White Spruce

WHITE SPRUCE Chapter 7

- "I can get you to the Outsiders." said Tess.

I sat there and stared at her with my mouth hanging open. The Outsiders? Why would I want to go to them? Of all the things she could have said, I wasn't expecting that.

"You have three options, Mike. Unless you think that there's a fourth."

- "No." There wasn't. If I got Mrs Shelton pregnant, her husband wasn't going to want me around to tell anybody about it. The same was true even if I refused to do it. Either way, my life at White Spruce was over, and the next phase of my career would be very unpleasant, very short, or both.

But the Outsiders? How was that any better?

- "Maybe you should explain now, Tess." said Anne. "It might help if he knew why we need him."

That's right: Tess had said that they needed me to help get somebody else out.

- "Who else needs to get out?' I asked. "Is it Anne?"

- "No." said Tess. "Anne could get out on her own, if she had to. It's someone else. Do you know Kinesha Carter?"

- "Deron's little sister? I mean, I don't know her, but I know who she is. She's just a kid, isn't she?"

- "Kinesha is 15. She turns 16 a week from today."

- "I don't understand. Why does she need to get out?"

- "Because her brother is going to give her to Emerson Howard."

- "The Pro? What do you mean, '

give

her'?"

Tess made a face. "Howard likes to deflower virgins. The younger the better."

I was horrified. "That makes no sense! Deron wouldn't do that. Not to his own sister." Even as I said it, I wasn't so sure.

- "He will." said Tess. "That's the price for his promotion to Captain of the Perimeter Guards."

- "But Stanton is Captain."

- "Stanton is getting his own promotion, to Commander of all the Guards."

- "What? What about Captain Phong?"

- "He's being moved to another club. Stanton has earned his spot."

I was confused again. "Earned? How? What did he do?"

- "He dealt with Sheila." said Tess.

Those words sent a chill up my spine. So did the tone of her voice. It was calm, matter of fact.

- "It's true, Mike." said Anne. "Two people saw him coming out of her apartment that night. And I was at the clinic the next day when he came in to see the Doctor. He had a broken knuckle."

Now I was stunned. Stunned, but also angry. My first partner here, my Captain, had beaten and raped poor Sheila - beaten her almost to death - for the crime of having refused to become a whore for soldiers and pilots. And I, ignorant fool that I was, had trusted him as a colleague and my direct supervisor.

- "Why didn't you tell me?" I asked. "Either of you?"

- "What could you have done about it?" said Tess.

- "I could... I could've reported it to Captain Phong."

She just shook her head. "Phong answers to Emerson Howard, who is now promoting Stanton for what he did. And you couldn't have produced any witnesses; there's no way they would have dared to publicly accuse Stanton. You'd have been transferred so fast it would've made your head spin. Plus your new Captain would have been told about your 'disloyalty'."

- "Everyone's afraid." I snarled. "And no one does anything about it!"

- "

We

do." she said, softly.

I looked at Tess, then, as if I was seeing her for the first time.

"We warn people about informers among the staff. We kept you from going off the deep end when Claire was taken. And we're in contact with the Outsiders. We warn them when the soldiers come. Anne, here, has been siphoning off medical supplies for them. That's why she has to leave; the Club is going to do a thorough inventory, and they'll discover how much is missing."

- "I -" I glanced at Anne. "Is this true?"

- "Yes, Mike."

Now I understood what Tess had meant by 'extremely dangerous'. She and Anne weren't just smarter than me; they were braver, too. Both women were risking their lives.

At that moment, I experienced something that didn't happen to me all that often, or at least not often enough: a moment of clarity. It's not that I could see my future. But I understood it. If I waited to be transferred, it was going to be bad. Going to the Outsiders

might

be bad. But on the outside, I would at least be free. For a while, at least, if that was all I got.

More important to me (at least at that moment) was the thought that I didn't want Stanton and Emerson Howard to win. Fuck them. Deron Carter too. And if his little sister needed my help, then that was a major incentive for me to take the third option. She didn't deserve the fate they were planning for her. I felt a terrible surge of anger, and briefly considered using my Van Guren on them. It was unlikely that I could get all three, though. And committing suicide that way wasn't going to help Kinesha.

- "What do you need me to do?" I asked.

