by Tom Holloway
Anna sadly tells Nikki, “I have no one right now, do not date, see no one in sight that might be special, and yes, I still want a family. Thank goodness I have you, as life is really lonely.”
Nikki responds, “Anna, you will find someone. You’re kind, smart, a wonderful person, and certainly gorgeous!”
Thankfully Nikki talks more. She talks about her classes, homework, and how hard it is to become a medical doctor. It takes all her energy and time just to keep up. She laughs and says she does not have time to date—no guy around for her either. She and Anna will be old sister spinsters living together when they are old and gray, and they both laugh.
Finally they both fall off to sleep.
I am half-asleep, then wide awake; knowing the morning is coming fast, I am up quickly, showering and dressing, thinking: I do not look great, unfortunately, in the same clothing as yesterday. It will have to do. The Cyclone is leaving me alone, taking care of business without me; good to keep it that way, yet I need clothing for tomorrow and a small travel bag with my overnight things for sure, maybe some running stuff; I like to run over Earth terrain, seeing things up close. Running every day is of great value to me. I am thinking today will be an excellent day, and now day two of my trip back to Earth.”
Also, this morning, early, before light, the dark Ship Tender drops down to the Earth’s surface, meeting me around the corner, in an empty parking lot, to pick up my Barnes & Noble purchases, dropping off my travel bag and clothing. Then I am back to the house, drinking coffee, saying good-bye to Susan and her grandmother. Both end up with tears as we declare friendship, and they thank me many times. I tell them I will visit them again, check on them. Their tears are heartwarming, as such a wonderful human expression of emotion, genuine and meaningful. Then I am at the curb waiting on Anna.
Mentally congratulating myself, I think, It doesn’t get any better than this. Here I am, it’s almost seven thirty, and I’m waiting for Anna to pick me up. Her taking me to Richmond is a lucky break. The PhD dissertation is a good cover story, no issues or problems for her and maybe an excuse for me to spend some time with her and maybe meet her family. I hope she doesn’t figure out I know little about what’s going on here, never seen her films, although I acted as if I have. She is impressive: gorgeous eyes, stunning face, a totally beautiful figure, quick witted, smart, charming, fun, every bit a superstar. Someday some guy will be a very lucky man. She must be in her midtwenties, although she’s smart beyond her years. To have some time with her is a lucky break.
She pulls up in a car that looks like a tall station wagon. They call it an SUV. It is well designed, even if primitive, and does what it needs to do. I jump in, and off we go.
I smell her perfume immediately, and I detect her personal odor, too. Both are pleasing to me. I look at Anna, very attractive in a cream-colored silk blouse over a gray light-cotton T-shirt, the blouse not buttoned until a third of the way down, not tucked in either, and tight blue jeans and sandals. Her blond hair is cut very short, boyish. She is small, a little taller than five feet. Slender, or petite is the word, with a classically beautiful face with high cheekbones. She has a nice figure, although small-breasted and not wearing a bra. She actually is just perfect. Her legs and bottom are firm, like those of a runner. It is hard not to stare at her. It has been seventy years since I have felt these kinds of emotions, and warning bells are going off. I realize I am not sure how I am going to deal with this. She is simply a smart, beautiful human woman, and no question, I am very much attracted to her. This is not unusual for a human; it’s normal to feel a pull, even a powerful one.
Once in the car, I am surprised I am shy with her. I catch my breath and finally manage to say to her, “Good morning! Thanks again for the ride. Please let me pay you for the gas, and I will pick up any meals.”
As she puts the SUV in gear, moving forward onto the street, she laughs and says, “All right, you’re on. It’s the least you can do.” She looks at me, beams. “Henry, I actually appreciate your coming. It makes a long ride not so long. By the way, did the police ever get ahold of you and Susan about yesterday?”
I reply, “Yes, both Susan and I spoke to them. They seemed satisfied. They wanted to know how to reach us if we are needed for a trial. I think they have plenty of evidence, as the man was pleading guilty to everything—other crimes, too, coming clean, as he should. I feel bad for Susan, going through all of it. Maybe she’ll be better going forward.”
