CHAPTER TWO
Fears and Tears
There was three ways of gaining entry to the Hamilton's lounge room from the attic. The most direct, after coming off the hallway stairs, was through the kitchen and along another parallel hall that ran along the other side of the house. The second alternative went straight to front of the house from the stairwell, out through one set of sliding doors to the high northward facing balcony and in through a second sliding door directly into the lounge. The third way, consisted of continuing down a another flight of stairs to the ground floor level, which was basically the unde rneath of the raised house and contained Adam's workshop and a very large storage area. From there you would ascend a circular flight of steps directly into the living area. Rose chose the front, via the balcony and as the four passed that way, Kenji noticed a light rain had began to fall.
"As I live and breathe Adam, I'll never get used to these bizarre weather changes we've been having as a result of that pathetic war. Next I suppose it'll start snowing in the middle of this so called summer."
"No use bleating about it Kenj. Just enjoy it. Rose and I grew up in Sydney, where as likely as not, you'd be sweltering in thirty-five degree heat and high humidity throughout almost the entire season." He grinned a satisfied smile. Adam and Rose both, loved the rain.
The lights in the lounge room were down low, country music played softly from the three dimensional television, the flat, wide screen showing Brooks and Dunn in one of their concerts for the troops, filmed just before the truce was announced. To the viewers, it made them feel as though they were a part of the audience, such was the reality and clarity of the image. The six people seated in the room were transfixed by the program and failed to notice the arrival of four shadowy figures at the door. Two apparently young women, arm in arm, came through first. If you did not know them, at first glance they could be mistaken for being identical twins, and perhaps only their parents would say otherwise. Yet as alike the two women were in physical appearance, there were markable differences, even though their faces were cast from the same mould. Rose the older by ten years at fifty-one, slightly shorter in height and she always wore her hair in it's natural colour, a rich red-brown. Anne on the other hand, changed her colouring as often as the seasons, today it was more red but most often she could be seen sporting a wicked glossy black or blonde that was almost white. She often said that she had forgotten long ago her true shade. The younger sibling was five foot five, an inch taller than Rose, so neither could be said to be tall, a stark contrast to the husbands that followed closely behind them.
Adam and Kenji were both around six feet tall, Kenji maybe not quite. Both men were considered lean in build, but the prince tendered to be more muscular; he had to be, spending most of his life since he was ten, studying almost every known form of martial arts, he was almost bordering on the fanatical about physical fitness. A quality that somehow had managed to rub off on not only Anne and naturally his own son as well, Rose and Adam also had develo ped a higher level of fitness since welcoming Kenji into their family. But to be fair, both Adam and Rose were extremely fit anyway, in their younger days, they both had studied Tae Kwon Do and Kung Fu; perhaps not to Kenji's level, yet good enough, through the connections of their mentor at the time, to be cast as extras in several action films of the day. Even Rose and Anne's parents seemed to be more interested in their physical well-being of late. To the extent Kenji had been instructing them on the finer points of self defence; at least to a degree suitable for their ages. Of the two men, Adam was quite fair, his light brown hair was cut short and he had an annoying fringe that when brushed back, would never stay in place. His blue eyes were sharp and the colour of tempered steel, dark but not brooding. Adam never thought of himself other than plain looking, though Rose would be quick to disagree. She never told him though, she thought men's egos were too big as it was. Secretly though, she thought he was the handsomest man on earth; but it was more from within she often reminded herself.
Prince Kenji on the other hand was strikingly handsome, a fact not lost on other males whenever in his company, yet Adam was never seen to be affected by it. He didn't really place too much store in an individual's looks, though seeing his choice in a wife such as Rose would soon put a lie to that theory. Adam felt that it was what the person held inside of them that counted the most. Be that as it may, his friend appalled most men who encountered the prince with his natural good looks; women seem to find him irresistible, a fact Anne had to battle with most of the time. She was not too slow in reminding predatory types at any time. Kenji had emerged red faced at a number of social events because of Anne's temper. But the prince loved his wife all the more for it and his dark brown eyes crinkled at the corners in mirth whenever he recalled those fiery occasions. Many a time Anne had threatened to shave off his movie-star moustache, or bitch magnet, as she called it, because of her perceived view of the female world. Yet Kenji himself had the same sort of problems where Anne was concerned. Men found her (and of course Rose, but Adam seemed to enjoy the attention his wife received) utterly irresistible. The difference Kenji had with his wife, was in the way he dealt with the situation. Whenever an overbearing male showed too much interest in Anne, Kenji would just raise an eyebrow at the other man, or crack his knuckles. Most times it worked. Funny thing was, Anne never saw anything wrong in men other than her husband, paying a bit of attention to her; but as far as Kenji was concerned, she had a minefield around him.
