The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20

by Jacqueline Druga

  Hal peered up from the bag. “We have men out there, Frank.”

  Looking up, listening to the shots, Frank shook his head. “One man. Two tops The shots are doubling at the same time. One man.”

  Curiously, Joe looked. “One man? You think? Do you think the Society realizes that?”

  Frank fluttered his lips in sarcasm. “Yeah, right. No. No way. Bet me they’re trying to find the one that’s firing on them.”

  Joe nodded. “Take him out first then come for us.”

  “That’s what I’d do,” Frank said. “They think we’re sitting ducks in here.”

  “Shooter’s got to be coming from the southeast.” Joe said. “Has to be. More so south, that’s where the least are getting hit.”

  Quickly Frank looked. “Southeast?”

  Hal paused in his task. “Ellen is going southeast.”

  “Dad?” Robbie lowered his scope. “It looks like the Society is going southeast too. We have movement.”

  “Fuck.” Frank grabbed the open duffle bag and tossed it over his shoulder. “Let’s go.” Slightly opening the door, Frank checked for an all clear and charged out.

  Robbie grabbed his weapon and followed.

  Hal had the Dean Ami grenades strapped over his shoulder as he made it to the door. Joe was behind him. “Dad, maybe you should stay back.”

  Joe glared at him.

  “Maybe not,” Hal checked for an ‘all clear’ as well then he and Joe raced out.

  “Oh my God, I lost the road.” Ellen rattled, panicked. “Joe’s gonna kill me. The tree. The tree. Uh!” She peeped out a shriek and turned the wheel to the left. The truck slammed down hard and then it wouldn’t move.

  “Shit.” She hit the gas. “Shit.” The wheels spun. “What was Joe expecting me to do anyhow? Shit.” Tossing the truck in reverse, Ellen turned her head to look back. Through the rear window of the truck she saw a line of Society solders coming her way, eight of them. Turning back, she tried to remain calm and hoped to maybe even forge ahead. Ellen knew she didn’t have much time when she saw even more heading down to the front of the truck.

  As she readied to plow through them—if she could just get the truck to go—the driver’s door flung open. Before she could look or react, a hand covered her mouth and Ellen was yanked from the vehicle.

  Rapid gunfire.

  Frank’s head cocked and he paused slightly in his run. “Over there.” He changed his course. “Where the fuck was she driving? The road is here,” he hollered in his run.

  Hal fought to keep up. Shaking his head, he turned to Robbie as they ran “He forgets not all of us are mutants. Frank!”

  Robbie looked back to check on Joe. “You okay?”

  Joe didn’t run. He walked briskly, trotting here and there. He nodded and waved for them to go on.

  “Fuck!”

  The callout from Frank cause extreme worry in Hal, Robbie, and Joe and boosted that extra energy they needed to dash with impressive speed to where Frank was.

  Frank stood by the truck and the open driver’s door.

  Robbie swallowed, “Frank is she …”

  “Gone.” Frank breathed out.

  Joe closed his eyes. “Oh my God.”

  Hal lowered his head and clenched his rifle tighter.

  “Fuckin gone!” Frank shook his head and slammed his hand on the truck. “Where the hell did she go?”

  Hal, Robbie, and Joe looked up.

  Hal stepped forward, “Gone as in not here?”

  “She probably ran somewhere.” Frank shook his head and called out his loudest. “Ellen!”

  Ellen’s mouth met the ground in her gentle face first landing. She fluttered her lips to get rid of the dirt particles and lifted her head when she heard her name,

  “Stay down,” he said. “Why is he calling your name? Fuck, make an announcement.”

  Like a dog trying to get her bearings, Ellen shook her head.

  “Are you all right?” he asked.

  “Who?” Ellen rolled over and then Ellen … screamed.

  The calling of her name was the signal for them to come and with the arrival of the Society soldiers, came Ellen’s scream.

  “Okay, now what?” Hal asked as they took cover by the truck. He watched as thirty or more soldiers ran their way to them through the woods.

  Frank looked around. “Up there. We have distance. Dad, come with me,” He took Joe’s arm. “Hal, Robbie, give us ten to clear then hit them. Two Dean Ami's will work.”

  “Got it,” Hal nodded and picked up a grenade. He handed one to Robbie.

