Episodes 29-38 of The Coup Conspiracy (dystopian cryptocurrency novel)

georgedonnelly (59)in #science-fiction • 8 years ago

Hi guys! As promised, here are episodes 29 thru 38. My apologies for the missed days. I'm developing my Posidose series, my More Liberty Now series and the Steem Smart Podcast among other things. I'll get better at the consistency thing, promise!

Previous Episodes

The United States is in slow-motion economic collapse. The Three Strikes Act funnels the unemployed masses into a national network of work camps for the most trivial of infractions.

Lando Cruz is a scrappy rebel who risks his final strike on the streets of Philadelphia by trading illegal currencies under cover of a burrito stand. He spends his days bribing dirty cops, fending off undercover federal agents and shepherding his little sister through adolescence.

Lando is getting by until beat cops seize his savings and kidnap his sister for ransom. He has thirty days to raise the hard cash he needs to free her before she is sold into sex slavery. His only chance is a lucrative job offer from the black market rebellion's paramilitary startup, the Core. He risks both his life and his principles to get his sister back before time runs out.

Episode 29: Grumpy

Lando turned left from Broad onto South Street. Behind him, the sun dipped below the horizon. A few weak streetlights came on. The storefronts were dark. Bums assembled their cardboard sleeping capsules, both on the sidewalk and in the street.

Lando stuck his hands in his pockets. It’s getting a bit thin in here. He passed a bearded man in new jeans but without a shirt or shoes. He shook an empty, rusted coffee can at Lando.

“Spare a dime. Spare a dime!” the man coughed and spit onto the sidewalk.

Lando stared at him. His neck muscles tightened and his upper back ached. There but for the grace of God go I. He accelerated his pace.

A billboard lit up the next block. “Confidential, secure organ donation for a price that just makes sense,” it said. There was a phone number to call. Lando rubbed his stomach.

Maybe I can shine shoes. A yellow taxi passed him going the other way. It stopped at the bums’ roadblock and beeped. Too bad taxis don’t have any drivers anymore.

Lando passed the pet shop. That might be just the thing. Lando stopped and grinned. I just need an idea, or a couple of them. Just the right ideas and I can salvage this.

He entered the shop. “I’d like to get my usual cat, Frumpy, just for one night,” he said to the clerk.

“I’m sorry, sir, but Frumpy was adopted earlier this week,” said the clerk. His face was loose and his eyelids swollen.

“No! That’s my cat! He’s such a good — Well, is it a good home?” Lando asked.

“We do have another one very similar to Frumpy and she’s available.” The clerk moved to a display case and pointed out the new cat. It was perfectly black, just like Frumpy. It was resting peacefully.

“I’ll take her.”

The clerk received his membership card and swiped it. He boxed up the cat in a cardboard carrier and handed her to Lando. “Here you go, sir. Enjoy.”

Lando turned to go, then turned back. “What’s her name, by the way?”

The clerk did not look up. “Grumpy.”

Episode 30: Squatters

Lando walked up the creaky stairs to his apartment. The door now had a lock. Damn! I hope they got our stuff out. He walked back downstairs and made his way to the house next door. He pushed on the door. It was jammed. Mariana screamed.

Lando dropped the cat and threw his shoulder into the door. Something cracked. “Mari!” he yelled.

He squeezed through the doorway. It was pitch dark inside. A dim light filtered down from upstairs. He ran toward it and cracked his shin into something hard. He fell and crashed into a pane of glass. It shattered into tiny pieces.

He got up, checked himself for cuts and limped up the stairs. “Mari!” He groped down the hallway and threw open a door. Mariana sat next to the window playing cards by candlelight with Dad.

Lando groaned.

“Wanna play?” she asked.

Lando scowled. He grabbed a candle, lit it and went back downstairs to get the cat carrier. “Sorry, Grumpy.”

He shone the candle at the spot where he fell. It was a wooden coffee table and now it was split right down the middle. Nice work, genius.

Lando looked out the doorway of their dark home. Only one other home on the block had lights on. A low, thumping music came from it. God knows what’s going on in there.

A shiver ran down his spine. He closed the door and braced it with a two-by-four that he found on the floor. A chilly breeze hit him. This place sucks! I have to get us out of here.

Lando checked the windows. He heard a creaking noise behind him and turned. A raccoon stood on his hind legs in the middle of the living room and stared at him. Lando made a throwing motion and the animal bounded out a window.

