Planet of Peace

by Jerry Belvo

  As they continued to talk the conversation became more personal. Jones then confided in Jeff. AMy Dad didn’t care about me. He told me I wouldn’t amount to anything, because I wasn’t good enough. He wouldn’t ever take my side, and always opposed me. When I took that bullet for you, I knew my Dad was wrong.@

  AHe sure was. For a protector of the public I think you are the best there is, and you make a pretty good friend too.@

  Jones smiled at his last remark, but Cleaver broke into the conversation. If Jones was going to make a confession, she may as well tell her story. AMy mother died when I was young and my dad commanded me to run the household, do the cooking, cleaning and caring for my brothers. Three of them were always making a mess, and they never cleaned up after themselves. My dad would holler at me regularly for no apparent reason except that he was drunk. I left home right after high school. Jones is the first man I’ve ever trusted. Actually he’s quite a guy, if you can get past his macho behavior,@ she said, smiling at Jeff.

  AWell, I’m happy for both of you.@

  AIt took that bullet before she realized she actually had feelings for me, and she was willing to put up with me. She deserves a medal for that! By the way, are you religious, Jeff,@ Jones asked?

  AI hadn’t given it much thought. My folks took me to church when I was young, but I kind of drifted away as I grew older. I do love people and empathize with anyone who’s hurting. I never wanted to hurt anyone and got angry from the serum Cleaver gave me. I saw a side of me I didn’t like; one I don’t ever want to see again.@ He paused a moment then continued. ATo answer your question, I think God is in my heart. I don’t see him anywhere else, and I try to do what Jesus would do. I’m not happy with the way I treated Dukes. At the time it seemed the way to handle the problem, but now he’s facing going to prison I feel badly.

  Jones nodded his head in agreement then changed the subject. AWe’re going to be married soon. You and Sarina are invited to the wedding.@

  AWe would be happy to be there,@ Jeff replied smiling. ACongratulations.@

  As Jones was leaving he noticed the object on the table at the front door. AThat’s a strange crystal you have there. Where did you get it?@

  Jeff didn’t want to tell him it came from Dos and wished Sarina had left it in her closet like they’d agreed, but she had just recently brought it over, not wanting to be responsible for its safety. AI found it in my travels,@ Jeff replied.

  AWell, it sure is unusual,@ Jones replied.

  After he left Jeff wondered if he should make it disappear. It may not be safe on the table. Should he put it in storage, maybe in a safe deposit box? After some thought, he came up with an idea. He put his hands on it, concentrated a moment and watched it disappear into another dimension. When it came time to move Jeff hoped he wouldn’t forget to take it with him.

  *

  Jeff accompanied his parents to Sarina=s home for Thanksgiving. After a scrumptious meal of turkey and all the trimmings he settled on the back porch with Grandpa Roberts while the others were still in the house. The old gentleman looked at Jeff and said. APeace seems to always be just beyond one=s reach. I have spent my whole life searching for mine. Now that I have found it I don’t see any life beyond it. I hope to live long enough to see Sarina married. It would bring me peace to know that you would be her life partner, but that’s not my decision.@ He leaned towards Jeff and continued, AWork within the system, Jeff. If you want to heal become a doctor and then no one will complain. If you don’t want to be a doctor and want to heal then do so, but don’t let them trace it back to you. If you want to help the poor, do so but stay within the system. When you buck the system you will fail, because there are those more powerful than you who will always prevail. When you are finished, know you will have accomplished what you came here to do.@

  Just then Sarina came out of the house and remarked to Jeff, AWhat’s Grandpa telling you now? Does it concern me?@

  AI was just telling him to work within the system and that I wish you would get married before I die.@

  AAre you putting words in Jeff=s mouth, Grandpa?@

  ANo, I=m just being practical.@

  AWell, I want to graduate before that day. If Jeff waits that long, maybe I’ll ask him to marry me,@ she replied. Jeff glanced over at Sarina and smiled. He got the hint and grasped her hand.

  Grandpa said. AHow times have changed, women now asking men to marry. What will they think of next?@

  AOh, Grandpa, you know I’m just kidding. Besides, you are sounding too morbid. You need to cheer up. Didn’t you get enough to eat?@

  AYes and then some,@ he replied rubbing his mid-section. After she went inside he turned again to Jeff. AI have always felt I never belonged on this planet. I felt I was from somewhere else. When I die will you take my spirit to Dos?@

  ADon’t talk that way Grandpa. When the time comes I will make sure you get to Dos.@ Jim knew he didn’t have long to live. His life was complete.

  *

  A week later Jeff got back in town from another on site work week. He was unpacking his luggage, laying it neatly on his bed when he noticed a piece of paper on the floor. He leaned down to pick it up and studied it carefully. Then it dawned on him. It was one of his great uncle=s writings.

  He hadn’t gone through his uncle=s writings since last spring. Why would a page be on the floor? He called Sarina.

  ASarina, I’m back in town and unpacking. If you don’t have anything planned I’d like for you to come over. I need to talk to you about something.@

  She replied, AYes, I’ll see you in an hour.@

  He finished his unpacking while waiting for her. Shortly she was knocking on the front door and he invited her in. AWere you in my apartment while I was gone,@ he asked her?

