Intervention: A Science Fiction Adventure

by J. W. Huemme

  “I was hoping you might have some idea why there is to be a chamber with no way in or out,” Khufu responded.

  “I wish I were able to tell you some reason for this chamber, but Ra has shown me only that it is to be built, no more. I am sorry.”

  Sanar waited for Khufu to respond. Finally, Khufu said, “Please understand, I do not question your drawings or the visions of Ra; I just did not know what to think of a chamber with no way in or out, and I was hoping you might have some idea of its purpose. That is all.”

  “I understand your thoughts, Khufu, for I too have wondered the same thing many times since receiving this vision. I suppose Ra would make it known to me if he wanted the chamber’s purpose known.” After a moment of reflection, Sanar said, “If there is nothing more, I would return to my quarters, for Nefree awaits my return.”

  Khufu smiled. “Yes, yes, by all means. We shall talk more tomorrow. Good night.”

  And so, the building of this great monument went on day after day, month after month, year after year for nearly forty years. Sanar and Nefree had children who grew up watching the great pyramid being built according to the drawings their father made from the visions he received from Ra. They too were to have children of their own before this giant structure was completed. So it was also for the workers who were the first to begin work on the pyramid. Their children and their children’s children would all work to raise the great structure to its completion.

  When the pyramid was complete, Ra came to Sanar one last time and said, “You have done well these many years. You should be proud of the service you have done your people. You have also helped people yet unborn in a way you may never imagine. They will someday be in your debt for what you and your people have done here. Now, Sanar, you shall spread my word to all the people of the realm. I will appear to them one last time at the temple on the day after the new moon. Everyone must attend.”

  Sanar spoke aloud, “It shall be as you wish, and thank you for allowing me to be the vehicle of your wishes for these many years. You have made my life meaningful beyond anything I could have ever imagined.” The bright light faded from the chamber one last time leaving Sanar, now an old man in the twilight of his years, feeling tired but fulfilled.

  After a short rest, Sanar wrote a proclamation on behalf of Ra ordering all of the people to attend a meeting at the temple on the day after the new moon at high noon. Sanar called one of the guards to summon his aide. Sanar had made many copies of the proclamation from Ra announcing his upcoming appearance.

  When the aide arrived, Sanar said, “These proclamations are to be placed where everyone may see them. All must be there by order of Ra. Go now, and be sure that everyone knows.”

  When the day after the new moon came, every person in the land went to the temple. Whether they walked, crawled, or had to be carried, they were all there. Few of them were witnesses to the first appearance of Ra. Most were not even born at that time, but all were hoping to see the mighty Ra firsthand. The temple had not changed much, since all were working on the pyramid these past years. The temple was surrounded for miles by a solid mass of people all waiting for a glimpse of Ra himself.

  The scene in the temple itself was much like that day so many years ago when Ra made his first and only appearance. Sanar and Nefree stood in their same spot and Khufu made his entrance, as always, through the same door. All were so much older now, some barely able to stand, yet all eagerly awaited the appearance of Ra once again.

  The midday sun was relentless, beating down without a cloud in the sky to offer any relief. The breeze was non-existent as the mass of people waited patiently for their god to appear to them. Just as the sun reached as high above the cooking sand as it possibly could, clouds began to appear from nowhere, blocking out the light of the sun. As before, what appeared to be a single ray of sunlight penetrated the sudden cloud cover to just above the temple. This time the eye of Ra appeared as large as the temple itself, easily seen by everyone.

  “People of Egypt,” the very loud and thundering voice roared, “you have served me well. The pyramid you have built pleases me. You have proven to be a good and faithful people. Now, I have one last task for you to perform. I want all of the remaining parchments, tools, sleds, roads, and barges, as well as any writings that might pertain to this structure, or the building thereof, destroyed. Nothing that has anything to do with the building of this pyramid is to remain. Also, no one is to ever speak of building this pyramid to anyone ever.” There was a brief, but almost anticipated pause. “I will always be watching to make sure my wishes are fulfilled.” The eye of Ra remained for a few more minutes and then faded. The sun shone once again.