Anna says, “Thank God you were there. He could have killed her. What a terrible man. It is good to know there are good and brave men in the world. I am grateful for men like you, Henry.”
I actually blush; I never thought it possible. I have to laugh, and then I say, “Anna, how could anyone do less? You would have helped her, too, and you are sure making me feel good about it. Yes, there will be extra ice cream for you at lunch!”
Anna laughs. “Tell me about yourself. Where were you born; how old are you; where do you live? Do you have family, are you married now or were you ever, in the service, and why did you go to Indiana University? Do you have a job? What do you like to do? What are your plans?”
I am startled, maybe a little astonished. I now know she is actually interested in me, and this is amazing. I feel a powerful surge of excitement I have never felt before—something wild, crazy, and fantastic. My heart is pounding. This is not in the plan. I can’t help myself. It is nonsensical. I want to answer her truthfully. I feel I want to impress her. Unfortunately it is impossible. First of all, there is no way she will believe me; the truth is way too weird. Second, just knowing me, the real me, could put her life in danger. It would be of great interest to the US military. Governments are usually unpredictable when dealing with me, might do whatever they have to do to make her tell all, as politicians are usually afraid of me. I cannot protect her. I am leaving in eight days.
This is silly. I’m like a teenager, acting all emotional. I need to get ahold of myself. I remind myself I am the commander of a huge army. I defeat worlds, a captain of a starship. I have massive power. I have huge responsibilities. I am old and wise, beyond these kinds of things. She is just a young Earth girl. It doesn’t have to be complicated. I will just her give her my total cover story.
She then asks more questions, good questions. She is very perceptive as I answer her. Although I am honest about my personal life—my parents, religion, raised middle class, no wife, never married, no girlfriend—I also give her my fake background story.
Looking away, trying to make it sound sincere, I say, “I live frugally on a part-time job for now. I am a political science major, live in Bloomington, a grad student at Indiana University located there, and I want to teach at the college level someday. I have always wanted to teach.”
She looks at me and asks, “Do you believe in God?”
I smile. “Yes, no doubts for me; you can count on it. Really, I am serious. My belief is right for a lot of reasons. I have seen many awesome things, been given gifts in my life you would never dream of, beyond my comprehension. I have wondered at the sheer immensity of the universe, of life itself in all shapes and sizes. I have seen beauty that is beyond belief. It does not make it less wonderful or not true. I never doubt these blessings, as they are gifts, and I am grateful. Never worry; you will know what I say is true either now or later. Inexplicably enough, I think these extraordinary blessings have already happened to you, and I think these momentous events will continue for you. Miraculous events take place in everyone’s life; just know them for what they really are; don’t deny them. There is a divine light. It will embrace you and guide your way in the dark.”
Anna keeps driving, saying nothing. She then looks at me and says, “I never have felt your confidence until now, and I am surprised. You give me hope. You are right. I know it in my heart. It sounds crazy, yet I think I can actually feel your faith.”
She pauses, hesitates, turns her head to me, looks at me intently, straight into my eyes, and asks, “A
re you gay? “
I laugh and say quickly, “You better watch the road, and no, I am not gay. I’m not sure how I should take the question.”
She laughs, too. “You passed.”
We talk about everything. I love it. She is fun, endearing, and very honest. She also gives me the benefit of the doubt on some of my evasive answers. I have almost forgotten about the Cyclone and that life. I am actually happy. We stop, have lunch, chat about everything. We enjoy the time together and then get back on the road. We are still in West Virginia, then on to Virginia, going east through the Appalachian Mountains.
She is driving. It is raining hard. She has not said much for a couple of hours, and I sense she does not want to talk. I know she is getting tired; I can see it. I ask if I can drive. She says no, as I am not insured under the rental agreement, although she does not like driving, and she is tired.
She then suddenly looks at me and has an angry expression. She says, “You’re lying to me about yourself. Your answers do not add up. You are not at Indiana University; I am sure of that, and I do not know who you are. You have been conning me. I don’t know why, as I’ve been honest with you. I like you. I thought we had a connection, too. Now I want you to get out of my car.”
