Jack stared defiantly into his eyes. “You got it, Tex.”
The man put his hand on Jack’s shoulder. “I’m sorry for your loss. You’ve sacrificed more than anyone here. I promise you, I will do everything in my power to see that Wade’s life was not lost in vain. Wade is a hero. And so are you. We are all in your debt.”
Jack’s muscles relaxed and he blinked with sudden emotion. “Thank you, sir.”
“No, thank you. We’re not just in your debt; the whole world is in your debt. Whether they know it or not.” He turned to the rest of us. “If it wasn’t for you, the people of Tuvalu would be living a nightmare right now. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of innocent people would have died. I’m sure you’re all very tired and hungry, and there are some people here who are very excited to see you. So let’s get you checked into your rooms.”
“I have a question,” I said.
“Michael,” he said. “What can I do for you?”
“Are you the voice?”
“No.”
“Will we meet the voice?”
He hesitated, then said, “Maybe. That’s all I can tell you.”
“Who are you?” Jack asked.
“My name is Joel,” he said. “I forgot to tell you, before you enter the compound there is one inconvenience. My men need to check you for RFIDs. Then we’ll show you to your quarters. You have a few hours before the reception.”
“Reception?” Taylor said.
“We’ve put together a reception in your honor. You’ll have time to rest a little, then shower and change before then.”
“Change into what?” Tessa said. “We don’t have any other clothes.”
“Sydney Lynn will take care of that,” he said. He turned and walked back toward the building.
The woman who had walked out with Joel stepped forward carrying a clipboard at her side. “I’m Sydney Lynn. After you are checked and cleared, I’ll take you to your rooms, where you can rest, then clean up and change. I’ll come get you when it’s time for the reception. In the meantime, if you need anything, please let me know. I’m here to take care of you.”
“Like I just said,” Tessa said, “change into what? We don’t have any clothes.”
“We have clothes for you,” Sydney Lynn replied. “They should fit.” She looked at Ostin and me. “Michael, you’ve grown taller.”
“I think so,” I said, wondering how she knew.
“That which doesn’t kill you only makes you taller,” Tessa said.
“And Ostin, yours might be a bit loose. It looks like you’ve lost weight.”
Ostin smiled. “Yes, ma’am.”
“It’s the Peruvian prisoner diet,” Taylor whispered to me.
I suddenly realized why Sydney Lynn looked familiar. She was the woman who had handed me the cell phone at Jack’s sister’s tanning salon. “You helped us in Meridian.”
She smiled. “Bronze Idaho,” she replied. “It’s good to see you again, Michael.”
Just then a shrill Southern voice pierced the air. “Ostin!”
We looked over to see Ostin’s mother running toward us from the side doorway, her arms flailing like she was going to sack a quarterback. A much more subdued Mr. Liss was a few yards behind her.
“Mom!” Ostin shouted.
As we watched their reunion I heard someone say, “Michael.” I turned back. My mother was walking toward me from the front door.
“Mom!”
Her eyes were full of tears. We didn’t say much, just hugged. When she could speak she asked, “Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” I said.
She looked at me as if she couldn’t believe we were really together, then she brushed the hair back from my forehead. “I heard about Wade. I’m so sorry.”
“It was awful,” I said. “Still is awful.”
She hugged me tightly again. As we parted Taylor said, “Hi, Mrs. Vey.”
“Taylor,” my mother said. She hugged her.
Everyone gathered around my mother like she was a magnet, which, in a way, was true. Everyone except for Jack, who stood a few yards off, quietly watching.
My mother walked over to him. Without speaking, she hugged him, then gazed into his face. “I’m so sorry about Wade. I know what it’s like to lose someone you love. If I can do anything for you, or you just need to talk, I’m here.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Vey,” Jack said.
“Call me Sharon,” she said.
It was a little strange seeing my mother so familiar with everyone. The last time I’d seen her was just before everyone fled through the pipe at the Peruvian Starxource plant and I’d been captured. Since that time my mother had been through a lot with the rest of the Electroclan.
“Zeus, who is your friend?” my mother said, looking at Tessa.
Tessa stepped forward. “I’m Tessa.”
“Tessa,” she repeated. “Is that short for Contessa?”
Tessa shrugged. “I was pretty young when the Elgen took me. I don’t know where my name came from.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Tessa. I’m Sharon. I’m Michael’s mother.”
“I met Tessa in the jungle,” I said. “She was living with the Amacarra tribe when they saved me.”
“It sounds like we have a lot to catch up on,” my mother said, smiling at me. “I know you must be exhausted. They want us to let you get checked in, then get some rest before tonight’s reception, which I’m in charge of, so I’d better get back to work. I’ll see you in a few hours.” She looked back into my eyes. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Mom.”
Just then Ostin walked up, flanked by his parents. “Hi, Mrs. V.”
“Hello, Ostin,” my mother said. “It’s good to see you back with your parents. They’ve been a little worried.”
“A little?” Mrs. Liss said.
“I know,” Ostin said. “But all’s well that ends well.”
“Yes, it is.” My mother turned back to me. “We’ll have fun at the reception tonight. Get some rest.” We hugged again, then she hurried back to the ranch house.
