فصل چهل و هفتم

Chapter 47: A Final Fiesta

Taylor and I slept until late afternoon, then woke and talked for about an hour before we heard the van return. We walked out to the front room as Dodds opened the door. He was followed by Jaime, who was holding the hand of a young Peruvian woman.

“Who is she?” Taylor asked Dodds.

“Roxanna is a friend of Jaime’s,” he said. “She’s going to help cook our feast.” “Did you find anything out about the Elgen?” I asked.

Dodds frowned. “Yes. Much.”

Jaime looked over at us.

“Good news or bad?” I asked.

“Both,” Dodds said. “We’ll talk after dinner.” “Yes,” Jaime said, walking toward us. “We talk after dinner. But not now. Now we fiesta.” “Did you remember my things?” Taylor asked.

“Of course, senorita. Your surprise.”

I looked at Taylor. “Your surprise?”

She nodded. “There’s something we need to do.” * * *

Jaime and Roxanna worked for nearly three hours to put together our feast, filling the villa with the pungent aroma of their cooking and crowding the table with colorful Peruvian delicacies, which Jaime introduced to us.

“Welcome, friends. We have made for you kalea mixta, a fried seafood platter with shrimp, squid, mussels, fish, and yucca sticks, tacu tacu, steak with bean cake, and ají de gallina, chicken in spicy sauce.” We applauded.

“Epic!” Ostin shouted.

“This is my friend Roxanna,” Jaime said. “She does not speak English, but she helped me create our feast.” “Roxanna rocks!” Ostin shouted.

We applauded for her, too. She shyly bowed. “Thank you.” Jaime turned on some festive Peruvian music and we all took plates and started eating. Throughout the party I kept my eye on Jack, who sat alone. Abigail went to sit by him. I couldn’t hear what he said to her, but she looked upset as she turned away, walking across the room to sit next to Zeus and Tessa. It seemed to me that now that the fear and danger were over, his mind had returned to his grief over Wade. Perhaps it was survivor’s guilt.

When Jack finished eating, he got up to leave.

Taylor turned to me. “We better do it now,” she said, standing.

As she walked to the kitchen, I shouted, “Jack!” He turned back. “Yeah?”

“Where are you going?”

“To bed. I’m done eating.”

“There’s dessert.”

“I don’t do desserts,” he said.

“This one’s especially for you.”

Everyone looked over at us. Jaime switched off the music and McKenna turned out the lights, then disappeared into the kitchen with Taylor.

“What’s going on?” Jack asked.

Taylor walked out of the kitchen holding a birthday cake lit with seventeen candles. She began to sing, alone at first, then joined by the rest of us. “Happy birthday to Wade.” Jack stood there, speechless.

When we’d finished singing, Taylor said, “Would you blow out the candles?” Jack hesitated for a moment, then he walked up and blew out the candles. Everyone clapped. McKenna turned the lights back on.

I walked to Taylor’s side in front of the room. “In light of this being a special day,” I said, “I have a special announcement to make.” Taylor handed me a rolled piece of parchment tied with a silver ribbon. I slid the document out and unrolled it.

In my most dignified voice I said, “With the power vested in me as president of the Electroclan, I hereby award our highest honor, the Electroclan Medal of Valor, to Wade West, for his courage, loyalty, and dedication in the line of duty. Jack, as his mentor, best friend, and brother, we think it is appropriate that you accept this honor for him.” Jack took the paper from me. He looked down at the award for a moment, then said, “Can I say something?” “Of course,” I said. I stepped back.

“I don’t know how well you really knew Wade. Wade was the kind of guy who some people thought was hard to get to know. He didn’t trust many people. It wasn’t his fault. The people who should have taken care of him let him down.” Suddenly, Jack choked up. “But I loved him. I didn’t always treat him the best. But I always loved him.” Jack wiped his eyes. “What hurts the most, is that I wish I had told him that. I just wish I had treated him better. That’s all.” The room was silent. Then Taylor stepped forward. In her hand she held another piece of paper. “I would also like to say something. I’d like to read something.” She held up the piece of paper. “This is dated January twenty-first, 2011.” She cleared her throat.

Today my grandmother hit me again. She bashed me like a hundred times with a wooden spoon, and then with a tennis racquet. I have cuts and bruises all over. It takes all I have not to just haul off and knock her one, but I know they’ll throw me in jail if I do. The last time I stood up to her she called the police, and when they came she acted like a sweet old lady who got stuck with a low-life juvie. Of course the police took her side. Once you have a record, cops don’t bother to think. Every time I tried to say something they just told me to shut up. One of them threatened to tase me. Sometimes I feel like this crummy world is completely stacked against me and I want to give up.

Then I think about my best friend, Jack. Jack’s been dealt a bad hand too. His old man’s an alcoholic. His mom left him, and one of his brothers is a drug head and in prison, but Jack never gives up and he never complains. He conquers. He’s a warrior. He’s the kind of warrior I want to be someday. If it wasn’t for him I probably would have just ended it a long time ago. I know Jack will never read this, but if he did, I’d say “I love you, man.” Taylor looked up from the letter.

Jack was crying. When he could speak he said, “Where did you get that?” “Jaime,” she said. “The voice did background checks on all of us. You didn’t know it, but Wade kept a secret blog. I guess he thought you wouldn’t think he was a very good warrior if he shared his feelings.” Abigail walked over to Jack and this time he didn’t reject her. This time the dam broke. He fell onto his knees, sobbing. “My heart is broken,” he said. “It’s just broken.” Abigail wrapped her arms around him and held him to her. “I know, honey,” she said. “But you’re going to be okay. We’re going to help you get through this. All of us are.” She pulled him in tighter. Jack just wept.