The Zul Enigma

by J M Leitch

  ‘Shut up.’

  ‘Thespian?’

  ‘Yeah. Surely you remember the year Carlos went MAD?’

  ‘What?’

  ‘MAD – The Music And Drama Club at Goddard.’

  ‘We put on good productions there. Why do you always make fun of it?’

  ‘Because I never got over seeing you dressed up as a woman.’

  ‘Hey… one time, just one time…’

  ‘Well,’ Joseph said, ‘you guys helped me settle in.’

  ‘You used to be a right little shit. Always rubbing everyone up the wrong way. You needed help making friends.’

  ‘You didn’t stay long? What was it – a couple of years?’ Carlos asked.

  ‘Didn’t want to end up like you guys…’ Carlos shot a glance at Drew, but he wasn’t looking. ‘… I missed the social life when I left. You both taught me a thing or two about partying. I’ll never forget that one on the river boat.’

  ‘Oh fuck, I’d forgotten that.’

  ‘So what are you doing in Vienna?’ Carlos asked.

  ‘IAI just entered a joint venture with RUAG Aerospace Austria and I set up a rep office here. I’ll be in and out all the time over the next few months. We should get together again.’

  Carlos reached for his drink.

  ‘How’s OOSA?’ Joseph asked.

  ‘It took a year to get the place operating properly. And it took four years hard pressure to get the budget to drag our technology into the twenty-first century,’ Carlos opened his palms in front of him. ‘We’re a worldwide organisation disseminating space technology – for Christ’s sake, we have to have cutting edge technology ourselves.’ Joseph nodded. ‘It’s still a lot of work, but more routine now. We got our annual Legal Subcommittee Session coming up in a couple of weeks. That’s a big job.’

  ‘Well, well. She made it,’ Drew leaped to his feet and hugged the petite woman walking towards their table. He took her hand and led her up to the others. ‘Remember these reprobates?’

  She smiled. ‘Hey Joe,’ she said, giving him a peck on the cheek. She unbuttoned her coat and joined Carlos on the rattan sofa. ‘And as for you…’

  ‘Erika?’

  She threw her arms around Carlos’s neck. ‘Hi stranger! It’s so good to see you,’ she whispered in his ear.

  ‘Now,’ Drew said, ‘it’s a proper reunion.’

  ‘You look just the same,’ Carlos said studying her face. ‘Not a day older.’

  ‘Oh you,’ she crinkled up her eyes in a smile, ‘you haven’t lost any of that Mediterranean charm now, have you?’

  ‘Drew said you’d moved here. When?’

  ‘In the new year.’

  ‘What brought you to Austria of all places?’

  She shrugged. ‘I’d been thinking about moving to Europe for a while. I thought it would be a good experience for the boys. Get to know their roots. Remember? My mum was German. Then Joe said he had contacts here and got me a job.’

  ‘How do you like Vienna?’

  ‘Just fine… except…’

  ‘Except what?’

  ‘Except a bastard of a boyfriend she hooked up with,’ Drew cut in.

  Carlos looked from Drew to Erika and back again. ‘What happened?’

  Erika pursed her lips. ‘Long story. And he wasn’t a boyfriend – I just had a drink with him a couple of times. Then when I told him I didn’t want to see him again, he started stalking me.’

  ‘Austrian?’ Carlos asked.

  ‘No!’ Drew interrupted. ‘Nigerian. Probably some illegal on the bones of his arse thinking he was onto a good thing.’

  ‘I feel so stupid now. Anyway, he wouldn’t stop calling so I changed my cell number and got an unlisted one at home. Then he found out where I lived. It was scary – he kept hanging around outside my house. I was about to go to the police when Drew called and said he was here.’

  ‘I was in London because Aunt Hetty died and came over here for a few days before the funeral. Thought I’d surprise Sophie and look up Erika and the boys. Of course, when she told me what was going on I said I’d have a word with the arsehole. He’s got the picture now.’

  Erika looked at Drew. ‘My hero!’ she laughed crossing her palms over her heart.

  He lifted his drink. ‘It’s a pleasure, my dear. But be careful playing the cougar in future, okay?’

