by Edward Aubry
"Holy shit," whispered Harrison. "Can they see us from here?" Now that he had a sense of scale, he could see activity surrounding this fortress. This must be Scott's army, he thought.
"Not from this distance," said Hadley. He looked at Harrison. "Well," he corrected, "not unless they're looking for us.
* * *
They were much more cautious on the walk back to the apartment house. Considering where the last building they entered had been positioned, they counted themselves undeservedly lucky not to have stumbled into a watchtower. Either Scott's men were too few to be spread that thin, or they had better outposts, or they hadn't yet discovered that particular building, or maybe they just didn't care. Given the current state of the world, the likelihood that anyone would not only find the island but also pose a threat to them was quite a bit less than remote. If that was why the team had avoided detection, then with further luck they would be able to stay in their apartment building in relative safety. The island was large enough, and enough of Manhattan had been transplanted onto it, that it would take weeks for Scott's army to conduct a proper search, and even then there would need to be a reason to conduct one.
The three men walked in silence most of the way. Once home was in sight, Harrison quietly said to Hadley, "I need to talk with you when we get back." Hadley nodded without speaking or making eye contact. Harrison turned to Alec. "Mr. Baker," he started, but when Alec looked up, he stalled. He wanted to speak with Hadley privately. Alec wasn't used to being kept in the dark-about anything-and Harrison wasn't sure how to tell him to leave them alone. He considered making something up, but considered Alec's perceptivity and his own aptitude for lying. No, that would never work. He would have to be blunt. And obvious. He cleared his throat. "Find something to do for an hour," he said.
Alec's expression and gait did not change. Harrison waited for the question that he would have to refuse to answer.
"Aye, Captain," Alec said evenly. He pulled out his memo pad and pen and made another note. "I would suggest calling a general meeting to discuss our findings," he said, "and setting a protocol for leaving the house. I'll use this time to account for everyone and finish inventorying our supplies." He tucked the pad away just as they got to the door. There was a moment's pause that Harrison read as awkward until he determined that Alec was waiting for some sort of dismissal.
"Good," he said, and Alec nodded and went inside. Harrison was amazed by Alec's behavior, a clear demonstration of simple respect for his authority. He knew that he had never given such respect to Alec and marveled that it had never occurred to him until just then that it might have made a difference.
"Find Glimmer and meet me in your apartment," he said to Hadley.
"Aye, Captain."
Harrison could hear notes of discomfort in his voice that had been lacking from Alec's. He noted for his own reference what it felt like when respect for his authority was not simple.
In the ground-floor living room, he found Jake watching an episode of Fraggle Rock on TV. Flashing back to his own childhood, Harrison wondered what station could possibly still be carrying that show. Then he thanked himself for not wondering that aloud when he saw the VHS sleeve on the coffee table. "Jake, we need this space for about an hour," he said. Deflecting Alec had been a concern; this was a piece of cake.
"'Kay," said Jake. He did not look up. Harrison waited a few beats, while Jake reached for the remote control. He found it, without having to move his butt so much as a quarter of an inch, and used it to turn the volume down from 52 to 43. Perhaps this was not a piece of cake.
"Jake," said Harrison. Jake hummed a reply. "Jake," Harrison repeated. This time Jake paused the tape and looked up. "Take a walk," said Harrison. He could see the connection finally being made. The boy leapt up and fumbled with the remote. He patiently waited for him to turn off both the VCR and the TV, Jake's prowess with the remote control having apparently failed him. He fled for the door, and Harrison could not tell if Jake's haste represented respect or just fear. "You could find Alec and help him with inventory," he suggested as Jake exited.
"Got it!"
A minute later, Hadley walked in with Glimmer perched on his shoulder, and closed the door. Hadley had shed his parka and was now wearing a Hawaiian shirt with the unmistakable red of a union suit poking out from the neck and both sleeves. They had all arrived on the island with nothing more than the clothes on their backs, and had been scavenging clothes from their apartments. Some fit, most didn't. Glimmer was still dressed in her Curious George outfit. Harrison had imagined that she would continue to change outfits, as she had always seemed to have an inexhaustible and inexplicable supply of Barbie-wear. Evidently, even her resources had limits.
