Herculanium (35 page)

Jayna hesitated to move, unsure of what to do or how to act. “Kind of ironic that you find peace and contentment inside the heart of death, isn’t it?”

Preston put his arms around her shoulder and led her forward. “Where can I find my family?”

Jayna retrieved her site pamphlet and got their bearings. “It’s this way,” she said, pointing to their left. “About 200 yards.”

Preston followed her lead, staying on the winding paths and enjoying the shade the trees were providing. Jayna took a more direct route, walking directly over the graves and plaques as she hiked through the lawns and thickets.

“What the hell are you doing?” he yelled from across the bushes. “Don’t you have any respect for the dead?”

“You mean there are people buried under these cement slabs?” She abruptly paused in place.

“Well of course there is. We’re in a cemetery, for heaven’s sake. What do you think those were?”

“I don’t know; I’ve never seen graves like these before.” She immediately picked her steps and hurried to Preston’s side, looking around to see if anyone saw her transgression. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to desecrate anything. Or anyone.”

Preston smiled and kept walking on the path, per Jayna’s direction. It was the most peaceful place he had been to since waking up in the future. The path kept opening up new vistas and sensations hidden just moments before. The overcast sky did little to diminish its lush foliage or simple demeanor. The erect tombstones seemed as natural and belonging as the forest that surrounded it. There was nothing here but gentle stillness, separate like a world of its own.

Just as they had entered a clearing, Preston felt Jayna’s hand gently tapping him on the shoulder. “Your family is just beyond that hill,” she said. “I can’t go on beyond this point.”

“But I want you to be by my side. I want them to meet the kind soul who’s taken care of me all this time.”

“I am flattered, but this is something you’ll have to go alone. It’s too personal for me to be in there. There will be plenty of time to come back again. I will meet them, but it’s more important that they see you.”

Preston squeezed Jayna’s hand and nodded his head. She was right, of course. It was more his fear of what lay ahead, and the emotions he was to experience, that justified her company. He took a deep breath and proceeded forward, not wanting to look up until he actually saw the tombstones.

There were four plaques placed evenly on the grass beside each other, kept cool by the shade of a sprawling old tree. Empty flower receptacles lay rusted above the ground, another reminder of how old this section of the cemetery truly was. He expected himself to weep uncontrollably the moment he saw his loved ones’ names, to lose control again in grief and remorse.

Instead, however, he just smiled.

He gently brushed the leaves off the plaques with his hand, removing stray branches and other material that had cluttered its surface. He stared at each of the names for what seemed like an eternity, smiling at flash recollections with each blink. He should have brought flowers, he thought with regret. Despite the time differential and the remoteness of their location, he could tell all four were standing in front of him.

And they were smiling, too.

“I’m sorry it took so long to find you. I never thought I’d see you guys again. There are so many things I need to say, but I don’t really know where to begin. I’m just glad that you’re still around to remind me of all the love that we shared, and the precious time we spent together.”

Preston looked over his shoulder, and saw Jayna standing exactly in the same spot where he left her, wiping tears from her eyes.

“I don’t know what happened to you. I don’t know how you lived, how you coped; how you grew old, or how much you suffered by my leaving. If I could do things all over again, I wouldn’t have left. I would’ve stayed home and told each and every one of you, every day, how much I loved you, and how much you all meant to me.”

He squatted down and began picking up dried leaves, grinding them slowly in his fingers as he spoke. A gentle breeze coursed through the trees, rustling the leaves overhead in pleasant-sounding waves. The fragrant smell of rain was in the air, indicating it was soon to come.

“I didn’t mean to leave the way I did, and I didn’t know I was going to be gone for so long. I should’ve been there, taking care of you, growing old together instead of dreaming of what should’ve been. I wish there was something I could do to erase everything and start over.”

Preston knelt down on the soft, muddy grass in a prayer position, not minding the moisture soaking his pant legs.

“But life doesn’t work that way.”

ENOCH JONES.

PETRA WILKINS.

“Mom, Dad; I don’t think I’d ever really told you how much I appreciated everything you’ve done for me. When times got rough, you were always there. I couldn’t have gotten this far without you. Thanks to both of you, all my dreams came true.”

ERICA SPAIN-JONES

“Erica; sweet, sweet Erica, I miss you so much, babe. I wish you were here with me right now, to make sense of everything. I need you to bring out the best in me again. I can’t live here without you.”

MAXWELL S. LEE.

