A True History Book One
StarFleet Carl
Chapter 01
Alternate universes exist. I know that, and some of our scientists have proven it beyond a shadow of a doubt.
I suppose that the fairy tales you've read in those illustrated novels potentially are true … somewhere. Of course, there are also television shows and movies based upon those alternate universe versions as well. For some reason, no one has made an illustrated novel … I think some universes call them comic books … of me. With the clarification that I'm specifically referring to me, myself, and I, NOT the alternate versions of me that exist in some of those other universes.
Which is fine, as far as I'm concerned. That's why I'm writing this, a true history of me, because it doesn't seem anyone else has seen it, except the people in my own universe. As for another reason I'm doing the whole autobiography thing, it's pretty simple. I'm probably not going to live forever. And I want to make sure that my side of things is out there.
Since this is my adopted planet, because I didn't get much of a choice in the matter, I'll talk about how things changed using that history.
It seems from what the scientists have been able to observe and record, out of the 3,400 and some odd alternate universes they've been able to view, the vast majority where human life is dominant all tend to be pretty much the same up until the late 17th Century.
Then you start having the Industrial Revolution, the fall of the British Empire, and either the American Revolution succeeds or fails that start making variants. But most of the time it succeeded, and it wasn't until the World Wars that things really started to become different. Even then, it seems that the general rule is that the Axis loses, then you have the Cold War. It annoys those people who wanted a Roman or Ottoman Empire to exist into the 21st Century, but it seems that history itself didn't want that.
What's funny is there is an alternate universe, where another version of me exists, that I … he landed in the Soviet Union. Oops.
But predominately, in the two dozen alternate universes that scientists have found where versions of me actually exist and aren't simply in novels or movies or other fiction, I tend to end up right in the heartland of the good ole US of A. As for how it seems that EVERY universe has stories about me, or one of my variations, the scientists said it's because there's some kind of group consciousness that can cross the barriers that keep all our universes apart.
I don't know, nor do I really care. Again, those aren't me. Oh, and I've converted all the distances and other measurements in my biography to what you as the reader are used to, just for your convenience. I think that's thoughtful of me, don't you?
So, to start at the beginning, there was a rocket, but I certainly wasn't a baby.
"Cal, I'm sorry, there's just no time left.”
"But … Dad, Mom … what about both of you?”
"I'm sorry, Son. This was only supposed to be a one man test unit. There's not even enough life support for your mother to go, or I would send her with you.”
My mother kissed me on the forehead. “Be strong, Cal. At least you'll survive.” With that, she led me to the open capsule. “Take your jumpsuit off and get in.”
I climbed in, and took the only seat inside. It was chilly on my back and bottom, as I was naked. Dad put a mask over my face.
"This is hooked up to the life support system directly. There is a chemical mixed in that will lower your metabolism so that you won't need to consume much oxygen. Your body will slow down. Give me your arm.” He hooked me up via needle and tubing to another port in the capsule. “This will supply you with nutrients and liquid. Your body will process wastes very slowly.” He pushed a button and the seat molded itself to my lower body, two other bands coming out to cover my arms, a third immobilizing my head.
I could still talk. “Is this really necessary?”
"Cal, your body will still produce wastes while you're in suspended animation. The processing center will collect them automatically. The bands are to help keep you in place in case the computer determines there is an emergency. You won't really be aware of what's going on, not until your ship lands.”
"Son,” My mother was crying now. “Be strong. Our world is coming to an end. But with you alive, we will survive. Through you.”
Things started to get fuzzy on me as the chemicals I was breathing kicked in. It was like I was listening from a great distance, not really seeing things clearly. Dad pushed a couple of buttons on the control panel. I could hear music playing, and I slowly realized that the band holding my head in place had speakers built in. I felt the seat move, then nothing for a long time.
