“Tabby, I got an idea.” I pushed my chair to my work computer and started searching through old files. I heard Tabby put a new batch of CDs in the player before I got lost in the words scrolling down the screen. Then I found it, an article by Dr. Jorge on the dynamics of change in a social system.
Chapter 15
Meeting
“Mr. President. I think it is time for a meeting with Karpinen. He has known about our surveillance for months."
“Okay. Why don't you meet at NASA headquarters? It would be reasonable that he will show up there. We can sneak you past the press easy enough."
“I'm sorry sir but we did a full psychological review of Karpinen. Everyone agrees that it would be best to meet him on his own ground. We need his expertise and he knows it."
“Can you make it out of Washington without being spotted by the press?"
“I have worked out a plan. I will be going to Dulles where two planes will be waiting. One plane will go to Edwards and the other will go to Grand Forks. A car will meet the plane at Edwards taking my double to the Dryden Flight Center. Another car will meet me at Grand Forks and drive me to Karpinen's farm. To throw the press off I will return two days later by way of the Airbase in Duluth. The two planes will meet again at Wright Patterson and I will fly back to Washington."
“Isn't that a little complex?"
“We have more than the press to mislead. The Russians and everyone else in the world are still spying on us."
“Okay but bring a couple of experts with you. I want nothing to go wrong. According to your reports,
Dr. Jorge seems to have the best handle on Karpinen and Dr. Schmitt from Argon is the only scientist that I can understand."
“I can make the arrangements."
* * * *
The three crows were back sitting on the power lines. Move-over had found a nice spot on the bookshelf and was watching me from the living room. A car pulled up with four men in it.
“Tabby. They are here. It looks like three will be coming in. Any questions about the plan?"
“Go soak your head. I'm ready. Make sure you are."
I pulled open the door before they could knock. “Come in. Have a seat."
“Thank you Mr. Karpinen. I am..."
“No intros. Now just sit and get comfortable. Anyone want something to drink? It has been a long drive." “How do you know about the drive?"
“Come on Mr. Riley. The nearest airport that will land a plane large enough to fly you from Washington and is also large enough not to attract undo attention is two hours away. And I bet you landed in either Minneapolis or Grand Forks, both of which are even farther."
Schmitt asked for some coffee. I could tell Riley was not happy about it but there was nothing he could do. “Tabby, would you keep these gentlemen company while I make some coffee?” Tabby started in with small talk keeping them busy and off balanced. The coffee was soon finished. There wasn't a table near any of the men so they had to balance the cups and saucers on their laps while I passed out sugar and creamers. I felt it was time for my first move when Riley tentatively balanced the cup and saucer on the arm of his chair.
“Mr. Riley. What have you found out about the alien?” Dr. Jorge must not have known about the creature because he spilled some coffee on his lap. The disturbance gave Riley a few extra minutes to plan an answer.
“What alien?" “Come on Mr. Riley. How can we even start if you won't answer the simplest questions?"
“I don't know what you are talking about."
I switched to Dr. Jorge. “Doctor, what do you think? Mr. Riley here was caught in a lie and he insists on holding on to it. You see doctor ... A few months ago they found a body of an alien creature just down the road from here. And I am not talking about an alien who crossed the Canadian border. I am talking about a creature with a biological structure that was not formed on this planet.
“Am I right Mr. Riley?"
“Okay. You are right."
“Finally. How do the genetics differ?"
“No chromosomes but the creature did have DNA and RNA. Most of the gross features were surgically constructed. How did you know about it?"
It was time to give them something. “Who do you think killed it? It came here wanting to eliminate me before the big demonstration. I objected to being killed most strenuously."
Riley seemed to go into a state of shock as he tried to coordinate the new information. I let him sit and talked to Jorge about social dynamics. Tabby took on Schmitt with a discussion about our experiments. Riley broke into our talk, “Excuse me."
“Yes."
“Do you know why it tried to kill you?"
“It is pretty obvious. The creature didn't want us to learn about gravity control at this time. Mr. Riley, you are the acting National Security Advisor. You need to do better than that."
“Are they going to try to kill you again?"
“That I don't know. My gut feeling is yes. A more important question for you is, ‘Are they going to try do something about the whole planet since the gravity cat is out of the bag, so to speak?'” At that Move-over decided to put in his own comment with a loud meow. Dr. Jorge again spilt his coffee but this time it was cold.
“Why didn't you tell us right away?"
“Would you have believed me? Besides I bet you are already putting up a space defense."
“How do you know?"
“Dr. Jorge should be able to explain. Everything you need to know is out there. The increased work at the Skunk Works, Edwards, Dryden, and so on. All of the changes over the last few months add up.” We finally got down to a give and take discussion.
It was a warm late fall day so I went outside to grill some sausages for lunch. The nice thing about living in the country is that you can get the best farm products. These sausages came from a local processor. They were both very tasty and juicy. Hot juices burning the chin and splattering the face will keep the men off balance and telling more than they wanted to. The crows were still there. I fed the driver before bringing the rest of the sausages in.
Tabby had Schmitt in an apron dicing onions and Jorge setting the table. Riley had been standing in a corner until Tabby shoved a pitcher into his hands and told him to pour the iced tea. When we sat down, the suits from Washington didn't look like suits anymore. Schmitt was still tearing from the onions. Jorge had two big coffee stains on his shirt and Riley just looked crumpled. Move-over, sensing an opportunity, jumped on Riley's lap and tried to take a bite out of his sausage.
“Move-over. You know better. Come over here and I will give you a piece.” The purring started before he got down from the lap. “Be careful. It's hot."
“Meowwwerow."
After lunch, Tabby had them doing dishes. Riley was wiping.
“Can we put some guards in your home?"
“No. If the aliens do come back, the guards would be killed. Keep them where they are now. That way they will have a chance to survive."
“But how can you handle it alone?"
“You ever hear the military term, point man?"
“No."
“When a patrol goes out in enemy territory they send out a point man. He is the eyes of the patrol. He finds what is out there. A point man can't do his job if he is surrounded by the rest of the patrol. He has to be out in front or else both he and the patrol will not make it. I've been walking point for the last year.
I can handle myself if that is all I have to look after."
Riley looked at me, his face wide with shock. Slowly, he nodded and changed the topic.
* * * *
“Mr. President."
“Yes Thomas."
“Daniel Karpinen is smarter than we thought. He has known about what we were doing all along. He has been controlling us."
“Damn. I hate being used. Do we have options?"