Step on the Sun

by Doug Plamping

  “Colonel, we had a single pulse at about 11:00 pm. We can’t place it accurately,” said the Captain.

  “If you had to guess, would you say it came from the same area in Mexico?” asked Dan.

  “Yes, Colonel.”

  “OK, send an update to General Hardisty’s office, and notify Team One as well. Another thing Captain, a change in our orders.” Dan showed the Captain the new orders; there was only one major change. “Advise our people in Mexico that the General has authorized the use of firearms if the situation justifies it.”

  Chapter 8 – Last Day at the Resort

  The next morning everyone at the resort seemed to be either at the pool or on the beach, squeezing in a last few hours of sun. The buses to the airport would arrive in the afternoon. Amy was with her parents on the beach. Her mother, Rosemary, insisted that Amy and John spend an hour on the beach, before taking off. John was her younger brother, going into his second year at university. He’d been as invisible as she had, doing his own thing, not exactly what Mom had been looking for. Amy figured, as a show of family solidarity, she’d not object. She’d only expected to have enough time to say goodbye to Simon before leaving anyways.

  It was nice to do something ordinary for a few minutes, but Amy wasn’t forgetting that there were just a few hours left with Simon.

  Looking up and down the beach, Amy realized that this was now her old life, just sitting on the beach relaxing, worrying about starting university. But University now seemed like a small issue. Amy knew she would never be the same now she knew that Earth was just one of many planets.

  Her brother’s head was buried in one of his second hand science fiction books, his form of protest at this imposition. When he was home, if he wasn’t playing a video game, John was reading, spending most of his spare money on second hand video games and books, trading in the ones he'd used or read.

  “What book is that?” asked Amy.

  “Science fiction,” answered John.

  “Like duh!” she said patiently at the typical uncooperative answer from her brother. “Who’s the author, what’s it about?” Out of the corner of her eye she saw that Mom and Dad were listening. As typical siblings, she and John had little in common, treated each other in ways that brothers and sisters normally do, and rarely had a conversation.

  “It’s by James P. Hogan, called Inherit the Stars, a classic, and it’s about what happens after they find a dead alien on the moon, and the impact on Earth, the first book in a series,” John answered cautiously as if he was expecting to be teased, and showing Amy the cover.

  “That sounds interesting,” said Amy. “Can I borrow it for the plane?”

  “Sure,” said John, “I’ve only got a couple of chapters to go.” Amy could see from John’s face that he was thinking that this was an opportunity to get some information. “What’s with the walking stick? Going hiking again?”

  “A short hike before we leave,” said Amy. She held out Simon's staff, “Do you want to see it?”

  “Yes!” said John taking the staff from Amy. He carefully held the staff, feeling how solid it was, and looking at the carvings. He leaned over to Amy and whispered; “You told Mom and Dad that you bought this. There’s no way you purchased this in the village; I’ve been in the store, just tourist junk. What gives?”

  Amy looked at John. He was inquisitive and if given a puzzle, he’d keep working at it until he got the answer. It was why he liked video games. He was also talkative, and would likely tell his friends. But, Amy thought, if we're to have supporters, it should include family; even John! Amy leaned closer to be sure that Mom and Dad wouldn’t hear, and whispered, “You’re right; I didn’t purchase this at the store. If I tell you, you can’t tell your friends, or Mom and Dad; this has to be just between us.”

  “Well, I never told anyone about you sneaking out at night to see Billy,” whispered John. Amy was surprised. Billy was her old boyfriend. They had broken up, but she didn’t think anyone knew about her breaking curfew.

  “And let’s keep it that way!” answered Amy quietly, but conceding that he could keep a secret, whispered, “I was given the staff by Simon, the priest we rescued in the village.”

  “Why did he give it to you?” asked John quietly.

  “As you know, Simon’s not healthy enough to get back to his school, and Paul, Frank, and I promised to help him by delivering his journals and this staff back to his school after we graduate. I told everyone that Simon’s school is seven days from any phone or road, and that’s true. Its location is a secret, a secret we promised to keep, but the trip to the school is more involved than I said. Paul, Frank, and I, are going to scout the route to the school during our time off between semesters.”

