The Time Has Come............

It took a while, but Doyle called. We met at the Burger King in the Woodbridge Center Mall. He brought Givings with him.

"Well, Denny Boy, you did it. 12 Events in 6 months. Frankly, I don't think the People Upstairs thought you could do it."
"It's done, though. So what happens next?"
""First, we get back the Flasher. Givings will take charge of it."

I took it from my back pocket and handed it to he. It's such an innocuous looking thing that there was no need to conceal it. Giving took it, puled out a small notebook from somewhere, and made some sort of notation. She put the notebook and the Flasher in her side pocket.

"Anything else?" I wanted this whole thing over.

Nothing like that. The People Upstairs are grateful that you were able to carry out this assignment..I mean complete the project. There's just a few things more that they want you to understand."
"Then get on with it."
"OK. They thank you, I've said that. They want you to know that your family is no longer in danger of whatever it is you thought might happen to them. And they want me to remind you that you're still carrying around the tracer and they haven't decided what to do with it yet."
"What does that mean? Are they gonna leave it, or try to have it removed? For Christ's sake, Its implanted in my heart!"
"Technically, it's implanted in James' heart. You just happen to get it as a transplant. But that's neither here nor thee. What matters is that you still have it, and it belongs to us. The People Upstairs are still deciding how to proceed."

At that point, Givings stood up.

"It was a pleasure working with you." She said. "You did what you were told."

She walked out into the mall. Doyle looked after her for a while then turned to me.

"It's not over, Denny. I don't know what's gonna happen, but I don't think that the People Upstairs are just gonna let it end this way. They still have a hold on you, and they ere pleased with how you handled things."
"What do you mean? What am I supposed to do?"
"I don't know. If I did, I'd tell you. I like you, Denny. You seem like nice guy. If I can help you, I will, but the People Upstairs aren't to be fooled with. I may be part of the Department, but I'm as expendable a the next guy."
"So, you're telling me that I'm stuck? I'm still in it?"
"For now, yeah. You'll just have to wait and see. They may let you go, but that tracker is an expensive piece of equipment. They'll want to do something about that. My advice is o just wait and see."

He stood up and offered me his hand. I stared at him, and didn't take it.

"Good luck, Denny. Somehow, I'll be in touch."

He walked out into the mall, following Givings.

What the hell happens now?

High Noon is 12 O'Clock High....

Yesterday, I was on the hunt. I know that the People Upstairs gave me until the end of the month, but I realized that that would just be dragging it out. Since yesterday, the 18th, would be the end of the 6 month original trial period I decided to go out and try to finish this whole Events thing off.

My intent was to go to the WalMart on Rt.e 27 in Edison, and wait in the parking lot until a likely target should up. I didn't get that far. Following one of my usual routines, I went to the Target on Parsonage Road, where I would just do some browsing. Then I went to the Barnes and Noble across the street which was attached to the Menlo Park Mall. I was browsing through Barnes and Noble when I decided to go into the mall and see what I could get for breakfast in the Food Court.

As went in the direction of the doorway to the mall I noticed that there were a few people sitting around in the Starbuck's area, by the store windows, reading, drinking, and whatever. I had an idea. I strolled back to the magazine racks, and noticed an older gentleman sitting on a bench beside the main entrance. He was in the sunlight, a magazine in his lap, and appeared to be dozing.

I turned, and went out the doorway by the mall, walking around inside for a few minutes. I'd completely forgotten about breakfast. Leaving the mall, I walk up the side of Barnes and Nobles and turned towards the main entrance. The sun was reflecting off the windows, making looking inside difficult.

I stopped short of the main entrance, taking the Flasher from my back pocket, and carrying it in my coat. I haven't tried doing this through a window since my second Event back in September or October of last year. It worked then, so there was no reason that it wouldn't work now. Moving up closer to the window, I could just make out the older gentleman, still sitting as I'd left him. I stopped where I was, turning to face the parking lot, and looked around. I waited for a car or two to pass, and a couple of people to enter the store, but it was pretty early on a weekday, so the traffic wasn't too heavy.

There was no one else around. I pulled the Flasher from my pocket as I was turning, then point, press, Flash, and I turned back to the lot. Heading for my car, I replace the Flasher in my back pocket. Getting in my car, I had no idea if the Event had taken place, but I knew that I was now hungry, so I left and went looking for a Dunkin Donuts. My cell phone went off with my text beep, but I ignored it. I found out later that they'd confirmed my 12th Event.

