Step on the Sun

by Doug Plamping

  To test that technology in real situations this Unit was given complete access to Pentagon data on domestic and foreign threats, and even better, it had been assigned three investigation teams from Army Intelligence with communications independent of the Pentagon. Here was the opportunity to prove he was right, and the cursed Senator and his pet Colonel would pay for their inability to recognize a threat to the US.

  He could see how his enthusiasm was puzzling Captain Jamieson. The Captain had probably heard rumors about his reassignment; time to settle that now. Adding a confident tone to his voice, he addressed his staff, “Thank you Captain Jamieson. That was an excellent briefing. When I became aware that the command of ASurT was available, I took the opportunity immediately. What I have seen shows me I was right. The exercises you’ve undertaken show excellent results, but I have been advised by the Pentagon that this Unit is to be tasked to take over some ongoing investigations, the real thing. We’re going to go conduct surveillance in the field testing our new technology! I’m hoping to have our orders within a week.” Watching the Captain respond with enthusiasm amused him; he wondered how enthusiastic the Captain would be if it was ever discovered that the orders were forgeries, and any investigation would show that the forgeries were done before the General took over the Unit!

  * * *

  Sammy knew this was going to be tough for Luc and Rosemary, which is why he’d ask to meet them in their home. Amy was in university lectures and his team had her protection covered for today.

  He kept his voice calm as he started his briefing. He pulled out a large envelope from the folder he’d placed on the breakfast nook table. “Here are the new reports on the spider silk, the cloth it was wrapped in, and an additional report on the sapphires.” Sammy hadn’t seen Rosemary for ages, and was sorry it had to be under these circumstances.

  “This lab report is on the spider silk. This is a DNA analysis with a scientific analysis of the cloth itself.” Sammy waited while Luc and Rosemary looked through the reports.

  Rosemary was the first to ask, “So what do they tell us? My high school biology is not up to this.”

  Sammy opened the DNA report to a page showing a number of charts. “The report compares the spider silk threads to web material from three other spider types. As you can see, the spider silk thread is significantly different from the other three. The lab assured me that it was different from any known spider on the planet.” While they absorbed that information he flipped to another page. “This chart shows that this spider silk is resistant to all but the strongest acids, and its tensile strength is higher than carbon fiber. I’d like a bullet proof vest made out of this stuff; we didn’t try it, but I don’t think a bullet would get through a single layer.”

  He gave them a few seconds to absorb that information, and then opened a third report. “This is the lab report on the grey fabric the spider silk was wrapped in. It is a fabric like muslin, but made out of a vegetable fiber like jute. The actual plant used is unknown. The DNA sampling could not find a match in any Earth species.” Before they could ask any questions he opened the fourth report to some photos of the raw sapphires. “Further testing on the sapphires allowed us to determine why they have a different crystal structure. The result is exactly the same as if you grew the crystals in gravity that was 96% of Earth and subjected them to a heavy dose of radiation. The lab is convinced that we’re growing them on a space station.”

  Rosemary looked at him intently; Sammy had always respected her intelligence and knew her mind was working overtime.

  “Sammy,” Rosemary said hesitantly looking out of the window, as if she was reluctant to voice what she was thinking, “I’ve looked at everything you gave to Luc. Ferns that no one has seen before. Leather from an unknown bird the size of an ostrich. Sapphires with a very different crystal structure, which you now say is from lower gravity and radiation. Use of a language that died out thousands of years ago. And now a cloth made from a vegetable not found on this planet. I know you Sammy; you didn’t say ‘this planet’ or ‘on Earth’ accidentally. As strange as it sounds, you think these things are not from Earth, don’t you?”

  Rosemary was still looking at him, so she didn’t see the intense pride on Luc’s face. “Rosemary, you have the same evidence I’ve seen. It’s what you think that’s important.”

  Rosemary reached out her hands to touch the reports on the table, as if to reassure herself that they were real. “Luc?”

