Sleepers 2

by Jacqueline Druga

  As I lay back on the bench, every part of me felt too heavy to move.

  The head injury, the morphine, whatever the reason, my eyes were heavy, and I shut them.

  Think, Alex, think of a solution before you face them. Have something to say. Something to offer to Mera to right your wrong.

  After some time, the creak of the shed door caused me to open my eyes. The door was ajar, but I didn’t see anyone.

  Not at first.

  In pain, not thinking clearly, I immediately thought a Sleeper walked in.

  I heard the shuffling of feet. I looked to my right. Then the little head popped up. Marissa.

  “Hi,” she said. She must have been standing on something. She folded her hands and set them by my arms.

  “Hey.”

  “I heard you were back safely. You don’t look very good.”

  “I don’t feel very good.”

  “That has to hurt. Sonny said your nose fell off, and they put it back on.”

  “It feels like it.”

  “It looks like it. Your face is very blue,” she said. “I didn’t think the devil’s workers could be injured.”

  “Probably can’t. But…” I winked with my one good eye, “I’m not a devil’s worker.”

  “Then why do you have the devil’s work on your arms?”

  “They’re called tattoos. Each one means something. See this here …” I rolled over and pointed to a woman’s face.

  “She’s pretty.”

  “That’s my mom. I got this when she died. And this…” I pointed to another, “symbolizes the division of the Navy I served. This one, the wars. And this one,” I showed her a tattoo of a pocket watch, “is for the old man who made me think that it is quality of life versus quantity.”

  “How did he do that?”

  “He had a heart attack, he was very old. I brought him back.”

  “Like Jesus?”

  “No, like a good paramedic. And he asked me why I saved him, why I didn’t just let him die. I don’t know… just stuck with me. So you see, I decorated my arms. The tattoos are permanent, like the events and the people that marked my life. A little secret… I’m not a bad person.”

  “No, Alex Sans, you are not. That’s why I came in here. Bonnie said you felt bad because they left you behind and that they took Keller.”

  “I’m feeling bad mainly because I handed them Keller.”

  “He was a sacrifice.”

  “Pretty big word for a little girl.”

  “Not really.” She tilted her head. “Alex Sans, I am not mad at you for what you did. None of us children are mad. You made a choice. Doctor Noah once told us that the needs of the many must outweigh the needs of the few.”

  “Mr. Spock.”

  She shook her head. “No, Doctor Noah. Were you not listening?”

  That comment made me smile. “I’m sorry.”

  “That’s okay. You’re hurt, both inside and out. I just wanted you to know, I’m not angry. I’m glad you’re okay and that you’re back.” Then, surprising me, she leaned forward and placed her lips to my cheek then whispered in my ear. “You’re our protector. I feel safe with you around. Thank you for coming back.”

  That was it for me. I closed my eyes tight, a huge lump forming in my throat. I reached up, cupping her head and holding her near me. I tried, God knows I tried to stay calm and in control. But I couldn’t. Not after her innocent words.

  A tear had not crossed the creases of my face in decades, yet there it was, rolling down my face.

  “Are you crying, Alex Sans?”

  “Trying not to.”

  She whispered, “It’s okay. I won’t tell anyone. I’ll let you rest.” She kissed me again and stepped from whatever it was she was standing on.

  I was about to break down, right then and there. Sob like I never had. I felt the sorrow rise in me, felt it build. I would have had bawled had she not stopped at the shed door and looked back.

  “Alex Sans?”

  “Yeah?” I sniffled.

  Ever so innocently and pure, she said, “I overheard Beck. Just know, I’m praying you find your lost balls.”

  She darted out with a skip, and alone in that shed, I laughed. But my laugh was indeed laced with tears.

  33. MERA STEVENS

  There was an ache in my soul that wouldn’t go away. Keller hadn’t been in my life very long, but he left his mark. It felt unresolved. What would become of him, what would they do to that poor baby? And there he would be, vulnerable to it all.