12 Events in 6 months. I'd met my obligation. It was now up to the People Upstairs.

For Information Call Four 11......

We've had a lot of snow lately. To me it seems like we've had more snow this year then we've had in a while, and personally, I'm sick of it. There was a big storm predicted for a week ago last Saturday, and we got a dusting. Then last Wednesday another "huge" storm was predicted, and we got about 14 inches. Another storm this morning, but not really of any consequence.

Anyway, it's last Wednesday's storm that I'm noting here. The snowed all day Wednesday, so by Thursday morning everyone was out assessing the damage. The roads, I have to say, were incredibly well cleaned. The best I've seen, ever. Unfortunately, this means that those of us who park on the streets have the added bonus of having to dig out from being plowed in. This on top of the 14 inches.

I went out in the morning, like everyone else, and cleaned off the car, which took a while, as you can imagine. But I wasn't going anywhere, because of the plow job. I figured I'd wait, and see how I was feeling in the afternoon. By 3 o'clock, the car in front of me had pulled out, which would've been a good thing, but someone had jumped into the space and was too close to my front grill for me to do anything. I went out anyway to move off some of the plowed snow.

Suddenly, a woman came over. She worked for the dentist across the street, and it was her car in front of me. She offered to move it, and in about 20 minutes or so, I was free! Of course, now I had to find a place I could park now, without getting myself stuck.

I drove around in my small community, and found a place on Melbourne, a small 2 block street that connects Claire to Green. But I noticed something else as well. Everyone else had stopped working on freeing their cars except for an old man just off the corner of Green on Melbourne. I had to drive around the block anyway in order to get to the spot I'd picked out.

I made the 3 corners and approached Melbourne on Green. I took out the Flasher, lowered the window on the driver's side, and signaled for the turn. There was no one around, at least as far as I could see. I figured that the flash would be absorbed in the glare of the sunlight off the snow anyway. I made the turn, he was still there, point, press, Flash, and I moved up the block towards the space. I didn't see him fall, just maneuvered into the space, locked the car, and returned to my apartment.

The confirm came in as I opened the outside door to my building.

10 Cents A Dance.....

I tried doing what Doyle had talked about but it really didn't work. He'd said that just because an Event is supposed to be random doesn't mean that it can't be planned. I took that to mean that I could pick someone - at random - and then identify a routine that they had, and wait for them at a particular point along their route.

I had noticed this old man who ran/jogged along Chain of Hills Road, going from St. George Avenue to Green Street, every morning at around 8:45 or 9:00. It was easy to park along the road, because though it was heavily traveled very few people actually stopped on it. Also, it has the advantage, as Coleridge said of being like Alph "5 miles meandering in a mazy motion". It was full of curves and there were plenty of blind spots where I couldn't be seen. I tried this for a few days, but gave up. Although I probably couldn't be seen, I was the only one parked there. I stood out l like a sore thumb to anyone passing by, and I didn't want to take the chance that I'd be remembered. However....

I believe I mentioned before that I make a library run every week or so, there being several branches in Woodbridge and the surrounding townships that sell books very cheaply. One of these is on Green Street, just to the left as you come out of Chain of Hills Road. I was there yesterday, at around 10:30 in the morning, as part of my routine. My daughter had mentioned a book she was interested in, and since I have the time I told her that I'd look for it. Anyway, by this time of the morning, I'd been to 4 branches already without any luck.

Going in, I noticed that an older woman had parked on the opposite side of the lot, and was making her way slowly towards the entrance. This is a small branch, with a very small parking lot so there wasn't that much distance between the sides. I went in and checked, but they didn't have anything I was looking for, or interested in. As I left, I noticed the older woman at the checkout counter.

Back in my car, I looked around. No one was in sight. It was actually pretty quiet, and this particular branch was sort of out-of-the-way. I started my car, rolled down the passenger window, and waited. It was cold, but it didn't take long.

The old woman came out and made her way to her car, carrying a couple of books. As she got there, I backed out, and took the Flasher from my back pocket. I pulled out in such a way as to block her car from being seen from inside the library - which was not a very likely situation since there were very few people there. I looked around, verifying that there was no one and no car around. I put the car in drive, leaning over. The woman had just opened her car, and was leaning over to put the books in. Point, press, Flash, and I drove out, putting the Flasher on the seat next to me as she slumped part-way into her car. I turned left onto Green, then right onto Chain of Hills. Before I'd turned onto St. George I got the confirmation. 2 left and 2 weeks to do them.

Surprise, Surprise.....

