From the Belly of the Dragon by Mark Mynheir

Author:Mark Mynheir [Mynheir, Mark]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-56255-5
Publisher: The Crown Publishing Group
Published: 2006-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

Ruby and Byron strolled hand in hand in front of the learning center. Among the excitement and busyness of the last few weeks, her walks with Byron were the thing she looked forward to most in her day.

When they were alone, not talking about Dr. Simmons or the Higher Learning Method or classes, Byron could be quite shy Small leaks of insecurity dripped out of his soul. She liked that he could vulnerable with her. She was getting to know him more and more and enjoyed listening to him talk of his school years or the band he used to play in. They weren’t very good, according to him anyway, but he had lots of fun onstage. She couldn’t imagine Byron not being good at anything. He was so full of life and passion for everything.

She stared at his face and tried to imagine what he must have looked like as a child—his silly expressions, his precocious laughter and impishness. He must have been a handful for his mother.

The bellowing exhaust of a backhoe digging trenches near the road shattered the solitude of their evening retreat. A work crew fastened cameras on the light poles while another group assembled a huge metal gate at the front entrance.

“What’s with the new fence, Byron?” Ruby liked the open feel of the campus, and the fence would block the view. It seemed so unnecessary.

“I don’t know. But that’s not your run-of-the-mill fence. That thing’s a sturdy Berlin Wall kinda fence.“

“It’s really odd, don’t you think?” Ruby squeezed his hand more firmly. “Why do we need this stuff? I don’t understand.”

“Maybe it’s just part of a future building project or something. I’m sure Dr. Simmons will let us know what’s going on eventually.”

“I guess, but it all seems so weird.”

Byron nodded. “Yeah, real weird.”

As they walked toward the administration building, Todd drove into the circular driveway in his monster pickup truck, revving the brawny engine twice before turning it off. Three more pickups followed behind him, all filled with large, rough-looking men, much like Todd himself. Several were dressed in full camouflage attire and had military haircuts.

Ruby waved. Todd glanced at her, and then turned back to the men unloading their duffel bags from the trucks. He didn’t wave back; his face was all business. “Come on, boys. We’ve got to get moved in and set up shifts. I want everyone ready for action by 2300 hours tonight.”

“Who are all these people?” Ruby asked.

“They’re certainly not new students.” Byron pulled Ruby close and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

It was the first time since she’d been at the Higher Learning Center that she felt a chill. She pulled Byron’s arm tight and reveled in the comfort of his embrace. Changes were happening suddenly in her life now. Hopefully for the best.

After the men unloaded the trucks, Todd marched the detachment toward the administration building, duffel bags in tow.

Despite the warmth of Byron’s body, the chill still enveloped Ruby.

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