by Brian Toal
"No, I don't want to stay here that long. I didn't even want to stay at my grandparents very long. I just want them to help me get back to Detroit. I don't have much money and I think the police would catch me if I tried to hitchhike that far."
"Chris," Carman said gently, "I'm not sure you should be thinking of returning to Detroit. It’s more than two thousand miles away..."
"I know it is." Chris interrupted. "But I have to go back to Detroit eventually. That thing is there and as long as it’s around I’m in danger of being caught by the police and returned there against my will. I don't know what I would do then. I don't want to hurt anybody else."
Jon put his empty plate on the coffee table beside Chris'. "Chris, do you know that your picture is on TV?"
"No! Why?"
"Well, it has something to do with that fire you were telling me about at the truck stop where your parents...where your parents were killed..."
Chris' eyes closed.
"...but, it is not really about that." Jon continued in spite of Chris' demeanour. "The TV announcement indicated you had been kidnapped. Now we all know that’s not true. But, all the same, the police are looking for you. And they have your picture."
Chris said nothing, and Jon could hear long intakes of breath as he fought to control his emotions.
"Carman and I were thinking..." he glanced over at Carman, sitting in the other chair, "that the best thing might be for us to call the police and then you could tell them your story. They would be better equipped then you to get this thing in Detroit."
"That’s what they tried to do last time." Chris mumbled from his hunched over position, his breath hitching in his throat.
"What?" Jon bent towards Chris and gently whispered. "What did they try and do last time."
"Arrested my Mom and Dad!" Chris screamed, jerking his head upright, his eyes wide with anger. "They tried to take my Mom and Dad away. The police! They are all in on it! They want to get me. Only me! Don't you see..." He was screaming at both of them now, including Carman in his rage, spittle flying from his mouth, "...they don't care what they do to you. They can do anything! Anything they want! They can arrest you. They can kill you. They can torture you and there is nothing that you can do about it. Nothing! It owns them! It controls the police! It controls all kinds of people and if they get me, they will...Oh, God!"Chris staggered to his feet. "Get out of your seats!" He screamed, his hands flying to his face to cover his eyes. "Get out of your seats," he screamed again, "I’m going to do something!"
It happened so fast, Carman never had a chance to do more than blink in surprise at Chris' sudden explosive command. Carman felt her entire chair lift off the ground, her legs flying out in front of her in surprise as the ceiling rushed at her face. Then just as she drew breath for a scream, the chair flipped in mid-air, her stocking feet skidding along the drywall ceiling, then she was falling to the carpet below.
Jon was less lucky. He witnessed Carman's rapid acceleration off the floor and the abrupt mid-air turn, but the next instant the upside-down armchair was hurtling directly at him. He got one hand up to try and protect himself, but the cloth covered, wooden arm, smashed through his defence and ploughed into his face. The impact knocking him and the chair he was sitting in over backwards. Then it continued through the air, to land on its side by the door. It lay there, for only an instant, before it reversed its course and did two quick rolls across the carpet back towards him, stopping with the two arms resting on his chest. A moment later Chris ran by, both hands still pressed to his face, through the spot the chair had only recently occupied.
There was a crash as the outside door was flung open and then a whooping sound beside him as Carman fought to get her breath.
TEN - FIVE
Carman found him sitting in the passenger seat of Jon's car. He had been crying again, she could see that. His eyes were puffy and swollen and two snotty paper napkins were stuffed between his legs.
She stood outside the car, looking in at him, doing her best to wear a welcoming smile. "Chris, open the door, please." The lock button was down on his door and she was not about to walk around to try the driver's side. "Jon and I are not mad at you. We just want to talk some more."
Chris looked up at her and she saw his face work as he snuffled back a few more tears. "Did I hurt either of you?" He asked as he cracked open the door.
Carman did her best to keep a pleasant smile on her face. "No. Not really. Jon is going to have a sore nose for a while, but you didn't do anything real awful. It certainly was a surprise, though."
