Ying translated Peter’s answer before the father slightly chuckled as he gave a short response.
“Dad think army lock you up ’cause you crazy.”
Peter nodded at the father with a wink.
“Father say you can hide here for a couple day. I think he like you.”
Peter bowed before asking, “Do you have a phone or computer around?”
Ying shook her head. “Sorry, no. We have no electricity.”
The father started to speak in detail. The elderly couple participated in the discussion as the father used various hand gestures. Peter stood patiently, unable to decipher what was being said. The voices seemed to be rising in intensity.
Finally, Ying turned with a serious look. “You okay hide here until safe for travel. Then we get you to border, on one condition.”
“What’s that?”
Ying looked to the ground for a second before her father put his arm around her in a consoling manner. She slowly lifted her head. “He wish you take me and son.”
Peter took a step back. “Why?”
“So I can have baby. My cousin be force with abortion. She almost die. He not want lose his grandchild or daughter.”
Peter could see the love in the father’s eyes. The same look Anya’s seventy-five year old father, Viktor Alexandrov, gave his daughter before he joined Peter on the suicide mission to the moon. “How will we get to the border?”
Ying looked at the elderly gentleman as she pointed. “My Yeye.” She turned with an apologetic look. “Sorry, Yeye be grandfather.” She put her hands together. “Yeye often take harvest to market in our horse pulled wagon. We hide in wagon. He get us close to border.”
Peter wasn’t worried about Ying; she already proved her agility running through the woods. He questioned bringing along a one-year-old baby. A slight tear began to appear in her eye. How could he say no to this sweet girl who saved him? How could he let her unborn child be killed? Though the idea sounded risky, he thought of Anya and his own unborn child. He would want someone to do the same for him. He reassuringly nodded yes.
A big smile appeared on the father’s face before he bowed in appreciation.
LEANING AGAINST THE women’s bathroom door, face forward with his hands above his head, Dmitri mourned deeply for his sister. For the last ten minutes he had been trying to console her, hoping to get her to come out. Throughout the ordeal he heard her getting sick multiple times. Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore and knocked on the door as he opened it.
Dmitri called out, “Anya, are you okay?” His words echoed off the tiled walls. With only one stall with a closed door, he knew exactly where she was. He couldn’t hear a sound. He walked up to the door and knocked. “Anya, are you okay?”
Again silence. Finally, Anya’s voice cracked in despair. “I need to go to the hospital.”
4
GETTING HOME
The wooden wheels of the rickety horse drawn wagon rolled slowly along the bumpy dirt road, jostling Peter around as he sat on a patch of straw. A slight aroma of manure started to mix in with the stale mildew smell he had been inhaling over the last few hours in the tight, enclosed area. He thought at first the smell was coming from the horse pulling them, but soon realized it was instead coming from Ying’s baby next to him. A slight grin crossed his face. Just last week he was over 200,000 miles away in lunar orbit watching the majestic sight of his home planet slowly rising above the lunar surface. Now here he was, hiding like an outlaw in this muggy old wagon with a mother and her now crying baby in a dirty diaper. He had to laugh.
Unexpectedly, Ying’s grandfather, who was driving the wagon, anxiously yelled out something in Chinese. Ying’s eyes widened as she started to rock her baby, trying to calm him. “Soldiers come.”
Peter quickly peeked ahead through one of the narrow slits between the wooden planks that made up the wagon, just above the old man’s shoulder. He saw two Chinese soldiers stationed at a makeshift roadblock they were approaching. Shit. What am I going to do? Ying was having no luck quieting the baby. He was positive they would check inside. He was doomed.
Peter’s heart began to race as he shimmied toward the back end of the wagon where the flimsy access door was. Though it was locked, the wobbly wooden entryway could easily be pried opened. His mind started racing, trying to figure his plan of attack. His only hope was to surprise the guards as they opened the small door and overpower them. Peter looked back through the thin cracks to see they were almost upon the guards. His heart dropped when he noticed they had guns drawn. Fortunately, Ying had calmed her child. Soon the jostling ended as the wagon came to a halt. One of the soldiers shouted out a question. The grandfather timidly answered. Peter held his breath as the other soldier started to walk slowly along the side of the wagon, his gun pointed at it. Neither Ying nor Peter moved.
