The Staff of Ira

by Carl Sheffield

  “Lori, on Monday, I will have the old man at the store to order me twenty cases of coffee and five cases of chocolate for my journey home. I will ask Mekon and Mea when I arrive there if they can maybe duplicate it. They’re the best at what they do. If anyone can, Mekon can.”

  Lori said, “I’m not letting my father go without me. I’ll go so count me in. You said he would be better by the time we pass this Milky Way. You see, that scares the hell out of me just to think about it.”

  “You will see Lori,” I said. “Someday you may want to come back.”

  Lori asked, “Ok, tell me what to do?”

  I looked at her. “Sell all your Earthly things, put the money in the bank. Even if you don’t want to come back, maybe your children will, or their children. Place the money in your name, take the book with you. If they do return, they’ll need money. You won’t need to take money with you. Everything you want is there for you. Take only the clothes on your back, no make-up, nothing. As I have said, it is all there for you.

  When we arrive, you will be introduced to Omega and Kira. A feast will be given. Remember, there is no meat. You will not be allowed to kill anything. If you break the rules, you will be sent to the Moon of Spores. Dorn will come, I promise. Either late September or early October; remember that.” I took my coffee, went out to the big poplar tree where Lee was.

  Lee looked at me. “Damn son, I feel bad today. Tyler, you think I’ll make it till Dorn comes?”

  I said, “Lee, There’s no reason you can’t. Just keep on thinking how nice it will be.”

  Lee replied, “Nice hell, I’m scared to damn death. Spaceships, oh yeah.”

  12

  June Willard woke early. Calling to her husband, “John, it’s five a.m. We need to get up.”

  “June, you remember the plan?” I asked.

  She answered, “Phil is to come take our car. I’m to go with him. You will take care of what needs to be done then you will drive his car to the airport and meet me. By the time the inspector or his minute men come around, we should be on a plane to New York.

  I said, “Ole girl, that’s it.”

  Summer in Cambridge left an early morning mist hanging low. Looking out the window as Phil pulled into my driveway.

  He came in the front door. “Morning, old chap. It’s a dreary morning. Fog is low.”

  I said, “Good, that’s even better. Take my top hat.” My wife looked all around all the memories.

  I said to her, “We could stay if you wish, June.

  “No, John, I want to go see my children.” she said.

  Phil asked, “Why did you send your children to New Mexico?”

  “Phil, I didn’t. I sent them to New York. They live there with an aunt. Phil, not a word of where I’m going, please not a word. The bank, the house, it’s yours.” June left with Phil to the airport. Moments later, I went to the bank. I did what business I had to do. A twenty-minute drive to the airport. Driving by my house one last time, I saw the skinny man waiting for me. He would be waiting a long time. Walking in the airport, I met with my wife.

  I shook Phil’s hand. “Remember, Phil.”

  Phil said, “Yes old chap, you sold the bank and the house to me. That’s all I know. Have a nice flight to New York.”

  Phil looked at me. “I’ll never see you again, will I?”

  “No, you won’t, Phil,” I replied. I checked my wife, and myself in twenty minutes before loading. Walking to the small bar, we ordered coffee. Walking to the gate, check out our ticket, a plane from New York was unloading. A man I’ve seen before looked at me and my wife.

  I said to my wife, “A perfect plan just went up in smoke.”

  June asked, “Why is that, John?” I told her a detective from Scotland Yard. She turned to see a man looking over his shoulder.

  I said, “Come on dear, we’re going to New York.” I told June of the skinny man that has been following us was at the house this morning. “Don’t worry, we will be gone before they know.”

  I admit when the plane took off, I took a breath of relief so did my wife. Eight hours across the Atlantic, we would be in New York. I had made plans to stay at an inn for the night, tomorrow on a plane at noon to Saint Louis Missouri. In Saint Louis, I had planned to stay a couple of days, just in case someone did follow. Maybe it would through them off. Lying in bed, I told June what I had planned to do.

