Chapter 41
“There really is a Green Zone?” Kate asked as they walked.
“Yes,” Hunter answered. “All I saw was a green wall rising up into the sky. But it’s out there,” Hunter assured her.
“I always thought it was a fairy tale, like Camelot or Atlantis,” Kate replied.
“Before the collapse, I used to hear that the Softwar corporations were building their own safe havens,” Humphrey stated. “Some folks said they were building their own states,” he added.
“If they don’t like Raiders, why should we expect them to let us in?” Maude asked.
“Well, we’re not raiders,” Hunter answered.
“But they won’t know that, will they?” Humphrey asked.
“If they see Larson coming after us, they’ll know,” Kate interjected.
“If they care,” Maude replied.
“We’ll have to find some way to make them care,” said Hunter.
“Well, just don’t toss a bomb at them,” Kate joked. “What other options do we have?” she asked. “If Larson is alive, he will be after us. He will take our escape personally. And he is between us and our tunnels. Our only way to run, is away,” she concluded.
“Then we’re agreed?” Hunter asked.
“Yes,” Kate, Maude and Humphrey answered.
Hunter pulled out the big knife and unscrewed the compass. He checked their direction and then called up to the Twins, “Girls! Aim a little bit to your left.”
As the Twins adjusted their direction Hunter called out, “There! That’s perfect. Keep heading that way. In a few minutes it’ll be time for another ride.”
“Yeah!” the Twins answered him.
Slowly during the night the stars rotated across the sky. The wind began to pick up from the south. The air was warm and clouds moved in covering the stars. The group’s progress slowed down as the periods of rest became longer and the periods of walking shorter.
The wind picked up during the night. Kate was having trouble walking into it, it was just too strong and with Kaylie on her shoulders, she was just too tired. Off to her left Kate could see the sun coming up in a brownish haze of windblown dirt.
She looked over at Hunter to her right who was leaning into the wind, fighting to take each step.
“We need to stop,” Kate called out.
Hunter did not hear her.
Kate staggered closer and shouted, “We need to stop!”
Hunter heard Kate and turned his head. He nodded at her. “We need to find somewhere to get out of this wind,” he shouted.
Kate nodded. She looked back behind her for Maude and Humphrey. They were ten meters behind and faring no better. It was just impossible to walk into the wind anymore.
Kate walked back to meet them and shouted, “We need to find a place to stop! To get out of this wind!”
Maude and Humphrey just nodded agreement. Kate saw that Maude and Humphrey had roped themselves together so they would not get separated.
Hunter joined them. “There’s a stand of junipers up ahead!” he shouted above the wind. “That looks like our best bet! Maybe we can dig in beside them!”
“Go!” Kate shouted to Hunter and she followed after him. Both Twins were just hanging on for dear life. Maude and Humphrey trudged after them.
When Hunter reached the small group of junipers he set Kayla down next to the bushes and shouted, “Don’t move from this spot!” Her reply was blown away by the wind. Hunter waited for the others to arrive.
When everyone was huddled together he said, “Humphrey, if you’ll help me, we can tie the poncho up on the other side of the junipers and make a wind break! Then we can burrow into the junipers and maybe stay out of the wind!”
“Okay!” Humphrey shouted back.
Hunter pulled Jolene’s poncho from the backpack and he and Humphrey forced their way against the wind to the other side of the junipers and went to work hanging the poncho up on the trees..
Kate, Maude, and the Twins started clearing room for themselves among the junipers.
Kate and Maude took places at the back of the burrow they had created with their backs near the poncho. They used their bodies as additional windbreaks for the Twins whom they placed in front of them, away from the wind and had them lay on the ground.
Humphrey and Hunter crawled into the burrow and squeezed past the Twins and wedged themselves next to Maude and Kate with Humphrey beside Maude and Hunter beside Kate. The four made a small semi-circle of wind protection for the little girls.
The wind beat against the poncho, popping and snapping it against the junipers. It was almost as loud as the wind. But within its shelter the wind was almost bearable. There was a lot of wind along the bottom of the poncho but the four adults were able to block most of it.
“The wind’s almost forty-eight kilometers an hour out there,” Hunter shouted.
“Maybe it’ll blow itself out soon,” Maude shouted back.
Kate had never been in wind. She was terrified. “How long can this last?” she demanded.
“Hopefully, only a day or two,” Humphrey answered.
