The Neutron Show

by Gary D. Snyder

Chapter 6:

The message had an astonishing effect on Jimmy. Where moments before he had been confused and riddled with doubt he was now filled with a surprising calm. He was certain that this message was meant specifically for him, and he was just as certain that it proved the previous message had also been for him. Someone in this twisted reality was attempting to assure him that the truth could be found if only he knew where to look. The thought that he was not alone was immeasurable comforting to him.

He carefully pocketed the program and began walking slowly back to his house. The truth is out there, he thought, and all lies lead to the truth. In his mind there was only one way to read the two messages. To find the truth, he would have to unravel the deceptions. The only way out would be to go deeper in. By the time he arrived back home he had decided that the first order of business would be to identify his mysterious ally.

"Back so soon?" his mother called as he entered the front door.

"Yes, Mom," he called back as he climbed the stairs to his room.

"How was the concert, Jimmy?" he heard his father ask.

Jimmy paused and touched the folded program in his pocket thoughtfully as he replied. "I'd say the last note was exceptional."

Before turning in he showed the message to Goddard in an attempt to identify the writer, but despite handwriting comparisons and various meticulous scans for biochemical clues Goddard was unable to find any conclusive information regarding who had written the message. Jimmy's handling of the program had either obliterated any physical evidence, or the author was taking precautions against leaving any clues. The second possibility puzzled Jimmy. If someone was trying to communicate with him, why were they being so secretive? As he pondered this question he drifted off to sleep without even realizing it.

He woke the next morning from a dream of having been lost in a gigantic labyrinth of mirrors. As he sought to find his way through he felt sure that he was being watched by shadowy shapes behind the glass walls and was further conscious of someone moving ahead of him staying just out of sight. At last, just as he was about to round the last twist in the maze and discover who the mysterious figure ahead of him was, his alarm went off and startled him awake. Although tt had only been a dream but Jimmy was still sorry he had not been able to learn the identity of who had been eluding him in the maze and ruefully shut of the alarm. "I've got to start setting this thing to go off five minutes later," he muttered as he headed to the bathroom.

When he went downstairs his parents were having breakfast in the breakfast nook, just as they had the day before. "Good morning, dear," his mother said as he entered the kitchen. "What would you like for breakfast this morning?"

"Just a glass of juice, Mom," Jimmy replied as he opened the refrigerator. He was not especially surprised by the rush of cool air that tumbled over him as the door swung open, or by the full carton of juice that waited for him inside. Mistake corrected, he noted to himself. Seeing that his parents were having eggs, bacon, and toast he scanned the kitchen for signs of soiled cooking utensils and found none. "I guess you've already washed the pots and pans," he commented, pouring juice into a glass.

His mother looked surprised and then smiled. "Well, yes," she answered as his father looked nervous and bit his lower lip. "But if you want something I can fix something up."

Jimmy shook his head as he gulped juice from his glass. "No thanks. I was just curious." As he crossed the floor to put the empty glass into the kitchen sink he surreptitiously ran his hand over the surface of the range. As he had half-expected it would be the range was cold and showed no signs whatsoever of recent use. Whatever was going on his parents – if that's who they were – were part of it. He returned the juice carton to the refrigerator, shouldered his backpack and headed to the door. "I'll see you after school."

"Okay, Sweetie. Have a good day," his mother called.

"And if anything mysterious should happen, just ignore it, Son," his father added. "After all, you can't -" He let out a pained grunt as Judy Neutron elbowed her husband in the midsection.

Jimmy ignored it. "Yeah, okay, thanks, Dad," he said as he headed out the door and down the steps. "I'll keep it in mind." He walked towards the street and was met by Carl coming from his own house.

"Hey, Jimmy," Carl called.

Could Carl be the person trying to contact me? Jimmy wondered. There was only one way to find out. "Hey, Carl," he replied as they walked towards school. "You look like you have something on your mind today."

"I do?" Carl asked with a bewildered look.

"Yes. Was there something you wanted to tell me?"

Carl looked uncomfortable and began wringing his hands. "Uh…well…I'm not sure I should…"

"It's okay, Carl," Jimmy reassured him. "Anything you want to tell me is all right."

