Codebreakers

She could not believe that Gilson, even knowing Gilson, could be acting so irresponsibly. She raised her flattened hand and as hard as she could, smacked him across the face. Her hand burned and she hoped his cheek would too. He reared back. Jo realized she had not thought through what would happen next. Gilson stood with his fisted hands by his sides, still as a statue staring at Jo. She turned back to her work, keenly aware of his eyes boring into the back of her head. She’d be damned if she’d apologize or explain what she’d done. He could do what he pleased – hit her back, report her to the commanding officer. She didn’t care. He sputtered something and marched out of the room. She finished typing the repetitious message. Moments later, people spilled out of every doorway with shouts of “the war is over!” echoing throughout the Farm. No one reported her, not even Gilson.

Jo woke and realized her hand was on her cheek. She thought about how she’d never been able to share her most important memories with anyone: She’d sworn an oath. And, as far as she was aware, no one ever announced that she or her friends from the Farm could talk about their time there. In fact, she’d heard that all records of what went on there were destroyed. What she couldn’t understand was why the memories were so persistent since her fall. Most of her life she’d been able to file them away, except of course, her memories of Fred.

As she stretched her arms over her head, she could see Martha standing at her bedroom door. She looked concerned.

“Jo? Are you okay?”

“Martha, I am ninety-two years old and recovering from hip replacement surgery. I am still here but beyond that, I can’t say.”

Martha smiled. “You were talking in your sleep and kind of whimpering.”

Jo sat up quickly. Too quickly. Her head spun as she thought about what Martha may have heard.

“What did I say?”

“Not much. Just ‘Fred’ and some other words I couldn’t figure out. So, out with it Jo, who’s Fred?”

Jo could feel herself blushing and the more she blushed, the more Martha grinned.

“I need to know from which institution you have been released so I can call them and have them come get you.” Jo glared at Martha.

Martha’s laugh filled the room. The girl certainly enjoyed herself. Jo started to laugh as Martha hopped up on the end of her bed and the two of them continued. Martha finally jumped up from the bed holding on to her stomach.

“Oh God Jo, you are so funny. And so sneaky – always changing the subject or leaving the room whenever I ask anything about you. Why is that Jo? Jeez, you’d think you were a secret agent or something.”

Jo smiled. “Me? A secret agent? No, nothing as exciting as that.”