The Chasm

by Tom Hunter

  He was just about to say something to see how much farther he could push her, when he heard a deep, gravelly accent. “See, he’s not dead,” confirmed Ramon. “Look at him. He is fine.” The big man waved a hand toward Noah and the medics who hovered over him. He leaned out the opening where the door had once been and circled his arm overhead. “Everyone, move out,” he commanded. “We may be here a day or so, yet. But, that doesn’t mean to stop packing up. Just keep a sharp eye out. Back to work!” Then, before he stepped down from the RV, he turned back to Noah. “Oh, yeah. I broke your door.” Noah glared at him, unable to speak. Ramon shrugged. “We heard a thud. She freaked,” he explained as he jabbed a thumb toward Miss Welker. “Aren’t you happy to see her?” he went on. “We found her sleeping in a cave…”

  “Get out, Ramon,” Noah commanded. “I’ve got business to discuss with Miss Welker.”

  Ramon shrugged, “Suit yourself,” and left.

  Alone at last! He glanced at the remaining medic. Well, almost.

  Noah sat up and, ignoring the medic, turned to Miss Welker. “So, did you find it?” he asked. “Did you find the drum?”

  Miss Welker smiled. She’d placed the drum on his bed when they’d crashed through the door of the RV, and now moved one step to the left to reveal its location. Without a word, she motioned toward it, not unlike some kind of game show hostess. She enjoyed seeing his eyes light up, and knew he was pleased.

  “And here you are,” she announced. “I noticed soldiers beginning to pack already when Ramon and his crew brought me through,” she began. He raised an eyebrow. “You did tell them to pack up, didn’t you?” she asked. He shook his head slowly.

  “I just told them to find you and get you back here safely with the drum…” his voice trailed off as he studied it. “It looks a bit…worn. You didn’t…damage…it, on your way back, did you?” he asked, regretting the words almost as soon as they were out of his mouth.

  Miss Welker straightened to her full height, all 5’4” of it, and placed her hands on her hips, her eyes blazing. “How dare you imply -!”

  Noah held up a hand, “Sorry. Relax, woman.”

  He looked at her sharply, “What do you mean soldiers were packing things up already?” he asked slowly.

  “Oh, when Ramon brought me through, packing was underway,” she repeated. Then, added, “I ask because, well, my escape wasn’t exactly quiet, if you understand what I mean.”

  “No one followed you, did they?”

  “I don’t think… no. No one followed me,” Miss Welker confirmed recalling her zigzag route across the desert as she worked to divert attention away from his camp. “Why?”

  “Well, regardless of what the boys think, we’re not ready to pack up stakes just yet,” he explained. “For one reason, I’ve still got men in the tunnels. Sent ‘em down there to see what other treasures they might be able to dig up,” he added.

  She shot him a look that called his bluff. She didn’t buy it for a second. Can’t put anything past you, can we, Miss Welker, Noah thought to himself. If they’d been anyone else, anywhere else, Miss Welker would have turned on her heel and left him on his own. But, duty prevented her from going with her gut.

  “Mmmm…I see.” She turned to the medic, “I think he’s okay now. But, can you just stay for a few minutes more? He’s a slippery one and I need to go pass on a bit of information just now,” she explained. Then, she turned to Noah, “Guess, I better go tell his highness to stand down.”

  One hand on the door, she turned her head, and said. “He’s not going to like it one bit. He and his crew are ready to high tail it out of here.” Then, with a cheerier expression, she added, “Oh well!” and left the RV to pass on the news. Good or bad depending on who she asked.

  Fourteen

  As if the moon knew what was coming, it refused to light the way, and offered only the bare minimum. The lights from Thomas Knight’s car boosted the pale light in the unusually dark sky and he felt a tingling sensation he hadn’t been able to shake. It had been eating at him for days, a sense of foreboding he didn’t understand.

  Noah had done a good job of hiding it from both the casual observer and those who knew him better. But, when it came to his once former archeological Jedi, Thomas had a sixth sense. He narrowed his eyes hoping to see further, deeper into the expanse of the desert. Without warning, Thomas flipped his vehicle’s headlights off, almost as if he didn’t want to be caught unawares. He wondered idly if it was an innate sense of self preservation and when Alexia fixed him with her stare, he began to shift in his seat. He couldn’t explain why he had done it, nor would he want to, he decided.

