R.E.solve (Rain Experience Book 2)

by Thomas W. Everson

  “Okay. Now you have to choose the best one!” Emma smiles brightly.

  “Wait, what?” I ask. “Why do I have to choose?”

  “You have to be honest!” Ami tosses the fork on the plate, hard, and crosses her arms.

  I can’t do this. Ami’s clearly the winner. Emma’s was a good runner up, so I’ll pretend and tell Ami later it was hers all along.

  “Hold on now,” Agatha intervenes. “It’s not fair to bombard him like this.”

  “Thank you Agatha.” I look over my shoulder.

  “Not when there’s one more submission to this little contest!” She snorts through a laugh and I’m not sure what’s coming.

  “That’s not fair! You can’t do that, Mother!” Ami shakes her head and crosses her arms.

  “You can’t enter!” Emma squeals.

  “Yeah, you’re not in this!” Eve adds.

  Agatha sets a plate down in front of me with a piece of pie on it. The crust is golden brown and flaky, while the center is a rich dark chocolate filling. I pick the whole piece up from the plate and bite into it. It’s delicious. It’s sweet with a hint of saltiness from the crust. I savor the bite, over-playing the bliss on my face. Without hesitation I continue to devour the piece while the girls continue to protest. When I’m done I lick my fingers for any crumbs.

  “This settles it. Agatha is clearly the winner here,” I declare, then turn and wink at her as a ‘thank you’.

  “You can’t do that! She isn’t a valid choice!” Ami cries.

  “You have to pick another!” Emma slams her hands down on the table.

  Shaking my head, I stand up. “No, I’m afraid Agatha has clearly won this contest. Thank you ladies for all of the food.”

  Agatha laughs hysterically, and the protests continue. I exit through the kitchen door. Running up the stairs to my room I look over my shoulder to make sure I’m not being chased. No one is following and I slow down a bit.

  “What’s next?” I ask myself aloud.

  Closing my door, I undress and slip into bed. I’m exhausted. Slowly drifting, I know I’m about to fall asleep, and my mind begins to throw random things into the forefront of my thoughts.

  Hopefully none of the vagrants mess with the pile of books I’ve already gone through. I’m not sure I could handle having to go through them again.

  It’s a relief that Emma doesn’t think of me romantically, but she still seems to be fighting pretty hard for my attention. Is that what sisters do? Did I have a sister in my past life?

  We can’t let Emma come with us. Convincing her is going to be difficult, but she’s so innocent she might find danger and not be able to get out of it. I’ll play that angle.

  The others have to back me up.

  Finally, my mind shuts off and there is peace.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Waking, I lie in bed for a few minutes before sitting up to let the grogginess fall away. My feet hit the cool wood floor and it’s a shock. I look out the window to find the sun hasn’t risen above the skyline yet. Down in the park, only a few people mill about, as opposed to just a couple days ago when there was a sea of them out there.

  It’s good the group has dispersed. Working outside with them there would have been awkward. Maybe we will fade into history yet again mostly unnoticed. Or maybe we can get the city to hide our existence.

  Heading to the dresser, I pick out some fresh clothing. Taking up my dirty ones downstairs I find the living room and kitchen empty. It seems likely that no one is awake yet.

  Setting my laundry down on the island counter I pull an egg carton from the refrigerator. My stomach grumbles and I decide hard boiled eggs sound good. I put a dozen in a pot full of water and turn the dial on the stove. While it heats up I dump my clothes into the wash basin, and check on the horse. He lies huddled against the tree, a blanket draped over him. Though his eyes are shut and he’s likely asleep, I pat his nose anyway.

  It’s a good thing someone else thought to cover him. I wasn’t thinking about it last night.

  Returning to the kitchen, the water has begun boiling. Leaving the eggs in for a few more minutes, I retrieve my drawings from the table in the living room and set them on the island counter. Turning the stove off, I drain the water from the pan, depositing the pan back on a cool burner of the stove to let them cool.

