“I didn’t say he was.”
“Enough. For today…enough.”
She simply nodded, promising to place it out of her mind.
She shouldn’t have. The Biblical ramifications of all that was happening should have been forefront; if they were, Buster’s funeral would not have been one of the most difficult experiences of her life.
Her eldest son Perry stayed in the car, appearing out of respect, but declining because the thought of a little baby in a coffin was too much to bear.
Luke didn’t handle things well at all. Buster was a toy to him, and he babysat and played with the toddler often to help Sally. Luke also went to school with Buster’s big brother.
Casper and Andi went with Buster’s sister. They were all connected somehow, and it hit Bret’s family extremely hard.
Silence in a packed family automobile was usually an impossible objective. Not that day. Bret was ill-prepared for what she’d face. They had both Sally and Buster’s coffins in the same room, and she just couldn’t handle seeing that tiny coffin. A tradition in Pittsburgh is an open casket. However, in the case of Sally and Buster, both lids were closed.
Jesse stayed in the doorway of the funeral home and spoke to Sally’s children who were holding up remarkably well. Not John, Sally’s husband. John was drunk. The smell of bourbon was strong on his breath as he greeted people. He hid his intoxication well; it only became slightly evident once the funeral was over.
Bret joined him in a few drinks. Seeing photos of Sally and Buster brought back memories of that day, memories that only she had. It didn’t dawn on her until she and John sat on the back porch of his mother’s house.
People were mingling, eating, talking.
“What was her mood? What was she doing?” John asked. “Was she happy, sad? Did she bitch about me?”
“No. Sally was in a good mood. She said Jesse looked like the bug guy. And.…” Bret chuckled. “She said they both looked like rapists.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope. Then a few comments were made, and Buster.…” Bret sniffled. “He repeated something he heard. He told the bug guy I was going to have sex with him.”
John laughed. “He was something, wasn’t he?”
“I never met a child like him.”
“I keep thinking he’s alive. He’s gonna show up. We never could find him when he wandered.”
“I still think our neighbor Bill took him and moved him about.”
“I thought that too.” John said. “I miss them. Do you think…do you think they suffered?”
“No.” Bret replied. “That pit was so thick with ants; I think they both went fast.”
“If you could have seen what was left of them.…” He paused. “Bret, the ants ate them.”
She closed her eyes.
“Ate them?” He chuckled in disbelief. “I didn’t think ants were carnivorous.”
“They aren’t by nature. Some are though.”
“What’s next?” He shook his head. “Something is up, some weird government experiment.”
That caught her attention. “Why do you say that?”
“They took you away and wouldn’t say anything. The military came and got you. Why? You were there. You saw the cockroaches, how many there were.”
“I also had nests in me.”
“Yeah, what if there was something about those nests that they had to keep secret.”
“I don’t think it’s the government, John.” Bret said. “It’s something, I don’t know what, but it’s not the government. If they’re guilty of anything, it’s hiding what they know.”
“Bugs are natural. What happened isn’t.”
Bret nodded her agreement.
He continued, “We are at war against Nature, Bret. My family suffered a casualty of that war.” He took in a silent moment and then, “Me and Sally fought that morning. I wanted to wait for my friend to fit us in, but she called that bug guy. My last words to my wife were that she was such a horrible housekeeper that the roaches were her doing and we were probably infested beyond belief.”
Bret sighed out. “She knew better.”
“I suppose.”
“You know we all have fights, John. We all say things we don’t mean.”
“I realize that. I loved her, Bret. Seventeen years I loved her. So make me a promise, okay?”
“Sure, what is it?” she asked.
“Never, never let your last words to Jesse be something you will regret. Even if he’s going to the store, to the car, just…. Promise that. Because you never know.” He gripped on to her hand. “You just never know.”
***
It was something out of a sci-fi movie. The television picture in Bret’s home looked as if an old foil antenna were used rather than the premium digital cable she and Jesse paid so much for. She had to work later on that evening and sitting back relaxing was just not happening.
Jesse hit the cable box twice.
“What are you doing?” Bret asked.
“What the fuck is wrong with this picture. We have squiggle vision.”
Bret chuckled, “Squiggle vision?”
“Yeah, look at the picture.”
Bret winced when Jesse hit it again. “You think that smacking the box will do it.”
“Yeah.”
“Fine.” From her chair, Bret stood, stopped, and cocked her head to the playful screams outside. “What are they doing out there?”
“Seems the kids have the entire neighborhood in some demented game of release.”
“Why are you calling it demented?”
“Them screaming like that is demented.” Jesse raised his hand to hit the box again.
Bret grunted. “Do you think maybe it’s not the box but the signal?”
Jesse only looked at her.
“Maybe not.” With the full intention of going to get a cup of tea, Bret paused when there was a knock at her front door. “I’ll get it.”
“Thanks,” Jesse said focused on looking at the box.
“Chuck?” Bret said with surprise when she opened the door.
Chuck stepped inside. “Did you know your kids are running around in the dark screaming?”
“They’re playing Release.”
“With a stick?”
“As long as no one gets hurt.” Bret shut the door.
