“Like what?”
There was a pause at the other end of the line. Finally Leung said, “Like the probability that your brother is already dead.”
“What!” Richard yelled into the phone, “How dare you…”
“Stay home, Richard,” said Leung. “Stay home and wait. Leave this to the Police. If Danny’s alive, we’ll find him.”
“By the time you find him he’ll be dead of old age!” snapped Richard, and he smashed the phone down on his desk.
Still fuming, he went to see Mohinder Bains. He knocked on Bains’ door and was immediately invited in. He fought to compose himself as he sat down and gave Bains a quick overview of his situation.
“Have you talked to the police?” said Bains.
“Yes, I just got off the phone with them. They’ve found nothing.”
“Well, I’m certain they will locate your brother. I have the greatest confidence in them.”
“I have another request to make.”
Bains stared back at him.
“I don’t share your confidence in the police. I don’t believe they’ll ever find Danny. I need to take another weeks’ leave of absence.”
A panicked expression crossed Bains’ face.
“That would make things extremely difficult for me,” he said. “The Innovation Day celebration is imminent, and we need everyone here to take part – you especially because of the importance of what you teach. The ‘Innovation in Agriculture’ pavilion is a crucial part of our contribution.”
“My first week is almost over,” said Richard. “It’s possible that I’ll find Danny in the next couple of days, but it doesn’t look promising. I won’t be of any use to the College or Innovation Day until I know what happened to my brother.”
Bains’ tone became less accommodating. “The Leave of Absence application stipulated one week,” he said, his voice rising. “One Week! I’ve given you leeway even though this important event is rapidly approaching. I know you’re concerned about your brother, but you should let the police handle it. That’s their job. An extra day, possibly…”
“I don’t think that will be enough,” said Richard. “Look, I’m sorry, but these are circumstances beyond my control. It’s a life-and-death situation.”
“I understand that you are having personal problems. But you also have responsibilities here at the College.”
“Is Morrison still covering for me?”
“Mr. Morrison is doing a
fine
job,” said Bains, and Richard recognized what Bains’ emphasis on ‘fine’ might mean regarding his own state of employment.
“And the Agricultural pavilion is on schedule?”
“Yes, I believe so, though without your supervision I believe they’re planning to scale back certain aspects…”
“So the College hasn’t experienced any major hardship as a result of my absence.”
“The College has been getting along swimmingly without you. That’s not the point. I’m disappointed in you, Richard. What’s happening to you? You’ve always been so dependable and accommodating – we could always rely on you. Do you realize that if you were gone for another week the Innovation Day celebration would be taking place only a few days after your return?”
“Let me tell you something,” said Richard, raising his own voice. “The only family I have left in the world is missing. To be blunt, my brother’s life is vastly more important to me than Innovation Day.” He leaned forward, looking directly at Bains. “And while we’re on the subject of Innovation Day and ‘Man’s Triumph Over Nature’: I’ve spent the past few days fighting my way through what remains of Man’s accomplishments in Surrey. If the past few thousand years of history have been a battle between Mankind and Nature, I’ve got a newsflash for you – Mankind lost.”
Bains gaped at Richard as if he’d never seen him before. There were several uncomfortable seconds of silence. Finally, Bains slid over to the filing cabinet, hauled the top drawer open, and located another Request for Leave of Absence form.
“Taking your situation into account,” he said, “I’ll give you some latitude in this matter, but I hope you won’t test my good nature any further.”
With the signed paper in hand, Richard returned to his office to retrieve his pack. Walking out, he noticed yet another of the ubiquitous posters on the wall beside him – ‘First Annual Innovation Day – Man’s Triumph Over Nature’. With an angry flourish he grabbed the top of the poster, ripped it off the wall, and let it fall to the floor.
“The Police are just trying to do their job,” said Carrie as she chased Richard down the steps of the College.
“Well they should try harder,” he said. “We’ll head back to my place. I’ll do a proper repair on the lock.”
They climbed onto their bikes and headed for Richard’s house, wheeling down a main thoroughfare that was decked out with colourful streamers and banners announcing ‘Innovation Day’. After about ten minutes’ ride they reached an intersection jammed with traffic.
Richard felt a sudden chill, and wasn’t sure why. A giant Can-Cartel billboard loomed above them. Suddenly he realized they were passing through the exact spot where he’d exited the stalled streetcar what seemed like an eternity ago. The disturbing images came flooding back into his mind – Danny in the shadows of an alley talking to a tattoo-clad biker. It was the last day he’d seen his brother alive.
He glanced up and for a moment it was as if his daydream had come to life. A paunchy, bearded biker that could well have been Danny’s contact strode across the street not a half-block away and jumped onto a motorbike behind another man. The two tore off into the chaotic traffic before he could react.
Richard scanned around the crisscrossing maze of alleys where he’d first pursued Danny, praying that against all logic he’d see his brother again. There was no sign of Danny, but he saw something else that made his hair stand on end.
Reunion
It was a face in profile – one he recognized immediately. It was the face of Matt Foster, Danny’s friend from school. Matt was turned partly away from them, in the direction Richard had seen the biker disappear.
Richard rode quickly up until he was no more than a few feet away, and said, “Matt…”
Matt turned, recognized him, and immediately took off, sprinting down an alley to their left. Richard chased after him, but lost ground turning the bike. Before he could catch up, Matt reached a cross alley and tore around it. To Richard’s surprise the boy soon re-appeared, running in the opposite direction and frantically glancing over his shoulder. Seconds later Richard saw the reason for the direction change as Carrie, on her bike, came charging out of the alley.
