Ben Archer

by Rae Knightly

“Don’t you think I know that?” she retorted. “Don’t you think I know my son’s phones are bugged? That a hundred prying ears overheard every word we said?” She shook her head as she blew her nose on a napkin. “I don’t care. I don’t care anymore. They can arrest me, jail me, accuse me of god-knows-what. But I want to see my sons.”

  A new silence settled heavily among them, as each realized the consequences of Susan’s action. Their hiding place was compromised. Danger loomed closer to their doorstep with every passing minute.

  “You saved our lives, Susan. We will be forever grateful for that. But you must go and see your sons, no matter what,” Laura said. For the first time, she dared look into Ben’s wide eyes, then said determinedly, “We will pack our bags and leave. If you could drop us somewhere on the mainland, we’ll disappear from your life.”

  Somewhere above the cabin, they heard the roaring of an airplane.

  Susan sniffled again. “That won’t be necessary.”

  ***

  Tike scampered outside, followed closely by Ben. They rushed out onto the grass to watch the small hydroplane as it descended onto the inlet. It broke through the last clinging mist as it landed, then headed straight for the island.

  Laura and Mesmo caught up with them, anxiously trying to make out who was inside the plane. The motor spluttered as the pilot slowly maneuvered the craft next to the pier before coming to a final stop. The plane bobbed up and down. They could see the pilot moving about inside as he prepared to exit.

  Susan stepped out of her wooden cabin. Smiling, she said, “Don’t worry, he’s a friend.”

  Laura relaxed while Ben ran after his dog, excited to study a hydroplane up close. Susan followed the boy towards the pier where a dark-skinned man with a very thick, knee-length, winter jacket, stepped out of the plane. Immediately, he proceeded to remove the cumbersome piece of clothing.

  Laura and Mesmo watched from afar as their host greeted the middle-aged man who was wearing jeans and a black sweater. He hugged Susan. Then they talked for a moment before the man turned his attention to Ben and Tike. He shook the boy’s hand, then patted the small terrier, whose tongue lolled in a canine laugh.

  Ben sprinted back to his mother. Grinning, he said, “I know who he is!” Instead of explaining further, he ran into the house, leaving Laura and Mesmo clueless.

  Susan and the newcomer walked slowly over to them, still chatting somberly until they came face to face. Susan introduced them. “This is Thomas Nombeko, originally from Chilliwack. Thomas, this is Laura Archer-Ryan Archer’s daughter. And this is…er…Jack Anderson.”

  Thomas Nombeko shook Laura’s hand while he eyed Mesmo with a touch of fear in his eyes. Nervously, he held out his hand to greet Mesmo the same way. Susan pulled it down, indicating he shouldn’t insist.

  Ben came rushing out again. Breathless, he said, “He’s on Grampa’s list!”

  He proudly held out the small, brown envelope which he handed to his mother, who frowned as she peered inside, then took out the crumpled notebook page containing the list of five people in Grampa’s handwriting.

  “See?” Ben said, pointing to Susan’s name. “This is how I contacted Susan. And here’s Thomas Nombeko. They were all Grampa’s contacts.”

  Laura recognized the names on the list: Ben Archer was her father, Susan Pickering was their host, Wayne McGuillen was the homeless man from Chilliwack, and Thomas Nombeko was standing before them. “You are all witnesses!” she exclaimed, suddenly connecting the dots.

  Thomas Nombeko nodded. “Yes. I used to be a mailman in Chilliwack. I lived not too far from your father’s house. I even saw your father and Ben on the night of The Cosmic Fall. I was cycling home that night and spotted them out on the field,” he said. Then addressing Ben, he added, “You probably don’t remember that.”

  Ben looked down at his feet.

  I remember.

  Not wanting to linger on the memory, he pointed to the last name on the list. “This Bob M. must be another witness.”

  Susan and Thomas both stared at the last name on the list, then shook their heads, confused.

  “I’ve never heard of him,” Susan pondered. “Come, let’s go inside. There isn’t much time. You must get packing. Thomas here has offered to take you to a safe place.”

