The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20

by Jacqueline Druga

  After a long blink, Joe stared at her. “You don’t think he knows he lost his arm.”

  “Do not talk down to me, Joe Slagel.”

  “What?” Joe tossed his hands up confused. “He knows.”

  “Yes, I know he knows, but you made him be independent right away. You made him ignore the fact. Now he has to face it. He had to live without the arm, learn to live without it, and face the fact it is not growing back.”

  “You want to send the man into a depression?” Joe asked. “That’s insane.”

  “No, let me explain insane to you.” Andrea pointed. “Insane is what he will feel when the reality hits him. It’s gonna hit him soon, Joe, and I’d rather have it hit him without the depressing sight of that rubber arm.”

  “You think the rubber arm is more depressing than the stump?”

  Andrea gasped first then growled. “This conversation is over. The children are hungry.”

  “The children? Robbie’s a grown man, Andrea.” Joe watched Andrea storm from the kitchen. “Oh,” he spoke to himself. “She better not be using this so she has an excuse to over-mother him.” After hearing Andrea’s ‘I heard that’, Joe gave up and went back to the dining room table.

  ^^^^

  A long gasp of alcohol induced relief came from Hal Slagel’s mouth the second he swallowed that first mouthful of whiskey. He set down the glass, stared at it, lifted it back up, and downed the rest. “Better.” He slammed the glass on the table in the empty Hoi-Hoi on the Range saloon. He picked up the bottle and showed it to Elliott. “Are you having one?”

  “No, thank you.” Elliott Ryder shook his head. “I’m just keeping you company. Should you be drinking so much?”

  Hal only raised his eyes, poured another drink, and then lit a cigarette.

  “And smoking? You’ve been smoking heavily this evening.”

  “Good God, Elliott, is there anything else you’d like to nitpick about?”

  “It’s just concern,” Elliott stated. “I mean, Captain, a lot has happened with your family. A clear head . . .”

  “I’ll have a clear head in the morning. Right now, painless is better.” He sipped his drink. “My brother is lying in a coma. My nephew shot him and my father. The honorable Judge Grace literally lost her head in a packed courtroom. I should have just let my brother shoot his son.” Hal finished his drink and reached for the bottle again.

  “You don’t mean that.”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “All right. You do.” Elliott shook his head with slight smile. “Tomorrow begins the movement of the Texas town.”

  “I know and the phones go back up.” Hal lifted his glass. “That’s a bonus. Now you can telephone my sister at all hours and have your little talks that you miss so much.”

  “I really do.” Elliott was going to speak further but paused to yawn. “Excuse me.”

  “You’re tired,” Hal said with concern.

  “It’s been a long day.”

  Hal looked at his watch. “You’re habitually nocturnal. Are you feeling all right?”

  “I’m hungry.” Elliott shrugged. “That’s about it. I’m sorry, Captain . . .” Elliott glanced down. “I am very sorry I didn’t get your nephew.”

  “You tried. He got away. If the bullet wounds didn’t kill him . . .” Hal paused to take a drink. “Things should get pretty interesting especially when George Hadley finds out about his daughter.”

  “Hopefully, he will think rationally instead of with his heart.” Elliott watched Hal raise his eyes in a ‘don’t be ridiculous’ manner. “Or maybe not.”

  “Just as preparations, you will start things with Sgt. Doyle correct?”

  “Yes, I will begin. However, keep in mind, I’ll do the best I can but I’ll be filling in for Frank. And speaking of which . . .” Elliott stood up. “As much as I enjoyed our talk, I must get some rest. I’m due back in Beginnings by six a.m.”

  Hal nodded his understanding. “Goodnight, Elliott.” He looked to his drink then back up to a leaving Elliott. “Oh, one more thing. Do me a favor. While filling in for my brother, could you not grow a goatee again? It’s very disheartening to me to see you being Frank’s mini-me.”

  Elliott smiled, placed his pinky to the corner of his mouth, then after a chuckle, he walked out.

