If Paladin had hair on his eyebrow, it would have risen slightly. “Interesting question. We have only recently acquired the time travel technology. The problem with time travel is the further back you need go, the harder it is to accurately arrive at the exact time and place to make a difference. I could not change what happened to this planet that long ago, but I could save your species now. That is the only reason I allowed Alex to go back. If I help Alex change what happens this soon after the event, he can make a difference.”
Alex leaned forward, forearms on the table. “I’ll try it again. We just need to find a way to help me remember what to do.”
“I’ve already explained that each time you try, you only make matters worse. Have you looked in the mirror, Alex? The last time you tried, it was only your wrist that was injured. This time you suffered a head injury. What will happen if you try it again?”
“I don’t care. If I succeed, I won’t have any injury.”
“What if you die the next time?”
Alex leaned back and crossed his arms. “Then it won’t matter. The eruption will happen just like right now, and everyone dies anyway.”
David sat up straight. “Hold on a second, Alex. I don’t want to die, and neither do the other millions of people on this planet. If there’s a chance, you have to try.” He had an idea. “What if I go back this time instead of you? Maybe I’ll remember what to do.”
Alex shook his head. “No, it has to be me. This time I did remember something felt wrong after I touched the sphere. I knew I was supposed to do something important, but I couldn’t quite grasp what it was. Perhaps this next time I’ll remember what to do.”
Paladin was silent for a moment. “I would like to see your species continue to evolve. If life on this planet is forced to evolve from the beginning again, the outcome may be completely different.”
“Yeah, the dinosaurs will be the dominate species.” said David.
Alex stood. “Then it’s settled. Let’s go to the sphere and send me back.”
David had an idea and looked up at Alex. “What if we tattoo the information on your arm? That way you’ll know exactly what you need to do.” He looked at Paladin. “That should work, right?”
Paladin shook his head. “That’s the paradox, David. If Alex succeeds, he will not have to go back in time to begin with, so he will not get tattooed.”
Alex shook his head. “I disagree. I felt the pain in my wrist this time. How could I feel the pain if hadn’t already hurt my wrist? If I get a tattoo right now and go back, it should still hurt when I come out. The difference will be I’ll see it in black letters. That should work.”
Paladin stared up at Alex. “Do you know the exact instant when Rita called her accomplices? When you go back, it will all start over again when you touch the sphere. It may already be too late to stop her from making the call.”
Alex slumped back down onto the chair. “You’re right. I don’t know exactly.” He tried to replay everything in his mind. He suddenly grinned. “I gave her a ride back to the island after I dropped Okana off on the Mystic. Cellphones don’t work that far out to sea, so she must have taken the satellite phone from the bridge. That’s how I can stop her from making the call.”
David sighed. “We still have a problem, Alex. I doubt anyone here has a tattoo machine.”
“Use a scalpel to cut the message into my arm.”
David’s jaw dropped open. “Are you nuts?”
“I suppose I am, but it’s the only way to make sure I get the message.”
“Do you realize how many cuts it would take to explain everything?”
“Then we’ll just have to keep it short. Just say, stop Rita.”
Paladin was skeptical it would work. “Will it be enough information? Will you know exactly what you need to do? It’s a very vague message.”
“I was suspicious of Rita to begin with. I’ll know what it means.”
Paladin was still skeptical. “All right. Just remember, if it doesn’t work, you could escalate the problem. You may die the next time.”
Alex stood again. “I’ll take the risk. Like I said before, what have I got to lose?”
David gave a short laugh as he stood. “Only the entire human race, Alex.”
Alex suddenly felt uneasy. Everyone was counting on him again, only adding to the weight on his shoulders.
Paladin stood. “I’ll meet you at the sphere. I’m always surprised no one here seems to care I’m different from everyone else.”
David grinned. “You should see some of the people outside this base. Believe me; some of them look more alien than you do.”
