“To all of us. Something has happened to our husbands.” Alma said.
“But what?” Bess asked. “What could affect them all the same way?”
As their wives pondered their predicament that afternoon, and as the Antareans were raising the three command cocoons, the four men had finished lunch possessing exciting new knowledge. They hadn’t even been shocked when Bernie Lewis guessed that Joe Finley’s leukemia was gone. Somehow, they all knew. For the rest of lunch the quartet communicated silently. At one point Ben Green tried calling the waitress with his mind. He focused his eyes on to her as she walked toward the kitchen. She was about forty feet from them and moving in the opposite direction. “Watch this,” he had said aloud. The three other men turned their eyes toward the middle-aged woman. She stopped dead in her tracks, three feet from the kitchen door, turned, searched the dining room for a moment, and locked her eyes on their table. Then she made a beeline for them.
“Can I get you anything else?” she asked.
“Some coffee and the check, sweetheart,” Ben said, proud of his feat.
After the check came they divided it, paid, and left. Bernie turned the Buick up Collins Avenue toward Mount Sinai Hospital.
Joe had called Dr. Feldman from the restaurant and said it was urgent that he see him. Because the doctor knew that Joe was coming to the end of his struggle, he was receptive to the visit. He wasn’t prepared for the group meeting that occurred.
The four men entered the clinic and walked to the doctor’s office. Dr. Morris Feldman was a tall, gray-haired specialist who had moved his practice to Miami in the late 1960s. He was the chief hematologist of the hospital. There was no doubt in his mind that Joe Finley’s disease was progressing rapidly. He was sure it was just a matter of months. The medication no longer could contain the rampant production of white cells. The last blood test had shown that clearly. Actually, the test prior to the last had shown it. Yesterday’s test had been a freak and the doctor was sure that the lab had confused Finley’s test with a perfectly healthy person’s. The test had shown no sign of the disease. Feldman knew that was impossible.
Now the foursome burst into his office. Joe introduced his friends. The doctor was cordial.
“Doc,” Joe began, “I know you’re a very busy guy, and I appreciate your seeing me so quickly. Can you take some blood now and have a look?”
The doctor was taken aback. “Mr. Finley, we have procedures here. Why the rush for a test now?”
“Well, it’s really hard to say. I just think that this problem that I have ... uh, had ... is gone. I want to be sure.”
The doctor was immediately convinced that somehow Finley had gotten wind of the erroneous report and it had given him false hope.
“Procedures, Mr. Finley. I’ll be glad to do another test, but it will take some time for the results.”
“How long?” Ben Green asked.
“Well, Mr. ... uh?”
“Green.”
“Well, Mr. Green, we should have your friend’s results back tomorrow.”
“No good,” Art Perlman said firmly.
The doctor was getting annoyed. Then Bernie Lewis broke into the conversation. “Dr. Feldman? You don’t remember me. I’m Bernie Lewis. Used to live in Scarsdale. We played golf a few times. Maybe twenty years ago. I was a friend of Sid Blackman, God rest his soul.”
Dr. Feldman studied Bernie’s face and remembered. “Sure, you had a garment business. Woolens. Sid invested some money with you. Sure, I remember. Sid was a good friend, one of the best surgeons I ever worked with.”
“Well, doctor,” Bernie continued, “Joe ... the four of us ... have become good friends here ... in the autumn of our lives. We are close. You understand? We’re concerned, and we know about Joe’s problem. Understand that we are grown-ups and refuse to be treated like children. Being old doesn’t mean stupid, and it certainly doesn’t mean we can be ignored.”
“I’m not ignoring you,” Feldman said.
“We know that,” Bernie went on, “and we appreciate that, too. That’s why we would like you to do a favor, just this once, and give Finley a blood test right now. You know what to look for. It won’t take but a minute. Whaddaya say?”
