The Otherlings and the Crystal Amulet

by S V Hurn

  Hans’s eyes were tired as his gaze shifted along the narrow passageway, barely able to discern the curve off in the distance. “Our charade has become most difficult as Simon pursues the truth. He must not know of our mission while the amulet is in his possession. He must not realize its true power, or all is lost.”

  “Yes, I agree with you. Dorathy must be removed for her own safety, and the safety of humanity. We cannot move forward without her involvement and we are in desperate need of finishing what we have begun before it is too late. She will, no doubt, take the bait, ultimately funding our project.”

  Lucca sighed. Shouldering the responsibility of ending the life of someone so close to his heart was almost too much to bear. “Carlo has been following the progress of Dorathy’s project with Lifecor for the last year and now has good reason to believe that Dorathy would participate herself in proving the concept of cryogenics being space worthy. All we need to do is place a tracking device, so our ship is able to detect her presence and location for her retrieval.”

  Lucca leaned against the housing, feeling its cold structure beneath him and grew weary thinking of the past. Attempting to ease their guilt, he said, “John was wise trusting us with the information and his intuitions were correct, but he was slow in acting. Perhaps not wanting to see the truth of what he had a hand in manufacturing. Whoever Simon’s abductor was has proved to himself to be quite elusive.”

  “Yes,” Hans added, “and has become quite the more powerful.”

  Hans’s train of thought shifted. “What of the amulet, how will we recover it? Simon has every reason to believe it holds power but has no knowledge of what the power may be. John made sure of that, but unfortunately was too late in realizing Simon had been compromised.”

  Lucca said in a more positive tone, “We need to ensure Dorathy’s life continues as planned, but it has simply become too dangerous for her to remain here. Her DNA must endure intact and her presence is needed far from here. It’s the only way and our small crew will see to her safety on the other side.”

  Hans nodded in agreement. “I suppose you are right. Simon’s altered DNA has made him immortal and he will follow her to the ends of the universe seeking the truth. The amulet is useless without her, so we must separate her from it for as long as he has it.”

  “Yes, very true my friend . . . very true. The last year has been taxing for both of us and the journey at hand has brought us to this point. All our efforts are about to pay off and, with Dorathy’s help, this mission will commence shortly.”

  They walked together, wondering what the future might hold. Knowing that the significance of what they were doing now would eventually shape the future for the rest of mankind. A truly daunting task.

  The next morning both Alex and Dorathy were scrambling to get everything in order. Dorathy packed the files she thought she would need. Athena was going through Dorathy’s closet, making suggestions on what she should take with her.

  “Mom, you always look good, but you have to dress the part. You have to look like you aren’t going to take shit from anyone.”

  Dorathy had explained to Athena what she was planning on doing at CERN. Athena was on board with her decision to fund the project there. As long as Dorathy was alive she had control of the foundation monies and, ultimately, made all the decisions.

  Feeling flustered, she said, “All right, pack my black suit. It has a look about it that says power.”

  “Mom, black on you says a lot of things, but yeah, power is good. I threw in some color . . .”

  Dorathy cut her off. “Fine, it’s all good, if I need something, I’ll just buy it there.” Dorathy gave the contents of her bag a final once-over, zipped it closed and looked at her watch, “Shit, the limo will be here . . . ,” and the doorbell rang. “Okay, got to go, honey. Call me if you need anything.”

  Athena kissed her mom and followed her into the family room where Alex had been waiting patiently, but he was now at the door telling the driver they would be out shortly.

  “All right. I’m as ready as I’ll ever be, let’s blow this popsicle stand.” Alex smiled, as the term had become old hat. He helped Dorathy with her bag and gave Athena a kiss on the cheek. The driver put their bags in the trunk, and they were off to get Carlo and Jack.

  Alex saw the chilled champagne in the bucket built into the limo’s console, pulled out the bottle and popped the cork. “What the hell?” he said. “Let’s celebrate.”

  Dorathy asked, “What are we celebrating?”

  Alex response was simple. “Life.”

  “To us, then, to our brave new future together and to the future of our planet.”

  Alex leaned in to kiss her. “In case you didn’t know it, you are the most incredible woman I have ever met.”

  Everyone was so excited about this new technology, but tension also filled the air. She knew what she needed to do when she arrived and was a bit apprehensive. She needed to be firm in her approach, and relentless when it came to bargaining. She knew she couldn’t show her cards until all the chips were on the table.

  As they boarded her jet, the flight attendant was taking drink and food orders, and making sure everyone was comfortable. Dorathy stopped at the flight deck to greet the pilot. “Hi, Hendrik, nice to see you again. How’s the family?”

  Hendrik, with a big toothy grin, said in his thick German accent, “Ach, they are good, Dorathy, and it is good to be seeing you again.”

  “Hey, Hendrik, we need to make this a quick trip.”

  “I understand,” Hendrik said. “You want I do Mach 3?”

  “Yes, that would be good.”

  “We must refuel then, in Iceland.”

  “That’s fine, thank you.”

  “Okay guys, take a seat.” Dorathy was in charge now. “Hendrik is putting the pedal to the metal.”