Matt fought to cross the intersection and escape the other way, but Richard accelerated and cut him off. Matt was so out of control he ran right into Richard’s bike and fell to the ground. Richard quickly jumped off, hauled the boy to his feet, and slammed him against a nearby brick wall.
“Look out!” Carrie yelled.
Richard glanced down just in time to see Matt pull a knife from his belt. He smashed Matt’s wrist against the wall and the knife clattered to the ground.
He clamped his hand around Matt’s throat. “You were talking to that biker, weren’t you – the one I saw with Danny. You’ve been holding out on me.”
“Fuck you!” said Matt, “I already told you everything.”
“Then why were you running?”
“You scared me.”
“Cut the crap,” said Richard, tightening his grip. “Matt…Foster – that’s your last name. You’re ‘F’ aren’t you?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Danny’s journal – ‘F says C can get transportation’. F is you, isn’t it. What haven’t you told me? I’ll break your neck, so help me!”
Matt’s face turned red and his eyes bulged out.
“Okay,” he croaked.
Richard relaxed his grip, but kept Matt pinned against the wall.
“Danny told me he needed transportation,” said Matt. “He didn’t say why. I set him up with a guy I know.”
“What guy?”
“A guy named Crack. He’s a soldier in one of the militias around town. He can get anything. I set up a meeting between Danny and Crack. That’s all I know, I swear…”
“Why didn’t you tell me this before?”
“Crack doesn’t like his name tossed around. It might have gotten back to him.”
“That biker you were talking to – who is he?”
“He’s one of Crack’s gang – a guy named Peachy. I was trying to set up a deal with Crack, but he wasn’t interested.”
“A deal for Danny?”
“No, No, I swear. I don’t know anything else about Danny.”
“So where can I find this ‘Crack’.”
“You can’t – not directly. I could put out the word and maybe meet with Peachy again, but it’d take a few days.”
Richard tightened his grip. “You’d better not be lying to me…”
“I’m not. That’s all I know.”
Richard let go and Matt collapsed to the ground.
“Get lost!” said Richard. Matt staggered to his feet and loped away.
“I’ll find you if you’re lying,” Richard called after him.
Richard turned to Carrie, “Thanks for the help cutting him off. What would I do without you?”
“You've come a long way from the timid schoolteacher I met a week or so ago.”
“Does that mean you’re glad you didn’t let them execute me back in Surrey?”
“I’ll reserve judgment on that,” she said, smiling.
They jumped back on their bikes and started to ride.
“Let’s forget about going back to my place,” said Richard as they rode.
“What?”
“Remember Danny’s journal? Remember he talked about someone called ‘C’? ‘C can get transportation’? Well C can stand for Chuck, Clarence…or
Crack
! Matt might not know how to find Crack, but if by some miracle he’s still alive, I know somebody who would probably know all about him.”
After about an hour’s ride they arrived at Jim Keller’s place. Richard accelerated when he spotted a wisp of smoke rising near the RV, and he said a silent prayer that Keller had somehow survived.
His prayer was answered when Keller shouted “Hey there!” from across the yard. He strode toward them with an armful of firewood.
“Hi!” returned Richard, waving. “Thank God you’re alive. I thought you’d had it for sure.”
Keller dropped the wood beside the fire, then walked over and he and Richard embraced.
“That makes two of us,” he said. “So – you’re still breathing. Thank God! I’m surprised I must say – but pleased of course. Not only are you alive, but you’ve done pretty well for yourself.” He nodded toward Carrie. Carrie blushed.
“This is Carrie Anderson,” Richard said, feeling warmth rush to his own cheeks. “Carrie, this is my uncle, Jim Keller. He helped me jump the train to Surrey in the first place.”
“Against every sensible fiber in my being,” said Keller. “But you survived – thrived even – looks like hardship and danger agree with you.”
Seconds later Zonk came tearing around the back of the RV and leapt up on Richard, panting and barking with uncharacteristic excitement. Richard ruffed the dog’s fur affectionately.
“Zonk,” he said. “You’re here too. Believe it or not, I’ve missed you.”
“After I got back on my feet I stopped off and picked him up at the shelter,” said Keller.
“This is Zonk?” said Carrie. “Somehow he’s not what I pictured.”
“This is Zonk,” said Richard. “He’s not much to look at, but he grows on you.”
“Hi, Zonk,” said Carrie, patting Zonk’s head and scratching under his chin.
“Keep scratching him there and you’ll have a friend for life,” said Richard. Zonk was in ecstasy. His tongue lolled around in his mouth and his eyes glazed over with pleasure.
“What happened to you – on the train?” Richard said to Keller.
“Takes more than a railway guard to do in an old dog like me,” said Keller. “Bastard shot me, but the bullet didn’t hit anything important,” Keller lifted his shirt to reveal a large patch over his midsection. “He caught up with me and we fought. In the end the guard made the jump – unwillingly, of course. I was hurt too bad to jump after that and by the time I got myself stitched up I had no idea how to find you. To tell the truth I’d given you up for dead.”
“Lucky for me I found a guardian angel,” said Richard, smiling over at Carrie.
She blushed again. “I’ve been called a lot of things in my life, but I think that’s a first.”
Keller’s expression was somber. “Did you have any luck finding Danny?”
“I found a place where I’m sure he’d been, but I’m not sure how recently, and there was nothing to indicate where he went.”
“Sorry to hear that,” said Keller. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“As a matter of fact,” said Richard. “I had a run-in with Danny’s school friend on the way here. It turns out he’d been holding out on me – now he says he introduced Danny to some gangster, but he claims he doesn’t know how to find the guy. I was hoping that with your connections you might be able to help.”