by Jim Laughter
Work at the institute hadn’t ended until nearly 2 a.m. and Dean was glad to get out of there. After trying many different altitudes and locations, they had some fairly close matches, but some parts still didn’t quite correlate.
“What you say we call it a night and get back to the barn?” Dean finally asked. “I’m getting tired and better quit while I can still think straight.”
“Okay,” said Myra. “You’re the boss.”
“Do we have to?” whined Baby. She hadn’t been out at night much, preferring to sleep beside her mother.
“Yes, Baby,” Myra said affectionately. “It’s way past your bedtime.”
Gliding to a stop in front of his apartment building, Baby opened her hatch so Dean could get out. They’d stopped at the institute and dropped off the records of their experiment in Dean’s office. They decided that they could remove the extra recording equipment tomorrow.
“Thanks for the lift,” said Dean as he tried to stifle a yawn.
“No problem,” answered Myra through the open hatch. “We’ll see you tomorrow.”
The hatch closed and Baby lifted into the air. Dean gave a wave and noticed that Baby replied with a wave of one of her mechanical arms.
Glancing at the stars as he walked toward the building, Dean thought how thankful he would be when the sun started to rise earlier. Suddenly, he stopped.
“That’s it!” he said aloud. “We didn’t take into account the seasonal shifts!”
He turned and ran in the direction of the institute.
Later in the lab, Dean placed the negative photograph in the enhancer next to the closest of the matches he and Myra had obtained that night. He adjusted the machine so the two images superimposed over one another. The differences were apparent. He then started having the machine adjust tonight’s image backward in time and watched as the images started to match better.
The further back in time the machine adjusted the image, the better the match. Finally the images matched perfectly. Dean looked up at the display showing the date the machine had adjusted the image to. His jaw went slack. It was the night the little ship disappeared.
∞∞∞
Empress Ane was just finishing her breakfast when the telephone rang. Her husband took it while she helped the kids clean up. She enjoyed these rare moments of domestic tranquility. Their apartment in the palace was a rare haven for both her and her family. She had her calls screened, and only special friends could get through. At this hour though, it must be an emergency. Her husband called her to the phone and she reluctantly answered.
“Hello?” she said into the instrument.
“Ane, this is Betty,” came the voice filled with excitement. “I’ve got some interesting news for you. Can you come directly to the institute?”
“Now?”
“Right now,” Better said. She couldn’t hide the excitement in her voice. “Trust me.”
“I’ll be right over.”
Striding into the lab at the Institute, Ane saw that a haggard-looking Dean was there along with Myra.
“Alright, what’s up?” Ane asked.
Dean and Myra grinned while Betty moved aside from a machine and motioned for Ane to take a look.
“You going to tell me what this is all about?” asked Ane as she walked over to the enhancer.
“I think I’ll let these two explain,” answered Betty. Ane turned to Dean and Myra.
“Yesterday when you and the chief brought those pictures in along with that retired trooper, Betty was understandably skeptical,” Dean said.
Ane looked at Betty.
“I was trying to spare your feelings,” she said meekly. “I didn’t want you and Mary to get your hopes up after all the let-downs we’ve had.”
Ane frowned at her friend and then shifted her attention back to Dean.
“Anyway,” he continued, “I just couldn’t discount the old trooper’s story, so I made the dangerous assumption that what he told us was true.” Pausing for a moment Dean went on.
“I checked our sky charts and found several close matches, but nothing right on. I figured the discrepancy might be due to the observer being up much higher above the surface.”
“Where do you come in to all this?” Ane asked, fixing her gaze on Myra.
“That’s where Dean is just getting to,” Myra answered. “He showed the comparisons to me and said he needed to use a ship to test his theory. Baby and I volunteered.”
Picking up the narrative again, Dean continued.
“We went up this morning about 2 a.m. and made several runs, taking readings from many different heights and locations.”
“And I suppose you got a match?” Ane continued skeptically.
