by Gary Striker
Jane continued issuing commands and procedures that the mill crew followed precisely. Twenty minutes later, Danny was stabilized and ready for transport. A small oxygen bottle used for welding was being modified with a hose and paper cup arrangement. Ice packs were made out of trash can liners and shop cloths for the bandaged bruises on Danny’s head.
“Thank goodness for duct tape”, Carl said with a slight smile as he assembled the make-shift breathing mask.
Pierre had tears in his eyes.
“I think he would have died without you, Jane”.
“He may still die if we don’t get him to a hospital A.S.A.P.”, was Jane’s evaluation of Danny’s tenuous condition.
“Does anyone have an S.U.V. that will hold the cot? We’ll also need a couple men to ride along”, Jane said as she organized transportation for the injured Danny”.
Everyone on the shift volunteered with something. A large transport van was being made ready and everyone seemed a bit relieved.
“The closest emergency room is at Fort Kent. You all know the place. Let’s move! I’ll try to alert them from one of the mountain tops if I can connect. I don’t think they will be flying tonight with the low cloud cover”, was Jane’s last offering!
Several men loaded Danny into the van, climbed aboard, and proceeded out of the parking area for the sixty mile trip to Fort Kent.
Jane looked about the office area and focused on Pierre who put his feet up on his desk. Pierre was still contemplating the events of the night.
“Jane, I’ve seen every kind of problem that a logging mill can sustain. I’ve seen men get killed, accidents, equipment failures, and all kinds of things that can happen unexpectedly”.
Pierre stared at Jane with a look of consternation as Steve joined them with something in his hand.
“But tonight”, Pierre continued, “I have no idea what happened here tonight. The place lit up like a Fourth of July firecracker. There was a loud howling noise that sounded like a jet plane, right here in the mill. Everything shook”. Pierre pointed to some cups and other items on the floor. “Then total darkness and the mills shut down. And now for the sixty-four thousand dollar question”, Pierre asked with a gaze of total confusion, “How did Danny get here without his train, and what was he doing in the log loader”?
Everyone stared at each other with no plausible answer.
“Where have you been, Steve”, Jane asked with a look of concern?
Steve smiled, “Worried about the helpless gringo”?
“Hell, yes, you Moron! I didn’t invest all this time in you for one lousy sweater. Where were you and what’s that thing you have there”?
All eyes were on Steve.
“I saw something, not sure what it was, out in the storage yard behind this building. It seemed to glow and it was moving around. I crept in closer behind the piles of lumber to get a better look. I don’t think it saw me. It looked like it was in trouble. It was fooling with something on the ground. Then it raised up about ten feet and stared at me, at least that’s what I think it was doing. I didn’t get the impression it was a happy camper. I have no idea how he saw me. I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face”.
Steve noticed that his audience was looking at each other and then back to him.
“If ya’all think I’m nuts, wait ‘till you hear the rest of it. The goddamn thing came at me and I went down. I felt some kind of pressure, like we did before, Jane”.
Steve focused on Jane.
“It came at me again and I fired two rounds from your Glock”.
“Steve”, Jane interrupted, “We didn’t hear any gunshots”. Pierre and the other crew workers shook their heads in agreement.
Steve unloaded the handgun and emptied the magazine on Pierre’s desk. He pointed to four rounds, then sniffed the muzzle.
“How many rounds were in this weapon when you handed it to me”, Steve asked as he fired a laser look at Jane?
“Six”, was the only word that came out of Jane’s mouth, as she once again tried to make sense out of the unexplainable, “So what is that thing you’ve got there”?
Steve placed what appeared to be a very complex piece of a semi-tubular precision apparatus on the table. It was about two feet long with many articulated ports and other tiny assemblies.
“This is what that thing was playing with. Come here and pick it up”, Steve ordered.
Jane picked up the thing and handed it to Pierre. They both stared at Steve. Pierre hefted it and looked astounded.
“It weighs…nothing”, Pierre said with a stutter. “I don’t think it weighs any more than a baby chicken feather”!
“Pierre, we’re really tired and Steve and I still have to get to Eagle Lake. Let’s plan on talking soon if we could exchange numbers. I’m sure the authorities will want to question us”.
The mill workers all wrote down their names and phone numbers. Everyone requested that Steve and Jane keep in touch.
“I’ll check in on Danny tomorrow”, Jane said as they bid farewell. Steve looked wide awake as he hit the accelerator.
“I think you made some friends for life around here”, Jane said as she smiled and sat back.
“Nicest folks I ever met”, Steve said as he took a deep breath, “These people are the real deal.”
The snow had all but stopped and the night appeared to have settled down. Jane pointed out their arrival in the settlement of Ashland, as they passed a saw mill, one closed gas station and a general store with only a light on.
“We have about twenty-five miles left to Eagle Lake”, she informed Steve who appeared to relax at the news of the short remaining drive ahead.
Jane looked concerned.
“This is where we need to be the most alert. It’s the very desolate part of the trip”, she said with a look of concern.
“I’m getting pretty good at spotting these damn moose, wouldn’t you say, sweetheart”?
