BAD WINE CRAPPY CHOCOLATE

CHAPTER FOURTEEN-4

But Skinner wouldn't want the public to know that he had us arrested. And if we disappeared at that point, it would be difficult for him to deny his involvement. A lot of people saw us go into the building. I think his insisting on the removal of those directors was just a ruse. Skinner is in their pocket."

"I'm glad that I forgot to show him the map. What can we do?"

Chris looked at Cybil, realizing for the first time that she, and not the consolidation movement, was truly his life's work. His mind quickly focused on keeping her safe.

"I have a friend named Bea Warren who lives near here. She's the Minister of Transportation for this city. I only hope that Bea is home."

"No wonder you always looked forward to coming here," Cybil said playfully, in spite of her apprehension.  

"That's a private matter, my dear," her father replied with a grin. "Now, let's hurry to Bea's place without appearing to be in a hurry."

The two of them joined the crowd of people who were returning home from their day's work. This was the surest way to disappear without the benefit of an invisibility suit. The large number of workers formed a single human mass moving down the wide walkway in downtown Boise.  When Chris and Cybil reached Hempstead Street, they moved at a brisk pace. There were only a handful of people around the pair now, which made them feel vulnerable.

The fugitives reached the home of Chris's friend. He spoke into the intercom and waited for a reply. Hours seemed to pass without an answer, leading him to fear that Bea was not at home. Suddenly a very pleasant face appeared on the monitor next to the door.

"Senator! What a wonderful surprise. Come right in."

The door opened and a buxom woman embraced Chris Cane. She smiled at Cybil as he introduced her. The three of them sat down in the spacious living room. Cybil noted the breathtaking view of the mountains provided by the large bay window.      

"You usually give me some notice," Bea said to him. "Though I'm not complaining, believe me."

"I've never been in a situation like this before," he replied. "I desperately need your help."

Chris explained their predicament to her. Her eyes grew wide in disbelief, as he described Brandon's allegations against Allisours and the conduct of Horace Claven. Bea's heart went out to the proud individual who had served the people of the Second Territory for so long.

"What can I do to help?" she asked him.

"I hate to get you involved in this," he told her.

"You're dearer to me than anyone I know, so I'm already involved. Now what's

your plan?"

"I need proof that Brandon is telling the truth," Chris told her. "We have to get one of the Mises. With it, we can go to the media. They'll inform the people about the plot against Cybil."

"The press hasn't had an independent thought in years," Bea pointed out. "Allisours controls the Mibil network, so they decide what is and isn't on the news. The media are too intimidated to criticize the company."

"This story is so incredible and important, they might just start behaving like journalists again," Chris responded hopefully.

"If the other senators support Claven and Foster, the reporters will just fall in line," Cybil said.

"I can't let this government be ruined by corruption," Chris responded passionately. "Too many people sacrificed their political careers, and more, to make it a reality. I won't let their efforts be wasted."

"We need an air craft," Cybil told Bea. "We have to catch up with Brandon."

"I can get one for you. And I'll get you clearance to leave Boise."

"We need just one more favor," Chris said. "Can you contact Roger Rainer for me? I'm afraid they might be monitoring my Mibil."

"Just give me the code, and I'll call him," Bea responded, without revealing her dismay at the thought of the government listening to a person's private conversations.

Cybil retired to another room for a brief nap while they waited for Roger to arrive. Chris and his friend reminisced about the many intimate evenings they had spent in this room. The two lovers could still feel the warm summer breeze coming through the open windows. The flickering flames from the artificial fireplace they had cuddled in front of during the bitter winter nights also came alive for them once more. Chris, in the latter part of his life, had finally found time for romance. He secretly hoped that Cybil would not wait as long to do so.

"I hope you'll be back," Bea told him during a long embrace. "I can't imagine what my life would be like without you. You're the only real excitement in it. When I think about what you've experienced, it makes me jealous. I should have done more with my life. "

He looked at her and smiled.

"I'll be around, because I need you, Bea. In fact, I might just move to Boise."

Roger arrived sometime later. He listened to their plan with some misgivings.

"Are you sure Senator Skinner can't be trusted?" he said when the senator finished speaking. "If we go off into the wilderness, who knows what will happen to us?"

"If we stay here, we'll have nothing to back up our story," Cybil told him.

"There's no choice," Chris said firmly.

"How did we get into this?" Roger asked in an exasperated tone.

"Everyone has their own agenda, remember?" the senator replied.  "You reminded me of that a long time ago. That's how someone like me can go from being in the seat of power to being a fugitive in the blink of an eye. But I won't let this system of government fail. I'll put Skinner, and the others, back in their places."

"But they're traitors!" Cybil objected. "They're plotting against an elected government official! They should be prosecuted!"

"It's all in the game, my dear," Chris told her.

Cybil stormed out of the house and sat in the air craft. Roger followed her. Chris joined them after a long farewell with Bea. Roger fed the coordinates from the map into the guidance system. As they rose above the city, they received a signal from the Traffic Bureau indicating that their craft had been cleared for departure.

"I never thought I'd spend the last days of my political career like this," Senator Cane said glumly.

I just hope these aren't the last days of my life, Cybil thought to herself in the same fashion.