Collision

by John Williamson

  “It doesn’t surprise me that Jason Brannan is involved. The president’s sponsor knows him well, and even thought he might be involved.”

  “There’s something else. The Major found a badge on the beach with the scientific sign for infinity on it. It’s too much of a coincidence not to have something to do with IFT.”

  “What do you suggest?”

  “I’ve prepared for a night raid on Cambridge Laboratories; two teams — two helicopters from the Eisenhower going in at 200 feet. We’ll be in an out before the Brits have woken up.”

  “If this goes wrong, we’ll have a major diplomatic incident on our hands.”

  “Sir, we’ll lay a trail back to Muslim extremists. The media will love the story.”

  “I’m not sure.”

  “Sir, if we don’t the Brits will get there first, and we’ll never get the craft.”

  “Very well, go ahead.”

  “We’ll go in at first light tomorrow morning.”

  “Fine.”

  Daniels put the phone down. Now she had to plan her attack. The first stage would be to put the Major off the scent, and she had a plan for that. Then it was just a case of organising the raid from the Eisenhower. She felt pleased with herself. At least now she was doing something, making things happen — taking a risk. She felt excited by the prospect.

  The Major was beginning to believe the raid was a mistake. Ten ladies dressed in catsuits stood before him; none of them looked anything like the picture on the Internet. The only resemblance whatsoever was that they were dressed in catsuits. Most of them had seen better days and were the wrong side of forty. They were clutching at straws if they thought the woman in the photo came from here. It was a fourth rate strip club called ‘Puss in Boots’; a sick place frequented by sailors and reprobates in the harbour area.

  Fortunately, they found two of the punters on the site with class ‘A’ drugs on them. The proprietor was unlikely to complain about the somewhat unusual raid on the club, particularly as the police had let all the punters go.

  Carla came down the stairs.

  “Were there any other women upstairs in catsuits?” said the Major.

  “Not exactly; but they were carrying out various animal acts with their customers. Apparently, they’re doing a special promotion this week: two cats for the price of one and the boys in Blue were offered special discounts. Major, this is nothing more than a cheap knocking shop. I don’t think we’re going to find our UFO lady here.”

  “I think you’re right. Remind me where the lead came from again?”

  “Your friend, the American. I think it’s her way of getting back at you for not letting her into the sea search.”

  “No — that’s not it. She’s up to something.”

  He pulled out his mobile phone and dialled.

  ‘Number not recognised’ came up on the screen.

  He dialled the hotel and spoke to reception.

  “What is it?” said Carla.

  “She’s checked out. She’s definitely up to something, and she doesn’t want me to know.”

  “Carla, I want to know where she is. Check the hotels; CCTV, whatever. Why weren’t we tracking her? No one sleeps until we find what she is up to.”

  “Yes sir.”

  The laboratories of IFT were situated on a former RAF base in Cambridgeshire; a combination of old flight hangars and new brick built high-technology buildings that provided the right balance of privacy to keep Jason Brannan’s activities away from the public eye. A twelve-foot fence around the base topped with razor wire meant that intruders were kept out. A security point was the only way into the base, and this was manned by a private security force. For miles around the base, there was only farmland and the occasional farmhouse. The base during the day provided employment for thirty scientists each of which worked upon the private projects of Jason Brannan. They were hand-picked scientists, the best that money could buy.

  It was 04:00 hours when the two helicopters arrived. Coming in from the sea at 200 feet, they were invisible to radar. They made their way over the flat plains of Cambridgeshire to land at the IFT complex.

  Lying on the floor of the security point at the entrance to the complex were three security guards, all unconscious. They had been taken out by Daniels’s ground based team using non-lethal darts. When the first helicopter landed, her ground team were waiting for her. All were navy seals, well used to such strikes.

  Daniels moved quickly with her team to the entrance to the hangar. The side door to the building proved no real resistance, and they moved into the main part of the hangar. Inside the hangar was an aircraft of an unusual design: a huge delta-shaped vehicle that looked like a flying wing. Daniels looked at it and cursed. Dam, that’s not it. But she had already considered the possibility that the craft might not be what she was after, and she was determined to continue the mission regardless.

  She moved with her team into the office section of the building, and her team spread out onto each of the floors. One member of the team was soon busy on one of the main computer terminals. They didn’t have time to look at the data; it was more efficient to download and look at it later.

  Twenty minutes later, Daniels looked at her watch. “Hen house clear,” she said into her com set. “All vixen return to lair.”

  A few minutes later her team were returning to the helicopters. As the last man boarded, the helicopter rose into the air. She looked at her watch again. “Two minutes,” she said to herself. Two minutes later a fireball raked through the hangars as the explosives placed next to the high-octane fuel ignited. Thirty-seconds later the laboratory building exploded blowing out all the windows and outer doors and engulfing the building in flames.

