WITH FRIENDS LIKE PRYCE
Nick had promised Rita that he would drive her on her shopping duties, but he had to deal with Eden first. It had been decades since he'd been in such close quarters with a 15-year-old - and never like this.
With friends like Commander Pryce, who needed enemies! According to Offred, who Nick now called 'June', Nick was going to have to 'man-up' and sleep with the girl, his new wife. Offred, now herself 'showing' with her own pregnancy - Nick's - scolded him for balking at having sex with a Eden, a girl so young.
"Oh, you're complaining about having to fuck people you don't want to!" she'd screamed to him. For June, safety and security for the coming-baby was paramount. Nick could not find the courage to tell June that 'all was safe', because High Commander Pryce (Nick's benefactor and protector) knew all about it. In fact he approved.
Pryce had said, "well done, son. Just keep away from Waterford. It's not like he has much interest in how babies are made, but he's a loose cannon. I can protect you, I can protect the Handmaid if you want, but it's God who judges these things. We just help God out."
ANTIGUA REVISITED
As Nick was seated in The Commander's SUV, the radio crackled. He was still waiting for Rita, who he'd promised a ride to Loaves and Fishes, with both the Waterfords out of the country. Nick recognized his name, picked up the microphone, and said, "Blaine here," with his code-number authorization.
The Quindar tone signaled to the remote talker that Blaine had acknowledged and then released his PPT button. It was a few seconds before the remote Guardian replied.
"Blaine, I'm here at Logan. The New Gilead jet has just landed, and you're needed here. How long before you can make it, south-Diplomat's terminal?" Blaine knew that it must be serious, this radio call. Those days air-traffic through that terminal was at an all-time low.
"What's going on?" Blaine asked into the mike.
The answer, "not over the air, get yourself down here."
'Will not discuss'? Had Blaine heard that right? This was a secure Guardian frequency, that even The Eyes of God had no access to. Blaine himself had found out about that the hard way - the very day a year ago when High Commander Pryce had 'read him into the Eyes service', he'd been driving Commander Waterford and had used The Eyes' codes on the radio. He'd done it out of bravado. Guardian dispatch had then chewed him out over the air for the mistake - as far as Blaine knew, Waterford in the back had not cottoned on to it.
An awkward way to confirm that Waterford had had no idea of who Nick was.
Rita was going to have to make her own way for the shopping, as he told her when tipping her off that, 'The Waterfords are back. Two days' early!'
When Blaine arrived at the Logan Diplomat's terminal, he immediately saw something out of whack. There was Commander Cushing's SUV as expected, beside the Gilead private jet.
Standing between the SUV and the bottom of the small set of jet-stairs, was Mrs. Waterford. Alone. Out in the open. In a slight rain.
Nick pulled up alongside the Cushing SUV, got out with an umbrella and signaled to the Cushing Guardian, who was driving. All the guy did was shrug.
Nick went over to Mrs. Waterford to shelter her from the wet, who in return said - complaining, "it's about time, Nick. Do you know how long I've been standing out here on the cold tarmac?"
"Many apologies, Mrs. Waterford," he said, accepting blame that he knew was not his. "I thought that Commander Cushing had arranged secure transport for you and The Commander."
She snapped back, "well, he hasn't has he!?"
Nick then looked at the jet, he asked, "is Commander Waterford still aboard?"
At that the Cushing SUV clicked into gear and sped off.
Serena looked at it, and shouted loudly to the retreating vehicle, "BITCH!" She then turned to Nick and said, "let's get out of here. At least their Guardian refused to leave with me alone. He'll catch it for talking back to Sonia, but at least I was not stranded."
Nick briefly ascended the mini-stairs into the jet, seeing only the pilot tidying up. Settling Mrs. Waterford into the back of the SUV, then taking his place at the steering wheel, Nick was full of questions. The first was the most innocuous, "I trust you wish to go home, Mrs. Waterford."