“Max, my guardian angel. I know you’re out there still watching over me. Take care of my wife and my folks. Make sure they are always safe, like you’ve always done.”

He awkwardly stood up and brushed the grass from his knees and shoes. He bowed his head and clasped his hands together, making sure to stand directly centered in front of his family. Instead of a waterfall of tears from sadness and anguish, he cried instead small tears of hope and remembrance.

“After all these years, we’re together again. I found my heart now, thanks to you. I have a reason to live, and a reason to come back. This isn’t goodbye; it’s just the beginning. I’m going to come back here a lot more often. I have a lot of making up to do.”

He kissed his fingers and touched each of the plaques individually, pausing for a moment to imbue them with his love. Raindrops began to patter the leaves above in a broken chorus.

“Please pray for me and give me strength. I love you all. Always please remember that.”

The train ride back was quiet. Preston kept his gaze outside his window, staring at the gray landscape scrolling outside his window. In his heart, he was still back at the gravesite, praying with his family. Jayna wanted to start a conversation, but decided he still needed quiet time to reflect. She held his hand and squeezed their fingers together, then patted his arm. Although she was officially off his case, she was going to make sure they remained good friends.

Whatever assignments lay ahead, surely none could compete with his.

The inside front entrance was unusually empty when they disembarked from the monorail, devoid of people and vendors who were there just a few hours before. The chorus of earlier funeral processions was replaced with wind whistling through the trees and buildings, creating an aural moan that was almost too eerie to describe. Water darkened the pavement in a deep volcanic gray, while puddles created mirrors that reflected the ominous sky.

“Is it closing time?” asked Preston, looking around from the top of the station steps. “I guess this is the worst place to be caught alone in at night, huh?”

“There are no such things as ghosts, Preston,” said Jayna. “21st century people were a superstitious lot, weren’t they?”

“Fine by me,” he said with a shrug. “You stay here; I’m going home.”

“Not if I reach there first!” she said, laughing as they raced down the steps.

The remaining park-goers streamed out of the front entrance, leaving Jayna and Preston to bring up the rear. As they were about to exit through the turnstiles, Preston abruptly turned around and took one last look behind him.

“Show me how to use the computer in the Hall of Records. I want to visit my family again next week. This time, I’ll have flowers.”

“No problem, love. I took the liberty of writing the coordinates down of their location. You can bypass the Hall and go straight via the monorail.”

Preston inhaled deeply and smiled, then followed Jayna through the turnstiles and into the front rotunda. What had been a virtual freeway off-ramp had turned into a yawning parking lot, with the few remaining cars and buses quickly spiriting its passengers away. Only a few taxi cabs were left, waiting for potential fairs and stragglers. Max the cabbie slowly pulled his car in front of Preston and Jayna, raising his hand up in a celebratory thumb’s up position.

“Need a ride, folks?” He opened the passenger doors by remote control, leaning sideways and greeting them with a smile.

“Glad to see you’re still here, Max,” said Jayna. “I’d hate to be stranded here right now.” She gripped the door handle and motioned for Preston to enter first.

“Do you know why everyone left so fast?” asked Preston, sliding into the backseat. “It’s like everyone decided to leave in a hurry.”

“It’s closing time. I don’t think they wanted to get caught in the rain. Them rain clouds look like they’re about to bust.”

Jayna entered the cab and firmly slammed the door. She barely had time to position her bottom when her cellphone rang. “Corporal Jayna Rogers speaking. How may I help you?”

Static sizzled from the earpiece, drowning the voice in oscillating clicks and pops. She pulled the phone away from her ear and tried to decipher the message from a distance.

“Captain Barrows, is that you? Your message is breaking up. Hello?” She turned to Preston. “There’s too much interference here.”

“It must be the cab’s new satellite com system,” said Max. “It operates on a pretty powerful frequency. It’s blocking your incoming signal. You might need to step outside to receive the call. When it starts to rain, you can forget it.”

Jayna rolled her eyes and unlatched the door. “Excuse me please, Preston. This call might be important. Max, stay put, okay? I’ll be right back.”

Max raised his hand up again in a thumb’s up position as she slammed the door shut.

“Handle your business, girl,” said Preston with a wink.

Jayna looked up at the sky and took several steps away from the door, spinning in place to get the best reception. “Is that better? How about now? Hello? Oh, bloody hell.” She turned to Preston and shrugged her shoulders. Preston raised his hand and motioned briskly for her to come back in. Jewel droplets of rain started to bead the windows.

