CHAPTER 17
It was strange. Barbara found that at no time was she afraid. She was definitely angry but, from the time they grabbed her, in the parking lot of the clinic, till this very moment, it was like she instinctively knew what was going on. They had put a bag over he head to start with and now that had been replaced with a blindfold but, she did not have to see to figure this one out. When she heard the arguing from behind a wall, she recognized that voice. It was a hard one to forget, no matter how long it had been since she last heard it. It confirmed everything she had suspected and all she wanted to do now was get the chance to unleash the scorn that was welling up inside her. It was not very long before the chance came.
Oddly enough, when Barbara heard him walking around in the same room, that she was in, she said nothing. He remained silent as well and went about whatever he was doing. Then the sounds of sizzling had Barbara worried for a moment but, that was before the scent of bacon penetrated her nostrils. Barbara decided to use it, “I guess you're only making enough for one since I can't eat, being tied to a chair and all.”
He stopped right next to her but, he did nothing. Barbara wondered what he was thinking about doing next. Then the plastic bands, that were holding her wrists to the chair, were cut and the blindfold came off. It took a second for her eyes to adjust but, sure enough, Duke Callahan was standing right there next to her. He went easily back to the kitchenette of what appeared to be the inside of a one room cabin. There was one window with a mountain view and obviously a front porch. Duke must have been arguing, with the other guy, out there. That meant this person was probably still out there too.
Maybe Duke saw it in her eyes or, more likely, he just guessed what she was thinking because, as he stirred some scrambled eggs, “nobody else is here now, if that's what you're wondering.”
“I see,” Barbara said politely before asking in a more hostile tone, “and you're not afraid I'm just going to run off. No offense Duke but, you don't look like in your good enough shape to catch me.”
“Don't have too,” Duke replied easy enough, “you're the one that wanted to talk to me. Ok, we're here, now talk.”
“There are a lot of easier ways to do this,” Barbara told him as she watched him set a plate of breakfast down in front of her.
Duke then sat down across a kitchen table from her and, as he picked up a fork, he told her in a matter of fact kind of way, “not for me.” After taking a bite, Duke then told her, “to be honest Barbara, I really had no intentions of talking to you. Nothing personal, I just kind of figured there wasn't much to say.”
“I don't know Duke,” Barbara told him, “I can think of a few things like, oh how is my grand niece, or, did you know what your father's last words were to me. I'd think there is quite a bit that has gone unsaid.”
“Didn't say that,” he remained passive as he ate and talked. Then he pointed out, “just don't want to talk about it. I can see that much about you hasn't changed Little Princess. Other people have feelings too, since you ain't noticed yet.” Duke put down his fork, wiped at his chin, and then he told her, “but some other things ain't changed ether. You didn't leave me much choice in the matter so I figured I best get this over with. I got your message, loud and clear.”
Barbara winced in confusion, “what are you talking about?”
The man cracked a half smile, thought about it, and then he finally said, “ok fine, if you want to play it that way. If not that, then lets talk about the damn Germans you brought with you.”
“Ok Duke,” Barbara was quite serious, “now I really don't know what you're talking about.”
There was no civility in him when his gravely voice exploded with, “they followed you Barbara.” He could see by her reaction that she was confused, so, he told her, “you weren't going to see them in your rear view mirror child. They got a Starship snooping around the system right now. They can track you from orbit if they want. Let that sink in so you understand exactly how dangerous the people are that you're playing with.”
Barbara almost slammed her fist on the table, “I know how dangerous they are, Duke. What do you think I've been doing these past few years? I've fought them, tooth and nail. I'm trying to make this colony safe for the people who live here, for my daughter, your flesh and blood. I haven't seen you doing anything but, then again, I thought you were dead.”
Oddly, he did not take offense. In fact, Duke found it amusing and almost laughed, “lot of that going around these days. What you expect, after a war like that last one?”
“I don't find it amusing,” Barbara told him point blank.
“I do,” Duke replied in a condescending tone. “After a while, you just got to laugh at things, particularly when there ain't nothing else you can do about it. Course, sounds to me like that's not what you think. From what you just said, it sounds like you think you're actually doing something.”
Barbara was angry but, not because of what he said. It was more like her anger was due to the fact that he had not lost his ability to push her buttons. Barbara had always wished that her Dad could come home and see the woman she had become. She thought that she had grown into everything he wanted her to be. Duke was as close as she was ever going to get to that and he was not only telling her she had not grown up but, he was practically proving it.
“I've done quite a bit,” Barbara said with a hostile flare.
Duke was equally sure of himself when he replied, “child, you'll never do anything as long as you're playing by their rules.”
“If you mean the Germans, Duke,” she replied sternly, “I think we've done the best that we can to protect the people from IFOR.”
“Best we can is always an excuse for not enough,” Duke told her and then added, “and why do you think this is just about the Germans? IFOR is a symptom of the problem. I'm trying to cure the disease.”
Barbara crossed her arms and played it smug, “so you are up to something?”
“Course I am,” Duke said just as smugly, “why should I hide it from you. Hell, you already know it girl. I'm sure if you ain't figured it out then Kent sure as hell has. As fast as he went back, blabbing about me, I kind of figure he's told you everything by now.”
“In all fairness,” Barbara leaned forward and told her uncle in no uncertain terms, “he did wait till the Germans were about to blow the whole damn planet up and it forced his hand. I don't remember seeing you there trying to stop it but, then again Duke, I'm not so sure you didn't cause it.”
“Oh I see,” Duke was amused, “you think I killed that German.”
“Right now,” Barbara remained in accusing mode, “you don't strike as being shy about doing such things.”
“I'm not,” Duke gladly admitted, “I've sure as hell killed plenty of them over the years. One more ain't going to make much a difference one way or another.”
“Well Duke,” Barbara said as she sat back and lightened up a little, “I guess, if I'm understanding you, then that is at least a small comfort.” Barbara took satisfaction in having baffled him at least once. She let him think on that and then told him, “it's something of a comfort to know that you still need a reason to kill people. It's not much but, it's something I guess.”
Days as a Schizophrenic (Poem)
Decant
It's Hurting Again