Rose placed a cautionary finger to her lips as the four of them approached the other guests through the East facing glass doors. The pleasure her faced showed made her even more alluring, as she silently watched the others fascination with the singers image and sound.
The 'Pit' as it was called by all who knew the Hamilton house, was a circular section in the centre of the lounge room that was about a metre deep. On the southern half of the circle's circumference, the entertainment section was housed; a wide-screen 3D television in the middle and all else that could be found in almost any home these days. Hi-Fi, computer, cinema driver, surround sound, it was all there, and any empty spaces were filled with books. To step down into the pit, three steps were located at the east and west portions of the circle and the seating filled the entire remaining northern section. The diameter was such that ten adults could comfortably sit around the leather covered lounge and every person seated there could see everyone else. Most of Rose and Adam's friends and acquaintances thoug ht it was marvellous and there were a few timid copies up and down the coast.
From left to right around the seat, firstly there was Anne and Kenji's driver and aid, Lt. Commander Kazuo Suzuki, an exceedingly shy young naval officer attached to the Protection Services of the FNF Headquarters, he also counted himself as a good friend of the Prince and his wife. Next to him was Doctor Hans Jergens MD, BS, FRACS, BA CHEM; he was supposed to be the local GP and surgeon for the area, but there were so many doctors about, he really only ever looked after Rose, Adam and the older Hamiltons. There were other aspects to Hans' life that might have failed scrutiny by the more determined investigator, but somehow the rotund doctor always managed to stay one step ahead of those who might seek to unravel more of his affairs than he would wish to be revealed. Hans was only thirty eight, yet he appeared to his friends to have a knowledge of things far in excess his age would dictate; but on the whole to Rose and Adam, their neighbour and friend was as comfortable with good company as he was with food. A veritable connoisseur of all things to be enjoyed.
Sitting next to the good Doctor was Rose's parents, the older Hamiltons. Millie as her mother was affectionately called, was in her late seventies, a wonderful old lady, with a seemingly endless wit; her bright blue eyes always conveyed a sense of home and warmth to those she chose to like. She could be thoroughly acerbic with those not in her favour; who were few. Maurice Hamilton at eighty was as sharp as a blade, nothing passed his notice; even though he had been diagnosed as having a mild form of dementia. He did not believe it himself. Telling those close to him, it was just an old mans way of getting past people and more often enjoying the discomfort of officials pensioners had to confront in their later years.
Finally there were Anne and Kenji's friends from the International Compound at Canungra, Mohammad bin Abdul and his wife Zuhrah. Mohammad was the Security Charge d' Affairs with the joint Malay-Indonesian dele gation at the complex. Officially the appointment was for a civilian and technically to the world Mohammad was. But in reality the slightly built fellow held the rank of Lt. Colonel of what was not long ago, the Royal Malaysian Infantry Corps. To see him though, none would credit him to anything else but a placid Asian fellow in his early fifties; just the way he preferred it. Zuhrah as well held a position at the compound. She was Confidential Secretary to the Chief Administrative Officer of the Free Nations Council. A long title it was and one that carried a weighty responsibility with it. There was nothing that happened within the workings of the FNC that Zuhrah didn't have a profound knowledge of. They had two children, a son, Khairrudin, a helo pilot, serving on a FNNF destroyer; and Serikandi, who was often found being a part time nanny to a small few toddlers around various parts of the International Compound, or most often studying for her physics degree, out of the Gold Coast Technical Institute. Both kids were influenced in some way by their adopted uncles. Kenji the Prince, but foremost a highly regarded naval helicopter pilot; and Adam, locally known amongst friends, as the 'Mad' scientist, or 'Q' as many referred to him as. But only in private, there were few who did not like him.