Preston reached for the door handle to let her in, but instead heard the ominous click of all the cab doors simultaneously locking shut. He grabbed the handle and pulled it back as far as it would bend, but to no avail.

“Yo, Max, I think you locked the door by accident. Jayna’s ready to come in now.”

The cabbie spoke into his own cellphone, then gently lowered it back in its receptacle. “The contact is secured,” he whispered.

Max speared his foot into the gas pedal while turning the steering wheel over itself, away from the curb. Preston slid across the backseat and slammed against the door frame, nearly shattering the glass with his shoulder. He immediately sat up and turned into Jayna’s direction, only to see his friend quickly receding in the distance.

“What the fuck you doing?” he yelled, switching his gaze forward and back. “We have to go back and get her.”

But Max the cabbie was eerily quiet.

Jayna barely had time to release her grip when the taxi cab peeled away from the curb. She would’ve lost a few fingers had she been a nano-second slower. She instinctively retrieved her gun from her bag and ran after the cab, but it had already sped off beyond her range. Her skill of instant memory retention kicked into high gear.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing, Max?” she yelled, calling him while trying to maintain visual contact. “Bring the goddamn car back here now.”

“This isn’t funny, Max,” said Preston with a sneer. “Either you stop this car now, or I’m going to hurt you. Bad.” He could tell just by the cab driver’s eyes in the rearview mirror that he, too, was smiling.

Jayna waved her arms and flagged down another taxi cab conveniently driving nearby. She slid into the rear passenger seat and immediately began barking orders.

“Driver, this is official Combattra business. Follow that taxi cab that just turned the corner onto the main road. It was cab number 2G000783, Tunisia class, Saffron Yellow, four-door. I am ordering you to pursue and overtake. Is that clear?”

In her haste, she all but ignored the passenger already seated in the cab next to her. “I’m sorry to divert you, mate,” she said without taking her eyes off the road. “I’ll make sure to take you where you’re going once all this is done. In the meantime, enjoy the ride.”

Jayna’s cab screeched out of the winding rotunda and immediately gave chase. She was surprised at this cab’s obedience, considering her method of procuring the ride. She didn’t notice the remaining two taxicabs in the parking lot following suit.

“Corporal Jayna Rogers, serial number Alpha 2914 Beta Beta Gamma,” recited a disembodied voice beside her, “by order of the Military Bureau of Investigations, you are hereby ordered to stand down and voluntarily submit yourself to arrest pending a criminal investigation.”

She initially stared at the passenger in disbelief, but then slowly smiled at the humor of his words. “Very funny, smart-ass. How would you like us to drop you off right here, just a stone’s throw away from the cemetery? I’m sure it’s a pleasant place to be lost in while waiting for another ride.”

“My name is Special Agent Barrett, Arrest Administrator,” said the passenger, now holding a badge up in front of her. “I repeat, you are hereby ordered to stand down. Your gun, please.”

“I don’t recognize your authority. On what charges are you arresting me?”

“You’re under arrest for violating Civil Immunization Code 2RBR700A, aiding and abetting a known contagion.”

“Are you daft, man? Who’s a contagion? Me?”

“Your ward, Preston Jones.”

Preston cupped his hands around his mouth and pressed his face against the glass plating separating the driver from the rear passenger seating. “This is your last chance, Maxie,” he said, his breath creating swirls of condensation. “Stop this car, or I’m going to get you.”

Max the cabbie kept his eyes squarely on the rain-soaked road.

“Fine,” said Preston with a smile. “Have it your way. Nice knowing you, bitch.”

Preston tucked his chin into his shoulder and lurched forward, slamming the glass repeatedly with his upper body. Sensing the panel budge slightly from the impact, he then struck it with his palms and elbows, erratically swinging and angling back and forth. The glass panel continued to shake in place, splintering at the seams that kept it secured within the cab frame. Needing a series of powerful impacts to finally shatter the glass, Preston sat back on the cushion and raised his legs high in a bicycle pedal position. He cocked his legs and readied to kick like an angry mule.

Preston could tell just by Max’s eyes in the rearview that he was more than a little concerned.

“Why wasn’t I told this of this?” asked Jayna, now giving full attention to the agent. “Who else knew about his condition?”

“Moot. It’s inconsequential.”

“But why am I under arrest?”

