The next day after dark, Buddy and Ajay said hello to the guards who were standing watch at the side entrance to the Big House. Normally, there were two, but tonight there were four.
“What are you guys doing here?” asked one of the guards, who was wearing a commander’s belt. Buddy and Ajay looked at each other, confused. They never expected to be questioned, although they rarely came to the Big House alone.
“We are going to see our grandpa,” Buddy answered.
“Why don’t you use the front?” the commander challenged.
The boys had now recovered from their surprise and were now in full confrontation mode. “Why don’t you kiss my ass?” Ajay shot back.
The commander stepped purposefully toward them, trying to scare them. But Buddy and Ajay didn’t budge nor flinch. They stood like statues. The commander looked as though he was going to knock them over, but he stopped short.
“Use the front!”
“Thanks for the suggestion. Maybe we won’t!” responded Buddy. The commander flexed his muscles and moved his hand swiftly, trying to draw a reaction … a blink … anything. But there was none. “Go ahead … touch me,” dared Buddy.
“Security has been tightened. These are the orders.”
“You think we’re dangerous?” asked Ajay incredulously.
“Your father is. So, maybe you are too.”
“Ugh!” huffed Buddy. “What’s your name, soldier? I want to tell Grandpa what a help you’ve been, protecting him from his grandsons.”
“You mean grandson. Don’t you?”
Ajay took a step forward, and the commander knew that he was finally making a dent.
“Your name is former commander who?” challenged Buddy.
Now, the power dynamic finally righted itself. As the testosterone fog started to lift, the commander wondered what he was doing. “Just go!” He pointed to the side door, and the boys bounded up the few steps and entered the long hallway.
Moments later, they were entering the shelter. Their father was standing there at the entrance, waiting in anticipation. He was wearing a controlled smile that conveyed excitement but no joy.
As they walked down the hall and turned right into the habitat, Moey spoke to his sons calmly and confidently.
“Everything is ready. We will have a meal. You brought the stuff from Mom, right?”
“Yes, Pa.” Ajay handed over a satchel.
“Okay, good. After eating, we will pack your supplies and load everything into the UV. I want you guys to wear the suits and then take them off when we get to the dropoff point. I want your energy level to be as high as possible when you reach the shore.”
“How do we keep the food dry?” inquired Buddy.
“Don’t worry. I have it packed in special material. It will stay dry.” Moey continued, “We will have some time to rest. I want to show you guys a movie. You have never seen anything like this. You will love it. Someday, we will have much more time, I hope.”
Moey and his sons lounged on comfortable seats watching a movie called Avatar.
“Is this real?” asked Ajay.
“No. Dream explained it. Computers make it look real.”
“What is a computer anyway?” asked Ajay.
“Let’s take up that subject another time. It’s too much to explain, and we should start getting ready now.”
They all got up, and Buddy headed for the bathroom. As he sat on the toilet, having only recently been taught what it was and how to use it, he imagined the past.
“Dream?”
“Yes, Buddy.”
“Are you watching me?”
“Yes, I can see you.”
“That’s weird. How does a guy get any privacy in this place?”
“If you desire, I will turn off the cameras. Is that the privacy you are wishing for?”
“Exactly. For a woman with so much brains, you are a little slow sometimes.”
“I apologize. The cameras are now off. You have privacy.”
“Dream, can you walk around like a normal person if you want to? Or do you just do everything out of the wall?”
“I can use the Drakes to move around.”
“But those don’t look like people. They definitely don’t look like a girl. You’re a girl, right?”
“No. I am not gender-specific. I can use a man’s voice if you prefer. How about this?” Dream changed her voice so that she sounded like his grandpa.
“No! No way! Go back to yourself.”
“Okay. I will maintain this voice.”
“Great. Better. Dream, do you know where Della is?”
“I’m sorry, Buddy. I am not familiar with Della. Can you be more specific?”
“She was the one from Victory … the one who could throw knives. Did you see her?”
“Yes. I know the one. She returned to Victory. Since then, I have not seen her. I will look for her and give you a report soon.”
“Really? That would be so great. Thank you, Dream. You are the best.” Buddy thought a while, and then he said, “Please watch out for us … and my ma.”
“Yes, Buddy. I will do my very best. Your father and I will be working for your safety and the success of the mission.”
