V05 - The Florida Project Page 9

  Julie scratched her head through her blond hair. "How about a skyfighter?"

  "We can fly one out to Florida. The Visitors must have at least one, or they wouldn't be there."

  "Most likely more than one," Elias said, slamming his hand down on a crate. "So I say there's nothing wrong with taking the mother Ship over there and putting them out of operation once and for all."

  what about the people they've taken prisoner, Elias?" Julie reminded him.

  they're probably lunch meat by now," Elias said. "But I guess we can't be sure."

  Right," Mike said. "So we take a shuttle full of weapons to the local people. Ham is helping them organize a resistance, he said he could hardly talk them into waiting for us."

  That's the spirit."

  What do you think they're up to out there, Julie?" Mike asked Ham seems to think it's a scientific compound of some kind Do you concur?"

  I don't know, Mike. It seems likely, though. A covert operation to experiment on humans that was left behind when the Visitors' armada was forced to flee."

  If that's the case, they must expect the Visitors to come back en masse," Elias said. "Most people are starting to think We've seen the last of 'em. Maybe this will wake 'em up."

  "Yeah, it might," Mike agreed.

  The hologram of Dr. Morrow was slightly larger than life so that he appeared bloated, floating a foot off the floor.

  "I've been pleased with how well you are doing with your researches," Medea said, "and now you say the humans have found you out."

  "Four of them have escaped our guards," Dr. Morrow said.

  From what they told me, the guards believed them to be local swainp dwellers. Hardly any cause for alarm. Those in authority would never take their claims seriously."

  "Your reading of human social customs is superficial," Medea snapped. "Their claims may very well be taken seriously."

  "Then perhaps a raid on their village would silence them."

  "Only if you can be certain you can kill them all."

  "If we strike with our full force at night—" "It might work. I'll have to think about it."

  "There isn't much time," Dr. Morrow reminded her.

  "There's enough. You say you are on the verge of a great scientific breakthrough," Medea said. "Otherwise, I might dispatch a ship to get you off Earth."

  "I see no reason why the experiment cannot be concluded in space, Medea."

  "You have found a suitable human female for the control."

  "Yes."

  "And who will impregnate the woman?"

  "I will, Medea."

  This was a surprise. "You? Are you certain this is wise?"

  "There is really no one else here who will do."

  "Doctor Morrow, you just said that the experiment can be concluded in space. There are many available males on this ship alone, not to mention the other ships in the fleet. How can you claim to be the only possibility for the insemination?"

  "I know the woman," Dr. Morrow said. "I have been working with her."

  Was that a touch of panic she heard in his voice? "What of it?" she asked, testing him. "You can still work with her after the insemination, can't you?"

  "Yes, but there are human customs and mores to consider."

  "Since when do we have to pander to their primitive rituals?" Medea demanded.

  "It is best not to have her disturbed during the conception stage," Dr. Morrow insisted desperately. "It seems to work best when the human female is familiar with the inseminatoi; when a certain intimacy is—"

  "Enough, Dr. Morrow," Medea commanded. "You have no idea how obvious you are."

  Dr. Morrow was silent for a few moments, and then he said softly, "What do you mean?"

  "You are infatuated with the human woman."

  "No, I—"

  "Yes, I know. You're only interested in her for the good of our war effort and for science."

  "Of course." "Of course," Medea said sarcastically. "You forget that I liave tasted the fruits of earthly love, and J know how intoxicating a human can be."

  "Then you will assign someone else?" Dr. Morrow asked, dearly disheartened.

  "Not at all. You shall have your human lovei; Dr. Morrow— whether she likes it or not."

  Sabrina could hardly believe what Dr. Thorkel was saying.

  "Are you trying to tell me that . . . that alien is in love with me?"

  "Something like that, Doctor."

  "This is incredible. I simply can't believe what you're telling me."

  Thorkel couldn't say what he was thinking because he knew their conversation was being listened to. But perhaps he could hint at it, at least.

