Acceleration

by Lin Larson

  “Go ahead. I’m sorry, man. I’ve seen those pills work too. My brother invented them, and it killed him. I’d like your help in putting the distributors out of business.” Sam said quietly.

  The din of the restaurant faded into the background, as the men talked and planned.

  “I forgot, I have her pill bottle. She said she calls this number for refills.”

  “Let me see it?”

  Eon handed the bottle over to Sam who turned it over gingerly in his hands “Elizabeth Martin! She was the girl who died in your arms?” Sam was stunned. “It’s working fast now. She couldn’t have been on it that long. I saw her in Chicago. If I read her right, she was clean then. Oh, I probably am wrong. I haven’t exactly batted a hundred lately. But meeting you may up the odds. Thanks, Eon.””

  Sam started to get up. “Wait. Do you have your cell phone with you?”

  “Nope,” Eon, shrugged. “Elizabeth tossed mine into the ocean before she died, sorry”

  Sam shrugged. “All right, I’ll ask Anna and/or the cook if I can borrow a cell phone and call my publisher for money. I’ll also get him researching the source of this number, and then perhaps we are in business.”

  “By the way, who is paying for this gourmet spread?” Eon said with a grin.

  “You? Please,” Sam chuckled.

  Eon nodded, rolled his eyes, and laughed.

  “Be right back. Uh, regarding, Anna, the waitress, be careful. She’ll be crazy over your blonde good looks.”

  “Get going, General. I’m starved.”. Eon patted his stomach. “Need food now.” He laughed as his stomach suddenly rumbled with hunger.

  Eon looked up and watched Sam walk over to Anna, who pulled a cell phone from her pocket and hand it to Sam. Sam seemed also to be asking for a pencil or pen. She signaled under the counter and rushed to her next customer. Sam reached under the counter, seemed to pause while thinking, and then put something in his pocket. He then made his call.

  Anna spoke to her new customers, a couple with multiple kids and then made her way towards Eon. “Sir, he said you’d pay me for his call.” She then winked.

  Eon laughed and gave her money for his phone call. He then ordered as if it was possibly his last meal.

  #

  Sam returned to the table. “Ah, food. I hope half of this is for me. I’m still hungry. I’ll pay you later.”

  ….. “That’s what they all say,” Eon looked up while munching happily.

  “You do eat well,” Sam observed all the food with amusement.

  “I like to eat for two,” Eon said gravely. “For me, and you, if we don’t have time. Those men over there are watching us.”

  Sam looked over at the military men at the counter. The men had turned to stare at them.

  “Oh, my, Partner. I think it’s time to make an exit. There’s a back door. I’ll walk that way. You can leave the money on the table, if you don’t mind. I’ll pick you up in front.”

  Sam casually got up and headed for the door. He stopped briefly when he got to Anna. “Thank you, special friend. Money’s on the table. Love you, Anna.” He then strutted out the door and bolted towards his mud spattered limo. Sam jumped in, gunned the motor, and shot to the restaurant door. He slowed briefly as Eon erupted through the door and plunked himself in the front seat. They sped away from the Macaw, whose bird symbol seemed to blink back that they were on their own. Sam looked through the rear view mirror and saw a group of men spew from the small diner. He planned to disappear on side roads at the nearest opportunity. One suddenly loomed before him, and he took it…Much later, after many winding asphalt arteries, they stopped to catch their breath.

  CHAPTER 38

  “Sam, I guess I’m a fugitive now also.” Eon said with wistful regret.

  The torrent of rain water battered the car with a vengeance, as they drove onward.

  Finally, Sam spoke quietly, “Eon, they may not know who you are, and that you’re from the boat. You might still be able to take off.”.

  “I’m not so sure they won’t figure it out. I’m kind of tall and different looking, Plus I was with you.”

  “That’s true,” Sam said sadly.

  Sam suddenly saw the Interstate interchange. He was relieved to finally reach it, but the driving was taking too long.

  “Search the glove compartment for a map. We need to find an airstrip. Try the GPS also,” Sam said. “We’ve got to make better time. It’s been a while, but I can handle a Cessna. We’re going to have to borrow one.”

