Chapter 32
Anna drove the Subaru madly around Boulder, finishing her shopping as early as possible. In less than twenty-four hours, Maggie would turn six. Meyer had promised they could venture outside the lab but not leave the grounds. Anna was impatient to leave the white room that everyone loved to hate. She was never comfortable raising a child in such an abusive environment and was always watching for signs it may be affecting Maggie negatively, but the little girl insisted the room had the opposite affect and helped her awaken to the abilities she continued to discover. She appreciated the lack of distraction.
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Anna believed raising a child would be light and fun, but Maggie was far from that. The stress of not being able to tell anyone about Maggie's unusual talents, the countless hours in an underground white concrete box, wondering if the whole experiment was a sham; what would the result be as the years pass? All she could do was to make it her mission to help advance Maggie's talents. She tried to learn the many languages, hoping to piece together the conversations between Maggie and her imaginary friends. The real question was if Meyer's experiment was a success or a failure.
The small stores in the town center were preparing for spring, and that meant the window dressing turned from red and green to bright rainbow washes. She found the perfect gift: a coat of multiple colors that Maggie could wear on their first visit to the great outdoors. Hopefully a hunter will see her before they shoot. She preferred to take the child into the city where it was safer, but a walk in the mountains, close to the lab was a reasonable second choice. Putting distance between her and the white room was a good start, and she didn't argue to Meyer about it. She kept her business-like demeanor when politics surfaced.
She bolted up the driveway of the small Boston Meyer house at the edge of Boulder, eager to pack up the car with presents and escape. She often stayed for long weekends and short holidays, as Meyer's staff had free use of it. Boston Meyer had one house in every city where a lab existed. Meyer did not like anyone mingling with hotel personnel or having their property found by the staff. His work was his alone, and the secrecy of every experiment was crucial.
Anna emptied the house and left for the lab, speeding along the winding highway. Maggie informed Anna there would be a dog in the white room on the day of her birthday, and not to panic. Rosenthal and Anna were the only ones that knew of Maggie's plan. Both women were more than curious to see if she was serious, as no one could sneak the dog in or out of the lab, unless someone was hiding a secret. Anna thought the doctor would be a good candidate to sneak a dog in. The doctor was suspicious of Anna.
She looked up and saw a small military helicopter above her car, and slowed down to avoid a ticket. The helicopter trifled with her, following her car until she reached the gates of the lab, then headed off into another valley. She waved to the pilot in hopes he would see her, but she knew they rarely cared once they took your plate number and sent you a bill.
"Edith is coming tomorrow morning," said Maggie. She doesn't want to miss my birthday. I think she's feeling bad for missing last year."
"Meyer was guilty, not Edith," said Anna. "Do you understand their relationship?"
"I know that Edith is an angel in training, and William Meyer will be back to try again," and both of them laughed.
"You have such an elegant way of putting things sometimes Maggie," and Anna chuckled to herself as she unpacked presents and put them in the corner with the other gifts in the white room. "Are you excited to see what outside looks like tomorrow?" she asked.
Maggie didn't respond. She turned to see the child's grin about to explode into laughter. She realized the question was redundant. Maggie was quite aware of how the planet looked without ever leaving the lab. Over the years, Anna had adjusted to the unexpected child and was no longer shocked or frightened at the outcome. She had turned her energy into positive thoughts about their future, and was making plans to see it come true. In a way, they looked after each other, sharing a bond and a boatload of secrets as only true friends can.
"I will be happy to breathe the air and feel the planet beneath my feet," she replied. "I want to discover if my abilities, as you and Doctor Rosenthal call them, are enhanced when I'm not locked in a concrete box."
"And we can be together without anyone finding us or listening. You will be free to unleash your multiple talents. What do you want to do tomorrow? It should be a fairly nice day."
"I was thinking of bringing this magic wand I made last night, where I can change the color of individual trees to anything I wish," and Maggie sat back to watch the expression on Anna's face, who already was wondering if the child was serious.
They both burst into laughter. "You had me going," said Anna. "Your newly acquired sense of humor will likely kill me before your abilities do."
"There's an open triangular section up the mountain around the backside of the lab that I want to hike to," Maggie explained. "It has great views and it's a good place to speak with the animals."
"I would like that," said Anna. "How did you know....oh, never mind."