  “Eight seconds they can fire on us.” Robbie pulled the pin and held the grenade close.

  Over his shoulder, Hal watched Frank and his father make distance. “Three … two .”

  Gun shots fired around them and just as they ducked, Hal and Robbie tossed out their grenades in two different directions.

  Pop. Pop.

  “Ellen,” Frank called. “There!”

  Dazed, Ellen walked in a stammer. “Frank.”

  Joe and Frank hurried to her. Joe raised his weapon in protection as Frank went to Ellen.

  “El,” Frank reached out. “Are you all right? What happened?”

  “Frank.” She breathed in hyperventilation. “Frank. Frank.”

  “El, El.” Frank grasped her. “We have to get …”

  “In coming,” Joe announced. “Nice grouping.”

  Ellen whimpered. “Frank. J … J … J …” Before any more words emerged, Ellen’s eyes rolled and she toppled forward,

  “Fuck.” Frank caught her as she fell into him. “We have a problem.”

  “Tell me about it,” Joe said.

  Frank looked at the Society soldiers who ran down the hill. “Can she ever help in making things less complicated? Fuck. Fire, Dad.”

  “You got it,” Joe replied, backing up and firing.

  Frank tossed Ellen over his shoulder. “Keep us covered. Let’s go.” With Joe firing behind him, Frank led the way. “We’ll head back down to the cabin and … son of a bitch.”

  Quickly Joe looked over his shoulder. “What? Are we blocked?”

  Bracing Ellen with one hand, Frank maneuvered his M-16. In Rambo style, he sprayed open fire across the ten solders who barricaded their way. “Not anymore. No.” Spinning around with his weapon still out, Frank joined his father in firing upon the ensuing soldiers.

  Hal had the hardest time holding his breath while running. He wheezed out the air he inhaled and bent over to catch his bearings.

  Robbie gave him a slap on the back. “You okay?”

  ‘Yeah,” Hal nodded then looked up. “Can you see?”

  Robbie lifted his binoculars. “They’re going down like dominoes.”

  “Good.” Hal stood up straight. “Let’s go.” He walked past Robbie.

  “Where do you think Dad and Frank went?”

  “I don’t know, but I say …” Hal paused. “This is taking far too long. Good God, Robbie, we wiped out more in less time during the little game. I say we head further out and come in at the perimeter.”

  Robbie grinned. “Sneak up from behind?”

  “You got it. Maybe we’ll even spot our shooter.”

  “If not, I’m sure he’ll make himself known. What about Dad and Frank?”

  “Robbie, please, it’s Dad and Frank. They’re fine. Now let’s end this thing so we can enjoy our vacation.” Hal began to walk off in a rapid pace. Robbie nodded as Hal moved quickly ahead and then he shrugged. “I’m enjoying it now.”

  Joe hit his chest with his fist once as he coughed. He sat by the fire in the cabin listening to gunshots, shots that were growing scarcer and with less frequency. He shook his head in remembrance of what Frank said. “Is this a fuckin blast or what?” Frank grabbed a second rifle and headed out, assuring Joe he’d be back when it was done.

  Joe believed that and waited inside. He had just told himself he was getting to old for this shit. Age also lessened his patience as well. Sta
nding and tired of waiting, Joe walked over to Ellen and nudged her still body with his foot. “Hey! Get up.”

  Ellen moaned and rolled slowly as if she were awakening from a good night’s sleep. “Hmm?”

  “Ellen?”

  “Shit.” Her head sprang up and then she jumped to her feet. “Shit.”

  “What happened out there?”

  “Joe, oh, Joe, oh Joe.” Ellen grabbed her own chest. “Oh my God.”

  “Ellen, for crying out loud. What is wrong with you? Did you see something?”

  “Oh boy.”

  “Was it bad?”

  “No.”

  “Then why in Christ’s name are you acting so insane.”

  “Because it’s crazy.”

  “What is?” Joe asked.

  “Sit down.”

  “I don’t want to sit down.”

  “Please, Joe. Please.”

  “Fine.” In defeat, Joe backed up and sat. “I’m sitting.”

  “Now, what ….” Ellen looked around. “Where are the guys?”

  Joe pointed up. “Hear the shots. Bet me that’s my sons.”

  “You’re not worried?”

  Joe only gazed at her.