  While I wait I review my plans, making some minor alterations. After considering the changes I erase them and draw the original lines back.

  I pick up a still warm egg and crack it against the counter. It peels with ease. I devour it, and four more. I take my papers and pencil outside where the sun has risen into the sky. The light gleams through the city streets and it arcs into the park.

  Around the side of the house, I set my papers on a pile of wood. Organization comes first, and though my body protests with aches and pains from my bruises, I push through it. Sizing up what I have, I organize by type of wood as well as what its application could be. The amount of wood provided is substantial and after organizing three separate piles they still stand at least a body length across and come up to my shins.

  I head back inside and downstairs, stepping softly. In the tool area, I gather an armful of things which might be useful and return outside just in time to see Emma running toward the house from the direction of her shop.

  With all the time she’s spent here her business must be suffering. I’d be surprised if she’s working at night. Probably sleeping then so she can spend the day awake.

  I need to find a way to have Driesen to keep her busy so it won’t be as bad when we leave again.

  Expecting she will stop to say ‘hello’ I stop to wait for her. As she approaches, she smiles from ear to ear. But she bolts past me into the house, a heavy bag on her back swinging back and forth. I’m left confused at her secretive actions lately.

  Is she trying to stay here?

  I shrug it off and return to my task. Setting down the tools, I look at my drawings again. Measuring, sawing and stacking, I prepare to reinforce the stable. Mid-morning rolls by and now seems like the best time to begin making noise.

  While putting cross beams up, I swing the hammer and hit my finger. It takes everything in me not to shout. Instead I bite my lower lip and cradle my hand for a moment. When the pain dulls I return to hammering the nail. I flinch, fearful I will hit it again.

  Morning turns to early afternoon and the frame is nearly complete. Arms outstretched, I spin around inside the stall to make sure there’s enough room, and to see what else needs work. Eve appears from the well with a big grin on her face, arms behind her back. She struts slowly, swinging her legs out far and her knees high with each stride, making her look weird. She goosesteps toward me. I can’t help but laugh at how awkward she looks, and it encourages her. She salutes me in an over exaggerated manner.

  “Permission to enter the stall!” She barks.

  “Permission denied.” I smile at her. “What do you want? Other than to distract me.”

  “Oh, nothing. Just thought I’d come out here and help you.” She grins and leans her shoulder on the frame’s doorway.

  “And what would I need help with?”

  She points at a structural beam behind me. “If you put two angled pieces up at the top of that beam attached to the top frame it’ll provide better support.”

  “Is that so? A technique you picked up in the desert?” I lean up against the beam next to her.

  “As a matter of fact, it is.” She shoves me playfully.

  Turning, I look again and move to make the changes she has suggested. She leaves me to my work and disappears around the other side of the house. While I am cutting the wood to create the supports she returns with a glass of lemon water and when I have a moment I drink it down.

  What are her motives?

  “Thanks.” I hand the glass back to her and continue working.

  She hangs around for a while, silently observing, but disappears again. The afternoon rolls
on. The sun beams down on me, beginning its descent to the other side of the sky.

  My stomach grumbles and I take a break. In the kitchen, Ami and Emma are cooking together. They both look up and smile at me playfully. Smiling back, I shake my head not sure I want to know what they’re up to.

  They’re up to something for sure.

  I head to the bathroom to relieve myself and wash up. Back in the kitchen, my stomach grumbles to remind me why I came in here in the first place. I pick up an orange from a newly placed fruit basket on the island counter. Peeling it I attempt to keep the peel whole, but fail. It’s juicy, quenching both thirst and hunger at the same time. I toss the peel in the waste bin below the sink.

  Soon enough I’ll be able to just recycle things like that with the compost bin. I need to find out where Agatha wants me to build it.

  One thing at a time, though. I need to finish the stable.

