CHAPTER ELEVEN
Finding Dominants in New England was not the Captain's priority and he argued in a rather calculating manner that the missing supplies included some rather highly technical equipment, and Tom Daniels could be connected with their theft..
'But humanity is in danger," said Ray, "and my wife and son. What about your wife and daughters?"
Carl fumed. Why did these blacks assume that they had the monotony on sons? "Boys run in my family. I have only one daughter, extremely spoiled. Fortunately she's married and living in Rio, no doubt running her husband ragged, charging things on the family credit card. Say, maybe we should revive that old Roman custom of exposing baby girls in rubbish heaps so that us whites have just as much boys as you," said Carl.
Ray almost turned gray, but Ed calmed him. "I think you insulted the Captain."
"Insulted him? And that reference to a rubbish heap."
"He was being sarcastic. He's probably glad he has sons because, well if the Dominants attacked—I mean can you see him with girls? He'd probably put them all in Navy uniforms."
Ray looked at the Captain. If the Dominants attacked, he was certain the Captain would be on their side. For some reason, he suspected he made an enemy.
Enrique was not that more cordial. His offer to help him with his tax return reminded Ray of a cat offering to hold the door open for a mouse and the way the accountant rubbed his hands when telling the former police detective that such was not deductible was too eager.
The Cd said the Dominants developed from human beings during a Second World War experiment. The two brothers could be from the type the Allies recruited to create the New Species.
Sloan made some stew and the Navy Captain proceeded to take all the pieces of turnips from his, after inquiring if she had forgotten the chick peas? He lightened during the meal, telling of his grandchildren and great grand child. He seemed too young.
"Married when I was fifteen. Joined the Navy, lied about my age," he said, "I thought I was going to have a few short years until retirement. Boy was I wrong. Now I have go through the rest of my term."
"These Dominants start having children when they're eight, the girls do," said Sloan, "so you are quite late, not that you are one of them."
He took out a map from the briefcase besides his chair. It was a portion of the heavens. "I have no idea whether I am or not. Do you know what the name of that star system?"
Sloan told him.
"Orshates, the name given by certain humanoid non terrestrials give to that system. These people are very intrepid; something like your Dominants, only not," said Carl.
"That's all nonsense," said Ray.
"I gather you or your father or grandfather is one of these non terrestrials," said Ed, trying to keep a straight face.
The Captain never confirmed or denied this. He was used to non believers, or rather people who did not think much past the solar system. He had to couch his words carefully, tell them that what he did was in the Nations best interest, which it was. When he first started, they had the Russians to contend with. The Soviets wanted any new technology from outer space to come into their hands and the Americans were just as eager to procure the nearest alien technology. Now it was Iraq and Sadam had quite a bit of money.
"I work for Majestic so it's our business to know of any threat from outside the solar system. Most aliens are unfriendly and especially the grays." He took out another photograph. "Certain of these non terrestrials gave us a diagram for this machine, a condenser used in Space Travel. It reduces the correct amount of Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Hydrogen to less than one third. As you can see the valve expands it when needed. Using this, you could travel to the outer solar systems without resorting to cryogenic sleep with it's danger of body breakdown. They're quite expensive and at least three of them were among the stolen items."
"Could have used them on the Challenger," said Ed, "maybe those people would have lived."
"I suspect they died because there were civilians on board. If it were all military, they would have fixed all the holes but someone figured that the Challenger was correct for flight because now they let on a teacher. You have to do the necessary repairs no matter what. Carelessness."
"They could have lied and said the teacher was a Captain in the United States Air force," said Attwood, "but your story about aliens. It could be the government was working on a secret project."
"You realize that if someone that looked like me, for instance, said 'I'm from Outer space', you'd think he was crazy."
"I would, but that was before I learned of these Dominants." .
"Tom!" said Sloan.
"Don't worry we'll save him," said Ed.
"No, it's not that. Captain you said three of these condensers were stolen. Couldn't they be used underground to produce air, for instance, in a sealed room for an indefinite period of time?"
