The Encounter

by Donal Myrick

  “Don’t you think Sergei is overplaying the doom and gloom scenario.”

  Scott replied, “Maybe, but I think he is serious.”

  “What are they going to do if they decide that we have learned or discovered too much?” Glen asked.

  “I think they are capable of doing whatever they want; hence our best defense is to keep them convinced that we know nothing of relevance.”

  Glen stated, “I would be much more comfortable if I had a better concept of who we are hiding from.”

  “Wouldn’t we all. Kuznetsov is the only name and face we can put on our nemesis right now, but we know there are eyes everywhere. We have to assume they are using every technology they have at their disposal to track us, so we must be extraordinarily careful.”

  “When is Sam due back?” Glen asked.

  “Soon, I hope.”

  “I came by because I wanted to let you know, I contacted dad and cleared taking control of the boat when he and his friends head home. When I came in the door, I was optimistic about what we needed to do, now I have concerns. We need to have time to figure out how to handle whatever it is that Max has. I still have a few more errands to run today, so let me know when you hear from Sam.”

  Later that day, Scott received a text message from Sam indicating that he would arrive back in Huntsville the following evening. Scott texted Sam back to let him know that they would meet him at the airport and then go to dinner.

  Shortly before the end of the business day, the man with the familiar face returned and left another envelope for Scott. It was a simple note.

  If you need to contact me, send me a signal. You are under fairly intense scrutiny, so everything you do is monitored. I will consider anything that you do that is not part of your customary behavior as a signal, for instance, if you switch your watch from your left wrist to your right, that would be noticed. I will weigh the circumstances and try to determine if your signal is true or if it is accidental. A compound signal will be easier to affirm.

  Scott said, “Well, this is good to know. When I blow my nose, somebody is watching. I must be sure to blow it only once, and hold my hanky in my right hand.”

  The next day went by without incident. It took Sam over twelve hours to fly from Caracas to Huntsville, so by the time he arrived, it was after eight o’clock in the evening. Glen was waiting for them at a nearby German restaurant in Madison, where he had a table reserved near the back. He was sure that a foursome sitting a few tables away were there to pick up any little tidbits of intel that he might let slip. So, when Scott, Sam, and Connie came in, he made sure that they understood that their conversations might not be private.

  “Hey Sam, how was your flight?” Glen asked casually.

  “It was the pits, six hours of flying, and six hours of waiting between connecting flights.”

  Scott said, “That’s what happens when you change your flight reservation at the last minute.”

  “Yeah, I know, but Max and Peggy wanted to show me around Canaima Camp before I left. Those two are acting like they are on an extended vacation together. Do you know what they did?”

  “No, what?”

  They had Geraldo and friends come over with all their parasailing gear, and they parasailed off of Auyán tepui.”

  “No kidding!” exclaimed Scott. “That must have been something to see. I knew they moved their operations from the mountain top to Canaima Camp, but nobody told me they parasailed off the mountain to get there. That is moving in style. I hope they took lots of pictures.”

  “I’m sure they did. Carlos flew around up above them and videoed the whole thing. You will be impressed when you see the pictures.”

  “I’m sure we all will be. Aside from having lots of fun, did you find out what Max is so concerned about getting back into the states?”

  “Yes. He has a bunch of frigging rocks!”

  “Rocks?” everyone exclaimed in unison.

  “Yes, rocks. These are the rocks that Max collected from the bottom of the pit that Ted and Dr. Schillinger were going to analyze in the Russian’s lab before they got kicked out. Max says that Ted thinks the rocks are extremely important. He says that some of them appear a lot different from the majority of the samples that were collected. He thinks they may provide a clue as to what formed the anomaly in the pit.”

  “Holy cow! Have Kuznetsov’s people seen these rocks?”

  “I asked Max that question, and he indicated he didn’t think so. Max did most of the collecting, and he thinks he picked up most of the strange-looking stuff, so they probably haven’t seen much if any of the rocks like Max has.”

