The Emissary

by Eugene Wilson

  “Fantastic!” David shouts. “I think we’re onto something.”

  Two minutes later, Sylvia and Diane walk back into their brother’s room. Again, Sylvia is focusing the strange alien device in David’s hand. David is momentarily fixed on her gaze. “Is there something wrong?” He finally asks her.

  “Yeah. Where’s the other device?”

  “Other device? What other device?” David asks.

  Sylvia catches Tyrone’s frown. She does not care. “Didn’t Tyrone tell you about the other device that he found? It looks like a silvery blue cylinder.”

  “How would you know that? Quit lying!” Tyrone yells.

  “I’m not lying!” She protests. “It’s in your top drawer.”

  “Guys, let’s chill,” David interrupts. “Sylvia, would you and Diane leave us alone for a few minutes?”

  “No!” Both young women answer in surprising unison.

  After a brief sigh, David turns toward Tyrone and Nathan. “Okay. Is there anything else that you all would like to hide from me? I mean, we are tight. Right?” After an angry look at Sylvia, Nathan walks over and opens the top drawer. He pulls out another device. After laying the communicator device down on a table, David looks in awe at the silvery blue cylinder before looking back at Tyrone. “Oh My God! What…is that thing?”

  “We have no idea.” Nathan hands David the cylinder.

  Amazed at what he is seeing, David notices what appear to be astronomical symbols imprinted on the metallic surface. “Man, these are some weird looking star constellations.”

  “Star constellations? Are you sure?” Nathan asks surprised.

  “Yeah!” David replies, looking at Tyrone with annoyance.

  Tyrone gets the message. “Well, we were going to tell you eventually.”

  “Yeah. Right. You mean as in next year?” David counters.

  A brief silence passes. “One step at a time. Right?” Tyrone replies.

  “I assume,” David continues, “that both of you have been working to determined what this second device does. Am I right again?”

  Tyrone removes the cylinder from David and fingers the recessed keys on one end. “Not yet. Suppose you handle the communicator thing while we take care of this thing.”

  David concedes to Tyrone’s proposal. “Dig! I’m cool with this. However, there’s more to this than both of you may already know.”

  “Like what?” Nathan asks.

  Before answering, David takes another quick look at Sylvia. Inwardly, he swears that her red, short-sleeved blouse and blue Levi’s jeans looks so good on her figure. “Girl, you are definitely my chérie amour,” he mentally swears. Yet, he concludes that this is not for her. He feels certain that Sylvia cannot understand the technical aspects of this situation.

  “Look guys,” David continues, “we have to go somewhere else and talk. It’s about the alien skeleton that we found.”

  “A skeleton?” Sylvia yells. “Y’all found a real live skeleton?”

  “No, you big dummy, a real dead one!” Tyrone snaps. “Now will you leave?”

  “Why? What’s with all the secrecy? I wanna be in on this too!” Sylvia demands as she is becoming perturbed.

  David finds Sylvia’s curiosity amusing, yet dismisses her interest as trivial. “Sylvia,” he continues, “I wish I could tell you more, but, this is just between me and your brothers. You do understand, don’t you?”

  Sylvia is indignant. “Why not? I can understand this kind of stuff too!”

  David gives her a nod. As Sylvia dislikes David, she is irked by his unwillingness to share information with her. Although not verbalizing it, David’s darker skin tone and shyness are an embarrassment to her.

  “You’ve made a good point,” David tells her. He forces his attention back on Nathan and Tyrone. “Guys! Let’s drive to our favorite spot at the beach. You are going to like what I’ve learned.”

  All three men rush past the women and head downstairs.

  “Aren’t you going to tell us?” Diane demands.

  “Get lost woman!” Tyrone yells back.

  One Hour Later

  Northern California Redwood Coast

  Anonwood Harbor

  “I almost couldn’t believe it myself,” David tells them as he walks on. All three are slowly walking abreast of each other along the shore as they continue discussing the situation at hand. Nathan and Tyrone find David’s revelation of the alien devices almost unbelievable. With hands in his pocket, David is listening to his friends. He enjoys the stiff breeze coming from off the ocean. He feels that being with his two best friends is a high point in his life. He often imagines Tyrone and Nathan as being the brothers he wished he had.

  Nathan’s car, a 1966 black, 2-door Plymouth Barracuda, is parked a short distance behind them where both devices are locked in the trunk. As a gift from his visiting father one year earlier, Nathan accepted the used car, despite his mother’s objections and his sisters’ overt jealousy. Tyrone, however, was thrilled. Despite his tendency for joking, Nathan can be serious about family matters. As the eldest sibling, Nathan boasts a goatee. He possesses a level of mental stability and emotional maturity usually not found in a seventeen-year-old. Despite his love for her, Nathan feels that his mother, at times, becomes too emotional and unreasonable in her reaction to certain issues.

