Project J (24 page)

Chapter 42:
 
Meeting in Washington

The Sam Rayburn House Office Building on Independence Avenue was an imposing five story building spreading out on a full city block.
 
The outside was in keeping with the classical building style of the other Capitol Hill structures, but the inside was pure 1960s, with chrome push bars, clocks, and elevators and fluorescent lighting fixtures.

As they rode up from the basement parking area, Doctors Stryker and Crane were nervous.
 
But then, anyone under a subpoena from a Congressional committee should be.
 
After a thorough weapons check, it took a bit of walking to get to the section wherein lay the office of Representative Norman Stockman, Chairman of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
 
A man who also, some claimed, had aspirations to occupy the large White House down the street.
 
But then, most elected officials in Washington did.

“Did you know when they built this, congressional leaders inserted a gymnasium into the plans without telling the public about that?” Crane said.
 
The halls were filled with people hurrying about on undoubtedly important government business.
 
“There is a sub-basement level with a gym featuring dozens of cardio machines outfitted with TV screen, all kinds of weightlifting machines and free weights.
 
Did you also know that there is a shooting range run by the US Capital Police down there?”

“Where the hell do you get all those useless facts?” Stryker snapped.

“I watch a lot of Discover and History Channel shows.”

They came to the right office and immediately found themselves confronted by a stern looking, older secretary behind a desk bigger than Stryker’s.
 
Her glasses hung by a cord around her neck, and she looked as if she had a serious case of constipation.
 
“Can I help you?” she said in a tone that clearly implied that she probably had no intent to do such.

“We’re expected,” said Stryker as he handed her his business card.

She stared at it as if he had handed her something particularly foul, but finally condescended to admit that perhaps they really did have a valid reason to see the Representative.
 
She touched a button on her phone and announced them.
 
“You may go in,” she said in the same tone you would tell the hired help to spread the manure on the lawn.

The inner office lacked the amenities of a true executive’s office but was fair sized.
 
There was the obligatory wall of photos of the Representative with various government officials from the President on down.
 
There were books on shelves and assorted reports and such stacked on a table.
 
And the ever-present computer terminal.

Stockman was shorter than he appeared on TV, seemed heavier, and his suit smelled of cigar smoke.
 
He was having a losing battle with receding hairline, but what he had was well groomed and probably dyed to keep any gray from showing; he had the politicians quick but not totally sincere smile and a firm handshake.
 
If you had intended to cast someone for the role of a Senator in a TV series, you could hardly do better.

“Well, gentlemen, thank you for coming.
 
Please be seated,” he told them in a deep, resonate voice, one of his best attributes.

Stryker wasted no time getting to the point.
 
“Why did you subpoena Chronodyne and myself?”
 
His tone was decidedly not friendly, and he did not return the smile, sincere or otherwise.

“I have once again come into information concerning your Project Dry Wells,” Strockman said, wasting no time in getting down to brass tacks either.
 
“And once again,” he continued,
 
“I have met with a stone wall in trying to get information from your corporation.
 
I was told that your project was classified!
 
Classified!
 
Everything is classified these days.
 
I represent the House and the American people, and we have a right to know where and for what our tax dollars are going.
 
If you are developing advanced technology, then my committee is directly concerned.”

“Don’t give me the American people political-talk crap!” Stryker retaliated.
 
“What is this ‘new information’ that you’re talking about?”

Stockman, smiling rather smugly, tented his fingers before him, and said, “You do have a time machine at your facility.
 
You call it ‘the Machine’ – rather unimaginative – and you can use it to travel back and forth in time.”

Stryker laughed.
 
“You need a new source.
 
Time travel is impossible.”

“You’ve found a way to make it possible.
 
You have brought back from the past animals and artifacts, including a dodo and that Saber-Toothed Tiger you have shown off, pretending it is the result of cloning old DNA.
 
You have, among other things, a copy of the Magna Carta, Lincoln’s top hat, and an 1804 silver dollar.”
 
He smiled at the look of consternation on their faces and knew that he had struck gold.

“And I want to know
all
about this Machine.”
 
The greed in his eyes bespoke of a strong desire for power.
 
He not only wanted to know about this, he wanted somehow turn it into a political advantage for himself.

Stryker looked to Crane and sighed.
 
“We have been considering a public disclosure, but decided that this was not the right time.
 
But, I assure you, we do not have a time machine in the sense you mean it.”

“Then what do you have?”

“Would you like to come out and see?”

For a few seconds no one spoke.
 
They could almost see the wheels turning in Stockman’s head, undoubtedly trying to see what political good he could turn this into.
 