As the last strains of the smooth country sound faded, and the image rolled into the films credits, those seated remained transfixed as if awaiting more to come bounding from the screen to fill their collective senses. The silence was broken only by the night sounds of the forest life that surrounded the house and it was with that influence that Dr. Jergens realised the sliding doors had been opened. He turned his head slightly to see his hosts standing nearby unmoving, simply watching the obvious comfort and pleasure of the company. Hans elbowed Kazuo lightly in the ribs and brought to his attention the approach of the other four. Always a stickler for discipline and respect, Kazuo was out his seat like a missile. Standing first, stiffly to attention, he then bowed deeply to his Prince and Princess; his courtesy also extended to Adam and Rose, as they were now considered 'Royal' relatives. His salute to Adam was flawless.
"Begging your pardon your highnesses, Lady Rose, Commander Hamilton," he said in faltering English, "I did not mark your approach." His quiet voice finishing the sentence as he stood erect. The whole scene wasn't lost on the others either. Most of them doing their utter best to contain a hearty laugh at the poor mans expense. Not so old Maurice, who began a hilarious wail of laughing that soon became so infectious that everyone soon joined in; including the hapless Kazuo.
Finally the frivolity ceased and Kenji managed to constrain himself. "Oh Kazuo I'm sorry," he began, "please sit back down, we're all good friends here." He smiled broadly at the younger man, which had the effect of Kazuo almost falling back into his seat. Old Maurice giggled again and was reproached with a slap on the top of his bony leg from his wife.
"Sorry we were gone so long..." Adam began to say.
"Didn't even know you were gone son. When do we eat Rose?" Maurice addressed both daughter and son-in-law at the same time.
"Oh do be quiet Pop" Millie this time grabbing a knee and squeezing it hard in her strong hand. Though much shorter than her husband, the old lady outweighed him by at least fifteen kilos.
"Ouch! Whad'ya do that for mum?" He only received a stern look from his tormentor.
Rose lifted a delicate hand to restore order. "Mum, Dad, everyone; Adam and Kenji have something they feel is important to discuss with us all. It may well be just a bit on the boring side..." she gave both men a humorous smile, "...but let's indulge them in any case. Then Dad, we will eat."
Anne tapped her sister lightly on the shoulder and nodded toward the errant astronomers and whispered softly in her siblings ear. "Not too much indulgence please Rose. We both know how long our men can waffle on about a subject if they have a loose rein. Besides Ken and I must be back at Canungra a bit earlier tonight and you know we can't keep Mum and Dad out too late."
Rose nodded in agreement, but both women were taken aback by Adam's interjection.
"I'm sorry about all this Rose, Anne. We'll keep it as brief as possible." He apologised sincerely.
The Hamilton women just looked at each other. Anne mouthed the words , "How does he do that?"
By this time Rose was beginning to feel slightly annoyed with her husband and brother-in-law. A reddish flush broke out on her already naturally pinked cheeks. "Adam, maybe this business can wait for a more appropriate time..." Piecing green eyes fixed on her husband, Rose continued; "...we should enjoy what time we have left of the evening and perhaps you can relate your exciting story when we attend Kenji's son's graduation down in Nowra next weekend." Adam's wife wore a rather patient face; one used perchance upon a difficult child.
Now everyone's attention became focussed on the exchange. A mystery was emerging and even Pop Maurice stared hard at his son-in-law.
"Strewth Rose," he exclaimed loudly. "Give the boy a break. By the look on his face, he'd most likely burst before then. Besides, not all of us will be travelling down south next week, you know."
Then Kenji joined in Adams defence. "Yes Rose;" he gave his most convincing smile, "I believe this business should be aired. For though none here can carry much weight of authority in these matters, even myself..."
"Er hum!" Anne cleared her throat audibly and regarded her husband fiercely.
"...well not much at least." Kenji conceded, then continued. "Amongst the ten of us here, we might figure some thing out."
Rose looked heavenward for some kind of assistance. Receiving none immediately, she resigned herself to be against the odds and shrugged. "Oh very well. Get on with it Adam, but don't make a sermon out of it, alright!" Her gorgeous face was very Tigress-like. A Tigress stalking.
"Well, ah yes, thank-you Honey." He said apologetically and pressed on before Rose changed her mind. "As Ken said just now, maybe someone here can shed some light on this nonsense we've stumbled upon. Then again, if no one knows, we'll still have the advantage of added knowledge for all of us. Something could emerge from just talking about it."
"Come on son, stop prattling and get on with it!" His mother-in-law urged him.
His straight-shooting mother-in-law always unnerved him. Still he loved her dearly and when she spoke, it was if it were a signal to put his mouth into gear.
