Three days passed in Quitman, Georgia.
Just as they promised, Ina and Sana stayed huddled in the second floor guestroom during the day. At sunset, they joined Sheriff Calliope and Deputy Vesper and wandered the ground floor office at night. While the four of them ate their supper at the dinner table, the Sheriff's black-and-white television played the news from the state capital Atlanta.
Stories about the Florida-Georgia Border Incident were covered extensively at first, but the coverage of it dwindled rather quickly, night after night. By the third night, the incident was barely mentioned by the news anchor - dwarfed by entertainment and celebrity news and coverage of protests against the Vietnam War.
"Looks like things are starting to settle down." Sheriff Calliope hummed, watching the Atlanta news anchor interviewing an over-excited Beatles fan. She chuckled, "They're more worried about this Ho Chi Minh fellow and the British Invasion than that space age mumbo jumbo."
"Same goes for the newspapers around here." Vesper added, placidly sipping a cup of tea with half-lidded eyes. He glanced at Ina and Sana, both of whom were looking. Seeing the expectant star-sparkles in their eyes made him smile and turn to Calli, "Maybe it's time to give the all-clear."
"You think so, Ves?" Calli hummed. She brought out her packet of cigarettes once again and tapped it on a table, forcing a cigarette out through the open top, "Quitman is pretty set in their ways. You know how things were when Kiara and I decided to get married."
"You and Madam Kiara have charmed the town pretty damn well since then, if I do say so myself." Vesper countered happily. He gestured to Ina and Sana and insisted, "These two are practically part of your household. Adopted daughters!"
"There'll be some teething pains…" Calli considered.
"As with all things." Vesper shrugged. He turned to Ina and Sana, "But you two will behave properly in this wonderful community of ours, won't you?"
Ina and Sana nodded in perfect sync.
"Cross our hearts and hope to die!" Ina swore, raising her hand solemnly.
"Cross our hopes and hearts to die!" Sana followed, fumbling the oath completely.
Ina corrected Sana and the two ladies laughed it off.
Calli heaved a long sigh. Then, she lit her cigarette but kept it in her hand - letting it burn out.
"Fine." Calli conceded. She turned to Ina and Sana and declared, "The two of you can go out and join Ves on his morning patrols. Get your feet wet in the community before you dive in. Then, we'll play it by ear from there." Then, she pointed her cigarette at Vesper, "And it's up to you to bring them home before sunrise, Deputy Noir."
"Yes, Sheriff Mori." Vesper smiled, giving his boss a sharp salute.
Ina and Sana cheered. Vesper folded his arms proudly and high-fived the guests with glee. Calli sighed again and folded her arms.
"Now, Miss Ninomae. Sana. Finish your dinner before it gets cold and get ready for bed." Calli ordered, "I have to watch the 8 o'clock."
"8 o'clock?" Sana tilted her head curiously.
"The eight o'clock news." Vesper clarified, "The Sheriff always watches it every night. She prefers to watch it alone."
"Alone…?" Sana tilted her head the other way now, her curiosity far from sated.
Suddenly, Ina's eyes shimmered.
' The eight o' clock news is for… '
Ina turned to Calli and caught a veiled, complex expression on her face. Seeing that, Ina cleared her throat and backed Vesper up.
"Let's finish our dinner now like Sheriff Mori is asking, Sana. That way, we're both energized for tomorrow, okay?" Ina proposed.
Sana pouted her lips, "Alright."
Ina and the space alien wolfed down their dinner and helped Vesper with the dishes. Calli smiled for a moment, before she turned back to the television screen and flicked her lit, unsmoked cigarette on the ashtray.
…
Early the next day, when Calli and Vesper raised up the flags of the United States and Georgia State, Ina and Sana stood there with them and watched. The sheriff softly hummed the tune of the Star Spangled Banner for their little flag ceremony. Ina laid her hand over her heart reverently while Sana watched the two banners rise with touristic intrigue.
Once the flags flew at full mast, Ina and Sana joined Vesper in Calli's pickup truck.
"Remember what we agreed on, y'all." Calli urged, leaning into the open windows of the pickup cab, "Slow and steady - and don't forget the curfew!"
"Yes, Sheriff!" Vesper, Ina and Sana all said at once.
