Thunderbird (21 page)

•   •   •

T
HE
VEHICLE
STOPPED
outside a chamber much like the one in which they'd arrived. The L-shape configuration was now simply a cube. But it had a grid and icons, one of which was the stag's head. Their ticket home.

John used his radio to contact Paula. “We're okay,” he said. “We should be able to go back from here. See you at the Roundhouse.”

April signaled for the radio. “Paula,” she said, “if you guys get a chance to take the ride, do it. It's a little unnerving at first, but you wouldn't want to miss it.”

The spirit of the age is the very thing that a great man changes.

—Benjamin Disraeli,
The Infernal Marriage
, 1834

D
ONNA
WENT
INTO
a state of near shock as Brad described the experience and showed her the pictures. “It
is
beautiful,” she said. “But I'm glad you're back alive.”

“I know. And I'm sorry it's such a problem for you. But it's just a ride. There's no danger there anywhere.”

Suddenly, she was smiling at him. “That's not why I'm upset. Do you think you could arrange for
me
to go? I'd love to see that thing in the sky.”

“You've always said you don't like roller-coaster rides.”

“I could maybe allow an exception for this one.”

“You're serious now?”

“Yes!”

“Okay. I'll see what I can do, Donna. But I don't think they'll be open to the idea. They're already buried with requests from people who want to go out to these places.” He didn't want to finish: “To be honest, there's no way to be sure how safe it is.”

“But you just said—”

“I know. Because that's how it seems. But—” He didn't want her going. “I'll try to arrange it.”

He gave her a day to think about it. She was even more adamant when he raised the subject again, so he called April. “Funny you should ask,” she said. “The chairman wants to go on the ride, too. And every physicist on the planet. I'm sure he'd be okay with Donna if there were a way to keep it quiet. But—”

“I understand.”

“I'm just wondering what all this is about, Brad. Boat rides on Lake Agassiz. A galactic space station. Eden. Now we have a roller coaster through the Maze. We're missing something here.”

•   •   •

G
EORGE
AND
A
DAM
took a couple of bicycles to Eden in an effort to eliminate the long walk to Solya's cabin. But they proved useless. There was no forest trail available, and the sand always seemed damp. In addition it possessed a general softness that reduced pedaling to a constant battle. It was easier to stay on foot.

April reported the results to Dolly, who laughed it off. “I enjoy walking,” she said.

“That's good. You'll need it.” The purpose for the meeting, which took place in April's office, was to discuss what they knew of Solya's speech patterns and vocabulary. There wasn't much. “I left the radio on while I was there,” April said. “I should have recorded everything, too. I just wasn't thinking.”

“That's okay,” said Dolly.

“How do you plan to do this?”

“I want to just have a chance to sit and talk with her for a couple of hours. You think she'll be amenable to that?”

“Yes.”

“All right. Good. I'll record everything. Then I'll come back and see what I can make of it. After that, I should get at least a little capability. Once
that happens, we can try to extend things. I'd like eventually to spend a few evenings with her. Sit around the fireplace and just talk without putting a lot of strain on her.”

“That sounds as if it might work.”

“You're coming with us, right?”

“Yes.”

“Excellent. I'll need you at the beginning to introduce me and break the ice.”

“It'll be a pleasure. She seems to be friendly, but I think we still need to be careful.”

“I know.”

“What I'm saying is that there may be a risk. We just don't know. When you go back the second time, I understand you're planning to stay overnight. So you'll have a sleeping bag with you. Solya may offer to have you stay in the cabin, but don't do it. It's a chance we just don't want to take.”

“Adam's already warned me.” She smiled. “As if I needed it.”

“You have a story for her in case you get the invitation?”

“Sure. I have to report every night to my boss.”

“Good enough. Now, what can I do to help?”

•   •   •

G
RAND
F
ORKS
L
IVE
had been lit up for weeks. A fresh eruption began Monday when the Rev. Arnold Restov, a Fargo preacher appearing on
Dakota Brief
, stated that “we need not fear the implications of the Johnson's Ridge story. It in no way calls into doubt the Genesis account of creation. For one thing, this whole business could be a hoax. It certainly sounds like one. Or it may be that the so-called portal to the stars is actually a gateway to hell.”

The story went viral. Brad and Donna were Presbyterians, and he wasted no time inviting their pastor, the Rev. Martin Axler, to the studio. He came in, and the lines were overloaded before they got past the opening notes of “O Fortuna.”

Martin had been at the church as far back as Brad could remember. He
was generous, amiable, easygoing. A little guy with a magnificent baritone. But he was clearly in his declining years. “I don't pretend to be a theologian,” he said after Brad had introduced him. “I can't speak for the church, but I'll tell you what I think.”

