Interstellar Projects: Earth Link

Contents

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 15

CHAPTER 16

CHAPTER 17

CHAPTER 18

CHAPTER 19

CHAPTER 20

CHAPTER 21

CHAPTER 22

CHAPTER 23

CHAPTER 24

CHAPTER 25

CHAPTER 26

CHAPTER 27

CHAPTER 28

CHAPTER 29

CHAPTER 30

CHAPTER 31

CHAPTER 32

CHAPTER 33

CHAPTER 34

CHAPTER 35

CHAPTER 36

CHAPTER 37

CHAPTER 38

CHAPTER 39

CHAPTER 40

CHAPTER 41

CHAPTER 42

CHAPTER 43

CHAPTER 44

CHAPTER 45

CHAPTER 46

CHAPTER 47

CHAPTER 48

CHAPTER 49

CHAPTER 50

CHAPTER 51

CHAPTER 52

CHAPTER 53

CHAPTER 54

CHAPTER 55

CHAPTER 56

CHAPTER 57

CHAPTER 58

CHAPTER 59

CHAPTER 60

CHAPTER 61

CHAPTER 62

CHAPTER 63

CHAPTER 64

CHAPTER 65

CHAPTER 66

CHAPTER 67

CHAPTER 68

CHAPTER 69

CHAPTER 70

CHAPTER 71

CHAPTER 72

CHAPTER 73

CHAPTER 74

CHAPTER 75

CHAPTER 76

CHAPTER 77

CHAPTER 78

CHAPTER 79

CHAPTER 80

CHAPTER 81

CHAPTER 82

CHAPTER 83

CHAPTER 84

CHAPTER 85

CHAPTER 86

CHAPTER 87

CHAPTER 88

CHAPTER 89

CHAPTER 90

CHAPTER 91

Interstellar Projects Basic Rules

CHAPTER 1

Spending the latter half of an afternoon in a doctor’s office wasn’t Julie’s idea of a good way to spend the day. The day was getting worse by the minute as the doctor explained all the test results. The cancer is accelerating, Julie. I’m sorry. If we had caught it earlier, there would have been time to treat it. As things are now, you’ll have about a month or two before you’re too weak to get around. I’m sorry, Julie, truly sorry.

Julie felt numb. He was still talking, but Julie had heard enough. He was telling her she was going to die, and though she knew he was trying to break it to her gently, it made her angry that he avoided saying those words out loud. She blinked back tears as the finality of his words sank in. When he finished talking, she stood and took the card he offered, a death counseling center, and slid it into her purse. Thanks. Her voice sounded wrong, even to Julie.

In a daze, she walked to her car and got in. With shaky hands, she managed to light a cigarette and start the car. The actual drive home was nothing but a blur.

Mommy! Mommy! Lisa was first out the door to greet her, blond curls bouncing as if they were the banner for her bubbly personality. She was only seven. Five-year-old Jimmy hobbled right behind his sister. His dark hair shone like polished oak in the sunlight. He kept up pretty well, even with the deformity of his legs. Doctors had never had any answers for him either, but it never made a difference to him. He always managed to stay right in the middle of anything going on in the neighborhood. Their enthusiastic greeting broke her heart, knowing she wasn’t going to be around to see them grow up.

Why did this have to happen to her? What had she done to deserve all this? She pondered the last five years as she fixed spaghetti, the kids’ favorite. First, her husband was killed in a freak accident just after Jimmy was born; then they discovered the deformity in Jimmy’s legs that would keep him from ever walking normally, and now this.

Operating on automatic, she fed the kids then got them ready and into bed for the night, read their bedtime story, kissed and cuddled with them, and finally turned out the light. Julie couldn’t recall ever feeling this low. She’d held it together for herself and the kids when their dad had died, but this was different. There was so much to do, so little time . . .

The doorbell rang, breaking into her thoughts. When she answered, she found Bob there. Bob had been like a breath of fresh air after her husband died. He had shown up one day at the restaurant where she was having coffee before work, and they had talked and found they liked each other. He was a lawyer with one of the larger firms in the city, and she was well learned in the sciences and mathematics. They both enjoyed the same things and had similar goals in life. Their friendship had blossomed into a romance, and they were planning to get married in two more months.

Hi, Bob, what are you doing here?

I came over to see what the results were from the doctor today.

I’m so glad you’re here, Bob. Drawing him into the room and shutting the door, she pulled him over to the couch and sat down. The doctor wasn’t very optimistic about my chances of beating this. He expects me to be bedridden in just a few months. He didn’t say the actual words, but he was trying to tell me I’m going to die.

How about getting another opinion?

We’ve already gotten two other opinions, and they’re all the same. I can’t be cured. Almost in tears, she said, At least the kids will have you to lean on when I’m gone.

Well, . . . I’ve been thinking about that, Bob said, as he got up and began to pace the room. I’ve been busy ten hours a day at work, and with the new trials coming up, I’m going to be busier than ever. I’ll have to find a babysitter or nanny at least. Even better, maybe I could send them to a private school.

I don’t think that’s a good idea, Julie said. If you send them away, it’ll be like making them orphans, and they’re going to need all the love they can get when I’m gone.

Well then, what do you suggest I do, Julie? I need a wife to help me while I climb the corporate ladder if I have two kids to take care of, especially when one needs extra special attention.

What are you saying? I thought you loved Lisa and Jimmy like your own.

I do, Julie, but how can I keep going with two kids after you’re gone?

The same way I did when my husband died.

But I don’t have any experience with kids, Julie. Yours are the first ones I’ve ever been around. Doggone it! Why do you have to be sick like this?

