Dwarg in the Seventh Dimension : The Aggie Kellor Experience

by Tony Lourensen

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR – REVELATIONS

  Edna was sound asleep. Megan and Aggie were sitting on the balcony; they were rugged up and comfortable. Megan had satisfied her father that there were no problems and she was having a wonderful time with Edna and Aggie. Poor Aggie had been answering the many questions pouring out of Megan: “how did you learn to speak French? – How come you’ve already graduated from High School – tell me about the UO – what are you going to research? – are you psychic? can you read minds?” Aggie fielded them as best she could – she couldn’t tell her about Dwarg, that would certainly bring on strains and uncertainties.

  “I’m so blessed with these gifts Megan and you won’t find me ungracious. I remember telling Mrs Conaghan of the UO that sometimes it’s better to accept than dissect. I don’t mind admitting that I’m enjoying life. OK, so I’m a bit more mature than other ten year olds, I don’t think I’m missing out on much. Gees, just look at my lifestyle now – who would not like this? I don’t blame you for being curious Megan – something happened to me while I was in a coma – something wonderful and something sad – and I’ve a lot to be thankful for.”

  “Well little sis, you are special – and so is Edna. Can you talk about your mother Aggie, or does it bring up sad memories? – I’ll tell you about my mom first, if you like.”

  “That’s OK, my mom’s name was Kay. She died in a road accident last year. She was very strict with me, probably because my grandparents were equally severe with her. Sad to say, she didn’t have much time for me, she always seemed to be out somewhere socialising. Looking back, I don’t quite know how daddy managed to tolerate her episodes. She was often drunk, loud and abusive. I remember hiding away when she came home late at night, shouting and cursing and daddy would come to try and settle her down. Because of her moods, I really never got to know daddy’s side of the family well – and that was a great loss. It’s not that I was scared of her, but I would try to stay out of her way. Sometimes she would look at me and just get plain angry – to this day, I still don’t know why. Then one evening, she picked up daddy from the office, she was angry and drove the car like a maniac and hit a concrete light-pole – blood tests proved that she was well and truly inebriated – she died – daddy didn’t even get a scratch. I was alone in the house when the police came by and told me what happened. Grandfather and grandmother both blamed daddy for allowing mom to drive. There was an awful quarrel later, then I got cancer. Poor daddy. I still have mom’s jewellery and one day I might even wear some. One day I might even go visit Grandma and Grandpa and try to smooth the waters – apparently they are well off. And you Megan, I know how tragic the loss of your mom would have been for you. Ever looked up at the stars and thought about her?”

  “Every night Aggie.”

  “Here’s something to think about. Atoms. Everything, and I mean everything in the physical world is made of atoms. Atoms combine to form various molecules of stuff - gasses, solids, liquids and everything physical. They are everywhere and when something changes, the atoms don’t simply disappear, they recombine into something else.”

  “Humans are made of combinations of atoms and when we die, those atoms don’t die, they go off to become something else – and not necessarily something human - they recycle. Our universe is a huge recycling centre of atoms. Who knows, some of the air we are breathing right now may contain an atom which was once a part of the pen used to sign the Declaration of Independence or once comprised a grass leaf outside the Tower of London or once comprised a hair off the beard of Abraham Lincoln; or might even have once been part of the nose cone of an exploding rocket. Megan, atoms are, and will always be, around us – even those from which our moms were made. Oh I’m so sorry Megan, I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “Aggie, you have a beautiful way with words. You know, I was about your age when I lost her. I remember the man on the television crying out things and all I saw was clouds of smoke. Daddy was so beside himself and I couldn’t understand what was happening – I miss her so much.”

  “Have a little sob Megan, I’ll get you some soda from the mini-bar, and some tissues. Now a smile? Lovely. Here is something else from the mini-bar - now let me tell you a little story about this tin, and our adventure in Arles.”

  -oOo-

  “Oh my God! Is that it? Is that really it? No way – is that really it? What the.. f...flipping hell ...you just can’t be serious Aggie?”

