Rose laughed at her own transparency. “I am thinking of extending my qualifications. I intend to do a one-year specialist assignment.”
“What do you intend to study?”
“War, and the technology of war. You see Father, Earth seems to take a technological leap in times of high conflict. I want to base a treatise on this phenomenon. It must have shown up in your own reports over the years.”
“Yes, it is a variable that can put big holes in my ability as a fortune teller.” Briar smiled. He was well known for his wit and ability. “How can I assist you, Rose?”
“I need to do field research...”
“NO! You must not go to Earth,” Briar interrupted her, realizing the direction this conversation was going. “It is especially dangerous now, the war is escalating, millions are predicted to die before the natives become exhausted.”
“Please Father this is really important to me, or I would not be asking. I want to interview a soldier.”
Briar looked positively sick. “Your chances of surviving an encounter with a soldier would be low, how could I face your mother if I said yes to such a proposal?” Briar and Rose’s mother had unbonded seven years earlier. This was very common in Tuathan society as it was recognised that longevity put strains on many relationships. Unbonding was usually amicable and invariably the couple remained close friends. “I have a friend who is an experienced operative at the Irish enclaves. I want to work with him gathering first-hand psychological profiles. We are not able psychologically to harm another human being. The motivations and thought processes have been lost to us. We look at their actions and dismiss them as a form of inherited madness. Our knowledge is incomplete.”
“The knowledge is incomplete because the subject matter is repugnant to us,” Briar replied as he walked over to his computer interface, placed his hands on the screen and looked into the light that came on in the middle of the screen. Writing appeared on the screen. “Central says the information would be highly valuable. In addition, the acquisition of a rifle and personal weapons would also be useful. It also states your motive for wanting such a mission is not clearly stated and requests you are questioned further. On the condition that the operative is a suitable candidate for backup, your probability of survival is seventy-two percent.”
Briar looked at Rose thoughtfully for a few seconds. “Who is the operative?”
Rose was trapped and told the whole story, including her love for Orion. Briar went to the window and looked out on their world. Always sacrifices, he thought. What Rose proposed was a one-off encounter with Orion as her backup. He loved her and would minimize any danger to her. When Briar turned to her there were tears in his eyes, but he was prepared to let her go.
In the morning, Stone called the group together. “The operation has been received; we have three months to complete it. We have been given a list of plants that are to be collected and placed in airtight containers together with an example set in plastogel. The list is extensive, fifty exactly. I suggest Sunshine handles that as she has training in biology. The second part involves collecting fresh human genetic material, three samples each from four unrelated individuals. Obvious choice is Orion with Star backup?”
Everyone was in agreement. They spent the next two days refining plans and checking equipment. This was pretty much routine requests and Orion had done this sample taking before. The crucial part was to choose your subject very, very carefully. The basic rules were, no males between eighteen and forty years of age: their temperaments were often volatile. None over seventy years of age: risk of shock, possibility of heart attack. No pregnant women: same reason, possible health risk. The ideal subject was a woman or man in their fifties or sixties. Always operate in the late evening and check out the contact area totally. Once an initial contact is made never meet more than once. Always relocate for every new target a minimum of six kilometres. People of just average intelligence preferred. Never engage more than one subject. During preparation time Sunshine held one of the containers used for her sample high.
“Can anyone tell me why they always supply one-litre containers when I always ask for 200 millilitres? It’s such a waste of space.”
Stone laughed and said, “You are not going to believe the answer, Sunshine. They do it on purpose. You see, when you put your sample in you then make it airtight. Back on Mars they get a thrill out of opening it and inhaling real Earth air with earthly smells. You don’t begrudge them that, do you?”
“Crazy, but no I can’t take that away from them.”
Orion put on his contact uniform consisting of a brown helmet with micro-recording and communications built in. Brown and green camouflage jacket and pants black boots and a large black utility belt with compartments for samples and tools. Star was dressed in similar fashion but carried a holographic projector which was rod-shaped, one metre in length, five centimetres in diameter. They had chosen a spot on a laneway with a low hedgerow. The laneway linked several farms with a village. Orion sat at the base of a large beech tree. Star was positioned twenty metres away in the hedge. A target had been picked up on Star’s scanner and the indications were it was an adult female, alone on a bicycle.
Aileen O’Brian was bringing home the B-basics, as she called them; bread, bacon, butter and beer. It was a spring evening. She was fifty metres away when she saw Orion and at first thought it was some naughty child who was playing out late. I’ll bet it’s that Kilcoyne kid building tree houses again, I’ll send him home to his mother quick and smart, she thought. By the time she had got to thirty metres, he had stepped out on to the road and was fully visible, as the sun had another half-hour before it set.
“Sweet Jesus, I’ve only had a small whiskey!” she said. She pulled up sharply, undecided whether to turn and run or not. She had heard the stories and didn’t want to miss an opportunity. The little fellow tapped his hat and said in perfect local dialect, “Good evening to you Mrs...?”
“The name’s O’Brian. Aileen O’Brian.”