  Outside again I continue my work. With the frame fully set up and the water and food troughs built in, it appears to be nearing completion. With only the walls left to put up, I decide to put the final touches on tomorrow. I bring the horse to his new stable, closing the frame of the door and removing his headpiece. While stroking his nose gently I hear footsteps behind me. Turning, I see Driesen heading toward me.

  “Thought I’d come by again and see if yous were still here. Looks like you are.”

  “Indeed we are. I was just about to head inside, care to join me?”

  “Sure.” He nods and sticks his hands in the pockets of his long brown coat.

  Entering the kitchen, a buttery aroma enters my nose, and my mouth waters. Two deep pots sit on the stove. The first holds a large batch of noodles, and in the second is a deep red sauce with chunks of meat floating around. Emma is alone in the kitchen and busy setting the table. When she sees Driesen she waves and runs to give him a quick hug before returning to her task.

  “Are you staying for dinner?” she asks.

  “If yous’ll have me. I’ve been missin’ your cooking,” Driesen responds.

  “It’s a collaboration. Ami, Agatha and I made it.”

  “Go ahead and have a seat.” I put my arm out toward the table.”

  I wash up and take my normal seat at the table. Driesen sits at the seat at the opposite end from me. His face is blank and he appears to be lost in thought for a moment. Emma bustles about around the kitchen and Ami appears from the swinging door to help.

  “So how are things going out there?” I ask.

  “Things’r good. Several people have stepped forward wanting ta help reestablish a functionin’ government.”

  “Which sectors have candidates?”

  “Most. Agriculture and commodities, which will be broken up ta import, export and then the merchants. Public security, which is fire, law enforcement and health. Then public development which will provide representation for the living quarters, the people of the city and growth.”

  “Sounds like only a few sectors. The city seems much larger than just three sectors.”

  “It’s bein’ consolidated while we rebuild. No doubt it will branch out again. Each person elected will have a minimum of five sub-committee members who will be delegated tasks and responsibilities by the main committee member. No one person will have all the power again.”

  “That seems like a wise course of action.” I rest my elbows on the table, placing my chin on closed fists.

  “Here you go Driesen!” Emma says cheerfully and sets a large plate of pasta down in front of him.

  “Thanks Em.” He smiles at her.

  Ami brings a plate for me and I lift my arms up so she can set it down. She winks at me and I’m unsure how to respond.

  “Thank you.” I smile.

  She returns to setting out plates for the others before sitting down at my right side.

  “Mother! Dinner’s ready!” Ami yells.

  Emma jumps into the seat to the left of me and grins wickedly, no doubt in an attempt to antagonize Eve. Agatha and Eve enter from the living room and when Eve sees where Emma is sitting she scowls and slams her hands down on the spot next to Ami.

  “You’re in my seat you little whelp!” Eve barks.

  Emma’s response is to stick her tongue out, and I chuckle. Eve glares in my direction, her fiery eyes threatening to burn a hole in me. But from this angle the expression makes her look more attractive than normal. Her flushed face brings out her many freckles. Leaned over the table with her hands pressed on it, her bright red hair dangles dangerously close to the pasta. She keeps staring, even after sitting down near Driesen. Devouring her meal like a savage, she sticks a few strings of the pasta in her mouth and slurps it up.

  We eat a mostly peaceful meal, free from any more disruptions by Eve. While the others converse about mundane things, I let my mind go blank while I eat. Though there is little I home in on, I do notice when the food on my plate is gone. Coming out of my daze, I realize I’ve been staring at Eve the whole time. She seems to have noticed because in between talking she looks over at me multiple times. Averting my eyes I lean back in my chair and stare up at the ceiling.

  I hope the other girls didn’t notice. Emma might jump over the table to ‘protect’ me, and Ami would certainly take it the wrong way.

  I wash my own dishes. Driesen starts to do the same but Emma jumps up and takes his plate to wash it herself. I steal it from her and wash it too.

  “Thank you for cooking.” I look over my shoulder and smile.

