"Invaders From Mars II…"

Summary: David's dream was a premotion but the actual story went a bit differently…

Part IV…

Frieda's, a local bar near the military's rocket base…

"Kelston, I'm sorry as Hell about what happened." Fielding, seated at table by Dr. Kelston, sighed. "But we couldn't do any differently. And you've no cause to blame yourself."

"A waste all around…" Kelston shook head. "That poor kid, Helen, that ship and what it had to offer. I keep going over in my mind what I could have done differently. And David, he was so sure things would turn out well, as in his dream."

"Well…It's been a damned terrible time, but we didn't attack them." Fielding noted. "I suppose we'll have to be on alert from now on for more landings. And really push that atomic rocket program. Funny…" he smiled at Kelston. "You know this may be just the thing to bring about world peace. Unity in the face of a common foe."

"Pretty poor reason, but I guess I'll take it. If nothing else, a memorial Helen would have liked." Kelston sighed. "God, what do I tell her family? That boy's family?"

"You won't have to do it, and certainly not alone. It's my responsibility." Fielding nodded. "But let's take that up in the morning. The last report from the hospital confirmed the parents are safely recuperating but they won't be up for this till tomorrow at the earliest."

"Yeah…" Kelston looked at his drink, swallowing. "Almost makes you wonder if they weren't better off under the Martians' control, not caring."

He sighed at Fielding's sympathetic stare. "I know…Still, I don't know what to say to them. I appreciate that you want to do it, Colonel." Waving hand as Fielding moved to speak. "But I listened to the boy's story, got you and your men here."

"And saved the world…And the boy's parents,Kelston."

"Yeah…Somehow, I don't think they'll find that quite enough. Well…I suppose I should get off to my place and start getting notes together. I want to review the site tomorrow and go over all readings taken, get some samples. It's just strange about the ship destroying itself." Shaking head. "Though right now…"

"I'm not generally a drinking man, Kelston. But there are times when it's best to just get plastered." Faint smile. Raising glass. "To Rinaldi, a good man."

"To him." Kelston raised glass. "Sorry, I'd forgotten you lost some good friends too, tonight."

"I did, including two very old friends in Rinaldi and General Mayberry." Fielding nodded. "But they knew the risks and they did their duty. I do feel for the boy and Dr. Blake too, Kelston. Well, suppose we do another round?" Kelston nodding and Fielding signaling for the waitress.

"I loved her, Colonel. I should've married her." Kelston noted.

"I understand, son." The Colonel nodded. "I lost a wonderful girl years ago, in Germany. She'd survived so much, somehow, but happiness and hope for regaining her life was too much for her after all she'd endured, poor thing." Sighing.

"A German girl?" Kelston asked.

"Half-Jewish German. She's gone to those camps late in the Nazis' round-up." Fielding explained. "I'd hoped, she'd hoped, she'd make it…But she never quite recovered her strength and typhus during the Occupation took her."

"I'm sorry." Kelston noted, shaking head.

"Well, it was years ago. And she was very happy for seven months, both of us were. You know she was a doctor herself, but hadn't been able to practice medicine for years. She was looking forward to being a doctor again." Fielding shook head. "I went through a lot of cursing fate, myself, son. But…Sometimes these things just aren't meant to be. I know it may sound trite, but cherish the time you did have."

…

"I see you're tired, David. Not surprising, I'd say from my experience as a doctor given all you've been through today. Why don't you go on the upper bunk and get some sleep?" Dr. Blake urged to the yawning David.

"I guess. But you won't sleep?" he eyed her. She offered a coy smile. "David, you know I can't take that chance, much as I like and trust you. But my body will rest a bit here."

"Ok…" he sighed, nodding. "But you promised Dr. Blake won't be hurt."

She nodded. "I'll be fine. And really, if I'm going to get any rest, you have to get to sleep. I'll turn out the light." She rose.

He nodded and climbed up. She turned out the compartment light and sat back on the lower bed.

"Do…?" he began from the upper bunk. "Never mind."

"What is it?" friendly tone.

"Well…Do Martians say prayers at night?" he asked.

"Well, we don't sleep as you do…But we do our own version of praying to the Divinity of the Universe. We have our own version of God, if that's what you mean."

"Yeah…Well, thanks. Good night."

"Good night, David." She called. "Sweet dreams." Pleasant tone.

Dr. Blake staring, leaning against the compartment wall, eyes steady and quiet with just the occasional blink as the train moved on.

