There were four people in the van but no one was speaking. The dirt road below tumbled as it travelled slowly along, shaded by thick pine trees to one side and low, dry brush to the other. Only Jenny could see the bay and the San Juan Islands floating somewhere between the water and the morning mist dispersing. The others were in the back where all the windows were covered. No one was speaking but the sound of the brown van clunking on the uneven dirt road filled the empty silence.
Before, as they had turned off onto a secondary gravel road, the conversation was lively and jovial.
– Aaw, maan. I haven’t been up this early in aages. Tom, sitting on the floor behind the passenger seat complained, stressing and elongating his words. – And my aass is starting to hurt. Tom was the only one that wasn’t sitting on something soft.
– Here, sit on this. Steve tossed him one of the small cushions from the couch. Jenny’s van was a fully equipped camper inside, pop-top roof and all. He and Dan occupied the two places on the pullout bed. They had decided to leave the passenger seat in the front free because it would look less conspicuous.
– Thanks, he said, as the cushion hit him on the side of the head. He grabbed it and did his best to stuff it underneath him. He had a sharp, unshaven face and a long, wiry body to go with it. The cushion was decidedly too thin for his boney rear end. – Oww, it still huurts ! he said half-laughing as he raised himself like a crab to better position the cushion under him.
– Hey Jenny, hit as many potholes as you can and let’s see if we can break Tom’s buttbone, Steve heckled as he pulled out a tobacco pouch from his coat pocket. – Y’r a buttbone, buttbone ! Jenny smiled in the rearview mirror at Steve. She always said things like that.
– Hey Dan, we never came up with our codenames, Tom said still struggling with the cushion.
– Eh ? Oh, yeah. Dan mumbled. He was sleeping against the back of the driver’s seat and taking up most of the space on the couch. Everyone waited for him to say something more but he just rolled his head back toward the wall and continued sleeping with his mouth open.
– What codenames ? Whaddaya mean ? Steve looked to Tom.
– I dunno, Dan told me. I guess we have codenames or something... Hey Dan, Dan, whad’ Roger say about codenames ? He insisted, tugging at Dan’s slacky tan pants.
Dan, lolling off between sleep and the conversation, tried to make it short. – We’re not sposta use our real names ‘case someone gets caught. He grumbled and crossed his hairy arms, still trying to sleep. Dan looked like a mountain man, sandy blond hair everywhere. It grew thick down to his shoulders in unkempt waves and his beard was equal in length and color, a lion’s mane that left only two diamond-blue eyes peering out from behind.
– I already know all your names, and now his too. Steve cynically pointed out the obvious. His dark skin, thick brows and deep-set eyes made him look perpetually pissed off. He flipped Jenny’s blood red scarf that he had taken to wearing over his left shoulder to concentrate on rolling his cigarette.
– Yeah, but what kiind of codenames ? Like Mr. Pink or what? Tom asked.
– Whatever, yeah, I guess. Dan was still sleeping.
– Dude, I wanna be Miss Killjoy ! Jenny held out her slender hand in the shape of a pistol and pointed out the window to her right. – Pehhew ! she shot some imaginary enemy lurking in the woods.
– Right, Steve said licking the rolling paper closed, – and I’ll be Captain Crunch.
– No waait, guys, I wanna be Flying-Eagle-Who-Eats-Mouse, Tom enthusiastically proposed.
– Com’on, y’all, this is serious. Dan was waking up. – We can’t show up and start callin’ each other Miss Killjoy and Flying-Whatever-Mouse-Thing. I won’t even be able to remember all those ridiculous names.
– Hey, it’s Flying-Eagle-Who-Eats-Mouse, Tom corrected as he started caw cawing with his arms flapping at his sides and rising towards Dan. The van lurched as Jenny turned and Tom fell back against the sliding door. Everyone laughed.
– Okay, almost there, said Jenny. When they made the last turn onto an abandoned trail the mood became more serious. They were getting close.
– Alright, just pick an animal and be that, okay ? Dan cut short.
– Y’r definitely Bear then, Jenny answered, – ‘Cause you sleep so much and y’r grumpy.
– Okay, I’ll be Bear, Tom is Eagle. Steve ?