When David and Paladin headed back into the hanger, Alex continued down the hall to the infirmary, where a young female nurse listened to his request.
Tammy Baker stared at Alex. “You’re joking, right?”
Alex shook his head. “I wish I was. It’s important.”
“If you say so. Take off your shirt and have a seat.”
Tammy turned to grab what she needed from a drawer. “Rumor has it Yellowstone erupted a little while ago.”
“That’s right.”
Tammy sat on a stool and sterilized the area on Alex’s left forearm. “My friend said it won’t take long to kill everything on the surface. Is that right?”
“Why are you asking me?”
“Everybody knows who you are, Mister Cave. You’re a legend around here.”
Alex shifted in the chair, uneasy with the complement. “Legend’s a strong word. Why would anyone think that?”
“You’re going to feel a sting when I numb the area. Well, you discovered the crystals and stopped Menno Simons, and you stopped us from a new ice age last week. If that isn’t a legend, what is?”
Alex squirmed again, but not from the sting. “It was just luck.”
“My friend heard you talking in the cafeteria. He said you have a plan to stop this eruption.”
Alex stiffened, chastising himself for talking in the cafeteria. The last thing I need right now is more people counting in me to fix this. “Just start cutting, all right?”
“Okay. You just want me to carve STOP RITA on your arm, right. That’s all you want it to say?”
“That’s right.”
“How fancy do you want the letters.”
“I don’t care.”
Tammy grinned. “Okay. Here we go.”
Alex stared into space while she cut into his arm. A few minutes later, he stood and checked the bandage. “Thanks.”
Tammy noticed the other scars on Alex’s body as he put on his shirt. “Good luck, Mister Cave. We’re all counting on you.”
Alex sighed, gave her a nod, and walked into the corridor.
When he strode into the hanger, David and Paladin were standing next to the sphere.
“How did it go?” David asked.
“I’m ready. Okay, how does this thing work, Paladin?”
Paladin indicated for Alex to stand close to the sphere. “I’m going inside to set the controls. When the surface stops shimmering, place both hands on the side of the sphere. It will be instantaneous and you won’t feel a thing. Are you ready?”
Alex looked at David. “I guess I’ll see you again in a moment.”
David reached out and gave Alex a hug. “Good luck, Alex.”
Alex stepped back and looked at Paladin. “Let’s do this.”
David’s jaw dropped slightly when Paladin appeared to slip right through the surface of the sphere. A second later, the outside of the sphere looked like swirling tides of mercury.
When the mirrored surface returned, Alex gave David a thumbs up and placed his hands on the sphere.
* * *
Chapter 20
THE ISLAND:
“Damn!” For a fraction of a second Alex’s left forearm felt as though it had been sliced open, then the pain went away.
“Are your all right, Alex?” Okana asked.
Alex looked around the inside of the cargo
hold with a sense of Déjà vu. He had a strange sensation there was something very important he needed to do, but it was just on the fringe of his memory, like a dark cloud in the recesses of his mind. “What just happened, Okana?”
Okana thought it an odd question. “You touched this thing and swore, as if in pain. Don’t you remember?”
“Not really, but it all seems so familiar. Let’s go back outside so I can call Donner with the good news.”
Once back outside, Alex slid his satellite phone from a coat pocket and entered Donner’s number. A moment later, he was transferred to his office. “We did it, Martin.” He explained the highlights of what took place, and they needed three more crystals. “We need some support out here. I’m sure we’re not the only ones who know about this island.”
“I already have the Coast Guard on standby. I’ll call them right away.”
“What about military support?”
“That will take a little more time, but I’ll make the call. The Coast Guard should arrive within the hour. Is Okana with you right now?”
“Yes.”
“Tell him to call home. His father had a fatal heart attack.”
“Oh. All right. Thanks.” Alex handed the phone to Okana. “I think you should call home. Your family needs to get in touch with you.” I could swear I’ve done this before. Alex thought.
