The Staff of Ira

by Carl Sheffield

  “Sorry Lee,” I said, “That gun won’t work against them. The weapons they have are far more advanced than a shotgun.”

  Henery said, “Tyler is right.” Lori and Pam started singing just another bullshit alien story.

  I smiled at them. “Ok, girls. Pam, Lori, Lee, get in your car and go to the mine. Check it out, I’ll wait here.”

  “I’ll go,” Lori said.

  Pam said, “Me too.” They looked at Lee. “Coming, dad.”

  Lee replied, “Girls, I’m inclined to believe Tyler.”

  “Bullshit,” Pam said. “We’re going.”

  “Then go, I’ll stay here,” I said. Two hours had passed, the girls had not returned.

  I asked Henery, “How long would it take to go to the mine?”

  “They should have been back by now,” Henery said.

  Lee went to his mobile to make coffee. Henery and I stood in the shade of the big poplar tree. I told Him, if they are not back by the time I finish my coffee, we need to ride.

  Henery agreed.

  Lee loved coffee. Coming from his mobile with three cups. It was close to midafternoon; the girls were not back.

  I said to them, “Let’s go.”

  Lee asked, “Where are we going?” I told him to the mine.

  Lee asked Henery, “Want me to bring my old gun?”

  Henery smiled and said, “Sure, it might work.”

  I got in the front seat with Henery, Lee in the back. Leaving the park, Henery drove through town heading south, as we were going to the crater. Driving through the small village of Otis, Henery made a quick left, crossed the Pecos River. I let him go. Apparently, he knew where he was going. Living here all his life, Henery new the countryside. What seemed to be a few minutes, Henery slammed on the brakes. I thought that old ford was done for. I braced myself with the dash.

  “Henery,” I asked. “What happened?” Lee almost came across the seat.

  “Damn fellows hit us.” I was looking into the eyes of a Centaurian.

  Lee sat up. Henery slipped his gun from its holster. Lee unlatched the door, pushing it to a crack, not completely opening it.

  “I’m ready,” Lee whispered.

  Henery said, “Hold on, let me talk first.”

  Henery slowly got out of the car. “Afternoon, sir.”

  He never said a word. “I’m the police of Carlsbad. We have two girls missing. We were told they were last seen coming this way.”

  The Centaurian said, “They were here. They left, see for yourself. This is where they turned around.” I tried to see where they turned around. It was not clear, too much sand and sagebrush.

  Henery asked, “Why are you out here?”

  Replying, he said, “Its private property, we may purchase it. I was looking it over.” I stepped out of the car. I told Lee to cover me. Old Lee ran behind the car. The Centaurian looked at me. He was the same one that stood outside my mobile. I walked over to Henery, whispered to him.

  Henery asked, “Sir, why were you outside this man’s mobile, then you left?”

  He answered, “I was looking for someone.”

  “You should not be outside someone’s home, bad thing can happen,” Henery said.

  “Yes, bad thing,” he replied.

  Henery asked again, “You haven’t seen the girls?”

  “No girls,” He said.

  “You just said they turned around.” He placed his hand in his pocket. Henery shot him dead. I couldn’t believe it.

  “Now what, Tyler?” Henery asked. “How did he get here? there is no vehicle, no tracks that I can see.” I walked around for a minute.

  “Henery, come over here.” I showed him where a ship had sat down.

  Henery said, “Damn, you don’t think they got the girls, do you?”

  “Hell, Henery, if they did, they’ll bring back Lori,” I said.

  Henery said, “What about Pam?” I looked at him, we laughed.

  I said to Henery, “Let’s go.”

  “What about him?” Henery asked.

  “Hell, let’s put him in the trunk,” I said. “We’ll take him to the morgue.” Henery and I dragged the body to the car, placed him in the trunk, drove to the mine. Pulling up to the old mine, Pam’s car was sitting beside an old tank. We got out of the car. I called Pam then called to Lori. A loud noise came from inside the old building. Henery and I ran in fast.