  “Really?” Ben said excitedly. “Where are we going? Are we flying?” Ben had already taken a liking to the fourty-something-year-old man, who had a soft demeanour and a contagious laugh.

  “We are flying, yes.”

  “Whoa!” Susan interrupted. “You promised, Thomas, not a word about where you’re going. I don’t want to know.”

  They stepped into the house, chatting happily.

  ***

  Laura stayed behind. Her face had become drawn as she stared blankly at the names on the notebook page. She jumped when she realized Mesmo stood silently behind her. Guiltily, she folded the sheet three times so it would fit in her back pocket. “I’d better hang on to this,” she said in a shaky voice. “Might come in handy.” She smiled without meeting his eyes, then headed inside.

  Soon they were packed and ready to go. Ben, Mesmo and Tike were already headed to the hydroplane with Thomas, who was diligently explaining how the craft functioned.

  Laura checked the log cabin one last time to make sure they hadn’t forgotten anything, though they were travelling light as they had become stranded without any belongings. Susan had managed to buy them some emergency clothing and toiletries, but that was about all they had.

  Laura approached Susan, who waited by the doorway. “Will you be all right?” she asked.

  The woman had become somber, yet she gazed at Laura with determined eyes. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’m a survivor. Nothing could be worse than what I’ve already been through. Though this time I’ll have my sons near me. I know they will defend me in any way they can.” She paused before adding, “And anyway, it’s not me they want…”

  Laura said carefully, “Susan, if they catch you, I want you to tell them everything you know.”

  Susan stared at her in surprise.

  “Listen to me,” Laura urged, taking her hand. “Mesmo has many enemies. One, in particular, is extremely dangerous. He will do anything to get to Mesmo. He will know if you are lying or holding back information. So don’t hold anything back. The main thing is that you don’t know where Thomas Nombeko is taking us, so we will be safe.”

  Susan nodded. She checked to make sure the others were out of earshot, before saying, “I have something to tell you as well.” She led Laura to the fireplace, where she picked up an envelope off its shelf. She handed it to Laura. “When the government agents released us, your father gave me this letter and asked me to give it to you, were we ever to meet.”

  It was Laura’s turn to stare at Susan as she accepted the envelope.

  Susan held onto Laura’s hands. “Be careful, Laura. We don’t know who this Mesmo is. Not really.” She hesitated before adding, “Don’t let him break your heart.” She let go of Laura, then headed out before the other could object.

  Once Susan was gone, Laura tore open the envelope. She carefully read the letter inside. For a long time, she stood in the middle of the living room, holding her father’s letter close to her chest, her cheeks wet with tears. Finally, she dried her eyes, breathed deeply, threw the letter in the dying embers of the fireplace, and waited for it to catch fire. She stepped out of the cabin, closed the door for the last time, and went to join her son who had boarded the hydroplane with Mesmo, Thomas and Tike.

  Before long they had taken flight, swooping over the tiny island, the shimmering inlet, and Susan Pickering who was waving goodbye from the pier. They soared up over the majestic, snow-capped mountain ranges that went on and on for as far as the eye could see, heading towards an unknown destination.

  EPILOGUE

  “My Dearest Honeybee,

  (You are to destroy this letter as soon as you have read it.)

  If you are reading t
hese words, then it means I have failed you.

  I have tried, by all means possible, to protect you and Ben from falling under the radar of some treacherous people so that you could lead a normal life. But if you have met Susan Pickering and she has given you this letter, then it means all my efforts were in vain. It means you and Ben are in grave danger and that, for whatever reason, I can be with you no longer.

  Please understand, my Honeybee, that meeting with you would have meant drawing all kinds of prying eyes your way. I had to avoid that at all costs. No matter what, you must not let anyone lay their hands on Ben. I swear, Laura, if secret agents catch him they will never let him go. They all want the same thing: they want to know about the aliens that crashed in Chilliwack on the night of The Cosmic Fall. They want to know about their technology, their planet, their intentions, their WEAPONS…

  You’d think it would be for scientific reasons and for the advancement of the human race. But no, they are power-hungry egoists intent on dominating their fellow human beings.