  “Because I would …”

  “Ellen!” Joe asked. “I’m sitting. What do you need to tell me?”

  “Promise me you won’t get upset, you won’t lose your breath, or have a heart attack and die.”

  Joe stared for a moment. “You’re shitting me. What in …”

  “I saw who our help was.”

  “Good who?”

  “Are you prepared?”

  “Who?” Joe grew impatient.

  Ellen began to say it, but something happen. Her nerve got in the way of her speaking ability. “J … J…” She closed her eyes. “Why can’t I say his name? J … J …”

  Slowly Joe stood up, “Please don’t tell me it’s Johnny.”

  Ellen shook her head. “J …J …J …”

  “Christ Almighty you sound like Os-Oscar. Jess? Is it Jess?”

  Ellen shook her head again, “J… J …”

  “Ellen!”

  “Jimmy.”

  Silence.

  Ellen breathed out. “Jimmy, Joe. Jimmy.” She watched his face and expected pale. She expected to see Joe stumble, perhaps even grab his chest, and cringe in pain from the shock. But she didn’t see any of those reactions. Thinking perhaps he didn’t know who she meant. She said it again. “Jimmy Slagel.”

  With the quirkiest of looks, Joe gazed at her. “What do you take me for? An idiot? I know who you meant.” He whispered out, “Jimmy.” He sat down. “The prodigal son returns. Dear God.”

  “What? Ellen stepped to him. “What was that?”

  “Give me a second.” Through his parted lips, Joe released a slow breath. “The prodigal son returns.”

  Frank walked in through the door with a comment. “I did.” He shut the door. “Did you think I wouldn’t?” He walked in. “I could have stayed to take a few more, but what fun would that be? I left a few running about for excitement later. Besides, fuckin’ Robbie and Hal took out a lot.”

  Ellen spoke up, “Don’t forget the shooter.”

  “Yeah. I wonder who that is.”

  Joe whispered “The prodigal son returns.”

  “I did,” Frank said.

  “Not you,” Joe replied.

  “Joe?” Ellen asked. “Why do you keep on saying that?”

  “Because, it makes sense and it’s the only thing I can think of.” Joe rose to his feet. “When we got the jumbled message from Jess, we could only break it down so far. On a whim, we took it to Ben from Fabrics who said Jess was coming back with someone. The prodigal son returns.”

  “Oh!” Frank spoke. “Jess was the shooter?”

  “No.” Joe shook his head. “The person he brought back. You know, I have to admit. It crossed my mind that it was him, but I figured what were the chances. But it did,” Joe spoke in a daze. “It actually crossed my mind that it was him.”

  “Who?” Frank asked “Jess’s brother.”

  “No, Frank. Your brother,” Joe answered.

  “Which one? Because I don’t know how Robbie or Hal can show up with Jess since they were already here.”

  Joe grumbled. “Your other brother.”

  Frank titled his head.

  Ellen decided to try to help. “Frank, the shooter wasn’t Jess’s brother. It was yours. It was Jimmy.”

  Frank stared and then shook his head as if in disgust. “Fuck.”

  Joe blinked in shock. “Fuck? Did you say fuck?”

  “Yeah,” Frank nodded. “Fuck.”

  “Why … why would you say fuck?” Joe questioned.

  The door opened again and Hal answered that question as he walked in. “Because it’s the biggest word in Frank’s vocabulary and he tries to impress us with it all the time.”

  “Nah-ah, Hal.” Frank shook his head. “I said ‘momentous’.”

  Robbie shut the door. “He did. So, Hal, did you tell them?”

  “I didn’t get a chance.” Hal took off his gloves. “We went to the east, had a little fun with sneaking in and taking some out. We don’t believe we got them all, but what the hell? Some may prove entertaining later. We used one more Dean Ami, but we did not see the shooter.”

  Joe spoke up, “Ellen did.”

  “Who was it?” Hal asked.

  Frank answered before Ellen could. “Get this? Ready? Our fuckin brother’s ghost helped. How do you like that?”

  Like a pendulum, Hal swung a view Frank’s way. “Our what?”

  Robbie tapped Hal on the shoulder. “He said our brother's ghost. Now seeing that there are only four of us and three are standing, I’d venture to guess it was Jimmy’s ghost. Is that right, Frank?”

