Ice Shadows

by W. R. Heustis

  “That’s a curious way of putting it.”

  “But it’s true. It’s as if whoever is in control wants you found and then put away for as long as it takes.”

  “Meaning?”

  “I briefly spoke to a couple of the security guys. They told me that you were so red-hot that unless they found you, even their jobs were on the line.”

  “Seriously? It’s gotten that bad?”

  She nodded. “So that’s why I’m not sure where to take you let alone know what to do once we’ve got you back on the ground.”

  “You could just drop me off somewhere remote.”

  She shook her head. “No, that wouldn’t solve your problem. No, instead, we have to seriously think this through. Where would be the best and most logical place to put you so that you can contact the media and get your story out there?”

  I had no idea. My mind was drawing nothing but emptiness. In a way, I felt helpless and at Helen’s mercy. But as I thought about it further, she could aim toward Davis. If I could get to Professor Dennison’s office, he would know that what I had to say was of immense value. By now, I was certain he’d run the analysis. He would know that what he’d received was a game-changer as far as future colonization of the moon. I then asked Helen, “Do you have any idea how far Davis is from here? I’m afraid I’m so disoriented that I honestly have no idea where we are.”

  She glanced at me and asked, “Why? What’s at Davis?”

  “Let’s just say that my trump card has already been delivered and that an individual there will know what to do with it.”

  She called up a navigation screen with an illuminated map on it. It took a few moments for her to plot a new course but she said she was on it. If Davis was our destination, that was where we were headed. Even though I felt as if I could trust Helen, a background voice in my mind kept reminding me to keep it simple and to not reveal anything more than was necessary. Besides, if for some reason she was apprehended, she would have no idea beyond what she already knew. Even if coerced, she wouldn’t be able to provide much more than my last location.

  In this entire process, I have failed to mention something of considerable value: I had no money, credit cards, let alone personal ID. That meant that even if I wanted to, I was financially impotent as far as changing things moving forward. I was entirely dependent on those around me. After all, there was no point carrying around a wallet when it was of no use whatsoever. It wasn’t as if there was a lunar convenience store available. All of my personal items were safely stored away in a safe deposit box in a local bank back home. Even if I wanted to withdraw cash from an ATM, I didn’t have the card, let alone the account number to do so.

  Helen told me that, as the crow flies, Davis was about half an hour away. But because it was near commercial flight paths, we would have to be mindful of how we got there—not to mention the fact that it was now beginning to get much darker outside. Fortunately, we had reached the freeway that led out of the Bay Area east toward Davis. As if providing a direct link to our destination, a sea of bumper-to-bumper traffic appeared immediately below us. The only thing needed now was a convenient place to land. When I asked Helen if that would prove to be a problem, she shook her head. In the rush to get in, I had failed to notice that the rotors on this aircraft could also rotate up and allow a vertical landing. We could land essentially anywhere with enough clearance. Helen even said that a university campus with an open green space would work if needed. She and I were thinking on the same wavelength.

  If she could pull it off, getting that close to Professor Dennison’s office would be a godsend. Even if he wasn’t there, campus security might be able to contact him and let him know I was here. The only problem was what sort of issue would be created if Helen landed mid-campus and then let me out? The idea of an aircraft anywhere near such a public setting might not be well received. With that in mind, I asked if Helen could land on a football or athletic field? She nodded but with the caution that there couldn’t be any power lines in the vicinity. All of that wouldn’t be clear until we got a lot closer to our final destination.

  As it turned out, the athletic field was lit up like daytime. Helen said she could easily land off to one side and then let me out. But as she slowly descended for a landing, she asked, “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

  I shrugged. What could I say? I was running out of options.

  “Well, no matter what happens, I hope you can accomplish whatever you’re after.”

  I thanked her and told her she had been a godsend. She suggested that our paths might cross in the near future. I wasn’t sure about that but told her I would welcome it if it happened. After all, I owed her big time. The least I could do was to buy her dinner at her restaurant of choice, but only once things settled down. With that, the cockpit hatch opened, I slowly got out, and a few moments later Helen immediately took off. I paused for a moment to watch her aircraft rise above me and then head toward what I assumed was west. I could only imagine that she was probably on a return course back to where we met. But that was speculation at best. It was something I had little time or inclination to consider further. Now I had to see if Professor Dennison was in his office.

  Fortunately, the good professor and I had been involved in a variety of projects together in the past. One of his areas of exploration but also expertise was involved with what happens over time to the physical body while living under the sea or similar adverse conditions. Clearly, the data he had compiled over the years was meant to provide the needed answers in preparation for what I had just experienced but also manned trips to Mars. I’m sure he was aching to run me through a battery of tests the moment I stepped foot into his office.

  I walked as fast as I could—which wasn’t saying much. I glanced up at the Earth and Planetary Studies building hoping to see a few office lights still on. Gratefully, that was the case. And knowing the professor as I did, I knew he sometimes burnt the late-night oil and often worked well past midnight. He was blessed or cursed—all depending on how you viewed it—with an indefatigable curiosity. Logically and to be expected, the entrance door was locked. But when I considered the idea of approaching security to call the professor, I knew they would ask for some form of ID—something, as mentioned earlier, I didn’t have in my possession. That meant that I would have to wait for someone to leave the building. And with feeling more and more spent as the moments slowly lagged on, my patience was wearing thin.