  Maybe Jason Brannan wasn’t the source of the UFO craft after all, but at least now she had eliminated the possibility. The General would certainly not mind and if they had done their job properly, the Brits would never have thought it was the CIA.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Ben was a moment away from consciousness. From somewhere at the back of his mind he could hear a shower running. He turned over and tried to get back to sleep, but something was different; he was alone. There seemed a vacuum in the bed as though something or someone was missing. His eyes blinked open and started to focus. He remembered where he was — the cabin. He could hear noises coming from the bathroom; Elle must be in the bathroom. He yawned and stretched, and looked around him. Then it dawned on him; it was Saturday, and he was going fishing with Stuart.

  “Hi sleepy head,” said Elle as she came out of the bathroom and sat on the side of the bed. She was wearing her underwear and a towel wrapped around her hair and seemed so relaxed, as if this was something she did with him every day. “At least you will have fun today, doing your male bonding stuff.”

  “What about you?”

  “Don’t worry about me. Kirsty promised to take me hiking.”

  “What time is it?”

  “6:15. You better get up or you’ll miss the fish.”

  Ben groaned.

  “That’s when you asked me to get you up.”

  Ben climbed out of the bed and walked slowly towards the bathroom yawning. He was having a hard time waking up; it must have been the malt he shared with Stuart the night before.

  Elle started to dress. “Did you know that Kirsty’s a naturist?”

  Ben turned and laughed. “Is the Pope Catholic?”

  “She asked me to go skinny dipping with her.”

  “And what did you say?”

  “I chickened out. We’re going hiking instead… Have you ever been skinny dipping?”

  “No… I had an accident when I was ten. Fell into an ice-covered lake — almost died of hyperthermia. Since then I’ve kept away from lakes and rivers. Maybe if it was in a heated swimming pool.”

  “So the nudity thing doesn’t bother you?”

  “No; never has. Jane’s the same. It’s the way we were brought up.”

  Elle turned to f
ace him. “Jane?”

  “Yes, she went skinny dipping with Kirsty earlier this summer. She’s into the healthy living bit. Must be the medical influence.”

  Ben walked into the Bathroom, turned on the shower and slipped out of his shorts.

  “Ben when will you…” she said.

  Ben turned around and saw her in the doorway. He had left the bathroom door open, and she was standing there open mouthed.

  “It doesn’t matter; it can wait,” she said, quickly closing the door.

  Ben rolled his eyes; he would have to be more careful in future. He remembered the last time they met in the bathroom. At least, this time she didn’t go ballistic.

  Fifteen minutes later they were walking up to the house.

  “Look I’m sorry I embarrassed you,” he said.

  “What do you mean?”

  “About leaving the bathroom door open this morning.”

  “You didn’t,” she said.

  He looked at her and wondered if she was telling the truth. She seemed a different person today: relaxed, calm and happy, as if the problems of the world had left her.

  They continued to walk up the path.

  “When do you think we will have a chance to speak to Stuart about the paper?”

  “I spoke to him last night. He’s going to take us both to the university tomorrow to show us around, and he said we would have plenty of time to discuss it.”

  “That’s great.”

  “And I’ll have a word with Stuart to see if there’s room for me up at the cottage tonight,” said Ben.

  Elle paused for a moment. “No don’t; it’s all right. I didn’t mind sharing last night. Did you?”

  “No,” said Ben. It wasn’t what he was expecting.

  “Anyway, I don’t think I would feel safe down there on my own at night.”

  “Okay; we’ll leave things as they are.”

  Perhaps she actually likes to have me around. Progress.

  An hour later, Ben and Stuart were sitting on a boat in the middle of the Loch and had just cast off their rods.

  “So, how was your night in the cabin?”

  “It was fine, it’s a beautiful place.”

  “I meant how did you get on with Elle?”

  “Oh, we got on all right together. I’m afraid I broke your camp bed.”

  “No problem. Was it in a fit of passion?”

  “Nothing like that. We just shared a bed, like two kids on a sleepover.”

  “So why didn’t you tell her you like her?”

  “It’s more complicated than that. We got off to a bad start; at least we’re friends now. She’s not looking for anything else, believe me.”

  Stuart gave him a knowing smile. There was a moments silence as they concentrated on the fish.

  “What’s this about a Tachyon paper that you’ve been both working on?” said Stuart.

  “I know you think it’s rubbish, but we’ve made some interesting progress.”

  “No Ben, I don’t think the idea of a Tachyon is rubbish. It just has to stand up to rigorous mathematical analysis. I have no pre-conceptions about the existence, or not, of tachyons.”

  “I think you will be amazed at what she’s done so far.”

  “Then I’m looking forward to it.”

  Ben’s fishing rod bobbed.

  “I think you’ve got a bite.”

  Ben pulled hard on the rod and started to real his catch in.

  When Elle opened the cabin door, Kirsty stood there dressed in shorts, a top and walking boots. Elle was dressed in shorts, a top and trainers. At least they were both prepared, and the weather looked good.

  “Where’re you taking me?” said Elle.

  “There are at least five trails from here; three going north and two south. The most interesting one is over here,” said Kirsty, pointing to a thicket. “That’s where we’re going.”

