Chapter Nine
A homeless man was sleeping against an ally wall. His eyes were closed in dreams of luxury and forever relaxation.
On the other side of the man's eyelids, about eight feet from him, the air had started to shimmer. To any normal civilian, the air might have resembled the moisture evident on a hot day. But to an FBI special unit alien hunter, the air would have been evidence of an easy catch, because this was the sign of an alien transporting himself from one place to the next.
And then out of the shimmering air, a man appeared. He was dressed smartly, with round eyes and a happy face. His grin filled the street. But no one would see it, as the homeless man was still asleep.
*
Max looked out the window of a car. He felt strange, his stomach was doing flip-flops, but he knew it wasn't because of the search mission. It was something else, something important and significant had just happened. He grinned thinking that he was an alien beacon for strange events.
"Whatcha smiling at Maxwell?" Michael asked from the seat next to Max. Max shrugged his shoulders, "I feel like…something big has happened. That I…need to go somewhere, now."
"Why?" Michael asked, ignoring the curious looks for the David, Nat, and Pete.
"I don't know. But it affects me somehow."
"Sounds specific." Michael added wryly.
"I'm serious, Michael." Michael just shook his head. Sometimes Max could be so weird.
Max continued to look out the window. A man in a black suit caught his eye. The man stood out of the crowd of the people on the sidewalk. While everyone else was walking, this man was just standing there, looking at him. Max couldn't be sure from all the way in the car, but the man's expression seemed to be almost, amused. And then before Max could make any more conclusions, the car had passed and the man was out of sight.
*
Liz stepped out onto New Mexico ground. How good it was to be truly home again! Even though Washington was great, Liz had missed her childhood town. And especially now, Roswell had seemed to be calling to her. And now that she was here, her soul felt almost at rest, like her task was completed. Almost. Although it was fainter, she still felt that tingly need to do something, or talk to someone. But what would she say? Walk up to a complete stranger and say, "So, I feel weird, got any theories on that?" Nope, that won't work.
Liz walked around the airport mindlessly, gathering her bags from the baggage claim as she continued to sift through her feelings.
And what about the dreams? Now that she could finally remember everything about Max, what did it all mean? Was Max actually real and her brain was sending her some kind of signals? Or was Max just an elaborate part of her imagination that she had just happened to remember on the plane. No, Liz's conscience told her, something about that plane ride had caused her remembrance of that dream. She just knew it.
After gathering all of her bags and calling for a taxi, Liz headed out of the airport. The air was cool and fresh, the perfect start to a new morning. Liz looked out at the crowds of people walking on the sidewalks into the airport. Kids were riding their bikes and adults were working.
As the taxi pulled next to Liz, she noticed a sharply dressed man in a suit. Yet he seemed familiar. Where had she seen him before? And just then the man Liz was looking at turned straight towards her and grinned. Wait! -she knew that smile, but where from?
"Are you getting in or what, miss?" The taxi driver yelled at Liz from the front seat as Liz stood on the sidewalk still.
Liz turned towards him, startled. "Uh yes, of course." Liz shrugged off the déjà vu feeling and climbed into the taxi.
And just as the yellow car had started to turn the corner, her brain clicked. She knew where she had seen that man before! How strange…
*
Max got out of the red station wagon behind Michael. They had parked in the desert a few miles from the center of Roswell.
When the whole 'Max starring out of the window lost in his whole world' thing had died down, the group had come up with a loose plan. The plan called for starting closer to the town and then searching outward into the more deserted desert. They were going to break into teams, Nat, Dave, and Pete were going to go one way while Max and Michael were going to look elsewhere. This way they could cover more ground. In a couple hours the group would meet back at the car and then discuss further tactics.
"Alright guys, let's get going." Nat nodded at all of the others and then each group headed out on their own.
After about ten minutes of walking in silence with Max, Michael decided to question his friend further.
"I was just thinking, Maxwell. Do you think these, um, 'feelings' that you've been having might be related to Joshua?"
Max slowed down his power walk into a slower stride. "Well, I thought about that and I don't think so. I'm pretty sure this is something else. It might be related somehow though. I really don't know." Max sighed.
"Do you still feel it now?"
"It's getting fainter."
Michael decided to pay the psychiatrist. Damn, where was his couch? "So tell me then Maxwell, in your best words, what exactly these, ahem, 'feelings' entail."