Once he began on the subject, at least after one or two stuttering starts, Adam found the words he needed to convey. Initially he told them all about Rose first discovering the oddity of the asteroid movement; then he went on to his own observations and finally he told of Kenji witnessing the very same phenomena just a short while ago. He concluded by saying he had absolutely no idea whatsoever of what it all meant (though in reality he had a reasonable view toward the portent of it) and then found himself apologising yet again for the interruption to the party. He was loathe to say so there and then and so he refrained from doing so, but he thought that large chunks of asteroid moving aimlessly out their supposedly stable orbit within the Solar system, some of which could be directed toward Earth, meant that the world was more than likely to suffer once again. He experienced a feeling of complete uselessness.
A few silent moments elapsed as each person in turn looked at one another and then to Rose, Adam, Anne and Kenji. Anne was totally unaware of what this asteroid business was all about, so she simply shrugged her shoulders and squeezed her husbands hand. Again everyone looked to Adam in anticipation of more to come, but he fell silent. There was nothing more he wished to say.
"Er-hum!" Dr. Jergens broke the long silence that inevitably came after Adam's speech. Every head swivelled in his direction.
"Please excuse me friends. I should have spoken earlier." The rotund and often garrulous doctor was a source of local knowledge. He seemingly carried an encyclopaedia in his head. Rose sensed this was no different: he was about to enlighten them on some profound meaning behind the mysterious asteroid movement. "I have certain friends and acquaintances who had informed me of this very same event. Indeed my younger brother in Auckland, you all remember Ernst. Well the lad wrote to me only last week and after all the usual family business, at the end he mentions the same thing. You will recall Adam, young Ernie, like yourself, is a budding astronomer."
"Nothing new there" Rose thought to herself. "He's hiding something though. That's for sure"
"I'm sorry if I sound rude Hans, but that doesn't help us much at all." She said rather hotly. This wasn't turning out right.
"Ah but Rose my dear it does." He replied. "It tells you both, and the prince as well," he took Kenji's gaze keenly; "that what you saw was no aberration. This is real." He heavily drove home the last word.
"Yes I am aware of that Hans. But how does that affect us. That's what I want to know, so I can get on with the celebration of our anniversary!" Her green eyes rounded on her husband, who in all respect smiled warmly in return. It didn't stifle Rose's building temper at all.
After that bump in the evenings proceedings the other guests felt an obligation to their hosts to try and smooth things over in what ever way they could. Talk and more talk was the only answer most humans knew. Shortly thereafter Rose forgot what had annoyed her and joined in eagerly. Even though the subject had not changed one iota.
The talk continued throughout Rose's superb dinner. Thoughts were spoken aloud on the conjecture, that surely the proper authorities in government would be aware of such a major incident as this, virtually hovering just above our heads. Kenji explained to all, that the infrastructure required to collate such information had, for the most part, been destroyed during the war. He related facts to them such as the destruction of the Houston Space Centre, the capture of the International Space Station by the Alliance and the targeting of virtually all the free world's larger optical and radio telescopes. There was more he added, but in the main it all added up to the same thing; "The only way this can be reasonably confirmed, is by amateurs such as Adam and the good Doctor's brother bringing their findings to the attention of the FN Command."
Quiet conversation continued, whenever a pertinent statement was made, all heads turned that way to the speaker. Except Pop. He never lifted his head once until the last morsel of Rose's superb dinner and dessert had been consumed. Dad was the only one to entirely remove every last trace of food from his plate and bowl, as well as finishing Rose's own dessert as well. Finally when all fell silent, he made the most profound statement. At least he thought so.
"Grandpa told me once long ago...he was mustering around the Kimberly's at the time; when that meteorite came down in Siberia, the tremor from the aftershock was felt up north. Of course he didn't know what caused it at the time, but when he found out sometime afterwards, he said it scared the hell out of him. Sort of a delayed reaction you might say. He hardly ever went outdoors after that." Maurice then stared at the empty bowl that had not a few minutes prior held his daughter's mango pudding, he wished there was more. Everyone else just eyed the old man with renewed respect for his age old memories.
