by Siegel, Alex
The woman stood at the front of the bus and yelled, "Hello. I'll be your driver for the next stage of your journey. Please, relax and try to get some sleep. I give you my solemn promise you'll be safe, provided nobody causes any trouble."
Bernard Templeton yelled back from the middle of the bus. "Where the hell are you taking us?"
"You'll find out when you get there."
"How long will that be?"
"At least ten more hours," the woman said. "I'm sure some of you need to use a restroom by now. You'll have that opportunity in a little while."
She sat in the driver's seat, put the bus in gear, and drove off. The two men remained standing with weapons in hand. They stared with steady gazes at the passengers.
Seferis sighed.
He went to the back of the bus where a nice assortment of snacks and drinks were piled on one of the seats. He picked out a bottle of water and a packet of peanuts. He had to admit his captors had gone to some effort to make everybody comfortable. He had been on worse road trips.
He looked around for a good place to sit. He was searching for the traitor by talking to everybody on the bus one at a time. He wasn't convinced a traitor actually existed, but he was under orders to go through the effort.
He spotted an empty seat beside one of his Secret Service agents, a tall man named Wilson. Seferis made his way over there, smiled warmly, and sat down.
"This is really something," Seferis said in a low voice.
"Yes, Director," Wilson said. "Do you have any idea what's going on, sir?"
Seferis shrugged. "The President didn't tell me anything." He looked for signs of guilt on Wilson's face in the poor light.
"Do you know who blew up the house, or why?"
"I wish I did."
"And how did the President know it was going to happen?" Wilson said.
Because Miss Pickenpaugh and her people are better at my job than I am, Seferis thought. "These are all good questions. Do you have a theory?"
"Me, sir? Why would I know anything?"
"You're an observant man. Maybe you saw something suspicious or overheard an unusual conversation."
Wilson shook his head. "It's been crazy ever since the convention was bombed. I don't know what's suspicious and what isn't anymore."
His voice and expression seemed completely sincere. Seferis decided he wasn't the traitor.
Seferis settled back and munched on his peanuts. He would wait a few minutes before moving on. There was no hurry. It sounded like he had all night.
* * *
President Haley watched from the back seat as Neal drove the van through the pristine streets of Washington, DC. The irony was poignant. He was less than a mile from the White House where the staff thought he was a corpse in Illinois. He felt like a ghost returning to his home.
Nobody had spoken during the trip from the airport. Tawni had actually fallen asleep on Boreas' shoulder. Ethel had held Haley's hand the whole time as if she were afraid of losing him if she let go. He didn't mind at all.
Neal didn't drive to the Smithsonian Institution Archives building as expected. Instead, he went to a hotel a block away. He entered through the side and drove down a ramp to an underground parking garage. The jostling woke up Tawni.
Neal circled down through three more levels of parking. Eventually, he came to a steel garage door. It rolled up as he approached, and he entered an apparently empty storage room.
After the door automatically closed, the floor descended, taking the van down a long, vertical shaft. The walls were smooth, white concrete.
"How deep are we going?" Haley said.
"About a hundred and fifty feet down," Neal said.
The elevator reached the bottom. He drove through a curving tunnel big enough for a large truck. Finally, they entered a parking area. There were about thirty other vehicles ranging from motorcycles to delivery vans. Some had corporate logos painted on the sides.
Neal parked, and everybody got out. The moment felt surreal to Haley. He was in a secret, underground lair beneath the streets of Washington. It was like a scene from a spy novel.
"Stay behind me," Neal said. "Don't touch the walls."
"Why not?" Haley said.
"Because the security system will roast you alive if you do."
Haley cleared his throat nervously.
They walked through another white tunnel which was the height and width of a doorway. He realized attackers would be forced to walk single file. Steel nozzles decorated the walls and ceiling. He wondered what came out of them. Serious security, he thought.