  “Lee,” I said, “Cover us.”

  He walked to the car, “I got you Tyler.” I smiled as I looked at him. That gun he had I swear looked like a cannon. Henery went to the right, I went to the left.

  Pam and Lori were tied together; their mouth had a gag over it. I untied them as Henery watched for anyone to show. The girls were coughing and sneezing.

  Pam asked, “Tyler, what the hell has happened?”

  I told Pam, “I’m not sure, I wasn’t here.”

  Henery stated, “Pam, if I didn’t know better, I’d say you just got tied up something stuff in your mouth.” Lori was rubbing her wrist; her face was red as if she had been slapped.

  Lori said, “If I catch that son of a bitch, I’ll kick in in the nuts.”

  I said, “Both of you, come over to the car.” I opened the truck. They jumped back.

  Lori said, “I saw that same plane, you know the one we saw at your place. It is no plane, at least not one I’ve ever seen. It landed, picked this bastard up.”

  Pam said, “Hell I’m lost, I don’t know what to think.” I told them to go back to my place. Old Lee rode with the girls, Henery and I in his car.

  Everyone went inside. I made coffee. Damn, the girls could talk through two pots of coffee. They just kept on talking.

  I finally got to ask Pam, “Did they say what they were looking for?”

  Lori said, “Yes, they are looking for you. Well, they didn’t say your name. They said they were looking for a young man from Boldlygo. I told them I didn’t know what that was. That’s when that bastard hit me. Pam charged at him then he tied us up. Pam kept crushing him, that’s when the son of a bitch hit me again. Then the ship came, picked him up.”

  I asked, “Could you see how many were on the ship?”

  Lori replied, “Maybe three or four, we watched him come from the ship then it went straight up. Damn Tyler, that thing was fast. It wasn’t from this world.”

  I smiled. “I’ve been trying to tell you.” The girls made dinner, old Lee eat so much. He looked at me. “Damn it boy, I need a nap.” The girls just would not sit still. I told Henery I’ve never seen them like this. He agreed.

  Henery said to me, “I’ve got to go check in. I’ll see you later.” The way it looked they were looking for me.

  Pam said, “That’s the way it looks to me.”

  I said, “Then I must leave for a while, just until they quit looking.”

  Pam asked, “Where will you go?”

  I told her I’ll go to Doctor Jones. If he is gone, I’ll stay at his place; he won’t mind. I’ll explain the situation to him later.

  Pam said, “Oh hell. Yes, Tyler, that will do it. The truth is always the best approach.”

  I said, “Pam, Doctor Jones knows everything. See, he is a believer.” The girls just looked at each other.

  “Look,” I said, “I just don’t want to put any of you in harm’s way. Maybe they’ll go away. They’re really going to be looking now.”

  Lee slapped his knee. “Damn it, boy, let them come.” I couldn’t keep from smiling. Henery drove up. I told the girls that didn’t take long. Henery walked into the house.

  Henery asked, “Why are they showing themselves? You would think they would stay in the shadows. I mean exposing themselves, it seems would be a problem. Remember, like in Roswell when they were causing so many problems. The sheriff called here several times. He thought the
y were miners. Hell, he didn’t know they were aliens. They looked human.”

  “I know, Henery. There are several plants beyond the stars with humans on them. One hundred and fourteen I know of.”

  Pam said, “Bullshit, how did they get there?”

  “Well, Pam,” I asked, “How did humans get here? Remember I told you Dorn’s people have come here for over five thousand years, all the way back to Bota and Maoke. He came here five thousand years ago. It’s unreal the planets he has been to. You know, once, the Centaurians and the Palatonians were friends to us. Now see what has happened over the years.”

  Lee asked, “What happened, Tyler?”

  I told them the story. Hell, it’s like on Earth. Someone wants power. We won’t be defeated so easily.

  “I still say you’re full of bullshit,” Pam said.

  I asked, “What is wrong with you? You with your own eyes have seen the ship and aliens. Hell, still you’re not convinced?”

