The Staff of Ira

by Carl Sheffield

  Pam and Lori spoke through their teeth. “Tell us.”

  “Pam, I’ve already told you. Now let me see, you said bullshit. If I tell you the truth, you don’t believe me, so why waste my voice?”

  Lori looked at Pam. “What does he mean he told you?” Pam told Lori, “Hell, he thinks he is from space.”

  “No, I didn’t,” I said.

  “Tyler, that’s what you said to me.”

  “No Pam, I don’t think I’m from space, I know I’m from space. October 1940, I’ll be leaving. Please don’t tell anyone. This is where they will come for me.”

  “Who will come, Tyler?” Pam asked.

  “Dorn, April, my sister Marie, they will come here to Carlsbad; this I promise you. Look, I’m going in. I bought a radio, I want to listen to it.”

  “Tyler, tell me the truth.”

  I told them the story of my mother and father, about my grandparents. I told them they were born on Boldlygo; how they come back to Earth long ago for some reason. My mother and father were born here, well, in England. My folks were going to be turned in. A friend of ours told my folks they would have to kill him. My father killed him, buried him in the cellar.

  One day, a man came to England. This man came to get his people. He searched all over the Earth. There was one hundred; my sister and I was among them. When this was done, we left Earth, back to the world I live now. I’m going home in October of next year. I will leave, this I promise. If you like, you can come along.

  I promise you will be welcomed. Everything you want will be placed there for you. There is no crime. The city of Ratio is bigger than any city on this planet. We have a simple life, there are no cars; you live forever. The building so high you can see forever. I live in the lab with Mea and Mekon. My sister lives there too. You don’t need money. There’re shops everywhere. You shop, you go home, you don’t pay.

  I said, “The person in the morgue. He is an enemy of ours. He is Palatonian, from the planet of Plano. Trust me, they will be back. Believe me, there are several aliens among you, space people if you prefer. Pam, your friend Grady is half alien. I never got the time to find which planet he was from.”

  Pam said, “I’ve known him for twenty-five years. I know his parents.”

  I said, “Well, just shows you really don’t know everyone.”

  “The man he took me to, Mr. Sams, is from my world: The Spores galaxy.”

  Old Lee stood up. “Damn boy, you tell a hell of a story.” Pam and Lori just looked at one another, never said a word.

  My front door opened, it was Henery. “I believe you, Tyler. Long ago, this Mekon you speak of,” Henery asked for a cup. “My mother told me she was brought here by him. She told me this Mekon transferred this DNA you speak of. I was born shortly after. My mother took this DNA from someone named Ren.

  She told me this many time before she died. Now I know why. She knew someday someone would come. I’m ready to go home.”

  Pam said, “Bullshit.” I told them, “Tell Doctor Jones I’ll be there tomorrow. I’ll show you the proof.”

  Henery asked, “Tyler, you know this to be the truth?” I told him I do. Ren is the oldest on our council. There are others in the city as old, some older. Ren rarely voices his opinion. He always let Ira lead.

  Lori and Pam said, “I’m out of here, I’ve heard enough bullshit.”

  “Pam,” I stated, “What are you going to say when Dorn comes for me? Will you stand then and say bull shit when you see the ship go? July next year, people will start showing up. The town will be full of people. These people will stay for a while, then start to leave”.

  “You won’t notice at first. You will think they’re passing through. Look, if you think I’m just full of bullshit, leave. Please don’t come back.”

  Lee asked, “Why don’t you ask Henery of the crater?”

  Henery asked, “What about the crater?”

  “Tell him, boy,” Lee said.

  I looked at Henery. “That’s why I’m here. The military shot my ship down. I was trying to hide when the wind and the draft caught me and slammed me into the crater. A landslide covered my shuttle, killed my friend Roberto. I made it out, that’s how I cut my leg. I need to go to the crater. I need to see if I can send a signal. I think it will reach the ship before it arrives at home.”