  Alex was amused and enamored by his woman and said, “Honey, you sure know how to show a guy a good time and you definitely have a need for speed.”

  As she settled in beside him, she fastened her seat belt and said, in a very serious voice, “Oh baby, you have no idea.”

  The jet rocketed down the runway and immediately was throttled up to full power. The landing gear was tucked efficiently into its belly, the acceleration throwing everyone back firmly into their seats, leaving behind a vortex of clean exhaust.

  CHAPTER 9

  On their approach to Iceland Dorathy looked out the window and appreciated its untouched beauty. It was raw, it was a place frozen in time. The rest of the world seemed to have disappeared, as if she had travelled back millions of years when the Earth was still in its infancy. Hot gases and steam rose from cracks in the crust above a bubbling hot cauldron, reminding her of all from which she thought we had originated.

  Refueling was quick and they were off again before an early summer storm could make its appearance.

  After landing at terminal three at Geneva’s international airport, they all gathered their things while an immigration officer took their passports and checked them through. As they walked through the terminal Dorathy admired the luxury specialty caviar and wine shops. She grabbed Alex’s hand and said, “Please, remind me to stop by and pick up some wine before we depart.”

  Exiting the airport, they found a limo at the curb waiting to take them to the Four Seasons Hotel. Lucy had done her research and told her this was by far the nicest place to stay, with an incredible view of Lake Geneva. They could go by train or have a private car with driver. And, although Dorathy had loved traveling by train on their last trip here, she decided having a car available on her schedule would be better than working around a train timetable.

  The rooms were incredible. Jack was across the hall with a city view, while Alex and Dorathy’s room had a magnificent lake view. Jack said he planned to take a nap and then would meet up with them for dinner.

  Carlo had gone on to stay with his uncle. Since the unfortunate assignment he had been tasked with had been completed, there was no point
for him to stay stateside. Carlo’s guilt over what he had done would follow him for the rest of his life. But knowing the eventual outcome and foreseeing the future eased his burden somewhat. He would forever remember the kindnesses Dorathy had extended to him. For now, the only thing he could embrace was that this was his ticket home.

  When the bell captain opened the door to their suite Dorathy gushed with excitement, “Look at the view Alex, isn’t it amazing?” Alex tipped the bellman as he left and shut the door behind him.

  “Yes, it is.” He walked over and put his arms around her waist and turned her to face him. “Yes, the view is quite spectacular. And I guess the lake is nice, too.” He kissed her neck and sniffed the sweet scent of her hair. “We should check out the big Jacuzzi tub Lucy promised us. I think you need a good long back rub and a nice glass of wine before dinner.”

  “You know what? I think you’re right.”

  The bath was nice, the backrub erotic, dinner superb, and the night was full of romance. They lay in each other’s arms in a huge canopy bed facing a wall of French doors that were opened out to the oversized balcony. From the bed they could see the Jet d’Eau. An impressive sight: illuminated bursts of water shot more than one hundred and twenty meters into the air.

  Dorathy slept, secure with her man by her side. But tomorrow was to be another day. She was to address the International Council for Science.

  In the morning Alex and Dorathy dressed and decided on room service for breakfast out on the balcony overlooking the water. She called Jack with an invitation to join them, so they could sit and discuss their plan.

  It was a beautiful summer day, with the snowcapped Alps in the distance and a variety of boats passing by on the lake. Dorathy sat enjoying the view and wondered how it might look even just fifty years from now; what changes to the scenery would be made with the development of this technology? Would it stay the same or would its beauty and charm be lost and forgotten as mankind shifted attention to the sky?

  Dorathy and Jack discussed her approach to making her presentation when she addressed the members of CERN and the ICSU. She was impeccably turned out in a beautifully tailored black suit skirt and deep turquoise blouse.

  Passing a plate of pastries to Alex, Jack said, “I think you should just spell it out, Dora. They’ll fall over themselves when you make the announcement, and they’ll see what will be gained over the long run. When you get up there, just spell it out. The shock and awe will wear off once they wrap their heads around the offer being presented.”

  Alex chimed in, “I agree with Jack, they’ll get over it. Maybe not immediately, but in the end, they’ll be on board.”

  Dorathy said with a little amusement, “I think I’m just going to wing it. I hate overthinking this. And forget about a structured speech; they just tend to screw my presentation all to hell.”

  Alex and Jack laughed, and both said that they knew she could handle herself under pressure.

  Dorathy got up and reached for her bag. “If I don’t take care of this throbbing pain in my head, I’m liable to take someone else’s head off if they cross me while I’m up there.” She grimaced, “And, then where will we be?”

  “Can I do anything for you, honey?”

  Looking at her watch, she said, “No, I’m fine, but we should wrap this up and get down to the car soon.”

  The amphitheater at CERN was filled to capacity. There were representatives from all over the world, including CERN’s member delegates. Dorathy would be the last to speak, after the field experts had disclosed their research findings. She took notes during the other presentations, impressed by the complexity and comprehensiveness of the information. Jack was equally excited, as his field of expertise was particle physics. What they both knew, without a doubt, was that the presentation of the discovery was going to change the world.

