Indian Hill 2: Reckoning A Michael Talbot Adventure

Chapter 1

Mike Journal Entry One

And so it begins…

Our ship was close to landing on home, sweet home after what seemed like weeks of traveling. Beth had completely withdrawn from me as if I were the monster instead of the supreme commander whom she spent more time conversing with than me during the entire voyage back. With some perverse satisfaction, I watched them talk, knowing full well he saw her only as his next meal, or some form of entertainment…and then a meal.

Deb retreated into herself wholly. I think that Beth’s presence and my indifference had something to do with it. But I wasn’t completely self-centered. I knew the main cause of it was the realization of the horror she had just escaped. And (probably) the comprehension of the wide-scale horror that was yet to come. The few hours that I had to adjust to this semblance of freedom were truly liberating. I knew it wasn’t over; but no longer did the lives of these women depend solely on me…or so I hoped.

The Genogerians and Progerians were coming; of that, there was no doubt. When? Well, that was a good question. I knew deep down that running and hiding was not an option; oh, but how I yearned for that avenue. I wanted to see my folks—yes, even my mother. I wanted to eat dinner at my sister’s, I wanted to play Risk with my brothers, I wanted to drink beer with my friends. I wanted to do what every normal young male wants to do. But I knew those things weren’t going to happen. Not any time soon.

I wasn’t sure if years of psychotherapy would ever get me back to normal. All my early years of the pampered American life had left me completely unprepared for the ordeal I had just endured. The thoughts that allowed me to survive were becoming vastly distant as I stole a glance at Beth. She saw me eye her but paid no attention whatsoever. Unbeknownst to me, however, Deb had also seen it, and that just seemed to twist the knife in her heart a little bit more.

What a great love triangle we were. More like three non-parallel lines, from my perspective. Deb wanted me, I wanted Beth, and Beth wanted nothing to do with any of us. She saw the girls and me as the beasts, incognizant that the creature she kept talking to, the supreme commander, was the real beast and the sole reason for our predicament. Sometimes, the more education you receive, the less smart you are.

Indian Hill’s peaceful slopes beckoned me. Could I find some sort of peace there? The place where I did so much exploration not only physically, but spiritually as well? Paul, Dennis and I dropped acid for the first time up there, making the place that much more surreal, like it needed any help. We had spent hours up in the Hobbit Tree looking over the vast expanse of greenery that was Walpole.

Surveying Indian’s Pond to the left, the train tracks where we almost met our untimely demises; and even further, the Stop and Shop roof, which was sort of the start of it all. Oh, how I longed for simpler times. My gut was roiling with emotion; my fight-or-flight reflex was in overdrive. But there was no one to fight and nowhere to run—what a fucking dilemma. Deb began to weep silently as we approached Earth. Her shoulders shuddered as she attempted to quell her emotions. Was she relieved to be getting away from this whole mess? Or just to be getting home? My guess was a little bit of both.

Beth’s eyes gleamed; I knew that look, she was excited. There would be no way she could ever understand what the rest of us went through. She looked like a kid who had just spent the day at Disneyland and was now headed to Disneyworld. The other girls’ responses varied as well: from full on, open-throttled weeping to the whooping of overexcited, drunken sorority girls.

Sororities, fraternities… Shit! College! Would I be going back? I wanted to, but I doubted it. I’m not sure that I’d ever be able to sit still for that long again. What employment could I get with my newfound skills? Cab driver? Maybe. Maybe I could join the mixed martial arts circuit. Naw, that wouldn’t work; I’d never be able to stop myself.

Well, I figured realistically, I probably only had about a month or so left .The Progerians weren’t going to sit tight for long, not while their supreme commander was being held captive. For now, Earth awaited and I definitely wanted to reacquaint myself with her. I knew she, at least, would welcome me.

General Burkhalter? I asked incredulously. After a brief isolation, I met the man in charge of the landing zone. It seemed odd to me that a general would put himself out just to greet me.

