“What did you see?” Christa asked.
“The, ah.” Broden looked down at the bed. When he looked up, his eyes were begging for understanding. “The spaceship.”
Christa and Alex exchanged looks, and Broden noticed. “I know you think I’m crazy, but I know what I saw!” he said adamantly. “I didn’t know for sure. I mean, not at first. Just that it was huge. Then they came out and I knew what it was!”
“Who came out?” Christa asked.
Again, Broden’s eyes pleaded for understanding. “The spacemen in white suits.” This time Christa and Alex restrained the urge to glance at each other and let Broden continue. “They started tossing the bodies of my friends into the store room. That’s when I realized . . . I mean, the way their eyes were open and all. I didn’t want to look, but I couldn’t stop. I’ve never seen dead people before, but I just knew they were dead. I felt like a coward, but I didn’t want them to kill me, so I stayed behind the boxes. They just kept staring at me, my friends, I mean. I couldn’t stand to keep looking at them. When I thought it was safe, I stacked a bunch of boxes up in front of them. Later, I don’t really know how long it was, I felt the ground shake again, but I wasn’t about to come out. The next thing I knew, I was here, in this hospital.”
“Can you describe the spaceship for us?” Alex asked.
Broden looked baffled for a moment. “It was a gigantic silver disk. Must have been at least a hundred-foot across.”
Broden saw Christa and Alex glance at each other, Christa smiling skeptically. He shook his head. “You think I’m crazy, don’t you?”
“No, Mr. Broden,” Alex said sincerely. “As a matter of fact, that would explain several mysteries.”
Christa glanced up at Alex, wondering if he really believed Broden’s fantasy.
Broden’s mood lightened. “Then I can leave the hospital?”
Alex nodded. “If the doctor thinks you’re physically fit, I don’t see why not.”
Broden smiled. “Thank God!”
Alex’s expression turned serious. “One of the men from your station is still missing. Gary Darven. Do have any idea what happened to him?”
Broden slowly shook his head, his brows knitting together in thought. “You know, come to think of it, he wasn’t in the storeroom with the rest of the guys.”
“What do you know about him?”
Broden shrugged. “Not much. Kind of a weird guy, though. He’d only been there for a couple of weeks and didn’t talk all that much. He did some strange things, too.”
“Such as?”
“Well, I don’t know how to explain it, exactly. He just did things somewhat different and wasn’t very friendly, but mainly it was what he did the night before all this happened. I got off watch, and as I was walking past his room, I heard him talking on the other side of the door and stopped to listen. It sounded like he was praying and I started to leave. Then I saw a bright blue light under the door. It’s common courtesy not to invade someone’s privacy, but I couldn’t help myself.
I opened the door a crack and peeked into the room. Gary was kneeling in front of the desk, saying a prayer or something, and staring at what looked like a blue light bulb, but it didn’t seem to be connected to a lamp. I couldn’t hear his words clearly, but I heard him repeat the word MESSIAH a couple of times, then he held up a small glass tube full of colored, sparkly stuff. He held it close to the blue light and I know it was just my imagination, but the sparkles looked like they were moving around in the tube. A moment later, the light got dimmer until it blinked out. I didn’t want him to catch me, so I closed the door.” Broden shook his head. “Of course, I couldn’t tell anyone. Then they would know I was spying and no one would trust me anymore. So I just went to my room and read for a while.”
“Do you know where he came from?” Christa asked.
“Not really.”
“Just one more thing, Mr. Broden,” said Alex. “Do you have any idea how this spaceship managed to steal six million barrels of oil out of the pipeline?”
Broden looked very bewildered by the question, and slowly shook his head. “I didn’t know anything about it.”
Alex smiled. “Okay. You’ve been very helpful. I’ll tell the director you’re free to go. By the way, I wouldn’t tell anyone else about the spaceship, if you know what I mean.”
Broden chuckled. “Damn right, I won’t. They’d put me away in a loony bin for sure.”
When Christa and Alex left the room, the director was standing near the nurses’ station and approached them as they came down the hall.
“Well?” the director asked. “What do you think?”
Alex smiled. “If he’s physically ready to leave the hospital, release him.”
The director’s jaw went slack for a moment. “What? You can’t be serious! He’s been in a delusionary state since he was admitted. I want to run a complete physiological evaluation, and that takes time. Our staff psychologist, Dr. Brandstrom, can’t fit him in until tomorrow afternoon.”
“I’ll see that he gets the help he needs. Send the hospital bill to this address.” Alex handed him a business card.
The director looked at Alex curiously, nodded, and accepted the card. Alex thanked him for his help, and he and Christa left the hospital.
“Do you believe all that?” Christa asked skeptically during the taxi ride back to the airport.
Alex hesitated while he mentally compared Broden’s story with the events of the past week. Finally, he looked at Christa and nodded. “I think I do.”
Christa stared at him, her eyes wide with surprise. “What?”
“I don’t think it was spacemen, but somebody wearing a protective suit. I’m not sure what the silver disk was. Perhaps a reflection off the chrome of an airplane.”