Chris shook his head dejectedly. "I can't stop it. Not when I get mad. It gets too fast and I can't push it away quick enough."
Carman nodded, not even trying to understand. "Well, why don't you come back inside, again?"
"Jon's not mad either?"
Carman shrugged her shoulders. "Surprised, but not mad."
Chris nodded and climbed out of the car. "Okay. I won't get upset again."
Carman put her hand on his shoulder, directing him back to the stairs. "Great. And Jon and I will try not to ask questions that are too stressful."
"Sorry, Jon." Chris said as he re-entered the apartment, wiping his stocking feet on the mat.
"Hey, that's okay. I guess I needed a re-education in who is the boss."
"I'm not the boss and I’m certainly not the boss of this." Chris tapped his finger against his head.
Jon's chair had been put back on its feet and sat approximately where it had been before. Carman's chair had also been righted, but sat off to one side, far away from the coffee table and its usual position. She walked over to the couch and sat at one end, Chris followed, settling himself at the opposite end. Jon moved to reclaim his seat, then stopped, stooped in front of it.
"Are you figuring on flip'in over any more chairs? He asked, his face serious, but humour in his voice. "Otherwise, I'll join you two on the couch."
Chris looked up and him and smiled, recognizing the jest. "No. But if I do, I’ll try and dump you on the couch."
They all laughed as Jon reclaimed his seat. Then there was an awkward silence for a few moments as they tried to determine where to resume.
"Well..." Carman began, “I guess that answers any questions regarding the truthfulness of what you have been saying. I think it’s best if Jon and I..." she nodded at Jon for confirmation, "...take whatever you say as fact. Rather than trying to comprehend things which we don't know much about."
"Right." Jon agreed. "So what, Chris, do you want to do?"
"I want to go to Detroit and find this thing that changed me into what I am. Then, I want to kill it...if I can."
"Why do you want to kill it?" Carman asked, "And what do you think it is?"
"I know what it is. And I want to destroy it because..."
"Chris." Jon interrupted. "Why don't you tell Carman the entire story. Just like you told me in the car. I wouldn't mind hearing it again anyway and I think it would certainly help Carman."
Chris nodded and retold his story once again. Carman patting his arm during the difficult parts. Towards the end, holding his hand tightly within hers. And when he came to the very last part, she was cuddling him and holding him tight against her as he cried.
"So..." Chris finished off, his tears drying upon Carman's shirt "...that’s why I want to destroy it. Because it made me kill my Mom and Dad."
"What is this thing then and why did it make you like you are?" Jon asked, Carman still silent after the dramatics of Chris' story.
"I’m not real sure." Chris answered, "But I think I’m beginning to understand." He took a deep breath and then began. "I believe I’m supposed to do two things for it. First, learn everything that I can - ever since I came back from Canada, I was driven to learn things. And it was directed research: politics, history, astronomy, biology, physics, economics, nuclear physics, psychology, sociology, medicine, computer science...everything. Everything that someone would want to know to fully understand our world to
day. How it became the way it is and what our current level of development is. But I think I’m supposed to do even more. If it had just wanted a researcher with an Eidetic Memory, why didn't it just stop with that ability? Or better still create a whole bunch of me, so it wouldn't be dependant on just one. But it didn't, as far as I know. And I can do all this other stuff too. So, there has to be a reason."
"Maybe it comes in a package." Jon interrupted. "It wanted to make you learn, but maybe the other changes come with it."
"No. No way." Chris said forcefully. "The learning centres of the brain are entirely separate from the Optic Centre and the Frontal Lobe, as well as the other parts of my brain that it has invaded. So, these additional changes were done on purpose - and I get a feeling it never wastes resources. I believe my telekinetic ability was put in place mostly to protect me from attack by human foes - other people who would want to kill me. You see...from all the historical research I have done, I think these things have been around before. The one in Canada wasn't found because it ended up under a river or lake and the sediment deposits covered up the building surrounding it. I can’t guess how old these things are, but I believe they have been here for thousands if not tens of thousands of years. Anyway...the one in Canada was buried and it wasn't until NorthCan went after the gravel surrounding it, that it was discovered. But others have been found before."
