The Annihilation of Foreverland

book for a… for a report that’s due… soon.”
    “Well, you’ll have to come back tonight when we open.”
    “Please, sir. We’ve fallen behind on our studies and just want to make sure we do things right this time. We’re serious about our studies, sir. We’d like to better ourselves, our minds and bodies. We’d—”
    Danny elbowed him. “Just five minutes, Mr. Campbell. And then we’re out of here.”
    Mr. Campbell carried the papers to the shelves behind him. It took so long they thought he might have forgotten they were there.
    “Five minutes, boys.”
    Danny and Zin took off.
    “And no running,” Mr. Campbell said, forcefully. “This is still a library.”
    “Laying it on a little thick back there, don’t you think?” Danny said. “We just want to check out a book, not rewrite the Constitution.”
    They turned down an aisle , the shelves towering over their heads.
    “You know these geezers, they love it when we do our best.”
    They turned right at the end of the aisle , moving along the wall with the classrooms along it. Danny stopped at the one in the corner. He could see the cabinet in the corner of the classroom.
    “That’s the one. Do your dirty work.”
    Zin took a knee, pulled wires from his pocket and inserted them into the lock. Danny walked away, looking down the aisle s. He could hear Mr. Campbell sorting books at the front desk. The wires were clicking in the doorknob.
    “What’s taking so long?” Danny whispered.
    “I can’t get it.”
    “I thought you were an expert.”
    “I never said that.”
    Zin dropped the wires and went to the nearest aisle , looking quickly through the books.
    “What are you doing?” Danny ran back to the door. “We don’t have time…”
    Zin reached to the top shelf and pulled a thin, spiral-bound book down. He slowly ripped the plastic cover off the front and pushed Danny out of his way. The cover was flimsy but stiff. Zin inserted the corner between the door and doorjamb. He moved it up and turned the knob.
    It clicked open.
    “I take that back.” Zin stepped out of the way. “I am an expert.”
    Danny quietly closed the door. Zin stood outside. He moved through the room, plowing into one of the desks up front. He stopped, moved more slowly this time.
    The box of tablets was on the bottom shelf.
    He grabbed one and moved to the wall next to the door so no one could see him. He turned it on.
    His hands were shaking.
    This is it.
    If he screwed this up, they were all dead. He had to hack the Chimney’s security system, find the power grid to shut down the island and the trackers to knock everyone out. He had two minutes.
    Maybe three.

60
    Mr. Jones waited patiently outside the Haystack.
    He heard groaning inside.
    It was the sound of a tortured young man.
    When Mr. Smith opened the door, he was followed by hoarse cursing. Mr. Smith was told that he could go to hell and burn forever. He closed the door behind him. His eyes were dead.
    He shook his head.
    “I’m sorry,” Mr. Jones said. “Is this really necessary?”
    “It is his end. He has a choice.”
    Mr. Jones did not reply. He did not care to think too deeply on the subject. He had agreed to come to the island. He knew what they did and he agreed to be part of it. He could not judge.
    Not now.
    “Mr. Williams is prepping Sid to crossover,” Mr. Smith said. “We should go witness. Perhaps we will be next.”
    “Your method may destroy your investment, Mr. Smith.” Mr. Jones couldn’t stop himself. “What good will he be to you then?”
    “Bones can heal, Mr. Jones.” He looked away. “Much quicker than mine.”
    They climbed onto a golf cart and cruised down the path. As they crossed the Yard, they both noticed the white parrots flying out of the top floor of the Chimney.
    They stopped the golf cart next to all the others.
    The Investors had all arrived at the Chimney to watch Sid’s graduation and crossing over. If they were lucky, they wouldn’t have to wait for the Director to finish the round. Sometimes the crossover took place without him, when there were no issues. They needed to have very few problems. They needed to be assured everything was on course, that when it came their turn to cross over it would happen without a problem. Mr. Jones didn’t like the way things had changed.
    He didn’t like a lot of things.
    They stepped onto the elevator and held the door for late-arriving Investors. They arrived at the fourth floor. There was only one hallway.