Discovery

by Douglas E Roff

“Show off. Come right over here and tell me in excruciating detail why you love each and every tiny little morsel of me. Don’t leave anything out.”

  “May I use my vaunted imagination?”

  “I insist!”

  THE CRYPTID TRILOGY

  CRYPTID: DISCOVERY

  PROVA E DUBBIO

  Chapter 1

  What Hannah thought would take a few days, perhaps a few weeks, turned into a few months. Her stay in Portland was beginning to get tiresome and she missed Seattle and her life before this all-consuming monster project came about. She worked incessantly and was rarely able to get up to Mercer Island and home. It seemed that every day something new came up demanding her attention and Edward, though patient, was beginning to ask if a decision, yea or nay, would be forthcoming soon. He was deeply involved in assembling the team that would support her and it would soon be time to get moving.

  Though she was living in a gorgeous and upscale hotel that allowed her to walk to work, she was nonetheless feeling the absence of her parents and friends in her daily life. Of course, she realized that things would probably only get worse, not better, from that perspective if she took the job. Then there would be the move from Portland to … who knows where? Originally Rome, then London. And now? Edward said the city they would choose would be the one best suited to field operations and available personnel. That, he said, it might be anywhere. Anywhere on the planet, just not the Pacific Northwest.

  In her mind, the decision was already made to take the job, but she just had not been able to bring herself to pull the trigger and sign the big fat contract even though sorely tempted by all its tasty perks. The contract had been sitting on her desk in her hotel room staring at her like a creepy roommate. She was long past whether there was something to investigate; that had been decided by Edward and her some time ago. The evidence was clear and with every day that the Library continued to be “unpacked” more proof surfaced. But progress is deciphering the language of the Gens, as well as other arcane dialects, was slow. What they thought might be a key to translation was not. And neither the linguistic anthropologists nor the NSA and CIA cryptographers surreptitiously employed were having any luck either. What they needed was a lucky break but where that might come from was uncertain.

  Edward considered that this task might well be a part of her first assignment, ahead of field work, if the person he had in mind to head their translation and decryption teams refused the jobs or simply did not work out. And, as well, there were at least twenty other pressing and vital assignments she and Edward agreed had immediate priority. But leaving her family and friends for an unknown and potentially dangerous job had sounded better three months earlier when all hell had been breaking loose in her personal life. Then it had seemed exotic, even romantic.

  The tension and anger she had felt around the time of the breakup with Adam had dissipated. She spent every day among people she hardly knew and with whom she never socialized. Her evenings were spent in the office or in her hotel room – alone. The new gadget Adam had invented allowed her to work away from the office but that was hardly a substitute for company and a date. Cuddling up to a contract, no matter how lucrative, was hardly going to be emotionally and sexually fulfilling. Could she do it? Could she step up to the possibly greatest opportunity presented to any anthropologist in thousand years? What if, in the end, it was just a huge exercise in futility – if there was no “there” there?

  Even worse, she began to allow troubling thoughts of “missing Adam” into her psyche. She alternated between hating Edward, hating Adam and hating herself.

  In the end she decided on two courses of action. First was to change her life in Portland in some way, any way that would put her in contact with other human beings. Second, she decided it was time to engage with Edward about the exact nature of her job, the time it would take, his perception of what kind of life she could expect, where that life would be, the nature and quality of away/alone time. If she was to be trapped 24/7/365 in work, she would not last. Nobody could, so some semblance of realism had to enter into the equation.

  She dialed Edward’s cell. “Edward, its Hannah. I need to see you as soon as you can get down here, so we can settle this contract matter. To be truthful, I’m having second, third and fourth thoughts about what I will be expected to do and whether I’m the right person for this job. Are you available this week?”

  “I’ll be down to see you tomorrow. Frankly, I had expected this conversation to come up a month or so ago, but I’m quite pleased to hear you have your doubts and want to discuss them with me before you decide. I know this is an important decision for you and, once committed, it may be hard to view the world normally afterwards. There is nothing wrong with a firm conviction tempered with a healthy dose of skepticism. Overcoming your doubts and second thoughts only makes the conviction to move forward that much stronger. So, I’ll meet you for breakfast tomorrow morning at the restaurant in your hotel at 6:30 am, then afterwards we can go for a walk and talk. You OK?”

  “I’m fine, just wavering a little bit. The unknown you know. No family or friends around. Little contact with the people I love and no Christmas morning with Mom and Dad. You get the picture.”

  “I do. I really do. See you manana.”

  Chapter 2

  Hannah arrived at the downstairs coffee shop of her hotel where she expected to see Edward, seated and reading the local newspaper or some other “pass the time” distraction. She was not disappointed as he was fully regaled in his best “absent minded professor” outfit: tweeds, wools and a jaunty little fedora that made him look almost benign and handsome. He stood up as Hannah approached, still a gentleman of the old school and overly polite to distraction.

  “You looked marvelous, Hannah. Work seems to agree with you and I hear you’re settling in nicely with Bitsie and Tony. How are you doing?”

