Probe

by Eugene Wilson

  “Faheem Zeyad? Are you sure of this?” Nathan asks her.

  “Yeah! Two selothian astronomers, Sevaria Zureas and her husband Garian Zureas of the Osadian Astroscience Directorate had recorded these same occurrences on 12 Vophar 2112 and 19 Nubrel 2141. Both dates are twenty-nine years apart on both worlds. Yet, this is only the beginning.”

  “We’re listening,” Nathan remarks eagerly.

  “Deborah Edith Michaels,” Sylvia looks at David.

  “Deborah Edith Michaels? Who’s she?” David asks perplexed.

  “In one of your journal entries, you mentioned Howard J. Michaels.”

  “You read my journal notes too?”

  “Yep. By using your notes for my research, I discovered that Howard Michaels married Deborah Edith Ryan on June 17, 1916.”

  “So what does that have to do with what we’re talking about?” David has a mild frown on his face.

  “Deborah Ryan,” she continues, “was a Radcliff College and Harvard College Observatory astronomer that I had learned about in history class. In her book, The Turbulent Heavens, she wrote about her observation of a visible light pulsar.”

  “How are these two stellar objects involved?’ Nathan asks.

  “Nathan, the nova seen by Richard Allenworth and the pulsar seen by Deborah Michaels are the keys to solving this mystery.”

  Nathan is becoming ever more intrigued with his sister’s findings. “This is getting really good. Tell us more.”

  “Gladly. Richard, as indicated in both of his books, was tutored by an astronomy professor named Raphael Williams.”

  David is stunned. “Raphael Williams?”

  “Yep,” Sylvia continues. “In Richard’s second book, Raphaël indicated that the star had flared briefly for several seconds on the previous night of September 16.”

  “That’s sort of odd behavior for a star,” Nathan remarks.

  “Yeah, I would say so too,” Sylvia tells him. “Now get this. In Abdul Maugoud’s book, one of Nasar Tiyyab’s associates had indicated that he had seen that same star flare for a few seconds the previous night before the major flare up occurred on September 18, 1889.”

  “So how does Deborah Michaels fit in with all of this?” Nathan asks as he is troubled by David’s angry silence.

  “On September 18, 1918, Deborah saw that same star again. However, in her book, she said that the star had flared briefly on the previous night.”

  “That’s another twenty-nine years,” Tyrone concludes.

  “That’s great sis,” Nathan tells her. “So you used a recurrent nova to determine that Earth and Dabenar have the same orbital radius. But we still don’t have enough information to correlate specific dates though.”

  Sylvia smiles. “Oh yes we do. We have Maendir, Ebu, Gaitha, Anrean, Cumal, Thuan and Panru.”

  “Tyrone is stumped. “Dawg sis! What the heck are those?”

  “Those are their weekdays in chronological order, as indicated by the Osadian Astroscience Directorate. Are y’all ready?”

  “Oh yeah,” Nathan replies smiling again.

  “Okay, here goes. Our astronomers recorded that this same star flared on the nights of Sunday, September 16, 1860 and Monday, September 17, 1860. The nova flares were seen a second time in 1889 on the nights of Tuesday, September 17 and Wednesday, September 18. Last, the nova flares were again seen in 1918 on Tuesday, September 17 and Wednesday, September 18.”

  “Whoa!” Nathan reacts.

  “You got it,” Sylvia remarks. “Selothian astronomers recorded that in their sky, this star first flared in 2112 on the nights of Maendir, 11 Vophar and Ebu, 12 Vophar. The star flared up a second time in 2141 on the nights of Anrean, 12 Vophar and Cumal, 13 Vophar. The last recorded flares occurred in 2170 on Anrean, 12 Vophar and Cumal, 13 Vophar.”

  “Girl, you are absolutely brilliant!” Nathan shouts.

  “Now,” Sylvia concludes, “the final piece of the puzzle.”

  “David, how come you’re not saying anything?” Tyrone asks.

  “I’m just taking it all in, that’s all.”