Finally, everybody entered a white room. A heavy-set man with brown hair and a beard sat at a console behind a very thick sheet of glass. There was only one other door.
Ethel took Haley's hand again.
"This is Rob," Neal announced, "my chief of security."
Rob spoke into a microphone, and his voice came through overhead speakers. "Sir, maybe I'm hallucinating, but it looks like the President of the United States is holding hands with the legate." He had a very alarmed expression.
"You're not hallucinating. He's one of us now."
"Then I've officially seen everything." Rob straightened. "Hello, ma'am. Welcome back to Washington. President Haley, your visit is extremely unexpected, but it's an honor."
Neal smiled slightly. "This is Aaron, the commander of Chicago. Tawni is one of his legionnaires. I think you've seen Boreas before. What's the status here?"
"Almost everybody went home, sir. Todd stayed because he knew you wanted to hear his report."
"Don't tell him we're here. I want to see the expression on his face."
The other door buzzed, and Neal opened it.
He led the group through an underground complex which surprised Haley with its spaciousness. He passed a conference room, a laboratory, a gymnasium, a kitchen, a game room, and a library. The facility seemed to be the size of a small office building. It would've made a nice mansion for a wealthy man. The color scheme was generally white and gray.
"This is a great headquarters," Aaron said.
"Thanks," Neal said. "I heard you got a brand new place. It must be great, too."
"It's not quite as big as this, but we have some unusual amenities. Who told you we have a new place? That's supposed to be a secret."
"Wesley."
Aaron rolled his eyes.
Haley smiled. Sounds like the Voice of Truth can't keep his mouth shut.
The group entered a computer room which had stations for two users. Each station consisted of a rolling chair with an attached keyboard surrounded by a ring of computer monitors. The actual computers were in racks along the back wall, and cooling fans hissed continuously.
A tall, geeky man with a shaved head sat in one of the computer chairs. He was wearing a loose, gray sweat suit and flip-flops.
"Hi, Todd," Neal said. "Ready to give your report?"
"Yes, sir," Todd replied.
He turned and faced his commander with a smile. When Todd saw the rest of the group, the smile vanished abruptly. He tried to stand up so fast he almost knocked his chair over.
In a quavering voice, he said, "Hello, ma'am. I didn't know you were coming. I would've put on nice clothes." He stared at Ethel with wide eyes. Slowly, his attention turned to Haley. "The President?" Todd's eyes grew even wider. "What the hell are you doing in our headquarters? You can't be here."
"He's one of us now," Neal said. "Blame Wesley."
Todd nodded as if that explanation was sufficient. With a puzzled expression, he looked at Aaron.
"He's Aaron," Neal said, "the commander of Chicago. The woman is one of his legionnaires."
"Chicago?" Todd blinked. "That's where Bethany and Leanna are."
"You know about them?" Aaron furrowed his brow.
"The whole Society knows about the twins, sir! Every cell runs their security software. They reengineered our entire global network. They're brilliant! I've always been curious what they look like. I've ne
ver seen their faces. Are they pretty?"
"Yes," Aaron said, "in an unusual sort of way."
Tawni smirked.
"But I haven't heard from them lately," Todd said. "They went quiet a couple of months ago. Are they OK? I've been getting e-mail from a guy named Perry instead."
"The twins are fine," Aaron said. "They've just been very busy. Perry is sort of their apprentice."
"Todd," Neal said, "give us your report. I'm sure you want to go home and get some sleep. Tomorrow could be another long day."
"Yes, sir." Todd sat on his chair and faced one of his monitors. He clicked on his keyboard, and images appeared on the display. "Here are the three members of the conspiracy that we know about so far."
Haley rushed forward for a closer look. He recognized the proud, stern face of General Arnold Joseph. His big glasses looked a little ridiculous.
Haley also saw pictures of another man and a woman. The man was a major general in the Army named Heywood. Caskey, a rear admiral in the Navy, was the final member of the trio.
