by David Bruno
Max sighed heavily. “Honestly, I don’t know what we can do, sweetheart.”
CH 12
WAYWARD SON
SPRING 2018: SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA
A well-dressed man in his eighties sat at the head of the large table. He was dressed in his best suit and had his full head of gray hair meticulously coiffed. He took up his fork to tap on the side of his wine glass. Tink, tink, tink. The room fell silent. All eyes were on him. He grabbed his cane to stand up and raised his glass of red wine, a local vintage.
“I am so glad to be here with my family to honor my grandson, Benny. We’re so proud of him for graduating college—with a science degree, no less. We were all concerned when he got kicked out of middle school.” The family lightly laughed, unsure whether the patriarch was joking. JB had been careful not to tell the family the real reason for his expulsion—the manifestation of his superpowers. They need not know that detail. Only Benny’s father and his friend Joe knew that secret. The rest of the family would just have worried. “But we Browns did what we do best: we stick together. We educated our boy and he got into college. Now he is ready to join the family business.”
“Hear, hear!” shouted Benny’s great-uncle Adam, who sat with his wife, their children, and grandkids. “Why go into high tech when you can go into the foundry?” he said with obvious disdain against the traditional family vocation. The slowly simmering resentment from generations of family strife momentarily bubbled to the surface at a poorly chosen time. Adam had always been the black sheep of the family. He hated the metal industry and looked on it as being beneath him. In his mind, he’d risen above them by becoming involved in the early development of computer software and moving away from the “inbred small towns of south central Pennsylvania,” as he called them, to the metropolis of Philadelphia. At least he was with the family, unlike Benny’s great-aunt Abigail and her family. Perhaps it was because they lived far away, in California. Perhaps it was the result of generations of pent-up anger.
The patriarch, Jon Brown, looked at his brother with an unblinking stare. “We’ve been over this. We’re all very proud of you. But our family has iron in our blood and I am proud Benny will join us.”
Benny looked on. Inwardly, he couldn’t help but agree with his uncle Adam, at least in part. He was not overly happy about joining the family company, working his way up through middle management and eventually taking over when he was older and experienced enough. His fate, if he didn’t change it, was to burn through the next forty-plus years of his life managing and perhaps eventually owning part of a small iron foundry. Benny wanted something else, but he wasn’t sure what that was. He’d never really had the option to consider alternatives. This was who he was destined to be. All of his fighting skills and superpowers could not change that.
Dave, Benny’s maternal grandfather, raised his glass for another attempt at a toast. He tried for less controversy. “Benny, your grandmother and I are very proud of you as well.” Kim looked up at her husband with a gentle smile. They were happy to have grown so close to Benny when they helped his father educate him through high school. They had been anchors for JB through those years. “We know your mother, our dear Jennifer, is looking down on you as well. She must be so proud of her boy. Whatever you do with your life, remember to stay true to yourself and the people that love you.” He opened his arms wide and looked at all of the smiling faces at the table. “That’s us, the people around this table. We love you, Benny.”
The room applauded Dave’s eloquent and heartfelt toast.
“Now that’s a toast, buddy,” Joe whispered to Benny as he motioned for a refill of wine.
*****
The evening rolled on after dinner, and the extended family left for their homes with no further controversy. Benny and Joe went into the backyard to work on their jiu-jitsu moves under a floodlight. This was strictly a non-contact session, as Joe had no interest in powering up Benny in front of his family. Besides, Benny had significantly bulked up since he began his training. He was no longer the skinny kid who’d shown up at Coach Stevens’s class years ago. A mix of training and controlled use of his powers had expanded and toned his muscles far beyond what Joe had been able to achieve with his normal human abilities.
That was okay with Joe, who was still far better with the ladies. All the local young women continued to avoid Benny due to his middle-school reputation. Their distaste for Benny had only made him more introverted, even in college. The incident had been many years ago and should have been ancient history, but small towns have disproportionately long memories.
Inside the house, Benny’s father and grandfather washed the dinner dishes. They looked out the open window at Benny. He seemed so happy exercising and hanging out with his best friend.
“You know, Dad, Benny’s really lucky he has Joe. They’ve been friends since grade school. All these years, Benny had no one else. It’s not right. I fear I’m not going to be around much longer, either.”
“Don’t talk like that. You caught it early. The doctor said chemo and radiation and they can cure you. Have you told Benny?”
“No. I didn’t want to worry him and ruin his graduation party. Let him have this day and get started at work. I’ll tell him in a couple weeks after he settles in. Besides, I have a doctor appointment next week. I may have better news then.”
*****
A WEEK LATER: THE DOCTOR’S OFFICE
“Mr. Brown, thank you for coming today.” The doctor looked over his charts to refresh his memory about his patient.
“Of course. You said we’re going to discuss treatment options. I have to say I’m not exactly excited about chemo. But if it cures me, I’m ready,” JB said, fidgeting on the table with false confidence and a hint of a smile.
The doctor did not react to JB’s optimism. Instead, he told a different story. “The scans we took today show that the tumors have grown and advanced significantly in the past couple weeks. I am terribly sorry to tell you that it has spread. It’s almost as if you have some form of acute radiation poisoning. There’s nothing that we can do for you.”