  Aggie became rather jealous of Megan’s stamping and jumping around the room. She could have used those steps in her Jingle Dress Dance, they were certainly lively enough. “What’s going on here ladies?”- Edna thought that the hotel was in emergency evacuation mode.

  Aggie gave Edna a wink - “I just gave Meagan a little earful, aunt.”

  “Edna, Edna, is it true? Did you really find it? Oh my God, this is unreal.”

  “No big deal Megan, it’s only a bit of hundred and twenty year old gristle – don’t even know what to do with it – no way in hell are we bringing it back to the States Aggie – that photo is bad enough – but the customs will have plenty to say about bringing in human body parts.”

  “You’re right aunt. How about this – we send it to Inspector Odrow with a note saying how we came to have it. We could say we thought it may be Vincent’s ear because of the inscription on the tin. We don’t want any claim or publicity because we have already been in trouble.”

  “Perhaps we can suggest that he go and look at the wonderful relics in Anton’s basement – and in particular, study the account books around the period of Vincent’s accident and see if there may be a reference to a payment by a certain Rachel. That should be enough for him to get really excited.”

  “Ha ha, I can just imagine him running around not quite knowing what to do – wish I could be a fly on the wall to see that – now who was that bungling inspector in Pink Panther movies? – oh yes - Inspector Jacques Clouseau. But let’s not send it yet, I think there is a post office at Charles de Gaul Airport.”

  “OK, bedtime little ladies. By the way Aggie, just as a matter of interest and for no particular reason, where are we going to drive to tomorrow? I’m only the driver - just thought I’d ask.”

  “You know aunt; there is a place I think you would really like to check out. I’ll give you some clues. Alps, yodellers, snow, fondue, chocolate, cows with bells, Roger Federer..”

  “Right, I’ll wear my furry knickers tomorrow – now git to your sacks children.”

  -oOo-

  “Where the..., what the hell, is this place Aggie? – and don’t say downtown Geneva because we left it a few miles back.”

  “Aunt, it’s CERN, the LHC, you know, the world’s largest particle accelerator, it’s a 17 mile circle of tube and used for smashing atoms. We are looking at mankind’s most advanced piece of technology – just turn next left and we can park at the Visitors’ Centre.”

  Edna looked at Megan and shrugged her shoulders, “don’t ask me Megan, this has been going on since Paris – I’m only here for the ride.” There were large buildings all around the place, industrial complexes, weird sculptures and a lot of construction work going on. They drove past a large green pipe on a concrete stand – an advertisement – a showpiece of the area. On it were the words CERN Superconducting Dipole Magnet – LHC. “Wow Aggie, the LHC – now let me figure it out – light hearted circus, maybe left handed circle, something like that?”

  “It’s Large Hadron Collider and the actual tube is underground, even crosses the French and Swiss borders four times. The scientists here have split atoms and found a whole new world of sub atomic particles – we are at the edge of a new era of discovery – the age of nano technology – isn’t that wonderful?”

  The Reception Room at the Visitors’ Centre was lavish – and warm and they found an area to sit and have some warm chocolate.

  Aggie went from display to display and talked with some people who were constantly coming and going - the free automatic coffee mach
ine being their main focus. She examined the many models, diagrams and posters around the rooms.

  One older man, dressed in the typical white coat of either a janitor or a scientist, took an interest in what Aggie was saying to him and the conversation seemed to develop intensely. Edna was quite content to just sit there and enjoy the chocolate and talk with Megan. “That young waiter back there at the restaurant really took a shine to you Megan; he stumbled over himself and nearly dropped the pot. I noticed him staring though the servery window.”

  “Oh stop it Edna. I wouldn’t know what you’re talking about. He was rather cute though.”

  “Aunt Edna, this is Professor Ethan Lorenz and he works here. If it’s alright with you, he’d like to show me some of the inner workings of this place?”

  “Hello Mister Lorenz, please do – we’ll wait here until she drives you crazy and you make us take her away.”

  Without even a goodbye, Aggie took the professor’s hand and both went through the door with multi-lingual signage – the English words read, Strictly Authorised Personnel Only.

