Well, it's about that time... lets see which way they are going to lean.
====================================================================
Chapter Five
“So you guys jumped in your dinghy and just rowed to shore?”
“Not quite. The raft we had picked up had an outboard on it, like those surf rescue boats. Besides, is it
really that hard to believe? Illegals from Cuba have been coming across for years on a whole lot less than
we had available.”
“Oh, that’s right.” Kyle observed dryly. “You and your magic bag of never-ending diamonds.”
“You’ll have to ask Max about that side of it.” Nathan retorted. “He provided the finances for it all.
Good luck though - I tried asking him about it, but once he started going on about pressurization levels
and genetic engineering, I gave up.”
“So where did you guys manage to sneak in?” I asked.
“That was the easy part. We aimed for the docks that were busiest so we wouldn’t get into port any time
soon. The captain of the container ship had to drop anchor just off the coast of Florida, and we came in
through the Everglades at midnight. Stashed the boat in an abandoned shack in the swamps and went
looking for some local transport we could boost to get us here.”
It had been three days since we had all met again, and we were preparing to be back on the
road, whatever our destination. Max and Michael were removing the last of the signs we had been there
before sealing the pod chamber, on the chance that Kivar's people might be able to brute force their way
in. The rest of us were by the vehicles, having loaded the last of our packs. They came down to join
us, and Max took a moment to try reading what the expressions on our faces meant before speaking.
“The first night you guys arrived here, I said you all had until this moment to weigh things up and decide
what course of action you all wanted to take. I wish we had more time for it, but the time for that decision
is now. Before you tell me though, I just want to say that I love all you guys, and whatever you choose,
you will have nothing but my total support and respect for it.” He smiled nervously. “So, who wants to be
first?”
“I will.” Kyle said with a vengeful glint in his eye. “If you’re serious about making a stand, I’m serious about
standing with you. I want to see this guy up against a wall, and with any luck I’ll be the one pulling the
trigger. After everything he’s cost us, I want to return the favour.” He looked down at his feet as he
finished. “Besides, he’s the reason Dad is dead. He’s made it personal.”
“Fair enough.” He turned to Michael and Maria. “How about you guys?”
Michael coughed into his hand and looked down at Maria, who smiled and gave his hand a quick squeeze
for encouragement.
“Max, this wasn’t an easy decision to make. I’m not the guy I used to be. Crazy as it sounds, I have
responsibilities, as a husband and a father. I have to put my family first in every choice I make.”
“I know. I didn’t offer the choice lightly. I know all too well what it could cost you if you stay.”
“Good.” Michael grinned. “Then maybe from now on, when you ask for my advice, you could listen to
me for a change. We’re both in.”
He turned to me, and I stepped next to him and gazed up at the cliff top.
“You remember the first night we were here? I joined you up there on the point and we talked about your
mistakes?”
“I remember.”
“Did you think I’d repeat them? I always learned from your screw-ups, Max. That’s why we made such
good lab partners.” He laughed at that, and I hugged him closer. “We’ve lost too much time as it is.
Whatever time I have left I want it to be with you.”
He looked over the top of my head. “Sorry Nate, looks like you and Isaac are heading home alone. When
you get there, though, please tell your folks they have my deepest thanks for all they did, and all they were
willing to do to help us.”
“What are you smoking, Maxwell? Isaac and I are staying with you guys.”
“What?” Max stepped back and grabbed his arm. “What are you talking about? The plan was always for
you and him, at least, to go home!”
“Plans change, son. Besides, you’re one to talk about being responsible for everything. I had this Kivar
clown in my sights and could have put him down for good. Instead I settled for taking out his shoulder.
Do you think there hasn’t been a moment I haven’t been haunted by that decision since we found out what
he’s done? What he plans to do?”
“I know that, but at least you and Isaac could make it away, could be safe. This doesn’t have to...”
“If you even think of finishing that sentence, I’m gonna knock your head off of your shoulders.” His eyes
took on a dangerous glint, and Max swallowed hard. He turned his back on the others and hissed into
Max’s ear so they couldn’t hear - not realising I was close enough to still hear what was said between
them.
“Look, I didn’t like it then and I still don’t now, but you know full well what we did to that kid, and what the
long-term effects could be. Do you honestly think I can teach him everything he’ll need to know
to deal with it? Can you look into my eyes and tell me that he would be safer without all of you being
there to protect him?” Max shut his eyes to try and block it out, but Nathan pressed on. “You said
you would support and respect any decision we make. Are you telling me that only works when we make
the decision you want us to make? Mike and Maria are risking just as much if not more, and you
welcomed them with open arms.”