  "You should be pleased that he has selected you, Dr. Fontaine," he said. "Think of the advantages such an honor will present to you."

  Sabrina frowned. Even now, Dr. Thorkel didn't seem to understand the extent of Dr. Morrow's evil madness. He moved closer to her.

  "Dr. Fontaine," he said, "you are a credit to scientists everywhere in the universe."

  Before she could move away, he embraced her. She began to

  struggle, but then he whispered something in her ear that made

  her stop.

  Use his infatuation to get us out of here," he told her before letting go of her waist. "Lead him on."

  She saw the intensity in his eyes as he released her. An instant later he was the same old Milquetoast Dr. Thorkel, prattling about how wonderful her mating with Dr. Morrow would be. She saw the wisdom in what he was doing and understood that he was not a bad man; he had been misled by Dr. Morrow's clever lies in his thirst for knowledge. But now on was on her side, and she had gained a valuable ally.

  When will you receive Dr. Morrow?" he asked.

  Perhaps I've been too hasty," Sabrina said. "The idea is so new to me, you see. I'll have to collect my thoughts for a while."

  Of course," Dr. Thorkel said. "I'll leave you alone now so you can consider the glorious future our friends, the Visitors, have in store for you."

  With that he walked out, leaving Sabrina alone in her minute, cell-like apartment. She sat down, realizing that because of what Dr. Thorkel had said, she now had a chance of getting out of the compound. By holding out on Dr. Morrow, stringing him along, she might be able to save Jack. And if she didn't play her cards right, she might be the cause of his death.

  Marie had fire in her eyes. "We've got to act soon. We can't wait forever for those people to bring us weapons. Every minute we sit here people could be dying in that death camp."

  "1 know it's hard, Marie," John Tiger said, "but Tyler is right. We can't go out there and fight them with shotguns and machetes. Our people had to fight invaders who had superior weapons once before, and look what happened. Half of our ancestors ended up marching on the Trail of Tears—and they were the survivors of the war against the white man."

  "Not everybody marched," Marie said. "Some people stayed in the swamp."

  "Hiding like animals from the power of our enemies," John

  said. " 'Those who are ignorant of history are doomed to repeat its mistakes."'

  "Where did you get that fancy quote?"

  "From Billy, the college man of the family."

  Someone knocked on the office door.

  "Come in," John said.

  "How are you holding up?" Ham said, entering. Chris was right behind, his bulk filling the doorway.

  "We're okay," Marie replied. "We were just discussing philosophy."

  "Well, there's not much else to do until Donovan gets here with the lasers."

  "We'll try to be patient," Marie said, having benefited from John's little lecture.

  The phone rang.

  "Hello," John said after picking it up. He turned to Ham. "It's for you."

  Ham took the receiver and identified himself. The others could hear a man's voice speaking faintly on the line.

  "Yeah," Ham said. "Well, isn't there anything you can do?"

  The crackling, distant voice said something nobody b
ut Ham could hear

  "Okay, we'll go for it." He hung up.

  "What is it?" Marie asked, sensing bad news.

  Showing no emotion, Ham said, "The skyfighter they had stocked the weapons with has malfunctioned. There's a Visitor technician working on it, but it's going to take time. In the meantime, they're putting the armaments aboard another sky-fighter."

  "So they're coming, then?" John said.

  "Yeah, they're coming. But there's going to be a delay."

  "But we can't afford a delay," Marie said, frustration tearing at her insides. "People's lives depend on our getting there soon."

  "I know," Ham said, "and that's just what we're going to do."

  Jack wondered for the millionth time what they had in .lore for him. He had expected to be fed to the monster who had killed T.J., but they'd just kept him locked in this little plastic room, feeding him and watching him ever since they had murdered his friend. God, how he burned to avenge T.J. If lie ever got out of this cage-—when he got out of it, he corrected himself. He wasn't going to give up the ghost, not until he had gotten some revenge.

  He had one ace in the hole: they had taken the laser pistol away from him during the escape attempt, but not the crystal key.