"I feel deeply honored," Haley said. "If one can be measured by the enemies he makes, then I hit a home run."
"What else can you tell us?" Neal said.
"Not much, sir," Todd said. "We searched their e-mail and phone records but found nothing. We don't know how they're communicating with each other. The money trail has also been a dry hole. They've done a fantastic job of covering their tracks."
"Can you arrest them?" Haley said.
Aaron shook his head. "We don't arrest people. Besides, the most important question still hasn't been answered. Is an enemy of God behind this? Wesley's involvement suggests that is likely."
Haley strongly doubted that was the case. He wasn't arrogant enough to believe he was the target of a cosmic conspiracy. The concept was preposterous anyway.
"Hopefully, we'll get those answers tomorrow," Neal said. "Todd, you can go home. Thanks for staying late."
"No problem, sir."
Todd hurried out of the room. He gave Ethel one last, fearful glance on the way out.
Neal yawned. "Damn, I'm tired."
"Let's all go to bed," Ethel said. "It will be a busy day tomorrow. Who is sleeping where?"
"We only have the one guest room, ma'am, and it's yours, obviously. The President will be with you."
"Wait!" Haley held up his hand. "Don't assume we're having sex just because Wesley said we would."
Neal smirked. "That's exactly what I'm assuming. We also have a couch in the living room."
"Mine," Boreas stated. "I'm used to sleeping on couches."
"Done. That leaves Aaron and Tawni. We have foam mats in the gymnasium. We could stack them up and throw a couple of sleeping bags on top. Not exactly luxury accommodations, but it's the best I can do on short notice."
"That's fine," Aaron said. "I'm so tired I could sleep on a bed of nails, and Tawni won't complain." He glanced at her. "Will she?"
"No, sir," Tawni said quickly. "I love foam mats."
Ethel and Haley were shown to their room first. The guest quarters contained a queen-sized bed and two black dressers. A small bathroom was attached. Boreas left one of the suitcases in the room.
"Good night, ma'am," Neal said. "Good night, Mr. President." He left and closed the door with an expression of amusement.
Ethel began to strip off her equipment. Underneath her armor and weapons, she wore black and gray camouflage tights. She had so little fat, Haley could see every muscle, tendon, and bone. Her body included just the essentials needed for combat. Her flat breasts were the only place where there was any softness at all.
She sniffed the air, took a step towards him, and sniffed again. "You smell like stress and fear. Take a shower." She pointed to the bathroom.
"You could say that in a nicer way." He frowned.
"I'm the legatus legionis. Being nice isn't part of my job."
"But it's not forbidden, either," he said. "I want to hear a 'please.'"
She drew back. "Do you understand who I am?"
"You're a civilized person who should have good manners."
"I'm more than that. Half a billion lives and souls are under my protection. I answer to God and only God."
He crossed his arms. "A lot of people claim they answer to God."
"In my case, He answers back."
Her pupils were like tiny black holes which sucked the light and warmth out of the room. Her claim was ridiculous, but he almost believed her.
"Does God want you to be obnoxious?" he said.
"How dare you!"
"I noticed your people are afraid of you. That's not good. A leader shouldn't inspire fear."
"I'm not just the leader of my division," she declared. "I'm also the Chief Justice. When rules are broken, I investigate the offense and deliver the punishment."
"The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court doesn't cause terror when he walks into the room."
"He doesn't decapitate offenders on the spot."
He cleared his throat. "Still, being courteous is never a waste of time. Trust me on this. I have a small amount of leadership experience. You can practice good manners with me until you get comfortable with the idea."
She stood defiantly. She was such a strange woman. With her extremely lean body and gaunt face, he couldn't call her beautiful, but she wasn't ugly, either. She was perfect in her own, unique way.
"You seem tense," he said.
"I'm fine."
"Are you nervous?"
"About what?" she barked.
He winked. "I get it now. You're afraid of intimacy. That's why you're being so rude to me."
