3012: The Artifact

by John M Grier

Paul’s Visit

  Paul walked the nine blocks to the front gate to meet Jack. He was not there more than a few minutes when Jack pulled up in an old, government-issue hovercraft. Although the body was battered, it seemed to be in pretty good condition, but was much older than the models currently in use.

  “Jack, where did you get hold of this vehicle? You have to be on official government business to check one out of the motor pool.”

  Knowing his friend was in for a plethora of surprises once he got to Freedom Base, Jack merely said “Well, to be honest, I bought this one a few years ago from the government. I got it as part of a surplus lot as scrap and managed to get it working again. But, even though it’s still legal, as far as I can tell, to own and operate a private vehicle such as this, I wouldn’t dare drive it in the city. I would encounter too many questions, I’m sure.”

  “Yes, you most certainly would!” Paul stated with a laugh. Once again he was amazed at his friend’s unique way of looking at the world. With a smile on his face, he climbed into the old vehicle.

  Jack grinned as he drove off in a direction Paul was unfamiliar with. He seemed to be in a remarkably good mood this evening, especially after his anger about the dig earlier. After driving much farther away from the city than Paul was comfortable with, he finally said “Okay Mr. Historian, you tell me; where are we now?”

  “What a crazy question, Jack. We’re just a few kilometers from Harmony, but you know that.”

  Finally ready to let his friend in on what was really going on, he began his own version of a history lesson. “That may be true, but what you fail to realize is that we are also traveling west on Interstate 66, or at least the sad remains of it. We are currently heading to Winchester, Virginia, or what’s left of it. You wanted to know where I live. Now you know.”

  “You live in the old ruins?” Paul asked with a look of shock on his face. “That’s dangerous, Jack!”

  Still grinning like a madman, he asked “What’s so dangerous about it?”

  Puzzled at Jack’s question, he said “I don’t know, but I’m sure it’s very dangerous. You live outside of the city walls!” He knew his friend was a bit eccentric, but living in old ruins was crazy!

  Noticing Paul’s discomfort, he continued smiling as he said “We work outside the city walls all the time. How is this any different?”

  “Well … when you put it that way, I suppose it isn’t. I just have never heard of anyone living outside the walls before.”

  Jack continued driving, staying low to the ground. “From what I’ve seen, what little bit of freedom left in this world can only be found outside the walls.”

  “That’s just crazy talk, Jack. We are the freest society that has ever existed.”

  Jack made his final turn onto the old access road that led to Freedom Base. “No, Paul, in fact you are not. I know you don’t believe me, but I hope to someday be able to show you how wrong you are.”

  As they approached the mountain hideaway, Paul asked “Do you actually live in this old ruin? There’s nothing left of it!”

  “You’d be surprised, Paul. Appearances can be, and often are, deceiving. Just be patient, we’ll be there very soon.” Moments later, Jack parked the hovercraft in the remains of the surface building with the staircase and elevator, careful to plug in the solar collector so it would be fully charged when he needed it next. He then led Paul to the staircase and started down. When he got to the door at the first level, he entered a code he had created to maintain security here and the door opened. With a grand gesture, he said “Home Sweet Home. Paul, welcome to Freedom Base.”

  Naturally, Paul had no idea what Jack meant, but entered anyway. He stopped short and Jack ran into him when Suzie suddenly appeared in front of him.

  She laughed and said “I didn’t mean to scare you Paul, I’m sorry!”

  Thoroughly confused, he asked “How do you know my name? I’m sure we have never met before.”

  “Jack has told me all about you, Paul. I’m hurt that he didn’t tell you about me though.” She shot Jack a look that reminded him of that hurt, angry look a spouse or girlfriend would get when you forgot her birthday.

  Jack just smiled and waited to see what would happen. He was pretty sure that civilians in this time had never encountered holograms before and he wanted to be sure. When it became apparent that he had been correct, he finally spoke up and said “Paul, have you ever heard of a hologram?”

  Baffled by the odd question, he replied “No, what’s a hologram?”

  “Well, the easiest way to explain it is to show you. Suzie, please walk over here and pass through Paul on your way.”

  She complied and Paul completely freaked out. Once she was near Jack, Paul calmed down.

  “What just happened!?!” he asked with a look of terror on his face.

  Seeing his friend’s discomfort, Jack took on a more serious expression as he explained. “Suzie is actually a computer interface and is not, in fact, a flesh and blood person.”

  Suzie adopted a pose that reminded Jack of a proud salesperson introducing her potential customer to her best product and said “I am part of a stand alone computer system, formerly used by the United States Government, but left here idle for quite a long time before Jack found me and, quite accidentally, got me going again.”

  Jack said “I believe this is part of a vast underground government facility that has simply been forgotten for many, many years. When I found it, it was not in very good shape. I have actually lived here for the better part of the past ten years. I think Suzie is just one example of what the government has access to and doesn’t share with us.”