Come…let’s get off this ship. If we stay on it too long, the scientists might just dissect us along with it. They’ve been chomping at the bit to get a hold of this thing. I think they were more pissed at the quarantine than you and your fellow passengers, the general said as he surveyed his surroundings.

I appreciate you greeting us, General.

It’s the least I could do. Especially since we need to take these necessary precautions, he said, pointing to his HAZMAT suit.

I understand, General, it’s just difficult. We’ve been confined for so long, that being able to see freedom and not embrace it is a little bittersweet.

"And now it is my turn to understand. We will do all in our power to make this hopefully short stay as enjoyable as possible. But you do realize we are going to have to debrief you until your throat is raw? We need to know as much as we can about this new foe, and we don’t have very long to get it."

One thing first, General, before we get this whole show on the road.

Name it, son.

Pizza.

Done.

When we reached the makeshift hospital, pizzas of all sizes and toppings awaited our diligent ministrations. Ah! To be back home…

The food was great, the service impeccable. Even better than a five star resort. Well, almost. The doctors watched our every move. I’m not sure if they were disappointed that we didn’t sprout wings or third eyes, but they monitored us twenty-four/seven while we were in their custody.

How are things going, Mike?

Great, General, but we sure were hoping we’d be out of here by now. Ten solid days in quarantine and not one of us has developed any strange rashes or bumps. I sounded a little peeved, although I tried not to convey that over my voice; but restraint was not my strong point.

Mike, I came here on a serious note.

What, did one of our lab reports come back bad? Not that I was really worried about it, but the general was concerned.

No, no. All of your tests came back remarkably well. The whole lot of you are in perfect health.

Will that bring a better price at the auction block? That should have gotten some response from the general, but he did nothing. Now, he did have me concerned. Spill it, General, this is worse than knowing.

Your mother has passed away.

What? When? Just now? I’ve got to go! I said as I headed towards the door.

You know as well as I do, Mike, that you cannot leave just yet. That armed guard will riddle you with bullets before he lets you break the seal on this place.

What happened? I asked as I slowly turned back towards him.

It was a few months after your disappearance; she had a stroke. She never fully recovered from it and deteriorated fast.

Was it because of me?

Part of it, maybe, the stress and all surrounding your disappearance.

And because the government didn’t ‘fess up to what was really going on! I said heatedly.

Mike, we had to look for the common good. If we told even one woman to ease her fears, we would have panicked millions. And do you really think that the truth was any better than the scenarios she was imagining?

How long did she live after the stroke?

About a month and a half. She was apparently trying to hold on until she could see you one last time.

That stung. My mother and I weren’t exactly close; but still, it was a fundamental loss, one that could never be replaced. It was another tragedy that I would carry with me. Unfortunately, it would not be my last.

My mother had gotten sick and passed, all while I was struggling to survive on an alien vessel. No, the truth would not have done her any good. More than likely, it would have hastened the effects of her stroke. I still had a difficult time wrapping my mind around the fact that I had been on that ship for almost a year and a half. Eighteen months of my life was stolen from me and I would never be able to get it back. I always wondered what went through those innocent men’s minds who were wrongly convicted of a crime and then sent to prison. What must they think after five or ten years of incarceration when a new piece of evidence comes to light that sets them free? The chunk of their lives that was taken from them can never, ever be replaced. Mine was only a small taste, but even a small taste can be sour on the lips.

General, don’t get me wrong. You and your staff have been nothing short of magnanimous. They have taken care of our every need. But I really have to know when we will be free to go. None of us has displayed any traces of anything. I have told and retold my experience to you and the president. Hell, I even brought their commander back. I’m just sick and tired of being cooped up, and now I would just like to go back to Walpole and visit with my family. Do they know I’m back?

As for the first question, just four more days, Mike. The medical staff will feel much more comfortable with four more days. Then I promise you a direct flight to any destination that you desire.

To be honest, General, I’d rather have a car. Kind of sick of flying, too.

Understood. How about a Humvee?

You’re going to give me a Humvee?

I cleared it with the president this morning. He felt it was the least we could do.

Awesome! I want the one with the hard plastic shell on the back.