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Max Hadron: The Case of the Stranded
Spaceship, Part II
February 24, 2003
There was a lot to do and not much time to get it done. Diane and I both hustled back into the kitchen, quickly forming a plan. Since I normally play the heavy, I approached Stacey with my sternest look, knelt down, and grabbed her by the shoulders.
"Stacey, listen to me. Those visitors out there are getting ready to do something to you. They need to leave now, and they may or may not have much experience about how to hurt you from a distance - to make that happen. It's time to let go."
Stacey looked at me first with wide open blue eyes, and then she squinted just a bit. I could see the wheels turning. After a few seconds, she sighed and looked out the window. As we all watched in awe, the black shape shrank to a dot and disappeared. It didn't light up thrusters; it didn't rise straight up in a roar for all to see. It simply vanished as if it had sped away from us on our line of sight. It didn't even take a second.
I gave Diane my H&K 9 mm, and she ran out to the car to stash it along the Beretta she keeps in her purse. Even though we have licenses, it's always better to confront the police in this kind of situation unarmed. Keeps them calm and rational. I briefed Amanda on the best course of action. I had to get a little pushy from time to time because she's the kind who's accustomed to always being the know-it-all. In this case, she had zero experience, and it took a little extra vocal energy to convince her of that. When Diane returned from the car, I briefed her on new details of the plan. She took Stacey aside to talk about it.
I asked Amanda and Diane to start up some bacon and eggs so that there would be a cozy, domestic smell in the house. In a few minutes, there was a pounding at the door. Stacey, Diane and I took our places at the kitchen table, and Amanda answered the door.
Two very lean and athletic County Sheriffs followed Amanda back from the foyer. One was almost my size, dark skinned and sported a ruddy, near handlebar mustache. The other was light skinned and fair-haired with very alert blue eyes. Wiry and fit, he was.
The shorter of the two officers stood for a few seconds and surveyed the situation. The other hung back, just out of sight. Amanda apologized (smart lady) and went back to the stove to work on her eggs. I stayed put. Slumped a little at the table.
"My name is officer Jornada. With me is officer Tomlinson. We received a report of a disturbance in your yard."
As agreed, Amanda started the talking. "I don't really know what you're talking about. I didn't call 911 or anything like that."
"A newspaper boy reported a large, unusual object behind your house."
Amanda turned to us at the table with a straight face. "Have you guys seen anything?"
We all shook our heads negative and looked bewildered.
"May we go outside and look around?" Jornada asked.
"Sure. Would you like some juice?"
Officer Jornada declined, took a long look at me, and then let himself out the back door. Tomlinson followed. From the kitchen table, we watched them poke around in the back yard, kicking at the dirt and inspecting the bushes. Then they wandered further out into the desert for a time. When they finally came back in, careful to wipe their shoes, Jornada looked at me, and then Amanda.
"Is this your husband, ma'am?"
"No just a friend. And Diane is his friend. We invited them over for Sunday breakfast."
"You eat right early, ma'am."
"I'm an astronomer. I work all night. When the sun comes up and I get home, I'm starved. Aren't you guys?
We all smiled and nodded affirmative. Tomlinson smiled too.
"Well. we're sorry to have bothered you. I guess we'll be on our way. Sorry for the interruption." He reached into his shirt pocket. "Here's my card. If you see anything unusual, you call me, okay?"
"Certainly, Officer Jornada." Amanda smiled a beaming smile. "Care for some toast?"
Tomlinson started to reach out his hand, but Jornada caught him and dragged him to the front door. We sent Stacey to usher them out, and she stayed in the living room so she could watch them leave.
"They're in the police car," Stacey reported.
After a long pause, Diane called out. "Now what are they doing?"
"The short one is talking on the radio."
We waited.
"Now what?" Diane asked.
"They're coming back in the house!" Stacey cried.
Amanda sent Stacey to her room. It was 0745. I pulled out my cell and called Bryan Whitcomb, my friend at the San Jose police department, at his home phone. Just in case.
The second time I went into the ship, I wasn't so scared. I suppose I should have been, but I wasn't. They let me go the first time, and they didn't kill me or dissect me, so I figured they were the polite type. Very civilized and all that.
