Pipe Dreams (14 page)

CHAPTER 26

I
gnoring his injury, Jeremy paced.
The leaders of the other cells hadn’t arrived yet and he worried his efforts had been in vain. Glancing out the window, he sighed. Only a fat crow hopped on the sidewalk below. As if aware of his gaze, the crow cawed, its harsh call muted by brick and glass. Turning, he crossed the room again, his feet burning a path on the dusty, blue carpet.

The cell had been morose since Ashley
’s disappearance. Fear of the bone people was paramount and no one wanted to leave the safety of the basement. Finally, angry, Jeremy had ordered them to resume normal activities. They had obeyed, but their resentment was tangible. The junkie in the infirmary compounded his frustration. A babbling, dripping, oozing mess, the savage was useless until the drugs worked their way out of his system. The days of waiting had frazzled everyone’s nerves.

Hoisting his knapsack and setting off alone for the meeting place had been a relief. The other men had pleaded to accompany him on the several mile walk, but he didn
’t let them. He needed the time to himself. In the end, he had left Michael in charge. While still hobbled by a broken leg, Michael was out of the infirmary and lucid.

Now, nervous, Jeremy withdrew a metal water bottle from his pack and stared out the window while he drank. If the other cells didn
’t show soon, he would have little choice but to return home without answers or help. The crow flew away as something moved in the shadows across the street. Jeremy grinned when Mohamed stepped into view, swinging a canvas bag in his right hand. Julia was right behind him. In contrast to Mohamed’s big, black bulk, she was tiny. Her long, unruly curls bounced against her slim shoulders and made her seem younger than her years.

In minutes, the two joined him in the comfortable waiting room of what had been a successful dentist
’s office. They exchanged hugs before settling in to wait for Evan and Doug. Sharing stories, they passed the time until finally Jeremy broached the main subject. The afternoon was waning quickly and the others had not arrived. 

He brought them up to speed on Ashley
’s abduction and what he had learned about the NSO. Julia frowned.

“Okay, so we know it
’s evil, but what do you want us to do?  Honestly, Jeremy, I’ve got my hands full,” she said.

“I know, Julia. We
’re all so busy surviving, but Ashley’s abduction may have revealed something important.” Jeremy went on to explain the situation.

“Look, we suspect the bone people are in collusion with the
NSO. I want to know what that’s all about. We’ve been so damned afraid we never imagined we could do anything to stop them. But Julia, they’re not invincible. We’ve proved that. I want to know about the van and I want to know where they live. I don’t want any more of my people going missing.” When Jeremy finished speaking, Mohamed cleared his throat and told him about two recent abductions in his neighborhood.

“I know what you mean, and I
’m lucky they didn’t take my people, but what do you expect us to do?” he asked.

“There haven
’t been any kidnappings in my area, but one of my guards saw the van.  It came down 48th street with its lights off several nights ago. It wasn’t the first time either. My guys have seen it a few times and didn’t think to mention it until I questioned them. What is it with people?  I couldn’t believe they didn’t tell me!  I was thinking of calling a meeting myself when we got your message,” Julia said. 

Jeremy extracted a city map from his pack, spread it on the floor, and pointed out where the van had been spotted. Julia showed them where it had passed through her area and Jeremy marked the two routes with a pencil, forming an arrow on the worn, crinkled paper. It pointed to the slums. As a low veil of clouds obscured the afternoon sun and cast the office in shadow, Jeremy frowned, silently cursing their predicament.

“We need to get some people up there and see what we can find. I don’t have the resources to send a full team. Can either of you spare anyone?” he asked. Mohamed and Julia nodded. They spent the next few minutes sketching out a rough plan.

“Any serious shit goes down while they
’re out there, they split up and hightail it home. No one’s a hero, okay?” Jeremy said. The others gave their assent. Nobody wanted to risk a cell member, but they had no choice. The NSO’s probable involvement in the kidnappings and Vanessa’s information presented an immense threat to all of them.

Jeremy roused himself and folded the map. “We need to get going if we
’re going to get home before dark,” he said, hoisting his pack. On the street, they hugged each other before moving off in separate directions.