  We will go to Missouri, stay a few days, then a bus ride to Kansas City, Stay a few days, then to Denver, Colorado, then by train to Carlsbad, New Mexico. If it all works out, we should be in New Mexico by early October.

  Outside the Willards home in Cambridge, the skinny man waited for several hours. There was no one moving around. Mr. Willard had gone to the bank every day now. He had started to knock, then stopped. A thought went through his mind. He left, got in his car, drove to the Bristo where the inspector was to meet him. Crossing the street, entering the shop, he sat by a window. Thirty minutes later, the inspector arrived.

  The inspector asked, “Old boy, what do you have to report?”

  The skinny man said, “Nothing sir, nothing at all. No one is there.”

  The inspector leaned over the table. “What do you bloody mean?”

  “Just as I said, no one is there.”

  The inspector stood. “Ok, come on.” Driving to the Willards’ house walking to the door, he knocked - once, twice, three times. Opening the door, he stepped inside and said, “Hello.” There is no answer. The house was all dark. Walking out, he drove to the bank. Inside, he went to the desk and asked to see Mr. Willard.

  “Sir,” the clerk said, “Mr. Willard is not here today. Would you like to see Mr. Chase?” The inspector looked at the office where Mr. Willard occupied, Phil chase was sitting at Willard’s desk.

  “What is going on here?” The inspector asked again, “Where is John Willard?”

  “Mr. Willard doesn’t work here anymore. I do believe I’m proud to say, I’m the owner of the bank.”

  “Where is he?” the inspector ordered.

  “Inspector, my name is Phil Chase. I haven’t a clue where John is. I bought the bank and the house. I have no clue where he is. He was at home last evening. I took the papers to sign. He told me he would never need it again, so he sold everything to me.”

  The inspector had to think. Walking to the door, “What has happened before my eyes?” Then he thought of the other bank. Arriving at the other bank, he was greeted by a woman with a warming smile.

  She asked, “Can I help you, sir?”

  “I’m an inspector with Scotland Yard.” Pointing to a man, “I need to speak to that man there.” The inspector kept walking to the desk of what appeared the owner.

  “Sir, I demand you tell me everything you know about John Willard.”

  “Well, inspector, that would take all day. I really don’t have the time. I will say I’ve known him all my life.”

  “You bloody fool, just today.” he expressed.

  “Oh, let’s see. He came in, picked up a check, then left.”

  “That was it.” The inspector was so mad. He stomped out the bank. He was so mad, his head hurts.

  The inspector walked around for a while, then went back to his office, slammed the door. How could he have let this happen? After all this time, he thought he had him. The inspector wanted to find him with the ship, just as he did in the clearing long ago. The inspector thought, why did he go to the bank for a check? He was still mad, aliens don’t need money. Stopping at a tea house for tea, he thought, how did I let this happen?

  I put the skinny man on the trail, he would look for his car. He thought of the sighting, it was true they were all over, several of them. I just need to determine where he would go. I must say, it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack. The inspector took out his watch. Seven hours later, there was no word from the skin
ny man, no sighting of the car by the local police. It’s as he fell off the face of the world.

  Yes, that was it, he finally did it. The inspector went back to his station. Walking in, he went to his desk and sat down, placed his hands on his head. Several minutes later, a knock came to the door. Looking up, he motioned for his colleague.

  He asked, “Ah, old chap, how was New York?”

  “The trip was good, except for the heat. It was bloody hot. I never understood why anyone would want to live there or anywhere in the states. People are downright rude.

  I said, “Old boy, you look troubled.”

  “It’s nothing, old boy, just a case I’m working on.”

  “Tell me about it.”

  The inspector said, “Remember the chap we were watching?”

  “Yes, old boy, the Willard.”

  “Well, something happened. He sold everything and disappeared without a trace.”

  His colleague smiled. “Old chap, I passed him at the airport.”

