They peered at the screen while Richard brought up the two images of the craft alongside each other: from 2005 and 2011.
“They do look similar,” said Ben.
“Perhaps they were returning an abductee this week that they took in 2005. Wasn’t there a young girl that went missing in 2005, Ben?” said Richard. But no one answered him.
“You guys are really getting ahead of yourselves. They’re probably fakes anyway,” said Jane.
“I don’t think so,” said Richard. “The guy who posted the picture of the woman was picked up on the beach by the military. Fortunately, he had already sent the picture to the website, or we wouldn’t have this.”
“Oh, you really need to stop reading those conspiracy theory magazines,” said Jane.
“But it’s definitely alien in origin,” said Richard.
“What makes you say that,” said Elle.
“There’s this Professor Whiz on the Aliens R Us website, who reckons the Hubble telescope picked up the same craft seconds earlier outside the orbit of Mars.”
“Well, if Professor Whiz thinks its Alien, it must be,” said Ben, “and how did it get here so quickly?”
“Obvious FTL — faster than light speed,” said Richard.
Ben let out a sigh of frustration at his nerdy friend. “FTL is science fiction. Nothing can exceed the speed of light.”
“Unless you accept tachyons exist,” said Elle.
Ben gave her a scowl and Elle wished she had not said anything. For a moment everyone was silent.
“Have we got a movie to watch?” said Ben, trying to change the subject.
“Oh, you’re not going to bore us with one of those sci-fi movies are you?” said Jane.
Ben turned his head to Elle to explain, “Richard and I both like classic science fiction movies. The only difference between us is that Richard thinks they’re documentaries.”
“It’s not true. Only some of the movies are true. You know that Disney and Universal are secretly funded by the US government to cover up real extra-terrestrial visits. Look at E.T. and Return to Witch Mountain and...”
“Oh, please not tonight; can we leave the conspiracy theories alone for the time being,” said Jane.
Twenty minutes went by with continuous banter. Then the doorbell rang. Everyone went quiet.
“I’ll get it,” said Ben. It was the pizza boy.
Ben paid for the pizza. Jane and Elle went into action, getting the plates and glasses. The wine started to flow again.
“Which movie shall we watch?” said Richard. Everyone was tucking into the pizza and he got no reply.
“In that case, how about E.T.?”
“I thought we were changing the subject?” said Jane.
“I don’t mind,” said Elle. “What’s it about?”
“You’ve never seen E.T?” said Ben. “It’s about an alien that gets stranded here and is trying to get home. If you haven’t seen it, you’ll enjoy it.”
“It’s not one of those horror ones is it?” said Elle.
“Nothing like that,” said Jane. “Just a poor little creature trying to get home.”
I can relate to that, thought Elle. “E.T. Is fine with me,” said Elle.
The rest of the evening was full of small talk. Jane and Richard continued to compete on put-downs. Elle was trying to follow the film, while the others seemed unconcerned with the plot having seen it many times before. And Ben was acting as the referee between Jane and Richard, taking the odd occasional glance at Elle. As the wine flowed everyone started to relax a bit more. Then as the evening came to a conclusion, Richard got up to leave.
“Got to love you and leave you guys. The Internet beckons. We’ll have to do the DVD bit again soon.”
Ben saw Richard to the door.
When the door closed Elle stood up. “I think that’s my cue to go to bed. I’m tired and exhausted,” said Elle.
“Wait a moment,” said Ben. “I’m sorry I snapped at you earlier about FTL. I’ve got some free time tomorrow. If you want, we can go through these equations together on the large white boards in the Physics Building.”
Elle’s eyes were wide open with excitement. “You’ll help me?” said Elle
“Now don’t get your hopes up too high,” he said.
“But you’ll give it a shot?”
“Okay — yes. We’ll make a fresh start tomorrow morning,” he said.
“Great!”
She thanked them both for the party and went to her bedroom. She could still hear Ben and Jane talking as she was undressing. Were they talking about her? It didn’t matter; Ben was going to help her. She had a chance of getting home.
It was the early hours of the morning, and Richard was on his computer.
“Hi Dick,” the words came through on Richard’s computer.
“Hi Serge. Any more news on the UFO sighting?”
“Not from over here. The news media seem to be supporting the sighting as a military aircraft crash. Who would believe that? I thought in your country the press were not meant to be puppets of the state. You could have fooled me. All governments are the same. What has been happening on the ground?”
“Not a lot. I couldn’t get near the beach today: the military were all over it. I’ve got thousands of e-mails in my in-box from people who saw the craft, but I’m not sure how reliable they are.”
“You know that photograph of the cat woman you sent me; I’ve managed to clean it up. I’m sending it to you.”
“How did you do it?”
“I have some very clever software that I got from my friends.”
The file came through to Richard and he opened it. The face looked familiar.
“It looks like it could be someone I know. Someone I was with only tonight.”
“An abductee?”
“I don’t know. She just turned up in the last few days.”
“Then you keep excellent company. You know it’s 4:25 a.m. here in Moscow?”
