Torn

by Druga, Jacqueline

  “Me, too. It’ll be cool for reading,” Darius agreed.

  “So, let me ask you a question. Is this like finding the pot of gold for you?” Bret asked. “I mean, you talked about your obsession since reading that book. Is it?”

  “Yeah,” Darius nodded. “I can’t believe this exists and that we’re gonna buy it. Tomorrow.”

  “You never mentioned how,” Blain said. “Really, how are we gonna do this.”

  “Winslow will write out a check.” Darius shrugged. “This place is so great.”

  Bret cleared her throat. “I have a question.” She raised her hand. “If it’s an ice age, why are we going underground?”

  “Because it keeps us safe,” Darius answered. “People are not going to be behaving rationally. Do you really want people to know how much survival stuff we have? Being on top of the ground is sending just that message.”

  “True.” Bret ran her hand against the concrete wall. “It’s so atomic. Nuclear war-like. Of course,” she shrugged, “maybe what we need is a nuclear war. We’re already off track. According to all those old sci-fi movies, that would toss back on track again. I love those old movies. We have to remember to get some.”

  “Stop,” Darius held up his hand. “Repeat what you said.”

  “We need to remember to get some old movies.”

  “Back further.”

  After a moment of confusion, Bret answered. “We need a nuclear war?”

  “Bingo.” Darius snapped his finger and smiled. “Let’s go.” He didn’t even wait, was down the tunnel, through the vault door and on his way up the ramp by the time Bret and Blain realized he was actually leaving.

  19. A Plan

  Colin laughed.

  He laughed, said, “Excuse me,” then set down the phone on the counter . . . and laughed some more.

  Darius’ voice was muffled as it carried through the receiver.

  Colin didn’t hear him. He was too busy laughing.

  After a moment, he lifted the phone. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t laugh at me.”

  “It’s ridiculous.”

  “No, it’s not.”

  “Dare-Dare, you want to do what?”

  “You heard me,” Darius said.

  “Yes, I did. I just never thought this would come from you. It’s very fifties sci-fi.”

  “Well, Bret was talking about fifties movies when the idea came to me.”

  “There you have it, Darius. She thinks this whole thing is a fifties movie. Look at her reaction to Winslow.”

  “Colin, please. Open your mind.”

  “I am.”

  “It could work.”

  “Based on what?” Colin asked. “What facts do you have to support this?”

  “None. It’s theory.”

  “Based on old fifties movies.”

  Darius sighed. “No.”

  “You think theoretically you have come up with a way to change things.”

  “Yes. And don’t laugh about it being a theory. We’re basing everything we’re doing on a theory of what is going to happen to the world.”

  “No, Dare-Dare, for that we have scientific data. The world is already going to shit. And you want to blow it up.”

  “No. No. No.” Darius was adamant. “I want to create a big enough explosion, at the right speed, right time, right place, so it causes such a disturbance in the magnetic field that it stops the reversal, even reverses it.”

  “And how big of a bang do you need?”

  “I have it calculated. We’d need an explosion that causes about sixteen million gigajoules of energy.”

  Colin dropped the phone.

  “Colin?”

  He lifted it back up. “Sixteen million gigajoules. What the fuck, Dare-Dare. Do you know what it would take to produce that energy?”

  “Yep. Three trillion, nine-hundred sixty-nine million, nine hundred tons of TNT. Or…3.9 gigatons of nuclear explosions.”

  “Oh my God, in one area?” Colin asked. “I’m afraid to ask, but do you have a clue how many nuclear warheads it would take to produce that much?”

  “Yes.”

  “I figured as much.”

  “About fourteen thousand 300 KT bombs. Which is about half the world arsenal, yes, I understand.”

  “Oh my God.”

  “But it can be done. The energy . . .”

  “Do you mind if I do my own math and work on this?”

  “Sure, but.…”

  “Because,” Colin said. “We really can’t do anything until you get back. So let me work on this see what I come up with.”

  “Okay.”

  “Everything else okay?”