Doyle called on Tuesday. We met yesterday at the Barnes & Noble outside the Menlo Park Mall. He was sitting at a table by the front window off the parking lot, and shot me with a "hand" gun as I crossed from my car. He was having a cup of coffee (I guess) and some sort of danish. He had another cup for me.

"Decaf, just a little milk, and one Equal." He said.
"How'd you know?"
"We monitor you very closely. I told you that. We know a lot about your habits, and different tastes in foods and the like."
"O, OK, so what's this about?"
"I wanted to check in with you, since I missed our last meeting."
Right, you were sick, or so Givings said. How're you feeling?"
"Better, but I'm still a little weak. Don't know if I could run more then 3 miles or so."
"Yeah, right. I'm guessing you wouldn't have any problems."
"Anyway, the People Upstairs had something they wanted me to tell you, and I wanted to see if you had any questions from your meeting with Givings the last time."
"Yeah. I have questions. Givings couldn't answer them, and I doubt you can, too, but I'll ask anyway. What happens when this is all over? Will it matter if I do or don't make the 12?"
"To be honest...I don't know. The People Upstairs never said, and I never asked. I find that it's better not to ask any questions at all. Do what they want and everything runs smoothly. They don't often ask for anything too difficult."
"What do you mean.."too difficult"?"
"Nothing. Don't worry about it. It doesn't apply to you. Besides, there's some good news."
"Oh yeah? What?"
"Remember that I told you that the 6 months began when I first approached you? That was on August 18th, so the end date would be February 18th, right?"
"I'm aware of that. So?"
"That's 3 weeks from today, right?"
"Again, so?"
"Well, you still have 3 more Events to take care of. So, the People Upstairs have decided to give you until the end of February. That gives you another week to 10 days."
"Yippee. I still don't know if I can finish this. It's not so easy in this weather."
"No, but so far you've been treating Random Events as if you can't plan for them."
"What are you talking about?"
"Well, just because it's supposed to be random doesn't mean you can't be ready for it. Lets say that you go to a particular place once a week. Someone would know that, if they'd been watching you. If you were to be the subject of an Event, someone could wait along whatever route you take to get there and, depending on the traffic in the area, stage the Event. Do you understand what I'm saying here?"

I sat there for a moment, thinking. The coffee was probably cold by now. I knew what he was alluding to, and said so.

"Good. Now that you understand, you should never mention to anyone that I told you this. It should look like you figured it out on your own. I've told you of the leeway that the People Upstairs are allowing, so it's time for me to go."

He had finished his danish, and drank the rest of his coffee as he stood up.

"Why did you tell me that?"
"You're carrying around my friends heart, and he deserves to get every break he can. Besides, removing the tracker and getting someone else would be a pain in the ass."

He walked away, and I sat there a while longer. There was a lot to think about, and plan for.

Number 9..Number 9..

I don't know if I've mentioned this, but I have a lot of free time now. After the transplant, I couldn't return to work so I'm living on Social Security Disability. It covers the basics, but not much else.

Now, one of my hobbies that I'm still allowed (I can't smoke or drink anymore) is to read. After I got out of the hospital, I took to walking to the local library. I don't like to borrow books. I like to own them. I found out that the library puts books it no longer needs (usually because they wound up with more copies then they need) on sale - $.50 per paperback, $1 to $4 bucks for hardcovers. I went there maybe once every week or so.

Once I got my car, I expanded my library hunt and I'm now up to 4 in Woodbridge, 3 in Edison, 1 in Metuchen, 1 in Hazlet, and 1 in Shrewsbury. I hit Hazlet and Shrewsbury maybe once a month, and 2 of the Edison ones about as often. They don't really stock much for sale. The prices vary, and I've picked up hardcovers for as little as $.50. The drawback to this is that if I see a book I'd like to read, I have to buy it then, since there's no guarantee that it will be there the next time I come through. I've got approximately 100books piled up in my back room just waiting to be read, and I'm reading 2 at a time usually.

The day before yesterday, Wednesday, I was up early and decided to drive over to the main library in Edison. It opens at 9:30 as opposed to the others I visit which open at 10. It was a bright, sunny day, and as I pulled in to the parking lot I noticed an older man unloading boxes from a panel truck with the Edison library logo on it. New arrivals, I guessed, though there were quite a few boxes. Maybe supplies. I went in to check the sale racks. Nothing I was interested in.

When I came out, the older man was just ahead of me, and sat down on the floor in the back of the truck to take a break. I got into my car, and started the engine.