JB reacted in stunned silence. His smile withered. It didn’t seem possible that he could have radiation poisoning. His blood pressure dropped and his face turned white. His mortality was assured. Who would look out for Benny? Sure, he was a young adult now. But a son needs his father, especially when he only has one parent.
The doctor continued. “We think with it advancing this fast, you have just a few weeks. My counsel is to get a second opinion and get your affairs in order. I am truly sorry, JB.” The doctor put his hand on JB’s shoulder and said, “We have counsellors and social workers to help you and your family.” He wrote the names and contact information on a piece of paper and handed it to JB.
JB hung his head, thinking of all the things he would miss. Benny getting married, having children, taking over the company. “Thank you, doctor. I’ll get that second opinion. Can you send all of the information you have to Dr. Charles Huang? He’s my son’s physician, and I trust him as well.” JB folded the paper and put it in his pocket before walking out of the doctor’s office. He looked up at the clear blue sky. The sun was shining, giving no indication of the devastating news JB had just received.
*****
JB made an appointment with Dr. Huang for his second opinion. The doctor reviewed the results of all the tests and confirmed the diagnosis: stage four cancer in his pancreas, liver, and bones. There were indications of radiation poisoning. It was only a matter of weeks.
“JB, have you talked to your family about this diagnosis?”
“Not yet. Just my dad. I wanted to wait for the second opinion. I had hoped for better news. Benny needs me, especially since he’s come so far in developing his abilities. I really appreciate you helping us all these years, doctor. I’m glad to know that he’ll still have you after I’m gone.”
The doctor swallowed hard, thinking of the betrayal he’d been party to since his meet
ing with Max.
“You’re very welcome, JB. You Browns are like family to me,” he said, struggling to smile. “Go ahead and talk to your family. If you would like, I can come to your home to help you talk to Benny.”
JB accepted the offer. He left the office and took the long way home, trying to think how to break the news to Benny and his own father.
The doctor made a phone call before following JB to his home. He touched the speed-dial button. A familiar voice answered.
“Hello, Dr. Huang. Good to hear from you. What did you learn today?” asked Max.
“Benny’s father came to me with a terminal diagnosis. He asked for a second opinion.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. But what does this have to do with Benny’s powers?” Max asked coldly.
“You’re a real piece of work, you know that? You threaten me for information. When I give it to you, it’s as if you don’t care that we are talking about real people. The target of your research—a real person with a real family—is going to lose his father in a few short weeks. What’s more, it looks like the malignancy is linked to acute radiation poisoning. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”
Max knew he had to maintain his tough outward façade with Dr. Huang. He needed the information so he could save Vanessa. But he had actually started to like Benny over the years. More importantly, he had begun to respect him. Benny had overcome not having a mother, gained control of powers he should not have had, and now he was soon to lose his father. If anyone had earned a break, it was Benny. But there was no perceivable way Max could save both Vanessa and Benny. No matter how much he liked Benny, his objective remained to save his daughter.
“This is good information, doctor. I want you to find the source of the radiation. If possible, bring it to me.” Max knew that the only known radiation source that could be responsible both for Benny’s powers and for his father’s condition was the meteoric alloy.
He needed to be certain. He needed possession of the radiation source.
*****
Benny sat around the dinner table with his father and the doctor and listened attentively to the news. He reacted stoically to the details of his illness. With no other options, he could only hug his father and hold back his tears.
“How much time do you have?” he asked.
“A few weeks. That’s all. It’ll be okay. You’re my boy, and I am proud of the man you are. You have more potential than you realize. The world needs you. Find your purpose and be that man.” JB tried to hold himself together. His thoughts were not of himself, but of his son and his future.
Benny heard his father’s words but struggled to understand his purpose. His path—the foundry—seemed predestined.
Dr. Huang explained that the cause of his illness might be due to some form of radiation. He’d brought an inexpensive Geiger counter that he sourced online. “JB, do you mind if I look around for any radiation? It’s a long shot, but I’d like to look at any place you spend a lot of time.”
“Sure. Do what you have to do. You won’t find anything though,” JB insisted.
Dr. Huang methodically swept the dining room—up, down, and across the darkly stained wood furniture and decor. It only took a few seconds to detect low-level radiation from the dining-room table. “That was fast. It looks like it’s coming from your centerpiece there, JB.”
“What? The ring?”
“I think so. What’s it made of?” The doctor picked up the ring and carefully scanned the stone before putting it back on the table. The speckles glistened under the chandelier.
“It’s just a ring made of iron from the foundry. The stone is really nothing but a piece of slag. I liked it because of the colors and speckles. It’s unique.”
Dr. Huang double-checked his reading. “There’s no doubt about it. This is the source.”
JB gaped at him. “Do you mean to tell me that the homemade ring I made for my wife is responsible for my cancer and very likely her death more than twenty years ago? I think I’m going to be sick.” His skin tingled. Beads of sweat oozed from his pores onto his forehead and brow.