“Not exactly,” answered Myra. “So we called it quits, dropped the records off at the institute, and I flew Dean home.”
“And that’s when it hit me!” said Dean excitedly. “Myra and Baby had just left when it occurred to me that we hadn’t taken into account the seasonal shifts of the night sky when making our comparisons. I ran back here to the lab and set up the enhancer to compare the pattern of the pebbles and our closest match from last night’s run. Then I set it to adjust backwards chronologically until the images matched.”
“Did they?” asked Ane, starting to get excited.
“Yes!” exclaimed Dean. “And the date is the same night the little ship disappeared!”
Ane stood there, stunned as this new piece fit into the puzzle. Turning to Myra she asked, “Where were you located when you made the record that made this match?”
“I double-checked our position with Betty this morning,” Myra began. “We were in the same location as the estimated apex of the little ship’s flight.”
Ane reached for a chair and sat down. She looked from Myra to Dean and then to Betty.
“What you’re implying is that those pebbles were arranged by the little ship?” she asked, still looking at Betty.
“Yes,” replied Betty. “Somehow that little ship got to where those pebbles are and arranged the star map pattern it remembered from its short flight.”
Ane just sat there for a moment, her mind ablaze in thought. Then she jumped up and ran out the door.
“Where are you going?” called Betty, running after her.
“To tell Mary we know where her lost baby is!” Ane called back excitedly. She ran down the hallway, the other three following close on her heels.
∞∞∞
The village morning was quiet since there were no tourist trains scheduled. Gary, Jack, and Bobby hiked over the ridge and into the village.
We’re a little later than normal, thought Bobby. But the fine breakfast they’d just finished more than justified the delay.
Jack had stayed overnight, sleeping on the couch. Bobby thought his snoring sounded like one of those fuel-powered saws they used to cut down trees. In the morning, Jack prepared his special biscuits and gravy for Gary and Bobby.
“Talk about a meal that’ll stick to your ribs!” exclaimed Gary. “That gravy would match the best glue on Shalimar!”
“Yeah, and it tastes good too!” said Bobby.
The two men and boy entered Jack’s general store where Gary bought Bobby a new pair of boots for his growing feet. Jack wanted to put out some new stock, so grandfather and grandson pitched in and the job was finished in quick order. Gary helped Jack hang new shelves while Bobby swept the store and straightened the books. Of course, he had to read each one first, didn’t he? Morning was about half over and everyone at the village was looking forward to a quiet afternoon.
∞∞∞
The troopers guarding the Mary Belle turned when they heard the sound of running feet coming their way. What greeted their eyes was the sight of their empress, Professor Betty Ebilizer, her chief assistant Dean Crane, and Captain Myra all running toward the ship.
When they were in earshot Ane called out, “It’s okay.”
She then turned and called to the ship, “Mary, please open u
p and let us in. We need to talk to you.”
The others caught up to Ane just as the hatch opened and the ramp extended for them to enter. Ane noticed that Dean was carrying the photographs and the records he’d previously made of the comparisons.
Entering the control room, Ane addressed Mary while Betty and Dean spread out the pictures on the table under one of Mary’s sensors.
“Mary?” Ane began after she’d caught her breath, “we think we know where to find your lost baby.”
The air became electric with tension while they waited for her to reply.
“Are you sure?” they heard Mary’s hesitant whisper.
“We think so,” responded Ane. “Look at these pictures Betty and Dean have spread out.”
As if on cue, Betty pointed to each photograph in turn and explained each to Mary.
“This first one is the blurry one of the bundle from space.”
“It helped us determine the speed, altitude, and direction of the little ship,” Myra piped in. “Baby and I flew along that path and didn’t see the ship, Mary, but Dean has more to tell you.”
Dean took over. “An old retired trooper named Gary took some pictures of a pattern of pebbles in a cave.”
“Gary?” Mary asked. “You met Gary?”