  Chapter Four

  Conception

  “The tie was too darn tight anyway. It cuts off the circulation to the brain so you can’t think right. Besides, it didn’t really make me look all that important to begin with. What kind of idiot invented the darn things in the first place? Someone with more time than brains, I’ll bet. I can do the job just as well without the darn thing—probably better. People just place far too much value on a person’s appearance. I mean, what’s a stupid tie got to do with life insurance anyway?” Joe muttered these thoughts to himself as he coaxed his 1941 Chevy sedan down the rural dirt road. As it backfired, Joe tried to remind himself of the good deal he got buying his surplus army staff car after the war. Okay, it might have a lot of miles on it, but, with a little luck, it would have a few more.

  Luck, however, didn’t seem to be Joe’s companion these days. It was the summer of 1954. For most people, the war had become just a distant memory, and they felt quite safe and secure. The need for life insurance wasn’t something people thought about much these days.

  The old Chevy backfired again, but this time it quit. Joe steered off to the side of the road. He got out, removed his suit jacket, and laid it over the back of the seat. He reached into the glove box and grabbed his screwdriver; he knew just what the trouble was. It didn’t cost much for a new set of points, but times were hard for Joe and his wife lately. Besides, it was just a matter of adjusting them every now and then. Although, it seemed impossible to make that adjustment without getting a spot of grease on his shirt. Joe did so in his usual style, if you could call it that, knowing his wife would be able to remove it as she had so many times in the past. Marrying her was without a doubt the best thing he had ever done. Even though she could not bear children, she was still the best little lady around.

  The pavement felt good under the tires of the old Chevy as Joe turned onto the main highway heading into town. He wasn’t looking forward to telling his boss he hadn’t been able to meet his quota again.

  “If they would just give me a better territory I could sell more,” Joe said to himself. “The farmers out here have too much to worry about and don’t care about life insurance. They have to make sure their crops come in and they need to worry about blight and the weather. I wish they would just give me one of these new subdivisions that they are putting up outside the city. Now with those people, I could meet my quota, probably even more. But no, they stick me out here in the middle of the corn fields,” he thought as he saw the main office coming into sight.

  * * *

  “I’m telling ya, I don’t wanna hear no more excuses, Joe. Why I keep you on is beyond me. Everyone else meets their quotas but you, Joe, and where’s your tie? How many times do I gotta tell ya? Ya gotta wear a tie, Joe.”

  “What’s a tie got to do with insurance?”

  “Don’t interrupt me when I’m talkin’ to you,” Mickey went on. “I put up with you not meeting your quota more than you make it. You haven’t met your quota in over six months. If I had anybody else to cover the farm areas, you wouldn’t even have a job, and if you don’t meet your quota next month, you may not anyway. One more chance, Joe; one more chance and that’s it.”

  Mickey was not happy with Joe’s work and it showed. This scene had played out many times before in Mickey’s office. It
really wasn’t much of an office, but Mickey was the boss and it was his office and he signed the paychecks.

  “Now get outta here and try to think of a way to sell some insurance,” Mickey growled as Joe got up to leave. “You know, a new tie wouldn’t hurt.”

  The rain made Joe’s rotten day even worse. Now the old Chevy, that didn’t like the spring rain any more than Joe did, wasn’t going to cooperate with Joe either. “What else could go wrong?” Joe muttered under his breath as he opened the hood to try and find the problem.

  It didn’t help things when Mickey came out of the office under his umbrella and climbed into his new Lincoln. He pulled up to Joe and rolled down his window and said, “It’s no wonder you can’t meet your quota; you can’t even get to where you’re going driving that old relic.”

  Finally the old Chevy came back to life and Joe headed for home. He was going to be late again and knew his dinner was getting cold.

