The Gods and the Builders

by Brandon Hale

  They heard a faint thud from behind them. The alien had dropped from the window and was standing on the dirt floor.

  Jerry screamed, spun around and grabbed the plywood leaning against the wall. Grabbing each side, he held it in front of him and charged toward the door.

  As he came forward, the alien gracefully stepped to the side. Jerry felt the skin rip from his knuckles as he squeezed the wood through the door.

  “Run!” he screamed as he threw the wood at the alien standing beside him.

  Lauren sprinted into the brightly lit yard. The light reflecting from the snow was close to blinding. Ahead of her, she was barely able to see Jerry kick her neighbor’s back door open. He was inside. He was safe from the light. Without looking to see if the aliens were following her, Lauren ran toward the house. When she was close enough, she squeezed her eyes shut and dove toward the door, mentally preparing herself for a hard landing.

  The landing never came.

  It took a moment for her to realize that she was moving in the wrong direction. She was moving up.

  She heard her voice screaming Jerry’s name, but it was distant, like an echo bouncing across a great canyon.

  This is it, she thought. I belong to them now.

  Fingers wrapped themselves around her wrist.

  Human fingers.

  She was being pulled forward. She heard a man screaming and she felt herself being ripped from the light. She fell forward and rolled into her neighbor’s kitchen.

  The pain in her shoulder was excruciating.

  “Come on!”

  She looked up to see Jerry standing above her.

  “Lauren, we have to go!” he screamed.

  She climbed to her feet and followed him into the living room. “I think you dislocated my shoulder,” she said. “I can’t move my arm.”

  “Are your legs okay?” Jerry asked, barely able to breathe.

  “Yes,” she said. “Where are we going?”

  “I saw a patch of woods beside this house,” Jerry said. “How thick are the trees?”

  “Pretty thick,” Lauren said. “How do we get to them?”

  “The light isn’t strong,” Jerry said. “I was able to pull you away. I think if we climb out the side window, it’s only about five feet from the tree line. We can make that, I’m sure.”

  Lauren felt faint from the pain in her shoulder. The thought of crawling through a window sounded very much like torture.

  “Come on,” Jerry said as he stepped into a bedroom.

  Lauren ran into the room as Jerry pushed up the window. “Can you do this?” he asked.

  Lauren nodded. “Yeah, but it won’t be fun.”

  “You first or me?”

  Lauren stared at the open window. The pain was preventing conscious thought.

  “Lauren, they’re probably in the house by now,” Jerry said. “Go through the window!”

  Without thinking, Lauren ran to the window and jumped through. When she landed in the snow, the pain in her shoulder almost caused her to vomit, but she somehow managed to hold it back. She scrambled to her feet and ran into the trees in front of her.

  “Don’t stop!” Jerry yelled. He was behind her. “Keep running until we can’t go any further.”

  Lauren tried her best to ignore the pain in her shoulder. She jumped over logs, and ducked under branches. She sprinted through the dark woods for what felt like hours, but in reality was probably no more than a few minutes. Eventually, exhaustion overtook her and she stopped.

  She dropped to her knees, breathing in massive gulps of air.

  Jerry sat down beside her. “I think,” he said between breaths, “they stayed in town.”

  “How,” Lauren gasped, “did we pull that off.”

  “I don’t think they expected us to fight back,” Jerry said. “And to be honest, they probably weren’t overly concerned about our escape. I mean, really, it’s not like we’re dangerous to them.” He fell back onto the snowy ground, waiting for his breathing to become regular again. “They’re probably just waiting for us to step back into town.”

  “Thank you,” Lauren said. “For saving me.”

  “Which arm?” Jerry asked.

  “My right,” Lauren said. “I’m sure it’s dislocated.”

  “I really didn’t have a choice,” Jerry said apologetically.

  “You had a choice,” Lauren said. “You could have left me. Thank you for coming back for me.”

  “We’re a team, preacher,” Jerry said. He grinned. “After last night, there’s no damn way I’m leaving you behind.”

