Diffusion Box Set

by Stan C. Smith

  There were more protests. Lindsey’s voice rose above the others. “Samuel, why would you do this? You wanted so badly to return to your home.”

  Again Samuel raised his hands. “Please understand. For many years I have endeavored to hide the Lamotelokhai from the world, believing that its powers had no place in the hands of men who think themselves civilized but often act to the contrary. But I have always known, as the indigenes have known, that one day there would be no choice. You have convinced me that transporting the Lamotelokhai to your home country is a just and reasonable action, and I now have one last opportunity to assist the endeavor. The Indonesian officials believe we have discovered a plant bearing remarkable healing qualities. Sensibly, I am the one who could lead them to the place where the plant grows.” Samuel nodded toward Addison. “They do not know of the Lamotelokhai, and so they will allow you passage if I stay and guide them.”

  “But there is no plant,” Quentin said. “When they find that out, they won’t be happy.”

  Samuel raised only a finger this time. “If Addison will provide me some suitable substance that I might keep hidden until the proper time, perhaps I can give them what they believe exists.” He looked at Addison.

  “Yes, Samuel, I can do that.”

  Samuel smiled. “There, you see?” This was followed by dubious silence, so he continued. “As for my wishes to return to England, please know that this was a wish to return to the England I once knew, where the people I left behind still waited for my return. My colleagues. My father, Solomon Inwood, and my mother, Charity. And my beloved—” Samuel looked directly at Lindsey. “Her name was Lindsey. Lindsey Ennis. Did Quentin tell you this?”

  Lindsey started to speak, but then she just shook her head no.

  Samuel went on. “But of course she is long dead. I once thought I might visit her grave should I ever return. But she is surely buried beside a husband whom she loved for many years after I was forgotten. And the graves of their children will no doubt lie next to them. And perhaps their grandchildren. I feel no great calling to return there now. Besides, from what I have seen since we have left the forest, I do not believe I would recognize the places I once knew. The world is now filled with marvels beyond my understanding. If the medicinal effects of the Lamotelokhai on my body do not yield, I will still have ample time to grow accustomed to such things. I have even thought of returning to the village of my indigene friends.”

  Richards was pacing by the door. “Mr. Inwood, we don’t have the luxury of long goodbyes.”

  Quentin glared at Richards. This was too much of a compromise. Samuel had studied the Lamotelokhai for a century and a half. His knowledge would surely be important. Besides, he had become a personal friend. It didn’t seem right to use him as a pawn.

  But Samuel seemed okay with this, and he quietly conferred with Addison, undoubtedly getting what he would need to placate the Indonesians. Addison handed him something that Samuel tucked away in his vest. Samuel headed for the door, but then he turned around. “Quentin, I would speak to you alone, if you would allow it.”

  Quentin raised a finger to Richards to give them a minute and then moved to the far corner of the room. Samuel followed him over.

  “This is a mistake,” Quentin said quietly. “We’re going to need you.”

  “It is decided,” Samuel said. “But I must speak of my concerns. Perhaps it is too late to undo what has been done, but I must beg you to be diligent in protecting the Lamotelokhai. You have assured me that men in your country will be fitting caretakers, but I must say that those we have encountered have not given me great confidence. Colonel Richards seems an honest man, but I rather doubt he shares the same morals as you and I.”

  As if he overheard this, Richards cleared his throat loudly and pointed to his watch.

  Samuel put his hand on Quentin’s shoulder. “I have grown to respect you, Quentin, but I fear we may have made a mistake. If you find reason to agree with me on that, please take whatever action you must—before the Lamotelokhai is removed from your stewardship.”

  Quentin figured it was already too late for that. He looked Samuel in the eye. “I understand what you and the villagers have sacrificed, and I’ll do my best.”

  Samuel gave him a simple nod and then headed for the door.

  Before following Samuel out, Richards turned back to them. “We had to bargain to accomplish our goal. But I guaran-goddamn-tee you this: Mr. Inwood will not be forgotten. Once we deliver you folks stateside, we have every intention of extracting him. He seems to think he can deliver what the Indonesians want. After he does that, I’m sure they will negotiate further.” He glanced at his watch again. “Gather what belongings you have. We’ve commandeered a commercial carrier to take you to L.A. It won’t be stopping in Jakarta. I’ll accompany you on the flight.” He nodded and left.