“Thanks.” Buddy got up and walked toward the door.
“Buddy?”
“Yes?”
“Please wash your hands.”
Buddy shrugged as the water came on automatically.
“Dream, flood the dock!” called out Moey. Then, they all put their breathing pieces over their mouths just as the big valves opened with a whir, and the water started rushing in from below the metal grating where they stood. Soon, the outer doors opened, and the three of them held onto the UV and were transported out into the open lake. They had to cross at an angle toward the north, where the lake was wider, in order to get to the remote spot where Moey wanted them to be, and this made the distance about twenty miles. It took them nearly two hours, which was difficult for the boys, given their inexperience. But they were able to talk to each other, which helped.
It was dark, so as they looked through the very thin layer of water between them and the surface, there was nothing to see, except the sky, moon, and stars. As they neared the far shore, the UV slowed, arriving to within half a mile of the shore. Visibility was good, given the moonlight, and they could see the low cliffs in the distance as the UV surfaced and they removed their masks.
“Okay, boys. Take off the suits and give them to me.”
The boys complied. As they were stripping, Moey opened the payload compartment and removed their waist packs, which were dry. “These bags won’t leak water. Just wear them like normal. The headsets, food, knives … they’re all in there. I’m going to lash one spear to each of your backs so that it shouldn’t slow you down too much through the water. But it will be a little awkward. I think it’s important to have those in case of wolves.”
The three of them worked together swiftly and efficiently until everything was settled and arranged. It was time.
“Boys, I am so proud of both of you. It will be exciting to meet you at the other end. I love you guys. Be safe. Always stay sharp, and remember, you will meet up with Jojo tomorrow.
After that, there is no way the army can keep up with you. You will definitely make it. If you encounter anyone, don’t hesitate.
Just take off and know that they can’t possibly catch you.
Okay?”
“Yes, Pa.” Both boys rang in. “Love you.”
“We are ready.”
The boys were starting to shiver in the breeze, and Moey knew it was time. They all hugged, and then the boys slipped into the cold water and started swimming for the shore.
Fifteen minutes later, Buddy and Ajay pulled themselves up and waded knee-deep toward shore and up onto the narrow beach below the cliffs. They still had some hours of darkness remaining, which were to be used for getting up on the plateau and over to the rendezvous point, where they expected to join with Jojo.
About the time the UV halted just offshore, Jojo was wide awake, lying in his cot. He slept in a cabin with three other soldiers, so it was unlikely that he would be able to exit the structure completely unnoticed. He didn’t bother to be too quiet. It was typical for the men to go out and relieve themselves in the middle of the night. He reached just under the cabin, which was raised slightly off the ground, to where he had stashed his waist pack, which contained precisely the necessities that had been detailed by his father. He walked softly away toward the hills behind the cabins, looking up at the bright moon, which would be all the light he would have to work with. But it was plenty.
Jojo strapped on his pack, secured his shoes, and took off quietly up the hill, circumventing the guardhouse, where onduty guards were always posted. He later dropped back down to the road and took off running, his spirit soaring as he thought about meeting up with his brothers under these fateful circumstances.
Buddy and Ajay finished scaling the cliffs and looked back at the lake from their new vantage point. They looked for signs of the UV and their father, but there were none. They conferred briefly about directions, and then, under the moonlit night, they took off running toward the meeting point. They ran in complete silence, as they had been carefully instructed to do.
An hour later, they slowed.
“I think this is it,” Ajay whispered. Buddy put his finger to his lips, reminding Ajay not to talk, and then he gave a thumbs-up in concurrence. They still ran on, but at a slower pace while staying alert. Then, Buddy stopped, and Ajay did likewise, looking at him. Buddy nodded, and they looked around.
“I think we’re here first. Let’s wait,” Buddy whispered softly. Ajay nodded in agreement. Then, suddenly a rock pelted the ground near their feet. They jumped, completely startled and bewildered. Then, they heard faint laughter and footsteps racing toward them. Jojo! The three brothers pulled each other into a tight hug. The brotherly bond they all felt was intensified by the circumstances.
“You guys … I’ve never seen anyone jump like that,”
Jojo whispered. Buddy and Ajay chuckled. “Okay, let’s get out of this clearing. We are exposed.”
The three of them tore off into the night, headed north toward the border.
Comments