  Henery mentioned the tourists season. There’re tours at the crater. I told Henery I needed to go soon.

  It was three weeks before the tours started. We made the first tour. The woman in charge told everyone to stay with the group. She told us to stay away from the crater. Lori, Lee, Pam, and Henery were there.

  “Look,” I told them, “We all can’t go, there are too many people.”

  Lori asked, “Tyler, are you going in the crater?” I told them I need to go all the way to the bottom.

  Pam said, “Look Tyler, when you leave the group, we’ll meet you at the gate to bring you back.” Somewhere in the last few weeks, Pam and Lori had begun to accept the fact when Mr. Sams came to my home, brought me my money. I knew it was still a long way off. I feel I’ve waited too long, for what we were about to do.

  I told Henery the outhouse in the back was the only place to hide. There was a huge juniper tree. I told him if we lay on the ground, we’ll be completely out of sight. We can hide until the last tour leaves. It was late in the day when the last tour left.

  Henery asked, “Do we wait until dark?”

  I replied to him, “No, were leaving now.”

  Henery grabbed my arm. “Tyler, you sure you’re who you say you are?”

  I asked, “Are you, Henery? Maybe you’re just playing games to get my ship.”

  Henery said, “I’m from Ren’s DNA.”

  “Henery,” I said. Hell, I bet he doesn’t even know. “Henery, there’s something you should know before you come along.”

  “What’s that?” Henery said.

  “The DNA from the being of Boldlygo aren’t human,” I said.

  “Bullshit,” Henery replied.

  I said, “They’re humanoid, just not human. The DNA is taken from them, it’s altered then placed inside human females.”

  Henery replied, “I don’t understand.” I told him I didn’t either at first. “Trust me, they’re not humans. When we arrive, don’t be disappointed when you see him.”

  Henery said, “I won’t be disappointed, I just want to see him.”

  I said, “What can I tell you of the planet? It’s a paradise in space. It’s always good weather. The stream, lakes, the waterfall are all different colors. It’s always green; best of all, there is no desert. We have two moons and two suns.”

  “Tyler, where is this ship?” Henery asked. I told him a little further. I told Henery to watch his step. I continued to tell Henery about the planet. One of the moons Dorn has been too.

  Henery asked, “Can you live on the moon?” I told him Garth is the leader there, so yes, you can live there.

  Henery expressed, “Wish we had some dynamite.”

  I asked, “For what?”

  Henery answered, “Well, Tyler, when we dig it out, we will need to cover it up.” I told him I have that covered. Reaching the bottom of the crater, we moved several rocks. Working for about an hour, Henery said, “Tyler, look.” Henery had found the ship.

  “I’ll be damn,” Henery said. “Tyler, I had my doubts. You were not lying.” We uncovered the hatch. Opening the hatch, the smell was brutal.

  Henery threw up. “I can’t go in,” he said. I took my shirt off, placed it on my face, slide through the hatch. The power was gone. I found the switch, a small sound started. I made my way back to the hatch, closed the hatch, placed some rocks on the ship. I went above the craft, caused the rocks to fall. It was a slide that completely covered the ship.

  Henery said, “Well, that should keep anyone from see
ing it.” I told Henery I flip the switch. I’m not sure if it is working. I sure hope it worked. Henery and I made our way up the side of the crater. It was as steep as it was the first time. Cresting the crater ridge, an hour later, a light showed across the desert.

  Henery asked, “What do you make of that?” I told him probably the military police. They’re not coming this way. They’re going around the desert. They’re headed towards town.

  Henery said, “Let’s go to the gate, the girls will be waiting.” Reaching the gate, Henery and I jumped in the back seat.

  I yelled, “Pam, go, catch those lights.”

  Pam asked, “What lights?” They were gone.

  Lori and Pam asked at the same time, “Henery, was there a ship?”

  Henery answered, “Yes, there was.” The girls still looked with a skeptical look.

  Pam asked, “Did you send a message?” I told them no, I did get the beacon on.