“A day or two!” Kate cried. “We’ll blow away!”
“For sure our trail will blow away,” Humphrey answered. “And these junipers have been here for a long time. We just have to be patient,” he said trying to comfort everyone. Then he added to Hunter, “Good place to stop.”
“Not much to chose from,” Hunter grinned. He looked at Kate and asked, “How are your sisters?”
Kate, wide-eyed at the force of the wind had not checked on them. They were quiet, lying on the ground in front of here. She leaned forward and with her hands brushed the hair out of the girls’ faces. They were both asleep.
Kate leaned back and answered, “Sleeping.”
“We should all try that,” Maude suggested leaning her head onto Humphrey’s shoulder. Humphrey leaned his head against Maude’s.
Hunter leaned back into the junipers, dropped his chin to his chest and closed his eyes.
Kate stared forward.
The sun was well risen but its light was a muted brown. It looked like twilight outside even though it was mid-morning. Dirt filtered its way through the junipers and settled on Kate. Her boots and pants were quickly covered in a thin brown layer of dirt.
Kate shifted around to reach the backpack beside Hunter. Hunter opened his eyes. “Do you need some help?”
“I need something to put over the Twins’ faces,” Kate answered. “Something to keep the dirt off them.”
“There’s not much in there,” Hunter answered. “We used most of the cloth to make those torches. There is the blanket, but they might get hot under it.”
“Better hot than breathing all this dirt,” Kate replied. “Can you get it for me?”
“Sure,” he said and reached over for the backpack. He found the blanket, pulled it out and handed it over to Kate.
Kate plied most of the blanket onto her lap and just spread the outer portion on her sisters leaving most of their torsos and legs uncovered.
“You’re a good sister,” Hunter told her.
“Right,” Kate answered. “If I was a good sister we wouldn’t be in this situation.”
“You didn’t create the situation,” Hunter responded. Then he closed his eyes and leaned back into the juniper. “You need to get some rest,” he suggested.
Kate looked out at the roaring brown mess outside their little burrow. She turned up her shirt collar and tucked her head down into it and leaned back closing her eyes.
Chapter 42
Kate opened her eyes and coughed... and coughed... and coughed.
Hunter opened his eyes, “Are you okay?” he asked.
“Fine,” Kate croaked out in answered. She looked down at the Twins. Their faces were still under the cover of the blanket, which had nearly a centimeter of dirt on top of it.
Kate continued to cough.
Hunter grabbed the canteen and handed it to Kate. “Take a sip of water,” he ordered.
Kate drank a little then spit out a brown splotch.
Humphrey leaned in trying not to wake Maude. “The wind has shifted more to the southwest,” he said.
“And it’s up to sixty-four kilometers per hour,” Hunter stated.
“Do we have anything we can make masks out of?” Humphrey asked.
“The blanket, our clothes,” Hunter replied.
“I hate to cut any of those things up,” Humphrey said. “Can we all fit under the blanket?”
“Too hot,” Hunter stated. “Maybe we can move around and just cover our heads like the Twins?”
“We need to try.” Humphrey leaned back and shook Maude slightly. “Maude? Maude? We need to move around a little. Okay?”
Maude’s eyes flickered open. She looked around a little and nodded.
“Okay, Sweetheart,” Humphrey said as he moved away from her to create some space, “You just need to lay down, Okay?”
Maude did not answered. She just followed Humphrey’s guiding hands down to a fixed spot on the ground with her head under the blanket near the still sleeping Twins. Humphrey followed suit, moving alongside Maude sheltering her body somewhat from the wind with his head near hers under the blanket.
Hunter mover toward the entrance of their little burrow and laid down with his feet pointing toward the outside.
“Hand me a corner of the blanket,” he told Kate.
She passed the edge of the blanket over to Hunter and lay down in the opened up area.
With everyone’s heads under the blanket it was much quieter.
Everyone hold onto a corner,” Hunter instructed. “Tuck it under you body so it won’t blow away. Try to rest.”
It was hot under the blanket with six people. Kate closed her eyes but she lay listening to the roar of the wind and the flapping and popping of the poncho tied to the junipers behind her. It was like being in the escape burrow back home, but worse. Mom and Dad were dead. Home was far away. Could she trust these people she was with? Would Hunter sell her out again? Humphrey’s concern was Maude. Would he take Maude and leave?