  Within minutes they had boarded a truck and were trundling toward the waiting jet. It was now dark, but Quentin could see that military vehicles packed with armed men flanked them. Richards wasn’t taking any chances. When the truck stopped, they were far out on the tarmac rather than at the terminal. A massive intercontinental Qantas jet loomed over them, blocking the backdrop of stars.

  “Now that’s a real plane,” Ashley said as they piled out of the truck.

  Bobby stood still, gazing up at the vast aircraft. “I wish Samuel could see this.”

  The men escorted them up the wheeled staircase. They passed through the lavish first class into a much larger economy section. The sheer size of the cabin was unsettling. Without seats, the area would be large enough for a game of kickball. And there were no regular passengers, only a small cluster of people surrounding a gray-haired man in a black suit.

  As they entered, the man introduced himself as Cameron Weis, Ambassador, U.S. Embassy Jakarta. He had personally come to see that they were being treated well. He had gathered several doctors who were available on short notice, including a man in a khaki uniform, Captain William Kessel, Commanding Officer of the U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit. Also there was Dr. Saskia, who had been at the hospital with Sterling Hess and had witnessed the horrific events there. Dr. Saskia seemed to have recovered from his dinosaur bite, and Quentin wondered if Hess had been so lucky.

  As the students filed into a row of seats, the men seemed unable to keep their eyes off of them. Apparently Hess or Saskia had told them at least some of what they had seen.

  Ambassador Weis cleared his throat, and the men quit staring. “We honestly do not know what your situation is, folks,” he said. “Only that one or more of the students with you has a most extraordinary condition. Dr. Saskia is here because he has firsthand experience with the student. Our primary objective at this time is to transport you safely to the States, to an adequately-equipped facility with qualified staff. A team of experts is assembling as we speak, although it is difficult to recruit specialists when you have little idea of the nature of the situation.” The ambassador spread his hands to indicate the group of men. “These good doctors will examine each of you. We must be diligent with regard to pathogens.”

  Quentin noticed that a row of seats next to them was piled high with metal cases that probably contained medical equipment.

  Ambassador Weis continued. “Do you mind telling us which of your students Colonel Richards might have referred to when he used the phrase, a boy, but not really a boy?”

  “His name is Addison.” It was Richards himself. Quentin had not seen him enter the cabin behind them. Richards pointed at Addison. “And I did not claim he wasn’t a boy, only that these people claimed he wasn’t. I do know he may be more valuable to our country than you can possibly imagine. Let’s get this tub in the air.”

  Quentin didn’t like Richards’s tone. It was time to say something. “I want to make sure everyone here realizes why we brought Addison to you. We believe the U.S. is where he should be, but only because we believe the U.S. is likely to understand that his gifts are meant for everyone on this planet
. They are not for the benefit of one nation, or any one group of people. Do you agree?”

  Dr. Saskia nodded, but Ambassador Weis gazed at Quentin dubiously, as did most of the others. They obviously didn’t believe that Addison was anything more than a boy.

  “I’m certainly no expert,” Richards said. “And I can’t imagine anyone else here is—not after what I’ve seen. So let’s focus on the task at hand. When we get you folks stateside, the true experts can determine a sound course of action.” Richards then made his way to where Addison sat and began asking him questions.

  Quentin’s emotions churned as he watched Richards speaking eagerly to the Lamotelokhai. Quentin was still trying to accept that he would never see Addison again. And now he realized that once they got home he would also lose this replica of Addison. Suddenly he was overcome with the notion that he was making a colossal mistake.

  Bobby hardly even noticed when the plane took off. It was nothing like a Twin Otter, and it seemed impossible that anything could go wrong. Ambassador Weis did not stay with them. Even the soldiers that were there left the plane before it took off. Maybe they figured once the plane was in the air, they were safe.