  “Actually, I am relieved,” Scott said. “I was concerned that he had found something that indicated that the Russians were engaged in some sort of covert illegal activity that we were going to be obligated to tell our State Department about. And frankly, I don’t want anything to do with our government guys. They have been rather rude to us from the beginning. Now rocks, I think we can handle rocks.”

  Sam changed the subject; “Did I mention that Max and Peggy are now planning to fly over to Costa Rica to meet Glen when he picks up his dad’s yacht?”

  “No, you didn’t.”

  “I told you they were acting like a couple on an extended vacation. I think they are looking forward to spending time on the yacht.”

  Connie asked, “Is there something going on between Max and Peggy?”

  “Who knows. I understand that they have known each other for a long time, so there may be, or there may not be. Their relationship is sort of like Spider and Bufford’s.”

  Glen said, “Here comes our food. Eat up, it looks like it is going to be a busy week.”

  This conversation was duly noted by all persons present.

  The next day, Sam and Glen met Scott and Connie at the Foundation Office and cloistered themselves in the SCIF.

  Sam started off saying, “I thought about telling you everything last night, but I figured it would be better if I didn’t appear to be in a rush. Bottom-line is that Max and Peggy have some good stuff, and the rocks are a red herring.”

  “I figured as much,” Scott said, “since you so casually mentioned it. That is why I said I was relieved that it was just rocks that were our problem.”

  Sam continued, “Max has some really high tech stuff from the aliens that will be useful in getting to the space ship. Peggy came up with the idea to hide those items in plain sight as part of the yacht’s equipment, and use the rocks as the decoy items that we are trying to smuggle home. If we can get everything home, that will be great. If we have to give up the rocks, then oh well.”

  Glen asked, “Just what are the real items of interest?”

  “There are two levitating transports and a high energy device that can melt rocks and is a source of virtually unlimited power. The transports weigh about a hundred and twenty-five pounds each and can carry between two fifty and three hundred pounds each. Max wants to fashion them into a levitating sled to go over the ice. The RMD, which is what we call the energy device, weighs about two hundred and fifty pounds. The thinking is that we can make this into an auxiliary power source for the yacht, and actually integrate it into the boat's system.”

  “What about the transports?” Glen asked.

  “They are much smaller, and I was thinking about putting wheels on them and make them into some sort of fish processors. I need help with ideas on that part.”

  “I like your idea for the transports. Maybe we should make them into something nasty like chum buckets or cut bait processors. That way, they would be smelly and innocent looking. We could put a little grinder on one end and a sausage stuffer on the other.”

  “Gross!” remarked Connie.

  “That’s the response we are looking for!” quipped Glen.

  Sam elaborated, “We figured it would take a week or so to put the stuff together and integrate it with the boat, so we thought we would cruise around the Caribbean till we got it done, then head for the
Port of Mobile. If we can get through customs there, we can motor up the Tombigbee Waterway to the Tennessee River and from there to Decatur.”

  “And what happens if you can’t get through customs at Mobile?” asked Scott.

  “Then we are all going to jail, or going to be dead, or else going to become fabulously rich and famous,” Sam replied.

  Scott said, “Considering that list of possibilities, I strongly suggest we give a lot of thought and attention to the camouflage job. Let’s get Jim involved and get plans made and buy the supplies and whatever else we might need. Glen, how soon do you plan to leave for Costa Rica, and where should Max and Peggy rendezvous with you?”

  “I should be ready to leave in two or three days. That will give me a couple of days to spend with dad before he returns. That will be plenty of time for me to essentially take possession of the boat and relieve dad’s captain and crew or their duties. So, let’s say in five days you, Sam, and Jim show up because I will need some help running the boat. Sometime in that time frame, Max and Peggy need to show up.”

  Connie asked, “What about me?”

  “I need you to stay here,” Scott said. “Everyone is going to be on the move, and we are going to need a solid anchor, and you are the only one who can provide that.”