When Okana entered the number for his family’s ranch, his mother answered and explained what had happened, and asked him to come home. He hung up and looked at Alex. “Listen, I need to get home, but I don’t want to leave you without any backup.”
“Rita can handle herself. I have David and Mike to help. Let’s get back to the Mystic so the helicopter can take you to the airport in Seward.”
Okana hesitated. “That’s not much help, Alex.”
“Donner said the Coast Guard should be here soon. I’ll be okay. Let’s go.”
Alex and Okana climbed into the motorboat and drove back to the Mystic, they bumped against the stern, Rita jumped in.
“Can I get a ride back?”
Alex looked at Okana, who climbed out. “I’ll be back in a minute.” He shoved off from the stern, started the engine, and drove across to the island.
A few moments later, when the boat bumped against the dock, Rita stepped out and smiled as she waited for Alex to leave.
Alex was about to drive back to the Mystic, but had a strong desire not to leave yet, as if the haze in his mind was beginning to clear.
Rita noticed Alex’s hesitation. “Is something wrong?”
“Maybe I should go with you.”
Crap! “Don’t be silly. I’ll be fine. Go say goodbye to Okana.”
“Maybe you’re right.”
Rita knew better than to let Alex get suspicious, so she turned and headed back to the spaceship.
Alex stared after Rita as she disappeared over the edge of the crater. For some odd reason, he suddenly hated her, as if she had done something terrible to him.
He heard the helicopter engine begin to whine. No, that’s just too crazy.
When he reached down to shove off from the dock, Alex suddenly remembered the pain in his forearm and straightened up. When he rolled up his sleeve, his eyebrow went up. “What the hell?”
Someone had used lightning bolts as letters to spell, STOP RITA. What in hell is this about? Lightning bolts? It must be important.
Alex shut off the engine and stepped onto the dock, tying the bow rope to the cleat as he stood. The looming black cloud in the back of his mind was slowly beginning to clear as he climbed over the ridge of the crater. When he saw Rita hurrying across the beach, an incredible sense of rage was nearly overpowering. He didn’t understand why, but knew he had to stop her from doing something.
When Rita heard someone running across the gravel beach, she had a gut wrenching feeling it was Alex. Damn, I hate that guy!
When the footsteps stopped, Rita turned around ready to smile and act innocent. She wasn’t afraid of much, but the venomous look in Alex’s eyes seemed to bore right into her brain. “What’s wrong with you, Alex?”
It took every ounce of self-control to stop himself from knocking her to the ground, and after a few deep breaths, he let his hunched shoulders relax. “I’m not sure what’s going on right now, Rita, but I’m taking you back to the Mystic.”
Rita tried to relax, wondering if Alex was onto her plan. He was being very vague. He seemed to be having a hard time remembering, “You’re scaring the hell out of me, Alex. What’s wrong with you?”
“Let’s go.”
Rita knew Alex meant it. He couldn’t prove anything, and now was not the time to argue. “Okay.”
Alex followed Rita back to the motorboat and took her across to the Mystic. Okana was waiting on the stern and Alex tossed him the bow rope.
“What’s up, Alex?”
Rita felt her heart rate increase. How much does Alex know? “Is there a problem, Alex?”
“Just climb out of the boat, Rita.”
Rita didn’t like where this was leading. “All right.” She stepped out onto the deck and waited until Alex climbed out. “Mind telling me what this is about?”
Alex had a strange intuition. “Empty your pockets.”
Rita brought the satellite phone out from her coat pocket, careful not to expose the pistol tucked into the rear of her pants. “That’s it.”
When Alex saw the phone, he felt an adrenalin rush. “Mind if I hang on to that?”
“I was just taking it over to Henry.” She held the phone out to Alex. “He said he needed to make a call.”
“I’ll take care of it.” When Alex took the phone, it felt as if the weight of the world had been lifted off his shoulders, but he didn’t understand why.
