by V. E. Lemp
“Flares,” Karen suggested. “They like those, too.”
“Yes,” Mark said, “and experimental aircraft. Of course, they can always claim we’re suffering from a mass delusion. That seems to be one of the go-to excuses.”
“Sooner or later the excuses will be wiped out by the evidence,” Sam said.
“I hope so,” Mark said. “I certainly hope so. But when people don’t want to believe a thing it’s easy to mislead them.”
“Perhaps we’ll eventually gather evidence that can’t be disputed,” Karen said.
Mark caressed her shoulder. “Yes, I’m rather hoping Alex Wythe can help us with that.”
Karen sighed. “It always goes back to Alex, doesn’t it?”
Mark glanced down at her. “I’m afraid it does, my love. He’s our best chance to expose the whole damn crew.”
“That’s a lot to expect from someone who is, after all, just another human.”
“Oh, I don’t think he’s exactly that,” Mark replied. “Not anymore.”
They stood in silence as Alice’s demonstration came to a conclusion as swift as its inception.
A strange sound woke Karen the next morning. She sat up in bed, dislodging the blanket from Mark’s still form. He stirred and muttered something in his sleep. Karen took a moment to cover his bare shoulders with the coverlet before sliding out of the bed and padding over to the motel room door. There was a small white envelope lying on the floor just inside the threshold. She picked it up and carried it to the extra bed, which substituted for a sofa in the small room.
Karen opened the envelope and pulled out a single folded sheet of paper. As she’d expected, it was a note from Alice: Today—meet me at the entrance to the motel at 2PM.
Karen sat for a moment looking at the paper, then lay back on the bed and stared at the ceiling.
“Karen?” Mark sat up in the other bed. “What’s wrong?”
“We got a note from Alice. Apparently we’re to meet with her at two o’clock this afternoon. I assume”—Karen sat up again—“we’re meeting Alex today.”
Mark rose swiftly and moved to sit next to her. “We’ll have to let Sam and Myron know.” He turned and took her into his arms. “I know this is difficult, sweetheart, but it’s best to get it over with.”
“Of course.”
“It may not be as traumatic as you fear.”
“Probably not,” Karen admitted. “I’m sure I’m overdramatizing things. We’ll see each other and it’ll just be like meeting an old friend.”
“I’d not count on that. But remember, I’ll be there and I’ll have your back, no matter what.”
Karen leaned away and looked Mark in the eyes. “I’m not sure what I did to deserve you, but I’m glad for whatever it was.”
His smile illuminated his unprepossessing face. “You were you. That’s all I needed, all I’ll ever need.”
“You’re easily satisfied.”
“Not always.” The expression on Mark’s face raised a blush in Karen’s cheeks. “Sometime soon—this evening, perhaps—you can see what it really takes.”
“Very well.” Karen threw her arms about his neck. “We’ll put that to the test. It’ll be an interesting experiment, as the Oneiroi like to say. I hope you’re fully prepared to admit when you’re satisfied, though.”
“Oh, you’ll know.”
SEVEN
At two o’clock Karen and Mark stood with Myron and Sam at the entrance to the motel. As they talked among themselves Karen sensed another presence and glanced over Mark’s shoulder. Alice was standing next to one of the pillars that held up the motel canopy.
“Hello, Alice,” she said.
The men turned and stared at the slender, dark-haired figure.
Mark was the first to speak. “We haven’t met, but Karen’s told me much about you. I’m Mark Hallam. Very pleased to meet you.”
“I know who you are,” Alice said. “It is a pleasure. I also recognize you, Myron Tarrow. And Samuel Lester. We are aware of you as well.”
“You know me?” Sam asked.
“Of course. You have appeared on your television, have you not? Speaking of things guaranteed to catch our attention. And of course, Myron Tarrow is well known to all of us.”
“I’ve met others of your kind,” Myron said. “But I think perhaps you’re unique.”