Steve leaned back to pull a lighter from his pocket. He lit his fat rolly and answered through the dense smoke of his first long drag.
– Man I dunno, I can never come up with names. Um, Dog, I guess.
– Alright : Bear, Eagle, Dog… Dan pointed to each as he said their names and turned to Jenny, – and you ? – Can I be Puma ? Jenny said still smiling from before.
– Yeah, okay. You can be puma.
– Yessss !
After some ten minutes of dusty road and the van’s silent clanking, they finally saw their destination. A small wooden structure sat at the end of the road on a flat peninsula that extended into the bay waters. The dry vegetation surrounding it was high and yellow, reflecting the early light of the sun rising to the east. There were no cars parked outside. Jenny rumbled down over the rutted hump that separated the house’s low peninsula from the road.
– Park it over there, behind the bushes, suggested Dan, looking out the from behind the driver’s seat. Jenny coasted down behind the tall grass and stopped. She put the van into park, turned the key and looked over her shoulder with her eyes wide.
– ‘Vverybody out !
Eagle and Bear stepped down from the sliding door and stretched. Dog puffed on his cigarette and waited for Puma on the edge of the open door. When she came around to close it he kissed her on the cheek and she smiled shyly. They turned and looked. The shack stood quiet under the morning sun. The long slats of wood running parallel along the walls, aged grey from northwest rains, and its low shingled roof made it stand short amidst the summer’s dry cattails. Bear led the animals’ advance toward the entrance. Just before arriving under the façade’s lean-to awning the door latched open and a head popped out.
– Oh, Roger. I didn’t think you’ere here yet, Bear stopped surprised. Roger’s face, contorted with suspicion and from the bright light outside, immediately relaxed upon seeing him. His brows raised and a grin grew across his lips.
– Hey, brother Dan, welcome. The two embraced with hardyhand pats on the back. – It’s been a while, great to see you. Bear opened their hug bringing Roger forward toward the others.
– Here’re my friends I was tellin’ you about. This is, umm, Daawg… he hesitated forgetting Steve’s codename, – and Puma.
– Nice to meet ya’, Roger said shaking hands and smiling.
– And this is, umm…
– Eagle, how’ya doin ? Tom waved, reminding Bear of his new zoological nom de guerre. He had already come across Roger a few years before at a treesit. He was notably older than the rest, somewhere in his mid-thirties. He had a stout build and broad shoulders dressed in run-of-the-mill mountain attire. As he and Bear sauntered forward together in a fraternal hold, a short Hispanic girl appeared from out behind the door, staying close to the threshold.
– Ah, and this’s Mina, Roger announced. The round-faced girl obliged with a timid wave and then leaned back with her hands between her body and the doorframe with a discrete smile. Everyone nodded.
– So where’s y’r ride ? Bear asked throwing a useless glance around.
– Naw, we hiked in last night and slept here. Place is always open, f’you need it. Anyway, com’on in an’ let’s get started.
Mina vanished again into the house and the others followed one by one. Dog, the last to enter, stopped and peered back down the road. There was no one on it.
Everyone’s eyes adjusted to the dim light inside and they saw the meager furnishings that occupied an otherwise empty room : in one corner there were three wicket chairs surrounding a overturned milk cart. Along the left wall there were two grey cinderblocks and two long planks running between them. Spartan camping equipment – a portable gas stove, a solar lantern, a water filtration device – rested on them. On the back wall, another door was closed. Mina was rolling up a single sleeping bag alongside two framed camping packs.
– Okay then. A couple of security things before we get goin. Roger stood facing the group and a loose circle naturally formed. – First, everyone left any cellphones, beepers, pagers and whatnot at home I hope. They all looked around at each other inquisitively. – And not just in the car, right ? Otherwise we can stop right here, Roger warned. There were a few yeahs and uh-hus all around.
– Okay, he continued, good. Second, it’s very important that we use our forest names. As far as we know, this is still a good safehouse but we can’t take any risks. They’re gettin’ real good at surveillance and I don’t need to know your real names anyway. Dog nodded.
– And I’m sure I don’t have to say this but, he paused, – this meeting never happened. What happens here stays here. Don’t ever talk about it with anyone, ever. We clear ? Everyone nodded. – Okay then.