  Although appreciating her protective nature, Nathan feels that she can be overly protective. Thus, despite possessing a level head, his arguments with his mother, at times, become heated. His parent’s divorce had a detrimental effect on the entire family. Too often, he would have to endure the arguing and fights that would break out between his parents. Regardless, Nathan feels that his father is far more understanding. David, in turn, loves them both although he feels more in tune with Tyrone, despite their occasional differences and intense arguments. Thus, David imagines that Tyrone would be his younger and impetuous brother. A passing thought of him becoming their brother-in-law fades. “When did you find this out?” Nathan asks after tossing a pebble into the water.

  “Guys, this situation is unreal,” David avows. “Yesterday, I drove to Anonwood University to see some broad named Arlene Vaughan.”

  “Arlene Vaughan? Who the heck is she?” Tyrone asks.

  “She’s an associate history professor. It was awesome!”

  “Are there more black people there?” Tyrone asks.

  “Oh yeah! We’re growing. We have student body members, faculty members and teachers,” David boasts. “In fact, we even have a student union group there. We shall overcome!”

  All begin laughing.

  “Anyway, David continues, she gave me some additional insight into the details of that historical account.”

  “I don’t understand,” Tyrone interrupts. “If all of this is true, then why isn’t this in any of the school history books?”

  All stop walking. David and Nathan turn to face Tyrone.

  After a brief glance out toward the ocean, David collects his thoughts. “Tyrone, I asked Shanté a similar question. I’m thinking that only a few people actually saw the wreckage. I’m also certain that the people in charge of the mining operation most likely buried the wreckage.”

  “So, what’s your conclusion?” Nathan asks.

  “Nathan, much like our culture and achievements, this was deliberately left out of the history books.”

  “So, what about that alien?” Nathan asks. “How did he end up in that cave without anyone seeing him?”

  “And who were those two other people?” Tyrone asks.

  “I think,” David admits, “that one of them confronted and killed the alien.”

  “Then how did the other person get blown to bits?” Nathan asks.

  “I’m guessing a dynamite blast,” David replies.

  “That is so stupid,” Tyrone objects. “Why would he blow himself up just to kill the alien? And why was that other guy stuck halfway in that wall?”

  “Tyrone,” David replies, “I’m just as
perplexed as you are.”

  Tyrone shakes his head in disbelief. Their earlier discovery of three skeletal remains and two alien devices are raising a multitude of questions. “So, who do you think that babe’s voice belong to?” Tyrone and Nathan are looking at David with intense curiosity.

  “Guys, work with me here. Okay?” David states with mild frustration.

  “In what way?” Nathan asks. He enjoys David’s analytical abilities in mathematical, scientific and historical matters. Yet, Nathan is troubled by David’s occasional, yet irrational bouts of anger.

  “We’ve stumbled onto something that no one else knows about,” David begins. “So, let’s put our heads together and solve this mystery.”

  “This sounds good. I love a good mystery,” Nathan cuts in.

  “My brothers, I agree,” David continues. “Once we solve this, we’ll be able to use this to our advantage. There’s no telling what we’ll be able to accomplish with these devices, as well as the information that we can obtain.”

  “I like this even more. Go on,” Tyrone urges him.

  After another pause, David continues. “We now know that the first device is some type of advanced transceiver.”

  “So who was the woman on the other end and where is she?”

  “Nathan old buddy, I have a hypothesis.”

  “A what?” Tyrone asks, cutting his eyes at David.

  “Tyrone, a hypothesis is simply an unproven theory.”

  “Oh…I knew it all the time,” Tyrone replies smiling again.

  David rolls his eyes away. “Anyway, since you two found the devices near the dead alien, I’m thinking that, quite possibly, the device is in communication with an individual located somewhere in outer space.” David understands the disbelief on their faces.

  “Outer space? Are you serious?” Tyrone asks.

  “Based on what you two discovered, it’s the only logical conclusion. For a brief moment, both of you had established contact with an extraterrestrial female. I’ve seen no other transceiver that even begins to look like it.”

  “Dude! Come on! Let’s stop right here,” Nathan demands. “First, you tell us that these devices were in that cave since September of 1860. Right?”

  “Yeah.”

  “So now, you want us to believe that after one hundred and fourteen years, some extraterrestrial broad is trying to contact us?”

  “No, not exactly. Look, all I’m saying is that both of you inadvertently established contact with an alien female. I just can’t say who she was.” After a sigh, David briefly runs his fingers through his Afro. “Nathan, do you remember that old Emerson radio that I fixed for your mom?”

  Nathan is puzzled. “Yeah, that ancient artifact is still down in the basement. What does that have to do with anything?”

  “Plenty. It still works. Doesn’t it?”

  “Well…yeah, I guess so.”

  “Don’t you get it? When I was fixing it, your mom told me that her mother purchased that radio back in 1941. I had to drive all the way to Allied Radio Shack in Denbigh South. I purchased a 6L6GT power pentode and a Sprague triple-section electrolytic capacitor.”

  “So what. It’s just a 33-year-old piece of junk. I don’t following you.”

  “Okay, dig. Let’s just say, ya’ know, that you went home and turned that radio on. Would you expect to hear an early 1940s Mills Brothers song or President Franklin Roosevelt making his Day-of-Infamy speech?”

