Black Desert

by Peter Francis

  “Poor girl. She’s probably fighting to protect her virginity right now,” said Gowan.

  “He likes her but he respects her relationship with Hugh,” said Stiers.

  “He is not ruled by right or wrong, by his brain or by any form of moral code,” said Gowan. “His penis does most of his thinking.”

  “You’re remarkably unfair on the boy,” said the Captain. “He has a great brain and he likes you very much – so much so it wouldn’t surprise me to find he thought himself in love with you.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous, Sir. Ramirez only ever wants to get laid.” Gowan looked at the framework of the roof and sighed deeply. “Sometimes I wonder why we’re attempting the impossible. We would be better to stay here and achieve what we can and help the planet with our knowledge and urge them to prepare for the aliens.”

  “Is that what you want, Gowan?”

  “We could make a grand life here, Captain, knowing what we know about the future. We could be rich and useful in advancing medicine and human knowledge.”

  “Ah, you want to be a God.”

  “It’s not that,” protested Gowan. “It’s just that…it’s just what is our reason to risk death going back?”

  “My reason is simple,” said Stiers.

  “And what is that, Sir?”

  “I love my family and want to save them,” he said.

  Gowan slumped and her shoulders sank as she leaned back in her seat and tried to take her thoughts away from endless calculations and complications. “Sorry, Sir. You’re correct of course.”

  “You’re too uptight, Gowan. You expect everybody to behave the way you expect them to. I caught the tail end of your conversation with Ogden here about aging.”

  “Nobody want to age.”

  “You do when you’re very young,” said Ogden. “You do during those halcyon years of growing up when you can’t wait for your next birthday or Christmas. Unlike when you’re my age and they seem to fly around almost on top of each other.” He smiled at the girl. “We are so blessed,” he said. “We could have been catapulted into the future and had no way back from whatever waits there. Instead we are in the past with options to consider. We have choices and we are a team. I’ll tell you one thing about Ramirez – and, for you, the only thing that should matter – when you need him to, he’ll be there covering your back.”

  “That’s a long speech for you, Ogden.”

  “Yes.”

  “So where are we?” asked the Captain.

  “We have checked, double checked and triple checked,” said Gowan. “We can make no amendments to the calculations of Professor Lillishenger.”

  “So we’ll make it back safely?”

  “Yes or no,” said Ogden. “There are too many variables involved, including the security of this place.”

  “Lucky we took on Jenny,” said Stiers.

  “Mmm,” said Ogden non-committally. “It may turn out that way but she is young and headstrong.”

  “Which may work for us.”

  “Or against us,” said the Englishman.

  “Lilly is suggesting we try to obtain the Sarin during the English bank holiday weekend – whatever that is.”

  “Bank holidays are like national holidays,” explained Ogden.

  “It’ll be like the old dollar days then?”

  “Not at this time. Carpet and furniture stores will be open and having one of their rare sales which take place every day of the year. Government institutions and businesses will be closed. I expect the number of guards will be reduced. It should all help to make the operation easier.”

  “I suppose that being military we should give the operation a name.”

  “Operation steal Sarin,” suggested Ogden.

  “I’d prefer something a fraction less obvious, Ogden.”

  “Operation rollercoaster,” said Gowan.

  “That sounds too much like a raid on Coney Island,” said the Captain. “How about operation green men?”

  “Does that sound vaguely Irish?” asked Ogden.

  “I don’t think so.”

  “Well, you are the boss.”

  “Operation green men it is,” said Stiers.

  “It should be quite simple,” said Gowan and Ogden stared at her in disbelief.

  “Simple? Have you noticed what has happened every time we have ventured out in this craft? Did you see the headlines when we saved that plane? Did you, by any chance, notice those bullets flying past your ears after the casino raid? Believe me, those were quite simple things compared with breaking into Porton and nicking their sole supply of super Sarin. I’d advise you to expect bullets and fists being shaken.”

