In Situ

by Frazier, David Samuel

  As she pulled in, Alex realized she had underestimated the horse situation, not from Mot’s point of view, but from the horses themselves. Billy and Bobby were stirred up, trotting back and forth and a making a lot of noise. They were so nervous they looked like they were about to try to bolt from their corral.

  “Wow, they are all jacked up over you, Mot. Stay here for a second.”

  Alex slid out of the truck and walked to the corral, speaking in a calming voice to Billy and Bobby. Both of them were excellent ranch horses and they were used to a rattler or the scent of a mountain lion, but that didn’t mean they had to like it, or that they wouldn’t react if they sensed a predator. She pulled some sugar from a stash she had by the barn and eventually got them both to the fence and calmed. They happily licked the sugar cubes out of Alex’s hand and relaxed. Might as well try to get them used to Mot right now or there will be no rest for any of us, she thought to herself. She left the horses and went back to the truck.

  “OK, Mot, let’s go see how we do together with these guys. We have to get them to calm down around you.”

  Mot got out of the truck and took a big sniff of the desert air, flicking to get the full flavor of it. He stopped for a moment to see what he could feel in the earth: the large animals, Alex, something much lighter scampering away somewhere beyond the wooden structures and some other very small animals foraging about. But there was something else. He could feel another presence close by, but he just couldn’t identify it. Mot wasn’t sure if it was dangerous or not, but Alex didn’t seem to be worried, so he followed her, sniffing the air along the way.

  As they walked towards the corral, Alex was speaking out loud in a very different voice than Mot was used to. Her tone reminded him of his mother for some reason. The horses settled and stayed calm. And even when Mot got very close, the horses, while bothered, remained relatively quiet. Alex was a little confused because she had expected Billy and Bobby to get a little more worked up over Mot when he got near them, until the cougar made a break for it.

  First, there had been an otherworldly growl, low and angry, and then the cat rolled out from behind a corner of the corral and ran swiftly for the desert. The horses had seen it, Alex had seen it, and Mot had instantly disappeared after it. Billy and Bobby went nuts, and Alex had her hands full trying to calm them again. Good thing I don’t have a dog, she thought, as she worked to sooth the two horses.

  Mot eventually returned, walking swiftly back from the direction the cat had taken. Alex was relieved when she saw that he didn’t have the cougar slung over his shoulder.

  “The creature got away,” Mot said as he approached, obviously disappointed.

  “Well, they are very fast,” Alex said, still wondering what the cat had been up to.

  “Yes, I was only able to catch this part of it.” Mot reached out and showed Alex a bloody wad that must have been the tip of the cougar’s tail. “If I had my hunting stick it would not have escaped,” Mot said. He appeared to be only mildly out of breath. “I am sorry, Alex, if I knew the animals of your world better, I might have detected it sooner. It is obviously a predator.”

  Alex blanched as she reluctantly took the tail. Something else to bury, she thought. “Well fortunately there aren’t very many species we need to worry about around here. Come on inside and I will fix us both something to eat and then, I don’t know about you Mot, but I have to sleep.”

  “I would like to sleep, but I am very hungry, Alex.”

  Alex disposed of the cougar tail, and took Mot into the house, his huge bulk barely clearing the front door. There was a straight flight of stairs that lead to four bedrooms on the top floor with one bath. Downstairs, there was a parlor on one side, a large kitchen on the other, and another bath. Alex had been around this house in one fashion or another for almost twenty years, so she was pretty certain that the chest freezer on the back porch would be full of Garcia’s venison. She was delighted to see that she was not wrong when she opened it. She grabbed what she thought must be four or five pounds of meat. Glancing over at Mot, who was watching her every move, she thought better of it, and pulled out another five pounds and threw it on the counter.

  “Well Mot, let me just get some dinner started and then I can show you around.” Alex unwrapped the meat from its white butcher paper and dumped it in a large pan and turned on the heat. This was not going to be a gourmet meal; she was more concerned with quantity than quality.

