In a low voice, the man who identified himself as Number Four, real name Blake, said. “We know what happened. We just don’t know when.”
“Thirty years ago,” Malcolm replied as he stayed busy working on a buggy. Which was more of an act than anything else in case Maggie or Norris checked on him.
They were still in the lab, searching papers and it was their suggestion that Malcolm go back to the warehouse to check things there.
“Jesus,” Blake said. “Thirty years. So chances are, when they left to look for family, they aren’t finding anything.”
Malcolm shook his head.
“Okay.” Trey lifted his hands. “Why is this man hiding in here? Why are we not telling the team he’s here?”
“Trey,” Malcolm said firmly. “You saw their reaction when they saw the empty pods.”
“Yeah, they need answers.”
“And the people that hatched, have no more answers than I did.”
“You can’t be sure,” said Trey. “You can’t. I know you come from a time that there was an ulterior motive for everything. But that’s not the way it is. They are taking the cryo fluid, they are searching for answers. It was frustrating for Maggie.”
“Be that as it may, let’s be safe,” Malcolm said then turned to Blake. “Why did you hide when we arrived?”
Blake scoffed. “From my knowledge they kidnapped me, froze me for God knew how long while the world ended. I see a military guy, I’m thinking they’re gonna think those of us protected are the cause. I got worried.”
“I think you may be right,” said Malcolm.
“No,” argued Trey. “You’re basing this on what they say about the president and you can’t blame them, he knew about the virus, he was part of Genesis.”
Malcolm slammed a tool. “None of us were. None of us had knowledge. How about you, Blake?”
“No, I was confused when I woke up,” Blake replied.
“Why didn’t you leave with the others?” Trey questioned.
“I went to my apartment, which was gone. I don’t have family. I was a ward of the state until I went into the Army. I was career military, satellites and communications when this happened. I had no clue.”
Malcolm held out his hand toward Blake as if to say, ‘There’.
“What?” Trey asked.
“He didn’t know.”
“That’s not to say someone else didn’t,” Trey continued to argued. “Do you have a meeting place, or are you guys all on your own?”
“Some are meeting up in Vegas. We figured with the Hoover Dam, we could get power restored,” Blake answered. “But meet up isn’t for several weeks.”
“Good. But Vegas is a military Salvation stopping point,” Malcolm said. “I have an idea. I hope you’re game. I just have a really bad feeling…”
“And I don’t.” Trey interrupted.
“Yes, Trey, we know you don’t.” Malcolm snapped. “What in the world would it take for you to see something is up?”
“When you can tell me what you think is up. Because right now, it’s just a feeling something is not right. No idea what it could be, right?”
‘No.”
“It’s a gut feeling,” Trey said. “I get it. I can also remember being a kid and saying, ‘Dad, I’m hungry, can you make me something to eat?’ And you’d say what?”
“I’d ask what you wanted.”
Trey nodded. “And if I didn’t know, you would always tell me. Well let me know when you know what you want to eat and I’ll cook it, until then, I’m not lifting a pot. Same premise. When you know what it is you think they’re doing, then I will listen and stop fighting. Until then… I’m staying away from the stove and being neutral.”
Fair enough. Malcolm could accept that, mainly because he knew, soon enough, Maggie or Norris would do something and Malcolm would be able to read his gut instinct a lot clearer.
THIRTEEN – ARRIVAL
Day Ten AR
“What did you wear?” John asked Meredith. The question seemed to confuse her, or perhaps it was the fact that she was abruptly drawn away from watching Hunter attempting to drink coffee.
“I’m sorry,” Meredith replied. “What did I wear?”
“Wardrobe. How did you dress?” John explained. “Before stasis. When you woke up in the morning, what did you wear? I’m curious. Those oversized blue jeans just don’t strike me as something that you would naturally wear.”
“That is an odd question, John,” Meredith said. She sat next to him. They had set up a small campsite the night before. One that would pack up with ease and have them in Champaign in just a few hours.
“I know. I’ve just been spending an enormous amount of time with you and I was curious.”
“Fifteen days,” Meredith said. “It’s been fifteen days since we woke up. Ten days since we emerged from the lab and eight continuous days for us.”
“You’re counting. I’m touched.”
“You’re not?”
“Thirty years have passed. Why bother?”
“True.”
“So…” John sipped his coffee. “What was your wardrobe of choice?”
“Well… it depends. I’m always comfortable. Work days I wore pant suits, or a nice dress. At home. Yoga pants, a tee shirt, or sweater. Not the thinnest of women, John, so I am limited on what I wore. Or rather what was comfortable wearing. So you’re right. Jeans were not a number one preference.”
“I think you are built wonderfully. They work for you. The… blue work shirt does not.”
“Remind me next time we’re by any clothing store to grab something more becoming.”
“Maybe we should do the same for your boy, Hunter.” John nodded Hunter’s way. It wasn’t that Hunter didn’t wear clothes. He did. Hand sewn pants made from animal hide and no shirt. No matter what the weather.
“That’s not a bad idea. Especially if we want to integrate him.”
“Maybe there will be a Walmart.”
“Would the clothes be any good?” Meredith asked.
“I’m sure. Dusty as finding Grandma’s old wedding dress.”
“What about you, John? What did you wear?”
“I was a writer. It was hard put to get me out of my pajamas before noon. When I did, I never dressed up. I dressed in jeans that were old and comfortable and I had a writing shirt with so many holes in it, my wife used to have a fit.”
Meredith stared at him a few seconds. “That’s just odd. You seem so pompous.”
“Gee, thank you.”
Meredith smiled and finished her coffee. “Are we ready?”
John stood. “What next? Seriously. After we get to Champaign. What is next?”
“Salvation?”
“With Hunter?” John asked.
“He’s human.”
“Is it a good idea to go there?”
“John,” Meredith scolded. “That’s not fair to Hunter.”
“I’m not talking about Hunter. I’m talking about is it fair to go to Salvation. We still aren’t sure we are carriers or not. We have the DC lab coming to Champaign. I’m thinking that perhaps we who have so much in common, who are infants in this new world, should in fact, just do what we were supposed to do.”
“And that is?” Meredith asked.
“Survive and establish civilization.”
“Civilization is established in a place called Salvation…”
“Look around. Is it really? It’s behind some big wall,” John said. “Do we in fact even belong there?”
John brought up valid points. Meredith, who before it all, made a living off of theorizing, had some deep thinking to do and had to get back to what she did best. Determining outcomes from the present situation. John was missing one more important point. It wasn’t about if they belonged in Salvation, more importantly, it was if would they even be welcome there.