  Luc said gently, “When Amy showed us the spider silk for the first time do you remember what she said exactly?”

  Rosemary thought about it. “No. I think I was too enthralled by the silk.”

  Sammy watched Luc smile lovingly at Rosemary, as he answered, “Yes, it was beautiful, enough to distract anyone. Amy said, ‘There are the only pieces of this material on this planet.’”

  Sammy watched Rosemary take a second to collect her thoughts. “No! Amy has been to another planet?” Rosemary was looking at him, so he nodded. Then Luc nodded as well.

  * * *

  From: Amy La Reine

  Sent: Tuesday, 11:05am

  To: Frank, Paul

  Subject: Translation of the Book

  I’m working my way through the Book. I thought you might like to read this section out of the Book. You’ll see why.

  ‘The prophetess stood in the center of the Great Temple Hall on Core and said

  this is the vision that the One Who Tests has given me

  a time of great trouble will be on the galaxy

  and I saw that a council of three was anointed by the One Who Tests

  and appointed by all

  to be responsible for leadership

  and the One Who Tests said

  of the council of three

  she shall lead and care for all

  a wizard shall advise and guide them

  a soldier shall protect and serve them

  and I also saw that the One Who Tests marked them as eight

  and provided their staffs

  so that those that found them would know their destiny.’

  Some comments we heard on ‘the three’ fit this quote but I don’t know what it all means.

  Love

  Amy

  “Every woman has the right to be beautiful.” - Elizabeth Arden

  * * *

  Amy arrived early at the White House. She'd left Simon’s staff with security; they’d been curious as to why she was traveling with it. Her answer that she’d promised a dying priest to keep it with her until she could return it to his school had sounded overly dramatic, even to her. As she wasn’t insisting on taking it into the White House, it wasn't an issue.

  The receptionist had called June Pickering, and told Amy she would come to pick her up in a few minutes. June was there about five minutes later and outlined the schedule as she escorted Amy through the White House offices. They only had to wait a few minutes, and as June promptly left as the President arrived, it seemed that it was going to be only her, the President and the First Lady for the first 20 minutes!

  The First Lady was excited, blurting out as soon as she arrived, “Amy, we’re calling the new initiative, ‘Believing in People, Not Programs’ and you’re getting the credit!”

  * * *

  Greg Dennison was watching Director Gesasin, World Security Director for The Organization. The Director was looking out of the window over the buildings of the financial district in New York City, thinking about the report Dennison had given him.

  Director Gesasin decided, and turning to Dennison said, “Greg, Recruit General Hardisty using the FBI cover as the first option, and if that doesn’t work threaten him with the security video of him creating those falsified orders. Better a willing participant than a reluctant one. His Unit is to follow the three university students who are using the pillar, taking over from your operatives. La Reine is involved with the White House right now so her disappearance, or having her friends disappear, will get unwanted
attention. We’ll have to wait. Have Hardisty’s people listen in to everything they do, intercept their email, video chats, phone calls, everything! Have our people learn how to operate the pillar if they can. All three of these students are finishing university, or the military institute in Fortezza’s case, this May, so we have time. We’ll kidnap them as they travel to the Mexico pillar in May, if we can’t do it before.”

  “Yes, Sir. I’ll take care of recruiting Hardisty,” said Dennison.

  * * *

  Amy took the transit to downtown Charleston to do some shopping. She had a couple of hours before she needed to check in at the airport. Her plan was to fly down, buy a car in Mexico, and using that car, drive back to Duke; that would save her two days of driving. There were a few shoe stores along the street and Amy stopped to look in the window of the first store. It was hard to see what was on sale as the sunlight was reflecting off the window. The reflection was so clear that she noticed a man in the reflection, or more correctly noticed the nice crease in his pants, thinking that she might look for some wrinkle free pants if she had extra time. Amy tried a few pairs of shoes on but found nothing that grabbed her.

