"Jesus! What is he?!"
"An angel. Our very own guardian angel. Anzio to Omaha. Now, kid, you gonna' keep quiet?"
Mac looked around at the men in the ditch with him. They were waiting for his answer.
"I didn't see anything to talk about. Just a real good sergeant I was lucky to get."
He smiled as the men around him grinned and turned back to watch "a real good sergeant" take out the enemy gun emplacement that had them pinned down.
****
He loved the post-war years. Right up until the time 'Manny Gallant' was drafted. He sat down and laughed until he cried. The war was in Korea and they called it a "police action." Another group of men agreed he was just a real good sergeant. He grew another half inch, but he didn't lose any men.
He saw it coming, but didn't try to avoid it, just kept traveling with the Daredevils. He'd found a shape he and his ship both liked. She was a small silver travel trailer.
He loved riding motorcycles and traveling the country with the show. It was one of the happiest times he'd ever known. All the Daredevils were fond of the 'kid' who had joined them. His name was Murray Gallant and he was a 'sixteen-year-old orphan' when he joined them. He was 'twenty-three' when he was drafted to go to Vietnam. Butch settled down and let him park the trailer he called "Alice" in his garage. The kid had grown a bit when he came back.
****
He left the world he'd called home for nearly a hundred years and set out to explore other worlds. He spent nearly two thousand years learning the ways of other worlds and fighting to keep them safe.
He became a student. On Earth. He smiled in satisfaction when he burned his draft card in front of the campus administration building in nineteen sixty-nine. Alex Gallant would not go.
****
"Gallant!"
"Hello, Julie. You feel just as good as I remember."
"Been a lot longer than a year for you, hasn't it?"
"Yes. I had a great deal to learn. I brought you some presents. Let's go in. Your tulips need the rain. We don't."
"Do they ever. It was dry again this winter. I'm afraid it's going to be a bad year for forest fires. You look wonderful, Gallant, but I don't think those jeans would fit you now."
"I don't think they would either. I've planned our evening. Do you mind?"
"Not at all."
"Money is always a problem for me. I set up an account in your name a bit in the past. It's a trust. It matures today. Would you draw funds from it for this evening, please?"
"Sure. How?"
"Just call the bank. Here. This is the paperwork."
"Uh, I don't think I'll ask how you just made that appear like that."
"It's just math."
"Math?"
"A lot of math. I never seem to have enough pockets, so I made a few extra."
"Yeah. OK. Right. Gallant, you set this up a hundred forty years ago!"
"Yes. It seemed the most reasonable time to deposit a small amount of gold."
"How much should I draw?"
"Twenty thousand should be enough. Oops. Steady."
"Twenty thousand?!"
"You're quite right, fifty thousand. One shouldn't short oneself in Las Vegas."
"Gallant, you're grinning at me. Just how much is in this account?"
"I don't really know, but it should make you give serious thought as to how well you really like your job. Call the bank. I'd rather not use Alice to get there before they close."
"Alice?"
"You named her."
"Alice in Wonderland!"
"I thought you'd remember. Call the bank."
****
"Monte Carlo?!"
"Why not? You won so much in Las Vegas, you might as well play with it somewhere else."
"Gallant, you won it."
"Did I put the chips on the table?"
"No, but you played the cards."
"Team effort. Let's stop in New York. I want to see Phantom of the Opera."
"For which you already have tickets. Just like the ballet, and the opera, and the Comedy Club. And probably dinner reservations just like Spago's"
"Opening night would be nice. Julie, you're the only one who can appreciate how much I've learned. You weren't my first teacher, but you were the one who taught me I was free. I'm showing off for my teacher. And feeling exceptionally smug."
"How long, Gallant?"
"Julie, please don't ask. You really want to know, don't you? The answer will shock you. Two thousand one hundred years."
"Uh, I need to sit down."
"I told you not to ask."
"Next time I'll listen. You remembered a date with me for two thousand years?!"
"It was the first I ever made. I took my time getting ready for it."