  ANo, I was home all week studying for finals,@ she replied. AWhy do you ask?@

  ASomeone was in my apartment while I was gone. I found this on the floor,@ he said handing the paper to her.

  She looked at it then gave it back. AIt’s old. What is it?@

  AIt’s one of John=s scripts. Someone was in here looking for something.@ Suddenly he felt compelled and rushed to the closet, opened the door, and reached up on the top shelf, taking down the box containing John=s writings. Slowly opening the lid so as not to disturb anything he meticulously went through the writings one by one, studying each. Then he looked up at Sarina.

  AOne of John=s manuscripts is missing! Someone has taken it!@

  AWhat was it about,@ she asked?

  AIt was about John=s travels in space. It had information on Dos and several other planets.@

  AWho would want that? If they couldn’t space travel it would be of little value to them.@

  AThank heavens there is a printed copy in the bottom of the box or I would be at a total loss,@ he responded.

  AJeff, do you think the cyber-terrorist broke in and took it?@

  He thought for a moment trying to piece it together. AI don’t know, but I think I had better report it. In the meantime I will hide the box with the crystal sphere.@

  AWhere is that?@

  AIt’s in another dimension.@ She watched as he placed the box back on the shelf. Then it disappeared.

  AI realize that this material could be dangerous in the wrong hands. I overstepped my bounds when I helped your dad discover the T-Ray. Now someone learning what is in the manuscript could discover other things that would jeopardize the safety of this planet. Well, at least no one will find it now, at least until they learn to go into that dimension. Even then if they don’t know what to look for they wouldn’t notice it. If they do they will have to teleport it back here to read it.@

  *

  >This New Year will be one of change,= Jeff thought. The AIA office closed in Denver. Jones and Cleaver both had new jobs and were getting married in March. Jeff had an agent from a
nother department tailing him regularly, but there had been no recent attempts on his life. His assailant had managed to evade the law, and the officials believed him to be in another state, but they still had the warrant out for his arrest.

  The manuscript had been gone for over a month. Jeff had read the extra copy, getting it from and returning it to its secret hiding place when finished. He wanted to see if there were any clues as to why anyone would want to steal it.

  He decided a trip to Dos was necessary and found his great uncle waiting for him when he arrived. AWhat’s the reason for your visit,@ John asked?

  AI have a problem. Someone has stolen your original manuscript. I have an idea who it is, and I don’t know what good it would do him, or why he would even want it. He doesn’t seem knowledgeable enough to understand it.@

  John replied, AThere’s information in my book that will show one how to travel in space. In the wrong hands, evil spirits could move freely in space causing havoc on both our planets. They could also learn how to travel at the speed of thought in space ships, and could quickly reach any planet in the galaxy.@

  AI guess that’s a good enough reason. Well, I need to get it back, but how should I do that?@

  ATrack the vibrations of the book or of the thief if you know them.@

  AGood idea,@ Jeff replied. AThanks for the tip.@

  *

  Jeff received a call from Sarina before he left for work. She spent the previous evening at the hospital with her grandfather, and had just received word he had died during the night. The funeral would be on Saturday. Thinking she might need consoling, Jeff headed to her house.

  AThank you for coming,@ she greeted him at the door. He held her for a while then she led him to the kitchen where she brewed some tea and they sat at the table. AI was at Grandpas bedside last night I sensed Grandma Doris was there beckoning him. Later, I went home. While in bed I sensed others were with him, and I knew he had died.@

  Jeff responded. AThis was sudden? I knew he was having heart problems, but I thought the doctors were monitoring it. I wish there was something I could have done.@

  ADon’t blame yourself Jeff. Humans get old and die. It’s just that way.@

  ABut it seems so unfair. I can heal people who get in accidents or who become ill, but I can’t do anything for those who get old. I wonder how I’m going to feel when I get old.@

  AWe’ll all be old someday, and we’ll just have to wait to find out,@ she responded. Sarina was taking it well considering it was her own kin. Had she not sensed her grandmother’s presence, she might have taken it harder. Just knowing they were finally together brought her comfort.

  Jeff wondered what was in store for him. Since he had a human body, he presumed his day would also come, but right now it seemed far away. He wasn’t going to think any more about it.

  Services were held Saturday at the funeral home followed by a motorcade to the cemetery. Everyone was given a chance to say something about their recollections of the deceased. Finally they all went to Sarina=s home for food and drink.

  After he got home that evening Jeff wanted to deliver on his promise to Grandpa Roberts. He quietly meditated and eventually saw him wondering through the cosmos. Jeff beckoned for him to follow. He then visualized Doris Robert=s and found her spirit waiting for them as they floated through waves of color towards the light. Lastly he visualized his Great Uncle John who met them and they were all drawn to Dos. Having completed his promise he departed. Coming out of his meditation he wondered if Doris Robert=s spirit would stay on Dos or return back to earth. That, of course, was her decision.