Orion knew immediately this was a good subject; she was relatively calm, her biorhythms were excellent.
“I don’t wish to disturb you Aileen, and feel free to ignore me and go on your way with no offence taken. However I would like a word with you, if you would be so kind as to spare me a minute or two of your precious time?”
Aileen’s head was spinning. The little fellow was certainly polite, funny clothes but clean and in good condition. Ah, where’s the harm in it? “I can spare you a few minutes, Mr? I didn’t catch your name, sir.”
“The name’s Orion, Aileen. Is it all right for me to call you Aileen?”
“Call me whatever you like Mr O’Ryan, but I’ll be called some wicked names if I’m late getting the porter back to himself, so I will.”
Orion smiled and asked her to sit under the tree with him. He waited until she sat first then leant casually against the tree, he was taking no chances. Orion pulled out a small silver flask. “Would you be taking a small drink of whiskey, Aileen?”
“Why thank you Mr O’Ryan, I admit it won’t go astray at this moment.” That buckle looks like pure gold, she thought.
“You are one of them are you not?” she said. “You know, the little people I mean. People will say I’m doolally.”
“Then I advise you say nothing to anyone, Aileen. This meeting can be a secret between us if you like, all I want is to ask a small favour.”
“Ah, now to be sure, Mr O’Ryan and if I do this favour do I get the three wishes?” Orion laughed out loud. He knew of the stories, and realized this was going to be easy. Aileen was warming to the situation with every sip of the flask. “I’m sorry Aileen there are no three wishes, but there is gold.”
“Ohh, ohh, now you’re putting honey in my ears Mr O’Ryan, ask away!”
“I wish to take a lock of your hair, some spit from your mouth and a pinprick of blood from your finger.”
“Oh? Oh. Well, you see I’m not sure, you wee folk have ways of using s
uch stuff. You know spells and the such.”
“I promise you Aileen, no harm will come to you. Have you ever heard of us ever harming anyone?”
“No, that’s true enough. They say you are kind... and, generous to us poor folk. Although I met a man in Tuam once that said you would steal the milk from his cows at night.”
“They speak truly Aileen. But probably not about the cows.”
“But they also say you have the magic of the old ways, before the church came and have power we can’t understand. The Father says it’s the Devil’s work, you are.”
“I can assure you my intentions are good and you can judge me by my actions.” Never engage the subject in religious or political debate, it leads to argument and confusion. Orion removed the small sack from his utility belt and tipped the contents onto his hand: four solid gold rings. Aileen whispered, “Ahh so it’s fairy gold, is it?” The whiskey was taking effect. “Do your stuff Mr O’Ryan and to hell with the consequences.”
The pinprick was first. The whiskey made this a relatively painless experience, so Orion squeezed six drops into a tube. A swab taken from the side of her mouth was next. Orion hoped it was not overly alcoholic. Then last of all was the lock of hair. “You can do that yourself Aileen, I don’t want to spoil your good looks.”
Aileen laughed now, she was enjoying herself for once. “Away with your blarney Mr O’Ryan, take as much as you like. To be sure himself will never notice.” She had put the four rings on her little finger and was smiling at them. Orion took the lock of hair and put it in his belt, sealed first in a tube. “Our deal is complete Aileen, you are free to go home.”
“Ahh, more’s the pity. It has been a pleasure Mr O’Ryan. I don’t suppose I’ll see you again?”
“No, I will not be around these parts anymore Aileen and it has been a pleasure for me, also.”
“I’m not going to wake up in the morning and find it was all a dream, will I?”
“No, and I guarantee you’ll not have a hangover either. That’s fairy whiskey for you.”
“Ah, to be sure you’re a fine fella Mr O’Ryan, there’s no mistaking it and I’ll be keeping one of the rings to remember you by.” Aileen leant over and kissed him on the forehead. Orion was taken by surprise and could only stammer a thank you.
Aileen mounted her bike and, after two attempts, wobbled off down the road singing loudly. Orion watched her go and waved back to her as she turned a corner in the road. Orion found Star sitting in the hedge laughing.
“You are quite the ladies man, Mr O’Ryan!”
“If only it was always that easy. Next week we will relocate seven kilometres inland. It sounds like the local priest may be aware of our activities in this area,” he said. They carefully walked back to the enclave, checking the scanner to see signs of anyone following.
Aileen in later years, told her children of the leprechaun with the round brown hat all dressed in green and brown and they would pass the ring around among themselves and ask the priest and their teachers if it could be a true story. They in turn avoided a direct answer and naturally felt a large amount of alcohol had been involved somewhere in the tale. Aileen when confronted would just say, “The truth is in my eyes and on my little finger” and show the ring. It became a family saying passed from generation to generation.
It was right on sunset. Star was positioned behind a stone wall surrounding an old church. Orion was sitting on the wall. They were aware that the local priest checked the church’s security, locked up and then went to his cottage in the village at this time every night. This was the forth subject and Orion was tired of the whole process. It was hard on the nervous system and he spent many hours in the forest outside the enclave, meditating.
