Wheels (35 page)

BINGO!

Sure enough, there was a package. Hayes felt certain it was what they were looking for. It had to be. He didn’t dare take time to examine it—not with two Tsendi guards stationed outside and Wells liable to return at any moment. He placed the package in the left lower zipper pocket of his pants, put the bottom back in the box, the contents in as orderly a fashion as he could—as orderly, that is, as he could remember, should Wells check inside the box—and lay down again.

Hayes lay there, eyes wide, staring, waiting, and most of all, prepared—for there was one other item he had decided to keep. Tucked under his leg, its sharp tip pointed towards the door with his hand ready to grab it should Mallos be the first to return.

Chapter 42

FBI TRANSCRIPT 21203

Agent Wink Krumm and B.R. Provost
Thursday, June 4th

KRUMM
: You do cover your tracks better than the average Joe; however, isn’t it interesting that one of our computer geeks discovered every person on your list had his or her record modified on exactly the same day. Every-single-person.

PROVOST
: Who’s to say you didn’t modify those records?

KRUMM
: Come now…

PROVOST
: I’m doing you a favor by even being here. It’s the last week of school. As Principal, I’m extremely busy, as you can imagine. Furthermore, it seems you have nothing on me.

KRUMM
: I take it you’re not going to cooperate? Suppose I order you out of that wheelchair.

PROVOST
: Really, ordering an old man—a crippled old man—out of his wheelchair. I’d sue you up, down and sideways. Besides that…the truth is, if you could have ordered me out of it, you would have. Am I right? Not even your own peers take your wild, space alien theories seriously.

KRUMM
: Suit yourself. It’s only a matter of time. You may have checked out as far as the local school system is concerned, but this is the FBI, Principal Provost—we dig deeper.

PROVOST
: Sounds like a slogan.

KRUMM
: Not a slogan—a promise. Give me two weeks. I’ll have that court order

***

LOST & FOUND

Thursday, March 19th
Cave in the Cocombaca Forest
Close to the pale-blue pedestal, which had once held the original cortext,
three figures materialize.

“
I
can see my hands! Look, look, I can see my hands!”

“Great Concentric, what’s that smell? Look, over there!”

“Really Petré, do you have to be so dra—”

“If memory serves me correctly, that appears to be the remains of a tsoot pit.”

James peered over Revolvos’ shoulder. “What’s a zoot pit?” There was something in the corner, which looked very much like an antiquated lab bench. “Is that a zoot pit?”

“It’s
tsoot
, not zoot,” said Revolvos. “Place the tongue closer to the roof of the mouth. And yes, we’ve arrived. Finally! Apparently, Bewfordios decided to take the scenic route home.”

“Did it ever occur to you, Petré, that there might be a design flaw in
your
cortext?”

“Now Bew…excuse me, Provost, I believe I requested you address me as Professor Re—”

“OH, it’s Provost now is it?”

“PLEASE!” Now that James’ body was back in one piece, he realized the pounding he’d felt in the particle stream was actually a headache. He’d been lost in space for God knows how long listening to the two aliens bicker the entire time. “Can we call a truce?”

“Certainly.” Revolvos smiled in such a way as to guarantee Principal Provost’s annoyance. “But first, if you would be so kind as to explain what the remains of a tsoot pit is doing in my laboratory.”

“Obviously,” said Principal Provost through tightly clenched teeth, “I had nothing to do with it. Lest you forget, I’ve been on Earth for the past six and a half years searching for you. That tsoot pit is barely half a day old.”

James sniffed the air. Something in addition to the bickering was making him feel ill. “That smell,” he said. “It’s sweet. Too sweet.”

“Tsendi!” cried Revolvos and Provost, for the first time totally in agreement.

James feared by their expressions that he would not like the answer, but he had to ask. “Do the Tsendi have anything to do with my daughter?”

“It would appear the Tsendi have found their way into our cave,” said Principal Provost, sounding grave, “and recently too.”

“And that is…?”

“Not good, I’m afraid.”

“I agree,” said Revolvos.

“Agree? With what? Who are the Tsendi? WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER?”

Revolvos frowned. “If the Tsendi have the children, we may be too late.”

