Walter and Violet never raised the question of why Londuo’s name did not match the one on her identity paper, Jane Packard, or the fact that she was obviously not from America. They assumed that she had her reasons and she would tell them in time.
Walter and Violet were both retired and although their lives were comfortable, they rented their house. Once recovered, Londuo said she would find a job to pay her way. Walter bought her a number of face masks to minimise the risk of infection while she was working around other people. Londuo knew that, with time, there was a chance her body would adapt, lowering the risk of illness and death, but she could never be certain, so she always used her face masks. At first she only took on small jobs where she could work on her own, but this meant she relied on Walter and Violet’s generosity to let her stay there.
Londuo wanted to somehow pay them back for all their kindness, so after three years she made a brave decision and decided to use her advanced knowledge of propulsion systems to get a permanent job. One afternoon when Violet and Londuo were both painting in a nearby field, she decided to break the good news.
Londuo looked with satisfaction at the canvas she was painting. That’s almost finished. Just needs a bit more contrast on the blades of the weather vane. And while she was applying some light-yellow paint to her canvas, she told Violet,
‘I’ve just found another job, Violet.’
‘Oh, that’s wonderful. What are you going to do this time?’ Violet asked, looking over the top of her canvas into the distance.
‘I’ve managed to get a full-time job.’
Violet stopped and looked to Londuo.
‘But that will increase the risk of infection, Londuo. Are you sure? We don’t need the money if that’s what you’re thinking.’
‘I know, but I feel I’m not helping out as much as I could. I would really like to help you buy your house. Call it a thank you for looking after me.’
‘I’m not going to even try to persuade you not to take the job, Londuo; I know you can be very determined when you want to be. Just be careful. Promise me you’ll always wear your mask.’
‘Don’t worry, I will.’
‘You kept it quiet. It would have to be a very high paid job to help us buy the house.’
Londuo could sense that Violet was unconvinced by her new job.
‘I’ve got a job as a consultant in the aerospace industry.’
‘You always seemed well educated, but I never expected you to have studied in such a difficult subject. Who’s going to be your employer?’
‘They’re called the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. I’ll be working in the state of Florida at a place called the Kennedy Space Centre.’
‘N.A.S.A,’ Violet said. ‘You’re going to work for N.A.S.A! I didn’t see that coming. Walter will be very surprised.’
‘Let’s just say, I know everything there is to know about that area of engineering. I’ve worked on a few propulsion systems in the past.’
‘But you’re only twenty-one; how did you manage to learn all this and have time to work in that field?’
Londuo suddenly realised she would have difficulty in explaining, so she lied.
‘Oh... Er… I had a good teacher. My father was a professor.’ Londuo quickly changed the subject. ‘So what do you think of my painting?’ She turned it towards Violet.
‘You’re getting better by the day, Londuo. I have to say, I think that’s your best so far. You’re starting to make me look amateurish. You should think about doing it, instead of that job.’
Londuo smiled.
‘Maybe one day. At the speed I paint, I don’t think I’d make much money! And, anyway, who’s going to buy one of my paintings around here? Most of the people of Hinsdale have one of yours already!’
‘I had to give them away,’ Violet said, with a broad smile. ‘No one would buy them!’
They laughed.
‘Londuo, I’m very pleased for you. I wish you every success in your new job.’
Londuo felt very proud. She could see Violet was very happy for her.
*****
The job soon enabled Londuo to buy the house for Walter and Violet. She also surprised Walter by buying him a new black convertible Ford Mustang: something he had been wanting for a few years now. But the job also meant Londuo had to interact with more people. She very rarely got a cold now, but those she did were very frightening, as any one of them could kill her. Each time she had to call upon all her mental and physical strength to survive.
After a few years, Londuo began to spend more time away on business, travelling across America and occasionally to Europe. Her long-term plan was to move to Orlando, nearer to the N.A.S.A. space centre. She knew the time had come to move on and one late summer evening, while they all sat in the living room, Londuo decided it was time to tell Walter and Violet.