  Mot was looking at everything at once and following Alex’s every move.

  She pointed at the oven and stove top. “This gets very hot, like a bigger version of the one I had in the truck. We cook almost everything on one of these.”

  “What is it called, Alex?”

  “A stove.”

  “Stove.” Alex could hear Mot attempt to repeat the word aloud and she could hear him saying it in her head. She realized, or suddenly remembered, that she and Mot were communicating almost entirely non-verbally.

  “Come on, I’ll show you the house. This is our version of what I believe was your cave.”

  “Yes, Alex. It was far too dangerous to live outside of the caves. This would never keep out the predators of my world,” Mot said, stooping over to peer out the windows and gently testing the wooden walls with his enormous hands.

  “Well, we don’t have anything like the kind of animals you had to face, and most of the ones we do have are usually frightened of humans, and they do their best to avoid us.”

  Mot just grunted a reply, completely distracted by the details of Alex’ home as they walked through it.

  Alex showed Mot the parlor and made a mental note to come back later and remove the dinosaur movie she had been most recently watching from the DVD player. That is the last thing I need him seeing, she thought, as if Mot could figure out how to work the thing by himself.

  As she led him upstairs, Alex tried to do a quick mental inventory of the house, wondering what else it might be wise to hide from Mot. She quickly gave up, realizing that the entire place was packed with dinosaur paraphernalia.

  When she showed Mot the upstairs bath, she was rigorously questioned about the toilet’s function and operation. “We had something very similar in the caves, Alex, water running through,” he said, studying it intently. Mot turned to her. “I will use this toilet,” he announced.

  Alex laughed. “OK, Mot, just don’t forget to put the lid back down.”

  “I do not understand Alex.”

  “Oh never mind. Come back down when you are done and I will feed you,” she said, walking toward the stairs to give him some privacy.

  Alex went back to the kitchen. She was pleased to see that the venison was thawing in the pan and already beginning to brown. She turned up the heat, searing it lightly, and proceeded to cook the entire lot of it until it was quite well done. Alex figured there was enough for ten very hungry people. When she had finished thoroughly cooking the meat and dicing it up, she placed the overflowing plate in front of Mot. His tongue flicked. “Can I get you anything else with that?” she asked, smiling at the dinosaur.

  “What about you, Alex?” Mot asked, focused on the meat.

  “Oh, I couldn’t eat a thing.” Alex felt full just from cooking the massive dinner.

  She grabbed a chair and watched as Mot nearly finished the entire plate. Alex hadn’t thought to offer him a chair or any utensils and Mot hadn’t asked, polishing off the venison with gusto as he stood at the counter. As if he hadn’t eaten in a million years, Alex thought, amusing herself as she watched him. She was so tired she was almost falling asleep.

  “Thank you, Alex,” she heard him say and she realized that she had dozed.

  “Mot, I have to go to sleep,” Alex said, fighting to rise from her seat. “I bet you are tired too. You can sleep wherever you wish, just please do not leave the house without telling me. We will be safe I am sure. OK?” As she spoke, she rinsed what was left of dinner into the sink, and set the plate on the counter. Alex turned back towards him
, “Mot, it is very important that you stay here in the house, OK?”

  “Yes, Alex. I understand.”

  Alex felt like she should call Tom, but she was just too tired. She climbed up the stairs and fell into bed with her clothes on. Her alarm clock indicated 6:33 p.m. It had been a long 24 hours. She fell instantly into a deep sleep.

  Mot wandered the house for a while, looking around at everything with great fascination. Finally, when he got drowsy, he walked quietly up the stairs, and went to sleep in front of Alex’s door.

  Chapter 22

  Batter Reports

  Arthur H. Long had been President for only a short time, so Batter had some genuine empathy for the man was now dealing with the worst event in the history of the world.