  *

  On Sunday he checked his e-mail only to find another threat. When were they going to stop? He reported it and then decided to try his hand at finding the lost manuscript. There was no proof that the terrorist even had it, so he decided to feel the vibrations of the writings. After ten minutes and no movement he realized the writings he had hidden kept him from moving forward, and he couldn’t break out the energy of just one item. He would meditate on the terrorist.

  Sensing the energy of the man who shot Jones he felt himself moving through dimensions. He emerged slowly at his destination taking caution not to be seen. Once he saw the person he assumed to be his assailant he sensed for the energy of the manuscript which led him to a vehicle parked out front. Still invisible he reached through the metal cover of the trunk and felt for the manuscript. Once he had a grasp on it he slowly pulled it back through the metal.

  Next he found a news stand. He wanted to see what city he was in so he could tell Jones. It was Seattle. That was all he needed and he transported himself back to his apartment. He put the script back into the box hiding it in its safe place. Then he called the number Jones had given him, told him his assailant could be found it Seattle. The rest was up to the FBI.

  *

  A week later the Rocky Mountains had a terrible snow storm. Schools had closed early and the children were immediately bussed home. One bus slid off the road and down a ravine coming to a stop upside down. Rescuers were trying to reach the children but going down the cliff was very dangerous. They feared the worst.

  When Jeff heard the terrible news he immediately called the other star children. He gave them all directions and told them he would meet them there. Without having vibration patterns to zero in on, they couldn’t teleport themselves. They had to rely on old fashioned directions. Then he closed his eyes and visualized the overturned bus and was immediately on the scene.

  Most of the children were still held by safety belts hanging upside down, and were crying loudly. A mysterious force floated two children out of the bus as Jeff worked invisibly taking two at a time to safety back up on the road. He had made several trips before Julie showed up and assisted him. A few minutes later Travis and two other star children came to the rescue.

  Jeff set about healing those who had broken bones or were bleeding. Two had gone through the glass windows and were lying almost frozen in the snow. He sent his energy through them, one at a time until both were moving and took them to the road. Then he went for the bus driver who was knocked unconscious, but still buckled in his seat. First he scanned him for injuries, and after the driver regained consciousness Jeff transported him to the road.

  The children were cold and bewildered, not knowing how they all of a sudden found themselves out of the bus and on the road. Blizzard conditions were making things miserable for them. The rescuers became visible and Julie suggested the children huddle together and sing until help arrived.

  One of the star children phoned for help, but was having trouble getting through. Reception wasn’t good. Finally she did reach someone and told them the children were fine but needed to be rescued before they froze to death.

  Their reply was, they would normally have sent a helicopter but visibility was limited, and they couldn’t risk it crashing in the blizzard. It would have to be a snow-cat.

  Surely it wouldn’t take long, but daylight disappeared from the sky and soon they were in total darkness. Finally the sound of a vehicle could be heard in the distance, and shortly they saw headlights coming around the bend. Behind the plow was another vehicle large enough to hold the children.

  When the equipment was within close range the star children decided not to be there. They didn’t want to take credit for the rescue. Julie told the children to move to the side of the road so they wouldn’t get hurt until the vehicles stopped. As the children did so the rescuers disappeared from the scene.

  That evening on television the incident was reported. A comment was made that this was one of several unexplained rescues where all miraculously survived. Many people wondered if guardian angels were making themselves known.

  *

  Within a week of the blizzard, the cyber-terrorist was arrested in Seattle and brought back to Denver. No one was surprised when Dukes arrived in han
dcuffs. Jones was present when Dukes was interrogated and relayed what he heard back to Jeff.

  AThe guy was loony, Jeff. All he spoke of was seeing spirits who tempted him to do things. When asked about the manuscript he didn’t remember it at first, but then he said the spirits wanted it so they could work their spells. Dukes wanted to destroy it, as he thought it evil, but they insisted he read it. The authorities don’t know if Dukes is sane enough to stand trial at this time and are thinking of having him committed.@

  AI feel responsible, you know,@ Jeff again told Jones. AIf I hadn’t transported him he might not have turned out this way.@

  AI don’t think that. One incident wouldn’t make that much difference. I thought Dukes was one brick short of a load when he came to work with us. But the chief wanted someone who could command attention. That he could,@ Jones remarked.

  Sarina called shortly thereafter and Jeff told her what had happened. She was concerned. AJeff, if Dukes read the manuscript, the information would be in his mind, and these spirits would have access to it. If it’s as important as you say, the spirit world now has access to it. But, I wonder what part they are trying to access?@

  AI haven’t the slightest idea,@ Jeff responded.

  Chapter 20

  It had been a year since the AIA had been abolished and Jones had become a security guard. He was happy to be out from under the influence of the federal government. After their wedding he and Cleaver had spent many weekends camping during the summer. They adopted a little girl and she was spending time happily changing diapers and taking care of her bundle of motion.

  Leslie Storm had become a congresswoman, and Sarina had helped with her campaign. She started giving Sarina tips on upcoming political events which enabled her to write articles for the press. The arrangement was working well, and Sarina was making political connections with her reporting skills. She was also doing some reporting for a local television station.