“Hey, Jesse.” Chuck greeted. “Something wrong with the box?’
“I think our box is broke, look at this picture.” Jesse replied.
Chuck paused to check out the picture on the television. “Looks like you aren’t getting a signal at all. Maybe it’s not your box.”
Bret added, “I told him that.” Seeing that Jesse wasn’t paying any attention to Chuck, Bret waved her hand. “So what brings you by?”
“I was on my way down to Morgantown.”
“For what?” Bret asked.
“You’re kidding. Right?” Chuck asked and waited. “You’re not. Ok, have you checked your email tonight?”
“No; why?”
“Just about right now.…” Chuck glanced down at his watch. “Darius should be lifting off for Africa.”
“Africa.” Bret said, shocked. “Why?”
“That…I don’t know. Can I smoke?” he pulled out his pack.
Bret nodded.
Chuck continued. “I got a call from Colin to meet him. He wanted to know if I could go to Morgantown, hit Darius’ house, and pick up some documents Darius had put away. Colin can’t go. I said I would.”
“What documents?”
“Just items pertaining to this trip and things he’s dug up.”
“Why do you have to get them?” Bret asked. “Does Colin need them?”
“Get this. Colin wants to copy them and have them put in safe places. He doesn’t think anything is that important, but down the line, some sort of readouts Darius did may be.”
“So Colin doesn’t need them, he just wants them in safe keeping.”
“Exactly,”
Chuck said. “I guess they aren’t taking any chances. I mean, they locked me up, kept us tight in quarantine, right?”
“Right. So you think you and I can make heads or tails out of these papers you’re picking up.”
“If we can’t, Colin can.”
Bret nodded. “Good point. So why was I checking my email.”
“Darius said he’d email you.”
“Did he say why he was going to Africa?”
“He was vague.” Chuck said. “Only that something occurred there that he felt was going to end up covered up.”
“Hence our securing his findings.”
“Yep.”
“You think it’s a plague? A lethal virus?” Bret asked. “You know Africa is famous for them.”
“Could be a number of things. Colin said he’d explain what he knew when he met us for lunch tomorrow. He also said it isn’t much.”
Bret rubbed her chin. “This…this is weird.”
Before Chuck could say anything, Jesse did. “Tell me about it.”
Bret gave a motion of her head backwards. “He probably is talking about the television.”
“No,” Jesse said. “I’m talking about this conversation you two are having. Chuck’s going all the way down to Morgantown for papers to hide. Papers that he hasn’t a clue what they are, all because some wacko takes a trip to Africa on a whim.”
Bret gasped. “Darius is not some wacko. He’s a very brilliant scientist.”
Jesse rolled his eyes. “I don’t even think he went to Africa. Let’s all just drop what we’re doing and run for Dare whatever his name is.”
“Darius.” Bret corrected, “And yes, we will. He knows things. Why are you being so cynical? You should take this more seriously.”
“Like you?” Jesse asked.
“Um, yeah.”
Chuck intervened. “Jesse, though I think the man is an arrogant ass, he makes sense. This is serious.”
“Tell me why.” Jesse requested.
“Because,” Bret was adamant. “Darius followed this to Africa. This is serious because this is about surviving.”
“Surviving what, Bret?” Jesse asked.
“Whatever is happening to our planet.”
“And you don’t think these two men and you two might be taking it too far?”
“Not at all. I’m not a scientist; they are. If they’re right, this is just the beginning of a long line of strange things that will take place.” Bret said.
“Strange things?” Jesse questioned.
Bret nodded. “Yes, like the ants. The roaches. They are strange.”
“And he thinks they are leading to what?” Jesse asked. “Chuck, do you know?”
Chuck shrugged. “Specifically, no. We will.”
Jesse breathed out. “Things have been quiet. Maybe it’s over, or it died down.”
At that instant, Casper flew into the house. “Mom. Hurry. Come outside. Bring the camera!”
“What’s wrong?”
“The moon’s on fire.” She flew out the door.
Bret looked at Jesse then the three of them quickly followed Casper outside. The entire brigade of neighborhood children stood on the front lawn peering up at the sky. At her first step it couldn’t be seen, but as soon as Bret moved down the stairs it was in view.
The moon wasn’t ablaze, but it looked it. Gone was the whitish-yellow color; it hadn’t even the hint of red a summer moon often projects. It was orange. The roundness of it was distorted and encircled by a strange cloud of gasses. The mist absorbed the new color making streaks across the sky, like shooting flames. With the background of a clear dark sky, the moon looked like the reflection of the setting sun on rippling water.
A remarkable sight.
“Jesse,” Bret whispered, then swallowed the lump in her throat.
“I’ll get the camera. You can send it to your science buddies.” He spoke dazedly, staring up. “Because this would be one of those strange things you were talking about, right?”
She didn’t know and was silent.
“Chuck?” Jesse beckoned for an answer.
“I don’t know either, man,” Chuck said. “I mean, it could have been an optical illusion. But whatever it is, I don’t want to look anymore.” Chuck turned. “It’s too ominous.” Without saying any more, he opened the door and walked inside.