Well, I sure didn’t plan it this way, Bob.

What about your folks, or your sister? Would they take the kids for periods of time?

Maybe for a day or two, or around the holidays, but the kids are going to be your responsibility after we’re married and I’m gone. You’re going to have to be their father.

What if I can’t do it, Julie? What if I fail?

Then you fail, I guess. You’ll at least have the knowledge that you’ve done your best for them.

The firm is very family oriented, Julie. If I fail at home, then I also fail at work. Failure isn’t going to be an option here if I’m going to do well with the firm.

Well, I guess you’re going to have to make a decision then, Bob. Either me and the kids, and take a chance at failing with the kids, or your work.

That isn’t really fair, Julie. How can I make that kind of a decision on the spur of the moment? We planned to get married and do this together. Now you won’t be around, and I’ll be left holding the bag.

Julie gasped, shocked at his attitude. What would you do if we were married, and I suddenly got killed in an accident or something? You’d still be left ‘holding the bag’ as you put it.

I don’t know, Julie. This is just coming too fast. I need some time to think and plan. I don’t have any firm answers right now.

Yes, but there isn’t much time left according to the doctor. In just a few months, I’m going to be bedridden. That means I probably won’t be much help to you and the kids from that point on.

Maybe we shouldn’t get married then. That way I could take care of the kids without being held accountable for them. They could be foster kids or something.

They deserve better than that, Bob! It’s all or nothing! If they were foster kids; then you could leave them at any time; and they could be put in a strange home, or even separated. I don’t want that for them. They need each other if I’m gone. That’s all they’re going to have.

Julie was starting to get frustrated with Bob by now, and she could see Bob was upset at not having a solution to the problem. He sighed and changed the subject. Maybe this isn’t quite the right time to be discussing this.

No, Julie said. We’ve avoided this problem for too long. We need to deal with it, so we can go on with our decisions. If you don’t think you want to raise the kids in my absence; then let me know, and I’ll find another solution. But I’m not going to keep hanging onto something that might not exist, and I’m certainly not going to marry someone who might not raise my kids when I’m gone.

Well, I can’t guarantee what will happen over the next few years, so maybe I should just back out then and let you choose your other options, Bob said, backing toward the door.

Julie was upset now, and she could see Bob had gotten the door open behind him and was working his way out. If you walk out of here tonight, don’t bother coming back!

I’m sorry, Julie, Bob said as he moved through the doorway into the hall.

I don’t care then. Take your ring and get out! With that, Julie took off the ring, threw it at his departing figure, and watched it bounce down the hall ahead of him. Slamming the door, she went to the kitchen, poured herself a drink, then lit a cigarette. After a sip of the drink, with the cigarette now in an ashtray, she finally broke down in sobs.

Two weeks later Julie decided to make a last effort at a good time with the kids before they found out their mother was going to die. She thought they might like to spend some time in the mountains by a lake she remembered seeing a few years ago when she and her husband were on vacation.

Getting time off from work had been easy. She had finished the last project in record time, and everyone was racing to catch up now, so she wasn’t needed for a week or two. When they got back, though, she was going to have to find a relative or someone to take care of the kids after she was gone. She didn’t look forward to that prospect.

~ ~ ~

It was a wonderfully warm day by the lake, and Lisa was excited about having a picnic and swimming with just her mother. Julie lay back. There was time for a short nap in the sun to help what little tan she had before eating and going back to the cabin. Jimmy would get time with just his mother tomorrow, in an area where he could walk more easily. She wondered, as she drifted off, what she could do that would be special to him.

Mommy, what kind of animal is that? Julie felt someone shaking her shoulder. She was so groggy it took her a moment to realize it was Lisa. Lisa was very insistent. Mommy! Wake up!

Julie roused herself enough to open her eyes and look in the direction Lisa was pointing, about twenty feet away. It was only a bear cub nosing around and looking for something to eat. Julie realized there was probably a mother around somewhere, so she gathered her slacks up with one hand and Lisa with the other and started backing toward the trees behind them. She breathed a sigh of relief when she reached the edge of the forest and had put a couple of trees between them and the cub. Pulling her slacks on to protect her legs, she said, OK, Lisa. Let’s watch from here and see what happens. Peering around a tree, they watched, as out of a depression on the other side of the cub, ambled a bigger bear. The big bear went over to the blanket and started eating the lunch that was sitting there.

Mommy, he’s eating our lunch! Lisa said worriedly.

It’s OK, honey, don’t worry about it. I’ll get us something when we get back to town. Let’s move away from here while they’re occupied. Julie started walking around the edge of the forest back to where the car was parked. Thankfully, they didn’t have to pass the bears on their way to the car. A light, gusty wind was coming from behind them, but it just made pleasant noises in the trees as they walked down the trail.

Suddenly there was a loud crack behind them. Julie turned to see a large tree falling straight toward them. She shoved Lisa into the brush on one side of the trail and jumped to the other side to avoid being struck. She had taken only two steps when she realized they’d been walking beside a gully, and there was no longer any ground under her. The fall was quick and the landing not painful as she expected, but the world turned dark anyway.

CHAPTER 2

Lisa crawled out of the brush crying because she was scratched and walked around the tree calling for her mother. She found her mother in the gully but couldn’t reach her. Now she cried because her mother wouldn’t answer her calls—she just laid there at a funny angle. Remembering her mother’s instructions on previous occasions, she decided to go look for help. She cried as she walked, but walking was at least something she could do that might help her mother. Looking ahead, she saw a big furry animal. Remembering again what her mother said about the possibility of more bears in the area, she turned off the trail and ran into the brush, falling over a man who was sleeping sitting up against a tree. He woke up with a start. Hey! Hey, young lady, what’s going on? he asked as he reached over and picked her up from where she had landed. Why the tears?

