Ben Archer

by Rae Knightly

  After a long and tedious time, they arrived at the house. Grampa pushed through the kitchen door and headed for the living room. There, he dumped Mesmo onto the couch like an old potato sack, then sagged to his knees, panting.

  Ben put a hand on his shoulder worriedly. Grampa nodded to say he was fine. When he had caught his breath, he stood, and both stared at the mysterious man on the couch.

  Ben took his grandfather’s arm.

  “Grampa,” he said softly. “There are others.”

  Grampa stared at his grandson in amazement. He nodded slowly, answering in a distant voice, “I know. I saw them.”

  “We must help them!” Ben stated. The boy squeezed his grandfather’s arm. “It’s ok. I'll stay here.” Ben nodded reassuringly, “I’ll be ok.”

  Grampa nodded back. Without a word, he headed outside again. His shoulders slumped as though he were still carrying a heavy weight.

  Ben tried the phone, though he knew the line would be dead. He headed to the kitchen window to watch his grandfather cross the field once more. He watched even after he had disappeared into the trees, following him in his mind’s eye as he would reach the first crash site.

  Maybe he’ll find the girl.

  Ben absentmindedly rubbed the palm of his hand, suddenly remembering the small diamond he was still clasping in his other hand. Tiny sparkles of light emanated from it. He stared at it in awe as it began to glow.

  The window panes rattled alarmingly, making Ben jump and drop the jewel, which rolled under the kitchen sink. Tike bared his teeth as he crouched low.

  Something was happening outside, in the field right before the house. A dark spacecraft descended slowly to the ground, about twenty meters away. It was black as the night and had a sleek form. It hovered a meter above the earth, humming softly, each hum sending an invisible wave that rattled the windows.

  Then it went silent.

  Ben froze to the spot, his throat dry and the hairs on the back of his neck prickled. The night was silent, expectant, and he hardly dared to breathe.

  From some invisible opening in the craft, the form of a man appeared. He had spiky, white hair. Judging by his strong build, he could not have been very old. He was too far away for Ben to distinguish anything else, but for some reason, he broke into a cold sweat. No matter how much he longed to hide, he was rooted to the spot. He was afraid the slightest movement would alert the man to his presence.

  Then an unexpected sound caught the attention of them both. The sirens from a police car swiftly approached on the road from town.

  The alien from the spacecraft stood alert for an instant, listening, then after confirming the siren was approaching, the being ran straight for the house.

  The spikey-haired man reached the bushes below Ben’s window just as the headlights from the police car illuminated the house. The car came to a stop on the gravel before the front door, the whirling red and blue lights on its roof splashing across the lawn.

  Agent Theodore Edmond Connelly stepped out. He spoke into the radio, listened as a woman’s voice gave him instructions, then shut the car door and jogged towards the house.

  Ben could hear the police officer’s footsteps on the gravel as he approached before he banged on the front door. The noise shook Ben to the bone. “This is the police. Open the door! Mr. Archer, are you there?”

  Ben’s heart pounded. He sensed the presence of the man lurking below, like a spider in a web waiting to catch its prey.

  After a moment, the sounds of footsteps on the gravel told Ben the police officer was moving away from the front door. He stopped for an instant before breaking into a run over the lawn. Ben peeked and could see the police officer freezing as he took in the dark spaceship. His hand was on the gun at his side, but he was too dumbfounded by what he was seeing to remember his own safety.

  In the distance, more sirens wailed. The police officer turned to head for his car when he noticed something in the bushes behind him.

  Ben opened his mouth in warning, but his voice was paralyzed in his throat. He heard the police officer yell, "Hold it!" as he reached for his gun-too late. He was struck by a sudden ray of intense blue light. Ben heard him groan as he tumbled to the ground.