The doctor knew he was beaten. He smiled. “Okay. You guys wait here and I’ll get a syringe.” He went down to the emergency room while the boys made themselves comfortable. Thoughts flew back and forth among them without any verbal enhancement. The excitement made their hearts pound. Energy surged through each to the other.
Twenty minutes later, Dr. Feldman spun on the stool. He looked at the four men gathered around him near the microscope.
Joe spoke up. “It’s gone, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” answered a very puzzled doctor. “It’s gone without a trace. But I don’t know why.”
The men hugged and congratulated each other.
Joe was ecstatic. Close to crying. “I knew it! Sweet Jesus, I knew it!” He crossed himself, and prayed. “In the name of the Father, the son, and the Holy Spirit.” He folded his hands. “Thank you, God!”
“Amen,” said Bernie.
“Amen,” they all echoed, shook Feldman’s hand and started to leave.
Feldman shook his head and muttered to himself, “Amen, all right. But why? Listen, Joe,” he called out, “please stop by and see me in a few days?” Joe waved over his shoulder. Morris Feldman turned back to the microscope and peered through the lens at the very normal, healthy blood cells on the slide below. He focused the instrument for a closer look. These were not only normal cells they were the healthiest cells he had ever seen. The platelets were perfectly formed. There were no damaged ones, no dead ones. The white count was normal, and the most astonishing fact was that the blood itself was clean as a whistle. There were no impurities, no bacteria, no indication of damaged cells - and above all no indication of leukemia whatsoever.
He knew he would not see Joe Finley in a few days. He suspected he would not see Joe Finley again. He was right.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR – ON THE RADIO PHONE
The day had been exciting for the Greens, Perlman’s, Lewis’s, and Finley’s. The women had talked all afternoon about the new and strange energy their husbands possessed. The men had gone back to the health club and used the equipment until early evening. Thus, the room was warm when the returning Antareans had entered.
One other event had happened in Amos’ absence. While the Antareans were checking the equipment for faults, Jack had suddenly felt the urge to go to the boat. Commander No Light picked up on his thoughts and communicated.
Jack didn’t understand the feeling, so he spoke. “I have this feeling like I should be on the boat and I don’t know why.”
No Light telepathed back to Jack. A message is there. Someone is trying to reach you on the radio phone.
Jack then heard the operator ringing his call letters. But that’s impossible, he thought. The radio is shut down.
You can hear it, anyway, thought All Light. Go to the boat and turn it on. Beam will go with you.
Sure enough, when Jack turned on the radio phone the operator was calling. He answered and then heard Judy’s voice. “Jack, is that you?”
“Yes, honey. How are you? Is everything okay?”
“Just fine. I miss you. Where are you?”
Commander Beam shook her head and put her finger to her lips.
“I’m at sea, honey. We’re working late.
That’s why it took me time to answer. I was out on deck. My charter people are doing some night diving.”
“Will you be in this weekend?”
He looked at Beam. She shook her head no. “I don’t think so, honey. These folks are on to something. I can’t talk about it. You understand?”
“Yes. When will you be in?” she asked. There was disappointment in her voice. Jack looked at Beam, but this time the thought was already in his head.
“Next weekend. For sure, honey.”
“What about supplies?” she asked. “Do you ha
ve enough on board?”
You are a sneaky lady, thought Jack. The commander smiled.
“Yes, Judy. Plenty. These folks travel first class. Look, let me call you in a few days. I’ll have a better idea of my schedule. Okay?”
Judy was put off, but could only agree. “Okay. Hold a minute. Your brother wants to say hello.”
“My brother?” Jack was puzzled.
Arnie came on the air. “Hi, little brother.”
“Hi, Arnie. I gather Judy’s at your place.”
“Yeah. She came over for dinner. She’s one hell of a girl. What she sees in you I don’t know. You should treat her better.”
Jack was pissed off. “Arnie, not everyone lives like you. Some of us even like our freedom.” Jack was immediately sorry for the dig and he hoped that Judy hadn’t heard.
“Easy, little brother. She’s worried about you and misses you. That’s all. Where the hell are you, anyway?”