“That's all we can ask,” said Brad, opening the line to the first caller.

It was Larry O'Brien: “If there really are aliens, Reverend, does that mean the Bible got things wrong? How do they fit, for example, in the Jesus story? Did he die for them, too?”

“I think, Caller,” said Martin, “as we learn more about the universe, what we're discovering is that the biblical God is much greater than we'd imagined. I can't begin to connect the Crucifixion to beings living on other planets. The important thing is that Jesus delivered a timeless message here. Imagine what the world would be like if we actually lived as He suggested. Beyond that, I'm inclined to leave the details to God.”

Janet was next: “So is the Genesis account wrong? Are we more than six thousand years old?”

“The scientific evidence indicates we've been here a long time. Keep in mind that the Bible is a collection of attempts by a people living long ago to make sense of their notion of a loving God and a life that included a lot of pain.”

“Then it wasn't written by God?”

“It's obvious there isn't a single author. I prefer to think of it as inspired by Him. If we are certain of anything about His character, it is that He has tried to show us the way, how we might live together in peace, but He allows us to make our own choices.”

When it was over, Matt was ecstatic. Brad couldn't help noticing that his own upcoming departure for the mysterious space station barely got mentioned.

•   •   •

W
ALKER
'
S
FIRST
EXTENDED
off-world trip came a day after the Reverend Axler's radio appearance. George Freewater took him and three members
of the Tribal Council on what had now gone viral as the roller-coaster ride. When it was over, and he was still trying to catch his breath, the chairman knew that his perceptions had changed again. He'd acquired an appreciation for the power and beauty of the universe that could never be acquired through a mere telephoto lens or a slice of poetry. He was in his office the following morning, still unable to get the spectacle out of his mind. A couple of reporters were waiting. He provided them with some generalities, about how we don't know where the human race is going from here, but the future looks very bright.

He showed them a video clip of the ringed world. Somehow, displayed on a television screen, it lost a lot of its majesty. It felt like special effects.

The reporters weren't exactly overwhelmed either. Their questions went right back to the roller coaster. “Is that supposed to be a theme park of some sort?” asked a Fox reporter.

“You know as much as we do,” he said.

“Well,” the reporter continued, “let's get to the heart of this thing. Who built it? And are they still around somewhere?”

Language—human language—after all, is but little better than the croak and cackle of fowls, and other utterances of brute nature—sometimes not so adequate.

—Nathaniel Hawthorne,
American Notebook
, July 14, 1850

A
PRIL
AND
D
OLLY
made the transit accompanied by three security people. John Colmar would establish a base at the Cupola, while Adam Sky and Sandra Whitewing accompanied the women to Solya's cabin. That was the day they discovered there was rain in Eden. It was torrential when they opened the Cupola door and looked out.

“You say this place is about four hours away?” asked Dolly.

April nodded.

Sandra's features scrunched together. “We should have brought a car.”

“There has to be a way to do that,” said April. “The people who built these places transported a boat.” They laid their knapsacks on the table. April and Dolly had chosen eleven coffee-table books for Solya. Adam would carry four. The other six were divided among the three women.

The rain pounded on the domed roof.

“We could bring a boat,” said Adam. “The cabin's not that far inland, but dealing with the surf might be more of a battle than it would be worth.”

Dolly shook her head. “I'm in a place I never expected to be,” she said. “I'm not sure how I'd tell my grandkids our biggest problem was rain.”

“We've got about another hour to get started,” said April. “After that, we wouldn't arrive until it's almost dark. We don't want to do that.”

•   •   •

E
VENTUALLY
,
THE
STORM
subsided. It was still drizzling lightly, though, when they packed up and set out, leaving John behind to act as their contact point. But after an hour, the sun broke through, and the skies cleared. They were drenched by then, of course, and April was thinking how Walker would never have been able to make it. At about the same time, Sandra pointed toward the woods. Three gorillas were watching them.

“We have to get a name for them,” April said.

They stood just inside the line of trees, about fifty yards back, staring at her.

“Maybe we should just keep moving,” said Adam.

Dolly caught her breath. “They're carrying towels. Are they going swimming?”

“Maybe,” said Adam. “Don't stop walking.”

“You sure?” said Dolly. “Maybe we should go back.”

April tried waving, but none of the gorillas responded. “What do you think, Adam?”

“Keep going. I'd be surprised if they haven't heard of us by now. They probably know we're headed for Solya's. They're a little bit shocked though since this will be the first time they've seen us.” One of them waved.

Dolly's breathing picked up. “This place is going to take some getting used to.”

