The One Percenters (15 page)

As I said, the next day I made a friend. It was Samantha James, the girl in the woods. I have told you our beginnings; I was in a rush to do so. I felt it was important. But our initial contact was now behind us.

Her eyes focused on me intently, as if studying me. I could see fear, but not terror. It was as though she were trying to hide her anxiety, as if I was a stray dog and could sense it if she showed a hint of despair.

Oh, child, what have they taught you in this world of yours? Even now, I am forced to laugh.

I continued, since she seemed hesitant. Her
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indecision was understandable, for she was new to this and I’d had a year to prepare for our rendezvous in the woods. Had it been a year already? It seemed like only yesterday that inspiration had struck me.

“Relax, I’m no stalker, no hell worm. I am just a man with a cause who needs someone to listen. It’s hard finding someone to listen, wouldn’t you agree?

To really listen, I mean.” Many people inject random

“mm-hmms” and wait for their turn to speak. They never really listen.

After a few seconds elapsed, she nodded her head almost imperceptibly. I figured she was humoring me. I do not like to be humored.

“You were probably prom queen,” I said. She looked up at me quizzically. Women often look at me quizzically, typically for the wrong reasons. I suppose I’m more of a figure of morbid curiosity than one of intrigue. Fair enough.

“Am I right? Prom queen?” I got no response.

This cat-and-mousing was starting to irritate me.

“Come on, Sam. Tell me, were you prom queen?

Belle of the ball? It is in your best interest to answer.

Friendships are based on trust. You should know that.”

“No.” She shook her head slowly to reinforce the answer.“Really? I’m surprised. Well, I’m sure you were a popular thing in school, nonetheless. I can’t imagine why you might be cashiering, though. A girl like you, I figured someone to be looking after you, caring for you, providing for you.” I looked at her hand; there was no ring. I didn’t see Sam as the type to reject an old tradition, so I took her to be single.

“Sam, I don’t ask that you speak much. I understand your situation here. Trust takes time.

Perhaps later you will wish to contribute to the conversation. For now, I only ask you to listen. Would you care for a drink first?” I had a gallon jug of water with me, which I now lifted from the ground beside us. She glanced at the jug, and I could see from her first reaction that she was thirsty, dehydrated.

“No.” There was a pause, then: “No, thank
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you.” Ahh, politeness. They are always polite, hoping to appease their captor. Hollywood doesn’t lie. If only I could explain to her that I was not a kidnaper, that I was no shadowy figure who lurks in bushes behind college dormitories. Alas, I could not, and I suppose this is why she turned down the water she so clearly desired. I drank in large sips from the jug, not to make her envious, but to try to encourage her to do the same.

Besides, I was thirsty too.

“All right, Sam. If you change your mind, let me know. We’re in this thing together, you know, at least for a little while.” The last of that sentence gave her a start. “No, Sam. I just meant. .” I trailed off, realizing that she wouldn’t believe me anyway. No need to waste my breath on that. I had enough to say as it was.

“Sam, you seem like a bright girl. I’m sure you’ve heard of evolution.” Of course she had, but like they say, even the longest journey. .

At first there was no response, and I almost rolled right into my next sentence, willing to make the assumption. Finally, it seems, she surprised me with a little ribbing—probably just a defense mechanism. I could respect that.

“I’m Catholic,” she said.

This time I took my time in replying.

“Oh, really, and a staunch Catholic at that, I am sure. Church every week and such. But I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. Am I correct to take your response to mean you don’t believe in evolution?” She didn’t answer, probably afraid now of giving the wrong answer. I waited for a response.

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know, or you’re afraid to answer?

Because there is nothing to fear here, Sam, except ignorance.” Again a wait. I touched her cheek, and she shied away from me. Exasperated by the circumstances, she replied at last.

“I. .I believe.”

“Good. That’s settled, so we can move on.” I sipped from my water bottle again, and made a gesture to offer her some, but she turned her shoulders away.