  The dark form materialized from the bushes under the window, running toward the dead man. Hastily, the murderer placed his hand an inch above Connelly’s face until a blue light emanated from it, enveloping them both. Before his very eyes, Ben saw the white-haired being’s face transform and take on the bald police officer’s traits. Ben could tell that the alien was in great pain as this was happening. His mouth twisted and the muscles of his body bulged abnormally beneath the clothes. As the transformation completed, the eerie blue light faded away. In a swift movement, the murderer heaved the dead man’s body on his shoulder and carried him to the spaceship, where both disappeared. Shortly after, the fake Theodore Connelly reappeared in full police garments, his victim still inside the spacecraft. He ran to the middle of the field when a helicopter flew overhead, its powerful searchlight illuminating the ground. Ben saw the murderer with Connelly’s face gaze up to the house with its eyes that were two pools of darkness that carved themselves into Ben’s mind.

  Twisted eyes!

  Then several things happened at once. Mesmo, who, a moment ago, had been lying unconscious on Grampa’s couch, placed a firm hand on Ben’s mouth, pulling him down. The lights of the house sprang back to life. The helicopter hovered over the police officer who was shielding his eyes with his arm. Several police cars, ambulances and firefighters made a dramatic entrance onto the road next to the field, as the night came ablaze with noise and flashing lights.

  ***

  The liquid screen lost its consistency and returned from where it had come with a splash.

  Ben backed away, breathing heavily. He stared at Mesmo with wide eyes.

  “You passed out,” Mesmo explained. “I carried you out of the house and ran all night until we reached the town. I left you under a tree, close to some houses, and sent Tike to look for help. Then I left.”

  Alien and boy stared silently at the dark inlet, lost in thought.

  Tike pricked his ears. They followed the dog’s gaze and found Laura walking towards them, her hands stuffed deep into her jacket pockets to fend off the cold.

  “Any luck?” she asked cheerfully.

  Ben stood hastily and handed her the bucket with the trout’s head sticking out of it. “I’m turning vegetarian,” he said gloomily.

  Laura laughed, then noticed her son’s sunken eyes. “What’s the matter?” she asked worriedly.

  “Tired,” he muttered. “Going to bed.” He trudged off toward the cabin with the fishing rod.

  Laura followed him with her eyes, then turned to Mesmo. “What happened?” She asked, holding the bucket tightly in her arms.

  “He’ll be fine,” the alien replied grimly.

  She studied the alien as they headed back to the cabin. She noticed the grayish tint on his skin. She stopped and said softly, “What about you? We haven’t had a chance to talk. Are you all right?”

  He turned his head towards her. “I am better, yes.”

  She pulled out a hand from her pocket and gently waved it through his own. There was only empty air where her eyes saw a firm hand. She held her breath, then said, “Ben told me about your troubles. He said you are being held against your will.” She looked up at him again. “What happened to you?”

  He stared at her grimly as they began walking again. His voice sounded pained. “I was kidnapped at the Toronto Airport. The man who is responsible for holding me knows that I am not from this planet. He is the head of a powerful organization, I can tell.”

  “A government agency?” Laura ventured.

  Mesmo shook his head. “No. I don’t think so. This is something else. I have not been able to figure it out yet.”

  Laura said, “We will help you in any way we can.”

  Mesmo shook his head again. “That would not be a good ide
a. You are safe here. Leaving this island would be too risky.”

  She noticed the dark rings under his eyes. “You don’t look well, Mesmo...” she said softly.

  He grimaced. “They placed me in a confined space. It is the one thing my species dreads.” He glanced at Laura. “I couldn’t take it. My heart stopped. They were able to revive me, but I barely made it…”

  Laura gaped at his words. “Mesmo!” she breathed, her eyes wide. She stood before him to get his full attention. “Don’t give up!” she said determinedly. “We’ll find you and get you out, I promise.”

  Mesmo smiled sadly. “What Ben is doing for me is enough already. His spirit portal allows me to escape my jail briefly, even if it is only part of me. The man who is holding me has gone away for several months. That will give me some time to recover and find a way to escape.” He trailed off and looked up at the night sky.

  Laura gazed up as well, then said, “I meant to thank you, for taking care of Ben. Ever since the events in Chilliwack, he’s been so afraid, so fragile. But he’s changing. I can see it. He’s becoming more confident by the day. You do that to him. He trusts you.” She smiled. “So for that, thank you.”