My mommy’s hurt and needs help.

OK, can you show me where she is? he asked, getting up.

Over that way, she said, pointing in the direction she had come from.

Taking the girl’s hand, he started walking with her. What’s your name?

Lisa.

Where are you from?

Morganville.

The conversation went on in small words, punctuated by the girl’s sobs, but soon they arrived at the accident scene. Looking over the edge of the gully, the man said, I’ll go see how your mother’s doing. Don’t worry. Touching his belt, he stepped out into space; but instead of falling, he just drifted slowly down to the ground below. He noticed the woman was quite pretty, and busied himself checking her pulse and stopping the flow of blood from her broken leg. He picked her up, then jumped slightly, rising to the top of the gully beside Lisa. Looks like your mom will be OK in a little bit, Lisa. Don’t worry. Let’s go see what we can do for her. The man and girl walked over toward the side of the hill.

Soon they came to a small gully with brush at the end. Lisa, who was ahead, stopped and looked at the man questioningly. It seemed to be a dead end. He said, Go ahead, Lisa, move the brush out of the way, so I can get by with your mother. Lisa went to the bushes, pushed on one side, and the limbs bent back to reveal an old mine shaft. He walked around the brush and into the entrance of the mine shaft with Lisa following. Just inside the entrance, the shaft was closed by a cave-in that had happened some time in the past. OK, Lisa, get ahead of me, pick up that green-tinted rock over there on your right, and toss it aside. Lisa did as she was told then looked at the man again. Now say your name and birth date.

She looked puzzled, but did as she was told. I am Lisa Broadrick. My birthday is April 14th. When she finished speaking, the fallen rock vanished into thin air, exposing a mine tunnel where the cave-in had been.

Come on, Lisa. He walked into the tunnel, with Lisa following wide eyed. They walked for a few minutes in the dim light then came to a turn. Although it was still dim, the light now came from some fluorescence in the rocks. The tunnel dead-ended after a few feet.

This time Lisa didn’t question; instead she asked, OK, what do I do now?

See that rock over there that looks like a half-moon?

Yes.

OK, turn it clockwise. Lisa turned the rock, and the wall dissolved just as the fallen rock had earlier. This time, instead of a tunnel behind it, there was a metal door. Now say your name and birthday again, Lisa.

I am Lisa Broadrick. My birthday is April 14th. The door slid sideways into the wall, revealing a dark hallway behind it.

Come on, Lisa. They walked into the darkened hallway, and the door closed behind them with a quiet click. At that point, lights came on, illuminating the hall’s length and revealing closed doors along both sides. Now, Lisa, your mother is going to be OK, but I have to work on her for a bit. I have a friend here named George if you want to go play with him while you wait for me.

OK, mister.

Do you like clowns, Lisa?

Yes, I saw some one time when Mommy took us to the circus.

OK, a clown you will have. Hey, George, the man said loudly. Around the corner ahead came a big clown walking toward them. George, will you take care of Lisa for a while, so I can help her mother get well?

Sure can, the clown said, reaching into his pocket and bringing out a rabbit.

Lisa squealed excitedly and ran over to the clown. I’ll let you know when you can see your mother, Lisa, the man said. You two go have fun. Lisa and the clown walked down the hallway, with Lisa holding the rabbit in one arm and the clown’s hand in the other.

The man carried Julie down the hall then turned into an open door. The room was furnished much like an operating room, with a table in the middle. He gently laid Julie on the table and stepped over to the side of the room where a machine sat before a chair. He sat in the chair, put his arms into the sleeves that ended in long gloves with fingers, and lowered his eyes to the eyepieces. When he was fully hooked up, it was like working a waldo.

He said, George, would you scan the lady and give me a readout of her condition?

Out of the air came a voice that replied, Yes, sir. She has a mild concussion, three broken ribs, her shoulder joint is cracked, and, as you can see, the leg is also broken. One of the ribs has punctured a lung. It also appears the lungs have been damaged in the past from smoking, and they have a cancerous growth in them. There are also cancer cells throughout her lymph glands.

Thanks, George. The man began to manipulate the machine. As he did, machinery moved over Julie and began to work on her without touching her. Colored lights played on her body, starting in the area of the broken ribs. The skin inside her blouse pushed against the cloth on the side where the ribs were broken, then receded again. The light moved over to the shoulder, and the shoulder moved a bit, then settled down again. The man got up from his machine. Picking up a knife and a pair of scissors, he went over to Julie and cut the cloth away from the bone sticking out of her leg. As he was cutting, she moaned and began to wake up. George, give her some anesthetic, please. A rod extended from the machine, touched her neck, and with a quiet hiss, the job was done. As the shaft retracted, she drifted off. He returned to the machine. The bone retracted itself into the leg; the leg moved around a bit as the bone was reset; then the skin began to heal over the wound. Within a few minutes the leg was whole again; and, except for the bloody pants, some blood left on the leg, and a small scar, the leg looked normal. The man again got up from the machine and walking to a shelf, picked up a small mechanism that he placed on Julie’s forehead. OK, George. We’re set. A light blinked on the mechanism, but nothing else seemed to happen.

Lisa came around the corner at this point, holding the hand of a large gorilla. Hi, Lisa, the man said. How are you doing?

Good, Lisa replied with a smile. George is a lot of fun. How’s Mommy doing?

She’ll be just fine in about an hour. Does your mother smoke or drink?

Yes.