Lando picked up a plastic tray and shoved it into the void of the broken window. It almost fit. He searched some more and found a cookie tray. It covered the rest.

He stomped upstairs and released Grumpy into the candlelit bedroom. She hissed and hid in the closet.

“Is there any food?” he asked Mariana.

In the dark, he couldn’t make out her facial expression. “Some bread and cold cuts. No electricity means no fridge.” She started to sing. “It’s beautiful, a beautiful —“

“Mari, you can’t sing here,” Lando said.

She jerked her body. “Well, why not?”

“We’re squatting. Did you even check for broken windows? There’s no lock on the front door! I didn’t even check for a back door. We have to lay low.”

“Hmph,” she said. She crossed her arms.

Lando laughed. “You look so much like Mom. I see her every time I see you.”

She ignored him.

“How did the search go today?” Dad asked.

Lando sighed. “Horrible.”

“Tell me about it, hijo.” He laid down his cards. “Full house!”

Mariana squealed. “Oh Dad, you’re too good.”

Keep your voice down! Lando looked out the window. He saw something move in the darkness. “It’s either cleaning toilets thirteen hours per day fifteen days per month or I become James Bond.”

“I like James Bond but you have experience with toilets.” Dad sat back and laughed.

Episode 31: Secret Agent

“You’re in a good mood,” said Lando. “Are you feeling better?”

“I am feeling optimistic. And this secret agent job looks interesting, son. You can work for your cause and earn good money at the same time. Are you going to do it?”

“No, Dad. No way.” Lando shook his head.

Dad scowled. “Why?”

“It’s dangerous, Dad.” Lando took a deep breath. “I’d be taking up arms against the government,” he whispered.

“The first month is just training.” Dad shrugged. “Why not?”

Lando stood up. “How can you be okay with it, Dad? You said this is a crazy lost cause and we don’t know what we’re talking about and I should just —“

“Son! It is better than living like this, yes?”

Lando’s shoulders fell. I’ve disappointed him horribly. I’m so frustrated. I just wish I could make him happy. The space between Lando’s eyes got tight and he looked away.

“I love you, son,” said Dad. “I don’t want you to get hurt. But if this is what you want and if it will help you take care of my princess, then you should do it. I will be gone soon —“

“No you won’t, Dad! I’m not going —“

Dad blew air through his teeth. “Enough! Do a couple months and see if it works for you.”

“I still want to know why you are in favor of this job,” said Lando. “You should hate it. It’s not a corporate job. It’s definitely — Oh, you think it’s like a government job, am I right?” Lando smirked.

“Well,” Dad suppressed a grin, “Mr. Bond did work for the Queen.” He giggled.

Lando stared at him. “It pays well.”

“And, if the Feds catch you, you just snitch.”

“Dad!” Lando felt a bitter tang in his mouth.

Dad burst out laughing. “I’m kidding, son! If your agora can pay you this well, maybe, just maybe, you have a chance at something.”

Lando pursed his lips.

“Still —“

“Here it comes!” Lando said to Mariana.

“If you can get a nice corporate job, you can work your way —“

“God, no, Dad, stop already.” Lando and Mariana burst out laughing.

Dad guffawed. “I love you kids. I want to make it, to overcome this nasty disease, so I can be with you. Come over here and give me a hug.”

Lando went in for the hug. It was a strong one. Lando fought back tears. I haven’t seen him like this in forever!

Dad wiped his eyes. “What about my little Mari? What are her plans for the future?” Dad pinched her cheek.

“You’re really feeling better today, huh, Dad?” asked Lando.

Dad looked up to the ceiling. “It’s this new start. Or maybe it was the exercise with the move. It’s always exciting to move. Thanks for your help, big man.” He elbowed Lando in the gut. “And this place isn’t too bad.”

Dad licked his lips. “Little princess, give me that last brownie.”

There was a noise downstairs. Lando froze.

Mariana pivoted around to look at Lando, a smirk on her face. “It’s just the raccoon. Anyway, I want to be a nurse.”

“A nurse!” Lando said. “That’s ridiculous, Mari. You are meant for much greater things than that. What are you thinking? A doctor at the very least, perhaps a scientist, an astronaut, a college professor or entrepreneur, or all of the above. But a nurse!”

Mariana pouted.

Dad shot him a look. “Mari wants to help other people, that’s all. Perhaps she will be a nurse entrepreneur?” He smiled at her and patted her head.

Mariana smiled up at her dad and sniffed.