"Uh, huh, and I thought I took a long time in front of the mirror."
"Julie, I was a very young boy when I came here the first time. Call me eleven. Now I'm about twenty-two."
"Childlike innocence. I ignored it."
"Julie, yours was my first kiss. I still remember it. I'd been used for years, but never kissed. I had escaped, but you taught me I was free."
"Gallant, if you were that young... "
"They call it stim. My reward for living through it was a rather abrupt introduction to a large group."
"There are a lot of things you haven't forgotten."
"I'm working on creating dusty corners for them in the attic. You, I keep on the piano in the parlor. Monte Carlo?"
"Why not?"
****
"You won't be back again."
"I don't know. Yes I do. I'll be back some day to meet your children."
"Be Godfather?"
"Yes. Thank you. I love you, too. Julie, have pepperoni pizza on March eighth once in a while."
"Done. Thanks, Gallant. I needed something."
"You know, I think I'll just stop saying good-by."
"Not yet, but someday, I think you will."
****
"GALLANT!"
"Hello, Julie. Brrr. March Eighth is a lot colder here."
"Hurry. Get inside. You'll freeze your ears. How did you find me? Dumb question."
"How did you end up in Fairbanks, Alaska?"
"Jim. He loves it here. It's home. Now, you've got something bothering you. Tell Aunt Julie."
He smiled. She still knew him. She'd matured well. She was even more beautiful at forty-eight than she had been at twenty-four. He told her about the dreams, but he didn't tell her how long they'd been haunting him.
"Athena. Gallant, is this the dream that gave you your name?"
"Perceptive as ever. Yes. It's become insistent. I'm about to start in ancient Greece and look up every Athena who ever lived!"
"You're sure she's human?"
"Never found the name in any other culture."
"Wait a minute! Knew I heard a bell. Jim said something about an Athena. Last night... Yes! A lecturer at the University. No, she can't be the one. She's a geneticist. Plump and seventy-ish. Maybe she's got a granddaughter. Silly. There must be thousands of Athenas."
"True, but I had to come here. Now. Ah, hello, you must be Jim."
"And you can only be Gallant. Welcome. I've been waiting to meet you for a very long time. You're responsible for my meeting Julie."
"I am?!"
"Yes. I delivered a pepperoni pizza to her on March eighth in ninety-two and stayed to find out why she was smiling and crying. Never left. She was the most beautiful girl I ever met and her best friend was an angel named Gallant. She was either crazy or special. Took me at least two seconds to decide which."
"Took him two hours to propose."
"Took you two hours to get dressed."
"We got married March Eighth, Gallant. Twenty-three years ago. In Las Vegas."
"That's the most wonderful story I ever heard."
"WOW! It's him, isn't it?"
"Yes Alice, it's him. Gallant, our daughter Alice. Your oldest Godchild."
"You, my dear, are as beautiful as your mother."
"You're right, Mom. He definitely knows how to deliver a compliment. So, Gallant, how are you at hugs?"
"Come here and I'll let you decide."
****
"Anyway, she's got this project going, Gallant. Long term thing. Genetic selection. No real meddling. Just pick the best. You know; long life, strong bones, good teeth. With current life expec running about eighty in healthy enviros, she figures two cen by proj culm. Bout one cen from now."
"Despite the verbal shorthand, I got all that. And you signed up for it."
"Shh, don't tell Mom and Dad."
"Tell us what, Alice? Oh, the project. Well, it makes me a bit nervous, but your father says it sounds reasonable."
"You know, Mom, I bet they find a gene for mind reading when they run mine. Where's Ben?"
"Brenda called to say she'd be late. Study group."
"I don't believe it. Mom, she's out with that guy again. Yeah, you think so too. Dad?"
"Trying just as hard as I am to trust her."
"Well I'm not a parent. I don't have to. I'm going looking. He gives me the crawlies. And he's the best of that crowd he runs with. Uh, oh. Mom, what'd I do? Why's he staring--"
"Shh! He's listening."