"How long do we have before the Ptolemy gets here?" Harrison asked without preamble.
"Assuming we didn't experience a time shift when we teleported," Hadley said, "between five and seven days. I should be able to tell you by this evening if today is the correct date."
A time shift was not something that had occurred to Harrison. He hoped Hadley's concerns were unfounded. "Let's assume we have five days, then," he said. "I want options."
Neither Hadley nor Glimmer asked for clarification. "Apryl dies or everyone dies," said Glimmer. "Which, actually, still includes Apryl, so I guess that doesn't really count as an option, per se." Hadley looked shocked and was trying unsuccessfully to make eye contact with his own shoulder. Glimmer pinwheeled her arms in a show of trying to keep her perch.
"Stop it!" shouted Harrison. Hadley and Glimmer both froze. He pressed a hand over his brow. "You heartless … just stop it," he choked.
"Golly," said Glimmer.
"Get off," said Hadley, leaning into a chair. Glimmer hopped off and sat down, legs crossed in front of her. "Maybe I should give you two a minute?" he said in a soft voice.
"I've never been called heartless before," Glimmer said. "Am I in trouble?"
"Shut up," said Harrison. "Both of you. Just shut up." His eyes were clenched, and he was rubbing his temples. He turned away and slumped down on the couch.
"Driver," said Glimmer, snapping her fingers. "Couch, please." A few seconds later, Harrison felt a tap on his leg. He opened his eyes to see Glimmer sitting next to him. "I know it sucks, Harry, but it's the truth. I'm no good at lying."
"You lie all the time," said Harrison. He hoped it was not apparent from his voice that he was struggling not to cry.
"Sure," said Glimmer, "when it's funny. I've never been able to tell those kinds of lies that make people feel better." She looked at Hadley. "What are those called again?"
"White lies."
Glimmer frowned. "No, that's not it. They have a really snappy name, don't they?" Hadley shrugged. Glimmer scratched her head. "Well, whatever. I can't tell them."
"Have you told her yet?" Hadley asked.
"No," said Harrison. "And I'm not going to."
"It might make you feel better if you talk to her about it," Glimmer said, offering a weak grin. Harrison stared at her. "I suck at this," she added.
Harrison stood up. "All right," he said. "This is what's going to happen. No one is going to tell me what's impossible. Not after everything we've seen and done. There is a way to get through this, and you two are going to find it for me." He paused, looking uncertainly for signs of inspiration in their faces. "No one is to discuss this with Apryl until I say so. Because as of this moment, asking her to set off the bomb is officially off the table." As he spoke, he reminded himself that he was in charge. These were orders, and these were his people. They would not question him.
"You have forty-eight hours," he said. "Give me a better plan."
Chapter Forty-Three:
A Night Out
The following day, late in the afternoon, Harrison sought Apryl out. He and Alec had just returned from their second (and final) scouting mission, and he was still wearing his coat when he found Apryl in the women's apartment with Jeannette.
"Hey," he said. Apryl w
as seated with her back to him, and she did not turn at the sound of his voice. Jeannette, staring at her with a look of grave concern, did not respond either. He waited a few beats, then entered cautiously. As he approached them, he saw a chessboard set up on the coffee table. A sparse minority of pieces were still in play. Apryl was sitting, motionless, her right index finger planted squarely on the cap of a white rook. Neither woman spoke, or gave any indication that they were even aware of his presence. He watched them do nothing for what seemed to be a very long time.
"You busy?" he asked. He held for laughter. None was forthcoming.
"Check," Apryl said suddenly, still holding her rook in place. Jeannette showed no reaction.
Harrison, convinced that he had not come at a good time, began to study the board. He mentally plotted two different escape routes for Jeannette's king. Once Apryl lifted her finger, the moment would be his to seize.
"And mate," she said.