***

Tess, Anne and I made a plan. It could be only be discussed in person; we couldn't risk even a hint of it over the comm network. We would go on Tuesday, because it was my day off. That way I could use the cart, and not involve Ibrahim. We would leave at night, under cover of darkness. I would have to avoid the perimeter guards on duty that night, but that shouldn't be too difficult, as I knew their habits.

After that, Anne would lead me to the spot from which we would make our escape.

- "Really? That's all you're going to tell me?"

- "I'm sorry, Mike." said Tess. "But that's how we operate. If you're caught before then, or on the way, you can't reveal what you don't know."

- "You think I'd tell?"

- "You might not have a choice. What if they threatened to kill Anne right in front of you?"

That particular thought hadn't occurred to me. It should have: if Stanton was the man who'd beaten and raped Sheila, he obviously wouldn't shy away from torture or murder.

"As it is, you already know too much." said Tess. "But if Anne or I were caught, we could be forced to give away another name, not to mention a whole lot of other information that could lead to big trouble for our friends."

- "Forget that I asked."

- "You'll see soon enough." she said.

***

My one regret was that I didn't get the chance to have a proper farewell with Nicole, Alicia and Ashra. But I hadn't been planning to tell them about Evelyn Shelton either. Ashra, especially; I had no way of knowing how emotional she might get. There was even the possibility that she might be tempted to do something foolish - just as Claire had feared that I would when I learned that she was leaving.

I packed a bag as Anne had told me. Jeans, running shoes and work boots, T-shirts and flannel shirts, sweaters, a warm coat, a hat and gloves. I wouldn't be needing a comm, or anything like that.

Then it was time to wait. I'm not the most patient of people, but Claire thought that I was. I tried to explain that I was just better at waiting.

- "Isn't that the same thing as patience?" she said.

- "No. I hate waiting. I just do it because that's all there is to it. You can't speed up time. Pacing around or complaining doesn't help; it just annoys everybody else. So I sit and think. If I'm lucky, I can actually forget that I'm waiting for a while."

Those last two days, though, were a real test. I thought of Nicole, Alicia and Ashra, remembering all of the good times we'd shared. Yes, I thought about the sex most of all, but I would miss their friendship, too.

I didn't think too much about what it would be like Outside. First of all, I wasn't there yet. I might not even make it. Second, there was no point trying to predict anything, as I was more than likely going to be wrong.

That last night shift with Ibrahim was difficult, too. I wanted to thank him for being a decent man, and a good partner, but that would have been too obvious. I had to keep my mouth shut, to avoid giving myself away.

I tried to sleep the next day - my last day at White Spruce, perhaps - but had little success. I had gone over what I'd packed at least three times, and reviewed my part in the plan until I was heartily sick of it.

I watched the sun set.

Then I tossed my bag in the back of the cart, and drove to pick up Anne. She was watching for me, and came out right away, carrying her own bag.

- "All set?" she asked.

- "Good to go."

I drove us down the Southern Perimeter Road, towards the Medical Centre. Anne was going to make one last (and large) withdrawal from their supplies. On the way there we passed a cart going in the opposite direction. It was Alan Gutierrez and his partner Yuri - the perimeter guards on duty tonight.

That was actually a blessing. Now I knew where they were, and could comfortably predict their movements for the next hour. On guard duty, it's best not to stick to a predictable pattern. Random movements and sudden turns make it much more difficult for intruders or criminals.

But people are creatures of habit, and Alan and Yuri were no exception. They would drive the perimeter road all the way to the northern side, as far as the warehouses. They wouldn't be back this way for almost an hour and a half.

I parked behind the clinic. Anne had a key, and let us in. She didn't turn the lights on, but used a small flashlight to find her way. She knew where all the supplies she wanted were. I held the flashlight while she packed them into two plastic cases. Anne was very efficient; it took her less than fifteen minutes.

I picked up the cases (which were now quite heavy), and carried them out to the cart.

- "How are we going to get these things over the fence?" I asked. "Plus our bags."

- "Don't worry about that." said Anne.

- "If you say so."

- "Trust me, Mike. We'll be fine."

- "Alright. Let's get going, then."

- "Just a minute. There's been a small change of plan."

- "What?"

Anne angled her flashlight low, and quickly turned it on and off twice, in quick succession.

