Chapter 33: The Pursuit

Submitted by PeteMork on Thu, 03/29/2012 - 05:32

“Okay, Sava. What have you got for us?” Rich motioned to Elaine, who immediately climbed out of the pool, grabbed a towel and headed for the porch.

“Are you coming back, Mama?”

“After the meeting, Eli. I won’t be long.” She dried herself off, slipped on her sandals and sat down at the dining room table. Livia, Nils, Jonathan, and Jack were already seated.

“We’ve attracted their attention, Doctor. Their increased activity in Sunderland is a clear indication of this. So far, Ryan and Janice are merely being observed, but they know their man is missing there. It’s only a matter of time before they lose patience and become more…proactive. Jonathan has been good enough to provide the children with a bit of insurance, but they will be of little use if these people decide to take action.”

“But what real evidence do you have, Sava? This is all supposition.”

“There have been official inquiries at Genterapi by MHRA officials, and surprise inspections at several of our laboratories, also originating from there. There also have been inquires about Archaeogenetics and our offshore facilities, including Phoenix Island.”

“Genterapi would naturally be of interest to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. After all, that’s the business we’re in, Sava.” Jonathan sounded puzzled. “But Archaeogenetics? We don’t produce any marketable drugs—and never will.”

“And Genterapi has dealt with them for years, Jonathan, as you know. This is a different group of people; not the usual bunch. We’ve always had a good relationship with them, but these new agents are more aggressive and much nosier.”

“Anything else, Sava?”

“I’ve saved the most interesting for last, Doctor. There have also been inquiries at the children’s school by the NSPCC and Child Protective Services with specific instructions to keep you out of the loop. Jonathan will confirm this. It was his contact at Scotland Yard who alerted us.”

“Jonathan?”

“I was only informed of this last week, Doctor, and with everything going on with Hannah, I forgot to mention it. My contact said he’d look into it more thoroughly, but I haven’t heard anything new. If it was of any significance, I’m sure he would have let me know by now.”

“I don’t like it, Rich. Jonathan? Is there any indication that they were singling anyone out specifically?” Elaine anxiously scanned the back yard, making sure all four of them were in sight.

“No, Elaine. But they apparently talked to teachers involved with all four of the children.”

“Now that worries me. Eli and Oskar? They’ve been in the system a relatively short time. I could almost understand their taking an interest in them. But when you throw Jason and Hannah into the mix, it makes me uncomfortable. The association isn’t obvious unless they’re looking for something specific. Only their friends would normally be that aware of their close relationship. Something’s going on, Rich.”

“We have our own people, Doctor. I’ll get them on this right away. In the meantime, I think we need to prepare ourselves for the move. Construction has already begun on the city, as you know. Many key employees have already moved their families into the first apartments and duplexes.”

“Why do you insist on calling it a ‘city,’ Jonathan? It’s a workers’ village at best, with the equivalent of a one-room schoolhouse and a general store at present. The total population will probably never be over 1,000 people.”

“It’s not the numbers that make a village or a city, Doctor. It’s the common goals and a sense of community. But most important of all, with the grand opening of the Phoenix Pub yesterday, it officially became a city.” Jonathan winked at him.

“You’ve done all this since we left the Island, Jonathan? How is that possible?” Nils was flabbergasted.

“Welcome to the wonderful world of prefab, Nils. That, plus an almost unlimited amount of money makes almost anything possible. At the present, however, there are only a handful of habitable structures, in spite of the actual number under construction. But don’t worry; your home is still pristine, and your beautiful view of the bay is unobstructed. The only new homes on that part of the island will be on the other side of the runway, and that won’t happen for a while yet. Most of the city will be in the valley, sheltered from the elements.”

“We weren’t worried, Jonathan.” Livia was actually finding herself looking forward to the move. And all the new families to meet and get to know ... “In fact we’re getting a bit excited about it all, and so are the children.”