As Jeremy walked the slow miles back to the Gate, it started to rain. He did not seek shelter from the gentle sprinkle. Instead, he opened his mouth to the sky, letting the sweet, clear drops tickle his tongue. When the storm intensified, Jeremy picked up his pace. His pack flapped against his long back and the water ran in fast rivulets down his face, blurring the details of his surroundings. By the time he reached the Gate, he was soaked and shivering.

The living room was quiet when he entered. Slipping off his shoes, he removed his wet socks before padding to his private quarters to change. Ramirez was waiting for him when he returned, pacing back and forth in front of the long, green sofa.

“How
’d it go?” Ramirez asked.

“Hard to say. Some of the cells didn
’t show, but we’ve got a plan.” Jeremy took a seat, gesturing for Ramirez to join him, and explained.

“When do we leave?” Ramirez asked.

“Whoa. Who said anything about we?  I’m sending Paul and Mark.” 

“No fucking way. I
’m going whether you like it or not.”

“You
’re a cop, Ramirez. Not one of them would trust you enough to work with you. If this thing has any kind of chance, it’s got to be done carefully. You go, you’ll fuck it all up.”

“Fuck you, Jeremy. So what if I
’m a cop?  I’ve got more experience and training than any of you. And I’ve got a gun. Anything goes down, I’m the only one who’s got a shot at getting us out of there. Besides, something happens to me, it’s no big deal. As you’ve so sweetly pointed out, I’m not one of you. I don’t belong and won’t be missed. Have you been paying attention to what’s happening here?  This place is like a morgue. You’ve got a big morale problem that’ll just get worse if anybody else goes missing. Anyway, you don’t own me and you can’t stop me. I’m going. That’s final.”

“Okay. You made your point, but it goes down like this. First, you take off that uniform and put on some regular clothes. I can
’t believe you’re still wearing that shit,” Jeremy said.

Ramirez touched the uniform he had worn day in and day out for most of his adult life. Fingering the lapel, where his rank was brightly embroidered, he sighed.

“Fair. What else?”

“You don
’t let anyone know you’re a cop and especially don’t let them know you have a weapon. You don’t do a damned thing on your own. You go as part of the team, or you don’t go at all.” Jeremy narrowed his eyes and Ramirez shrugged.

“Yeah, I got it. Incognito. So, when do we leave?” 

“You need to be in place at the blockage by noon. Mark will go with you.”

“No. Not Mark. He
’s a good guy and all, but if we’re doing recon, I need someone who knows how to be quiet.” 

“Okay. Take Paul. He
’s not as steady as Mark, but he’s quick,” Jeremy agreed. After discussing the details, the men dispersed. Jeremy went to the infirmary to check on the savage, hoping the man had begun to recover. His body ached and the chill he had picked up in the rain had not abated. He rolled his neck, trying to loosen his muscles, then pushed open the long, white curtain and strode into the room.

CHAPTER 27

M
ichael scribbled in a thick,
leather bound book, oblivious to the goings on around him. Like a still pond reflecting the sky, the smooth surface of his face obscured a vast deep. Vanessa watched him through half-closed eyes. In recent days, they had exhausted the subject of Isaac and their shared memories had made it easier to bear his passing. That Isaac had loved him was no surprise.

Shifting her weight, Vanessa rolled sideways on the comfortable couch. Michael sat in Jeremy
’s chair, though she had learned he preferred being second-in-command. When Jeremy returned, wet and miserable from his journey, a faint relief had lightened the lines around Michael’s eyes and a trace of a smile had tilted the corners of his lips, but he did not stop writing. Instead of vacating his chair to hear the news and be part of the action, he focused on the movement of his pen across the page.

Vanessa was content to feign drowsiness and be near him. She imagined he wrote poetry and wondered about the rhythm of his lines. Would they be lyrical and slow? Or would they have a drumbeat pulse that reverberated in blood and bone?  The first man she had met since the rebellion who wanted nothing from her but company, Vanessa was safe in his presence. She was also more.

Something about him called her forth, challenging her to be worthy of his respect. She could not shrink in the brilliance of his light. As they had bantered and talked, she found herself thawing. The frozen edges of her heart were dripping and the dull fog of fear and dread was clearing from the mountains and meadows in her mind. Like the first shoot of green in the cold, raw mud of spring, she was awakening from a long and lonely sleep.