  With obvious disappointment in her voice, Connie replied, “I understand, but it sounds like you all are going to be the ones having all the fun.”

  Scott said, “It may sound like fun, but it is going to get pretty intense. So stand by the phone and have our attorney on speed dial.”

  CHAPTER 49

  Planning an Offshore Airdrop

  When called by Max, Geraldo, Félix, Poquito, and two other of their special ops brethren quietly returned to Miguel’s ranger Station atop Auyán tepui with Carlos.

  After they arrived, Max explained, “It is time to completely abandon the beacon. It has served its purpose, and now we have a bigger issue to solve. We need the very best of your special ops skills to deliver some precious cargo to a vessel cruising about a hundred miles offshore. We have three or four packages, depending upon your discretion as to how to treat the items, each weighing about two hundred and fifty pounds. One or two of the packages consist of rocks collected at the bottom of the pit and obviously require no special environmental protection. Two of the packages must be considered semi-fragile, although I suspect that they are, in fact quite robust, and will need water-proof and possibly shock protection. The packages will need to be air-dropped. Carlos, I am sure that this exceeds the capability of your Cessna 205, so we will be needing a bigger aircraft to deliver the packages a hundred miles offshore. Also, the packages need to float when they hit the water. So, what do you all need to make this happen? Make a list and identify sources where the items can be purchased. You all are going shopping.”

  Max pause for a few minutes to give everyone time to think, then he asked, “Any questions?”

  In his broken English, Félix asked, “Do we have to buy the stuff, or should we just go and get it?”

  Max said, “We need to get what we need fast, so if we can just buy it off the shelf, do so. If it is going to take days or weeks to get it, look for alternative ways to procure what is necessary.”

  Carlos asked, “I can hire a sky diving plane that can do the job, but the owner will probably want to fly it. Is that okay?”

  “That will be okay so long as you are the co-pilot, and he doesn’t require knowledge of what we are delivering. Do you think your source will be okay with that?”

  “Money talks, and besides, I have some leverage with him. So, he will be okay with that.”

  Geraldo asked, “How much time do we have to prepare and put things together?”

  “Two weeks, maybe less.”

  “Okay, Max,” said Geraldo, “get your credit card ready, and let’s go to town. We are going to need some cash also. Can you get it from your friendly ATM, or do I need to prevail on my friendly ANFO provider for a lucrative loan?”

  “You probably need to prevail on your friend, but let him know we are amenable to generous terms.”

  Max, Geraldo, and Félix boarded Carlos’s plane once again for a quick trip back to Caracas. They first visited a local army surplus store and purchased a variety of duffle bags, nylon webbing, water-proofing supplied, duct tape, and several tarps. Next, they set off to meet Rudolfo Martinez in hopes of negotiating a cash loan.

  “Geraldo, what brings you back to Caracas?”

  “It’s good to see you again, Rudolfo, but this isn’t a pleasure visit.”

  “Rudolfo, not to be rude, my friend, but neither was your last visit. When are you going to visit my home just so we can spend some time as just friends?”

  “I hope I can do that very soon. First, may I ask, was our last business transaction consummated to your satisfaction?”

  “Indeed, it was. Very satisfactory! Have you another proposition?”

  “Yes, but this is a little different. We are in a terrible rush, and we need some cash. We don’t have time to transfer it from the states without causing major issues. We are hoping that you can help by loaning us the cash we need. We are offering very generous terms.”

  “Any terms you may want to offer will, I am sure, be more than adequate. As a matter of fact, for you, my friend, I require no terms. What do you need and how soon.”

  “Soon. We need to rent an airplane, and the owner will require a substantial cash deposit. Also, we may need to purchase some items on the black market, and that will require cash as well.”

  Max explained, “We are in town today, and we hope to complete all necessary procurements by tomorrow early enough that we can fly back to Canaima Camp.”

  “Do you have any idea how much cash you need?”

  “Probably around twenty thousand U.S. dollars should suffice,” Max replied.