  Lori said, “What about the one that tied you up, got off the ship?”

  “Yeah,” Pam said, “Well, there is that.”

  “Whatever,” I said. “I’ll leave tomorrow night, I’ll pay my rent. I’ll leave until September.”

  “Why then?” Lori asked.

  I smiled at her. “Sweetheart, that’s when it starts getting interesting. If my mom and dad come, let them stay here. I must leave to keep you safe. I’ll go to Doctor Jones first.”

  9

  Mr. Willard left the bank, he knew the inspector was behind him. Smiling as he stopped at several shops, never buying anything, just trying to upset the man. The inspector thought, what is he doing? Surely, he didn’t know all these people. He can’t know I’m following him, he is not that smart. I’m an inspector of Scotland Yard, a trained officer of the law.

  The inspector’s thoughts went back twelve years ago, to a time late in the evening. He met a young man that had got shot by the authorities, shot in the Cambridge clearing, brought him to London.

  It had been a long night. I was tired. I walked from the hospital. I told the police no one goes in. Outside, I met a young man. He introduced himself as a reporter. I fell for it at the time. I had no idea he was an alien. For a month, I was ragged for a mistake I made. I never thought it could happen. I thought to myself, how was it be possible for a man to change forms? How could a man change into another human, walk into a hospital, carry out a patient? This was hard for me to believe.

  Leaning by the corner of a shop on the walk, the inspector waited. He had followed John Willard from the bank; two hours he had to wait. He followed Mr. Willard where ever he went. He would follow him forever if he had to. He meant to find out what he knew about the craft that was in the clearing that night.

  Mr. Willard came from the corner shop. He saw the inspector. He thought he was hiding next to the corner. A faint smile came to his face; he was doing a great job irritating the inspector.

  “Ah,” Mr. Willard thought, “It’s tea time.” Stopping at a small tea shop next to a Bristo where June Willard embarrassed two of his men. Sitting at the street table, Mr. Willard ordered tea.

  Looking up the street where he came from, at the Corner, he could see an elbow sticking out. Mr. Willard called the waitress over.

  I said, “Do you see the elbow at the corner?”

  She replied, “I do, sir.”

  “Ask the gentleman if he would join me, please.”

  “Yes sir, I surely will.” Walking to the inspector, she gave the message to the inspector.

  She returned to Mr. Willard. “Sir, he declined.” Mr. Willard saw nothing of the inspector the rest of the day. Sipping his tea, Mr. Willard went home, told his wife of the event.

  She smiled. “John, why don’t they leave us alone?”

  “June, they know there’s something we’re not telling them. Don’t you think it’s funny they have never asked us if we have children?”

  June replied, “I’m glad they haven’t. I’m glad that Dorn got them on that ship. I read the letter so many times; my baby is no baby. John, can you imagine what they look like? Tyler is twenty-four, Marie is eighteen.”

  I asked, “Where is the letter, June?”

  She replied, “I placed it in the study.”

  I asked, “Could you go get it for me?”

  June said, “Sure.” Mr. Willard went to the fireplace, started a small fire, went to his favorite chair, watching the flames take hold, waiting for his wife. June Willard ran to the living room, pale white.

  “June, what is wrong?” I asked. June told him someone was trying to come through the window.

  “June, the letter,” I asked.

  “I have it, John,” she replied.

  I asked, “Was it the police?”

  She said, “John, I’m not sure who it was.” I took the letter, read it one last time. I placed it in the fire, watched it burn. June was very sad, it was the first time in twelve years she had heard from her children. Now someone was trying to break into our house. The inspector was behind this, I was sure of it. I stepped to the window. Looking through the window, I could see a skinny man behind a big tree on the street.

  “I’ll be looking for you, sir.”

  The next morning, Mr. Willard kissed his wife, stepped into the street, started to his bank. Walking and whistling, he noticed someone was following him - A tall, skinny man. He crossed the street, something he had never done in thirty years. The wind was blowing, it was cool today. The gust blew his hat from his head. Reaching over to pick it up, sure enough there he was crossing the street.