The scratching stopped. Michael placed his book on the table and reached for the crutches Jeremy no longer needed. Swinging her legs to the floor, Vanessa stood to offer assistance, but Michael waved her off
. He did not like his movement restricted and did not appreciate that she bore witness to his strife.

“I
’m going to find out what’s going on,” she said, standing and stretching.

“Wait,” he said. She twisted her head around to look at him, swinging her hair so it fell over her shoulder. “I
’ll come with you,” he finished. She smiled. When he grinned in response, the warmth she felt was like stepping into a steaming bath.

In the infirmary, the savage suffered beyond anything anyone could have inflicted upon him. Mariah had tried to keep him clean, but his violent jerking made it difficult. He reeked of diarrhea, urine,
and stale sweat. His red-rimmed eyes were unfocused and he was much skinnier than when they had first brought him to the basement. In the fluorescent light, his body glistened. It had been more than five days and his withdrawal symptoms had not abated. Mariah thought he might die.

Jeremy
’s frustration was blatant as he stood next to the bed, tightening his fists. Across from him, Mariah squeezed drops of water from a wet rag into the savage’s open mouth. The man’s tongue waved wildly, probing the air for more.

Turning her eyes away from the hideous sight, Vanessa fixated on Jeremy
’s flushed face. He shivered and snapped his jaw open and shut a few times before rolling his head in a wide circle. Mariah noticed his discomfort. In an instant, she was next to him, putting her palm on his forehead and throat.

“Jeremy, you
’re burning up,” she said. The savage groaned and the scent of fresh feces filled the air. “Come on, let’s get you out of here.” She locked her arm through Jeremy’s and led him out of the room. Michael hobbled in pursuit, with Vanessa right behind. Just outside Jeremy’s room, they stopped. Mariah turned to them and shook her head. “Uh uh, you two. That’s as far as you go. Go on back out of here. I’ll come and get you in awhile.”

Michael nodded and turned to leave. Vanessa followed him, her face covered to avoid catching Jeremy
’s germs. Threat of the Blue Flu terrified her. In the Zone, the first signs of fever summoned a black clad, medical recovery team. Any but the most benign infections weren’t tolerated and even the Fallen risked relocation to the Farm if the cameras detected signs of illness. People avoided getting sick at all costs.

Because of this, Mariah
’s behavior was shocking. Why hadn’t she distanced herself instead of touching Jeremy with bare hands?  And what about Michael?  His face only showed concern. Why wasn’t he afraid?  By the time they were back in the library, Vanessa couldn’t keep quiet.

“Michael, why did Mariah touch him? He
’s sick. She said he has a fever. Don’t you know what that could mean?”

“What?” His expression was blank. Then, understanding, he shook his head. “Oh. It didn
’t dawn on me, you bein’ from the Zone and all. People get sick all the time, Vanessa, and so far no one’s died from it. Yeah, we worry about the Blue Flu, but we figure if it’s gonna come, there ain’t anything we can do about it anyway, so we might as well take care of our own. We don’t eat birds, but beyond that, well…”  Michael shrugged.

It made sense. If the Blue Flu did get into the city, its effects would be immediate and beyond anyone
’s ability to control. The administrators had done everything possible to mitigate the threat and, if their efforts failed, the situation was hopeless. Sheepishly glancing at the silky man next to her, she covered her embarrassment with a smile.

“Yeah, we all worried about it for a long time. Now, we worry more about bacteria. Infections are about the most dangerous thing we
’ve got to deal with because antibiotics aren’t comin’ our way anytime soon,” Michael explained.

Vanessa was pondering this when Mariah burst into the library, searching frantically for a book. She muttered to herself, reciting a list of symptoms, while she scanned titles. “Jaw spasm, aches, high fever, sweats, difficulty swallowing. Damn it, where is it?” she cried before dropping to her knees to examine the lower shelves.

When she found what she was looking for, she snatched the book and scoured its index. Flipping the pages, she trailed her fingers down the small print.

“Shit! Shit! Shit!” she hissed.

“What you got, Mariah?” Michael asked. She whirled around, fear pinching her face.

“It
’s not good, Michael. If it’s what I think it is, we’re in serious trouble.” She carried the book to him. He brought it close and read the section she had indicated. His brow knit with worry as he questioned her.