  “Oh, yeah, the complex is awesome.”

  “Deeply set underground?” Colin asked.

  “Deep.”

  “Hmm. Probably would come in handy if your theory is implemented. All right, I’ll speak to you later.”

  “Thank you.”

  Colin hung up. He looked down to his paper and the figures written. “Half the world arsenal. That’s all.”

  When Darius disconnected his call he turned around in the hotel room to face the stunned expressions of Blain and Bret. “What?” he asked.

  Bret tilted her head. “You want to blow up the world to stop the ice age?”

  “God, you and Colin are so melodramatic. No. I just want to cause a burp. That’s all. Excuse me.” He walked from the room.

  Blain turned to Bret. “He did say half the world’s arsenal right?”

  “Yep.” Bret nodded.

  Blain nodded as well. “He wants to blow up the world.”

  The Blain Report

  It has nearly been four days since the terrorists hit. With the arrest of the terror cell in Mexico that claimed responsibility, things are moving along impressively. Although it is estimated that 65% of all electronic devices will have to be replaced, along with power lines and grids, main grids and terminals have been or are in the process of being replaced, and until the lines are fully up and running, it looks as though they will be channeling energy from New Mexico, Mexico and Louisiana. Officials say by tomorrow morning, Texas should be running at full power. And I’ll tell ya, Dan, it can’t come too soon for these residents who need air conditioning. Not even the crack of dawn, and already temperatures are already a sweltering 80 degrees. Preparing to head back north, this is Blain Davis.…

  20. Dogs

  June 18th

  “That was brilliant on your part, Mr. Winslow,” Colin spoke on the phone as he walked his upstairs hallway. “Please pass on to your attorneys that we were very grateful for their presence with Blain at the closing. Absolutely, I’m sure he can supply you with an autographed picture. Uh huh.” He paused in the hallway to check out his reflection in the mirror. “Everything is settled. We plan on moving equipment to the site this week. Virginia and her family.”

  Colin exhaled, and headed down the steps.

  “No, you haven’t met her yet. Yes, she’s married. You are paying them to live there though. If you think we should we can get security. I don’t see any reason for you to go there at this time. We will take you are there with us when the time comes. Yes, sir. I must go. Absolutely, Bruce is there. Have a good day.”

  Mid descent of the stairs, he paused. Twelve minutes he was on the phone with Winslow. He shook his head, prepared to call Bruce to give him a heads up that he might receive a visitor, but opted against it. Bruce could handle it.

  He smelled it, the moment he hit the bottom of the staircase. Cooking. After nearly tripping over the scooter in the hallway, Colin walked to the kitchen. “Morning, girls.”

  Andi was wiping up coffee spillage by the pot. “You take yours black, right.”

  “If it was made for me, I take it anyway. Thank you, Andi.” Colin accepted the coffee as he took a spot at the breakfast counter. “Ah, my paper.”

  Casper turned from the stove, “Breakfast is almost done.”

  “And you made me breakfast?�
�

  “You haven’t been around in the mornings, the last few days,” Casper said. “And we knew you were home. We want to cook for you. We’re really glad you let us stay here while our mom is gone.”

  Andi added, “We really like it here.”

  “And I like you kids here, too. Gives the house life. Luke is doing wonderfully learning the equipment. You two are just, sort of, almost, but not quite Suzy homemakers.”

  Casper said, “We want to do more. You got the new cleaning lady. And it’s not fair that you work the labs and stuff and come home and cook. We can cook, you know. Or try.”

  “Take-out works,” Colin said. “But if you want to cook I’m fine with that.”

  “Good.” Casper smiled. “Like I said we made breakfast.”

  “And it smells…wonderful,” Colin paused and looked at the plate set before him. “And this looks like.…”

  Andi finished the sentence. “Fried ramen and bacon.”

  “Ah,” Colin nodded. “Fried ramen noodles and bacon. Yummy.” He cleared his throat.

  “Speaking of which,” Casper said, “We used the last two packs for breakfast.”