Kate woke to the sound of four hands clapping. Her eyes felt gritty as she opened them. The Twins were sitting up underneath the center of the blanket with it pressing down on the tops of their heads like they were tent poles. They were playing pat-a-cake.
They squealed in delight when they saw her eyes open. “Sissy! Good morning!”
“’Bout time you woke up,” Kayla interjected.
“I’m hungry,” added Kaylie.
Kate pushed the canteen over beside them. “Drink a little water,” she ordered.
“And sniff a little into your noses,” Hunter said rising up on his elbows. “Do you know how to do that?”
“Mom showed us how to do that,” Kayla answered.
“It keeps your nose from gettin’ boogery,” Kaylie laughed.
“Girls, that’s not polite,” Kate commented but she smiled. “I don’t hear the wind,” she told Hunter.
“It stopped about an hour ago,” he said. “It was like someone turned off the switch.
“You should have got us up,” Kate responded sitting up.
“It looked like everyone needed the rest,” Hunter assured. “Maude and Humphrey are still asleep.”
“Not in all this racket,” Humphrey said laughing. “You all are worse that the wind.”
“Well, maybe not that bad,” Maude added.
“Girls, can you crawl out first?” Hunter asked. “That’ll give us big folks some room to move around and follow you out.”
“Sure,” the Twins shouted and immediately disappeared from under the blanket.
“It’s cold out here,” they shouted back almost immediately.
“Probably just because they were used to the temperature under this blanket,” Humphrey speculated.
“Well, my legs and feet are cold,” Kate agreed as she slid out from under the blanket. Hunter, Maude and Humphrey followed her example.
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It was colder. Much colder.
“It was about thirty degrees centigrade when we stopped,” Hunter stated. “It’s down to sixteen now.”
“That’s not cold,” Humphrey assured everyone. “It’s just colder than it was. Once we get up and get walking we’ll warm up.”
“Do we have to?” Maude groaned.
“If we want to stay safe from Larson, we do,” Hunter answered. “Our tracks will be gone but we’ve been heading in a straight direction. He’ll be following.”
“You should have got us up when the wind stopped,” Kate repeated. “From what you said, we have lost an hour and Larson has gained it.”
“Sorry,” Hunter replied. “I wasn’t thinking about that. I just knew we all needed the rest.”
“We’ll just have to make up for it by moving faster,” Humphrey stated. “Let’s get going,” he said crawling out of the cozy burrow with the shoulder bag in his hand. Maude followed behind him.
“I’ve got the blanket and canteen, if you’ll get the backpack,” Kate added as she moved to follow Maude.
“Got it,” Hunter replied pulling the backpack after him.
When Kate stood up outside the juniper brake Maude and Humphrey were patting the dirt off of each other and Kayla and Kaylie were playing chase.
“You girls stop that!” Kate called out. “Save that energy for walking!”
“Oh, Sissy!” the Twins answered.
“And clean yourselves up, like Ms. Maude and Mr. Humphrey are doing,” she ordered.
The girls started beating on each other and laughing.
“Maybe that’ll work,” Maude offered with a smile.
“Maybe,” Kate answered. She lifted up the blanket and shook it, launching a big cloud of dirt into the air and into Hunter’s face. He sneezed.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to do that to you,” Kate explained.
“That’s alright. I’m okay,” Hunter answered. Then he sneezed again. He looked over at Humphrey and asked, “Can you help me get the poncho?”
“Sure. Be right there,” Humphrey answered. Before he moved though he said to Maude, “Drink some water. You have to stay hydrated. I’m not sure I could carry you.”
“Yes, boss. I’ll drink some water,” Maude answered him and gave him a kiss on the check.
As Humphrey and Hunter moved around to untie the poncho Maude walked over to Kate. “How much water is there?” she asked.
“It was full, but we’ve used a lot,” Kate answered.
“Then save it for the girls,” Maude replied. She took the canteen but did not unscrew the lid as she pretended to drink.
“Do you think that’s wise?” asked Kate. “We have the water bag too.”
“Yes,” Maude answered handing the canteen back. “If we don’t find some water we’ll all be dropping like flies. Your sisters use it fastest.”
Kate hung the canteen on her shoulder without taking a drink. The air was definitely cooler as they walked, but it was clean and fresh. The sun was high in the sky but past its zenith. There were several hours of sunlight left in the day.