Sunset had come and gone seemingly ages ago. Eight forty five and the night out was black, darkened more so by the return of cloud that proclaimed further rain was imminent. Anne begged her leave as there was a long drive ahead for their party and the detour to Southport made it all the more imperative they should leave now. The problem was not the lateness in itself though; for even if the curfews were still in place, that did not present an issue to those travelling with Anne and Kenji; their Silverado carrying special diplomatic security licence plates. It was what else passed on the roads at night that was their primary concern. For irregardless of the number of law enforcement agencies patrolling almost every road and byway, the night time out of doors was an exceptionally dangerous place to be. As a consequence of the war, Australia and the other southern hemisphere countries received numbers of refugees unheard of in all of human history. The sad part of that outpouring of people, was that countries to which they escaped to, could not effectively screen every soul that landed upon their shores. The worst affected was Australia itself, which took the highest numbers. Society could not possibly cope; crime and unemployment was regnant and as fuel and commodities became more scarce, the roads less travelled, made an ideal environment for the re-emergence of a breed of thuggery that had passed from memory a long time ago. The Highwayman, the Bushranger, the common Outlaw; different names, but all with the same purpose in mind, to rob and despoil the road traveller with any method they could manage. Thieves, murderers and cut-throats of every nationality, banded together in tribes. Each tribe having their own specific territory and each tribe electing a leader through a test of arms and martial prowess. The tribes themselves were all loosely bound to a Federation of Highwaymen, who established a code of discipline and ethics (or lack there of) and determined the boundaries of every individual tribe. Those who sought to operate outside the Federation were smartly dealt with. A practice the police were powerless to deal with, yet secretly they hoped more and more tribes would separate from the fold and eventually the entire Federation would break up into manageable proportions. An impossible dream.
"Please do be careful." Rose appealed to Kazuo. "And don't let my father tell you how to drive..." She pondered momentarily "...or take any notice of his directions for a shortcut. You'll all be in Brisbane before you know it." That last statement brought a chuckle from everybody, except the old man himself.
A tiny bit crossly Maurice replied. "Now Rose you know very well I know my way around better than most...most of the time."
Millie couldn't resist a jab. "Like the time we were supposed to go to Kingscliff and ended up talking to some hippies the other side of Byron Bay!"
"Mum you know..." he began, but Rose stopped him.
"Oh dad I was only pulling your leg. Yet you all know my meaning. Please, all of you be very careful, the roads are still a danger for travellers at night."
"Mam, I will keep your family safe." Kazuo assured her. He did not have to spell it out. Rose knew under the drivers seat of the Chevy, the young officer kept a Uzi machine pistol, and Kenji had his own Gloch 9mm service pistol in the glove compartment. Rose despised all forms of weapons, yet it reassured her that the two of them could probably hold their own over any would be bandit. He bowed and smiled at her. "They will all be safe Mrs. Hamilton."
"I know Kazuo, I know they will."
When all the goodbyes had expired, Rose asked that all of them return soon. She kissed and embraced her little sister once more before Anne clambered into the big vehicle at Pops beckoning. Hans mounted his Yamaha trail bike and putt-putted up the steep gravel drive and together, Rose and Adam watched as the red tail lights disappeared over the small rise near the main road.
Adam Hamilton gazed intently at his wife standing there in the middle of the driveway, thinking how alluring she looked. He reproached himself for not telling her more often; she was to him, the most beautiful creature in the entire universe. The full moon poked his head through a patch in some dense cloud, his yellow luminosity casting a magical aura about. Soft lights glittered through Rose's rich auburn hair, as wispy strands
lifted on a passing breeze. Tears rolled slowly down her pinked cheeks.
"Honey...Rose what...?" Adam's voice came out in a hoarse whisper. The shock of seeing the woman he loved so deeply, distressed in a such a way hurt him immensely. Rose was not a soppy lady, she rarely showed her emotions in that way. He stood closer to her, placing his left arm around the small waist. He smiled, though he had to force it.
"Adam I'm afraid." She said bluntly. "I put up a good front tonight didn't I?"
He had no idea whatsoever of what her meaning was.
Rose wiped her eyes with her sleeve and then looked horrified at what she had just done. "Frightened Adam. I am and I know it. Poor Mum and Dad have endured so much in the old lives. Wars, the depression, world upheaval, splintered families (she was referring to her two older sisters whom were never spoke of) and now just when we thought things might settle down so they could enjoy what years they had, this... this bloody asteroid business. It could be a danger to us couldn't it Adam?"
