we have less than thirty minutes of traveling left before you can stand on solid ground and sleep on crisp clean sheets.”

  Dawn let out a long sigh that ended with, “Clean sheets, mmmmmm.”

  Crepuscular rays of sunlight shot warmth at Jack and his charges as he led them to the farmhouse. Inside, Jack directed them to the basement. No one appeared to live here, but it was clean, well kept, and obviously had electricity as evidenced by the lights that switc
hed on automatically. The basement had no casement windows, only one entrance, and shelves of unmarked boxes everywhere.

  Jack opened one of the boxes and withdrew several coats. “Here, put these on. The temperature is a constant chilly fifty degrees inside.”

  James took two and helped Dawn button hers up before donning his own. Mykl still wore Lawrence’s coat.

  Jack withdrew his phone and began drawing patterns on the back with his fingernail. He didn’t appear to be making a call; and why the back instead of the touchscreen? Mykl opened his mouth to ask, but was interrupted by a muffled clunk that he felt through his feet. Half of the opposing wall began to swing away from them, shelves and all. The swinging end glided along a shiny metal track that arced into a hidden space. A faint scratching noise filled the suddenly hushed atmosphere.

  “Anyone want to tell the blind girl what’s going on?” Dawn asked of her speechless companions.

  “Wall now door,” James replied.

  “Wall now door? Thanks, James. Mykl, what’s going on?”

  “Well, the wall,” Mykl scratched his head, “has opened up like a door.” He peered inside. “And it appears that there’s an even larger metal door on the other side.”

  Jack stepped through the opening and drew another pattern onto the back of his phone. A massive clunk sounded behind a massive steel-clad door, about eight feet high and twelve feet long. When Jack pulled it open, Mykl saw that it was around four feet thick, like a vault door.

  “There are stairs on the other side leading down,” Mykl said.

  “That’s creepy,” Dawn declared.

  “They’re the stairs that lead to our ride,” Jack explained. “The only creepy part is the feeling you get from knowing that you will be traveling for eighteen miles at more than a half mile underground.”

  “I have to walk down a half mile of stairs?” Dawn asked.

  “Not to worry. The stairs only go two levels to the elevator.”

  “Silly me. Mykl, remind me to thank you for this adventure someday.”