“What’s going on?” I asked.
“Hey, Sonny,” Beck turned to me. “How’re the Doctrines going?”
“Going. What’s happening?”
“We think those fourteen other future people, the ones sent here to kill Sandman? They’re on base,” Beck said.
“Or were,” Alex added. “One was. He could have jumped the fence before we started looking.”
“He’s not getting back in,” Beck said. “I have a feeling they’re all here, though. Living here.”
“They could be,” I said. “I mean, the base is huge. All they have to do is hide if they hear us. Hell, three Sleepers and we never found them.”
“That’s on us,” Beck replied. “I don’t know how we didn’t.”
“We looked. I searched every day,” I told him.
“I have my men. We’re going out tomorrow to take care of that mass of Sleepers. And I have a large group of soldiers arriving at the end of the week. We’ll find them.”
“Can I ask,” I said, “how you know these fourteen are here, or were here?”
“One of them came in here and saved Mera. I guess he heard her scream,” Beck explained. “Came in and took the three out.”
“Wait.” I lifted my hand. “Mera didn’t take them out?”
Alex laughed.
“What?” I asked. “What’s so funny?”
“You think Mera did it?” Alex questioned with a humored tone. “What in the world would make you think Mera did it?”
“I heard.”
“And you believed it why?”
“She took that training class with Beck.”
Alex laughed even harder. “Oh my God, Sonny. That was three Sleepers and Mera. Mera can’t even catch two toddlers when they’re running from her and one of them is blind. That’s pretty damned cute of you to give her so much credit.”
“Can we not pick on Mera?” Beck said, firm. “She had a traumatic experience or…whatever, just stop. I’d rather have people believe she did it then know we have possible intruders.”
“They’re not gonna believe it,” Alex said.
“Sonny did. Miles did,” Beck replied. “No one will question it. They don’t have reason to. In fact, I’m going to go home and make sure she doesn’t tell anyone else about…” he grumbled. “Tom Selleck.”
My head did a double take, looking at Beck as he left. “Tom Selleck?” I faced Alex. “Did he say Tom Selleck?”
“Yep, he did. Remember when you said you saw him not far from here? Well, that’s who Mera saw. That’s who saved her.”
“Tom Selleck.” I nodded. “That might be why Peter said I mention him in the Doctrines.”
“You mention him in the Doctrines?”
“I haven’t yet. They said I did. We’re still looking for that part. But isn’t that just so Tom Selleck like to come in and save her?”
Alex walked away.
Said nothing. Just walked away.
I shrugged off his rude behavior and joined up with the others for the search. If Tom Selleck was in Haven and on base, I wanted to be the one to find him.
When I left Richards Electric for the Country Electric company I had to write a letter of resignation. For days I went over the wording in my head before I put it on paper.
I felt the same way trying to think of the words to the passage I was going to insert in the Doctrines.
It stayed on my mind during the search and after. I became so engrossed in it that even in the dining hall at dinner I was passive and nodded when people spoke to me. All the while I didn’t hear anything they said because I was too busy thinking of what I was going to write.
I wondered if that was how authors felt in the old world when they were working on a book. Did they write and rewrite passages in their heads while they drove and did their daily chores?
I retreated back to my room just after sunset to work on the Doctrines. It was quiet—Mera had the kids down early, she was resting in bed and Danny and Beck were at the security building discussing the Sleeper mass west of us.
I wanted to go to the meeting, but the Doctrines were important. Not to mention I was pretty exhausted. Besides, my thoughts were there could be something in there about the Sleepers out west.
And there was.
After jotting down a rough draft of the passage I would insert, I looked at where the Doctrines began to differ. It talked about the large group of “Palers” that searched out those from Haven. How they travelled in a large pack of nearly a thousand. The poisonous air didn’t work because they were too scattered, and one third made their way toward Haven.
I always believed from what Randy told me that the east was a free zone, but that had to have changed. Ed said we were always on the move. The only reason for that would be Sleepers.
As much as I wanted to read the differences, I wanted to insert the new passage.
I wasn’t even sure if it would work.
After all, I may had lucked out with Randy.
It was worth a shot. I had to try. The fact that in Randy’s time, sequentially Peter’s time, they were led and lived by the Doctrines. That worked in my favor. If it indeed my insertion worked, Javier would be thrilled. I could imagine all that he would do with the knowledge only those in the future knew.
Knowledge that could change the outcome.
I found my spot. I didn’t have to really insert, I would start where I left off. I would try to make it vague, yet clear.
I was nervous about it.
But I wrote…
Two weeks and five days after the arrival at the second Haven, the settlers met a man across the bay. He was a strong man named Peter who had many gifts for those at Haven. Gifts that came from the earth and sea. He wanted to help the settlers. At twenty-one days after arrival, the man named Peter sought out Alex Sans. He told Alex of a man from the future. A man with red fire hair who gave an object from the future to Peter to give to those at Haven. Peter did not know what the object was or what it meant. When the man with fire hair returned, he asked Peter, “Why have you not given the object to the people across the bay?”