  ‘Ouch!’ she said. Then added, ‘I’m not sure what you call the male version of that… sugar daddy? But anyways, how is your little Sophie?’

  ‘Well…’

  ‘Not trouble in paradise, surely?’ she said smiling.

  ‘She got pissed off about you, if you must know.’

  ‘Oh no!’ Erika replied, her smile vanishing.

  ‘Don’t sweat, darling. I’m beginning to learn I also need to stick to partners nearer my own age. And as for the music she played… well… what can I say? It was absolute crap.’

  ‘So you’re not heart-broken?’

  ‘Hardly! Shame though. She had a great apartment with a roof garden – out near UNO as it happens. Now I’m back in a bloody hotel.’

  When Drew dragged Joseph off to get another round, Erika put her hand on Carlos’s arm.

  ‘I’m so sorry about Elena, Carlos.’

  He shook his head.

  ‘The last time I saw her, was just before you shifted here. She wasn’t happy about it.’

  ‘She changed her mind when she started finding her way around.’

  ‘I don’t know so much. She called me out of the blue once. Said all the stodgy self-important mid-Europeans were driving her nuts.’

  Carlos smiled. ‘Typical Elena.’

  ‘Did she make any friends?’

  ‘It wasn’t easy. Not like in the States. But my colleagues were very good. And we had loads of visitors. That kept her busy.’

  ‘And what about you?’

  Carlos shrugged. ‘I’ve got my work.’

  ‘You look tired.’

  ‘I work long hours. And travel a lot.’

  ‘You’re not looking after yourself, Carlos. Life’s not all about work you know.’

  ‘White wine for Erika, beer for Joseph and Mojitos for us,’ Drew announced, plonking down the drinks.

  Joseph had to dash off for a business dinner and Erika left at the same time to collect her boys from their friend’s. Drew walked them to the door.

  ‘He looks awful,’ Erika said. ‘I wouldn’t have recognised him.’

  ‘He’s still not over Elena,’ Drew replied. ‘He blames himself.’

  ‘But he’s like a completely different man. He used to be so loud, so full of energy, so passionate. Just now it was like talking to a burst balloon.’

  ‘He broke down at dinner the other night. He’ll do himself in if he’s not careful.’

  ‘It’s good we’re all back in touch. We must try and get him out,’ Erika said looking at Joseph.

  After saying their goodbyes, Drew walked back to where Carlos was sitting.

  ‘You put on a good act in front of Joe.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Well… you didn’t tell him you were an overpaid clerk at OOSA.’

  Carlos grunted. ‘Why’d he show up tonight anyway?’

  ‘I told you, I invited him.’

  ‘You guys always kept in touch?’

  ‘Not when he first went back to Israel, but we bumped into each other in DC last year.’

  ‘Why’s he so keen to fit me into his hectic high-powered schedule?’

  ‘Saucer of milk, Carlos?’

  ‘The way he talks, you’d think we were best friends at Goddard, but I hardly remember him. And now he says he wants to meet up again? I mean… was he really at that river boat party?’

  ‘Shit, I don’t know,’ and Drew took a sip of his drink, ‘but you’re right. He was a hoverer… a hanger-on. He knew a lot of people but didn’t have any mates, if you know what I mean. That’s why I went out of my way to be friendly. I felt sorry for him. A bit like
you really.’ Carlos glared at Drew, making him grin. ‘Seriously though, when he joined NASA he was really out of it. He was bright, mind you, so bright, still is. What he doesn’t know about satellite communications isn’t worth bothering about.’

  ‘And what about that comment?’

  ‘What comment?’

  ‘About leaving NASA, “I didn’t want to end up like you guys”.’

  ‘You’re way too sensitive… hang about… it’s all coming back to me now. You never did like him, did you?’

  Carlos leaned back and crossed his arms. ‘I don’t like the way he gets in my face. Every conversation’s like an interrogation. And he never buys a drink.’

  ‘What do you expect? He’s an Israeli and he’s Jewish. But he’s mellowed, don’t you think?’ Carlos shrugged. ‘Come on. He’s not near as aggressive as he used to be. When we first met him he’d not been long out of military service. He still looks fit though. You wouldn’t want to mess with him. You know… you’d be good contacts for each other.’