They walked calmly on, leaving their visitors in the rear. April heard some grunts. She knew her companions were all listening for footsteps coming behind them, as she was. “Don't look back,” she said.

The beach curved around a bend ahead, and eventually it seemed
safe. They were out of sight. Adam notified John. “I doubt you'll see them, or even that they'd be a threat if you do. But be aware.”

“Roger that,” he said.

Dolly laughed. “I'd have liked to stay and watch them in the surf.”

“You think they had a beach umbrella?” said Adam.

•   •   •

T
HEY
WERE
ALL
weary by the time they got within range of Solya's cabin. Adam took Sandra's books. “Stay here,” he told her. “Out of sight. We'll keep the radio on so you can follow everything. Anything happens, call John.”

“Okay,” she said.

Dolly had known what was coming, but she still seemed surprised at the equanimity of the cabin and its grounds. She stood for a moment surveying trees, bushes, and some colorful flowers. The cabin itself possessed a quiet, dignified ambience. Here they were in this impossibly distant place, and somehow it seemed like home. At least it would have if it were a bit cooler. April led the way up onto the porch and knocked on the door. Footsteps sounded inside, the door opened, and Solya appeared. No,
not
Solya. It was someone else. A male.

April flinched but held her ground. “Hi,” she said. Then, gathering her wits: “
Shalay.
Is Solya here?”

Apparently disarmed by their appearance, he stood staring at their bodies, or maybe their clothes. Maybe he'd thought Solya was kidding about the visitors. Then he returned the greeting, said something else she didn't recognize, stood aside, and made room for them to enter.

“We're here,” Adam said, speaking to Sandra via the radio. “We're going in.”

Dolly had brought a recorder with her. She switched it on.
“Shalay,”
she said, extending a hand to the male. April was impressed. She hadn't seen her even blink.

The creature took it and pressed it against his breast.
“Shalay a tiko,”
he said. Then he released her and backed away.

Solya came through from the kitchen and showed two rows of teeth in her equivalent of a smile.
“Ay-pril,”
she said.
“Kala Morkim, tel aska.”

“Shalay, Kala,”
said April. But Solya indicated something was wrong, and she repeated herself.

April decided that “
kala
” probably meant “this is” instead of being the male's name. She looked up at him, smiled, and tried again.
“Shalay, Morkim.”

That induced smiles all around. Then April introduced her companions.

There was a brief exchange between the aliens. Solya looked at April, pointed outside in the direction where Sandra had stationed herself, and said something in a soft voice. “She's inviting Sandra in,” said April. So much for staying out of sight.

Adam shook his head no.

April nodded. Do it.

No way.

“Do what I'm telling you,” said April.

Dolly smiled at Solya. “We're a bit nervous.”

Solya seemed to understand.
“Korvik,”
she said, closing the door.

Morkim had his eyes on Adam's radio. Solya put a hand on Morkim's shoulder and said something to him. Both laughed. Then she looked at the chairs.
“Bowa Mach.”

April interpreted it as
Please sit
. She did, pulling Adam down beside her. Morkim and Dolly also sat down. Solya said something else, probably “excuse me,” and went into the kitchen.

Morkim looked lost. He said something and made a gesture that might have been a shrug. “Probably,” said Dolly, “he said how hard it is to talk under these circumstances.”

Solya returned quickly with several mugs. She filled them from a jug and passed one to each of her guests and to Morkim. Dolly raised hers, in an effort to determine whether the gorillas did toasts. Apparently they didn't, and both of them looked momentarily confused. Then Solya demonstrated how to drink from the mug.

That got a laugh from the humans. “They think we're pretty dumb,” said Adam.

The liquid was not alcoholic, but it filled April with a contented warmth.

•   •   •

T
HE
CONVERSATION
WENT
easier than it had during April's first visit, and not only because she had acquired a bit of the language. Solya showed a talent for making everyone feel relaxed, a skill one wouldn't have expected from a gorilla. The fact that they had trouble understanding one another was parlayed into a running joke.

Dolly and April brought the books out. They were filled with photos of open countryside, cruise ships, cities, cows, mountains, planes, and animals both wild and domesticated. The one that particularly caught Solya's attention was
Natural Wonders of the World
. The Grand Canyon was on the cover. There were a couple of people looking down into it, so she was able to get a sense of its size.

Solya flipped pages and shared pictures with Morkim, periodically clapping her hands with delight. April found the meanings easy to pick up.
“Amazing.” “A beautiful river.” “A place I would love to visit.”
And, looking at Yosemite Falls:
“Dolly, have you and April actually been to this place?”
She lifted her hand to indicate her reaction to its height.