  Unprepared for everything he had seen and heard so far, Paul was stunned at the technology he was seeing for the first time. Eventually, he asked “Ten years? That’s about how long we’ve known each other. Why have you kept it secret for so long?”

  Jack was ready for a question like this, but still wasn’t sure how to proceed. Figuring the simple truth was the best way to go; he said “To be honest, you’ve never asked to come here before.”

  “I guess it just never occurred to me that you would want me to. I always knew you went somewhere else and just assumed you wanted to be left alone. I’m sorry if I gave the wrong impression, Jack.”

  “Hey, there’s nothing wrong with that. I could have just as easily invited you, so I suppose we’re both at fault. No big deal.”

  Paul looked around and with each new item his eyes got bigger and bigger, as if he were a kid in a toy store trying to choose the perfect gift for himself. “Wow! This place is like a museum! Everything here is hundreds of years old. Where on earth did you get this many antiques in such remarkable condition?”

  “Believe it or not, most of them were already here. I guess this place has been forgotten for quite a long time. The rest mostly came from Winchester, just down the hill a bit. A few, I swiped from some of the bigger digs when you weren’t looking, I hope you’re not too mad.”

  “No, I don’t suppose I could be mad, especially after what Janet told me about where the tools from that barn were going. No one seems to care anymore” said Paul with a look of disgust. Suddenly reminded of the artifact Jack took with him, he asked “By the way, how are you coming with that briefcase?”

  “Suzie tells me it’s nearly impossible to open which only means it won’t be easy, but I haven’t had the chance to look at it since we’ve been home. I just sat down to dinner when you called. In fact, I still haven’t eaten. Are you hungry? I have plenty.”

  Remembering the coffee, he asked “What do you have, Jack. I’m almost afraid to ask.”

  “I was having a steak, seasoned with, among other things, salt. Would you like to try it?” Jack asked with a smile. “I think you’ll like it.”

  “Steak? Do you mean meat? How repulsive, Jack! Not to mention illegal!” Never in his life had he met anyone that would willingly eat animal flesh,
or even consider it for that matter.

  “Now you’re starting to sound like Janet. Suit yourself, I’m going to eat my steak, you are welcome to whatever you can find, or I’ll gladly fix one for you, if you feel a bit adventurous.”

  Jack proceeded to warm up his steak. When it was ready, Paul said “Wow! That honestly smells pretty good, Jack.”

  “Actually, you’ll find it similar in taste to some of the better soy patties we have on the expedition. Are you sure you don’t want to at least taste it?”

  With the aroma wafting throughout the large kitchen intriguing him, Paul finally said “Well, I suppose a small bite wouldn’t hurt.”

  With a huge grin on his face, Jack cut Paul a large portion of his steak. Paul poked at it a bit before finally taking a tiny nibble. He popped it in his mouth and began chewing. He was frowning when he started the bite, but was grinning like crazy when he finished.

  “This is fantastic! I’ve never had anything as wonderful as this. How did you learn about eating meat?”

  “Paul, I have been eating meat all my life. Nearly every meal, except when we’re on an expedition, to be honest.”

  Pausing a moment, and with a look of concern on his face, Paul asked “What kind of animal am I eating?”

  “Cow” said Jack. “There used to be farms that raised cattle for the purpose of food. Apparently, some of them went wild nearby here years ago, and since they are such docile creatures, they are easy targets. There’s a large heard nearby, if I see one, I’ll point it out to you, if you like”

  “Sure, that would be great…I think.” Paul put the animal out of his mind and continued to enjoy eating it.

  After they finished their dinner, they made their way into the room Jack called his ‘Living Room’. Paul thought this was an unusual name for a room, but decided to not question it. There were too many other questions he wanted to ask first. But before he could form a proper question, Jack asked “Suzie, what would have been the procedure to open that briefcase, if I had been the one to close it?

  “You would have to press your thumb to the sensor pad, as well as input the proper code. It is quite unbeatable, if you don’t possess the proper thumb-print.”

  “Well let’s just see about that.” Smiling at Paul, he said “Let’s go back to the workshop and see what we can come up with.”

  They made their way back to the workshop, which Paul thought looked like an antique laboratory of some sort. When they got there, he couldn’t help but ask “Jack, just how is it that you know so much about the past?”

  Jack stopped and seemed deep in thought and a little uncomfortable for a bit. Finally he appeared to come to a decision and said “I am willing to tell you the answer to that question, but it will be in the form of a rather long and difficult to believe story which will take a few minutes to tell. However, you must agree to two things. First, you must listen through to the end with no interruptions before asking any other questions. Second, you must tell no one. Ever. I am very serious on these terms. Do you agree?”

  Paul thought this was a bit of overkill for a simple question, but agreed anyway. “Sure, I agree, Jack.”

  Well, then, let’s go back and get comfortable. This will be a bit hard for you to swallow and will take several minutes to tell.” With that they returned to the living room and relaxed.