“You know him?” Ane asked.
“I’ve known him for a long time ago,” Mary answered. “We still speak from time to time. He served onboard when your grandmother Melinda was Empress. He lives in the mountains now with his grandson.”
Ane was speechless. She had no idea the trooper responsible for providing the clue for the possible recovery of the bundle could be an old acquaintance of Mary.
“If I may,” Dean interjected. Ane nodded for Dean to continue.
“As I was saying,” Dean said, “the pattern of pebbles was a star map as seen from somewhere over Shalimar. Myra and I then flew around last night making visual records of the stars from various places. I then compared these with the picture of the pebbles and adjusted our new pictures chronologically until we had a match.”
“This morning Myra and I compared our flight path from last night with the projected path the little ship took,” Betty said. “The pattern of pebbles and the time-adjusted image taken last night matched at the same altitude and position that we projected for the apex of the flight of the little ship.”
“So in other words, we think the little ship made the pattern of pebbles,” Ane concluded.
They waited silently for Mary’s reaction. It seemed like an eternity before she finally spoke.
“Are you sure?” Mary asked again, this time a note of hope in her quivering voice.
“Yes Mary,” Ane said happily. “We’re sure!”
“And you know where he is?” Mary asked.
“Yes, Mary, we know where he is, and we’re going to get him.”
Chapter Fifteen
The serenity of the mountain village was disrupted when the shadow of two ships, one large the other small, darkened the sky. Setting down on the hard-packed lane of the village, the hatches opened and discharged their passengers.
The shadow passing over the store startled Bobby. He called out to Grandpa Gary and Jack and all three stood on the porch watching while the ships landed. The large one was painted Mican royal blue and had the Imperial Galactic Axia Star embossed on its side.
The ship appeared huge in comparison to the simple wooden buildings. The second ship was very small and painted a bright pink. It also wore the Imperial star. Jack and Gary were not especially surprised to see Empress Ane exit the large ship.
A squad of troopers exited the large ship and formed a protective ring around both ships. One trooper approached the gathering crowd and called out.
“We’re looking for a retired trooper named Gary. Does anyone know where we can find him?”
Everyone in the crowd stood dumbstruck for a minute. Then someone pointed over at the two men and the boy standing on the porch of the general store. The trooper walked over and stood in front of the porch.
“Are one of you gentlemen retired Trooper Gary?”
“I am, Trooper,” replied Gary evenly.
“At your convenience, the empress would like a moment with you, sir,” the trooper informed Gary.
Gary stepped down from the porch and followed the trooper to the waiting ship. Once there, the empress, Gary, and the other civilians walked up the ramp into the large ship.
∞∞∞
Bobby was beside himself with excitement about the ships landing. He was most interested in the little pink one and its pilot. He knew it was the ship from the picture in his magazine. Excusing himself from Jack, Bobby leapt off the porch and walked up to the little pink ship.
“Is this ship the one they call Baby?” he asked the pilot.
“Yes it is,” replied the woman, “and I’m her pilot, Captain Myra Alor.”
“Nice to meet you, ma’am,” said Bobby, extending his hand.
“Say hi to Bobby, Baby,” Myra called to the ship.
“Hi!” said Baby, and waved one of her mechanical arms.
Bobby stood speechless for a moment. Finally he got up courage to speak again.
“Are you looking for a little blue ship?”
“Yes!” she answered, surprised. “How did you know?”
Bobby motioned for Myra to lean forward so he could whisper in her ear.
“I know where it is,” he said quietly, cupping his hand over his mouth.
Myra studied the boy and decided he was serious. “Can you take me there?” Myra asked intently.
“Yes,” said Bobby. “It’s just over that far ridge,” he pointed.
“Get in,” said Myra. “I’ll fly us there!”
Bobby looked back at Jack who had overheard the invitation and saw him nod yes. He turned again and climbed into the little pink ship. Before boarding, Myra called over to one of the troopers.