  “Now, Miss Aggie, what was that you were saying about your theory of the disappearing Quark particles?”

  It was a full hour before Aggie came back to the Visitors area. She was expressionless, if not somewhat sad. “Everything OK sweetheart?”

  “Yes, sort of aunt – we need to talk later. Anyway we’re supposed to be having a great vacation. How about a real treat – there is a place in Dijon we can stay at that will blow your mind. It’s a luxury five star, right in the middle of town and everything’s laid on – we can even have little fish nibble our feet and legs to get rid of dead skin – it’s the latest rage – there are heated pools and get this Megan, there is a large art gallery next door.” Edna did not miss the tears in Aggie’s eyes.

  -o0o-

  The road to Dijon was long and there were interesting sights along the way. A few rest stops, a couple of strolls at local markets, some marvellous views from the mountains, scenes of vineyards and farms – yet the excited gaggle of girl prattle was somewhat muted during the drive.

  Aggie was true to her word. The hotel was breathtakingly beautiful and everything they could wish for.

  Aggie became quite adept at navigating and pre-booking hotels over the internet. So far she had a perfect score in selecting the accommodation – this place was by far the best yet. It didn’t take long for them to unpack and head for the heated swimming pool.

  “That’s it Megan, just keep walking around the pool – with that hot little body of yours, we’ll never have to holler for a waiter – OK Aggie, let’s get it out in the open – what is Dwarg up to?”

  “Something I never wanted to have happen aunt – Dwarg has found a possible way to get back to his world. He needs to return to his own and make them aware of the aliens coming into the Aura. He has to organise a resistance of some sort, otherwise his Aura may be invaded and destroyed. He won’t leave until he is sure that I will be all right and capable of getting on with my life without any suffering or relapses. Oh aunt, I don’t want him to leave – he is part of me.”

  “Here darling, don’t cry – was this to do with that scientific place back there where they were killing atoms?”

  “Yes, he says if he could get blasted with a stream of particles, he would be blown back into his world.”

  “Can I talk with Dwarg?”

  “It’s as Aggie said, Edna – I need to leave. I had planned to stay with her for five years more, but circumstances have led me to go back much earlier than that. Further, we all know that Aggie will develop anatomically and undergo many chemical and physiological changes in the coming years – my presence would imbalance and threaten this development.”

  “Can you guarantee that Aggie won’t suffer from this, will she get cancer again after you leave?”

  “She will not, for the rest of her life, become sick. She may well have accidents, cuts and bruises, but she will always heal. I cannot give her eternal life, but I can ensure that she will live long and will never suffer from any disease – and she will keep and be active with all the knowledge we have collected.”

  “What time scale are we talking about?”

  “Six months.”

  “After you go, will you ever come back?”

  “I have six months to work on that Edna. Would you like me come back if I could?”

  “Well if you do, how about you come back in the body of a good looking guy.”

  “I will prepare Aggie for the separation. I will gradually regress and become less active, until I am dormant and leave her without anxiety or distress – yet I will be alert to her needs.”

  “Tell him not to go aunt. You know I can stop him leaving if I want.”

  “Honey, I think we all know what the right thing is – now have a good old sob, hell, the world won’t stop turning after six months and you’ll still be Aggie. From what I understand, Dwargles will still be around somewhere in our atmosphere watching over us.”

  “At least I will have you, and now I also have a sister – I really like Megan, and so does Dwarg.”

  “That’s the spirit honey. We still have a few days left to leave our mark on France – then home and your studies – don’t want to let Miss Conaghan down, do we?”

  The trio spent the remainder of their vacation touring and sightseeing, each had undoubtedly gained a little more weight than they would have liked, but the food was wonderful. Not once had they succumbed to the temptation of entering a McDonald’s, a Burger King or a Pizza Hut – even though they sometimes yearned for a clean restroom.

  Finally back in Paris, Megan found that her bank account was active, indeed her balance was very much healthy, thanks to a concerned father. She had collected many posters during the trip; posters of France, of Vincent’s works and posters of ordinary, everyday advertisements that the French love to post on walls and lamp-posts. She and Aggie would sometimes sneak out of the hotel in the evening and go along and steal these “prizes” off fences and bill-boards. She would roll these up into a tight bundle and found a thick cardboard tube to hold them.