7. REVELATIONS
May 12th …
The hour and a half trip to Morgantown could have been more productive for Chuck had someone not ransacked Darius’ house. Of course, that was what he initially believed until he placed a call to Colin.
“Is the place totally trashed?” Colin asked.
“Man, whoever was here tore this place apart.” Chuck said.
“Uh huh, and is there a petrified pizza on the coffee table?”
Pause.
“Yeah, why?” Chuck asked.
“I don’t believe his place has been ransacked. That’s the way Darius lives.”
Chuck was appalled. But just as he’d been told, the important documents along with the disk were located under the newspaper on the coffee table—which ironically was under the petrified pizza.
He retrieved what he needed, made copies, secured several of them in different spots, wrote his assignment story on some old lady and her dog, caught some sleep, and was at the restaurant only five minutes late.
He beat Bret there.
“Coffee, thanks,” Chuck told the waitress as he took a seat. “Colin.” He extended a hand across the table. “You’re dressed differently than I expected.”
“It’s my ‘get down with the people’ look,” Colin said of his black button down shirt and tan pants.
Chuck snickered. “You wear that as a teacher?”
“No, I don’t have classes today.”
“Oh.” Chuck nodded, and then looked up when Colin lifted from his chair, greeting Bret.
“You look lovely.” Colin extended his hand to her.
“It’s the lipstick,” Bret said. “Remember you saw me without any make up.”
“Have a seat.” Colin motioned his hand. “Coffee?”
“Yes, please.” Bret sat.
“Coffee for the lady, and we’ll have these menus.” Colin told the waitress.
Chuck kissed Bret on the cheek. “You look tired. Didn’t you sleep?”
Bret’s mouth dropped open. “You know, Colin complimented me. How come you downplayed it?”
Chuck shrugged. “You look tired.”
“I didn’t sleep after work last night.” Bret shrugged. “I couldn’t. Last I heard from you, Darius’ place was ransacked.”
Colin chuckled. “It wasn’t.”
Chuck shook his head. “No, Darius just doesn’t clean. And his place smells.”
“Really?” Bret asked surprised. “He doesn’t strike me like that.”
“Slob,” Colin said. “Always has been.”
“Did you get the stuff?” Bret asked.
“Yes,” Chuck pulled out an envelope and handed it to Colin. “Do you know what that is? I peeked at it; it only looks like numbers and abbreviations.”
Colin lifted the contents of the envelope slightly, “Ah…. Yes. Readouts. Figures and such. I’ll go through these and let you know how they break down.”
“What are they?” Bret asked.
“Geological readouts. Odd changes other scientists have noted. Things that will play an important part in figuring out what is happening and where this is going. You know, watch the pattern, figure out what’s next sort of thing.”
Bret nodded. “What about that lady, Virginia. Has anyone spoken to her?”
“Yes,” Colin answered. “She wants to get together in a couple weeks. Says she too has some findings she’s following up on.”
“Why all the secrecy?” Chuck questioned.
“Take no chances.” Colin closed the envelope. “If we by chance discover Mother Nature is about to throw a hissy fit that will totally disrupt the world, the government
is not gonna want that information getting out.”
“Why?” questioned Chuck
“Would you?” Colin asked. “If nothing can be done, why say anything. Let people go. Let them live out the rest of their lives without chaos, panic, riots, fear.”
“Oh, my God.” Bret gasped. “You mean we all could die.”
“No, no.” Colin shook his head. “Absolutely not. No.”
“But you just said.…”1
“For the layman.” Colin lifted a finger. “We will be informed; therefore, we will prepare. Therefore…we will live.”
“Even if nothing can be done to stop what might occur—whatever that is?” Chuck said.
“Just because you can’t stop it,” Colin said, “doesn’t mean you can’t work around it.” He winked. “Besides, I think we’ll get a better grip once Darius checks in. He’s following something that either, A, is nothing along our lines, or B, follows our lines and Virginia’s at the same time.”
After looking at Chuck, Bret looked at Colin. “I am so lost.”
Colin explained, “A post appeared on the Harvard site for Darius’ attention. See, Darius posted that he was looking for strange natural phenomenon that would be consistent with permanent geological changes and shifts—along with other things. This post appeared and he followed it. Now…it could be nothing along the geological lines at all, or it could be. Virginia has a theory that actually helps fill in the pieces.”
“What theory?” Chuck asked.
Colin shook a finger. “I hate discussing theories before we get some backbone. Darius can get that.”
“But it could be bad?” Chuck asked.
Colin nodded once. “Could be, yes. But nothing we can’t work around.” He smiled.
Chuck asked, “What did this post to Darius say?”
“Merely told of this section of Africa where nineteen people have died and seventy five are failing fast. Gave their symptoms. Sounds like plague, but it could be something else, there were no known plague cases in the village at all.”
Chuck was confused. “What does plague have to do with geological changes?”
“Keep in mind that Darius is ecologically oriented, how our environment works and things that affect us. That is him, no matter what. Plus, there were some other environmental changes that occurred that flagged it. The CDC says it’s nothing, but he went anyhow.”
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