  Bobby wanted to sleep, but the doctors weren’t finished with them. They were stabbed with needles to draw blood. Before the plane crash, Bobby had been afraid of needles, but now he hardly noticed. They all had to pee in cups, and then they had to spit into more cups. Long cotton swabs were pushed into their throats, noses, eyes, and ears. Bobby even had to go behind a curtain and strip down so a doctor could examine every inch of him.

  The doctors wore masks and rubber gloves, like they were afraid of catching a disease. But of course they wouldn’t. And Bobby was pretty sure they wouldn’t find diseases in the blood, urine, or anything else taken from their bodies.

  During all of this, Colonel Richards kept speaking to Addison. When it was Addison’s turn to be examined, Richards stayed right there with him, repeatedly asking the doctors if they saw anything unusual as they wiped Addison with swabs and stuck him with needles. Mr. Darnell tried telling them this was a waste of time, but Colonel Richards told the doctors to do it anyway. Then Mr. Darnell told Addison to show them the trick of tearing open his shoulder and then fixing it. Addison did this without even blinking an eye, and again it made Bobby a little nauseous. The men got quiet, except for Dr. Saskia, who said they all should have believed him in the first place.

  So finally Colonel Richards said, “Due respect, gentlemen, but I think this is beyond your expertise. Let’s hold off until we know what the hell we’re dealing with.” Then he took Addison back to where they were sitting before.

  Ashley yawned loudly. “Well, this flight has been a blast so far. Time to sleep.” She then shuffled toward the front of the plane.

  Colonel Richards spoke up. “Miss Stoddard, it would be best if you all stayed together.”

  Ashley turned with an irritated look. “The plane is empty. No one is in first class. And you guys are making too much noise figuring out what we already know.” She waved her hand at the cabin wall. “Do you think I’m going to run away?” Then she pushed through the curtain and was gone.

  Richards gazed at the curtain for a moment. “Kid’s got spunk,” he said.

  Mrs. Darnell said, “You boys should get some rest too.”

  Bobby and Carlos headed for first class. Before passing through the curtain, Bobby turned. “Colonel Richards, you should be careful.”

  Richards looked at him, and so did the doctors.

  Bobby swallowed and went on. “Be careful what you ask him to do, because bad things always happen.”

  Richards said, “Duly noted, son. Your name is Bobby Truex, isn’t that correct?”

  Bobby nodded.

  Richards smiled at him. “There’s something I’m curious about, Bobby. You were the one who told it—the Lamotelokhai—to change itself to look like the son of Mr. and Mrs. Darnell. Correct?”

  Bobby glanced at Mr. Darnell and then nodded.

  “Why Addison?” Richards said. “Why not ask it to look like one of the others?”

  Bobby didn’t know how to answer this.

  “Or why not ask it to look like someone famous? Maybe Abraham Lincoln, or Clint Eastwood? Why specifically Addison Darnell?”

  Mr. Darnell spoke up. “Colonel, Bobby was making a legitimate point. You should thank him, rather than question—”

  Addison was sitting next to Richards, but suddenly something wasn’t right. Bobby immediately saw what it was, and his senses became numb.

  “I can answer Roger Richards’s question,” Addison said. But it wasn’t Addison. The gasps from the doctors seemed faint, like Bobby was hearing them through ears clogged with water.

  Sitting next to Colonel Richards was Bobby himself.

  Richards turned to look. He stared. He turned to Bobby, and then turned back to the other Bobby.

  Bobby wanted to look in a mirror to make sure he was still himself. Instead he looked at his hands. He then pushed past the doctors and stood at the end of the row where Richards and the other Bobby sat. It looked like him in every single way he could see.

  The thing spoke to Richards. “I cannot form myself into a creature or object I do not have knowledge of. Bobby knows this. Bobby asked me to form myself into Addison Darnell because he believed he was responsible for Addison going away. Bobby believed it would comfort Quentin Darnell and Lindsey Darnell if I formed myself into the body of Addison.” The thing paused like it was waiting for a reaction. “Do you feel that your question has been answered, Roger Richards?”

