Dr. Greenspan continued until she reached Highway 12, then headed west, the air darkening around her as night fell.
From behind the wheel of the old Ford, Marty watched Dr. Greenspan turn west on Highway 12 while Howard studied the map spread out on his lap.
“If she hits eighty-seven and turns north, she’s heading for Canada,” Howard said.
“I hate driving in the dark like this,” Marty told him. “It makes me nervous.”
Howard continued to study the map. “If she goes south, she could be heading for Billings.”
“What if I hit a deer?” Marty said worriedly.
Howard looked at him sharply, then reached under his jacket and pulled out his pistol. “Pull up alongside,” he said. “I’ll shoot her before she gets going too fast. The kid won’t get hurt.”
Marty glanced at the pistol, then pressed down on the accelerator.
“Here they come,” Dr. Greenspan said, her eyes fixed on the rearview mirror.
Jacob pulled free of the blanket. “On three, stop the car and then lie down flat on your seat. It’ll be all right.” He drew in a long breath. “One… two… three.”
Dr. Greenspan slammed on the brakes and dove down against the front seat.
Jacob waited, listening as the men brought their car to a halt behind Dr. Greenspan’s car, got out and came forward. He could hear the crunch of their feet as they approached. When he knew they were at his window, he turned his gaze upon them. “Look at me,” he said.
Jesse knew the moment he entered Wylie’s office that the man didn’t want to see him, thought he was a nut, a chip off the old blockhead.
“I want you to put me in touch with whoever runs the UFO program,” he said.
“There is no UFO program run by the US Air Force or any other branch of the government.”
“I don’t believe that,” Jesse said. “My father’s in a hospital,” he continued. “He has a tumor in his brain.”
“I’m sorry,” Wylie said.
“The doctors found an identical tumor in my own head,” Jesse said. “I believe the tumors were put there by…”
“Jesse, listen…”
“Put there,” Jesse continued emphatically, “by whoever comes in those UFOs the Air Force knows nothing about.”
Wylie got to his feet. “Jesse, you can’t…”
“Our fathers fought together,” Jesse said. “That ought to count for something. I don’t expect you to believe me. I just expect you to help me.”
Wylie stared at him for a moment, then released a long breath. “Okay, but if you ever say that you got this name from me, I’ll deny it.” He wrote the name on a piece of paper and handed it to Jesse.
“Thanks,” Jesse said as he took it from his hand.
Outside he looked at the name, Owen Crawford.
Wylie had not actually said the name, but Jesse had noticed the dark veil that had fallen across his features as he’d handed him the card. Because of that, he’d expected to see a far more sinister figure than the one he observed from his hiding place in the bushes outside Crawford’s house. From that limited perspective, Jesse could see only an ordinary man who had two sons and a wife who seemed at times unsteady on her feet.
He waited until Crawford left the house, then stepped before him, blocking his way to the car.
“My name is Jesse Keys,” he said. “My father’s name is Russell Keys. He was a pilot over Germany in the Second World War. He and I have both had encounters with UFOs. We have both been inside them.” He waited for a response, but the man merely waited silently for him to go on.
“They have come for us,” Jesse told him. “And they have taken us and they are going to come for us again.”
The man nodded and Jesse could see that, unlike Wylie, he was seriously considering what he’d just been told. He smiled softly. “Take me to your father,” he said.
On the way to the hospital, Jesse gave the man more details, so that by the time they stood at his father’s bed, he was fully informed.
“Whatever they did to me killed all the members of my crew,” Russell said. “I don’t know why it didn’t kill me. I tried to run from it. Then they started chasing Jesse. They seem more interested in him now, than in me.”
Crawford nodded. “You’re talking about the tumors?”
“They’re not tumors,” Russell answered. “They’re something they put in our heads. In a place where the doctors say it can’t be taken out.”
Jesse shook his head disconsolately. “If someone put it in, then someone ought to be able to take it out.”
“They can take it out,” Crawford said with certainty. “But it would kill you.” He smiled at Russell. “You have a very brave son, to be willing to go head-on at danger. To ‘fly blind.’ ” He turned back to Jesse. “I’m impressed. Especially by your initiative. In finding me, I mean.”
Jesse glanced at Russell and saw it in his father’s eyes, the first hint of a dark suspicion.
“The fact is, I’m in command of a very secret group,” Crawford said. “There are several of us. We pose as regular officers, but our real mission is to gather stories of people who have been… taken.”
“So Lieutenant Wylie works for you?” Jesse blurted.
Crawford smiled. “Wylie, yes, he’s one of ours.”
Jesse looked at Russell and saw the silent command in his father’s eyes, Say nothing.
“Jesse here did the right thing in coming to me,” Owen told Russell. “You’re right, they are after him. Because it’s been passed down to him, whatever kept you from dying like the others. It’s a trait that probably runs in your family. But you’re not alone.” He glanced back toward Jesse. “There must be others, too.”
Russell saw a sinister flash in Crawford’s eyes. “Jesse,” he said. “I need to talk to Colonel Crawford in private.”
Jesse looked at Russell apprehensively.
“Just for a moment,” Russell added.
Jesse nodded, then reluctantly left the room.
Russell leveled his eyes on Crawford.
“You’ve seen them, haven’t you?” he asked.
Crawford nodded.
“Don’t hurt my son,” Russell said.
Owen released a dismissive chuckle. “Hurt your son?”
“I know you want the… tumors,” Russell said coolly. “The things they put in our heads. You can have mine, but not his. I want your word that you’ll never do anything to my son.”
“I would never hurt Jesse,” Owen assured him.
“We have a deal then.” Russell asked. “I’ll give you the tumor.”
Owen smiled. “Thank you for volunteering again to help your country.”
Dr. Greenspan pulled over at the crossroads, got out and leaned against the side of the car. The plain seemed to stretch endlessly in all directions. The road was deserted, and for a moment, she enjoyed the stillness. In the backseat, Jacob slept soundlessly, a little boy, exhausted.
She glanced to the left, and saw a truck approach from the distance. She watched silently as it drew in upon her, then hurtled by, followed by a car that drew over to the side of the road and pulled up behind her.
“Jacob’s in the backseat,” she said, as Tom and Becky got out. “We were followed, but Jacob stopped them.”
“Is he all right?” Becky asked.
“He’s in a lot better shape than the men who followed us,” Dr. Greenspan answered.
Tom glanced into the backseat of the car. “Thank you, Dr. Greenspan,” he said. “From my family.”
“He’s a very special boy,” Dr. Greenspan said. “Take care of him.”
“There’s a family he can live with,” Tom told her. “An older couple. He’ll be safe there until he’s ready to go out on his own.”
In the backseat, Jacob rustled slightly, then opened his eyes.