Captivity

by Maureen Toonkel

  “Another thing, why did he refuse to take the Bio-Scan?”

  “He said he had a fear of the scan.”

  “Is that because the scan would show him to be a Tradian?”

  Amanda was stunned. “You surely don’t believe that?”

  “It is certainly possible,” said Paul sipping on the steaming hot coffee. “Who do you think is the traitor?”

  “I am leaning toward Keith Hampton,” answered Amanda. “Everything started when he disappeared.”

  “Well, my money is on Dave Andrews,” remarked Paul.

  Neither said anything further. They sat drinking their coffee.

  Dave Andrews called the team to order. It was time to discuss the list of questions that he had asked them all to work on. The discussion was active and highly spirited. They were all pretty much in agreement that there was only one spy, and that the more recent transmissions were most likely fakes and intended to throw them off track. They also agreed that the spy was the same person who was sending the false transmissions. However, they could not agree on what the spy’s motive might be or how the spy could be identified. Actually no one had any real good ideas on how to weed out the traitor.

  Dave Andrews called for a vote. He proposed that they use a secret ballot to report who each of them thought was the spy. Since Officer Greene could not write down his vote in a way that would not identify him, Andrews had created a computerized ballot. A laptop was set up on a small metal cart at the end of the mahogany table. They each took their turn sitting in front of the computer checking off their suspect of choice. When it was his turn Jackson used a headset, so the others could not hear the computer reading to him. Once all the votes were in Andrews had the computer print out each ballot separately. He placed the ballots face down and turned them over one at a time announcing each vote individually.

  “Keith Hampton. Dennis Pearson. Keith Hampton. Dave Andrews.” He turned over the last sheet. “Keith Hampton.”

  Andrews shook his head. “I must admit, this is not what I expected,” he remarked. “I thought we had eliminated Keith Hampton as a possible suspect.”

  No one said anything at first. Finally Jackson Greene spoke up. “Sir, perhaps we were hasty to dismiss Lieutenant Hampton so quickly. There is the possibility that Keith did set this all in motion. We should not assume that he was captured and made a slave. What if that was staged to set a trap for the Captain? Keith could actually be working with General Platt. He could be controlling the ship’s sensors and computers from the planet’s surface.”

  “That is a remarkable theory, Officer Greene, one that I had not considered,” said Andrews. He stopped to gather his thoughts. Could Hampton be their spy? It was certainly a possibility. Apparently the majority suspected Hampton.

  “OK,” continued Andrews, “if we are going with Hampton as our spy, then our focus needs to be on how to find Keith. We need to go back to studying the planet’s surface and coming up with a strategy of how to explore the planet but safeguard the crew at the same time. Let’s reconvene again at 0100 hours. I want some solid ideas of how to proceed.” He looked around the table giving each of them a nod. When he got to Dennis Pearson, he said, “Since Diane Pearson does not appear to be a viable suspect, I will have her released from the Brig.”

  The room began to empty out. Dennis Pearson lagged behind hoping to be able to talk privately with Andrews. As Dave started to head for the door, Dennis stepped in front of him.

  “Thank you for releasing Diane,” Dennis said to Andrews.

  “You are welcome.” Dave stared at Dennis and then added, “I think it was childish of you to vote for me as the spy.”

  “I didn’t,” answered Dennis, “but apparently you picked me. I’d like to know why?”

  “There is evidence that points to you.”

  “None of that so called evidence is compelling.”

  “Maybe not, but when it is held up next to your personnel file, well that puts a whole different light on things.”

  “How did you read my personnel file?” snapped Dennis. He was livid. “Did you hack into Josh’s computer? That’s illegal!”

  “How I got the information doesn’t matter,” Dave responded. “Lieutenant Commander, what did you write your master’s thesis on?”

