“You have to understand …”
“Yes or no, General?”
“Yes, Henry. He would very likely still be in custody today.”
“In reality, General, chances are that Zef would never have been released, isn’t that right? Why would we release a captured non-terrestrial, when we could keep it and study it, poke it and prod it, all in the name of scientific research and national security?”
“Now Henry, I wouldn’t go that far.”
“I would. I’m just calling it as I see it, General.”
“All right Henry, I’ve been patient with you and played your little bullshit games, but I’ve had just about enough. You have no idea what you’re talking about and you have absolutely no right to judge.”
“And you, sir, have no right to capture and hold a being who’s just trying to join his family on vacation in Greece!”
The two sat in silence for several minutes, Henry quietly daring the General to defend himself and his country’s policies. The General finally broke the stalemate.
“So,” he said softly, “as the artist, the self-proclaimed seeker of truth, is that the best you could come up with?”
“That’s just reality, General, not truth. But there is a truth, my truth at least, if you’d like to hear it.”
“Sure, why not? We’ve come this far, haven’t we?”
“After Zef finished playing the song, and we were both left wondering what came next in our effort to communicate, he noticed my paintings on the other side of the clearing. He seemed mesmerized and went over to them. We stood together and looked at each of the pieces together. I’ve never seen anyone look at my work as he did. As we reached the last one, I noticed tears in his eyes, and it was then that I discovered my essential truth. That even if I never painted another stroke, I had moved the heart of another being. It may not have been a being of my own species, but it didn’t matter, something I created touched someone, which means that I have lived and my time on this planet hasn’t been for nothing. That is my truth. And that, General, even more than just protecting a wayward traveler, is why I willingly risked my physical well-being to protect Zef. And that is why I am unwilling to press charges against those poor fools who did this to me.”
Henry noticed that Alcorn was looking at him differently, as if he didn’t recognize him.
“I guess that makes a certain kind of sense,” said Alcorn.
“I’m glad you see that,” said Henry. “Because it’s also why I’m going to ask you for one final favor. I’m going to ask you to solve a riddle. After that, you may do with me as you will. I will answer any question, I will do any task, and I will happily accept any punishment.”
“What’s the riddle?”
“The one you asked me earlier. Why was I in that clearing? The answer lies within my paintings. Look at them and then you tell me why I was there.”
“I’ve looked at those paintings,” said Alcorn. “All they are is a bunch of paintings of some guy in various poses and settings. They don’t make any sense to me. I’ve never been able to understand art—or artists, for that matter.”
“Try it again,” said Henry. “But this time don’t look at them as General Theodore Eustace Alcorn. Look at them as Teddy, the man, the husband, and father. Look at them, by yourself and be completely honest with yourself. No preconceptions, no illusions, nothing to prove and nothing to hide. Find your own truth. If there is beauty to go with it, great. But if it’s an ugly truth, embrace that as well. Find your truth, General, and you will find the answer to my riddle.”
“Dammit Henry, I don’t have time for this nonsense.”
“Why, what else do you have to do? Zef isn’t coming back. At least, I wouldn’t if I were him.”
“Don’t be so sure about that,” said Alcorn. “You helped him escape, and if he thinks you made the kind of connection you think you did, he has got to know that you’d pay the price for what you did. He may come back to try and rescue you, and he may bring friends. That’s the contingency I have to be prepared for. Wayward traveler or not, Henry the artist, my job is to ensure the safety of this country, and perhaps even the planet, which means I have to be prepared for whatever possible outcome might occur. As part of that preparation, I not only have to prepare my troops, which, thanks to our little encounter with Zef, I found are woefully unprepared, but I also have to keep those above me in my chain of command informed.”
Alcorn stopped and looked away. Henry could tell something was bothering him, something more than the weight of his military responsibilities.
“What is it General?” he asked.
Alcorn sighed heavily and turned back to face Henry.
“You probably noticed that the interrogations stopped for a few days, right?” he said.