  Batter had been asked to report on two issues. The first, which might have been monumental news at any other time in history, was that, indeed, the specimen that they had found in Utah had somehow survived not only 65 million years of hibernation, but a massive traffic accident to boot. Even more incredibly, it appeared to be as intelligent as a human, not that that was necessarily saying much. And yes, it did seem as if the scientists had discovered a possible cryo-protectant based on the minor ingredients in the mixture the creature had hibernated in. They believed that it might actually work, but testing had just begun and they were running out of time.

  The second, and much bigger issue, was that the world was about end, and it looked like Batter was only going to be able to get three of the four ARCs functional in time for that unfortunate event. Batter felt like he was failing on the Utah site, an emotion he was completely unfamiliar with. But the fact of the matter was that if the astronomers were right, they were only going to be able to save a small handful of people anyway, and who knew for how long? This situation made the plague or World War III or most any other disaster imaginable look like child’s play.

  “I am sorry, Mr. President, but the progress in Utah does not look good,” Batter said. “We are 99 percent complete and have everyone available on it, but I just don’t think we are going to pull it off. Are we still on the same schedule?”

  “Yes, Batter, unfortunately nothing has changed. 2117 hours Eastern Tuesday is what they are saying. I am still waiting for the scientists to pin down a more precise impact point. So far, they are saying somewhere in the Pacific, maybe just off of Ecuador’s coast. So that doesn’t help us. The blast is expected to be several thousand times Nagasaki/Hiroshima, and it really couldn’t be closer to North America without being in North America. Just the tsunamis alone will wipe out the entire West Coast. It truly looks like it is the end of the world, at least the world as we know it. I think you may want to just scratch Utah, and concentrate on the other three ARCs. I can’t risk populating it, if you can’t guarantee the site’s integrity.”

  “I’ll consider that. Do you mind if I ask, Sir, what the other nations have decided to do?”

  “We are in agreement not to panic the public in advance of the event. This first asteroid is almost 1 kilometer in diameter, with the second one about three times that size. Between the two of them, they are probably going to kill everything on the surface no matter what we do. The more lead time we give the public the more unnecessary grief. Six hours is what was decided.”

  “What’s that, Sir?”

  “Six hours.” The President repeated. “It’s funny, there seems to be more concern about the potential behavior of the general population before the event than the event itself, and I am inclined to agree. In the meantime, internally, we are still calling it a drill, even with the some of the highest security personnel. Otherwise, as you know Batter, some will just panic, and it won’t be good for anyone.”

  “I understand, Sir.” Batter had already imagined the rioting that would eventually ensue once the word got out. He made a mental note to keep close tabs on anyone on his staff who would be aware of the actual situation. People were people, always a frightening prospect.

  “Also, Batter,” the President continued, “I have arranged to send the Vice President in my place. I will be staying in Washington.”

  “I am sorry to hear that.”

  “It’s not for me, Batter, this underground thing,” the President said matter-of-factly.

  “Let me know if there is anything else I can do,” Batter said, in complete agreement. He was quite sure that it wasn’t for him either, but it didn’t occur to him that he had a choice.

  “Just help everyone settle in. I assume that you will stay at 51?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  The President paused on the other end of the line. “Fascinating coincidence isn’t it?”

  “Sir?”

  “That dinosaur you just woke up? Sounds like it was around the last time this happened. I wish I could be there just to see her. Perhaps you can send me some video?”

  “Certainly, Sir. Regarding that issue, Sir, protocol has always dictated the elimination…,” Batter caught himself, suddenly not knowing exactly how to say something. “Well, you know. ‘Document then eliminate’ I believe is how the policy is summarized. How would you like this matter addressed?”

  “Oh, I suppose during any other time we might have had a wide-ranging conversation about whether or not we could risk the exposure. I mean, that is one of the main reasons we have always maintained 51, right, to ‘shield the world from any evidence of other intelligence?’” The President paused. It was as if Batter could see him shaking his head. “I am going to let you decide this one, Alan, since I no longer think that it is an issue. I guess you’ll have to figure out whether your dinosaur ends up being house guest of the Nevada ARC or not. But you will have some challenges with that as I am sure you are aware.”