For himself, of course.

“I am a busy man,” Stockman began.
 
“My time is valuable...”

“You want to know what we have or not?
 
I’m willing to show you the project.
 
It is my hope that then you will agree that keeping it classified is fully justified and in the best interests of all concerned.”

“I’ll be the judge of that.”
 
Stockman flexed his fingers a few times, as if doing push-ups with them.
 
“Very well.
 
I’ll fly out to New Mexico and see your little project.
 
But I won’t forget my obligation to the American people.”

No one in that room believed for one second that was truly his purpose.

An appointment was made for two days hence, which satisfied Stryker.
 
It gave him time to prepare.

Chapter 43:
 
Go on a Vacation

“We’ll probably have to go public with the Machine,” Stryker told the assembled project heads in a hurriedly called meeting as soon as he returned to New Mexico.
 
“Stockman has gotten his hands on inside information, but does not know all the details.
 
He thinks that we have a true time machine and can travel back and forth in time.
 
I’ll have to show him the Machine and tell him the truth about it.”

“So we’re going to have to go public with it,” said Crane.

Stryker looked at him with a frown.
 
“I didn’t say that.
 
I hope I can persuade him to allow us to continue under the same high classification we currently have.
 
To that end, I think I have something that will help.
 
Two things, actually.”

He paused to look around at the project heads.
 
“But,” he said with emphasis, “There is one part of this project that I do not want him to know about.”
 
Staring directly at Fielding, “And we all know which project that is.”

Fielding’s face flushed, but he said nothing.

“If we can’t keep the Machine secret, it won’t be the end of the world,” Stryker went on.
 
“I’m sure that many of you have wanted to make it public knowledge from the very first.
 
But if word gets out that we have Jesus Christ here...
 
Well, the shit will hit the fan.
 
The corporate executives, from the CEO, will be down on us like a pack of locust.
 
And I shudder to think what the public will say.
 
So... I want Jesus out of here.
 
I want all traces of him erased.
 
Stockman cannot find out about him.
 
That is absolutely essential to the continued existence of this project.
 
I hope I make myself clear on this matter.”

“But where will we take him?” asked Juliette, looking to Fielding for help as she did.

“I don’t care.
 
I just want him out of here when Stockman comes.
 
And any other visitors.
 
Miss Graves here excepted, of course.
 
Get him off site or hide him in an underground bunker, I don’t care.
 
Just keep him out of sight.”

Fielding frowned, but did not complain.

“All of you, make sure that your people do not mention our special guest, not even among yourselves.
 
Loose lips sink ships, and all that stuff.
 
Stockman cannot get even a hint of something special being hidden from him, or he’ll dig at it until hell freezes over.

Dr. Brown frowned and asked, “Why are you caving in to this man?
 
Can’t we stonewall him?”

“Because he will not let go until he’s dug out all the secrets he can.
 
They’ll be more subpoenas and public hearings and a lot of crap we do not need.
 
I think it’s better to let him see just enough to satisfy him.”

Turning to his right, Stryker added, “Manhusen, I want you to find out who is leaking information.
 
Hell, Stockman even knew about the silver dollar and Lincoln’s hat!
 
Someone is feeding him info.
 
I just hope that doesn’t include Jesus.”

The Security Chief nodded and, from the grim look on his face, would like very much to get his hands on whoever is blabbing.

“All right.
 
Stockman will be here on Thursday.
 
Have everything ready.
 
I’ll try to keep him from seeing more than I allow, but we have to be careful.”

As the meeting broke up, Tamara followed Fielding and Juliette back to the Project J building.

“What will we do about Jesus?” Juliette was asking Fielding.
 
“We can’t just ask him to stay in a motel for a few days.”
 
After a couple seconds, she tried to keep it in but a giggle escaped.
 
“Maybe we could take him on a little vacation.
 
How about a tour of the Holy Land?”

“Not funny!” Fielding scolded.

“Maybe that’s not such a bad idea,” Tamara interjected.
 
“It would be a good idea for Dr. Myers to not be here, either.
 
This Stockman might wonder why we need an expert on Aramaic on the staff, so why not have both of them take a short trip.
 
You’ve been introducing Jesus to modern times; maybe it’s time to let him see some of the country.”
 
They stopped and looked at her.
 
“I’ll bet he’ll love the Grand Canyon!”

“You’re as crazy as Juliette!” Fielding said with a shake of his head.

“Maybe she’s got a good idea,” Juliette cut in.
 