Peter did not have an answer.
The man with fire hair insisted Peter take the object and instruct Alex Sans to give the object to the greatest mind. Little did Peter or Alex know that the object was sent from the future with information on how to stop the Palers.
I felt almost confident with that. But it was written and would stand.
I set down my pen, rubbed my eyes and reached for my water when there was a knock on my door.
I thought at first it was Mera and I hollered, “Come in.”
Randy walked in. He looked frazzled and worried, not to mention sweaty.
“Hey, Randy,” I said. “What’s up? Did you find something?”
“I did. Oh boy, Sonny,” he said, “we need to talk.”
TWENTY-SIX
ALEX
My first question to Beck was, “Where’s Sonny?”
We were having a meeting on taking out that mass and Sonny, as number four, wasn’t around. Just me, Beck and Danny leaning over some table, staring at a map and photos like it was some war room from decades earlier.
“He’s working on the Doctrines,” Beck said. “I thought he’d be here, but you know how he gets.”
“He didn’t even put two and two together, you know?”
“About?” Danny asked.
“The clone people from the future. I mean, I said Tom Selleck and he didn’t even blink as to maybe the cloned Tom Selleck, he just thought good old Tom came ahead in time.”
“I’m sure he just wasn’t thinking,” Beck said.
“You know who else wasn’t thinking?” I said. “The people in the future. They don’t know what celebrity means. They just borrowed DNA
from people who stood out. Tom Selleck.” I shook my head. “Of all people. Who’s next out there? David Hasselhoff? Better yet, you better watch out, Beck, if they cloned Charlton Heston.”
“Hmm.” Beck lifted his eyes and stared outward. “You’re right. I’d be out.”
“Did you just joke?” I asked.
“No, I’m serious.”
“Yeah,” Danny said. “My mom developed that weird infatuation for him when Beck was at the ARC and we were in Grace.”
“What do you mean?”
“Maybe he doesn’t know,” Beck said to Danny. “If I’m not mistaken, to him that’s the ‘Beck is Dead’ time frame.”
With an “ah”, Danny nodded. “Yeah, well, you two used to get drunk and watch Heston films.”
“You don’t say.” I smiled. “We did that in the ‘Beck is Dead’ time too?”
I didn’t really mean to smile, but I knew some things never changed and some things were meant to be. Beck is dead, Beck is away, didn’t matter, Mera and I had our movie time. Not saying that we slept together and conceived Hope in that time frame, but it was good to know at least we weren’t always fighting.
“Back to this,” Beck said. “My guess, at the pace they are moving and the radar, they’re spacing out. Hitting them with the gas won’t be easy.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, the gas is very dense, very direct, it doesn’t spread that far. We have four hits. Some may not be affected.”
Danny’s hand moved across the map. “Too bad we can’t drop them in this small lake. Drown them all.”
“Good idea, but how would we get them there?” Beck asked.
Just as he spewed out that question, the door opened with a bang.
Sonny stood there, Randy behind him. Sonny looked panicked. As if he’d seen something.
“Where’s your gun, Beck?” Sonny asked. “I left mine in my office.”
“Go get it,” I told him.
“Sonny, why do you need your gun?” Beck asked.
“So you can shoot me,” Sonny said. “Beck…I’m the Sandman.”
It took two shots and a little bit of marijuana to get Sonny calmed down enough that he didn’t want Beck to blow his brains out.
“Maybe you have this wrong,” Beck said.
“No. Nope. No.” Sonny shook his head. “Randy found it. Not me.”
“It was a passage in the Doctrines.”
“What did it say?” Beck asked.
Randy pulled out the tablet. “And the shining one with hair of gold, began to transform with muscles of a God.”
I scoffed a laugh. “Sorry. Go ahead. Continue.”
“The change was not noticed at first until fifteen years had passed and he began to not only summon, but control the Palers to do as he wished, and that was to bring about extinction of his fellow man.”
“There,” Sonny said. “Sandman.”
“No, not there,” I told him. “Sonny, you write the Doctrines, why would you write about yourself in third person?”
“He has been getting ripped,” Danny said.
“I’ve been working out on the scooter though,” Sonny replied.
“There you have it. It’s not you,” I said.
Then Hot Doc had to walk in.
“I’m here,” Javier announced. “I see you finally told Sonny.”
“What?” Sonny asked shocked.
Then Danny repeated. “You guys knew?”
“What was with all this third person shit?” Sonny said. “And I’m buff from the scooter.”
“I did not say that,” I told him.
“They knew. They came to me,” Javier said. “Asked me to run tests. I did.”
“And?” Sonny asked.
“More than likely you are this Sandman.”
“How?!” Sonny tossed his hands in the air.