This library requires that you turn off your cell phone when you go in. I'd turned mine to vibrate, and was in the process of turning it back when I realized there was no one around. Just me and the old man in the back of the truck. Because of the way his back doors were open, he couldn't be seen unless you were directly in front of him. I took the Flasher from my back pocket, and moved the car out of the spot and towards the exit. As I came abreast of him I lowered the driver side window. I still didn't see anyone and there were no cars entering or exiting. The way the lot is situated, it's down a hill from the main road, behind the library, and there are no windows in the back overlooking it.

Point, push, Flash, and I drove up the hill, turned onto the access road, and headed toward Route 27. I had seen the old man droop over as I raised the window.

I didn't get a confirmation until I realized that I hadn't finished taking the phone out of vibrate mode. I debated going to the Metuchen library, but changed my mind and headed home. 3 more, and about 4 weeks to do it.

More Misgivings........

Doyle didn't call. Instead, I met Ms. Givings at the Menlo Park Mall yesterday. She picked the entrance beside where the movie theater is. No "Hello", "Happy Holidays", "Happy New Year", or "How are you?", just a curt "Walk with me." as she hustled by. At least she slowed it down as she rounded the corner towards Macy's. After all, the only people at the mall at this time of day are the "Mall Walkers" - those senior citizens/recuperating people who need to be walking(and those physical fitness freaks who don't have jobs). If we kept moving at her initial pace, we'd stick out like sore thumbs.

"Where's Doyle?" I asked, to try to kick things off.
"He's got the flu, or something. They pulled me in off my vacation to babysit you."
"What do you mean, babysit? I thought you monitored me by the implant."
"You gotta know you're under constant watch. Besides the monitoring, the People Upstairs want a constant watch on you now. They're concerned that you haven't had an Event in a few weeks."
"Look, they were the ones, at least Doyle said they were, who said things would slow up with the cold weather. No one's out and about, and very few by themselves. Also, it's the holiday season. The only people you see are in crowds."
"I know that, but the People Upstairs play the tune we all dance to. Anyway, they wanted someone to speak to you, in case you were having second thoughts or something."
"Not me. You and Doyle scared those out of me the last time we met. I'll finish this, or at least get as close as I can to the target number. By the way, what happens if I don't get the twelve? I know I've got 8 done, and a little less then 2 months for the other 4, but what happens if I don't bring them all in?"
"I'm not sure. No one's ever said anything about it. I do know that they originally didn't think you'd come anywhere near the target. As you got closer, they began to rethink the project, and then they got concerned that you were getting sloppy or too personal with numbers 5 and 6. Right now, I have no idea what they intend to do."
"OK. So, you're just here to make sure I don't have a bout of seasonal remorse? That I'm not depressed, or suicidal? Is that it?"
"Partly. And I can tell by your tone of voice that you're not. The People Upstairs will be glad to hear that. But also, I'm reiterating the fact that I'm Doyle's backup and you'll have me to deal with periodically when he's not available."
"well, if that's all, consider it done. Now if you don't mind, I'd like to stop and get something to eat. These early morning meetings throw my meal schedule out of whack."
"Just one more thing. The People Upstairs want to know what you plan to do once this project is over."
"What? Are you kidding? I haven't planned that far ahead. I try not to think about this whole situation at all. I take it day by day, do what I have to, and move on. As long as you have this monitor in me, I don't see that I have too much of a choice. Maybe that's what I want, to have the monitor taken out. Tell them that."
"I will. Is there anything else?"
"Do you think they will? Take out the implant, I mean?"
"I don't know." She stopped walking, and for the first time today, looked my straight in the face. "They may, and they may not. I don't know them. I've seen them by good guys, and I've seen them do some rotten things all in the name of National Security. I couldn't even guess what they'd do."
She paused, and looked around not really noticing anything, just gathering her thoughts.
"Look, I don't know you. I don't want to know you. I think Doyle has made this project a personal one for him. That's his mistake. I won't do that. But I will give you some advise. Do what they want you to. No more, no less. You try you best, and they won't think your slacking so they won't try to take it out on you. Whatever happens after that is their doing. That's all I can offer you."
She pause again, as if waiting for me to reply, but I couldn't think of anything to say.
"I'll tell them that you still working towards the final goal, and that the slow down was as they predicted - weather related. Beyond that, I won't tell them anything about this conversation. Hopefully, Doyle will be feeling better the next time they want to talk to you."
She turned and left. Suddenly that appetite I'd had wasn't as pressing as it had been.
I now had more to worry about.