  There was a basement bedroom that was large, and I chose it as the place for my family. I was there with Jessie. We had just cleaned up, and I was brushing her hair. While I did that, she brushed the wispy hairs on Phoenix’s head. His eyes were so bright, and he stared at Jessie with so much love.

  She cradled him like a little girl with a baby doll.

  I hid from everyone because I didn’t want to face them. I was the only one feeling so strongly about Alex handing over Keller. Beck was angrier over what it did to me, I was sure of it. Danny didn’t say much. He, like Michael, accepted Alex’s reasoning.

  After a while, I emerged with Jessie and Phoenix. Supper was waiting. There was a sense of security on that ranch, but I knew it wouldn’t last long, especially after speaking to Beck and Randy about the bait and switch.

  We expected to hear from the ARC, but we hadn’t. I only hoped a missile wouldn’t fly our way.

  Alex didn’t join us, but that didn’t matter to me. I still didn’t want to face him. I was bitter and angry and unsure if I would forgive him.

  Things quieted down about nine p.m. I joined Bonnie in tucking in the children. The living and dining room combo was like one large dorm room with sleeping bags neatly laid out.

  They all prayed at the same time, the same way, the same prayer out loud.

  “Father of light, protect us from the storm…’

  It was creepy and weird, but then again, probably something they learned in their cult.

  They all laid down the same way at the same time. I felt as though I were watching Village of the Damned. I made sure I said goodnight to each one of them before leaving the room.

  Jessie was getting tired. She’d started showing interest in using the bathroom but still hadn’t grasped it. I freshened her and placed her in bed with Phoenix in the basket next to her. The battery-operated baby monitor was between them, and I took the receiver with me. I listened to every breath they took. I was going to get a drink, talk to Beck before he took the watch, and I wouldn't stay away from them long.

  When I emerged into the kitchen, my heart dropped to my stomach when I saw Alex. I fixed my drink and walked to the door.

  He spoke my name, but I held up my hand to him and continued outside.

  “Mera,” he called again.

  “Don’t, Alex.” I spun to face him. “Please, don’t look at me and don’t speak to me. Please.”

  He lowered his head. “I’ll make this right.”

  “You can’t. You turned that baby over to the ARC. My God, what that child must be thinking, feeling. You can’t make this right. Ever.”

  “I’m sorry. If I have to, I’ll go to the ARC.”

  I laughed. “They kicked your ass to keep you out. They’ll kill you next time. Not that it’s a bad thing.” I turned and walked over to where Michael, Danny and Randy were sitting at a picnic table.

  “That’s harsh,” Michael said. “You know, Jesus tells us to—”

  “Don’t throw Jesus at me, okay? Not now. I’m still extremely angry. I may say something unpleasant.”

  Danny chuckled. “Like you haven’t before.”

  I sat down. “Where’s Beck?”

  “Checking the fences with Sonny,” Randy answered. He raised his eyes. “Mera, I know you’re hurting. But for the sake of us all, you are going to have to let this go. Alex did what he did for the sake of everyone. I know it’s painful, I know it seems wrong.” He lowered his voice. “He can’t forgive
himself. Can we try?”

  “Um, no.”

  “I’ll pray for you, Mera,” Michael said.

  Randy said, “Please do, you have the gift.”

  “Really, I don’t,” Michael countered. “I think Beck is right. I’m a Sleeper somehow or have it in me like Jessie. And really, this is pathetic…” He lifted his hand. “Alex, join us.”

  I huffed. Michael and Randy both said my name with a scold.

  Alex slid in at the picnic table, he tried to make light. “Maybe I should make friends with Jillian since she and I are on the outs with Mera.”

  “It’s not funny,” I said then looked at him. He honestly did look pathetic. Face all bruised and swollen, nose bandaged. “Alex, I’m trying. I don’t want to hate you. I don’t want to hate Jillian. I’m just angry, okay?”

  “I understand. I’m angry with myself.”