Chapter 43
From the top of one of the rolling hills Kate looked at the low hanging sun in the west. There were only a few minutes of light left. The canteen on her shoulder was empty. The water jar in the backpack was empty. The water bag was running low.
A couple of hills ahead a tall, green wall rose up to the heavens. The Green Zone was ten minutes away. From her place on the hill Kate could see nothing but the green wall, like a mirage shimmering in the sunlight.
Kate looked behind her. Four hills away, maybe three kilometers, Larson and a group of six or seven Raiders were closing in fast. They had first appeared as small specs an hour ago. They were a full size, angry mob now.
Kate looked around her. The Twins were sitting on the ground at her feet, too exhausted to complain.
Maude was as white as a sheet. She looked like a butterfly could knock her over. And she was supporting Humphrey. His back had finally given way after all the abuse it had received. He was able to walk with help, but just barely.
Kate was breathing heavily and had a painful stitch in left side and a cramping left foot. She needed rest.
Hunter alone, stood up straight, ready to continue. He looked forward measuring the distance to the wall, then back to the approaching Larson.
“We need to go,” he stated.
“Take the girls and leave me here,” Humphrey answered. “I have a knife. I’ll slow them down.”
“No!” Maude commanded. “I’m not leaving without you!”
Kate looked up at Hunter. “You take the Twins and I’ll help Maude and Humphrey,” she ordered. “If they catch up with us we’ll hold them back long enough for you to get to the wall. Send back help,” she finished.
Kate moved over beside Humphrey and slipped his right arm around her shoulders. Maude wrapped Humphrey’s left arm around her. They lifted up together and started forward. Humphrey winced in pain but held his tongue.
“Yes, Ma’am,” Hunter replied. He reached down and scooped up the Twins into the nooks of his arms and moved out.
“Don’t walk along with us,” Kate ordered. “Go on! I don’t want the girls captured.”
“Go,” Maude shouted. “We’ll be okay.”
Hunter looked at the three struggling down the side of the hill. He nodded at them and took off trotting toward the wall quickly leaving them behind.
“Youth is wasted on the young,” Humphrey grumbled.
At least going downhill Kate and Maude had gravity helping them with Humphrey. When they started up the next slope they had to drag him up to the crest.
Kate looked back. Larson had cut the distance in half. She could see him at the front of the men. She could hear him shouting out encouragement to them and cursing her.
“We should stop here,” Kate stated. “It’ll be harder on them to fight up hill.”
“Sounds good,” croaked Humphrey. “Do you have an extra knife?”
Kate took her support away from under his arm and pulled the shoulder bag off her back. She pulled out the big knife and dropped the bag to the ground.
“That’s too big for me,” Humphrey grinned. “It’ll tip me over. Can I use your dagger?” he asked.
Kate pulled the dagger from its sheath and handed it to Humphrey. He moved Maude behind him as he and Kate turned to face the onslaught.
“We got ‘em!” Larson roared as he started down the slope towards them. “Fan out!” he ordered. No one obeyed as the men slid and stumbled down the slope in a single, compressed group.
Someone stepped on Larson’s heel and he went down and under the mob as they headed up the slope to attack Kate, Maude and Humphrey.
From the backside of the hill Hunter stepped up with Kaylie in his right arm and Kayla in his left. He set the girls down beside Maude.
Maude stared up at Hunter in disbelief.
Hunter stepped between Kate and Humphrey and took a position just in from of them.
“What are you doing, you idiot?” Kate screamed at Hunter when he brushed past her.
“I knew I couldn’t trust you!” Kate roared.
Larson’s men were almost on top of them, red faced from the run and screaming obscenities from their lathered mouths.
Hunter cocked his right arm up and extended his index and middle finger into a salute at his right temple. With his fingers in a fixed position he extended his arm forward and pointed at the men racing up the hill, meters from him.
A blinding light flashed out of his fingers. There was a crackling of static electricity in the air. The ground leading up to the crest where Hunter stood was blackened as from a forest fire. Down at the bottom of the hill Larson was still laying flat on the ground. The rest of his men were gone, destroyed in the flash of light.
“Well, you could have done that a little sooner, if you don’t mind my saying so,” Humphrey stated calmly.
Chapter 44
Hunter touched a spot behind his ear and asked, “Who is the officer on deck?”
“Four of Seven, Sir. Good to hear you, Sir.”