"Where?"
"I'll tell you in a minute." Chris held up his hand as he reorganized his thoughts. "Now that I’ve discovered this new skill - I don't know a name for it, but both of you know what I’m talking about - the way I can make people do things I want them to do. The only rational I can think of for it enabling that ability is - I was meant to directly represent it. I was supposed to research all of the important issues and developments of the time period, allow it to interpret my knowledge and then act on its decisions. There would be other people to assist me, but they would be mere slaves, catering to its physical needs. I was supposed to go into the world and manipulate its leaders or rulers. It would have worked too. And it did work centuries ago, when there were absolute dictators and linages of Kings and Queens. People like me would have dominated or actually ruled whole countries or even continents."
"Fucking hell!" Jon exclaimed. "This is heavy shit."
"For sure." Chris nodded his agreement. “Eventually, I will become one of the wisest, most knowledgeable individuals in the world. I’m virtually unassailable and I can coerce individuals to take action against their will. Why would some alien machine deliberately create someone like me - unless it wanted a human figure to control and manipulate the world according to its needs and desires? Don't forget if my Aunt hadn't taken me away from it as quickly as she did, I would probably have become its puppet by now. And I think I must still be real important to its goals, otherwise why would it want me back so badly. That’s why I’m sure that arresting my Mom and Dad was only a ploy to get me sent back to Detroit."
"Fucking hell!" Jon repeated, a huge grin on his face. "This is the best action I have ever heard of. So you are really like, some wise, all powerful gladiator ready to stride out into the world and conquer?"
Chris wrinkled his brow. That was not quite how he had pictured his role. "Well kind of..."
Carman had only sat and listened so far, her face set in a grimace of concentration as she listened to Chris' every word. "You said there had possibly been others. Why do you think that?" She asked.
"It’s difficult to prove. I mean you will never find a reference in any history book that says: And at this point in time, an alien intelligence took control and did...whatever. But, if your research base is broad enough there are some very strange developments that occurred in the past, all at the same time and at the same place. Quantum leaps in knowledge. Confounding, astonishing discoveries in more than one science..." Chris paused, swallowing painfully. "Do you mind if I get a Coke? All this talking is making my throat dry."
"Sure." Carman answered. "I think there are a few more in the fridge.
"Get one for me too." Jon called as Chris walked towards the kitchen. Then he continued, his voice loud as he spoke to Chris in the kitchen. "If this thing is so powerful - why doesn't it just come out here and get you?"
"It can't move on its own and presently it doesn't know where I am." Chris shouted back.
"Why doesn't it send some of its flunkies?"
"It can only control individuals within a short range. I don't know how far, but probably less than fifteen or twenty miles." Chris returned to the living room with a can of Coke and a can of Pepsi. "There was only one Coke left. Do you want a Pepsi or a Coke?" He asked Jon.
"I'll take the Pepsi." Jon said, taking the can out of Chris' hands. "Why only fifteen or twenty miles?"
"I don't know why. But that seems to be the way it is. When my Mom and I flew out of Detroit, we had barely got off the ground when I felt its presence leave me and I’ve never felt it since. I’m pretty sure that its...flunkies." Chris smiled. "I like that word...would stop their pursuit of me, almost before they reached the city limits. They would just become...human again."
"What happens when you go to Detroit?"
Chris nodded thoughtfully. "It’s going to be very difficult for me then. I’m going to have to fight it off, every second that I’m there."
"As well as, God knows how many other people, it has got its little wires into," Jon added.
Chris laughed. "Yeah, them too. But I don't think they could hurt me. My instinct for self-preservation is almost automatic."
