Starship Genesis

by Linda M. Miller

  We grow tired since everything is uphill through the canyon. When we finally make it through the first canyon we can see into the upper valley we originally descended from. It is magnificent. We come to the next smaller lake and skirt it as we did before and finally reach our own canyon stream. We never encounter the hunting party on the return trip and finally make it back to camp.

  “I’m so tired.” I say as I get out of the boat. Then I notice Talon is building something and I check it out.

  “Deonna! You’re just in time.” he remarks.

  “What is it supposed to be?” I ask.

  “It’s going to be an oven.” He’s using stone and clay. “It’s meant to be a kitchen,” he tells me.

  “Not bad,” I respond.

  “How was your trip?” he asks.

  “We saw a lot of wild life coming and going. We also saw a hunting party ten miles from here.”

  “Really? Did they see you?” He asks.

  Korban joins in. “We hid from them. Deonna discovered them first. I’m concerned that one of these days they are going to discover us.

  “So it’s probably better if we scout them out first and study them. Don’t you

  think?” Talon asks.

  “Since we’re going to be neighbors, I think it’s a good idea. We’ll make a few scouting trips into various directions to see what we can find. We can also map the area as well.” Korban adds.

  A MENAGERIE-ADVENTURE

  The archeological team rendezvous at the lab in Bowie. Dr. Gray meets us and gives the same tour I received.

  “Seriously, this reminds me of a car wash minus the rainbow suds,” Dwayne remarks.

  “White jackets, goggles and gloves; I feel like we’re getting ready for surgery,” Peter adds. Dr. Gray meets us and gives the same tour I received.

  “As you can all see, the bio generators do an impressive job. Everything you see in this lab, the insects, plant life, animals, absolutely everything came from one stone. This lab was sterile when we started it up. We wanted everything found here, except for us, to be sourced from the bio-generator.”

  “This is quite a zoo.” Ray comments.

  “I believe Matt was quite correct to give them the stone.” Leesa adds.

  Everyone seems to be speechless, except for Hans. “So aliens did this. Does this mean we all come from somewhere across the universe?”

  No one answers. But it would seem Han’s comment is quite possible.

  Mark meets with everyone briefly in a conference room before we leave.

  “Not only are we returning to Peru, we are going to help with the recon and recovery of whatever is in that ship. I’ve been discussing this with Matt, and our project may get pushed up because of the second stone your team has recovered. There could be more stones in that ship. And the U.S. government would like to get to the site before any other government gets to it.”

  “What’s the next step?” Ray asks.

  “Everyone here will have to train in mountain climbing for higher elevations. We’re sending your team to Colorado. You’ll leave tomorrow at 0800 out of Dulles Airport. I’ll see you at 0700 sharp at Gate 6.”

  Everyone departs separately. I call Kim.

  “Hey, Kim.” It goes to voicemail. She’s on shift at the hospital. I leave her a message.

  “Kim, its Matt. Honey, sorry I missed you. I need to let you we have a change of plans for this weekend. Mark has scheduled us to fly out to Colorado for training at high altitudes and rock climbing. We’ll be gone all week. We leave tomorrow out of Dulles at 8:00 a.m. Call me as soon as you get a break. Love you! Bye.” I get into my car and my cell phone rings. It’s Kim.

  “Oh, Matt! This is my short rotation. Are you going to leave me alone this weekend?”

  “Kim, I know. Honey...I’m sorry.”

  “I’m jealous! When are you coming home?” She asks.

  “We should be home a week from Saturday.” I reply.

  “A week? Matt, that’s ten days. I could go to London and back. Twice!”

  “Kim, I know you’re upset. It’s required for what we’re going to be doing.”

  “Matt, I’ve got to go. I’ve got emergency surgery in the ER. I’ll miss you!”

  “I’ll miss you too, sweetie.”

  “Be careful! Don’t have too much fun without me!”

  “I promise, Honey! Bye!” I knew she wouldn’t be happy about it. I turn in early and dream about the stones and their flashy colors. I also dream there are white gooey monsters coming out of them. It’s weird and scary. I’m actually happy when the alarm goes off.

  Mark accompanies me and the crew on our flight to Colorado. He discusses the camp’s set up, logistics of recovery, etc. with Ray and me. Our plane lands in Denver around 1:00 pm after which everyone picks up their own gear at baggage claims and heads out to arrivals on the lower level. There are five black SUV’s waiting for us.

  “Where are we headed?” Leesa asks Mark, as we climb into an SUV.

  “I picked a mountain that is similar to the one we’ll be climbing in Peru,” he explains.

  “Makes sense,” Ray answers.

  “We’re going to climb Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park. That’s the highest mountain in Colorado. It’s only 14,459 feet. But it has glaciers and you have to hike in to get to it. We have a three-hour drive ahead of us. We have reserved cabins in the park tonight. I think you’ll all find it comfortable compared to where we’ll be going down in Peru.”

