Quantum Earth

by Julie Achterhoff

  “Maybe we should take more time off,” said Fern. “This was a pretty big deal for all of us. Pretty traumatizing.”

  “But this is important work too,” said Rob. “I vote we keep on going. Noah will be up and around in a week or so, right?” Shauna knew everybody was still very upset.

  “How about if we sleep on it and decide what we’re going to do tomorrow. We have time.” They agreed. Everyone went back to their rooms for some much needed rest. Shauna and Hawk took showers and went to bed, but couldn’t sleep. The phone rang. Hawk picked it up expecting it to be one of the others. It wasn’t. He heard a long strange beeping noise. He was about to hang up when a female voice said, “Hawk?”

  “Yes,” he answered.

  “This is Meera.”

  “Oh my God. Meera.”

  “Yes. I am calling to tell you the time is coming soon. There is little time left. Your work is finished. Now you must do something else to help.”

  Shauna was trying to listen and had her face pressed to Hawk’s.

  “What do we need to do from here?” he asked.

  “You must leave San Francisco and go to the mountains.”

  “Where, Meera? What mountains?”

  Meera told him where they had to go, giving him specific instructions on how to get there.

  “What about Noah? We can’t just leave him here.”

  “Noah already knows this and accepts it. Be careful of this man named Beckham. He is not as he seems. He is working for people who do not have the Earth’s best interest at heart. You must be careful. I cannot stress this enough.”

  “Why do you want us to go to Colorado? What’s there? Are we going to meet you there?”

  “I can’t say any more. Good luck my friend.” She hung up.

  Hawk held the phone for a moment longer wondering if she was really gone. Then he put it in its cradle. Shauna asked him what she’d said. She couldn’t hear well. Did Meera say she wanted them to go to Colorado?

  “Yes,” said Hawk. “Here are the directions.” He handed her the piece of hotel stationary he’d used to write them down with.

  “Do you think we should get everybody in here and talk about this?”

  “No. Let’s let them sleep. If they can. We can tell them all about this tomorrow.”

  “Not everybody might want to go, Hawk.”

  “True. And we won’t force anybody to do it if they don’t want to. I know Rob will want to go. I don’t know about Peter and Fern. Poor Noah. He hasn’t got a choice.”

  “Yeah. I don’t know how I’m going to be able to sleep tonight. I’m all wired up.”

  “I’ll just hold you in my arms and settle you down,” Hawk said with a smile.

  “That sounds real good.”

  They got under the covers and he held her. It did calm her down, but sleep didn’t come for a long time. Shauna kept thinking about the prophesies; about the power of the mind, the collective unconscious. She thought about what the Earth had been like thousands of years ago and how much it had changed all because of one single species: Man. She wondered if a few people could really make any difference in the outcome, but then thought that whether or not they could she was proud to be one of the ones at least trying. The world was definitely a different place. It was funny though, that humans hadn’t changed all that much since they started walking upright. As far back as history went they hadn’t even stopped growing wisdom teeth or even lost their little toes. Evolutionarily speaking they were just like their ancient ancestors.

  Going to Colorado was on her mind as well. Would they be meeting up with Meera and some of her friends? What good could they do now. There had just been more earthquake activity in the East, as well as more volcanic eruptions. Hurricane season was almost over, but there could certainly be a couple left with damage to do. There had already been more record numbers of hurricanes this year as well as many more tornados than usual. Maybe it was just time to find a place of safety and hunker down for the worst. The data they had collected was inconclusive. Hawk had started off with a good premise. There was just no perfect way to get the proper data they needed. It was too much entwined into the emotional and psychic realms of the mind. There was no easy access to those areas for them to get the information. The question was still hanging. Did we create this coming disaster and all the other disasters or didn’t we?

  The next morning the phone rang again. This time it was Beckham. Hawk told him what he apparently already knew about the occurrence from the night before.