  The tram had passed by. Reaching out I took hold. The skinny man was running to catch up. The skinny man thought, why did he do this? The inspector said, he would not be home last night, that almost got him caught. He was supposed to go to work. He was giving him the runaround. He was out of breath when he caught the tram.

  Looking around, where did he go? He could not see him; the tram was going too fast to jump. He might break a leg, he had been given the slip. Mr. Willard smiled as he entered the bank.

  Sitting at my desk with several pieces of paper, I flipped through them. One of the girls came in, handed me a paper. I took it, opened it. “Sir, you think you did something this morning, I assure you it’s not over.” I looked around, saw no one. I went to the girl and asked.

  She replied, “Sir, a man left it for you.”

  I asked, “A tall, skinny man?”

  “He had an appointment,” she said. “He told me he could not keep it, asked me to pass it to you.

  Again, I asked, “A tall, skinny man?”

  She replied, “Yes, Mr. Willard.” I turned to leave.

  “Mr. Willard, I do believe he is a private detective. I’ve seen him before.” I looked out the window.

  “A private detective, really?” I said.

  I went back to my desk doing my daily work. I looked up and saw the inspector talking to one of the tellers, then he pointed to me. The inspector came to my desk.

  The inspector said, “Gave the old chap a run this morning, didn’t you?” I told him I had no idea what he was talking about. Placing his hands on top of my desk, he leaned forward with a whisper.

  He said, “Last night a UFO was seen. You never come from your house until one of those things are seen.”

  I said, “Inspector, I’ll tell you again, I have no clue what you are talking about. I wish I could help you. You thought I was from space, then you thought my wife was. Sir, we proved to you by birth records, we were born here. I’m going to ask you, sir. No, wait, I’m going to tell you. You leave me and my wife alone, or else.”

  “You are threatening me, old boy,” the inspector said.

  “No, sir. Let’s get it straight, I’m making you a promise.” He could see the look in my eyes. Well, just to say, he was mad. “That damn private detective
, if you don’t remove him, I’ll file charges on you and him with Scotland Yard for harassment. I have a friend on the radio that will go the extra mile to do just that.” The inspector didn’t know what to think. He just stared, turned to leave.

  “Sir, if I ever catch someone trying to come in my house, I’ll go for you and Scotland Yard. You know I think I’ll come to the command this afternoon anyway.”

  “You do that, Mr. Willard, you do that.” The inspector had too much confidence in his job. It didn’t matter to me what he was. I’ll degrade him before I leave England.

  I still have some powers; I have not used them for years. Tonight, I will try to do just that. Leaving my bank, I walked to the bank where I had my finances. I told my good friend of many years my plans have changed. Monday morning, I will pick up the check he agreed. Chase told me the inspector had been there asking questions.

  “Leave him to me,” I said. “I will be leaving Monday morning for London. I will have little baggage; everything will be shipped later.” I lied to him.

  It was Friday morning, I was ready for the inspector. I went to my friend to inquire about travel. He agreed to carry us to the airport. I told him to show up at seven o’clock a.m.

  “Leave your car, drive mine to the airport. I’ll take your car and do my business. I’ll meet you at the airport.”

  He smiled. “John, what is this all about?”

  “The reason,” I said, “Is to throw Scotland yard off. They will follow you in my car, thinking it’s me. Then I can do what I need to do.”

  “Your wife?” He asked.

  “Don’t you see, old chap? she will be with you. If you’re stopped not a word.”

  Replying, “I do understand, old chap.” Returning to my bank, I called my vice president. The meeting was short. I told him the bank was his. Reaching in the desk, I took out a paper. I signed it. “I have only one request.”

  “Sir, why have you done this?” He asked.

  I told him, “I am going to New Mexico. I will never return. I signed the bank over to you, free and clear to Phil chase. Now I will leave the bank, never to return.”

  “Sir, what was the request?” He asked.