  Murmuring, ‘that wasn’t funny’, Hal stared into his glass and at the alcohol as if the brown liquid held all the answers. And in an essence it did. It gave him the answers on how to forget what had happened with his family. So much had gone down too fast and a lot more was still to happen. Hal’s concerns were mainly with Frank. What transpired with Johnny was old news to Hal, but the pain Frank had to face, not only over his injuries, but over his son, weighed heavy on Hals’ mind.

  Though he projected the air of not liking Frank much, the truth was Hal loved his brother. Despite what Dean had said, his gut still wrenched with worry. Looking at the whiskey and picturing in his mind Frank laying in that hospital room alone, Hal wondered how many more drinks it would take for his mind to settle and not picture that any longer. After estimating it would take more shots than he cared to consume, Hal deducted the better way to ease his mind about Frank.

  Go to him.

  So Hal did. He stood up, unfazed by his liquor consumption, picked up his cigarettes, and left the bar. He wanted to be by Frank’s side in case Frank came to. If not just so Frank wouldn’t be by himself when he woke up, but for the simple fact that Hal would be the first face he saw and perhaps that irritability alone would cascade him straight on the road to getting well.

  CHAPTER TWO

  December 8th

  “To cop a phrase from my son . . .” Joe stated as he and Jason walked through the cryo-lab tunnels. “You’re being a dick.”

  “Usually I would take offense to that remark, but explain to me how I am being a . . . dick?”

  “You won’t tell me anything.”

  “I assure you, Joe, there’s nothing to tell,” Jason explained. “I went into hiding, a limbo of sorts. I told you to act and make decisions as if I were dead. I didn’t want to ripple anything.”

  With a ‘hmm’ of disbelief, Joe punched in the code to the Communications Room. He took a deep whiff of coffee and smiled. “I see our Asian community began things already.”

  Danny Hoi peered at Henry then up to Joe and Jason. “Hey, Joe. Welcome back, Jason. It’s good to have you at a meeting again.”

  Whispering, ‘I told you’, Jason went to the coffee pot.

  Joe wasn’t convinced. He pulled up a chair and checked out the arm that Henry and Danny were working on. “How’s the bionic arm coming?”

  Danny nodded. “Good. It’s getting there, sort of.”

  “There are still a lot of steps though, Joe,” Henry explained. “We get it to work, then we have to coincide it with the microchip, program the chip, and get Dean to do his skin thing. Then . . . then we have to make sure the brain accepts the microchip. But we have that covered. We are confidant all bugs will be worked out in the test subject.”

  “Test subject?” Joe asked.

  “Oh, sure, Joe,” Henry answered. “We’re making more than one arm. We don’t want to screw up on Robbie.”

  “Of course not,” Joe said, “but how the hell are you gonna test the damn thing. Cut off someone’s arm?” Silence was Joe’s answer. That and watching Henry and Danny give each other a look. “No.”

  “But, Joe,” Danny pleaded his case. “It has to be done.”

  “Who the hell’s arm are you cutting off?”

  Thinking the question was a prelude and a weighing factor in his decision, Henry proudly answered, “Bub, the lobotomized Savage.”

  “No,” Joe said strongly. “Absolutely not.”

  “But Dean said we could,” Henry defended.

  Joe mocked with a whine, “But Dean said. No! Absolutely not. Find another way. You’re not cutting off his arm, lobotomized savage or not. You hear? Dean is sick. He’s a sick human being.”


  Surprising Joe, Jason leaned into him with a whisper. “Speaking of sick human beings.”

  After a ‘huh?’ Joe turned to see Elliott Ryder walk in. “Oh,” Joe grunted in disgust at Jason, “that wasn’t right. Now was that right? I should never have done what I did with you. Morning, Elliott.”

  “Mr. Slagel.” Elliott gave a nod of acknowledgment to everyone. “I apologize for being late for the meeting.”

  “Not a problem,” Joe answered. “Help yourself to some coffee.” He didn’t give much thought at first to Elliott’s presence at a Council meeting because he was appointed but Joe stopped in revelation. Henry was not on Council, yet he was there. He didn’t want to make any blubbering Frank style blurts so Joe snapped his fingers hard. “Elliott, quick. This is an on your feet test. Tell me the government structure and names of all appointed Council members.” Joe gave a quick shift of his eyes to a snickering Jason, then returned to Elliott. “Quick.”