“I told her it was sort of a secret. It’s a treasure-hunt thing.”
“Okay ... okay. Listen, if you’re going to be out on the weekend, I could run out with my boss’s boat. He offered it to me anytime I want.”
“Not a good idea, Arnie. These folks are pretty tight with the security. They think they’re on to something big. It won’t work.”
Arnie gave in, but he was still curious. “Okay, Jack, have a safe trip. Let someone know how you are once in a while.”
“Okay. Love to Sandy. Put Judy back on.”
Judy came on the radio again. “Yes? What is it?” She was still upset.
“Listen babe. I’ve got to run. Thanks for calling. I’ll try to call you over the weekend.” Silence. “Okay?”
“Okay. But don’t be surprised if I’m not in when you call.” The receiver clicked off.
Sorry, thought the female commander. Jack was uneasy again. “She’ll get over it,” he thought. Beam just nodded.
They returned to the processing room. Amos entered shortly after. He let the others know that the manager was sure the security hadn’t been breached. The others said they couldn’t find anything wrong with the equipment, but they still had other power supplies to check. Let’s get the command cocoons processed, communicated All Light.
Harry and Jack wheeled the first one in and set the first cabinet controls. They put the cocoon in and turned on the cabinet. Jack walked down to cabinet number six to prepare the controls. He reached for them and stopped. Something was wrong. He had worked with them all last night and he knew how he had left them. Now the controls were set in a different mode. As the thought entered his mind, it also entered the minds of the others in the room. They all converged on the cabinet and stared at the panel. Hal telepathed that he had not touched the controls in his testing of the circuits. Neither had anyone else.
“Are you sure, Jack?” Amos asked aloud.
“Positive. This isn’t something that I would forget. I’m new at this, and I know its important, so I am extra careful to do things the way Hal showed me. I know how I left these controls last night and this is different.”
Then we definitely have had visitors, thought Amos. But who? At this point the first cocoon was ready to be moved to cabinet six. They would have to wait until they completed their work to discuss who the intruders might be.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE - PARMANS
“Time and charges please, operator.” Arnie asked.
“Four dollars and forty cents,” the operator told him.
“Four forty? That’s not much for an overseas call to the Bahamas.”
“That call was local, sir.”
“Local? Where was the boat?”
“Coral Gables, sir.”
“Are you sure?” Arnie questioned.
“Absolutely, sir. Coral Gables.”
“Thank you, operator.” Arnie hung up.
Judy had been listening, “Coral Gables, huh?” She was furious. “Your brother is one hell of a liar!”
“Now don’t jump to conclusions, Judy,” Arnie defended his brother. “Maybe he’s in some kind of trouble. It isn’t like Jack to lie. And he sounded strange to me.”
“Strange?” Judy was concerned. She had been too upset with Jack to notice how he sounded.
“Well, he seemed distant. Like he was in a hurry to hang up.”
Sandy chimed in. “You people are making a mountain out of a molehill. I think he just promised his charter to keep their location secret. He did say treasure hunt, right? We would expect the same if it were us.”
Good old sensible Sandy, thought Arnie.
Judy was not sold on the idea. “I think he might be in trouble. Call it intuition. I’m worried.”
Arnie went to the phone. He dialed Ship to Shore Information and asked for the current number of the charter boat Razzmatazz, docked in south Miami. The operator gave him the number and he wrote it down. He turned to the women. “It’s too late now, but this is the number of Jack’s buddy Phil Doyle. They fish together all the time. He’ll know where Jack is. I’ll call him tomorrow.”
“Good. Call me when you know.” Judy got up to leave. “Thanks for the dinner, guys, and for holding my hand.”
Jack and Beam walked back toward Building B. They telepathed rapidly. Jack didn’t think about his new skill anymore. He just used it.
I am sorry your female is upset. She has an attachment to you.
Yeah. I feel strongly about her, too. But my promise to you guys comes first now.
