Part 29 (1/2)

”All your questions will be answered soon! We need to...” Her words were lost above the roar of the engine. Her words were lost above the roar of the engine.

The boat bounced over the waves and I held on for dear life. My tired body was not not appreciating this. At all! Finally the engine slowed and the boat sidled up to a run down excuse for a houseboat. appreciating this. At all! Finally the engine slowed and the boat sidled up to a run down excuse for a houseboat.

”Come on,” Hazel said, quickly stepping over the side. Sam jumped out and started securing the boat. ”We should be safe here,” Hazel added.

I clambered onto the deck; the boards creaked loudly under my feet. ”I don't feel very safe,” I said, looking around.

”Quick,” Hazel said, gesturing impatiently from the doorway. Sam slipped his arm through mine and helped me to the door.

Inside was cramped, but tidy. Hazel put her briefcase on the tiny kitchen table, stepped down into the sunken living room, and sat down in a chair next to a very thin old black woman in a recliner. The woman was intent on watching television.

”Hey.” Hazel tapped her on the arm. ”These men are here to see you.”

The woman looked up at me with slightly yellowed eyes and a crooked grin.

I looked at Hazel, at the woman, then back at Hazel again. ”--I'm sorry. I don't understand.”

”Please forgive me,” she said. ”There was no time to explain. I'm Nan. This This is Hazel. She's my mother.” is Hazel. She's my mother.”

CHAPTER 27.

QUESTIONS.

001001011001110.

Nan motioned with her hand. ”Come, have a seat, Mom is eager to speak with you.”

I sat down on an orange 70's style kitchen chair in front of Hazel, looked at Nan, and motioned to the TV. ”May I?” I asked. She nodded, so I reached out and turned the volume down. I turned to look at Hazel.

She looked to be around seventy, was wearing a flowered print dress, and was fidgeting with a bowl of b.u.t.tons in her lap. ”Full o' questions,” she said in a slow monotone, not making eye contact.

”Yes,” I nodded.

Her lips pursed and twitched. She stared at the arm of her chair. ”Want to know-- Vrin.” Her voice was distant.

”Yes,” I said again.

She took my hand gently into hers, dug a b.u.t.ton out of the bowl, and slowly placed it in my palm. Carefully she closed my fingers around it.

I looked at Nan.

”My mother has autism. I know it's awkward, but she is very gifted. If you're patient, she will explain.”

I looked back at Hazel.

”You are-- chased.” She shook her head slightly, still not making eye contact.

”Yes. I am am being chased.” being chased.”

The tone of her voice s.h.i.+fted slightly higher. ”No danger. No danger. You safe now.

I shook my head, confused. ”--But they tried to kill kill me.” me.”

There was an awkward pause as she seemed to contemplate a hidden puzzle. Then her eyes focused past me. She sat motionless, staring at the silent television with her head c.o.c.ked, as if trying to catch a sound from it.

”That was before they knew,” offered Nan.

I looked at her. ”--What?”

”Before they knowed you went back,” Hazel said, almost lucidly.

I gave Nan a quizzical look.

”Those men were not chasing you, you, they were following you, to get to us.” they were following you, to get to us.”

”And why would they want to do that?”

”Because my mother knows too much about Vrin.”

I tried to piece the riddles together in my head. ”Wh- what's the bottom line? Are they trying to kill me or not?”

”No.” Hazel looked up at the ceiling. ”No danger. You impo'tant impo'tant in Vrin.” in Vrin.”

I stared at her, dumbfounded. ”--But I'm not in in Vrin,” I said slowly. Vrin,” I said slowly.

”Impo'tant in Vrin!” she blurted, shaking her head again. ”Jes' don't remember!”

”Remember? Remember what?” what?”

”Vrin,” she whispered. she whispered.

Again I stared. ”But I'm not connected connected to the computer. I'm not to the computer. I'm not in in Vrin.” I was beginning to get very frustrated. Vrin.” I was beginning to get very frustrated.

Hazel's eyes scanned back and forth rapidly. ”When you sleep.” ”When you sleep.”

”Sleep?” I said, trying desperately to understand. ”I don't think...”

She gripped my arm and stared intently into my eyes. ”You must- stop him.”

I pulled away and looked desperately at Nan.

”When you sleep you go back to Vrin,” she said. ”You don't need the computer, and mom says you are supposed to stop a man who is trying to destroy it.”

”It?” I squinted at her. I squinted at her.

”Vrin, the whole thing.”