Almost gave up on this because I didn't think people were reading it; but I see that people actually are reading this story, so I'll return to it now. Reviews would be nice.

CHAPTER 4

Roy Neary stared at Jillian Guiler. Jillian Guiler stared at Roy Neary.

"Jillian?" he asked.

"Yes."

He looked around him. He remembered this place. "How long have I been gone for?"

"Thirty-three years. This is 2010."

"2010! A whole new century, I can't believe it. He looked down towards the lights of the city in the valley. The lights had come back on now. He didn't remember there being so many lights, or so the city limits coming out as far as it was now.

They heard sirens coming up the hill in their direction. Police. Jillian instinctively grabbed Roy and dragged him off the road. They ducked into the bushes. Roy marvelled at the police cars as they passed by. He had never seen cars like those before. Jillian was worried. What was she supposed to do now? Roy couldn't just stay here. For now, she took Roy to her home in her truck.

"Jillian," he asked suddenly, "Where's Ronnie? Where's my wife? My kids?"

Jillian didn't know. But she knew who might. She picked up her cell phone and pressed re-dial. Roy marvelled at the gadget in her hand.

"That's a phone? With no phone jacks? No wires? How does it work?"

"By satellites, I think. I never really understood this stuff. Barry could tell you."

"Reminds me of Star Trek. You remember the communicators they used? Beam me up, Scotty. Say, how is the kid these days?"

"He's not a kid anymore. He's thirty-six now. And he's engaged. He went to college and now he works for SETI."

"Who?"

"Sorry. SETI has to do with sending messages out into space and listening for a response. From them, or anyone else who's up there." The phone rang on the other end.

Laughlin paced his office. He was nervous. What had happened? The phone rang. Laughlin picked up on the second ring. "Jillian...you what?...You did...He's back? You're kidding! This is incredible. Listen. Keep him there. There's a friend of mine on his way now, Mr. Robert Conneaut. I'll try to get him to contact you."

Roy was back! It was unbelievable. Lacombe would want to know about this right away. Lacombe would know what to do. He dialled the hospital.

"I need M. Claude Lacombe's room please...yes, I know it's late...it's important...thank you."

Lacombe picked up. "Allo?"

"M. Lacombe, it's David Laughlin. There's something you should know. Roy Neary is back!"

The line went silent. "M. Lacombe?"

"Oui. Listen to me. Get Conneaut. Get him to Neary, or Neary to him."

"That might be tricky. He's on his way to Indiana with General Turner and his military."

"Do not let General Turner get to Neary at all costs. We do not know what he may do to him. Do your best. And keep me informed, s'il vous plait." Lacombe hung up the phone. He had been asleep, but he was too excited to go back to sleep now. He turned on the T.V. instead and waited.

Laughlin called Conneaut and told him about Roy. Conneaut was excited, but could not show it, for fear it might arouse the suspicions of the general. Neary! He had longed for years for a chance to meet this man. The jet had just touched down on the runway, and Conneaut and Turner were preparing to disembark.

Laughlin finished his call; he got up out of his chair, turned out his office light and headed for home. All he could do was wait. And he could do that more comfortably back home in his apartment.

At five-thirty in the morning a Boeing from California came to a stop on the runway of Terre Haute International Airport in Indiana. It rolled into the hangar and its passengers disembarked. Barry Guiler and Jane Freemont were among them. Barry made a note of the official looking jet they passed on the way to their arrivals gate. While Jane collected the luggage, Barry went to the Hertz rental car desk to get their transportation.

Barry asked for whatever was available; he wasn't interested in being picky. The male attendant entered Barry's information into the computer. While he was waiting for the printout of a contract, the man said, "You wouldn't believe the things I've seen these past few nights."

"Oh?" Barry feigned un-interest, but he was really all ears.

"I seen lights in the sky. Multi-colored ones, and they were planes either. They did things I've never seen done before."

"Amazing," said Barry. Jane had by now caught up to Barry at the counter. He and Jane looked at each other. Jane could see worry in his eyes.

Barry got the keys to a blue Toyota Camry. Barry drove. It took them another two and a half hours to reach his old hometown of Muncie. They pulled into the familiar driveway. His mother's pickup was out front. That was good. Barry parked the car and Jane grabbed their baggage. Barry strode in the door.

"Mom?" he called out.

"Barry?" she answered. He let out a sigh of relief. Jillian greeted him from the kitchen. She was not alone, though. There was a man with her. The men regarded each other for a moment. Suddenly Barry had a clear memory from thirty-three years ago. This man had gone onto the spaceship! This man was Roy Neary!

For Roy's part, he nearly didn't recognize the young man before him. He'd heard his name called out – Barry - but it was hard to connect the memory of the boy he knew with this man. It made him think again of his own children – Toby, Brant and Sophie. They would be all grown up too, wouldn't they? Would they remember him?

A black sedan was waiting for Conneaut and the general. Driving it was a bulky looking man with a black suit. They got in. An army jeep pulled up behind them. In that jeep were four regular army troops. They all carried hefty looking guns. Conneaut eyed them warily. This was going too far. The driver of the jeep exited the vehicle and marched over to Turner's door.

"We had reports last evening of lights in the sky. Five bogeys over in the northwest. We went to investigate, but we didn't find anything. Where would you like us to go?"

"I'd like to pay a visit to this Guiler woman. I want to know what she knows."

"Yes, Sir!" The man snapped off a salute and returned to the jeep.

Before they could roll, one of Turner's aides rushed up to the Sedan. Turner rolled down his tinted window and the aide whispered something into his ear. Turner turned a sour glance toward Conneaut. He said something back to the aide.

Conneaut winced at the stare. He felt a trickle of sweat run down his forhead. He felt sure his call from Laughlin had been caught. He was right.

"Mr. Conneaut. I understand you've had contact with Laughlin regarding this case that you haven't shared with me. Tell me about this Roy Neary. I understand he's been returned to us."