A question (statement?) she did not answer. Instead she said to no one in particular, "Sonia simply does not know when to keep her fucking mouth shut. She's so entitled."
"Mrs. Waterford, as his Guardian I need to ask," Nick risked, "I'm his body man. Where's the Commander?"
"You've not been informed?" Serena said with a hint of derision to someone she suspected of not doing their job. "We were told on the plane that D.C. National Chancery has taken it all over. This could get well out of hand, as if it hasn't all ready."
"Mrs. Waterford," Nick said with surprising force, "where's Commander Waterford?" When no answer was immediately forthcoming he added, "was he with Commander Cushing in his vehicle?"
Mrs. Waterford said, with exasperation, "Apologies for putting it this way, Nick, but this is above your pay grade." Which it was not, which also revealed that Mrs. Waterford did not know that Nick was also an Eye of God, reporting directly to High Commander Pryce.
"I'm responsible for Commander Waterford…" he said, but before he could finish, she interrupted...
"He and Ray are back there, in Antigua. Arrested." She spat out, "that bitch, Sonia, she couldn't keep her big mouth shut." She added more quietly, to no one in particular, "She's bitter, I get that, but it's going to kill us all."
THE EYES OF GOD SERVICE
Nick had no more than arrived at the Waterford estate, than his radio again sprang to life. Fortunately, Rita was back from shopping, there in the driveway to see to Mrs. Waterford's things - the Missus was in 'a mood' and probably wouldn't be aware that Nick was being called away.
By High Commander Pryce. Summoned to Eyes HQ. Nick, he'd never been there before. Pryce usually held court at Chancery. Driving through the fortified gate at the repurposed Catholic convent, Nick was asked at gunpoint to get out of the SUV. Which he did, repeating his Eye-code, then said he was there to see High Commander Pryce. Which impressed no one.
In his presence the men with guns searched every inch of the SUV, including mirrors for underneath. Nick was then frisked firmly, then asked for the keys, which he tossed to a large security man (not an Eye, not a Guardian) who got in, and drove it off into a large barn-like structure - where the door closed behind it.
Nick suddenly became overtly aware of what was now obvious. The security 'upgrades' that the Eyes were about to perform on the Waterford SUV, would impact him, Nick, as well. He would have less freedom of movement.
Nick asked the Eye-in-charge, "what's going to happen with the wheels? I just had it washed and tuned-up." Without an answer, the man just pointed to the large front entrance to the old convent.
At the entrance, Nick was searched as briskly as he'd been at the gate outside. Nick strode upstairs, turned to a long hall, Pryce's office was at the end. "Nick, Nick, Nick," High Commander Pryce said as Nick entered the mostly unused spartan space, and as Pryce stood with a hand outstretched.
Shaking hands, Pryce continued without Nick saying a word. "It's a fine mess those two have got themselves into, Nick. Me, I'm failing. This is my fault. We're not cleaning up Gilead, son. We, you and me, we're failing."
Nick stood respectfully, then asked, "what's going on, Commander?"
Pryce smiled weakly, "not 'Commander', Nick. Right now I need to talk with you Eye to Eye." Pryce paused, "I don't get here often. I've got good security staff here, usually I can do this from Chancery. But not with what those two clowns have done in the Caribbean."
He paused again, then asked, "where are my manners - how's it going with the Spencer girl? Mrs. Blaine? Eden?"
Nick lied, "fine, just fine, sir." He himself had just come from 'the talk' he'd had with the pregnant, Waterford Handmaid, Offred. Nick, he wanted nothing more than to have 'the three of them' take off somewhere. With the SUV now in the Eyes'-shoppe, that was one less opportunity for him.
Pryce smiled, "well, I see you're not a poker player, Nick. I know you're squeamish about her age. Good on you. I know full well that you and a 15-year old…. well, we all have to pay a price in combating infertility. That's your price, son."