  “We’re going to Colorado. A place near Loveland. We have a contact there who thinks she can help us,” Hawk told him.

  “Do you think that’s a wise thing to do? What about Peter Tolson? Isn’t he a trance medium too?”

  “Yes, but I got a call last night about this whole situation and we’ve decided this is the best course of action at this time.”

  “Who is this person?”

  “I can’t tell you that. You’re going to have to trust me.”

  “Just remember our agreement Dr. Hawkins. I won’t waste time on fanciful whims,” Beckham said coldly.

  “Don’t worry. This is not a fanciful whim, as you call it. This person has vital information for us and I believe it’s well worth pursuing.”

  After they’d hung up Shauna kissed Hawk slow and deep.

  “Don’t let that guy get to you sweetie. He doesn’t really know what the hell he’s talking about or what’s going on here for that matter,” she said.

  The rest of the group met them down in the hotel’s restaurant for breakfast. Hawk and Shauna explained the new plan and revealed that Meera had somehow phoned them last night.

  “She knew what happened to Noah. So Peter, you’re off the hook for channeling tonight. We’re going to Colorado. Everyone who wants to, that is. Do any of you have a problem with it?”

  Nobody did.

  “Then it’s settled,” said Shauna. “I’ll make the flight arrangements and then we’ll go see Noah and let him know our plans. I’ll try and get us out on a flight by tonight.”

  Shauna finished her breakfast and left before the rest of them. Fern knocked on her door a few minutes after she’d finalized the flying arrangements. What do you think’s gonna happen in Colorado, Shauna?” asked Fern. “I mean, are we going to meet with any aliens or what?”

  “I’m not sure how to answer your question, Fern. Meera is not from this planet, and yes, we will be meeting with her if everything goes as planned. Are you worried about it?”

  “I guess I’m kind of blown away by it. I never thought I’d meat an actual E.T.”

  “You know it’s kind of funny, but you may already have and didn’t know it. They’re everywhere now. They’re not only studying us, but trying to help us, too. You know how on the old Star Trek series their prime directive was not to interfere either positively or negatively with the life forms they met on other planets? Well, I think maybe these beings, the Starborn ones that look like us started off with the same kind of idea, but seeing how much we’ve fucked everything up down here they decided if they didn’t butt in there wouldn’t end up being very much to study.” Shauna took a sip of her coffee. Shauna sat down at the small table next to her.

  “That makes sense I guess,” she said. “Are the flight plans arranged?”

  “Yes. We’re ready to go on the three o’clock flight out of San Francisco. We’ll drive out by one-thirty and return the van. Peter’s packing up some things to ship overnight to General Delivery in Loveland.”

  The women turned as they heard Hawk come in. He was wearing khaki shorts and a sports shirt. He smiled at them and asked if the arrangements were all made. Shauna confirmed that they were and told him the times. All there was to do now was wait. Shauna had already called Hutch and Susan, who were now on their way down from Six Rivers to stay with Noah until he recovered enough to go home with them.

  “Well, I’m gonna go get ready and pack up. I’ll see you two later,” said Fern.


  “Meet us here at one-fifteen. That should give us plenty of time to get going on time,” said Hawk. Fern said that worked and off she went.

  “What do you wanna do while we wait?” Hawk leered at her. She smiled and pushed him away as he tried to put his hand up her blouse.

  “We have plenty to do. And don’t you want to go visit Noah one more time before we go?”

  “Yeah, I do. But it’s still pretty early. Are you sure we couldn’t fit in a little R and R?”

  “Maybe later, Hawk. I need a shower and I need to pack my suitcase. Then we’ll see what kind of time we have left.”

  “What if we took that shower together? Huh?” He was nuzzling her neck and tugging her earlobe with his teeth. She got ticklish and pulled away, but with a smile on her face.

  “I guess that couldn’t hurt.” So they did.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Although their shower took longer than usual, Hawk and Shauna quickly dressed and asked Rob, Fern, and Peter if they were ready to go see Noah. They loaded into the van and drove over to the hospital.