  “Yes, Sir,” Batter said, suddenly realizing this might be one of the last times he ever spoke to the man.

  “Hey, what is it that they call that place again? I can never seem to remember the nickname.”

  “Dreamland, Sir. They call it Dreamland.”

  *

  Pete had finally left Ara to the care of the other researchers so that he could go and give a full report to Batter. He also wanted time to pursue a theory he had developed regarding the cryogen projects, something he was very excited about. He had quite possibly identified the one problem that had been holding them back, and its solution. He eventually tracked down Batter in one of the libraries reserved for ranking officers and was surprised to see him enjoying a cigar and what appeared to be a snifter of cognac.

  “Sorry, Doctor, I went ahead and had dinner, and then…” Batter said, displaying his cigar and the giant balloon snifter. “What is that saying? ‘You only go ‘round once.’ Isn’t that it?”

  Pete was a little surprised at Batter’s mood. The bottle on the table was Remy Martin XO Premier Cru. Pete had been working closely with Batter for years, and had never seen him relax at all, let alone smoke a cigar or indulge himself with something as expensive as the Remy.

  Hell, smoking wasn’t even allowed down here, now that Pete thought about it. He looked around but there didn’t seem to be anyone else in the room.

  “Oh, I sent everyone out so that we could talk confidentially, Pete,” Batter said, noticing. “Can I get you a drink?”

  Pete was anxious to get over to the cryo lab and back to Ara, and the last thing he wanted to do was get stuck with Batter for the rest of the evening. “No thanks,” he said, still standing, hoping to keep the meeting short. Batter offered him a cigar, which Pete also declined. He watched impatiently as Batter slowly poured more of the cognac for himself from what was rapidly becoming the bottom of the bottle.

  As he stood, Pete considered Batter’s comment about “round once,” the cigars, the cognac, and the beyond amazing discovery of the Arzat which he had risked his life obtaining-and became suddenly hopeful. Maybe he’s finally going to give me a raise, he thought. Pete’s oldest daughter would be going to college soon, and some extra money would sure help. He finally sat down to listen to what the man ha
d to say.

  “How’s your dinosaur? Or should we be calling it something else?” Batter asked as Pete settled into the seat next to him.

  “She’s fine—remarkable. I have no idea how to classify her. She claims to have come from a clan of Arzats, a species she says was populous in the world of her time. We are actually able to communicate telepathically.”

  “Interesting. After all the science fiction and all the speculation, it’s actually possible.”

  “She said that she thinks humans could telepath with each other as well, that we just need to be able to turn on that part of our brain.”

  “Sounds like you could study her for years.”

  “That’s the plan. My staff is very excited. We just fed her dinner. An enormous amount of very good steak, and I should add, prepared well done per her request. And we’ve worked out lavatory arrangements.”

  “Lavatory arrangements?” Batter said, amazed.

  “Yes, apparently she did not appreciate us forcing her to squat in the middle of the room to urinate. She said it would have been more embarrassing if she had needed to take a crap.”

  “Did she say that?” Batter laughed.

  “Well, not in so many words. Remember we are communicating with telepathy, Sir. It’s weird, general concepts are easy. We just have to explain unfamiliar terms to each other.”

  “But she has a spoken language as well, right?”

  “Oh yes, and written apparently. It’s amazing what I’m learning. For example, I believe her word for ‘shit,’ the expletive version, at least, is ‘kak’, or something close to that.”

  “Astonishing, really, that it took this long to find other intelligent life here on earth, isn’t it?”

  “Let’s face it, no one wanted to. Can you imagine introducing Ara to the Pope?” Pete said, smiling.

  “Yes. In fact, I know you are quite aware that, among other things, 51 was originally created to make sure such a thing didn’t happen. As was the case with our visitors from space,” Batter added.