  “This is a start,” Michael said. “Maybe I’ll play with the radio and have some luck reaching the New Jerusalem.”

  At that, oddly, Randy chuckled.

  Michael turned to him. “That’s funny?”

  “I was just thinking. One of the times they released me was to talk to Alex. They were picking up that recording, too. Swore up and down it was Alex. Said the voice analysis was coming up a match. I thought it was funny, because no sooner did one of the communication guys say it was too far away, that satellite picked up your life signal.”

  That immediately caught my attention. “Too far away, did they mention where?”

  “I think south, they didn’t say much. I was stuck on the fact they thought it was Alex. Had it not been for that satellite, they’d have chased that signal.”

  Danny asked, “Can you pick up the satellite with that computer thingy of yours?”

  “I’ll try, but it needs to charge in the sun for a while,” Randy answered.

  “Think I’ll play with the radio and try to pick up…” Michael said jokingly, “Alex.” He waked to the radio a few feet away and turned it on.

  “Yeah, can you either try to tune it in better or turn it down,” Danny said. “I know you guys are into it, but I don’t know how that beeping doesn’t drive you nuts.”

  We all looked at him as if he were nuts.

  “What?” he shifted his eyes about.

  “What beeping?” I asked.

  “During the recording,” Danny replied. “It’s annoying. Like feedback.”

  Michael scratched his head. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

  Just then the recording played.

  This is the New Jerusalem. We are with people from Project Savior. We are a second facility. We seek others and believe with the right elements we can create a strong future.

  “There!” Danny said. “Hear it? Right there.”

  I looked at Randy, then Michael then even Alex. We were clueless.

  “You guys are joking me, right?” Danny smiled and then the smile dropped. “You’re not joking? How can you not hear that?”

  I honestly didn’t know what he was talking about. At first, I thought my son was making a joke, but he was dead serious.

  “You can’t hear that?” Danny asked. “It’s freaking annoying.”

  “What do you hear, Danny?” Alex asked quizzically.

  “The voice, and mixed with it is the feedback. It’s going ‘Beep. Beep-beep. Beep.’ Constantly. Fast.”

  Alex jumped up. “Don’t turn that off,” he instructed Michael. “I have to find Beck.”

  * * *

  It was another half hour before the message played again, and Beck, along with Sonny, looked as stunned as I did.

  Danny, however, was insistent.

  “Does it sound like a pattern?” Beck asked Danny, “Possibly a code?”

  Danny’s eyes widened. “It could be Morse code.”

  Alex asked. “How are we not hearing it?”

  “Could it be on a different frequency?” Sonny suggested. “Maybe the code is coming in on an ultra high frequency that we can’t hear.”

  “Mosquito!” Danny shouted.

  I jumped, looked, didn’t see anything. “Where?”

  “No,” Danny said. “Not a bug. Technology. People over a certain age can’t hear certain frequencies.”

  Beck’s head flung back. “Kilohertz.”

  Alex nodded. “Has to be at least 17 kilohertz. Maybe even higher. He can hear it and no one over twenty-five can. We need to be sure it’s there.”

  Beck rubbed his chin then turned to me. “Can you grab one of the kids? One of the older ones. If they hear it, then we know they hid a code in the message.”

  “Why would they broadcast at such a high frequency?”

  Randy answered, “To hide it from the ARC. If most adults can’t hear, they can’t.”

  Beck looked at me. “Get Marissa.”

  I nodded and hurried to the house.

  * * *

  My stirring of Marissa brought out Bonnie and even Jillian. We didn’t say anything to Marissa as to why she was awake. She yawned and almost fell asleep at the table.

  It was another hour before the message played again.

  This is the New Jerusalem. We are with people from Project Savior. We are a second facility. We seek others and believe with the right elements we can create a strong future.

  Beck asked her, “Do you hear anything?”

  Disinterested, Marissa yawned. “Yes, the message. The man.” She sleepily propped her face in her hand.

  “Anything else besides the man’s voice?” Beck asked.

  She squinted. “That’s Potter’s code.”