Chris took a deep swallow of his Coke and there was silence for a moment as Carman and Jon thought over what he had told him.
"What was this historical reference you mentioned, before you went into the kitchen?" Carman asked.
"Oh, right!" Chris took another swallow and then settled himself with his back against the arm of the couch. "Well it’s kind of weird...but I figure, if there have been others like this thing before, they would have probably behaved in a similar manner. They would have fixed up someone like me and then with that person's help, moved to a civilized centre. Once there, the two of them would capture other persons of importance, close to where they were located. This one is now in Detroit. It won't stay there forever. Detroit is pretty much a backwater of a city. They make cars there and that is about it. But, it will have established safe surroundings and with Uncle Charlie's help and now probably Aunt Beth's, it will recruit members of the community to do its bidding. The police for sure, maybe the military - although I don't know why it would need them yet - certainly some individuals that are powerful within the community and local government. You see, it has to start someplace. Detroit was where Uncle Charlie brought it and so that is where it will begin. But, eventually, I believe it will want to go to Washington, DC. That is where our country is run from and that is where it can establish a truly meaningful power base. If it is successful in infiltrating the members of the federal government, it could indisputably control the activities and direction of our entire country and certainly influence the course of world events. Of course, by that time, it would like to have me around as an independent manipulator."
Chris smiled and shook his head. "It really did make a mistake making me its disciple. A twelve-year old can't accomplish much in this century. But anyway...I have read hundreds of books on both ancient and modern history, politics, math, astronomy, medicine and other sciences. There were three times in history where the ruling portion of society was utterly inhuman concerning the human rights of its members, but able to inspire vast numbers of its population to achieve extraordinary accomplishments, whether it was conquest or engineering marvels - and at the same time - develop individual scholars, all of Einsteinium proportions."
"You mean like Hitler during the second world war?" Jon asked excitedly. "He was a major nasty dude, but he got the whole country organised behind him to fight the allies. And he had plenty of smart scientists."
Chris leaned back against the couc
h and looked across at Jon, like a teacher who has just received an unpleasantly stupid answer. "Ahhh...no. I hadn't really considered Germany, under Hitler, as one of the more progressive societies of our past. What I meant was..."
Chris paused, realising Jon's knowledge of modern history and certainly ancient history was unlikely to be very informed. He sighed, searching for a way to make it understandable for his older, but less educated friend.
"Look...for a long time the world kind of just trucked along at its own rate. One cell protozoa formed in our oceans. Then, after a long, long time, life - kind of as we know it - came along. It wasn't much to begin with. Some fish and then amphibians and then reptiles and eventually mammals. After a real long time, man's ancestors arrived on the scene and for a million and half years Homo Sapiens just kind of hung around. We killed the odd buffalo or other sick animal now and then, but mostly we devoured the meat on carcasses left behind by other predators that were better suited at the job than we were. Eventually we invented stone tools, discovered fire, made copper, then bronze tools, developed reasonably efficient farming practices, formed agriculturally based communities, etc. All those discoveries and inventions were good things and they kind of happened in a natural progression. Then along came the Egyptians over four thousand years ago. In 2700 B.C. they were like everybody else in the world. They had pottery vases, used flint knives - although they had discovered how to make bronze - and had settled into small groups alongside the Nile and on the Nile Delta. Then suddenly what were they doing? They were building great huge pyramids out in the desert. They were tracking the stars and planets. Developing complex, absolutely totalitarian federal and state government systems. Charging taxes. Investigating profoundly new techniques in medicine. Moving two-million-ton blocks of rock. How did they suddenly in the space of a couple hundred years develop all this new technology? Don't forget evolved humans had already been around for hundreds of thousands of years. If human beings naturally learned and invented as fast as the Egyptians did we would have crossed the Universe by now. No...suddenly they went from squatting by the Nile in grass huts to developing complex mathematical formulas."