Night Betrayed Part 11

And in the meantime, figure out what the h.e.l.l she was planning tonight.

Lou adjusted the weight of his pack and gave one last glance behind him.

He could barely make out the tops of the buildings that remained on the Las Vegas Strip-or as it had been in 2010. From where he stood, in a sludgy puddle of water between two tall vacant buildings, two miles behind him, he caught sight of the rooftop of New York-New York. The bastion of civilization in this world.

I must be f.u.c.king crazy.

Lou looked back at New York-New York, where, far beneath the towers, Sage was likely just settling into place at one of the banks of computers. She wouldn't realize he was gone until lunchtime ... or later.

Yep. I've crossed the line. Definitely crazy.

He lifted his burning torch and a rat slinked into the shadows. The walls of Envy, built from old cars, billboards, semi-trailers, airplane wings, and whatever large pieces of rubble they could find, had been constructed fifty years ago to protect the residents from gangas gangas and wild animals. Now they loomed above him as Lou started through the intricate secret tunnel through cars, culverts, and boxcars that led to the outside. and wild animals. Now they loomed above him as Lou started through the intricate secret tunnel through cars, culverts, and boxcars that led to the outside.

Moments later, he stood on the gra.s.s on the other side and snuffed his torch. He placed it against the wall next to one of the broken lights from a Bellagio billboard. It would be there on his return.

If he returned.

I'll return. I haven't lived this long by being stupid.

He wasn't even certain of the last time he was outside the walls. And that was part of what had prompted him to leave now. Theo needed his help. He had to be sitting on a f.u.c.king gold mine of information about the Cult of Atlantis-not to mention other goodies that might be found at Brad Blizek's-and while Theo was a h.e.l.l of a gearhead, Lou was the better hacker. And ... he was tired of being confined, of being treated like a decrepit old man. He was old, but he wasn't by any stretch decrepit.

Besides all that, he wouldn't-couldn't-believe that Brad Blizek had been in the Cult of Atlantis.

He was fully aware of the dangers. A little more than a month ago, Vaughn Rogan, the mayor of Envy and Lou's friend, had nearly died from a lion attack. For, not only did zombies lurk, but tigers, lions, wolves, feral cats, and even elephants lived in the former Nevadan desert. Now the terrain was lush and green, overgrown and practically tropical at times.

Part of the shift of the earth after all of the cataclysmic events.

"You're a long d.a.m.n way from your gadgets, old man."

Lou nearly shot into the air. He whirled to see Zoe emerging from behind a crushed and overturned mail truck. The red-and-blue insignia was faded to gray.

"What the f.u.c.k?" he demanded, a hand clapped to his chest. It was going to be hours before he settled his seventy-eight-year-old heart. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

She had her quiver of arrows slung over a slender shoulder, and her short dark hair was winging every which way. Her look was withering. "If you didn't hear me, then that's even more d.a.m.n cause for worry. I made enough f.u.c.king noise to bring the zombies out of their day sleep. How the h.e.l.l do you think you're going to get where-the-f.u.c.k-ever you're going without getting ambushed?"

He stood up straighter and adjusted his pack. "No one's going to ambush me but you. I've been living in this crazy world longer than you have. I've taken precautions." He looked into the distance, into the direction he sensed that Theo was. "I'm traveling during the day and holing up at night where the zombies can't get me. I'm going to be just fine."

"Let me guess. You didn't tell anyone, that's why you had to sneak out the back-a.s.s secret entrance."

"They would've argued with me. Don't even think about trying to stop me." He glared.

Zoe smiled and leaned back against a tree. "You obviously don't know me well enough, Lou. I'd be the last d.a.m.ned person to try and stop you. Even Quent knows better than to try and keep me penned up behind those f.u.c.king walls."

Lou relaxed. "Good. That way I won't have to hurt you."

Their eyes met and they both laughed. Zoe was a crusty wench, but he liked her. It was hard not to, once you saw through her facade.

"You going after Theo?" she asked.

"Yep. He found some things I need to see. Computers and other stuff."

"How the h.e.l.l you going to find him?"

He shrugged. "It's this twin thing. I can sort of sense him ... I'm just going to follow that. I'm taking one of the Humvees."

"They're going to have a f.u.c.king zombie cow back there, you know."

"Half of Envy already thinks I'm crazy." His talk of the Strangers and their desire to control the remains of the human race, not to mention the abductions and ma.s.sacres related to the zombies, had long been dismissed as the ravings of a senile old man.