Ostin watched her go. “She’s so hot.”
“Ostin!” his mother said.
I shook my head. “Dude, she’s my mom.”
After separating Ostin from his mother, the men checked us for RFIDs, then Sydney Lynn led us inside the main building, which she called the Ranch House. We entered through the front doors—which had handles made from horseshoes—into a large open room with hallways in three directions.
Like the deceptively simple wooden shack we had passed near the ranch’s gate entrance, the outside of the Ranch House looked rustic, but the inside was filled with high-tech surveillance and communication equipment. In a way it reminded me of the Elgen Academy—but with cowboy art.
The main room interior was Western design. It had polished hardwood floors and a high, vaulted ceiling with exposed wooden beams. On one end of the room there was a massive stone fireplace that rose nearly two stories to the ceiling, tapering off near the top like a keystone.
Sydney Lynn led us to the right. “This way to the bunk hall, please.” We followed her through a doorway and down a long, wood-paneled corridor. All of the doors were numbered.
“I’m sorry there aren’t enough rooms for each of you to have your own, but I think you’ll still find your accommodations comfortable. There are two beds in each room, so pick a roommate. Ladies, let’s get you settled first. Who would like room one?”
“McKenna and I can take it,” Abigail said.
“Very good,” Sydney Lynn said, writing on her clipboard. “I’ll have your clothes sent right over. Next?”
“Looks like it’s me and Tessa,” Taylor said.
Tessa put her hands on her hips. “Poor you,” she said. “Having to share a room with me.”
“I didn’t mean that,” Taylor said.
“It sounded like it.”
“Sorry. That’s not what I meant.”
“Taylor and Tessa, room
two,” Sydney Lynn said, ignoring the drama. “And room three is occupied.”
“Who’s in room three?” I asked.
“Grace,” she said.
Tessa’s expression changed. “Grace is here? Grace and I used to be buddies.”
“Maybe you could bunk with her,” Ostin said.
Both Taylor and Tessa glared at him.
Ostin wilted. “Just sayin’.”
“Michael,” Sydney Lynn said, “who are you bunking with?”
“Ostin.”
“Let’s put you in room four.” She turned to Zeus. “Zeus, room five is reserved especially for you and whomever you’re bunking with.”
“What’s so special about room five?” Zeus asked.
“You can shower,” she said. “The water is distilled.”
Zeus stared at her in wonder. “Are you kidding?”
Sydney Lynn smiled. “Why would I be kidding?”
“I’ll bunk with you,” Jack said, then added wryly, “Now that you won’t stink.”
“Yeah, thanks, man,” Zeus said.
Nothing against Zeus, but it made me a little sad that Jack was paired up with him. Up to that point it had always been a given that Jack would be bunking with Wade.
“Ian, that leaves you with your own room.”
“Make that my own suite,” Ian said with a smile. “Comfort over company. I’ll take the privacy.”
“And I’ll take a nap,” Abigail said. “See you, boys.” She blew Jack a kiss.
I walked up to Taylor. “What are you going to do?”
“I think I’ll take a bath,” she said. “Want to go for a walk later?”
“Sure.”
“Great, see you in an hour.” She kissed me on the cheek, then followed Tessa into their room.
I headed toward my own room. I wondered how long we would be here.
The room Ostin and I were sharing was at least twice the size of my room at home. There was Western art on the walls, mostly paintings of coyotes and buffalo, and a framed woven Native American blanket.
Ostin had already claimed one of the beds and was lying on his back eating something, evidenced by an empty cellophane candy wrapper on the bed next to him. “Look, man. Licorice.” He threw me a package of red licorice, which landed on the floor about ten feet from me.
I picked it up. “Thanks.”
“There’s a bunch of snacks in that cupboard.”
I was amazed at how quickly he’d rooted it out, like a pig hunting for truffles. I took off my shoes, then sat down on the bed. “So what do you think of these guys?”
He stopped chewing. “Why? Don’t you trust them?”
“I didn’t say that. Do you trust them?”
“I think we need to be careful.”
After what we’d been through in the last month, the word sounded ridiculous. “Careful,” I said. “You mean like wearing a helmet at chess tournaments or knee pads to clogging practice?”
“Shut up,” he said.
* * *
Within five minutes Ostin was snoring. I couldn’t sleep, in part because of the noise, but also because I was afraid to. Almost every time I closed my eyes the nightmares returned. After enduring a half hour of Ostin’s snoring, I put my shoes back on and left the room.
I was a little curious to see what the other rooms in the place looked like, so I opened the first door past Ian’s. A tall, redheaded boy lying on his side looked up from a book. “Didn’t anyone teach you to knock?” he said.
“Apparently not,” I replied.
He grinned. “Hi, Mike.”
“Hey, Tanner.”
“You made it back in one piece.”
“Barely.”
“I heard you blew up the Ampere.”
“Yeah.”
I thought that maybe he saw the flash of pain in my eyes, because he looked at me for a moment as if he wanted to say something more about it. Or maybe I just hoped he would. If anyone would understand how I felt it would be Tanner. From what I’d heard, he also had nightmares about the planes he’d brought down. Instead he just said, “Too bad Hatch wasn’t on it.”
