Dominatus (18 page)

The Old Man leaned forward in his seat, his eyes widening as he answered.

“You are far more important, far more influential than you likely realize, Mr. Neeson.  Yes, there are millions who follow your words.  I have confirmed that through my own research…you are a considerable thorn in the side of the New United Nations.  The use of the shortwave has become something the authorities are having great difficulty controlling.  They can attempt to monitor it, but controlling it is a far more difficult thing.  Are you aware of how your updates are recorded and then sent out on a myriad if frequencies across the world repeatedly in the weeks following your initial broadcast?”

“Yeah, I knew something of that, but wasn’t aware so many were involved.”

“I assure you, Mr. Neeson, millions upon millions.  That is why your arrival is so important to me…to all of us here.”

Covering his mouth with a shaking hand, the Old Man began coughing, though it soon subsided and he continued speaking.

“It is my desire to have you tell the story of Dominatus in your next update, Mr. Neeson.  Share with the world our way of life…a way of life that was once the rule and not the exception in America.  A way of life I believe in my heart can be again, if only enough would awaken from their slumber that is their government-directed lives and demand it so through sheer force of numbers.  Help to re-establish the Constitution, nullify the mandates, return autonomy to the United States, free from the authority of the New United Nations.”

“While I’m honored you think so highly of my work Mr. Meyer, it seems very unlikely I could have any impact on, are you actually talking about overthrowing the New United Nations?  And you think I could play a part in something like that?  I’m sorry but, there’s just no way.”

The Old Man’s hand slammed down upon his desk with a surprising amount of force.

“Don’t ever minimize your own potential like that, Mr. Neeson.  Never!  You do the memory of your father an injustice by saying such words.  Do you understand me?”

Shocked at the anger in Alexander Meyer’s voice I attempted to repair the damage, while also trying to control the quickly rising anger within myself at his use of my father’s memory against me.

“I didn’t mean to insult you, Mr. Meyer, but the prospect of anything I’m doing having that kind of impact, it seems irresponsible and more than a bit arrogant for me to even consider such a thing.”

With a voice again sounding tired and weak, the Old Man responded in a near-whisper.

“God is not done with the United States, Mr. Neeson, and He certainly has purpose in your journey here to Dominatus.  Of that, I am most certain.  Tomorrow…tomorrow evening, Saturday…we gather at Freedom Tavern.  You can see more of us there tomorrow, our weekly celebration.  Share that time with us Mr. Neeson, and then transmit the story of this place to the world.  Will you do that?”

“I have every intention of doing just that, Mr. Meyer.  Should I get Dublin?”

“Yes, please.”

Dublin rose from one of the seats at the small dining table as I opened the study door.

“I think he’s ready for bed, Dublin.”

I watched as Dublin gently removed her grandfather’s winter boots, helping him to lie down on the small bed in his den, and covering his frail body in multiple layers of thick blankets.  As Dublin kissed the Old Man’s forehead and whispered him good night, his gaze found me standing in the doorway.

“Mr. Neeson, please stay the night here.  It is too dark, and too cold to journey back to Mac’s place.   Dublin will contact Mac, let him know and see to the sleeping arrangements.”

By the time he finished the sentence the Old Man’s words were already trailing off, sleep taking him quickly.  Dublin walked from the den and gently closed the door behind her, then looked up at me and smiled.

“There’s a toothbrush and toothpaste in the top drawer of the sink in the bathroom…feel free to use them.  I’ll get your bed ready.”

The interior walls of the cabin’s bathroom were constructed entirely of cedar, very similar to how a sauna would be built.  The floor was a simple concrete slab with a drain, and above it a very basic shower head connected by an exposed copper plumbing line that ran from a tankless water box installed just above the toilet sitting next to the right of a small white sink.  By the time I finished in the bathroom and returned to the main area of the cabin, Dublin had set up two small cots on either side of the room.  She pointed to the one on the right side and indicated that was mine, before making her way to the bathroom.