To my surprise, she slows the car down and pulls over to the shoulder of the interstate highway. We are still in the mountains and in heavy rain, and big trucks are ramming by us, spraying a lot of water on our stopped car. I look out the passenger window over the side of the shoulder. Even in the rain I can see it goes straight down, very deep, maybe thousands of feet. We are over a mountainous cliff, surprisingly with no guardrail. I think how it all went wrong so fast. I feel lost and disappointed, and worse, I have disappointed Anna. I know she will not believe whatever I say. I’ve lost all credibility. She still cannot know the truth about me. It would change her life and not for the better. It might ruin it. I just can’t risk it. Too bad. I already know I will miss her.
Looking at her, seeing those angry eyes, I say, “Anna, I understand, and I am truly sorry I have upset you. I certainly care. Please forgive me. You’re right; I have not been entirely honest. I cannot tell you anything more about myself than what I have already said. You would not believe me even if I told you. It’s like looking up into the blue sky and seeing very little other than blue sky, then on a clear, dark night looking up again at the same sky and unbelievably seeing the millions of stars and the vastness of the universe. You have to see it to believe it or to understand it. If it makes you feel better, I have no choice. I’m sorry. Please go on to the next exit, and drop me off there.”
She looks at me with a pained, disappointed expression and says, “All right!”
Anna puts the SUV into forward gear, gives it too much gas, sharply pulls out onto the highway, and, maybe too upset to look or because of the rain, does not see a big semi tractor-trailer come barreling up behind us. She pulls out in front of him; he swerves to miss us, scary close. He misses us, his water spray covers us, and he goes on with horns blasting.
Anna then swerves back onto the shoulder of the road too fast, hitting the concrete roadside bump hard. The steering wheel jerks out of her hands, causing her to lose control. We are both totally shocked as the SUV lunges forward past the pavement, off the road shoulder, teetering at the edge of a huge drop-off, hanging over the cliff of the mountainside. Then, in a long second, it falls forward. It slides downward, then plunges over the side of the mountain, airborne, straight down. We plummet, tumbling into the black empty space below, no bottom in sight. I am sure it is a long way down, guaranteeing certain death.
I shout, “Holy hell!”
Anna is screaming at the top of her lungs.
Down we go, and even worse, the SUV cartwheels end over end, still airborne, falling faster into the black, bottomless abyss. Anna is in sheer terror, still screaming, holding on to the steering wheel for dear life. We are both thrown around like rag dolls; it’s not pleasant. Yet I know we will not die. I wish I could yell out, tell her, and reassure her. I know what she cannot know: the Cyclone will use a power beam to catch us and create a vacuum around the car with negative polarization. With no gravity, the SUV will stop falling, and we will be fine or almost fine.
Chapter 10
Meeting a Starship
The Cyclone’s massive blazing power beam lashes out from the sky, like a six-foot-wide torchlight, blazing down out of the heavens, grasping the truck hard. The rain sizzles on the hot beam. The SUV comes to a jolting, bumpy halt, tumbling one more time, and we are now floating upright in midair. I can’t see much other than the power beam because of the heavy rain and approaching dusk. It is really hard to see anything except the blinding light.
I know the Cyclone has sent the Ship Tender down to come and get us. It will pull the SUV along behind it like a water-skier behind a boat. And there it is. I barely see its shape a couple hundred feet out ahead of us, not camouflaged, barely visible, black and ugly as usual, and now a really beautiful sight. Unfortunately the Ship Tender can be seen by radar during this rescue; the camouflage is not able to function during this kind of maneuver. It hooks on to us using another power beam shooting out toward us in a bright bolt about three feet in width. It is very visible now, easily seen by Earth eyes other than ours. It looks like a huge bright shaft of light shining on us, making the whole area around us like daylight.