  “Theft again. I’m getting into this even deeper. Do you think we’ll get out alive and be free again?” Eon looked doubtful.

  “I hope so. But there’s a lot at stake for the country too. A lot of people are getting hurt and will continue so and probably die, if we don’t do something,” Sam answered with eyes straight ahead. “I’d like my life back too. It seems to have existed so long ago.”

  They traveled in silence now. Eon continually perused the maps and fiddled with the GPS. Sam drove. The highway seemed to hypnotize and have no ending.

  “I found one, an airstrip,” Eon broke the curtain of isolation. “It’s not far. The turnoff is Brown Road. I wonder if it’s really brown? It’s probably named after Mr. Brown, an astronaut, who became a noted agronomist and failed. Maybe it takes its name from his experiments, when he made dead grass.”

  “You’re getting slap happy?” Sam laughed. “Oh, this is it!” He veered sharply to make the exit road.’

  “Right, go right again,” Eon added. “It’s about two miles from the main road. “Sam, how do we intend to do this?”

  “We just do it.”

  “You mean, there is no plan?”

  Sam caught Eon’s shocked look. “It’s your basic- Do your best and use your instincts plan. The one that means- Make decisions as you go along. We can do it. We have to.”

  “Sam, you’ve got guts or you are very crazy, take your pick.”

  “You too. Eon, hold on, here goes” Sam swerved into the small airport and across the pavement to a small airplane.

  “What about a key? Don’t you need one?”

  “Don’t worry. Let’s go. They parked beside the plane and jumped into the two-seater.

  “Okay, someone is coming.” Eon desperately said. Two men in blue overalls were closing the gaping distance between them.

  “Patience, I’ve almost got it. There, we’re on,” Sam shouted as the engines sprang to life and the propeller turned slowly.

  “The guys are getting closer, Boss!”

  “We’re almost ready to taxi,” Sam yelled as the plane began to roll forward and leave the losers in the race now far behind.

  “Will we hit air traffic? Isn’t this dangerous without a flight plan?” Eon yelled against the roar of the motor.

  “Yep, usually, but we are out in the sticks in case you haven’t noticed. Also we are in a stolen plane. So if we’re going to live as outlaws, we might as well be ones. It’s more fun, and we have no choice. When this is over, I promise to return this little baby. You worry too much, Eon. Save it for Idaho, or oops, for running out of fuel.”

  “Fuel! Are we out?” Eon yelped in agitation.

  “Nope, just seeing if you’re awake.” Sam teased.

  “Thanks for the scare.” Eon slapped Sam’s shoulder. “You mean that I haven’t had enough already?”

  “Relax. In about three hours we’ll land and figure where we are, and how close. We’re headed in the right direction,” Sam said with assurance. “Why don’t you go to sleep?” Sam boomed as he put on the headphones.

  “Good idea, if I can calm down!” Eon shook his head and smiled. “All right. Night, Sam Stone.” Eon closed his eyes willingly. He was dead tired, and the engines were humming along. Anyway, Sam didn’t need him now. He would later, however, and Eon needed to be thinking clearly.

  He drifted in and out of cozy visions, but it didn’t last. Elizabeth Martin rose up and chased his pleasant dreams away. He woke with beads of
perspiration running down his cheeks.

  “You sick, Eon?” Sam turned and yelled.

  “No, it was just a bad dream.”

  “I understand. I’ve had a few of them myself,” Sam answered, as his face hardened.

  “Heads up. I’m landing in that field. It looks rocky. If we don’t bounce on our nose, we should be able to push the plane under that grove of trees. Hold on. I’m better at taking off than landing, at least in this little light.

  Sam landed smoothly, sort of. The plane jerked over the terrain and tossed its human cargo relentlessly. It finally settled humbly against a boulder.

  Eon sighed as he rubbed his aching neck. “That wasn’t a good landing, but not bad either.”

  “Guess I need practice,” Sam laughed. “Move, we’ve got to get this baby under cover.” Sam unbuckled his belt and eased out. He stood and inhaled deeply of the cool air and the smell of wild grass. He wished he could hike to the mountains in the distance and just disappear.