“He was. He just got off.” I looked around his room. It looked more lived-in than ours. It was customized. There were stacks of books, framed photographs of Tanner’s family, and posters on the walls, mostly of cars. Cool cars. Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and one I’d never seen before. I walked over to it.
“What’s this?”
“It’s a Bugatti Veyron,” he said. “Vey, like your name. If your name was Ron, that would be my nickname for you.”
“Is it fast?”
He laughed. “Are you electric? It can go two hundred and fifty-four miles per hour. At top speed it burns out its tires in fifteen minutes. And it only costs one point four million dollars.”
I turned back. “Are you kidding?”
“Nope.”
“I couldn’t afford the tires,” I said.
“I’m sure Hatch would buy you one . . .” I looked at him, surprised that he would say something like that. “. . . in exchange for your soul.”
“There’s a trade,” I said. “Cool room.”
“It’s good here. The people are good. Intense, but good.”
“What are you reading?” I asked.
He held up his book. “Lord of the Flies.”
The book had been required reading in my last English class. “That’s pretty dark,” I said.
“The world’s dark. Or didn’t you notice?”
“Yeah,” I said. “I noticed.” I took a step back toward him. “You look different.”
“You mean since you last saw me and I was strapped down, psychotic, and drugged?”
I cocked my head. “Yeah.”
“The medication helps.” He gestured to a row of plastic pill bottles on his dresser. “So does the V.”
“What’s the V?”
“That’s what they call themselves around here. Sometimes they call themselves ‘the resistance,’ but usually just the V. Like victory. Or Vey.” He sat up a little. “By the way, your mom rocks. She got me through the jungle. I owe her.”
“I owe you,” I said. “Thanks for dropping those flamethrower helicopters. I thought I was toast.”
“Burnt toast,” he said. “I already owed you for breaking me out of that place. Hatch was ready to feed me to his rats.”
“We’ll call it even,” I said.
“You guys going back out?” Tanner asked.
“We’re planning on it. The Elgen kidnapped some little Chinese girl.”
“That’s what I heard. So you’re off to China or Taiwan—someplace with chopsticks.”
“Taiwan. Are you coming with us?”
“No. I’m still in recovery mode.”
“We’ll miss you.” I turned back toward the door. “I’ll let you get back to your book. See you around.”
“I’ll see you at the reception tonight,” he said.
As I grabbed the doorknob he said, “Mike.”
“Yeah?”
“It’s good to see you again.”
“You too,” I said.
I walked back out into the hall, shutting the door behind me. Tanner looked completely different from the last time I’d seen him, but, like he’d said, considering the circumstances, I shouldn’t have been surprised.
I walked down the hall to Taylor’s room and knocked. She opened the door. Tessa was standing behind her looking over some clothes laid out on her bed.
“They brought your clothes?” I asked.
“Just a few minutes ago.”
“How are they?”
“Pretty cute, actually.”
“Do you still want to go for a walk?”
“Yes,” she said, stepping out into the hallway.
We walked back to the Ranch House’s main room, then out the same set of doors where we’d entered. Except for the chickens, the front yard was deserted. We walked west, which I only knew because the sun had started its late-after
noon decline.
“How’s your room?” I asked.
“It’s nice.”
“Anything’s nice compared to a Peruvian jail,” I said.
“I was comparing it to my room at home.” Her eyes immediately darkened. Her homesickness was taking a deeper and deeper toll. I reached out and took her hand.
“Where do you think we are?” she asked.
I looked around. “I don’t know. It looks like Texas.”
“Have you ever been to Texas?”
“No.”
“Me neither,” she said. “But I was thinking Texas too. Or Arizona.”
We walked to the end of the Ranch House, then followed it around back. About fifty yards behind the building was a stable.
“Horses,” Taylor said. As we walked toward them she said, “It’s good to see your mother again.”
“I wish your parents were here,” I said. “I’m sure you’ll see them soon.”
Taylor didn’t speak for a moment; then she said softly, “I don’t think so. We’re headed to Asia. Who knows if we’ll ever come back?”
“I wouldn’t go if I didn’t think we’d come back.”
She shook her head. “You’d still go. You’re a hero that way.” She looked back at me. “Do you think Taiwan will be as bad as Peru?”
“What do you mean by ‘bad’?”
“Dangerous.”
“I don’t know,” I said, then added, “But at least the food’s got to be better.”
She grinned. “I like Chinese food.”
When we got to the stable, Taylor walked up to an Appaloosa colt standing next to a railing. “Hey, baby,” she said. She rubbed the horse’s nose and he nuzzled against her. “I love horses. When I was little I tried to talk my parents into getting me one, but it was too expensive.”
“How much does a horse cost?”
“It depends on what kind. But it’s not just the cost of buying one, it’s also the upkeep—like feeding it and the stable rental. On my father’s police salary, that wasn’t going to happen.” She sighed. “In my dream world I’d live on a ranch like this with a hundred acres of horse property, and every day I would go riding.” She turned back and looked at me. “You love me.”
“You read my mind,” I said.