by Clyde Key
* * *
A couple of hours later, Arlene saw the president’s proclamation on a big wallscreen at AABC headquarters. Litton spoke from the oval office. Arlene was quite sure camera trickery had been used to make the diminutive chief executive appear larger than in real life.
“Citizens of the United States,” she began. “I must speak with you today of some matters of the gravest importance. Please listen carefully, and give your government absolute cooperation, because our national security is at stake.
“First, I must remind you that we are still in a declared state of national emergency, which is the equivalent of martial law. Our constitution provides for unusual government powers in these trying times. We can hope and pray for an end to the emergency, but now you must obey rules as they are posted.
“Secondly, I have ordered all civilians to stay at least 300 kilometers from The Visitors. Regardless of what other reports you may have heard, The Visitors still represent known and unknown dangers to the population. I have also ordered our military commander, Colonel Halloran, to use all means at his disposal to keep civilians away from the aliens. If you are already traveling to see the aliens, please turn back immediately. Don’t make a critical situation worse!
“The third point is that all government communication will come only from myself or Everett Lane, who has been appointed to a cabinet level position as Advisor on Alien Affairs. Do not make the mistake of believing news reports that originate from any other source. We will treat violators of government orders as traitors!
Please be assured that we believe the danger will pass. However, it may be some time before it will be safe for humans to have personal contact with The Visitors. For the present, we will continue on three fronts. First, we will use military methods to protect the population. Second, we will maintain constant communication with our friends around the world at the other landing sites so that we can stay abreast of any new developments. And, lastly, we will maintain contact with the aliens and study their ways, with the goal of establishing permanent friendly, safe contact with them.
“As news develops, the nation will be informed. It is my fervent hope that the next news will be more favorable.
“Now, please give your attention to the recorded interview which follows. Presidential advisor Everett Lane interviewed Merrill Tilson a short time ago. Mr. Tilson was one of the AABC agents who made contact with the aliens this morning.
Larger than life, Tilson’s dark green presence jumped onto the screen. Tilson looked no better, no more composed than he had in the presence of The Visitors. Startled by Tilson’s appearance, Arlene looked at her hands for assurance that the thick cosmetic paint still covered. Then she took a mirror from her bag and studied her face. She looked terrible, but at least the green didn’t show through.
Everett Lane, sitting beside Tilson, stared somberly. “I’m Everett Lane,” he said. “I’m Advisor on Alien Affairs for President Litton, and it is on her behalf that Mr. Tilson and I are here today to speak to you. Merrill Tilson was one of three persons captured yesterday by alien forces and taken to the alien camp near Needles, California. Although all three were later released, they all suffered traumatic experiences. Perhaps neither of the others suffered more than Tilson, who is here to tell us of his experience.”
Lane turned to Tilson. “Would you care to tell us about it in your own words?”
“What? What did you say?” asked Tilson, his voice still cracking.
“I’m sorry,” said Lane, facing the camera. “I’d forgotten that Tilson’s hearing was adversely affected by this trauma.” Then turning again to Tilson, Lane yelled into his ear. “How about telling viewers about your capture?”
Tilson began to sniff. “I... I don’t know if I can, but I’ll try. It was horrible. They eat people, you know. I was sure they’d eat us.”
“What was the circumstance of your capture?” yelled Lane. “How did you come to be captured?”
“It was Halloran’s doing—and yours! It was your idea. That was the start of it!” Tilson stopped to sob, and Lane looked uncomfortable at Tilson’s accusation. Then Tilson continued. “They sent those round things, their rocket globes, to get us. Those things just kind of sucked us inside and they were filled with awful, vile stuff. I thought I’d suffocate or drown in there, but I didn’t. I almost wish I had! I wouldn’t be like this!”
Lane yelled into Tilson’s ear. “The substance in the globe—wasn’t that what caused your present appearance, as well as some other problems?”
Tilson nodded.
Then Lane turned again to the camera. “We’ve managed to piece together a lot of what happened, but there is still much more to learn. Tilson’s doctors tell us that the substance in the globe was most likely alien’s body waste, which they seem to ooze constantly. That results in an extremely foul odor for humans. The substance also causes the skin discoloration which you will observe has happened to Mr. Tilson.”
“What? What are you saying?” cried Tilson.