“I don’t think we need to panic at this point, though. If Jonathan can make good use of his government contacts, I feel we can keep things on schedule. Especially since Sava has alerted us to the problem,” Dawson said, reassuringly.

“I wish I were as optimistic as you, Doctor, but I promised I’d follow your lead from now on. And I will.” Sava hesitated “However I do have a contact within the Builderbriar Club, a man who, for reasons I don’t need to go into right now, considers me a … friend. I would like your permission to …stretch the limits of that friendship.”

“Within the limits of the promise you made me, Sava, do what you can to find out what they want of us. There may be a chance that we can work this all out to our mutual satisfaction.”

Sava smiled at him. “A novel idea, Doctor. I’ll be sure to ask him about that possibility when I next see him. In the meantime, please, Doctor. Keep your family close for the next week or so; at least until we have more information.”

§

Eli handed Hannah a neatly-folded stack of jeans. “You’ll definitely need these. We’ll have a lot of exploring to do. Be sure to bring your hiking boots too.” Several open suitcases were scattered around the room in various states of fullness. “Since you can’t fly yet, we’ll have to find other ways to get around. Jack took all our bikes with him, the road to the lighthouse is paved now, and Jonathan has built a nice park at the top of the rocky ridge I flew over that night with Oskar. He had a bronze statue of a Phoenix placed there in our honor.”

Hannah was getting excited now. “And my camera! And my new swimsuit.” She held it up in front of her. “It was so nice of Jack to have it made for me, even though he won’t let me even grow my wings again until we’re safely on the island.”

“Well, it’s not as though he had to take your measurements or anything, Hannah.”

“I know, Eli; but still…” she grinned at her. “You’re just giving me a hard time, aren’t you?”

“It’s so easy I just can’t resist sometimes.”

Eli sat down on the edge of the bed. “Jack and Henry are already on the island getting everything ready for their mom to settle in. They just finished a house almost identical to her house here, but next door to your house on the north side of the compound. It’s a short walk to both our houses from there, and Jack’s will be just next door to that one. Henry is going to stay in his mom’s old house until they can sell it, and after we leave for good, he’s going to live in our house. Papa refuses to sell it, so Henry offered to take care of it for us. His job—and his girlfriend—are in London.”

Hannah was delighted. “Sweet Henry has a girlfriend? Why doesn’t he bring her?”

“I don’t know, Hannah. Maybe someday. Jack’s house is certainly going to be big enough for them all…unless Jack gets a girlfriend of his own.” Eli winked at her.

“Jack wouldn’t…I mean, he’s too busy. He doesn’t have enough time…” she stopped. “You’re giving me a hard time again!”

Eli smiled at her. “At any rate, if Henry does decide to come live on the island, with or without a ‘girlfriend,’ Papa is going to have a caretaker look after the house, so we can use it when we come to London.”

“Wow! It sounds like you’ve all really thought this out. I think Mom and Dad are just going to sell ours, once we decide if we want to stay on the island.”

“You have to stay, Hannah! You just have to!”

Hannah smiled at her, “Even if they don’t, I will, Eli. Mom and Dad already know how I feel, and they’re okay with it – when I’m eighteen. But we’re going to stay at least two months this time. If that doesn’t do it nothing will.”

“Papa says there are already two excellent teachers in the new school, and he and Mama are going to help out when they can. There are already 14 kids enrolled, and at least 3 are near our age. It’s going to be great fun! And there’ll be no secrets!”

“They’ll…all know about us?”

“Their parents already do, so why not? Jonathan says these are the ‘best of the best’ Archaeogenics’ employees. They have almost all been in on the research since the beginning. Some of them knew Gudmund quite well.

“It’s really exciting, Eli. Mom and Dad just told the school we were leaving yesterday. I admit, it didn’t really seem real to me until then.”

Finally satisfied, they carefully latched the overstuffed suitcases, leaving one small one open, ready for the last items to be packed in the morning.