  “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “Quite a bit.” Dave waited for Dennis’ response. When Dennis did not answer, Dave said, “I believe your thesis was on the importance of providing technology, weaponry, and advanced engineering skills to civilizations on primitive planets, so that they would be on par with Earth and other highly developed planets. The premise of the paper was that if the U.S. government was not willing to provide this then private organizations should be established to help these foreign civilizations.”

  Dennis’ mouth was hanging open. “It was just a research paper. I wasn’t in the space academy at that time. I do believe that we should help developing planets but not by subterfuge.”

  “I guess it is what it is,” responded Dave. “I’m just throwing it out as additional information that you can add to your name on the suspect list.”

  “And I will also add hacking the Captain’s computer to your name.”

  “I never said how I got that information.” Dave’s lips formed a smirk. He then asked, “If you didn’t vote for me, then who did?”

  “I wouldn’t know. But it would seem like you have an enemy.” Dennis did an about face. He walked out the door slamming it roughly in Dave Andrews’ face.

  Keith rolled over onto his back and slowly opened his eyes. Looking around he remembered he was in a closet full of rubber boats. He glanced over at Josh Stoner who was asleep face down with his arms folded under his head. I still can’t believe I actually punched the Captain, he thought. I should have known that he was putting on an act. How absurd of me to believe that he would call Beverly such a foul name. You really need to think before you act Keith, he told himself. He wondered if Beverly was worried about him. He certainly was worried about her. Would she be OK without him there to protect her? Hopefully Wayne is watching over her.

  Josh began to stir, and Keith reached over and gently shook him. The Captain’s eyes fluttered open and he quickly sat up.

  “I wonder how long we’ve slept,” said Josh rubbing his eyes. “I think we are making up for all the sleep we’ve been missing lately.” He stretched his arms up to the ceiling and then out behind his back. “I’m hungry. What about you?”

  Keith nodded in agreement.

  “I don’t know about you, but even raw fish sounds good right now,” said Josh.

  Keith laughed. “Yes,” he said, “I’d welcome some fish.”

  Josh crawled over to the hatch door and opened it just a crack. The hallway was very quiet. He picked up his canvas bag and retied it around his waist. Then he leaned out of the chamber and quickly jumped out. Keith followed suit joining the Captain on the tunnel floor. They crawled tentatively down the corridor heading toward the Dispatch office. As they approached the front door, Josh inched his way to the edge of the open doorway. Peering in he saw a guard seated at a round reception desk. The guard’s head was down on his chest, and he was snoring loudly. Josh motioned for Keith to follow, and they both slowly crept past the office entry. They continued crawling down the tunnel until they came to a wall. They needed to go either north or south. Looking up they saw the directional sign.

  Their goal was to head northwest. Josh pointed to the left. Once they turned the corner they stood up and began walking. Before long they came to a tall locked gate that went across the tunnel straight ahead of them and down alongside the opposite wall. Attached to the gate in front of them was a sign

  Another directional sign was posted on chains hanging from the ceiling above the gate.

  They could not head north or west. The only choice was to proceed to the south. Going back past Dispatch was not an option they wanted to take, so they continued south arriving at Food Service.
All the lights were turned off. Josh and Keith entered through the shiny silver swinging doors and found themselves in a large kitchen. Giant freezers stood against the walls. Opening up one of the heavy freezer doors revealed hundreds of frozen fish. Huge tables in the center of the room were covered in slime with remnants of fish tails and eyes stuck to the ceramic finish.

  “Let’s find some of the knives they must use for cutting off the fish tails. Knives would come in handy,” said Josh. He started to head over to a big cabinet in one corner which looked like it might hold supplies.

  “Captain, sir,” said Keith, making Josh stop in his tracks. “I don’t think you will find any knives.”

  “Why not?”

  “Haven’t you noticed how the ends of the fish we are given are ragged?” asked Keith.

  “Now that you mention it, yes,” responded Josh.

  “I have heard the guards talking about how the fish is done up,” continued Keith. “Slaves are used to prepare the fish. That of course means that slaves cannot be trusted with knives. The slaves must use their teeth.”

