The Amtrack Wars - Earth Thunder Part 77

'Stevie...?!" A voice from the past. Unforgettable.

He halted as someone stepped in front of him, focused on their face and gasped. It was Annie Brickman, his own guard-mother, in a dark blue and white jumpsuit with red insignia - the uniform worn by admin officers of the Provost-Marshal's Division. They both stared at one another, unable to believe the evidence of their own eyes, then hugged one another happily.

Annie, her face flushed, held him at arm's length and gazed at him approvingly. 'My! You look just fine!" She blinked away the tears and lowered her voice. 'Roz told me you weren't dead, but I knew that.

inside. And here you are. And she's gone."

Annie snuffled into a nose-wipe and dried her tears.

Steve hugged her again. He wanted to tell her that Roz was still alive but knew he couldn't. 'I never thought I'd see you again." He held onto her hands as he stepped back. 'What on earth are you doing here?l' Annie hesitated. 'Didn't they tell you?"

'Tell me what? What is it, Annie?"

Before she could answer, another voice made Steve's blood run cold.

'Ahh, there you are! Been looking all over!" Steve turned to find Annie's kin-brother Bart Bradlee standing right behind him. Crazy Uncle Bart, State Provost-Marshal of New Mexico. His piercing blue eyes flared as they alighted on Steve.

'Christo! Will you look at this, Annie! Your little Stevie!" He pounded his nephew's shoulders. 'You son of a gun! Last time I saw you, you were chained to the G.o.d.a.m.n floor!" 'That's right, sir.

Waiting for the shuttle at Santa Fe.

November 2989."

Bart nodded. 'And now here you are all-dollied up in Family grey! And a captain, no less! By Jimmy! Poppa Jack would've been proud of you, boy! Hoo! Why he'd'ye been doin' somersaults in that chair of his!"

He laid a hand on both their shoulders. 'All this time I've never been able to breathe a word about seeing you, not even to my kin-sister here - but this stubborn ole' mule always refused to believe you were dead."

He sighed. 'Cryin' shame about Roz. No call for her to volunteer for overground duty.

Bright girl like that, could have gone right to the top. But what can you do?"

'Yeah .... ' Steve paused reflectively then asked: 'So what are you both doing here?"

Bart moved to Annie's side. 'Just seeing a friend, Stevie. Just seeing a friend."

Anyone I know?"

'Can't say."

'Can't say, or won't say. sir?"

'Don't press me, boy. I don't need to tell you how the Family run things. You're one of them now. If I didn't tell Annie you were alive 'cos I was told not to, I certainly ain't gonna start breaking the rules now!" 'Of course, sir. I understand. And I apologise for asking."

'That's okay,' said Bart. 'As long as you know how things stand .... '

'I'm just a little bit messed up right now. I came here to see somebody and they've, uhh. just disappeared."

'Ain't nothin' I can do about it, boy."

A senior medical officer appeared at Bart's elbow.

'Marshal Bradlee? I'm Colonel Halliday." He gestured towards Annie.

'Is this S.A.O Brickman?"

'It is."

'Good. Would you both follow me, please?"

'Sure. G'Bye, Steve. You take care now, huh?" The mad blue eyes widened as they shook hands.

As Bart turned away with Halliday, Annie embraced Steve, planted a hurried kiss on his cheek and whispered: 'They've given Lucas to me!'

She slipped from his grasp and was gone before Steve had time to react.

He stood there and watched her walk away flanked by Colonel Halliday and the forbidding white-suited figure of Crazy Uncle Bart.

They've given Lucas to me... What the h.e.l.l was he supposed to make of that? Who was this mystery child who shared his name... ?

Steve exited into the lobby served by six elevators and hit one of the down b.u.t.tons. The elevator announced its arrival with a soft ting. He stepped inside and was followed by just one other person.

'Captain Brickman?" It was the young staffer from C.N.O. Bradman's office. Her face was drained of colour. She spotted a couple more customers and hit the Door Close b.u.t.ton before they could enter.

The elevator started down. Steve stood against the opposite wall with his hands clasped together in front of him and waited for the next move. She hit the emergency stop b.u.t.ton - halting them in the shaft between two floors.

He read off her name tag, then eyed her quizzically.

'What's going on, Sutton?"

She stayed pinned against the wall by the lift controls and grimaced nervously. 'Listen, Captain. If anyone finds out I've been talking to you, they'll shaft me. I mean I'm dead, right?"

'I'm listening."

'Look, I made a big mistake, back there. I checked again, and there's no entry for Lucas Brickman. I don't know how the mix-up happened. It was just one of those days. So, look - I know I have no right to ask you this but please, please, don't take this query any further.

Because if it gets back to Bradman it's going to make all kinds of trouble for a lot of people who don't deserve it." She turned and slammed her hands against the wall. 'f.u.c.king computers!" 'Did Bradman send you? Tell me the truth, Sutton- or I will report this conversation!" 'Yes, sir. That information was supposed to have been wiped."

'So who is Lucas Brickman?" He saw the terrified expression on Sutton's face. 'Don't worry, I promise you this won't go any further."

'He's... he's the baby that the woman in Room 18 gave birth to. The one you saw was a..."

'... a subst.i.tute? What's going on here?!" 'Ohh, s.h.i.+t,' groaned Sutton. 'Please, Captain! Don't ask me any more! That's all I know!

It was all taken care of by people from the White House. I'm n.o.body!

I made a mistake and I'm in way over my head!" Steve made a calming gesture. 'Okay, okay. I'm not going to make any waves. Hit the b.u.t.ton."

Sutton did so.

'Now ruffle your hair and undo that front zip."