  “All good, you malicious old fart. Give me a hug and pretend that you’ve missed me. A girl needs to feel wanted. Even if it’s by you.”

  “Ah, Hannah. You always know how to make an old man feel special. And I have missed you too, young lady. You know I had to promise all kinds of things to your Dad, like to watch out for you, take care of you and not put you in any danger.”

  “So, you lied to him?”

  “Of course. He’d have me strung up if I told him anything even remotely resembling the truth.”

  “That’s why we love you, and hate you, all at the same time, old man. Your lack of discomfort or conscience with your many flaws is truly a gift. A malevolent gift but a gift nonetheless.”

  “I represent cognitive dissonance at its finest. And, yes, God has truly blessed me. Now what’s on your mind today, missy?”

  “Nothing that wasn’t on my mind yesterday or any other day for the past several months while I’ve been poring through the Library. And, by the way, Tony is really a gem of a man. Really like him. But Bitsie the Bee-atch, and forgive my French, really needs an emergency orgasm. That girl is walking stress and whatever. She’s wound up so tight that I fear for anyone in the wrong place at the wrong time. She’s going to explode if she doesn’t find some companionship. Know what I mean?”

  “I do, I do. Bitsie is always wound up a little tight but as far as I can tell, it’s her natural state. Been this way as long as I’ve known her.”

  “How long is that?”

  “About six years. I used to think she was a good match for your ex, until I discovered she roots for the other team. But still, I thought two type A’s might be good together. But I don’t think Bitsie is anywhere near the pending disaster that is my son. Your thoughts?”

  “Fuck’em both.”

  “OK, then. Moving right along. So, you were having second thoughts about the arrangement and shitty life I have planned for you?”

  “Kinda.”

  “What did you want to discuss? Something specific or general malaise?”

  “Both actually. I don’t wan
t to go all HR on you, but can you share a job description with me? Something more that there’s something important I need to do, something you can only trust me to do and for which I must eternally disavow all my friends, family and former colleagues except you? What exactly am I supposed to do and who am I supposed to do it with? I’m getting nervous, antsy and bored. Not an optimal way to begin this project.”

  “I completely understand and the answers to your questions are long overdue. It’s all new territory, as you can well imagine, but while you have been here warring with Bitsie and wondering ‘what the fuck’, I’ve been putting together a little “action plan”. Just like in business school.”

  “You mean a business plan?”

  “Po-tay-to, Pah-tah-to.”

  “Do tell.”

  “So, first off, is what I want you to do. I’ve jotted some notes for you in this little missive.” Edward handed Hannah a thick velum bound manuscript, at least one hundred pages in length.

  “Some thoughts?” Hannah remarked, looking at the lengthy document. “You’ve been thinking again which, we can all agree, is very dangerous.”

  “No worries, Hannah. I’ll summarize. But do read this little tome and study the mechanics of my thinking. I know you’ll recognize the overall forensic structure from your class work in college. If not, we’ll be chatting soon and often until you are ready to depart.”

  “For?”

  “London. Your new home and base of operations. I also considered New York but then decided that London is more “world centric” and closer to the tasks you will have to undertake. As well, many of the resources you may need are there. Plus, you’re an unknown quantity there which is good.”

  “I’m an unknown here as well. Why not Portland or Seattle for that matter?”

  “Because you are not unknown either here, in Seattle or New York. In fact, you are quite well known in some circles. Just not by people you want to know. Sorry but you dated Adam which is never exactly consequence free.”

  “The gift that keeps on giving. I’m touched.” She wasn’t.

  “I can pretend to feel worse than I do but the insincerity of the attempt might dissuade you from carrying on. I don’t want that.”

  “Nor I either. Just fill in the blanks, if you don’t mind.”

  “So, the action plan is part one in terms of substance of the project. By that I mean how I want you to approach the tasks assigned, what those tasks are and the order of priority. These things can change however, based on your field work.”

  “I understand. Makes sense.”

  Edward continued, “The other part of the paper deals with your proposed staff. I have job descriptions and recommended specific staffing suggestions but that is entirely up to you to decide. The type of positions included, however, are not. Those are mandatory.”

  “What do you mean, exactly?”

  “What I mean, exactly, is that there are five different types of staff jobs, all related in one fashion or another to anthropology field work and experience. Some personnel may be able to fulfill aspects of more than one role, but the required skill sets are what I am describing to you now. The roles will not line up perfectly with personnel; I may add in another field anthropologist, and some personnel have multiple skills and are capable of filling more than one role.

  “First, you will have a second in command and personal assistant. This person will coordinate with you and the team on daily tasking and field operations. Second, you will have a bodyguard, responsible for your personal safety and security. Other team members may have security or military training and will assist your bodyguard with personal security. Third, you will have an administrative assistant, responsible for scheduling, logistics, reporting and anything else you want or need done. Fourth, there is your pilot and driver. Ex-military and backup dancer to your security guy.”