Lando sat down across the room from them. He frowned. Why do I feel so bad? “I visited a loan shark today.”

Dad did a double-take. He put his cards down. “What did you say?”

“I went by a loan shark today, over near Broad Street.”

Dad held his hands out flat in front of him. They trembled. “Now, listen carefully. Did you sign anything?”

Lando furrowed his brow. “No, but I’m think—“

Dad growled. “Do not, I repeat, do not! Do not go anywhere near that place. You hear me, boy?” He looked at Lando out of the tops of his eyes.

“But I was think—“

Dad raised his voice. “I don’t think you heard me. I said, ‘Do not, under any circumstances, go anywhere near that place again.’”

“But, Dad, I don’t know what else to do. These cops could come for me at any min—“

“Lando,” said Dad.

“They know where we live! Well, where we used to live,” Lando said.

“That’s why we’re keeping a low profile here. It’s just like you said,” said Dad.

“I’m not a complete —“

“These people do terrible things to their customers.” Dad held his hands out in front of him. “Just stay away.”

Lando sighed.

“Maybe you can borrow a cart?” said Mariana. “I bet Mr. Gianakos would have some ideas.”

“I’ll call him tomorrow,” said Lando.

“Hey, big bro, don’t forget. I need that computer by Monday.”

Episode 32: A Note

Lando awoke in pitch blackness. He stretched his ankles and wiggled his toes in the slippery sleeping bag. He smiled. Feels good. Maybe this place will work out after all.

A thin light came through the window above him. Who left the shade down?

He inched his way to the windowsill and his sleeping bag zipped open. A bitter chill hit his back and he shivered. Damned half-broken thing. I hope I can get back to sleep after this.

He pulled on the shade. A fence door slammed shut outside.

Lando put his nose above the windowsill. Two flashlights roamed the grass outside. There was a knock at the door.

Lando froze. Something bumped into the front door. It bumped again. Angry voices rose.

A third flashlight approached the front door below Lando.

The flashlights disappeared for a moment. They reappeared and pointed at his window from his old apartment. Lando hid below the window. Don’t let it be them, God. Please. He watched them through the thin slit between the window frame and the edge of the blind.

They opened a window. “It stinks of beans and crap in here,” said one of them.

“That sneaky bastard up and left!” said another.

“Relax, I didn’t leave him much cash. He couldn’t have gone far. He probably got evicted and is squatting nearby,” said Sarge.

Sarge approached the window. He turned and stared at Lando. He looked at a small, shiny object in his hand.

Lando wanted to search his pockets but he steeled himself against the temptation to move. Silver? Did they get some of my silver? He broke out in a cold sweat. And now they want the rest.

“What I want to know, Sarge,” said Kowalski, approaching the window, “is how does this guy get silver? He’s not selling tacos on a street corner for silver.”

“I explained this to you!” said Sarge.

Jaffari appeared between them. “He runs an agorist bank.”

“Keep looking,” Sarge said. He smacked Kowalski on the back of the head. “Make yourself useful!”

“Sarge,” said Jaffari from the kitchen. “The girl left a note.” He held the paper up to the flashlight.

“They’re right next door, Sarge!” yelled Kowalski.

Episode 33: Hello, Cutiepie

“Get the hell into the bag!” Lando whispered.

His arm muscles strained. He shoved the cloth bag of oversized round silver coins into the backpack. He packed some clothes and changed. He threw his sneakers on, hefted the backpack over his shoulder and the strap ripped clean off.

The coins tinkled in a delicate rain as they hit the floor and resettled. Rage flowed through his mind. There could not be a worse time for this!

He hugged the pack and took up watch at the window. The three flashlights hustled to the new house. A window broke and a cat screeched.

Grumpy! There was an electrical buzz. He froze and listened. No, they couldn’t have.

He pulled down the blind and it ripped upwards, flipping around multiple times and slamming into the window sill. He pulled up on the window. It refused to move.

He tugged on the window latch. It was painted over. He pulled his pocket knife out and chipped away at the paint.

A loud bump came from downstairs. “Ow!” one of the cops said.

He punched at the window latch. A wound opened on his hand. Why won’t you open?

He frowned and rubbed his chin. The glow of a flashlight appeared under the door. He pulled out his pocket knife and readied himself.

He looked at the tiny Swiss Army knife. This is pointless. He put it away.

He balled his fists and prepared to fight them. He visualized himself attacking them. Who am I kidding? They have guns and tasers. I can’t take them.