As the guard approached the back end, Peter’s adrenaline began pumping, his whole body prepared for attack. Suddenly the baby let out a cry and instantly Peter’s muscles tensed. He kept his eye on the soldier’s hands, waiting for him to attempt to pry open the door. The soldier instead yelled out a question as Ying quieted her baby. The wagon wobbled as the grandfather got out and gradually walked toward the back. The guard stepped back as the grandfather approached the door. Peter was convinced he was going to unlock it. The grandfather paused for a moment before he turned and began to plead with the young man. Thinking this might be his only opportunity to catch the soldier off guard, Peter lifted his leg, getting ready to crash open the flimsy door. Ying grabbed his shoulder. He briefly took his eye off the guard to look her way. She slightly shook her head no. Peter turned back to see the man move her grandfather to the side and stare at the wagon. Peter was convinced the bright morning sunshine made it difficult for the guard to see through the small slits into the dark wagon. The man shouted a question in their direction. Peter didn’t move nor say a word. Ying immediately spoke up as her baby began to cry. Peter was totally confused and stayed ready to kick. Ying briefly conversed with the Chinese man through the thin planks in their native language until the other guard called out. Peter was astounded to see the soldier say something to the grandfather before walking back to his post, surprisingly giving them clearance to pass.
Peter couldn’t believe his luck, escaping certain capture. After they had passed through the checkpoint and were far enough away, he whispered to Ying, “How did we get through that?”
Ying was patting her baby on the back. “Yeye say he have granddaughter. She nine months pregnant with second child. We flee family officials.”
Peter tilted his head. “So why didn’t they open the door to check?”
Ying shrugged her shoulders. “I not know. Guard ask me if I okay. I say I think baby come soon. Other guard call out to him. He say to Yeye this not his concern.” She smiled. “He say watch for bad American. He danger.”
Peter shook his head, assuming that the soldiers didn’t want to get involved with the possibility of delivering a child. “Damn, that was close. I was sure he was going to open the door.”
Ying raised her eyebrows and leaned into him. “Since you be to moon, maybe Ching’e save you.”
Peter chuckled. “Or maybe that bunny.”
ANNE NOVAK WAS a wreck. She had been driving her sister-in-law crazy over the last hour pacing nervously back and forth in her kitchen waiting for a phone call from NASA. As the wife of a moonwalker, she had access to the top brass in the organization. She had a call in to the NASA administrator requesting an update on her son. She was assured she would get a call back within the hour.
In a relaxed tone, Virginia said, “Don’t worry. I’m sure Peter’s okay.”
Anne stopped pacing and darted her brown eyes directly at her sister-in-law. “How can you say that? Supposedly he landed three days ago, but yet we haven’t heard a thing. You know Peter would have called me by now if he could. I know something’s wrong.”
“Well the news said his spacecraft landed safely.
”
“Yeah, in China! After what he did, do you think they were waiting with open arms?” Anne lifted her hands and covered her face knowing her sister-in-law was just trying to help. She lightly rubbed her face as she whispered. “Peter, please be safe.”
Anne heard Virginia get off the bar stool and walk toward her. Her sister-in-law’s arm wrapped around her and she said in a consoling voice, “You know our government will get him out, especially after what he did.”
Anne slowly moved her hands from her face and saw the encouraging look on Virginia’s face. Virginia was happy her brother’s legacy was restored, as was she. Anne was immensely proud of her son for proving that his dad had walked on the moon, but Peter’s well-being was all she cared about now. She couldn’t bear to be without both her husband and her only child. Finally, the phone rang. Surprisingly, Anne couldn’t get herself to move.
Virginia nudged her. “Answer it.”
Anne looked at her sister-in-law as she drew a deep breath.