  “After last night,” Lauren said, “I seriously think you can stop calling me preacher.”

  Jerry laughed. “What now?” he said.

  “I thought you were the man with a plan,” Lauren said.

  “I was,” Jerry said. “And that plan succeeded beautifully. Now it’s your turn.”

  “We can’t stay out here,” Lauren said. “We’re soaking wet. As the evening wears on, the temperature is going to drop. And I don’t think we should be building a fire.”

  “Can you think of somewhere safe?” Jerry said. “Somewhere we can get to from these woods without them seeing us.”

  Lauren smiled. “Actually,” she said, “I know exactly where we can go.”

  Alice stood in the center of the highest walkway, a mile above the shipyard. She looked down at the field and counted the ships.

  “Three,” she said. “There’s only three left.”

  “Alice,” Arthur said, “what are you doing?”

  Jim stood behind Arthur. Most of the others stood behind Jim. The crowd stretched down the length of the walkway, all the way to the pyramid’s roof.

  Alice looked at Jim. “Mr. President,” she said, “you have to make me a promise.” The wind pushed her hair over her face, but she pulled it back. “This is important, Jim.”

  “You name it,” Jim said.

  “If we make it through this,” Alice said, “you can’t let it turn into a war.”

  “Okay,” Jim said.

  “I’m serious,” Alice said. “If we get out of this, we have to show them compassion. It’s up to you to convince the world that they are not monsters. If they stop this, it’ll mean they’re homeless. It’ll mean they sacrificed everything to give us a chance to grow.”

  “I understand,” Jim said. “What are you planning, girl?”

  “If we react to this act of kindness,” Alice said, “with hatred, it will undo everything, Jim. Everything. Do you understand me? It will doom humanity forever.”

  “I understand, kid,” Jim said. “But I don’t think we have to worry about all that. They didn’t really listen to us down there, remember?”

  Alice sighed. “They did listen, sir. They just couldn’t hear.”

  “What are you planning?” Arthur said. “Alice, what are you about to do.”

  “I think you know, Art,” Alice said. “I’m going to teach them how to hear us.”

  She looked down at the shipyard below. One of the ships lifted into the air.

  “Two left,” she said.

  “Alice,” Arthur said, shaking his head, “no.”

  “Yes,” Alice said. She was crying. “I love you, Arthur. I didn’t believe in soul mates until I met you.”

  “Come here,” Arthur said. “Alice, come back here. Get away from the edge.”

  “Tell me you love me,” Alice said. “Please.”

  “I’ll tell you every day for the next fifty years,” Arthur said, “if you’ll just come over here.” He took a step closer and held out his hand. “Alice, this is stupid. You’re not going to change anything this way.”

  “What difference does it make,” Alice said. “If I don’t try, we’re all dead anyway.”

  “Alice, please.”

  “Tell me you love me, Arthur,” Alice said.

  “Not until you get away from the fucking edge!”

  Alice’s lip began to quiver. “Don’t make me do this wi
thout hearing you say it,” she said. “Please, Arthur. Please.”

  “I need you,” Arthur said. He made no effort to hide his tears.

  “You said it yourself,” Alice said. “They will never understand as long as we’re not one of them.”

  “I’m full of shit!” Arthur screamed. “Don’t you know that yet?”

  Alice smiled. “Usually, you are,” she said. “But way every now and then, when the moon is just right, you say something that makes sense.”

  A ship rose from the shipyard and floated toward the purple sky.

  “Arthur, I have to go,” Alice said. “I love you.” She turned around and looked at the shipyard below. The inner wall’s light was faint, but it was still there.

  “Alice!”

  She looked back at him and smiled. “It has to be me, Arthur. You know that.”

  “I’m coming with you!” he screamed.

  Alice looked at Jim. “Some help, here?”

  Jim turned to the men behind him and nodded.

  Immediately, several of them grabbed Arthur and held him in place.

  “I love you,” Alice said again.

  Arthur was sobbing. “I love you, Alice,” he said. “I love you.”

