GAIA

by Morton Chalfy

  When Moms interrupted his reverie he was thinking of taking a fly-fishing trip to the always wild Kamchatka Peninsula where huge bears and surly Russians wandered about.

  “What are you day-dreaming about?” she asked.

  “Escape to a simpler life,” he said and rose to embrace her.

  “Good luck,” she said laughing. “How long have we been looking for that? Unsuccessfully, I might add."

  Harrison grinned at her. “All our lives, I guess. At least since we ran away to the back yard to live like Indians. Weren't you nine? I was 5 and 1/2.”

  “Yes. That was the simple life. For a half hour. Then we got hungry and went into the house for a snack.”

  “Mama hadn't even missed us,” said Harrison in a mock whine.

  “Oh yes she did. I heard her telling Papa about it later. But she could see us through the trees and just let us play.”

  “That was the simpler life,” said Harrison, “when the parents took care of everything.”

  “Those days are gone for good,” said Moms. “We're the parents now and there's no going back.”

  They sat in silence and memory for a few minutes and then sighed, almost in unison, as they passed from the memories of childhood to the realities of the day.

  “So what brings you back so soon?” asked Moms.

  “Ostensibly, looking for Lucas.” Harrison related the events of the past few days and brought a worried look to his sister's face.

  “That's a strange wrinkle,” she said. “It's like someone is sending you a signal.”

  “Sure. But who? And what's the meaning? Are they telling me to run? To stay? To stay alert? What?”

  Moms got up to fix coffee for Harrison and herbal tea for herself. While she was puttering he asked, “By the way, where is Lucas? And what's he been doing?”

  Moms giggled a little as she brought the drinks over. “He's probably with Maeve and he's been mooning around after her. That and searching for a security breach in our system.”

  “I should have guessed,” said Harrison. “I saw the way he looked at her when they met. What do you think about it?”

  Moms shrugged. “They could certainly do worse. I don't think he knows her father was adopted and they aren't related by blood. I think that's given him some bad moments.”

  “You haven't told him?”

  “Nor has Maeve. I don't want to spoil her fun.”

  “Searching for a security breach?” Harrison asked , going after the important information.

  “Yes. I think he's found something that's unsettled him. I've been waiting for him to approach me with it.”

  “Do you think it's related to what happened to me?”

  “When it comes to our security I don't know which end is up. On the face of it we shouldn't have anything to worry about but the more we resist chipping the more I worry.”

  “Let's get him in here and find out what he's got,” said Harrison.

  “Not yet. I have a little work to do and then the dinner bell will ring. He'll be there because Maeve will be. Right after we eat will be a good time.”

  Harrison nodded. “How about I grab a quick nap on your couch until then?”

  “Fine. Don't snore.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  When the dinner bell rang Harrison snorted once and stayed asleep. Moms called for two meals to be brought to them and ate at her desk, reluctant to deny him the rest he so clearly needed. When she was through with her meal he began to stir and so she woke him to eat. At the same time she sent a message to Maeve to come to her office and to please bring Lucas.

  The two young people promptly arrived and were suitably surprised to see Harrison finishing the last bits of his meal.

  “Gramps! What are you doing here? What's going on?” asked Lucas, clearly agitated.

  “I'm not sure, that's why I'm here.”

  Over coffee he related the unusual inquiries he had received about Lucas' whereabouts. Unusual because of the sources.

  “I think someone wanted me to know they were looking for you. Why, I don't know. I worried that I might be leading them to you but I had the impression that they knew already. All I really have are hints and impressions.”

  Harrison was watching Lucas closely while he told his story and was interested to see the glances Lucas stole at Maeve when he got to the part about thinking the message sender already knew where Lucas was. In the silence that followed his narration Moms asked, “Lucas, do you have any ideas about who might be behind this?”

  Lucas squirmed visibly and said, “No, but I think you might be right about them knowing where I am.”

  “Why do you think that?”

  “Because there was a message sent from here when I arrived, a message about a package being safely delivered.”

  With three sets of eyes staring at him Lucas answered the unspoken questions, “No, I don't who sent it. Yet. And I don't know who received it. Also, yet. But I will.”

  In Harrison's eyes Lucas was pointedly not glancing at Maeve and Moms was not as shocked as she might have been. He was about to ask why when Lucas said, “So, I need to have a quick way out of here in case they do know where I am and come to get me. And I want my gizmo back. You've had time to copy it by now.”

  Moms searched his face, looking for the underlying emotion and whatever her judgment was said, “Easily done. We do have an escape tunnel that leaves you out in the brush about a mile from here. I'll have Sam show you how to access it and I'll have him give you back your gizmo.”

  “Have you done anything with it yet?” asked Lucas.

  “Yes we have in fact. We've made several copies and sent them to various people. Some will be able to manufacture the reader-blocker and a few will be able to produce them in quantity, though from first reports it won't be easy.”

  Harrison asked, “You'll keep working on who sent what and who received it?”

