All Is Silence - Deserted Lands #1

Chapter 25 - Part II

The guards led Lizzie into the cafeteria. Her friends sat around the table eyeing her with the same dazed look. She felt immense relief at seeing them. But Spike was still missing. “Where’s Spike?”

Zach shrugged. “Don’t know. I assume he’ll be here soon.”

Men in uniforms stood by the door, no visible guns, but they were obviously guards. So much for being free to go after questioning.

A young woman brought in bread and more milk. She introduced herself as Rachael. She didn’t know the answers to their questions. Lizzie thought she was telling the truth. Her eyes and manner were warm; her slacks and sweater were more sedate and adult than Lizzie’s. Rachael seemed near the same age as Lizzie, but she seemed simple or at least sheltered.

Rachael brought in a giant pot of stew with the heavenly smell of onions, garlic and beef. She also brought a handful of baby carrots and some chunked up chicken. “Can I feed these to the baby?”

“He feeds himself mostly, but you can help him if you want.” Lizzie nodded. Saj watched Rachael and he opened his mouth when she offered him a bite. He seemed to like her, but as she fed him, Lizzie saw her eyes get misty.

“What’s wrong, Rachael?”

“Nothing. I—” Rachael’s mouth twitched. “My baby... He got sick. Died. They want me to-” Her eyes flicked behind her, “Excuse me,” she said and hurried from the room.

After a bit she came back, her tears dabbed. She had an old Fisher Price barnyard play set in a box and coaxed Saj onto the floor to play.

Bill Johnston came in accompanied by Nadine, the severe woman who had ordered them all questioned. “May the light welcome you.” She put on a friendly face. She sat at one end of the table and Bill sat at the other. “I assume you will want to be moving on in the morning. We’ll top off your gas. When you’ve reunited with Lizzie’s father perhaps you’ll want to come back this way.”

Lizzie nodded, matching her fake smile. “We’ve come a long way.” It was scary realizing that Nadine probably knew everything she’d told Bill. “Thank you for the food and the gas.” And fuck you for the interrogation and the treatment beforehand and we filled up already today. Lizzie bit the inside of her cheek to help control her anger. Don’t piss these people off. “Where is Spike?”

The woman looked quizzical. “Spike?”

“Our dog-man.”

“Dog-man? Oh, the drone? The special one.”

Lizzie didn’t like the way she said special like a disease. “Yeah. Big guy. Doesn’t talk.”

“He’s with others like him. We’re feeding and washing him. They tend to get pests.”

“I want him here with us.”

“I’m afraid that’s not possible. We don’t allow them in here.”

“What?” Lizzie couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “They’re not stupid. At least Spike isn’t.”

“Yeah,” Charley piped up. “He can talk to me.”

Lizzie nodded, not trusting herself to be polite to this stupid woman.

“Talk?” Nadine snorted.

“Sign Language,” Charley explained, his eyes lit up with excitement. “He’s learned five or six words in the last two days. “Please, thank you, more, toilet, hungry, thirst—”

“We haven’t been successful in teaching them anything.”

“Bring him in. I’ll show you.” Charley’s smile was irresistible.

Bill was grinning and Nadine’s frown straightened. “Okay. Bring in the new one.”

“I used up a lot of treats teaching him, but he’s such a big man he needs the food anyway.” Charley sliced up the rest of the carrots on his plate.

Lizzie knelt by Rachael and Saj. Let Charley do the talking; his boyish charm was the perfect response to the witch, Nadine. Rachael smiled at Lizzie, her joy with Saj was clear, like she’d been re-lit from within. Lizzie sat cross-legged watching them. Seeing Rachael’s interaction with Saj, Lizzie felt guilty. I don’t play with him much.

Saj giggled as Rachael jiggled his tummy, walking up his belly with the little toy man.

The guards brought Spike in. Charley showed off the words Spike knew, starting with hungry.

Spike signed, “No.”

“Thirsty?” Charley asked.

Spike’s hands hurried to sign, yes and please.

Charley handed him a glass of water and he signed,“Thank you.”

Lizzie glanced around the room. Charley had them spell-bound. Charley and Spike. Then Charley gave Spike a big hug and Spike hugged him back.

Charley backed away and said, “I love you, Spike.”He signed it at the same time.

Spike’s head cocked to the side like he did when he seemed to be considering. Then his hands, slower this time, formed a decent copy of Charley’s, “I love you.”

“There,” Zach said, coming over to Spike and Charley. He put protective hands on both their shoulders. “See. Spike is family.”

Bill nodded. “Nadine, I think—“

“Okay.” Nadine stood abruptly. “Have their vehicle brought around, Mister Johnston. You may take your ‘Dog-man.’”

Lizzie shook her head. The damn woman couldn’t even call him by his name. Oh, well, forgive her. Everyone was smiling including the guards.

Then Lizzie saw a pistol in Nadine’s hand. The severe face returned to a frown. “Rachael, take the baby out.”

“What?” Lizzie demanded. “Rachael—” She could hear the hysteria in her own voice. Her heart pounded. “What are you doing, Nadine?”