‘Gilly, try to focus on Steve. I need to know who his boss is.’
Bailey looked at Miller so I smiled and concentrated on Bailey.
“Ah, well, Sergeant Major, these things take time to get a hold of,” Miller said.
“You mean you have spoken to the members of the expedition, the surgeon and the police at the store incident?” Ed asked.
‘Colonel Walter Benson.’
‘Good girl. Well done!’
Miller looked very disconcerted.
“That’s right, yes sir,” he said, defensively.
Ed turned his eyes to Bailey.
“How is Lieutenant Colonel Walter Benson these days?” he asked, and I thought Bailey was going to choke. I turned and hid my smile, as I made them some coffee.
This was not going to plan, I could see the almost panic in both men’s eyes, and so could Ed. He smiled, rather like a crocodile watching a nice plump water buffalo.
“Okay, time to put our cards on the table. You are here to see if my wife and I have any paranormal powers. Now you know, and you don’t like it. The facts are simple; I am a Sergeant Major in the US Marines, while my wife is a respected teacher with the local high school. She is head of a department, and I am the senior Instructor for recruits to the Marine Corps. Neither of us will disappear, and our powers would make it very dangerous and unpleasant should anyone even think about trying.
“You thought that we may just have some small fluky gifts that would make us a cool cabaret act, but now you find that even your innermost thoughts are as an open book to us. I knew your names as you walked across the grass towards my wife. I knew your colonel’s name, and can even give you his internal phone number and Email address. My wife can instantly communicate clearly with me across an infinite distance, and she can literally stop a man in his tracks, rendering his motor nerves inoperable. Just ask the robber from the mall.”
They stared at Ed, their coffee mugs forgotten in their hands.
“Now, you have got to ask yourselves, why did you ever bother opening this can of worms? We are unique, so you two are the only people who know that we have powers, the extent of our powers, and the fact that we know that you know. What do you intend doing about it?” he asked them.
“And gentlemen, please do us the grace of telling the truth, as we would instantly know if you lie,” I added, just to twist the knife.
Miller recovered first.
“I honestly don’t know,” he said, quite truthfully. “My brief was to ascertain whether there was a rational explanation for what occurred, and if so, what it was. If there was no scientific explanation, then I had to evaluate it as best as I could!”
“Mr Bailey was brought in because I am a serving Marine!” Ed said. It was a statement, not a question.
“Yes sir, the Department of Defense has taken over the case, but as Agent Miller has done the background work, he has stayed with it to date.” Bailey had found his voice at last.
“Has it not occurred to you that we have the power to completely wipe your minds? We could implant false memories, so that you can go back to Washington convinced that it all was completely explained, and was a simple misunderstanding,” I asked.
‘I like that one. You are getting the hang of this.’
‘Thanks, but how to we play them?’
‘Like fish. We let them wriggle, and give them an out.’
Both men were looking exceedingly nervous and worried.
“But we won’t do that. We won’t because we are not criminals, and neither do we have any intention of harming any citizen, or to further our own ends. I am a Marine, gentlemen, and I have served my country as effectively as I can for many years, and will continue to do so. My wife, whom I might add is two months pregnant, is as loyal a citizen as you could hope for. Her ambition is to be a US Citizen and a mother to our children, who will probably serve their country just as I have done,” Ed said.
The men were frowning.
“I am offering the United States Government a deal, I am requesting a contract, bound in writing and in law, for us, as a couple, to assist in any way shape or form, the said Government in whatever capacity that is considered appropriate. With the proviso, that no potentially dangerous action or assignment be allocated to us, without a full risk assessment being first carried out, and the freedom to refuse is clearly understood.
“Also we propose, with certain conditions, to undertake whatever testing that the powers feel appropriate, again with the freedom to refuse as a matter of course.”
Agent Miller smiled, he was still worried, but he saw the way out that Ed had given him.
‘Gilly, I need to know what room number Colonel Benson works from.’
“I will instruct my superiors, sir. I am relieved that you are as understanding about this.”
‘1098.’
‘Well done.’
“Do not mistake our offer as a sign of weakness. Colonel Benson is at this moment in room 1098 in the Defense Building, thinking about how to coerce us into such service. If we can see that from here, we can see right into your minds as you report.”
The men left. I have never seen men leave a house so quickly without actually running. Neither had touched their coffee, and I smiled.
“Will they be back?” I asked.
“Them or men like them. It was inevitable, and I knew it as soon as we had gotten involved at the store. Regrettable, but who knows, this may be the beginnings of a whole new adventure,” he said, as he took me in his arms.
“Just how powerful do you think we can be?” I asked.
“I don’t know, it is beginning to dawn on me that we don’t even know the half of it.”
Two weeks later, Ed had just returned from work, while I was marking some essays. The doorbell rang. Ed looked at me, and we both sensed that the government were calling again.
Ed answered the door, and the same two from the last visit stood there, Bailey and Miller. A third man stood behind them, older and looking out of place in a civilian suit.
“Come in gentlemen, and you Colonel Benson,” Ed said, opening the door wide.
The Colonel’s eyes widened with surprise at being identified so quickly, but he followed his minions into our home.
“Coffee?” I asked, and they accepted the offer.
‘Ed, how are we going to play it this time?’
‘Carefully and playing for time. A friend is going to be dropping in.’
‘Oh. You called him, then?’
‘They say a dog can’t have two masters.’
‘I guess so, but where does that leave me?’
‘You’ll be fine, I swear.’
I put the kettle on, and Ed invited our ‘guests’ to sit down.
Some small talk was attempted, but neither of us played that game.
“What do you want, Colonel?” Ed asked, as I handed the mugs of coffee round.
“I passed on your offer, and…”
The doorbell interrupted him. Ed nodded at me, so I went and opened the front door. A tall man wearing a military uniform stood there. It was a US army uniform, he had three stars on each epaulette. He smiled at me.
“Hello, Dr Ryan, it’s good to meet you at long last. I’m…..”
“Michael, yes, I know. Please come in. I know Ed is expecting you.”
He paused to kiss me gently on the cheek, his smile unwavering.
“May I add my somewhat belated congratulations for your nuptials and forthcoming babies? I’m sure you will be relieved to know that everything will be fine. Oh, and by the way, Ryan says that I’d be a complete idiot not to offer you employment. So, shall we deal with the Neanderthals?”
I couldn’t help grinning as I led the way through to where the others were at in an uneasy silence.