Lane waved his hand at Tilson. “Later! I’ll tell you later!”
Then Lane continued for the camera. “Mr. Tilson’s doctors say the alien substance is very rich in oxygen, which explains why the victims who were caught in the globes didn’t suffocate or drown. However, it also contains several compounds that are toxic to humans to some degree, causing severe allergic reactions to the skin as well as this discoloration. In Mr. Tilson’s case, the substance got into his ears and has practically destroyed his hearing. We don’t know yet the extent to which he may eventually recover.”
Arlene Sisk stood in front of the wallscreen. She forgot about what Lane was saying and just watched Merrill Tilson, as the green AABC agent broke down and sobbed. “That’s dirty!” she said to herself, but aloud. “Why did he have to do that to Tilson?” Then she turned away from the wallscreen, muttering. “This is going to set us back! There is going to be such bias against The Visitors!”
Then a young woman hurrying into the room bumped into Arlene. “Excuse me, Ms,” said the woman. “I’m afraid I was just watching the vidscreen.” Then she turned and stared at Arlene. “Oh my! Is that you, Ms. Sisk? What happened? What is wrong?”
“Yes, Jill, it’s me. I just have an allergy,” said Arlene. “I have some medication on now, but I’ll be over it soon.”
Jill tried not to stare. “I’m sorry, Ms. Sisk. I’m very, very sorry!”
25
July 19, 2112
Recently promoted Major Baines had the battalion assembled at the Kingman training camp. “At ease!” yelled Baines. “Colonel Halloran is here to address us. He will be filling us in on President Litton’s directives, as well as the latest information we have on the aliens.” He turned slightly. “Colonel, are you ready?”
Ed stepped in front of the troops. “Thank you, Major. I’m not at all sure I’m ready, but I have to try. We all have to try.
“First, I want to say that we have a substantial amount of printed material for each of you to read. Some of it contains a message from the President about our mission, and another part covers all the information we have managed to assemble about the aliens. I’d like for all of you to study it carefully. Even though some of our initial information will probably turn out to be erroneous, it is the best we have at the present time.
“Now, Major Baines will have some one distribute the information.”
The old soldier directed platoon leaders to pass the pamphlets to the soldiers in each platoon.
Then Ed continued. “The first point I’d make is that our job is two-fold. On one hand, we have to contain the aliens. Until we know more about them and have established lines of communication, we cannot let them range out of the desert areas they already have occupied. Regardless of what anybody at AABC says, we will use military force to prevent aliens from contacting humans.
“Secondly, we must also prevent citizens from trying to contact the aliens. Because our mission is to protect human life, we are not allow
ed the same force we would use with the aliens. However, we will use all necessary force, including arrest and detention.”
Ed carefully explained President Litton’s position on human-alien interaction, and then Major Baines covered at length the battalion plans for posting extra sentry stations and patrolling the perimeter of alien occupied territory. After this, they opened the session to questions from the troops.
A young soldier on the front row raised his hand and was acknowledged. “Sir, I’ve heard that your... uh, skin condition came from contacting the aliens. Is that right?”
“That’s absolutely right. Aliens continuously ooze some kind of vile fluids that cause this stain. Their rocket globes all seem to have some amount of the crap inside, and I came in contact with it when I was captured. That is one very important reason we have to prevent human contact.
“I understand that Ms. Sisk, the AABC director, is covering her stain with cosmetics, but I’ve chosen not to, because I wanted to make a point.”
Then a young woman raised her hand. “We’ve always been taught we should refer to them as Visitors. Why do you insist on calling them aliens?”
“Again, it’s because I want to make a point. The word Visitors implies they are welcome guests who will leave after a reasonable visit, and that is simply not the case. They came uninvited, and we have no evidence yet they ever plan to leave. We also don’t know why they came or what they plan.”
“Sir, then why don’t we make a preemptive strike? Why don’t we just take them out before they can harm us?”
“That’s an appealing thought,” said Ed. “I wish we could, but there are a couple of important reasons why we can’t. First, we don’t know their true strength. If they could, they might simply destroy all of us.”
“And the other reason, sir?”
“As a nation, we don’t have the political will. There is a group—with considerable following in both government and the private sector—there are those who refuse to believe the aliens are anything more than advanced humans. I think these people may pose as great a danger as the aliens themselves.”