  The door to the cabin opened, and light splashed onto the lawn. Susan let them in and took the bucket from Laura. “Here, let me get that,” she said. “You go on up and get some rest.”

  Laura nodded and smiled shyly at Mesmo. “Well, goodnight then,” she said, her eyes on him, before turning away.

  Susan dumped the fish into the kitchen sink. She washed it energetically before cutting it open, then removed its entrails, while Mesmo watched curiously. After a long silence, she said coolly, “Still playing with their hearts, are we?”

  Mesmo straightened. “I need them, just as much as they need me.”

  Susan eyed him with displeasure. “Yes, but who’s going to get their feelings trampled on in the end?” She shoved the fish into the freezer, then peeled off her latex gloves. “You?” she asked accusingly.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Flight

  Two weeks later Ben woke up to a misty morning. He found Susan bustling about in the kitchen, making breakfast. She had spent almost an entire day on the mainland the day before, returning with loads of fresh food. The whole house smelled of eggs and bacon. Ben checked in with his mother to see if she was ready to come and eat.

  Laura awoke, stretching lazily. Ben grinned, noticing how much better she looked: her cheeks were rosy, she had put on some much-needed weight, and she looked rested.

  She smiled at him. “’Morning, honey,” she said as she patted the bed to invite him to sit beside her, noticing that his mood had significantly improved since the previous night.

  He did so reluctantly, his stomach grumbling. He leant back and stared at the ceiling. “It’s as if we were on vacation or something,” Ben commented.

  Laura turned to face him, saying cheekily, “Well, technically, it’s the middle of the term. We need to find a way to get you back to school.”

  Ben stared at her in horror. “Are you serious?”

  Laura poked him in the side. “Dead serious.”

  “Ouch! No way!” Ben objected, half giggling. In defense, he grabbed a pillow and hit her gently on the head as she poked him playfully in the side again. That only triggered more pillow fighting. They both giggled until Mesmo appeared in the doorway. They stopped midway in their fight, their hair in a mess, grinning sheepishly as the alien man stared at them with utter bewilderment.

  “Well, don’t just stand there!” Laura said as she threw a pillow at him, forgetting that he wasn’t really there. The pillow went right through him, landing on the other side of the doorway. Ben fell backwards on the bed, laughing uncontrollably.

  “Oops!” Laura said, putting a hand to her mouth.

  Mesmo frowned. “What are you doing?”

  Laura wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes as she tried to control her laughter. “We’re being foolish, is all. Don’t you ever have laughing fits where you come from?”

  “No, of course not,” he said. “Why would you want to do something that makes you cry?”

  Ben guffawed, placing a pillow over his face.

  “That’s enough, Ben,” Laura warned, putting a hand on his shoulder with a smile still on her face. Addressing Mesmo, she said, “Sometimes people cry from happiness. It’s very liberating. You should try it sometime.”

  Mesmo shook his head in disagreement. “We learned, long ago, that excessive emotions were the root of many wars. Strong displays of emotion are considered barbaric.”

  Laura’s smile wavered. She gazed at Mesmo with renewed interest, then asked carefully, “Is there…family…waiting for you back home?”

  Mesmo shook his head.

  Ben, who recovered from his laughing fit, stared at him quizzically, blurting, “What? Don’t you have a wife or something?”

  “Ben!” Laura growled from the corner of her mouth, her face flushed.

  Ben blushed immediately. “Sorry!” he mumbled, realizing that this conversation had taken an awkward turn.

  The alien man answered, “If by ‘wife,’ you mean a life companion, then, yes, I had a ‘wife.’ She died not long ago.”

  Laura and Ben stared at him, suddenly silenced. “I’m sorry,” Laura said earnestly, before adding slowly, “Perhaps one day you will remarry.”

  Mesmo frowned. “What is ‘remarry’?”

  “Er…" Laura struggled. “It means to take another wife. Find another…‘life companion.’”