“Yes,” said Henry. “During which time Wellston began his own interrogations, using Hickam and the other guards as pawns.”
“Right. Well, about Hickam anyway. I’ll reserve judgment on Wellston until I know more, but that’s neither here nor there. What you don’t know, Henry, is that I was in Washington D.C. briefing my superiors. One of my mandates upon my return was to get you to talk, by whatever means necessary.”
“Go on,” said Henry, doing his best to keep his voice steady.
“You have to believe me, Henry, I had nothing to do with this,” said Alcorn, gesturing to Henry’s condition. “I would have increased the pressure of my interrogations, perhaps used other tactics like sleep deprivation and nutritional manipulation, but I do not condone torture. I never have and never will. Aside from the moral and ethical issues, it simply isn’t an effective means of obtaining reliable information.”
“I believe you, General,” said Henry softly. “In fact, I never believed you had anything to do with it in the first place. I may not have liked you, or even trusted you, but I never doubted your integrity, General.”
Alcorn, looked away again.
“Thank you, Henry,” he said. “I’m not sure I’m deserving of such high praise, but thank you for it anyway.”
“So, can I take it as a yes then, that you’ll do me this favor and look over my paintings one more time? That you’ll try to find your truth?”
“Henry,” said Alcorn, “I meet with the Secretary of Defense in less than three weeks, then the entire Security Council a week later. I don’t have time to go on some damned truth journey right now. I need to know all of the details now, so I can provide an accurate report to my superiors.”
“First of all, just because they outrank you, doesn’t mean they’re your superiors,” said Henry. “I heard that in a movie once, but it’s true, especially in your case. And secondly, you need a truth journey now more than ever, General. Don’t let the facts get in the way of your truth.”
“Well, thank you for the compliment, I think. But you don’t understand the military, son. Things don’t work the way we want just because we want them to. I can’t just make up a report to fit the story I want to tell, that’s not the way it’s done. It’s certainly not the way I do things. Especially when the decisions that are being made can affect everyone on the entire planet.”
“Fair enough, and I’m not asking you to lie. All I’m asking is that you take some time for yourself to gain some perspective, a little clarity, perhaps. That’s all. General, right now, you and I both know, beyond any doubt, that there is highly intelligent life beyond the boundaries of this planet. The decisions that will be made in the coming days, weeks, and months will be critical to the future of our country, our planet, and our people. These decisions must be made by the right people, for the right reasons. As much as I’ve wanted to despise you, General, I see a truth in you, deeper and stronger than I’ve seen in anyone I’ve ever known. But I also see someone who has lost their way, and that, General is something I’m a bit of an expert on. Spend some time with my art, see if it has any effect on you, any at all. If not, come back and I’ll keep my end of the bargain and tell you everything. Deal?”
&n
bsp; Henry held out his hand. The General hesitated for a moment, then reached out and shook it.
“You’re a strange one, Henry, but I dislike you less than I did an hour ago, so I guess that’s something. I’ll be back in a few days and I expect to hear the rest of the details then.”
“Yes, sir.”
But Alcorn never came back. Five days later, Henry was released from the infirmary and sent to a minimum security facility where he had the freedom and supplies to draw, sketch, and paint as much as he wanted. When he first arrived in his cell he found a note on his bunk that said simply:
“I found the truth. I’m glad Zef arrived when he did. The world would have been a darker place without Henry Backus in it.”
Chapter 40
It’s All Your Fault
Lhvunsa laid facing the wall, on what passed for a bed in the small cell she shared with Qilzar. While he relentlessly paced back and forth—three paces one way, then three the other—she laid on the cold, stone slab and did her best to remain calm. Her best wasn’t very good.
“Qilzar!” she said, sitting up when she could no longer take it. “By the Gods, if you don’t stop that incessant pacing and sit still, I swear I will make you wish Ricnor had finished you off long before I ever got a hold of you!”
Qilzar, who’d become a haggard, broken creature at the hands of Ricnor and his gang, stopped and looked at her.