With that, Vesper drove the large, rickety pickup truck out of the driveway and began his patrol of Quitman, Georgia. Ina and Sana crowded the passenger side window and took in the sights of the quaint, rural, American town bathed in the soft glow of the sunrise.
Vesper drove the pickup truck by the town's greengrocer by the town square where a handful of early risers were already lining up to do their shopping. A good number of them, mostly middle-aged men and women or older, eyed the two unfamiliar faces on the passenger's seat and whispered to themselves like busybodies. They pointed to the strangers - especially at Sana - causing Ina to tense up and fidget in her seat.
But then, Vesper leaned forward and greeted the bystanders.
"Good morning, folks!" Vesper waved to them, "Fine weather for shopping, if I do say so myself!"
"Oh, Deputy Noir." One of the old ladies croaked, "Who, may I ask, are these new faces? Troublemakers you've picked up, perhaps?"
"Troublemakers? No, not at all, ma'am." Vesper tipped his wide-brimmed hat and answered with a smile, "They're from out of town, but they're staying with Sheriff Mori." When Vesper mentioned Sheriff Mori, the whispering simmered down. But Vesper pressed the attack and beamed, "They helped me make a really mean chili too! Real outta' this world stuff. Y'all should come over and try some."
Ina watched the exchange, holding her breath as tense silence filled the air. Before long, the old lady spoke.
"Is that so?" The old lady, finally disarmed by his words, smiled back, "Well, my husband and I might mosey on over to the station sometime when we're feeling peckish then." She took off her hat and nodded to Ina and Sana, "Well then, we hope you enjoy our little town. It's not much, but it's ours."
"T-thank you k-kindly…" Ina stammered.
Sana followed suit, albeit with much more confidence.
The crowd dispersed, leaving Vesper and his passengers in silence once more. Ina heaved a long sigh of relief. Sana patted Ina's shoulder, comforting her. Vesper, meanwhile, shifted gears with a tug of the stick and drove away from the greengrocer.
"Sorry about that." Vesper apologized to his passengers, "Folks around here don't see strangers too often. Most of the outsiders here are city slickers traveling between the bigger towns or to Atlanta. They don't really expect people to actually stay here in Quitman."
Ina shook her head and smiled for Vesper.
"It's alright. Sheriff Mori did tell us to just get our feet wet today." Ina answered frankly, "It was a little scary - but I didn't expect the locals to warm up to me and Sana right away."
Vesper nodded and hummed, "You're a good sport, Miss Ninomae. I can see how someone as bright-eyed as you survived the wringer of the Federal Government with your soul intact."
"Was that supposed to be a compliment?" Ina chuckled.
"Partially." Vesper snorted. He turned his eyes back to the road and noted, "Well then. Let's continue the patrol. Let me show you the rest of town while we're at it."
And so, Ina and Sana's informal tour of Quitman, Georgia continued with Vesper as their calm, happy-go-lucky guide. Half the time, Sana kept her head out of the window like a dog, letting her long locks of golden hair trail in the wind. The rest of the time, Sana pointed at things and at places and at people, asking Ina and Vesper for explanations for each and every single one.
Sana's unbridled joy kept the smile on Ina's lips wide. Whenever Sana stuck her head out the window and let the wind comb her hair, Ina brought out her pocket sketchpad and drew the space alien admiring the Earth - and rural America. Other times, Ina made notes of the points of interest that Vesper brought them to, brewing up an itinerary of places where she could showcase the best - in her eyes - of humanity to Sana.
Good things that Sana, perhaps, can tell the Nebulous One and its Multitude about someday.
…
Even more days passed and, to Ina's and Sana's delight, the reception of the people of Quitman became warmer with every patrol they joined. The middle-aged busybodies smiled for Ina and Sana and called them by name. Old-timers waved when they passed by, complimenting Sana's immaculate locks of golden hair and the childlike stars in her golden eyes.
Little by little, Vesper let the Sheriff's guests do more than just stay put in the pickup truck. Whenever Vesper would stop to help townsfolk and moonlight as Quitman's resident handyman, he would let Sana and Ina join him as his assistants. They did everything from fixing the local diner's ice cream machine to reminding residents about their overdue books from the library to helping set up tables and chairs at the town's dance hall. They even helped him direct traffic for a large freight truck backing up into a narrow back alley behind the town bakery.
