Harriet stopped, to adjust her skis, lifted her head and froze.
“What’s wrong, Harri? You look like you just saw a ghost.” Joe felt his heart skip a beat.
“I’m not sure, I had a strange little tingle. Then it faded, maybe I shivered, I don’t know, I can’t feel it now. How about you, did you feel anything?”
“Nope, nothing, only Brian’s tingle. If you feel it again, let me know right away. You seem to pick it up quicker than me.” Joe was alert. He figured it would happen again.
“For sure, not to worry, you’ll be the first to know.” She stamped her foot to make sure she had her ski on right.
“Are you wearing your rings?” Brian had forgotten to look before they put on their gloves.
“Yes, we haven’t taken them off since you gave them to us. The rings might not be as effective with snow gear. There’s no skin showing except for the face.” One more disadvantage Joe realized.
“They’re not perfect, but in close combat they are effective. If the agents are here, they’ll pick a good spot for whatever they have in mind. We should make our runs close together,” Brian cautioned.
Chapter 13
A Matter of Haste
Joe started the run down the snow-covered slope, followed by Harriet, then Brian. Conditions were perfect and their hill was not too busy. And, since it was a weekday, a lot of the kids were still in school. The kids in high school wouldn’t start their spring break until next week.
The three of them made it to the bottom of the hill without incident. Brian was in danger of his face freezing into a permanent grin. He enjoyed it more than anyone.
“Oh that was exhilarating!” His face was flushed with cold and excitement. “I may make that nightmare trip through the portal and take a winter vacation here, just for the skiing. What is it you say, what a flush?”
“I think you mean, what a rush,” Harriet corrected.
All three of them laughed at Brian’s mangled idiom. “Are you game for another run?” Joe was pumped.
“Oh, yes, for sure.” Brian spoke up first.
He was quickly followed by Harriet’s enthusiastic, “Lead on, we’re right behind you.”
They headed back to the lift, laughing and joking and trying to race each other. Joe was out in the lead, followed by Brian and Harriet who were neck-and-neck. But then, he still wasn’t one hundred percent at home on the antique skis. Harriet could see it wouldn’t be long before he would keep up with Joe.
They hit the chairlift just right and had no real wait and were at the top again in no time. The trio skied over toward the run when Harriet stopped. “Damn, I got that tingle again. It’s different to the one I feel from you, Brian.”
“I’m feeling it now too.” Joe scanned the trail but couldn’t see anything unusual.
“Okay, let’s keep going toward the run. I think it’s safer to keep moving. It would be better to ski to the bottom of the slope and head back to the clubhouse. Make sure we stick close. Let’s start this run and try to stay together to the bottom.” Brian had taken charge.
Joe and Harriet agreed they would feel safer at the bottom rather than the top of the hill. They were nearing the start of the run when two men came toward them. They’d been waiting.
Spotting them, Brian yelled over his shoulder, “Follow me and do what I do.” He cut down near a wooded area before the run. There was only the odd fir tree that was easily avoided, providing them a clear path. The other two followed with no difficulty.
They caught the two men by surprise and by the time they reacted, the trio was heading for the ski run well ahead of the SPA goons.
They hit the slope and were already at top speed. The three of them handled the perfect powder like experts. Their pursuers took a minute to get organized but were not all that far behind. The trio could see that they’d done this before so it was an exhilarating run down the mountain with the three of them ahead. They figured they would easily outrun the bad guys. Then their luck ran out. Harriet’s ski caught a drift and she fell, stirring up a snowy cloud behind. The men had already skied past her. By the time they turned around, the bad guys were closing in on her.
The fall had shaken Harriet, but she wasn’t hurt. I’m okay, guys—she transmitted telepathically. Getting back up on her feet, she peeled off her glove exposing the hand with the ring. She was as ready as she could be. Her heart was pounding and she was trembling, not from the cold but from fear.
The men skied on either side of Harriet, each grabbing her under her arm, propelling her forward and away from Joe and Brian.
They were expert skiers, and so much bigger close up. They moved fast even while pulling her weight. Moving toward the opposite side of the slope, they headed into the trees, on a trail familiar only to them. And while they were propelling Harriet away from the hill, she lost track of where she was.
They were following a nature trail of some sort. It was barely wide enough to accommodate the three of them side by side.
One of the two men pulled forward as the path narrowed. Harriet had no choice but to keep up with the other skier who had a death grip on her arm.
“Where are you taking me?” she screamed at them.
There was no response, just the three of them moving forward at dangerous speeds and adjusting as necessary. She had no chance to use her ring, with only one hand free, she was afraid to drop her ski-pole.
Risking a look behind, she couldn’t see either of her guys. Where are you, Joe? Brian? They pulled me into the woods and I think we must be on an animal trail. I don’t know where we’re headed. It’s away from the activity for sure.
Joe answered, we saw where they took you in, but we were on the other side of the slope well behind you. We’re on that trail now. If those guys don’t change course, we’ll catch up to you. Do you know where they’re going?
No, and the trail is getting narrower. One of them is dragging me, but I think he’ll be forced let go soon. We’re running diagonally down the mountain so there is still a way to go to get to the bottom.