Off we go, jolting forward, then trailing behind it as we speed up quickly and climbing very fast, maybe reaching ninety miles an hour—a fast flight for an SUV. We are riding a little rough because of the side winds, and the speed causes heavy wind commotion. It is now sunset, and we are moving up through a thick cloud layer. The sun is becoming visible over the clouds.
Anna is speechless, freaked out. She is just staring at the Ship Tender with eyes big and wide, more in shock than not. She can’t take her eyes off of the tender, gripping the SUV’s steering wheel as if her life depends on it. I can actually smell her fear. Her face is as white as a sheet. She then asks in a weird, quivering voice, “What is that? Why are we alive? What is happening? I don’t understand…We’re moving up, we’re flying and gaining height, moving faster now. We’re moving really fast; we really are climbing up high! Henry, what’s going on? This is impossible! Can you figure this out? What’s happening? What the hell is that thing pulling us? Are we going to be OK? Are you all right?”
I say, “Anna, I am fine. You are fine, too, or will be, and we are being towed by a ship’s tender; it’s like a tugboat and a passenger landing craft for large starships.”
Anna is looking at me, not comprehending what I am saying, just staring at me, at a loss for words.
“Anna, I know this is hard to believe. Just know it is real. You are not crazy. You will be fine, and no one will hurt you. You have nothing to fear and a lot to learn. First of all, to answer you about who I really am, I guess I will have to tell you now. This probably feels like a movie scene, irrationally enough, certainly an eerie experience for you. I am telling you what I should not be telling you, could not tell you before. It is hard to believe. You will doubt your sanity or mine. I could not say this before, as you would think I was an idiot with a delusion. You will probably still think I am insane or on drugs when I say this, yet here it goes; you need to be prepared for what is coming up, the reality of my life will soon be your reality. We are now heading up to an altitude of about 10,000 feet to board a starship.”
I pause, waiting for her to clear her head, giving her a chance to think, digest my words, to try to sort this out.
I continue, “Astonishing and as strange as it sounds, I am actually a captain of a starship, the starship Cyclone, the spacecraft we will be joining soon, as we come up over the clouds. What you see just ahead, pulling us, is the ship’s tender that belongs to the Cyclone. You will soon be my guest on the Cyclone, as we are coming aboard it. Your life just became a lot more interesting.”
Anna stares at me then back again at the ship’s tender,
blinking her eyes as if trying to wake up from a bad dream. She can’t figure it out. I can tell this is not going to be easy.
“Anna, listen to me. We are partially visible to radar now, and someone may pick up on us, discover we’re here in this airspace. We may attract visitors we don’t want, thus we make haste. We will enter and land in the Cyclone’s cargo bay in about two minutes, and then off we will go, out of here.”
Anna is now staring at me as if I am some kind of lunatic. She looks more freaked out, not less. She is speechless. Her are eyes huge, her face still pale; she is breathing rapidly and looking like she is going to be sick.
In a worried voice, yet more firm, I say, “Anna, please just do as I say, and I will explain everything to you once we are a safe distance from Earth. I will answer all your questions, no lies. We will leave Earth for just a short time, then I will take you home. Nothing bad will happen to you; I promise. You will be fine, not harmed, no big deal. Just try to relax.”
We then break over the cloud layer at about ten thousand feet up, our eyes overwhelmed by the vivid brightness of the massive blue sky and bright light everywhere. The sun is reflecting off the top of the billowing clouds in a blazing orange mixed with yellow and overall just glorious!
Then, there it is. We see the Cyclone in all its glory, waiting for us, lightly floating above the clouds, maybe about ten miles away. It is shimmering in the sunlight like a huge bright-silver mirror, a massive starship. It dazzles from the sun’s reflection with all the colors of a rainbow, awesome beyond words. I am always impressed when I see it. I can feel it welcoming me back. I respond in kind.
I look at Anna to see if she sees the Cyclone. She is all eyes, a look on her face of total amazement. Thankfully she seems much better, not so pale. It might be the sunshine. She is staring fixedly ahead at the Cyclone, the fear gone, replaced by the thrill of seeing a real starship for the first time.