  “What’d you do that for?” Alexia asked, her mouth twisted in confusion.

  Thomas answered her question by asking his own. He held her gaze for just a moment longer, dropped his eyes to the drone in her lap, and pointed. “Can you send that thing that way?” he asked as he motioned in what he thought might be the general direction of the camp.

  “If you mean, can I send the drone in an easterly direction, then yes. I can.”

  “That’s what I said,” he mumbled.

  Alexia harrumphed and peered in the direction he indicated. “Hope this is worth it,” she muttered under breath.

  “What was that?” Thomas asked.

  “Nothing. Uh, here we go,” Alexia said, and flicked a switch to activate it. As it whirred to life, she opened the window, held up the drone, and let it fly. Not unlike letting a captive bird go free, she thought idly as she watched it go.

  Next, she pulled her laptop from where she’d tucked it in the side door pocket, and laid it on her lap. Once opened and live, her quick fingers flew over the keyboard as she brought up the drone’s camera. Now, its eyes were their eyes.

  With her eyes focused on the screen and Thomas’s focused on the road before them, they talked as if they were in their own little world. “See?” Alexia pointed to a dot on her computer screen. “Nothing.”

  Thomas mumbled unintelligibly and Alexia huffed. “This is ridiculous. Besides,” she ventured, “how do you hide something in the desert anyway.” She waved at the expanse before them, “I mean, look. It’s flat, it’s dusty, it’s cracked…” she thought a moment. “Okay, it’s not flat exactly. There are dunes and caves and such…” her voice trailed off as she realized two things: there was an excess of weight on the back of her seat, and she spotted something the drone had caught it in its camera.

  Never one to pass the buck, she thought she’d tackle the immediate problem head-on. Her head still lowered toward the computer screen, she craned her neck slowly toward the backseat. Her eyes slid toward the offender and if she’d worn glasses, she would have looked more like a naughty librarian than a frustrated tech.

  Thomas, oblivious, continued to drive. He was singularly focused. No one and nothing was going to distract him. Alexia couldn’t help it. She tried so hard to look angry, but a small smile played at the corners of her mouth and she resigned herself to bemusement of the entire situation inside their hover vehicle.

  The bodies from the backseat had encroached on hers and Thomas’s and when her eyes returned to the screen, she saw why. “Uh, Thomas,” she began.

  “What.” It was a sharp statement, rather than a question. His rudeness barely registered as her eyes, glued to the computer screen, followed the drone. Somehow, in turning back from craning to stare down the people in the back seat, she’d caught a glimpse of something.

  She’d missed it the first time, but through the drone’s eyes, she realized it was a discoloration that didn’t belong in the desert. It was so subtle, the slight mar on the surface would have been missed by the casual observer.

  In a low voice, Thomas twisted his head toward her, and repeated, “What is it, Alexia?”

  “That.” She pointed at the discolored dot, and drew a circle around it with her finger. Alexia narrowed her eyes to try to get a better look. It was a flash of something which had caught the drone’s attention a
nd hers. But, she couldn’t quite make it out. “Is that a…a…light?” she muttered to herself. Has the drone been drawn to it? If so, someone’s been extremely careless.

  Answering her own question, she exhaled slowly in a soft whistle. “No way.”

  At the same time, Thomas leaned over and asked, “Is that a tent flap, do you think?”

  “How do you -?” Alexia looked at him sharply, then back to the movement on the screen. “What are you seeing that I’m not?” she asked him.

  “Well, to be fair, I didn’t see the flap at first,” he admitted. Alexia arched an eyebrow as if to say “Okay, and?” Thomas shook his head. “Don’t look at me like that,” he said, his eyes focused on the road before him.

  “I –“began Alexia.