  Noah was feeling much better and was sitting up eating pudding when they walked into his room. He was doing better than expected, informing them that Jackson was an excellent healer on top of all his other talents.

  “You just take good care of yourself and get lots of rest,” said Shauna.

  “Yeah big guy,” said Fern. “Do whatever Jackson says, even if it’s not exactly what the doctors think is best. Susan and Hutch should be here by this afternoon.”

  “Thanks you guys,” said Noah. It was good to see the color back in his face. Shauna had been so afraid they’d lose him. After gentle hugs all around they left him and went back to the hotel for a while before it was time to go.

  Then they headed off for the airport, turned the van in, and waited for the departure.

  Everything went as planned and the flight was quick. Before going to the hotel Shauna had reserved in advance, Hawk bought several specific geological maps of the area so they could find their way to the meeting place. Then they waited for word from Meera.

  She called Hawk’s cell phone when they had just finished a bite of dinner.

  “Do you have the directions?” she asked.

  “Yeah. Right here. And we got some maps.”

  “Good. It’s a full moon tonight, so that should make it easier for you to find us. You must be very discrete. Tell no one where you are going. Make sure nobody follows you.”

  “Who would be following us?”

  “Your benefactor is keeping very close tabs on you. He wants to make sure he is getting his money’s worth. He has been watching you every step of the way. I would expect him to send people to follow you if you told him where you were going.”

  “Yeah. I told him. Damn.”

  “It will be alright if you do as I tell you. Tonight drive to a remote area and hike in a ways. Stay for an hour or more. Then go back to the hotel and turn the lights out after twenty minutes. Then you come the way I told you, but check for headlights behind you. If you see anybody do not come. Our position cannot be compromised. This is one of our safe places. I am trusting in you, Hawk. We were destined to meet and I look forward to seeing you and your friends. We have much to discuss. But if anyone else comes here we won’t be here. Do you understand?”

  “Yes. I wouldn’t do anything to reveal your whereabouts, Meera. I promise you that. I know you’re taking a big risk letting us come and I appreciate it very much. Anyway, we’ll talk more tonight. We’ll see you then.” As Hawk clicked off he turned to Shauna, who had been listening.

  “Do you think Beckham’s people are watching us that closely?” he asked her.

  “I sure do,” she answered. “Beckham has the world at his feet so to speak. He’s not beyond anything is the sense I get from him. He has known everything that’s happened before you told him, right?”

  “Right.”

  “He’s got men on our tail and we need to do whatever we have to do to keep them away from Meera and her people. Maybe more than just shake them off our tails. Hawk, I think we better get a gun or two before we go out tonight.” She looked up into his eyes and couldn’t tell how he felt about that. He was usually so easy to read.

  “I agree,” he finally said. “I have a feeling we wouldn’t be the only ones armed either. These guys are obviously professionals. They’ve gotta be packing.”

  “Are you nervous?”

  “A little. Are you?”

  “Yeah, but I know we’re doing the right thing. All the rest of it, I think it has been leading to this. Before this I felt like we were just winging it somehow. We weren’t going to find out what we needed to make any difference. Now I feel like we’re on the right track. It just feels right.”

  “I think I know what you mean.” They held each other. Shauna was so grateful for this man. They felt the same about so many things. It felt like they really clicked. How could she be so lucky?

  Except now things were starting to get dangerous, or at least possibly so. Talking about guns and people following them made her more nervous than she let on to Hawk. But she knew it had to be done. They needed to take precautions and not get blindsided by being stupid and naive. They were playing in the big leagues now and needed to act like it. What was hanging on the line was life as they knew it and nothing less. They dare not kid themselves about that. She didn’t know how much time they had– months, years, even days possibly. Who really knew or could pinpoint the exact time? Most of the time references were vague, all except the end of the Mayan calendar, which was the Winter Solstice of the year 2012.