Roger pulled out a stack of white garments sealed in clear plastic and a shopping bag from one of the backpacks. He handed one to each person and kept one for himself. – Here, put these on. They opened and unfolded the disposable full-body overalls from the packaging and stepped into them. The tissue suits covered the entire body, head to foot, with a single zipper up the front and an elastic band that secured it over the head. Roger then pulled out five, mono-use masks and a box of disposable plastic gloves and handed them out. Bear, Eagle, Dog and Puma dressed.
– Okay, now let’s go into the cleanroom. Mina’ll stay here and keep an eye out. Roger spun around and opened the door on the back wall behind him. They all pulled down their masks to cover their mouths and shuffled in after him. The suits whispered along the wood flooring as they moved.
Once inside, Roger closed the door and flipped a nearby light switch. A single bulb hanging from a simple wire in the center of the ceiling brightly illuminated the room. Thick black plastic obscured the windows and completely covered the floor. An old iron stove squatted in the corner and a sturdy table stood alone in the middle of the room, directly under the light.
– Alright, this is the cleanroom. Mina and I set it up last night and we’ll take it down when we leave. The mask muffled his voice. – You should always, always work in a room like this and then burn all the suits, masks, gloves and plastic after you’re done. Keep a clean site and don’t ever leave anything behind, not even a plastic bag or a cigarette butt. Roger flashed a glance at Dog. – Today we’re gonna skip some of the more general stuff but you should all read the guide and memorize it. I’m gonna assume you already have, so we can get to the hands-on stuff, ‘cause that’s what we’re here for. But read it.
Roger was referring to the ELF manual that had been circulating on the internet over the last couple of months. Everyone had seen it and a hardcopy had already been stashed away at an acquaintance’s house.
– So every I.D. has three parts to it: the timer, the igniter and the accelerant. We’re not gonna deal with the accelerant but I brought a five-gallon bucket to show you. Let’s all get around the table.
All five moved and took their places around the high table. A cardboard box and two cheap soldering tools awaited them. Roger pulled a teal bucket up from under the table.
– This is the perfect type of accelerant container. You can get them at any hardware store for a few bucks. It’s a good idea to buy your supplies from as many different places as possible and as far from home as possible. The important thing is that the lid is thin so that it’ll burn quickly. Roger passed around the lid and they all looked at it while he continued. – But, like I said, we’re gonna concentrate on the timer and the igniter for today. I brought enough stuff to make two of each, so you’ll work in pairs.
He opened the box and took out two Ziploc bags. – So, Eagle and…
– Bear, thanks.
– Okay, and one for Dog and Puma.
Each contained an old-fashioned kitchen timer, a nine-volt battery and wire strippers. From his box, Roger set out two rolls of electrical wire, wooden kitchen matches, some glue and soldering supplies.
– First we’re gonna put together our timers. These’re easy to build and don’t need special parts or anything. But they work. So first, all ya’ gotta do is glue a match onto the dial of the timer, like this. He held one up, positioning the match along the handle. – Just make sure that the match sticks out over the numbers at the edge. – Damnit, all these matches make me wanna smoke, Dog fiddled nervously with one of his many piercings.
– Okay, just set them there and we’ll cut our wires while they dry.
From the spool of wire, Roger cut off six lenghts – Okay, now strip the ends.
– This enough ? Puma held it up for approval.
– Yeah, just make sure there is plenty of exposed wire on one end. She snipped off another quarter inch. – Now, the glue should be dry so get your timer. You gotta tape one of the wires at a right angle over the side, in an L-shape, so that it sticks out over the edge at the ten-minute mark.
The groups took the tape out and started pealing it from the roll. Eagle raised his strip toward his face like he was going to bite it free.
– No, wait. Stop. Roger raised his hand in Eagle’s direction. – Always, always use scissors, he said firmly. They can git yer dna off that tape from a tiny amount of saliva. Scissors, always scissors. Eagle smiled embarrassed.
– Aaw, yeeah. Sorry.
– No problem, it’s yer ass... Okay, now we gotta solder one wire to the battery clip. He indicated the black nine-volt battery clips that were in each bag. – Y’all know how to solder ?