“Just pay attention and I’ll let you know when we get there”.
They passed through the beautiful little valley area of Portage Lake and then up over the famous Hedgehog Mountain. They saw no other vehicles, but frequently spotted other big game animals feeding along the road.
“Next stop, Eagle Lake, mister”, Jane said with a smile.
A half-hour later, Eagle Lake came into view. Steve was taking in what he considered to be one of the most beautiful places he had ever seen.
“It’s like a holiday post card”, he observed, “just stunning”!
Jane directed him to a rambling two story farm house overlooking the lake.
“Is this home”, Steve asked in disbelief as he took in the scene?
Lights illuminated the boat ramp. Fog was developing over the lake and he noticed the sound of nothing as they got out of the luxury ride. The moon was attempting to break through. Jane was able to use her cell phone and contacted the hospital at Fort Kent. Danny had arrived about a half hour ago and was currently listed in guarded condition undergoing preliminary tests.
“How’s Danny”, Steve asked as they grabbed their things and headed for the house?
“He’s alive and sedated”, Jane said, “They would like to talk to us tomorrow.”
“Jane, you were right”, Steve announced, “I’m done in and done driving for one day. Just let me crash here on your sofa and I’ll be the happiest camper in Eagle Lake”.
“Nonsense, you get yourself upstairs and get into bed”, Jane ordered. “I’ll get us some tea and be up in a moment.
“Yes, ma’am”, Steve responded semi-consciously, as he made his way up the staircase.
Five minutes later, Jane arrived with two cups of tea in hand. Steve had managed to put on his pajamas and lay passed out on the bed.
Jane set the tea cups down and crawled into bed next to her new found lover.
“Goodnight, ya big goof”, Jane said with a smile as she pulled the covers over and succumbed to the day.
Aliens in the Allagash
Chapter 9
The Unexplained
Jim Gagnon unlocked the main entrance door of the Wallagrass Town Hall to the ring of his desk phone.
“Good Morning, this is Jim”, was his announcement while trying to shake out the morning cobwebs.
“Hi Jim, this is Jane Lefebvre”.
“Well, how are you doing, Jane? It’s been a while”, Jim returned.
“Jim, let me make a long story short. Steve Slattery is still asleep upstairs. I know he had a meeting scheduled with you this morning.”
“Yes, I was expecting him in about an hour. How do you know Mr. Slattery? Aw, never mind, what’s going on, sweetie”?
“I hitched a ride from Bangor last night. We didn’t get in until two o’clock this morning. The trip was anything but normal as we encountered some very weird things on the way up.”
“What happened”, Jim asked with a voice of attention.
“We can talk about that when we meet”, Jane redirected, “I wanted to let you know that Danny was hurt at the mill last night. He’s the engineer for the M.M.A.”. I think you know him”.
“Yes, of course, we went to school together. Is he ok”?
“As of this morning Danny was in guarded condition. He’s at the Fort Kent Hospital.”
“I’ll take a quick run over”, Jim said as he slipped his jacket back on.
“We’ll need to meet with you as soon as Steve gets stirring and we get some breakfast in us. Trust me, Jim, you’ll want to make yourself available when you see what we have to show you.”
“How about ten o’clock here in my office”?
“See you then”.
Jane proceeded to build a breakfast extravaganza. Homemade biscuits, gravy, flap-jacks, eggs, fresh country sausage and all the trimmings were in process.
“Let’s see, it’s eight-thirty already. Guess I’d better get the sleeping beauty rousted.”
Jane sauntered into the bedroom and sat next to her new found playmate.
“Was this a one night stand”, she asked herself? “Naah, he was useless”!
Steve stirred a bit as Jane whispered sweet nothings into his ear.
“C’mon, ya worthless sex maniac, rise and shine. Sleeping with you was less than thrilling. Did your mama ever talk to you about a girl’s wants and needs”?
With the last comment, Steve exploded from under the covers and rolled Jane onto the bed. Jane burst out laughing!
“I thought you were asleep, you dumb ape”!
“Why don’t we find out just how dumb this ape really is”, Steve said as he pulled the covers over them?
“That’ll have to wait, Romeo”, Jane said without compassion, “I have coffee a’ brewing, biscuits in the oven, and we’re meeting Jim at ten.”
“I wouldn’t mind being mistreated if I didn’t have so much cash invested in this date.”
Jane let one fist rip right into his stomach.
“Oh God, I thought you were a feminine little helpless elf”, Jim said with a wince, “Ok, ok, you win, Rocky, get me some jumper cables. I could use a jolt right about now”.
Jane planted a passionate kiss right on Steve’s lips.
“Need more voltage, big man”, Jane asked with a leading smile?
“At least I won’t have to ask any more if you want to neck”, he said with a big grin, “I know how to handle my woman”!
Jane sprung out of bed and pulled the covers with Steve tangled in them onto the floor.
“I love you too, sweetheart”, was Steve’s return. “It’s tough going through life as a chick magnet, so many woman and so little time.
A final kick to the butt got Steve stirring as Jane made her way back to the kitchen.
