ROMULUS (The Innerworld Affairs Series, Book 1)

by Marilyn Campbell

  Her aging face lined with tension, Kate admitted, "I have always believed in the existence of life on other planets. We may have a tougher time convincing the powers that be."

  "We? Our intention was to give you the information and return to Innerworld. We want you to take full credit for the discovery." Rom saw Aster stiffen in her seat.

  Kate attempted to reason with him. "I would be more than content to accept the Nobel Prize for the most stupendous discovery of the century and never tell a soul about you. The problem is, even if I understand the theory, it is highly improbable that I would ever have come up with it on my own. Some people would be so suspicious that they would become sidetracked from what had to be done to find out how I did it.

  "Also, it's obvious to me that our country cannot do this alone. Off the top of my head, I'd say we'll have to bring in China. Although I've met many scientists from all over the world at various symposiums, I don't carry enough weight in our government, let alone any of theirs, to ensure everyone's immediate cooperation."

  Aster watched the woman's expression change several times from dismay to deep thought, to consideration and finally to a very feminine smile, with just a touch of pink on her plump cheeks.

  "There is someone, a man I was once... very close to. It's been a long time since we worked together but I'm sure he'd help. He's Professor David Ingram, a nuclear physicist and professor emeritus at Harvard. He helped develop one of the earlier rocket fuels. The Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams is at Harvard, also. He'd know better than I who could be trusted in the Bureau and together I'm sure we could present a solid case. But to whom? The Secretary of State? The President? Possibly both, but it would eventually have to go to the United Nations Security Council. Between David and the Bureau, they could probably force an emergency meeting without having to explain where the information originated."

  "The two of you would be sharing that Nobel Prize, Doctor Houston." Aster imagined there was a sad love story involved and wished for a happy ending for the kindly scientist. Kate blushed fully this time and Aster knew she had guessed accurately.

  "It would undoubtedly save a lot of time, though, if you would appear at the Council meeting and do that mind link," Kate added.

  "No way!" Aster interrupted. "Romulus cannot be exposed to so many people. You know his world would never remain a secret after that."

  "Aster's right," Rom said. "I can imagine people searching for the doorways to my world and disrupting our normal course of business."

  "I understand," Kate said as her worried look returned. "But I'm afraid you're going to have to at least meet with David personally. I comprehend the theories better now but I'm not certain I could explain them to him. And what if he has questions? I assure you he's as trustworthy as I am."

  Rom considered her words carefully before he finally agreed. "All right. It's against my better judgment but I'll meet with him. What do you suggest?"

  "He's in Cambridge, Massachusetts and the United Nations is in New York. The most logical thing would be for us to go to Cambridge on the first available flight."

  Aster groaned at the thought of another cross-country airplane trek.

  Rom touched her hand. "We have our own means of transportation. How soon could he meet with us?"

  Kate squelched her curiosity. "Let me call David and set everything up."

  Aster noticed the woman did not have to look up the phone number. How many times had she almost called that number over the years? Aster's sense of romance was having a field day.

  Fifteen minutes later Kate had made two phone calls and still hadn't reached David. His housekeeper had informed her he was in London. When she called his hotel there, he was out. She left messages in both places.

  "I'm sorry. I don't know what to tell you. He could call in ten minutes or ten hours. It wouldn't make much sense to fly to Massachusetts until I hear from him. You could wait here or at my house, or I could call you wherever you're staying."

  Aster glanced at Rom. "Can we stay?"

  "It doesn't appear we have much choice."

  "Could your assistant make some arrangements for us for tonight?"

  "Certainly." Kate walked to her desk to call Walter in and noticed the open channel. She could not remember the last time she used it and assumed she had left it on without thinking. After all, Walter had been her right hand for ten years. He would never intentionally eavesdrop on her.

  "Walter, are you still there?"

  "Yes," his slightly high-pitched voice answered her.

  "Please come in. We need a favor."

  Walter appeared with pad and pen in hand almost instantly.