"What?" Her eyes widened. "I've fought hundreds of battles and killed thousands of enemies. I've faced every kind of unspeakable horror. I'm not afraid!"
"But when was the last time you had sex?"
The shock on her face told him he had scored a solid point. Her machetes were on top of a black dresser. She whipped one out of its sheath and placed the sharp tip against his throat. The move was so quick, he didn't have time to flinch.
"You will stop being disrespectful to me," she said with a snarl.
He didn't move a millimeter. "I'm not afraid of you for two reasons. First, Wesley wants me alive, and what that boy wants, that boy gets. Am I right?"
Her lip twitched.
"Second," he said, "you like me in more than just a friendly way. You've been throwing yourself at me since we first met. It must be hard for the fearsome legatus legionis to admit I make her feel warm and gooey inside. Are you going to answer the question? How long has it been since a man made love to you?"
The machete remained against his throat, but her stance softened. A tear rolled down her cheek. He gently pushed the weapon aside, and she didn't resist.
"Twenty years," she whispered.
"Too long," Haley said. "I'll take that shower now."
He went into the small bathroom. Clean, gray towels were hung on towel bars, but there was no place to put his clothes. He stripped off his business suit and let it drop to the floor.
He turned on the shower and waited for the water to get hot. Ethel was right about him needing to bathe. It had been a very stressful night.
He stepped into the hot water and savored the sensation for a long moment.
"I'm sorry," Ethel said.
He spun around. She was standing in the shower with him, and she had taken off her tights. Her skin was a beautiful dark brown without any spots or wrinkles. For an old woman, she had matured extraordinarily well. Except for her white hair, it was hard to find any clear signs of age.
He struggled to maintain his dignity despite being naked. "It's impolite to sneak up on a man while he's taking a shower. Do I have to explain basic manners to you?"
"Apparently." She lowered her head. "I wasn't always this way."
"What happened to you?"
"Thirty years in the Society changes a person."
She looked very tense. He gently turned her around and
began to rub her neck. It was a familiar action. He had done the same with his beloved Cynthia many times during their marriage. He found he needed all his strength to loosen her shoulders. Her muscles felt like taut ropes.
"You really are scared," he murmured.
"Terrified," she replied softly.
"Relax. We don't have to do anything just because Wesley said we would. It's permissible for a man and a woman to share a bed without having sex. Frankly, I'm a little afraid, too. You might hurt me."
"We may not get another chance. Everything could change tomorrow. I want this." She paused. "And God expects this."
He raised his eyebrows. "Are you serious?"
"I need to prove I can still feel love. Otherwise, the Lord will cast me aside as a broken woman."
He shook his head. She is one messed up lady, he thought. "I'm sure that's not true."
She faced him, and he saw the fear on her face. He pulled her against his chest, and they stood under the hot shower together. She was shivering.
"I've seen many inexplicable things over the last few days," he said softly, "but I don't honestly believe you talk to God. You think you do. Maybe if I were in your position, I'd want to think that, too. The stress must be..."
A green light made him look up. A ball of boiling mist was floating in the bathroom. Light flashed in the core of the phenomenon like a miniature lightning storm. Gusts seem to blow the mist back and forth, but the air was still.
Ethel kept her face against Haley's chest. "Tell that to God." She smiled.
He stared at the boiling mist, not believing his own eyes.
A voice went straight into his brain. "Be kind to My great warrior. After a lifetime of service, she has earned her reward." The words sounded like they came from far away. It wasn't clear whether the Lord was male or female.
"Yes, Sir," Haley croaked.
The mist faded to nothingness.
Now it was his turn to shiver. Did that really just happen? he thought.
They finished showering together. Haley was too overwhelmed by the moment to speak. Ethel seemed content with the silence.
Wrapped in towels, they went back to the bedroom. She slipped under the covers and looked at him expectantly. He remained standing beside the bed.