"That's a d.a.m.n true statement," Zoe said. "f.u.c.king good thing we know you aren't."

"True." Since no one paid attention to him, that made it easier for them to build the secret Resistance.

"Well, I'd go with you, but you'd just slow me the h.e.l.l down," Zoe told him, but there was worry in her eyes. "Remember to keep your hair covered, old man. Those a.s.s-c.r.a.p zombies like blondes."

Lou chuckled. "Silver is a far cry from blond, but they sure as h.e.l.l can't tell the difference. Tell Sage I'll be all right. She likes to worry."

"She's not the only one," Zoe grumbled, glancing back toward Envy. "Quent is going to be one volcanic pimple on my a.s.s." She frowned, frustration emanating from her.

"You mean he isn't already?" The arguments between Zoe and Quent had become legendary for their vociferousness, volume, and frequency. Of course, everyone knew that those battles were most often followed by very exuberant make-ups in their room afterward. And sometimes in the stairwells, as Lou knew from personal experience.

He was still trying to decide if he was embarra.s.sed or delighted by that bit of a free show.

Zoe's face darkened. "h.e.l.l, yeah. He couldn't be a bigger pain, always trying to b.u.t.t in on my hunts, telling me how to do it. Him and that fancy-a.s.s bomb of his. But it's going to get worse." She flattened her lips, considering. "h.e.l.l, I might have four months ... if if I find something loose to wear, dammit." I find something loose to wear, dammit."

It dawned. "You're pregnant?" Then he started chuckling. The very thought ... it was amusing and horrifying all at once.

"Shhhh!" she snapped, as if the trees could hear. "Don't say it so loud or he'll be locking me up tomorrow. It'll be the last d.a.m.n time he lets me out on my own." She'd planted her hands on her hips. "Maybe I should go with you ... I could come back after this is all the h.e.l.l over. Then I wouldn't have him breathing down my d.a.m.n neck all the f.u.c.king time."

Lou was laughing out loud now. Zoe, with a baby? Zoe, with a baby? He could only imagine. She'd probably strap the poor thing on her chest in a little pouch and take it hunting for zombies. "I don't think so. I take it he doesn't know?" He could only imagine. She'd probably strap the poor thing on her chest in a little pouch and take it hunting for zombies. "I don't think so. I take it he doesn't know?"

Her almond-shaped eyes grew wide. "What the h.e.l.l? Do you think I'm f.u.c.king crazy? The minute he finds out, I won't see a d.a.m.n arrow for nine months. Or longer." She moaned. "He's going to go flipping crazy on me."

"You-uh-don't seem too happy about it," Lou ventured.

"Well, yeah. It's kind of unexpected, for f.u.c.k's sake."

His heart sank a little. He and Elsie ... they'd been on their way to being parents, but everything went wrong when she tried to deliver. It was more than forty-nine years ago, but he still mourned them both. If he'd just had one of them . ..

"I mean, what the h.e.l.l am I going to do-as a mom? I don't know s.h.i.t about nurturing and all that c.r.a.p. But I think Quent ... he's going to be a h.e.l.la good daddy," Zoe said. And the smile on her face was just soft enough, just sheepish enough, to let him know that she was going to be okay with it. Once she got used to the idea.

"Congratulations," Lou said. "And ... stick near Envy. In case anything goes wrong. So Elliott can take care of things."

Zoe huffed an exasperated puff of air up into her bangs. "Don't you get started on me too. You've got places to go. What the h.e.l.l are you waiting for?"

Lou saluted her and adjusted his pack. "Nothing."

When he got back to the arcade late in the afternoon, Theo logged into his email to check on Lou's reaction to what he'd learned about Brad Blizek and found three new messages. All from Sage. None from Lou.

And the first header from Sage was: Lou's GONE! Lou's GONE!

Followed by: WHERE ARE YOU? WHERE ARE YOU?

And: LOU IS MISSING!!!!!! LOU IS MISSING!!!!!!

Theo's heart dropped to his knees. He couldn't get the first message opened quickly enough.

Where are you? So relieved to hear from you. Have you heard from Lou? He's missing. He left a note that he was going to find you. Is he with you? So relieved to hear from you. Have you heard from Lou? He's missing. He left a note that he was going to find you. Is he with you?

The next message was a little less calm: Are you in contact with Lou? Where are you? Are you safe? Please respond. I'm waiting! Are you in contact with Lou? Where are you? Are you safe? Please respond. I'm waiting!