Every time, Ina and Sana did wonderful work and did what was asked of them when they could, endearing them to the people of Quitman even more.
So one night at the dinner table, Ina decided to try her luck and ask Sheriff Mori for even more liberties.
"Huh…!?" The sheriff started, raising her brow at Ina, "You want to explore the town on your own?"
"It's been over two weeks, sheriff." Vesper chimed in, sipping his after-dinner tea placidly once more while he vouched for the guests, "The townsfolk are pretty familiar with them already. I think they've got their feet plenty wet as it is."
Calli shook her head, "I know, but…"
"We'll be fine, Sheriff Mori." Ina promised, facing Calli squarely, "I've even prepared an itinerary for our day in town."
"An itinerary!?" Calli nearly hopped out of her seat. She reached out over the dinner table and demanded, "Show it to me."
Ina tensed up but handed Calli her sketchpad, opening it to the pages of her itinerary. She watched the sheriff mull through the list, half-expecting Calli to go on a tirade about pushing their luck or whatnot.
Instead, Calli called Ina over to her side of the table. An order to which Ina promptly obliged.
"The restaurant is closed on Fridays. The owner visits his family over in Atlanta on those days." Calli explained with surprising calmness, "Try visiting this other place Kiara and I go to instead. Vesper knows where it is. Have him show you tomorrow." She passed the sketchpad back to Ina and added, "Plus make sure to get back before sundown on Fridays. Lots of folks pass through the highway from the bigger towns."
"Does that mean you'll let us go on…?" Ina started, but Calli cut her off.
"Only if you promise to be back home before curfew." Calli insisted sternly, folding her arms and closing her eyes.
That was enough for Ina and Sana to start cheering and dancing for joy. Calli had no choice but to take that as a yes. She cleared her throat and called for order in the court.
"Now finish your dinner, you two." Calli urged, "It's almost eight o'clock."
Again, Ina and Sana did as they were told - both of them eager for their next adventure together.
…
The next morning, after Calli and Vesper finished their routine flag ceremony, Ina and Sana joined Vesper in the sheriff's pickup truck once more. They went through the motions as usual, helping the Deputy in his duties while on patrol. However, come lunchtime, Vesper dropped the two guests off at the greengrocer by the town square and left them with one single instruction.
"We'll meet here at 6PM on the dot." Vesper relayed, "Sheriff's orders. Got it?"
"Got it!" Ina and Sana answered, saluting the Deputy.
The two guests bid Vesper farewell and watched him drive the pickup truck to another part of town. That left them, for the first time in a long while, on their own. Free to do as they pleased without their silver-haired chaperone.
Ina and Sana stood there between the greengrocer and the town square, regarding their surroundings. In Ina's eyes, everything seemed brighter and, somehow, the colors of Quitman, Georgia became marvelously vivid. Ina's body felt incredibly light - almost as light as she felt like when she was a child going on her many family trips in her youth.
Ina turned to Sana, finding her similarly awestruck. A smile formed on Ina's lips and she took Sana by the hand.
"C'mon." Ina urged, pulling Sana along into the town square, "Let's make the most of our time today!"
Sana, her jaw dropped in surprise, nodded and let Ina lead her through the small town. The space alien trotted happily along beside Ina as the two of them went through Ina's revised itinerary together.
…
Their first stop was the town bakery where, over platters of sourdough sandwiches, Ina gave Sana a lecture about bread and took the space alien on a bit of a fluffy world tour. Sana listened intently while she wolfed down sandwich after sandwich - much to the delight of the baker and to the agony of Ina's wallet.
But Ina kept on going, happy to let Sana eat her fill and to show her more about the Earth.
Next, they paid a visit to the town diner. Ina's excuse was that she wanted to check up on the diner's ice cream machine, but promptly admitted that she just wanted to share a really good milkshake with Sana.
Seated by the metallic counter atop bright, red, round stools, and under a constellation of warm, hanging lamps, the ex-NASA technician and the space alien poked straws into the triple-thick strawberry milkshake served to them. They sipped it - pure bliss painted on their smiling lips.
After that, Ina brought Sana to the town library. The two of them browsed through the shelves, finding many of the book titles that they and Vesper urged borrowers to return. However, they did that just to buy time for the library's scheduled movie screening in its small community theater.