James felt ill. The aliens—presumably the
bad
aliens had his daughter.

“Calm down,” said Revolvos, finally acknowledging him. He grabbed James’ hand, led him to a rock and made him sit down. “I was only speculating.” He patted James on the head. “I’m sorry Bewfordios has upset you.”

“ME?” cried Principal Provost. “You’re the one who announced, ‘We may be too late.’ While, in fact, it is far too early to assume anything.”

Revolvos continued to pat James on the head (which wasn’t helping his headache), “We must start somewhere.”

“Then let’s consider how the Tsendi got in,” said Provost.

“Through the entrance of course.”

Provost smiled triumphantly. “What entrance?”

“Well, obviously they swam in,” said James shifting his head, causing Revolvos’ next pat to miss and land on his shoulder. There was water flowing in through an opening—the only opening as far as James could see. It seemed like the obvious answer.

“Suffice it to say, James, no Tsendi would ever enter through water.”

“And so the only other way is by particle-weaving,” said Provost.

“The Tsendi particle-weave too?”

“No.” Principal Provost and Revolvos exchanged a meaningful look.

“You mean McKenzie did it,” said James. “I’m not an idiot, you know, and I’m definitely not blind!”

Principal Provost sighed. “I apologize. Yes. It could have been McKenzie or…for that matter, any Circanthian. I suppose how they got in isn’t as important as why. Moreover, why a tsoot pit? It doesn’t make sense. Unless…”

Revolvos and Provost looked at each other. Once more, worried looks passing between them.

“What? Unless what?” James demanded.

“If the Circanthians were forced to move into this cave, as a last resort against Wells.”

“Quite right,” said Revolvos. “They might have particle-woven a tsoot pit to…occupy their time. But, perhaps they were careless.”

“Not likely, but yes,” said Provost, “if they forgot to close up the entrance and Tsendi spies got in and—”

“Attacked!” cried James.

“Once again, not likely, but yes, a possibility,” said Provost.

“But that doesn’t tell me anything about my daughter.”

“We’re wasting time in pointless speculation. We should be searching for McKenzie and Hayes. If all else fails…” Principal Provost paused as if reluctant to go on. “If-all-else-fails, we must collect the children, rescue any remaining Circanthians—”

“Dear me, poor Pietas!” said Revolvos.

“And return to Earth,” finished Principal Provost. He frowned. “I’m sorry old man. I’m sure Pietas is fine.” He continued, obviously trying to put a good face on it. “We should stay together.”

“No,” said Revolvos. “We should split up.”

“Not a good idea.”

“But practical. No one would ever guess I was here. I can sneak into the Gathering, look for the children and any remaining Circanthians, and then weave us all back to the cave.”

“But what if the Tsendi are—”

“Doubtful,” said Revolvos, brushing aside the suggestion. “The Tsendi haven’t lived out in the open for loonocks. More than likely they’ve taken captives and are still here in the forest.”

“We’re in a forest?”

“This is a cave, James. A cave in middle of the Cocombaca Forest,” said Revolvos.

“Of course it’s a cave! Once again, I must remind you, I’m not an idiot. I only meant, well…McKenzie will have had a difficult time maneuvering her wheelchair through a forest.”

“I assure you, Circanthian forests are nothing like those on Earth,” said Principal Provost. “McKenzie will have had no trouble navigating.”

“Tsootbas!” cried Revolvos.

“Really,” said Principal Provost, “Did you have to bring those up?”

“Gentleman—PLEASE—I don’t want to know about zootbas or tsootbas—however you pronounce it. Let’s concentrate on finding my daughter and her…that boy, Rudy Hayes.” James frowned. “Although, I’m almost happy he’s here with her. At least she’s not alone.”

“Splendid!” said Revolvos. “Then I shall weave over to the Gathering, while you and James search the forest.”

“GREAT, just great!” said Principal Provost. “I’m stuck with James—”

“HEY!” 

“—searching for Wells’ compound in a Tsendi infested forest! Has it occurred to you that I’ve never been to Wells’ compound? I may not be able to use particle-weaving to get us there.”