By the time Dublin returned I had taken off my boots and jacket and was lying on my back on the cot underneath a heavy fur lined blanket that had been folded neatly on the floor.  Just like the Old Man earlier, I found myself giving in to deep fatigue, my eyes growing heavier with each breath I took.

Dublin adjusted the heat setting on the stove before turning off the last remaining light in the kitchen.  I could see her outline in the darkness as she made her way to the living area.

“Is the cot comfortable, Reese?”

I turned my head slightly to the right to see her standing over me, the now familiar scent of lavender still surrounding her.

“Yes, thank you.  It’s just fine, Dublin.  Everything…everything was wonderful.”

Dublin leaned over me, her lips brushing my cheek.

“Thank you, Reese. It meant so much to my grandfather to have you here.  And…it meant a lot to me too.  Good night.”

The touch of Dublin’s lips pushed aside my fatigue, my heart pounding inside my chest.  I had to concentrate on my breathing to make certain I did not betray my excitement, while also grateful the darkness hid the flushing of my cheeks.  Dublin’s face remained beside mine, waiting perhaps for me to say goodnight to her as well.  Instead, the instincts of one who knew well a moment of opportunity, disregarded any previous pretense of good manners or simple considerations.  I found Dublin to be an incredibly attractive woman, and was now intent on communicating that to her in no uncertain terms.

My right hand placed itself behind Dublin’s head and gently drew her face closer to mine.  For just the briefest moment I sensed her hesitation and resistance, before that resistance melted away and her mouth was on my own, her warm breath dancing across my tongue.  What I had intended to be a gentle kiss was returned with far less inhibition and far more force than I had anticipated.  Dublin’s hands grasped the sides of my face as her mouth continued to move with my own, a small moan escaping her.  She bit down gently on my lower lip before slowly moving back from me, the sound of our breathing filling the small room.

I couldn’t quite make out her face well enough in the darkness to know for certain that Dublin was smiling, but rather sensed it.

“Are you smiling at me, Dublin?”

“Maybe.”

“And why is that?”

Dublin gave no response to my question.

“Well?”

I felt Dublin’s hand gently squeezing my own.

“You ever hear about people who are fans of someone famous, or important…someone they always wanted to meet but then they do, they’re disappointed?  They find out that person is not nearly as interesting, or as attractive as they thought they would be?”

Alarms were sounding in my head as I propped myself up onto an elbow to face Dublin.

“Uh…yeah.  Is…is that what just happened here?”

Dublin’s eyes grew wide and she shook her head.

“Oh no, Reese, not at all!  Just the opposite!  Our little moment right there...I assure you, you’re very interesting to me.  And…very attractive.  I’m smiling because, that kiss was nice.  Really-really nice.”

Dublin leaned in again, her mouth pressing against my ear.

“Goodnight, Reese.”

XIII.

By the time I awoke the next morning Dublin was already preparing breakfast as the Old Man sat sipping a cup of coffee and reading from a hardback book titled
Fahrenheit 451
. 

“Well good morning young man!  Hope the cot was comfortable enough for you.”

“It was fine, thank you.  Sorry I overslept.”

Dublin spoke up from the kitchen area.

“You didn’t oversleep, Reese, sun has been up less than an hour.  I left towels and soap in the bathroom for you if you want to shower.  I’ll have breakfast ready for you when you get out.”

I recalled the kiss with Dublin the night before as I caught her grinning at me and couldn’t help but produce a grin of my own.

“Now what are you two smiling about?  Keeping secrets from a tired old man, are you?”

The Old Man winked as I walked by him on my way to the bathroom.

By the time I returned from my shower Dr. Miller had arrived and was looking over Alexander Meyer who was then sitting on the leather couch opposite the kitchen area table.  A plate of eggs, toast, coffee and juice greeted me as I sat down, soon joined by Dublin who held her own cup of coffee.

“Hope you like eggs.  We get them fresh from the reservation – best eggs I’ve ever tasted.  They raise chickens there, about a hundred of them.”