  If you found Susan, then you will have gotten my list. You can trust all the names on that list. I insist: ALL of them. Even the last one. You know who I mean…

  There is also another who you can trust. His name is Mesmo. He crashed in my backyard on the night of The Cosmic Fall and survived. I have spoken to him many times during his short visits. I know he will protect you because I saved his life. I pray he will have found his way to you. Beware, Laura, Mesmo’s mission on Earth is greater than our understanding, and he will crush you if he feels you are standing in his way.

  Yet, I know you, my angel, and even an otherworldly creature could not resist your kindness. You may be our only hope!

  You have already met Mesmo. You met him on that fateful day when you came looking for me in Chilliwack. I was there, Laura. I was hiding from you. I could not let you in, no matter how much I ached to. But I swear, I was holding you in my arms the whole time you were talking to Mesmo on the doorstep, and I never wanted to let you go.

  I hope you will find it in your heart to forgive me because I cannot forgive myself.

  I love you, always,

  Dad

  BEN ARCHER

  AND THE

  ALIEN SKILL

  The Alien Skill Series, Book 2

  Rae Knightly

  CHAPTER ONE

  The Spacecraft

  Once more, Inspector James Hao found himself staring at the final report containing the results of the blood sample. No matter how hard he tried to make sense of it, the evidence was undeniable: the individual the sample had been extracted from was not a human being.

  Hao couldn’t believe that, a little over a month ago, he had been sitting opposite the subject in the interrogation room of the Vancouver Police Department. Never would the Inspector have suspected that, behind the innocent features of a twelve-year-old boy, lay a creature from another planet. Hao’s stomach twisted at the thought.

  A week ago, High Inspector George Tremblay, Head of the National Aerial Division of the CSIS, had tapped the file with the tips of his fingers. “This file remains between us,” he had said, eyeing Hao and his collegue, Connelly. The three men had stood in the High Inspector’s office, facing each other.

  Tremblay had lifted an eyebrow at Connelly. “You took the sample without my prior authorization. I should fire you for acting in such an unprofessional manner. You can consider yourself lucky that your hunch about the subject was correct. Nevertheless, this information will not enter the official investigation and is not to be mentioned beyond this office. The fact that this child, this Benjamin Archer, is an extraterrestrial must remain between us. Is that clear?”

  Hao had observed Connelly out of the corner of his eye, secretly satisfied to watch his colleague being reprimanded by their chief. Even though he had taken a dislike to his colleague and had personnally disapproved of the blood extraction, he had to hand it to Connelly for getting results. All in all, he had to admit that Connelly’s methods of investigation were particularly efficient if not particularly legal.

  The cell phone on Hao’s desk buzzed, pulling him out of his thoughts, causing him to start. A message arrived, accompanied by a tiny image. Hao’s forehead–creased in concentration a second ago–softened, and a chuckle escaped his lips. He pressed the image to enlarge it, and the huge, black nuzzle of an English Shephard appeared. The black dog was checking out the camera of whoever was taking the picture.

  The message read: DID YOU FORGET ME?

  Hao smiled and checked his watch. It was close to midnight at the Dugout, located in Eastern Canada, which meant it was nine pm where the message had originated.

  What am I doing, still stuck at my desk at this hour? Hao brooded.

  He hesitated for an instant, then pressed on the message to dial the number. The phone rang once before it was picked up, and a woman’s voice answered in surprise, “Hello?”

  “Hi, Lizzie,” Hao said.

  “Jimmy?” the woman said. There was shuffling in the background and Hao heard Lizzie’s muffled voice, “Still! Sit still, Buddy!” Then her voice sounded clearer. “Oh my gosh! You should see that! He knows it’s you! Yes, Buddy! It’s your daddy! Your long-lost daddy…”

  Hao heard the English Shephard bark happily, and he was reminded people lived normal, tranquil lives out in the real world.

  “Jimmy?” Lizzie began. “I can’t believe it’s you. I sent that picture of Buddy, but never thought you’d actually have time to call back. Must be my lucky day!”

  Hao grinned. “How are you, Sis?”

