“Except at mealtimes,” insisted Ogden.
“Fair enough. We don’t want to see your thighness when we’re eating.”
“Don’t get caught, just cut me short,” said Ramirez. “I was just joking with you all.”
“Why don’t you just put that thing on a leash and take it out for a walk so it can do its business?” said Gowan.
“See if that motorcyclist is back,” said Lillishenger. “I don’t like that fellow at all.”
“And if he’s there?” asked Ramirez.
“Urinate on his shoes,” said the Captain. “Anyway, I’m for bed. If we don’t stop now my brain will be running all night and I prefer to have it shut down while I’m sleeping.”
Eventually they all turned in for tomorrow was another work day with problems that seemed insoluble. But when they met for a lunch break the following day there was some good news.
Ogden said, “If we can obtain this potent variety of Sarin, we can deliver it. I have been studying what we learned about the alien vessel and, as the Professor said, it wasn’t designed for them. They have adapted it. The good news for us is that the modifications were completed the cheapest way possible. They routed pipes from the water reservoir, outside the ship and into their living and working areas. If my calculations are correct there is an area where we can destroy the pipe with minimal disrupter fire right where it re-enters the craft. Inside there I suspect there is some kind of pump or suction device that imports the fluid and dissolutes it into a mist. If we damage that pipe and deliver the Sarin in there…well, you can guess the rest.”
“I will need to devise some kind of gel to enclose the Sarin if we fire it at the hole,” said Lillishenger. “The gel will need to be soft enough for the pumps to destroy it and allow the Sarin to spread. There is more than adequate room to do this when the shields are raised as we will be inside their coverage.”
“But we’ll be trapped there,” said Stiers. “Unable to escape.”
“That is correct,” said Lillishenger. “A small sacrifice though to save Earth.”
“We won’t even be there,” said Gowan. “We can’t travel at those speeds, remember? Everything will have to be targeted by computers.”
“We may be there,” said Ramirez who had been working on his own schemes. “It’s looking unlikely right now but I am hopeful of better news.”
“What can you tell us?” asked the Captain.
“Ogden got me thinking about our own shields,” said Ramirez. “At the moment they are aligned to offer us protection from the outside – everything from meteorites to small attacks. I was thinking that we could turn that power inward, thus protecting living beings inside the ship from the pressures of light speeds.”
“I knew you had a good brain,” said Lillishenger.
“Won’t that leave us defenceless on the outside?” asked Stiers.
“Yes, but not completely. We need only use a portion of the available shield power. It will certainly weaken our defences.” He paused and looked round at the hope on their faces – a hope he would have to dispel. “For this to work Challenger will have to be in a vacuum bubble – one built to last a hundred years.”
“Impossible,” said Lillishenger.
“I know,” said Ramirez. “Even if we find a way to succeed one of us will have to remain here for maintenance of the vacuum bubble.”
“Who?” asked Gowan.
“We will have to draw straws,” said Ramirez.
“No we won’t,” said the Captain. “It’s my job to decide.”
“The thing is, Captain,” began Ogden. “I don’t know how the Professor feels, but if it comes to it I shall volunteer to stay behind.”
“It won’t be you,” said Stiers.
“Why not?”
“You are too old. It will need somebody who has a few decades left in them. Gowan and Ramirez are good for several more decades, as am I.”
“Depressing this, isn’t it?” said Ramirez. “It’s a spur for me to do better.”
“There is one thing that is certain,” said Gowan. “I need to crack the Social Security database to get us some numbers so we can open bank accounts. Money is going to be important.”
“You won’t need to do that. We can drive to the Social Security office in San Bernardino and just apply,” said Lillishenger. “You don’t need to be a citizen to open a bank account but you must have a Social Security number. What we will have to fabricate are passports – Canadian ones will be fine. I suggest we do that tomorrow and the next day. You guys should split up and go to different offices – perhaps Ontario or Bakersfield. That won’t raise any suspicions.”
“Are we still planning on robbing a casino?” asked Stiers.
“I was thinking more of just ensuring we win,” said the Professor. “It will take a simple device, easily concealed in the top of a pen or lapel pin to unlock the machine’s protection. Once we have the Social Security numbers we can open bank accounts then manipulate them with our own computers.”
“You have such a wonderful dark side to you,” said Ogden.
Gowan had been pensive as if struggling with her conscience. “Robbery doesn’t seem much after planning the murder of a shipload of people different from us,” she said.
Ogden sighed, Ramirez coughed and Stiers looked hard at her. “I’m as live and let live as the next man,” said the Captain, “but let me remind you these guys destroyed every friendly probe we sent to them. They came from behind their cloak with stubble on their chins and sixguns blazing – and probably wearing black hats. I don’t know how honestly they acquired that ship but I suspect they are pirates – good, old fashioned privateers out for all they can steal, including as much of Earth’s water as they can carry. You, Gowan, are not paid to be sentimental. You are paid to kill them before they destroy your loved ones. Just focus on that.”
Gowan nodded humbly. “I’ve never killed before, Captain.”
“You must have killed a black widow spider before it bit your backside,” said Stiers. “These guys are the same but bigger.”