  He didn't know how many doors it would open in the compound, but it had to open some. Of course, he would have to get loose again before he could use it, but as long as he was alive, there was always a chance.

  Jack's reverie was disturbed by the whoosh of his cell door opening.

  "Feeding time at the zoo?" he said without bothering to turn around.

  "Jack ..."

  For a few seconds, he was afraid to look. He had dreamed of hearing that sweet voice for so long now that he was certain he must be asleep. It might have been some horrible trick the Visitors were playing on him, a simulacrum of Sabrina rather than the real thing.

  Prepared for any eventuality, he turned around.

  Sabrina stood there, the light from the corridor a soft corona around her shapely form.

  "Sabrina," he said, "is that really you?"

  "Yes, Dr. Morrow has consented to let me see you for a few minutes."

  He walked over to her, reached out, and tentatively touched her cheek. It was soft and warm, exactly as he remembered it. How could an illusion be so flawless?

  "Have they harmed you in any way?" he asked.

  "No, they've treated me rather well, considering."

  "I'm sorry you had to see what happened to T.J."

  "That man in the arena—God, it was horrible."

  "He was my friend." Jack felt tears coming to his eyes in his sorrow and frustration. "He was trying to help me find you when they captured us."

  "Oh, Jack." She held him, squeezing his massive body against her. "I'm so sorry."

  Jack wanted to make love to her, and he knew she wanted him, but they were being watched. He would never permit Sabrina to suffer such degradation. She clung fiercely to him, though, as if she didn't realize they were in a goldfish bowl.

  "Hold me, Jack," she said, nibbling on his neck. "They can't hear us if we whisper like this." And then in a louder voice: "I've missed you so much."

  So she did know. "I never thought I'd see you again, baby," he said, kissing her.

  "You should be grateful to Dr. Morrow for this," Sabrina said.

  Even knowing that she was only acting, he still felt resentment boiling in his guts at the very thought of owing

  anything the monster who had imprisoned them and killed TJ He said nothing, sensing that he would not be very convincing if he went along with Sabrina on this.

  Were going to get out of here," he whispered. "One way or another, we're going to get out."

  An- you certain this will help?" hissed Dr. Morrow. "It

  see almost counterproductive to me. If she . . . loves this man then she is less likely to cooperate in mating with me."

  Dr. Thorkel looked up at him. "Trust me," he said, marveling inwardly at his salesmanship. "She will be so thankful to you for what you've done that no favor will be too great for you to ask."

  Morrow stopped pacing and looked quizzically at his human iassistant. "Is this typical of human behavior?"

  "Read our romance novels. Watch soap operas. Read confession magazines."

  I haven't time for all that," Morrow said as if cursing his luck.

  I know you haven't, Dr. Thorkel thought, or you'd realize I'm lying. One of the things that was different about humans andVisitors was the human capacity for change and growth. because Albert Thorkel had cooperated up to now, Dr. Morrow assumed he always would. He couldn't possibly understand how the sight of the man being butchered in the experimental combat area could so drastically alter a man's perspective on the Visitors. Science was the greatest thing in Thorkel's life, hut science's greatness was commensurate with its service to mankind. He valued what he had learned from the Visitors, but lie loathed the cruel ways they applied their knowledge. They seemed to think human beings were little more than lab animals.

  "Trust me," he repeated.

  "I suppose I have little choice," Dr. Morrow complained, leaning forward menacingly. "But just to make sure you remain trustworthy, I have something to show you."

  "What?" Dr. Thorkel asked.

  "You'll see." Morrow gestured for him to follow him out the door. "We'll go for a little walk now."

  Doing as he was told, Dr. Thorkel sensed that he was not going to like what he was about to see.

  "How's it going in there, Willie?" Mike Donovan i.krd, peering into the antigravity core's gleaming shell.

  "Lowly," Willie said, "very lowly."

  Mike smiled in spite of the tension. "You mean 'slowly,' Willie."

