The ELI Event B007R5LTNS

bewildered.
    Grochonski put away his cell phone. “I have a jeep on the way from the National Guard, Major.”
    “Good.” Pettis pointed to Robin’s computer. “Bring that.”
    “Yes, sir. What’s next?”
    “We find the boy, fast. How hard can it be to locate a kid in a town this size? But first…” A flat, menacing grimace appeared that made Mrs. Faraday shiver. “First, we pay a little visit to the old man.”
    Robin didn’t look back as he rounded the corner of Franklin and Davis. Running as fast as his legs would carry him through the dim early morning light, he felt lost and alone. He didn’t know what was happening, only that he had gotten out of the house just in time, thanks to the stranger.
    He had been at the upstairs railing with the other boys, watching the drama in the foyer, when someone behind him said, “Psst, Robin. In here!” It was a man who had somehow gotten into his room. In the darkness Robin couldn’t see his face clearly, but he was dressed in coveralls, and had something on his left forearm, sort of like a cast, only dark. “Come on, Robin. They’ll be up here in a minute. You’ve got to get out!”
    He glanced out the door at the hallway. The boys were still at the rail, paying him no attention whatsoever. “What? Who are you? How’d you get in here? What’s that thing on your arm? What do you want?”
    “Name’s Arty tell you later never mind I’m on your side,” the stranger rapidly fired back. “Listen, no time for twenty questions. Those goons are after you. You have to run.”
    “After me? Why?”
    “Because of your computer. Because of Eli.” He jerked the sheet off Robin’s bed and tied a knot in each end. He handed Robin one end. “Robin, you’ve got to trust me. Here, take this.”
    As the commotion downstairs intensified, Robin became convinced the man was right. Why else would Air Force guys be here, breaking into the broom closet, looking for his computer? He was in trouble, all right.
    The man helped Robin climb out the window and, as he clung to the knot in the sheet, lowered him to within a couple of feet of the ground. He let go and landed easily.
    Looking up at his unknown benefactor, Robin suddenly became concerned for him. He looked up. “What about you?”
    The stranger smiled back at him, a wry, confident smile. “Don’t worry about me, kid. I’ll get out the same way I got in. Now scram!” He did.
    He had run around the main building and straight out the front gate, unseen by anyone inside. He had to get away, had to get some help. His mind reeled with questions. Who was that guy? How did he get into his room? What was that thing on his arm? How did he know the helicopter guys were after him? How did he know about his computer and Eli? Had he just dreamed it all? Was he still dreaming?
    Now his breathing became strained, and his side ached. This was no dream. Finally, he stopped and sat on the curb. He tried to sort out his thoughts, tried to understand, but couldn’t. He needed Eli to tell him what to do. If he could find a phone, maybe he could call him. He had never talked to Eli personally, only through their computer connection, but he was sure Eli would be able to help. He had to do something, and fast—soon it would be too light to move around without being seen. An idea came to him. He might be able to call Eli from the old man’s repair shop, if the old man had a—
    The old man!
    Suddenly he was on his feet again, running harder than before. He knew that if the military men were looking for him, they would find out about his meetings with the old man and go looking for him too. He had to warn the old man!
    As he ran down Davis toward the old man’s shop, a vehicle screeched around the corner a block behind him. Robin flattened himself behind a low hedge as the car passed. It was them, all right; three men in a noisy, rattling jeep. A big man with three stripes on his sleeve, a younger man who was driving, and the leader—a dark, frightening man in an officer’s cap. He knew where they were headed.
    Robin covered the remaining six blocks to the old man’s shop as fast as he could. When he got there, he knew he was too late. The jeep was parked outside, empty. He scurried into the alley beside the shop and peeked in through the dusty window. The military men were facing away from the window. The big one thrust the old man into a rickety chair. He looked older and more frail than ever, dressed in faded pajamas,