Alice bent her head in acknowledgement. “Thank you for the compliment, but I am not as unique as you may think. Which is all for the best, as far as your world is concerned. Now, as you know, I am here to take you to meet with Alex Wythe. I will need one of you to drive us to our destination. I prefer to avoid manipulating your machines whenever possible.”
“I’ll get my van,” Sam said.
Sam sprinted to the parking lot and drove back a few minutes later, pulling the van up to the entrance of the motel. Karen crawled into the back seat, and Sam motioned for Alice to sit up front with him. Myron climbed in slowly, taking a seat in the second row.
“There’s room here for someone else, Karen,” he said, “if you don’t want to be jammed in back there.”
“I’m fine. I assumed… Well, I guess I thought Ariel would be coming with us,” Karen explained as Mark stepped into the van and sat down next to Myron.
“No. She’s staying with Mary and Will. Ariel’s so sensitive to atmosphere and undercurrents, I was afraid perhaps this might not be the best situation…” Myron paused and cleared his throat. “Anyway, I thought it best if she didn’t come with us today.”
“I see,” Karen said softly as Mark turned to look at her with concern. She forced a smile while gripping the back of his seat. “I’m fine.”
“If you say so.” Mark turned around, but not before squeezing Karen’s hand
They drove out of town, Sam following Alice’s succinct directions, into an open area of sharp hillocks covered in scrub pines. After a time, Alice directed Sam to turn onto a side road that was little more than a dirt path. Karen was jostled unmercifully by the rutted road.
Mark braced one hand against the door of the van. “Well, this is certainly off the beaten track.”
“We needed isolation,” Alice said.
“You found it.” Myron looked like he was about to be sick.
“We are almost there,” Alice said.
A gate stood open at the end of the road. There was an old sign hanging off one of the gateposts. It was weathered beyond recognition, but Karen thought she could discern the word “ranch.” Alice instructed Sam to drive on through, following a road that was merely a beaten-down section of the surrounding landscape. Peering through the dusty windows of the van, Karen noticed a small building sitting at the end of the driveway.
Sam pulled the van up in front of the building. It was an old ranch house—a rough wooden structure weathered to the color of old tin.
As they climbed out of the van, Myron took a moment to lean against the door. “That was quite an experience. I’m not looking forward to the trip back, I must confess.”
Alice eyed him and shook her head. “I do not think you will be visiting one of our ships any time soon, Myron Tarrow.”
“No, I doubt I’d be able to handle that. I don’t have much of a stomach for that sort of travel.”
Karen walked over to stand next to Mark, taking hold of one of his hands. “So here we are.”
“I will go in first.” Alice gave Karen a significant look. “I must let him know you are here.” She turned and walked into the house.
Mark looked down at Karen. “Ready?”
“Not really. But resolved to move forward, all the same.”
He smiled gently. “Of course you are.”
She tightened her grip on his hand. “Are you?”
“No. But that isn’t important.”
“It is to me.”
He planted a swift kiss on her lips. “Don’t worry about me.”
“Easier said than done,” Karen whispered as Alice stepped out of the front door and mo
tioned for them to follow her.
The interior of the house was surprisingly dark. The windows set into the wood-frame walls were small. The better, Karen assumed, to keep the interior cool or warm as needed. She shivered. It was cool—or perhaps the chill that descended as soon as she passed through the front door was just nerves. She followed Alice and the others down a short hallway and into a large, open room. A stone fireplace dominated one wall. Standing in front of the hearth, his back to them, was a tall, slender man.
Karen would have recognized that back and shoulders anywhere. Her mind registered the familiar stance and figure, unchanged after so many years, although his hair was much paler than she remembered. Of course, it was the work of time—the gold locks were now threaded with silver.
“They are here, Alex.” Alice stepped back to stand against one of the room’s unpainted plank walls.
Alex turned slowly, keeping one hand on the rough-hewn mantle. He was pale—paler than Karen had ever seen him, and there was something unnatural about his face. It was as if every feature was honed to its essence, cleanly chiseled and cold as a marble sculpture. Karen sucked in a breath. He was much too thin. Only the aquamarine eyes remained as bright and vital as she remembered.
