“I hate waiting until we’re exposed before we take the antidote. I wish we could take it now.”
“That’s the one problem they could never solve. You have to wait until you are exposed for the shots to work correctly. The antidote has to react inside your body with the nerve agent. We talked about this. We don’t want the nerve agent released until we are ready and there is no good contained place here. We’ll just wait until we’re loading the planes as we agreed. Did you ever find out anything more about our sponsors, Joseph?”
“Nothing at all. I have no idea why they are willing to give us the plan, provide the nerve agent and let us take all the credit. It just doesn’t make sense to me.”
“They must have an agenda. None of it makes any sense. The part I really don’t understand is why they don’t want certain areas sprayed.”
“I don’t know Abdul. But as long as they provide our materials and let us take the credit, I will keep working with them. It doesn’t matter what areas we spray, it just matters that we spray areas and kill the children. That’s what makes everyone take notice.”
“Do you really think we can kill several million people?”
“If we spray from a couple thousand feet and we have a little wind, each plane could spray an area of a square mile each minute. We could kill almost a half million per minute. The planes should be able to spray for a half hour.”
Chapter 15
Cody had been pacing waiting impatiently for John. I can’t believe he’s not here yet. I have to talk to him before they get here. Come on John answer my text.
Why’s Cody texting me? I’ll be home it two minutes. John texted back to Cody. Chill Cody, I’ll be home in two minutes.
Cody texted back, Meet me in the garage. I need to talk to you before they get here.
John stared at his phone. I can’t believe Cody thinks something is so important he can’t wait two minutes.
Cody saw John coming up the driveway and grabbed him before his parents saw him coming.
“OK, Cody, what’s so important?”
“I had a great idea. What if we talk up Vegas and talk down Powell to the Prada sisters?”
“Why would we do that? We hate Vegas and love Powell.”
“Because we want to talk Ellen and Sarah into staying in Vegas with our cousin Blake. They would love going to shows and shopping, and their dad has boatloads of money. They could party in Vegas for the week with Blake. Then we would take Darren and David to Lake Powell. We get to go to Lake Powell with our cousins instead of the wicked witches from New York.”
John thought for a minute. “Why do think that could work? Mom and dad already said they just wanted it to be the two families. What if Mom and Dad figure out what we’re doing?”
“You know how demanding Ellen and Sarah are. It has to be their idea and it has to come from them. If we could get them on board they might be able to pull it off. Besides, what’s the downside? We’re looking forward to spending a week in hell anyway. How could it get any worse?”
“Mom could always make it worse, but the risk is worth it. Like you said, we’re already going to spend a week in hell. How do we get Ellen and Sarah on board?”
“We have to get them alone for awhile. If Mom hears us bagging on Powell, she’ll figure it out in a minute. Do you know how many cars we’re taking to Powell?”
“We’ll have to take the Explorer and the Suburban. We can’t fit in the Suburban with all our stuff.”
“What if we offer to take the girls in the Explorer and leave a little early? We can tell our parents they will be right behind us. Someone needs to go to the ranch to pick up the wave runners anyway. Remember we left them there last year so that mechanic could fix them. We could tell them we can meet them at the ranch. We would have a couple hours alone with them to make our case.”
John was thinking that the plan had a chance. “Cody, this could work.”
Cody came back excited. “We can tell both sets of parents we would like to spend some time alone with Ellen and Sarah to get to know them better. That’s what they’re pushing us to do anyway. We have to take two cars for everyone to fit and they’ll be right behind us. I think we can talk them into it if we start with Dad first.”
“How do we get the girls on board to go with us?”
“They hate us. We explain that our parents are going to do everything they can to make us get along with each other. If we are alone with them with no parents, we can totally ignore each other for a couple hours instead of listening to our parents trying to get us to make nice with each other.”
“How do we get them to talk to us and stop texting their friends? That’s all they ever do.”
“We wait until we go over the Cajon pass. Dad said they have this cell service that works well in New York City but not out of any big city. They are going to lose their service as soon as we go over the pass. That should give us a good hour to work on them. We just have to remember to turn our cell phones off. It’s just their phones that won’t work out there. Ours will be fine. We can’t have ours ring while we’re telling them cell phones don’t work.”
“Cody, do you think they realize there is no cell service in the middle of Lake Powell? They’re going to be cut off from their friends for a whole week. That will kill them.”
“I didn’t even think of that! He said excited. “Once we tell them about the shopping and shows in Vegas, we can cinch the deal by telling them there is no cell service on the lake.”
“How are we going to convince them to go to Barstow with us without all the parents hearing?”
“I’ll text Sarah. You text Ellen. Just tell them about having no parents for two hours so they can ignore us. They will love that.”
“Cody, this might actually work. Great idea. You always come up with something.”
Cody was silent for a minute and then admitted,
“It was Jacob’s idea.”
“Tell Jacob I owe him big time” John nodded as he and Cody sent texts to Ellen and Sarah.
“Mine went through. How about yours?”