“I’m a little jealous you’re going to get there before us, Hannah.”

“We’ll have a surprise waiting for you, Eli. I promise.” She pulled Eli into bed with her and turned out the light.

“It’s about time,” Jason yelled from his room. “It’s after midnight!”

“Goodnight, Jason,” Eli called out, cheerfully. “Sleep tight.”

“Goodnight, Hannah, Junior. And say ‘goodnight’ to my sister for me, although I don’t know why I should bother,” he grumbled.

“I love you too, Jason,” Hannah said, sarcastically.

Eli reached down and rubbed Einstein’s ears, and felt him wag his tail gratefully.

…Hannah was lying on her back in the field with Eli at her side, staring at the stars; head nestled snugly in Einstein’s soft fur. Eli eyed the boys in the tree carefully, baring her fangs and growling at them every time they attempted to climb down. They looked absolutely silly sitting there in a row, all naked and white in the moonlight, like three hairless monkeys. Hannah chuckled. “That’ll teach them to mess with you, Eli, my blood sister, my kindred spirit.

Hannah!

What, Oskar? You can’t leave us alone for even a minute?

“You’d better listen to him, Hannah.” John said. “He sounds upset to me. You’d better hurry home and see if he’s okay.”

Lamar and Rod nodded in agreement. “We promise we’ll stay right where we are until you get back.”

Hannah laughed, “Sure you will. And ducks have lips.”

“What does that even mean, Hannah?” Rod sounded annoyed.

Hannah, please!

What, Oskar!?

Dad’s been arrested. They’re taking me away. And I don’t know where Mom is!

She sat bolt upright in bed, trying to get her bearings. She fumbled for the light switch, turned it on, and shook Eli awake.

Eli! Something’s happened to Oskar. And your Papa. He’s been arrested!” She grabbed Eli’s hand firmly.

“What are you talking about, Hannah? They’re at home with Mama. You must be dreaming.” She rubbed her eyes.

Eli, Oskar sobbed, they know who I am! They called me ‘Oskar Eriksson’ and said I had been kidnapped by Dad. They’re taking us to jail.

Where’s Mama, Oskar? Where’s Mama!

Gone! I don’t know where she is. She’s not talking to me.

Hannah? Where’s Mama? Can you find her? Or Papa?

Hannah, trembling now, reached out and, …Hannah! Tell Jack and the others not to come back under any circumstances! They’re…

What, Dr. Dawson? What?! Hannah jumped out of bed, dragging Eli with her.

Oskar’s scream echoed in her skull. Hannah! They’re going to…Please don’t! Please…

“Eli, he’s gone! I can’t hear him anymore! I can’t hear anyone anymore!”

“Who, Hannah?! Who can’t you hear any more?”

“Your Papa! He was frightened. He told me to tell Jack not to come back after them! Then he was gone.” She grabbed Eli’s hand. “And Oskar…” she replayed everything for her.

“Hannah, try again. Please try again!”

“I…I can’t, Eli! There’s nothing! No one’s there!”

“What’s going on in there? Keep it down!”

“Someone’s kidnapped Oskar! And maybe Mr. and Mrs. Dawson too!” Hannah realized she couldn’t even hear Jason’s thoughts and he was in the next room. “Eli, I can’t hear ANYONE anymore! What’s wrong?”

Eli rushed down to the kitchen, grabbed a bottle of Ejuice out of the refrigerator, and gulped it down hurriedly on her way back up the stairs. She tore off her pajama top, opened the window, and hopped up on the ledge, digging her talons into the soft wood. “I’m going home, Hannah. Call Jack and Jonathan and tell them what’s happened! Tell them what Papa told you.”

She unfurled her wings, leaped out the window, and was gone.