This caught Harrison off guard. His interest was piqued, but the flaws in his two escape routes were not immediately evident.
Apryl still waited several seconds before removing her finger from the rook. Then her face relaxed. "Hi!" she said to Harrison, giving him a warm smile. He felt an unexpected rush to be the center of her attention. A slight tingle ran from the small of his back to the top of his scalp, and he suddenly came to appreciate why people called the sensation a warm fuzzy.
"Hi, there," he returned. "I had something I wanted to show you, but I hate to interrupt the game." He offered a playful sideways glance at Jeannette, who reached over for her king and tipped him onto his side.
"I'm still two games ahead," the doctor said. "Now shoo."
Harrison grinned. "Get a coat on."
Apryl's face lit up. "Outside? It's safe to go out now?"
Harrison held out his hand. "It's fine. Alec says it's 'safe as houses' as long as we stick to this end of the island. Are you ready to get out of this cage?" She cheerfully took his hand and let him lead her out into the snow.
They set out, following a path already marked by two sets of prints. Harrison was retracing his own footsteps. He was concerned that Apryl might have a harder time matching Alec's stride, but she had not trouble keeping up, which reminded him that Alec was not that much taller than she was. They marched through the crisp air in silence. It was not deliberate silence, but it did not seem right to Harrison, so after a while he took her hand.
She smiled. "Where are we going?"
"It's a surprise."
"Is it far?"
He could see her breath. He shrugged in a way that he hoped came off as mysterious, but in his coat he figured she wouldn't even see a shrug. "Not too much farther," he offered vaguely.
For about half an hour, they walked though trees and various ruins until they came to a building that was distinguished from the others only by the number of tracks in the snow leading into and out of it. Like many of the structures they had found, this one was partially buried under the snow. It appeared to be one story tall, but beyond that it was impossible to tell from the outside how much of it remained. Sitting in the snow right outside the double glass door was a full grocery bag. Harrison picked it up, then opened and held the door for Apryl.
From the look on her face, he ruled that he was correct to call it a surprise. They were standing in a cavernous warehouse, looking upon row after row of sofas, recliners, beds, desks, tables, and chairs. Every stick of furniture looked strikingly new. Apryl wasted no time dropping her coat to the floor and diving into an enormous couch that was covered with throw pillows.
"Are we shopping?" she asked. She smiled at him, and it made his whole body feel lighter.
He smiled back. "Not quite. Come on." He gestured toward the back of the room. Apryl pouted a bit, but stood up and walked with him past the multitude of furniture on the vast floor. There were a dozen or so visible showrooms, all set up to simulate rooms in a real home. One had a bunk bed with a cartoon bedspread, a small desk, and a dresser. Another had two recliners and a coffee table, the inside walls adorned with mediocre still-life prints. The other rooms were similarly furnished. Harrison led Apryl into one that was dressed like an office (complete with a hollow plastic faux computer). On its far wall was a doorway with no door. They walked though that to find another life-sized diorama, this one set up with a dining room table surrounded by six chairs, a small table with a single drawer sitting against the far wall. In place of a telephone (the obvious purpose of the little table), a medium sized toaster oven rested on it. An orange utility cord snaked out of the small appliance, out another open doorway, and off to some unseen outlet. From the ceiling hung a chandelier shaped object. Cursory inspection revealed that it was constructed of card stock. The table had been set with plates, glasses, and two sets of cutlery resting on folded cloth napkins.
Harrison set the bag of groceries on the table and pulled two small boxes and a roll of aluminum foil out of it. He pulled a sheet of foil off the roll, large enough to cover the wire rack inside the toaster oven. The boxes yielded frozen chicken breasts stuffed with either broccoli and cheese or wild rice. They were individually wrapped. Harrison removed all four from their plastic sleeves and slid them onto the makeshift foil tray in the oven. A round red light came on as he set the temperature, and he looked at his watch. "Forty minutes," he said to Apryl. "Don't let me forget."
"Okay," she said.
"Chicken all right?"
"Chicken's great!" She was still smiling, and he hid the little shiver it gave him.