"Alice, get your vehicle. I'm coming with you. Let's go. Julie, we'll find her. Move, Alice!"
The place Alice thought Brenda had gone, with the boy she didn't like, was just a few blocks away. When she stopped the car, the stench of evil was so strong, Gallant couldn't feel the direction it was coming from.
"Where?"
"That house."
"Stay here."
"No way, Gallant. I don't have the gas to sit and run it and I'd freeze."
"All right, but stay behind me and be prepared to duck. Alice, if I find what I think I will, don't watch. That's an order, not a request."
"One of those dark brother things."
"I don't give orders for other reasons."
"Understood."
Now he knew why he was in Fairbanks, why Athena had sent him. She'd sent him eight times before. There were three left. One of them was Hensk, but not this one. He went through the door. It would probably have been locked anyway. The stench of evil sickened him. Somewhere in here was his Godchild.
Alice watched him go through about ten people, then ducked and turned away. He was right. She didn't want to watch. She knew when it was over, but she didn't turn around. She could feel he didn't want her to.
"Alice, get her home. I'll be there soon. She's asleep. She won't remember anything after she left school. Tell her she hit her head."
"How will you get there?"
"I'll run. It's cold. Go on. You can carry her."
"I know that. She weighs less than I do. Thanks, Gallant."
"Thank Athena. She sent me. Now go. I've got to get these boys out. When I destroy the ship, it'll take the house with it. Go!"
He carried them out quickly. He could already hear sirens. Someone had called the authorities. The two blankets he'd found would be enough. They wouldn't freeze. He slipped the medunit back in his pocket and checked every room to make sure he hadn't missed anyone. That's when he found the kittens. He knew Mama was dead. He tucked the three tiny things in his shirt, put in the destruct code he'd programmed nearly nine thousand years before and ran for the door.
He ran through the night, holding the kittens in his shirt with one hand to keep them from being bounced. He was delighted to see the lights of Julie's house. It was cold. The run hadn't been long enough to really warm him. He ran in the kitchen door. He didn't realize someone had been following him.
"Get me warm milk and an eyedropper or something. They're starving."
"I know better. Five min, Gallant."
"All right, Jim. Julie, your entire family speaks shorthand."
"Do? Yeah. Guess. Comes of closeness."
"It's more than that. Alice may be right. They may find something very interesting in her genes. How is she?"
"Which one?"
"I know how Brenda is. Alice."
"Fine. Waiting by Brenda to give her your story. How bad was she?"
"Julie, she's fine now."
"In other words, you'd rather not tell me and I ought to have sense enough not to push it. All right. She's fine now. Her godfather fixed her."
"Yes. I'm hoping to get a hug from her mother for it. Shh. Julie, it's over. All the kittens are safe at home."
"How many left, Gallant?"
"Two."
"Yes, but it doesn't end there does it? You could still be killed by one of the ones you killed in your future. I mean... "
"Yes, but I have it on good authority I won't be."
"Athena again."
"She's waiting for me. Four times. As four different people. You know, Alice's project... I'm not sure."
"Bad?"
"No, not really important in the long run, but no problem."
"Don't tell her that. She has designs on an MD and a slot on it. Loves genetics. Intensely curious about yours."
"Tell her I have an extra pair of chromosomes. And no one else on my home planet does."
"Oh, Gallant!"
"I've known a long time. I'm as different from them as I am from you. And I like you better. They're boring!"
"Here. Hit up Bill Aikens. Vet. Caught him as he was pulling in the drive. He said twenty cc's every two til they're stuffed. Form mixes with warm water."
"Thank you, Jim. All right, little one. Let's get you stuffed. Yes, hungry. Poor baby."
Julie went to find Alice and discovered Brenda was awake. She laid a finger to her lips, smiled and led them to the kitchen. They stood quietly in the doorway and watched Gallant feed the three tiny kittens. He held the tiny life so gently in his big, beautiful, hands. And his smile was so soft.
****
"Mom, he's gone."
"I know, Alice."