The movie that afternoon? ' From Russia With Love ' - the James Bond movie from 1963 - four years ago.
"Big city theaters show more recent films." Ina explained with a small sigh, "But this is a movie I've been meaning to watch anyways."
"It's the one that Miss Kaela told you to check out, right?" Sana recalled.
"Humu humu~!" Ina confirmed happily.
With that, Ina and Sana helped the librarian lay out the chairs and set up the projector and the speakers. Vesper even dropped by to lend a hand before peacing-out once again. Then, together with a handful of the residents of Quitman, the two outsiders watched From Russia With Love .
Ina and Sana sat shoulder to shoulder on wooden library chairs, watching the four-year old movie. Their jaws dropped with awe at the secret agent's curious gadgets. Their bodies tensed up during the action-packed gunfights and fight scenes.
On the other hand, in the romantic scenes, Ina's cheeks flushed red and she squirmed in her seat. She grew ever more conscious of the tall, beautiful space alien seated beside her. She glanced at Sana and saw her watching the scenes with fascinated, glowing eyes.
"So that's what those songs are all about…" Sana mused. She turned to Ina and asked innocently, whispering, "Is that the 'love' thing that comes from Russia?"
"... pfft!" Ina burst out into laughter.
"SHHHH!" The librarian and the other movie-goers shushed Ina.
Ina apologized and the movie carried on without a hitch.
…
By the time the movie finished, the library clock read five-thirty in the afternoon. Ina and Sana walked out of the library, bid farewell to their fellow moviegoers and walked to the town square under the light of the setting sun. Cool, late-summer breezes combed their hair and snapped the first browned leaves off of the branches of the trees in the town square. A dry brown leaf fluttered down and landed on Ina's palm.
The cawing of crows and the steady rumble of cars driving through the rural highway cutting through Quitman reached their ears too, telling them the same story.
The seasons were about to change.
Their day was about to end.
Their time was almost up.
"I really had fun today, Ina." Sana walked ahead of Ina and smiled at her, "You made a really good itinerary."
"Y-you think so?" Ina asked, looking up to the tall space alien.
"Mhm!" Sana joined her hands behind her back. She looked up to the light of the setting sun, "I… almost don't want it to end, you know?"
' Me too, Sana. Me too.' Ina thought.
Ina's mind wandered to the near future. Vesper would come by in the pickup truck and they'd go back to the sheriff's office for dinner. A new day awaited them when the sun rose again - Ina knew that.
' But today hasn't ended yet… ' Ina thought again.
While Ina mulled through her thoughts, Sana sauntered over to her and tugged at her sleeve.
"Ina. What's that?" Sana asked, pointing to the building across the town square, "I can hear broadcasts coming from it."
Ina turned to the building and hummed.
"That's the dance hall." Ina chuckled and smiled at Sana, "And those broadcasts - when you hear it like that, it's called Music. The people going there? They're going to go dancing."
"Music…" Sana's golden eyes sparkled, "Dancing… just like what we saw in that movie."
"Yeah." Ina nodded. She closed her eyes and listened to the music playing from the dance hall, "That singer - his name is Elvis Presley. The song he's singing is called ' I Can't Help Falling In Love With You '."
"It sounds so pretty…" Sana gushed, clenching her hands over her heart.
"It does, doesn't it." Ina concurred.
Ina's and Sana's eyes wandered towards each other. They didn't need telepathic empathy to figure out what the two of them were thinking. The both of them wanted to go to that dance hall. Ina, however, wondered if she had the courage to break curfew.
' If it's for Sana's sake… ' Ina thought, laying her hand over her own heart, ' Then, maybe… '
Before Ina could muster up her courage, however, a car horn interrupted her.
HONK! HONK!
Right on cue, the sheriff's pickup truck stopped by the curb and switched on its hazard lights. Deputy Noir drove the vehicle, as expected, but Sheriff Mori accompanied him.
"Howdy, girls." Calli greeted them, tipping her hat, "I hope you had a pleasant day today."
"O-oh, Sheriff. Deputy." Ina stammered, her eyes flicking between the pickup truck and the dance hall across the road. She scratched the back of her head and spoke, "S-Sana and I had a wonderful time. We went to the bakery like you said. Their sandwiches were wonderful!"
Calli rested her elbow on the car door and smiled at Ina, "I knew you'd like it."
