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Ears to Hear

By Kent E. Wyatt

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For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was anything kept secret, but that it should come abroad. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
Mark 4:22-23 (KJV)


Amelia noticed Gabriel had stopped chewing and was listening. The strange world her younger brother lived in was such a part of her that she noticed his subtle expressions. After a moment, he relaxed.
Amelia tipped her head back and stretched. The quiet and cool of the dark park was a welcome relief after a sweltering day of interaction with customers. The other vendors had packed up and left long ago. The extra money she made by catching the latecomers would help since the home was increasing Gabriel’s rates again.
The last of the kids from the apartments across the street had been called in from the playground. Now Gabriel could wander around the equipment without the pressure of all the people. Most of the farmers market regulars knew Gabriel, but Amelia didn’t want anyone worrying why a 22-year-old man was fascinated with the mechanics of the swings and the knots on the climbing web. Amelia was two when Gabriel was born and had spent her lifetime watching her brother be misunderstood.
Gabriel got up from the gazebo’s table and took his plate toward the trash can. Amelia finished the last bite of the crackers and jam. No use wasting the samples her customers didn’t take. Mamma would have liked the new recipe. She picked up her own plate and headed after her brother. The frogs from the creek chirped in varied tones and rhythms, making the quiet seem even richer.
She almost ran into Gabriel. He had stopped, empty paper plate suspended over the large trash can, ear in the direction of the trees behind them. He looked intent, wary.
Amelia searched the dark silhouettes of the trees that hid the creek at the edge of the park. “What is it, honey? What do you hear?”
“Car.” Gabriel spoke in his perfectly pronounced voice. He used only the words he needed unless stress or excitement put him into a loop of repetition. No one was more conscious of the airspace necessary for sound.
Her brother closed his eyes, and the flavor of the evening changed for Amelia. Gabriel heard cars all the time, mixed and mingled, encroaching on his ears that perceived all the things she heard and a thousand more. He wouldn’t mention it unless it concerned him. Gabriel had a sense of right and wrong as acute as his hearing. “What about the car?”
“Car in trees. Not allowed in trees. Sign says no motorized vehicles.”
The sign he spoke of was far across the park to the east where the woods began. With her eyes, Amelia followed the wide walking trail that came from that area and skirted the grass and playground before it turned into the trees and disappeared into the leafy darkness.
Probably kids messing around. She wrinkled her brow. It was time they went home.
Gabriel spoke again. “Man chasing man.”
She looked at her brother. He still held the plate over the trash container, eyes shut, ear toward the woods. Chasing? She grabbed his plate and dropped it into the trash can with her own. Their ancient Ford Econoline van was across the playground and past the market area, at the far end of the parking lot. She had coveted the shade when she had arrived early that morning, but now she wished her van wasn’t so close to the dark trees. Taking hold of her brother’s shoulders, she tried to steer him in that direction. Gabriel put his arms up and moaned his disapproval. He slapped her hands away, still listening.
Then she heard it too, a car engine. Down the dark trail, a light glowed behind the trees.
She turned Gabriel to face her, but he still had his eyes shut. Her brother had every square foot of the park in his memory. He didn’t need eyes to see it. She watched as his closed eyelids twitched. He was absorbing the current conditions, filling in the rest of the picture. The sounds, like strokes on a canvas, painted a mental image in Gabriel’s extraordinary brain. With his ears, he might be placing a bird hopping on a branch, a rodent scurrying across the ground or…
A man burst from the trees to the left of where the trail went into the woods, exactly where Gabriel had his ear pointing. He was large, wearing tan cargo pants and a tight, dark polo shirt that accentuated his upper body. Even his protruding stomach looked tight and powerful.
Amelia’s jaw quivered.
The big man in the cargo pants scanned the area. He assessed Amelia and Gabriel then continued visually searching the park as he spoke. “Excuse me. A man…a friend of ours…is playing a little joke on us. But we need to get going. We don’t want to leave him behind. Did you guys see anyone come out of these trees?” In the lights illuminating the gazebo, the man scrutinized her.
Amelia shook her head and gave a weak smile.
Cargo Pants half raised his head in acknowledgment of her answer. Even in his shadowed expression, she detected suspicion.
The glow became headlights, and a large car lurched out of the woods, branches scraping the sides as it moved onto the grassy green of the park grounds. Two men bailed out of the back of the vehicle. The headlights obscured them. Circles of light panned the trees on either side of the vehicle. Amelia blocked the car lights with her hand and focused on one of the men. He had one arm extended and pointed something at the trees, moving it in unison with the flashlight.
“Hey!” Cargo Pants snapped at the men and jerked his head toward Amelia and Gabriel.
The man she watched brought his arm down and hid whatever he had been pointing behind his leg. The stream of light still played around on the foliage.
Cargo Pants raised his voice toward them. “I told these nice folks about how our friend is always messing around and ran off on us.”