  Mary was such a good wife. She was able to do so much with the little he provided. He sometimes felt he had married an angel. She said he had a good heart, but he wished he had better business sense too. He just couldn’t seem to be what people expected him to be. It certainly wasn’t because he didn’t try. He just didn’t seem to fit the mold.

  Mary pulled back the curtain on the second floor window just enough to see it was her beloved returning home. Joe felt good to be home. It was only a small second story flat, but it was home. As he neared the top of the steps, Mary opened the door to meet him. Her presence and warm smile seemed to take the chill from his rain-soaked bones.

  “Come on in. Let’s get you dry.” Mary grabbed a towel and as she patted him down, she seemed to dry away his troubles, too. She could always tell when it had been a bad day for Joe and somehow she knew just the right thing to say and do to make him fell a little better.

  Dinner was spaghetti and meatballs and a cheap bottle of wine, but somehow Mary made it feel like a dinner at the Ritz. Joe had no idea how she even managed a bottle of cheap wine on their budget, or lack thereof. It was typical of Mary to do so much with so little. Joe wondered what life would have been like if they were able to have children. Mary would have made the best mother imaginable. It was a subject he never spoke of, though, since he knew it bothered Mary so much. It wasn’t her fault. The doctors told them it was just not to be.

  Mary kept filling Joe’s glass with wine as fast as he drank it. At first, it didn’t seem to have any effect on his state of frustration, but eventually the wine, along with a little help from Mary, won out over Joe’s state of mind. He leaned back in his chair and said, “I think I just might have another helping of spaghetti, and those meatballs are delicious, honey. I don’t know how you do it.”

  “As long as you like it, dear, that’s all that matters,” she replied lovingly. “You just eat all you like.”

  Mary got up and took her dish into the kitchen. When she returned, she caught Joe leaning back in his chair resting for a moment, and as gentle as a butterfly, she placed the palm of her hand on Joe’s cheek, softly caressing. “Would you like anything else, honey?” she asked softly. The wine had worked enough on Joe to know what that meant. He never could resist Mary’s charms. Mary’s words and touch were like magic, leaving nothing to be desired but her. Perhaps that’s why he married her in the first place.

  Mary removed the rest of the dishes from the table, and Joe noticed for the first time that there were lit candles in the center. He also realized there was music playing softly in the background. It was Benny Goodman, his favorite.

  Earlier in the day, Joe had thought it would be a good idea, since he didn’t have a television, to go to a neighbor’s and watch something to take his mind off things for a while. Mary had already taken his mind off things, and put it on to something else. She disappeared into the bathroom, leaving Joe to relax even more while listening to his favorite music. Mary took her time, giving Joe time to enjoy the music and wine.

  Joe didn’t realize he had closed his eyes until he opened them and saw Mary standing in the bedroom doorway. The worries of the day disappeared in the wind as she stood there invitingly, wearing only her bedroom yes and the silk nightgown she had bought for their honeymoon. She still looked as good as ever in it; even better now with her brown hair longer than it was then, falling over her shoulders like a waterfall. Joe felt suddenly like it was his honeymoon all over again. He had all the excitement, anticipation, and desire he had that first night. Mary didn’t have to speak a word. Not with her lips anyway; her eyes were doing all the talking, and Joe heard every word, loud and clear.

  Joe walked toward the bedroom and into Mary’s arms, though it seemed more like he was walking into her love. It was as if there was only one body, a combination of them both, walking toward the bed. Being with Mary was always special, but for some reason tonight felt extra special. There was no reason for it to be, but it was. Mary had been in an exceptional state of mind since he came home. She was always terrific, warm, and loving, but tonight stood out somehow. Like their first night together, yet even more.

  Joe could hardly tell when they reached the bed, he was already lost in her passion. Tonight Mary seemed to want Joe for her pleasure as well as his, not only just for his benefit. Joe certainly noticed the difference and was overwhelmed by it. He could think of nothing but her as they rolled in the throes of passion like he had never known. It was magic, cosmic, almost spiritual, and must have lasted for hours. Then after what seemed like an eternity, the moment of mutual climax arrived.