When I walked through the lighted portal again, there was a little more light inside, but I still couldn't see much. The E.T. that greeted me this time, (I couldn't tell them apart), led me into the same dark room where I could see the faint outline of of a table and two more of the beings standing (sitting?) on the far side.
My host walked around to the far side of the table and joined the other two. Then, it seemed to turn its gaze upon me, but the fog surrounding it kept me from seeing clearly in the darkness.
"Why have you come back?" it asked.
"I wanted my mom to follow me inside. But she wouldn't."
"Wise. We continue to ponder your fate," my host said calmly and quietly.
"While you ponder, do you mind telling me what star you're from?
"We have told you what you must do," one of the other ones said in the same quiet voice. They sounded alike.
"What if I don't?"
"One at this table has proposed ... sacrificing you," my host said.
I backed up a little. I was beginning to sense that they were feeling some urgency, what with the sky brightening. Maybe they weren't so civilized after all. Or, maybe they were just trying to scare me.
Then I saw one of the others at the table raise an arm. There was some kind of gadget in its hand, and it started making a slight hum. All of a sudden, an overwhelming fear swept through my head. I couldn't control it, and I almost peed in my pants. I backed up sharply and hit against wall.
It stopped as fast as it started, and the hum disappeared. My host approached me, and for the first time, I was starting to lose it. "Please observe," it said.
I saw an image appear, hovering over the table. Like a hologram, but very clear. My mom was holding hands with two strangers and hailing me, pleading with me to come out of the ship.
"May I leave now" I asked?
"I will escort you out," my host said in even more hushed tones. "There is little time left for you to make a decision. Reflect on what happened here."
Officer Jornada didn't bother to knock this time.
He and Tomlinson walked briskly back into the kitchen and announced that we were going to be detained for further questioning by a government official. As he nonchalantly unbuckled the strap on his holster, he asked us to please place our driver's licenses on the table and remain seated. Diane and I looked at each other, wondering what had gone wrong.
So we finished our bacon, eggs, toast and orange juice in silence. Neither Jornada nor Tomlinson spoke a word as they calmly and methodically copied the information from our licenses onto some kind of small tablet computer. After that, they just stood over us for the better part of an hour, glancing at their watches. About 0835, another siren sound became steadily louder and terminated with the sounds of dirt and stones flying around in the driveway.
In a few moments, an Air Force Major strolled into the kitchen and introduced himself. He had a manilla envelope tucked under his arm.
"My name is Major Bud Lightman, United States Air Force. You are all witnesses to an important event. I'm afraid you will not be able to leave until I have questioned you to my satisfaction."
"I haven't witnessed a darn thing this morning," I said smiling. "Except considerable rudeness." I turned to Amanda and used her first name purposely. "Amanda, your door bell still works right?"
"What's your name?" the Major asked.
"Max Hadron."
"Please wait until I address you, mister Hadron. Things will go better." He pulled up a stool and sat down near the table as he took the tablet computer from Jornada. They whispered for a few minutes. Then the Major studied the computer display for a long time.
"So. Mister Hadron. You're a private detective. Is that right?"
"Yes."
"That makes you a keen observer, doesn't it?"
"Pretty good, I'd say."
"Did you see anything unusual out there in the desert this morning?"
"Not really."
"I have satellite photos in this envelope that say you are wrong."
"May I see them?"
"No. They're classified."
"Then, as a keen observer, I can't really comment on your assertion, can I?"
Lightman looked at me, annoyed, for a few seconds. After a pause, he changed the subject. "What are you doing here so early on a Sunday morning?"
"Early for who?" I asked deadpan.
Confronted with this, Lightman stared out the window for a few more seconds while he worked his jaw around. Then he opened the envelope and took out one of the photos, inspected it first, and threw it on the table in front of me and Diane. He pointed to a section of the photo that showed a long road with a single house amidst a few trees throwing long shadows. There was a good sized black circle next to Amanda's house.
"What do you think that is?" the Major said, pointing at the black dot.
I leaned over. "Looks like a black dot to me."