Awareness came back to me slowly. I was hearing something, but it wasn't making any sense. I opened my eyes, then shut them quickly. The light was too bright and seemed wrong to me. It was too strong, hurting me a little even through my shut eyelids. After some time that I didn't know how to measure, what I was hearing started to make sense. It was the computer that was running the ship.
"Preparing for final landing sequence. Please return to full awareness in the event of an emergency. Preparing for final landing sequence.” It kept repeating itself.
I coughed a little. Upon hearing my cough, the computer used a built-in spigot in the mask to spray a short, fine mist that moistened my throat. “A little more, please,” I croaked out. It gave me more liquid, and that helped considerably.
"Thank you. Status report, please.”
The computer-generated voice said, “Ship has arrived in destination planetary system. Multiple planets in system. Based upon parameters programmed for long term survival, third planet presents greatest possibility. Ship is preparing to land on third planet. Due to potential for unplanned emergency during landing, full consciousness of occupant required.”
"Can you dim the lights? They seem to be too bright for my eyes right now.”
"No internal lighting system active. Rotating capsule.” With that, the computer spun the ship, lessening the light coming through my closed eyelids, and finally allowing me to open them.
All around me was black, the blackness of space. I could see stars through the windows of the capsule. “Why was it so bright? How long have I been out? What happened after I left? What about my home?”
I heard a click. The computer voice said, “Planetary destruction noted by sensors thirty hours after launch. Occupant life support maintained at one percent normal operating efficiency for flight duration. Subjective time elapsed for occupant of 142 standard days, objective time 994 days. Destination system star is of different spectral wavelength than home system star, generating different wavelength of light. Note, other electromagnetic spectra noted from destination system star that were not present in home system star. Note, standard day as measured on home planet does not match sidereal rotation on destination planet.”
"So how long is a day on this planet? Is it inhabited?”
"Destination planet rotation period is equal to 0.45 home planet rotation period. Planet is inhabited, multiple varieties of life forms detected. Note, electromagnetic radiation received from destination planet and signals processed. Translations of multiple sources transferred to occupant during final system approach.”
"So, you used the speakers to teach me their languages, at least the ones you received. And the light hurts my eyes because it's a different color than home. Obviously, there is intelligent life there, which is good and bad. I don't suppose you know what some of these intelligent occupants look like, do you?”
"Electromagnetic signals show nominal variations on norm.”
"They look like me? Or, I look like them? That's a plus. How soon … what is that?” A very bright planetoid came into my view. I could at least look at it without it hurting my eyes. It looked like it was covered in craters.
"Destination planet is orbited by one satellite. Satellite is 27% of the size of destination planet. Note, destination planet is 68% size of home planet. Satellite size indicates probable capture versus natural satellite formation.”
"Can you let me see the destination planet now?”
The ship rotated again, keeping me from being directly exposed to the light from the star. Filling my capsule window was a huge blue marble. “Uh, aren't we a little close?”
"Final landing sequence has commenced. Emergency controls active if necessary.” I heard a click, and the voice changed to a recording of my dad and mom. “Good luck, Son! We love you!” It clicked back off.
I couldn't even reach up to wipe the tears that I shed at hearing their voices. The capsule started shaking as it hit the edge of the atmosphere. I felt cool air jetting in as the computer compensated for the heat being generated. “Landing systems nominal. No issues detected. Electromagnetic spectrum analysis indicates detection by destination planet inhabitants. No planetary defenses noted.”
"Can I listen to the signals?”
Without replying, the computer simply switched sources. I heard two voices, both male. The first said, “Roger that, NORAD. We're tracking it as well. Looks like a large meteor.”
The second one said, “We confirm, SAC. With no launches detected and the speed it's hitting, it'll probably burn up before landing anyway. If you've got something in the vicinity, you might have them check. Otherwise, I wouldn't worry about it.”
The first one said, “Copy, NORAD. We'll have Offutt, McConnell and Tinker stand down. Vance may have a training flight up, we'll have them vector in, just in case it hits the ground and causes a fire. You still show it as impacting near somewhere in Kansas?”