  “Relax, that’s not what I meant,” he explained. “What I mean is, there was a flash of light. But, there was just something about the movement…it seemed familiar… Well, no. I take that back. There was more to it…it looked like someone had flipped on a flashlight or something. You know how you flip one on to see maybe where you’re going, then just as suddenly flip it off again?” He shrugged. “Honestly, I can’t really put my finger on any one thing. Just a…combination and something that clicked –“ he paused. “Oh god, I’m rambling aren’t I?”

  Alexia laughed softly. “Yes. Maybe it’s the heat getting to you.” He swatted at her playfully, then combed his fingers through his beard as he split his focus between the drone and his driving. Without prompting, he added, “You know, maybe we’re close and the flashes of light are at the perimeter.”

  “Could be,” agreed Alexia. “It makes sense.”

  “Maybe,” Thomas went on, “the light and a tent flap that wasn’t tied properly caught in the wind and allowed me, er us, a brief glimpse.”

  “So, do you want me to see if I can get a closer look?” she asked, her hands already on the controls.

  “No…I think we’ve seen enough for now,” Thomas replied. “In fact, I wonder if we shouldn’t just withdraw the drone,” he explained, softly. Suddenly, he turned toward Alexia, as he pulled the vehicle to a stop. “Everything we saw was recorded, right?” he asked. “So, we can look at it back at camp?”

  Alexia nodded. Of course, it’s recorded, she thought to herself. She restrained herself from answering out loud because all she knew that would come out would be a frustrated, “Duh!”

  Without missing a beat, she moved the controls to have the drone return rather than zoom in. As she worked the keys and controls, she heard someone in the backseat ask, “So, what are the plans moving forward, Thom. Thomas. Mr. Knight. Sir?” Alexia ducked her head forward, stifling a laugh. Just ask the damn question. Come on now, spit it out. Alexia wondered if she should say something, then thought better of it.

  Turning her eyes toward Thomas, she saw he considered the question. Taking advantage of their paused vehicle, he’d fished out his beard comb, and began to brush his beard. Quick, even, downward strokes caused his dark beard to gleam, though his hair and skin bore a layer of sandy soot and his clothes clung to him like a second skin. The air-conditioning of their small hover vehicle couldn’t permeate the stifling heat of the desert.

  Thinking out loud, Thomas began, “Well, there are a few scenarios which come to mind.” Everyone leaning over the back of the front seat edged closer. The clicks of a drone being refolded was the only other sound as Alexia snapped, “You’re going to tilt this vehicle out of balance and we’ll soon be in some kind of endo,” she explained as the personnel leaning forward slammed themselves back in their seats. “You can all hear him from there, right?” she asked. “Or better yet,” she added as she handed him a small device. “Did you know these things come equipped with a little mic?” she asked. He shook his head as he took it. “Me either,” Alexia admitted. “But, it’s a nice little surprise and quite useful just now, don’t ya think?”

  “Indeed,” Thomas answered, in his best mimic of Dr. Cunningham’s voice. His attempt didn’t seem to register with anyone, so he continued as he mentally reviewed what they did know about the situation.

  As he leaned back into the driver’s seat, he listed their options and what he believed might be happening. “So, the most likely scenario goes like this,” he began. “Now that Noah has the drum, he’ll likely pack up the camp and hide the drum in a safe place for future recovery.” Muttering he added, “If that’s the case, there isn’t much hope for a quick, safe recovery if we head back to base now. We can also assume, at this time of night” – it had grown dark as they’d driven – “it’s likely everyone is within the perimeter and safely ensconced in their tents.” He furrowed his brow. “Doesn’t make sense to me. It would be easier, cooler, and quicker for him to get away under cover of night. What is the little man up to? Oh, and if everyone’s in their tent and in someone’s tent there is an ancient drum, you can bet the guard detail is higher than normal, too.”

  Thomas beat a steady staccato against the wheel as he weighed the risk. A deafening silence hung heavy in the air. Suddenly, his voice sliced into the silence, “Why the hell are we sitting here thinking?” he asked. “This is Abby, guys. Drum for Abby, Abby for drum.” He looked at the faces in the rearview mirror, then twisted his body to look at everyone directly. “I know what I’ve decided,” he declared. “Who’s in?”