“I never kill spiders,” said Ogden. “I put them outside.” He caught a frown from the Captain and coughed. “But if they came at me en masse toting guns I would surely give them no quarter.”
“Well said, Pau…” A glance at Lillishenger and the thought of protecting his gonads from becoming part of a salad changed the words as Ramirez spoke them. “Well said, Daniel.”
“Ogden will suffice,” said the Englishman.
“What did they call you at school?” pressed Ramirez, looking to be friendly.
“Ogden.”
“Oh. Ogden it is then.”
“Thank you, Eric.”
Ramirez could not quite figure how his leg was being pulled but he felt the mental tug sure enough. Stiers said, “Back to work.”
Lillishenger glanced up at her security camera screen, a tiny black and white thing that sat in a corner and which had been in operation since that morning. “The biker is back,” she said.
“Then we must deal with him,” said Stiers.
“He’s dismounting,” said Gowan, who was adept with technical terms.
“He’s coming towards the gates,” said Ramirez, in case anybody watching the small screen had missed this.
“Perhaps he desires some lunch,” suggested Ogden.
“It’s about all gone,” said Ramirez.
“He is persistent,” said Stiers. “We had better let him in unless we can find out what he wants at the gate. Let’s not arouse suspicion.”
“He may think a 60 foot across flying disc is suspicious,” suggested Ramirez.
“He won’t be able to see it,” said the Professor. “The chameleon cells are on and so is the cloak.”
Automatically they all glanced at the end where their craft was nothing but a misty blur that faded against the far wall. Even close study revealed no identifying features.
“He is rattling the gates,” said Gowan.
; “I’ll go,” said Ogden.
“Good thinking,” said Ramirez. “At least you’ll be able to block his view.” He dodged a particularly vicious glare from Lillishenger.
Ogden stood up and went out through the small door and stepped onto the dirt. They saw his back view as he strolled towards the gate where the man waited patiently.
Ramirez said, “Look at the size of them both. It’s like a bout of sumo wrestling in the desert.”
“You exaggerate,” said Gowan. “Ogden is not fat although he has the beginnings of middle-age spread, and the other man is dressed to the eyes in clothes suitable for biking.”
“You think he may be skinny under there?”
“Who knows?”
They watched as Ogden and the man spoke for a while and the man gesticulated while Ogden calmed him down. “What are they doing?” asked Gowan.
“Reliving a couple of Hope-Crosby routines,” said Ramirez. “How would I know? There’s no sound on this thing.”
“There is,” said Lillishenger. “It’s just turned down so it doesn’t disturb us.”
“What?” exclaimed Ramirez. “You mean we’ve been playing charades when we could have been listening?”
Lillishenger reached for the monitor and turned up the volume. They heard Ogden say, “We just like to be private.”
Then a strange voice said, “I think it may be too late for that. You’d best let me in.”
“He’s Australian,” said Ramirez.
“No, English,” said the Professor.
“Are all Englishmen fat?” asked Ramirez. “Those two certainly are.”
“Take a stroll around the USA in this present time,” suggested Lillishenger. “You will see obesity that couldn’t exist in our time. Food manufacturers here know how to sell you two things – high fat or high sugar. Fat in this time and in years to come was at crisis levels until government legislation forced food producers to comply with modern nutritional requirements.”
“They’re talking again,” said Stiers.
“I must insist,” said the stranger.
“If I permit you to enter this compound will you then leave and not trouble us again?” asked Ogden.
“Geez,” said Ramirez. “Ogden is opening the gate.”
“He may not have had a choice,” said the Professor. “We don’t know what was said before.”
“That’s often the case when you keep the volume down.”
“Is your middle name Carp or Mona?” she asked Ramirez.
“Neither,” he said.
“Ogden has let the man in and he’s locking the gate behind him,” said Gowan.
“There is no doubt in my mind – Ogden has gone mental,” said Ramirez.
“Bugger,” cursed Lillishenger. “Still, there is nothing for him to see. We’ll let him poke about the yard if he’s curious. He can’t do any harm out there.”
“Best behaviour and lips sealed,” said Stiers. “They are coming inside.”
A few moments later the small door opened and Ogden and the stranger stepped through. The stranger looked around, seemed to study the walls then smiled at them all. “Forgive the intrusion,” he said with his English accent slightly Americanised. “I knew who you were when I saw you at the Veterans’ Hall.”
“We don’t know you,” said Stiers.
“Hugh Dunfield.”
“Is that supposed to mean something?”
“Probably not.”
“What do you want, Hugh?”
“Mister Dunfield considers we may be aliens from outer space,” said Ogden. They all chuckled, including Dunfield.
“I can see you’re not aliens,” said Dunfield. “But you’re not from around these parts.”
“Neither are you,” said Stiers.
“No. I am English. I have been living here for ten years. I was a civil engineer but a motorcycle accident put paid to that.”
“Yet you still ride one, sucker,” said Ramirez.
“Indeed I am partial to two-wheeled transport,” said the stranger.
“My grandmother’s maiden name was Dunfield,” said Gowan.