The men moved their separate ways. Their lights illuminated portions of the brush as they went.
Amelia whispered so only Gabriel could hear. “Parles très doucement en Français.” If they spoke quietly in their mother’s native tongue, the men shouldn’t be able to understand. I doubt these guys speak French. It was the only other language in which she felt confident enough not to make a mistake under stress. She couldn’t compete with Gabriel’s skill.
Cargo Pants moved to the car and leaned in the window as the headlights went out.
All Amelia could hear was the car’s engine. “Tell me what they’re saying.” The French she spoke to Gabriel calmed her thinking. I better not try to call the police until we can get to the van.
Cargo Pants’ whispered words came from Gabriel’s mouth, also in French. “I lost him in the woods.”
A different French voice spoke beside her as someone in the car responded. “Do you think he got out of the park?”
Amelia shivered. It was always spooky hearing someone else’s voice coming from her brother’s mouth. She moved Gabriel toward the van. Distracted with his alternating dialogue, he offered no resistance.
“No. He wasn’t that far ahead. He’s still gotta be in those trees somewhere. We need some night vision.”
“They're using it all up in Missouri, so we gotta figure out somethin’ else. Okay, here it is. I’ll get Roberts to set up as sniper where the park ends. He can test out that new silencer. Our man seemed to be heading that direction, so we’ll keep pushing him that way. I got guys across the creek to make sure he doesn’t come out over there. When he gets to the end of the park, he’s gotta cross the street to get to cover again. There’s enough open ground and lights down there that once he leaves these trees Roberts will tag him. Eriksen and Moss are going to the other side of town and make up something big to keep the locals busy. If we can do things quiet over here, even if someone calls the cops they won’t be coming for a while. When Roberts drops him, we can go get him. We’ll make like we’re helping some drunk that fell. If you see a cat or possum in the trees, pop him. We’ll need something to throw down to account for the blood.” Gabriel’s voice went silent.
Amelia wanted to run. Not too fast. Don’t let them suspect you know anything. Her legs were shaking. She heard the frogs, but the peace had gone out of their song.
The voice resumed. “Where’s your little girlfriend going?”
“Looks like she’s heading to that van. Must be her wheels.”
“She’s hot, but that’s a pretty poor ride. Doubt if anyone important will miss ‘em.”
Amelia drew in a breath at the words coming from Gabriel’s mouth.
Cargo Pants spoke in a snide tone. “That kid must be someone she takes care of. He acts like somethin’s wrong with him.”
The other voice ignored the comment. “She looks scared. Might be the type that will think too much about this.” More silence, then the man in the car continued. “Better not let 'em go. Leave ‘em in the trees over by the van. When we get done with our friend, we’ll come back and put ‘em in the van and make the whole thing disappear.”
Another pause.
“You paying me enough for that kind of work?” Cargo Pants' voice was hard.
Gabriel’s French took on a menacing tone. “Don’t even take it there, Chandler. You’ll get paid what you’re worth if you do it right. I hope what we’re doing means more than the money to you. Tonight, you better just worry about the fact that you’re the one she got a good look at. She could make you a liability around here. Better go catch her before she makes it to her van.”
Amelia grabbed Gabriel’s hand and ran. He straggled. She pulled him as hard as she dared. Rushing him could lead to a meltdown. Then he would stop altogether and stand with his hands over his ears.
“Excuse me, Miss. I needed to ask you one more thing. Can you wait up a minute?” Cargo Pants' voice was just loud enough for her to hear.
Next to her, Gabriel mimicked the words in quiet French.
Amelia considered her vehicle, still some distance away. She’d never get to the van, start it and drive away before Cargo Pants caught them. All she had done was taken them further into the dark. Her fear made it hard to think. She didn’t dare stop running. She turned and pulled Gabriel toward the woods to her right. Whoever they were after had lost himself in there, perhaps she could too. The dark foliage loomed before her. This is crazy. It was exactly where he wanted her, and she would never lose anyone with Gabriel in tow. She skirted along the trees and headed for her van again. She reached toward her pocket for her phone but stopped. What if he sees me pull out a phone? He would know I was going to call the police. He’d have to stop me. She imagined the man behind her with a gun, taking aim. She pushed Gabriel in front of her. Please, Lord. Please help us.
Feet pounded behind her.
She was out of places to run. What could she do? If she yelled for help, he would have no choice but to shoot.
He wants to keep it quiet.
She spun to face their pursuer. Cargo Pants sprinted toward her, still far enough away for it to work.
Amelia thrust out her hand. “If you come any closer, I’ll scream.”
The man skidded to a stop and glanced around him, examining the apartments across the park. He put his hands up as well. “Whoa. I didn’t mean to scare you. I told you, we’re just trying to find our friend.” The man started to reach behind him. “I got his picture in my back pocket. I’m just going to bring it over, so you can look at it in case you’ve seen him.”