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“Samantha, for a long time I wandered the Earth, just as you do, wondering what my purpose here is and how it managed to stealthily elude me. Certainly we can’t all be here to drink beer, sell cars, and tattoo our asses.” I paused to look at a chipmunk in the clearing.

That small creature seemed at that moment to have plenty of purpose. Boy, those sons of bitches are as cute as buttons, ain’t they? The sun was coming out, the rainwater on the leafy floor glistened, and all was right with the world. Moments such as that are rare in this life.“Finally, following the death of someone I loved very dearly, I realized my purpose here.” I noticed that I had put another start into my new friend. “I didn’t kill her, Sam. She was taken from me by the vile filth of which I now rid the world, but that can wait a moment.

Here, I insist.” I held the jug of water to her lips, and at last she drank. Thirst won out in the end; it always does. “I’ll spare you the techno-talk; I’m not one for jargon. The essence of it all is that our genes are passed on in a wonderful process that, despite what you might hear, works toward a greater good. The problem, though, is that we’ve fouled up the works. Instead of taking nature for the generous mother she is, we’ve trashed her system.

Our technology and our greed are making evolution obsolete; the ill-minded and ill-bodied now survive. It’s rather alarming. But the Earth is resilient, as you well know, Sam. People like me are put here to level the playing field. You see, I am but one of one percent of the population who have the enviable job of reestablishing natural force as
the
force to be reckoned with, as it should be. Do you understand?” The look in her eyes screamed, “
Murderer.
” I was saddened by this. I had hoped for more. She was so young, I thought she might yet be unfazed by the garbage our heads are filled with by the media and others out for no damn good.

“Please, Sam, say something.”

To my surprise and relief, her response was immediate.

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“What do you want?”

“Aren’t you listening?” It was an angry tone. I settled myself. “I want you to listen, and hopefully to accept. I am letting you in on the world’s biggest secret.

It took an unfortunate and untimely death to make me wake up. I am trying to save you the same pain.

You see, we can help each other. You can lend me an unaffected ear, and I can teach you.” She had her head down.

“You are young and obviously bored with the world. I hoped—I still hope—that you will be open to new opportunity, to new ideas.” My train of thought had been interrupted. I gathered myself. “Do you have a boyfriend, Samantha?” I sensed fear once again. “I ask you this only because I hope you have someone you can love as much as I loved my wife. Only through love are we able to see the world with passionate and curious eyes. We are inspired by one another.”

“No. No boyfriend.”

I doubted the validity of this statement, but gave her the benefit of the doubt.

“That’s too bad. I’m sure you will find your happiness in time. Anyway, there is not much more to tell. I thought it would take forever to explain, but like anything else, when you weed out the extraneous crap, it’s all fairly basic stuff. Good versus evil, just like in the movies. Now, I have told you so much about me, but true understanding is a two-way street.” She didn’t take the hint, or at least she didn’t lead on that way. I continued.

“What do you like to do?”

She didn’t answer. I was prepared for it. I had been alone for most of a year. I could wait. “It’s O.K.

Take your time. I’m in no hurry. I stepped behind her to let nature work for
me
for a change. I urinated on the wet forest floor and felt great relief in my midsection.

Steam wafted up from the ground, and a sweet smell found my nostrils.

“I like to bike ride and to read.”

“Reading. Very good.” I zipped up my fly and returned to my space in front of her. There was a mild burning in my abdomen. I continued:
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“Yes, books are a very good start. We should remember, though, that they merely act as inspiration and guidance. It is easy to forget about the larger world beyond. What type do you read?”

She dug her foot into the soft ground. “Romance.”

“Well, I must say, I am disappointed. A bright girl like you reading such trash. Besides, true romance awaits you in the real world. Why look to the uncaring pages of a book to find it?”

She must have taken the last to be rhetorical, so I repeated myself.

“Why look to the uncaring pages of a book to find it?”“I like reading about it. It’s..comforting.”