  Amy went down the street to the next shoe store. Checking her watch, she saw that she still had over an hour. There was a sale sign in the window, so she went in. Knowing the store, she left her backpack and Simon’s staff behind the counter, and she went straight to the back where the sale items were. Checking on the shoes she noticed, out on the street, a pair of nicely creased pants. It was the same guy. She was sure. Amy wondered if he was following her.

  She took the shoes to the door to look at them in the natural light. The man in the nicely creased pants turned away and looked in a store window across the street. Amy moved to the back of the store where she could look through a display at the street and not be seen. The man was watching her store again. “Drat!” she said quietly. He was following her! Now what?

  Amy told herself, “Lose him, idiot!” This area was made up of buildings that were long and narrow, and backed onto a laneway. Some stores had parking off the laneway with a rear entrance for their customers, and this was one of those buildings. Grabbing her backpack and Simon’s staff, Amy headed for the back door, keeping the displays between her and the front window. Just before she exited, she remembered to put down the shoes she was holding. That would have been embarrassing!

  There was no one in the parking area, and getting to the end of the fence, she could see no one in the laneway. Amy picked one of the stores on the opposite side of the laneway with an open rear door, and ran across the lane and the parking area. After she reached the open door she saw the man following her coming out of the shoe store, but he didn't see her in the shadow of the hallway.

  It was a consignment store, and Amy made her way through tightly packed rails of musty clothes to the front of the store. The cashier gave her a funny look as she headed straight to the front door, but Amy didn’t care. She looked up and down the street and didn’t see anyone running around, just dozens of shoppers. There was a bus coming down the street. Amy waited in the doorway until she could see that the bus was going to stop a few yards away. It didn't matter where it was going. She took the chance to move her pillow, which was tied on the outside of the backpack, and squeeze it into the backpack. Paul was right, it was like a flag, and this time it might be helping people to follow her!

  As soon as the bus braked, Amy ran over and boarded just behind a couple of people who’d been waiting. She put in the fare and moved to an empty seat near the back of the bus, on the side away from the sidewalk.

  As the bus pulled away, Amy saw the man following her run around the corner towards the bus stop. Amy ducked down behind the seat back and stayed down until the bus was a block away. Cautiously she looked out of the back window, to see the man searching the street, frantically looking around. Amy ignored curious looks from other passengers. Now what?

  * * *

  His friend passed him his phone. “Hi”

  “John! Thank Goodness! I need help!” It was Amy!

  “What help? Why are you calling my friend’s cellphone?”

  “You used his phone to call me one time. I need you to drive me to Mexico tonight. I’m calling your friend so this call won’t be traced,” she replied.

  John was puzzled with this strange call from his normally composed sister. She was supposed to be flying somewhere today. His eyebrows went up when he heard the word ‘traced.’ “Why traced?” he asked, and then added, “You’re in trouble!”

  Amy pleaded, “Yes, your sister’s in trouble and needs her brother to rescue her. I can’t tell you everything now. Borrow a friend’s car, don’t use your own. Pay cash for everything, and get lots of cash before you leave. Make some excuse so you can stay away for four, five days or more. Meet me at the building where you and your friends liked to play video games when you were eleven.”

  “You mean…”

  “Don’t say it,” interrupted Amy urgently. “If this call is recorded, someone may listen to it.”

  John’s eyebrows went even higher. “OK, but you have to tell me the whole story.”

  “Yes. Once we’re driving.”

  John was interested now. “It’ll take me a couple of hours to get back to town, is that OK?”

  “Yes,” said Amy, her voice showing her relief. “I may be late so just wait for me. Can you borrow a cellphone?”

  John asked his friend for his car and his cellphone. “He says OK to the phone and the car.”

  “Great, just wait for me!” said Amy and she hung up.

  John just stood there holding the phone for a few seconds. What sort of trouble was she in?