Virginia removed her arm before tilting her head and giving the reassurance Anne needed. “It’ll be fine. Go ahead, answer it.”
Anne slowly walked over to the phone. She stared at it for a second. God, please let him be okay. She gradually lowered her hand and grabbed the cold receiver. She closed her eyes as she lifted it to her ear. She timidly answered, “Hello.”
“Hello, Anne, it’s Doug Rose.”
“Hi, Doug. Thank you so much for calling me back.”
“My pleasure. It’s the least I can do after the heroic mission your son carried out. I have to tell you, not only is he a hero at this agency, he’s a hero to this country. In fact, the President of the United States calls him a hero.”
Anne opened her eyes, caring only about one thing. “Doug, is Peter okay?”
There was an uncomfortable silence. Doug’s voice turned serious. “We know the Chinese spacecraft had some problems when it entered the atmosphere; however, they did land. At this time, the Chinese are being vague on Peter’s condition. I’ve been assured our government is pursuing all options to make sure he’s safe and to get him home as soon as possible.”
Anne dropped her head. “Doug, do you think he survived?”
Again silence, before Doug answered with a definitive, “Yes.”
PETER TRUDGED UP the steep embankment carrying Ying’s sleeping baby through the trees that blocked the early afternoon sun. With no clear path up the mountain, he had to make one, going over bushes and under branches. He was happy to have had a few days rest at Ying’s family farm. No way could he have made this climb soon after returning from space. He looked back to see Ying struggling. They had been at it for almost two hours. Ying’s grandfather got them as close as he could, which was to the base of the mountains that bordered Kyrgyzstan. They were almost at the top of the ridge, and according to the grandfather, just past the peak was Kyrgyzstan.
“You okay?”
Ying stopped a second to wipe the sweat off her forehead. “I fine.”
Peter was impressed with the young girl’s strength and stamina. “We’re almost to the top.”
Ying bowed her head slightly before resuming the climb.
Peter came upon a hanging branch blocking his way. When he moved it to the side, he instantly stopped. A beautiful baby Panda cub was all alone playing at the base of a tree. It looked just like the many cute, cuddly stuffed toys he had often seen in stores, with its fluffy white fur and trademark black circles around its eyes. Part of him wanted to go pick it up and hug it. Ying walked up to his side and noticed the panda. A surprised look crossed her face. In a whisper she asked, “Where Mom?”
Peter quietly answered, “No idea. I haven’t seen her.” Though he didn’t know much about pandas, he knew any pissed off grown bear could kill.
Ying pulled Peter’s shirt. “Let’s go another way.”
Peter nodded as he turned, but in his rush he accidently let a branch swipe against Ying’s baby. The boy instantly woke with a wail. Peter looked back to see the panda cub scurry off in the opposite direction toward some bushes. Ying quickly grabbed her baby hoping to calm him, but regrettably, it was too late. A loud rustling sound started to come from the direction of the cub. Soon the bushes shook violently before an enormous panda emerged.
Peter kept his eye on the monster as he whispered, “Should we run?”
Ying was trying to muffle her child’s cries. “No. Not move.”
Peter stayed still, but the bear kept approaching. He had to do something. He quickly opened the survival kit strapped to his waist and quietly pulled out a smoke flare. He hurriedly pulled the cap before throwing the flare in front of the bear. Orange smoke instantly started shooting out one end with a loud hiss. Peter was relieved to see the bear retreat into the bushes. Soon the orange smoke had engulfed the area.
Waving the smoke from his face, Peter smiled. “That seems to have done the trick.”
Ying nodded as she motioned that they walk in the other direction.
After a few moments of walking, Peter’s heart sank when he heard helicopter blades. He turned and raised his hand for Ying to stop. She halted as she tilted her head, questioning why. He put his finger to his lips as he listened. It had been days since he had last seen any Chinese helicopters. He would have thought twice about using the flare if he thought choppers were patrolling. The faint sound started to increase. It was definitely a helicopter. He looked back at the bellowing orange smoke in the distance that now extended into the sky. There was no way the pilot would miss that. Damn!