“Why don’t we rent a vacation house someplace close by to stay in for a few days, and use that as a base to let Jesus see some of the country?
 
I’ll go with them.
 
Tamara can come also.
 
Jesus is more at ease when she’s around.”

Tamara looked at Juliette.
 
Was that a hint of jealousy she detected?

“You can sent along a bodyguard, if that makes you feel better,” Juliette concluded.

Fielding did not look totally convinced.
 
Letting Jesus out of his sight did not sit well with him.
 
But he could not come up with a better alternative.
 
“Very well, do that.
 
But I want you and Tamara and Dr. Myers to stay in touch.
 
And, please, be careful about what you let him see!
 
We almost had him go catatonic when he saw that tablet show.
 
We don’t want our special guest to suffer from too much culture shock.”

After a flurry of assurances by the two women, Fielding left them to make their plans.

“First, we’ll have to get a rental house, just for a few days,” Juliette said.
 
“Can’t have him staying at a motel; too public.
 
Tell you what, I’ll go into town and talk with the real estate agent.
 
Meantime, you go and tell Dr. Myers.
 
The two of you can then tell Jesus he’s going on a little trip.”
 
She paused to take in a breath.
 
“This,” she said with a big smile, “is going to be interesting!”

Tamara could not agree more.
 
She was, however, worried.
 
Every time she talked with Jesus or was just near him, she felt sympathy for him, a man ripped out of his time and placed into a strange world.
 
But it was more than just that.
 
There was a powerful magnetism about the man, like he was larger than life.
 
She could understand how he had attracted women to his cause.
 
Recalling the books she had read, she remembered some speculation that the financial support for his ministry came from wealthy women.
 
Very unlikely it came from poor fishermen he recruited along the banks of the Sea of Galilee.
 
But, whatever the cause, she did feel concern for him.
 
And she was touched by his concern for his wife and children.

Dr. Myers was in his office and greeted Tamara warmly.
 
After offering coffee, he asked what he might do for her.
 
The explanation did not take long, and left Myers shaking his head.
 
“I’m not at all sure he’s ready to see the outside world,” he said.
 
“Think of how much we have to protect him from!
 
Our technology will frighten him.
 
And we must avoid contact with other people.”

“That shouldn’t be too hard,” Tamara replied with a grin, “how many Aramaic speakers do you think he will run into?”

“It’s a lot more than just ideas he might pick up.
 
I’m not sure I can agree to this plan.
 
Can’t we simply hide him here?”

“Dr. Stryker thinks otherwise,” Tamara informed.
 
“You’ll find he’s pretty adamant about that.
 
Besides, if we’re based in a secluded house, we can keep down his contact with others.”

“I don’t know...”

“It’s only for a couple days.
 
And you’ll be there.”
 
When Myers still seemed undecided, she added, slyly, “Would you rather that Stockman finds out about him and the public finds out a short time later?”

“No, I don’t want that.
 
But I still think we could simply keep him here and cut out the little walks – and you taking him for joyrides!”

Accepting that as agreement, Tamara immediately launched into the project.
 
“Juliette is going to a real estate office to see about renting a house for a few days.
 
Someplace not far off.
 
We’ll have to pack, of course, and I guess Jesus will also.
 
He doesn’t have a suitcase, does he?”

Myers gave her a dirty look.
 
“Of course not.
 
But I’ve an extra one I can loan him.”

“Good.
 
As soon as Juliette gets back, we’ll go and tell him.
 
It will probably be his first vacation in a long time.”

Myers snorted, but was smiling.
 
“At least you didn’t suggest an ocean cruise or a trip to the pyramids.”

“Maybe he’s already seen them,” she retorted.
 
“After all, his family is supposed to have gone to Egypt?”

He laughed.
 
“Yes, according to Matthew.
 
When the Magi came searching for Jesus, or so the story goes, they asked Herod the Great where they could find the newborn ‘King of the Jews.’
 
This rattled the paranoid Herod and he ordered that all the male children ‘in the vicinity of Bethlehem’ be killed.
 
But an angel appeared to Joseph and warned him to get out of town and go to Egypt.
 
He did, and returned only when he heard that Herod was dead.
 
That would be about 4 CE.

“It should be noted that this story occurs only in Matthew and there is no other reference to it in the New Testaments.
 
Further, it is possible that it was added to Jesus’ story so that one of the prophecies would be fulfilled.
 
Hosea 11:1 ‘...and out of Egypt I called my Son’.”

“It will be easy to determine that,” Tamara told him.
 
“Let’s just ask him.”

Myers smiled.
 
“Yes, let’s do that.”