Chapter 8
Making Plans
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A/N: In the episode entitled The Chimes of Big Ben, we discover exactly where The Village is, thanks to the Number 8 character. And to certain parties who have asked: It's not an island…
Btw, sorry if it's a while between updates. I'm taking 17 credit hours this semester at the college. But I'll try to update at least once a week, if not more.
"Listen to me, please?"
Number 12 turned to Iola—Number 49, I should say. Otherwise they'll get suspicious, us being on first-name terms instead of calling each other by our numbers. "All right. I'm listening."
"Before I was brought here, I'd escaped, even though that didn't really go according to plan. And while I was on the run, I met a group of rebels who were willing to help me get back home. I know where their base is; I could take you there within the month, if you wish."
"Why within the month and not, say, the week? Before the day's out would do quite nicely, too."
"It takes time to get supplies ready if you must do it in secret," Number 49 replied.
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"Attention all," the woman's voice said over the public address system the next morning. "Can draw, can paint, can work with clay? If so, then the village arts and crafts show is for you!"
"That's what we're waiting for," Number 49 told Number 12 quietly over brunch at the Restaurant. "We can make our escape after the art show."
"How?"
"You did woodworking in high school, remember? We could easily build a contraption that would win. And then, if someone weaves a tapestry or a similar item for the show, we can buy it from them."
Number 12 suddenly realised what Number 49 had in mind. "A boat!" He sipped some coffee. "But they'll see right through the plan, won't they?"
Number 49 shook her head. "No. And I know where to find an electropod—"
"A what?"
"An electropod. It keeps Rover from attacking if we get out of range, or violate prohibited boundaries. But anyway, we probably won't need it."
He turned to her, realising another thing. "You seem to know an awful lot about this place, Iola," he commented. "Do you know where it is?"
She bit her lip, then nodded. "We're in Lithuania; thirty miles from the Polish border."
"What did you do to get yourself here?" Number 12 asked, working on the frame of the boat he would be entering in the arts and crafts show.
"Isn't that obvious?" Number 49 snapped. "I was saved from the car at the mall, if you haven't remembered yet. And after several years, I was brought here."
"How long ago were you kidnapped?"
"20 years," Number 49 replied promptly. "I was seventeen, same as Joe. You know this already."
She left, and Number 12 was able to ponder over everything in private. She's not Iola, was his first thought. It's been 25 years, not 20. But I can't let on that I know she's not Iola, because then Number 2 would get suspicious. He probably already is. Yet for now, he couldn't do anything until their boat was finished. So he went back to chiseling out its bottom. But still, he wondered what new trick Number 2 and Number 49 had up their sleeve.