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“Not likely, but it’s interesting to speculate on what secrets they hide. We have lots of time to find out their secrets.”
* * * * *
General Smith retired late to his quarters, feeling his years. An old soldier nearing retirement, he doubted he had the energy to chase time travelers across the galaxy. That was a young man’s work. He rummaged through the pile of captured Martian equipment, settling on a Microsoft communications pad. Examining it closely for a battery power source, he pressed a button concealed on the back. The device activated, revealing on its screen a whole new world. It was the world of future, America’s destiny.
Boring. There was plenty of time for history lessons. Instead, General Smith viewed database porn for two hours. When he got to the Spiders Gone Wild Channel, it was just too much. That Czerinski was a real pervert. Still intrigued, Smith finally read about the many wars to come. It was gratifying that America would kick ass on the world, and the galaxy. Best of all, those Commie bastards would be left on the ash heap of history.
After hours, Smith finally accessed his own fate. ‘Killed in July of 1947 in an auto accident in Roswell, New Mexico.’ Alarmed, Smith checked his family. They were fine. He methodically following the family tree two hundred fifty years into the future, where it abruptly stopped with Lieutenant Valerie Smith, United States Galactic Federation Foreign Legion. He anxiously clicked on the name Valerie, hoping to read more bio, but was startled by a fresh-faced young lady scowling at him from across space and time.
“You’re not Colonel Czerinski,” she accused. “What happened to the mission? We lost contact.”
“Czerinski and his troop were captured,” answered General Smith.
“When?”
“1947.”
“Sir, who are you?”
“General Elisha Smith.”
“1947?” asked Lieutenant Smith. “Oh, my God! You’re Elisha, from Roswell. We need to talk.”
* * * * *
General Smith pulled up to the stockade, driving a covered army duce-and-a-half truck. He brushed by Airman Knight, who dropped his Sci/Fi magazines to stand at attention. Smith glared through the bars at Tonelli sitting in the corner.
“I was made an offer I can’t refuse.”
“We’re getting out?” I asked, brightening. “Where to?”
“Mars.”
“Sir,” insisted Airman Knight, “if the prisoners are being moved, I need to report it to the Officer of the Day.” He reached for the phone. “This is highly irregular.”
“Who’s the general?” asked Smith, snatching the phone. “Me or you?”
“You, sir.”
“Then unlock the cell door!”
“Yes, sir,” replied Knight, rattling keys. “Did you say they were going to Mars? That’s a funny joke, sir.”
“You’re going too, Knight. See if you still think it’s so funny when you get there.”
“Sir, I won’t go.”
“Too late,” I said, grabbing the skinny airman and scooping up his vintage pulp science fiction. “The view up there is great.”
The spider commander was already stretched out in the back of the truck. We shoved him aside to make room.
“What about North?” asked Major Lopez. “We can’t leave him. He might change history.”
“No time,” I replied as our truck approached the main gate. “He’s a marine. He’ll adapt.”
We crashed through the gate doing eighty-eight. MPs gave chase, but their jeep was disabled by a flash in the sky, a laser burning a neat hole in the engine block. A shimmering Legion shuttle landed to pick us up.
“What about my family?” asked Knight. “I can’t leave them.”
“We’ll abduct them, too,” promised General Smith. “I’m told it happens all the time here in Roswell. Ever get the feeling you can see a future no one else can see?”
“I get that feeling all the time,” whined Knight. “That doesn’t mean I actually want to see the future in person.”
“I can see the future, and I don’t need no damn time machine to do it. The future is bright for America, and I want to see it all in person. I want to live long enough to be a part of our future, our manifest destiny to conquer the stars. You’re going to see it too, whether you want to or not. So is your son.”
“Yes, sir.
* * * * *
General Roger Ramey, commander of the Eighth Air Force, inspected the scene of the mass alien abduction. Heads were going roll on this one. This time an American General was abducted. Smitty was not the sort to just let this happen to himself. There had to be extenuating circumstances. The MPs were sticking to their bullshit story about being shot at by a shimmering oblong disk-like craft hovering in the night sky. Those fools would be transferred to Greenland to count icebergs. The President was not going accept that General Smith was just plucked from the middle of an Air Force base by Martians.
At the stockade, the jail door still remained open, keys still dangling in the lock. Alien abduction my ass, mused General Ramey. Obviously the spies had help escaping. Ramey paced the small bleak cell, looking for clues. What was that? In the corner, by a bunk, there was a small freshly carved message scribbled into the stone wall. He bent over for a closer look. ‘Tell Audie Murphy to stay out of airplanes, and President John Kennedy to stay out of Dallas.’
“What the Hell? Who is President John Kennedy?”
###
~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~
Walter Knight played football on Tucson High School’s last state championship team (1971). He served three years in the army, and the GI Bill paid for his college education, helping him earn degrees from Fort Steilacoom Community College, Central Washington State College, and the University of Puget Sound School of Law.
Walter lives a very quiet and private life, residing with his family and horses, dogs, cats, and fish atop a hill in rural Washington. Walt enjoys taking road trips to explore ghost towns and casinos.
To find out more about the author and his books, visit his web site.
www.waltknight.yolasite.com
~TABLE OF CONTENTS~
Story Summary
Copyright Information
Books by the Author
Author Acknowledgement
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Bonus Short Story
About the Author
Table of Contents
Copyright
AUTHOR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
BONUS SHORT STORY ~ The Roswell Incident
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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