The Valley of Dry Bones (19 page)

The three sat in silence until Katashi said, “Did you hear our discussion about Mahir?”

“I did. Doc, you don't have to raise your hand to talk to me. What do you want?”

“If I promise you more of those pain meds, can I count on your vote?”

Jennie laughed. “First joke out of you since I've know you, and it's actually funny. No, Bob and I won't be voting.”

Z
EKE
'
S ANNOUNCEMENT
of the turn of events with Mahir created a stir at dinner Monday. He asked that everyone bear with the elders as they prayed and worked through what to do. He also said Jennie would still give a brief farewell message Wednesday evening, though the Gills' drive had been postponed. Then he introduced the new elder, and Katashi explained that the secret ballot election of the new pastor would follow Jennie's talk. He added that Bob and Jennie would not vote but that all other adults were eligible to. Katashi then closed with a prayer for Raoul and Danley's safe return—expected at around midnight.

When Katashi had mentioned their estimated time of arrival in his prayer, Zeke felt a check in his spirit. He had sent Raoul far out of his way to the south, being perhaps twice as cautious as necessary to avoid danger. He had even urged Raoul and Danley to hide rather than try to elude potential pursuers. In retrospect Zeke was glad he'd mentioned that, especially after what Mahir had said about having seen WatDoc near the Nuwuwu settlement. Where might his cohorts be? If evidence of one of them appeared in Raoul's rearview mirror, Zeke would rather see Raoul disappear than try to engage.

Regardless, it was highly unlikely Raoul and Danley would get to Arizona anywhere near the usual time, meaning their return would be
delayed by that much longer too. Well into the wee hours of Tuesday was more likely.

Later Monday evening Zeke and Alexis were surprised by a knock at their door. “I can't stay long, friends,” Gabrielle Xavier said when they invited her in. “I need to give Adam a break from Cristelle in a few minutes. I just wanted to suggest something. Alexis, what would you think of you and me abstaining from the vote Wednesday evening? If we each vote for our husbands, we'll just cancel each other's ballots anyway.”

“I'm okay with that,” Alexis said, glancing at Zeke. “Same difference either way, right?”

Gabrielle turned to Zeke. “You and Adam should do the same.”

He chuckled. “Doc didn't tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

“Why we're voting in the first place. He nominated himself. Katashi nominated me. And I abstained. Had I voted for myself, it would've been two to one, the elder board would have named the new pastor, and there would have been no at-large vote.”

Gabrielle looked crestfallen. “I need to sit down.”

They all sat at the kitchen table. Gabrielle put a hand over her mouth and closed her eyes. Finally she looked sheepishly at Zeke. “You're serious. You're not toying with me.”

“I wouldn't, Gabi. And I'm sorry. I wouldn't have said anything if I thought Doc hadn't told you. You have to know how badly he wants this.”

“Well sure, but I thought he might like knowing Alexis and I were abstaining, since we would just be trading votes anyway. I mean, it's just a gesture, but it would be just like him to ask me to renege and vote for him now.”

“Oh, surely not,” Alexis said.

“Don't abstain,” the Lord told Zeke. “Tell her you're going to vote for him.”

“Gabrielle,” Zeke said.

“Hmm?”

“I, uh—”

“You okay, Zeke?” Gabrielle said.

“Say it,” God said. “The result is in My hand.”

“Um, if you feel you need to vote for your husband, you should.”

“That's not what I told you to say,” the Lord said.

“What are you saying?” Gabrielle said.

“I will vote for him too,” Zeke said.

“Z!” Alexis said. “I just promised to abstain! I'm not going to—”

“And you should keep that promise, Lexi,” Zeke said, looking knowingly into her eyes.

“Oh, no!” Gabrielle moaned. “What am I supposed to do now? Alexis, you have to know I didn't come here to try to trick you into abstaining so I could—”

“Of course, Gabi! I know you better than that.”

“And Zeke,” Gabrielle said, “I don't understand. How could you abstain, cause this election, and now vote for Adam?”

Zeke shrugged. “I just feel led, that's all. Let's trust the Lord in this. What's supposed to happen will happen, right?”