“I’m good. Let’s go try to make this happen. We need to get Dad alone. I think everyone is in the kitchen.”
The boys walked into the kitchen and saw both sets of parents talking and Ellen and Sarah sitting at the table texting.
John looked Ellen over and thought, she looks just like I remembered her, always wearing designer clothes, white skin that looks like it has never been in the sun, even skinner than I remember, looks anorexic to me, and that snobby frown that looks down on everyone. He then turned to Sarah and thought. She looks way different. Her skin has some color and she isn’t super skinny like she used to be and she really grew up over the last year. She looks hot. I wonder what happened to her?
Ellen and Sarah looked up and saw the boys. Ellen looked at John and thought. He is just like I remember him. His hair needs to be cut and styled, he’s wearing board shorts and flip flops and a T shirt that looks like it’s been lying in the sand. I’ll bet he doesn’t even own any designer clothes. And his skin’s so brown, it’s almost the same color as his hair.
Ellen looked at Cody. He hasn’t changed. His hair’s too long and not even styled. It looks like he got out of the shower and shook his head like a dog and walked away. He’s brown like his brother and wears the same board shorts, T shirt and flip flops.
Sarah looked down at her phone and said to herself. I think Cody just sent me a text.
Cody caught Sarah’s eye. I think Sarah read my text. She’s looking at me funny. She just nodded her head at me. She’s on board. I wonder about Ellen. Her head is buried in her I-Phone.
Nancy quit talking and noticed the boys.
“Oh great, John and Cody are back. I need one of you to help me in the kitchen and the other to help Dad in the garage.”
“Cody, go help
Dad, I’ll help Mom.”
Cody and his father walked out to the garage alone. Russ looked at Cody puzzled.
“Cody, thanks for being so helpful. Now what do you want?”
“What makes you think I want something?”
“Do you think I’m stupid? You're never this willing to help. Why don’t you just present your case instead of dancing around?”
Cody thought, sometimes I hate having a lawyer for a father.
“Okay. John and I thought we could get to know Sarah and Ellen better if we take them to the ranch in the Explorer to pick up the wave runners. You would be right behind us in the Suburban. It would give us a chance to try to get to know them better without any parents around. What do you think?”
Cody’s dad looked skeptically at Cody and thought for several seconds.
“I think you have an ulterior motive. But I can’t figure out what it is.”
“Come on, Dad. What do you think we’re trying to do?”
“That’s the problem. I know you. Ten minutes ago you hated them and now you want to spend two hours alone in the car with them. I just can’t figure out what you are trying to pull off.”
“Dad, what’s the big problem. You said you wanted us to get along with them. All the parents are going to be right behind us. What could happen?”
“I’m trying to figure that out. I guess you can’t get in too much trouble when we are right behind you. I’ll get Mom to go along, but I’m warning you, if I end up being sorry I did this you are going to be a lot sorrier.”
Cody thought, like things could get any worse.
“You won’t be sorry, Dad.”
Russ thought, I wonder what these kids are planning. Still they can’t get in too much trouble in two hours.
Russ walked back into the kitchen and announced,
“Nancy, what do you think about letting the kids go together in the Explorer to the ranch and all the parents will follow in the Suburban?”
“You want to let the kids drive alone?”
Ruth chimed in, “Nancy, why not? It would give the kids a chance to bond together and besides, we’ll be right behind them.”
Sarah jumped in. “Mom, I think that’s a great idea. We’ll be stuck in the car with them. We have to get along.”
John added, “Mom, why not? I’m a good driver. We go out to Barstow all the time. I have driven out there several times with you and Dad. You’ll be right behind us. We’ll meet at the ranch. We have to stop there and pick up the wave runners.”
Ruth looked at her husband. “What do you think, Robert? Do you see any problems with this?”
“No, I’m on board. We’ll meet them at the ranch outside Barstow. It’s less than 2 hours. What could happen? Do you still have your parent’s old house at the Jensen Ranch?”
“Yeah, the wave runners are in the barn.”
Ellen looked up from texting. “What are you guys talking about?”
Sarah thought, Oh crap, she didn’t read John’s text. “Ellen, don’t you think that would work?”
“I think it’s a stupid idea. I don’t want to spend two hours in a car alone with them.”
All the kids thought. She’s going to blow this. She gets a thousand texts a day and she didn’t read the one important one. Now she’s burying her head back in her phone.
Ruth said to Ellen. “Ellen, can’t you have a conversation with us for one minute?”
“Mom, I’m texting my friends. Just wait a minute.”
All the parents looked at Ellen like they would like to hit her.
Sarah piped up, “I’ll be right back. I have to go to the bathroom.”
Ruth said sarcastically, “Go ahead Sarah. We’ll all just wait for Ellen to get done texting.”
Russ and Nancy looked at each other and thought, If that was one of our kids, they wouldn’t be able to sit down when we got done with them.