“Remember when you got bit and we cloaked you with a serum made from Michael?” Javier asked. “That was when it fused with your DNA, or so I thought. Upon further testing, I believe you had something special about your blood to begin with and Michael’s serum was just the right cocktail to set it off.”
“Oh my God,” Sonny sat back. “Just shoot me, Beck.”
“Why do you want Beck to shoot you?” Javier asked.
“So I don’t become this Sandman.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that,” Javier said. “We have time. I will cure you. I’ll figure out a way. I promise.”
Sonny leaned forward in the chair. “If you had the information from the future about the genes and DNA shit, would it be easier?”
Javier nodded. “But we talked about time travel.”
“We did. No one is traveling,” Sonny said. “I added to the Doctrines just like I did for Randy. I’m hoping if I put that call to the future, someone will answer.”
“Sonny,” I told him. “It’s lot easier to get a person than some DNA recipe.”
“I have to try,” Sonny said. “I can’t become him. If I don’t, it thwarts it all.”
“Eh,” Javier groaned out. “You’re already controlling them some.”
“What?”
“Doc,” Beck scolded.
“I’m being honest.” Javier lifted his hands.
“What about Michael?” Sonny asked. “Maybe he is still doing it and we’re blaming me.”
Javier shook his head. “It’s not the same thing. Let me give you a great analogy, using an old adage. You can lead a horse. Michael can lead a horse to water but cannot make him drink…you can.”
“Oh shit,” Beck said with almost a sense of awe. “This is not bad news.”
“What do you mean, not bad news?” Sonny said, slightly freaking out.
“Sonny, Stop. Here. Hit the joint again,” I handed it to him.
“No.” Sonny swiped it away. “I’m a bad guy. I’m not supposed to be the bad guy.”
“Technically,” I said. “You’re not a bad guy…yet.”
“You’ll never turn,” Javier said. “I believe it.”
“Until then,” Beck added. “Use it to your advantage. Be the good guy with the bad guy abilities. Problem with our Sleeper mass solved.”
I thought for a second Beck was really losing it, then he walked over to the war table and lifted the map.
He pointed. “Sonny. Lead the Sleepers to water.”
“Dude,” Danny said excitedly. “And make them drown.”
“Exactly.” Beck winked.
“What if that doesn’t work?” I asked.
“Then plan B, we gas them,” Beck replied. “No biggie. But if this works, well…”
I waited and waited. “Well what?”
“I’ll save that thought,” Beck said. “Until then…let’s do this.”
Sonny took and stared at the map. Danny had made the suggestion, but we didn’t know how to implement it. Now we did.
I had a feeling the crazy plan was going to work. I wanted it to—it was easier, and if it did, I would find out what other plan Beck had swirling around that brain of his.
TWENTY-SEVEN
MERA
Alex had this shitty grin he kept flashing me all night. Like he knew something. I attributed it at first to the fact they had some plan they were putting in motion the next day and they were all excited about.
But he was being too nice, even out of character for him, watching Charlton Heston movies while drinking in the living room. Something I hadn’t seen him do in a while.
He asked me to join him and I even joked, “Oh, no, that’s not a good combo for me. I’ll get in trouble.”
Instead of my joking around he raised his eyebrows, saying, “Don’t I know that.”
Beck and Danny both left early in the morning to get things r
eady. Alex was staying behind, manning the radio as the others went.
When Beck was leaving I asked him if he was taking Alex.
He replied, “He’ll meet up with us. There’s no reason for him to go right now. Is there a problem?”
“No, he’s just…he’s being weird.”
“That’s Alex.”
He gave me a kiss and told me he probably wouldn’t be home until supper. He’d radio if there was a problem but he doubted there would be.
The positive thing about Alex being around in the morning was he took care of Hope. He fed her, changed her, wiped her off and put her down for her post breakfast nap, giving me a chance to get dressed and clean up in peace.
“Well, I’m going to be heading out now. Have a great day,” Alex told me.
“Stop.” I lifted my hand.
“What?”
“What is going on with you?” His behavior was off and I needed to know what was going on.
“I am glad you asked.” Alex backtracked and made his way to me. “I’ve been waiting for you to ask all night.”
“I’m asking now. What’s going on?”
“So…” He rubbed his hands together. “You are gonna get a kick out of this. We were having this little pow wow meeting last night, and I learned some things are meant to be.”
“What do you mean?”
“Seems…seems…in the ‘Beck isn’t dead but away at the Arc’ timeline, you and I used to drink, get drunk and watch Heston flicks.”
“Okay.”
“Mera, we got drunk and watched Heston.”
“We loved doing that,” I said.
“We did.”
“Okay,” I said.
“Mera, we did that while Beck was alive and away, even though you know, we don’t remember because we only know the ‘Beck is Dead’ timeframe. But…but, some things are meant to be. Just saying.”
“Alex, are you implying that while Beck was away, you and I…”
Alex raised his eyebrows a few times.
“No. No way.”
“Yes way, and little Hope was meant to be.”
Sleepers | Book 8 Page 12