There, he let me go. I have one in front and one behind. I’ll try to make a break if I can find another trail heading straight down the mountain. Watch for my tracks.
Harriet felt a strange calm settle over her. Her mind could only cope with so much, and now was the time to focus on escape. There was nothing to lose. If anything happened to her, Brian would protect Joe. Right now, Harriet knew that she was alone, and the outcome was dependent on her own actions.
Okay! I just turned onto another track and I’m now heading straight down. Joe, the guy behind me is right on my tail. I don’t think the guy ahead saw us leave the trail. There’s a big boulder right before I turned. I’m in the lead but not by much. Hurry, Joe, I don’t know how long I can go before he catches up. And watch for the other one.
Joe spotted the boulder and the trail, also the other bad guy was heading back toward them. He communicated with Brian. This way and watch for the guy heading toward us. He’s one of them.
Brian stopped, drew a weapon out of his pocket and aimed it at the skier who had what looked like a miniature rifle and was closing in on them.
Before the SPA henchman could raise his weapon, Brian fired. There was a flash and the man was down, face first, in a snowdrift on the side of the trail.
Brian laughed out loud and shouted, “One down, one to go!”
Hurry, Joe, we’re coming to the bottom of the hill. I’m not sure I can stop this guy once he catches me! But, her mind was racing… she had an idea.
Joe rounded a bend and spotted Harriet and the other guy, who was huge and hard on her heels. He could also see there was little chance of them catching up in time.
Brian, do you think you can bring the guy down from this distance?
I don’t know. Let me get by you, and I’ll see what I can do. He went flying by Joe who had moved to the side to allow Brian room.
Joe moved back onto the trail and picked up speed.
M
eanwhile, Brian, still moving, took aim at the second bad guy and prayed he didn’t miss and hit Harriet by mistake.
The first shot went wild. Brian took aim and fired once more. Again he missed. By now, the two ahead had reached the bottom of the hill and their speed bled off.
Harriet used her poles to barely stay ahead. Her height and strength helped—if she’d been an average size, he would have already caught her. As it was, he was breathing down her neck. Her heart was pounding and she was gulping for air, the run had drained her. Thinking fast, she put her plan into action, and dropped sideways, leaving only her skis protruding on to the trail. It was a risk, but it worked, the goon couldn’t stop fast enough and his skis tangled with hers pitching him forward. Harriet released her skis and was on top of him in an instant. Before he could recover, or even knew what was happening, she slammed him with her ring on his exposed face. He reached for her, but his hand dropped midway. He was out cold.
Harriet lay there shaking while Joe and Brian closed the gap. They helped her up and checked to make sure she was in one piece. Joe pulled her close, he was shaking as badly as she. “You’re sure you’re okay?” He leaned back and studied her.
Nodding and still breathing hard, she said, “I’m okay, I’m okay, quit worrying. What about our two friends here, are they dead?”
“No, but they’ll be out for a while. I had my weapon on stun, not kill. And your ring just knocked him out for a half an hour or so. They’ll survive to go back to the future and let the commander know that you’re not that easy to kidnap.”
“Do you think they’ll give up?” Joe asked.
Brian looked at the guy lying on the trail and shook his head. “I don’t think these two will be any further problem. Now that we’ve seen them they have to return. The commander’s not likely to give up though. I think he’ll continue plaguing you which is too bad. No one wants to keep looking over their shoulder and around corners. With the early warning chips Arthur 5 concocted for you two, it’ll take away some of the worry.”
Neither Joe nor Harriet liked the situation but Brian backing them provided some relief. “Is it okay to leave them here?” Harriet asked, more worried about repercussions they might face, than the two goons’ welfare.
“They’re wearing winter gear and the sun is still out, so they won’t freeze to death, they should come around in about half an hour, so yes, it’s okay to leave them here,” Brian answered.
Harriet put her skis back on, and the trio headed for the ski chalet, this time breathing the fresh air and appreciating the snow-laden trees lining the trails. The first round went to them. But they didn’t doubt there was more to come. They could only live day-to-day and prepare for what might lie ahead.
Joe looked over at Harriet, grinning, “I’m proud of you. You did good, Slick!”
“Ya, I did, didn’t I?”
***
By the time the would-be kidnappers came around with headaches and angry regret, the trio was halfway home.
Mike Bartlett felt like he’d run into a wall. Shaking his head he pulled himself up. One of his skis had come loose with the jolt from Brian’s weapon and had taken off along the trail. It was just ahead stuck in a drift. With both skis back on, he followed the path the other three had taken. In the distance he spotted the disturbance on the hill where Harriet had brought down his partner. John, lay half buried in the snow. Mike knelt down beside him and felt his neck for a pulse. It was strong. He waited five minutes and John came around.
He moaned as Mike helped him to sit up. “I’m okay.” He brushed off Mike’s help, not wanting to show any sign of weakness.
John wasn’t about to tell his partner it was Harriet who’d brought him down.
“They made us. We’ve got to go back.” John got right to the point. “We failed in our mission, the commander will not be happy.”
Mike pulled John to his feet. “What about Larry?”