  Alice smiled, turned back to the edge, and stepped off.

  Arthur screamed and tried to break free, but the President’s men held him firmly in place.

  “It was her choice, son!” Jim said.

  “Fuck you, sir!” Arthur screamed. “Fuck you!”

  With a convulsive jerk, he broke free and ran to the edge of the walkway. He fell to his knees and began to sob.

  Jim walked to the edge and sat down beside him. He put his hand on Arthur’s shoulder, but he didn’t speak. He just sat there and let Arthur cry.

  The last ship rose from the shipyard.

  Jerry stood at the edge of the woods, looking at the church. He was smiling. “You sure you won’t get ejected from there?”

  “Only one way to find out,” Lauren said.

  “I mean, really,” Jerry said. “Since these aliens arrived, you’ve done nothing but spewed out foul language and had sex with men that you’re not married to.”

  “Since the aliens arrived?” Lauren said. “Check again. I’ve been that way since I met you. You’re a corrupter.”

  Jerry laughed “You think this place is safe? The lights are on inside. Maybe they’re in there.”

  “The lights are always on,” Lauren said. “It’s safe. There are no ships floating directly overhead and the back door is right there. The key is hidden on the lip above the door. We store all kinds of supplies in the basement area. There‘s canned food, running water, and a bathroom. All in the basement. There are no windows down there, the basement door is inside the church, it’s metal, and it has a very large deadbolt inside.”

  “Okay,” Jerry said. “I guess we’re hiding out in your church basement. Is there a fire extinguisher near the back door? I want to be ready when your skin catches fire as soon as you step inside.”

  “You’re not funny,” Lauren said.

  “I think I’m hilarious,” Jerry said.

  “Shut up,” Lauren said, “and follow me.”

  They ran across the back yard and got to the door. Lauren reached above the door and pulled down a key.

  “Not the best security system,” Jerry said.

  “Hush,” Lauren said. “Who would rob a church?”

  “You would be surprised.”

  “Yes,” Lauren said as she unlocked the door, “I would.”

  They stepped into a kitchen area. “The basement is on the other side of the chapel.”

  They walked through the kitchen and down a small hallway, then stepped into the back of the chapel.

  “Who is that?” Jerry whispered.

  In a pew in the front row, they saw the back of a man’s head. His hair was thin and gray. He turned around and smiled.

  “Well, hello minister,” he said.

  “Stan?” Lauren said. “How long have you been here?”

  “Since yesterday,” Stan said.

  Lauren glanced at Jerry. “He’s a member of the church,” she said as she began to walk to toward the front of the chapel.

  “I gathered that,” Jerry said.

  Stan stood up and said, “Haven’t seen you around here since all this started.”

  “I know, Stan,” Lauren said. “It’s been a little nuts. What are you doing here?”

  “Well,” Stan said, “just now, I was praying. But I came here after everybody else left. Couldn’t think of a better place to be. When they came back, I figured I’d just camp out in the basement.”

  “Is it just you?” Lauren asked.

  Stan nodded. “Yeah.”

  “What made you decide to stay?”

  Stan laughed. “I’m eighty-seven years old. Soon enough, I’ll be going on an adventure a lot better than some fancy drive through outer space.”

  Lauren laughed. “I guess that’s as good a reason as any. Stan, I hope you don’t mind some company.”

  “I welcome it,” Stan said. “But I don’t expect you’ll be here long.”

  “Why’s that?” Jerry asked.

  “Stan, this is my friend, Jerry,” Lauren said.

  Stan gave Jerry a slight smile and a nod, then turned back to Lauren. “I been prayin’ a lot, minister.”

  “That’s good, Stan,” Lauren said.

  “And God’s been answering.”

  Jerry let out a barely audible groan.

  “Really?” Lauren said. She looked at Jerry and saw the concern in his eyes. He was obviously having the same thought she was. It was a pretty big coincidence that God starting answering this old man about the same time the aliens came back. “What did he say to you, Stan?”