  Lizzie sighed in an exaggerated manner. “Do I really need to tell you? Buddy uprooted my rosebushes this afternoon. You know how we love him around here, but, honestly, I love my flowers more.”

  Hao could hear Buddy panting in the background.

  Lizzie continued, “I haven’t heard from you in ages! When are you coming home?”

  Hao’s mood darkened as his eyes slid back to the blood file on his desk. “Not anytime soon. I’ve got a big case on my hands. Probably the biggest I’ll ever work on.” He sighed. “I realize Buddy’s a burden for you. Do you want me to contact the dog kennel we talked about?”

  Lizzie remained silent for a moment, before answering earnestly, “Of course not. I love my roses, but if it helps you, then I'm happy to keep Buddy for a bit longer. You know Geoffrey and I wouldn't want to see him cooped up and miserable.”

  Hao let out a silent breath of relief. “Thanks. I owe you one. When this is over, we’ll go pick out some rose-bushes together.”

  “You?” Lizzie scoffed. “In a plant nursery? Never gonna happen!”

  They both laughed.

  “Seriously, Jimmy,” Lizzie said with a concerned voice. “There's always a new case popping up. You make it sound as if you were the only one catching the bad guys. I know I'm repeating myself, but bad guys will be around with or without you. And, trust me, there's a dozen younger James Bonds out there longing to take your place.”

  Hao scoffed, “Take it easy, Sis, I’m not that old!”

  Lizzie clicked her tongue which meant to him that she wasn’t ready to crack jokes. She pushed on. “If you were still married, your wife would be the one scolding you instead of me. So brace yourself while I nag you for a bit!”

  Hao stood with a knowing smile. He paced along the office window overlooking a cavernous hangar and let her have her moment.

  “I know how important it is to you to put the criminals behind bars and I, more than anyone, appreciate how hard you work to keep we little citizens safe,” Lizzie spoke. “But, you have to stop acting like you’re the only one carrying the burden.” Her voice sounded thick with worry as she added, “I just want to make sure you stop in time.”

  While he listened, Hao gazed at the impressive, alien spacecraft that hovered a few feet from the concrete floor at the center of the dim hangar. Everyone, except for security, had left for the night. Only a couple of emergency and forgotten office lights illuminat
ed the area. He thought he saw a movement blend into the shadow cast by the spacecraft and leaned forward, forgetting the phone stuck to his ear.

  Lizzie’s concerned voice came through to him again. “I know you. You wouldn’t call unless something was wrong. Is something the matter?”

  Since nothing moved in the grey hangar, except for his own reflection in his office window, Hao’s well-built frame relaxed, and he turned to head back to his desk.

  “Jimmy? Are you listening?” she asked.

  “Hm, yeah, I’m listening,” he replied with a tired voice. He sat back in his office chair and rubbed his left temple as he shut his eyes. He needed to rest, but the case wouldn’t let him go. And suddenly he realized why.

  “It’s weird,” he said thoughtfully, speaking more to himself than his sister. “You know me: you know I’m an expert at telling good from bad, right? I mean, I understand the mind of a murderer; I know how to pick out a crook; I’m always a step ahead of elaborate thieves. I catch them and put them behind bars, where they belong.” He broke off, picking up the file in front of him. “But these ones, Lizzie? Jeez, for all I know, they could start World War Three tomorrow, and I wouldn’t even see it coming.” He shook his head, surprised at his own confession. “The thing is, for the first time in my career, I’ve been asked to chase down criminals I don’t understand.” He paused. “And that frightens me.”

  ***

  Agent Theodore Edmond Connelly paused in the shadow of the spacecraft until Hao disappeared from view. The bald, green-eyed man set his jaw: he had almost gotten caught by Hao as he snuck up to the hovering ship. Had Hao spotted him, it would have led to a load of unnecessary questions, something Connelly could not afford to answer right now.

  He grimaced while he waited. As soon as Hao moved away from his office window, Connelly reached out to the sleek ship. At the touch of his fingers, an invisible door opened faster than the eye could see. Connelly jumped inside and the door slid shut silently behind him.