  “Oh,” gulped Josh. “Scrap the idea of finding knives. Let’s grab some fish to eat.”

  They loaded down their canvas bags with as much fish as would fit. Then they sat on the floor sucking on some frozen catfish.

  Wayne Shasta guzzled down several cups of water. The sand from the gravel pits seemed to be glued to the inside of his throat. No matter how much he drank he couldn’t get the dust out of his mouth. He also couldn’t get the picture of Keith punching the Captain out of his mind. Wayne had half expected to find the Captain and Keith lying in their hay strewn beds when the slaves got back from their day of digging. But the cage had been empty. Now he was worried. What could General Platt be doing with the Captain?

  “Good evening,” came a voice from Wayne’s left. Joban was sitting cross legged on the ground looking up at Wayne. “You are mighty thirsty.”

  “Yes, I am,” answered Wayne. He replaced the dented tin cup just as the bucket began rising to the roof of the cage. He dropped down next to Joban.

  “Your Captain flipped out last night. I was sorry to see that.”

  “I don’t believe he flipped out,” responded Wayne. “I think it was an act.”

  “Really?” gasped Beverly Glenna. She had slid over close to Wayne. “Was Keith acting also?”

  “I don’t think so. I think Keith reacted the way the Captain was hoping he would.” Wayne turned to look at Beverly, her eyes were still red from crying. The tears had flowed all night and most of the day. Being called a slut by the Captain had wounded her deeply. Wayne was sure that Josh Stoner had not meant to hurt her.

  “Why would your Captain provoke your comrade to the point that caused him to strike out?” asked Joban.

  Wayne turned back toward Joban. “He has been obsessed with escaping. I am sure that he saw this as a tactic to get away.”

  “But all that probably happened was that he and his young friend were taken to the Punishment Center and beaten.”

  “True,” said Wayne. “However, shouldn’t they be back by now?” Joban slowly nodded his head. “Perhaps they have actually escaped.”

  “Or they were beaten to death,” concluded Joban.

  “No!” cried out Beverly. A minute ago she was relieved to know that the Captain was pretending when he called her that disgusting name. She felt a pang of elation when Wayne said that Keith was not acting. That meant he had been defending her honor. Now, there was a chance that he was gone forever.

  “Beverly, Captain Stoner is very practical. He would not have fled from the cage if he didn’t have a plan in place,” said Wayne in an attempt to comfort Beverly. While he was sure that his theory was correct, he really had no way to know the truth.

  “You seem quite devoted to your Captain,” observed Joban. “It would seem that there is more to your relationship than sailors on a pleasure boat.”

  “You are quite perceptive, Joban,” said Wayne. “Unfortunately, I cannot tell you any more.” He locked his fingers together and placed them on top of his head. “I do know that the Captain would want Beverly and I to try and follow him.”

  “Do you have any ideas on how to do that?”

  “Not yet, but I will be working on it,” Wayne grinned and looked straight at Joban. “Would you like to join us?”

  Joban looked startled. He had not expected Wayne’s invitation. A part of him was ready to jump up and follow Wayne anywhere. The other part thought of Fabiana who was lying next to him. He had fallen in love with the once beautiful teacher from Hapo. She would never join him in a quest to escape. Fabiana was content to remain enslaved. Security and safety were very valuable to her. The notion of being on the run and facing possible danger was terrifying to Fabiana. He could not leave her.

  “Your suggestion is inviting,” responded Joban. “I will give it some thought. Right now I need some sleep. Good night.” He straightened out his legs, shifted his body to the right and lay down close to Fabiana. She reached over and kissed him gently on the lips.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  June 3

  With their bellies full of fish Josh and Keith tiptoed out of Food Service and headed west. They were backtracking, but they had no other choice. On their left was the Court House. The windows were dark. They passed the corridor leading to the Punishment Center where they had started their trek. Continuing to go west they came to the Medical Lab.