- "It shouldn't take very long. Hang on. Tess made a late addition to the plan. We couldn't tell you without - ah. There we go."

I could just make out a figure walking across to us from the direction of the staff residence. It wasn't a guard, because the person was fairly small, and carrying something bulky. It was a female, I decided, as she drew nearer.

- "Ashra? What are you doing here?"

- "I'm coming with you."

- "What? No you're not."

- "Yes, I am."

What was she thinking? I suspected that she was only doing this because I was going. How had she even found out?

- "You don't want to do this, Ash. You have no idea what it's like out there."

- "Neither do you."

- "That's not - Look: Anne and I have no choice. We have to go. You don't. You shouldn't be throwing your life away."

- "I'm not. I'm starting a new one. Hopefully a much better one. Preferably with you. But without you if I have to."

Anne stepped in. "We don't have time for this. Kinesha is waiting."

That ended out little drama. I glared at Ashra, but she ignored me and threw her bag onto the cart. I got back into the driver's seat.

- "How did you even find out? Who told you?"

- "You think I couldn't tell, after the way you made love to me the other night? I knew exactly what that was: you saying goodbye. I thought you were transferring, or something like that. I went to Tess, and made her tell me the truth."

- "This is all very nice," said Anne, "but could we possibly shut up until we get out of here?"

Ashra subsided - probably because she'd won.

I drove us to Southend, and then left the road, going through the woods on the edge of the golf course. It wouldn't do to drive by the Staff Mall and the Sand Trap, and have somebody see us on their way in or out. Once safely past, I went back to the road and quickly drove us to Northend, where Kinesha lived. We circled around to the back of the apartments.

Anne got out and knocked once. Kinesha came right out, carrying a bag, and wearing a dark hoodie that effectively hid her features. Anne quickly introduced us, since Kinesha would be just as surprised as I was to find Ashra there.

- "Thanks, Mike." said Deron's little sister.

- "No need to thank me."

- "Okay." said Anne. "Absolute silence from here on."

The cart was pretty heavily laden now. Anne was in the passenger seat beside me, holding her bag on her lap, with a case of medical supplies on the floor, between her knees. Behind us, in the spaces where golfers would strap in their golf clubs, were our two passengers. Kinesha was sitting on top of my bag, clutching her own bag to her chest. Ashra was sitting on the second case of medical supplies while holding on to her bag.

The next part of the plan was simple, but it was also potentially the most dangerous. I had to drive us into the woods opposite Northend, on the edge of the North course. There we had to conceal the cart, and hide ourselves, until Alan and Yuri drove past, on their way back to the south.

We would have to hide just in case one of them was sighting through the lens of his Van Guren rifle. It was far more likely that they'd be watching the perimeter fence, or that they'd be distracted by the apartments at Northend. The driver would be on the left - our side - so the odds were in our favour. But a Van Guren can detect body heat, unless it's shielded by dark clothing.

I would be lying prone, using my own Van Guren to watch the perimeter road. Once I spotted them coming, I could switch off the sights, and pull my hood around my face.

It was a nerve-wracking wait, that much I can tell you. Guarding the perimeter was not normally all that exciting, barring the nights when Trey had shot the Outsider, and then been shot himself. But those were both unexpected moments of intense but extremely brief excitement.

Lying on the grass and pine needles, waiting for their cart to appear, was completely different, because the stakes were frighteningly high. I knew what could happen to the girls if we were caught.

Finally, Alan and Yuri came into sight. I shut down my rifle, and buried my face in the dirt. I held my breath, concentrating completely on listening. The girls were all remarkably good troopers; they didn't make a sound. I heard the guards drive by. Then I counted to ten, slowly, before releasing my breath.

Anne waited a little longer than that before she spoke. "

Now we wait

." she whispered. "

Stay still, and stay quiet.

"

Neither she nor Tess had told me much of anything about this stage of the plan. My part was done. Someone was coming to meet us, obviously, but I had no idea who that was going to be. I tried to imagine what type of person would help us - in the end, I was completely wrong.

I heard a footfall off to our left, and turned my head that way - just in time to be blinded when someone turned on a powerful flashlight. The girls all threw up their arms to shield their eyes, when the correct thing to do would have been to turn their faces away from the light.