  “How can any school be that hard to get to?” asked John.

  “We promised not to tell, but I may need your help sometimes,” Amy said quietly. She couldn’t tell him that the school was on another planet; maybe later.

  “When can you tell me? What kind of help?” John asked insistently.

  “I don’t know yet, but this could be more than I can handle alone. After we graduate, Paul, Frank, and I will be travelling, early June next year, to Simon’s school. I’ll tell you more before I leave.”

  “So it’s still a secret?”

  “For now.”

  “But you’ll tell me where this school is and what it is after you graduate.”

  “Yes.”

  John looked intently at her, “OK, you promise, after you graduate!”

  “Yes, I promise,” the one thing that John acknowledged about his sister, was that Amy kept her promises, “after I graduate, and before we leave.”

  After a few seconds, John nodded and returned to reading his book.

  * * *

  Rosemary La Reine exchanged a look with her husband Luc, whispering, “There’s hope for those two yet. A real conversation!”

  “John’s maturing now, and that will change things,” answered Luc. “Talking about changes, here’s Paul and Frank.”

  Rosemary chatted with Paul and Frank talked for a few minutes before Amy excused herself and took off with them. Rosemary worried, “I hope they’re not late getting back.”

  Luc called out, “Don't miss the bus!” Amy tapped her watch in response.

  John used Amy’s departure as his excuse to leave; he headed off to the video arcade.

  Rosemary watched Amy leave the beach, commenting to her husband Luc, “I think Amy, Paul, and Frank will be friends long after this holiday. They've connected, more than just meeting on vacation.”

  * * *

  Amy had them go through the village so she could stop at the store and buy some supplies for Simon. More fuel for the stove, and prepared foods that wouldn’t go bad in the heat of Simon’s planet.

  There was no military at the village, but on the road they were passed by a military jeep with two soldiers in it. The jeep didn’t stop, but it made them nervous. There was no one at the ruins, and they went through the pillar as quickly as they could. When they reached Simon’s campsite there was no sign of him. Amy called out, “Simon?” There was no answer. Amy shouted, “Simon, are you OK?” There was still no answer.

  Frank offered, “Maybe Simon’s out walking.”

  Amy left the groceries on the table, and went over to the tent. Inside Amy could see Simon lying on the camp bed under a blanket. Amy crawled in. “Simon?” Amy reached out to shake his arm. “Simon!” There was no reaction. Amy reached out to Simon’s bare shoulder to shake him again. His flesh was cold. Now Amy realized that Simon’s chest was not moving. Amy tried to feel for a pulse on the side of his neck. There was none. Tears welled up in her eyes. “Paul, Frank, come here!”

  Paul and Frank scrambled into the tent, probably alarmed by Amy’s tone. Paul saw Amy looking at Simon. Paul moved over to the bed and checked for a pulse, and then examining Simon’s eyes, “Sorry Amy, he’s gone. He must have died in his sleep.”

  Amy croaked,
“Are you sure?”

  Paul’s voice showed how upset he was, “Simon’s flesh is cold, he’s not breathing, his pupils don’t react to light, there’s no blinking reaction, and he has no pulse.” Seeing her puzzled expression, Paul added an explanation, “Military first aid.”

  Frank was still by the tent flap, “It’s going to get hot soon. We have to bury him now, or he’ll stink. We don’t have a lot of time.”

  “Not on Earth?” Amy asked, ignoring Frank’s disrespect.

  Paul shook his head, “With the military around we can’t take the chance. How would we explain a dead body?” She nodded her acceptance, leaning her head on Paul’s shoulder, while quiet tears came. “We didn’t even get a chance to say goodbye!”

  The guys left her alone with Simon. After a few minutes of crying, she was able to compose herself, and reaching over, pulled the blanket over Simon’s face.

  Paul was waiting outside the tent as she came out, “Amy, we’ll prepare a grave. There’s an old shovel by the toilet pit. You just wait. We’ll do it.”