  I found a shadowed spot where I could sit and wait. I didn’t want to be seen but I also didn’t want to draw any undue attention to myself—you know, in case someone thought I appeared threatening. So it was a delicate balance trying to be prepared but also to be somewhat hidden. As I sat there, I could honestly say that I had lost all sense of time. I couldn’t tell you if it took ten minutes or an hour before a man finally came out the door. I leaped—if you want to call it that—and did what I could to grab the door handle an instant before the door closed.

  Once inside, I was at least a lot closer to what I hoped would prove to be a valued solution to a mounting problem. I slowly made my way up each step. As I recalled, the professor’s office and research lab were located on the second floor. It was an aggravatingly slow process. But once I reached the second floor and peered down the hall, I could see lights coming from what should be Professor Dennison’s office. I felt an unexpected sense of caution as I walked toward the light. I’m not sure why I felt alarm bells going off. Had I made a mistake? Was it the third floor and not the second? I wasn’t sure. In fact, I was so out of it, I wasn’t sure of much of anything. I was operating on fumes by that point. If it hadn’t been for this determined will of mine, I should have given up back at the estate. At least there, I could have regained my strength. If nothing else, I would have had the energy to plead my case.

  But now I was at the mercy of a man I hoped would prove to be my most effective ally. The moment I reached the glass office door, I cautiously peered in. To my relief, the pro
fessor was there seated at his desk. I gently knocked on the glass. He peered up at me and then put on his glasses. But once it was clear he could see me, the anticipated expression of welcoming wasn’t there. Instead, it appeared as if he felt the exact opposite. He seemed deeply concerned as he tentatively motioned for me to come in.

  I trudged into his office and essentially collapsed in the chair opposite him. The worried expression on his face spoke volumes. He said, “So, you finally made it?”

  I wasn’t in the mood to tolerate his less than enthusiastic greeting. “Why? Is that a problem?”

  “Well, you know...”

  “No, I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me what’s going on?”

  He cowered and held up his hands. “Please, you don’t need to get defensive.”

  “Professor, I’m sure you have somewhat of an idea of the ordeal I’ve been through. And to be frank, I don’t have the time or energy to waste on some sort of guessing game.”

  His eyes blinked nervously. “It’s that...well, you know, that—if I’m being fully honest, I, or that is to say, my department is under outside duress.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means that you shouldn’t have come here.”

  “Oh, now I get it. A certain individual with considerable influence not to mention research dollars has informed you of certain consequences if you deal with me? That’s it, isn’t it?”

  “You have to understand...not only would our funding dry up but the university would get sued as well.”

  “I see. So you’re not going to help me.”

  He glanced down and slowly shook his head. “I’m very sorry. I wish I could.”

  “All right. If that’s the case, I want the water bottle back.”

  He bristled. “No, I can’t do that. I’m sorry.”

  “I took an enormous risk getting it to you. And now that you are unwilling to even extend a hand to an old friend, you are going to do this? Seriously? I’m astonished at your complicity.”

  “Well...it’s for scientific research. It’s irreplaceable. It’s...”

  “It’s not yours to possess. If this is the way you are going to react, you don’t deserve the opportunity, the merit, or the recognition that would come with this discovery.”

  I watched as he slowly reached under his desk. I was nearly certain he was pressing a call button for security. I slowly stood up and shook my head. I then turned, walked out of his office, and made my way down the hall. Despite his calls for me to return, I made my way to the bathroom down the hall. I had reached the point where I had to get out of these god-awful adult diapers. I entered the men’s room and the lights were activated. I slowly took off my spacesuit—which by this time reeked to high heaven—and tenderly removed the soaked and wadded up diapers. My thighs were on fire. I grabbed a handful of paper towels. With a healthy splash of soap and water, I gingerly cleansed my aching body. But as I did, I could hear voices out in the hall. I knew I had but a moment or two to finish up before I would have to address yet another pressing headache.

  I noticed in the mirror’s reflection that a bank of lockers was located on the opposite wall. I immediately turned and began quietly checking each one. If I was lucky, maybe one was open. I tried half a dozen or so before I finally found one that when slightly jiggled, popped open. Once the locker door was open, I found what I was looking for. A long white lab coat was hanging on a metal hook along with a dress shirt and black tie. I didn’t hesitate to replace my spacesuit with what would prove to be a welcome change of dress. Even though the pants were missing, at least I would appear less suspicious in the dark. But I have to say that either I lost a lot of weight or else the shirt I just put on had to fit someone nearly a hundred pounds heavier. I was almost swimming in the damned thing.

  I had just gotten the tie tied and the locker door closed when I heard someone out in the hall calling my name. I glanced at the toilet stalls and wasn’t sure they would provide much more than a momentary place to hide. But if they knew I was in here, they would have come in by now. So I waited while the professor or whoever was out there finally moved on. I felt disheartened. Here all along I had placed my bet on this being the best solution. But now it had failed miserably. What recourse remained? How was I going to exert any leverage when its source was now entirely out of my control? If the professor wasn’t going to help, what else was left to do?