“All right!” Max sighed and opened his eyes. “Okay, you’re right. It’s your call to make. I just... I wasn’t
able to save her. I was right there, and I couldn’t do a thing. I figured that if I kept you two out of it,
then part of her would still...”
“I know. I feel the same, but I have to believe she would agree with what we did and why. It’s one of
the few things that keep me going.”
I cleared my throat. “Um, guys? Speaking of going...?”
“Yeah, you’re right. Let’s make a move.” Max and Nathan climbed into the back of the Jeep and Kyle slid
in behind the wheel. “You can drop us off at the bottom of the cliff; we need to collect Betsy before
we go.”
“Who’s Betsy?” Kyle and I said in unison, looking at Max shake his head as we headed down the road.
“Oh, not this again.”
“Hey, don’t start with me on this, Max. I told you from the first day we found her that her name was Betsy.
For damn sure you can’t talk - not when the best you could ever came up with was Bob. You can drop us off
here.” He said, pointing over Kyle’s shoulder to a point on the side of the road, and we pulled over as they
jumped out. Nathan stood there scratching his chin for a minute before turning to Max.
“Nope, no idea. You’re gonna have to do your whole hand-wavy thing again.”
Max grinned. “You’re hopeless, you know that?”
“Hey, it isn’t my fault.” Nathan protested. “This stretch of road looks totally different now than it does
at two in the morning.”
“Yeah, okay. You keep telling yourself that.” Max closed his eyes for a moment, then raised his hand
and made a wiping motion, as part of the cliff face disappeared to reveal a hidden cavern.
“Perfect! I never get tired of that trick. Be right back.” Nathan walked into the cavern, removing something
from his pocket as he did so. There was a brief silence, interrupted by the sound of a large engine starting
up, and he came rolling out in a ‘78 Ford Bronco. He had a big cheesy grin on his face, and I rolled my
eyes and turned to Max.
“Betsy?”
He nodded. “Betsy.”
We both laughed at the antics, and Max looked at Kyle. “Would you mind riding with Nathan for a while? Liz
and I have some things we need to talk about.”
Kyle looked at me for confirmation, and I nodded. “Sure. No problem.”
Max got himself comfortable in the driver’s seat, then eased back on the road, with Michael, Maria and the
two kids in the wagon and Nathan and Kyle in the rear. He focused on the road ahead and I decided to bring
it up myself.
“So what is it we need to talk about?”
“Honestly? Nothing springs to mind. I just thought they needed some time together. Those two have been
sniping at each other since you got here, and with what we’ll be facing, we can’t afford to let it go on for
long. We have to be able to work together and trust each other. If they don’t kill each other first, they
should get it sorted out - either way the problem’s solved.” He looked at me out of the corner of his eye
and smiled. “Besides, it seemed as good a way as any for us to be alone for a while.”
“Well, if that’s the case, then fair enough.” I studied his face as he concentrated on the road ahead,
and smiled. “You’ve changed. You aren’t wound as tightly as you used to be. I think I like it.”
“Well, you can thank that cousin of yours for that. Spending the time I did with him and his family, it was like
I found a side to myself that I didn’t know about.” He grinned cheekily. “Funny how that happens
when I spend time with a Parker.”
“Speaking of you two together, do you mind if I ask you something?”
“Go ahead.”
“What was Nathan talking about back there?”
His smile faded. “What do you mean?”
“Max, please. I was standing right next to you when he said it. ‘You know full well what we did to that kid’.
It’s Isaac he was talking about, wasn’t it?”
“I can’t say.”
“Can’t or won’t? Wasn’t it you who just told me how we have to trust each other if we’re going to survive out here?”
He sighed, frustrated, and I saw his knuckles turn white with the grip he had on the steering wheel.
“Look, Liz, I do want to tell you, really. But it isn’t my decision to make. It’s not my story to tell.”
I was reminded of when I had to say the same thing to Alex, not long after this crazy ride had first
started, and I had a sudden wish that he was still here, so I could ask his forgiveness one more time for
what I’d put him through. He had one advantage though - at least he could walk away from me. That’s
a bit harder to do when you’re travelling at forty miles an hour. We travelled the next few minutes in
silence before he tried again.
“Look, I can’t tell anyone without discussing it with Nathan first. Let me clear it with him, and then we
can talk.”
“So in the mean time I should just trust you.”
“I can remember there was a time when you could do that without thinking about it.”
“I remember it too, but that was a long time ago. I don’t have the luxury anymore of doing things when
I haven’t thought about what might happen if I do.” I sniffed sadly, and gazed off at the hills in the
distance. “I guess you aren’t the only one that has changed.”
It was a long, quiet and lonely ride after that.
====================================================================