  Carlos uncrossed his arms. ‘Hey, perhaps that’s it. Why he wants to keep in touch. He’s got technology our members can use and if he helps OOSA, it will help boost IAI’s image. Now it makes sense.’

  ‘He’s not all take, you see? He helped Erika out too – with the job.’

  ‘I guess. And he’s selling me those vintage music magazines.’

  ‘Bet you can’t wait to get your hands on them for your collection.’

  ‘Two Melody Makers and an NME, all with features on the Stones… God knows what he wants for them.’

  Drew laughed. ‘Rather you than me doing the bargaining.’

  ‘Erika’s picking them up from his office tomorrow. Because he’s never here for long, I’m going to deal with her.’

  Carlos’s iTab beeped. ‘It’s Hans,’ he said, ‘he’s got ITU-T’s preliminary report. He’ll meet me first thing tomorrow.’

  ‘Be sure to keep me posted,’ Drew replied. ‘I feel I’ve got a special connection with Zul, helping you name him and all.’

  CHAPTER 7

  ‘So what does it say?’

  Hans was in Carlos’s office with a printout of the ITU-T preliminary report in his hand.

  ‘They confirm what we already know.’

  ‘But how did the messages get in? And who sent them?’

  ‘They originated from sessions logged in on your tag.’

  ‘What?’ Carlos shouted. ‘They say I sent them to myself too? Show me… prove to me they came from my terminal sessions.’ He punched in his access code on the virtual keyboard and rolled back his chair gesticulating towards the monitor with his hands, his jaw clenched in fury. ‘Come on – call it all up. I want to see it with my own eyes.’

  Hans moved round the desk while Carlos stomped over to the seating area and threw himself down on the sofa.

  ‘Jesus!’ he spat as he nearly sat on his iTab. Hans looked round to see what was wrong. ‘What are you staring at?’ Carlos yelled.

  It was only a moment before Hans called Carlos back to the desk. ‘Here it is.’ Carlos walked up behind him. ‘See that? That’s the output from the log file search – it proves the messages came from your terminal session identifier.’

  Carlos shook his head.

  When Hans cleared the screen, they saw the incoming message prompt.

  ‘Click on it,’ Carlos commanded.

  Hans gasped. While he’d been using Carlos’s terminal, a message had come in. Another e-mail from the Galactic Federation.

  Hans took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. ‘It can’t be…’

  ‘Open it!’

  Again there was no text in the e-mail, just one video file attached.

  ‘Play it!’ Carlos snarled.

  Hans clicked on the icon and Zul’s face filled the screen.

  ‘Carlos, hesitate no longer. Put aside your disbelief. We will send you a sign to convince you we are what we claim and that we truly do know you… absolutely.

  ‘Deep in your heart you know further investigation of your computer system is futile. Our communications have no Earthly origin. The time has come for you to trust in yourself. Take courage. Do not procrastinate. Take this issue to the next level and when you meet the Secretary-General of your United Nations tomorrow, convince him of our authenticity. If you believe in us and believe in yourself, you will know what to do.’

  Hans sat as if paralysed. ‘But, that’s impossi… I was using your terminal, your tag, you were sitting right behind me… there’s no way you could have sent that.’

  Carlos stared at the screen.

  ‘And how does he know I’m meeting the boss tomorrow? Check it out,’ Carlos barked, ‘perhaps this message will tell us more.’

  Hans rushed out of the office as Carlos collapsed on his chair.

  The monitor buzzed, interrupting Carlos’s discussion with Corrinne about the Session programme. Carlos clicked on the instant message icon and Hans’s face appeared as Carlos hunched over the screen impatient for news. ‘Sí, Hans, what have you got?’

  ‘Nothing. Nothing at all.’

  Carlos hurled his hands in the air and shouted, ‘What do you mean, nothing! Hey, you were here!’

  ‘Yes, but it’s no different from the others. It’s from the same spoofed address sent from your terminal session.’ He shrugged. ‘We can’t explain it,’ and his voice started to creep up the register. ‘I don’t know what else to say. I don’t have any answers.’