  I slowly opened the bathroom door. I only hoped that the light cast in the somewhat darkened hallway wouldn’t give me away. I took a step and carefully glanced down the hall. At the opposite end of the hall appeared to be another lit office. I walked toward it not knowing if I was taking a needless risk or not. But once I reached the door, I noticed that it wasn’t locked and that whoever had been there must have left temporarily. I glanced down the hall and then opened the door. I took a hasty glance around and then spotted a ground line telephone sitting on a side desk. I picked it up and waited for a dial tone—which didn’t happen. Then I remembered that you had to dial nine first to get an outside line. From out of nowhere, Eric’s phone number returned to memory. I tapped in the number and then waited. As Helen had suggested, it went to voicemail.

  I left Eric a message and said that if he were anywhere near the Davis campus, I would meet him by the main entrance. I had seen it shortly before Helen landed. I also asked that he bring something to eat. It could be anything but it had to be nutritious. And if he had any pants with him or could stop and pick up a pair, it would be greatly appreciated. I thanked him for all of his help and told him I would fill him in on the details of my journey once we reunited.

  I hastily hung up when I heard a noise out in the hall. I slipped next to the office front door and peered out. I took a deep breath. I hoped to God I wouldn’t get caught before Eric could find me. I’m not sure what it was—perhaps someone in an adjoining office—but whatever it was, it was enough to encourage my leaving. As it turned out, there was an exit door next to that office. It led to the stairwell that, in turn, led to a side, ground floor fire exit. I hesitated to push the door handle fearing that if I did a fire alarm would immediately go off. But I didn’t have another option. There was no way I could simply walk out the front door and not expect security to apprehend me.

  I waited for a moment, took a deep breath, and then pushed on the door handle. As expected, the fire alarm sounded. I took a glance to my right and then walked as fast as I could. The moment I was past that side of the building, I was then on the campus walkway that led in the general direction of the main entrance. A handful of students were walking by. I felt nervous and vulnerable. For some reason, however, no one paid much attention to me. Dressed as I was—and despite not wearing any pants—I could only assume my attire wasn’t that unusual. But that didn’t mean I wanted to be anywhere near the main street. I had to find a neutral place, or somewhere I could sit and yet be unobserved. There was no way of knowing how long it would take before Eric would be there.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  I know it’s pointless to note that for a moment I was feeling sorry for myself. But when I stopped to consider even a somewhat worst-case scenario for my crew, I chided myself for being so self-indulgent. They were still my top priority. How I was to solve getting them free, however, was becoming a far larger challenge than I had ever anticipated. To be honest, I was starting to give up hope. Here I was nothing more than a worn-out champion. I was this inept supporter who was rapidly losing any sense of possibility.

  While walking toward the main entrance, I would have gladly taken a seat at the covered bus stop. But being sans pants, I knew that would attract undue attention. Even if I pulled my legs up under the lab coat was no guarantee that someone would come along and think I was some sort of pervert or something. The next thing I would know, the police would be there asking for ID that I didn’t have. Needless to say, I found a location on the lawn and next to a tree where I could sit somewhat unobserved. The only problem then was the fear that
with my current state of being I would nod off and fail to see Eric when he drove by. But again, that could be hours from now and I would be fighting sleep the entire time.

  Despite my best efforts, I soon fell asleep. I used my rolled-up spacesuit for a pillow. I would have remained that way potentially for hours had it not been for the sound of a fire engine passing on the nearby street. I startled awake and slowly glanced around. It had to be close to midnight by that point. Most but not all of the stores across the way were now closed. Their neon lights and billboard displays were still lit. My head felt foggy. My mind was on pause. I stared around nearly oblivious to my situation. If it hadn’t been for someone calling my name, I was nearly certain I would have simply gone back to sleep—only to regret it later.

  God knows how, but Eric’s friend, Henry, found me. He said that he and Eric had been searching for me for hours. He soon got on his iPhone and called Eric. In a matter of moments, Eric had shepherded me to his waiting car. A pair of pants was waiting for me in the back seat along with a local reporter. I balked when he first introduced himself. He said his name was Ayden Marshall. He wanted an exclusive interview, but only if I was open to it. As it was, I barely had enough time to come to terms with having been rescued. And yet, there I was confronted with a choice I wasn’t in the right mindset to contemplate let alone seriously consider.

  From out of nowhere, I had this thought: okay, I’ll do as you ask but only on one condition. When Ayden asked what that was, I asked if he lived nearby? He did. “Okay, so here’s the deal: if you let me go to your place, I want to take a hot shower, sit down and eat until I’m full, and then allow me to get a much-needed rest.”

  Ayden said if that was it, he was all over it. “Hell,” he said, “If you need a six-pack of beer to help with the process, it’s already there chilling in the fridge.”

  I told him, “Considering my present condition, I wasn’t all that certain that alcohol would be of much help. But thanks, anyway”