Max was about to speak, when Michael cut him off in a pompous tone, "Because it's perfectly normal for boys your age to feel this way. In my book, Your 'Energy Source' and You, you'll notice that it's perfectly okay for you to be unable to-"
"Okay, Michael. Stop right there! I am NOT going through some kind of 12 year old puberty." Max chuckled and then paused, "God, you are so messed up, man."
"I know." Michael nodded knowledgably. "But Maria still married me."
"Ya, what drug was she taking?"
"Hey, hey, hey. Stop right there, Maxwell. Maria and I are still in the early stages of our marriage. Don't get me all freaked out now."
Max grinned, laughing. Michael joined in too. Michael slapped his friend on the back lightly and they continued like this for a couple more minutes, their laughter fading slightly with each step.
"Do you think we should start getting serious, Michael? Because I definitely want this whole thing to end; Joshua's just an innocent kid." Max turned to Michael.
Michael stopped walking too. "I know, man. So what do you think we should do first?"
Max looked thoughtful for a minute. He didn't have an alien powers to help this situation. "Could we look for footprints, or the tire marks of a car?" Max asked, unsure.
"Well we could, but that's just the same as trying to find Joshua himself. There might not be marks for miles and miles."
"That's true. Geeze, I don't know what- wait a moment…" Max's voice faded off. Michael raised his eyebrows. Max had closed his eyes like he was trying to see if there was going to be an earthquake, or something. "What is it, man?"
Max opened his eyes. "I felt something. That feeling again." Max paused and turned around. "I think we should go that way." Max pointed to his left.
"How do you know?" Michael asked skeptically.
"I don't know; I just have a feeling. Let's just try it."
"Okay, Maxwell. Cause it's not like we have any other leads. We'll just have to rely on your inner conscience." Michael looked up at the sky, his eyes twinkling, "God help us."
*
Liz's cab made a sharp turn as they headed towards the left side of town. She starred out the window, recreating favorite childhood events with her mind's eye.
She thought of the time she had skimmed her knee on the sidewalk after falling off her bike while trying to learn how to ride. She had only been six years old, but she had gotten right back on that bicycle. The next day she could ride like a pro.
Her mind shifted to the first day of Cadbury Elementary, the private school she had attended as a child. The kids had been friendly and Liz had fit right in.
She had excelled in school. Liz's mother had always been so proud of her academic achievements. Liz had won first place at the Science Fair three years in a row. Liz was responsible and caring. She helped her mother cook dinner. She babysat her baby brothers. Yet she had always wanted to have an adventure, something exciting. Reading adventure books had always made her long for something to happen to her.
Moving out to Washington had been a small step into the world of adventure. She was living on her own, supporting herself. But she never really felt that adventure she had been hoping for.
And then Joshua had been kidnapped. And Liz had felt terrible. She had always wished for something dangerous and exciting to happen, and now it had. But she had never wanted this! She didn't want her little brother to be hurt. She felt responsible for the past events, like the childhood moral: Be careful what you wish for.
She had to fix things, help her mother through this tough time. She wanted to be the one that found Joshua and put his kidnappers in jail. If she had created the conflict, shouldn't she fix it? Liz thought. She would have to get involved, figure things out for herself. Joshua was in danger.
Jolting Liz out of her thoughts, the car made a violent turn to the right. It rounded the corner and continued right. Liz shook in her seat. No tip for this driver, she thought, he's a maniac! Well, she was almost home anyway.
*
"Max we've been walking this way for like ten minutes and we haven't found anything! Do you have even the slightest idea what you're doing?" Michael complained.
Max looked rapt with attention, staring intently right in front of him. "Wait, the feeling's changing. We have to go right now. Wait… ya, right."
"But we've been walking left!"
"And now we have to walk right." Max waived his hand impatiently. "Come on Michael. This is our only clue. Something's calling to me."
"How do you know it's Josh?"
"I don't." Max stated blandly. He began to jog to his right.
"So you could be like mistaking this 'feeling' for hunger or something…Maxwell! Slow down!" Max had broke into a run, as Michael was struggling to keep up behind him.
"Come on, Michael," Max yelled, not looking back. "We're getting closer!"
*
As the taxi stopped, Liz got out and took a long look at her old home. It was a cute, cozy house with an inviting air about it.
"That will be $6. 50, Miss." The cab driver pocked his head out of the window.
"Oh, yes. Here it is." Liz fished in her pocket book for the cash and then handed it to him. Liz was just about to say thanks, when the cab drove off. Could he be any friendlier? Liz thought sarcastically.
Turning back to her house, she walked up the familiar walkway and knocked on the door lightly.
