“Keep me posted.”
The Pilgrims, as they began calling themselves, mostly went to their rooms. Chad stayed up, and after a while, decided to look in on each. He began with his own men, who continued to room together. Both were exercising and joking with each other. Wrenn was reciting a little ditty.
“The men were put on high alert
When Molly Brown hiked up her skirt.
With a wiggle of her hip and a laugh so hearty,
The men gathered close to her, ready to party.
When she bent over to show us her art
She wiggled her fanny and let out a fart.”
Chad knocked on the O’Reillys’ door and Ray answered. Cassandra was lying in bed, watching TV. “Hi, Cass.”
“Hi, Chad.”
Ray just gave him a big bear hug and told him to come in. “How’s it going, Ray?”
“All ready and rarin’ to go. How’s everybody else doing?”
“Well, I thought I’d start with your room. You’ve really done a fine job here, as you always did with the Blues.”
Cassandra got up now and came over to give Chad a hug. “Thanks for all your help, Chad. You came when we really needed you. I don’t think we’d have made it this far without you, Terry, and Jack. You guys are real pros.”
Chad smiled. “Now, we’ll see you at eleven. Goodnight guys.”
Armstrong then went to Pamela’s room.
“Come on in, Chad. I’ve just written my will. The manager’s a notary so I can make it official. I’m mailing it to my lawyer back in Detroit. If I don’t make it, he’ll execute it. I told him that if I make it I’ll find a way to communicate that to him.”
“We’ll make it. Just a few more hours and we’ll be gone from here, and all the troubles will be behind us.”
She gave him a hug. “Thank you for all your help, Chad.”
“See you in a few hours.”
Armstrong then went to Hayfield’s room. “Just checking in with you, Horace. You doing okay?”
“Sure, Mr. Armstrong. Come in. There’s somethin’ I want to tell y’all.”
Armstrong hesitated, but came in.
“I’m sorry I didn’t contribute to that fund the lawyer was collecting. The truth is I’m broke. I spent most of the money I had trying to get out of here, but I ran into the same scams you did. My account’s been frozen, I’m down to my last few hundred dollars, and I got a car I can’t seem to sell without attracting the wrong kind of people.”
Chad just listened.
“I know I won’t win any popularity contests around here. For what it’s worth, I wish I made better decisions. Please tell Gene I’m sorry. He has a right to be angry. He knows what that brain probe can do. I just wanted to help….” His voice trailed off.
“We’ll be on the other side in just a few hours. Things will look better then.”
“Thanks for your help, Mr. Armstrong. Once again, I’m sorry for creating so many problems for everyone.” He then tried to smile. “Like the anonymous quote, ‘It seemed like a good idea at the time.’”
Chad smiled and wished him a good night. Then he went to Sandy’s room.
Sandy greeted him warmly and invited him in. “I’ve just been writing a letter to Jay.”
“Oh?”
“We’ll be in the new country long before he ever gets it. I have no intention of ever going back to him, knowing now how he ruined my marriage to Fernando.”
“Is that why you use Menendez as your last name?”
“Yes. I still feel I really belong to him, even if he’s dead. Jay was good to me, and I never questioned my marriage to him until I started having crazy dreams. Now I know I was actually coerced into marrying him, if that makes any sense.”
“Absolutely, it does. And you’re welcome to write that letter. I’ll let you get some rest now. Be back at eleven.”
“Goodnight, Chad.”
Next, Chad stopped at Eugene’s room.
“Hi, Chad. Come on in. I just finished talking to Bo, my older brother.”
“I guess he must miss you.”
“Yeah, he does. He told me the FBI came to question him, and mom and dad. Now, they feel like fugitives. They want to know where I am. What the hell do I have to do with the FBI? I know why the Squad is chasing me, but the FBI?”
“It’s a strange world we live in.”
“It’s a dead world I live in. I lost my wife, was thrown in jail for something I didn’t do, almost had my brain fried, and now the Squad wants me dead. I know it. I feel it right down to the bone. Now, here I am—no job, no freedom, and maybe about to be killed. All I ever wanted was a normal life: wife, couple of kids, good job. I had that, except for the kids, and now it’s all gone, and I can’t quite comprehend just why. Oh, intellectually, I understand, but emotionally, no. I was never very political, despite being a friend of Professor Zinney. Apparently, some people think I plan to work with him, to overthrow the country, should I get over to the other side. Well, after jail, Hell House, and Hogs, I’d do it, if I knew how.”
Chad just laughed. “Yeah, I know what you mean. These people who own the government get pretty paranoid.”
“What are we going to do when we get over there? Only Pamela has any money. Maybe Haystacks and that senator.”
“None claim to have much money, except Pamela. I wouldn’t worry about it though. Before they started barricading the place, people came and went all the time. I had a buddy who went there just to check it out. He said that even if you showed up penniless they’d take care of you. Besides, Pamela’s loaded. She said she’d reimburse us when we get over there. Well, let me check up on Ev. Get some rest.”
He then knocked on the senator’s door. “Well, Ev, it looks like you’ll finally make it over there, after all.”
“You know, Chad, I had a decent career over here until I got caught. Now it’s cut and run, or go back to Hell House. Maybe if I’m lucky they’ll just put a bullet in my head.” He paused with his head downcast. “I don’t even know if my wife thinks I’m alive or dead. She’s over there waiting for me. I wish I could phone her. I tried, but the call won’t go through.”
“Hang in there, and never give up hope. One thing I know is that everything changes. Watch for it and watch for your opportunity. Now, get some rest.”
As Chad Armstrong began to leave there was a commotion. Someone was yelling, but he couldn’t understand what was being said. Then he heard someone else yell, and then someone else yelling back. The one thing he was sure of was that the shouting was getting closer. Moore came back out to find out what was going on, but Armstrong pushed him back inside, and then followed him in.
The commotion became louder and more intimate. Now he could hear a clear voice. It was loud and commanding. He knew at once it was some sort of authority. He had to think quickly. He’d started to reach for his phone when the door opened. Standing before him was the manager and a Squad leader.
“Mr. Armstrong, I presume,” the Squad leader said. “And Senator Moore. How good to meet you both. I’ve heard so much about you, especially you, Chad.” Armstrong was unarmed; the squad leader was.
“Oh, I guess you want me to introduce myself. I’m McElroy, Brigade Commander of the Local Battalion. You can call me Mac. No need to concern yourself with the specifics. I’m not here legally anyway.” Then he laughed. “Well, legal or not, I got the gun. Come on out, you two, and join the party.”