"Okay, then," he said. He reached into the bag and pulled out a can of soda. "Coke?" he offered.
"You don't have a Pepsi in there, do you?"
He looked into the bag, rooted around for a moment, and came up with a can of Pepsi. "Why, yes," he said in his best waiter's voice, "I do happen to have a can of Pepsi. We also have Seven Up, Barq's Root Beer, Canada Dry Ginger Ale, Dr. Pepper, Cherry Coke, and Sunkist Orange Soda."
She looked impressed as he cracked open the Pepsi. "That's quite a bar."
"Don't get excited," he said. "I got one can of each, so this is the only Pepsi. Savor it." He pulled a small plastic container out of the bag. Removing the lid, he pulled two ice cubes out of it, dropped them into one of the glasses and poured the soda over them. The Pepsi fizzed as it found its way into the spaces between the ice cubes, and one of them popped softly in the glass. "This is all the ice we have," he said, taking two more for himself and resealing the container. "So we should use it up before it melts." He poured himself the Coke and took a sip. He realized he need not have worried about the ice, as the soda was near freezing from being left in the snow.
Apryl was looking around. "So," she ventured, "this is nice." She walked over to a fake painting on the wall, and straightened it.
"I just wanted some downtime," he said. "A few hours where nobody needs anything from us."
She smiled again. "You mean from you."
He held out his hands, silently conceding the point. His heart picked up its pace and he forged ahead. "I also wanted us to have some alone time. I feel like every minute we've spent together has been in the middle of some crisis."
"That's sweet," she said, but no sooner had the words come out than her hand moved to her mouth, where it attempted unsuccessfully to stifle a yawn. "Sorry. I'm really tired lately. I don't know why."
Harrison knew why. It was that damn machine. Every time they used it, and they needed to use it often, it sucked just a little more strength out of her. "It's just stress," he lied. And cursed himself for lying.
* * *
Over dinner, they talked about their families. Harrison told her about his sister, and he learned the names of all five of her brothers. Though they had been gone for over a year now, he still somehow hoped that he could earn their approval.
When they were finished, Harrison stood up and held out his hand. "Come," he said.
"Do we have to go back?"
He shook his head. "I'm not thr
ough surprising you." He waved the fingers of his outstretched hand, and she took it to pull herself up. He led her through two more fake rooms to one that had a large, deep sofa, and a larger plasma TV. Another orange cord led from the TV out the door and to parts unknown. There was a small wooden cabinet next to the sofa, and a microwave oven on the floor with a large metal mixing bowl on top. As soon as he walked through the doorway, Harrison crouched down and pressed a button on the microwave. It came to life with a light in the window and the sound of a blowing fan. He stood up and pointed to the cabinet. "Pick a movie."
Apryl's eyes went wide, and Harrison congratulated himself for catching her off guard. She walked to the cabinet and opened it. Inside were dozens of DVDs. She sat on the floor and began pulling them out and reading their front and back covers. Some of the movies she looked at and immediately put back, and others she spent more time on before deciding to return them to the cabinet or add them to the small pile she had started on the floor. The sound coming from the microwave started to include popping. Harrison sat down next to her and slid the DVDs on her pile closer so he could read titles. So far, she had selected A Beautiful Mind, The Little Mermaid, and Dead Poets Society. He gave no indication as to a preference.
"Is this some sort of a test?" she asked without looking at him.
"Yes," he admitted. He waited a beat, watching her. "Did I pass?"
"Yes," she said, and pulled another movie. The microwave beeped.
Harrison crawled over to the microwave. He picked up the mixing bowl and dumped several packets of Raisinettes and Jujubees onto the couch. Then he opened the microwave and removed and carefully tore open a steaming paper pouch of popcorn, which he emptied into the bowl. When he returned to the sofa, she was already sitting on it, her shoes on the throw rug and her legs curled under her. She was investigating an enormous remote control with both hands, but set it aside long enough to hand Harrison a DVD. It was Horse Feathers, starring the Four Marx Brothers.