"Roger. Should be down in about twenty seconds.”
I felt pressure in my body as the capsule began slowing. The computer stated, “Change in vector initiated. Initial landing spot not suitable. Preparing for horizontal flight change.”
One of the male voices said, “Wait, what the hell just happened? Just before it went below the radar horizon, it started slowing down! Get those birds in the air, now!”
I told the computer, “Okay, we did that just a little high, apparently they saw us. What are your plans to avoid detection?”
"Scans prior to entry show a below ground location nearby. We shall be at the entrance in one minute, fifteen seconds. Entrance is large enough for this capsule. Note, aerial units detected vectoring our location. Primitive radio wave reflection surface detection equipment detected. This capsule will be in range of that within 45 seconds.”
I grabbed the controls and shoved the throttles forward, to full speed. “Keep us on course for that entrance!”
"Understood. Warning, below surface depth unknown. Recommend slowing prior to entry to avoid catastrophic damage from unknown obstacles.”
"Can we do that and avoid detection?”
"Negative. At this rate, capsule will be below surface three seconds prior to detection.”
I couldn't totally see where we were going, but I kept the throttles flat out. I felt a crash as something hit the front of the capsule. “Below surface detection.” I hit full retro thrust as it got totally dark outside. Then after about two seconds, I felt the capsule hit something really hard, and that was the last thing I knew.
I didn't know how long I was unconscious. When I woke up, I actually didn't feel that bad, considering the capsule had obviously hit something. The light level inside was tolerable for me without squinting. I realized that the source was the instrument panel. The capsule otherwise was quiet.
"Computer, status report.” Nothing. “Computer! Status!” Still nothing. The bands still held my body tight. My hands were tingling because they'd been free and holding onto the controls when we hit whatever we'd hit. I knew where the emergency release was and moved my little finger up, touching that.
The bands instantly let me go, and I fell towards the bottom of the capsule. Slowly, though, not like anything that felt normal to me. I had time to grab the handles available and stop myself from falling, actually. Weird. Oh, wait. Since this planet is smaller, I bet gravity is less for me, here. I reached out with one hand and hit the toggle for exterior lights.
Things could have been worse. I didn't know what we'd hit, but it'd made a mess all over the front of the capsule. I don't know why, but the hole in the ground, the tunnel that I'd entered, looked rather abandoned to me. At least if the amount of rust on the surface of the piece of metal that was obscuring half the lights was any clue, it was.
I also realized that the mask had been knocked off my face, so I could look around. Moving my head closer … for some reason, my eyes were having difficulty focusing … I looked at the lights on the instrument panel and the descriptions by each of them. I wasn't a rocket scientist … that was my Dad … but the sheer number of green lights on the console indicated that the capsule was finished. I hit the button on the capsule for the regular release, but nothing happened.
"Well, isn't that special. Let's see here … ah, here's the emergency release.” I pulled that lever. It moved a little, then stopped. The lid of the capsule opened just a small amount. “That's not going to cut it.” I pulled harder on the lever, moving my hand down for the best leverage I could get. It moved another small amount, then tried to stop again. I really put my back into it, given my position and room, and then suddenly felt the lever move freely in my hand as a loud popping noise came from within the mechanism.
"That's not good.” Wiggling around and being careful that I didn't pinch anything that I might need in the future, I brought my legs up so I could push with them against the opening of the capsule. I started with a gentle push, and nothing happened. I put my back into it and shoved. Not only did the capsule lid pop off, it ended up shoving the capsule backwards because the lid had been held in place by a piece of metal.
"That's … odd. What was that all about?”