  “I just bought the case two days ago.” Colin comment. “But then again, that doesn’t surprise me. You made ramen noodle sandwiches for lunch yesterday.”

  “You don’t like ramen noodles?” Casper asked.

  “I can’t say that I have ever eaten ramen noodles until you kids arrived.” Colin smiled politely. “But this looks yummy.”

  He really did. He hesitated before eating, but had the fullest intent to at least try the meal the girls had prepared for him. Fork full of ramen and nearly to his mouth, the door to the basement opened.

  “Hey, Dr. Reye, glad you’re awake,” Luke said as he entered.

  “How it going down there, Luke?”

  “Good. Good. I think.” Luke scratched his head. “Is it like a big problem if there’s a red dot on the earth and alarms are going off.”

  “Um, yes, I believe it is.” Colin stood. “Let’s go check it out.” He stepped away from the breakfast counter, paused, reached out, grabbed his plate and then followed Luke.

  ***

  Virginia’s voice piped through the speakerphone in the makeshift basement lab. “You’re the geologist, Colin. Not me.”

  “Did you get the images?”

  “Yes, I did.”

  “Then I just need you to concur and help me figure this one out.”

  “It’s a hot spot.”

  “Thank you for that,” Colin said. “Fine. You’re probably busy with moving.”

  “Colin, don’t get shitty,” she said. “I’m just saying it’s a hot spot. Whether it’s tectonic plate movement or a volcanic eruption underground, I don’t know. Did you get in touch with seismologists in the area?”

  “I need to pinpoint where it’s going to surface. I’ll get back to you.” He hung up, ran his hand over his chin. “I suck at this computer shit. Okay . . . let’s . . .” he pulled up a chair next to Luke. “Let’s see if we can watch this bad boy, make a prediction and get in contact with scientists in the area.”

  “How much time are we talking about?” Luke asked.

  Colin shrugged. “I don’t even know where this is going. Sort of like that red spot on your chin. We don’t know if it will be a blemish, pimple, or a full-blown eruption when it finishes.”

  “Thanks, dude.” Luke touched his chin.

  “No problem.” Colin returned to the screen. “Earth’s acne.”

  ***

  It wasn’t something that Chuck wanted to deal with. He had just returned home to Johnstown, was working on the Fire Chief story, when he got the call.

  It was a blistering call.

  Containing the ‘f’ word in every sentence, Chuck had to pull the phone from his ear.

  “Jess, stop,” Chuck implored. “You seem to lose the ability to speak English when you’re pissed. Why are you screaming at me?”

  “Because I was arrested and it’s all your fault!” Jesse blasted. “Now you either show up with the key to the fucking house in fifteen minutes or I’m breaking every window and tearing that place apart.”

  Chuck was confused. “So I’m to assume you’re out of jail?”

  “Yes! Fifteen minutes!”

  “I’m in Johnstown, you asshole!” Chuck blasted back. “Last I heard the speed of sound via automobile wasn’t achieved. Two hours. Meet you at Simmons’ Coffee.”

  “One.”

  “Two!”

  “Fine!”

  Chuck grunted. “And you shouldn’t have trespassed. See you at noon.” He hung up and gathered his bearings. Perhaps he shouldn’t have given in to Jesse’s intimidation tactics. But for Bret’s sake, and the kids, he wasn’t going to put it past Jesse to do as he threatened. If anyone could calm Jesse or be the peacekeeper, Chuck could. After all, if Jesse did get arrested, it was in a sense Chuck’s fault. After he and Colin picked up the kids, he gave the elderly woman across the street twenty bucks to watch the house and call the cops if anyone showed up.

  She obviously did her job. That was, of course, if that was what Jesse was arrested for. Attempt to break and enter, Chuck figured, but wouldn’t have to wait long to find out.

  It wasn’t what he expected to see. Perhaps it was the dedication to his friendship with Bret that caused the sickening, disgusted stir in his stomach when he saw Kyomi.