"That," Major Lightman pronounced," is an extraterrestrial spacecraft."
"Gee, it looks like a black dot to me." I turned to Amanda. "Whatcha think?"
She leaned over and studied the photo for all of a second. "Looks like a black dot." Amanda said flatly.
"Could be dust on the lens...." I suggested.
"No," Armada said. "Dust or dirt on a lens doesn't produce an image at the focal plane. It simply reduces the overall brightness and contrast a little."
"Oh my. But Buzz Lightyear here thinks it's an extraterrestrial spacecraft."
"Lightman," the Major said, growing more annoyed.
"Right. Buzz Lightman."
"Bud!"
"Whatever," I said smiling. "Look. If there had been anything out there, don't you think the officers here would have found some evidence? Like depressions. Burnt bushes. Foot prints with seven toes. Or something?"
"Our witness says the ship was hovering."
"That's convenient," Amanda said sarcastically. "Swamp gas hovers too, you know. It just floats there like a cloud."
"Swamp gas in the desert?" the Major raised his eyebrows.
"Or maybe ball lightening," Amanda offered, opening her hands in conjecture. "Ball lightening fools a lot of good observers."
The Major sighed. "You two smart asses are in big trouble. I suggest you take this more seriously."
Amanda broke in curtly. "Major Lightyear..."
"Lightman!"
"Whatever. I have been taking astronomical photographs for going on twenty years. A black dot on a photograph does not constitute an alien spacecraft in the science of astrophysics."
Lightman looked at her smugly. "We have other, corroborating evidence."
"Good for you!" Amanda replied crisply. I suggest you take your black dot and your half asleep, juvenile, corroborating newspaper boy to UFO Magazine. I'm sure they will believe you. I certainly do not."
I saw Diane's eyes widen at this remark. But I didn't have time to think about it. Meanwhile, Lightman rubbed his nose and scratched his head. He glanced at Diane who was doing her best Faith Hill imitation, wide-eyed and country sweet. Then he stared at Amanda and me in turn. "You two have made false statements to a government official. There are severe penalties for that. I'm afraid I have no choice but to have these officers take you into custody. Where is the daughter?"
"In her room," Amanda said. "Leave her alone. She's only fourteen."
I interrupted smartly. "So let's get this straight. You barge into a private home, show us a smudgy photo, accuse us of having seen alien spacecraft, and when we competent adults affirm that we have seen no such thing, you accuse us of false statements?"
"Shut up, Hadron! If I feel so inclined, I'll accuse you of covering for terrorists. You won't even see a lawyer for ninety days."
"Extraterrestrial visitors are now classified as terrorists?" Amanda started laughing and couldn't stop. She rolled over into a belly laugh. Almost fell off her chair.
"Too late," I said flatly. "I've already talked to detective Whitcomb in the San Jose police department. Just before you charged in here."
Lightman stood up and reflected on the situation. Amanda was still giggling. Diane gave Lightman her sweetest semi-smile and said nothing. I simply glared at him. Finally, Lightman focused on Diane. "I don't know what your part is in this. You're probably involved. But I'm going to ask you to stay here, for now, and take care of the daughter. Don't leave the county. Is that clear?"
"Sure, Buzz." And then, with her best theatric blush: "Sorry...."
Lightman glared at Diane for a second, then turned to Amanda and me. "Let's go you two."
And then Jornada, Tomlinson and Lightman marched Amanda and me out to the police cruiser. Tomlinson shoved me around a little as he confiscated my keys, wallet, and cell phone. I made a note of it.
Copyright © 2003 by John Martellaro, All rights reserved. Quantum Threads banner artwork by Tracy Haynes. This is a work of fiction. All people, places, entities, and events are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Previous adventures of Max Hadron:
The Case of the Missing Extraterrestrials (April 22, 2002)
The Case of the Extraterrestrial Redirect (June 10, 2001)
The Case of the Paperless Portfolio (Nov 12, 2000)
The Case of the GoogolPlex Smackdown (June 25, 2000)
The Case of the WWDC Murder (June 13, 2000)
Send your comments to: John Martellaro
Copyright © 2003, John
Martellaro
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