  Eon caught the longing look on Sam’s face. “Later. Then you’ll be free to climb that mountain, but then you may not want to. You may have had it with adventures.”

  “That’s very perceptive for a physicist. You ever try psychology?”

  “It was my minor,” Eon flipped back.

  Sam stretched. “That’s a potent combination. You are the perfect man for the job.”

  “What job?”

  “To shut down the missiles, or talk the President out of pushing the buttons that open the gates of hell,” said Sam solemnly.

  “I’m supposed to do that! I’m going home, except I’m stuck.” Eon yanked unsuccessfully on the seatbelt.

  “Here, let me help, big guy.” Sam flipped the catch and helped Eon out. “Now for that favor, listen to me, as we drag this pretty little airplane into those trees.’

  Sam started to push on his own, then stopped and looked at Eon. “Well, are you going to help a hopeless do-gooder or not?”

  “Yes, okay, go on,” Eon said as he began to heave his weight at the craft.

  Together, they inched the plane across the yards of rocky field and into the cove of trees that were nestled there, as if together they would protect each other from elements in nature that could so easily go awry. Patches of snow were scattered haphazardly in the distance. The air was still. Was everything waiting a coming storm, whether it be natural or man-made? Sam shivered and buttoned up the general’s jacket. He related what he had learned so far. Eon said nothing in response until Sam sat on the ground and took out his maps.

  “You make a good case for the accused, and a dangerous mission I might add.” Eon crouched next to Sam and looked over his shoulder. “So we are where?”

  “Here, we should reach the town of Crystal by nightfall, if we like this way. We can get a room with your money,” Sam nodded cheerfully. “And then we’ll seek out the President’s bunker and sabotage it.”

  “With what?”

  “Oh, this little gun here.” Sam waved a small pistol. “Cute, isn’t it? I lifted it from Anna when I was looking for a pencil. I kind of remembered she always carried one, with a permit I might add. She had a bad experience with a car jacker once. She incidentally is an excellent shot. At least that’s what I overheard her saying. I’ll get it back to her or send her a check afterwards…She’ll like that. Of course, she liked you best.”

  “Send the check. I knew I liked Anna, but that is a mighty small gun for your big ambitions here. It’s really a tiny gun.” Eon groaned and laughed hysterically.

  Sam chuckled. “You take what you can get in an emergency. We’ll pick up more on the way. I’ll get us in. You handle the computers. I know I’m asking a lot of you, Eon. I guess if you want to do so, you can still pull out.” Sam hated to do this mission alone, but he would if necessary.

  “No, Sam, I’m with you for the duration.”

  “Good,” Sam reached over and shook his hand. “I’ll dedicate my next book to you…if we survive.”

  “And I’ll think up something. Ah- I’ll name a new law of physics after you. It will be Stone’s Law, whatever needs to be done, can be done, come hell or whatever.”

  “I do like that, Eon.” Sam helped the big guy up. “We’ll meet here afterwards and then go for the factories. Ben my publisher should have an address by then.”

  “And money! I hate to see you taking advantage of friends.” Eon raised his eyes to the heavens.

  “Oh, yes, and money, friend. Let’s go.” Sam started off and looked back. Eon caught up.

  Two lone figures trekked across the empty field towards the dirt road that wound around the hills. It would be another hour until they reached pavement and finally civilization. Of course, it was only a sleazy Last Chance Motel. They pressed the lone chair against the door, in order to keep it closed as the wind roared.

  “I’ll take the best bed,” Eon exclaimed, as he sampled both with his huge body. He rubbed his back. “You choose on second thought. The choices are both terrible.”

  “This is fun, isn’t it?” Sam stripped off his clothes and gingerly lay his naked exhausted body between the cool sheets. “Wake me in a couple of hours. Well, actually, I hope you won’t,” groaned Sam. “But do it anyway, if you can, please.”

  #

  Both woke at midnight as if some unseen clock had signaled its cue. The men showered, dressed, and departed from the sad simple room with regret and anticipation. The adrenalin rush was only just beginning.

