MEEK

by Richard Johnson

  Rose smiled and nodded.

  “As this is your first visit to Earth it is very important that you accept Orion’s seniority here, which means he decides if something is safe or not.” Stone paused for a response.

  “I will do my best to comply” she replied.

  Stone thought to himself Hhmm that was not a yes, so he hammered the point, “Your training will not have prepared you for everything no matter how comprehensive it was, Orion has demonstrated his ability to smell danger and act accordingly. You are in safe hands.”

  Rose smiled. “Oh, I know that I should explain that Orion and I are a couple and would hope to be formally bonded once we return to Mars.” She gave an embarrassed grin to Orion. This was the second time she had declared her relationship in public, the first was to her father; but doing it in front of Orion was a different thing altogether.

  “Congratulations to you both from all in the enclave.” Stone, Sunshine and Star were all smiling. “Now, we must ask you to submit your brief. It has been kept a secret from us, so you can imagine how anxious we are to hear it.”

  Rose knew it might not be well accepted and had decided to write a little speech which she would read .

  She opened her tablet and began.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  1917 AD

  “Death is the simplest solution to ending life but not for solving problems.” The Friend.

  “I am here to interview a soldier, The disc ship crew will also be attempting to acquire weapons from deserted battlefields. The aim is to gain psychological profiles of natives who physically engage in wars. It is insanity to our way of thinking, but obviously they see some justification for it. We listen to the official propaganda of their leaders but we still have little understanding of why you would push a bayonet into the body of another person. We wish to treat the human condition as a disease. Identify its causes and look for and apply a cure. We wish to do this because there is a growing concern that if they manage to survive then their technology may grow to a point where they are a threat to us. Recent computer modelling says this is highly probable. Until now, we have not interfered with natural ( or unnatural) evolution of the natives, but now, we feel it is time to look for alternatives rather than wait patiently to be slaughtered.” Rose paused, the faces in front of her did not look happy. “In the box I brought with me is a monitoring device. It will scan the subjects’ biorhythms, body movements tonal variants, vocabulary usage etc etc. Together with a recording of the actual interview, it will provide a comprehensive picture of the emotional/psychological state of the subject. I am therefore authorized to interview a soldier who has been in actual combat and will be required to return to the battlefield. Any questions?”

  Orion was on his feet and looking very upset. “Rose, do you understand what you’re asking? The type of subject you wish to examine is a killer! All my training tells me to choose the total opposite to this type of subject. It is the reason I am still alive!”

  Star took hold of Orion’s hand and pulled him down to a seated position. She knew argument was useless and practicality must overcome emotion in these circumstances. “One backup is not enough, I should operate the holo while Orion concentrates his skill on reading potential signs of aggression. I feel, due to the increased risk, both Orion and Rose should make the contact.”

  “No,” said Sunshine. “It exposes both to a quick death. I propose a compromise, Orion makes first contact as he is the most skilled and when satisfied, he introduces Rose. Once Rose is looking relatively safe, Orion can step back a few paces and continue to monitor the subject close up. Star will be in a concealed position with her magic wand.” The debate went back and forth with Orion unhappy basically with every attempt at a solution. Twenty minutes passed and Stone decided to conclude the meeting, as nothing better than Sunshine’s proposal had eventuated.

  This was eventually agreed on by everyone. The decision was made to target a soldier returning on leave. As finding one walking alone could be difficult, they decided to use the same method as was used with Aileen O’Brien except, this time, purposefully target someone who had been in a pub for less than two hours so the level of inebriation would relax them without distorting the results. Sunshine produced an anti-intoxicant to aid in this endeavour. Stone searched the topography for a suitable public house; unfortunately it was nine kilometres away, a long distance when carrying equipment. Equipment was made ready and tested and the cube was fitted with a handmade wooden trolley. They then took a two-day break to mentally prepare and focus; this was a common Tuathan practise. Stone went to the location to satisfy himself that the plan was feasible, he did not trust Orion to do this in his current emotional state. Stone reported back to the enclave that it was the best that was available and that everyone should now commit to the project.

  During this time, Orion and Rose made love in the forest but did not plan for the future as at this stage the future was a luxury. Two days passed and, shortly after noon, the three of them left the enclave taking turns dragging the cube. Orion was acutely aware that the cube could be their Achilles heel. It would make a speedy escape very difficult and could not be destroyed without rendering the mission a failure. Sunset found them getting into position. The pub had been frequented every night for a week by a soldier, the disc ship was in geostationary orbit monitoring his movements. He was in there now and it was seven p.m. – he would leave at nine p.m. and pass their position at a little before nine thirty. Everything went well. At the expected time Orion was leaning against a tree in a patch of moonlight. Rose and the cube were five paces away behind a tree. Star as usual was crouching in the hedgerow with her wand, pulling sharp thorns out of her hands and knees.