  "Walter, this is Miss Mackenzie and Mr. Locke. They need a place to stay tonight. Please assist them with whatever they would like."

  Again Aster spoke up, her voice bristling with authority. "I remember there was an excellent resort on the outskirts of Escondido. If they have a suite, I'd prefer that. Otherwise, I'd like a large, non-smoking room with a king-sized bed. Also, we'll need to rent a car when we get there. If you can reserve us a Prius, please do so, if not, another hybrid will do." She reached into her purse and pulled out the "corporate" credit card the governor had given her. "Here. I'm sure you'll need this to make the arrangements. Also, if you would please get us a cab to take us there that should do it." She gave the man an appreciative smile.

  Walter rapidly wrote down her instructions and practically clicked his heels as he whirled to perform his tasks.

  Rom raised an eyebrow at the woman he had once thought of as a nervous colt. Aster was on her own turf and very accustomed to doling out orders and being obeyed. She would do just fine as Co-Governor of Innerworld.

  Kate held out her hand to Aster then to Rom. "I'll call you at the resort if any problem arises. Thank you hardly expresses how much I appreciate your visit."

  "It was a pleasure, Doctor," Rom said seriously.

  When they exited Kate's office, Walter had everything in order. "I will drive you to the resort. It would take forever to get a taxi up here," he offered with a nervous giggle.

  The threesome remained quiet on the long, slow drive down the winding mountain road. Rom didn't appear overly impressed with the unpopulated countryside and its occasional pine tree. Aster could see most of his concentration was centered on popping his ears during the descent from the mountain. Eventually, they were out of the Cleveland National Forest surrounding the observatory and made their way through the rural Indian reservations.

  Suddenly Rom bolted forward, darting his head from side to side in alarm. He quickly recovered his composure for Walter's benefit but Aster could see by his eye movements that he was not relaxed by a long shot. Walter did not seem to notice Rom's concern as he blended in with the bumper-to-bumper traffic on Interstate 15, heading for Escondido and San Diego.

  It tickled her to think that the proverbial shoe was now on the other foot. Rom's first experience in Outerworld would include a traffic jam. Rom gripped the dashboard as Walter alternately rushed forward and slammed on his brakes inches from the car in front of him.

  Several cars had radios blasting so loudly that the noise vibrated through their closed windows. Horns blared every few seconds whenever one car cut in front of another. They also passed drivers casually reading their newspapers or talking on their cell phones, unwilling to lose their precious time in unproductive activity.

  Rom now had a much better understanding of how the emissary could have been killed. When he got back, he was going to recommend hazardous duty credit for everyone forced to cope with traffic in Outerworld.

  A stressful half-hour later, they arrived at the resort. Walter insisted on ushering them to the registration desk to make sure all his requests had been complied with.

  As soon as they were in their room, Aster took Rom's hand. He had not uttered a sound since they left Palomar. "Are you all right?"

  "I guess so. I understand why descending a mile-high mountain would affect the pressu
re in my ears. I was even expecting the automobiles to look and move the way they do. What I cannot fathom is what all those people were doing on that road? I was beginning to think we were facing a threat greater than the planetoid. And what is that horrible smell outside? And the noise! How can you stand it?"

  Giving him a quick kiss, she smiled and said, "That, darling, was a freeway. You should see L.A. if you think that was bad. Smog, automobile exhaust and some other factors, account for the smell. I couldn't have thought up a better example to initiate you to air pollution. Now you see why I was so fascinated with your filters. There's still time for you to reconsider."

  "Aster..." His deep voice warned her to give it up.

  She shrugged her shoulders. "One other little thing," she said as she walked to the door, turned the lock and fastened the chain, "we double-lock everything here. Is there anything you'd like to see while we're in my world? The Pacific Ocean? The San Diego Zoo? You know what you probably would have liked if we had time? A football game! I wonder if the Chargers are playing at home tomorrow."