“Well, sure, I guess, but my idea was that Alexis and I would abstain just for friendship's sake.”

“Nothing will come between us, Gabi,” Alexis said. “I'm abstaining, unless Rasputin here gets it in his head that I'm supposed to vote for Doc too. You vote your conscience—really, do what you feel you ought to and don't feel obligated even to tell me. Okay? Promise?”

Gabrielle nodded, rising, and as soon as she was gone, Zeke told Alexis what had happened.

“Well, I figured it had to be God, but good grief, Z, why don't you just hand Doc the job?”

He smiled. “‘Rasputin,' really?”

“You like that one? I was proud of it. Hey, do you trust her?”

“I do. But I don't know her the way you do. She's your friend. Don't you trust her?”

Alexis nodded. “She wasn't faking it. She was really conflicted. But you have to admit, if that had been Doc, he would have tried to get me to
abstain, just like you, and promised that he and she would do the same—for the sake of friendship, right?”

“Right,” Zeke said, “then they would both vote for him and basically see a four-vote swing.”

“You don't think he talked her into—”

Zeke shook his head. “But even if he did, God assured me the result is in His hands. I want only what He wants, don't you?”

“Absolutely. As long as it's not Pastor Doc.”

“You
are
a rascal.”

“You already know what I think you are,” she said. “But I promise not to call you that in front of anybody.”

“I don't,” Sasha said, making Zeke jump.

“Oh, great. How much of that did you hear?”

“Let me think, Rasputin.”

“Terrific. Do we need to remind you . . . ?”

Sasha pantomimed pulling a zipper across her mouth. “Actually, I was on my way out here when Miss Gabi knocked.”

“So you heard all of it.”

She nodded.

“Sash! You know better than to eavesdrop! You should have—”

“I know. Sorry. But sometimes adult stuff is so, I don't know—I just wish I could vote.”

“Dare I ask who you'd vote for?” Zeke said.

“You kiddin'?” she said. “I could vote for Doc, Mom could vote for Doc, Doc and Miss Gabi and even Rasputin could vote for Doc, and those would be all the votes he'd get.”

Zeke had trouble keeping a straight face, even when Alexis waxed serious. “Okay, Sasha, fun's over. Got it?”

“Yes, ma'am.”

“You know you were wrong to keep listening.”

“I do.”

“To prove it, you're going to show your maturity by never mentioning one word of this conversation again, ever. You know what that means?”

“I think so.”

“Tell me.”

“We won't talk about it, that's all.”

“Specifically, not even in jest,” Alexis said. “Tell me what I'm saying.”

“Oh, Mom!”

“Tell me.”

“I can't call Dad Rasp—”

“Not even joking.”

“Aw, c'mon!”

“Unless you want consequences.”

“Yes, ma'am.”

“Thank you.”

Sasha muttered something.

“What was that, young lady?”

“I said at least I got one in before the gag order.”

“Lucky you.”

Zeke went to bed at ten and set his alarm for 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, asking to be awakened only if Cristelle or Jennie took a turn for the worse or Raoul and Danley returned earlier than expected.

He slept the slumber of the sleep-deprived and found it difficult to fully rouse himself when his alarm sounded. He hadn't planned on showering, but having heard nothing of Raoul and Danley, he rushed through a cold one to ensure he would be fully engaged. A change of clothes would refresh him too, but Zeke was surprised when he didn't feel right about slipping into his usual loose-fitting attire for padding about the compound after midnight.

Pawing through his closet and drawers, he kept feeling drawn to his outside getup, the black outfit from boots to hat. It made no sense, but he didn't feel comfortable even considering anything else.

He was pleased to find Elaine Meeks on northeast scope duty, the direction from which the supply runners would come. If he could count on anything from her, it was encouragement.

“Nothing yet?”

“No,” she said, “but they should return in separate vehicles if all went well. I'll be eager to see what they come back with for Dr. Xavier's family. Well, look at you. Going somewhere?”

“Ah, never know.” He checked his watch. “I would have expected some sign of them by now, wouldn't you?”