  “Yep.” Frank nodded. “Hate fuckin dealing with spirits.”

  “No,” Ellen said, “not his ghost. Jimmy. Jimmy is alive.”

  Non-believing, Hal nodded. ‘A-huh? And where did you see our brother?”

  “Uh, Hal?” Ellen said sarcastically, “when he pulled me from the truck.”

  “Our brother. Jimmy? The second oldest?” Hal clarified.

  “Jimmy,” Robbie reiterated, “or his ghost, according to Frank.”

  “Boys!” Joe snapped. “What the hell is the matter with you? She said Jimmy. Why don’t you believe her? My God. This is ... this is amazing. It goes right along with what Ben from Fabrics said about the note? The prodigal son returns. Jess was bringing back Jimmy.”

  “Father,” Hal spoke passively. “I know in your later years you want to so much believe that your entire family …”

  “Hey!” Joe snapped. “What? Are you being Frank? Assholes, all of you. I’m not senile and I’m not grasping here. I believe Ellen. Why don’t you?” He looked at his sons faces. “Any of you?”

  Hal laid a hand on Joe’s shoulder. “Because if it was our brother, where is he? If he helped us, why hide? Where is he now?”

  Frank decided to answer, “He could be over there or here. He’s a ghost so how can we see him?”

  After a quick glance at him, Hal ignored Frank’s comment. “Dad? If it was Jimmy, where is he?’

  Knock-knock-knock.

  Like someone put them all on pause, all talking and movement stopped and they looked at the door.

  Knock-knock-knock.

  “Jimmy,” Joe whispered out.

  Hal swallowed, “Only one way to find out.”

  Robbie glanced from brother to brother and then at Joe. “Who does the honors?”

  Ellen shook her head. “I’m afraid. Too nervous.”

  “I’ll do it,” Frank spoke up then aimed his voice. “Come in.”

  With the heightened anticipation of a great mystery, the door knob turned and slowly, with an eerie creak, it opened.

  Joe, Frank, Ellen, Hal, and Robbie nearly huddled together across the room watching that door.

  Then Frank raised his revolver.

&n
bsp; Two footsteps and from around the door, apprehensively peered … Jimmy.

  The unison screams that came from the grouped Slagel clan rang out with enthusiasm, excitement, and shock.

  Stammering, Jimmy stepped in. “Oh my God.” He bellowed with emotions then as his family, family he had missed, loved, and longed to see, all rushed at once to him, Jimmy dropped to his knees in exhaustion. “I’m home. I’m … home.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  Mike hadn’t taken his eyes off the fax since it arrived. He rocked slightly back and forth in his office chair, running his finger over his top lip, and glancing down. Just as he grumbled out a ‘Christ’ and rubbed his eyes, he looked up at a clearing of a throat.

  Lars Rayburn walked in. “I have to tell you, I felt very official being summoned to your office then I became fearful that perhaps you were ill.”

  “Yeah, to my stomach, metaphorically,” Mike said.

  “I see. May I sit?” The thin Lars indicated to a chair.

  “Please.”

  “What’s up?” Lars took a seat.

  “I got a fax.”

  “Uh,” Lars nodded. “With the distressed look upon your face and the sickening feeling in your stomach, I should only assume it came from Dr. Dean Hayes.”

  “Lars …”

  “The perfect cure, Mike, is to play Dean Darts or just draw on his face. I’ve found that medicating.”

  “It’s not from Dean.” Mike slid the fax to Lars.

  Skipping to the chase, Lars lifted the fax and immediately skimmed to the bottom. “Well” He exhaled and then began to read. “Dear Chief Manis. It is my privilege to inform you that the President George Hadley is en route to your fine town of Lodi, Ohio and should arrive by nightfall.” Lars paused. “He called us fine.” He continued, “The purpose of this visit is peaceful and intended to afford both of you the opportunity to discuss any issues concerning your residence in the eastern United States. Accept my gratitude in advance for making the President’s stay in Lodi comfortable and pleasant.” Lars placed the fax down. “Hadley is coming.”

  “Soon too.”

  “Does Johnny know?” Lars asked.

  “No.” Mike shook his head. “I haven’t had the heart.”

  “Well, keeping him under wraps here should be a problem if that is a concern of yours.”