We appreciate your cooperation Jack. You are being quite helpful.
Things will work out. I hope you can find a way to solve the problem with the cocoons.
Yes, it will be a serious if we do not get the army to its new location in time.
Where is that?
It is a brilliant planet, and most unusual. The base is carbon but evolved into a crystalline form. We call it Parma Quad Two. It is fed by the star Sirius in the constellation you call Canis Major.
That’s the star after which we name the Dog Days of July and August. It’s a morning star in our summer sky - the Dog star.
I understand. Beam’s thoughts went to the diminutive Parma Quad Two. She had been on the initial probe mission to the planet. At that time she was not yet a commander and served the same function as the copper men - scientific and technical service. However, because of her birth and training, she knew she was destined to be a commander. The current recovery mission was her first at that rank.
Parma Quad Two had been probed for ten time periods.
That totaled roughly two hundred Earth years. The Antareans knew that a life form existed on the planet. By their rules a life-form planet was studied for at least eight time periods before any contact or an actual landing was attempted.
The Parmans were an old race and highly developed technologically. Their only nourishment requirements came from their star, Sirius. They used only the ultraviolet spectrum of its light. They were a peaceful race, yet within their crystalline bodies they possessed an ability to unleash extremely destructive force upon outsiders. But they had never had occasion to use their power in a negative manner.
The planet itself was brilliant. The entire surface had a glasslike appearance. Actually, it was a silicone “skin” constructed by the Parmans. Its main function was to filter the light from Sirius so that only the ultraviolet end of the spectrum passed through to the crystal beings below.
Parma was like a huge, smooth marble on the outside but constructed like a honeycombed on the inside.
When Beam and her party had finally been allowed admittance to the planet, the Parmans greeted them warmly. They offered friendship and a sharing of their knowledge. One of the most exciting discoveries made by the Antareans was that because of the Parmans’ extreme sensitivity to ultraviolet, and their ability to extract it from all starlight; they could be, in effect, living guidance and propulsion systems. In other words, a Parman could be installed on an interstellar vehicle and guide the craft to any source containing ultraviolet l
ight, no matter how weak or how far away. Since the Parmans were able to extract ultraviolet from the source, they could then pull a spacecraft toward it. As the distance between the Parman and the source lessened, the flow of ultraviolet light charging atoms of gasses in space increased and thus the effect increased, much like an electro-magnet that grows stronger as current increases. Beam theorized, and then proved that the Parmans who required no gases for life support could live in space freely.
Negotiations had proceeded and one Antarean time period ago the Parmans agreed to let the Antareans build a craft that utilized this phenomenon for propulsion and navigation. It was a living spaceship system capable of zeroing in on any star...any planet...any galaxy, moving toward it rapidly in a geometric progression of acceleration. No fuel was required. No guidance system was required. The Parman guides on board were the key to the ultimate space vehicle.
Jack read all of Beam’s thoughts as they approached Building B. He was overwhelmed.
Jack, she telepathed, our Universe holds wonders around nearly every star. Yours is a strong race and one that will someday travel among the stars as we now do. It will be time periods before that happens, but it will happen. The things you consider so large and important here will become small and trivial. But that which is small, actually smallest—the atoms and electrons that compose your mind will become large. Their energy is the energy of the Universe. It is the life spark. It is what makes us all exist and be part of the Universe.
Jack understood and thought back to Vietnam and the war. He felt shame for the human race. Beam touched his hand. It was a female touch, filled with caring. Jack thought a kiss to Beam, and she returned a formless thought to him that made his body warm and caused a tear to flow. “Someday,” she said aloud. “Someday Earth humans will understand what you just felt.” They entered Building B and moved quickly to the processing room.
Joe Finley had been unable to sleep. He was supercharged for two reasons. First, because the men had spent several hours in the health club that afternoon; second - his leukemia was definitely gone. He felt more alive and vital than he had ever been before! And so did Ben, Art, and Bernie!
The Cocoon Trilogy Page 12