  “They don’t have guns in England, do they?” asked Gowan.

  “Not many,” said Ogden, “but those who have them are quite willing to shoot. They are mostly soldiers.”

  “Oh. I see what you mean.”

  “We can at least sneak in unnoticed,” said the Captain. “They can’t shoot if they can’t see us.”

  “And one we set off the pulse they won’t be able to communicate and receive orders,” said the Englishman.

  “Where can this go wrong?” said Gowan.

  “Once inside the building you will have to locate and extract the Sarin,” said Stiers. “Then you have to make a safe exit back to the ship.”

  “With Ramirez as backup,” said Gowan.

  “Yes.”

  “I’ll buy a lottery ticket this week – there’s more chance of winning that than getting out of Porton Down with Ramirez as my sidekick.”

  “Have a little faith,” said Stiers, who had heard the expression somewhere and liked it. He kept his vocabulary sufficient for his needs. “Ramirez will be excellent backup.”

  “We saw how good he was in the casino,” muttered Gowan.

  “That wasn’t entirely his fault,” said Ogden.

  “No, he wasn’t the one who dropped the bracelet,” said Gowan. “Then we all had to go in and save his ass and bullets were leaking from the front of their Blazer all the way back to Challenger.”

  “At least we met Jenny,” said Stiers.

  Ogden gave the sigh of a man who hated to be reminded of his other problems. “There is that,” he said.

  “She’ll work out fine,” said the Captain.

  “As long as Ramirez hasn’t prepared cough mixture for her father,” said Gowan.

  “Ramirez is a competent and professional officer,” said Stiers. “May I remind you, Gowan, you couldn’t even locate Earth properly when we first arrived here?”

  “Pardon me, Captain, but I was a tad confused – everything being wrong by a hundred years.”

  “Stow it. Ramirez will prove himself more than up to the task.”

  “Well, if he shows up alone after the raid and without the Sarin, don’t blame me,” said Gowan.

  “We’ll pray for you,” said Stiers without sounding the least bit serious.

  They worked on through the day with the promise of a trip for lobster tails that evening if progress was good. Dunfield had been paying in frequent sums of money to his bank account slowly trying to build up their reserves. His and Sarah’s banking now spread through several accounts and Jenny had promised to organise them into a small corporation when she returned for her next visit, although Ogden still had doubts they would necessarily see her again.

  The skeletal framework of the dome was now mostly assembled as it was very light – the Lexan being the heaviest part. Dunfield claimed it was bulletproof although it was certainly stormproof and far more expensive than glass or Perspex. They made regular trips for supplies although much of their food was purchased at the local market. Apart from jackrabbits and snakes, the desert offered little in the way of sustenance and the soil was too salty for anything to grow except wild desert flowers and salt cedars.

  The days were reliably sunny and bright and Ramirez and Stiers rigged up air-conditioning inside the hangar structure using some ex-school Mitsubishi units they reco
vered from the salvage yard. This cooler air put them in a better temper and frame of mind most of the time, with just Gowan and Ramirez featuring the worst of scowls for each other.

  They also began building a concrete block wall to section off the area between the dome and the rest of the workshop. This would have a door that could be opened either side with a key. On the ship side this would be left hanging on the wall next to the doorway. The interior fabrication and replicating machines on the Challenger were in frequent use, as were the computers in aiding design and construction.

  What they had not realised was that completing this plan occupied them enough that they did not have time to dwell on the position they were really in – decades from home with an impossible challenge ahead and dependent upon people they had not known a few weeks before. There was no report about the events at the casino although none of them fancied a return trip to Las Vegas – or Reno for that matter. Their faces might be well known there by now. Ogden still had not got over his guilt over the theft and pleadings and explanations from the rest of the crew did little to soothe his conscience. He had no such qualms about stealing the sarin which he felt would be better in their hands than left at Porton Down.