  She continues. “Now, these dates don’t fall on the same days through each month. We’re just concerned about using these specific dates to construct a frame of reference for this specific era.”

  “You go girl,” Tyrone tells her with great pride.

  Sylvia laughs. “So, all we need now is a stellar object that can be used as a highly precise timing indicator. We can use this stellar timer to verify the period between nova flares as seen by astronomers of both worlds.”

  “Deborah’s Michael’s visible light pulsar,” Nathan concludes.

  “You got it,” Sylvia states. “My research indicated that astronomers on Earth and Dabenar are in agreement regarding the pulsar’s timing cycle.”

  “In other words,” Nathan concludes, “Earth and Dabenar astronomers had observed and recorded the timing cycle of the same pulsar.”

  “Yes,” she agrees. “Deborah Ryan’s journal and Garian Zureas’ journal indicate that the same number of light pulses spans a 24-hour period on both worlds. I did the same thing with other historical events as well.”

  “She did it! She did it!” Nathan yells. “I have the prettiest, smartest sister in the entire world! Now we can construct a common frame of reference.”

  “No, I don’t think so,” David states with jealousy.

  “Why?” Sylvia asks with irritation.

  “There are other variables that we have to take into consideration.”

  “Variables? What variables?”

  David is stumped. “I…have to give that some further thought.”

  “Well, you do that. There is also something about Quafeira Sibekk.”

  “What about her?” Tyrone is amazed with his sister’s knowledge.

  “Quafeira Sibekk is Daljik Ra’as’ daughter.”

  Like a nova, David’s anger flares. “You have got to be jiving!”

  “No, I am not jiving! What’s up with you?”

  “There’s nothing up with me.” David is fighting hard to remain calm.

  Sylvia looks at him with building anger. “Guys, I’ve deciphered a few articles that indicated that Quafeira was involved in a major legal battle. According to our calendar, she was born on March 4, 1861.”

  “Are you serious, sis?” Tyrone asks again.

  “Yeah! In 1885, our time frame, she was involved in two separate cases with regard to the same issue.”

  “1885? What are you getting at?” David asks.

  “That same article still mentions Quafeira at a much later date. She appears to be involved in this same legal battle.”

  “You deciphered yet another date?” Nathan asks.

  “Yes. Based on the same information, I deciphered a third date, which was the date of this third legal hearing.”

  “I’m almost afraid to ask,” Tyrone states. “What was this third date?”

  “Anrean, 29 Galdeir 2227.”

  “Huh?” Tyrone yells. “We were just talking about that date last week!”

  “Sylvia,” Nathan asks, “what modern calendar date corresponds to Anrean, 29 Galdeir 2227?”

  “Saturday, July 6, 1974.”

  “Oh My God!” Nathan shouts fearfully. “We were in that cave on that same date!”

  “Whoa!” David shouts. “You’re wrong. That was just last month!”

  “Quit doubting me! Will you?” Sylvia yells. “I’m using your own work! Quafeira is searching for her father.”

  “Yeah, but how would they know how to find us?” Tyrone asks.

  “Easy,” Sylvia avows. “That communicator can lead them straight to us.”

  “Holy Cow!” Nathan yells. “We’re in big trouble!”

  “No, we’re not!” David counters. “Daljik has been dead for over a century! Come on guys!”

  “Okay!” Sylvia yells. “So tell me I’m lying!”

  “No! I mean, not really!”

  “Not really? So what are you saying?�
��

  “Look at what you are telling us. Okay?”

  “I’m listening!”

  “Okay everyone, let’s chill,” Nathan demands. “David, get a grip.”

  “Get a grip? You’re the one panicking!”

  “Dude! You asked her to become part of this team. Right?”

  David feels that he has made a serious mistake. Sylvia, he thinks, cannot be this smart. “You’re trying to convince us that this alien female, whom you said was born on the same date as Lincoln’s presidential inauguration, is still alive and searching for her father? How much sense does that make?”

  “It makes a lot of sense!” Sylvia yells.