  Christmas came and went into new years. I started the countdown, ten months. I was sitting in the mobile when Loir stopped by. It was raining hard today, I thought it was a great day to stay inside.

  I opened the door. “Lori, your dad is here. We’re having coffee.”

  She replied, “I’ll have one too.”

  I asked Lori, “Where is your shadow?”

  Lori replied, “Pam is at her mother’s.” Lori came in, gave her dad an embrace. “How are you are doing dad?”

  Lee replied, “I had a rough night. Tyler and I were talking about the planet.”

  Lori asked, “You still believe that?”

  Lee said, “There was a ship, Lori.”

  “Dad, how do you know it wasn’t a plane?” Lori asked.

  Lee replied, “It was a ship, Henery said he saw it. I believe Tyler. I believe Henery. Lori, I’m going in October.”

  Lori looked at me. “You got food here?” I told her some.

  She asked, “You got any meat?”

  I told her, “No meat, I don’t eat meat. If you’re coming with me, you need to stop eating meat.”

  Lori asked, “Tyler, what do you eat?”

  “I’ve told you fruit, vegetables, and bread. Our bread is made from roots of a plant called breadroot. It’s better than the bread here.”

  Lori left, went to the small store that seemed to have everything. Lee and I sat, talking when Pam and Henery drove up, came inside. “You got coffee, Tyler?”

  Staring out the window, winter in the desert has a way to keep people inside. Lori came back with the things she bought. Henery, Lee, and I were listing to the radio. The girls were making dinner when a news flash came over the air. The newsman said. “There was another sighting last night.” The station was from Roswell. The UFO was seen over Carlsbad.

  I looked at Henery, “Did you see anything last night?”

  Henery replied, “I saw nothing.”

  Pam said, “There was a huge light in the sky, I saw it when I come from my mothers. Hell, I didn’t think much about it.”

  Lori made dinner for everyone. She made a nice salad for me. I must say it was good. Sitting around after the dinner, we were talking about things when the radio reported.

  This just into the station. There is another sighting over Carlsbad. I ran outside, looked skyward, it was about ten thousand feet.

  Pam asked, “What is it, Tyler?” The ship had stopped, then started toward the park. Then with a wisp of the wind, it was gone.

  Lee said, “I don’t know what it was.” I told them, “I do.”

  Everyone looked at me. “What was it?” they said. I told them, “It was a ship from Alpha Centauri.”

  Henery said, “What? I don’t understand. You said you’re a peaceful race, yet you have enemies.”

  I asked, “Henery, you a good man?”

  He replied, “I would like to think so.”

  “You got enemies?” I asked.

  Henery answered, “I get your point.”

  “There are several planets that come to Earth. I don’t know why but Dorn tried to get Mekon to destroy this planet over three hundred years ago.” Everyone looked at me with a scared look. I told them it was getting late, I wanted to go to bed.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  3

  Leah slept two days under the bush. For two days, I tried to wake her. In my thought, the ship would be here. I needed to be at the palace. Once again, I gently shook her.

  “No, Kayla, no. why would you do this?” she kept saying. “Kayla, Ira, please, my son.” Leah fell into a deep sleep. For two hours, she made no sound.

  She sat up, fell into my arms. “Dorn, what have we done?”

  I said, “Leah, we’ve done nothing. Ira will take care of him, he’ll return soon.”

  Leah spoke from the side of her mouth, “I guess I fell asleep.” She looked at me with tears in her eyes.

  I said, “Leah, how long do you think you were asleep?”

  “Twenty minutes, maybe,” she answered. I told her to try two days.

  “Well,” she said, “I’m surprised someone hasn’t come. Standing up, she took my hand. “Let’s go home.”

  Looking over her shoulder, Leah whispered, “I love you, my son. Dorn, I love you.” On the trail to the cabin, midafternoon, we met Aries and Candance.

  “Opa, Leah, where have you been? Go quickly to the lab.” Leah and I made a quick walk to the lab.