And the final one was practically shouting, which, if one knew Sage, was something one knew didn't happen often-despite her fiery hair. DON'T SEND A MESSAGE AND THEN NOT CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR HOURS WHEN YOU KNOW I AM SITTING HERE ALL THE TIME, THEO! What the h.e.l.l is going on? We're worried about you and Lou. I NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU. PLEASE. DON'T SEND A MESSAGE AND THEN NOT CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR HOURS WHEN YOU KNOW I AM SITTING HERE ALL THE TIME, THEO! What the h.e.l.l is going on? We're worried about you and Lou. I NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU. PLEASE.

Ooops.

And s.h.i.t. s.h.i.t.

Theo concentrated. Lou? You there? Lou? You there?

Waiting. Waiting.

Lou?

Meanwhile, he typed: Sage, sorry. Dont have much access. Lou not w me. Will lyk asap. Am fine. Sage, sorry. Dont have much access. Lou not w me. Will lyk asap. Am fine.

He sent the message then got up and walked over to the window, as if that might make the connection better. Lou. Lou. He tried again. He tried again.

Just then, he heard the soft ding ding of the message program on the computer and, at the same time, felt the sensation of a mental response: of the message program on the computer and, at the same time, felt the sensation of a mental response: What the f.u.c.k? What the f.u.c.k? The meaning, if not the actual wording, of Lou's grumbly message came through loud and clear. The meaning, if not the actual wording, of Lou's grumbly message came through loud and clear.

Where are you? Theo asked him. Theo asked him.

He opened the email message-which was of course from Sage again. Finally!! Glad you're okay. Where are you? I'm worried about Lou. Zoe said she met him leaving Envy. He said he was going to look for you. Haven't you been in touch with him through your mental-thingy? Finally!! Glad you're okay. Where are you? I'm worried about Lou. Zoe said she met him leaving Envy. He said he was going to look for you. Haven't you been in touch with him through your mental-thingy?

Lou stirred in response. On my way to find you. On my way to find you.

Idiot. Theo sent back an affectionate reaction to him, and then began typing to Sage: Theo sent back an affectionate reaction to him, and then began typing to Sage: Am talking to Lou now thru mental-thingy :) He is OK. Dont worry. More ltr. Am talking to Lou now thru mental-thingy :) He is OK. Dont worry. More ltr.

Theo messaged back to Lou: Are you safe? Are you safe?

Dude. The heartfelt reply came through loud and clear. The heartfelt reply came through loud and clear.

Theo grinned in the light of the monitor and sent a message back. I'm coming to find you. I'm coming to find you. Lou was southwest; he could feel the direction from which their connection was coming. Lou was southwest; he could feel the direction from which their connection was coming.

No! Not necessary.

The sensation and emotion in that response was vehement and unambiguous. Theo mulled on that for a minute, holding back his automatic, protective reaction. They might be twins, but it was certainly as if Lou was the grandfather and he was the younger man-at least physically. Lou was seventy-eight years old, and looked and moved that way. Theo did not like the idea of him out there alone.

Theo. Stay there. Am coming to you. Another very strong message. Another very strong message. Help with Blizek. Help with Blizek.

But ... Lou was by far the smartest man Theo had ever known-not that he'd ever fully admit that to his brother. Theo still couldn't get Lou to admit that Torvalds-not Jobs-was the greatest genius who'd ever existed. Lou had lived in this new world as long as Theo had; in fact, he'd actually lived through through the Change while Theo was unconscious in the subterranean chamber until he was found, days later. the Change while Theo was unconscious in the subterranean chamber until he was found, days later.

Okay, he sent back in response to Lou. At least he knew he could always check on him. he sent back in response to Lou. At least he knew he could always check on him. Network? Network? he asked. He couldn't imagine Lou leaving Envy without a microcomputer or some way to tap into the network. Maybe he'd even planned to set up NAPs along the way too. he asked. He couldn't imagine Lou leaving Envy without a microcomputer or some way to tap into the network. Maybe he'd even planned to set up NAPs along the way too.

Later. Driving. Roads are for s.h.i.t.

Theo smiled and let the connection lapse. He hoped he wasn't making a mistake, leaving Lou on his own. But he was right: he needed his help here. And he was a grown man, for G.o.d's sake.

Despite the fact that the Resistance movement was Lou's life and breath, and that he worked long hours with Theo (and Sage) to develop the network, to rebuild a very incomplete, but growing, Internet, and to begin to pull contacts together, he had no other life. Little pleasure and no adventure. Sure, Theo was known as the reckless one-but that was just because he was so overt about it.