“So what are you going to tell Bull and the people in Washington D.C? Surely you don’t think they’ll accept Broden’s story.”
“Nothing for the moment. At least not until we have proof. Are you with me on this?”
“Okay,” Christa agreed. “Where do we start?”
“I’ll have Martin send someone to investigate Gary Darven’s background. Also, I think the crystal you found could be very important. I’d like you to take it to a more sophisticated lab for further testing. I’ll arrange it at the University in Montana. You can stay at my ranch while you’re there, if you like.”
“All right,” she answered and smiled at the thought of staying with Alex at his ranch. She thought this a great opportunity to learn more about him.
“How soon can you leave?” Alex asked.
“I can be ready for the first flight out, in the morning.”
“Good. I’ll pick you up and give you a ride to the airport.”
She suddenly realized he wasn’t planning to go with her. “What? Where will you be?”
“I’m going for a cruise on one of the tankers.”
Christa suddenly felt a deep, sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. If Alex left on one of those tankers, she’d never see him again. He’d end up like all the other crewmembers, either dead or horribly injured. God! Why am I feeling this way? She wondered. I hardly know him! “How about dinner?” she asked softly.
Alex was staring out the window absorbed in thought, and turned toward Christa. “Sorry, what was that?”
“I said, how about a last dinner together?”
Alex smiled. “You make it sound so final. I’ll be joining you in Montana in a few days.”
“You, of all people, should realize what will happen if you’re on one of those tankers.” she said quietly.
Alex saw the anguish in her eyes. “Listen, Christa. Now that we know what can happen, we’ll be ready. I’m not suicidal, you know.”
Christa realized it was useless to argue, and leaned back in the seat, and stared out the window. She felt Alex gently grab her hand, and realized he must think she was pouting. She looked at him and tried to smile. “So how about that dinner?” she asked.
&n
bsp; “I’d like that,” he answered and smiled.
That evening, Christa met him in the hotel restaurant. She was wearing a black satin cocktail dress, cut in a deep `V’ at the neckline, with thin shoulder straps. She wore silver and diamond earrings and a matching choker necklace.
Alex stood from the table when he saw her. As he slid her chair to the table, he smiled. With his lips close to her ear, he softly commented, “You look ravishing.”
Christa smiled at his boyish manner and obvious approval.
After dinner, Alex drove them to her apartment building and walked her upstairs. “I’ll see you in the morning,” he told her.
“No! I mean, don’t you want to come in for a nightcap?”
Oh how I’d love to, he thought, but a picture of Sevi’s body on the stretcher flashed through his mind. No! He chastised himself. I’m already becoming too emotionally attached to her. I can’t let it happen again. “I don’t think I should,” he said, and saw Christa’s hurt expression. “I’m sorry,” he said softly.
Christa forced a smile. “Okay. I’ll see you in the morning.” Alex smiled, but she noticed lines of tension near his jawline. She watched him walk down the stairs, and then closed the door and sighed deeply.
The next morning, Alex carried her suitcase to the check-in counter at the airport, and the attendant informed her to board immediately. Christa impulsively threw her arms around Alex’s neck and hugged him fiercely. “Be careful,” she whispered in his ear.
Alex felt the moisture of her tears on his neck. When she released him, he wanted desperately to kiss her, but smiled instead. “I’ll meet you in Montana. I promise. Now you’d better get on the plane or they’ll leave without you.”
Christa nodded and tried to smile bravely as she wiped the tears from her cheeks. She walked toward the door, glancing over her shoulder once before stepping through. Alex was smiling confidently, and she felt he meant what he said.
Alex’s smile faded as soon as the door closed behind her, for he had a premonition he might never see her again. He swore to himself he would as he walked through the terminal.
* * *
Chapter 11
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON:
“Oh dear god! I never should have left!” Harold Woolly mumbled as he staggered along the street, exhausted after running as far as his physical condition would allow. He stumbled and fell, gashing his knee on the asphalt as his rubbery legs gave out beneath him.
When he arrived at the office that morning, he’d been the only one there. He’d waited around until Calli had called him, screaming in panic that she had heard gunshots and seen a group of young people breaking into houses up the street. Harold left immediately and drove as far as he could on what little gas he had left in his car. He passed hundreds of abandoned cars on the freeway before his car sputtered and died. Then he grabbed his briefcase and ran until his chest heaved and his muscles ached. That was an hour ago. Since then, he had been walking, occasionally seeing tall columns of black smoke in different parts of the suburbs.
He quickened his pace as he rounded the corner and saw his house, half a block away. He heard gunshots and looked farther up the street. A group of ten young men and women were dragging what appeared to be an elderly man out the front door of a house at the far end of the block. They tossed the old man onto the lawn, kicking him viciously. Harold heard the man screaming for help and begging not to be killed. Tears ran down Harold’s cheeks in sympathy for the man, and he wished he had the courage to help him.
A sense of foreboding suddenly filled his thoughts as he pictured Calli and his children lying on the lawn in front of his home. Harold’s heart felt as though it was about to explode, but he ran the rest of the way and beat on his front door. “Calli! It’s me. Let me in!” The door opened a few inches, and a shotgun barrel was shoved in his face.
