The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20

by Jacqueline Druga

  “Do you think Joe Slagel actually buys the fact that you want peace with him?”

  “Why wouldn’t he?” George replied.

  “Because you have made it abundantly clear that you want Beginnings.” Irritated by how smug George was acting, Steward let out a huffing breath. “You’re shipping this barrage out from Minnesota?”

  “Yes.” George, calmer, sat back down.

  “You realize that insiders report the highest rumors of possible defectors there.”

  “There are fifteen hundred men at that small camp. I’m sorry, Stew. I need five or six hundred of them. I doubt they’ll all be defectors. Besides, who is responsible for heading up training and organization of our army?”

  “Sgt. Doyle.”

  “Would you consider him loyal?” George questioned.

  “Very.”

  “Where is he now, Stew?”

  Pulling up a chair, Steward slowly sat down as he answered, “Minnesota.”

  “I sent him there last week for a reason. He will be able to spot and pick the best of the bunch. He’ll prepare the movement for tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow? All right. What happens if Johnny calls before then?”

  “Then . . .” George leaned back in his chair. “We call it off and follow your plan.”

  Steward accepted that. And somehow he wished they were following his plan all along, because he didn’t have a good feeling about the simulated attack. To him in was an invitation to something, to what, he didn’t know.

  ^^^^

  The Anthium were laid out in a row and Ellen counted them as she tossed them into the pill bottle again. Snickering in disbelief, she capped the bottle as she spoke to herself. “I see I took three yesterday. Unbelievable.” She turned to the open medicine cabinet in her office at Containment and replaced the bottle.

  Hal knocked on the archway of her door before he and Elliott stepped inside.

  After shutting the cabinet, Ellen turned around. “I thought I smelled you two.”

  Hal looked at Elliott. “Smell? We smell?”

  “Good. You smell good,” Ellen corrected as she walked to Hal and kissed him on the cheek. “You wear cologne.” She smiled. “This is a surprise. What brings you two here?”

  “Thought we’d stop in to say hello,” Hal replied. “We’re waiting on a meeting with my father. He’s giving Sgt. Owens a little tour. You know . . .” Hal looked quickly at Elliott then back to Ellen. “Sgt. Owens. My first, I mean, my second officer? Whoops!”

  “Yes,” Ellen answered. “I know him.”

  “He and Warren Baydy are with my father getting a small tour.”

  Ellen blinked. “Hal, I know survivor process is new to you but really, I get them here before they wander around the community. But that’s not a problem.” She walked around her desk. “I’ll start the paperwork now. Obviously if Joe’s giving him a tour, he isn’t dangerous.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” Hal asked.

  “You said Warren Beatty is in town. He should get along quite nicely with Ethel Merman and Julius Caesar.”

  “See.” Elliott pointed to her. “I’m not the only one.”

  “Ellen,” Hal stated., “Warren Baydy is his actual name. He is from the Texas town. Lord, do you two deserve each other.”

  “Really?” Ellen asked oddly. “I wouldn’t believe him.”

  Elliott nodded pleased. “Ellen, do I look Hispanic to you?”

  Hal shook his head. “Elliott, get over it. Yes, yes you do. Immigrant Hispanic. Illegal Alien. How many time do I have to tell you? Ask Ellen.”

  Ellen laughed. “Elliott, I can’t answer that. I never noticed.”

  Hal was shocked. “Never noticed? My God, no wonder the man feels painfully neglected by you.”

  “Captain,” Elliott gasped out.

  “Elliott?” Ellen looked at him. “Am I making you feel neglected?”

  Hal spun fast toward the door. “Was that Owens?”

  After a glare to Hal, Elliott answered. “Yes.”

  Hal continued. “Really, to make it up to him, he feels you should leave Dean. Leave him. Just like that.” Hal snapped his fingers. “New Bowman is such the better place to live. Elliott feels he could offer you and the children a wonderful environment, not to mention a yard that has no perimeter fence.”

  Ellen couldn’t help but laugh. “Elliott didn’t say that.”

  “He did,” Hal reiterated. “Didn’t you, Elliott? You said that this morning over breakfast. You want to snatch her away from her little husband.”