“I’m afraid so. The timing of your wife’s illness and Benny’s birth makes me wonder whether there’s a link between the radiation and Benny’s powers.”
JB left for the bathroom and heaved into the toilet. The realization that the ring he loved so much was responsible for his wife’s death, his own impending death, and Benny’s powers was too much to grasp. The accountability was his.
JB soon hobbled from the bathroom, soaked in sweat, goosebumps visible on his forearms.
Benny walked over to his father and helped him sit on the chair, since he was visibly shaking and unsteady. “Dad, it’s not your fault. You had no idea. How did you get radioactive material anyway? The foundry only melts iron.”
“I have no idea.” Just then, JB’s eyes widened as he remembered the government job all those years ago. His mind turned to the castings the government had contracted. They had been inoculated with something unknown. “Oh, my God. It had to be that military job. There was something fishy about it. I knew it even back then. But it paid very well and we did it.” He put his head between his knees, overwhelmed that his ambition to make the foundry successful had been so personally destructive.
Dr. Huang thought for a moment. “Well, how many people were exposed to this material?”
JB thought back, his nausea rising once again. “The government came in and collected all of the castings. We all thought it was odd that they wanted the slag too. That was just waste to be sent to the landfill. Maybe they knew all along that it was dangerous. As far as I know, the ring is the only piece of slag outside of the government’s control.” He paused for a moment. “My God. Our family has been exposed to the ring over and over. We ate at this table and Benny did all his studying here. Dad, Kim, Dave, they were all exposed nearly every day. Uncle Adam and his family, just a few times. Joe usually sat on the recliner away from the table. What do we do?”
“JB, you need to have them tested right away. Benny too. If anyone has symptoms, we need to catch it early. For now, you need to get rid of this ring. At least put it somewhere where you won’t be in daily contact with it. According to my counter, it has a radius of about five to six feet.” Dr. Huang paused. “There is one other thing that concerns me.”
“What’s that?” asked JB.
“Jenn. If she was in direct contact with the ring, she must have been similarly sick as well. Surely, her doctor would have known. Also, if she was that sick, how could she have had a healthy baby—Benny?”
“What are you saying, doctor? This was allowed to happen to us on purpose? Why?” JB’s mind was reeling with the implications.
Dr. Huang knew more. Max had suggested Benny’s powers were probably natural. That presumption was no longer valid. Benny might not have been the chosen beneficiary of powers, but he had them. For everyone else, the ring had brought disease and death.
“Perhaps they tried to remove all traces of radiation. They just didn’t know about the piece you have,” explained the doctor.
“It’s too late for me. Does Benny need to be concerned that someone will come for him? Superpowers aren’t exactly popular these days. Maybe someone from the government knows about him already.”
Benny looked at his father, at the example he was setting for him. His last thoughts were not of himself or his disease, but the health and safety of his son. He hoped one day to be half the man his father was.
The doctor knew it was disingenuous to say there was no concern. So he spun his response to minimize the threat. “It’s possible. But if nobody has come for you by now, you may be okay.” He turned to address Benny and put his hand on the young man’s shoulder. “Just be vigilant and remember you have awesome powers. You are no victim, Benny.”
*****
THAT EVENING
Dr. Huang reported the news to Max. “Max, I found it, the source of the radiation.”
“Slag?” he asked.
“I figured you would know. You’re a sick man and so are the people you work for.”
Max knew the doctor was right. He also knew that exposure to the radiation was only lethal to those without superpowers. The experiments at the Agency had shown that the radiation that caused superpowers seemed to provide a significant resistance to it in those same people. If this pattern continued, Benny was safe. It would not be long, however, until Benny would be on his own. The only uncertainty was how Benny would react. Would his impending loss unleash a hero, or would it destroy him? If Max had anything to do about it, it would be the former. His desire turned to saving Benny—if he could.
“You may not realize this, doctor, but I’m the only one who can protect Benny from my employer. The information you have given me has been invaluable. Do you have the slag?”
“No. But I counseled JB to get rid of it. As far as your benevolent intent, forgive me for not trusting a man who put a gun to my head.”
“Fair enough. Let me do you a favor, doctor. You are free. The information you gave me today is the last I need from you and will not be shared with my employer. Thank you for helping to set me straight. Good night, doctor.”
Dr. Huang hung up his phone, shocked at the turn of events. He and his family seemed to be safe due to his cooperation. But that safety came with a cost. What was to happen to Benny and his family?
*****
JB’s knuckles whitened on the steering wheel as he drove to the cemetery to visit the grave of his beloved wife, Jenn, as he did at least every couple weeks. Usually, he brought Benny along. This time, he went alone. The cemetery was empty except for one other middle-aged man paying respects to his loved ones. JB put the ring on his pinky finger and approached the stone with a potted flower. The ring could not hurt him any longer. The area around the stone appeared clean and well maintained except for the flowers he’d planted weeks ago. They were withered and needed to be replaced. He pulled the dead flowers from the ground. He then removed the ring from his finger and placed it in the hole. Finally, he placed fresh flowers in the hole on top of the ring.