In the bottom of the capsule, now that I wasn't trapped, I found a bag. Mom had packed it with some simple clothing for me, a simple jumpsuit in camouflage coloring. At least I wouldn't have to run around naked any longer. Half a dozen food bars, two containers of water, and a simple multi-tool. Not a lot to live on, but I'd been a Scout. I quickly pulled the jumpsuit on, feeling the soles harden under my feet and adjust to my size. I then grabbed the bag and hopped out of the capsule.
The tunnel floor had two parallel strips of metal on it, with something under those at regular intervals. Odd. I could see in the distance the bright light from outside. There was still enough light seeping in at this depth that I had no trouble following the tunnel up. I stopped far enough from the entrance that someone looking in wouldn't be able to see me, then got down on my hands and knees to get closer, finally crawling on my belly the last little bit.
It was so bright out. The colors looked all wrong, too. So many things, obviously plants of some kind, but I was concerned about them. They were all the color of danger, all green. I heard a noise coming from near the entrance, and looked in that direction. It was a small creature, maybe the length of my forearm, half the diameter, coiled up. It reminded me a bit of the water lorquats from home, a long, slender body with the head at one end. But this had something at the other end that was making an odd sound, like a can full of rocks being shaken back and forth. I held my hand out to it, so it could come close and smell me, to know I meant it no harm.
It had an odd-looking tongue, that was forked at the end. That flicked out a couple of times quickly, then the beast uncoiled, opened its mouth, and attacked the side of my hand. I could see the teeth … long fangs … ready to bite, but I wasn't in a position to do anything about it. The creature's teeth hit my hand, my skin, and stopped. It was stuck with its mouth open, trying to bite me, but unable to do so.
"That wasn't polite,” I said. I grabbed it behind the head. Interesting. There was some kind of venom that it was trying to put into me, no doubt would have, if it had actually bitten me. “Obviously, you're not very polite, if you want to bite a stranger like that.”
I took the head with my other hand, gave it a quick twist, and heard the noise of its back breaking, then it literally ripped in half. I dropped it to the ground. “Gross. And … odd. Surprising your body would be so weak.”
I looked up at the bright sky. The yellow star that this planet orbited was high in the sky. At least the air temperature was comfortable for me. I stayed just inside the tunnel for what seemed to be a long time to me, at least enough time for the planet to rotate such that the star was halfway down to the horizon. It seemed nothing else was stirring, so I got up, brushed the dust off my jumpsuit, and stepped out into the light.
It didn't hurt me any longer. I suspect that it was simply due to my being in the dark of space for so long that made it bother me previously. But there was a real problem. My camouflage jumpsuit, in this light, simply wasn't. Instead, it was quite apparent that the colors were totally inappropriate for this place. I went back into the tunnel, down to where the capsule was, to see if there was anything else I could salvage from it. Other than the material from the seat, which was the same color as the trunks on my jumpsuit, I was out of luck.
Different color spectrum, no doubt due to the different star. Obviously lighter gravity, to me, although probably to the people of this planet, it'd be normal for them. I'd need to find food and water to survive, and at some point, actually have to meet the people of this planet.
I went back to the surface. It did look like there might be something on the far side of the clearing that was below the shaft my craft had landed inside. I squinted, to see if I could make out what it was, then was quite surprised to find that I could see that it was a stream of liquid. It appeared to be natural, just a slightly odd color. I closed my eyes, then opened them again.
That was odd. I'd swear the stream was close to half a mile away. I looked down at the dead body of the animal that had attacked me. Small insects were now working on devouring it as best they could.
"Well, that's like home, I guess.” I looked at the stream again, and realized that my vision was actually working like I had built in binoculars. Huh! I then looked down at the insects, to see if it'd work close up, too. I stumbled backwards in surprise! It'd worked almost too well, and disoriented me. These little creatures had suddenly seemed to be larger than I was, in my view.
That was wild. I brought my hand up, held it at arm’s length. I found I could see the ridges of my skin. I stared a little closer, and suddenly realized I was actually seeing INSIDE my hand, seeing the muscles and then the blood flowing, then my bones. I couldn't help but grin. This was neat.