  Tommy Mahoney had drunk four pints very slowly. He had long since worked out this was the optimum level of inebriation for his system. It also meant he could afford cigarettes and food. When he got home his mother and father would have already finished their meal, but there would be a plate of stew and a slice of bread put aside for him. He was not thinking about the trenches or the Dublin Fusilliers, he wasn’t thinking much of anything. This was the state of mind he had tried to achieve and he had been successful. Ahead, leaning against a tree, he saw a child of about twelve wearing a green and brown uniform with a brown helmet on his head. Some village kid playing soldiers, he thought, a bit late for him to be out, I’ll send him home to his mammy. Tommy got closer and saw it was not a boy. “Oh for God’s sake!” he exclaimed out loud. “I know you’re not real, the doctor said I may have problems due to the concussion, so bugger off!” Tommy did not want to think about his recent time in the trenches. “Fucking Leprechauns! That’s all I need in my life, right now.”

  “Good evening sir,” said Orion.

  “Don’t you be ‘Good Evening’ me you little shit, fuck off out of my head and go back to where ever you came from.”

  Orion was now on edge. The soldier appeared to be non co-operative and aggressive. He was big, very, early twenties, lean and fit; able to move fast.

  “I’m sorry to bother you,” said Orion, undecided whether to leave or not. To his surprise the soldier sat down next to him.

  “Oh fuck it...” was all he said and put his head in his hands and started to sob.

  Orion was confused. This was a totally different reaction to anything he had experienced before. He took a big risk and sat down next to him and said nothing. After about two minutes, the soldier took a sidewards glance and, seeing that Orion was still there, shook his head and sighed deeply. Orion spoke, “Are you all right? Is there anything I can do to help?”

  “For a figment of my imagination you are very kind and polite.”

  “I have no wish to harm or offend you sir, and will be on my way if I am upsetting you.”

  “No, no. It’s just that I was not prepared for this reaction. The doctor said I may get flashbacks and hallucinations. As long as it doesn’t get worse I will be all right if I just sit here for a bit. I know you will disapp
ear any way soon.”

  “So you don’t mind if we talk for a while?” asked Orion.

  “To be sure, let’s enjoy it while it lasts. It’s unlikely I’ll ever get the chance to talk to one of you chaps again in my life.”

  Orion decided to seize the moment. “It’s just that I have a friend who would like to ask you some questions, it would only take a half-hour of your time.”

  “A friend you say? It wouldn’t be Father Christmas by any chance?”

  “Ah, no, just someone like me, but female.”

  “A female hallucination? Now, that’s more like it.”

  “There will be a small reward for answering the questions truthfully.”

  “All right, I’m prepared to play along at least until I wake up. It will make a fine story at the local. May even earn me a pint or two, handled properly.”

  Orion signalled Rose and she came over to them, dragging the analyzer and recorder with her. “Sir, this is Rose she will ask you some questions.”

  “Hello Rose, my name is Tommy, pleased to meet you.” Tommy held out his hand and Rose shook it. Tommy looked at his hand: he had actually felt the small hand in his. She was such a pretty little thing. Orion was feeling very uncomfortable, but stepped back five paces while Rose turned on her machine. “How old are you, Tommy?”

  “Twenty- two.”

  “Could you tell me a little bit about yourself and your life?”

  Tommy gave a three minute précis of his life. Nothing outstanding came to light except he had volunteered for the army to escape poverty and boredom. He had completed secondary school and had been unemployed until the War broke out.

  ”Have you killed anyone?”

  “Oh yes, saw two that I definitely shot dead. Could be lots more, I don’t really know.”

  “How do you feel about that?”

  “The first one was a beauty. When the bullet hit him in the chest, he sort of jumped in the air, his rifle was flung above his head. I was happy about it. After that it was all a bit routine, though.”

  “Why is there a war, Tommy?”

  “Politics, it’s all about who rules who. It will be the same here soon. Ireland wants the British out and there is going to be more killing. So I suppose instead of fighting with them I will end up fighting against them, it all depends on the politics, you see.”

  “Do you hate the enemy?”

  “To be truthful with you, the answer to that is yes and no. Sometimes when I see a dead German I feel sorry for his family, but it passes. It’s about personal survival you see. It’s easier if you hate them because they are trying to kill you. Time alters everything, I’m fed up with the whole thing now. I’ve saved a bit of my pay; I’ll have enough in one more year to buy the field behind my parents’ cottage.”

  “Will you be going back to your battlefield?”

  “Yes, I’ll be shot as a deserter if I don’t, and I need the War to last one more year and of course to survive it.”

  “Do your parents try to stop you?”

  “Oh no. It’s very complicated you see; they don’t care for the British and they want me out of harm’s way, but they see it as a part of life that can’t be avoided and at least I’m not digging potatoes and spending my money in the pub. I am also more use to them, financially I mean.”

  “Do you think there will always be wars?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  “People don’t trust their neighbours, let alone people in other countries. There are too many differences, religion, politics, colour of your skin, languages, so many things to fight over.”

  “Have you lost people you cared about in the war?”

  “Yes. You make really good friends in the trenches, you support each other and rely and trust each other with your life, it’s amazing really. Then BANG, they’re dead and you don’t have them anymore. It hurts, but then you harden your heart so you can continue.”