"Sheriff Mori was worried sick in the station." Vesper chimed with a sly smirk, "She couldn't wait to get out of the station to check in on the two of you."
"H-hey…!" Calli elbowed Vesper, making him honk the horn comically lightly.
Vesper, meanwhile, laughed at her expense.
Either way, Calli opened the door and urged Ina and Sana to come aboard. The two guests turned to each other once more, stealing glances at the dance hall.
"We'll go another time." Ina whispered to Sana, "Let's go back home for now."
Sana nodded obediently, happy to go wherever Ina wished to go.
Then, the two guests hopped into the cab of the pickup truck, leaving the windy town square and the dance hall behind them.
…
Epilogue
Over that evening's dinner, Ina and Sana regaled Calli and Vesper with stories of their little adventure. The Sheriff and her Deputy listened intently, reflecting the glow of their joy like the evening sea. However, just as Calli was about to switch on her television for the eight o'clock news, a phone rang in the office.
Vesper picked it up and answered the call. After a short while, he raised up his head and turned to Ina.
"Miss Ninomae. It's Miss Kaela." Vesper announced, 'She's looking for you."
"Kaela…" Ina started.
She fidgeted with her fingers under the table and she turned to Sana and Calli. The alien and the sheriff nodded back to her, encouraging her to take the call.
Ina took a deep breath and took the phone handset from Vesper.
"H-hello, Kaela?" Ina spoke sheepishly.
" Hey there, Ina. " Kaela started over the phone, " How are things going over there? Are you finding it alright? "
"I'm doing quite fine here, Kaela. Thanks for asking." Ina replied, twirling the phone cord between her fingers, "B-but… why are you calling all of a sudden?"
" I'm calling because I have some good news and some bad news. " Kaela answered frankly, " Good news is that NASA and the CIA are de-prioritizing your manhunt. They've got their hands busy with the hyperactive Soviet Space Program and the Fifth Columnists here at home. Because of this, they also don't know about your whereabouts. "
"O-oh, is that so?" Ina hummed. She gripped the phone cord in her hand, "So what is the bad news?"
" The bad news is Special Agent Zeta Vestia of the CIA knows I'm involved with you and Sana. " Kaela revealed.
"She does…!?" Ina gasped.
" Yeah, but she hasn't told the other Feds yet. She's also keeping Director Watson and NASA in the dark. " Kaela promptly added, " I confirmed her suspicions, but I haven't told her where the two of you are. I'm actually calling the two of you from a payphone outside her apartment. The two of you still have to be careful. "
"We'll be careful, Kaela." Ina assured, "B-but what are you doing outside her apartment?"
" That's not important. " Kaela interjected,
" What's important is… if you need me to find you another place to hide in, now would be the time. I don't know if I can help the two of you elope again to somewhere else for much longer. " She paused and repeated her offer, " Do you need me to arrange a new place for you and Sana? "
Ina raised her head and glanced at Calli, Vesper and then Sana. She took a deep breath and answered with full conviction.
"I want to stay here in Quitman. I like it here and Sana does too."
" Hm. Alright. " Kaela confirmed, " Just hearing your voice - I can tell that you're doing alright. But I wanted to hear what you wanted from your own mouth, Ina. " The rich NASA patron chuckled quietly, " Seeing how you can say things like that confidently again makes me happy. University Ina is still alive and well. "
"Kaela…" Ina spoke fondly, pressing the handset closer to her ear.
" Don't worry. Zeta won't get another peep out of me about you and Sana. " Kaela concluded, " Enjoy your stay there. Send my regards to the Sheriff and her Deputy - and to the Sheriff's missus if she comes back. "
"I'll pass it along." Ina promised.
On that note, the two old friends bid each other farewell. Ina set down the phone and rejoined her new 'family' at the dinner table. At that dinner table, Ina was surrounded by dear hearts and gentle people. All the while, the eight o'clock news played on the television set.
Ina'nis Ninomae couldn't be happier, she told herself. She wished her happy, carefree days with Sana and their kind hosts could last forever.
…
However, fate would not be so kind. For, when Ina got up from bed the next morning at the break of dawn, she was jolted by shrill, blood-curdling, agonizingly hysterical screams.
Sheriff Calliope Mori's screams.
…
Close Encounters
A Lesson In Humanity
…
To Be Continued