Willa Mansi

My Past

"You know who I am?" I gasped.

He frowned through a smile, "It's a shame you don't."

"What happened to me? Who am I? Where are we?" I talked quickly.

"Slow down Son," he laughed, patting my arm, "Let's get you some food and settle you into a room. Aren't you tired?" he raised his eyebrows.

"I guess," I sighed, unable to hide my disappointment.

He pointed at the young man, "This is Tex."

"Hi," I smiled.

"And the girl is Becky," he laughed, "She's a good kid, but a little blood thirsty."

"I Am Not!!" she wailed and put her hands on her hips.

Bert laughed with Pop a minute and smiled at me, "My name's Alberta but everyone calls me Bert." She frowned with a smile on her lips, "I'm kinda everybody's Mama 'round here. You just call me Mama."

"Well, what's his name?" Tex growled and pointed a thumb at me.

"Dr. William Mansi," Pop said proudly and held his hand out to me. As I shook it bewilderingly, he smiled and said softly, "I sure am glad you made it, Son." Suddenly, he jerked me close and hugged me hard. He pushed me out at arms length just after a few seconds and cleared his throat. He itched his nose and swallowed a lump. "Get this boy a room!" he pretended to be angry and walked outside.

"Hey Pop," a man said tiredly and I went to the doorway to listen.

"Bud," he nodded, "how did it go?"

Bud nudged his cowboy hat back and crossed his leg around the saddle horn of his horse's saddle. "They ain't gonna budge," he shook his head.

We stepped out onto the porch. Pop put his hands on the railing and leaned over. "But it's dangerous out there....alone."

"I told them that, Pop," he nodded and flipped a finger in my direction, "Who's this?"

He looked over his shoulder at me, smiled and looked at Bud, "The guy I've been waiting 10 years for."

"That's the Doc?" he gasped, then laughed a second. He made a wince, "He don't look like much."

"Hey!" I growled, instantly offended at the cowboy's remark.

"Bud," Pop started.

"He don't look any older than Tex," he shook his head, "Prolly just as smart too."

"Hey!!" this time it was Tex that was offended.

"Alright. Alright," Pop straightened, waving his hands, "Let's stay calm and remember that we're in this together."

"I been sleeping for ten years?" I mumbled to myself.

Pop turned to me, "We all did, Son. We just need you to tell us how to get things back on line."

"On line?" I frowned.

"I'll show you," he waved a hand and walked down the stairs.

Bud tied his horse and followed behind us as Pop lead me down the street. Just past the old buildings, he moved behind them and led us to an old shed. "Don't look like much," Pop said, pulling keys from his pocket, "but it works."

Bud nodded, looking over his shoulders, "It's clear."

"I don't see anybody," Tex agreed.

Pop unlocked the padlock and swung open the door. "Quick," he blurted and we jumped inside. He locked the door behind us and went to the desk. "Help me," he told Bud and they slid the desk back. He pulled up the gold handle and a door opened up from the floor. "Come on," Pop looked at me.

"I'll stay here," Tex volunteered as we climbed down the stairs.

"What is this place?" I whispered as I looked around. Tables with electrical parts, glass tubes and bunsen burners were scattered about the room. In the corner of the room was a shelf with books and files stacked on it. In front of the shelf, was a cluttered desk.

"Your office," Pop sighed.

"Evil laboratory," Bud sneered.

"What do you...?" I started.

Pop held up his hand, "Now let's not start that debate again."

"I can't help it. I hate what I let myself get talked into," Bud snapped and looked at me hatefully. "You're lucky you can't remember what you did to me." He took a menacing step towards me, "Cause if you had your senses, I'd kill you." I couldn't help but take a step back and he looked away. "Sorry," he said and walked away from me.

Pop came to my side and I mumbled, "What's with him?"

"You'll remember in your own time," Pop slapped my shoulder. He touched the papers on the desk, "You should read this stuff."

I looked down at the stacks and the books, picking up a book. I flipped through the hand written notes, "This'll take days!" I looked up at Pop.

"You owe us," he nodded twice and walked away from me. "Come on, Bud. We'll leave Doc alone down here."

"Suits me," he grumbled and went up the stairs.

"You're not helping me?" I called after him.

He stopped on the stairs and looked over his shoulder at me, "You know how to read?" he smiled at me and I nodded. He shook his head, "I brought you to your lab and that's all I can do for you." He started up the stairs again, "I'll send for you at supper."

"Shit," I tossed the book down on the desk and fell into the chair.