“What about him? He’s got a personal vendetta against those two.” John liked that the little man had a plan, but it didn’t mesh too well with their mission to return Joe and Harriet to the SPA.
Larry seemed hellbent on kidnapping them and using Harriet to unleash his sexual perversions, which made no difference to John, as long as Larry turned them over in one piece to take back to the future.
They’d come so close to capturing Harriet today. Once they had her, Joe would be easy. But, that plan had ended when they were spotted. They knew from the weapon used that the guy with Joe and Harriet had to be from the future, so now their mission was to get back to let the commander know and to explain what happened.
Chapter 14
Schemes and Dreams
John and Mike gathered their stuff from their hotel room, stuffing it into their two backpacks. They didn’t have to worry about bank accounts or the car. It was in the name of Bio-Tech Research and would remain for the next people sent from the SPA by John Weatherby. The debit card would go back with them and be handed to the next crew sent from the future.
They were ready to check out when they heard a knock on the door. John looked through the peephole. “It’s Larry.”
“Let him in.” Mike figured they had nothing to lose. Who knows, maybe the little pervert had something useful.
John opened the door and let Luke in.
“You guys going someplace?” He could see the backpacks on the bed and knew something had changed.
“We have to go back, our mission is over.” Mike’s blunt answer surprised Luke.
“What happened? I thought you had orders to return Joe and Harriet to the SPA.”
Mike spoke up, his deep voice carrying across the room, “There’s been a change of plans. We think they have a bodyguard, sent from the future. We have to get the information back to the commander.” He wasn’t disclosing anything new to Luke who already knew most of the story behind their mission.
“Ya, I saw that guy. He’s new. He hasn’t been around all that much. I wondered who he was. You say he’s from the future—a bodyguard? How much of a problem is that for us?” Luke felt he had a role to play in their scheme.
“We have to let the commander know so he can make alternate plans. They saw us close up today at the ski hill, which makes us no longer effective.” John figured it didn’t much matter if Larry had that information.
“Ya, I can see that. The bodyguard could be a problem. Can’t you take him out? I’d do it for you, but I already got too much heat on me, I gotta lie low.”
“That would be foolish. We can’t draw attention to ourselves. We must go back and let the commander decide what to do.”
“I know how you feel. I’m thinking it’s time for me to split. My luck’s running out. That’s why I came here today. I wanted to ask you if I could go to the future and work with the commander from that side. It’s not safe for me here. I’ve got knowledge that maybe he can use. I was hoping you’d give me a letter or something to introduce me. But since you’re going back, maybe I could come with you. That’d even be better.” Luke’s brain was grinding out plans.
The two men stared at the little upstart in front of them, mulling over what he was proposing. John turned to Mike, “Maybe we should discuss this.” Mike nodded.
“Leave us for ten minutes and we’ll talk about it. There’s a coffee shop off the hotel lobby.” John opened the door for Luke.
Mike spoke first. “You have something in mind, what is it?”
“I think if Larry wants to go back with us, maybe we should take him up on it. The commander might appreciate that we’ve brought him someone who’s willing to do anything.
He can be our contribution. Maybe Weatherby will go easy on us for failing with our mission.” Mike could see the logic in John’s argument and agreed so when Luke returned John gave him the good news.
“When can you be ready? We have very little time.” John wants to get moving.
“I’m ready now, man. I got my gear in the car in the parking lot.” Luke was excited
. He hadn’t thought they’d go for it, but had hoped.
The two men grabbed their backpacks and the three of them went to the lobby where John and Mike checked out. They all walked to Luke’s car and got his gear. “What about your car?” John didn’t want anything that might draw attention to them.
“I already called the rental company and told them to pick it up tomorrow.”
“You seem damned sure of yourself, Larry. What if we’d said no?” Mike asked.
“I’d call the rental company and cancel the order.” He grinned at Mike.
The two men had to admire the little guy’s cocky attitude.
The three of them took off in John and Mike’s rental car and headed for the airport. They’d already arranged an airlift to the canyon. The helicopter was waiting for them.
Luke could barely believe he was going to the future with these two. He’d escape the cops once and for all. But now he had to try to suppress his fear of passing through that damned door again.
For the first time in his life, he felt like maybe he had made friends. He couldn’t wait to meet John Weatherby. What he knew of him so far, he liked.
The flight into the canyon at Bentwood, was smooth, however, the landing was dicey. The pilot chose the same clearing at the base of the cliff he’d used to pick up Mike and John a few months earlier. But then it wasn’t snow covered. The pilot had already warned them, if the snow was too deep they’d have to find another spot or return to the airport.
When they arrived, the surrounding trees had sheltered the area and it looked safe enough. The chopper’s big blades proved to be a problem though. As they settled into the landing spot, the downwash caused the powdery snow to billow up, reducing visibility. The pilot aborted the landing twice, but by the third attempt, the downwash had cleared the spot, giving the pilot enough visibility to land safely.
Once on the ground they jumped out, after throwing down their bags. The helicopter immediately took off in a cloud of white, leaving them and their bags coated with snow.
Return From the Future Page 10