– I made a lamp in high school. I got a B, Dog said dryly. Both Bear and Eagle were always tinkering around with old cars and the like so soldering wasn’t a problem. Dog handed Puma the soldering iron and to help her get started and watched over her shoulder. Her slender nose and high cheekbones gave her an air of elegance.
– Hey, I’m gonna burn your eye out if you don’t stop spying on me !
After a couple of minutes, Roger continued – Everyone good ? Nods all the way around. – Good, okay, all ya’ gotta now is bend the other wire into a kind of crooked Z-shape and tape it at the nine minute mark. Bear had already started taping his on. It wasn’t the first time he had done this.
– Okay, so the Z-shape will catch the L-shape as the timer comes ‘round and the matchstick pushes the two exposed wires together. The two wires touch, the circuit is complete, the current flows from the battery and… poof.
Both groups stepped back from the table. Eagle took a deep breath and stretched his arms and head back. His hazel gaze was bright with mischievous joy. Wide grins could be intuited from behind everyone’s masks.
– Maan, you guys look like oversized marshmallows, he said.
– Y’r a marshmallow, marshmallow-brain ! Puma again.
– Alright, almost done kids, Roger tried to keep the work going. – We got the timers so we need an igniter. We’re gonna make what’s called an M.R.I., or model rocket igniter. Set your timers aside and take these.
He pulled out two more Ziploc bags from the box and handed them out. Inside, there was only a little wiry V with a colored glob at the top, a small roadside flare and a handful of Safeway matchbooks.
– So the important thing here are these little diddies. He held up one of the V-shapes for everyone to see. – These are simple model rocket ignitions. You c’n find ‘em in any hobby store. They were nothing more than two short metal legs protruding from a chalky green lump that joined them at the top. – Be careful not to scrape away the little green blob at the end ‘cause otherwise it won’t work.
– I’ve got plenty of green blobs fer y’all, Eagle picked his nose and threatened Bear. He just laughed and Eagle wiped his finger on his sturdy Carhartt jeans. – Okay, so basically this is how it works : the current passes through the wires and this green substance flares up, but only for a few seconds. So we’re gonna use that spark to light the road flare which’ll burn good ‘n hot for at least an hour. That’ll be more than enough to melt through the lid and ignite the accelerant in the buckets. I’ll just make one so you can see.
Roger took two matchbooks and ripped off their covers, front and back. He then placed the M.R.I. on top of one.
– Just make sure the little green blob is touching the match heads, here. Again he held it up for everyone to see. He put the other matchbook over the first, trapping the M.R.I. inside. – There, now just a little tape around the whole thing, but leave the two wire legs sticking out at the bottom. The two teams started in, stripping down their matchbooks and aligning the elements just as Roger had done.
– This alright ? asked Puma.
– Yeah, looks good to me.
– Okay, now take the road flare and open it at both ends. Strip down some more matchbooks and tape them all around the head of the flare. Tape the igniter in the same place.
– Aah, I geddit. So the battery lights the little green blob-thingy, that lights the matches and the matches light the flare. Cool.
Bear looked at him accusingly.
– It will ‘f ya got it right Eagleboy, Bear responded.
– So everyone connect the metallic legs to the wires but do not, I repeat, do not connect the wires to the battery. I don’t wanna burn down my safehouse, not yet anyway.
Both groups worked quickly to do so, eager with the mounting curiosity to see if their creations would work. All four were thinking about how easy it was going to be to put a few of these together and try them out in the real world. Over the past few weeks they had met twice, in private, without phones, to discuss the new logging station that was being constructed in an old-growth forest not too far from the Canadian border. It went without saying that today’s workshop was a step in that direction.
– Alright, let’s see how y’all did. Roger took the two modified flares from the table and went over to the stove in the corner. He opened it and placed each flare inside, cautiously leading the wire connections out. – Okay, bring over yer timers. Both groups set their timers on the floor beside. Roger moved back from the stove and said, – Set ‘em to fifteen minutes.
The dials moved clicking.
– Okay, make sure the two wires on the timers aren’t touchin’. Good, now snap on the batteries.
After the two metallic clicks of the batteries being attached no one said a word. Everyone stepped back and watched the black stove. Eagle squatted low and his white overalls whispered. The faint ticking of the timers was the only sound in the room.