“Tell the empress I’m checking out a lead.” She climbed the ramp and the hatch closed behind her.
Bobby stood to one side of the control chair while he waited for the pilot to get in. He noticed two extra chairs anchored nearby but was unsure if he should sit in one of them or not. He looked around the control cabin. It was just like the one on the little blue ship Mee.
Bobby was so excited that it was hard not to explore the ship. Myra entered and shut the hatch.
“Better get seated and strapped in,” she told him as she sat down in the control chair and buckled up. He took her advice and secured himself in the extra seat with the best view out the front window.
“Okay Bobby, which way?” she asked as the ship started to rise.
“Boy oh boy!” said Bobby, forgetting himself. “It flies just like Mee does!”
“Mee?” asked Myra. “Who is Mee?”
“The little blue ship, of course.”
Myra turned around and looked at him.
“Have you been inside the little blue ship?”
“Yes,” gulped Bobby.
“Have you flown in the little ship?” Myra asked, staring intently into his eyes.
“Yes, ma’am,” whispered Bobby, fearful of the trouble he thought he was in. Myra just looked at him for a second and then smiled.
Turning around she called back, “Okay Bobby, which way?”
“Uh, over that ridge on the other side of the station,” he pointed.
“You heard him, Baby,” spoke Myra into the air. “Let’s go!”
With unexpected acceleration, the ship spun around and flew over the station. As they passed over the train tracks the speakers emitted a “Woooo, Woooo,” followed by chugging noises.
“Now you cut that out, girl!” said Myra. “We’ll have time to play later.”
Bobby found himself laughing at the banter between Myra and her ship. They cleared the ridge and the site of the old Zahab mine appeared out the window.
“Where to now, Bobby?” Myra asked.
“Go over to that rise on the
hill just behind the mine,” he pointed. “There’s an old vent shaft going down into the mine.”
“Okay, Baby, you heard the man,” said Myra, and the little pink ship sailed over to the indicated rise and was soon hovering over the open vent.
Myra surveyed the hillside and then had Baby set down on a flat area near the vent. She unbuckled and opened the hatch, taking a portable lantern from its holder.
“Come on, Bobby,” she said to him as she opened the hatch. “Shake a leg!”
Bobby tried to jump up but his seat belt stopped him. Coloring with embarrassment, he heard a mischievous giggle from a speaker on the control panel. He finally got the seat belt unbuckled and followed the smiling Myra out through the hatch.
With Bobby in the lead, they walked through the melting winter snow to the vent.
“Follow me, but be careful,” Bobby said to the woman and then ducked into the shaft. Myra followed and soon joined him at the bottom of the slope. She switched on the lantern and together they walked back into the tunnel.
Myra watched the boy checking the blaze marks on the timbers as they moved deeper into the mine. At one junction, he turned and led her down a side passageway that was nearly as big as the main bore of the mine.
Bobby signaled for her to slow down. Up ahead she saw the tunnel open into a large cavern. Shining her light downward, she immediately saw the pebble pattern on the floor and a smoothed, level area near a hot springs.
Bobby motioned for her to stand to one side. He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted down into the cavern.
“Hey, Mee! It’s me, Bobby!”
Nothing happened for a moment and then a blue metal shape shot out from one of the side chambers. Its lights ablaze, the little blue ship rose up and hovered in front of the boy standing on the lip of the abyss.
“Hi, Bobby!” it said in its child-like voice. “Who’s the pretty lady?”
Myra could see the ship was the match of Baby except for the color. She recognized it as the missing ship from Mary’s cargo hold.
“This is Captain Myra Alor,” said Bobby formally. “Captain Alor, this is Mee.”
“Nice to meet you, Mee,” said Myra.
She was amazed at the ship’s articulation and use of language. It had taken Baby months of programming and practice to become even half as articulate as this little ship. She could only attribute it to the influence of this small boy. Unseen One help us, she thought.