  “Roosevelt?” Nathan jokes, “I thought that Nixon was the president.”

  David is stunned. “I’m not talking about that lying two-bit Republican crook whose about to get himself impeached.”

  “You got that right!” Nathan agrees.

  “So you’re thinking,” Tyrone interrupts, “that she may not have known that it was us.”

  “Yes!” David exclaims. “Now I suggest that we try to re-establish contact with her.”

  “And tell her what? We couldn’t understand anything she was trying to tell us,” Tyrone concludes.

  “You’re right on that point,” David admits.

  “I sure hope that no one is looking for these devices.” Tyrone concludes.

  “After one hundred and fourteen years? Are you serious?” Nathan asks.

  “I agree,” David admits. “No one would be looking for these devices after all this time.” The others agree before they all continue walking on.

  The Williams Residence

  1148 16th Street

  Friday, 12 July 1974 (8:15 PM)

  “Where is the power switch on this thing?” David mumbles to himself. For the past hour, he has been examining the communication device in meticulous detail. He had locked his bedroom door to make certain that none of his siblings could barge in unannounced. He initially found Tyrone’s reluctance to share any of the devices irritating. He is gratified that he has one of the devices in his possession. He decides not to share additional details with the others about this particular alien device, at least for the time being. After compiling drawings and text notes about the device, he is attempting to activate it. Now on his fifth attempt, he depresses the right bottom key twice. He had arbitrarily assumed that the two symbols on that key might function as the main power control. Although identical, each symbol is inverted in relation to the other.

  Suddenly, the idea comes to mind to depress two of the keys simultaneously. While holding down the bottom right key, he presses several of the top keys in sequential order. He nervously presses the center top key. Suddenly, the communication device comes to sonic life. A series of dual-modulated tones begins emanating from the device. Becoming fearful, David quickly drops the device on his bed and takes several steps back. Each of the ninety keys, accompanied by audio tones, illuminates in succession. All keys then remain lit. Cautiously, David approaches the device and picks it up. “This is amazing! I wonder what else this thing can do.” He asks himself.

  His curiosity compels him further. In the visual display, he sees multicolored, yet unintelligible text and graphics symbols scrolling from left to right against a jet black background. “No computer can be this small,” he mumbles again. The scrolling text stops. David notices that the resultant display has seven rows of bright blue, yet undecipherable alien text. A bright red, flashing graphic symbol, each uniquely different from the others, precedes each row of text. He notices that each of the nine red symbols in the visual display has a corresponding symbol located on the first row of keys below the main display. “This looks like a menu selection,” he says to himself.

  Slowly, he depresses the second key. The second line of text in the display begins flashing. A series of tri-signal audio tones emanate from the device. The display text vanishes.

  “Okay! Now what?” He asks aloud. His answer comes immediately. Dropping the alien device on his bed, David falls back in shock. He knocks a chair over in the process. A two-foot square, slowly rotating three-dimensional holographic cube appears. The holographic cube, suspended in mid-air, is just a few feet in front of him. “Oh My God!” He yells. Stepping farther back, David struggles hard to bring a compelling urge to panic under control. The cube is between him and the bedroom door.

  Each side of the blue-tinted translucent cube comprises an array of full-color formatted, yet unintelligible alien text and graphics. “Be calm! This is just an illusion,” David says to himself as he is backing away in fear. The holographic image, however, is no illusion. David composes himself and attempts to figure out what he is looking at. He walks back over and carefully picks up the device. Amazingly, as he is moving the alien communicator, the holographic cube moves as well. The second line of alien text returns and resumes blinking. While looking at the holographic cube, he carefully presses one of the lower keys. The rotation ceases. The information on the side of the holographic cube facing him changes.

  A new set of alien text and graphic symbols appear. Suddenly, wild ideas begin forming in his mind. David depresses six keys on the second row in rapid success
ion. The side facing him immediately changes its contents in like succession according to which keys are pressed. As he presses another lighted key, the cube rotates, thus allowing a different side to face him. “This is phenomenal!” He yells. His fear has turned into jubilation. He surmises that he is looking at some type of exotic information display. No other single device on earth, he mentally swears, can match the sophistication of this device. He decides not to give it back to Tyrone or Nathan at this time.

  “Wait a minute! I have no idea of what I’m looking at! How the heck am I going to translate any of this?” True to his own words, David is unable to read, much less understand the alien language. He realizes that he is not a professional language translator. He is also unaware of any professional language translators. Suddenly, her name enters his mind. He hates the idea of calling on someone whom he feels is a very sassy woman.

  The Thompson Residence

  1147 16th Street

  Friday, 12 July 1974 (8:15 PM)

  Even as she is reading the bright orange text, set against a jet-black background, Charlene Thompson is continually astonished as she holds the flat rectangular device in her hand. Measuring roughly 5" by 7" by 1”, the device is made of a hard rubbery-like unknown material. Part of the device has burn damage. Just above the lower end of one side of the flat beige-colored object are several neatly aligned rows of membrane-like keys. A unique alien symbol is imprinted on each key. Above this row is a 3" x 4" area containing patterns of colored symbols.