  “The feeling you have for your friends, is it love?”

  “I think... yes, it probably is, not like for a woman, maybe even stronger. I will never forget their names.”

  “Will you let your children fight in a war?”

  “Probably. It’s up to them, I can’t foresee the future now can I?”

  “Do you feel the need to kill people Tommy?”

  “Of course not, I’m not a bloody murderer am I? I could no sooner hurt you than I could my mother.”

  “What is murder, Tommy?”

  “It’s when you kill someone for money or revenge or a lot of reasons, it’s against the law and it’s a sin.”

  “Is war against the law or a sin?”

  “No. The law says go to war. The priest blesses you and says mass for you. I’m not a murderer Rose, I’m protecting my country and my home.”

  “From whom?”

  “Why the enemy, of course.”

  “The law and the church, they tell you to fight, correct?”

  “Yes.”

  “So you do as you are told?”

  “Yes, I don’t want to be called a traitor.” Tommy was becoming agitated and Rose was feeling very depressed and sad for this young man. She also felt that enough had been brought to light and was grateful he had been so candid and personal.

  “Thank you Tommy, for talking with us, you must be thirsty. Here, take a mouthful of this it is the best Irish whiskey.”

  Tommy was looking a bit depressed himself and gladly took a large swallow from the flask. “I think you are my own conscience talking to me, and you don’t really exist. I mean fairy folk and leprechauns are silly things for childish minds.”

  “Well Tommy if I am real or not, you will wake in the morning and the world and everything in it will still be the same.”

  “Aye, you’re right there, that’s the whole truth of it more’s the pity... I think I’ll just close my eyes for a bit.” The whiskey had done the trick – and the additive of course. Tommy was out like a light. Rose and Orion made him as comfortable as possible. It was late March and the cold night would wake him in an hour or so. They placed the gold rings in his greatcoat pocket and decided to empty the flask and leave that with him also, as it was a large one made of finest silver with an emerald embedded on one side and a ruby on the other. Maybe now he could buy his way out of the army and still get his field, although neither of them saw that as a strong possibility. Rose bent down and kissed Tommy on the cheek.

  They turned off the recording machine and, together with Star, walked slowly back to the enclave. Star had heard every word from within the hedgerow and had a troubled expression on her face. They were all engrossed in their own thoughts, the interview had left them feeling morose; it had been an experience that they needed to digest with care and would be the subject for later personal meditations and group discussion. The questioning had stopped before it had reached its normal conclusion because the logic was not acceptable to the subject and could have endangered his mental state. The conclusions, although obscure to Tommy, were very clear to any Tuathan mind. They all hoped Tommy would survive the War and find a measure of peace in his, violent world.

  “Well my friends, it looks like we have completed this assignment and can go home,” said Stone. “Are you satisfied with the data, Rose?”

  “It was a lot shorter than I originally intended, but the answers the subject gave were candid and clear, there was no attempt at deception or evasion. I had allowed at least for some self-deception but there was nothing like that. He genuinely believed his own answers although the questioning was taking him to a place where his perception of reality was flawed. I feel the experts on Mars will get what they seek from this although the final conclusions are probably not going to be very positive for either race.” Orion and Star were both nodding in agreement. “The military equipment that was asked for will be collected from a battlefield by a disc ship and that will effectively end the mission. Very well, I suggest we get some sleep. You all look somewhat emotionally stressed. We can leave the
formal debriefing until the morning and then I will call in the disc ship.”

  The morning came and they ate, then gathered outside. “As the communications officer, is there any reason why we should not call in the disc ship?” They all agreed the mission was finished. “Then according to our instructions we are to pack, I am to arrange the rendezvous area, then we are to seal off the enclave for an extended period. We will gather here as soon as you are all ready.” This was done and within an hour they were moving off saying goodbyes to the place that had been their home even if it had been less than comfortable. The disc ship came down, slipping out of the clouds silently and they boarded taking with them a large amount of equipment. They greeted the crew and took up departure seating. Leaving Earth was always an emotional thing, Sunshine and Star were both Earth veterans but they always shed a tear. This time felt different, more permanent. Rose also felt a sense of leaving behind something greatly loved. Earth was such a beautiful place it had exceeded all her expectations and, having shared it with Orion, it had bound them together even closer. She now understood why he had chosen to be an enclave operative and she wondered if he could come to terms with never seeing Earth again. Orion however was glad to be leaving, Earth had become a threat to his future aspirations, in Rose he saw a new beginning a fresh start.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  1917 AD

  “If life seems to be repeating itself, it probably is and will continue to do so until a totally new direction is taken.” The Friend.

  Rose and Orion had been back on Mars three weeks. They had delivered the recorder to her father and Orion had been formally introduced. A very long reporting session had occurred. Orion had resigned and moved in with Rose. Neither had made any plans other than to become legally bonded in three months’ time. Rose had waited for a call from her father at the ministry to let her know the outcome of the computer analysis. At last, they received a summons and both anxiously entered her father’s office. Briar welcomed them and bade them to sit.