Peter took the baby from Ying. “We need to find a hiding place, now!” They took off running, jumping over bushes as he scanned the area for cover.
Over by some large rocks, he thought he saw an entrance to a small cave. Perfect. He quickly hustled to the entry. The opening looked to be about three feet in diameter. He moved branches to the side as he peeked in. He could barely see in due to the blocked out sunlight. The hollow was empty and dark. Though it would probably be tight, it would work. He quickly motioned for Ying to get in as the helicopter approached. She reached for the baby. “No, get in first,” insisted Peter.
Ying got on her hands and knees before scampering into the small opening. Once in, her hands reappeared. Peter handed her the baby before swiftly gathering some branches. He quickly crawled in and covered the entrance with the sticks.
He was pleased the baby stayed quiet as the helicopter began to hover over them. Because of the smoke flare, he was sure the helicopter would land or send down soldiers on a drop line. Peter couldn’t believe his ears when he heard English being spoken over the helicopter’s PA system.
“This is the United States Air Force. Please come out and show yourself.”
Peter was cautious at first, wondering if the Chinese were playing a trick on him. He peeked through the branches to see the markings were definitely American military. He quickly brushed the branches aside as he jumped up and started waving and yelling at the chopper.
The PA blared, “We see you. Please stay put.”
A big smile crossed Peter’s face. He stuck his head back into the cave. “Looks like the good guys are here to save us.”
THE SMELL OF medicine filled the air as Peter dialed up Dmitri using the phone in the medical ward. He and Ying were safely at Manas Air Base. After a brief once-over by the doctor, Peter was finally free to make important calls. He had already tried calling Anya on her cell phone but got her voicemail. He elected not to leave a message, wanting to tell her directly he was safe and out of China. He hoped to reach her brother in Russia and find out where she was.
As Peter held the phone to his ear waiting for his friend to answer, he looked over at Ying who was lying on a gurney getting ready for an ultrasound examination. By her side, her son slept peacefully. Peter was happy to have taken her along and pleased she would be taken care of.
Dmitri answered, “Zdrah-stvooy.”
For the first time since leaving the moon Peter fi
nally heard a familiar voice. He instantly flashed a big grin. “Hello, Dmitri, guess who?”
Dmitri’s voice shot up into a high octave tone. “Peter! It’s you. It’s great to hear your voice. We thought you were dead.”
Peter’s face tightened as he looked out the window. “What? Who told you that?”
“The Chinese. CNSA informed NASA you burned to death upon landing and there were no remains.”
Peter’s grip tightened on the phone. “Bullshit. Is that what Anya thinks?”
There was a long pause. “Yes. I informed her a few days ago.”
Peter started pacing. “Where is she? I need to tell her I’m okay. I just tried calling her cell phone.”
“She’s flying to America. After Dad’s memorial yesterday she told me she needed to give something to your mom.”
Peter stopped pacing and lowered his head. The depressing memories of Viktor dying in their spacecraft flashed through Peter’s mind. The veteran cosmonaut’s final resting place ended up being the surface of the moon, where their dying ship crashed with his lifeless body strapped in. “I’m sorry I missed his funeral. He did one hell of a job flying us to the moon. He was a good man.”
“Thanks Peter. If we had any idea you were alive, we would have held off. It was a beautiful service.”
Peter cleared his head. He needed to get to Anya and was sure she was delivering his letter to his mom per his request if he died. He resumed pacing. “When did Anya leave?”
“Earlier this morning. She’s definitely on a plane now.”
Peter’s mind began racing. He figured she had about twenty hours of travel time from Moscow before reaching his mom’s in Houston, probably arriving around dinnertime. He figured he could travel in half that time if he could fly out on one of the F-15s from the base. If he flew out in the next few hours, he should arrive before her. Convinced he could beat her, he decided not to wake his mom. “I need to get to Houston before she does.”
“Peter, there’s something you should know.”
Space Hoax (Hoax Trilogy Book 2) Page 4