"With due respect, sir," Nick interrupted, "what's going on with Antigua?"
"Cushing and Waterford, pervert-clowns, they were arrested. Right there on the tarmac at VC Bird in St. John's. D.C. Chancery has purloined the file, right from under us at the New Gilead Chancery. It's why I'm here, not back at the Council Chambers. I need D.C. Eyes to shut down their own Commanders!"
"Arrested!?" Nick exclaimed. "I thought they'd been given immunity? That's what I'd been told when they told me I couldn't go! That I didn't need to go."
Pryce sighed, "It seems our esteemed Ray and Fred, they wanted some alone-time. Before things got busy with the Rachel and Leah thing."
Nick asked, "What!? But the Commanders' Wives, they were there?"
Pryce gave Nick a pronounced 'pleeeeeaaaase' look. He then said, "D.C. right now is getting the St. John's Royal Police to look the other way. D.C. Commanders, they have their 'issues', if you know what I mean." Pryce sat at his desk, then said, "then again, we need Fred back for the Rachel and Leah Centre opening, that has to be our priority. For now." Pryce paused, then concluded, "then I will be back here, only then can we Eyes of God make our move. We're going to clean-up Gilead, son. Even in, especially in D.C."
Seeing Nick still standing there, Pryce said, "that's all you need to know, son." After a pause, Pryce added, "that means you can leave, Nick." When Blaine remained in place, Pryce asked, "what's going on, son?"
Nick's mind was a jumble of thoughts. First off, he wondered, why was Pryce telling him all this?
Then Nick found himself blurting out, "I need a transfer, sir." When Pryce just stared back at him, Nick added, "even if it is back to Chicago. There's more stuff you don't know about The Commander. Especially about Mrs. Waterford. As well as the Handmaid."
Pryce sat up, "is there any reason you cannot do your duty with Mrs. Blaine? We've discussed her age?"
"No, no, no, sir, that's not it. There's stuff you do not know." Hero of Chicago, cool under fire, on track to be a Commander of the Faithful himself, Nick was near to falling apart. Which Pryce could see.
"I know enough, Nick," Pryce said. He folded his hands on the spartan desk, "let's get through this dedication at Rachel and Leah's - half of Gilead will be there. Reproduction will get a boost, the international community will take notice. Who knows which of the big organizations will kick out the USA first. Welcome us in…."
Pryce sat back, "Mrs. Blaine? The Waterford Handmaid? You know me, Nick, I'll protect you. But don't be stupid. No sense in putting you in harm's way in Chicago." Standing, Pryce concluded, "we have to get those perverts Cushing and Waterford back here, powerful men in D.C. are already covering for them. We have to get that Centre opened. Then we can move on them all." Looking straight at Nick, Pryce said, "I need you sharp, Nick? You are frosty, aren't you?"
Nick assured him he was. He then turned and left.
In the parking lot below the old convent, Nick had to wait a further 30 minutes before the Waterford SUV was returned to him. They'd washed and waxed it.
RACHEL AND LEAH DEDICATION
Commander Fred Waterford spoke enthusiastically to the gathered - the choreography of the day's events was going spotlessly. As Waterford waxed eloquently, he noted High Commander Andrew Pryce a few rows back, who was not in the front row as protocol (Waterford's protocol, that is) dictated.
As he was concluding, Waterford also noted a Handmaid who had broken ranks from her sisters.
"By God's grace, we gather to celebrate, the dawn of a bright and bountiful future, which begins right here! With the devotion of His humble servants, our Handmaids!" - applause -
Waterford noted the smiles on Commander's faces, all except for Pryce. He continued, "My brothers, this facility represents a shared vision, to restore a moral world in which we can serve God. Now our hopeful prayer has turned into something real. And permanent. To honour our promise to the people of Gilead. Healthy children of faith….."
Seeing the Handmaid approach the centre aisle of the gathered, Waterford said into his microphone, "it's not time yet, tell her to go back…."