  “Yes, as long as I'm able. Right now I have to work out a sifter to put all the messages through to try and isolate any quirks that would give me a clue.”

  Harrison was keenly aware that Lucas was not looking at Maeve.

  “What are you going to tell them when you get back? That you haven't found me? Then what?”

  Moms spoke quickly, “Sam is leaving an electronic trail in Las Vegas where you were last seen. It will lead to a hotel and a fictitious rendezvous with a young woman and from there into thin air. You will have paid your bill and stepped out into the day and disappeared. No further clues. A dead end without the death.”

  Maeve looked at the other's faces and said, “You think you know who sent the message, don't you?”

  Lucas was quick to shake his head. “Not at all. I've gone over what I have discovered but there's no indicator for any specific individuals.”

  “How much have you narrowed it down?” she continued.

  “Well, it still can be anyone at the compound. I have yet to get the list of security clearance levels from Sam which I'll need before I get any farther.”

  Maeve opened her mouth to speak and then shut it.

  “Were you going to say something, dear?” asked Moms.

  “No. It was stupid.”

  “What was it?”

  “I just wondered why Sam hasn't given him the list yet, that's all.”

  None of the others believed that that was the question on her lips but no one said anything.

  Moms turned to Harrison. “How long will you stay?”

  “At least several days. Long enough to conduct a search in Las Vegas. And long enough to talk out all the aspects of staying in my position. I feel quite warm there.”

  “Oh, I wouldn't worry about that,” said Moms and then flushed. “I mean, you and I can pursue that together. We don't need the kids for that discussion.”

  As a way of ending the conversation it was very effective. As a way of inspiring confidence in anyone it was a complete dud.

  Maeve turned on her heel and marched out of the room. Her body la
nguage shouted that the use of “the kids” had given her the rationale to leave the discussion. When the door had slammed behind her Lucas said, “I guess I won't be needed for the rest of this meeting.”

  Moms grinned at him, “There is no more discussion right now. I need to take care of some preparations for Gaia Day.”

  Harrison rose stiffly to his feet. “Come on Luke, you and I have plenty to discuss.”

  Lucas followed his grandfather out of the room and down the long corridor to Harrison's bed-sitting room where they sat and stared at each other for several minutes. At last Harrison asked, “What are your suspicions? I know you have them so what are they?”

  Lucas looked around the room. “We'd be sure to be overheard here.”

  Harrison shrugged, “So what? If Moms is on the other side, which I don't believe for a second, we're so compromised it isn't funny. If she's not then being overheard won't matter.”

  Lucas shook his head and pointed outdoors. “I'd feel better in the open air.”

  Sighing, Harrison stood and led them out doors and a good way down the road. “Okay. I don't believe anyone can hear us now.”

  Lucas nodded but stood with his back to the house and his hand covering his mouth.

  “The only people with legitimate access to the system who could have sent that message are Moms, Maeve and Sam.”

  Harrison was quick to respond. “How can you be so sure?” he asked harshly.

  Lucas paused while Harrison regained control. “It's my job to be sure about these things. Right now I can't see how it could be anyone else.”

  Harrison paced away and then back to confront Lucas. “If you're right, and I'm not ready to accept it yet, then something else is going on.”

  Lucas nodded. “That's what I tell myself. But what?”

  Harrison said, “Yes, but what? And more importantly, why haven't they told us?”

  “I've thought about that,” said Lucas. “They couldn't have told me and I think they wouldn't want you to be where you are and have any compromising knowledge.”

  “I don't like feeling I'm not on the Need to Know list,” said Harrison.

  “For your own good, though,” said Lucas. “At least that's how they'd see it.”

  "I don't like it,” said Harrison, “but I don't see anything to do about it.”

  “Except confront Moms,” said Lucas.

  “Tomorrow,” said Harrison. “Tomorrow."

  Chapter Nineteen

  Lucas left the ranch house in search of Sam. He had several questions he wanted to ask, mostly about the list he hadn't been given and about the state of play of his anti-chip gizmo. He thought he saw Sam's large figure near the side of the house but when he turned the corner he ran into Maeve.

  “Oh, hi,” he said. “I was looking for Sam.”

  “Well keep on looking,” she said coldly and moved to step around him.

  Lucas stepped in front of her. “Okay. I can ask you the same questions I was going to ask Sam.”

  “What makes you think I'll answer your questions?”

  He tried to take her hand but she pulled it away and stepped back.

  “Because you want to know what I'm thinking about who sent the message,” he said and could see that he had struck home.

  “I don't care what you think about anything,” she said icily but didn't try to move away.

  `“Maybe not,” he said, “even though I care terribly about what you think.”

  Maeve stood erect and stiffly, signaling with every attitude of face and body that she couldn't possibly have any interest in any thoughts Lucas might have. But she didn't step away.

  “Why haven't I been given the list of people with security clearances?”

  Maeve looked scornful. “I have no idea,” she said.

  “Well, without the list,” Lucas' voice was soft and pleading for understanding, “I'm left with only three people who could have sent and received those messages.”

