Several Years Ago…
"This is hardly ideal," Sticky said.
"Yes, I quite agree." Reynie fidgeted in place. The urge to pace was almost overwhelming, but he kept still, peering through the telescope. The two boys were crouched behind a cluster of bushes in Lindesberg National Garden. The inky darkness kept them hidden from sight, with only a bronze telescope lens peeking out from the foliage.
"What's going on?"
"They're talking, but it's too dark to read their lips. Plus, the groundskeeper had his back to me. Kate seems calm enough, but…"
"Kate's always calm."
"Yeah."
"And Constance?"
"Next to her. Concentrating, it looks like. Hopefully she can confuse the groundskeeper long enough for them to slip away." Reynie felt a tap on his shoulder, and he set the spyglass down. "Sticky?" His friend shook his head, placing a finger to his lips.
We have a problem, he mouthed. Suddenly, Reynie heard it. Footsteps. Coming along the path from behind them. They were heavy, likely the work boots of an employee. The two held their breath as they grew closer and closer. Soon, the sound was right on top of them, and then it passed on. Moving not towards them, but rather their friends and the groundskeeper.
Reynie fumbled for the spyglass, poking it through the bush.
"He isn't a standard employee. Manager of some sort maybe? Doesn't look very athletic, but he's big. Could be a problem."
"I'd like to think nobody is a problem for Kate,"
"Me too. Oh good, she sees him," Kate was no longer focused on the groundskeeper in front of her. Her eyes flickered towards the manager for just a brief moment, before she took Constance's hands and gestured a goodbye to the groundskeeper. She began to briskly move away, dragging a staggering Constance behind her. The manager quickened his pace to a jog. The groundskeeper just stood there, dazed.
Kate moved quickly, but in a relaxed manner. Smiling and looking at the arrangements, as if she were a tourist visiting during the designated hours the park was open to the public, and not a wanted criminal sneaking in past midnight. It was only when the manager called out, "You! Wait there!" that she began to run. The boys hastened to their feet, stumbling to untangle themselves from the brambles. When they'd finally gathered their bearings, the two sprinted towards the western flower fields.
"Are you…sure…this is the…way?" Reynie managed to say between gulps of air. Sticky stopped, checked their surroundings, then nodded to himself, assured.
"I do hope you're not questioning my memory," he said, grinning.
"No no," Reynie laughed between exhales, "It would just be a shame to be stuck in here forever,"
"Really? I think it's much prettier than those underground tunnels. We should consider moving home base to here,"
"Remind me to ask Mr. Benedict sometime." The two young men met eyes and they both laughed.
"Oh this is wrong," Sticky said, settling down, "It's the end of the world and we're laughing."
"What better time to laugh? Who knows how many days we have left?" Both boys suddenly grew somber. The only sounds were that of their breathing and the crickets chirping a chorus through the night. A light breeze ran through the tree above them, shaking the leaves. Reynie looked up through the branches and at the dark sea that was the night sky. There's a lot more stars here than in Stonetown, he couldn't help thinking.
"Do you think we'll ever win?" Sticky asked. Reynie looked at him. Behind the thin frames of his glasses were the wide eyes of a child, eyes that Reynie hadn't seen for years. "I mean," Sticky continued, "Every time we think we've done it, the rug is pulled out from under our feet. And yeah, we had a couple good years. Where everything was nice and safe and we could all be together, but now we're farther from home than we've ever been,"
Reynie rested a hand on Sticky's shoulder. "We may be far from Stonetown, but Stonetown is not our home. This family is our home. We are all still together, and we can still beat this together. We always have before."
"But it's never gotten this bad. Curtain's won, Reynie. He has the whole word wrapped around his finger."
Reynie shook his head, "Not the whole world. There are people out there who care about the truth. Brave people, kind people. And it's easy to feel alone, I know that better than anyone. But the truth is that there are people who will fight with us. And I have to believe that is enough. I have to believe that we stand a chance, that we can win this. Because if I don't believe, then we're just fighting a losing battle."
Sticky smiled, "I guess you're right," He adjusted the straps of his backpack, checking to make sure nothing had fallen loose. "Come on, let's go meet the girls at the rendezvous. I bet they're waiting." But before either of them even moved, a flashlight clicked on, pointed right at them.