“Want the next look?” she said, switching places.

They traded off this way for the next thirty minutes until he grew deeply worried. He didn't hide that from Mrs. Meeks, but when Benita showed up looking for news of Raoul, he quickly affected nonchalance. She was clearly on the verge of tears.

“It's almost one, Zeke. They have never been this late before. What's going on?”

“Oh, no, Benita, look, I wouldn't be surprised if they're not back till three or even a little after.”

“Katashi said midnight!”

“I know, but he shouldn't have. He forgot they got away a little late, had to take a longer route, and all they've got to do this time. You should try to sleep, because—”

“Sleep! There'll be no sleeping! I been prayin', and there was clouds on the horizon this morning, and—”

“Oh, we would have heard if that had come to anything. Don't worry about that. No, remember, Doc is looking for some different medicine for both Cristelle and Jennie, and they had to shop for another vehicle. Then they're driving back separately but they want to stay close enough to keep track of each other without attracting attention, all that. It's way too early to be concerned, okay?”

“What're you doin' down here then?”

“Just keeping an old lady company,” Elaine said. “You know how boring this can get this time of night.”

“Go back and get some rest,” Zeke said. “If I don't have him to you by three, come and check on me again, okay? I don't really expect it will be before that. This is a much more complicated run. That's why I chose Raoul as my main man for it.”

“Now you're just teasing me.”

“Come on, Benita! You know what I think of him! Now go.”

Usually nothing appeared blacker than drought-stricken California looking east in the wee hours of the morning with zero traffic. At least this Tuesday morning there was a quarter moon and the stars shone bright. Headlights would be visible from two miles, and the longer Zeke waited and the more he strained to see something, anything, the more he fidgeted.

Ninety minutes later, all Zeke could think of was how many things could have gone wrong. Doc ordered his prescriptions through a medical group with an address in Lake Havasu City, and the holdouts' vehicles were titled and licensed in Arizona to avoid attracting attention. The partners in the medical practice supported the mission and kept Doc informed of technological advancements, sent him the latest literature, and even let him know when he had to be in Arizona to keep his board certifications up-to-date. But still, every time supply runners picked up prescriptions, Zeke felt as if they were under scrutiny.

With Jennie Gill as ill as she was, Zeke knew Doc was prescribing heavy-duty drugs, but he couldn't imagine they were beyond the norm for a bustling Arizona practice serving an aging clientele.

Could Raoul or Danley have run into a problem buying a vehicle? Sure, the holdouts paid the bulk of their auto purchases in cash, but car dealerships preferred that. They never borrowed, covering balances with cashiers' checks issued through reputable institutions.

Zeke was glad to have the pleasant Elaine to chat with, but he found he had to be on guard to keep from getting into too much behind-the-scenes stuff. She was a trusting soul who believed the best about everyone, and he had no interest in bursting her bubble. She wasn't oblivious to Doc's abrasive personality, but even when she brought up something concerning him, she proved circumspect.

“I assume you realize the vote for pastor is a foregone conclusion,” she said. “I'm glad Katashi announced the secret ballot so Doc won't be embarrassed. Losing alone will be enough of a blow.”

“I never assume anything, Elaine.”

“You know everyone loves you, Zeke.”

“Well, I appreciate that, but Doc is a gifted man who has served everyone well when we needed it most.”

“Sure, but—”

“I'll accept either outcome as God's will.”

“That is why it will be you,” she said, hidden behind the lenses of the periscope.

Zeke glanced at his watch. It was pushing 2:50 a.m. The last thing he wanted was Benita taking him up on his offer to check back with him at three. Maybe if he quit obsessing and just continued the conversation with Elaine. “I have plenty on my plate already.”

“Like most bosses, God seems to choose busy people to—oh, Zeke, come look. I'm detecting something. But only one set of lights.”

Zeke nearly knocked her over. “Sorry!”

“I'm fine. Am I right? Just one car?”

“Looks like it. And advancing fast. Hope it's one of ours. I've forgotten now what they left in. Check the log there, would you, Elaine?”