OK, I don’t think your mother’s been feeling very well lately, so I’m going to give her a shot to help make her better. He pushed a couple of buttons on the machine before him, and the machine over Julie again extended a shaft and gave a short hiss when it was against her neck. There, your mother will be well again very soon, Lisa. As a bonus, let me give you and your mother a shot, so you won’t ever catch a cold again. He reached over to a shelf behind him, took a gadget off, and touched a couple of buttons on it. Lisa looked worried. This won’t hurt a bit, Lisa. How about letting George give you the shot?

OK, mister. George took the mechanism, put it against Lisa’s arm, then took it away. Lisa looked startled. That didn’t hurt a bit, mister. What kind of doctor are you?

The man smiled. I’m not a doctor, Lisa, just a friend. Why don’t the three of us go see if we can find some cookies while we wait for your mother to wake up?

OK. Lisa replied with a grin and a look at her mother laying on the table.

The three of them walked down the hall with Lisa holding hands with the gorilla on one side and the man on the other. Soon they came to a room that looked like a kitchen. The man helped Lisa onto a stool at a coffee bar, while the gorilla went over to a shelf and picked up a cookie jar and glasses then went to the refrigerator and got some milk. By now, Lisa was babbling along about all the things George had shown her and what they had done. She talked about her father’s death and her brother, who was named Jimmy.

The man asked where she lived and her mother’s name. Lisa supplied all the information with a child’s excitement at being asked important questions. She suddenly thought a minute, then asked, Can I tell Mommy about all of this? Or is this a secret?

No, you can tell your mother all about what happened, Lisa; but I don’t think she’ll believe you. She’ll probably think you’re making it up.

The man looked at a clock on the wall and got up from his stool. Well, it’s time for you two to go back now, Lisa. She jumped off the stool, and taking the hand of the gorilla again, they walked back down the hall to the room where her mother was still laying on the table. The man picked Julie up and carried her out the door, with Lisa and the gorilla following. Lisa, what would you like for lunch to replace the picnic you lost earlier?

I want a turkey sandwich, and an apple, and some orange pop to drink, and a cherry pie.

What do you think your mother would like, Lisa?

Probably about the same, but she doesn’t like orange pop. She likes root beer better.

George, would you go get a couple of box lunches for these ladies to replace what the animals have probably eaten by now. George left for a minute and reappeared quickly with two box lunches in his hands.

The man and Lisa walked back to the door at the end of the hallway, where the gorilla bid Lisa goodbye then handed her the box lunches to carry. As the man and Lisa walked to the entrance of the mine shaft, he spoke. Lisa, I want you to know that you and your mother and brother will always be welcome to come visit me if you want to. There are entrances all over this area just like this one, and they’ll look the same inside with the fallen rock. You know how to open the doors now, but you’re only allowed to bring your family with you.

The man and Lisa walked for a while until they came back to the blanket where it had all started. Lisa straightened the blanket, and the man laid Julie down. He found her purse a few feet away and opened it. With Lisa watching questioningly, he took out his billfold, removed a fifty-dollar bill, and put it in her purse. Lisa, when your mother wakes up, let her know this money is to replace her pants that I cut when I fixed her leg.

Goodbye, Lisa. Come visit me again some time.

OK, mister, bye.

The man walked away into the woods, leaving the two alone again.

~ ~ ~

Julie stirred and finally woke up with Lisa beside her. Her memory was sketchy, something about some bears, a tree, and a fall, then a machine over her in a room and a man’s voice talking to someone. What happened, Lisa? Julie asked, while looking at her watch and noticing that almost two and a half hours had passed.

Lisa told her what had happened, and Julie just knew Lisa must have been making things up. It was obvious she didn’t have a clue what had happened. But then, there was a big hole in her pants leg that looked bloody on the edges, and there was a small scar on her exposed leg that she had never noticed before. Shaking her head, she said, It’s OK, Lisa. I’ll figure it out later. Reaching into her purse for a cigarette, she found the fifty-dollar bill just like Lisa had said. She knew she must have been hit on the head awfully hard to be this confused. She lit the cigarette and took a couple of puffs, but it tasted terrible, so she put it out. As she reached for some food, she realized the picnic basket was torn apart, and the food packages were scattered in an area twenty feet in diameter. Well, Lisa, I guess we don’t get to eat a picnic lunch.

Mommy, the man gave us a new lunch, Lisa said excitedly as she picked up the two box lunches and handed them to her mother.

Julie looked a bit surprised as she took the boxes and thought this was all too strange to be true, but she and Lisa ate the contents before picking up and leaving the area to return to the cabin.

CHAPTER 3

I can’t understand it, Julie! The doctor’s astonishment was genuine. Holding up two sets of X-rays, he said, I know this was you two weeks ago, but today I don’t see any of the cancer in your lungs or lymph glands! Now, I do see some changes here, but they don’t have anything to do with your cancer. There is a spot here in your shoulder joint that looks like it was broken lately; there are three ribs, he said, pointing to part of the X-ray, that have been broken here, here, and here; and then there is this spot on your leg where it’s been broken too. None of this is in the other X-rays we took two weeks ago, and I know bones don’t break and heal in just two weeks!

Julie was thoughtful during the conversation. She was remembering when she had returned to the cabin the afternoon after the accident, how hungry she had been for a few days. She remembered she had tried smoking again, then given it up as a loss because the cigarettes tasted terrible. And when she tried to have a nightcap that night, the drink tasted so bad she couldn’t swallow more than a spoonful. Something had happened, but she still didn’t understand what. That bump on her head must have been a real dilly. Maybe Lisa’s story had some truth to it after all, but it still sounded like an overactive imagination. Thanks, Doctor, Julie said as she turned to leave. I’ll see you in a couple of weeks.