Jason already had his clothes on, and Hannah could hear her mom and dad talking excitedly in the living room. She was shaking so hard now, she was having trouble even buttoning up her blouse. I have to calm down! I can’t do anything when I’m like this! I’m such a baby! She stood up dizzily, tottered, caught her foot in the rug and fell into Jason’s arms as he rushed into the room.

“Take it easy, Sis. Dad’s talking to Jack right now. “ He helped her to the bed and sat down next to her. “Can you hear anything at all? Can you hear Eli?”

“No, Jason. It’s like I’ve lost everything,” she sobbed.

§

Eli was over halfway home now; close enough for Oskar to hear her – but there was nothing. Her heart was pounding in her chest, but there was no fear; just the clear focus and determination of the ancient predator that had reawakened with a vengeance the instant she cleared the chimney. Twenty years of happiness were shoved rudely and effortlessly aside by 250 years of predatory darkness and desperate loneliness; a loneliness she knew might become a reality again if she couldn’t get home in time.

She could see the house clearly in the distance now, the only one on the block with all the lights on; even the floodlights in the back yard, she realized. The abject silence was overwhelming. She felt more alone than she had felt since Jacob dragged him across the great hall, away from the banquet table, away from his sweet mother and into the unmitigated hell that was his life until Oskar caressed his face that night in Blackeberg.

She redoubled her efforts, finally swinging wide to the right and dropping below the treetops near the stream, using the tree-line as cover. She circled the house cautiously twice, noting the small black van parked in front of the house, before finally dropping softly to the ground between the garage and the fence, then moved slowly along the back of the garage, and slipped quietly into Mama’s studio. She knew what she must look like right now, but it didn’t matter. If they saw her this way, perhaps it would give her just enough time to kill them all before they could react. To kill them all! She welcomed the comforting simplicity of the predator’s objective. It had made things so much easier for her during her centuries of loneliness, and it would make things easy for her tonight. Her rage overwhelmed her as she thought about what they must have done to Oskar to silence him. If he were conscious, she would hear him now. So he wasn’t. They couldn’t have moved him far enough fast enough for him to be out of range.

She moved cautiously down the hall toward the stairs. She heard movement in the basement and on the third floor, hesitated a moment, then crouched down on all fours and crept, cat-like, up the stairs.

She stood in her doorway a moment, watching them rummaging methodically through her drawers. They were dressed entirely in black, from their wool caps to their black deck shoes. These were definitely not policemen; she was certain of it.

Her refrigerator was open and empty, and Gudmund’s photo albums were stacked neatly on the floor next to several open boxes. Oskar’s Rubik’s cube was on the floor next to her framed “Fairies in Flight” photograph. Her head suddenly felt huge; she could feel the blood pounding in her temples. She felt like she was about to explode. These THINGS, violating their home, taking Oskar and Papa from her…and Mama…

“Where is he?” she growled.

They both spun around, then stepped back, mouths open. One of them grabbed a semi-automatic pistol off the dresser. “I don’t know who you are, but one step closer and I’ll shoot!”

“She looks like the picture…” the other one whispered hoarsely. “This must be the girl…”

“Where is he?” she hissed.

“Who? Where is who?” He said, a bit unsteadily.

“OSKAR!! Where is he?” she growled.

“He’s safe.”

“Where?”

“I can’t tell you that.”

“Yes, you can. And you will.” She opened her mouth baring her fangs, and felt the sudden impact of the first bullet as it struck her squarely in the chest, slamming her against the bookcase.

The second one whizzed by her ear. She leaped forward and in one smooth motion, crushed his gun hand to a pulp around the butt of the handle. His scream of agony was cut short by the sound of his neck snapping as she effortlessly spun his head almost completely around. She tossed him aside and grabbed the other one around the neck before he was halfway to the door.

“Where! Is! He!!” she hissed.

“Heading for Heathrow, along with his kidnapper. A private jet is standing by to take them to Manchester, to our facility there.”

“What facility?”

“The Builderbriar Conglomerate.”