  "I saw a football game on our monitors many years ago. Interesting game but it never caught on in Innerworld. As for points of interest, if it means getting back on that freeway, I think I'll stay right here. A sign downstairs said this place has a restaurant, shops, a theater, a pool and..." Rom paused as he pulled her down onto the bed with him, "I have you."

  Aster gave herself up to the sweetness of his kisses until her stomach made an angry rumbling sound. "I haven't eaten all day," she said with a laugh. "At least let's go to the mall. We really do need a change of clothes. It's not far and we can eat there." She refrained from reminding him who had wanted to pack something. "Besides, I have to get Cherry some of her favorite perfume. I promise I'll only take side streets and I'll drive very carefully. Okay?"

  "Do you think I could deny you anything you really wanted? I'd like to ask you a question first. What was your impression of Doctor Houston and Walter?"

  "I'm sure she'll do the job and keep your secret, if at all possible. Her assistant is another matter. Aside from the fact that he is very high-strung and decidedly effeminate, he was gawking at you as if you were peculiar, not as though he was attracted to you. Another thing that I thought was strange was how quiet he was on the drive here. Every devoted admin I've ever known would have pumped us until he knew our connection with his boss. But it's probably nothing. I'm probably just being overly suspicious."

  "I don't think so. Remember your intuition about Victor. We can definitely trust Doctor Houston though. I'm glad you suggested I touch her mind. She doesn't have a deceitful bone in her body. I have no doubt about her abilities, either."

  Rom helped Aster to her feet and kissed her forehead. "I can hardly wait to see this mall of yours," he remarked, and rolled his eyes.

  Chapter 19

  "Mr. Underwood, this is Walter Adams from Palomar Observatory. You may not remember me..."

  "Nonsense, Walter," a booming voice returned. "We spoke at last year's Christmas party. It's almost that time again, eh? How's your mother doing? Alzheimer's wasn't it?"

  "Uh, yes, sir, uh, she's doing as well as can be expected. Thank you for asking." Walter was thrilled that the corporate magnate would remember someone as insignificant as him. His pleasure faded when he recalled reading how the man kept extensive notes on everyone he met. "Uh, two years ago you asked me to keep my ears open, and, well, I know I've never had anything extraordinary to report—"

  "You are getting your pay supplements, aren't you? I wouldn't want one of my key people having problems."

  Walter was astonished to hear that he was considered a key anything and Mr. Underwood sounded genuinely concerned. "Oh yes, sir, every month, just like clockwork, and believe me, I've always appreciated the extra money, especially with the way the medical bills keep piling up for my mother's care."

  "What is the problem, Walter?" Underwood cut in.

  "I'm calling because I have something I think would be of great interest to you. You see, uh, Doctor Houston had a very unusual visitor today."

  "Not over the phone, Walter. Are you at home?"

  "No, sir. My instructions were to call this number from a public telephone."

  "Good. Give me the address where you are."

  Walter complied.

  "Stay there. I'll pick you up in my limousine in precisely one hour. Fortunately, I'm in my L.A. office at the moment. We'll talk in the car."

  "Yes, sir. I'll be waiting and I promise it will be worth your—" Walter stopped talking when he realized the line had disconnected. His heart pounded erratically in his chest and his sweat dripped from the telephone receiver when he hung it up.

  He stood very still until the pain in his left shoulder subsided somewhat. It seemed to be getting worse all the time. He had to keep going though. There was no one else to take care of Mama. Oh, God, he thought for the thousandth time, why doesn't she just die? Immediately, guilt pangs overtook him. He spent most of his time these days feeling guilty about one thing or another.

  When his father died of a heart attack twenty years ago, Walter had felt guilty that he had never been the man he was expected to be. Now he felt guilty because he was sick and tired of caring for an old woman who rarely remembered who he was.

  Recently, he had also been feeling the burden of accepting the extra monthly payments from The Underwood Institute without giving anything in return. He was certain they were getting ready to take him off their special payroll and his debts were too great to allow that to happen.