“Dad?” a young voice asked.
“Mark!” Harold yelled with relief. “Yes, it’s me!”
The rifle barrel withdrew through the gap, and Harold heard the familiar sound of the chain lock being unfastened. A second later, the door opened, and Harold rushed through as Mark slammed it shut behind him. When he turned, Mark threw his arms around him, and Harold could feel him shaking. Harold tried to sound confident. “It’s going to be okay.” Harold felt his voice quivering. “Where’s your mom? Where’s Pamela? Is everyone okay?”
“Yeah, but they’re really scared. Mom and Pam are in the back room.”
“Oh, Harold!” Calli hollered from the hall and rushed toward him. “Thank God, you’re home!” Calli threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. “I’ve been so scared!”
Harold felt her flinch as they heard another gunshot. “It’ll be all right,” he told her. He looked at Mark. “How long has this been going on? Did you call the police?”
“I heard the first shots early this morning, Dad, but the police said they were too busy and would come when they could. They still haven’t come by. People have been going crazy, Dad. There isn’t any food in the stores anymore, and people are robbing and killing each other for whatever they have.”
Harold eased Calli away and looked into her tear-swollen eyes. “I’m sorry I left.”
“No. I’m sorry I drove you away. It’s my fault for being such a nag. You work so hard and all I did was complain about everything.
“Shush. It’s both our faults, okay?”
Calli smiled as best she could and nodded.
“Do we have any food left?” he asked.
“Just some canned food.” It was Pamela’s voice.
Harold looked toward the hallway and saw Pamela standing with a baseball bat slung over her shoulder. Harold smiled at her for a moment, and she walked over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “I’m glad you’re home, Dad!”
When she looked up, Harold saw the tears in her eyes. Another gunshot echoed through the neighborhood. “Listen, those thugs are headed this way,” Harold said to his family. “I think it’s best if we pack some clothes and food and leave the area.”
Calli’s eyes went wide. “But this is our home! Everything we own is here!”
“Calli, it doesn’t matter anymore. We can’t fight those people out there. We wouldn’t stand a chance. I couldn’t stand it if something were to happen to any of you.”
“I’ve got all my guns,” Mark told him.
“Those are just toy guns, Mark.”
“Yeah, but they don’t know that. I did have one real gun, but I don’t know what happened to it.”
“What?” Calli said in shock. “You had a real gun? Oh my God! You could have hurt yourself!”
“Where did you get it?” Harold asked in an even tone.
“From Brian Everex. He got it from his brother, and I traded some stuff for it. It was really neat looking. Sort of like what the Lone Ranger used.”
The breath caught in Harold’s throat as he remembered staring at the old man in the mirror. He regained his composure and opened his briefcase. On top of his papers was the silver pistol. “Is this it?”
“Yeah! Where did you get it?”
Harold sighed deeply. “It’s a long story. Do you have any bullets for it?”
“Yeah, they’re in my bottom drawer. I knew better than to keep it loaded.”
“Okay. Get those and one of your biggest fake guns. Pack some clothes while you’re there. Not much, just a couple of changes.” Harold looked at his wife and daughter. “You two do the same. Try to pack light. I don’t know where we’re going, or how long it will take. I just know we have to get out of here, and fast.” He looked at Calli. “Is there any gas left in your van?”
“A little over half a tank. Once the rationing started, I decided to walk whenever possible.”
“Okay. We’ll load up whatever groceries we have. Pack some clothes for me, Calli. I’m going to stand guard until we’re ready.” He looked at Mark. “Better bring me the bullets for this gun, first.”
Twenty minutes later, the mini
van in the garage was loaded. “Okay, everyone,” said Harold. “Those people are only a couple of houses away. Calli, I want you to drive. Pam will be in the car with you. Mark and I will be out in front of the house. I want you to back into the street and be ready to drive away from those people as soon as we get in, okay?”
“Shouldn’t you and Mark be in the car with us?” Calli asked in a frightened voice.
“No. It would be better if those people see we’re armed. Otherwise, they might shoot at the car. All right, is everybody ready? Let’s go.”
As soon as they heard the car start, Harold and Mark stepped out into the front yard, their guns clearly visible. The people up the street didn’t notice them until the garage door opened, and then they all stared at Harold and Mark. As the car backed out into the street, two of the boys began to run toward it.
“They’ve got gas!” one boy yelled.
Harold was shaking. He’d never been so frightened in his life. He took a deep breath and pointed the gun at the two boys, and he could see the barrel of the gun shaking. Suddenly, the gun nearly tore his wrist off, and he heard a deafening explosion.
One of the boys was hurled backward by the shot and he crumpled to the ground. The other boy staggered to a stop. No one made another move while Harold kept the gun pointed in their direction.
Calli pulled forward and stopped next to Harold and Mark.
“Get in, Son!” Harold yelled, his voice wavering. He heard the door open and backed toward it.
The Alex Cave Series. Books 1, 2, & 3.: Box set Page 10