  The petite woman looked no older than sixteen. She dressed in the old-style tradition of her native land of Japan. She bowed her head as she sat at the table with Jesse.

  “Bout time.” Jesse barked.

  “I’m sure you kept busy. Who’s your friend?” Chuck asked.

  “Kyomi, this is Chuck.”

  Chuck held out his hand.

  Kyomi nodded.

  “Hmm.” Chuck sat down. “So what’s up? Why are you so irate?”

  “I fucking told you I was arrested.”

  “Look. It’s just with Bret out of town and the kids at a relative’s . . .” Chuck held up his hand. “I didn’t want to take chances with the house. I didn’t think you’d be by.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “The reason you got arrested,” Chuck said. “You went to the house and tried to get in.”

  “Yeah. But that wasn’t why I was arrested. Old lady Helen hit me with the broom and threatened the cops. I wasn’t taking a chance since I just got out.”

  “Jesse, why did you get arrested and how is it my fault?”

  “Insurance fraud,” Jesse mumbled.

  Chuck grabbed his ear. “I’m sorry. I didn’t hear that.”

  “I said . . . insurance fraud.”

  “How . . . uh . . .” Chuck closed his eyes. “How?”

  “I tried to cash in Bret’s life insurance policy.”

  “You asshole, she’s not dead!” Chuck blasted.

  “I know.”

  “And you still tried to cash it in?”

  “Well . . . yeah. You guys weren’t letting anyone know she was alive.”

  “Exactly, moron. We weren’t letting anyone know she was alive. But we weren’t saying that she was dead.”

  “Isn’t that the same difference?”

  “No!”

  “Still. It’s your fault.”

  “Okay. Okay.” Chuck sat back. “How is it my fault?”

  “Did you tell the airlines she was alive?”

  “Actually,” Chuck said. “Blain did. He told them she wasn’t on the flight. We all talked and it was determined that it was going to be too tough not to let them know she and Darius were alive. Blain pulled in his connection. And before the airlines could pin the terrorist connection on them, Colin just smugly told them, ‘You know as well as I do it wasn’t a terror attack. Dr. Cobb was just prepared.’ So, how is this my fault? I had nothing to do with it, except sit in on the telephone meeting.”

  “You knew and didn’t tell me.”

  “Why would I?”

  �
��In case I collected the insurance money.”

  “Which you shouldn’t have done, but tried to do. Knowing full well she was alive. That is fraud. How did they bust you, Jess? When the airlines wouldn’t confirm her death?”

  “No,” Jesse said. “You called the insurance guy.”

  The corner of Chuck’s mouth rose in a smile. “That wasn’t me. That was Colin. He had the keen foresight to know you’d go after that policy. And he called the insurance company.”

  “Why would he do that? I am the beneficiary.”

  “Yeah, but you know what? For how long? He was protecting his interest in Bret.”

  “Why does he have an interest in Bret?”

  “Why is it any of your business?” Chuck asked as he stood. “Now if that’s all, I’ve got to go.”

  “I want in the house.”

  “Then you have to wait.”

  “No, I won’t wait. I want my tools.”

  “Then you should have thought of them before you left Bret for the mail order virgin teenage Geisha girl wannabe. Have some tact, Jess, and wait until she gets home.”

  “Fine.” Jesse huffed. “But I want in that house for my tools the second she gets back.”

  “I’ll see that she lets you in the house. Have a good day.” Chuck turned. He didn’t let Jesse see his snide smile. Bret would surely let him in the house. As for his tools, he’d have to see Bruce about them, because last Chuck heard, he brought them off of Bret at a really discounted price.

  ***

  They were on their way back home. Their cell phones were charged and in good shape. They estimated it would take an entire twenty-four hours, if not more, to get back to Pittsburgh. But with three of them driving it would go by quickly.

  Three of them.

  Blaine was hitching a ride back with them. He convinced his editor that he had an exclusive to the miracle survivor story of Darius and Bret.

  The news center paid for the SUV and the expenses of the trip.