They continued to add to Maggie's personal art collection until it was past bedtime. Anna asked if she was still going to get a dog for her birthday and she said yes. Anna laughed, but Maggie was use to it. With all the understanding they had gone through, Anna still held onto a shred of doubt each time something new came up. Maggie's real birthday wish was that Anna would one day realize that everything Maggie was 'gifted with' was available to everyone.
7am came early. The lights went on in the white room and Anna, Edith, Dr. Rosenthal, Janet, Amarr and two other lab technicians entered, with a big colorful cake and six candles. Maggie was sitting up in her bed, her legs bent to where they could just see her face hiding behind them. Edith put the cake down, and before anyone noticed, Maggie threw back the blankets and a young wolf pup jumped off and raced around the room.
Anna looked at Janet. Dr. Rosenthal looked at Edith. Everyone looked at each other, wondering who snuck the dog into the lab.
"Can I keep him please," Maggie pleaded. "Even if it's just until Mr. Meyer gets back next week. We can set him free then. He'll find a home."
Amarr was visibly upset, as the dog was a security threat. No one owned up to the dog's presence, and he realized someone in the lab violated a strict conduct code everyone signed upon employment. He wondered what else could have happened. He would have some explaining to do to Meyer if this dog was discovered.
"Okay everyone, this is just a small mistake someone has made," and he tried to take the anxiety out of the room, hoping one of them came forward with their guilt, but it didn't happen.
"Amarr, I don't think anyone here brought the dog in," said the doctor. "Everyone in this room is trustworthy. We've been here for six years now, some longer, and this is the first incident. Let's just have a nice day and we'll discuss it later."
Amarr drew a deep breath, and the small group cut the cake and opened presents with Maggie and the leggy pup she had named Annok. He told her she may not be able to keep the dog, and she made him a promise Annok would be set free in the next few days. Anna suggested the idea was actually smart since there was a campsite just up the mountain where it would probably run to and someone there could help it find a home. Besides, it was an exceptional looking pup. He had the deepest yellow eyes and rich dark brown fur that ended in black tips and two white paws on the front feet. Maggie picked up Annok's front paw, telling Amarr of how white paws were a sign that the dog was a remarkable digger. Anna was the only one that paid attention to the statement.
Edith came over and sat with Maggie and Annok. The pup was attached to the child already. Edith remarked how similar they looked: both had intense eyes and dark soft hair.
"I can see if William will let you keep the dog," said Edith. "I do have a little pull when I need it."
"It's okay Edith," said Maggie. "The dog doesn't belong here anyway. There's someone camping that needs this dog. I want to set the dog free on Tuesday." Edith nodded, thankful the child had enough common sense to understand.
That evening after everyone was gone, Maggie explained to Anna how the dog appeared. It was a stretch for Anna to understand, but she had come to know of Maggie's abilities, and respect them. She never once questioned the child for lying. Maggie thanked Anna for the day and her beautiful coat, and said she was going to be ready by 6am to go for that hike. The animals were calling.
Anna yawned and stretched as she walked into the white room at 6am to wake Maggie, only to find her and Annok fully dressed and ready to go, standing in the middle of the room. She had tied a little blanket around his chest to keep him warm, put socks on his back feet and tied another small bag of dog food on his back. The pup seemed to enjoy his new attire, and was young enough to not realize how silly he looked, standing there with his tall skinny frame and splayed legs with his tongue hanging out to the side. Anna laughed, as she often forgot the child was only six and you never knew from day to day what was going to happen next.
She hurried and got ready, and they left the white room for the first time together. Maggie walked down the long hall, one eye studying the art on the walls and the other eye watching the windows advance. She ran towards the thick glass and stopped short of running through, putting her hands up and caressing the cold smooth surface.
"I always wondered what this would feel like," she said. "I had visions of the lab and the windows but never knew what was between the outside and the inside. It's beautiful but I thought it would be softer!" She walked her hands along the entire length of the glass as she stared out for the first time.
"Want to smell Mother Earth?" and Anna opened the door. A rush of cool mountain air entered the stale hallway, permeating Maggie's senses. She stood silently with her eyes closed, submitting the scent to memory. This was one day she was not going to forget, ever.
Anna stepped outside, Annok almost running her down as he bounced out. He bolted around as if being chased by something very large, and rolled in the meadow grasses. Maggie took her first step outside.