She heard shuffling from within and then heard the door open. "Lizzy! You're home!" A boy in slippers threw himself at his sister.
"Charlie! Hey! How are you? You look so big! How's it going at home?" Liz stepped back to look at her little brother.
"Not so good. Mom's really scared for Josh. I'm so glad your home. We missed you so much."
"I missed you too, pal. Let's go inside. We can talk in there." Charlie nodded smiling, and led his sister in. He closed the door behind him and yelled from the hallway, "LIZZY'S HOME EVERBODY!"
A woman in pajamas with a cup of tea and a small boy in batman boxers came trampling through the house. Liz was covered in hugs and shouts of 'Wow, you came so early' and 'We missed you!' Liz grinned and answered all their questions about home and work.
*
"Okay, Michael. The feeling is stronger now. We're close. And it's pretty constant. I think Josh stopped moving around. He must have sat down to rest or something."
"Do you know if the agents are with him?"
"No, I can't tell. Just follow me. We're almost there."
Michael nodded and scanned the horizons for any signs of Joshua. None.
Max and Michael continued to walk for a little while. Max seemed to know where he was going so Michael just followed him.
Then Michael heard Max stop dead a few feet ahead of him. Michael had been looking at the ground for footsteps, but now he look up at his friend. They were standing on the edge of town. Twenty feet from them was a gas station and a supermarket right next to it.
"Sorry, man." Michael rested his hand on his friend's shoulder.
"Look he's in there somewhere! The feeling's still strong. He must be in town." Max spoke quickly. He sounded a bit desperate.
Michael shook his head sadly, "Max, you must have misunderstood this 'feeling.' The agents aren't going to keep Joshua in Roswell. Maybe you just took a wrong turn."
"I didn't!" Max yelped, and then spoke more softly, "Michael, I know that it's coming from in Roswell. He's must not be in the desert!"
"Max, you're not thinking straight." Michael patted his shoulder as if comforting a child, "Why would an agent keep a child in the middle or town where everyone would recognize him? It doesn't make sense."
After a few seconds, Max took a deep breath. "I guess you're right. It just feels so strong. I was really positive he was in there."
"I know, man. Let's just go back to the car. We can wait for the others there." Max nodded and the two took off in the opposite direction, back to the car.
A homeless man was sleeping against an ally wall. His eyes were closed in dreams of luxury and forever relaxation.
On the other side of the man's eyelids, about eight feet from him, the air had started to shimmer. To any normal civilian, the air might have resembled the moisture evident on a hot day. But to an FBI special unit alien hunter, the air would have been evidence of an easy catch, because this was the sign of an alien transporting himself from one place to the next.
And then out of the shimmering air, a man appeared. He was dressed smartly, with round eyes and a happy face. His grin filled the street. But no one would see it, as the homeless man was still asleep.
*
Max looked out the window of a car. He felt strange, his stomach was doing flip-flops, but he knew it wasn't because of the search mission. It was something else, something important and significant had just happened. He grinned thinking that he was an alien beacon for strange events.
"Whatcha smiling at Maxwell?" Michael asked from the seat next to Max. Max shrugged his shoulders, "I feel like…something big has happened. That I…need to go somewhere, now."
"Why?" Michael asked, ignoring the curious looks for the David, Nat, and Pete.
"I don't know. But it affects me somehow."
"Sounds specific." Michael added wryly.
"I'm serious, Michael." Michael just shook his head. Sometimes Max could be so weird.
Max continued to look out the window. A man in a black suit caught his eye. The man stood out of the crowd of the people on the sidewalk. While everyone else was walking, this man was just standing there, looking at him. Max couldn't be sure from all the way in the car, but the man's expression seemed to be almost, amused. And then before Max could make any more conclusions, the car had passed and the man was out of sight.
*
Liz stepped out onto New Mexico ground. How good it was to be truly home again! Even though Washington was great, Liz had missed her childhood town. And especially now, Roswell had seemed to be calling to her. And now that she was here, her soul felt almost at rest, like her task was completed. Almost. Although it was fainter, she still felt that tingly need to do something, or talk to someone. But what would she say? Walk up to a complete stranger and say, "So, I feel weird, got any theories on that?" Nope, that won't work.
Liz walked around the airport mindlessly, gathering her bags from the baggage claim as she continued to sift through her feelings.
And what about the dreams? Now that she could finally remember everything about Max, what did it all mean? Was Max actually real and her brain was sending her some kind of signals? Or was Max just an elaborate part of her imagination that she had just happened to remember on the plane. No, Liz's conscience told her, something about that plane ride had caused her remembrance of that dream. She just knew it.