  Walter might have been relieved to finally have something to offer to secure his position with them, except for the magnitude of what he was about to disclose. This was no tidbit of information he had heard. What would a powerful man like Gordon Underwood do with it? And what about Kate?

  When Mama's health started declining, he had transferred much of his affection to his elderly boss. During the ten years he worked for Doctor Houston, he had never given her cause to distrust him. He prayed she would never find out about his betrayal and tried to think of some way to shield her from Underwood.

  He went over all he heard one more time since he had not dared take notes. Perhaps if he only revealed part of what he heard, he could repay his obligation to Underwood and still protect Kate.

  With that idea in mind, he mentally outlined what he would report. One, a huge asteroid was heading toward Earth which could destroy the planet. Two, an extraterrestrial named Romulus Locke came to help Earth's scientists redirect the asteroid. Three, Doctor Houston and her two visitors would be meeting with a rocket scientist tomorrow. Romulus would give them all the details at that time, including a formula for increasing the speed of Earth's ships. If he lied about that part, that should cover Kate temporarily. Four, the alien brought an Earth woman with him, who had previously disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Perhaps if he didn't reveal her name, he could protect her as well. Five, they were now both living in an advanced civilization located in the inner core of the Earth. And sixth, they would be returning to that world, but tonight they were staying at the Village Resort.

  As he waited, Walter considered the man he'd met only twice before. The man's wealth was overwhelming on its own but Underwood was physically impressive as well. Tall and built like a defensive linebacker, his features were sharp and intelligent. What Walter remembered most was his massive shaven head. He'd found it strangely erotic. After he agreed to accept the Institute's secret assignment, Walter read any article written about the billionaire.

  One of the few remaining self-made men in his tax bracket, one writer described him as brilliant, intuitive, generous and a fair employer. Another wrote that he was scheming, ruthless, power hungry and heartless. Walter had heard that Underwood was asexual, desiring money and power more than a relationship with another human—woman or man. Then there was the private hospital he had built for himself in the Nevada desert. It was rumored to have the most advanced medical technology in the
world. And Underwood was its only patient.

  The long black car came to a stop in front of him interrupting his thoughts. Walter tried to rub the pain out of his left arm as he approached the car. It was too late to change his mind and go home.

  * * *

  The mall was beautifully decorated for the upcoming holidays, including an elaborate North Pole display with a jovial Santa posing for photos with the children.

  "Do you celebrate Christmas, Rom?"

  "No, but it sounds like fun. I certainly like exchanging gifts with you." He gave her a hug as they continued past the colorful shops.

  Aster hustled him from store to store, picking out clothes for each of them, plus a supply of Cherry's expensive scent.

  "Okay! We did it with minutes to spare!"

  "Minutes to spare for what? Aster, I see these other people rushing around but why are we in such a terrible hurry?"

  "Closing time. Let's beat the rush to our car."

  Rom shook his head. "I can see Cherry enjoying herself in a place like this but in the future I will be extremely grateful every time I sit in front of my vidcom at home and order my supplies, calmly and at any hour I choose."

  * * *

  Gordon Underwood smiled smugly as the weak little man walked away from the limo. Once again his personal network had panned out and he thought back to the days when he had set it up.

  At the age of twenty, he had acquired his first patent in Silicon Valley, and possessed a cunning and genius to excel in many other areas as easily. Once his bank account boasted six figures, he had diversified into real estate and stocks. A taste of wealth only served to increase his hunger for money and the power attached to it. He had a voracious appetite for knowledge and read in depth about any topic that triggered his interest. The general consensus was that Gordon Underwood was an expert in a great many fields.

  His investments had prospered. When he foresaw the beginnings of the energy crisis in the late nineteen-sixties, he had bought vast amounts of oil stock before the prices soared. In his search for the ultimate tax shelter, he had created The Underwood Institute, with the altruistic purpose of endowing nonprofit organizations and college grants with special emphasis on scientific achievements and more particularly on astrophysical research. Underwood knew the future was not earthbound and was prepared to do whatever was necessary to keep ahead of the pack.