  “What? What did you say?”

  “I passed him at the airport. Come along, chap, come along.” The inspector went to the airport with several local police.

  He looked at his colleague. “Where did you see him?”

  “I do believe he and his wife were boarding a plane, Inspector.”

  Asking his friend, “Where do you think he was going?”

  “I really can’t say, old boy. When my plane unloaded, there were two others, mine went back to New York. I’m not sure about the others.” After several hours searching the airport with several local police, the inspector went back to his office. He was so mad, he shouted at everyone. The inspector thought I have been outsmarted by a banker. Sitting at his desk, the inspector came alive. He checked, there had been several UFO sightings in New Mexico.

  “Bloody hell,” he said, “The bloody baster has gone to New Mexico. Now it would be personal.” The inspector went to his superior, standing in front of his boss.

  “Sir, I quit Scotland Yard,” he said.

  “Let me guess, the Willards?” his superior said.

  The commander said to him, “Inspector, they have broken no laws.”

  “They have now. I told them not to leave.”

  “You will have no jurisdiction in the United States.”

  “Sir,” the inspector said, “That’s why I quit.”

  “Inspector, you would throw your career away for some petty what?”

  “Sorry old chap, its personal.”

  The Willards was resting quietly in their room in New York. The first time in years John and June were without a care. The couple would be with their children soon, the first time in twelve years. I laid in bed thinking how long it would take the inspector to figure it out. I knew he would do just that, I knew the inspector would come for us.

  June was the first up. She looked out over the bay, the fog was thick this morning.

  She called to her husband, “Rained very hard last night, John.”

  I answered, “What was that, dear? I was sleeping so sound.”

  June replied to him, “It was a jolly night, I slept very well too.”

  June packed the few things we had left for the airport. Waiting in the lobby for several minutes, it was time to board the plane. I thought, next stop is Indianapolis, Indiana. Then on to Saint Louis Missouri. Several people spoke to us on the flight simply because we were from England. The plane touched down in Saint Louis in the early evening. I held a taxi.

  June said, “It is very different than I thought it would be.” The taxi traveled down Lindbergh Avenue. I thought we would stay for two days. I had planned a three-day stay in Kansas City. A colleague told me where to stay. He said to take a taxi across the river to Kansas City steakhouse, best steak in the states.

  June and I returned to the motel. Sitting outside, we were watching the boats in the river. June looked at the western sky.

  She said, “John, look at the sunset, it sure looks different. It is so beautiful.” She told me she would miss her friends, she would miss Cambridge the beauty.

  “John, do you think they will find us?”

  “I don’t care. We’re going to see our children, we’re going home. Tyler will help keep them off us, you will see.”

  June asked me, “Why New Mexico, John?”

  I said, “I don’t know, June. Tyler said there was something about New Mexico.”

  We spent several days in Saint Louis. Taking in all the boats, I thought we should take a trip down the Mississippi, then go to Memphis, Tennessee. Throw them off just in case, change our route altogether.

  June asked, “What about the steak in Kansas City?”

  “It’s only beef, June.” Returning to our room, I made several inquiries. I walked back, told her the Memphis Queen leaves the dock at eight a.m. tomorrow morning. I booked two passages to Memphis, Tennessee. The night ended with our dinner. The cool air felt good as we returned to our room.

  We were up early, watching the sun come from the east across the river. A quick coffee for me, a tea for the misses. A short walk to the dock, as the ramp was down, some people were going aboard. I spotted the captain right off. The captain waved to us.

  Taking June’s hand, “Please come aboard,” the captain said. June looked at me with a question on her mind.

  “It’s ok June, he knew we were coming.” The captain was a slender man in his early fifties, nicely dressed.

  “Such an odd way to travel,” I said.

  “Yet it is worth every minute, you will see. The captain showed us to our quarters on the port side of a stateroom.