  That afternoon – a Friday – Lillishenger’s Jeep rattled into the compound through the open gates. Jenny leapt out and looked for Ramirez who was bent over showing Sarah a part on the generator. Jenny grabbed his ass and showed beaming white teeth in her dark face. Ramirez leapt upright and banged his head on the casing. “What the…” he said.

  “You adorable angel,” said Jenny. “I’m going to love you forever.”

  “Just one afternoon would be fine right now,” Ramirez managed to stammer.

  “My Dad is cured. The cancer has completely gone. He is fine and active and in no pain. And I just couldn’t believe what you said – it seemed all too good to be true.”

  “Make sure he puts it all down to faith,” said Ramirez.

  “I didn’t even tell him what he was taking or where it came from. I had to tell him it was an experimental herbal remedy. I don’t care whether or not he believed me. His doctor is puzzled and the hospital confirms he has beaten the illness.”

  “Can I grab your ass like you grabbed mine?”

  “You can do me on top of this machinery as far as I’m concerned.”

  “Put your hormones in a box – the pair of you,” said the Captain as he arrived to greet Jenny. “We had a deal, remember? We need you to look after our interests and protect this site.”

  “But he deserves his rewards,” said Jenny.

  “Oh, rewards, is it?” grouched Ramirez. “I thought it may be because you wanted to.”

  “He’ll get more rewards than a man can handle once we’ve completed our mission and defeated the aliens,” said the Captain. “Don’t distract him now with thoughts of sex.”

  “No,” said Gowan who had also arrived. “We’d like to retain the two per cent of his brain that isn’t obsessed with exercising his lovestick.”

  “I’m just so happy,” said Jenny.

  “Good. Then talk to Hugh and start organising our money carefully. We think a corporation will be in order.”

  “That is a good plan,” said Jenny. “We may look at founding it in Delaware.”

  “Am I going to get laid?” pressed Ramirez.

  “After this mission is over and we’re successful you can probably just just about any girl on Earth,” said Stiers.

  “But they’re all in the future. I’m horny now.”

  “Hang on to that thought for a few weeks.” Stiers turned to Jenny. “We’re off to borrow the Sarin tomorrow night. Tonight we’re dining on lobster tails. Will you join us? You and Hugh and Sarah have much to discuss.”

  “Why does Sarah have a dirty nose and face?” asked Jenny, still beaming.

  “Eric has been showing me his power generators in detail. I’m impressed.”

  “That’s a new phrase for it,” said Gowan. “I’ve seen most of his equipment close up without being impressed.”

  “Kiss my ass, Gowan.”

  “I already have – remember?”

  “I’ll wash and change before we go out,” said Sarah, trying to prevent another scrap breaking out.

  “It’s good to see you, Jenny,” said Ogden and meant it sincerely.

  “Did you think I’d forget my promise? You kept yours.”

  “Every ten years or so we’ll be back with a refresher pill,” said Ramirez. “Just to be safe.”

  “Did you really kiss Eric’s ass?” she asked Gowan.

  “It was a medical emergency. I can still taste it.”

  “It’s so strange to be back.”

  “You make sure you drive carefully and don’t invest in hybrid and solar or electric cars till 2035,” said the Captain. “We really can’t afford anything to happen to you.”

  “You really do need me then?”

  “I can’t tell you how important and essential you are. Nothing must happen to you and you must one day find a successor. We’ll use our knowledge to keep you all as fit as we can.”

  “Nobody has ever needed me like this before.”

  The Captain said, “I expect lots of people feel they need you but haven’t told you in so many words. Do you have a boyfriend?”

  “No – nothing steady.”

  “I’m available,” said Ramirez.

  “No you’re not,” said Stiers.

  “That’s what I meant,” said Ramirez and looked chagrined.

  “I really want food tonight,” said Jenny. “I’m so hungry.”

  “Is that why you took a piece of my ass?”

  “Not solely,” she said and her mouth split into a huge grin. Happiness obviously filled her soul.

  “It’s lobster tails,” said Ogden.

  “Stop talking about tail,” said Ramirez.