  “I can’t see anything,” said Elle.

  Kirsty led her over to the thicket and pulled some of it back revealing the trail.

  “This is my favourite,” said Kirsty. “No one comes along here; it follows half the circumference of the Loch. It is so quiet you could stroll along here naked and no one would ever spot you.”

  “You’re not planning to do that today, are you?” said Elle.

  “No. But I’ve got suntan lotion and insect repellent with me if you want to,” said Kirsty.

  “Oh,” said Elle open mouthed.

  “I’m only pulling your leg. We wouldn’t be able to go into a pub like that; and what’s the point of hiking if you can’t stop off along the way for some refreshments. Maybe on the way back.”

  They both laughed.

  They walked for an hour along the trail, and Elle was captured by the beauty of the forest. As they strolled along the trail, the sunlight shone through the trees revealing a palette of different hews of green. A light mist hung along the bottom of the forest. Squirrels played oblivious to the humans passing along the trail; while birds sang full of the joys of a summer’s day. And to the West, she caught glimpses of the Loch through the dense undergrowth. She understood why Kirsty loved this place so much. The feeling was contagious.

  Kirsty put her hand on Elle’s arm to stop her in mid stride. “I want to show you this,” she said. “Follow me.” She left the trail and cut off through the undergrowth. Elle followed her until they found a bird watching hide. Kirsty opened the door and Elle followed her in. The hide was well concealed from the outside world and was barely big enough to accommodate the two of them. Kirsty pushed open the window flap; and they could see out together.

  “I sometimes come up here just to get away from people,” Kirsty said. “My dad said this was built when we had nesting eagles here. No more unfortunately; this has not been used for years.” Elle peered out of the hide. She could see across the Loch and into the trees along the perimeter of the Loch. It must have been fantastic to see the eagle fishing in the Loch, diving into the waters and retrieving a salmon.

  “It has an amazing view,” said Elle.

  They continued up the trail for another hour until eventually the trail crossed a narrow road at the Black Swan Pub.

  “So this is what you were planning,” said Elle.

  “You can’t go for a walk without refreshments,” said Kirsty.

  “Okay, but you’re under-age, so it’s juice for you.”

  “Spoil sport. I’ve been drinking here for years.”

  “I bet.”

  Elle and Kirsty went into the pub. It was still early in the day and there weren’t many people in the pub. Elle walked up to the bar while Kirsty looked for seats. The landlady was a 70-year-old spinster who looked like she had spent her whole life at the pub.

  “Hello Kirsty,” said the landlady. “Is it the usual, and what would you like to drink?” she said, turning towards Elle.

  “Oh, a lager for me,” said Elle, frowning at Kirsty.

  “You’re not from here, are you?” said the landlady. “Just visiting?”

  “That’s right,” said Elle. “Great weather for hiking.”

  “Yes I remember when...”

  Elle’s mind was not listening to the old dear. She was looking around the pub to find where Kirsty was going.

  “Yes, great weather,” said Elle, not knowing what she was answering. From the puzzled look of the landlady, it wasn’t what she was expecting.

  “Thank you,” said Elle as she shuffled away with the drinks.

  Kirsty had found a secluded corner of the pub, and Elle sat down next to her.

  “So how long have you known, Uncle Ben?” said Kirsty.

  “Not that long — four days.”

  “And you’ve moved in together?”

  “You could put it like that I suppose.”

  “Wow, a whirl-wind romance then.”

  Elle was not expecting a cross-examination and was uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation. She didn’t want to lie; but she couldn’t tell the whole truth.
She had to think quickly. “You could say the sparks flew the first time we met.”

  “This must be really serious if Uncle Ben has brought you here. Are you getting engaged?”

  “You’ll have to ask Ben.”

  Elle paused to think. How could she change the subject?

  “You like Ben a lot don’t you?” said Elle.

  “Yes, he’s like family. I know I joke about him being my uncle, but I’ve known him since I was nine, when dad was working at Helsinki University. Since then they’ve never been out of touch.”

  “So how was Ben in Helsinki?”

  “I don’t know; some kind of student exchange programme. Shortly after that we moved to Scotland. My mother’s family is still in Helsinki though.”

  “You miss them?”

  “My grandparents, yes. I don’t see them that often… Dad built a sauna in the house for us; a little bit of Finland. And we keep up the family tradition. Sunday is our family sauna evening. Has dad asked you yet about joining us?”

  “No. Maybe he said something to Ben.”

  “Have you been to a Finnish sauna before?”

  “No. I would love to try it; but I don’t have a swimming costume with me.”

  “No need. You don’t use a costume in a Finnish sauna.”

  “What?”

  “A swimming costume would contain chlorine from a swimming pool. It can affect the sauna.”

  “Oh, so you’re naked. But you have a big towel, don’t you?”

  “Yes… but that’s for sitting on. You would be too hot wrapped up in it.”

  “Oh my god. You see your parent’s naked?”

  “There’s nothing weird about it. It’s normal for families and friends to sauna together in Finland.”