Instead of responding, Revolvos turned and rolled to the water’s edge. He sighed heavily and stared into the water. “I haven’t much time.”

“Now what?” said Principal Provost.

“I arranged for James to build my cortext because…” Revolvos paused and sighed again, “because I wished to return home to see the Lapis Sea one last time.”

“There you go again,” said Principal Provost, “over dramatizing in order to get your own way.”

“Not this time, old friend. I can feel it in my navicals. A Circanthian knows.” Revolvos turned to face them. “I’m only thinking of my great-great granddaughter. I would never survive the forest. You’re still a relatively young Circanthian and James is her father. My intuition tells me that McKenzie and her friend are in Wells’ compound.”

There was a moment of silence. Provost appeared to be having some trouble finding his voice. Finally, he mumbled, “As you put it that way, and as my intuition tells me the same, I agree, you should go to the Gathering while James and I search the forest.”

“Then I
suggest
we stop talking and go find my daughter,” said James, heading toward the water.

“You need not swim. Provost will weave an opening for you. Best take a couple of noofotos, I’m sure the tsootbas are still out there.”

“Noofotos? Tsootbas?”

“Follow me, James, I’ll explain everything—most of it anyway—on the way out.” Principal Provost nodded to Revolvos then rolled over to what appeared to be a very solid, ordinary part of the cave wall. As if by magic, an archway appeared. He grabbed something that looked like an umbrella out of something that looked very much like an umbrella stand.

“You’re weaving directly from the cave?” he asked, turning towards Revolvos.

“I was once the best. I believe I can still manage it.”

Provost nodded. “We’ll meet back in, let’s say, no more than two epoks.” 

“If I don’t return, assume no one is left. Take James and the children and return to Earth.”

“There is no reason for you to remain behind.”

 “I have been gone long enough, Bewfordios. My final wish is to die here, on my own planet.” Revolvos turned toward the water. “Near the Lapis Sea, with my Creator.”

James looked from one old Circanthian to the other. He waited for Principal Provost to say something—to demand Revolvos return with them. However, Principal Provost simply raised his eyebrows, turned and as he rolled out of the cave said, “Open your noofoto and follow me.”

James took one more glance at Professor Revolvos, his daughter’s great-great grandfather. Revolvos smiled back and then closed his eyes. As James watched, the air in front of Revolvos began to shimmer. James had, of course, seen this same process not long ago. Seconds later, in front of Revolvos, an opening appeared. James thought he caught a glimpse of sparkling white sand and water beyond.

Revolvos opened his eyes, waved and was gone.

Chapter 43

FBI TRANSCRIPT 21202

Agent Wink Krumm with Rudy B. Hayes
Friday, June 5th

KRUMM
: WHERE IS IT?

HAYES
: What?

KRUMM
: That alien mongrel you’ve been harboring.

HAYES
: Agent Krumm, even I know that’s not politically correct.

KRUMM
: Don’t patronize me. You know exactly what I’m talking about. The poonchi! My operative searched your apartment the other day.

HAYES
: You’re kidding me? You MUST be kidding! Aunt Patty is going to be totally pissed.

KRUMM
: Is she now? Why? Because she knows about the poonchi?

HAYES
: My Aunt Patty knows nothing. You leave her out of this.

KRUMM
: Ahhh! So your Aunt Patty knows nothing, which means, of course, there is something to know.

HAYES
: Arggg! I only meant my aunt has never read McKenzie’s crazy uncle’s story.

KRUMM
: Let me tell you a story. I know the poonchi has been moved. And I believe I know where.

HAYES
: You’re crazy.

KRUMM
: Funny.

HAYES
: What’s funny?

KRUMM
: How you look so worried about a poonchi that supposedly doesn’t exist.

***

BOOM-daga, BOOM-daga, BOOMBOOMBOOM!

Thursday, March 19th
Tsoot Pit on the Tsendi Compound

M
cKenzie exhaled. She’d been holding her breath since the drummers began to play. Abacis had given her a crash course in tsoot. Though she still wasn’t sure of the terminology, the rules were simple enough. It was a game with a hoop and a ball. Which, as far as her world was concerned, meant basketball—a language she spoke fluently.