  Suddenly magic happened and they both knew it. Without saying a word, they looked into the other’s eyes. They didn’t say a word, but just stared at each other, totally amazed by what they were feeling. They both knew, but didn’t speak a word.

  The next day was Joe’s day off so he and Mary spent the day together at home. Mary worked in the little garden she had planted in the backyard and Joe mowed the grass and raked the fallen leaves. They didn’t talk about the night before, but rather spent the day enjoying a feeling of fulfillment. They were almost afraid to talk about it for fear the feeling might fade away. So they just went on with their normal routine enjoying their time together.

  In the weeks that followed, Joe’s positive outlook helped him sell several new insurance policies, and he was even getting along with Mickey better than ever. The old Chevy still needed the occasional coaxing, but Joe didn’t mind so much. For a change, life seemed good to Joe, and Mary had a glow about her he had never seen before. He was more in love with her than ever.

  Several weeks went by. When he pulled into the drive, Mary was waiting for him. Mary always waited for him at the door, but not today. Her eyes were as bright as the beacon of a lighthouse. She seemed about to explode with joy as she opened the car door and pulled Joe from his seat.

  “What is it, honey?” he asked.

  “I’m going to have a baby—I mean, we’re going to have a baby! You’re going to be a father!” Mary exclaimed bursting with joy.

  “How? I mean I know how, but, how? The doctor told us you could never get pregnant.”

  “I don’t know how, and neither does the doctor. But I went to see him. He said that even though he thought it was impossible, I’m going to have a baby! He said he can’t explain it; he was sure I could never get pregnant, but I am.”

  “Oh, honey!” Joe exclaimed as he took her in his arms and held her close. “I’m going to be a father. Imagine that—me, a father!”

  Mary smiled. “Come on, daddy, I’ve got dinner ready.”

  “No honey, let me get dinner. You shouldn’t be exerting yourself.” Joe said as he tried to wait on Mary.

  “Don’t be silly, honey. Come inside and sit down and let me get your dinner. If you want to help me, don’t you worry. They’ll be plenty of time for that in a few months.”

  As they entered the house, Joe said, “Are you sure it’s all right for you to do things just now? I mean being pregnant and all?”

  “Of course
, silly. I can do everything I always did before, for a while anyway. I’ll let you know when I need help. Now sit down and eat before it gets cold.”

  After dinner Mary cleaned up as usual, then settled into her new pastime of doing crossword puzzles. She also liked word puzzles—actually, she liked any kind of puzzle she could find. Joe thought it was odd since she had never even looked at puzzles before. But if working puzzles made her happy, then Joe was all for it.

  The months passed by. Mary started to show a little earlier than normal. She was only in her third month when she felt the baby kick for the first time. Her doctor told her, “Your development is a little faster than normal, Mary, but I don’t think it’s anything to be concerned about. You’re in good health and you take good care of yourself. You don’t drink or smoke, so if there are no unusual problems, you and the baby should be just fine.”

  “You’re sure it’s all right to be showing and the baby to be kicking this early? I just don’t want anything to go wrong. Joe and I have never been happier.”

  “If you have any problems, you come see me right away. Otherwise, enjoy your little miracle.”

  Two months later, Mary was back in Dr. Percell’s office. He said, “I must admit, this amount of activity in only the fifth month is most unusual.”

  “This amount of activity is unusual in any month according to my friends,” Mary replied.

  “I think we can forget about the due date I gave you before. This little fellow isn’t going to wait the full nine months. However, I don’t think we should think of the baby as premature. I believe he’s just developing a little faster than normal,” commented the doctor.

  “A little faster? I think this is more than a little faster. Don’t you think?” Mary responded.

  “I would never be anything but honest with you Mary, you know that. No, this accelerated growth is not normal. Nor is the amount of activity you’re experiencing either. But it seems to be going well. I really think it’s going to be all right. But if anything, I mean anything, unusual happens, you come see me right away.”