Breakfast was served with a certain formality. A table cloth and napkins were standard issue in Jane’s house along with proper place settings and all the table accoutrements.
Steve looked visibly impressed as he sat himself at the table.
“I appreciate what you’ve done here more than you can imagine”, Steve thought to himself while speaking in a low voice. “I didn’t even kick over last night’s Scotch glass”.
“Excuse me, mister”, Jane acknowledged, “did I just hear the rough, tough Detective Slattery succumb to a woman’s superior intellect with a show of appreciation’?
“Ma’am, For a breakfast like this I’ll admit to being so dumb that I couldn’t pour water out of a boot with the instructions on the heel”.
Steve regressed to better times gone by as Jane appreciated his West Texas humor, got up from the table, and gave her honey a monster hug.
“Does this mean that you still wanna neck with the old boy”, Steve asked waiting for an immediate response?
“You’re done for now, baby”, Jane informed, “we’re going to finish breakfast like two civilized people and get on over to Jim’s office”.
“Would it be too much to inquire as to what your last name might be”, Steve asked with a smile?
Jane set a pile of mail in front of him.
“It’s the second word on the first line”, she instructed as her finger pointed to the envelope in front of Steve.
“Thanks, I needed that, Miss Lefebvre”, was Steve’s response in resignation with a smile.
Jim had returned from the hospital with a concerned and confused look on his face. Danny had issues that the emergency room doctor could not fully explain. Jim turned up the heat and hung up his jacket.
“My God, what’s next”, he lamented to himself?
Mike was a constant fixture in his brain. A plan of attack to investigate Ben Lake and Mike’s whereabouts was an urgent requirement, and somehow doing it without getting somebody killed in the process was the trick.
“Every time I ask for help, somebody wants to throw my ass in the asylum”, he thought to himself, “talk about a Catch-22”!
At that moment, Jane opened the door with a smile as she entered Jim’s office with Steve. Jim gave Jane a hug and extended his right hand to Steve.
“Very nice to meet you, Mr. Slattery. Jane had good things to say about you”.
Steve smiled, ”Don’t I get a hug too? You can call me Steve if you let me call you Jim”?
Jim laughed and extended two chairs for his guests.
Steve set a box on Jim’s desk as they all focused on the discussion at hand.
Jane grabbed Jim’s arm and commanded his attention.
“Before we get started, I have something to tell you, Jim. When you got involved with the Marie Benavidas investigation, I thought you were three sheets short of a full mast”.
Steve looked her way and raised an eyebrow.
“It must be a Yankee thing, he mused!
“I’m not kidding, Jim, we all thought you went crazy. But now I’m not so sure”, Jane said with a responsive expression.
“What happened last night, darling, that got you so upset”, was Jim’s immediate inquiry?
Steve brought focus to the box on the table.
“Jim, you know why I’m here, that’s no secret”, Steve interjected, “but after giving some thought to last night’s events and this thing in the box, I feel that there could be a common thread linked to Marie’s disappearance. I warn you that none of this will approximate normal”.
Steve looked at Jane inquisitively.
“Go ahead, tell Jim what happened last night”.
Jane had Jim’s full attention. Her descriptive narration started with events at the Masardis railroad tracks and progressed to the saw mill. She left nothing to be imagined as Steve filled in the story of his encounter.
Jim leaned back, took a deep breath, and curled his lip.
“I’m not going to be the only one with a one-way pass to the asylum”, Jim muttered, “and what might be the big bombshell in the box”? He looked inquisitively at the carton in front of him.
“Go ahead Jim”, Steve instructed, “Have a look”. Steve filled in the rest of the encounter story with how he acquired the mystery device.
/> “Funny thing was…” Steve paused, “…that nobody heard the shots”!
Jim bolted to attention, stood up and paced back and forth across his office. Jane looked at Steve with concern. Jim appeared to break out in a cold sweat.
“Did we set something off Jim”, Jane asked? “Did something happen to you”?
Jim sat down and regained some composure. He informed his guests with his seemingly preposterous story of the encounter out near Ben Lake. He stopped and looked into space.
“We didn’t hear any shots either”.
The three participants sat back and struggled to sort out the confusion in their own minds. Clarity was not on the agenda.
Jane looked very concerned.
“So Mike has not been found yet”, Jane asked?
Jim shook his head and gazed at the box.
“We have no idea where Mike is”, Jim confirmed.
“Oh, my God, Jane exclaimed, “Poor Elaine”!
“Take that gadget out of the box, Jim”, Steve instructed. “It’s what I took off that thing out back of the saw mill.”
Jim held the mystery device up into the light and every which way trying to determine just exactly what it was. He then set it back down on the desk.
“It’s light as a feather. I have no clue…”
Steve interrupted and took stern control of the discussion.
“Look! Look at that thing”, Steve said with everyone’s focus now clearly on the device!
Jane moved back away from Jim’s desk with her cell phone pointed at the object.
“Unless my eyes need serious attention, that thing is not setting on your desk, Jim”, Jane stated with a look of disbelief.