Carl moved to an open window and then back again, "You are correct. The men who captured Tom Daniels, could keep him in a dungeon or prison for one year using one canister and if they decided to distribute a few plants around for carbon monoxide, that would also expand the breathing capacity."
"That's it," said Attwood, getting out of his chair. "We should look for plants who have a dual purpose, ones with edible seeds, perhaps pepper and tomato plants or small nut bearing trees. Captain was there any solar or fluorescent lamps in the stolen items?"
"Yes, both."
Attwood had on his coat. "The enemy has Tom hidden in an underground bunker Captain, do you know all the military installations in Nevada?"
"All of them, including Area 51. I'll get a map, but I have another plan. Ed, can I borrow one of you jackets, a shirt, and some slacks? Also I'll need to make my hair a little lighter, dirtier and longer." He waited. "From what I learned of the attack on those Peaceful Dominants, they were survivalists. A good military man doesn't have to worry about some new species attacking them and they'd want them alive to learn their methods, especially the leader unless his name happens to be Saddam."
It made sense. They knew about Survivalists, those who were always stockpiling for a nuclear attack, who wanted to make a stand against the Commies, Iranians, Iraqis or whatever. They were just the kind the Limousine lady would utilize to get Tom and go against the Dominants, using their fear of an enemy takeover instead of waiting for a decision from the top.
"Good we'll change on the way to Nevada," said Carl, tossing their jackets and unplugging the computers.
Enrique carried a monitor down to the basement where they had parked their cars and came back to pick up one of the processors. He looked as if he did not need any help. "Ray, you take the cords and stop looking like that. I do a lot of body building." He carried one processor in one hand and one in the other. "We'll have to leave a lot of this here." . .
Sloan picked up her research,
Enrique took a brochure from his pocket, advertising a family oriented motel near Roswell. They would have to stay there until Ed and he contacted them.
"For what?" asked Attwood as he picked up the box now containing the printer.
"We're going to snare a pigeon."
5/17/2003
Finding Dominants in New England was not the Captain's priority and he argued in a rather calculating manner that the missing supplies included some rather highly technical equipment, and Tom Daniels could be connected with their theft..
'But humanity is in danger," said Ray, "and my wife and son. What about your wife and daughters?"
Carl fumed. Why did these blacks assume that they had the monotony on sons? "Boys run in my family. I have only one daughter, extremely spoiled. Fortunately she's married and living in Rio, no doubt running her husband ragged, charging things on the family credit card. Say, maybe we should revive that old Roman custom of exposing baby girls in rubbish heaps so that us whites have just as much boys as you," said Carl.
Ray almost turned gray, but Ed calmed him. "I think you insulted the Captain."
"Insulted him? And that reference to a rubbish heap."
"He was being sarcastic. He's probably glad he has sons because, well if the Dominants attacked—I mean can you see him with girls? He'd probably put them all in Navy uniforms."
Ray looked at the Captain. If the Dominants attacked, he was certain the Captain would be on their side. For some reason, he suspected he made an enemy.
Enrique was not that more cordial. His offer to help him with his tax return reminded Ray of a cat offering to hold the door open for a mouse and the way the accountant rubbed his hands when telling the former police detective that such was not deductible was too eager.
The Cd said the Dominants developed from human beings during a Second World War experiment. The two brothers could be from the type the Allies recruited to create the New Species.
Sloan made some stew and the Navy Captain proceeded to take all the pieces of turnips from his, after inquiring if she had forgotten the chick peas? He lightened during the meal, telling of his grandchildren and great grand child. He seemed too young.
"Married when I was fifteen. Joined the Navy, lied about my age," he said, "I thought I was going to have a few short years until retirement. Boy was I wrong. Now I have go through the rest of my term."
"These Dominants start having children when they're eight, the girls do," said Sloan, "so you are quite late, not that you are one of them."
He took out a map from the briefcase besides his chair. It was a portion of the heavens. "I have no idea whether I am or not. Do you know what the name of that star system?"