  Chapter 27 – Tom and Sharpie

  Amy had been thinking about how she’d get to the pillar. Whoever had followed her would expect her to fly to Mexico, but when she didn’t, they could track her if she used her debit or credit card. Amy decided to hit an ATM for her maximum cash withdrawals. That would tell them where she was, and give them another photo of her, but she’d be gone before anyone got there.

  With an ATM on every block, getting the cash was easy. As soon as she was finished, Amy stepped onto the first bus that came, changing to another bus just three blocks away. She hoped that made her untraceable, except for Simon’s staff. People were looking at it. How do you hide something five feet long?

  Looking out of the bus window, her eyes were attracted to a familiar face. It was Sandspour! The red beard and hair were unmistakable, and he was wearing sandals, a plain white tee-shirt and blue jeans. What was he doing on Earth? He waved to her to get off the bus.

  Amy immediately got up and joined those waiting for the next stop. The bus dropped its passengers off at the beginning of the next block. Amy walked back along the street but there was no sign of Sandspour. She checked each of the side streets and couldn’t see him. He’d waved to her so she knew she wasn’t mistaken.

  She’d waited for five minutes, but there was no sign of Sandspour. Another flash of red hair attracted her eye. It was a tall young man, and what she noticed next was that he was carrying a long narrow case, about four inches wide and maybe three feet long. Her staff wouldn’t fit in something that short, but there might be longer cases wherever he had got that one. He was walking towards her. Well, there’s only one way to do this, Amy thought. She stepped in front of him, and put on a smile. “Could you help me?”

  He was startled, probably at the camo clothes she was wearing, and the backpack. Stepping out of the pedestrian flow he asked, “How?”

  Showing him Simon’s staff, Amy said, “I need to carry this in something. I think everyone is afraid I’m going to poke their eyes out. I saw your case and wondered what it was, and where I can get one a bit longer.”

  He laughed! “And here I thought you were going to ask me for money. This case is for my pool cue. I’m taking the cue to get it refinished. The store is two blocks down this way and one block over. I can show you if yo
u like.” Sensing she was nervous, he added, “My name is Tom Murphy; I’m part Irish, if you couldn’t tell from the red hair and the name.”

  Amy considered the invitation. It was rush hour; many people were about. It should be safe enough. “That sound’s great. Thanks, Tom Murphy. I’m Amy. Lead on.”

  As they walked to the store, Amy asked Tom about his pool cue, why the case was important, and about his competitions. Tom was pleased to talk about himself, and the time passed quickly as they walked.

  “That walking stick is unusual,” noted Tom.

  “Yes it is, and it draws a lot of attention,” answered an exasperated Amy.

  “Yes, I can see that,” said Tom, as most people passing them had looked at it. “Is it valuable?” he asked casually.

  Amy only hesitated for a second before answering, “It’s one of a kind, special.”

  “I think you’re right in looking for a case; there are some unpleasant people in this city. They’d rob you just for a close look at it. Here’s the store, Sharpie’s Emporium. Let’s go in,” he suggested, opening the door and shouting out, “Hey Sharpie, I’ve got a customer for you.”

  It was a small narrow store with a counter cutting the lower floor in half. In the public area were displays of pool cues, balls, chalk, and pictures of pool tables with prices posted. The prices impressed Amy; she didn’t know that people spent that much on pool tables and equipment. Behind the counter was a plain blue curtain, faded in places, and through the gaps in the curtain, she could see a small workshop. An older man, perhaps the owner, stepped through the curtain; he was wearing a varnish-stained apron.

  “Hi, Tom,” said Sharpie. “I thought you were going to bring her in last week.”

  Amy was confused for a second until she realized that they were talking about Tom’s pool cue. Tom put his case on the counter and opened it. Amy saw that it was a two-piece cue, the two halves screwed together. She couldn’t see what needed refinishing. Sharpie closed the case and said to Amy, “What can I help you with?”