  When the last speaker left the stage, it was Dorathy’s turn at the podium. She was a bit anxious, since she had never been comfortable with public speaking. She took a sip of water and, wishing it was tequila, she approached the podium. A moment or two went by and people were still rudely talking amongst themselves. She tapped the microphone with her perfectly manicured fingertip. Once the crowd had quieted, she introduced herself. “Hello. For those of you who do not know me, my name is Doctor Dorathy Rosen of the Rosen Foundation.”

  “I am going to get right to the point. This new discovery here at CERN has captivated our attention and our imagination. There is so much more to learn and the task may take several years to see it through to fruition. I am here to make an offer to try to speed its progress along, so to speak, at light speed. My colleagues and I represent the private sector at JPL. We are prepared to take on the cost of what will, no doubt, be a prodigious financial outlay. Our intention is to advance this discovery to the point where there are applications to daily life. Progress will be made toward the development of a new frontier for space travel. My proposal is simple, really. We receive exclusive rights to the technology—Dorathy was interrupted by a huge uproar from the crowd. She waited for things to calm down, but it seemed as if the gathering believed that what she had just said was up for a debate. She tapped her microphone a few times and said, “Please, let me finish. My proposal . . . MY PORPOSAL,” she practically had to scream into the microphone.

  The crowd started to hush, and she continued, “My proposal is that the Rosen Foundation is prepared to donate funds for further development, but to have all advancements from such developments be regulated by, and disclosed only to, JPL. We retain all intellectual property for the technology, and we use such technology as we see fit.” Uproar erupted, as she said under her breath, “For God’s sake, people.”

  Dorathy had had enough and said, with such authority it surprised even her, “OUI! . . . I AM WILLING TO DONATE TO THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 150 BILLION DOLLARS!” That seemed to get everyone’s attention.

  One of the key research scientists from CERN yelled out, “You Americans think you are so entitled!” Another, from the Turkish delegation, stood up and said, “My grandmother always told me, “Beware of Greeks bearing gifts!”

  Dorathy stood at the podium nonchalantly looking at her hand, checking her nails, for she was about to bare her claws. Dorathy took the microphone in her hand and calmly walked away from the podium so that everyone could see her clearly. She projected total confidence, signaling to the assemblage of scientists ‘I will not back down, nor will I give the impression of taking cover.’

  Dorathy spoke with a calm that projected steadfastness; she would not be swayed, nor would she waver. “That is my offer, take it or leave it. The offer is only good for twenty-four hours.” She tossed the microphone to the podium and walked off the stage.

  The crowd became hysterical. Some were shocked at the dollar amount, as no one in history, including her father, had ever granted that amount of funding. Others were outraged by her attempt at controlling the discovery and some were simply in awe and didn’t know what to think.

  As Dorathy went backstage she found Jack chuckling with eyes tearing, shaking his head, “Man, Dora, you got a set of balls! Holy shit! That speech will go down in history!”

  Alex was grinning ear to ear he was so proud of her. “Honey, remind me never to piss you off.”

  “You think they got the message? Damn, I need a drink, because I pretty much gave away my entire fortune.”

  Jack said, “Yup, I think it might be a good time to leave before they gather a lynch mob.” A security team led them to a back door where the car was waiting.

  In the car Dorathy kicked off her stilettos. “I wanted to beat that Turkish prick within an inch of his life, with my shoe!” They all laughed, including the driver.

  When they got back to the hotel, they decided that having a drink and an early dinner sounded good. The concierge suggested they try a small place just up the road that had a nice terrace overlooking the lake, so they changed into comfortable clothes and met in the lobby.

 
; Alex and Dorathy sat in the lobby waiting for Jack and marveled at the beauty of the hotel Lucy had chosen for them. The furnishings were beautifully upholstered with an ornate heavy silk fabric in powder blue; the floors were no doubt Italian marble and brightly lit crystal chandeliers hung above them. Large original oils framed in ornate gold leaf were tastefully displayed on each of the lobby walls. The air was filled with the fragrance of a variety of white flowers blooming in artfully done arrangements that were dispersed amongst the French provincial furnishings. Dorathy was acquainted with this level of splendor but would also have felt right at home if it had been a tree house.

  Alex commented on how lovely the hotel was. “You must be accustomed to this lifestyle.”

  “Well, yes and no. I grew up living in nice homes and when we traveled abroad it was always top notch, but my father showed me the other side of things and that made me understand that a person really only needs so much and anything beyond that was just a waste. Honestly, I would have to say the best times I spent away from home were on trips I took with my father that were a bit more rustic. We spent a lot of those times in tents with no modern amenities,” and with a chuckle she added, “that also means no bathrooms.”

  Jack appeared, wearing his best business casual attire. “Sorry for the delay, Hugo called to get a blow by blow of the presentation today. He sends his best and wished he had been here to see their faces when you made your demands. He’s quite confident that they will agree to the terms.”

  “Damn straight they will take the offer. It’s the most anyone has ever donated to funding a project in history.”

  Jack was still shaking his head. “And that was the most entertaining speech I have ever witnessed. Thank Christ you’re on our side. I would have hated to have been on the receiving end of that lashing.”