  Elliott’s mouth just hung open.

  Hal grabbed his ear and tugged. “Ellen, remind me to have you check me for an ear infection. I swore I heard Owens again.”

  The grumble was light that Elliott let out just before his ‘yes.’

  “Ah, young love. Let’s go, Elliott.” Hal gave a pat to Elliott’s back. “Ellen, I’ll see you later.” He headed to the door.

  Ellen’s head spun. “What is going on with you two?”

  Elliott looked back. “I’m killing the Captain later today if you care to watch.”

  “Come, Elliott,” Hal called. “I spoke your thoughts. No need to be embarrassed.”

  Ellen stepped into the hall to follow and snickered when Elliott, walking backwards, tossed his hands up. Then Ellen saw what was missing. “Hold it!” She raced forward just as Elliott buzzed opened the door. “Hal!” she snapped.

  “Ellen, whatever it is I’m sure we can discuss over dinner tonight.” Hal moved to the main door. “When you move to New Bowman.”

  “Where the hell is your cast?” Ellen asked.

  Hal paused. He checked out the snide look Elliott gave him then sorrowfully, he shook his head. “Elliott took it off”

  “Elliott,” Ellen spoke softly. “Really, you can’t do that. It needed to heal.”

  In what Hal thought was a saving grace, he tugged Elliott through the front door of Containment and poked his head in. “He meant no harm, Ellen. Do think about that divorce proposal presented to you.”

  Forgotten about as if he wasn’t there, Scott peered from the front security desk. “Divorce proposal?”

  “Don’t ask,” Ellen said. “Something is up with those two. Oh, hey Scott.” She retracted her steps. “Can I see the sheet?”

  “Sure.” Scott pulled out a clipboard from the bottom drawer and handed it to Ellen.

  “Thanks. You aren’t telling anyone about this, right?”

  “Not a soul.”

  “Good. I don’t want anyone to know that we’re keeping track of when and who comes in here.” Ellen actually felt kind of better after the confusing visit from Hal and Elliott. Smiling, she lifted the mock supply requisition to peer underneath. The smile fell and the first thought that raced through her mind was that perhaps the divorce proposal wasn’t that bad of an idea. At seven-thirty in the morning, not long after their intimate breakfast, Dean stopped by Containment again. Before she let the rage hit her or she became too upset, she decided if Dean was giving her the benefit of the doubt, she would give him the same. There had to be another reason aside from him checking up on her. There had to be.

  ^^^^

  In the northeast region, not far from the fields, Frank, Dean, and Robbie perched upon lawn chairs and stared out as if they were having a backyard winter barbecue.

  “Shh.” Frank held up a finger. “There. You hear?”

  Dean smiled. “Well, I be damned. AC/DC.”

  So offended, Frank scoffed. “Fuck you. Why the fuck would I be singing AC fuckin DC. It’s Journey, asshole. Robbie, aren’t they singing Journey?”

  Robbie smiled. “Open Arms.”

  “See, Dean?” Frank nodded. “They mock me. Watch.” He stood up, cupped his hands over his mouth and shouted loudly. “Fuck!’

  At first there was silence then after a short delay, in unison, a gurgled single syllable sound emerged from the killer baby region.

  “Do I not have the touch?” Frank s
aid proudly. “I’m their God. I’m telling you, they fear me, respect me.”

  “You’re the Frank-clops to them,” Robbie smirked. “Like the Cyclops monster.”

  “I am.”

  Laughing, Dean grabbed his coffee and stood up. “As much as I enjoyed this mid-morning break, I have to get back to work. Robbie, good luck today.”

  “Thanks, Dean. It feels good to be back.”

  “Dean,” Frank spoke up before Dean left. “Did you stop by Containment this morning?”

  Curious, Robbie looked at Dean. “What’s going on at Containment?”

  Dean ignored the question from Robbie and only looked at Frank. “Yes.”

  “And?” Frank continued.

  Through clenched jaws, Dean gave a warning, “Frank.”

  “What’s going on?” Robbie asked again.

  Dean cringed. “Yes, Frank.”