“Good to be heard, Four of Seven,” Hunter answered. “I need a flock of drones out front right now. Hi-Lo, Left-Right surveillance. We were being followed a little to closely. Make sure we are clean all around.”
“Yes, Sir. Copy that,” Four of Seven answered. “I registered the flash in here.”
“I need a Medi-hop immediately. My location,” Hunter ordered. “And have a Caddi-hop holding in air ready for pick-up as soon as the Medi-hop dusts off!”
High above Hunter a drone zipped into position and hovered. Drones took up flanking positions to the left and right as a fourth sped out along the backtrack.
The Medi-hop, a large ten-meter cube with a hopper engine on each corner dropped to the ground almost on top of Hunter, kicking up a whirlwind of dirt. The engines cut off immediately on touchdown. A door slid open and three medicos ran out.
“The man and the woman,” Hunter ordered. “He has a severe back injury and they both are exhausted and dehydrated.”
One of the medicos ran toward Maude and Humphrey as the other two medicos stepped back inside the Medi-hop and returned guiding hover chairs.
Humphrey was seated on the ground. Maude was kneeling beside him holding the Twins close to her.
The first medico asked, “Ma’am, are the girls okay?”
Maude looked up at the fresh young man’s face. He had a concerned look in his eyes and exuded a quiet competence.
“Well, I suppose they are,” Maude answered. “I’m sure they’re exhausted, hungry and thirsty.”
One of the hover chairs was moved over close to Maude.
“Okay, Ma’am,” the first medico said. Then he looked down at Katie and Kayla. “Can you girls come with me? We need to get this lady into the hover chair and get her into the Medi-hop.”
He looked over to Hunter. “Is that your sister over there with One of One?’ he asked.
The Twins laughed.
“That’s Hunter,” Kayla started.
“With Sissy,” Kaylie finished.
The medico smiled a soft, reassuring smile at the girls. “Let’s run over their with her, okay?” he asked them.
“Ma’am, can I help you into the chair?” the second medico asked Maude.
Maude reached out to the Twins and pulled them tight. “You two run over there to your Sister. And be good!” she told them as she released them.
The Twins sprinted over to Kate, followed by the medico.
Maude stood up and said, “Yes, I think I can make it into the chair. Can you please help your other fellow with my husband? He’s hurt his back and is in a lot of pain.”
“Yes, Ma’am. As soon as I get you situated I’ll get right over there,” he assured Maude.
Maude realized that the medicos she had spoken to were identical twins. She looked over at the medico helping Humphrey up, into the hover chair. Triplets?
Kaylie and Kayla sprinted to Kate, shouting “Sissy” all the way.
Kate dropped to the ground on one knee with her arms out wide to encircle her sisters. They bounded into her arms, almost bowling her over.
“Those men are twins,” Kaylie shouted in glee.
“Just like us!” Kayla continued.
Kate looked the medicos over. Definitely triplets, or something. She looked up at Hunter.
“Who are you? What are you?” she asked him.
The medicos had moved Maude and Humphrey inside the Medi-hop. The door closed, the engines cut in and it hopped into the air and headed back to the city.
The Caddi-hop zoomed into the open landing spot, dropped to the ground and cut its three engines, two at the front and one at the rear. The Caddi was considerably smaller than the Medi-hop, teardrop shaped with its upper portion glassed. The side nearest Kate and the girls opened up to allow them entrance to the three rows of couches filling its interior.
Hunter smiled at Kate. “From what you all had to say about the Green Zone, Emerald City, Oz: apparently I am the great and powerful Oz.”
Hunter grinned form ear to ear. “Actually my official designation is One of One. But you can call me Hunter. I like that.”
Kate stood up. She pointed at the Medi-hop flying away. “And I guess those were One, Two and Three of Three, then?” she asked.
Hunter shook his head and chuckled, “No, those were medicos. They’re generic, set up as doctors. Nothing particularly individual about them.”
“So you’re a clone, a synthetic, a robot, a cyborg?” Kate asked.
“Yes,” Hunter answered. “Some of all that,” he smiled. “If you and your sisters will join me in the Caddi we can talk easier there.”
“Why would I do that?” Kate demanded. “I can’t trust you! You’re not even human!”
“Granted,” Hunter replied. “You have little water, no food, and no shelter. If you stay out here you and your sisters have no chance. “I would think that is why you would do that,” Hunter answered.
Kate glared at Hunter for a second then she took her sisters in hand and headed to the open Caddi.