  “Do you know exactly where we’re going?” Eon asked. Tripping over the rocks and shrubs at night did not make for easy hiking. Also, the temperatures had dropped. It was late, and he was damn cold. “I have one more question, do you have a parka and gloves I can borrow? A pair of hiking boots would be nice too.”

  “No, on the clothing and yes on the first question,” Sam teased, as he plunged onward. Suddenly he reached back and pulled Eon down into the brush. “Shh!”

  An engine of a vehicle was coming up fast. Eon heard too now. They hugged the ground as it barreled past within inches of their position. Their prone bodies felt the rush of air as it passed.

  “Too close,” Sam whispered.

  “It looked military,” Eon answered.

  “Yep, let’s get closer.” Sam jumped to his feet. “There appears to be a gate and fencing up ahead.”

  “How did you know where this action was? It didn’t show on the maps,” Eon pursued.

  “I’d read that a missile site was out here and that the President had a bomb shelter type bunker there. They built it years ago in the 1950’s during the bomb shelter panics, when everyone was thinking about getting killed. I heard that President Quint was under the control of the military and had a bunker near NORAD. So when Jensen said “Idaho,” well, that had to be it. The trick was finding it, and I think that we just did.”

  “So, which way? Follow that car?” Eon said thoughtfully.

  “Let’s hope it’s going to and not leaving from. But at least we are on a road now, so the hiking should be smoother,” Sam said.

  “Oh, no.” Eon landed on the ground.

  “What’s wrong?” Sam crouched down.

  Eon sat back. “I guess I tripped over my big feet. I must be dragging them. He rose and brushed himself off. “You know, General, you could use a good pressing, and I need an appropriate suit. This tux doesn’t cut it in the military or for exploring the wilderness. How about an upper class military uniform for me too?” Eon got up and brushed himself off.

  Sam suddenly pulled him off the road and down. He whispered and pointed ahead. A man had pulled up in a car from inside the gates. He was talking to the perimeter guards.

  “They crept closer. Sam whispered to Eon. “Look. How about a Captain’s uniform?” Sam rose and walked forward towards the gate. Here was their opportunity.

  “Captain, my car broke down about a half mile down the road. I have V.I.P. passengers and a dazed driver.” Sam said in his most General-like manner. It appears that you are h
eading out. We don’t need a medic, just transport. Would you accompany me back to the car with yours and bring us back?”

  The young Captain raised his hand in salute. “Certainly, Sir. I was just checking security and heading for my home off base. My time is yours, General.” The Captain stood straight with hands clasped behind his back, in readiness.

  “At ease, Captain,” said Sam with authority.

  The young captain opened the door for Sam, who sat in the back, and then crossed to the driver’s door and climbed into his vehicle. They pulled away.

  The sky hung over the vehicle like a mysterious black hood.

  Eon hid in the darkness beside the deserted road. He speculated that Sam’s plan would involve him shortly. It did.

  The car came to a stop a few yards from Eon. He wondered what was happening inside. He kept away from the circling search lights of the guard’s station, as he made his way towards the solitary car.

  He came up upon Sam as he was dragging a very unconscious Captain from the driver’s seat.

  “Your uniform,” Sam said as he began to unclothe the fellow. “He was rather a sweet guy so give him your tux in exchange. He’ll wake up confused but not totally humiliated.”

  “Why Mr. Stone, you still have a heart.” Eon said as he climbed out of his elegant trousers. “I’m very glad to let the captain be the black penguin for a change. Anything has got to be more comfortable than this tux. You do realize how long I’ve been suffering in it?”

  Sam smiled broadly. “Yes. Check his pockets. I’ll open the trunk. Take what you need.”

  A rope and a rifle with a box of cartridges were Sam’s presents. Eon chose the Captain’s I.D. and pocket knife. They bound the sleeping captive and left him near the road. They turned the car around and made ready their entrance to the base.

  Passing through the guard station proved uneventful. It was not the same guard, however, so there was no suspicion. Sam trans-versed a good half mile stretch of uninhabited wilderness until he came upon the second guard gate. This one was manned twice. Sam presented their credentials and groused at the lateness of his visit. Again they met no resistance. Perhaps it would be easy. But, he doubted the luck would last.