“Why won’t he come see me?”
“Like I said, he doesn’t know, but I know the second he finds out, he’ll be here. He loves you deeply,” she lied again. “Speaking of your daddy, did he ever mention where your mother might be?” Portia asked with hopes that the two could reunite outside the gates.
“No,” Melissa replied wiping tears from her cheeks.
“When they put you out, the first thing you do is start asking around, you understand. Someone in those small hamlets outside might know where she is,” Portia said.
Melissa nodded.
The door opened. “Time is up,” the guard said.
Melissa leapt into Portia’s arms. “I’m scared," she said finally expressing her feelings.
“I know you are sweetheart,” Portia said cradling her.
“Time is up,” the guard barked in his gruff voice.
“I need a bit more time,” Portia urged.
“Time is up!” the guard barked and came into the room in an aggressive manner.
“Melissa, do as I say, as soon as you get outside the walls, go to the nearest hamlet or village and start asking for your mother.”
Melissa nodded.
The guard grabbed Portia by the arm. “Time is up, and Number One wants to see you.”
Portia’s heart skipped a beat.
Melissa let go and slid down to her feet. “Goodbye, Teacher Seven.”
The guard pulled Portia to the door. She turned but couldn’t find the strength to say goodbye so she simply said, “Love you.”
“Collective Prime, this is Driver Eight, come in over,” Kyle radioed. All he got in return was static. “Collective Prime, this is Driver Eight, come in over.” Still static. “Hmm, maybe I’ll try a relay.” He switched the frequency and keyed the microphone. “Any station this net, this is Driver Eight, come in over.” Again, static.
Barry walked into the room, an LED lantern in one hand and a bottle of whiskey in the other. Holding up the whiskey, he said proudly, “Look what I found.”
“See I knew you were good for something,” Kyle joked. “Best we check to see if it’s hot.”
“I did already,” Barry said.
“Really. I’m not so sure I can trust you considering how well you did putting up the sheeting.”
Barry sat down and crossed his legs.
Outside the winds whipped and howled.
“That’s some storm. We don’t get ones like this back in Prime,” Barry said removing the cap off the bottle.
“Can I ask how you tested the whiskey?” Kyle asked.
“The bottle wasn’t open, but figured it would be safe. However, to be careful, I cleaned a large mixing bowl, pours the whiskey in, ran the Geiger over and it didn’t register. I found a funnel, cleaned it then poured the whiskey back into the bottle.”
“Thorough, I’m impressed,” Kyle said. “And to answer your thought about storms, Prime is shielded from big storms because of all the tall mountains around it.”
Barry filled two small glasses with whiskey and handed one to Kyle.
Kyle looked at it and said, “I can assume the glass is clean?”
Barry returned his question with a look that said, yes. He put the glass to his lips and sipped, “Not bad.”
Kyle followed but took a larger gulp, “Yeah, not bad at all.”
“Where do you think Ten went?” Barry asked.
Further into the Republic I suspect. Hell, I don’t know. What I do know is you’ll never see him again,” Kyle answered.
“Too bad, he was a good guy, a trusted driver.”
“A shit bag.”
Barry took a long drink and said, “You really don’t know shit do you?”
“I know enough and I know a shit bag when I see one,” Kyle said swishing the whiskey in his glass.
After taking another swig, Barry laughed, “When we get back, what are you going to tell my father?”
“I’ve known your father for a long time as you know, I owe him my life. I’ve never lied to him and I don’t plan on doing it in this instance.”
“Then you’re going to tell him everything?”
“As I saw, yes.”
“And what if he does nothing?” Barry asked.
“I’ll politely remind him of the laws, the laws he created,” Kyle answered.
“Wow, you really are a self-righteous guy. You think you know everything because you’ve driven a truck.”
“I don’t claim to know everything, but I know right and wrong.”
Barry leaned back, glass in his hand and a big smile on his face. “What is right and wrong? Are you using standards from before The Reboot? That’s a different world. Was it so bad for people say a thousand years ago to marry a twelve-year-old? No, because that’s the way things were then. Was it wrong for people to sell slaves back then too? Again, the answer is no, that’s just the ways things were. Your problem Driver Eight, is you’re putting the morals of a dead time onto the present. You haven’t evolved or progressed. This is a new world now with new rules. You either adapt or die.”
“I don’t care if it was today or ten thousand years ago. Children are children and going around having sex with them is against the laws of nature, period.”
“The laws of nature? Please don’t bore me with your antiquated political beliefs and talk about laws of nature, natural rights, blah, blah, blah” Barry mocked.
“What do you know about natural rights?” Kyle asked.
“Do you think I got taught the same dribble as everyone else? My father let me have access to a vast library. I’ve read every book on governmental systems and political theory. He wanted me to know what we were fighting against. He has been preparing me to rule in his stead as soon as he thinks I’m ready.”
Kyle took a long drink. He could feel the liquor hitting him.
“Your other problem Driver Eight, is you’re an idealist. I’ve heard about this code you created for the drivers years ago. My father went along with it only because he likes you. For some reason he’s come to believe you’re a team player, but I see through you. You’re not. You exude individualism. It’s seeps out your pours. You’ve been on the road too long. You somehow have lost sight but let me remind you. You’re not a person, you’re a tool and when you’ve driven your last mile, we’ll find another tool to replace you. You’re nothing. So, go ahead, talk high and mighty but know that I’ll be pissing on your grave and fucking your wife after you die.”
“What did you say?” Kyle barked.
Feeling cocky, Barry leaned closer to Kyle and said, “I’ll be fucking your wife.”
Kyle dropped his glass, and snatched Barry by the throat. He squeezed hard, pulled him close and said, “Say it again.”
Barry choked and clawed at Kyle’s clenched hand.
Not done threatening him, Kyle removed his Hoback knife and placed it on Barry’s tender cheek. “I should filet you open. Cut you like the fucking pig you are and tell your father the Generates got you. It would be so easy and know what, he’d believe me because he trusts me.”
Barry’s face turned bright red and he tried to utter a word but couldn’t.
Frustrated, Kyle pushed him away.
Choking and coughing, Barry curled up on the floor. “I fucking hate you.”
Kyle stood, picking up the bottle on his way up and took a long drink. “You’re nothing but a soft fat and lazy slug. You might have read every book ever written but you’ll never be a decent human being.” Kyle tipped the bottle upside down and poured the contents on Barry. When the bottle was empty, he smashed it against the wall and said, “If you ever say anything about my wife again, I will kill you.”