  “I’m excited.” Ray exclaims. “We usually gets messy on the digs, slapping mosquitos. A higher altitude should mean less bugs!”

  Mark, Ray, and I are all experienced mountain climbers. But Mark has other things in mind. This trip includes training us in raising and lowering necessary equipment, not just ourselves, which is a different skill by far.

  The cabins are everything Mark promised. The cupboards and fridges are well-stocked.

  “It looks like they do a lot of training up here,” I tell myself.

  The next morning we embark on the climb at 06:00 MST. The hike reminds me of ‘Old Rag’ back in Virginia; just as rocky, but much steeper, and twice as difficult. It is 20 miles before we reach our campsite.

  Each of us has been fitted with a large backpack, sleeping bag, canteen and other supplies. We reach the campsite around 3:00 pm and set up camp. Tonight we dine on MRE’s and coffee or hot chocolate.

  The night air is cold. But the sleeping bags hold up to their design. I’m warm. I fall asleep watching the fire.

  What a job! I think to myself

  The next morning we begin our assent. The first 6,000 feet is basically hiking switch backs and an up-hill trail. Again, we camp. We build a large fire to cook hotdogs and roast marshmallows. We all sit by the fire and share stories about the digs in Peru.

  “Remember that huge snake Leesa confronted down by the river.” Ray exclaims. “I thought she was going to beat it to death with her unipod!”

  “Yeah, yeah, she hit it like a baseball bat and it took off in another direction. She puts the B.C. broad to shame.” Everyone laughs.

  “Hey, I’d like to know what you’d do if you encountered a snake that big.” She says. “I’ll bet you’re all cowards.”

  “Then there’s the bear that came into our camp one night. He got into the food and messed it all up.” Hans says.

  “Yeah, I believe he was saving us all for dessert.” Leesa laughs.

  “What did you do?” Mark asks.

  “Ray had a .22 he fired and scared him off. But we had to reorganize how we kept the food after that. We had to suspend some of it from trees.”

  “What I’ll never forget are those large tarantulas.” Hans adds. “They can keep those too.”

  We all consume coffee and hot chocolate and turn in. I gaze up at the night sky. You can see so many more stars up here and there’s no city light to block it. A meteor falls and I wish Kim could be here to see it. I’d call her, but there’s no cellular service t
his far out.

  The next morning we begin our assent of 2,450 feet; a combination of hiking and climbing. Mark is the lead climber. He begins instructing on climbing and repelling to those unfamiliar with the sport, assisted by two other instructors. Mark sets the pitons. Ray follows next with Leesa behind him and the others, eleven in all. I take up the rear.

  Mark reaches forty feet up the ridge and Hans slips. Hans starts to fall on the next guy behind him starting a chain reaction towards me. They fall on their stomachs and I’m hit by a crampon. My glove is torn off and I’m sliding now, but I’m able to grab my glove. Mark then anchors his pic in the ice to stop us.

  We follow the ridge to a wall. Mark instructs on raising and lowering equipment like you would in a rescue. Most of the assent involves hiking, however.

  We rest for a few minutes while Mark continues his instruction. He works with Hans.

  “Most of the assent will be like this in Peru,” he tells us. “What I really want you to get used to is hiking on glaciers with crampons. You’ll need to be able to hike up and down.”

  “Funny,” Ray says. “I’ve always imagined a climb like this on Mount Nebo in Turkey looking for Noah’s Ark. And now we’re hunting for a UFO.”

  Mark laughs. “Fact is always stranger than fiction,” he tells everyone.

  The rest of the climbing goes smoothly. Our ascent to the top of Longs Twin Peak No 1 is finally victorious! Everyone sits on a pile of scattered boulders and snow, and drinks bottled water. We rest, enjoying the mega- panorama of breath-taking scenery before us, mostly wilderness territory. Leesa manages to take great pictures. She photographs the whole crew and herself with the camera set on timer.

  “Now how do we get down?” Leesa asks. Mark laughs.

  After a long-rewarding rest and minutes of comradery, we commence our descent, which is much faster. Mark tells us the skill of descending is just as important as our climb. You can’t just run down a glacier. Mark comments on how many climbers are injured on their descent because of cockiness.

  Leesa decides the descent is much more fun. The team is also bonding. We return to the camp and start a fire for heating our MRE’s. We rest for one day in camp. Everyone is exhausted. We’ve conquered one peak. After a night’s rest, we’ll conquer the second.

  “The next thing I want you to get used to is defending yourselves against wild animals. In the Peruvian Andes, you already know about the speckled bears, condors, all kinds of snakes, Jaguars, as well as drug dealers.”

  “What we’re really concerned about is what kind of wild creatures are up there created by the stones, right?” Ray asks. Ray is a hunter.

  “Exactly,” Mark comments. The thought of my nightmare two nights ago begins to haunt me.