Don’t bother, Julie, he said. You’re in better shape now than most of my healthy patients.

Julie left the office and later that evening listened to Lisa’s story again about the events after her fall, but she just ended up more confused than satisfied. In the weeks that followed, business was brisk at the office, and the experiences at the lake faded into the background. One memorable event, however, was meeting a man named Joe Murdock at the Sweetpea & Rose Festival Banquet. He was fairly handsome and tall and so far seemed to have a good personality. Julie was comfortable around him for some reason she couldn’t define.

During the next couple of years, Julie got to know Joe well, and she was now in love and wanted to marry him. She saw him every week or so when he was in town for business. Things never seemed to work out for an opportunity to introduce him to her children, but he didn’t seem to mind that she had a couple of kids or that she talked endlessly about them. Every time she brought up the idea of marriage, though, he sidestepped it, telling her there were some things she needed to know about him first. He had made it plain there wasn’t another woman involved and let her know he thought marriage was a great idea.

In the meantime, business was brisk; and although Julie was ahead of everyone in the research department again, she was tired and was planning a well-deserved vacation. Joe would be gone for the rest of the month, so they wouldn’t be able to see each other for a few weeks anyway. The kids had been thrilled at not having to go to school for a couple of weeks too.

CHAPTER 4

Julie woke up with a start. She had fallen asleep on the couch at the cabin while the kids played outside, but she couldn’t hear them anymore. She went outside and looked around. Finally, she spotted them next to the hillside by some big rocks. Lisa! Jimmy! she shouted. They didn’t look up, and she realized that with the distance and the wind blowing toward her, they probably couldn’t hear her. She headed toward them at a quick walk.

Lisa had left the cabin, with Jimmy following on his crutches. When she was outside, the scenery reminded her of the last time she was in the mountains and the nice man who had helped her mother and his gorilla, George. She remembered he had told her she could come visit whenever she wanted. Lisa said, Jimmy, remember the stories I told you about last time we were in the mountains?

Uh huh, Lisa.

Do you want to go do some exploring?

OK, Lisa. That sounds like fun! And with little boy eagerness, he followed after her as fast as he could navigate on his crutches.

Lisa looked at the hillside behind the cabin and thought it looked like a good place to start. Her mother wouldn’t mind her looking around as long as she didn’t go into the woods. Over toward that hillside looked good. All the big rocks might hide something interesting. They went behind the first couple of rocks and found a hidden cave. Lisa was excited. She remembered the nice man had said places like this were all over the area, and the special ones would be caved in. She peeked inside the cave, and a few feet inside lay a pile of rocks just like the ones in the mine shaft. Come on, Jimmy. I think we found it!

By this time, Julie had caught up to them and saw them just as they went into the cave. Stifling a yell, she hurried over to the entrance to call them back before they hurt themselves. Relief flooded over her when she saw they were standing in front of a rock fall that blocked the cave. Suddenly, the rock fall disappeared into thin air, and she could see the cavern behind it. Alarmed, she started forward, then stopped when she heard Lisa say, Come on, Jimmy This is where the nice man lives! Against her better judgement, she held back while the children walked confidently forward. Curiosity began to take over while she followed them at a distance. Soon she realized she could still see even though they had gone quite a distance into the cave. A few minutes later the kids turned a corner ahead of her. When she reached the corner and peeked around, she saw they were standing before a blank rock wall. Julie watched as Lisa walked over to the wall and grabbed something. Before her eyes, a portion of the wall vanished, revealing a metal door set in the rocks. Lisa spoke again, I am Lisa Broadrick. My birthday is April 14th. The door slid into the rock wall, revealing a lighted corridor beyond. Lisa squealed excitedly, Come on, Jimmy We found it! She went into the hallway, with Jimmy following as fast as his crutches would let him. Julie quickly went through the door too. She didn’t want to be separated from her children. She looked back a few seconds later and saw the door had closed as quietly as it had opened. Lisa was yelling something now. George, are you here? The kids almost reached a corner at the end of the hallway, when around the corner stepped the biggest gorilla Julie had ever seen. Much to Julie’s horror, Lisa went running up to the gorilla and right into his arms, giving him a big hug. Then Lisa yelled to Jimmy, Come on, Jimmy. This is George! Jimmy went to the gorilla, and the gorilla reached out, scooped Jimmy up in one arm, turned around, and walked off. Julie could hear Lisa talking a mile a minute. She quickly followed, keeping them in sight. She began to think maybe Lisa knew more than she had given her credit for.

As Lisa and Jimmy went down the hall in George’s arms, Lisa was talking. George, can that nice man help Jimmy the way he helped Mommy when she was hurt?

I’m sure something can be done for him. We missed you the last couple of years, Lisa. You’ve grown up into a nice young lady.

Thanks, George.

Julie was getting tired now. She had been following the gorilla for half an hour, and although he wasn’t tired, she hadn’t had this much exercise in ages. Just then, the gorilla turned from the hallway and through an open door.

As the gorilla entered the room, Lisa saw the nice man standing in front of the table where her mother had been the last time she was here. Struggling out of the gorilla’s arms, Lisa ran to the man and hugged him. Then she said, I brought my brother with me this time, sir. Can you help him the way you helped my mother?

Motioning to George to set the boy on the table, he said, Well, let’s have a look. Going over to Jimmy, he carefully helped him to lie on his back and said, You must be Jimmy. Lisa told me a lot of good things about you when she was here before. Jimmy was full of smiles. I’m going to look you over, and we’ll see what we can do for you. Don’t be afraid. Nothing will hurt while we examine you. Moving over to the machinery in the corner of the room and hooking himself up, he began operating it. Lisa, why don’t you invite your mother in to watch.