  She also had a new backpack and bought a little digital camera off a seedy looking African on the steps of the Sacre Coeur. The rows of touristy souvenir shops at Montmartre saw many sales of postcards, scarves, leather bags, hats, belts, shoes and ceramics to the three Americans who had to struggle back to the hotel with all their booty. There was a continual shuttle up and down the elevator to get all the luggage from the car – luckily the hotel had an in-house facility for the return of the rental car.

  The final evening saw the trio packing, repacking, downsizing and rearranging the mass of “stuff” they wanted to take home. Despite Edna’s objections, the heavy glassed portrait of Claude Orrslet just had to come. Aggie spent considerable time wrapping it in bubble wrap and cardboard with a full roll of gaff tape. As planned, the tin with the decrepit portion of Vincent’s ear was placed in a postal pack and marked “Inspector Odrow, Museum d’Orsay, Paris”- Edna had added a short note to say how they came by it - found the inscription, and what it just might be – and it might be in his interest to verify everything by going through the account books in Anton Orrslet’s funeral parlour in Arles, and especially to check around the date January 1889. She could not resist a P.S. “Unlike a certain van Gogh painting, you will find this is not a fake.” Edna made certain that the hotel reception staff would post this the following morning, registered and certified – they would be over the Atlantic Ocean by the time he received it.

  Steve Redcliffe was at JFK to meet them. He insisted that Edna and Aggie come to Frederick before heading off to Vermont. “How much in extra baggage did you guys have to pay? Holy cow just look at all this stuff.” All three looked rather sheepish as each pushed their own little mountain of bags and suitcases on trolleys. “Just as well I’ve got a Hummer.”

  Megan introduced Edna and Aggie. “Amazing, I know Dan Kellor well – guys, thank
s so much for taking care of Megan – if it wasn’t for Darren, I would have been over to Amsterdam in a flash. I know I’m a little, well a lot, protective of Megan, but he assured me that you would see her right.”

  “Steve, Megan is an absolute delight and a lovely girl. She and Aggie really hit it off together. They now see each other as sisters – I guess they do have a lot in common.”

  Aggie and Megan were already making plans for a reunion – Aggie told her of the beauty of Vermont, the mountains, the air and the people. Megan promised she would try and come up for Christmas - it all depended on her getting time off from her work at the bookstore.

  “Aggie, I know you are destined for an interesting life, will you remember me when you become famous - or a celebrity?”

  “How could I possibly forget my sister. Megan I would like to give you something as a reminder of our trip. As you know, I’ve gone to a lot of trouble to get and keep this. It was destined to be yours as soon as I met you back in the plane going to Paris. She picked up the well wrapped photograph of Claude Orrslet and passed it to Megan. “I know you will come to like it Megan, just give it a little time – just look beyond the man.”

  “Ah... thanks Aggie, gee I have a lot of pictures – I wish I had more walls.”

  Aggie did not take the hint - “It would look really good here, just above this nice piano.”

  “What is it Megan?” asked a curious Steve.

  “Oh, it’s just an old photograph of an undertaker in France. Aggie and Edna got it from the guy’s great grandson, along with some ..other...er..surprising...s ..stuff?”

  The penny was starting to drop. Aggie turned her eyes upwards, looked at the ceiling; quite the innocent child.

  “Oh my God...I’ve been through this before...No way sis..there’s more to this than meets the eye isn’t there?.. look beyond the man you say....guys?....Aggie?!”

  “Ask no questions Megan, accept, don’t dissect.”

  The Peter Pan Green Bus ensured a happy last leg to Brattleboro. Ed had responded to Edna’s phone call for a lift to Putney and he met them at the depot - took them home to Moosbas, to Moolsem, to Lisa (who seemed a little larger now), to Scott, to the chipmonks, squirrels, jaybirds and woodpeckers of the Turner Trail.

  With Aggies blessing, Ed stayed overnight.