  “You’re giving me a test?” Elliott asked.

  Danny looked curiously. “I never had a test. Am I being quizzed?”

  Joe ignored him. “Elliott, you’re lagging so you’re failing.”

  “I’m sorry. I’m just surprised.” Elliott finished pouring his coffee. “Basically, main Council is you, Jason, and Danny. I am on the Bowman’s Council with the Captain and Sgt, Owens. The new town will be moving up soon and they will have a Council. However, you are still Commander in Chief for all provinces with the Captain second in that line. And let us not forget Frank is standing Council. Am I correct?”

  Before Joe could answer, Jason did, “No.”

  “No?” Elliott questioned.

  Joe grunted. “He’s teasing you, Elliott. You’re correct. Now, that we have quizzes out of the way . . .”

  “I didn’t get my quiz, Joe,” Danny interjected.

  “Me either,” Henry added.

  With a slight roll to his eyes, Joe took his seat. “Christ, can we start?”

  Danny raised his hand slightly. “Joe, if I may before we start? There is something Henry and I need an OK on so we can start working on the project during the winter when things are slow.”

  “What is that?” Joe asked.

  “A new dining experience in New Bowman.” Danny watched Joe cover his own face and groan. “No, Joe, listen. It’s brilliant. Ready? I want to open the first post apocalyptic world . . . sushi bar.”

  Slowly Joe’s hand slid down his face, dragging his eyes. “A sushi bar?” He snapped a glare to a laughing Jason and Elliot and they immediately silenced. “A sushi bar?”

  “Yes,” Danny replied. “I love sushi.”

  “Me, too,” Henry said. “Joe, it would be so cool.”

  “Where the hell are you gonna get the fresh fish for sushi? Not to mention seaweed,” Joe questioned with edge.

  “We have that figured out,” Danny stated.

  “Of course.” Joe nodded.

  “It will be vegetable sushi and we’ll wrap it in grape leaves.”

  “Uh-huh.” Joe nodded. “Christ, Danny. Sushi? What the hell kind of moron gives a rat’s ass about sushi?”

  Hal’s voice entered the room at that moment. “Sushi? Did someone say sushi? Oh, I love sushi.”

  Joe’s hand lifted and fell with a slap. “Need I say more? What the hell are you doing here, Hal?”

  “I was in town so I thought I’d pop by the meeting.” Hal took a seat. “Now’s what’s this about sushi?’

  Danny smiled. “We’re opening a sushi bar in New Bowman.”

  “My God, that’s wonderful.”

  “It’s idiotic!” Joe snapped. “Can we get on with this meeting, please? Thank you.” He pulled a list from his shirt pocket. “Now . . . phones. Decision.”

  With his legs crossed and still amused by the sushi discussion, Jason added his two cents. “I think we should establish them again. We need them with the moving of the Texas town. We can have monitoring to watch Society communication but I also think we’ve seen the last of the traitors for a bit.”

  “I’ll go with that.” Joe looked about the faces for agreement. “Henry, can you get them back up and running fully?”

  “That’s why I’m here, Joe,” Henry answered. “Obviously not to serve on Council since I was asked to step down. Not that I am resentful about that. All right, I am, but I’m still not sure on why. Anger sometimes take . . . .”

  “Henry!” Joe barked. “Do you have to even wonder? Christ. Phones go up.”

  Danny exhaled. “Thank God. Now I can go back to computerized Danny Dollars. It was hell doing it manually.”

  “Next,” Joe said loudly, not wanting to get into anymore rambling feasts from the two men with perfect hair. “The Texas town.”

  “Since I’m here,” Hal interjected, “I might as well take this one. The Texas town is starting the move in three days. The first portion will make their way up as soon as I send some escorts down and I’d like to equip them with phones. They’ve picked Jordan as their relocation. It is a distance but not too far for inter-community travel. They will need tracking.” Hal gave a nod of his head to Danny.

  Danny whined, “I wanted to get on the sushi bar but . . . I’ll start making preparation for their own tracking station.”

  “Good.” Hal said. “I was thinking of borrowing a few of Sgt. Doyle’s men to train them as Trackers for when Jordan is up and running.”