Julie and Lisa were both startled by the comment, and Lisa turned quickly to see her mother peeking in the door. Lisa ran to her mother and hugged her, saying, Mommy, this is so exciting! He’s going to make Jimmy well!

Once skeptical, Julie now watched the machinery hovering over Jimmy and listened to a voice describe Jimmy’s condition almost exactly the way the doctor had a few years ago.

OK, Jimmy, the man said behind the machinery. I’m going to put you to sleep now, but it won’t hurt. With that, a rod came out of the machine that was hovering over the boy. There was a small hiss when it was against his skin, and Jimmy closed his eyes. Julie watched with a combination of fascination and horror as she saw Jimmy’s legs bending and flexing in ways they weren’t meant to bend; then she saw the braces fall off on their own. The legs straightened, and for the first time, looked normal. Julie noticed there were several lights playing on Jimmy throughout this process. I’m about done now, Lisa. Why don’t you have George take you and your mother to the kitchen for a snack while I finish up here? I’ll join you in a few minutes.

Julie realized she was now standing beside the gorilla, and before she knew what she was saying, asked, Is this gorilla safe?

The gorilla looked at her. As Julie stood in shocked surprise, the gorilla turned into a proper English butler; and with a butler’s dry air commented, This way, madam.

With Lisa leading the way and dragging her by the hand, Julie followed, putting one foot in front of the other while she tried to make sense of everything.

Julie was sitting across from Lisa at the coffee bar in the kitchen. The butler had brought drinks and some cookies for them and was standing by waiting. Lisa, I’m sorry I didn’t believe your stories about this place. It just seemed so fantastic that it didn’t sound true.

That’s OK, Mommy. The man said you probably wouldn’t believe me when I told you what happened.

He was right, honey. I don’t think Joe will believe me either. This is just too unbelievable.

You like this Joe a lot, don’t you Mommy?

Yes, honey, I do. You’ll like him too, if you ever get to meet him.

Do you think he likes kids, Mommy? Or is that why we don’t get to meet him?

Yes, honey, I think he likes kids, but I don’t know why he hasn’t met you and Jimmy yet.

Thoughtfully, Lisa said, Maybe you should meet this nice man too, Mommy. You might like him, and I know he likes us. The conversation continued in this vein a bit longer, with Lisa being excited about the nice man and wondering about Joe, which gave rise to Julie wondering about Joe too.

Lisa heard footsteps coming down the hallway, and quickly turning to get off her stool, she bumped her glass and sent the contents toward her mother’s lap.

Lisa! Watch out!

But Lisa was already out the door. Come on, mister. I want you to meet my mother! Julie could hear her daughter talking to the man in the hallway.

OK, Lisa, I’m coming. That voice sounded familiar for some reason, but Julie was busy trying to contain the spill from the glass and not paying much attention to other things at the moment.

Lisa pulled the man around the corner, exclaiming, Mommy, this is the nice man who fixed you when you got hurt!

Julie stopped for a second and raised her eyes, then almost dropped everything. Joe! What are you doing here?

Hi, Julie, Joe said softly. I live here. This is one of the things I needed to tell you about before we could get married.

Lisa was getting excited as things were coming together in her mind. Mommy, is this the Joe you were talking about all this time? The one we never got to meet?

Julie came out of her fog slowly, and stepping around the end of the bar, went to Joe and took his hand. Looking in his eyes, she said, Yes, honey, this is the Joe I was talking about.

Julie was jolted out of her reverie again by another commotion in the hallway. This time it was Jimmy coming down the hall with George, as a gorilla again, following behind. Jimmy came through the door, saw his mother, and running to her, said excitedly, Look, Mommy, I don’t have crutches or braces anymore!

Julie held him tightly and was almost in tears by now. Oh, Joe, how can we ever thank you for what you’ve done for us?

Julie, besides the fact I love you and your family, helping people is kind of what I do for a living. Let me explain some things for you. And, Jimmy, Joe said looking at the boy, why don’t you sit over here and have something to eat. Jimmy moved from his mother’s arms over to another stool at the bar and started munching on a plate of hot dogs George had set in front of him. Moving over to one side of the bar and drawing Julie to a stool beside him, Joe began to talk.

As he spoke, the lights dimmed a bit, and a hologram appeared. About four thousand years ago, a group of scientists from another planet entered our solar system looking for a place to set up a research station. The screen was showing pictures of their entry into the solar system, and eventually it homed in on a scene of the earth and the moon. The scientists found the earth would support life. At the time, it was covered with water but was in the process of changing. In a year or so, there would be dry land to work on. It appeared some unknown catastrophe had occurred. The only signs of life their sensors found were aboard a boat floating on the water. In time, due to the reflection of the water, large ice patches began to form. The waters receded, revealing some land here and there. The boat grounded on one side of the earth, and the scientists chose land on the other side, so they wouldn’t interfere with what was happening. The pictures showed the boat and some animals in the vicinity of a mountain and then changed to another shot of different mountains with some kind of construction going on. "After they built their facility, their ship left and orbited the earth for a while until our technology started to catch up; then it moved just outside the orbit of Pluto, where it’s currently sitting. They were looking for a base because disease on their planet was decimating their population. They were among some of the last to get off the planet before their society fell apart. From my research, I found out the disease was what we call cancer. They did find a cure after about eight hundred years of work, but they no longer were able to make the long trip home with their discovery, and the last of them died shortly after they found the cure. The aliens were similar to humans, and their medicine was advanced quite a bit beyond ours. It wasn’t too hard for me to adapt a couple of things so their equipment would work on humans. That’s how I could cure your cancer with their technology, Julie, and fix Jimmy’s legs. I’m afraid I took a couple of liberties with you, though. I gave you a shot to keep you from smoking and drinking because it was harming your body. I didn’t want to see you keep hurting yourself and deprive your kids of a mother. Besides, I wanted to get to know you. Another thing I discovered while I was checking the alien’s records was that one of their diseases was the common cold. We can’t cure it because it’s alien to our physique, and our medicines don’t touch the virus. That’s why I could give you and Lisa a shot, so you wouldn’t be vulnerable to colds. I’ve given one to Jimmy now too, so he’s also immune.