It doesn’t seem possible I’ve been here nine years now. How time’s gone. Londuo smiled to herself. I need to tell them, but they’ve been like a mother and father to me. I owe them so much, but now I have to go. Look at them sitting there, relaxing in their own little world. Walter’s reading the paper, as he does every evening at this time. She glanced over at Violet who was listening to the radio. They’re such down to Earth, simple sort of people. No television, no technology, just each other’s company. They’re so happy together. Londuo felt saddened as she thought of James. They’re so lucky.
She sat for a while watching them, holding off from the moment. She was feeling very apprehensive as to how they would react.
Londuo took a deep breath. Well now’s as good a time as any.
‘Violet, Walter! I need to tell you something. I… I need to move closer to where I work, and I will be moving out soon.’
Violet smiled at her. ‘You do whatever you need to do, Londuo. We somehow knew this day would come.’
Just that! Is that all Violet’s going to say? Londuo was surprised and said again,
‘I’m going to leave soon; I need to move to Orlando.’
‘We heard you, Londuo.’ Violet turned off the radio. ‘Londuo, you’re a young woman; very intelligent and independent. We know you need to make a life of your own. You need to explore places; meet people; make new friends. You don’t want to stay here.’
‘Maybe you’ll find a nice man and settle down,’ Walter remarked.
‘Walter! You don’t understand us women. She’s still in love.’ She looked at Londuo. ‘Aren’t you?’
Londuo felt sad. She nodded slowly back.
‘You’ve been so kind to me all these years. You’ve never asked me how I got here, or why I’m here. I’ve never understood why. You must know I’m not Jane.’
Violet nodded.
‘We knew that straight away, Londuo, but to the authorities you are, and that’s all that matters.’
‘But why did you look after me?’
‘Because you needed us. Calling the police did cross our minds, but only for a minute,’ Violet replied.
Walter added, ‘I remember Violet saying you looked too pretty to be in trouble. She knows best!’
Violet continued, ‘We never told you, Londuo, but while you were recovering you kept calling out a name, James. We knew then we’d made the right decision not to call the police.’ She paused a moment. ‘He must mean a lot to you.’
Londuo thought of James.
‘He did. For the short amount of time we had together, he made me very happy. He was a very special person, so different to all the others. I’ve missed him so much.’
She was trying not to cry.
‘Why don’t you go and find him? I’m sure you can get back together.’
What do I tell them?
‘It’s complicated.’ Londuo paused. ‘I’m not sure you’ll understand.’
‘It’s all right, Londuo. You don’t have to tell us anything,’ Violet said.
I’ve got to tell them.
‘No, I owe you the truth, but you probably won’t believe
me, anyway,’ Londuo said. ‘You see, I’ve never belonged here. You could say I was shipwrecked. Our spaceship, the Aurora, crashed.’
Walter said, ‘That night; I’ll always remember that night when you arrived. A few hours before we found you in the front garden there was an explosion. The sky lit up and the ground shock.’
Londuo nodded.
‘That was the Aurora. James died in the crash.’
‘I didn’t realise,’ Violet said, with surprise in her eyes. ‘You poor thing. I thought you two had split up. I’m really sorry to hear James has passed away, Londuo.’
Londuo took a deep breath.
‘He was only seventeen. We spent about six weeks together. He saved my life more than once, but I could do nothing that night to save him.’
‘But there was nothing in the news, Londuo. No spaceship or anything.’
‘I think I remember reading about an earthquake,’ Walter added.
‘Why didn’t someone find James or this spaceship, then?’ Violet asked.
‘I don’t know. I’ve been back there, but there’s nothing left. Maybe the military took it away; maybe the ship dissolved completely. The only thing left is a large crater. I lost everything that night: My notepad, diary, everything.’