The caretaker locked the door to the church then walked towards the gate which Orion was sitting next to. “Good evening sir.” The caretaker stopped and stared at Orion but said nothing. “It’s a lovely evening and that’s a fine church you have there, although in need of some desperate repair from the looks of it.”
“It surely could do with some work on it,” the caretaker replied, looking at Orion with suspicion. It was obvious what manner of creature Orion was. “Is it me you have been waiting for, my little fellow?” Orion decided this man would respond best to a fairly direct approach
“Yes, you have some items I would like to buy from you.”
“And what would they be, and what would you be prepared to pay?”
“I would pay you a ring of gold for each of these three items. A lock of hair, six drops of blood and a little bit of spit from the inside of your cheek.”
“Hmm, that sounds like a fair trade, why don’t we go inside the church? It’s better people don’t see us here.” Orion was much too experienced to fall for that one. The subject’s response was all wrong. He pressed the alert button on his belt, Star readied her holoprojector.
“I’m quite happy to do the trade here it will only take a minute,” he said. The caretaker had moved two paces forward. “As you like.” The caretaker bowed his head. “Take a lock of my hair, why don’t you?”
Orion pressed the panic button as he moved. Star pointed the holo to three metres from the caretaker, where a snarling vicious-looking dog appeared from nowhere. The caretaker shouted, his attention fixed on the holo, “Get away, get away!” and the dog vanished. Star and Orion had also vanished and were a hundred metres away before the caretaker could compose himself. “Well done Star, that was perfect timing.”
“I suppose it was too much to hope that we would get all four subjects without any problems,” said Star.
“Perhaps the stars will smile on us at our next attempt. I’ll choose the subject carefully even if it takes a couple of weeks to set it up,” Orion promised.
Orion was true to his word. He took his time, so much of it in fact that the three months plus an extra week were up when they successfully got the last batch of samples back to the enclave.
“Did you get them?” Stone had grown anxious; the disc ship was due in two days.
“Yes, and we are looking forward to a few days of tension-free rest,” said Star.
“I’m not sure if that’s going to be possible, there is a passenger on the disc ship. Apparently important; on a mission from Administration. We are to give ‘full assistance and protection’. It apparently is a one-off mission and the lady is a first timer to Earth. Orion has been especially requested to accompany her at all times. Here is the good part. Once she has fulfilled her mission, so have we. It’s back to Mars for the lot of us and we are to close up the enclave and terminate it.” The questions started to fly, but that was the sum of the information received .
“What is the lady’s name who is coming to be our guest?” asked Orion.
“Rose Two,” came the reply. The Tuathans did not use surnames, only the colony number in which they were born. Rose was a very common name and there could be more than a hundred Rose Twos, but Orion was feeling the need to sit down or take a walk or something, he wasn’t sure which. He took a walk, just a short way out into the forest. He was full of mixed emotions, sure he wanted to see her so much it hurt, but it was dangerous here. He had only eleven weeks to go, if it was her she should have waited. How did she manage to pull it off? What was this secret mission? Why were they being instructed to close the enclave once the mission was completed? Perhaps it wasn’t his Rose after all. He would know in forty-eight hours. Orion took one last look at the stars before entering the enclave, “You’re up there Rose, aren’t you?” he said. “You are so close I can feel you. When I wake up in the morning you will be on your way to me, that’s all that really matters. The stars are smiling on us again.”
Sleep was not easy for Orion that night or the next. He was like an excited child waiting for Christmas presents. The two days passed slowly for him.
Stone looked up from his consul. “They will be dropping out of orbit in twenty minutes and will hover 800 metres west of our location. .”
Orion was already dressed. “I’ll bring her in,” he said,
“Not without me and my magic wand,” said Star, strapping on her holoprojector. They both scrambled out of the hatch and trotted off towards the rendezvous location. It was the middle of the day, not a good time to be doing a transfer. Orion was carrying all the samples in a temperature-controlled travel bag. The disc ship came slowly down from the clouds and hovered one metre above the grass. An opening with a chute appeared and first a large cube with handles slid down, and then Rose. Orion ran to her and, while they were kissing, the disc ship took aboard the samples. With calls of good luck, the disc ship lifted noiselessly into the sky, sunlight reflecting off its surface making it shine. Star watched it slowly become a black dot against the blue and white, then turned to see that Rose and Orion were still entangled. She waited politely until they realised she was watching them with an envious smile on her face. “Sorry Star! Let me introduce you to Rose, as you can see we know each other already.” Rose and Star kissed and did the formal friendship sign of placing their palms on the other’s forehead. After some quick pleasantries Orion and Rose picked up Rose’s luggage and all three headed back to the enclave. Once introductions to Sunshine and Stone were complete and Rose had settled in and unpacked, Stone suggested that as it was such a nice day that they should sit outside for the briefing. They took blankets and some herbal tea and biscuits and settled themselves down in a small circle. Stone started the briefing, “Rose, first of all a formal welcome. We have received instructions to assign Orion to you as your backup. I presume he was requested because of your prior relationship?”
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