  “Good thinking,” Joe added. “What are we doing so far with them?”

  Elliott answered, “We’re setting up a time with Sgt. Doyle to go over strategic locations and base locations of the Society. We’ll make our own map of them, so to speak. They have a food surplus but their men are going to have to start their own farming division. We can get them started with crops, but they need the skill. Figuring Society activity is pretty much nil in the winter like everything, we’ll train in agriculture then. Plus, I do know Frank is wanting to train them as a defensive line as well as offensive, when he is well.”

  “Speaking of Frank,” Joe stated. “Dean said he’ll hit him with the Salicain sometime today or tomorrow. He’ll be on it for about a week or so, depending on how well he’s . . . Hal, quit smirking . . . healing. He’ll be on light duty for a while, so we’ll still need Elliott.”

  “Absolutely,” Hal agreed, “but in keep in mind we lose Ellen to her sentencing sometime right after Christmas.”

  Joe stared for a second. “All right. What does that have to do with anything? Unless you’re referring to Frank.”

  “No, it refers to me,” Hal said. “I’ll need Elliott in New Bowman because of my absence. I’ll be going with Ellen as a sense of protection.”

  “You’re going?” Joe questioned.

  Elliott turned his chair toward Hal. “You’re going?”

  After looking at his father then Elliott, Hal nodded. “Yes. Why?”

  Elliott let out a small huff. “Begging your pardon Captain, and meaning no disrespect to your rank over me, but if anyone from the UWA escorts Dr. Hayes, I’d like it to be me.”

  “I’m sure you do,” Hal replied. “Not that I haven’t the utmost confidence in your ability to protect her . . .”

  “So what is the problem?” Elliott asked.

  “There is no problem, Elliott,” Hal stayed firm. “I would rather it be me. And lose that green look. This isn’t a romantic getaway I’m talking about.”

  “That thought never crossed my mind,” Elliott rebutted, “so why would you bring it up?”

  Danny, with an ornery snicker murmured, “Perhaps it was on Hal’s mind.”

  “Enough,” Joe halted it before it went any further. “Who goes with Ellen, if anyone, will be determined later.”

  Henry lifted his hand slightly. “Did either one of you stop to think that maybe her husband would like to be the one to go out there and protect her?”

  Hal looked at Henry. “Dean?” He held back the laugh that almost blurted forth. “Thanks for that amusing thought, Henry “


  “Oh, that isn’t nice,” Henry snapped. “That isn’t very nice at all. Dean was in the military for many . . .”

  “I said . . .” Joe raised his voice. “Enough of this. Now can we get on with this meeting? If not, I’m going to leave.”

  “Can we have a decision on the sushi bar?” Danny asked.

  Joe swung an irritated view Danny’s way. His eyes glared and he readied to blast out but he didn’t. “Yes, build your goddamn sushi bar. Just leave me out of it.”

  “That’s gonna be hard to do since you have everything to do with its name,” Danny stated.

  Confused, Joe looked at him. “How in the hell do I have anything to do with, what will it be for this establishment, Hoi’s House of Sushi? Or how about Danny Hoi’s Sushi Heaven?”

  Danny chuckled. “Cute, but no. In your honor, Joe, it will be called Slagel Sushi.”

  Joe only stared at Danny for a second, then figuring the meeting was going nowhere, Joe quietly stood up, grabbed his clipboard, and walked out.

  ^^^^

  His backtrack step and stop caused a scuff on the carpet and a tiny ‘snap’ of electricity to fly through Billy’s index finger. “Damn it.” Using his foot, he pushed open the ajar door of his father’s office, a room located close to the kitchen door. He scoffed a laughed and shook his head when he looked inside at Dean. “Dad,” he called out.

  Nothing.

  Dean was asleep. His forehead was pressed flat to his desk surface on top of all his papers and his arms were dangling to the side.

  “Billy,” Ellen whispered as she turned him from the door. “Leave Daddy alone. He’s sleeping.”

  “That has got to be the most pathetic sight I have ever seen.”

  “Well, considering you’re seven, there’s not much to compare.”

  “You don’t think.” Billy walked a few feet over to the dining room table. “That SUT Uncle Frank shot in the head was pretty pathetic.”