  “Yes what?” Robbie wanted to know.

  “Son of a bitch.” Frank shook his head in disgust, “I was hoping . . .”

  “Frank,” Dean warned.

  “Hoping what?” Robbie continued. “What’s going on? What’s the secret?”

  “Exactly,” Frank interjected. “It’s a secret. We don’t want you to know.”

  “Know what?” Robbie questioned.

  “That El has a drug problem.”

  “Frank!” Dean yelled. “Goddamn it!”

  “What?” Frank lifted his hands. “It slipped.”

  Robbie laughed. “O.K., if you guys don’t want to tell me, don’t.” His smile fell quickly when he saw the expression of Frank and Dean’s face. “You guys are joking, right?” He looked at them again. “Oh, my God, you’re not.” Robbie shook his head in disbelief. “El does not have a drug problem. What’s wrong with you two for even considering that?”

  Dean held up an explaining hand. “Robbie, no one knows about this except me, Frank, and the undisclosed source who confirmed it.”

  “Dean, you’re wrong,” Robbie said calmly. “I know El.”

  “And we don’t?” Dean snapped. “We thought at first it was just a crutch. Now we know it’s an addiction to Anthium.”

  “Anthium!” Robbie had to laugh. “El isn’t taking that. I’m telling you.”

  Dean tired to remain reasonable. “Her behavior has shown . . .”

  “Her behavior is fine.” Robbie cut him off. “She’s been fine with me.”

  Frank decided to interject, “That’s because she babies you. She’s not gonna act different in front of you. You don’t have an arm.”

  “Frank!” Dean barked. “Quit that!”

  “It’s true.” Frank defended. “He has enough on his mind. The last thing she’s gonna do is worry him or talk to him about it.”

  Dean’s head bobbed from side to side. “In your demented way, you have a point.” He looked at Robbie who just smirked in disbelief. “I know you don’t want to believe this. We didn’t either. But her actions, demeanor, weight loss, and bruises all point to it.”

  Robbie quickly looked up. “Bruises?”

  “She’s hiding them,” Frank explained.

  A short breath of irritation escape Robbie. “Did either of you two eliminate the fact that maybe someone is doing something to her?”

  Frank tossed up his hands. “Who? You tell me who?”

  “A survivor maybe,” Robbie said. “You know how she is with them. If she thinks someone at Containment can be helped she’s not gonna say anything to you two.”

  “But . . .” Dean interrupted. “A survivor? If a survivor is hitting her, would it cause her behavior to go so haywire? Robbie, she’s been taking them. Some days only one and some days up to four. We’ve been keeping track.”

  Robbie’s mouth opened in shock. “Checking up on her? That is so wrong. Really wrong.” After one more look at Dean and Frank, Robbie started to walk off. “She deserves better than this from you guys.”

  “Robbie.” Frank called to him. “No one knows. We trying to figure out how to help her. That’s all.” Frank breathed out when Robbie kept walking. “Where are you going?”

  Robbie spoke as he walked backwards. “I’m going to get to the bottom of this. Just wait until I get my arm back, Frank. I’m kicking your ass for even thinking this shit.” He spun and walked off.

  “Way to go, Dean.” Frank shook his head.

  “Me? You started this.”

  “Did I?” Frank looked out in thought. “Yeah, I did.”

  Dean grunted.

  “Dean. Seriously. Are we wrong? I mean, I’m thinking we are.”

  “I don’t know, Frank.” Dean lifted his shoulders. “If she isn’t taking the drug, yeah. But if she is and we ignore it and let it go, we’re wrong there too. So what do we do? You tell me.”

  Frank didn’t know what to tell Dean. His eyes only lifted and watched as Robbie faded from view. At that moment, as if he were a soldier going off to battle, Frank put a lot of hope in Robbie that perhaps he could be the one that finally ends the war.

  ^^^^

  Warren Baydy didn’t know how to take the three arms laying on the counter in the communications room where they were meeting. Nor was he accustomed to anyone as upbeat as Danny Hoi. To him, Danny was frightening the way he lifted the arms and rattled on.