  “Captain, can I run into the lab for a second?” asked Keith. Josh nodded affirmatively, and Keith dashed in. He came out holding two white medical gowns that he had taken from the supply closet.

  “What?” asked Josh puzzled.

  “To wrap up the fish,” Keith answered. “They are starting to defrost.”

  “Good thinking.” They removed the fish from the canvas sacks, covered them in the cotton gowns and stuffed it all back in their bags.

  At the end of the west tunnel they took a right turn and came to the intersection leading to the Silver Mines and Dispatch. They could take a right turn and then a left to the Hospital, but Josh decided that they should continue west to the Silver Mines. He reasoned that the mines would be deserted at this time of night. His hunch was right. Above the entrance to the Mines hung a sign.

  The long tunnel heading to the Gravel Disposal was dark. The ceiling lights were turned off making the usually shiny walls appear dull. Josh and Keith walked carefully, not knowing if there were any traps in the hallway. Finally they came to a wooden gate bearing a dented sign.

  “So this is where all that gravel goes that we’ve been digging up,” remarked Josh. The Disposal area was apparently abandoned for the night. “Let’s rest for a minute.” Josh sat down and leaned against the wooden gate. Keith noticed a hole in the fence just above his head. Standing on the tips of his toes he squinted his eyes and peeked through the hole. There was a line of empty handcarts parked along the entrance. He could smell the nauseating stench of the dirt. No matter how long I work in the gravel pits I can’t get used to that smell, he thought to himself. I sure miss the smell of fresh air and mossy grass. What I wouldn’t give to feel the sun on my face and the wind in my hair.

  Josh glanced up at Keith. He seemed to be daydreaming. “A penny for your thoughts?” said Josh.

  Keith looked down at the Captain and collapsed softly besides him. “I was just imaging the wind blowing in my hair.”

  “Ah,” said Josh, “it’s funny how I don’t think about it when we are cooped up for weeks at a time aboard the Gladiator, but down here under the ground I can’t stop thinking of the vast outdoor forest, hills, and meadows that are above our heads.”

  After several minutes they got up to resume their travels. East was the only way they could go. They walked no more than a block when they came upon another sign.

  “I guess we have to continue east for a while longer. Hopefully we can find a corridor to the north and then to the west,” said Josh. As they headed straight ahead Josh add
ed, “Oh and Keith, I owe you a penny.” Keith chuckled.

  After slamming the door in Andrews’ face, Dennis Pearson rushed down to the Brig to tell Diane the good news. Seaman Chase had not yet received the orders to release Diane, so they sat on the small cot and held hands.

  “I cannot believe that I am being released,” said Diane. “I was sure I was going to have to stand trial. I wonder why Dave decided to drop the charges.”

  “The committee has decided that Keith Hampton is the spy.” Dennis told her.

  “Keith Hampton?” questioned Diane. “But Keith is dead. How can he be the spy?”

  Dennis bit his tongue. How dumb! Diane was not yet privileged to the confidential information surrounding the truth about the deaths of Hampton, the Captain and the others. Now what? Should I break regulations and tell Diane the truth about Keith and the Captain? Should I lie to her? Or should I just avoid her questions? He decided to lie.

  “I meant to say that Keith was the spy before he died. He had set things in motion and apparently his associates on Brisula have been continuing to carry out his schemes.”

  “Oh,” said Diane. “You seem skeptical.”

  Dennis frowned. “You know me too well.” He picked up her hand and brought it up to his lips. He gently placed a kiss on her wrist. “Yes, I am troubled by that conclusion. Although, I did give my vote to Keith as the likely spy. I was hoping that by naming Keith as the informant, we could lay that to rest and move on to locating the inhabitants of Brisula.” Dennis placed Diane’s hand back on her lap. He was upset with himself. He had insisted that they needed to identify the spy before doing anything else. However, he now realized that it was just wasting more valuable time. Even if they found out who the traitor was there wouldn’t be any guarantee that the traitor would give them the information they needed to locate the Captain.