  “Woman! Get real!” David yells. “One hundred and fourteen-year-old women DO NOT go looking for their fathers! They’re both long dead by then!”

  “We don’t have all the FACTS to make that conclusion,” she screams. “We are not talking about human beings here!”

  David screams back. “Then I suggest that you had better get your facts straight before mouthing off like that!”

  “Now wait just a FREAKIN’ minute!” Tyrone yells. “Don’t talk to my sister like that!” Stung by his brash insult, Sylvia slaps David hard across his face. Expecting the unthinkable, Tyrone jumps between them.

  “Don’t call me a liar,” she shrieks as tears begin forming in her eyes. “And you can find yourself another girlfriend!” She throws some papers at David and storms out of the room.

  “I think you better leave! Now!” Nathan demands. David leaves.

  “That cat has a serious anger problem,” Tyrone avows.

  “Don’t I know it,” Nathan concludes.

  Two hours later, David is in his bedroom. Twenty-eight times, he has entered an eight-letter word. Each time, the reply was the same: Invalid entry. Even as he is angry with Sylvia, he is especially angry with himself for continually thinking that this project is his alone. Sylvia’s seemingly obsession with Quafeira Sibekk irritates him. Upon opening a composition book, he sees Quafeira’s name.

  Then it jolts him. He enters the word Quafeira. The title Lubralen Experimental Research: Project Hilexos Explained, appears. He realizes that he owes Sylvia a serious apology.

  Joe’s Deli and Gourmet Sandwiches

  Thursday, 8 August 1974 (12:00 Noon)

  “I hated it when he did that!” She yells. “He pissed me off bad! I was ready to freak out on him!”

  “You did freak out on him. You slapped that fool,” Diane says calmly.

  “He constantly doubts anything I do or say!”

  Seeing the tears beginning to fall from her younger sister’s eyes again, Diane puts down her Turkey Club sandwich and hands Sylvia a napkin.

  “Look, David has a major attitude problem with an ego to boot. Guys like him swear they know it all. Now, here’s my suggestion. Dump the Chump and get someone better. In fact, I know a guy you’ll love to meet. Johnny Coleman!”

  “Johnny! Who’s Johnny?

  “Atta girl! He is one cool, handsome brother. I met him a few months back.”

  Sylvia smiles with greater anticipation. “Handsome, huh?”

  “Yeah, he’s light skin too, the kind you really like. Remember your favorite motto? A light brother is the right brother.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “He kept asking all about you after he saw us in Woolworth last week.” Diane continues to tease her less angry sister.

  “Why would he be asking about me?”

  “Do I need to answer that? What I do know is that he works with his father in the real estate business. This brother has a ton of money.”

  “Money? Real Estate? I mean…ya’ know, like, how old is he?”

  “Only twenty-one. But, get this! He owns two late model cars, a white Mercury Marquis Brougham and a Navy blue Continental Mark IV.”

  “Wow! Two whole cars?” Sylvia replies with sheer excitement.

  “Yeah! Two whole cars! He’s dying to meet you. I told him I’d bring you to meet him.”

  “No you didn’t! Right?” Sylvia objects, now smiling.

  “Oh yes I did! Look! I can hook you two up tonight. Wanna…go?”

  Sylvia thinks for one very long half-second. “Yeah! Why not?”

  Diane feels that she now can finish her Turkey Club and drink.

  Chapter 8Origin

  Planet Urandon (First Galactic Quadrant)

  Indigenous Inhabitants: Nagean

  The Amezirah Valley in the Nation of Kasteas

  Rikah, 23 Ubayda 8714 I.E.

  From her vantage point on a rocky ledge, Shera’mas Muta'al is looking intently at the individual standing approximately two hundred feet below her to the south. Although frightened, Shera’mas is highly curious about the individual. Dressed in a blue life suit and helmet, Etheon Sahaelis, a scout, is scanning the surrounding desert landscape. In his left hand is a silvery-red cylindrical device, a trephasian-based extraspatial transporter.