About five years ago, I was hunting a mile from here and came across a herd of animals. While I was waiting for an opportunity to get a good shot, I got shot myself by someone else. It pretty much shut me down. I remember a man coming over, and seeing what he’d done, he left in a hurry. I remember waking up a bit later. I managed to crawl until I found a mine shaft. I crawled in to get out of the weather. Apparently, I collapsed again, because the next time I woke up I was laying on that table in the other room. It turned out that George, who is actually a computer, sensed me in the mine entrance. Seeing that I was hurt, he used tractor and presser beams to get me here, worked on me, and saved my life. George is actually a hologram that’s able to assume a solid shape. After talking with George for a while, I decided maybe I could make a difference using the alien technology. I’ve spent the last few years studying and learning as much as I could. As a result, when you got hurt a couple of years ago, Julie, I could help you and Lisa. And today I was able to help Jimmy too. I hadn’t really planned to let anyone find out about this, but when I saw you were hurt, I couldn’t just ignore the situation. I got to know Lisa a bit and gave her some keys, so she could come back if she wanted. In the meantime, I went out, met you, and got to know and love you. I couldn’t meet your kids because Lisa would know who I was. I couldn’t ask you to marry me because you didn’t know about all this. I figured it might be a bit of a shock."

Shock is right! Julie said. This is amazing! I can’t believe this place even exists, and no one knows about it.

If you’re still interested, Julie, will you marry me?

Yes, Joe.

CHAPTER 5

Ten Years Later

The road to the army camp was paved, and it was a nice warm day for a walk. The gate was close now, and it wasn’t long before the two guards saw him and asked him to halt. He stopped. Hi, guys. I’d like to talk to your commander for a few minutes.

The guards looked him over; then one said to the other, Bill, call up the CO’s office; and see if the commander is interested in some company today. Bill went into the hut beside the gate and picked up the phone. After a minute he called out, They want to know what he wants to see the CO about.

I have some new toys I think the army would like to look at, and I thought this was a good way to show you what I have.

Bill repeated this into the phone, then in a few seconds hung up and came out. The CO just laughed, mister, and said, ‘Maybe another day.’

All right. Looking around, Joe pointed. Do you guys mind if I go sit over there on that small hillside for a while in case your CO changes his mind?

They looked at each other and shrugged, Go right ahead, mister; but I know the CO, and when he’s made up his mind, that’s it.

OK, thanks, guys. Joe walked to the hillside and sat down, putting his staff across his lap.

A short while later a covered truck came rolling up, stopping before the lift gate to the base. Everyone got out of the truck while the guards checked their IDs and opened the back to look inside. Bill nodded his head to the other guard, who reached for the lift gate to open it. He pressed on the counterweight and looked shocked when it turned to powder in his hand along with the rest of the gate. The men returned to their truck, and one of them slammed the door shut. The truck became a pile of powder, with dust flying as the tires suddenly lost their air. By now, the guards were shouting for their sergeant, and Bill was back in the hut calling for reinforcements. The sergeant arrived swiftly in a Hummer, and the guards told him what had happened. The truck crew verified the guards’ story. The sergeant, red faced, said, That’s impossible! Things don’t turn to dust like that! You’re all going to get court-martialed for this! Look at this hut, it didn’t turn to dust, did it? He reached out and slapped it for effect; then his mouth dropped open when his hand went right through the wall. The whole thing collapsed in a pile of dust, leaving a startled Bill standing there holding a telephone handset with a short piece of phone wire dangling from it.

Excuse me, sir, said the guard. Your mouth is open.

The sergeant sputtered for a minute, then said, Get the CO on the horn. I want to talk to him now! Bill regained his senses enough to offer him the phone handle with the short cord. As the sergeant grumbled and headed for the radio in his truck, a Humvee came up the road and stopped at the gate area. The guards checked the driver’s ID and let him get back into the Humvee. When he shut the door, the vehicle crumbled to dust. The driver was sitting in the pile of dust as looks of consternation registered on the faces of everyone standing there.

While they were standing there dumbstruck, a woman in the group looked toward the hillside and asked, Why is that guy over there laughing so hard? Heads turned, and everyone looked at Joe, who was holding his sides and rolling around with laughter.

At that point, the sergeant ordered, You and you. Go bring that man here right now! The two men walked over to Joe and returned with him to the gate. The sergeant asked, Are you the cause of this mess?

Joe replied, Yes. Can you imagine the demoralization that would occur if this happened to an enemy?

The sergeant was a bit irate. You can’t do this to government property and get away with it!

I tried to see your commander, but he didn’t take me seriously, sir. I would still like to talk to him about some of my toys if he’s interested now.

We’ll see, said the sergeant. He turned to his man in the Humvee and ordered him to contact the CO. After talking on the radio a short time, the sergeant returned. The CO will be here in a few minutes.

When the CO arrived, he was in a bad frame of mind, judging from the dark look on his face. What’s the meaning of this? he asked Joe.