  “And this one . . .” Danny pointed to the last one. “This is the one that Dean and Ellen are going to cover with real flesh, attach a circulatory system, and all. You know,” Danny winked, “so it doesn’t rot. It will have nerves and all. This is going to be really cool when I’m done.” With a sigh, Danny shook his head. “Too bad the world ended. I’d be rich. The amputees of the world would worship me.”

  Joe stared as he stood forefront before Warren, Hal, and Elliott. “Are you done, Danny?”

  “With the arm? No.” Danny said. “With my speech? Sure.”

  ‘Thank you.” Joe returned to his meeting. “Warren says his town and equipment can be packed up for the move by mid January. That’s a winter move . . .” Joe lifted his shoulder in a shrug. “But they think they can manage it. We’ll scout out bigger trucks for that when we do the Christmas runs.”

  Danny interjected, “Speaking of which, I’d like to post a memo to anyone with a knack for crafts to stop by Plastics, Fabrics and Metals to check on the scraps. Perhaps they can open temporary shops for the season. People want to Christmas shop this year.”

  In agreement, Joe nodded. “Post the memo and pass the word. It’s a good idea to put the scraps to use. Now, Mr. Bay . . . Warren tells me the men in his town, who are fit enough, would gladly train for our army. We’ll incorporate the rest of his people in the divisions where hands will be needed because of the extra population. Danny, I need you to speak to Hector. He’s pushing his limits heading up Farming Division between us and New Bowman. Tell him he’s going to have to take on a right hand man, especially with the new town joining us.” Joe received an agreement from Danny then noticed the slight raise in Hal’s hand. “Yes, Hal?”

  “Back to the training of men. Dad, did you speak to Frank? I really would like him aboard. He was the best at it in the old world.”

  Elliott answered, “I did, Captain. He has no problem coming into town and picking up the combat and weaponry training.”

  Hal nodded. “And what else?”

  “Excuse me?” Elliott asked.

  “What else? I know my brother. What snide remark did he add?”

  “Frank stated he was honored and . . .”

  “Elliott,” Hal abruptly stopped him.

  “Fine.” Elliott gave up. “He said he knew your pansy ass would fold under the pressure of training for a real war.”

  With his finger extended, Hal calmly nodded and looked at his father. “Did I tell you I was considering Owens as my new first officer?”

  Impressed, Joe smiled. “Good choice. Now . . . before we move out of here, Danny has something he wants to bring up.”

  “Thanks, Joe.” Danny swiveled in his chair and motioned out his
hand. “That’s why we’re meeting here in Communications. I come in three, four times a day, work on the arm, fire her up, watch activity, and make sure we’re still running even though phones are down. Joe, we need the phones back up, especially with the move coming. I know . . . I know . . . not until the murder investigation is over and the other thing. But I say we send me or Henry down to Texas and establish a direct line of communication to you or Hal. They need it open because of this.” Danny reached up and turned on switches. The board was dark except for Beginnings and New Bowman and two simple dots of light there. “I have it filtered right now because if I don’t . . .” Another sequence of switches and the board not only lit up on the whole entire eastern half but alarms went off as well. After Danny silenced them, he stood up.

  “Holy Christ.” Joe looked at the signals that indicated the communication going back and forth for the Society. “They grew.”

  “Not only did they grow . . .” Danny pointed to the line of five significant lights straight down the center of the United States. “But they are getting awfully close. This is a travel route for our new town. Without ongoing communications and monitoring . . .” Seriously, Danny looked at the group. “You can almost say we are sending them blindly straight through a possible mine trap.”

  Danny didn’t need to say anymore. The visual aspect of the reality was enough.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Everyone seemed fine. They were medicated and secured under the watch of one of Frank’s men. It was time for Ellen to head back to the clinic, something that grew more and more bothersome to her as each day passed.

  After stacking her folders neatly in her desk in case Joe stopped by for a surprise inspection, she picked up her keys and stopped. A smile crossed her face when she saw Robbie standing in the doorway of her office. Even the forming of his name caused her mouth to replicate a smile. It was never fake. Robbie seemed to be the only one that could produce a genuine, ‘feel good’ smile from Ellen. “Robbie.”