Looking down at the little bugs again, I was able to see through them as well. Then I realized that I was seeing through the ground, UNDER the bugs. That was … very odd. I played around with that for a couple of minutes. The dirt didn't block me, the material under the metal strips didn't block me, but the metal strips themselves made it a little more difficult to see through them.
I was squinting a little harder to see through the rails, almost forcing my vision, when suddenly beams of energy shot out from my eyes, literally cutting through the strips. Holy crap! I have laser beams in my eyes? That was worth playing with some more. After cutting some of the metal rails into small chunks, I started to feel thirsty and had a bit of a headache. Okay, time to stop that.
It was getting closer to sundown now. That was much sooner than I expected, but I'd forgotten how small this planet was, so that made sense. I shrugged, deciding that I'd make a run of it, to get to the liquid in the stream as quickly as I could, so I wouldn't be out in the open in case someone was looking for my craft. I took off running as fast as I could.
Which turned out to be very, very fast. I covered that half mile in about a second.
"Oh, damn! I wish that computer had survived, I'd like to know what's happened to me.” I looked around, waiting for one of the monitors to strike me for cursing. Then I realized that there were no monitors, no one around at all. I bent down and took a drink of the liquid. It was a bit different looking; I think due to the rocks under it, but it still tasted just like water.
The whole enormity of what, to me, had only been a day really crashed down on me then. I'm not proud of it, but I just sat down on the ground by that stream and started crying, for everything that I'd lost. Which, depending upon your perspective, was not a good thing, because I lost situational awareness.
The sound of a machine of some kind approaching me brought me back to my senses. It wasn't very large, with two bright lights on the front. Who, or what, was operating the machine had obviously detected me, so there was no chance of running back to the tunnel and hiding. I simply sat up and calmly waited for whatever would happen.
The machine stopped about thirty feet from me. The lights weren't quite shining in my eyes. I heard something, like metal moving, then a figure walked around into the light.
"Well, when Betty said she saw something brightly colored down at the creek by the old mine, I sure didn't think it'd end up being a boy wearing a Halloween costume. How'd you get out here in the middle of nowhere?” It was a male voice, not harsh sounding, but definitely inquisitive.
"Would you believe I'm really not sure? But I knew I'd need water to drink, and this was the first source I found.”
"We got clean water up at the house. You feel okay? Injured in any way?”
"I'm … honestly, sir, I basically feel fine. I'm just completely lost, don't actually know where I am, and I truly am not sure how exactly I ended up right here.” I was rather proud of myself for not lying to him in my statements. I was certainly lost, because I had no idea where on this planet I really was, and the computer had picked the landing spot, not me, and I really didn't know what it used for criteria.
He stepped over to me. I could now see that he was wearing a shirt that had a pattern of colors in one-inch squares, pants that seemed to be of a rugged material lighter in color than my jumpsuit, and boots that were designed for rugged terrain. He reached his hand down to me, offering to help me up.
I took his hand, trying to be careful. I had already guessed that the difference in gravity from home to here would make things feel different to me.
"Damn, son. You must work out. You don't look as heavy as you feel.” He led me to the other side of the vehicle he'd exited. I could see in the twilight quite clearly how he pulled on a handle, opening the door to the vehicle. “Go ahead, get in. I'll get you up to the house, let Betty figure things out.”
I got in and sat down. He shut the door, then went to the other side, sat down, and shut his door. He pulled down a lever, pushed his foot on a pedal, which seemed to put the vehicle into motion. He rotated a wheel, which was apparently the steering mechanism. It took us over some bumps, following a dirt trail. In a few minutes, several buildings came into view. Two of them had lights inside.
I wondered why I hadn't seen them before, then realized that the stream, or creek as he'd called it, was lower in elevation and there'd been a slight rise in the way. That made me wonder how Betty, whoever that was, had seen me.