“Well,” said Stiers. “Nice to make your acquaintance, Hugh, but we have work to do and lunch break is almost over. So, now you know we aren’t aliens and forgive the expression, but…”
“…on your bike,” finished Lillishenger.
“Close enough,” said the Captain.
“Can I first tell you a bit more about me?”
“If you must,” said Gowan. She thought the stranger Dunfield was actually quite a pleasant man. When he unzippered his outer clothing, as he was doing now, he was quite normal build and in his early thirties.
“It’s thirsty out there,” said Dunfield. “May I trouble you for some iced tea?”
“Help yourself,” said Lillishenger and fetched a mug from a nearby work bench and sat it down in front of him before seating herself across the table. Dunfield poured a mug of tea but added no sweetener.
He sipped the tea and looked round at them all. Despite their feigned efforts at disinterest it was obvious they were anxious about what he would say.
“I’m engaged to a girl here in Holmgrove,” he said. “She is an amazing girl, nothing like the kind of girl you would find in England.” He looked at Ogden. “You’re English, aren’t you?”
“I’m not from outer space,” said Ogden. “Yes, I’m English.”
“And you?” he asked Lillishenger.
“I am Austrian but my education was solely in England until I came to America.”
“Well, this girl is wonderful. She has a good figure and is immensely practical.”
“You’re not a pimp, are you?” asked Ramirez.
“Ignore him,” said Gowan. “It’s just that if you were a pimp, he would be a customer.”
“I’m not a pimp,” said Dunfield. “I’m just telling you about my girl Sarah. She was brought up around here and taught by her father to be independent. I am really lucky. She can catch, skin and cook a jackrabbit.”
“Well, if you like rabbits…” said Stiers. “I prefer a good steak myself.”
“Eating rabbits is healthier,” said the stranger.
“Not if you are one,” said the Professor.
“Anyway, I spend much time travelling between town and Holmgrove – on my motorbike. Then I was amazed to see television reports a few nights ago about a stricken airliner that was rescued by a strange and unknown aircraft.”
“We saw it on satellite,” said the Professor.
“It was truly the most amazing thing,” said Dunfield. “The whole thing was captured – albeit fuzzily – by security cameras. I began to think about the USAF base across the hills here and wondered if the craft originated there.”
“That’s likely,” said Ramirez.
“Then when I was in the Veterans’ Hall having dinner I sat near some people – you – in the corner. That place is a bit like St Paul’s cathedral in London with its whispering gallery. The walls in the hall curve in the corners and low voices tend to pass along the walls into the ears of those – like me – in the corner. I overheard much of your conversation.”
“I have no idea what you heard,” said Lillishenger. “What we were discussing was the special effects for a movie that is due to be shot around here later in the year.”
“Except it wasn’t,” said Dunfield. “It wasn’t that at all. I put two and two together and expected to follow you to the base but instead you came here and I turned off and watched you come inside this place.”
“So what?” Said Ramirez. “We told you about the movie.”
“I heard your conversation very clearly,” said Dunfield. “You are in trouble and although I don’t know all the facts, I may be able to help. I am a civil engineer.”
“I think our engineering may be a bit beyond you,” said Ogden and regretted his error.
“There is more,” said Dunfield. “Whatever are your circumstances, you are the crew of the craft that res
cued the airliner. Your descriptions, apart from her…” he pointed at the Professor, “…fit exactly those given by the flight attendant.”
“What rot you talk,” said Lillishenger. “We were all here when that happened.”
“No, you were not,” said Dunfield. “You were in the sky rescuing a doomed airliner for which I am extremely grateful.”
“Why would you be grateful?” asked Gowan.
“I mentioned my girlfriend – her name is Sarah – was on that plane. It was only her second trip – the first to see relatives and the second to return from that visit. You rescued her and I could not and would not live without her. She is everything to me and you saved her young life. I am in your debt.”
“If you wish to believe that,” said Ogden, “I am certain it will not bother us. Now consider that debt repaid and be on your way.”
“From what you were saying while dining, it appears that you have become entangled in some kind of temporal loop and ended up back in time. You were discussing ways of moving back to your own time which would involve constructing a track of some kind. I am a civil engineer – as I keep telling you – and anxious to help you.”
“I’m glad you have a girlfriend,” said Ramirez, “because you really need one.”
“She will be here shortly. And you are right – I need her, and thanks to you I still have her.”
“Do you smoke those funny cigarettes?” asked Stiers. “The ones that set your brain alight?”
“She is driving a Nissan,” said Dunfield, ignoring him. “Notice I have pronounced it the Engliah and Japanese way and not given it that phony French accent Americans like to use – Neeson. She’ll be here any minute.”
“So what?” asked Gowan. “We are politely trying to get rid of you not add to your numbers.”
“Well said, Gowan,” offered Ramirez.
“Look, your secret is safe with me and Sarah will never say anything. She’s a strong, handy girl and we can both help.”
“Why do you think we need help?” said Ogden.
“Just from what I heard in Veterans’ Hall,” said the stranger.
“I hate to burst your bubble,” said the Captain. “But we have no mysterious space ship.”
Black Desert Page 17