VcnV

Viruses

They looked like large ants. About the size of a very large dog only wider when including their broomstick like legs. As they got closer no one had to create anxiety. The fear was thick among them.

Josh wondered if the pod would sedate them too quickly or not quick enough. It could all come down to timing.

The viruses moved along together crawling. One was on the floor and the other two crawled along the side walls. One after another they moved some and then stopped so they would takes turns being in the lead position. The gap between the viruses and kids closed significantly. They could see them more clearly now. They were horrible looking with hands at the end of their front appendages. They were very mechanical looking like robots. As they passed each set of opposite doors they tried to open them with the handles.

Josh stopped in the lead position and put his arms out to his sides so they all stopped advancing. He said, “Fear will bring calm and they will hopefully pass by us.” They watched as the creatures came to the door marked with Josh’s shoe and one opened the door. All three entered the room and the door closed behind them.

Pete said, “Man, that was close,” he was visibly sweating profusely.

Yancy mentioned, “Pete I never saw you sweat before. You must be scared.”

Sheri wondered, “Should we follow them. Will Brutus destroy them? Can he destroy them?”

“I don’t know,” said Josh.

After waiting a while Yancy grabbed the door handle and opened it, “Coming,” he said to Pete who looked a little ill. Pete followed without any sarcastic comments. He knew this was dangerous.

“Josh said he followed a path down to a creek and then met with a large boulder and went around it.” Inside they followed the path down over the creek and around the boulder. There was a computer desk on its side. The display and keyboard on the ground. The ant-like viruses were torn to shreds in different spots on the grass. The old man wasn’t there.

Josh picked up his shoe and showed it to Sheri who made a sad face. It looked mangled like it was chewed. He put it on and grabbed the other one to wear. Molly put her foot in the door gap keeping it from closing all the way and listened. They waited hoping for a good return on Yancy’s investment.

Pete and Yancy were about to leave when a voice said, “More viruses. You will meet your end.”

Yancy perked up seeing the man, “No sir, we are not viruses. We are friends of Josh who you met earlier. We are in need of help.”

The old man spoke, “A virus can make itself look like they are something they are not. How do I know not to have you destroyed now?”

“My Dad is Yancy. You know him. He would want me to come home to him today. Won’t you consider helping us?”

Your father used to have a saying which annoyed the heck out of me. I hope you can tell me what it was so I can be sure.”

Yancy thought hard. His Dad had a lot of sayings but he had heard them his whole life so they didn’t sound strange to him.

“Times a wasting,” the old man said.

It finally came to him, “Was it dag blast it?”

“You are both very lucky you answered correctly. I can’t be to cautious and Brutus so enjoys tearing viruses apart.”

“There are five of us. Would you like to meet the rest of our group?” said Pete.

“Who are you and what do you want?” looking at Pete seeming angry.

“Well, I am with him,” pointing at Yancy. “I want what he wants.”

“I can’t help you. I have my work that I must get to and the darn viruses scattered my stuff all over.” Yancy picked up his desk and Pete put the display and keyboard on it for him. “Thank you,” he said.

“I understand if you are busy. Is there any thing you can tell us that would help?” said Yancy.

“I already told your friend earlier, stay out of the hallway. It’s not safe.”

Pete, “But we are stuck in the hallway. If the viruses kill us in our digital state what will happen to our real body back in the pod?”

“I don’t know. Never happened. You know why? Because kids like you never went into the hallway before. That’s why.”

Yancy said, “What is your name sir?”

“My name is Mike Thiele.”

“Well Mr. Thiele…”

“Just Mike will do.”

“OK, Mike. I’m not sure you fully understand our problem. On our second day of school before we spent much time here our teacher stopped, froze in place right in the middle of a sentence. We didn’t know what to do and our program exit devices didn’t work. We went through the door to look for help and it closed and locked behind us. Being a tinker like you are I thought you might be interested in a Classroom Not situation?”

Mike, “What is that you say. Classroom Not. Where did you hear about ‘Software Not’ files?”

“My dad told me. He works to repair their function.”

“I see. Your father, Yancy the tinker. Well then I might take an interest in your affair. Go bring your friends and lock the door. I will think about your problem. Give it some thought. Brutus, go with them. Make sure they don’t get lost.” He sat in his chair that Pete placed back in front of the desk.

Pete said to Yancy after they were around the boulder out of range of Mike’s ear, “That was great how you turned him around. I will never call you stupid again.”

Yancy looked surprised, “You call me stupid?”

“Well not when you were around,” he glanced over with a smile. Yancy brushed it off and laughed himself. As they turned the corner on the switchback path Pete noticed Brutus, “I’m glad he is on our side.”

They came in view of the door with Molly holding it open. She said, “Here they come,” and Sheri and Josh stood up from their restful position on the floor. Sheri laughed looking at Josh’s chewed shoe.

“Don’t laugh until we see what condition we find yours in,” he said.

Pete spoke loudly, “This guy is an amazing negotiator,” walking behind Yancy while shaking his head no and mouthing no he isn’t to Josh and the girls.

Yancy proudly smiled not seeing Pete’s antics and said “Mike wants you to join us.”

Josh couldn’t believe the change and on a first name basis too. They passed through the doorway and stopped, “What do we do with the door?”

Yancy answered, “He said lock it,” so Josh locked it.

The group felt safe for the first time since this nightmare began.