It had, after all, been Lou who'd rewired the fire alarms to go off during midterms their junior year of high school. And who'd tried to make a sort of s...o...b..ard/ski jump off the top of their house in Seattle. (It was on the side of a small hill, which made it a logical attempt ... or so they argued when confronted by their parents.) Most of the people in Envy thought the old man was crazy, with his talk of conspiracies and repression-either that, or, more likely, people simply didn't want want to believe what he claimed could be true. Or, even more likely, there were just plain fearful of what would happen if they confronted the truth. to believe what he claimed could be true. Or, even more likely, there were just plain fearful of what would happen if they confronted the truth.

Theo had seen that sort of ignorance, fear, and apathy over and over. He'd also seen the effects of propaganda from powerful ent.i.ties-such as had happened in Hitler's Germany, as well as with twenty-first century North Korea before the Change. People could believe and buy into the most illogical, incorrect things if their minds were manipulated and their information restricted. The Strangers had their ways of doing both.

So Lou and the others kept their theories and knowledge to themselves as they quietly built their network of computers, and also of contacts embedded in various settlements around Envy.

Theo resolved to make communication with his brother regularly until he arrived. If he was in a truck, he guessed it couldn't be more than a few days.

In the meantime, he had tonight-after dinner-to look forward to.

Thus, to say Theo was disappointed, when he sat down for dinner to find the table missing Selena, was an understatement. But ... yeah. She wasn't there, and although he, Sam, Frank, Tim (Tom?), and Vonnie all took their seats, there wasn't even a place set for her. Yet the fact that Jennifer, who obviously ate with them as often as she a.s.sisted Selena, was also absent didn't bother him in the least.

"Selena's with a patient," Vonnie explained, as if she'd read his mind. She set down a large dish with her customary verve, and the long-handled spoon became unbalanced and tipped out onto the table. "Two new ones today, plus Robert's been holding on and Selena thinks he's almost ready to go now too."

Theo nodded and resisted the temptation to glance back down the hall toward what he'd come to think of as the hospice ward. Instead, he dug into the soup, spooning up quarter-sized carrot slices as he inhaled the delicious smell of roasted peppers.

"That probably happens a lot," he said.

"Yeah," Sam replied. His expression, although not as cool as it had been earlier, wasn't what one would consider warm either. "All the time. We're all used to it." Same with his tone of voice.

Theo figured holding the hand of a dying person might put a bit of a damper on any amorous thoughts Selena might have had anyway. Probably just as well. Probably just as well. There were other things he could be doing until the time was right ... not that that meant he wouldn't try and catch up with her later. There were other things he could be doing until the time was right ... not that that meant he wouldn't try and catch up with her later. Definitely. Definitely.

But until then, he could easily occupy his time. "She's going to be busy for a while," Vonnie said, looking at Theo.

He got the message. But at the time, he didn't realize it was going to be three days before he actually saw Selena again.

He did realize, though-with a start late on that third day-that he was feeling settled here at Blizek Beach. Working in the arcade, helping Frank with his garden and the animals and out on the grounds of the estate, he'd found some other things to occupy his time and thoughts.

He was comfortable. And even happy. And that was despite the fact that he couldn't wait to back that hot piece of Selena into a dark corner somewhere ... if he could ever get her alone.

"So ... ," Vonnie said as Theo brought a stack of dishes over to her after dinner one night. "How long you planning on sticking around here?"

The evening loomed ahead. Theo was getting a little restless, ready for companionship from someone he could talk to. He'd heard that one of Selena's new patients had pa.s.sed away, but that Robert was still clinging to life, against all odds. He wondered if she'd be able to get away. Surely she needed a break. Frank had commandeered Sam and his friend (whose name Theo had finally confirmed was neither Tim nor Tom nor even Tyler-but Andrew) to help with some work in the garden.

Theo grinned at Vonnie. "Just until I clear the table. I'll let you handle the scrubbing and rinsing. I don't want to ruin my hands."

She laughed and b.u.mped him cheerfully with her round hip as he dropped off the dishes. "You know that's not what I meant. And at least you'll clear the table without me having to ask, unlike Sammy-boy. If Frank doesn't snag him quick enough, he disappears and heads down to the river to fish or over to Yellow Mountain to hang out with his friends. He might even do his homework, but it's never top of the list."

"Sounds like a typical teenager to me," Theo said. "But he seems like a responsible kid, anyway."