“Really? I
’ve never heard of anybody gettin’ that,” he said.

“That
’s because everybody used to get vaccinated. You’re supposed to get a shot every five to ten years, but it’s been six since the rebellion. Jeremy doesn’t think he’s had a shot since he was a kid. I worried about it when he stepped on that nail, but I couldn’t do anything besides wash and disinfect it.

The problem with Tetanus is that the spores get inside and spread bacteria into the bloodstream. You can
’t stop it without antibiotics. It’s excruciatingly painful and can be deadly. There’s a one in four chance he’ll die, Michael, and I can’t do anything about it.”

“Could it be anything else?  I mean, Tetanus is really rare right?  M
aybe it just looks like Tetanus.”

Mariah shook her head. “I don
’t think so. The other diseases with similar symptoms are even less likely and, even if it were one of them, they’re just as bad. He needs antibiotics, Michael, and he needs them fast.”

“Damn, Mariah. This can
’t be happening. Isn’t there somethin’ you can do?”

“No. There
’s nothing. I could try to debride the wound, but that’s surgical and could just make it worse.”

Michael
’s face, usually an apathetic mask, was raw and open as he stared at the floor. He sat very still, as if his lack of movement would slow time.

“How long? How long have we got?”

“I don’t know. It differs case by case, but it won’t happen right away and, Michael, I’m not certain. Even if it is Tetanus, only 25% die. Those are good odds. The infection will hurt him, but it might not kill him. We have to keep positive.”

“Mariah, he
’s my brother. He’s all I’ve got.”

“I know, Michael. I
’m sorry. I just don’t know what to do.”

“Did I ever tell you about the time he saved my ass?”

“Tell me again.”

“I
’d like to hear, too,” Vanessa said. Michael half-smiled, half-frowned.

“We were kids and neither of us fit in. You know, him all gangly and geeky and me, well, let
’s just say I was intense. They used to razz us, the big kids. Anyway, I was walkin’ home one day and three of them surrounded me. They were doin’ all the shit they usually did, shovin’ me back and forth between them. Jeremy saw and he picked up a rock. That scrawny son of a bitch threw the damn thing as hard as he could. It hit one of them on the ass.” Michael laughed, shaking his head.

“What happened?” Vanessa asked.

“They took off after him. Now you know Jeremy doesn’t give a shit about what people think. Never did. He started runnin’ alright, but he was screamin’ something fierce. You’d have thought the world was ending. Next thing you know, he’s up a fire escape and into Mrs. Johnson’s window. They’re right behind him, but they didn’t know Mrs. Johnson like he did. She came out her front door with a rollin’ pin in one hand and fryin’ pan in the other. Funniest thing I ever saw was those boys runnin’ away from her.” He paused, grinning. Then he froze and the smile vanished.

“Mariah, he can
’t die.”

“The Farm has antibiotics,” Vanessa blurted. “I
’ve seen them on the hospital supply inventory. We have to get him there. They’ll treat him and then…” 

Mariah clapped her hands. “Yes. They do. Michael, we have to…”

“Have to what? Bring him there and hope they’ll bring him back to us all well and shit? Haven’t you been payin’ attention?  Either of you ever know anybody that’s come back from the Farm?”

“Wait a minute, Michael. What if somebody could get there and bring the antibiotics back?” Mariah asked.

“Maybe if they knew where it was or how to get there. Maybe if they would let us just walk in, take them, and leave. Quit dreamin’, Mariah. Ain’t gonna happen. Think about it. If no one ever comes back, then they’ve gotta have a way to make people stay. I can’t believe everyone who goes there’s got some life threatenin’ thing and they all die. Can you?” 

Hanging her head, Mariah didn
’t reply. Her dull defeat wore on Vanessa until she regretted having spoken at all. Suddenly, she brightened. “What about Ramirez?  Don’t you think he could get in and out? I mean he’s a cop right?  They wouldn’t have any reason to keep him if he was on some sort of official business. He could get in and he probably knows where it is. He would almost have to know. Wouldn’t he?”

A slow smile spread across Michael
’s face. Reaching out, he squeezed her hand before turning to Mariah. “This could work,” he said. “Mariah, can you find him and bring him here?  We need to talk to him now.”