He tried the window again. It didn’t budge. The stairs creaked.

Lando put his fist to his mouth and bit a finger. He looked at Dad and Mariana. He kneeled down next to Mariana and shook her until she woke up.

“What is — ?” she started.

Lando put his hand over her mouth. “Those cops we talked about are in the house and they’re coming for me,” he whispered. “They want the silver.”

Mariana did a double-take. “Cops? In the house?”

“Just keep calm and stay out of their way. They want me, not you and Dad.”

“What are you going to do?” asked Mariana.

“If I don’t get the silver out of here, they may kill us all to cover it up, to get away with it clean,” whispered Lando. “Just stay here —“

A floorboard creaked outside the bedroom door. An immense boom sounded and the cops broke the door to the next room. Mariana screamed.

Dad sat up and looked around with a scowl on his face.

Lando pushed on the window latch. It broke free. He put all of his strength into lifting the window. It wouldn’t budge. He pulled again. Nothing. He got down below the bottom of the window and pushed up. No good. Damnit!

“I’m going to run out the front door so they’ll follow me. I love you guys!” said Lando.

He opened the bedroom door. The stairs lay below him. He took a step. His heart thumped in his chest and his breathing accelerated. Are they right there? Where are they?

He stepped onto the worn hallway floorboards and they let out a cry. He proceeded to the steps and turned around. Why aren’t they chasing me? The other bedroom lay around the corner. He watched the corner.

He sighed. Alright, just let me know when you are —

Jaffari poked his head around the corner and squinted in the darkness. He flashed a beam of light in Lando’s face. “Sarge, he’s right here!”

Lando flew down the steps. He waited for them at the bottom. What the hell?

“Hey Sarge, look what else I found,” said Jaffari. “Hello, cutiepie.”

Mariana screamed. “Don’t touch me!”

Lando moved to go back upstairs and fight. But if they get the silver and all of us, they can slaughter us right there and get away clear and free.

Something hard connected with a body. Dad grunted.

“I don’t know where Lando is and I don’t know nothing about any silver. Even if I did, I would never give him up,” Dad said. He spit on Sarge. There was another blow. “You bastard,” Dad mumbled.

“Kowalski, search the other room!” said Sarge. “The silver has to be in here somewhere.”

Dim moonlight trickled in through the front door. Lando felt a weight lighten in his chest. Why don’t they just come after me? They know where I am.

Lando kicked a sofa. “Come on, guys,” he whispered. “Come and get me.” Lando sniffed the air. A barbecue? In the middle of the night?

“Sarge, nothing in here!” said Kowalski from upstairs.

Lando stood next to the front door. His foot landed on something squishy. He looked down. Oh, Grumpy. No. You bastards! The dead body of Grumpy the cat lay next to the door. Thin wisps of smoke still puffed from its dead body in the moonlight.

A light shone through a hole in the ceiling. Lando looked up.

“Sarge, he’s at the front door! And he’s carrying something!” yelled Kowalski.

Lando flew out the door. He jumped behind some overgrown bushes in the neighbor’s yard.

Gunshots riddled the living room floor where Lando just was.

Sarge yelled, “Cut that out!”

“He’s in the living room boss! Or he was. I think I got him!” said Kowalski.

“Put that away, idiot!” Sarge sprinted downstairs. “He’s not here and you woke the neighborhood!”

Kowalski talked through the hole in the ceiling. “Sarge, this place is deserted. There is no neighborhood.”

Sarge rolled his eyes. “Jaffari!” he yelled. “Bring them down.” He stepped out onto the front lawn. “I know you’re here Cruz. And I know you’ve got that silver.” He rubbed his hands together. “I’m betting it’s a big bag of it, too. Hand it over. Get your family back. You can start over somewhere else. We won’t bother you anymore.” He drew his pistol and cocked it.

Lando scowled at him. Yeah, right.

“You’ve got until two.” He turned to the front door. “Get them out here!”

Jaffari and Kowalski dragged Dad and Mariana out of the house. Dad wore only a pair of white boxers. Mariana had on a short, lacy nightgown.

“On your knees!” yelled Sarge. “One,” he said.

Mariana sobbed. Dad looked around for Lando.

Jaffari drew his pistol and cocked it. He removed the safety and shot Dad in the leg.

Lando reached a hand out. Dad!

Dad fell over and yelped in pain.

“Two,” said Sarge. He clicked off his safety and pointed his gun at Mariana’s head. Jaffari put his to Dad’s temple.