  “Now, that’s the weird part,” Stan said. “I was here praying for the folks on the space ships, asking God to watch over them. The usual stuff. That‘s when he talked to me.” He looked at Jerry. “I know you‘ll think I‘m nuts, but I‘m telling you, I heard him.” He turned back to Lauren. “To answer your question, minister, God said, ‘Tell her to go home.’ I didn’t have a clue what he meant by that, as I thought I was the only person left in town. It was that moment that you and your friend walked in.”

  Lauren looked at Jerry. “What do you think?”

  “What the hell do you think I think,” Jerry said. “It’s them.”

  “If this happened a few months ago,” Stan said, “I wouldn’t have doubted it for a second. But considering recent events, minister, I think you might be wise to at least consider what the boy’s saying here. I do not doubt my Lord, mind you. I’m just saying you’d be a fool to ignore the possibility that it’s those gray bastards. Pardon the language.”

  “Jerry,” Lauren began.

  “No,” Jerry said. “You’re not allowed to consider this. You’re an intelligent woman, Lauren. Don’t let your fear of losing faith cause you to get us both killed.”

  “Losing faith?” Stan said. “Don’t tell me you’ve let these skinny bastards get to you. Pardon the language.”

  “It’s a little unnerving, Stan,” Lauren said.

  “Pish posh,” Stan said. “Their arrival don’t change nothing but the skin of the questions. Even if everything the experts believe about these aliens is true, that don’t change God.”

  “It doesn’t?” Lauren said.

  “Course not!” Stan said. “Whether God used them to bring us around or not don’t change my mind. Minister, if you think these bug eyed bastards have anything to do with God, you’re looking for him in all the wrong places. God ain’t in space or in the sky any more than the devil’s in the ground. If you’re looking for God out here,” he waved his hands in the air in front of him “then you might need to consider a new line of work.”

  Lauren smiled. “Thank you, Stan.”

  “No,” Jerry said. “Lauren, you‘re too smart to go back there. They’re at the house, waiting for you right now. You ha
ve to know that.”

  “I do know that,” Lauren said. “They’re obviously at the house.”

  Jerry sighed. “Okay. Good. Now let’s go look at our new basement apartment.”

  “I’m going back,” Lauren said.

  Jerry pointed at Stan. “I’m kicking your ass, old man.”

  “I don’t really see you as the ass kicking type, son,” Stan said.

  “Told you,” Lauren said.

  “I broke your God damn shoulder to get you here,” Jerry said. “And after all that, you’re going back because the aliens told this old man to tell you to go back? Do you have any idea how retarded that sounds?”

  “I appreciate that you broke my shoulder,” Lauren said. “I already thanked you for it. But really, what good is going to come from staying here? Logically, they’re going to find us, Jerry. It’s obvious they want our planet. It’s obvious they’ve succeeded in taking it. Whether I have my faith or not, they’re going to kill us. If I’m looking at the same fate either way, I might as well face it the way I want.”

  “We can stay hidden until spring,” Jerry said. “Then we can head into the mountains. We can do this, Lauren.”

  Lauren shook her head. “No, we can’t. It’s over, and I’m going to face it down like I should have on that first day, but I was too chicken shit.”

  “We had a good plan,” Jerry said.

  “Running isn’t a plan,” Lauren said. “It’s a reaction. We had no plan. Now I do. I’m going back.”

  “Lauren--”

  “I’m going back, Jerry,” Lauren said. “Thank you for everything. You should stay here with Stan. There’s no reason you need to be an idiot with me. You should definitely stay. But I’m going home.”

  “Why?” Jerry asked, exasperated.

  “Because my instinct is telling me to go,” Lauren said.

  “And we know how reliable your instincts are,” Jerry said.

  “Do you see an asteroid?” Lauren asked. She kissed Jerry.

  “Aren’t you married?” Stan asked.

  “He cheated on me,” Lauren said. “With one of the most wonderful women I’ve ever known, but he cheated on me. That means I’m a free agent.”

  “Stay here,” She said to Jerry. “I’ll be back in a little while.”