  Their team had been working on the “why” of it because that seemed like the key to the whole thing. They believed that the why would lead to a way to prevent a worldwide catastrophe. But that was only Hawk’s theory. A theory shared by the whole team now, but still only a theory. Trying to prove this theory had turned out to be impossible. There were too many variables. Peoples’ thoughts and feelings were much too ambiguous to capture as written data, especially in this case. Besides, there was no evidence to prove the theory one way or the other anyway. It had been a frustrating and futile search so far and Shauna was more than ready to look in other directions that might hold some hope for the people and creatures of the Earth. She felt the time of danger getting closer.

  – – –

  It was time. On their ride to nowhere special everybody was silent. They found an old dirt road and drove in about a mile and a half. It was just past dusk, but Hawk had seen headlights turn on the same road and pull over to the side. They were all nervous. Hawk got out of the car and used binoculars to see if he could see anything or anyone coming up behind them. There was no one. Fern, Rob, and Peter stayed in the rented Outback, while Shauna came out and stood next to Hawk. They stared down the road.

  “I know they’re out there,” said Shauna. “I can feel them.”

  “Of course they are,” said Hawk. “They’re probably talking to Beckham right now asking what they should do next. We gotta find us a gun store and a helpful clerk somewhere. I hate sitting here like ducks.”

  “We’ll be okay for now I think. It’s later I’m worried about.”

  “I saw a pawn shop on the way here. We can check there first. I just hope we get there before they close.”

  The glare of headlights came from around a bend in the road.

  “Everybody out now,” said Hawk.

  Peter and Fern jumped out of the car. The four of them took a small deer trail into the overgrowth where they couldn’t be seen because of all the trees and vegetation.

  “What are we supposed to do now for crying out loud?” asked Peter.

  “Just stay here for a little while until they’re satisfied they know where we are. Then we can go,” said Shauna.

  The lights became brighter until they passed up the Outback. Then the other car slowed and came to a stop.

  “Jesus Christ, man,” said Rob. “This is nuts! I don’t like this
at all.”

  “Shhh!” said Shauna. “You want them to hear us?”

  The headlights shut down and the engine died out. Then it was silent. Hawk had put his arm protectively around Shauna. The group huddled there for a while until they started to barely make out a word here and there of what the two men were saying. It started to get windy so most of the words didn’t reach them.

  “What if they find us here?” said Rob. “We’d be some dead sitting ducks then.”

  “Don’t talk like that Rob. They wouldn’t hurt us anyway. Don’t start freaking out” Fern scolded.

  The voices were getting clearer.

  “He said to wait here,” one guy said.

  “Shut up, ya crybaby,” said the other.

  “Don’t go in there, man.”

  “Don’t you wanna see what them aliens look like?”

  “Fuck no. Let’s not and say we did.”

  “Just a little further.”

  The team stood motionless. Shauna could hardly bring herself to breathe. Just then Rob tripped on a rock that had been just behind his foot.

  “What the fuck was that?”

  “I told you not to go in there.”

  “Shut the fuck up, you imbecile. Let’s just get the hell away from here if you’re so damned scared then.”

  The voices receded and they heard the car start up and go back the way it had come.

  “Oh my god,” sighed Shauna. “I thought for a minute there...” She laid her head against Hawk’s chest.

  “I’m sorry guys,” said Rob. “I didn’t mean to...”

  “It was probably the best thing that could have happened, Rob,” said Hawk. “They heard you and got spooked and left. I think we’re okay now.”

  “Yeah. It looks like we scared them more than they scared us,” said Peter.

  Fern started giggling. “That was actually pretty funny, Rob.”

  The last few leaves clinging to the trees made a dry sound as the wind picked up again. Shauna pulled her coat tighter around herself. She hadn’t been amused. Those were not nice young men. They were harsh and crude. Were these the kind of men Beckham had sent to just keep an eye on them? Or was there more going on with him than they knew?