The eggs were in fact delicious.  I happily dipped the corners of my toast into the soft yolk, thoroughly soaking it before plopping it into my mouth and then washing it down with some coffee.

“That is by far the best egg I’ve ever had Dublin.  And the bread – did you make that?”

“No, that would be from a woman named Lucille.  I don’t think you’ve met her yet but she will be at Mac’s this afternoon.  Her and Mac, he calls her his special lady.”

I chuckled.

“Mac never mentioned a special lady.  Lucille, huh?  I look forward to meeting her.  Now this thing at the tavern, that’s a regular event around here?”

Dublin nodded.

“Yeah, though there will probably be more people there this Saturday than normal.  Your arrival, the visits by Carol and those other enforcement officers.  I imagine people are a little more riled up than usual.  We all bring food, Mac serves drinks, we listen to music, dance…and if we can talk him into it, Mac might play us a couple songs.  He’s quite the performer.”

I sat back in my chair, feeling an expression of shock cover my face.

“Mac sings?”

Dublin nodded again, her beautiful smile revealing itself to me again.

“Sings and plays a mean guitar.  For an old guy, he’s something of a sex symbol with a lot of the ladies around here.  If he puts on his cowboy hat – watch out.  It’s show time.”

Dr. Miller’s laugh shot across the room, his head shaking from side to side.

“Dublin is right about that, Mr. Neeson – the ladies love them some Mac!  That old boy can kick ass and carry a tune at the same time!  Hard to compete with that.”

Dr. Miller stood up from his examination of the Old Man and turned to face Dublin. 

“Dublin – you have a moment?”

The two stepped outside the cabin, the door closing behind them.

“Mr. Neeson, see if Dr. Miller will speak with you this morning.  Perhaps on your way back to Mac’s place…he likes to walk in the morning anyways, so it shouldn’t be a problem.  He can give you a very factual version of just how damaging Obamacare was for America…and if he wants…share with you his reasons for coming up here.  He’s…he’s a good man, been a wonderful asset to Dominatus.  He was here for Adina when she passed on.  Made us all as comfortable as possible through that process, and how he was with her…I’ll forever be in his debt.  A fine man, a wonderful doctor.”

“I intend to do that Mr. Meyer – thank you.”

“Good…good.”

The Old Man’s voice trailed off, and I could sense he was once again having difficulties breathing.

“Mr. Meyer – are you ok?”

He smiled back at me, though fatigue hung over him like a coat he could no longer remove.

“I’m a hundred years old…ok really doesn’t apply anymore.  But, I’m here.  I woke up to another day.  And hopefully I’ll feel good enough to pay Mac a visit a little later.  Dublin will try and stop me of course, so I’m counting on you to convince her otherwise.”

“I don’t think she would pay my opinion much attention on that, Mr. Meyer.”

The Old Man’s smile returned, and he again offered up another wink.

“Oh now, Mr. Reese Neeson, I don’t think that’s entirely true.  Am I right?”

I was grateful when the cabin door opened and Dr. Miller entered followed by Dublin.  The doctor pointed to his patient, his voice emitting the calm assurance of a man born to practice medicine.

“Now, Mr. Meyer, Alexander, you still have some fluid in your lungs.  While it hasn’t worsened any since yesterday, I still want you to be very careful exerting yourself.  Lots of rest, fluids, and I’ll say it again despite it apparently not doing one bit of good – no cigars.  I urge you to stay inside - avoid fluctuations in temperatures.”

The Old Man stood up from the couch without help, walking over to the doctor where he placed his hand on the shoulder of the taller man.

“If I’m so old that I can now lose a battle with the sniffles, well…what kind of life is that to be living anyways Doc?  I’ll promise you no more cigars for a while…but I have every intention of being at Mac’s later today.  Dublin will wrap me up nice and warm, and we’ll take it slow, but I intend to be there…and that’s non-negotiable.”