Okana didn’t know what to say, but trusted Alex to tell him later. “Do you want me to stick around, buddy?”
Alex hesitated. “No, I think everything is okay. Go home to your family.”
Rita realized her plan was thwarted and turned to face Okana. “You’re flying back to the mainland? I’ll go with you. I need to get off the water for a while anyway. Just let me get my bag.”
When Rita hurried across the deck, Okana stared at Alex. “Mind telling me what that was about?”
Alex stared after Rita. “I have no idea. It was just a weird feeling something was wrong.”
*
Rita threw her belongings into the tote bag and buried the pistol just under the surface of her clothes before zipping it closed. She knew Preston has a submarine capable of retrieving one of the devices, and she knew the GPS location.
If I can get ahold of Steve in time, we could salvage the device here in the Bering Sea. Now all I need to do is get off this ship before Alex changes his mind.
*
Okana noticed Alex staring across the water, lost in thought. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
Alex turned. “I have all these images flashing through my mind. Things that could not possibly happen, but they seem so real.” He rolled up his sleeve. “Look at this.”
Okana stepped closer and read the letters formed by red scar tissue. He looked up and gave Alex a questioning stare. “Stop Rita? What does it mean?”
“I have no idea.”
When Rita stepped out on the stern deck, she smiled and tried her best to look casual until she saw the strange look in Alex’s eyes. She turned and grabbed the door handle on the side of the helicopter.
Alex quickly moved over to stop her. “Hold on a second, Rita. What are you up too?”
Crap! Rita turned and smiled. “What do you mean?”
“Are you working with someone other than us?”
Rita shifted her weight, crossed her arms, and stared at Alex. “I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, but I haven’t done anything wrong.”
Alex realized she was right and just stared at her. He couldn’t shake the feeling she was up to something. He stepped closer to Rita so he could whisper in her ear. “
I don’t know what you’re up to, but I’ll be watching you.” When he stepped back, he could see the fear in her eyes and knew his suspicion was correct.
Rita looked away and climbed into the helicopter.
Okana gave Alex a hug. “Listen, Alex. We’re going to have a memorial service for my dad next Saturday, and I wondered if you would come to my ranch. You’ve never been there, and I’d really like for you to meet my mom.”
Alex didn’t hesitate. “Of course I will. Just let me know what time.”
“I’ll introduce you to my cousin, Fala.”
Alex’s shoulders slumped. “Don’t do this to me again, Okana. You know I’m not ready for another relationship.”
“You don’t have to marry her, Alex. I think you might like her.”
“You’d better get going. I’ll see you in a week.”
Okana turned and climbed into the helicopter.
As the rotors began to spin, Alex hurried up the stairs to the bridge. Once he was inside out of the downdraft, Bett took the helicopter into the air and he sat down and watched it disappear over the island.
As he stared at the island through the window, Alex could not stop thinking about the cuts on his arm. It’s apparent the carver had talent, but when did this happen? Was I conscious or awake? Why would I allow it in the first place?
When he heard the deep thumping of an approaching helicopter, Alex grabbed the binoculars off the console and trained them in the direction of the sound. A moment later, an orange and white Coast Guard helicopter swung around the island and hovered over the stern deck.
“Mystic, this is Coast Guard Rescue Three at your service. I’d like to speak with Mister Alex Cave.”
Alex grabbed the microphone. “This is Alex. It’s good to see you.”
“I’d like permission to lower a few Marines down to help you.”
“Permission granted. What are your orders?”
“We’ll remain here on standby until the jets arrive, but then we’re to take you to the airport on Adak by order of Director Donner.”
“I understand. Thanks for the assist.”
As Alex replaced the microphone, four soldiers slide down a rope onto the stern deck. He grabbed a portable radio and hurried down the stairs to greet them.
The Alex Cave Series. Books 1, 2, & 3.: Box set Page 74