‘That reminds me!’ Walter said. He got up and went to a chest of draws nearby. ‘Now, where is it? I found it about four weeks ago.’
‘He’ll never find it,’ Violet said. ‘He’d lose his head if it wasn’t on his shoulders!’
‘I found it out on the hillside, towards the weather vane,’ he said, rummaging through the contents of the top draw. ‘It’s not very big. At first I thought it was a small red cigarette lighter, but it just seems to be a piece of metal with some strange writing on it. I couldn’t work out what it was.’
What does he have - something from the ship?
‘Here it is.’
Walter showed it to Londuo.
‘My diary; you found my diary!’ Londuo said, recognising it.
Walter handed it to her.
‘As I said, looks like a piece of metal to me. A bit small to be a diary, isn’t it? Where do you write anything?’
He sat back down.
‘It’s a recording device; it holds data,’ Londuo replied.
‘But it’s not even half the size of a cassette tape,’ he replied.
‘This single cartridge can hold the entire contents of all your books here on Earth,’ Londuo said. ‘Unfortunately I’ve no way of using it.’
We don’t even have any computers at the space centre capable of interfacing with it. I’m going to have to wait if I want to use it.
Walter and Violet acted like they were not surprised.
They don’t believe me; not a word. I’m not sure I should tell them any more, but I said I would tell them the truth. Oh well.
Londuo continued, ‘It’s not just that the Aurora crashed here. You see, this is not my time. I’m from the future. The galaxy was in great danger; including Earth. James and I travelled back in time to change events.’
‘But that’s impossible, Londuo. You’ve been reading too many books,’ Violet said.
‘It’s possible.’
‘We all wish at some time in our life we could go back and change what’s already happened, but why would a young woman like you want to do that?’
‘My planet, Qintaino, was attacked by a race of plant-like creatures called the Treitans. They killed everyone. We went back in time to destroy them before they could attack us. The Treitans are evil; their population is out of control. They’re spreading across the galaxy, wiped out hundreds of planets. They are even going to attack Earth.’
‘What could anyone possibly want from Earth?’ Walter said. ‘We can’t even stop fighting ourselves.’
‘Your oceans; they live on water. They will take all the water and leave the planet lifeless.’ Londuo said. ‘Look, what I’ve told you is the truth.’
‘Londuo, I have to say, you can tell a very good story. All those strange words; Treitans, Qintaino and to top it all, you’re from the future.’
‘I said you wouldn’t believe me.’
I don’t think it matters what I say, they’re never going to believe me. Londuo shook her head.
‘I’m sorry, Londuo. It’s too much fantasy. Anyway, when will you be leaving?’
Londuo felt guilty, like she had lied. They didn’t believe a word I said, and I have no way of proving it. There’s no point in trying to make them understand.
‘Monday. I’m going to leave Monday,’ she said, in resignation.
‘I’ll do you a nice apple pie for you to take with you,’ Violet said.
‘That should last you a few weeks!’ Walter said cheekily.
Londuo smiled.
‘I’m going to miss you both.’
Chapter Three
In 1973, Londuo moved to Orlando but never lost contact with Walter and Violet, writing to them every week and visiting them every three to four months. Then, in 1984, Walter passed away at the age of eight-four. Violet was devastated. They had been married for over sixty years, and she had lost her soul-mate: her lifetime lover. Londuo spent five weeks with Violet trying to convince her to come and live with her in Orlando, but without success. She couldn’t even persuade Violet to get a telephone so they could be in contract more often.
Eventually, Londuo went back on her own to her day-to-day life in Orlando and carried on communicating with Violet by writing to her every week. Then, one week, Londuo failed to receive a letter from Violet. She put it down to the postal system, but couldn’t help worrying. She would wait to see if Violet’s next letter arrived the following week; if not, she would drive to Hinsdale to visit her the following day.