  “You were lucky Mr. Willard, we only had one room left. The Memphis Queen fills fast. Please enjoy yourself. If I can be of service, please let me know. The captain’s table will be ready for lunch at noon, please join me.” I did thank the captain.

  He said, “Come to my table for dinner also.” Our bags were brought to our room. I gave the boy a five-dollar bill.

  Looking down in his hand, he said to me, “Thank you, sir.” The boat started off for a three-day journey to Memphis.

  13

  The inspector smiled as he got out of bed. I was outsmarted by the old man, like a fox and a hound. Now I’ve got to figured it out. I’ll be on the trail again. I told myself, this time it will be different. I will not be left out in the cold.

  Driving by Willard’s house, he pulled to the curb. There was no movement. “Good,” he thought. Knocking several times, he knew no one was home. Trying the doorknob, it was unlocked. Stepping inside, he picked up a picture of the Willards - a photo with two small children. “That’s it, how could I be so stupid?”

  That night in the Cambridge clearing the children were on the craft, be damned. The inspector took the picture, took it from the frame. There was a most recent photo, he took that also. I don’t understand after all these years, I never thought of children. This was going to be easy, he thought. I’ll go to the airport, I’ll ask of them. I’ll show the photo, I mean, I’ll have my badge; I’ll show it.

  Driving to the airport, going to the ticket counter he showed his badge. He took a photo from his pocket. “The Willards, did you see them come through here? Maybe flew out on one of your planes. Maybe yesterday early?”

  The clerk told him, “I’ve been off for two days.”

  The inspector asked, “Who was on duty?” She pointed to a small man then called him over.

  The man looked at the picture, “No sir, I don’t remember seeing them. This man did buy a ticket, it wasn’t yesterday. I believe it was Friday.”

  The inspector asked, “Where to?”

  The man said, “New York, I believe.”

  The lady asked, “Inspector, will you be flying with us?”

  The inspector said, “Yes, one way please.”

  The old cha
p wasn’t so smart after all. Smiling as I boarded the plane. Sitting in my seat, I wondered if the kids in the photo were really the children of the Willards. I watched the people boarding the plane, then I said to myself, “No, they were his kids that’s why Mr. Willard is going to New Mexico.” New Mexico was a big state, I thought. The flight across the Atlantic was long. It was hot and hazy. Already he thought how he missed England.

  As my plane touched down, I went to the ticket stand. Enquiring to several people, no one had seen them. He would wait until tomorrow, come back, and ask the morning shift. The inspector took a cab to a local motel. Ridding along in the cab, the driver told him, “You know I had a couple here the other night, said they were from England.” The inspector took out the photo, showed it to the cabbie.

  “Yes, sir, that’s them. Picked them up, took them to the airport, said they were on vacation. They told me they were going west.”

  Asking the cabbie, “Do you know the airline?”

  The cabbie said, “No sir, they didn’t say. I didn’t ask. Just dropped them off.”

  “Thank you,” the inspector said as he walked to the inn.

  Mornings in New York were as a morning in England in the rainy season. It was misty, foggy, and wet. The inspector found himself at the airport very early. He checked every ticket stand, no one remembered them. He thought, one more, showing their photo to the baggage man.

  He replied, “Yes sir, they were on vacation; no baggage.” I thought it was strange. “Yes, sir, I do believe they were going to Saint Louis T.W.A.”

  The inspector started smiling. “Old chap, I’ll have you in my custody by tomorrow night. Now I must think of a crime, so the local police will give me their corporation. Yes, I have it. This time, you will not slip away from me.” The inspector purchased a ticket in Saint Louis Missouri. He could rest now. The hound was back on the trail.

  14

  I was up early this morning. I had been dreaming of my son. Kayla had come to me. “Leah, you must wake up.” I can still hear her soft voice. “It’s time you come with me.” Kayla took me to a beautiful valley where the Unicorn and Busie were. There were flowers of all colors and a city behind us. I thought it was heaven. It had to be, there was no place this beautiful.