  “How clever of you.”

  “Moms and Sam and you. Those are the only three.”

  “And so, lacking all the evidence, you decided it was me. Didn't you?”

  Lucas looked abashed but determined.

  “Not exactly. I so don't want it to be you that I'm asking you these questions. And if it is you,” he hastened to add, “I would try to understand and support you.”

  Maeve softened a little. “Come with me,” she said and spun on her heel. Lucas hurried to keep up. She led him into the ranch house through a side door and down to the underground complex. She opened the door to Sam's office, which was empty, and opened a file on his work screen. A list of names appeared which she sent to Lucas' address.

  “There,” she said. “Go back to work and let me know when I'm no longer under suspicion.”

  Before Lucas could find a suitable response she marched out of the office. The door had scarcely closed behind her when Sam walked in and was startled to find Lucas in the room.

  “What are you doing here?” he asked. “And how did you get in?”

  “Maeve brought me in.”

  “For what?”

  Lucas decided there was no good reason not to tell Sam. “To get the list of security clearances that you never gave me,” he said.

  Sam visibly relaxed a little. “Oh, that's okay. Sorry I hadn't sent it.”

  Lucas was alive with suspicion. There had to be something hidden in Sam's office and judging by his relaxed demeanor now that he knew it was the list it had to be something else.

  Sam looked at him mildly, “Was there anything else?” he asked innocently.

  Lucas put on his blandest face. “No idea,” he said and left the room.

  He strolled to his workroom, thinking. The ease with which he had finally been given access to the list meant to him that it would not be productive. He knew he would still have to work his way through it, even if just to be fair to everyone, but the smug look he thought he had seen on Sam's face made him sure he'd just been handed a pile of busy-work.

  Maeve's actions and attitudes occupied his mind. Every expression on her face elicited another emotion from him and another dive beneath the surface looking for hidden meanings. Was she angry because he suspected her or was she acting angry to throw him off. Was she cold because she saw his suspicious self in a less flattering and unattractive light or was her coldness pain at being suspected by one who should trust her implicitly.

  His mind raced over the possibilities until he realized that his worries and anxieties were all focused on her feelings and their relationship, and not at all on the implications of her possible treachery on the matter of security. He was prepared to throw his life away for her love so playing spy games with her was just a waste of time.

  He abruptly about-faced and marched back to the dining room looking for her. With no mass of red curls in sight he walked to her office, knocked and walked in. To his surprise he found Maeve kneeling at Moms' feet, adjusting the hem of a flowing white gown that hung straight from the shoulder. It was a magnificent dress, subtly trimmed in gold threads around the neckline and voluminous in the extreme. Moms arms were outstretched which gave the gown structure and it fell in soft folds to her feet.

  Both women looked at him inquiringly and said, “Yes?”

  Lucas was flustered. “I'm sorry,” he said. “I didn't mean to intrude. I can come back.”

  “What do you want?” asked Maeve.

  “It's personal. I'll come back.”

  “There's nothing so personal that I would keep it from Moms,” she said coldly, implying that nothing coming from Lucas would be kept secret.

  Hurt by her coldness and in the grip of his rashest emotions he blurted, “Okay then. I came to tell you I'm in love with you. Madly. And whatever the explanation is for the messages, well, I don't care. I would never betray you.”

  Maeve had turned a bright crimson when he said “I'm in love with you,” and Moms was wearing a big smile. The tableau stood in silence for a moment until Mom
s said, “I think you owe him a big kiss and hug. And maybe even an explanation.”

  Maeve rose to her feet and did just that, planting a long kiss on his lips and holding him tightly.

  “Thanks for that,” she said. “I was worried I was going to lose you. Now sit down while I finish this. Lock the door, we don't need anymore interruptions.”

  Lucas did as he was told and sat quietly while a storm of emotions roiled his head. “She must love me as well,” he thought. “That kiss and embrace couldn't be faked. But what's going on? Why do I feel like I'm being manipulated while also feeling I'm being loved and protected?”

  Meanwhile Maeve was circling Moms on her knees pinning folds and pleats.

  “Can you hurry, dear? My arms are growing weary.”

  “Done,” said Maeve rising to her feet. “Now we have to carefully, carefully take it off so I can sew it up.”

  The two women worked at extricating Moms from the folds of the gown without impaling her on the multitude of pins in the fabric while Lucas discreetly averted his eyes. When the gown was safely in Maeve's hands she said, “You can look now,” and Lucas saw that beneath the material Moms was wearing a tee shirt and slacks.

  “That's going to be some dress,” said Lucas. “What's the occasion?”

  “Gaia Day,” said Maeve. “Moms is the featured speaker.”

  “No, dear. Not the featured speaker. Just the opening invocation and the closing ceremony.”

  Maeve shot Lucas a glance he interpreted as “Just like a mother to make a distinction without a difference.”

  “Okay,” said Maeve, “I'll go run this up and then we'll have another fitting. And you can come with me,” she said to Lucas.