“Then you better get some sleep. I’ll speak to you later.”
Richard was tired, but he knew he would not be able to sleep until his curiosity was satisfied.
Let’s see what Mr Google, Mr Facebook, and London University can find out about Ms Elle Masters, he thought as he pulled up Google on his laptop. After half an hour he widened his search other sources of information: births, credit history, and academic records.
“This is impossible,” he muttered to himself. He couldn’t find any electronic trace of Elle on the Internet at all.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The following morning, Elle was sitting on the settee drinking coffee when the doorbell rang. Elle looked through the spy hole and saw Richard. She opened the door and smiled at him.
“Hi Rick. Ben’s just gone out; I’m not sure how long he will be.”
“I just brought this flash drive around for him. Take a look and see if you want. It’s all the evidence about the UFO we discussed yesterday and a lot more that’s been put on my website: downloads from YouTube that people have captured on their phones, interception of military transmissions — it’s all there. I would feel really safer if Ben had a copy, just in case I get a visit from the men in black.”
Richard put the flash drive down on the table together with a book.
“Isn’t that being a bit over the top?” said Elle.
“It’s just a precaution.”
“Okay, I’ll give it to him.”
“Anyway I wanted to have a chat with you,” he said. “Remember when I said I thought we had met.”
“I thought that was just a cheap chat-up line.”
“Remember the picture of the cat woman on the beach — I think it’s you.”
“Me?” she said. Elle paused taking in his comment. “You’re joking? It could have been anyone.”
“It’s you.”
“You think I would strip off like that in the middle of the night like some feline alien hooker?”
“It’s you, I’m sure
of it.”
“The pictures so bad, it could be anyone.”
“Elle, it’s you.”
“You’re beginning to really annoy me.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve looked you up on the Internet. There’s no trace of you there. No birth certificate, no trace of university degrees at London or Cambridge, no credit history, no Facebook, nothing. You don’t exist. It’s as if the men in black have removed all trace of you.”
Elle went quiet for a moment. “You’ve been spying on me? I thought you were my friend. That’s not something friends do to each other.”
“I’m sorry, but I’m only trying to help you.”
“There’s a good reason why you couldn’t find details of me on the Internet,” she said.
“Okay — tell me,” he said.
“No I won’t. I don’t have to justify myself to you, or to anyone.”
There was a silence.
“So what will it take to stop you spreading these silly stories about me?” she said.
“You could be a little more friendlier towards me.”
“Friendlier! What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing. Just don’t bite my head off. Look I’ve brought this book for you, which will explain everything.”
Elle looked at the cover of the book: ‘Alien Abductions’. Her eyes rolled.
“Look I’ve seen all the reports on alien abductions: the facts fit. They’ve probably filled your brain with false memories to hide what they’ve done to you.”
“You really need to get a life,” said Elle.
“I’m only trying to help,” he said.
“Then forget all this rubbish. I’m not some kind of alien monster or brainwashed abductee. I’m not. And I don’t want you spreading crazy stories about me.”
Richard paused to think again. “Okay, if that’s what you want, I won’t tell anyone.”
At that point, Ben came through the front door.
“What’s going on?” said Ben.
He must have sensed something was wrong.
“Nothing,” said Elle.
“Come on you two; what’s going on,” said Ben.
“Why don’t you tell him; that you think I’m some kind of feline alien hooker?” said Elle.
“What?” said Ben.
“It’s just a little misunderstanding. Probably the wrong time of the month. I can’t stay,” said Richard, retreating through the door.
Ben closed the door after him.
“What was that all about?” said Ben.
She handed Ben the flash drive.
“He came over to give you this flash drive. It’s a back-up to his website and his information on the UFO sighting.”
“So what were you fighting about?”
“That Internet photo of the cat woman — he thinks it’s me. He probably thinks I have a tail as well.”
“Well, I can put him right on that,” said Ben.
“No way! I don’t want you telling him how you saw me.”
“Why not?”
“I just don’t. It’s none of his business.”
“I’m sorry; he can be a bit crazy at times.”
“You’re not kidding… Do you mind if I look at the flash drive?” said Elle.
“Keep it. It’s probably nonsense anyway… Are you ready to go to the Physics Building?”
She nodded.
At that moment, Jane came through the door.
“I hope you’re not planning to go out there,” said Jane.
“What do you mean?” said Ben.
“There’s a group of photographers and journalists outside the door. The paparazzi have obviously found out that you were on the beach and saw the UFO. You’re famous Ben.”
“What! Who would have told them that?”
“Richard?” said Elle.
“He’s not that stupid… Is he?” said Ben. “Okay he might be… There’s a back way out of the flat if you don’t mind shimmying out of the bathroom window?”
“Okay,” said Elle. She followed him to the bathroom. “See you later, Jane,” said Elle. She followed Ben, climbed through the window, and dropped down into the alley below.