"You got a name, boy?”
"Sorry, sir. I … my name is Cal.”
"That's it? No last name?”
I put a puzzled look on my face. “I'm sorry, sir. I feel like I ought to know it, if that makes sense to you.”
"Not to me, but it probably will to Betty. Handle on that side might stick.” I saw him use a lever on the inside of the door to open his, so I found the one on my side. I pulled it like he had, but it didn't do anything. “Give it a little shove, that'll do it.”
I pulled the handle again, putting a little force behind pushing it. The door flung open. He laughed. “Damn, you are a strong one. That was muscle mass I was pulling on, not fat. Come on.”
A four-legged creature covered in fur was making loud noises from the building. “Don't mind Jethro. He's all bark and no bite, for family and friends.”
The last creature that I'd tried to approach had definitely been all bite. I stopped in front of this one. I could tell from the way its face and eyes were, on its head, that it was a predator. Since it had allowed the man to walk by, it obviously was acting as a guard, possibly a domesticated version. I held my hand out, to see if this one would sniff and see that I meant no harm.
The animal caught my scent, stopping the loud noises. I turned my palm over, face up. It took a couple of steps closer, seemed to make up its mind, then a long tongue reached out and started licking my hand. I gently rubbed the fur on its head.
"Well, I'll be. Never seen Jethro take to someone quite so quickly.” He opened a door to the structure. “Betty! I owe you an apology. There was something down at the creek. Here he is, says his name is Cal.”
"That's okay, Dad. Hi, I'm Betty.”
It was a tall, young woman, with blonde hair, maybe slightly older than me, wearing … pants? And a shirt, not a dress. Interesting. “Hello, I'm Cal. And that's about all I know.”
"Well, you don't look like you've been bleeding from a head injury, which would cause memory loss. But that outfit … Halloween is still months away, so I'm guessing you ran away from a circus or something,” she said.
"Ain't had a circus in town for a while, though. Although there could've been a circus train pass through, going to Denver or Wichita. Tracks are two miles north of here, though, on the other side of 50. Your outfit doesn't match anything they'd wear up at the prison, either. Cal here may look small, but he's all muscle, ain't a bit of fat on him. How old are you, boy?”
"I'm … just a moment, please.” I did some quick thinking, trying to remember what the computer had said. “I believe I'm … fourteen? Maybe fifteen? That sounds about right.”
I was apparently correct in guessing her age. “That's only a couple years younger than I am,” Betty said. “Do you have some identification on you, someone we can contact?”
"Sorry, I just have my pouch and some water and food in it. What kind of identification would I have, otherwise?”
"Well, if you're fourteen, that's too young for a driver’s license. I'd normally say you'd have a school ID card, or maybe your social security card, but, hell, boy, you may not have anything at all. At least you knew you needed water and food. Makes me wonder if you might've fallen and hurt your head. It's too late tonight to do much of anything by way of checking things out.” He looked at the girl. “You finish up fixing supper, while I was on your wild Cal chase?”
"Funny, Dad. Of course. I didn't know we'd have company, but I made enough for us to have leftovers, so there'll be plenty.”
"Come on, Cal. Let's go wash our hands and we'll eat.” He led me down a hallway to a room. There was a shiny white thing sitting in the middle of the small room that looked like you might sit on it. Another white bowl was attached to one wall, with metallic devices on the top and to one side. He turned one of the devices and water came out, into the bowl.
"Soaps on the counter. Oh, I didn't think. You need to use the restroom?”
"Sir?”
"They not pee or poop where you're from, Cal?”
"Ah, sorry, I'm just still a little shaken by today. No, sir, I don't need to evacuate my bladder or bowels right now.”
His face looked surprised. “I don't think I've ever heard anyone other than the nurses at the hospital call it that. Well, water ought to be hot now, wash up.” He put his hands into the stream, picked up a small bar of some material and rubbed it onto them. It made some bubbles, then he rinsed his hands back off and wiped them dry on a cloth hanging on the wall. I did the same.