Both creatures were dressed, the male in a brown pullover, boots, and pants that looked like fatigues. Solya wore a red blouse with, incredibly, a yellow flower stitched across the front. She had on a pair of shorts that came to her knees. And slippers.

Dolly and Solya continued to carry the bulk of the conversation. And the struggle to clarify what they meant consistently drew laughs and, in the case of Morkim, occasional snorts. April indicated that she would like to look at Solya's books.

“Tario.”
Of course.

Nine volumes were lined up, one leaning over into a space left empty. That had probably been occupied by the book she'd seen last time lying
open on a chair. She wondered what their level of quality was. Yes, they were alien literature. Everybody at home had been behaving as if April had discovered the lost plays of Euripides. But there was a distinct possibility that Dolly would go to considerable length to learn the language, then discover that the books were juvenile, at best.

Morkim took down three volumes and gave one to each of his guests. The layout was much the same as one might expect. They were bound with paste boards covered by a silky fabric. There was artwork on the covers. The one given to April had a flower with three leaves. There was also a title and either a byline or the name of an editor. The letters, fortunately, did not look complex. Dolly, after turning some pages, commented that the aliens used an alphabet, rather than a system in which each character had a meaning. “That'll make it easier to deal with,” she added.

Solya said something to Morkim. He went into the kitchen and returned with a large basket of fruit, which he set down for his guests.

Adam took something that looked like a watermelon slice. Dolly leaned toward him and lowered her voice. “
Sala
, Morkim.”

“Pardon?” Adam said.

“
Sala.
It means ‘thanks.'”

Adam, who now seemed more relaxed, relayed the comment. Morkim smiled.
“Tunkol.”

Adam understood. “Yes,” he said. “It's delicious.”

April looked at several of the books. She couldn't even figure out whether they were novels or histories or books of philosophy. Solya could not get away from the book of natural wonders. She loved the pictures and sat for a long time staring at the cover.
“Jarvik?”
she said.

Dolly indicated she did not understand.

Solya pretended to write something in the air.

It didn't help.

She opened the book to the photo of Yosemite. Showed it to Dolly. And did the same with a picture of a snowcapped mountain. Everest. She made the hand gesture again.

Dolly looked at her colleagues.
Does anyone know what she's trying to say?

April studied the mountain, the towering peak, the glittering snow. “I think,” she said, “she's asking whether someone
drew
those pictures. Whether they're pieces of art.”

“That can't be,” said Adam. “They're obviously photos.”

“As far as we know, they don't have photography.”

That brought a long silence. Morkim said something that got past April, probably asking whether anything was wrong. Dolly glanced at Solya, reached into her pocket for her phone, and took Solya's picture.

Solya smiled complacently. She'd seen this routine before.

Dolly showed her the photo and pointed at the book. “They are the same.”

Solya nodded.
“Ork kabalo.”
She understood.

Their two hosts paged through a travel book that contained pictures of railroad engines and churches and cabin cruisers and people riding hay wagons. They grunted and laughed and threw up their arms in astonishment. At one point, Morkim looked up from a photo of a volcano, grabbed Solya, and hugged her.

Eventually, they closed the book.
“Sala, Dolly,”
said Solya. She added something else that was probably along the lines of
Spectacular
. Then she handed
Natural Wonders of the World
to April.

“Bana ki,”
said April. She gave the book back, signaling that it was Solya's, if she wanted it. As were the other volumes.

Solya understood at once. Her eyes closed and she bit her lower lip.
“Sala,”
she said. And something more. It felt like
How can I repay you?

Dolly drew the same conclusion. She got up and walked over to the bookshelf, studied the volumes for a minute or two, and selected one from the middle. She looked briefly through the pages, wrapped an arm around it, held it to her breast, and let everyone see that she wanted it.

Solya got out of her chair, moving with far more grace than April would have believed possible from such a creature. She said something that could only have been
Yes, it's yours.

Dolly thanked her. Solya went back to examining the other volumes they'd brought.

Their hosts were impressed by the technology of the books, as well as baffled as to who April and her colleagues were, and where they'd come from. Nevertheless they maintained a relaxed attitude throughout the balance of the afternoon. They continued to provide fruit and drinks. And something that came close to tasting like lemon pie.

April had been thinking about her flashlight throughout the day, wondering how Solya and Morkim would react to it. Did they know about electricity at all? It could be a shortcut to getting a handle on the level of Eden technology. Eventually, she took it off her belt and showed it to them. Both toyed with it, exchanged remarks that made it clear they had no idea what it was. When they handed it back, she aimed it at the only wall with no windows and turned it on. It would have been more effective had it been dark rather than early evening. But nevertheless Solya grunted, and Morkim almost fell out of his chair. Both got up and hurried over to the wall to examine the circle of light.