  ‘Let me see if I understand you right,’ Carlos said, struggling to control his exasperation which was quickly turning to anger. ‘You’re saying these e-mails have been hacked into my sessions by a mystery person with a fictitious e-mail address and you and ITU-T have no idea how?’

  Silence.

  ‘That you have no explanation… no explanation for it at all?’

  Silence.

  ‘So tell me… what do I do next?’

  Silence.

  ‘And what if they do send a sign, Hans? Like he said. What if I get a sign that makes me believe? What then? Will that prove to you and everyone else the messages are authentic?’

  Silence.

  ‘Will that prove they’re coming from the Galactic Federation? Because if you can’t show how they got in, then that’s the only logical answer.’

  Silence

  ‘Isn’t it?’

  ‘I… I don’t know, sir. I don’t know what to think.’

  ‘Nor do I, Hans. All I know is you guys are no help at all,’ and Carlos ran his hand through his hair. ‘Zul’s right,’ he muttered at the screen. ‘I need to take this to the next level, because clearly you and ITU-T are out of your depth.’

  Carlos mulled over the anomalies he was facing.

  He had always been public in his belief that the existence of otherworldly beings was a possibility and even speculated that some may already have visited Earth. However, there was something else he’d never shared with anyone, not even Elena. Ever since he was a little boy it had always been his dream to make contact with another life form. It was this fantasy that sparked off his passion to learn everything he could about the universe in which he lived. It was a crazy thought, but Carlos couldn’t help wondering if Zul knew about his secret. Although at the beginning he’d discounted out of hand the Galactic Federation’s claim to know him “absolutely”, given the way things were panning out, he was no longer so sure and for the first time started considering whether the messages could be genuine.

  But that was crazy – there must be some way to prove they had an Earthly explanation.

  So what could it be… new technology?

  Perhaps Drew was right and it was a security company’s illegal marketing ploy. Or perhaps someone wanted to discredit OOSA or to use the new discovery as a blackmail tool. But that didn’t make sense either. Why? To pressure OOSA into imparting some new technology? That was ridiculous! Disseminating new technology was their mission, for God’s sake.

  The flashing incoming message
prompt caught Carlos’s attention. It was an e-mail from Erika. She was ready to instigate a holovideo call from Joseph’s office to show Carlos the music magazines. Carlos replied to the e-mail and walked over to a crescent-shaped conference table that faced a blank wall in his office. To the uninitiated it looked like any other wall, but in fact a special screen was incorporated in the wall fabric itself that enabled holograms to be displayed. Discreet, precisely positioned projectors, speakers and microphones allowed interaction with the three-dimensional images, giving the illusion that they were physically in the room.

  The table was special too. Engineered by leaders in the field of high-tech manufacturing, it featured the latest haptic display technology workspace area stretching one metre above and, on the horizontal plane, one metre beyond the surface of the desk top. This extraordinary invisible workspace allowed computer-generated holograms appearing within its boundary to be touched, manipulated and “passed” from person to person. The total integrated audio, visual and tactile effect was so lifelike, it was easy to forget that the apparitions weren’t real.

  As if by magic, the wall faded and a virtual Erika appeared.

  ‘Erika. How are you?’ Carlos asked, pouring himself a glass of water from the jug on the table.

  ‘I’m fine.’

  ‘You got your boys okay last night?’

  ‘Sure. They’d been skating. They collapsed into bed exhausted the minute I got them home.’

  ‘Got the magazines?’

  ‘Sure.’

  ‘Do you have haptic display facility?’

  ‘No, Joseph’s only got holovideo. But I can hold them up and show you.’ She lifted the magazines in front of her one by one and leafed through the pages.

  ‘They look in good condition.’

  ‘They are pristine.’

  ‘What’s Joseph want for them.’

  They agreed a price and Carlos told Erika he’d collect and pay for them when he got back from his trip the following week.

  After Erika’s virtual image disappeared and as Carlos was about to go back to his desk, a second hologram manifested. But instead of on the wall, this one appeared in the haptic workspace area on the conference table in front of him. It took the form of a brown box. Carlos stared at it knowing it couldn’t have anything to do with Erika. Muffled sounds came from inside the carton and growing impatient waiting for something to happen he stood up.