“Come out, come out, wherever you are!” Sarge yelled.

Episode 34: Off the Dad

“Get out here now,” Sarge yelled, “otherwise, I’m blowing their brains out all over your nice new lawn.”

Kowalski snickered. He walked around the area and searched for Lando.

I have to stay alive. I have to stay alive. If I’m dead, I can’t help them. A bug crawled over Lando’s arm and he jumped.

Dad spotted him in the bushes.

Lando held out his hands. He mouthed, “I’m sorry.”

Dad shook his head and looked at Mariana.

Kowalski ran back to the house. “He left! Took off.” He dropped his pistol. It landed a couple feet in front of Lando.

“Jesus, Kowalski, can you keep a hold on your gun?” Jaffari said. His foot landed next to Lando’s hand. He picked up the pistol and handed it back to Kowalski. “I say we off the dad. Let it serve as a warning.”

Sarge put his gun to Dad’s head. He cocked the hammer and released the safety. “Close your eyes!” Sarge said.

Dad turned to look at Sarge. “I’ll take it looking straight at you, thank you very much.”

Sarge hesitated. Kowalski watched transfixed. Jaffari licked his lips and smiled.

“Last chance, Cruz!” Sarge yelled.

“Stay where you are, son.” Dad’s voice boomed over the abandoned neighborhood. “Save yourself.”

Lando felt a tightness behind his nose.

Sarge frowned.

“Do it!” Jaffari yelled.

Sarge uncocked his pistol and put it away. “Holster them.”

“But, Sarge,” Jaffari started.

“Holster it, officer!”

Jaffari holstered his sidearm. “Can I at least have the girl?”

“Shut up! These two are going to the camps,” said Sarge.

“What?” Kowalski said. “But boss we’ll lose —“

“We won’t lose shit, Kowalski. We’ll pay off a guard to keep us informed. And if Cruz abandons them, we can always bribe the girl out before thirty days are up. Let’s move.”

Jaffari and Kowalski grabbed the pair and walked them down the street to a waiting police car.

“What about this one? He’s losing blood,” said Kowalski.

“It’s not that bad,” said Sarge. “He should make it to Eastern State. They’ll treat him there.”

Lando watched them get into the car. Everything moved in slow motion. Do something!

The car pulled away.

Lando ran into the house. He put his hands to his head and bawled. “What am I going to do?” he whispered. He sat down on the couch and stepped on something soft. “Oh damn, Grumpy.” He petted the dead cat’s head.

He headed upstairs and threw on a pair of pants. He pulled a clean shirt over his head. His hand was wet. What the — He went into the bathroom. Blood flowed out of a scrape above his ear. They shot me. He washed the blood off. The wound stung.

Lando grabbed his tablet from his room. He opened the closet, pried up a floorboard and stuffed the cloth bag of silver rounds in there.

Episode 35: Liquid Muck

Lando’s communicator read 3:04 AM. He walked past the farm market at the end of the block, then turned left and headed back up towards Center City. I need to sleep.

The streets leading up to South Street were pitch dark. They reap insane profits from the work camps but they can’t find the funds to pay for street lights. Lando shook his head. He took a seat in a park and slouched down.

Three kids in hoodies entered the park. They were moving fast. Each carried a pistol in his hand. Lando slouched down some more.

Alright, this is not going to work. Lando got up and ran towards the other side of the park. The kids yelled. A gunshot whizzed past his ear. Holy shit. He turned a corner and jumped into a dumpster. The kids kept running.

Lando sniffed. It’s actually fairly clean. Lando took out his tablet and connected to the police database. He searched for Mariana. No results. He searched for Dad. Nothing. He put the tablet away and dozed off.

Lando awoke. The sun was shining. “How the —?“ he started.

A wave of liquid muck entered the dumpster. It submerged Lando’s shoes and contaminated his pants and tablet.

Episode 36: Eastern State

“Is this the Eastern State Work Camp store?” Lando asked. He scooped rancid cooking oil and gray water from his pants. Damned Chinese restaurant. How am I going to get this shit out?

“Yeah,” said a male voice at the other end of the line.

“Can you help me find someone who just arrived to the camp today?” He stretched his toes and cringed as oil migrated between them. Lando looked out of the sides of his eyes at the library.

A woman with her hair in a bun passed him with a scowl on her face. “Sir! You cannot be in here like this! You need to leave now!”