  Mesmo shook his head. “That is not possible! We are matched once in our life. There can be no other.”

  “Ugh!” Ben said, suddenly losing interest. “I smell waffles.”

  He leapt off the bed, then said, “Excuse me!” as he waited for Mesmo to move aside and let him through. Technically, Ben could have walked right through the alien, but for some reason, that seemed inappropriate.

  “Are you coming?” the white-haired man asked Laura, who had fallen silent.

  “Yes, yes,” she said, waving him on. “I’ll be right there.”

  He nodded, looking at her curiously, then followed Ben to the kitchen.

  Laura stared at the floor, lost in thought. She was no longer smiling.

  ***

  Breakfast lifted their spirits. Laura feasted her eyes on the well laid-out table full of fresh bread, eggs, bacon, waffles, jam and fruit.

  “Thank you, Susan!” she exclaimed. “I don’t know how we can ever repay you!”

  “Sit down and eat a hearty breakfast. You’ll be needing it.” Susan ordered sternly.

  Laura obeyed. “I’m going to have to find work. We can’t go on like this. We’ve run out of money.”

  “Oh!” Ben exclaimed through a mouthful of waffle. “We still have some money. Well, sort of.” He plunged his hand into his jeans pocket, fishing out something small and holding it up in the palm of his hand. Swallowing, he said, “Dad’s ring.”

  Laura started, turning red. “What? How…?”

  “I found it back home, in the bathroom drawer. I figured if you never wore it, maybe we could sell it.”

  Laura hastily took the engagement ring from him, throwing an embarrassed look at Susan and Mesmo.

  Mesmo pointed at the ring in her hand. “Your…life companion?”

  “I…” she began.

  “Dad gave it to her so they could get married,” Ben interrupted, munching on some grapes. “He died in a car crash when I was a baby.” An awkward silence fell on the table, though Ben was in too good a mood to notice. “Show me the flower trick again, Mesmo! Please?” he begged as he helped himself to some more bacon.

  Laura slipped the ring into her own pocket, relieved to change the subject, then filled her plate as she watched Mesmo touch the surface of a jug of water. The liquid obeyed his command, flowing into a complex bouquet of delicate, transparent flowers, the stems gently swaying to an invisible breeze, the thin petals turning a glistening
silver as they froze.

  Ben gasped in wonder, his eyes twinkling. Laura smiled gratefully at Mesmo, then glanced at Susan to see if she approved. The older woman was staring at her untouched plate with a sullen face.

  “Susan?” Laura said, concerned. “What’s the matter?”

  The unsmiling woman lifted her eyes, then said darkly, “You are going to have to leave.” She had spoken in a low voice, yet they all heard her loud and clear.

  Laura coughed up the grape she was trying to swallow. Mesmo lost his concentration, and the watery flowers splashed onto the table. Ben stopped chatting, turning his attention to his mother questioningly. They stared at their host, wondering if they had heard her correctly. They waited for Susan to admit she was making a distasteful joke. Instead, she glanced at them and insisted, “You heard me. You’re going to have to leave. Today!”

  There was a long, uncomfortable silence. Laura cleared her throat. “Hum. Yes. Of course! We have long outstayed our visit. You have treated us so well, Susan, that we sort of lost track of the fact that we were invading your home and your privacy.”

  Susan rested her forehead in her hand, her elbow on the table. “That’s not it,” she began. She stared at them guiltily, before continuing, “I called both my sons yesterday afternoon, while I was in Deep Cove. I’d been resisting the urge to do so for quite some time. I think of my sons every single day, but having you around somehow reminded me how much I missed being able to touch them, to hear their voices, to hug them… They are both married. My youngest had his second baby last month.” She broke down into tears. “I can’t live like this anymore. I need to see them. I need to see them so bad it hurts,” she sobbed.

  Laura hurried to her side to hug her. Susan sniffled before adding, “I’m meeting them in Deep Cove this afternoon.”

  Mesmo cautioned, “They won’t be the only ones meeting you there, Susan.”