"He didn't even say good-by."
"Alice, it hurts him terribly to say it. He's said it far too often."
"Yeah, too often. I understand. Will he be back?"
"I don't know, but we'll make sure we have pepperoni pizza on March eighth. Just in case he shows up for a slice."
The dark brother was angered at the loss of another of his kind. He traced the woman back though time. He would find the escaped one at their first meeting and destroy him before any of his brethren died. He laughed. The foolish slave had even left the door to his ship open. He would herd him to it and be waiting within.
Chapter Two
"Professor!"
"Yes, Alan, what is it?"
She smiled. She did so love to hear excitement in the voices of her students.
"I've found something. Hominid. Professor, I don't think it's... I think they're alien."
"Oh, my. Let me see that corder. Hmm. You may be right. Exhume them carefully, then we'll take them for a full scan at the university."
"I'd really rather you didn't."
"Who are you?"
"My name is Gallant."
"Uh, Alan, leave it."
"Professor, you've got to be kidding!"
"No, I'm not. Please don't ask questions. Go back to camp and send Mick to me. Don't talk about it, Alan."
Gallant smiled at the confused young man.
"Alan, come here. I'll explain. Those bones are why I'm here. They have no business being on Earth. In a moment, they won't be. You're on your way back to camp to send Mick to the professor. It's been a long day. You've enjoyed it, but didn't find anything unusual."
"You hypnotized him."
"Yes, I did. How did you know who I was? You recognized my name instantly."
"Pepperoni pizza has been a March Eighth tradition in my family for five generations."
"Ah, I see. And who is Mick?"
"My son, Miklos. I've got a thing for ancient Greece. I think it began with my name."
"Your name?"
"Oh, sorry. Professor Ath
ena Buchannon. Oh, dear! What did I do?!"
She sat down next to the big, beautiful, blond, family legend and watched him. He looked pretty stunned. She wondered why she wasn't. Maybe because it was March Eighth. Or would have been by the old calendar. Suddenly an intense wave of mingled emotions washed over her. Foremost was a kind of ironic joy.
"Whoa! Warn me if you're going to let loose with a blast like that, please."
"I beg your pardon?"
"I'm a very strong empath. You just about flattened me. All right, what's with the bones?"
"I'm not sure. Athena, are you a... I'm not sure how to ask this. Are you gene selected?"
"Great-great-grandmother Alice's project. Yes, though it ended a while back. I didn't pick my husband from stus at the U in Alaska. They were still a bit disappointed. I'm the cream of the crop they tell me. I'm fifty-two. Got three PhD's, an MD and I'm continental martial arts champion. In the Olympics twice in biathlon. Medaled both times. My son Mick's on his way. Curious. Real curious."
"Hi, Mom. Uh, huh. Well, from the way you're brimming, I'd say Gallant showed up for pepperoni pizza. Hi, Gallant. I'm Mick."
"I take it you're an empath too."
"Not really. Just with Mom. Dad before he died. High psi, but no breakthrough. Just poten. What's that?"
Gallant turned the small unit over in his hands. He'd built it because Athena had told him it would be needed.
"It will give me the genetic code of the bones, their age, then destroy them. One of the dark brothers seems to have decided to meddle in Earth's distant past. The bones indicate I might have a chance at stopping him."
"You mean they indicate you will stop him."
"No, Mick, I don't. Chance exists. The course of life in the universe can be changed. Earth could become a barren ball and have always been that way. Or be totally changed. The bones merely mean I can succeed. Keyed. Stand back a bit. You too, Athena. I've never used this before and I'd rather not learn it's too wide a band by having you two disappear."
"Oh, terrific. Come on, Mom. Let's get uphill."
Gallant smiled. He really liked the pair of them. He wondered where the bright coppery hair had come from. Julie's family had all had hair in varying shades of soft brown. He waited until they were some distance away, keyed the unit, then ran to join them. They watched as the ground sank very slightly in the area.
Choice of the Gallant_Paradox Equation I Page 3