…

"Listen, Colonel…" Kelston, now a bit as the Colonel had put it, plastered, but intent, drew a figure on the table.… "Here, the shippp…You see that?" he indicated the crude saucer, he'd drawn literally on the table with his pen.

"I see it, Doctor." Colonel Fielding nodded.

"If that shap…Ship blew up, it had to leave fragments. It didn't, did it? So, it didn't blow up, that's for sure." Nod.

"Yes, that's certain." Fielding agreed, kindly tone.

"I know you think I'm bombed…And I knda…Kinda am. But I'm making a point here."

"I understand, Kelston. And I agree. There's got to be debris if the ship exploded. And even if it disintegrated deliberately."

"Exactly…Unless they destroyed it completely, every atom, every source of energy…And that's just not right, not by the laws of matter an' energy."

"Can't be created or destroyed, correct?" the Colonel noted.

"Correct…A, for the class."

"Thanks." Smile. "So, unless we find something, the ship didn't explode or disintegrate. But we've no evidence that it went anywhere, at least according to our instruments."

"There are more things, Colonel…Around…Then they dream of…"

"A paraphrase of Shakespeare, but a good one. You think the ship may have survived, Kelston?"

"Maybe…Maybe…But where is it? It's not here."

"Could it have traveled back to Mars, that quickly? Or gone into orbit, above the Earth?" the Colonel eyed him.

"Strategic retreat…Hitler shoulda done that in Russia. I was in the army then, in Europe. But they stuck me in scientific review of Nazi equipment." Kelston noted.

"Yes, so you told me. But it was a good place for a man as brilliant as you are."

"Thanks you." Nod, slight bow. "Anyway, if they made a retreat…Helen and the boy…" he paused, anxious look.

"I hope so, Kelston." The Colonel nodded. "But look, best to finish up and head for home. We'll start fresh in the morning. And you have given us something to consider, maybe even some hope."

"David said, in his dream…" Kelston paused. "There was only one Martian leader…The humanoids were following him…They wouldn't blow up their leader?"

"I'd think not but we don't know if that was the leader or just some big wig they sent to run the operation on Earth. Well, lets keep the idea in the oven and see what it brings us. You and I both need some shut-eye."

"I suppose." Kelston nodded. "But it's hopeful, right?"

"It is, son. But we'll consider it in the morning, all right?"

"Ok, just don't tell Helen's parents or David's yet, ok, Colonel?"

"No, not yet." Nod. "Come on Kelston." The Colonel rose, swallowing the last of his drink and paying the bill the waitress had left. "I've got a driver waiting. He'll get us both home in one piece."

"Right…And we start tomorrow, right?"

"Absolutely. Bright and early. We'll get on things soon as I check that my superiors got my report and answer their questions. But you can come by my office as early as you like."

"Good…Well, I guess I'd better accept that ride home."

"Right. Come on." Fielding led Kelston towards the door.

"Say, boys…" a rather lovely young woman in rather risqué dress came up as they emerged onto the street. "Don't go home yet…We could get ourselves a fine party." Smile.

"No…Thanks…" Kelston noted, swaying a bit as he stood by the Colonel.

"Thanks, young lady, but my friend and I are headed home. Benson!" the Colonel called to his driver.

"Sir!" the young driver, a private came over from the parked car.

"Lets get Dr. Kelston home. Any messages for me?"

"No, sir." The private noted. "Alls been quiet."

"All right, lets get to Kelston's and then to the base." He and the private led Kelston into the backseat of the car and Fielding got in.

"Another time, soldier boy." The woman cooed.

"Appreciate the offer, but no thanks, Miss." The Colonel noted. "Lets go Benson!" The car drove off.

The young woman eyeing after them coldly. Pulling a shawl close about her.

"Hey, baby…" A bar patron who'd caught the end of her conversation came up. "I'm free…"

"Good night." She eyed him coldly. Turning and walking away down the street.

In a side alley, a blonde young man in jacket came up to her.

"The officer and the scientist weren't interested despite being a bit intoxicated." She noted. "We may as well go and rest these bodies until tomorrow. Take me to my parents'. Then you should return to your own home. And remember, we had dinner at a new restaurant, out of town, and then saw the film playing downtown." He nodded, set blank look.

"It's unfortunate there are so few of us left in town and no way to recruit more." He noted, walking her back up the alley to his parked car.

"It can't be helped." The young woman noted, cold stare. "But we'll see as to a course of action tomorrow."

…

….