Chapter 4

Bridget snuck out and made me a sandwich and brought me in a coke. I so need some caffeine. As I ate, I continued reading the second journal, sitting on the edge of Bobby's bed. Bridget sat on the floor, propped up against the mattress reading the third. At first I'd objected to letting anyone else read them, but she said that it would be easier to hunt for relevant information if we both knew what we were looking for. It turns out that my luck hadn't totally been destroyed today, because around 9 Bob and Bridg's parents decided they were going to meet some old friends at a late movie. After they left, we were able to actually talk and move about more freely. I went into the bathroom and washed some off some of the mud and dirt that had collected on my skin after a day of crawling through bushes and window wells. I felt a little better…you know, liked a foot above rock bottom. When I dragged myself back to Bobby's room, he was looking slightly triumphant.

"What?" I demanded, "What did you find?" He gestured me over to look at the screen. It was a bunch or radar maps and charts that meant nothing to me, but a whole lot to Bobby.

"See here," he said, pointing to a symbol that might as well have been sand script to me, "that's an unauthorized atmosphere breech." He pointed to the corner of the screen where I finally recognized something.

"That's military time," I cried triumphantly

"Bingo! The breech occurred around 3 this afternoon. Now here," he continued, highlighting another page, "this shows a similar breech at about quarter to four. My guess is that one is-,"

"-a ship entering and then leaving later. And that's right when my dad went missing." I said the words before I actually felt them. Leaving…no, it couldn't…they can't be.

"Hey! No, don't get all depressed on me again. You see this," Bobby said, indicating a line drawn in blue, "they launched a cruiser in pursuit. They went after them. Even if they jump into Z-space now, we'll be able to follow. We will get your parents back."

"You bet your ass, they will," said Bridget, standing in the doorway. I hadn't realized she was there. She walked over and out her arm around my shoulder and, leading me to the bed, sat me down.

"I…I have this feeling, I don't know. Bobby, where exactly did that ship come in?" I questioned, trying to figure out this odd instinct I had.

"Um…coordinates point to an area just outside San Francisco, suburban area…right around the original infestation point," he finished, looking up in disbelief.

"Right, exactly. Something about this doesn't feel right. Why," I wondered aloud, "kidnap people if you know you're going to get caught?" I looked back and forth between my friends.

"Um, pure revenge, and…uh, well that's about it," Bridget replied.

"Yes, but the Yeerks, well, they always had another motive in mind. I don't think that revenge is it.

"What do you base that assumption on?" Bobby wondered.

"The feeling on the back of my neck, in the pit of my stomach, and my mother's thoughts on the topic," I said defiantly, waving the journal under his nose. "Do I need anymore proof?" I said more aggressively than I'd intended to.

"Nope!" Bobby said, raising his hands and pretending to fend me off with a ruler on his desk.

"So, what do you intend to do?" Bridget chimed in.

"Bobby, you parents left the van, right?"

"Yes…"

"I need you to drive me to the next train station."

"Where exactly are you planning on going," demanded Bridget

"I'm gonna re-trace my roots." I gestured to the computer map, "I'm going right there. I'm going back home."

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"You wanna hear any particular station back there?"

"Ha, Ha, Bridget, and also Ha." I muttered. Let me set the scene Bobby was driving his parent's green minivan. You see, even thought the twins are, duh, the same age, Bobby is the only one who can drive. It's a long story but it involves track practice, required credits, and summer jobs. Anyway, Bridget was sitting in the passenger seat, playing with the radio. And me, I was scrunched under the back seat. Yes, under it, along with my back pack. See, we were afraid I'd be spotted if I was sitting normally, seeing as 3 teens in a minivan at 10:30 would look a little suspicious.

"Well be there in about 10 minutes, so just chill back there, okay.

"No, I planned on going ballistic right now! Yes I'll chill. I've got nothing better to do." Okay, so I was testy, but it was understandable, considering the day I'd had. Plus let me be the first to tell you that under the seat is not one of the more comfortable ways to ride. But it got me there. After Bobby did a quick walkthrough of the parking lot and building, we decided it was safe to go on. I gave him the money to buy me a ticket. And I exited the car only minutes before the train was due to arrive.

"You guys, thanks for everything," I muttered quietly as I exited out the side of the car. But as I walked past the passenger side of the car, something stopped me. Bridget's hand was gripping tightly to my arm through the open window.

"Sure you won't let me come?" she questioned plaintively.

"Yeah…this is my fight. I have to do it on my own."

"Just, be careful, okay. Come back in one piece."

"I will, thanks again guys," I called, waving as I walked away. Hoping against hope that I'd see them again. 'No, don't think like that' I told myself. I have to stay positive. I climbed on the train, every sense tuned in for the slightest sign that I'd been followed. But luck seemed again to be in my favor. I wasn't pursued.

I slept most of the 300 mi ride there. I was mentally drained and sleep seemed the perfect escape. It wasn't. I dreamed of my parents and I walking to that old park. Then suddenly, they dropped out, falling away down this pit of blackness and me, trying desperately to grab them. But still they fell, until I could no longer see them. I woke with a start, in a cold sweat. My heart was crying, but even alone, in that dark train car, my tears refused to run. I knew that if I broke down now, I would never be able to keep going. And I had to keep going.

I focused on the job at hand. As far as I knew, I was way low on time, so I had to be quick when I reached my destination. I had decided where to start my search and I prepared by re-reading through everything my mother had written on the subject. I was well prepared and rearing to go when the train pulled to a stop.

"This is it," I said to no one.

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Walking through my mom's old town was like jumping through a portal to the past. I saw what I'd pictured so clearly through her words. I made my way to a mall, the mall if my directions were correct. I passed through the food court and I had to do a double take when I glanced five kids sitting together out of the corner of my eye, just hanging out. I felt as if…it was like being alone in a museum. Like it was just me, taking a private trip through memories I'd never lived, only heard of. It was bizarre and yet, peaceful in a way.

I found an old phone book hanging limply from an out of order pay phone. It didn't matter, I only needed the address. I ripped out the page I needed, and set out.

"Man," I muttered to myself, "I'm going to be in such good shape after this is all over. I'd give anything to be able to drive." But even if it took a while, walking did get me where I needed to go. I stopped in front of your run-of-the-mill suburban split level. It was beige brick and brown siding, with flower beds out front and a sign in one of them that said Home of Spoiled Dog. Part of me though that this was crazy, but I trusted my instincts and rang the bell.

"Hello, can I help you?" I was surprised. The man who answered the door seemed to be the epiphany of normalcy. He looked to be in his mid-sixties, salt n' pepper hair, average weight. Even the interior of the house appeared normal. I could hear the sounds of a T.V in a background and there was a coat-rack visible next to the door. But I'd learned to start looking past outward appearances, and I knew in my gut that I was in the right place.

"Um, yeah. I'm looking for Erek King."