  “Indeed. Thank yous for the delicious meal,” Driesen follows my lead. “But I should really gets goin’.”

  “It was a pleasure having you,” Agatha smiles at him.

  Drying my hands, I extend a hand for a shake. “Check back again later,” I offer.

  “See yous.” He shakes my hand with a firm and vigorous grasp. “If yous are still here, I’ll update ya.”

  Driesen and Agatha exchange pleasantries while she sees him out. I watch them talking through the window while washing the dishes. When I’ve finished I head toward the swinging door. The three girls huddled where Driesen was sitting catches my eye. Passing the table, they look at me suspiciously. I quirk an eyebrow in silent question, but all it does is make them turn back to each other and whisper.

  Not knowing what they’re up to makes me curious. I push through the door and move to the stairs. Feigning walking up the stairs, I step hard on the first few to make them creak and then creep back to the door. Pressing my ear to the crack. I hear nothing but heated whispers and only catch every tenth word. With those bits, I can’t make out what the conversation is about.

  A few minutes pass and it seems like a waste of time. A shower sounds good and I grab a towel from the hall closet. I make it a quick one.

  When I wipe the mirror down, the black in my eyes catches my attention. I stare. Their black emptiness is unnerving regardless of how many times I look at them and try to find myself. Before the despair consumes me, I distract myself with shaving. Despite being careful, I still nick myself. It takes a few minutes, but I stop the bleeding and feel for any spots I missed. I comb my hair and it takes some work to break through the knots.

  I’m going to have to ask Ami to cut it for me. Maybe tomorrow.

  Towel wrapped around my waist, I peek out into the hall. There is no one in sight, and no voices coming from the living room. I jog through the house, up to my room and practically slam the door behind me.

  With clean undershorts on, I get into bed, the cool and soft sheets welcoming me. At the onset of sleep, I place my hands behind my head and let the abyss take me.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Another week is gone and the time in which the vortex will take us grows closer. In anticipation, my senses are heightened and like Evalyn had felt it in the void, I’m positive I can feel the pressure building.

  I wish I could have found something at the library. I can’t say I didn’t try, but it would probably take me years to sort through all the mess.
And it didn’t help that my piles had been disturbed.

  I suppose I could have stuck it out a couple more days, but looking at so many books without any results is demoralizing.

  Maybe it’s okay if I don’t know any more about my past self.

  On the side of the house, I stand back and admire my handiwork on the stable. After adding some retractable shades over the open areas I feel my work is complete. The horse drinks from his water trough, paying no attention to me. I move to the small shed I added on and retrieve a large brush. I give his mane a quick brushing.

  There is enough lumber for the compost container I wanted to build. I dig into the ground near the edge of the property past the well, where Agatha indicated she wanted it. Creating a rectangular ditch in the ground provides an outline for a floor and walls. As a final touch I use a sheet of wood with a couple leather straps as the lid.

  It’s crude, but it will work. Between the horse droppings and the other things which can be composted, we should be able to renew the soil decently around the house. All I’m missing are some earthworms.

  As the sun is beginning to set behind some very dark clouds rolling in from the horizon, it seems time to go inside. I draw the horse’s shades shut and enter through the living room. Agatha is just coming through the kitchen door, a stack of books tucked under her arm. She sees me, but before I can ask about them she avoids me by climbing the stairs. Her actions tell me it was Evalyn. She and the secretive conversations that have been going on around the house make me suspicious.

  She’s done nothing but stay quiet around me. I don’t remember seeing her leave or come back, but she got those books from somewhere.

  Is she searching for information about me as we discussed? Maybe it’s why she hasn’t said anything. She might not want to give me false hope.

  Sitting down on the couch I put my feet up on the table and relax from preparing the horse for time travel. The women have also been busy preparing for our departure. Ami has been making additional clothing to barter with, Eve was tasked with reorganizing the basement, and Emma has been stocking the house with so much food, I fear it will spoil before we can eat it all.