  They did spoil themselves the evening before the following day’s raid on Porton by feasting on lobster tails and baked potatoes. They gathered at a large table in the corner and kept their voices low so sound did not carry. After the experience with Hugh, they planned not to spread their plans any wider. Sarah did ask if Christianity had survived and it was obvious the question was important to her.

  “Yes,” said Ogden, “although the predominant faith is Islam.”

  “How did that happen?” she pressed.

  “Christianity abandoned its guiding ethics,” he said. “Once homosexual marriage became law in many countries, it led to a rise in the Muslim faith. The world is now about 70 per cent Islam – Shi’ite Muslims in the main. Sharia law is now common. I have little faith in anything much although as a scientist I tend to lean towards Islam as the faith of science. Anyway, it’s the same God, right? I know the Captain retains his Christian faith, as does Ramirez to some extent. I don’t know about Junette Gowan but I believe the Professor thinks as I do.”

  “I do,” she confirmed. “You have to understand that when you separate the state from religion, as is the case in the USA, you can’t complain when other faiths come to prominence. There are still Sikhs and Mormons, and the Muslims disagree among themselves about the presence of djinns, but essentially the God of Abraham still reigns.”

  “I still can’t believe my Dad is better,” said Jenny, changing the subject. “It is a miracle.”

  “It’s future technology,” said Ogden. “Time travel, however, is not a way of life in the future. We encountered an accident of physics and are trying to correct it, that’s all.”

  “I guess if we succeed, we’ll be heroes in the future,” said Ramirez, “but if we fail or don’t get back we’ll be forgotten and our tale never told.”

  “Couldn’t we tell the story from here? Leave the knowledge somehow?”

  Stiers gave it some thought. “I guess not,” he said finally. “If we succeed they’ll know about it. If we fail, it won’t matter much.”

  “My Dad is all better,” whooped Jenny and jumped in the air with glee. “And it’s
all down to this man.” She gave Ramirez another hug.

  “Why don’t you take him back with you?” suggested Gowan. “I doubt we’ll miss him.”

  “I’d take him, look after him and love him,” said Jenny.

  “Wow. That’s a very tiny club you’re in there,” said Gowan.

  “I’m beginning to think I should remain here,” said Ramirez. “At least for the first ten years or so.”

  “Forget it,” said the Captain. “You’re number two in tomorrow’s raid.”

  “Why can’t I be number one?”

  “Believe me,” said Gowan. “You are.”

  “Do you have trouble hiding your feelings for me, Gowan?”

  “No. Not at all.”

  The Captain turned to Jenny and Sarah. “The world in the future is in many ways a better place and in some ways worse. We have learned from some faiths and countries our responsibilities for looking after the elderly. Most people live a full, active century or more. There is a New World of politics with checks and cross checks. Politicians are not allowed to be lobbied in the way they used to and the world of advertising has changed since all it ever did was teach people to covet what they did not possess. These are subtle changes with guiding controls that veer always to sanity. Without these changes to the way the world thought, Fleet could never have come into being. In many ways, despite its obvious limitations, it represents the very best of human co-operation and effort.”

  “Do you really hate being here in the past?” asked Jenny.

  “No,” he said. “I really hate being sway from my family. Right now they – and I – have not yet been born. This small group – and I include all of you – has one small chance of saving this world of ours in the future. If we can do that and I can get back to my wife and children, I shall be content for the remainder of my life.”

  “We don’t belong here,” said Lillishenger. “We didn’t arrive together and I have been here for a decade and still not adapted, even having the advantage of knowing much about the future. When I return I shall actually move forward ten years in time but that will put me right where I should be had I never time travelled.”

  “I wish you all every success,” said Jenny.

  “Well, we’ll see tomorrow just how well it goes,” said Ogden. “Once we have obtained and sealed the Sarin we can complete the structure and say goodbye – a matter of weeks for us but ten years for you. In many ways you have the toughest part of it all.”