  Colonel Richards’s eyes narrowed, but the corners of his mouth smiled a little—a look Bobby found disturbing. Richards said, “Yes.”

  Addison went on. “Bobby is correct, you should be careful. I was created to share with you some of the achievements of my creators. You must decide what you do with my creators’ achievements. If you harm yourselves, then those who eventually replace you may learn from your mistakes.”

  “Do you understand what he is saying?” Mr. Darnell said. “He’s been here for over half a billion years. You could use him stupidly and destroy the entire human race, and he wouldn’t try to stop you. He wouldn’t even care.”

  Richards glanced at Mr. Darnell. His face still had the same smirk.

  Bobby couldn’t help but stare at his duplicate. Now the resemblance was less than perfect. In fact, the more he stared, the more obvious the differences became. He realized the thing was changing. The straight brown hair was transforming into longer corkscrew curls, and the eyes were closer together. Before long he was looking at Addison again.

  Bobby suddenly felt very tired. He stared at the colonel for a moment, but Richards wouldn’t look at him. He shuffled back to the curtain where Carlos waited, and they both passed through it.

  First class was much nicer than the rest of the plane. Each seat was actually a booth, the size of four regular seats, and Ashley had already figured out how to turn her seat to the side so it stretched out flat into a bed. She was lying on her side, but she lifted her head when Bobby and Carlos settled into booths across the aisle from her.

  “Definitely first class,” she said.

  Bobby checked out his space. There was a flat TV screen and connectors for plugging in smartphones, laptops, and other gadgets. Headphones were tucked into a cubby, and for the first time in days Bobby wished he had his smartphone so he could fall asleep to music.

  Ashley said, “I tried using the phones, but they must be turned off.”

  A stewardess appeared and offered them sodas. They each took one and chugged them down like they were dying of thirst. The stewardess showed them how to control the personal lights in their booths, and then she turned off the overhead lights. She left them alone in the dark. Within a minute Bobby heard Carlos snoring.

  Ashley crushed her empty can and said, “I was thinking. Since we’re going straight from Sentani to L.A., it should take about sixteen hours. Papua is sixteen
hours ahead of L.A. That means we’ll get there at the same time we left.”

  Bobby considered this, but what really interested him was why Ashley had even said it. On the flight to Papua all those days ago, she would never have talked to him like this. In fact, she hadn’t talked to him at all. In the darkness he heard her sigh. She must have thought he was asleep. He wanted her to keep talking, so he said the first thing he could think of. “Addison turned into me.”

  “Why in the hell would he want to be you?”

  “Well, I think he was trying to answer a question that—”

  “Jesus, Bobby, it was a joke. I watched you guys through the curtain. Two Bobbies—damn scary.”

  Bobby sensed that she was smiling, even though it was too dark to see for sure. “Yeah, I was kind of scared.”

  After some silence, Ashley said, “I’m afraid to go home.”

  Bobby’s seat now lay flat, but he pushed up on one elbow to look at her. His eyes were getting used to the dark, and he saw that she was sitting up. “I know what you mean,” he said. “Everything’s going to be different.”

  Ashley pulled her legs out of the narrow space and turned her seat forward. “We’re safe now, but they won’t let us call home. Why?”

  Bobby didn’t know the answer to this. “I bet you miss your friends from school, huh?”

  “Miranda was my best friend. She’s dead.”

  “What about your boyfriend?”

  Ashley was silent for a moment. “Not so much.”

  She then slid across the aisle and sat on the floor in the space left open by Bobby’s swiveled seat. Her face was only inches away, and Bobby felt a tingle through his body.

  “What about you? Do you have a girlfriend?” Ashley talked softer now. The low roar of the engines seemed to fade away to nothing.

  Bobby felt his face flush and was glad for the darkness. “No, no girlfriend at the moment.” In truth, Bobby had never had a girlfriend.

  “Saving yourself for the right girl, huh?”

  Bobby knew she was teasing him, but he seemed to have lost the ability to talk. He struggled for anything to say other than the thought that was in his head. The seconds were passing by. It was no use. “Actually, I kind of wanted to ask you to be my girlfriend.”