Still holding him firmly by the neck, she pushed him down the stairs in front of her. “Take me to them!”

“Okay, Okay! Just don’t…” The bullet thundered past them and embedded itself deeply in the heavy Oak railing. Eli threw him aside roughly and launched herself down the stairs, cutting the newcomer off at the knees as he rushed up the stairs, gun raised. She heard his head strike the edge of a riser with a meaty thud as she braced herself against the wall, crouched and ready. His pistol bounced and clattered its way down the stairs, finally coming to a rest on Papa’s oriental carpet. He rolled over, pulled a wide-bladed black knife from his belt and, still dazed, slashed futilely at the air. She easily dodged the knife, then lunged at him, sank her fangs deep into his throat and bit down hard.

Her jaws met at the fourth vertebra. The sound of his spine snapping reverberated in the wide stairway.

“Take me to them. Now!” The lone survivor took one look at her bloody face, then stumbled down the stairs and stood at the door meekly. Eli hesitated a moment, then gently closed and locked the back door, turned off the floodlights, grabbed him by the neck and firmly escorted him out to the van.

“We’ll never be able to get there in time! They have a 15 minute head-start on us.” He stumbled as she threw open the door and shoved him inside. She pushed him over and sat down next to him.

“But you’re going to drive really fast and I’m going to navigate. Just do exactly as I say and we’ll be safe. And if you try anything – anything at all...” She rolled down the window. “Go!”

The van squealed away from the curb and headed for Heathrow.

“Run the light! You’re safe!”

He half closed his eyes and stomped on the accelerator. Another look at her blood-smeared face and chest had, in any case, removed any hesitancy he might have had to obey her every command.

“Slow down a bit…that’s it…now GO!” He swerved around the bus, regained control and shot forward, leaving a trail of honking horns and shaking fists in his wake, but that awful smell of blood and death was so close, he was certain he’d have a better chance of surviving a collision than defying her.

“This is pointless! If they see us coming, they’ll kill them both,” he bluffed. The look on her face told him that had been the worst thing he could have told her.

“Faster!!” It came out as more of a scream than a growl. She pressed her foot down hard on his and they lurched forward, narrowly missing a cab and several pedestrians, who scrambled hurriedly back up on the sidewalk. He could feel her breath on his neck as she tightened her grip on him.

He exited the Tunnel Road Traffic Circle and turned west onto Northern Perimeter Road. His mind was racing. They were close now, but he was sure they wouldn’t let them past the gate at this point. He shouldn’t even be here, and they knew it. He let up on the accelerator as they approached the driveway.

“Don’t stop!” she squeezed his neck hard.

He lowered his head and stomped on the accelerator. The wooden gate literally exploded, sending jagged yellow-and-black spears tumbling through the air in all directions. They vanished into the darkness on the tarmac before the guard had even exited the kiosk.

Eli gasped involuntarily as the familiar sound of a Lear Jet under full throttle filled the air, and the brilliant headlights of the fast-approaching plane temporarily blinded them as it rushed past. They were too late!

She jerked the wheel hard to the right, and with the screech of tires, the van caromed down the narrow runway in hot pursuit, but she knew it was no use. They’d never be able to catch it now. Unless…

She flung the door open, leaped out, and curled herself into a ball. She jumped up as soon as she stopped rolling, unfurled her wings and was in the air in an instant. The van’s headlights momentarily illuminated her wiry frame and jet-black wings, and then she disappeared into the darkness in hot pursuit.

The lone survivor sat motionless in the van, hands tightly gripping the wheel, and watched as the plane’s lights blended with the stars and vanished finally in the aurora of the city’s soft glow, but he thought he could still just make out the small, determined, waif-like, eerily beautiful monster-child rising rapidly into the sky behind it. He breathed a sigh of relief and headed slowly back toward the guard shack. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he was now in very deep trouble. He had seen something he wasn’t supposed to see.