  The next morning the second assent goes much smoother. Everyone rallies to the assent and Mark trains in lifting heavy equipment. This time we lift a toboggan that would normally be used in a rescue. We have to take it up to the top empty.

  When we reach the top, Leesa again takes pictures while we rest. We then make our descent. However, Mark has added weight to the toboggan to assimilate a rescue. This hike was a definite eye opener; even to me.

  I knew Navy Seals get their feet wet. But it looks like they train in all kinds of terrain. We make it down to camp and sit by the fire.

  “Everyone,” Marks comments.” You’ve all done a fantastic job. “And for conquering both peaks, you’ve earned this pin!”

  “Collectibles! Not bad.” Peter rants.

  Another night by the fire. Clouds are setting in tonight for possible sleet or snow in the morning. Another challenge we could possibly encounter in Peru. Mark comments they’re prepared to pass out snow shoes if we need them. We roast marshmallows and have s’mores. Mark, Ray and I share some war stories over in Iraq. But Mark’s Special Forces stories are compelling. It makes me feel grateful to have come home in one piece.

  I reflect on the day’s activities trying to go to sleep. This time sleep is difficult because I’m worried about what’s up on that mountain. I dream about the white gooey things again.

  Morning comes, as always. We begin the last 6,000 foot descent down to the base camp and it begins snowing. It’s coming down fast. Mark gets the snow shoes out and helps Leesa put hers on. We move more easily but we have to slow down due to the 7% grade. It takes three hours just to get down to the tree line. We finally make that and take the snow shoes off.

  “I’m looking forward to a hot shower!” Leesa comments. “It feels like the ski season just started.”

  Mark laughs again. “It’s good experience for you. You handled it well.”

  “Yes, I did, didn’t I.” She grins.

  We finally arrive back to the cabins in time for a catered dinner. We further discuss methods of transfer not only from the mountain to the dig site, but also in and out of Peru to the United States. Apparently, we will be accompanied by U.S. Seals and Army Special Forces in this endeavor.

  I find relief in that information. I, too, enjoy a hot shower and decide to call

  Kim.

  “Matt! You survived.” She says.

  “Well, of course I survived. I’m just wind burned and a little sunburnt as well.”

  “Matt, you didn’t take any lotion again. What am I going to do with you?”

  “It reminds me on how we met on a hike up in the Shenandoah’s with our friends. I’m so glad we met. So how was your week?” I change the conversation.

  “Oh Matt....I adore you! I’m looking at bouquets.” She texts pictures to me.

  “You’ve been busy.” She also sends pictures of table settings. The colors are to be rose and teal. “Nice, Honey.” Kim’s taste is impeccable, as always.

  “I also scheduled for us to taste wedding cakes and ordered the flowers. Oh, and I’ve scheduled flights for Paris.” She texts the flight schedule to me. I relax and contemplate Paris.

  “I can’t wait, Kim! We’re three weeks away. Just think!” “Matt, get some sleep! Love you!”

  “Night, Kim!” It was great to hear her voice.

  The next morning we leave for the airport and it is a four hour drive before we board the plane. Mark sits across from me.

  “This is the only thing I don’t like about Colorado.” He tells me. “Everything is a four hour drive, including ski resorts.”

  “We have the same issue in Peru.” I respond. “I don’t know about the rest of Colorado. But having the sun come up in Denver from the east seems to shorten my sleep cycle.”

  “That’s because you’re used to the sun coming up over the mountain range in Peru.”

  “Definitely. At least there are trees in Virginia and Maryland; so you don’t get direct sunlight.

  We finally make it to the airport. Two hours into the flight, Ray wakes me because I’m snoring. I shake my head and sit up.

  “Where are we?” I ask.

  “Don’t get excited. I think we’re over Ohio.” He replies. Ray is watching a movie.

  The stewardess collects garbage and the seatbelt light comes on. “Ladies and gentlemen, we’ll be landing at Dulles in 20 minutes. Please bring your seats and tray tables to the upright position. Flight attendants prepare for landing.”

  I see the Potomac River from the sky. That means we’re approaching from the north. I should be able to see my house up here. But it’s impossible to get the bearings. It’s 6:00 pm in evening. The whole day is shot.

  We land and Kim picks me up in arrivals.

  I get in the SUV. “Let’s get some food.” I tell her.

  “The Nats won today. How about pizza?” She asks. Meaning we get a discount every time they win.

  “In that case let’s go delivery.” She smiles and I call Pizza Hut on my cell phone. I love baseball!

  MATT TIES THE KNOT

  Both Ray and I already know how to shoot any kind of gun you could give us. Our army experience should pay off for this trip, I think to myself. We’ve never had to defend ourselves in Peru, even from
animals.

  We’re at the indoor shooting range this morning with the rest of the crew practicing. Our crew consists of Leesa, Julia, Frank, Hans, Dwayne, Peter, Kelly, Donna, and Darren.

  “I love the moving targets! Let’s just keep those for now!” Leesa raves.