  To a man, everyone agreed.

  He turned to Alexia, “Ever wanted to be a getaway driver?” he asked, his eyes sparkling.

  He thinks this is fun? She shook her head. Barely hearing him explain, “…that way, we’ll have someone at the ready to drive the team to safety if you’re noticed or need to beat a hasty retreat.”

  “No. I should be with you – with you guys.” Alexia shook her head. She was not some damsel in distress and he knew it. What the hell was going on here? She clenched her fists in her lap, his voice suddenly grating her nerves.

  Thomas put a hand on her shoulder. “Alexia, look at me.” She turned toward him. Her brow burned with fury. “It’s not what you think.” He took a deep breath. “We’re short on time, short on manpower, and short one drum. I know you are just as capable as the guys,” he explained jabbing a finger at the men who were already spilling from the vehicle. “But, we also need to leave someone behind. Someone we can trust to get us out of a jam, if we need it. That’s you.” She was about to say something she knew she’d regret later, and nodded instead.

  “Good. Thank you.” Thomas bowed his head, then looked up, and explained what he needed her to do. “First, switch sides with me. Let’s get you settled in the driver’s seat.”

  He exited the vehicle and went around as she slid into his seat. She’d set the drone aside as she moved. When Thomas opened the passenger door, he picked up the drone, and handed it to her. “Just in case something goes wrong –“ Thomas paused and chuckled. “There again, this is Noah Ashbridge we’re talking about. Scratch ‘in case’ and go with ‘when’ something goes wrong – you’ll need the drone. Er, we’ll need the drone. It can keep us updated on whatever’s happening.”

  “Well, I don’t imagine we’ll be able to use traditional comms devices. Noah’s people are pretty tech savvy from what I’ve seen and heard,” explained Alexia. “So…let’s see if there’s anything I can jury-rig to at least be able to warn of danger.” She leaned over and opened a small box. “My, uh, tech doctor’s kit,” she remarked with a sly smile.

  Pulling it to her, she dug in its content and withdrew a few items. Thomas watched in wonder as her fingers created something from nothing. Random tools and pieces had become a device. “How do you do that?”

  As Thomas took the device, Alexia added, “This is a direct line comm device. It’s set to a frequency only you and I are on.” She paused. “The only problem is –“

  “Problem?”

  “Well, it’s not too bad,” she admitted. “But, it is important. Though it’s a direct line, I don’t have time to modify it for speaking. So, best I can do is send a beep or buzz to
signal danger.”

  “Okay, not too bad. At least, there’s a warning system,” Thomas confessed. He turned the device over in his hand and gestured to his ear. Alexia nodded. Once he’d implanted the comms device in his ear, Alexia added, “And per request, I can also keep the drone in the air –“

  “Good. Good,” Thomas fiddled with the earpiece and nearly dropped it when Alexia exploded in a stage whisper. “As I was saying,” she continued, “if the tent is covered from above, then the drone won’t help much.”

  Firmly pressing the comms device into his ear, Thomas remarked, “Well, it’s better than nothing.” She was annoyed, he knew. But, there was something beneath it – concern? Almost without thinking, he added, “Don’t worry, I’ll be careful.”

  “I still don’t like it,” admitted Alexia. “Something seems…off…about this whole thing. I wish I could figure it out.”

  The guards had long since filed out of the vehicle. They’d wrapped themselves in dark cloaks to provide extra cover and waited a few feet away for final orders from Thomas. He hadn’t even realized until just now, they’d left him and Alexia to duke out the particulars.

  As the drone whirred to life, and Alexia busied herself at the controls, Thomas strode toward his small band of guards. They’d surreptitiously edged nearer Noah’s campsite and awaited only Thomas Knight’s final confirmation of his plans.

  Fifteen

  Thomas listened to the soft crunch of footsteps. Some faded into the distance and others sounded nearby. He’d split his team into two groups and sent one toward where he estimated the far side of Noah’s camp might be. He was glad for the darkness, but cursed it at the same time. Would the camp have been easier to spot in the daylight, regardless of its camouflage? Then again, only Noah would hide something in plain sight.