Shaking his head slowly he had no clue as what answer he could give. Then it occurred to him. "Hopefully, as Mohamed said, the asteroids will break up before they reach our atmosphere. They usually do." He knew he was lying. Little bits of space rock yes. But anything big enough to see with his telescope would still be big enough by the time it reached Earth to do something very damaging to the planet. "Anyway Rose, the moment Anne and Kenji reach Canungra and informs the Council, they'll know what to do. I sure of it."
"Stuff the stupid Council Adam !" She exploded angrily. "Those old idiots are about as useful as a fridge in Alaska. You know better than most people around here, that if those lumps of stone come anywhere near to Earth it will be devastating. Even if the main bodies don't come to ground, a trail or shower of meteorites following of those proportions will be devastating. Do you remember when we visited Western Australia before the war?"
"Certainly, I nearly broke my leg clambering around those rock art sights!" He tried a bit of humour. It failed miserably.
Rose carried on. "Remember what that ranger told us when we were at the big crater? The meteorite that made that hole, was probably no bigger than a soccer ball. That damned hole was almost a kilometre in diameter!"
Adam moaned something inaudible and squeezed his wife closer to him.
"Look my love, I'm a big girl now and as I've always told you, I can deal with the truth no matter how hard it is, much better than cover-ups or deceptions. But I do thank-you for at least trying to console me. I just want to know when all this horror will end Adam, that's all."
He then felt his own tears burn down his cheeks. Adam held his beloved tightly and was swept with emotion by the feeling he knew was overwhelming Rose. He could not recall her ever being so shaken by anything as badly as this, except when her paternal grandmother passed away so many years ago.
"Listen to me Adam. Of all the people in the world, you more than even Anne, Mum or Dad, know that when I say I'm scared or frightened, it's for good reason. I have this bad feeling that Anne and Kenji will not reach Canungra tonight... I'm worried for them Adam. For Mum and Dad, for all of us. I'm fearful we'll not see them again...not for a long while at least."
She turned pulled him about so they faced the house and together they stared off that way. Adam stopped their progress after a few paces.
"Honey they'll be fine. There's so many cops on the road at night, nothing will get near them. And besides, with what I've done to Kenji's wagon, there'd be very little outside of a race track that could touch them." He was of course referring to the modifications on the Silverado's engine and suspension. The Gen VI Chevy receiving from Adam and one his neighbours, a skilled race engine mechanic, their most loving attention. All with the approval and finance of Kenji's diplomatic bureau chief. It was really just a typical boy thing; something grown men never seem to tire of. But there was real purpose here. Adams modifications were copied on quite a few other diplomatic vehicles. For a two tonne truck (as that was what the Silverado was in reality. A truck chassis with a good looking wagon body bolted to it), it was very fast indeed and it could be driven with almost sports car handling. Kazuo was chosen for Kenji and Anne's aide, for more reasons than his military standing. Prior to the war, he had been a leading CART driver with the Honda-Williams team. Most of his fellow aides were of a similar mould, and for good purpose too, More than thirty assassination attempts had been carried out on numerous dignitaries throughout the course of the war. A majority of those attempts occurred on the road, involving high speed chases.
But as usual, Adam was way off beam. Rose resumed her walk just as a light sprinkle began to touch their faces. "Yes I know we've got Police on tap Adam. State police, the new county police patrols, Federal police in everyone's pocket, oh let's not forget the bloody International Counter Insurgency police." She said the last with utter contempt. The ICIP or IP's for short, were the most intrusive of all the law enforcement agencies in the land. They literally got up everybody's nose. "And I know Kenji's truck won't be caught by anything less than a jet fighter, but that's not my point. There is something else out there other than mere thieves waiting for us Adam, I can feel it for sure."
"Rose..." He could hardly muster the words, his throat being so constricted by emotion. Adam did know his
wife very well and in the moonlight still faintly showing, he could see that unmistakable fire in her eyes that always told him to follow whatever she might perceive. After all, it was Rose who told him the war was coming, months before it was speculated in the popular press and media. He saw it when Rose politely informed her sister Anne, that she would marry a Japanese man with royal connections, two days before Kenji was admitted to hospital. Adam relaxed his thought train, then turned his wife around gently and guided her to the back steps of the house. He spoke to her softly, from his heart.
"Honey, I do know only too well the depth and uncanniness of your perceptions. Yet I am sure that if anything comes of this asteroid business, there'll be no immediate threat to our family and friends."