“Payment up front,” said the voice at Eastern State.

Lando paused. “What forms of payment do you accept?”

“Cash, precious metals, bitcoin.”

“I have cash but how do I get that to you?”

“Western Union, bank transfer, money orders, GreenDot. Have a nice day.” The line went dead.

“Damn!” Lando whispered.

“I’m calling the police, sir!” yelled the woman.

Episode 37: Thirty Days

Lando slid over a fence and landed in his backyard. He kicked in the back door of the new house and snuck upstairs. There was no sign of anyone.

Upstairs, he got two changes of clothes, Dad’s Army backpack, a pair of hiking books and his old tablet. He headed to their old apartment. Please don’t have cut off the water yet.

Water sprayed out of the shower nozzle. It was ice cold. Lando scrubbed the Chinese restaurant waste off his body and got dressed in the fresh clothes. He charged the old tablet.

Lando sat down on the floor in his old room and leaned against the wall. I’ll just close my eyes — Lando fell deep asleep.

His tablet read 1 PM. Damnit! He opened it and clicked the bitcoin wallet. His eyes got big. “What the —? Who sent me bitcoin? Awesome,” he said. “This is where things turn around.”

He called the work camp store again. “I’ve got bitcoin. I need you to find my dad.”

The payment address and a demand for a 500 ubits appeared on his screen. “Just for a phone call?” Lando asked.

“That’s for the first two minutes,” said the store clerk.

Lando hit return. “Miguel Cruz. He just came in last night.”

Dad came on the line. “Yes? Lando? Is that you?”

How did he get him on so quick? “Papi? I’m so sorry. Are you alright? Did they treat your wound?”

Dad breathed out. “Don’t worry about me. Where are you? No, don’t tell me. They know we’re illegals. They’re going to deport us.”

Lando choked back the tears. “I am going to get you —“

“Forget me!” Dad yelled. “The cancer will get me before they ship us out of here.”

“Papi, I miss you,” Lando said.

“It doesn’t matter. I will die on the streets of Colombia if I have to. But you must get my Mari out. You must!”

Lando was silent.

“You know what this means for her. She is only fourteen.” Dad’s voice broke. “The traffickers will get her. She won’t last fifteen minutes in Colombia — if she makes it that far. She’ll be sold —“

“Dad, I will go to Colombia and wait —“

“No! Her best chance for a future is still here.” Dad took a breath. “She’ll be sold into the sex trade, Lando, taken to brothels in Europe, raped, infected —“

“Dad, stop!” Lando yelled.

“You must hear this! Her babies will be aborted and she will get AIDS. I demand grandchildren from you both. And if you want yours to have a chance to know family, then you had better make sure she is able to have hers. She is the only family you have left now, son.”

“But how do I —“ Lando started.

“Listen carefully. She can be bribed out. The clerk here tells me that $50,000 should do it.”

“Fifty thousand dollars! I don’t even have that much in silver,” said Lando.

“Take that job we talked —“

“But Dad —”

“Figure it out. But don’t use the loan shark. Anything but that. Do whatever you have to do to get your sister out of here and to safety,” said Dad.

“What about you?”

“Focus on Mari. I will take care of myself. Wake up. Take some responsibility. You are the man of the family now, Lando.“

Lando closed his eyes. “I’ll do my —“

“You must promise!” Dad roared.

“Dad, I promise. I am going to —“ Lando started.

“And, son, you only have thirty days before Mari is lost to us. Use them wisely,” said Dad.

Episode 38: Scrapple

Lando awoke. He was back in the old apartment. My own room? It’s so clean! He threw the white sheet back and stood up. Wow, this rug is so soft. He extended his toes in it over and over again. He put on fleece slippers and a robe.

Mariana met him at the door with his breakfast. Blueberry pancakes, eggs over easy, bacon, scrapple, coffee and orange juice sat on the tray. His jaw dropped. “How did you do all this?”

“It was easy,” she said. “You deserve a break.”

He set the tray aside. A cat purred at his feet. “Frumpy? It’s you!” He held the cat like a baby and it purred for him.

“Where’s Dad?” he asked Mariana.

She turned and spoke but he couldn’t hear her. She started to run.

“Mari!” He ran in slow motion. Three dark figures ran next to him. They were gaining on her. One grabbed him.

Lando woke up in a cold sweat. He sat up and listened. Everything was quiet. Only the birds chirped. It’s so empty and cold without them.

He got up fast and ran out the back door.

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