“Stop!” she yelled over the French translation that Gabriel launched into. “I’ll scream. I know you want things quiet. I’ll keep quiet if you just let us go.” Amelia poured out words while Gabriel did the same.
Cargo Pants gawked at Gabriel like he was a bad odor.
“My brother has autism. He doesn’t know what’s going on. He can’t tell anyone. Please just let us go and we’ll never say anything. You can trust me. I won’t put him in danger.”
“…Au cas où vous l'avez vu.” Gabriel finished up beside her in the man’s own voice.
Cargo Pants glanced back and forth between them. “What did he say?”
“Qu'est-ce qu'il a dit?” Gabriel repeated.
Amelia couldn’t think between both versions. “Stop, Gabriel.”
The car had moved off in the other direction, leaving the big man to do the job.
The man eased closer, closing in on Amelia.
“I’ll scream,” she said again as she backed up, one hand toward the man and the other keeping Gabriel behind her. She was so scared. Could she even scream if she tried? Don’t give him a reason to kill you. Keep talking. Think of something else.
There was a determination in the big man’s eyes. Cargo Pants stepped closer. “Okay, you win. Let’s just get you in your van and you can get out of here.” The man’s eyes were scanning the surroundings again.
He’s looking for witnesses. He’s going to do it. “Even if you have to kill me, just let my brother go. He will never be able to give you away. He’s not a threat to you.”
“You got this all figured out, don’t you?” The man’s narrowed eyes scrutinized her. “Okay, I’ll let your brother go, but you have to be quiet.” He was reaching behind him again. He inched further back into the dark, closer to the woods. “Leave your brother there, and come over into the trees.”
He wants me in the dark…where no one will see him do it.
A shuddering breath escaped her. Tears blurred her vision as she moved toward the man. Please let it be quick, Lord. She had talked to God about dying. Told him she was ready. Their life had been so hard since...I’ll be with Mama and Daddy again. But it always came to the same thing. What would happen to Gabriel? Please, don’t let him hurt Gabe. She looked down as she took hesitant steps. The tree branch shadows slithered across the dim grass like fingers reaching for her. Maybe this was God’s plan. Maybe she and Gabriel would go together. But it didn’t feel right. Was it just her fear? Something inside her told her not to give up. But what could she do? Maybe she could save Gabriel. Could she get him to run for help? She’d say it in French. It will take a second for Cargo Pants to figure it out – give Gabe a head start.
Something moved in the trees. A dark shape was behind the man, beside the man, now on him. Something snaked across Cargo Pants’ chest. The big man’s face disappeared backward. There were legs and feet in the air for an instant. A shape like the blackness itself covered the big man in a flurry of dark movement, and she heard muffled attempts at breathing.
Amelia turned, snatched Gabe’s hand and pulled him toward the van. He planted his feet and tugged to get free, staring at the activity in the shadows.
She drew closer, inches from his face and placed her hand on his cheek. “Please, Gabe. I’m scared. We have to go. Please help me.”
Her brother lowered his head and let her hand turn his face in the direction of the van. His body followed, and he allowed himself to be led.
Cargo Pants’ muffled struggles had ceased. Amelia ventured a glance over her shoulder, and another man stepped out of the trees searching the ground for something. Black tight clothes covered his lean muscular body. A strap ran across his chest, which rose and fell from exertion. Shoulder length black hair framed a face that was too shadowed to make out. He must be the one they were searching for.
The man stepped forward to snatch an article from the ground. The park lighting revealed his striking features.
Their eyes connected.
Perhaps it was a trick of the light and shadows, but he seemed to have a longing expression of sadness like the look one gives a loved one they might never see again. He pulled the item in his hand over his head. It was a ski mask that left only the area around his eyes exposed.
When he saw she was still looking at him, the man’s mouth came open and his eyes narrowed. “You better get out of here,” his voice was firm and concerned.
The large car turned around. Amelia drew a sharp breath. They’re coming back. She fished for her keys. She unlocked the passenger side, got Gabriel in, then ran to the driver’s door. As she worked the key, she made eye contact with the man again. Amelia stood with her hand on the door handle. What would happen to him?
He puffed out a breath and shook his head. “Go!” The large car accelerated. Its front end bounced over a sidewalk that ran across the park. It sped toward them, headlights off.
Amelia regarded the man. She couldn’t leave. They would kill him. She was about to warn him, tell him to get in, when he heaved out a breath and said, “Go, now.” The man turned and bolted, sprinting into the open.
One of the searchers shouted.
The car’s headlights came on, and it accelerated in the direction of the black-haired man.
He dashed back into the trees.
The big car’s headlights turned to face the foliage and headed to where the man had disappeared.
Amelia jumped in and fired up the van. Not only her life but Gabriel’s life was at stake. She shot out of the parking lot without turning on her lights. The big car’s brake lights lit up. She waited for the vehicle to spin around and pursue her. The brake lights went off. The car ignored her and continued toward where the black-haired man had vanished into the trees.

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