"Your hands. They don't look like weightlifters’ hands. Any idea how you got so bulked up and strong?”
Yes, but you wouldn't believe me. “No, sir.”
"Oh, hell. I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Harold Watson. You can call me Harry. Come on, Betty makes a good stew.”
There were three bowls filled with food on the table, with what looked like regular spoons beside them. Three glasses with a medium brown liquid with small cubes floating in the liquid were also on the table. Betty was already seated.
"Come on, gentlemen. I've still got homework to finish for Monday, especially if we're going in town tomorrow.”
I carefully moved the chair out. It looked normal, but made of some kind of fibrous product, maybe naturally occurring. I sat down carefully.
"Cal, we're not too religious, if you need to say a prayer before a meal, feel free.”
Amazing. Religions existed here? “No, sir … Harry. Thank you, though.”
The stew, as they called it, was delicious. There were chunks of animal flesh of some kind, as well as various plant proteins in different colors. Some green balls, some pale white cubes, and I was intrigued by the small, circular orange pieces. I didn't realize how hungry I was, until I'd finished the bowl. Neither of them was more than halfway done.
Harry chuckled. “Betty, looks like we've got us a growing boy, here.” She giggled, got up and took my bowl to a large, waist high square device, where she scooped more of this stew from a pot that was sitting on it. She placed it in front of me. I saw Harry take a sip of his glass, so I did the same.
Oh, my! This was something I'd never tasted before. It was very sweet, almost like a candy. And cold. I realized the cubes in the glass were frozen water. I drank the whole glass, quickly.
Betty giggled again. “Well, I'm guessing that where ever you're from, Cal, you've never had sweet tea before. Dad, remember when Mr. Anderson took over as principal? He was from up north, and had never had sweet tea. That's the same reaction he had.” She hadn't returned to her chair, so she grabbed a pitcher from the counter and refilled my glass.
"Thank you,” I said.
She smiled at me. “You're welcome, Cal.”
We finished the meal. Harry said, “You said you've got homework, pumpkin? I'll get the dishes, then. Why don't you get your books, and let's see if I can help you with any of it, while I'm doing them?”
"Thanks, Dad.”
She went into another room, hurrying back with two things I presumed were books. “I'm still having issues with Advanced Science and Trig.” She placed them on the table.
I picked one up while she was opening the other. I realized that, somehow or other, the computer had managed to teach me how to read this language, as well. However, I was puzzled by something that was inside the front cover. It said it was something called a Periodic Table of Elements. I was able to easily figure out what the symbols and such represented, even if the names weren't the same, as these were atom based. But this chart was woefully incomplete. It only listed 108 elements, not the 184 that I knew.
I started thumbing through her book. The pages seemed to be made of some form of cellulose, with printing on them. This was a highly primitive way of storing information for transfer. I started to say something, then realized that Betty and Harry were looking at me. “I'm sorry, have I done something wrong?”
"You … you were flipping the pages so fast, it was disturbing.”
"I apologize. I'm not used to seeing information presented this way, so I wanted to read it as quickly as possible. There are several errors in some of the examination materials, but for the most part, it appears to be quite accurate.”
Harry looked at me with a puzzled look on his face. “Cal, are you some kind of super genius, or something?”
"I don't believe so, although … I remember that my parents were exceptional scientists in their respective fields.” I figured I had to say something to cover up my blunder.
Betty spun the other book around. “Okay, brain boy, scan through this one.”
I picked it up, figuring out the words these people used for this version of mathematics. “Algebra and Trigonometry with Analytic Geometry.” I thumbed through that book as well. “Yes, some of the basic foundation work that's needed for higher mathematics. The equations presented are all correct, although again, there are a few wrong answers in the actual examination materials.”