  Even as earlier models allowed users to be transported over far greater interstellar distances, their enormous power requirements limited the overall effective range. An energy weapon is one of three other devices strapped to his belt. After reattaching the cylinder to his belt, Etheon removes a silvery green spherical object; a multi-function, military-grade trephasian aferion. Upon switching on the aferion, he is enveloped in a holographic spherical star field. Shera’mas is aghast. Etheon, using his right hand, fingers the holographic image of a particular star causing it to blink.

  A smaller window is showing the star’s accompanying planets. He turns the trephasian aferion off and the holographic star field vanishes. The final and most dangerous phase of his mission is finally complete. After reattaching the silvery-green sphere to his belt, Etheon removes the extraspatial transporter. He looks up and sees an alien female standing on a rock ledge to the north. Both exchange a brief look. He pulls an image recorder and takes a photograph of her. The time has arrived to return home via a veccion space conduit. Due to power limitations, Etheon must enter and exit the veccion space conduit a number of times. At each exit, he will be on a different planet. Finally, he will exit to his home planet, Meiros, located some 65,000 light-years away.

  He keys in a few commands. Then, while holding the bottom portion of the transporter device in one hand, he twists the upper portion. With equal surprise, Shera’mas sees Etheon vanish in the same way that he appeared a few minutes earlier, in a brilliant flash of bluish-green light. Shera’mas turns and runs fast toward a small dual-passenger, low-altitude aerial transport. After stepping in, she closes the door and powers up the engines. After ascending a few hundred feet into the air, she turns east and heads toward the city of Moah-Endos.

  Islamic Cairo (al-Qāhirah), Egypt

  Islamic Calendar Date: al-Khamis, 20-Rajab-1394

  Gregorian Calendar Date: Thursday. 8 August 1974

  “The word is indeed Meiros,” Hassan Zeyad replies. In an upper floor apartment on Al-Muizz li-Din Allah Street, all are standing over a large opened book.

  Ahmed is dumbfounded. “Meiros? You mean Meroë.”

  “No, Meroë was the ancient capital of Nubia. Although the two sound similar, Meiros is an entirely different word.”

  Ahmadou and Ahmed look curiously at Ancient Egyptian Languages and Cultures, an old book that Hassan had acquired from the Cairo University Library.

  “Earlier, I did not think to compare the two languages,” Ahmed admits.

  “Hassan, are you sure of this?”

  “Yes, these writing characters are similar to Egyptian demotic, a later form of hieratic. Earlier this year at the UNESCO symposium, Cheikh Anta Diop and Théophile Obenga revealed indisputable facts about the ancient Egyptians and Nubians. This particular writing dates back to the Ptolemaic dynasty.”

  “Yes I know, but the Ptolemaic Dynasty,” Ahmed objects, “ended over two thousand years ago. How is it possible that this language is similar to ancient Egyptian demotic?”

  “Ahmed, where did
you and Ahmadou obtain this writing?”

  Ahmadou looks at his best friend. “Ahmed, we have to tell Hassan.”

  “Tell me what?”

  “Hassan,” Ahmed begins, “it is much better that we show you.”

  Ahmed walks into the backroom and removes a shoebox from a closet shelf. After walking back into the living room, he opens the box. From the box, he pulls a silvery-green spherical device and turns it on.

  “In the name of Allah!” Hassan yells fearfully as the room is enveloped in a holographic field. Holographic images of many millions of thousands of stars fill the room. As Ahmed manipulates a holographic control panel, he is rotating the entire star field three-dimensionally. After moving the star field to show a specific region of the galaxy, he passes his finger over one specific star causing it to enlarge and show its accompanying planets.

  Ahmed causes the holographic image of one specific planet, Saleas, to enlarge further showing high mountains, forests, oceans, cities and the indigenous inhabitants. He zooms back out and repeats the process with another star located in a different region of the galaxy. Turning the device off, the room returns to its normal lighting.

  “Ahmed! What is this unearthly device? Where did you get it?”

  “Hassan,” Ahmadou interrupts, “This device contains information on many thousands of inhabited planets. It has been in my family for over four generations.”