Kaylie and Kayla whooped in glee.
The front bench seat had an array of controls in front of it so Kate steered the girls into the second seat with her in between them.
Hunter slid into the front seat with his left foot up on the seat, his left arm stretched out along the back of the seat and his back leaning up against the outer door.
“Ready,” Hunter said and the Caddi’s big door closed sealing everyone in. The engines cut in and the big car eased up into the sky.
The Twins squealed in delight, their faces pressed against the windows as the car drifted higher into the sky.
“Kaylie! Kayla!” Kate snapped at them. “Be careful! Those doors could fly open!”
“First time in a Caddie?” Hunter stated more than asked. “The girls are safe.”
Kate could feel the coolness of the air inside the car circulating around them. It was clean smelling, free of dirt and grit. She drew the air deep into her lungs.
“Do you want some water?” Hunter asked as the Caddie climbed higher into the sky.
“No! Turn around and pilot this thing!” Kate ordered him.
“Relax, it’s okay,” Hunter reassured her. “Four of Seven has everything under control. He’ll do a better job than I could do anyway. He can see where everything else is out here. I could only see what’s in front of me,” Hunter soothed. “Enjoy the view,” Hunter suggested nodding toward the front window.
Outside Kate saw the sun low on the horizon, flashing out yellow beams of light through dark gray clouds back lit by a red sky.
“Is that the same light you killed everyone with,” Kayla announced. “It’s pretty.”
“No...” Hunter paused. “That’s a lot different. “And I only did what I had to do to keep you and your sisters safe.”
“And Maude and Hump,” Kaylie added.
“And Maude and Humphrey,” Hunter corrected. “It’s not nice to call him Hump.”
“That’s what Larson called him,” Kayla confirmed.
“Well, that doesn’t make it right,” Hunter answered.
“Why?” the Twins asked in unison.
Hunter smiled and replied, “Maybe Sissy can explain that later. Do you want some water?”
“Yes!” the Twins answered.
“Excuse me,” Hunter said to Kate as he reached over the seat and opened a small cabinet built into it. It was filled with bottles of water.
“Help yourselves,” he said as he turned around to face the front windshield.
The Caddie was approaching the green wall, which had already opened to allow the Medi-hop inside. The Caddi zoomed through the opening. The wall closed behind it.
Chapter 45
Looking out the window Kate did not see any change in lighting as the wall closed. The setting sun lit the interior with a strong yellow light through the seemingly green wall.
Below her she saw open, rolling grassland, lush with grass, the complete opposite of what lay outside the wall. Ahead were the lights of a city. As the Caddi drew closer she saw it was a big city, nothing like the small settlements she had passed through in the tunnels. This was a real city, similar in size to pre-collapse cities, ranging across seven hills, surrounded by verdant open spaces.
“Sissy! Sissy! Look at all the lights!” the Twins shouted pointing out both windows.
Hunter turned around to face Kate. “Before the collapse several government agencies and leading corporations worked together in secret to build the Green Zone,” he told her. “Initially the project was devised as a test for ways to reclaim deserts and worn out farmland. A few farther seeing people, visionaries, saw it as a way to secure civilization through human instigated hazards.”
“Like softwars,” Kate stated.
“Yes, like the Softwar,” Hunter agreed. “But it could have been pestilence or famine,” Hunter said.
“Softwar,” Kate stated.
“Yes, I guess you’re right,” Hunter agreed. Then to Kaylie and Kayla he said, “Girls, we’re going into that big building right ahead of us,” and he pointed out the front windshield.
In front of them, and growing in scale as they neared it, was an old fashioned ‘skyscraper.’ Kate had seen images of them in her mom’s books.
In the deepening dusk the building was a beacon of light. Kate could not estimate its height but every floor was windowed and every window was filled with light.
“That’s the Annex,” Hunter explained. “Which is a bit of a misnomer now. But at one point it was a small building beside the main building.” Hunter grinned, “We’ve been working on it.”
“Any humans in there?” Kate asked.
Hunter shook his head, “No. Just..., how did you describe it? Clones, synthetics, robots and cyborgs. As the collapse picked up momentum the Designers moved out. Foolishly, I think,” Hunter added. “What could they accomplish outside. What did they accomplish? What good have Maude and Humphrey done? How about your parents?” Hunter asked.
“You don’t know anything about my parents?” Kate retorted.