Sarah ran to the bathroom and immediately started texting Ellen. Ellen you idiot, if we go with our parents they will spend the entire trip trying to make us get along. If we go with just the boys, we can ignore them and spend the time texting our friends.
Ellen read Sarah’s text and looked up at her parents.
“OK, I guess it will work. I’m good with this.”
Russ thought, I know there is something going on but, I have no idea what is.
Russ looked at all the parents and said,
“So are we all on board? Do we want to do this?”
Nancy relented, “I guess. I’m still not convinced. But I don’t see how it could go too wrong. I’m good.”
Russ announced, “Load up kids. We’ll be right behind you.”
Russ looked at Cody. I know that kid’s up to something, but I still don’t know what he’s trying to pull off.
Almost an hour after the kids drove away Russ and Robert were talking with each other and impatiently waiting in the driveway for their wives. Nancy and Ruth walked out of the house and locked the front door.
Russ looked at Nancy with exasperation. “Are we finally ready to go? The kids are getting way ahead of us.”
“Don’t blame me. I told you they shouldn’t leave until we were ready to go.”
“I thought we were ready. I thought we were ready for the last hour.”
“We’re ready now. Let’s go.”
As they pulled out of the driveway, Russ looked down at the fuel gauge.
“Nancy, I thought you filled up the Suburban?”
“I didn’t have time when I went to the store. I told you that when I came home. Why didn’t you go fill it up instead of talking with Robert in the driveway for the last hour? ”
“I didn’t hear you. Now we need to stop for gas.”
“Russ, the kids are getting way ahead of us. I’m going to call them and tell them to wait. I told you they shouldn’t leave until we were ready.”
Russ pumped gas while Nancy called the kids.
“Russ. They don’t answer the phone. They are probably listening to their I Pods and John has the stereo cranked up. I knew we should have made them wait.”
“Nancy, they’ll be fine. John’s a good driver and they all have cell phones. We’ll catch up in two hours. Just relax.”
Russ turned the key, but the car wouldn't start.
“Russ, what’s wrong now, why won’t the car start?”
“I don’t know, Nancy. I just filled it with gas and the mechanic just went through it.”
Robert commented from the back seat. “I think it’s not getting gas. I bet it’s the fuel pump.”
Ruth looked at Robert. “Robert, you don’t even own a car. How would you know?”
“I used to own cars before I moved to New York, and it’s the fuel pump.”
Russ said, “Whatever it is, the car won’t start. I’m calling AAA.”
“Russ, AAA will take an hour just to get here. The kids will be in Barstow by then, and they still won’t answer the phone.”
“Nancy, they’ll call when they get to Barstow. Don’t worry, they’ll be fine. There’s a restaurant across the street. Let’s get something to eat while we wait. That way we can just drive to Barstow when the car’s fixed.”
Chapter 16
ACU Headquarters New Mexico
General Moody left his office at the headquarters for the ACU and noticed several of his staff huddled in the corner whispering to each other. He followed their line of sight and spotted Tony staring pensively out the window. As he walked by they motioned him over.
“What’s he doing? Is there a problem?”
“He’s been sitting there for a half hour just staring out the window. I hate to disturb him.”
Tony finally noticed everyone staring at him and looked over at them and gave a halfhearted smile. General Moody walked over to where Tony was sitting and sat down across the conference table from him. The rest of the staff tried to edge closer so they could he
ar.
“Are you alright Tony? You seem totally lost in thought. Is something bad going to happen?”
Tony slowly nodded his head and said, “Very bad.” After he didn’t respond further, General Moody asked,
“Is it going to affect us?”
Tony nodded and replied softly, “Us and a lot of other people.”
“Do you know what’s going to happen? Is there anything we can do to prepare?”
Tony slowly shook his head,
“I can’t tell what’s going to happen, but it will be major and it will affect us”, he replied as he stood up and quietly walked out of the room.
General Moody and his staff silently watched him leave. One of the less senior staff asked,
“Has he ever been wrong?”
General Moody replied with a solemn face, “Never”
Chapter 17
Interstate 15 leaves the Los Angeles basin and then climbs over the Cajon pass. After traveling through the pass and the desert town of Victorville, you hit open desert. The barren desert is a stark contrast to the developed, landscaped areas in the Los Angeles Basin. Sarah looked up from texting and watched the desolate desert roll by her window. All she could see was rock and gravel and a few widely scattered sagebrushes. She asked John
“I thought California was full of people?”
“California’s big Sarah. It has over 30 million people. Over 90% of it is Parks and Wilderness and other open area.
Ellen said to Sarah while playing with her cell phone, “Sarah is your phone working? I was texting Haley, and I lost her. Now I can’t get a signal.”
“Mine isn’t working either, Ellen.”
As the girls played with their phones, John nodded to Cody and smiled as they both turned off their cell phones.
“Are you having trouble with your phones?”
“They don’t seem to have a signal.”
“I guess you didn’t know. You can’t get a signal out here in the desert. There aren’t enough people making calls to be worth setting up cell towers.”