  “Let’s head to my bank. They are easy to deal with and will keep quiet about cash transactions.”

  Later that day, Félix visited a local army armory and spoke to the quartermaster about borrowing five small cargo chutes and some cargo netting. At first, the quartermaster indicated that there was no policy or other provision that would allow Félix to borrow equipment from the armory. However, after Félix explained that policies were generally flexible when circumstances required and that he realized that in those cases, there were costs and cash deposits that were necessary to expedite the process. Once the quartermaster understood, Félix was able to depart the armory with the requested equipment.

  Meanwhile, Max and Geraldo met up with Carlos at a local private airfield from where several aero-clubs and small aero-service companies conducted their operations. Carlos was involved in discussions with his associate Pedro, the owner-operator of a vintage Cessna 208. Pedro catered to the local jump clubs and also offered his services to ferry cargo for anyone who had the cash. His terms were negotiable, depending upon the cargo and its destination. Carlos was feeling Pedro out regarding how he felt about delivering unspecified cargo a hundred miles or so offshore. Carlos knew Pedro had no qualms about that sort of mission, but he used the uniqueness of the proposed operation to exact a premium fee. Carlos didn’t know what his biding limit was, so he began using his IOUs to remind Pedro of the times he bailed him out when Pedro’s plane was being repossessed for missed payments on his loan. Carlos insisted that Pedro be fair, and assured him that his associates would be more than generous, but that this was not the time to be greedy.

  When Max explained to Pedro that this would be an all-cash upfront deal with a potential bonus upon successful completion of the mission, Pedro’s negotiation position became much more pliable, and an amenable deal was soon struck.

  Early the next day, the remainder of the items on their shopping list were acquired and loaded on the plane. By early afternoon, they were once again assembled back at Canaima Camp, ready to prepare the packages for air-drop at sea.

  CHAPTER 50

  Vacation in Costa Rica

>   Max said to Peggy, “You can start packing now. I think Geraldo and crew have everything under control here. If you hurry, we can catch a ride back to Caracas with Carlos.”

  “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m already packed. You are the laggard now.”

  “Okay, you got me. Give me a little while to check on our flights out of Caracas, and I need to make sure I know where we are to meet up with Glen.”

  “I’ll be waiting by the plane. Is there anything else we need to do while we are here?”

  “Not that I can think of, everything is on schedule. Geraldo was telling me that they could have the packages ready to go by tomorrow, so if anything, we are ahead of schedule.”

  Max and Peggy spent the night in Caracas, and the next morning they caught their flight from Caracas to San José in Costa Rica. In San José, they hired a driver to take them to the small town of Limón on the east coast, where they were planning to meet Glen. Once in Limón, they had a small problem. They had not called ahead to make reservations for a place to stay while they waited for Glen arrived on the scene. Fortunately, the driver had a good internet connection, so they were able to find a small bed-n-breakfast that had a vacancy, so they didn’t have to waste one of their burner phones to call Scott to come to their aid.

  Max said, “I believe we are here several days ahead of Glen, so we might as well enjoy ourselves until he shows up.”

  “And when do you expect him to arrive?” Peggy asked.

  “I don’t know for sure, but he will give us a call on one of the phones, and let us know where they berth the boat and when to join him. All I know for sure is that it is somewhere here in Limón, and he should be here within a week.”

  “That sounds good to me. Let’s get something good to eat tonight, and hit the beach tomorrow. I hear they have fabulous beaches here, and we may get a chance to do a little snorkeling while we are at it.”

  Max knew that despite their efforts to appear casual and unconcerned, there probably were eyes watching their every move looking for hints that they were other than what they gave every appearance of being. He and Peggy went to great lengths to appear like just a couple of tourists enjoying the sights and sounds of the country, which by-the-way they were. One day they were swimming and frolicking on the beach, the next day they took a train ride through the rain forest, and on the third, they went scuba diving. On the fourth day, Glen called and told them to meet him the next day on the boat. The rest of the crew would soon be arriving.