*****
Friday arrived and after finishing work Londuo returned to her flat. As usual she picked up the mail at the entrance before walking up the stairs to her flat on the first floor. She browsed expectantly at the envelopes on the way, looking for a letter from Violet. Bill, another bill, junk mail; nothing from Violet, but what’s this?
She unlocked the door and placed her keys on a table just inside the flat. An official looking envelope had the words ‘Johnson, Lewis and Carter’ printed on it. Londuo tore open the envelope before she fell back onto the large sofa to relax. Inside was a letter from a solicitor. Londuo glanced through the text quickly realising its content. Violet! She’s gone. Londuo read that Violet had collapsed in the local store in Hinsdale. She had died the same evening in hospital. Londuo wiped her eyes and read on. The letter mentioned that Violet and Walter had never had any children, and they left the house and car to her. Why would they leave everything to me? I don’t deserve anything. They were so kind to me; it’s me who owes them everything.
*****
The following week, Londuo attended Violet’s funeral. She was surprised at how many of the Hinsdale residents came to pay their respects. Londuo never realised how popular Violet was.
‘So you must be Londuo,’ an old man said to her, as people were starting to leave the churchyard.
‘Yes,’ Londuo replied.
‘Bill Turner,’ he said and offered his hand to her. ‘I run the local store.’
Londuo shook it gently.
‘I’m sorry for your loss.’
‘Thank you for coming, Bill.’
‘She was very fond of you, you know.’
‘Really?’ Londuo said.
She felt uneasy, wondering what Violet might have told people.
‘Violet thought of you as the daughter she never had. It’s a shame they couldn’t have children; she would have been a wonderful mother.’
‘I didn’t know,’ Londuo replied in amazement.
‘I’m not surprised. Everyone here knew, after all it’s such a small community and everyone gossips, but Violet and Walter didn’t like to talk about it. When you arrived they seemed happier; full of life again…’
Londuo felt sad and thought about the past with them.
Bill’s words faded into the distance as she daydreamed, but she suddenly awoke from her thoughts when Bill said,
‘You look like you want to be alone. I’ll be off now; it was nice meeting you. If you need anything just drop by the store.’
Londuo nodded.
‘Yes… Yes... Thank you.’
They never told me. Londuo stood staring at Violet’s grave. That’s why they were so kind to me. Londuo thought again back to the time when she was convalescing from her injured shoulder.
*****
She was sitting with Violet out the back of the house, looking towards an old derelict outbuilding. Violet had half-finished a painting of it and Londuo was trying to paint for the very first time.
Walter had just brought them two cups of coffee from the house. He passed them to Londuo and Violet.
‘Thank you, dear,’ Violet said.
‘I think the Chrysler’s going to need another set of new tyres soon,’ Walter remarked. ‘And it’s getting hard to start now.’
‘You’re not still looking at that brochure of the Ford are you?’
‘It’s a nice car. Maybe I can pick up a used one in a few years’ time.’
‘What it is?’ Londuo asked.
‘He’s been drooling over a car. The Ford Mustang. I think he wants to be a teenager again and tear around the countryside!’ Violet said. ‘Don’t know why you want a convertible though. Not very practical, is it?’
‘No, dear,’ Walter replied. ‘I’m going back inside to read the newspaper. Have fun painting.’
He walked back to the house.
‘There’s no harm in wanting to feel young again,’ Londuo said, knowing that Violet was never going to allow Walter to have the car. ‘After all, the only place you go is Hinsdale and that’s just once a week. He needs something else to occupy his time. You have your painting, while he doesn’t have a real hobby. He only reads books or does gardening.’
Violet smiled.
‘You’re probably right, Londuo. Maybe he does really want this car.’
Londuo looked at her blank canvas. That’s a big area to paint.
‘Now, I’ve squeezed a number of acrylic colours onto your easel,’ Violet said. ‘It’s up to you how you mix then together. If you need other colours they’re in the box on the ground between us. There’s plenty of water in these jars to clean the brush.’
The Aurora (Aurora Saga, Book 1) Page 2