You didn’t have time to talk to me earlier when I tried getting an appointment to show you some of my equipment. To get your attention, I gave you some samples of what they can do.

Well you’ve got it now. What do you want to show me?

For one thing, the equipment can turn objects into granular particles, as your men have seen here.

OK, if you can do that, turn that tank to dust. The CO pointed to a tank sitting about one hundred feet away on the other side of his truck.

All right, Joe said, pointing his staff at it. There.

After waiting for a few seconds, the CO said, Just like I figured, nothing happened. You have nothing to show me. Men, take this man into custody, and put him in the stockade until I decide what to do with him.

Before the soldiers reached him, and as the CO was walking toward his truck, Joe picked up a rock and threw it at the tank. When the rock struck it, the tank crumbled into a pile of dust. The CO stopped suddenly and slowly turned around, his face drawn and white. He walked back to Joe; and in a subdued voice, said, You’ve made your point, mister. How can we help you?

Joe replied, I have some new weapons for your army to try out, and if you decide you like them, I’ll sell them to you. Conditionally, of course.

I see. What do you have, and what are the conditions?

Well, there’s this weapon I just demonstrated that will turn inanimate objects into granular particles. I can also offer you some personal transportation devices and some weapons that will disable your enemy before they even know you’re in the area, among a few other devices.

OK, let’s see what you have then, mister.

At that point, Joe’s belt gave off a beeping sound like a cell phone. He reached down and pulled out a device much like an original Star Trek communicator. Flipping open the lid, it beeped in a similar manner. Joe answered, Yes?

The communicator squawked with a girl’s voice and said, Mom says there’s been an accident with the space shuttle in orbit, and you need to get home right away.

Joe replied, OK, honey, come pick me up. He flipped the lid shut and put the communicator back on his belt.

You aren’t going anywhere, mister, till we clear a few things up, said the CO Men, arrest this man. Looking at Joe, he said, No one can come or go here without my permission.

The men approached Joe, who stood calmly. Taking his arms, they put handcuffs on him; and reaching down to his legs, put a set of cuffs on them too. Their efforts to make him let go of his staff were unsuccessful, and they didn’t know why they couldn’t get it out of his hand. About this time, everyone was startled by a whistling sound overhead. They turned to see a car come sailing down out of the air like an airplane that then glided to a halt a few feet away. There was a beautiful blond girl driving it, and she leaned out of the window and said, Dad, quit playing games with those men. We have to go!

Joe said, Sorry, gentlemen, I can’t stay. But I’ll be back in a week if you want to get some VIPs together; then I’ll show you what I have to offer. With that, he moved a bit, and the shackles broke from his wrists and ankles then clattered to the ground, leaving the startled men staring at him and the girl. Joe got into the car and said, OK, Lisa, let’s go. The car turned around on the pavement then started back the way it came, rising off the ground and into the sky where it swiftly disappeared.

The CO brought his startled gaze back to Earth and started rattling commands, as much to cover his confusion as to get order back into the area.

CHAPTER 6

The atmosphere was tense in the space shuttle, and James Fitzpatrick was doing his best to keep the panic out of his voice as he talked. OK, Houston, we can try that; but we only have eight hours of air left, even if it works.

Roger that. We’ll wake you in a few hours.

James didn’t feel consoled much. Ever since they’d been hit by that fragment of a meteor, they’d been leaking air and fuel. The fragment couldn’t have been much bigger than a marble, but it must have hit just the right place, and it must have been really moving to penetrate so deeply into the shuttle. No one was sure where it entered, but Houston had thought it was in one of the wings, since it hit both the fuel and air lines. No one mentioned the fact that the compromised hull would probably prevent them from landing the shuttle. They could burn up while entering Earth’s atmosphere just like another shuttle a few years ago that had been damaged by styrofoam. The Russian space station was unavailable for use due to air purification problems. It looked like they would all die, either in space or trying to land—not an optimistic end for a day’s work. OK, people, Houston says to go to sleep while they work on the problem; so strap yourselves in, and let’s get some shut-eye. All eight of his crew went to their seats, strapped in, and pretended (he was sure) to sleep. He lay there with his mind racing, trying to find a solution for the problem, and finally he drifted off.

An hour later, a blinking light shone in the distance and moved toward the shuttle. When it got close, its box-like appearance was noted along with the logo Interplanetary Towing that was written on the sides and under the front window. It had a set of flashing yellow lights across the top above the window. Joe maneuvered his shuttle so it was facing the space shuttle a few feet away, then picked up a piece of cardboard that he propped on one side in the window. He sat back and, putting his feet up, grinned to himself. He had penned the sign purposely just to see what kind of rise he could get from the space shuttle crew. Through slitted eyes, he watched the shuttle for activity.

James was having a rough time with his plane, and it was shaking and making a loud noise. He gradually realized it wasn’t a plane, and he was being shaken by his copilot, saying, James! James! Wake up! Come on, James, wake up!

What’s the matter, Pierson?

We’ve got company, James, and you won’t believe it!

What do you mean? James asked as he opened one eye slowly. He saw his female copilot beside him, but there was a flashing yellow light from somewhere reflecting off her. He moved his head and looked out the window, then sat up with a start. What in the . . . !

I told you you wouldn’t believe it!

And that sign! ‘Broken Down? Full of Woe? For the right price, I’ll give you a tow. Burma Shave!’ And in English too, Captain! said someone behind him. James realized everyone was floating around him looking out the window.

Get ahold of Houston, and find out what’s going on here, James said.

Already working on it, Captain, said the radio operator. "They don’t know anything about it. We’re the