  “Or gal?”

  “Nope, guy. Last, but not least, is your anthropology and field operations person, who handles task assignment related to field anthropology, so you can also assign projects to her when need be. Or maybe run ideas past if I’m not handy.”

  “Her?”

  “Her indeed. I sought balance in my choices, so arbitrarily decided your staff would be comprised of two men and two women I have previously worked with, plus your number two. All the choices for security and drivers are men, all with military backgrounds and all functional in English. The Brainiac jobs go to the women though almost all are physically capable too. No girly girls.”

  “Except me.”

  “Except you. So, you currently have fifteen choices for five positions. None of the folks are the warm and fuzzy types. All are great choices and you should prioritize them in case one or more washes out.”

  “Washes out, why?” Hannah asked.

  “Any reason doesn’t matter. Here today, gone tomorrow. These folks aren’t automatons. They have lives too. Just as shitty as yours and some may even have families back home.”

  Edward paused for a question that seemed on the tip of Hannah’s tongue. “Your weak link …”

  “Besides me, you mean.”

  “Your only weak link,” Edward continued, “may be your anthropology and field operations person. She is the one person who will help you daily with your job and will be the only one who somewhat understands the true nature of your work. But she also may be a liability from a security standpoint. I’ve picked three women who have extensive backgrounds in anthropology and who know gadgets, communications and research protocols. But two of them are not security trained. My number one choice for that position is, however. But you may choose whoever you feel is best suited to your needs from among the three.”

  Edward paused for questions. There being none, he continued, “I have personally worked with every candidate for your team, male and female. The varsity team of personnel you choose will travel with you as needed. The rest of the pool will be paid to be on standby for temporary assignments, emergency situations and relief work. The sole exceptions are my two other choices for your technical services position, who will work with me and be fully engaged in Barrows or elsewhere. Each of these three technical services folks must be up to speed on all progress at all times.”

  He continued, “Get to know these people but don’t go out of your way to be friendly or chummy. Feel free to team build but not at the expense of clear lines of authority. You are the boss and they will do exactly what you say, when you say it, or they’re gone. I know you’re not ‘military’ but your word is, to them, the word of God, even if you’re wrong and fuck something up. Doesn’t matter. Are we clear?”

  “Crystal.”

  “Then the next item is safety and security. Take no, I repeat, no chances whatsoever that endangers your safety and security or your work or the purposes behind of your work. For any reason. I have instructed all your potential staff that they are to take no chances or permit you to even consider taking any chances that might endanger you. They are totally expendable, but you are not. You must always come back alive to me and your parents. I promised them that and I promise you that. Are we good so far?”

  “We are. So, what am I going to do?”

  “Your job is classic anthropology, consisting of one-part cultural anthropology, one-part physical anthropology, one-part forensic archeology and many parts linguistics and linguistic anthropology. You will follow the outline of activities as I’ve stressed in the paper and pursue those activities in the given order of priority. Some items you will necessarily undertake simultaneously as I set out in some detail. As you get to work, some of these tasks, or their priorities, may change. We’ll work on the final action plan over the next several months.”

  “What’s the schedule you have planned?”

  “I anticipate you being here in Portland for at least several more months. Then I want you to go on to London, set up house, interview and choose your final team, and put them through their paces. Then when you and your team
are ready, we go live. What I want you to do during this fallow period is to study my paper, consider how you wish to proceed and consider your hires from your applicant pool. You make the final choices from the pool I have chosen. If you have any questions or concerns, especially about your ability to function with or command your team, you need to say so as soon as it occurs to you. Anyone who fails you in any uncomfortable way is to be terminated, effective immediately. No questions asked, no discussion and no recrimination. Understand me so far?”

  “I do. But it’s a lot to consider, considering my last job had a staff of me and a budget that didn’t cover lunch. Now you’re asking me to run a team to investigate who knows what involving nothing we know. You see my trepidation here, yes?"

  “Yes, absolutely. And I understand. But this is how we all grow up, some faster than others. I have implicit faith in you and your abilities both substantively and organizationally. Just remember that you’re in charge and what you do needs to make sense, but you will never be required to explain it to your subordinates. This isn’t academia nor is it military. You may ask opinions, but the decision will always yours. All in my pool of finalists are smart and organized and have my complete confidence. When they have yours, you’ll be ready to go. You’re the man, so to speak.”

  Hannah paused to think, and they remained silent at the table nibbling on a breakfast neither was much interested in. Their coffee was cold as Edward had repeatedly waived off the waitress from their back-corner booth.

  “So, what does Adam think of all this? Does he even know what you are up to?”

  “Truthfully, he knows very little. And absolutely nothing about your involvement. He has been a huge pain in the ass from the beginning of this project and getting his cooperation has been a Biblical test of patience. He is still not on board and still thinks this whole effort is wasted, silly and capricious. I really want to punch him hard but, unfortunately, he might punch back. I’m not as spry, or mean, as I used to be. Lucky for him.”