  Amy nodded, unable to say anything. Amy went back into the tent, sitting cross-legged on the tent floor. In a short time, she had connected to Simon, and respected him as a mentor, and a friend. While Amy listened to the sounds of Paul and Frank taking turns to dig the grave, she thought about what Simon told them, of the planets out there, the wonders, and the dangers. She wished that Simon had been able to go with them to Quenlac Three. He’d given them a lot of information, but there was so much they didn’t know about the Isolated Planets.

  The digging stopped, and soon Paul lifted a flap of the tent. He was holding a faded and torn orange tarp, and Frank was right behind him. Looking at Amy, Paul said quietly, “We’ll take care of him now, Amy.” Paul waited for her response.

  “OK,” Amy said reluctantly, stopping to look back at Simon’s body before she let go of the tent flap. She felt emptiness inside, and didn’t know how to deal with it. Amy saw the hole on the other side of the clearing, in a sandy area, out from the ferns, under the sun. A good spot, Amy thought. She sat at the table with her back to the tent and the grave as she didn’t want to see them carry Simon to the grave and drop him in.

  At the sound of Paul and Frank shoveling dirt back into the grave, she stood up and walked over to the grave. Part of the orange tarp was still showing at one end. “Paul, I want to do that.” The grave wasn’t very deep, but that was probably OK as Simon had told them that there were no animals or birds on this planet.

  Paul looked at her and nodded, “OK.” He handed her the shovel and passed over two pieces of cloth he’d wrapped around his hands to stop blisters. Paul took Frank over to the table with him.

  Amy took her time, thinking about all that had happened in the last few days. Each time she saw a sapphire in the sand and gravel, she put it in her pocket, feeling guilty for caring about money at a time like this. As each shovelful fell into the grave, there was a new thought. Amy believed that Simon had lived a good life, a happy life. She remembered how pleased he’d been that they agreed to take on the task. What of that task now? They had the route to Simon’s planet and the pillar sequences, but without knowing more about the Isolated Planets, and knowing the language, it could be dangerous. The grave was full now and there was a pile of loose material over the grave. Paul used the shovel to shape a mound.

  Amy moved to one end of the grave; the strange smell of the ferns was strong, and she could feel the intense sunlight on her skin from the blue-white sun. Amy could also feel the carvings on Simon’s staff under her fingers; she didn’t remember picking it up, but it helped her focus. This whole thing is weird; here we are, light years from Earth, burying Simon, after knowing him for less than a week.

  It was a strange idea; three of them, standing on a planet once occupied by another civilization. A civilization that they were to learn about by traveling from planet to planet, and then to deliver Simon’s journals and staff back to the Wayfarers on Quenlac Three. First, they had to finish university, a promise they’d made to Simon, while also learning Galactic, and how to blend in on other planets. They’d memorized the route back to his home planet, but Simon had died before giving them more information on the dangers.

  Amy said, as more of a statement than a question, “We should say something.” Amy could feel that Frank and Paul were waiting for her. “God. No, that’s not right.” Amy paused, she’d never done anything like this, “To the One Who Tests; Simon was a good man, a believer in you, who lived his life in accordance with your principles. Receive his spirit, his soul, we pray. Amen.” Amy heard Paul echo amen, and out of the corner of her eye saw him cross himself. Frank was silent, staring across the grave to the ferns beyond.

  After a few seconds Frank looked at his watch, “What now?”

  Paul answered, “We have to go. The buses will be at the resort soon.”

  Frank asked, “Should we leave Simon’s stuff here, or take it with us?”

  Amy wasn't sure, but they did have to leave.

  Paul decided for them, “Frank, you should take Simon’s journals and see what you can learn. I’ll put the other stuff in the tent; we can use it when we come back. Amy will take Simon’s staff to keep it safe, and you and I will take our staffs home.”

  Chapter 9 – Airports and Home

  Everyone flying home was in the resort’s lobby. The bags and the people spilled down the front steps towards the parking lot. It was only a few minutes until the first of the shuttles to the airport was due. People were subdued, sad that their holiday was over. Amy, Paul, and Frank found a spot to talk on one side of the lobby, each of them carrying their walking stick. Amy was carrying her red pillow under her arm, and Paul and Frank exchanged a look. Amy saw that exchange, and her expression warned them to say nothing!

  “Second thoughts?” asked Frank.