She looked at him intently, words half formed on her lips, but Adam pressed on.
"This old planet has suffered enough in it's time Rose, and quite frankly, I can't see how even that Devil spawned Unholy Alliance could tolerate any more devastation upon themselves, any more than we can. I think they must realise we all have to live in peace some time soon." As he finished speaking, he was aware of himself sweating. Was he lying to himself as well as his beloved. He prayed she did not see it.
Just as they reached the steps that took them up to the kitchen door, Rose stopped again and gazed hard into Adam's eyes. "I for one, would dearly love to believe in what you're saying, but I can't. There is just too much evil abroad Adam and it gives me the creeps." She opened the door and the two of them entered the homely warmth once more.
"Anyway, what's this asteroid nonsense got to do with the Alliance?"
Adam knew straight away he had said too much. Now he had to try and extricate himself, without being obvious. "Not much really. Just something Kenji mentioned when we were stargazing."
"Like what?"
"Really Honey it wasn't much." He could feel the flush of falsity approaching. Adam knew that if didn't give the right answer, or at the very least a plausible sounding one; Rose would interrogate him all night until he said exactly what he did not want to say. Which is exactly what Kenji expressly told him to be aware of.
"Come on Adam, out with it. What did our favourite brother-in-law tell you?" Rose looked and sounded stern. To add weight to her questioning, she poked at him for the third time tonight. Adam flinched, feigning pain and drew in his breath. A large stupid grin creased his face. He closed the back door and walked with his wife into the kitchen. He bid Rose to sit and as she did so, he busied himself warming up some soy milk with a large dollop of their own honey. He held his loose tongue until the words would come out the way he wanted them to. Not the way Rose wanted to hear it. Placing the steaming mugs down on the table, he sat closely to Rose and began.
"You know what Kenji's like. Despite his elevated station in life, he's still an old sea-dog. Always will be. Full of tales." Adam sucked in a huge mouthful of air and immediately tried to disguise it. How pathetic, he thought. Rose never missed a thing. He plunged into deeper waters.
"He is not the only one Adam." She said with a smile. "But please go on."
Adam felt wounded, happily though. "Well Honey I really didn't believe what he said, but be that as it may, he told me that perhaps the Alliance had found a way of manipulating some of the larger chunks of asteroid about, in closer orbit to their processing stations. It had been discussed on our side but thought too difficult. After he said that, he dismissed the idea as being a bit beyond earthly technology." Mentally he crossed his fingers. Even though he was telling her the truth and nothing but the whole truth; he tried not to place a great deal of gravity on the situation and hoped Rose wouldn't press it any further.
"That's it!" She exclaimed, banging the stainless steel mug on the table. Rose looked hard at him with her head tilted slightly, as if judging the merit of his words. "Hmm, I believe you are being truthful Adam. In fact I know you wouldn't lie to me. Not much at least, all husbands lie sometimes. But perhaps dear Kenji was not exactly forthright with you uh?"
Adam blushed slightly. "Yes that is perhaps the most likely approach Kenji will always take; 'Protect the innocent from useless information', we've so often heard him say."
"Very well Adam. Let's leave it for now." She said softly and touched his cheek gently with her finger tips. That small gesture from the woman he had known from childhood, meant so much to him; a tender moment he would treasure all his life. Rose stood from her chair and Adam followed her as she led him up the hall toward their bedroom. As they padded noiselessly along the soft carpet, Rose intoned lowly as if someone might hear.
"Anne said she will telephone me first thing in the morning and tell us what the worthless Council has to say about this asteroid business. Nevertheless, there is nothing she could say that will remove this nagging feeling in the back of my brain that's telling me something terrible is going to happen..."
Adam made to speak, but she forestalled him. "Later Adam. I am very much afraid my Love and nothing you also might say will change that. Now that I've said it, let's try and get some sleep and see what the new day brings." She stopped and turned, then kissed her husband sweetly.
Neither Rose nor Adam found sleep easily, turning this way and that, then back again, Rose would find her husband lying on his back just staring at the nothingness of the dark Perhaps he was trying to imagine what was happening out there in the black void beyond the roof. Finally sometime around one in the morning, Rose snuggled closer to her 'astronomer', her face buried into his neck, and with Adam's free arm he made sure the covers were drawn fully about his life love; the heaviness of slumber overcame them.