Sloan told him.
"Orshates, the name given by certain humanoid non terrestrials give to that system. These people are very intrepid; something like your Dominants, only not," said Carl.
"That's all nonsense," said Ray.
"I gather you or your father or grandfather is one of these non terrestrials," said Ed, trying to keep a straight face.
The Captain never confirmed or denied this. He was used to non believers, or rather people who did not think much past the solar system. He had to couch his words carefully, tell them that what he did was in the Nations best interest, which it was. When he first started, they had the Russians to contend with. The Soviets wanted any new technology from outer space to come into their hands and the Americans were just as eager to procure the nearest alien technology. Now it was Iraq and Sadam had quite a bit of money.
"I work for Majestic so it's our business to know of any threat from outside the solar system. Most aliens are unfriendly and especially the grays." He took out another photograph. "Certain of these non terrestrials gave us a diagram for this machine, a condenser used in Space Travel. It reduces the correct amount of Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Hydrogen to less than one third. As you can see the valve expands it when needed. Using this, you could travel to the outer solar systems without resorting to cryogenic sleep with it's danger of body breakdown. They're quite expensive and at least three of them were among the stolen items."
"Could have used them on the Challenger," said Ed, "maybe those people would have lived."
"I suspect they died because there were civilians on board. If it were all military, they would have fixed all the holes but someone figured that the Challenger was correct for flight because now they let on a teacher. You have to do the necessary repairs no matter what. Carelessness."
"They could have lied and said the teacher was a Captain in the United States Air force," said Attwood, "but your story about aliens. It could be the government was working on a secret project."
"You realize that if someone that looked like me, for instance, said 'I'm from Outer space', you'd think he was crazy."
"I would, but that was before I learned of these Dominants." .
"Tom!" said Sloan.
"Don't worry we'll save him," said Ed.
"No, it's not that. Captain you said three of these condensers were stolen. Couldn't they be used underground to produce air, for instance, in a sealed room for an indefinite period of time?"
Carl moved to an open window and then back again, "You are correct. The men who captured Tom Daniels, could keep him in a dungeon or prison for one year using one canister and if they decided to distribute a few plants around for carbon monoxide, that would also expand the breathing capacity."
"That's it," said Attwood, getting out of his chair. "We should look for plants who have a dual purpose, ones with edible seeds, perhaps pepper and tomato plants or small nut bearing trees. Captain was there any solar or fluorescent lamps in the stolen items?"
"Yes, both."
Attwood had on his coat. "The enemy has Tom hidden in an underground bunker Captain, do you know all the military installations in Nevada?"
"All of them, including Area 51. I'll get a map, but I have another plan. Ed, can I borrow one of you jackets, a shirt, and some slacks? Also I'll need to make my hair a little lighter, dirtier and longer." He waited. "From what I learned of the attack on those Peaceful Dominants, they were survivalists. A good military man doesn't have to worry about some new species attacking them and they'd want them alive to learn their methods, especially the leader unless his name happens to be Saddam."
It made sense. They knew about Survivalists, those who were always stockpiling for a nuclear attack, who wanted to make a stand against the Commies, Iranians, Iraqis or whatever. They were just the kind the Limousine lady would utilize to get Tom and go against the Dominants, using their fear of an enemy takeover instead of waiting for a decision from the top.
"Good we'll change on the way to Nevada," said Carl, tossing their jackets and unplugging the computers.
Enrique carried a monitor down to the basement where they had parked their cars and came back to pick up one of the processors. He looked as if he did not need any help. "Ray, you take the cords and stop looking like that. I do a lot of body building." He carried one processor in one hand and one in the other. "We'll have to leave a lot of this here." . .
Sloan picked up her research,
Enrique took a brochure from his pocket, advertising a family oriented motel near Roswell. They would have to stay there until Ed and he contacted them.
"For what?" asked Attwood as he picked up the box now containing the printer.
"We're going to snare a pigeon."
5/17/2003