  Amy answered, “No. We made a promise. We go to the Isolated Planets without Simon. We stick to the plan.”

  Paul objected, “It will be more dangerous without Simon.”

  Amy agreed, “Yes it will. As planned, we go first to Ravinesedge to learn more. It's a short trip, so we shouldn't get into trouble.” Amy knew that Paul wanted to go to his government, but they couldn't have that argument here.

  Frank rescued her, “Yeah! Let's stick to the plan!”

  Paul looked at both of them and nodded.

  “Well, travelers from Earth,” said Amy, reminding them of their new status, “this was a different vacation!”

  “You can say that again!” said Frank.

  “What do we do with the staffs when we get to the airport?” asked Amy.

  “They’ll wrap them and tag them; they get unusual parcels all the time,” said Frank.

  The first bus arrived. Paul was on this one, catching an Alitalia charter flight. Amy and Frank were on the second bus. Mr. Fortezza said goodbye to everyone, shaking hands with her parents, and Frank’s aunt and uncle.

  Mrs. Fortezza was much more effusive, hugging and kissing everyone, but saving Amy for last, saying in Spanish, as she hugged her, “Thank you Amy. I really enjoyed our chats. I hope we see you again.”

  There was just time for Amy to give Paul a hug, before he moved away in answer to calls from his father who was now on the bus. Amy and Frank waved to Paul as the bus drove away.

  * * *

  Paul waved to them out of the back window until the bus turned the first corner. Settling down in a vacant row behind his parents, he pulled out a pen and a piece of paper and started working on his list of code words. He still thought it best to go straight to the government, his father had contacts, but he'd promised, and he would keep that promise.

  He had second thoughts about using code words; it was too easy to slip up. It would be better to get them to encrypt everything, including the hard drives on their laptops. Even as a student he did that. He knew that Frank could easily do it, it would be a matter of sending Amy some instructions, or maybe she could get someone at h
er university to set up her laptop. He could be the one to set Amy up; all she needed to do was to allow him remote access to her laptop. Yes, that would be easier! He had the software. He put that on his list.

  Paul knew, probably more than Amy or Frank, how dangerous this could be if word leaked out that they could travel to other planets. He was determined to keep them all safe.

  * * *

  Amy and Frank sat next to each other on their bus, away from other people so they could talk. They each held a staff between their knees, and Amy’s red pillow was on her lap. People were too close, so they avoided specifics.

  Amy whispered, “It all was real, wasn’t it?”

  “So real! I am really going to miss being able to take notes and use computers during my travels this year.”

  “Why should you miss them?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “We are who we are,” said Amy, being careful in what she said out loud, “I think we need to show what Earth really is, not disguise ourselves like spies. I think we should have paper, pens, books, laptops, and flashlights.”

  “But, that’s not the way Simon wanted it.”

  “I think that if we have technology then we should use it.”

  Frank was happy to agree, Amy knew he wanted to take his laptop. “I can put a list together of things we can use, but how will we pay for them?”

  “Let me figure that out. That’s what the sapphires are for.” Approaching her Dad was necessary; but it wasn’t going to be easy!

  * * *

  As the bus unloaded, Frank’s uncle was one of the first off. He wanted to get their bags as they pulled them out of the bus so no one could accidentally take theirs. All the black suitcases looked the same.

  Frank came over to help him, “Uncle, I'll get them.”

  “No. I'm OK. You say your goodbyes to Amy, our plane goes first.”

  Frank just grunted and headed towards Amy. That Frank didn't argue, Al thought, showed how much of a friend Amy was. He smiled to himself. Soon he had the bags and a porter and he headed to Gladys.

  Gladys was saying goodbye to the La Reines; they were on a different airline and were headed to a different part of the terminal.

  * * *

  Amy followed her family into the terminal carrying her red pillow, staff, and backpack. They joined the line to check their baggage and get their boarding passes. By the time they were at the front of the line, Frank and his family was already through security. The five-foot long walking stick didn’t faze the counter staff; they just put it in a cardboard box labeled for skis. To fill the time she watched, behind the glass wall forming one end of the waiting area they were in, the line moving into security.