"Well, okay." Carl looked around him and then leaned forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I don't mean anything bad, but…do you think that your mom might be divorced by the time I'm eighteen?" Seeing Jimmy's incredulous expression he hastened to add, "Not that I want your parents to break up, but, you know, if there's a chance…"

Jimmy cut him short. "That's what you wanted to tell me?"

"Well…that and I'm happy that you and Cindy aren't fighting as much anymore."

"Cindy?" Jimmy repeated. It was true that Cindy had been near the scene of both messages. Was it possible that she was trying to contact him? If so, why hadn't she just said something to him when he had seen her at the concert? Or slipped him a less cryptic message?

Sheen's strident voice from behind interrupted his thought. "Hey, guys!" he called, hurrying up. "Wait up!"

Carl and Jimmy halted patiently, waiting for Sheen to catch up. "Hi, Sheen," Carl said.

"Hi, Carl," Sheen panted. "Hey, Jimmy. There's something I wanted to ask you."

Jimmy's attention was immediately aroused. "Yes? What is it?"

In response Sheen held forth one of his Ultra Lord figures. "Do you think that Ultra Lord's mightanium battle armor makes his butt look big?"

Jimmy let out a snort of disgust and resumed walking. "He's a plastic doll, Sheen –"

"He's an action figure!" Sheen shrieked. "And even if he were a doll, he'd still care about his appearance." He carefully examined the plastic figure from all angles.

"He looks fine, Sheen," Carl soothed.

Sheen breathed a sigh of relief and replaced the toy in his backpack. "I guess you're right, Carl. Maybe I'm being silly about this, but he has to look just right. After all, Ultra Lord can do anything. Well, him and Jimmy."

As the three approached the Lindbergh Elementary School building Jimmy spotted Libby approaching from another direction. Usually, when she walked to school, she walked with Cindy but today she was alone. On a hunch that this might be significant Jimmy detached himself from Carl and Sheen and intercepted her. "Hi, Libby."

"Hey, Jimmy. What's shaking?" As was her habit she was wearing headphones and half-dancing as she listened to her music collection.

"I was wondering if there was something you wanted to tell me."

"Just that this new album by Counting Pumpkins is their all-time best." She offered the headphones to Jimmy. "Want to listen?"

Jimmy shook his head in polite refusal. "No thanks. Where's Cindy?"

"You looking for her?" Libby gave him a curious look.

"Well, sort of."

Libby shook her head. "Don't know. Haven't seen her since yesterday. Man, when are you two ever going to put it all together?" She wandered towards the school entrance, humming along to the music. Defeated, Jimmy rejoined Sheen and Carl and continued towards Miss Fowl's classroom.

"What was that all about, Jimmy?" Sheen asked.

"Nothing important," was Jimmy's evasive answer. As he slipped behind his desk he couldn't help noticing that Cindy's desk, next to him, was empty. That was unusual, as Cindy usually arrived early and took great pride in her near-perfect attendance record. As the other students filed in and took their places and Cindy failed to appear he began to worry. She might be home sick, he thought, or she could have been delayed somehow. But as the school bell rang and Cindy's desk remained empty he became increasingly uneasy. As Miss Fowl cleared her throat to make an announcement he had the irrational belief that it would be bad news regarding Cindy.

"Class," Miss Fowl began in a somber voice, "I'm afraid that I have bad news. We've been informed that Cindy Vortex is missing." As a collective gasp and murmur passed through the classroom Miss Fowl paused and resumed when the class was once again silent. "Her parents and the police ask that anyone who may have seen her after school yesterday to contact them immediately. That is all."

As the murmuring again resumed Jimmy's thoughts boiled. He had seen Cindy last night at the concert. It was too much to believe that her disappearance just when he needed to speak with her was a mere coincidence. More than ever he was convinced that it had been Cindy who had left the messages for him and he was sure that her sudden disappearance had to do with her trying to contact him. He still had no idea what was going on, who was behind it all, or why.

But for Cindy's sake he was determined to find out.

End of Chapter 6.