“Because we’re not sure of the extent of your contact with Mr. Jones. What type of relationship did you have with him exactly, Corporal?”

“Strictly platonic, I assure you. We’re best friends.”

“That remains to be seen, soldier. In the meantime, if you verbally submit right now and surrender your weapon, we will allow you to communicate with him. We will even put you together in the same quarantine cell. You’re one of us, Corporal, which is the only reason why you’re not in handcuffs. We take care of our own.”

“And if I don’t capitulate?”

“I’ve studied your record. You’ve spent some time with the Special Forces. You already know what the answer is.”

“Preston Jones,” announced Max by his cab’s intercom system, “by mandate of the United States Military Bureau of Investigations, you are hereby ordered to cease and desist all hostile activities against government property and submit yourself to incarceration. You are formally being charged with Attempted Grand Health Infection. Do you understand the nature of the charges being leveled against you?”

“A little bit too late with the double-talk, Maxie,” said Preston. “Let me show you what I do understand.”

Bracing himself prostrate against the seat cushion, he cocked his leg as close to chin as possible, then stomped his heel forward against the glass. With each thrust, he felt the glass panel shudder a bit looser than the moment before. Preston then switched legs, slamming his shoes alternately as if he was running a sprint on his back.

Special Agent Barrett tapped the glass behind his driver’s seat. “Agent Willis, please catch up to Agent Victor, per Corporal Rogers’ request. We’re nearly to the rendezvous point.” Within a few short moments, Preston’s cab quickly came into view.

“Max is an agent,” said Jayna with a realizing sigh. “I should’ve known. He was a bit too accommodating.”

“
Max?
Is that Agent Victor’s name this week?” Agent Barrett looked at Jayna and laughed out loud. “Last week, he was Sven. I told him he didn’t look like a Sven. He was more of a Larry. Or a Piolo.”

“So what happens now, Agent Barrett? You have us both together. What’s going to happen to Preston and myself?”

“We’re headed to a quarantine van up the road. We had to keep your…detention discreet. It would be rather tasteless to stage a proper abduction inside a cemetery, don’t you think? Besides, Necropolis jurisdiction and zoning laws are quite specific when it comes to dealing with bodies.”

“Agent Barrett,” said his driver, “Agent Victor is signaling the subject is out of control. His life is in peril.”

“Tell him to stay at his post. We’re near the rendezvous point, and our escorts are flanking us now.”

The two taxicabs trailing behind them suddenly broke formation, with one tailgating from the near and the other pulling up in front of Max’s cab.

Preston admired the spider-web patterns he created against the glass plating, kicking different areas to crisscross the concentric orbits together. “I’m going to huff,” he sneered, “and I’m going to puff, and I’m going to kick the mother-fuckin’ door down!”

With a blood-curdling kiai, he shattered the clear plating, collapsing it into a shower of glittering debris. Max hunched his shoulders into a ball while Preston reached through the cab frame and grabbed him by his collar. Desperately, Max spun the steering wheel into a screeching circle, driving the car dramatically off the road and into a dirt embankment.

“Agent Victor just pulled off the side of the road,” screamed Agent Barrett’s driver. “We have a Code Red. I repeat, we have a Code Red.”

“Point Car, block off the trajectory and subdue the subject.” Agent Barrett shook his head and slammed his phone on his door, nearly shattering it in half. “Use utmost caution. Subject is contagious. You can do whatever you want with him; just don’t let him bleed.”

Jayna smiled smugly in her seat, rapping her fingers on the cushion. “I guess this wasn’t as easy as you thought it would be, correct Barrett?”

“Corporal Rogers, we are in the process of apprehending a dangerous felon. Can we count on your help and backup? While it is true that you are also under suspicion, I will appeal to your loyalty to the Combattra order to support us on completing our mission. I will stand by your side and plead for leniency.”

She glared at him. “You just kidnap and arrest me, and now you expect me to help you?”

“You are one of us, Corporal. We are a special breed in Combattra. Despite our circumstances, I have full confidence that you will do the right thing.”

She could see between his eyes that he was afraid, a rookie on one of his first assignments.

Preston secured his grip on Max’s collar and pulled him backwards, raking the jagged frame with his jacket. Max held Preston’s wrists and resisted, jamming his legs into the steering column and seat to lock his body inside the driver section. Preston slowly ran his left hand from the collar to Max’s face, gripping it in an open-handed claw.

“Alright, I want some answers. Who are you? Why the hell did you just try to kidnap me?”