“Apologies,” he said quietly, and sat down with his back to her.
In no mood to deal with his pouts or neurosis, Lhvunsa laid down again, her back to him and her face to the wall. She closed her eyes and tried to will herself to sleep. She couldn’t remember when she’d last slept, but it had been quite some time. It had been nearly a full rotation since she’d last spoken to Gsefx on Ricnor’s vidcon before he’d left for Earth on that foolish mission of his. He was going to get himself killed and she would never see him again. Of that much, she was certain. But, then again, what choice did he have? If Ricnor had his way, they’d all be dead by now.
“And it’s all your fault!” she said aloud.
“I know it’s my fault,” said Qilzar without moving, his back still to her. “Don’t you think I know it’s all my fault?”
Without warning, he jumped to his feet and turned to confront her.
“By the Gods, madam, I’ve been locked up here longer than you have,” his voice rising, “and during this entire time, even though I know it somehow has to be my fault, I’ve been unable to figure out just exactly how.”
Lhvunsa rolled over to face him.
“What do you mean by that?” she asked. “Of course you know how it’s your fault. You contacted the Ricnor gang, after you promised both Gsefx and I that you wouldn’t make any attempt to return to Earth and acquire the paintings. And now, unless Gsefx can somehow figure a way out of this, we’re all going to die, and …”
“Yes, we are all likely to die, you are correct,” said Qilzar, interrupting before she could finish. He moved to her side and knelt down, his face inches from hers.
“Lhvunsa,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper, “I’m flattered you think me capable of such a feat as being able to contact a group as notorious as the Ricnor’s, but I assure you, I did not. I’m as much in the dark about what happened as you are.”
Lhvunsa sat up, her eyes never leaving Qilzar.
“How could it not have been you? I know it wasn’t me and we both know it wasn’t Gsefx. The three of us are the only ones who knew about the painting.”
“Apparently not,” said Qilzar. “Are you sure you or Gsefx haven’t said anything to anyone else?”
Lhvunsa frowned at the Dremin and his ridiculous question.
“I’m sure, Qilzar. I’m sure about us, that is. I’m still less than convinced about you.”
“Quite understandable,” said Qilzar, looking away. “I would be less convinced about me too, if I were you. But I know I didn’t tell anyone, which leaves me more than just a bit confused. What about when Gsefx hid the painting? Is it possible anyone could have seen him?”
Lhvunsa thought for a moment.
“Anything is possible, I suppose, but very unlikely. He kept the windows in his vehicle darkened after we left the restaurant, and even then covered the painting with an extra coat he keeps in his vehicle. He dropped me off at our home, then went straight to hide it. I told him not to tell me where he was taking it. I didn’t want to know. Maybe someone saw the painting when he hid it, but as careful as he was being with me, I can’t imagine him being that careless.”
“Nor I. But someone found out, not only about the one painting, but the fact that there were thirty more on Earth, and alerted Ricnor about it. Someone who was not me.”
Lhvunsa leaned back against the wall. These last several rotations had been one long horrendous nightmare, but until this moment, she’d been able to stand firm in the knowledge that it was all Qilzar’s fault. If what he was now telling her was true, and she had no reason to doubt him, then she had nothing at all to stand on. Someone had set all three of them up, and they didn’t have the first clue as to who it could be. How could they even think of finding a way out of this when they had no idea who or what they were even up against? They were lost, with no hope of escape. And what about Gsefx? He still thought Qilzar was the one who told Ricnor, which meant he was acting under the belief that Ricnor was …
“Oh Gods!” said Lhvunsa. “We have to warn Gsefx. What if Ricnor isn’t the one who is really in charge? What if whoever else is involved is actually the one pulling the strings? Gsefx could be flying into a trap.”