“Hello.” His voice had undergone an alteration as well. There was a rasp, as if it had grown rusty from lack of use.
“Hello, Alex.” Mark’s voice betrayed nothing of what he undoubtedly was feeling. “Welcome back. This is Myron Tarrow, by the way, and Samuel Lester. They’re working with Karen and me, and others, to offer some resistance to the Oneiroi.”
“And to expose Ian Vance,” Sam said. “Not to mention Exocorp.”
“I’m very glad to meet you both. I believe we have similar interests, if what you say is true.” Alex’s gaze swept over Sam and Myron and Mark, before resting on Karen’s face.
Meeting his eyes, Karen stepped forward, propelled by a force she could not deny. She leaned into Alex. As they hugged she could feel his ribs, far too sharp and prominent, through his thin cotton shirt. She immediately stepped back, but Alex reached out before she could move away and pulled her into another embrace.
“Karen,” he whispered into her ear, imbuing her name with a depth of feeling that made her tremble. “At last.” His arms tightened about her, and he kissed her, lingeringly, on the mouth.
The never-forgotten memory of his lips overwhelmed all of Karen’s carefully constructed plans. She pressed against him as a river of fire rushed through her limbs. Lost in the past, she whimpered when Alex lifted his head and gently pushed her back. He was suddenly alert, swiftly releasing Karen, who stumbled and grabbed for the back of a nearby chair. Alex stepped away to lean again on the fireplace mantle, his eyes never leaving Karen’s face.
There was a long stretch of silence before anyone spoke. “I know this is somewhat awkward,” Mark said at last. Karen glanced at her husband. The only indication of his state of mind was his intense calm, which meant he was probably furious. “But we’re glad you’ve decided to return, Alex. We hope you can aid our attempts to expose the truth.”
“Of course.” Alex turned his gaze on Mark. “I’ve no love for Ian Vance or Exocorp, I assure you.”
“Or for the Oneiroi?” asked Sam.
Alex glanced toward Alice. “That’s a little more complicated.”
Sam fixed Alex with a fierce stare. “We want them gone.”
“Some of us do,” Myron corrected. “I’m interested in working with those of the Oneiroi who wish us well.”
Alex raised his eyebrows in a way that twisted something around Karen’s heart. “Wish you well? I’m not sure that’s exactly possible. But these are matters best discussed at another time. At this moment I’d like to know how you intend to integrate me back into society.”
“We’ve thought of that,” Mark said. “Shall we sit?”
Alex nodded and slumped into one of the chairs flanking the fireplace. Mark took a chair facing Alex, leaving Myron and Sam the wood-framed settee.
“Are you planning to just stand there, Karen?” Alex asked.
The only remaining seat was a small padded bench near Alex’s chair. Karen sighed and crossed to the bench. She sat down, casting a glance at Mark, whose face betrayed no emotion. But Karen could tell, by his intense stillness, that he was on high alert.
“So, since I am, for all intents and purposes, dead”—Alex leaned back in his chair—“how exactly am I supposed to function in the world?”
“We’ve created a new identify for you. It’s solid. I’ve used reputable sources.” Although his eyes were narrowed, Mark’s voice was perfectly calm.
“I don’t doubt that.” Alex laid his hand on the arm of the chair that abutted the bench.
“Mark’s very good at such things,” Karen said. “He handles situations like this all the time.”
Alex’s fingers tapped the wooden arm of the chair in a way that, if it were anyone else, Karen would attribute to nerves. “I’m well aware of Mark’s reputation.”
“At any rate,” Mark said, “you’ll have a new identity. I can’t, of course, restore your old life. I doubt you’ll want to surprise your family with your return from the grave, but if you were considering such a thing I’d warn against it.”
“I wasn’t planning on that.”
“Smart move,” Sam said. “Best to leave that sort of thing alone. Anyway, you don’t want to alert Vance to your return.”
