Survival

Chapter Twelve

 CHAPTER TWELVE  (edited)

          The silence. Jack always hated silence, especially the awkward and mysterious silence. That same silence was here. Shock hung in the air. ID cards? Confusion. Everything was confusing right now. Mike was somehow related to these ID cards, but how? Jack froze, afraid to move. Mike just stood in the doorway waiting for Jack's reaction. Jack's gaze didn't leave the floor. There were about thirty IDs that belonged to children: third illegal children. What was the connection to Mike? Did he make the cards? How? How is that possible? Jack had a feeling he knew this young man less then he thought he did.

            "Mike. I need an explanation now," Jack said in a stern voice.

            "Well...I...uh. I guess I should have explained earlier, huh?" He cleared his throat, "I don't know where to start."

            He didn't know?! Jack was furious but he didn't show it. He continued talking in a stern and cold voice.

            "How about the beginning? Who are you, really? Who do you get training from? What are these doing here?"

            "Well, I am who I told you. I'm Mike and I work for the headquarters and the so-called group that are against the authorities and Gramblers. They are actually called the Protectors. As I have heard, you are one too, right?"

            "Right."

            "I have taken training there to help me get ready to protect third children. I've been taking private lessons from Mr. Hubkins. He also taught me how to make ID cards. I do anything I can to help poor children"

            Pause. Not silence again! Jack thought it was time to ask questions.

            "How long have you been training?"

            "Ever since I was a teenager, sir. But I took the private lessons three years."

            Impressive, thought Jack. No wonder Mike was so smart and straight forward.

            "How long have you been making IDs?"

            "I started after I finished training and until now. I have been giving or renewing IDs for illegal children."

            "You've been doing this all this time and you never got caught?!"

            Jack was impressed. This young man was wise and a very highly qualified Protector. Katherine was right. Jack was just a weak agent.

            "I’ve been caught once but I managed to slip out."

            "How do you make ID cards? Can I help too?"

       Mike's face shone with a smile.

            "I was waiting until you asked that! It's very basic. I’ll show you."

            It didn't take long until Jack mastered the ID card making. He felt like a real Protector. Even his sister would be proud of him. Katherine. Jack wondered where she was.

            "You are such a fast learner, Jack! That's just perfect."

            "What do you mean by perfect?"

            "I think you are an absolutely perfect person for this job. I really need help spreading these to the children. These will protect them as much as possible. You can do the same as me. You can be giving out these IDs to the third born. We will have to go different ways. It will be easier to spread these or renew. But I will head to the headquarters. I need to be there."

            "I need to be at the headquarters too. We can’t separate, Mike. I need to go there too."

            "Do you really need to be there? Listen, Jack. You don’t really need to be there. You are needed somewhere else. You’re a grown man. Think. I know there is a family out there that is dear to you. You need to go to them."

            Jack was surprised.

            "How did you know?"

            Mike laughed loudly.

            "I can read it in your eyes!"

            "Well, you are right. I do have a family out there."

            Jack smiled to himself. He really missed Katherine and the families. He needed them as much as they needed him.

            “Let’s start our different paths early tomorrow morning?"

            Mike agreed.

            "Fine with me. Hey, Jack? Can you help me put this material and IDs back in the drawer?"

            "Of course."

       Then, Jack noticed that Mike picked up a card and glanced at it sadly.

            "What is it?"

            "I added this to the pile but I thought you would like to have it."

            Jack took the card and read it out loud.

            "Collin Trasper."