“I have access to their records,” Hunter answered.
“I don’t care what you have access to!” Kate shouted.
Both Kaylie and Kayla got silent and stared at their sister.
“Mom and Dad were good, honest people!” Kate continued. “And I’ll tell you what they did, they had a family! That’s what they did. What’s more important than that? Can you do that?” Kate demanded.
“Point taken,” replied Hunter. “The individual’s debt to society is paid by having and raising children,” he stated and turned back facing to the front of the Caddi. “Girls, we’ll be setting down in ten seconds,” he warned, ending the conversation.
The Caddi slowed and dropped down onto the spot lit roof of the annex and shut down its engines. Both side doors opened and Kaylie and Kayla bounced out onto the landing pad. Kate jumped out to her left to catch Kaylie. Hunter exited to the right and went to get Kayla.
The roof’s access door opened. A tall man stepped out and said “Sir, Three of Four reporting, as requested.”
“Good to see you,” Hunter replied, walking up hand in hand with Kayla. “Are the rooms ready?”
“Yes, Sir,” Three of Four answered. “The suite on the twelfth floor is ready. All three bedrooms are activated, bathroom and kitchen are functioning, Sir.”
“Great. Thank you,” Hunter said. “How are Maude and Humphrey?”
“The doctor is currently examining Mr. Humphrey and Ms. Maude is with him,” Three of Four responded.
Kate walked up with Kaylie skipping along beside her.
“Good, keep me updated on their progress,” Hunter ordered. “Can you escort us down to the twelfth floor now. I think these girls are hungry,” Hunter smiled.
“YES!” the Twins shouted.
Three of Four opened the roof access door. “This way, please. The elevator is down these steps and to your right.”
Kate led Kaylie down the stairs followed by Hunter and Kayla.
As Hunter passed Three of Four he told him, “Can you please show the ladies how to work the elevator and get them settled in their rooms? I need to take the car and get over to SQL.”
“Yes, Sir. No problem, Sir,” Three of Four answered.
Hunter looked down at Kayla and said, “Kayla, can you take Three’s hand and go with him?”
Kayla looked up at Hunter and asked, “Why?”
“Ah…,” Hunter answered, “the eternal question. Do you know what ‘eternal’ means Kayla?”
“It means, ‘forever,’” Kayla answered.
“That’s right Kayla,” Hunter said. “So that means people have been asking ‘why’ forever. Right?”
“But you told Sissy you’re not people,” Kayla answered.
Hunter smiled, “I didn’t think you or Kaylie were listening.”
“We always listen,” Kayla answered.
“I bet you do,” Hunter replied. Then he added, “I just need to go to work, okay?”
“Sure,” Kayla answered. She released hold of Hunter’s hand and reached out for Three of Four’s hand.
Hunter looked at Three of Four and asked, “Ever studied children, Three?”
“No, Sir,” Three of Four answered sheepishly.
Hunter leaned in closer to Three of Four and whispered, “Well, remember: you can always unsay a ‘no,’ but you can never unsay a ‘yes.’”
“Sir?” Three of Four answered.
Kayla took Three of Four’s hand and explained, “Hunter means, always tell us no first. You can always change your mind later.” Kayla grinned, “That’s what Mommy and Daddy always do.”
Hunter laughed as he headed back to the Caddi and Three of Four walked down to the elevator.
Kate and Kaylie were waiting at the bottom of the stairs.
“What was all that about?” Kate asked distrustfully.
“Hunter was trying to warn Three about girls,” Kayla laughed. “We always get what we want.”
“No you don’t,” Kate answered quickly.
Kayla looked up at Three of Four and said, “See. That’s how you work it.”
Three of Four did not know what to answer so he just said, “Excuse me,” and reached over in front of Kate and pressed the button on the wall. The button had an arrow pointing down on it.
A panel in the wall slid open exposing a small room.
“This is the elevator,” Three of Four explained. “We go in here and it’ll take us down to your rooms.”
“How?” Kaylie asked.
“Hush, Kaylie,” Kate ordered. “Now, step in with me.” Three of Four and Kayla followed them in.
“We’re going to the twelfth floor,” Three of Four announced. “Do you know which number is twelve?”
Both Kaylie’s and Kayla’s right hands shot out to push the button for the twelfth floor. They both hit the button at the same time.
The door began to close and Kayla asked, “What does SQL mean?”