Qilzar’s expression didn’t change. In fact, he didn’t react at all to Lhvunsa’s revelation. His face retained the same haggard look it had before, his body the same rote emotionless movements. She was at first taken aback at his apparent lack of sensitivity and even started to get angry before noticing that, mixed in with his obvious despair, was a deeper thoughtfulness. A moment later she came to another, more startling realization.
Qilzar has actually looked this way since I first arrived, I just haven’t noticed it before. I guess I’ve been too busy being furious with him to see it. He’s not being insensitive, he’s already figured it out. He knows Ricnor isn’t the one in charge. Even as Gsefx was making his deal, Qilzar knew what he was getting himself into, but the poor dear couldn’t say or do anything, and it’s tearing him apart.
Lhvunsa reached out and put a soft, green hand on Qilzar’s ashen cheek. He flinched, but didn’t pull away.
“Qilzar, I’m sorry. You’ve been as much a victim as Gsefx and I, even more so because we’ve been against you too.”
She pulled her hand from his cheek and motioned for him to sit down next to her.
“Sit down and tell me what’s happened to you. You’ve been struggling with this by yourself for too long. Perhaps together we can figure something out.”
Qilzar’s face softened ever-so-slightly, the haggardness dissipating just enough for Lhvunsa to see a bit of her friend in the creature who now knelt before her.
“You believe me, then?”
“I do, and I’m ashamed of myself for ever doubting you.”
“Don’t be,” said Qilzar, as he moved to sit next to her. “I know for a fact that I didn’t tell Ricnor a thing and I still doubt myself.”
“Even so, Qilzar, I shouldn’t have …”
He stopped her with a wave of his hand.
“No more,” he said, “we have more pressing matters. We have to figure out what to do from here. We’re only alive because of Gsefx’s quick thinking and over-the-top bravado. We have to do something to help him or it will all be for naught.”
Lhvunsa shook her head in agreement.
“Yes, of course, you’re right.”
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly to settle herself. When she was steady again, she looked at Qilzar.
“Tell me all that has happened to you,” she said, “and don’t leave out a single detail. That migh
t give us some insight as to what to do next.”
Qilzar looked her in the eyes, the haggardness returning to his face. His momentary resolve dissipating like smoke in the wind. It was clear that he’d relived this part of his nightmare more times than he cared to think about and now she was asking him to do so again. But this time he wouldn’t be alone. She took his hand and held it tight.
“Go on, Qilzar, tell me,” she said. “I’m right here. We’ll relive it together and perhaps together we’ll discover something you couldn’t see by yourself.”
He turned his head away and pulled his hand back to his lap.
“It was a couple of rotations ago when I was on my way home from the office and someone took control of my vehicle. I …”
“Wait, what do you mean someone took control of your vehicle? That’s impossible. Especially with a high end vehicle like yours. It’s simply not possible.”
“Yes, I know. However, since it did happen, it clearly is possible. I just don’t know how. Now, shall I continue?”
“Not just yet,” said Lhvunsa, her eyes out of focus as her mind raced with possibilities. “Let’s talk this through a bit further. What would you have to do in order to remotely take control of another vehicle?”
“Since, as you said, it’s completely impossible, I have no idea,” said Qilzar. “If it was possible, vehicle theft would be rampant, yet I’ve never heard of a vehicle ever being stolen. Have you?”
“No, I haven’t, but clearly it is possible, just not very easy or lucrative for the criminal, I suppose. My guess is that they probably can’t just break into the vehicle’s computer system remotely. They would need physical access to the vehicle in order to reroute commands or attach a device or do something that would then allow them to access it remotely whenever they wanted to.”
“How do you know so much about vehicular electronics?”
“Not vehicular, specifically, but, as you know, Gsefx is somewhat of a hobbyist and I guess I’ve picked up a few things.”
“If you’re right, then how would they get to my vehicle? When I’m not in it, it’s locked securely in parking structures either at my home or at Galacticount. Nobody gets in or out of either of those places without credentials, and we both know those cannot be counterfeited.”
Your Truth is Out There (Find Your Truth Book 1) Page 16