"I knew what it would look like, but it's not the same as being here in the flesh," she said. "It's so big! How can you drive without going off the road? Aren't you enraptured by all this?"
Anna choked. "When you see this every day, you don't see it anymore. Humans have enormous responsibilities that get in the way of our view. We forget to look at the beauty and smell the air."
Maggie looked at Anna curiously. There were moments in their relationship where Anna felt like the child, and balanced between gratitude for the learning and foolish for the lack of intellect.
"Your view is blocked by the baggage that still sticks to you. Come, I will show you the way through," and Maggie closed her small hand on Anna's. "Live in the here and now and you will see the world as I see it right now." Anna closed her eyes and drew a deep breath. "Release everything you're thinking of at this momentS. Listen to the quietude. It wants your soul. Let it be stolen." They stood silent for a minute, then Maggie let Anna's hand drop softly and the little girl and her dog marched off through the soft green grass, sniffing the air together and running after winged insects and getting down on their knees to search for crawlers. They snuck outside the gate and walked up a steep incline towards the back of the lab. The mountains were adorned with snow bonnets that reached high into the stratosphere. Annok's booties came off and Maggie stuffed them into her pack. After a few more feet, she bent down and took off the dog food pouch and untied the blanket. Anna caught up to them.
"Annok looks happier without that stuff attached to him," she said. "I thought he looked cute. I wanted him to be ready to see the outside too, because he's never seen it either. We're both new to this."
Anna smiled and walked behind them, mulling over what Maggie had said. A quiet grace began to permeate, and she felt herself open to the possibly Annok really was manifested into life. She was amused by their interaction; when one found something interesting, the other ran over to see what it was. Annok would run ahead and dig, and Maggie would catch up to see what he found, but by the time Anna reached them, they were headed to a new discovery. Anna didn't foresee the intensity and energy levels they functioned at. Maggie ran as if she had trained for marathons, and not once was her breathing labored. By the time they reached the base of the mountain, Anna was exhausted.
Maggie lay down the little blanket she had strapped around Annok. "Stay here Anna where you can see us and we'll hike to the top of the open meadow. The animals are more encouraged to join us there."
Anna was quite happy to sit and relax. She watched them hunt for the perfect spot, and when Maggie sat down cross-legged, Annok sat right beside her with his back legs out to the side. She closed her eyes while Annok looked ahead. It wasn't more than a few minutes when a couple of small brown birds showed up. They flitted about, trying to land on them. A few colorful songbirds settled in front of them. Annok made no attempt to chase or eat them. Several deer popped their heads out of the tall spruce forest, while a porcupine ventured half way. Two bald eagles appeared overhead, circling and performing a ritual dance in the sky.
Anna vowed not to be concerned by the day's events, but she couldn't shake the shock of how much that dog loved Maggie. He put his head on her shoulder, staring up at her as if she saved his life, promising to pay her back some day. Anna lamented, knowing the dog was leaving the next day, wondering if Maggie had the strength to let him go.
After twenty minutes the animals left, and everyone began the trek back to the lab. Anna was apprehensive. She was afraid the little girl would not want to leave this newly acquired paradise, but Maggie commented on looking forward to her white room, where she could draw the new birds she and Annok sat with. She also wanted to spend time with the pup before she released him the next day. They got back to the lab, had a small dinner and read books until it was bedtime.
"Are you going to be okay releasing Annok?" asked Anna.
"I have to let him go. He has a destiny. We'll meet again when he comes back for me."
"Maggie, I can't see the things you do, and I know you have abilities I don't, but what if Annok doesn't come back? What if time comes and goes and you never see him?"
"Faith, Anna. We are all bound to each other. You'll see tomorrow when I set him free; he will run to the campsite on the bench." She turned to study Anna's blank expression. "It will also be the year I find my parents."
Anna kissed the girl and dog goodnight and crawled into bed where her restless mind contemplated Maggie's words. No one discussed the possibility of Maggie's interest in her blood parents, but then, who could have imagined the child would inquire about them. Anna shuttered, realizing she had no control over what Maggie would do and say next, but realized she was becoming more intrigued by the girl than cautious of her. But how could anyone know the moves or thoughts of a child whose abilities were vastly beyond reach of most mortal humans?
April K. Reeves, Author. Copyright 2004 All Rights Reserved. Visit us on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/April-K-Reeves/390530011143987?fref=ts or our website: https://aprilkreevesauthor.wordpress.com/