After gathering all of her bags and calling for a taxi, Liz headed out of the airport. The air was cool and fresh, the perfect start to a new morning. Liz looked out at the crowds of people walking on the sidewalks into the airport. Kids were riding their bikes and adults were working.
As the taxi pulled next to Liz, she noticed a sharply dressed man in a suit. Yet he seemed familiar. Where had she seen him before? And just then the man Liz was looking at turned straight towards her and grinned. Wait! -she knew that smile, but where from?
"Are you getting in or what, miss?" The taxi driver yelled at Liz from the front seat as Liz stood on the sidewalk still.
Liz turned towards him, startled. "Uh yes, of course." Liz shrugged off the déjà vu feeling and climbed into the taxi.
And just as the yellow car had started to turn the corner, her brain clicked. She knew where she had seen that man before! How strange…
*
Max got out of the red station wagon behind Michael. They had parked in the desert a few miles from the center of Roswell.
When the whole 'Max starring out of the window lost in his whole world' thing had died down, the group had come up with a loose plan. The plan called for starting closer to the town and then searching outward into the more deserted desert. They were going to break into teams, Nat, Dave, and Pete were going to go one way while Max and Michael were going to look elsewhere. This way they could cover more ground. In a couple hours the group would meet back at the car and then discuss further tactics.
"Alright guys, let's get going." Nat nodded at all of the others and then each group headed out on their own.
After about ten minutes of walking in silence with Max, Michael decided to question his friend further.
"I was just thinking, Maxwell. Do you think these, um, 'feelings' that you've been having might be related to Joshua?"
Max slowed down his power walk into a slower stride. "Well, I thought about that and I don't think so. I'm pretty sure this is something else. It might be related somehow though. I really don't know." Max sighed.
"Do you still feel it now?"
"It's getting fainter."
Michael decided to pay the psychiatrist. Damn, where was his couch? "So tell me then Maxwell, in your best words, what exactly these, ahem, 'feelings' entail."
Max was about to speak, when Michael cut him off in a pompous tone, "Because it's perfectly normal for boys your age to feel this way. In my book, Your 'Energy Source' and You, you'll notice that it's perfectly okay for you to be unable to-"
"Okay, Michael. Stop right there! I am NOT going through some kind of 12 year old puberty." Max chuckled and then paused, "God, you are so messed up, man."
"I know." Michael nodded knowledgably. "But Maria still married me."
"Ya, what drug was she taking?"
"Hey, hey, hey. Stop right there, Maxwell. Maria and I are still in the early stages of our marriage. Don't get me all freaked out now."
Max grinned, laughing. Michael joined in too. Michael slapped his friend on the back lightly and they continued like this for a couple more minutes, their laughter fading slightly with each step.
"Do you think we should start getting serious, Michael? Because I definitely want this whole thing to end; Joshua's just an innocent kid." Max turned to Michael.
Michael stopped walking too. "I know, man. So what do you think we should do first?"
Max looked thoughtful for a minute. He didn't have an alien powers to help this situation. "Could we look for footprints, or the tire marks of a car?" Max asked, unsure.
"Well we could, but that's just the same as trying to find Joshua himself. There might not be marks for miles and miles."
"That's true. Geeze, I don't know what- wait a moment…" Max's voice faded off. Michael raised his eyebrows. Max had closed his eyes like he was trying to see if there was going to be an earthquake, or something. "What is it, man?"
Max opened his eyes. "I felt something. That feeling again." Max paused and turned around. "I think we should go that way." Max pointed to his left.
"How do you know?" Michael asked skeptically.
"I don't know; I just have a feeling. Let's just try it."
"Okay, Maxwell. Cause it's not like we have any other leads. We'll just have to rely on your inner conscience." Michael looked up at the sky, his eyes twinkling, "God help us."
*
Liz's cab made a sharp turn as they headed towards the left side of town. She starred out the window, recreating favorite childhood events with her mind's eye.
She thought of the time she had skimmed her knee on the sidewalk after falling off her bike while trying to learn how to ride. She had only been six years old, but she had gotten right back on that bicycle. The next day she could ride like a pro.
Her mind shifted to the first day of Cadbury Elementary, the private school she had attended as a child. The kids had been friendly and Liz had fit right in.