- "Well, well, well..." said a familiar voice. "Look what we've got here, Deron. Four runners."

Captain Stanton. He had stepped forward a bit, so that he was partially outlined by the flashlight, which I assumed was held by Deron. There was no way for me to tell how many men were with them. Nor could I have reached my Van Guren in time; it was standing upright in its holster, only six feet away, but it might just as well have been on another planet. I would never reach it, because Stanton's rifle was pointed directly at me.

"And look at all that luggage." said Stanton, still in a conversational tone. "I wonder what they're up to."

- "Nothing good, Captain." said Deron.

- "That's for sure. On your knees - all of you. Do it now. You too, Mike. And don't try anything stupid: I'll put you down like a dog."

There was nothing for it. On our knees, we would be completely at their mercy. But with a Van Guren locked on me, I wouldn't be able to achieve anything before I died, except maybe to give the girls a moment to run. One or two of them might get a few steps head start. But where could they go?

We've all heard the saying: where there's life, there's hope. It was a little hard to believe at that particular moment. And I had to wonder what Anne and Ashra were thinking. There

are

fates worse than death.

"Do it

now

." repeated Stanton, his voice hard.

I knelt.

Kinesha, though, showed some spirit. "I can't believe you're doing this to me, Deron." she spat.

- "Shut up, you ungrateful little bitch."

- "Ungrateful? You're handing me over to an old pervert so that you can get a promotion - and you expect

gratitude

?"

- "Do as your brother says, little girl." said Stanton. "I have to deliver Howard a virgin, but you have two other holes that I will happily break in. Actually, now that I get a good look at you, I think I will. If you kneel now, I'll use lube for your ass."

- "Fuck you." snarled Kinesha.

Stanton raised his rifle a little. Now that I had regained a little more of my sight, I could see that it was aimed directly at my head.

- "Kneel down, little girl - or I'll blow Mike's head off."

He was going to do that anyway, but Kinesha may not have known that. She was still young, and didn't want to be responsible for my immediate extinction. She knelt.

Stanton grinned. Then he looked over Anne and Ashra, leering at them.

"Look at that, Deron: the little maid slut looks half decent tonight. I'll douse her with a big bottle of perfume, and then I'll break her in properly. You can have the blonde, though - at least until we have to give them to the soldiers."

How had I ever trusted this degenerate, even for a moment? Forget trying to escape; I should have gone with that momentary impulse that told me to kill him. Him, Deron,

and

Emerson Howard. Now I would never have the chance, slim as it would have been.

Stanton was still grinning. He was looking right at me; he had to have been able to see the loathing on my face.

"Actually, I don't think we need you at all, Mike. I'd say it's been nice knowing you - except it hasn't. I knew you were a useless sack of shit from the very beginning. Good riddance."

He raised his rifle again.

I know the sound that a Van Guren makes when it's fired. I heard

two

cracks, though - and the noise didn't originate from directly in front of me. Stanton's face vanished as his head exploded. There was no time to even think about it, though, because less than a second later there was a sound like a wet slap, and the flashlight fell to the ground.

- "

Stay down

!" hissed a voice.

An eerie silence followed. There was no movement from either Stanton or Deron. I was tempted to stand up, but that would have risked getting shot by mistake.

I didn't hear a thing, but all of a sudden she was there. Yes - she. I would have bet that this was the slender Outsider I'd seen before. By the light of the flashlight (now lying on the ground), I saw long, light brown hair, tied into a ponytail. Pale eyes. She had a streak of mud across her forehead, and more dirt on both cheeks. Her face was long, and narrow. Her lips were tightly compressed in disapproval.

- "There were only supposed to be three." she said.

- "Last minute change." said Anne. "Tess approved it."

- "But I didn't." said the Outsider woman.

- "Ashra is with us. I'll vouch for her."

- "You'd better. If she does anything to endanger us, I'll kill her. The rest of you get one warning."

The woman bent over, and picked up the flashlight, turning it off.

"Your eyes will adjust. Gather your gear." She looked at me. "Get their rifles."

- "They're Van Gurens. Keyed to thumb and palm prints. Nobody else can use them."

- "First and last warning." she said. "When we're safely out of here, you can ask all the stupid questions you want. Until then, do exactly what I tell you. Get the rifles."