  "Yes—slowly. These smaller engines are extremely complex, but I shall have it sicked in a short time."

  "Licked."

  "Sorry?" Willie's puzzled look amused Mike.

  "You said you'll have it 'sicked.' I think you meant 'licked.'"

  " Thank you. One day I shall master the intricacies of your language, no doubt, but it will take time."

  "Well, we don't have any more time now. You'll have to finish working on the skyfighter engine when we come back from Florida."

  "We must go, then?"

  "All the armaments have been loaded into one of the other skyfighters. Ham needs us now, but we still have to cross a continent."

  "I wanted to accompany Ham and Chris when they left."

  "I know, Willie," Mike said, patting him on the shoulder as Willie climbed out of the core, "but he thought this mission would work out best if he and Chris went alone, it looks as if he was right—up to a point."

  "And we have reached that point now?"

  "Something like that."

  They crossed the immense docking bay and entered a sky-fighter around which dozens of people, both human and Visitor, milled. The last few crates were being transferred from the ailing skyfighter at that very moment.

  As they boarded, they were greeted by Julie and Elias, who were supervising the loading. Willie checked the command console while the last crates were put in place. There was barely enough room for the four comrades-in-arms to move, the skyfighter was so full.

  "It's a good thing we have antigravity engines," Julie joked. "A conventional aircraft would never get off the ground with such a heavy cargo."

  "We did bring a few extras," Elias said, "just to add a little spice."

  "Let's hope we get there in time to use those extras," Mike said.

  Willie flipped a toggle and the engines whined. A moment later they were drifting out of the shuttle bay into the clear California night, the stars twinkling around them.

  As soon as they were clear of the Mother Ship, they shot out of sight in an instant.

  The faster-than-light transmission ended. The Leader had not only approved of the plan to attack the swamp-dwelling rabble before they became an organized resistance force, he wondered why it had not already been done.

  This woul
d not go well on Medea's record. Her only chance for recouping what she had lost through hesitation lay in utterly wiping out very human being who could conceivably be aware of the Visitors' presence in the swamp.

  This might not be as difficult as it seemed, she mused the one authority figure who had stumbled onto the compound was .i minor law official who had been liquidated. His companion was in captivity, as was the woman he loved. Sooner or later someone would discover that the village—reservation, they called it -had been destroyed, but by then it would be too late. Anyone else in the vicinity would have little effectiveness against the Visitors, since the reservation, the locus of any organized resistance, would have been destroyed.

  Then Dr. Morrow could bring his precious Dr. Sabrina Fontaine aboard a Mother Ship. Medea felt a certain curiosity about her herself. She was a woman who could exercise significant power over an analytical mind like Dr. Morrow's. She must be an interesting woman.

  But there was no time for such conjectures now. Word was undoubtedly spreading among the swamp dwellers. Their little revolution had to be nipped in the bud.

  Her hand played across the communication console. A moment later, Dr. Morrow's face—wearing his bearded human disguise, as always—hung suspended in front of her:

  " The Leader agrees with me that you should attack the swamp dwellers. Make preparations to do so at once," Medea said.

  "Excellent, Commander," Dr. Morrow replied.

  "You will bring the prototype with you to see how it behaves in actual field conditions."

  "Yes."

  "And if it proves as efficient in the field as it has in controlled testing, you will immediately begin development of an army of such hybrid fighting creatures."

  Dr. Morrow was so pleased he could hardly speak, and he nodded his head vigorously in approval.

  "At the same time, you will begin your attempt to impregnate Dr. Sabrina Fontaine. We can fight the puny inventions the humans use to repulse us—it is only a matter of lime until we develop an antitoxin with permanent effects, thanks largely to your superb work, Doctor—but we can do nothing if they harness the potential power of the star child, Elizabeth."

  "I am eager to begin, Commander," Dr. Morrow said, trembling with joyous anticipation.

  "I'm sure you are," Medea replied, ending the transmission as curtly as the Leader had ended their conversation a few minutes earlier. "Begin at once."