“Oh, Ian knows I’m back. Alice and her… family are very clever, but even they can’t keep something like that from Ian Vance.”
“Pity,” Myron said.
“It is. But I’m not really worried about Ian at this point. At least”—Alex cast a swift glance at Karen—“not for any reasons concerning myself.”
Mark leaned forward in his chair. “I hope you’ll let us know if you obtain knowledge of danger to someone else.”
“Of course. I’ve as much interest in that matter as you do.”
“Don’t talk around me,” Karen said sharply. Mark shot her a fierce look she countered with a frown. She turned to Alex. “Now, as far as money’s concerned, you don’t have to worry, at least for a while. I sold the condo and put the funds into a savings account. Mark and I agreed the money should go to you. It was your property, after all.”
“I gave it to you,” Alex said.
“And now I’m giving it to you. No arguments.”
Alex’s lips twitched into a brief smile. “I wouldn’t think of it, my sweet.”
Mark’s hands visibly tightened on the wooden arms of his chair.
“I’ve been able to arrange an apartment for you, at least for the short term,” Myron said, breaking the silence that fell after Alex’s last remark. “One of my colleagues has a place they’re willing to rent, no questions asked.”
“How thoughtful.” Alex turned to examine Myron. “In New York? You do live in New York, don’t you? With your very talented daughter?”
Myron’s open expression turned wary. “Yes, but the apartment’s actually closer to where Karen and Mark live. Outside of D.C. I hope that’s acceptable.”
“Perfectly fine.” Alex dropped his arm over the edge of the chair. His fingers drummed against the rough upholstery of the bench.
Mark’s eyes narrowed behind his glasses. “You can, of course, live wherever you wish once you establish yourself in your new identity.”
“But I suppose I shouldn’t go back to any place where I’m well known.”
“I’d caution against that,” Sam said, “unless you think no one would recognize you, and I doubt that’d be the case.”
Karen glanced at Alex’s profile. To her practiced eyes, the set of his jaw betrayed considerable distress. She clasped her hands in her lap, fighting her desire to clutch his restless fingers.
“So what does this new identity allow me to do?” Alex asked. “I don’t suppose I’ll be able to teach again, but perhaps some type of research?”
“You have the p
aperwork to support your PhD. Your background’s similar to before, simply with a different name. Fortunately,” Mark said, with a touch, to Karen’s ears, of malice, “you weren’t famous in your previous life.”
“Yes, how fortunate for me.”
“The apartment”—Myron’s eyes darted from Mark’s stoic face to Alex’s sardonic expression—“is fully furnished. So while it may not be to your taste, it should make matters simpler in the short term. I thought you might not want to worry about such things at the start.”
“It seems you’ve thought of everything,” Alex said. “I suppose this paperwork includes a driver’s license? I’d hate to be dependent on public transportation. I hope to fully participate in life as soon as possible.”
“It does,” Mark said. “But I expect you’ll want to wait a bit before you engage in too many activities abandoned for so many years. You’re likely to be dangerously out of practice.”
“I’ll try not to harm anyone.” Alex shot Mark a look that would have intimidated anyone less self-assured.
Karen felt she could grasp the tension flaring in the room. “So you see, Alex,” she said lightly, “you’ll have everything you need.”
Alex turned to look at her. His blue eyes regarded her with an intensity that made her catch her breath. “Not everything.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Mark rise to his feet. “Everything possible.” She lifted her chin and refused to look away. Alex met her gaze with a smile that did nothing to calm her nerves.
Mark crossed the room in few long strides. “I think we’re done here. At least for now.”
Alex rose to face him. “Not quite. I was hoping you’d give me a ride into town. I think I’m ready to leave this little way station.” He spread out his hands. “I won’t take much space. I don’t have any luggage to speak of.”
“I suppose we’ve room,” Myron said. “Though it may be a bit cramped.”
Alice stepped forward. “You need not worry. I am not coming with you.”
Karen stared at the dark-haired figure. “You mustn’t stay out here on your own. We can’t allow that.”