She had excelled in school. Liz's mother had always been so proud of her academic achievements. Liz had won first place at the Science Fair three years in a row. Liz was responsible and caring. She helped her mother cook dinner. She babysat her baby brothers. Yet she had always wanted to have an adventure, something exciting. Reading adventure books had always made her long for something to happen to her.
Moving out to Washington had been a small step into the world of adventure. She was living on her own, supporting herself. But she never really felt that adventure she had been hoping for.
And then Joshua had been kidnapped. And Liz had felt terrible. She had always wished for something dangerous and exciting to happen, and now it had. But she had never wanted this! She didn't want her little brother to be hurt. She felt responsible for the past events, like the childhood moral: Be careful what you wish for.
She had to fix things, help her mother through this tough time. She wanted to be the one that found Joshua and put his kidnappers in jail. If she had created the conflict, shouldn't she fix it? Liz thought. She would have to get involved, figure things out for herself. Joshua was in danger.
Jolting Liz out of her thoughts, the car made a violent turn to the right. It rounded the corner and continued right. Liz shook in her seat. No tip for this driver, she thought, he's a maniac! Well, she was almost home anyway.
*
"Max we've been walking this way for like ten minutes and we haven't found anything! Do you have even the slightest idea what you're doing?" Michael complained.
Max looked rapt with attention, staring intently right in front of him. "Wait, the feeling's changing. We have to go right now. Wait… ya, right."
"But we've been walking left!"
"And now we have to walk right." Max waived his hand impatiently. "Come on Michael. This is our only clue. Something's calling to me."
"How do you know it's Josh?"
"I don't." Max stated blandly. He began to jog to his right.
"So you could be like mistaking this 'feeling' for hunger or something…Maxwell! Slow down!" Max had broke into a run, as Michael was struggling to keep up behind him.
"Come on, Michael," Max yelled, not looking back. "We're getting closer!"
*
As the taxi stopped, Liz got out and took a long look at her old home. It was a cute, cozy house with an inviting air about it.
"That will be $6. 50, Miss." The cab driver pocked his head out of the window.
"Oh, yes. Here it is." Liz fished in her pocket book for the cash and then handed it to him. Liz was just about to say thanks, when the cab drove off. Could he be any friendlier? Liz thought sarcastically.
Turning back to her house, she walked up the familiar walkway and knocked on the door lightly.
She heard shuffling from within and then heard the door open. "Lizzy! You're home!" A boy in slippers threw himself at his sister.
"Charlie! Hey! How are you? You look so big! How's it going at home?" Liz stepped back to look at her little brother.
"Not so good. Mom's really scared for Josh. I'm so glad your home. We missed you so much."
"I missed you too, pal. Let's go inside. We can talk in there." Charlie nodded smiling, and led his sister in. He closed the door behind him and yelled from the hallway, "LIZZY'S HOME EVERBODY!"
A woman in pajamas with a cup of tea and a small boy in batman boxers came trampling through the house. Liz was covered in hugs and shouts of 'Wow, you came so early' and 'We missed you!' Liz grinned and answered all their questions about home and work.
*
"Okay, Michael. The feeling is stronger now. We're close. And it's pretty constant. I think Josh stopped moving around. He must have sat down to rest or something."
"Do you know if the agents are with him?"
"No, I can't tell. Just follow me. We're almost there."
Michael nodded and scanned the horizons for any signs of Joshua. None.
Max and Michael continued to walk for a little while. Max seemed to know where he was going so Michael just followed him.
Then Michael heard Max stop dead a few feet ahead of him. Michael had been looking at the ground for footsteps, but now he look up at his friend. They were standing on the edge of town. Twenty feet from them was a gas station and a supermarket right next to it.
"Sorry, man." Michael rested his hand on his friend's shoulder.
"Look he's in there somewhere! The feeling's still strong. He must be in town." Max spoke quickly. He sounded a bit desperate.
Michael shook his head sadly, "Max, you must have misunderstood this 'feeling.' The agents aren't going to keep Joshua in Roswell. Maybe you just took a wrong turn."
"I didn't!" Max yelped, and then spoke more softly, "Michael, I know that it's coming from in Roswell. He's must not be in the desert!"
"Max, you're not thinking straight." Michael patted his shoulder as if comforting a child, "Why would an agent keep a child in the middle or town where everyone would recognize him? It doesn't make sense."
After a few seconds, Max took a deep breath. "I guess you're right. It just feels so strong. I was really positive he was in there."
"I know, man. Let's just go back to the car. We can wait for the others there." Max nodded and the two took off in the opposite direction, back to the car.