“Ah, yes, it is, isn’t it?” That one
was
rhetorical, and she took it as such. “What would you like to do with your life?” I took a cracker from my pocket and nibbled its edge. It was salty, and I spat it out onto the leaves below me.

“Teach.”

“A very noble desire. Certainly it is. But what can we teach if we refuse to learn?” Admittedly, I was beginning to sound a little self-important, pretentious even. But it was my spotlight now, after all these years.

I stifled a laugh.

“Kindergarten.” This time I couldn’t stifle.

After all, we don’t really teach kindergartners much of anything except how to share and get along. Come to think of it, maybe these are the most important things to know. I know more than one person who could use a refresher course.

“Very good, Sam, very good. Are you in college?”

“No.”

“Why is that?”

“Money.”

“Ah, yes, money. It all comes down to that, doesn’t it? You need it to get it. Well, certainly you will find a way. A mind like yours should not be wasted.

You are so bright. . and beautiful. You remind me of someone I once knew.” There was a long quiet.

Finally, she asked: “Your wife?”

“Hmm. That’s very perceptive of you, and
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also very presumptuous, but I give you full credit for listening. What is it you kids say? Props?” The sun was out in its full golden suit by now. “My Jill was both a beauty and a smart woman, I must admit. She had the double barrel effect going for her. A very rare creature.

I’d give just about anything for five minutes with her.

And do you know what I’d do with those minutes?”

“I can imagine.” Apparently her fear was quelling.

This was good. I wanted her to feel comfortable. Her eyes were still red, though. I knew that the fear still remained inside. She probably just didn’t want to piss me off.“You’re wrong. I’d use my five minutes to thank her with every ounce of my being. She was my light.

She was my fire. She was everything to me, more than I deserved. And some bastard took her from me. Do you know how that feels?”

“No.”

“It’s gut-wrenching. It tears your heart out.”

“Why are you telling me this?” Her voice was still weak and fluttering. She hid her eyes from me when she spoke. I wished that I could have met her in a bar and had this conversation under different circumstances. I felt I could have loved her. I knew she would have loved me. My voice is soothing. I’m quite charismatic for someone so invisible.

“Because I needed to tell someone, and as I told you, you are young and innocent of the indifference that befalls us as we age.”

I had smoked several cigarettes during the course of our discussion, and they were forming a pile in front of me. I am mildly obsessive compulsive. I like neat piles, straight lines. It is an affliction, and not one I’d wish upon anyone.

“I am afraid, Sam. Why, you ask?” I did not wait for her to ask; I knew she wouldn’t.

“I am afraid because I am alone in the world. My father was in my life only for a short time. My mother no longer is. My wife died. My girlfriend died.” I saw Sam react to this. “Again, not me. It was diabetes.” I lied, yes, but only because she would never understand the truth. Too much too fast. “I am alone.”
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“We’re all alone.”

“What do you mean we are all alone? You’re not alone. You have a family and friends and coworkers and. .” “We’re all alone. Nobody knows why we’re here, but we try to deal with it in. .in other ways.” I noticed that fear was turning to anger. I waved my gun by my side, for emphasis.

“In normal ways? Is that what you were going to say?” She looked away, afraid. “No, Sam, it’s all right.

I want the truth.”

“In other ways.”

For an instant, I had cracked her, and I was afraid now it would be the only time I would. She spoke again.

“What are you going to do to me?” The inevitable question. There was only one reply I could think of at the time.

“Nothing, Sam. Nothing.”

But I knew that would not suffice. I wanted to kill her, thank her, mock her, and fuck her all at once. It was time to make a decision.

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I saw four options before me—actually three when you consider that I had already decided I must leave her alive. Her soul was intact. I could have her join me as an ally, but I couldn’t foresee that being a successful endeavor. Even if I could trust her, Sam didn’t have the makeup; she wasn’t chosen for this type of life. Besides, at the moment it didn’t seem that this would be
her
favorite choice. I could continue to hold her captive, taking her with me as I moved from place to place. I’d have somebody to talk to, who could live my adventure with me: a human log book.