Just a little part this time...
These Blue Remembered Hills
Part IX
Ten minutes later, after a somewhat circuitous route, Garibaldi, Sarah and the Hammonds were once again on the outskirts of Calloway. Garibaldi eyed Tony Hammond with suspicion. Whoever had been following them knew what they were doing, but they'd been outsmarted by a pro. He said so and Tony shrugged.
"Fifteen years in EarthForce'll do that for you."
"Resigned?"
"A while ago now. Wanted to spend more time with my family." He stretched out a hand to pet Louisa's leg. "Anyway, here's your place, Sarah. I guess… What the…?"
"Well, they found you," remarked Garibaldi drily at the sight of half-a-dozen soldiers on Sarah's once-pristine front lawn. "Do us a favour, Hammond, keep driving."
"What are you talking about?" demanded Louisa, swivelling in her seat. "Sarah, what are those people doing in your front yard? I'm sure if you just talk to them… Tony, stop! Where are you going?"
"Anywhere that's not here," he replied tersely. "Garibaldi's right; we shouldn't stop." He spared a glance for his wife, and smiled. "Don't worry, sweetheart."
"Actually," contradicted Garibaldi, as he watched the diminishing soldiers out of the rear window, "I think you probably should worry. Someone's probably running the vehicle's tags already." Tony Hammond's mouth tightened.
"What in God's name are you mixed up in, Sarah?" Sarah simply shook her head mutely. She had had about as much as she could take. First the weirdness of the dreams, then Harry, now the possibility that her whole life was a lie and she was a kidnapped, brain-washed, telepathic Russian EarthForce commander. It was all because she didn't have enough calcium in her diet. The doctor had warned her, only last month. Sarah, he had said, you need more calcium in your diet. See what happens when you disregard professional advice.
"Hey! Snap out of it!" Garibaldi's harsh tones distracted Sarah from calcium, and she frowned at him.
"I'm about as far out of it as we can get. This has all been just a little too much, Garibaldi."
"Yeah, I know. Look, you know what we found… You just can't ignore it." Sarah considered the possibility. But Garibaldi, curse him, was right. She couldn't ignore it.
"Mm. So, what now?"
"We need to cross-check some information. Run some tests, that sorta thing. But we can't do it here; not when the mob's after you."
"Where, then?"
"Babylon 5."
Ooh, we're getting so close...