  We all shouted, “What?”

  Marissa crinkled her brow. “Potter’s code. Beeps, short and long that spell words. It’s mixed in there.” She listened. “Yeah, it’s there.”

  “You mean Morse code,” Alex said.

  She snickered. “That’s an archaic term. But yes.” Her head cocked. “Hmm. W-a-i-t-i-n-g. Waiting?” She sat up straighter.

  Alex moved to her. “You know Morse code?”

  She scoffed. “Doesn’t everybody?”

  “No!” he blasted. “They don’t.”

  Jillian said with surprise, “I do.”

  Alex tossed out his hand. “You can’t hear that?”

  She shook her head. “No, they probably want to reach young people.”

  “And she’s young and can hear it.” Alex smiled. “Someone get me a pen and paper. This girl is not going to bed.”

  “Hey!” Marissa whined.

  “You’re a godsend.” Alex kissed on the head. “God bless that survival cult of yours.”

  Sonny slid a notebook and pen to Marissa. “Ignore my notes. There are blank pages.”

  “What am I doing?” Marissa asked.

  “Listening. And writing down what they are saying in the code,” Alex told her.

  “You know anyone can do this. You don’t need me.”

  “Yeah, I’m sure. We want you to do it,” Alex said. “Just wait. He’ll come on again.”

  Marissa, pen in hand, opened to an empty page and sighed.

  I was dumbfounded. Marissa seemed to think we were overreacting. She didn’t recognize the talent she possessed. Her community taught her well, gave her practical skills at an early age.

  Amazed, we waited. Even though I wanted to go to bed, I had to see what the hidden messages said. So, with the baby monitor nearby, along with everyone else, with bated breath I hung around that picnic table with Marissa and the radio.

  Doctrines 42: 3-14

  And they came upon his village. He was an enigma to all who had not seen him. He stood tall and dressed in a long black cloak. The hood covered every part of his face but his chin and neck. Keller did not speak. It was well known that he had the gift of unspoken communication. He was able to get into the mind of others to convey what he wanted, to sway them. Mostly, he communicated with the Palers. He gathered them, prepared them for battle. If he did not fall, his rise to power would be strengthened by
the Palers. And they would survive ordinary man for generations to come. They already outnumbered him. The Keller had to die.

  34. RANDY BRIGGS

  I read several passages of the Doctrines to Sonny because he showed interest in Keller. I found Sonny to be bright and strong with a hint of ambivalence to him. He reminded me of Bill.

  Marissa was only able to listen to two more messages before she fell back to sleep. I was impressed at the knowledge of this little girl. Admittedly, I didn’t know about religious cults. We didn’t have them where I came from and what I did know was what I read in history books. None of the cults that made it into history books was viewed as positive.

  Another child was placed on the task, and Marissa had the next day to listen. She was able to pick up that they were looking for a Dr. Javier, a name I didn’t recognize. The message said they were with people from Project Savior.

  Explaining things to Sonny was a bit more difficult, not that he didn’t understand, but he already had some doubts.

  “So this Keller guy was a telepathic leader who led the Palers into battle against normal man?”

  I nodded. “Yes, it was the Paler-Man wars that took place about twenty years after the plague.”

  “Then it couldn’t be the baby we handed over,” Sonny said. “That baby, sadly, isn’t going to see his first birthday. He is a sickly thing. The name has to be a coincidence.”

  At that point, Alex joined us as we sat in what was probably the family room of the home.

  “How are you feeling?” I asked Alex.

  “Better, thank you. Need to sleep.” He nursed what I assumed was a warm beer.

  Sonny said, “Go to bed.”

  “Not yet. Just waiting. We put another kid on the radio with Jillian. She can’t hear, but can translate what he writes.”

  “Why is that?” Sonny asked. “Why did this group know Morse code?”

  Alex shrugged. “Survival stuff. They taught them all young.”

  “Weird.” Sonny sat back. “Just like the Keller guy in the Doctrines.”