Ben and Elle stood in front of the physics building; it was still early morning, and the building was locked. Ben keyed in the security code ‘2046’, and the door opened. They walked through the foyer and took the lift to the top floor. Elle looked out of the window on the top floor; she could see the library on the other side of the walkway and the Arts building, which straddled both sides of the walkway, to her right. It was a beautiful clear day with hardly a cloud in the sky.
The laboratory had two sets of two large whiteboards, which could be moved up and down. The whiteboards were used for mathematical analysis and were perfect for what they wanted to do.
“Okay, show me,” said Ben, giving Elle the marker pen.
Elle started drafting the equations and their proof on the board. Ben watched her as she worked through each equation slowly. He would stop her at times through the process, asking questions and suggesting alternatives. After an hour, they had covered the first board. They pushed it upwards to reveal a second board. Another hour passed, but they were still no closer to finding a solution to the general equation. Ben suggested taking a break and offered to make coffee. He wandered off down the corridor to the kitchen, leaving Elle alone.
After a couple of minutes, Elle decided to see how Ben was getting on. She closed the laboratory door and started walking down the corridor towards the kitchen when something caught her eye. It was an office, and on the office door was the name of a person whose office it was. It read ‘Professor Rider’ and it sent a chill down her spine. But which Professor Rider was it: the 60-year-old Professor from 2046 or the 25-year-old he would be today? Surely, it couldn’t be the 25-year-old; he wouldn’t be old enough to be a professor at that age. So it had to be the 60-year-old. But how? He must have followed her in the second time craft. There was no other explanation. She put her hand on the door handle and turned the handle. It clicked open. She wandered into the office and sat down on the chair behind the desk. She switched on the computer, and it started up with a prompt ‘password?’ What could it be?
She remembered the password Rider used in 2046. Perhaps he was a creature of habit. She typed in ‘Eureka’ for the password. It let her in. Her mouth went dry with fear, but she had to probe further. She went to the search function, typed in ‘Tachyon’ and hit the return key. A second later the page was covered with references to Tachyons. She heard footsteps coming back up the corridor: it was Ben, returning with the coffee. Elle dived underneath the desk as Ben walked by Rider’s office. She turned the computer off and crawled over to the door.
When Elle returned to the laboratory, Ben was waiting with a mug of coffee in hand.
“I was beginning to wonder where you had gone,” said Ben.
“Oh, just to the loo,” said Elle, taking the coffee mug from him. “Thanks.”
They continued to work until the late afternoon when almost all the four boards were covered in equations.
“I think we’re both getting tired,” said Ben. “We need to take a break and come back to this later.”
Elle was disappointed, but knew he was right. They weren’t going to find a solution that day, but the frustration was too hard to bear.
“Are we ever going to find the answer?” she said.
“I told you it wasn’t going to be easy. The odds were always against us. We can try again later this week if you want. Try to cheer up. It’s not a matter of life and death.”
She stared into his eyes.
“But it is to me,” she said. She paused letting out a long sigh. “Excuse me.”
Elle ran off to the ladies’ room, leaving Ben on his own. Five minutes later she came back, now composed. Ben was just finishing a call on his mobile and turned it off.
“I think I might have a way forward. I’m going to Scotland this weekend to meet an old friend, Stuart
Campbell.”
“Professor Campbell?” said Elle.
“You know about him?” said Ben.
“Yes, of course I do, he wrote the ‘Myth of the Tachyon’ and other papers on particle physics,” said Elle.
“Yes that’s right. He’s also a brilliant mathematician. I’ll ask him to take a look at your paper when I’m there and give me some feedback for you.”
“Oh, that’s great. But, I would really love to meet him; couldn’t you take me with you?”
“Whoa — this is a fishing weekend. Asking him to look over the paper is one thing; but I’m sure he doesn’t want a debate on particle physics.”
“You could still do your fishing thing; I just want a few minutes of his time. Oh please, Ben.”
“I don’t know. It’s his family home. I can hardly just turn up with a stranger.”
Elle tried to think quickly. “Tell him I’m your girlfriend. Anything.”
“Girlfriend? What do you mean?”
“I don’t mean like we’re going out together. But I’m a girl, and we are friends now, aren’t we? So it’s not strictly a lie; just stretching the truth a bit.”
“Hold on: don’t I recall you saying something like you would not look at me ‘even if I was the last man on this planet.’”
“I was upset. We’re friends now, aren’t we? Oh, please.”
“It’s difficult; there’s his family to think about. They’re very private people and a little eccentric in their own particular ways. I’m not sure you would fit in there.”
“I’ll do whatever you want me to do. I promise I’ll fit in.”
“Anything?” he said.
“Yes anything.”
There was an awkward silence.
“Please, Ben.” She could not hide her desperation any longer. Her eyes were pleading with him.
“All right, I’ll give him a call and see what he says. If he agrees, we can go up there Friday afternoon.”
“Thanks Ben,” she said. “You won’t regret it.”
“I hope not.”
“Let me buy you dinner for helping me today.”
“I’m tired… Let’s just go and get some fish and chips. There’s shop just outside the university.”
Collision Page 8