  Mea asked, “Where have you been? Where is Zin?” I told Mea he is with Kayla and Ira. Mea looked at me with a disbelief. A call from the side, it was Kira.

  “Father, why was I worried about you? You’re Dorn and Leah.” Kira said.

  Kira took Leah by the hand. “I need you to come with me, Candance and Ellie also.” Mekon told me the ship was two days out. They have had a very bad mission. Only the Xonian ship has returned. What we don’t understand, they were attracted. Kikki took the crew on her ship, destroyed our ship.

  I asked, “Did everyone make it?”

  Mea replied, “We don’t know. The ship will be here tomorrow.” I asked Mekon if Fax was here. He told me, in the chambers.

  I said, “You need to dismiss your class and come to the council.”

  “I already have,” Mekon said.

  “Dorn, I wanted to show you how things are going. I also wanted to ask you about Leah.”

  I said to him, “Mekon, why don’t you ask her? She is your daughter.” Mekon looked at Mea.

  Mea said, “Father, I love Leah, she is my sister. I accepted her long ago.”

  Mekon mentioned, “It’s just that I’m here in the lab all the time. I don’t have time to spend with her.”

  “Mekon, maybe you should take the time,” I said. Entering the chambers, I could see everyone was here.

  Fax called to me, “Dorn, I was worried about you. Seem we have had a misfortune.” I told Fax I have been informed of the problem.

  Omega said to me, “We were worried, you had Leah when you separate the girls. Well, Ellie and Candace were lost. They are stronger together.”

  “Yes, Omega, I know.”

  I told them, “Leah had two bad days. She slept for two days. I was getting worried myself.”

  Fax said, “Dorn, I know no more than you.” In the council room, everyone took their seat. April’s seat was empty, as she was on the ship. I told Fax to come in.

  I asked Kira and Omega if it would be acceptable. They agreed. The council was brought to order.

  Kira stood. “Please let me have your attention. A seat on our council is empty. April is on the ship, I hope. She is with Kikki. We really don’t know this neither can we confirm this.”

  Kira looked at me. “Father, first let me say it is good to see you.”

  Kira took Omega by the hand. “Dorn,” Omega said, “We, Kira and I, have come to an agreement. You will
with all regard take full command of this. We will stand behind you one hundred percent. No human or native will stand against you.” Omega pointed, Fax stood. “The Xonian has proved his loyal service many times.”

  Omega asked, “Fax, what is your stand?”

  Without a moment past, Fax answered, “You will have our support to the end.”

  Mekon was asked to stand. “Mekon, how many ships do you have constructed?” Mekon told them, “We have twenty-four ships, two to be completed in two weeks.”

  Fax raised his hand. “Don’t forget my three.”

  Kira asked, “Father, you will speak.”

  I said, “We can’t plan anything until we speak to the ones on the ship. We will need to wait until they arrive. I want to know who attacked them.” I told Aries to go to the captains, gather them in the staging area tomorrow.

  “Yes, Opa, I will.”

  Candance passed the word to all your friends in the city. I need to talk to them. That’s all I have until the ship arrives tomorrow. I told Fax before he leaves, we need to talk. Fax nodded his head.

  Fax stated, “If I give you two ships, that will leave my planet unsafe.”

  “Fax, you’ll have the protection of our ships in orbit. With the jump, we can be in your planet in seconds. We do monitor your planet, the Moon of Spores also. We will not leave you unprotected.”

  Fax said, “Let us have another ship.”

  Mekon said, “Fax, with Kira’s and Omega’s approval, I have no problem with it.”

  Fax said, “If we get another ship, Kikki will stay here and train the crew.”

  Mekon said to Fax, “I have a crew, they will stay with your people until they’re trained. I give you my word. From start to end, with a fully loaded laser weapon. I’ve only started to work on it. It will be better, you will see. Most of the ships fire cannon a sudden blast. The new ships will have the laser plus shields.”

  “Shields, Mekon?” I asked.