She spun something else around. “We just started learning that, and you say you already know it? Are you sure you're only fourteen? If you do know it, how would you work this problem?”
There was a simple equation on the form. Her book had called it a quadratic equation. “The answer is x equals negative one plus or minus the square root of three. To show the work, then you simply do this.” I took the writing utensil from her and wrote out the additional steps needed to go from the original equation to the solution.
"No, Cal. I don't understand HOW to get from here to there. That's what's been holding me back in this class.”
I spent the next several minutes showing her how to bring things around, until suddenly it was apparent that she DID get it. I gave her another question, then helped show her how to solve it as well.
"Why can't our teachers show us how to do it this way? Your explanation makes sense to me.”
"I don't know, that's the way I learned, when I was first doing these. Now, something like this is relatively simple.”
"Simple, huh? Okay, let me get through this and then you can check my homework for me.” She continued working on the problem set. It took her an additional twenty minutes to get through them. “Wow, this … this was a lot easier, using the way you showed me how to do them.”
She handed me her sheet. I glanced at it. “Yes, these are all correct.”
"You one of those speed readers, Cal?”, Harry asked. He was just finishing up with the dinner dishes.
"I don't think so, but I've always been quick to scan information.”
Harry got more of the sweet tea from the pitcher and refilled my glass. “Come on in here with me, let's let Betty get her science work done without interruption. I want to watch a little news.” He led me into a different room that had assorted seats facing a screen. He sat down in one, picked up a small device and aimed it at the screen. I was surprised that I could see the light that the device emitted, which caused the screen to turn on.
The screen lit up. It appeared to be a simple receiver of some kind. Two men were on screen, discussing something about whatever a Republican Convention was, and that it was certain President Reagan would be giving his acceptance speech. Harry said, “So much for Evans and Novack on CNN. Let's see what's on channel 12.” He pushed another button on the device, and the screen changed. It showed a large room with thousands of people screaming about re-electing President Reagan.
"Crap. Well, let's see if cake is any better.” He pushed the button again. The picture displayed now was of a woman sitting at a desk. “Thanks for that weather report, Jim. In other news, officials from Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma, apologized to the public in the Wichita area for the actions of two of their pilots. The pilots were on a routine training mission, there was a radar malfunction and the tower instructed them to proceed to intercept something that wasn't there. If you heard a sonic boom this morning, that's what was going on.” She continued talking about something else, while Harry chuckled.
"Antigonish. I met a man who wasn't there. Ha! More likely they were just out playing war, like usual. Ain't no one going to fuck with the US of A while Ronnie Raygun is President.” He turned to me. “Sorry, Cal. I bet you're surprised that some Kansas dirt farmer knows classical poetry. That was courtesy of my Elspeth, Betty's Mom. Don't know why she ever fell for someone like me, but she did. And after the whole Iran thing under Carter, there's no way in hell Reagan isn't going to get re-elected.”
He saw the puzzled look on my face. “You'd have only been ten when that went down, so you probably weren't paying much attention to politics then. It was a bad situation for our country, and Reagan made sure those damned sand niggers backed down.”
"Daddy, you know I don't like you talking like that.”
"If your Mom were still here, she wouldn't approve, either. Can't help that's the way things are, though. Your grandfather fought in North Africa, then in Italy. Some of us learn our prejudices young. How about you, Cal? Your grandparents fight in the Big One?”
"I apologize. I'm afraid my education wasn't focused on history. My grandparents … aren't from this country. And, of course, they're no longer alive.”
"Sorry, son. Didn't mean to dredge up any bad memories. Although it does sound like you're remembering a few things, now. That's good. I've seen people with concussions that never did get their memories back.”
"Is that what you think happened to me, Harry?”
"Either that, or someone drugged you. Sure don't think you dropped out of the sky or anything like that.” He laughed.
"Dad, can Cal come check my work? I think I've got it.” He nodded, so I went into the other room and glanced at her sheet again.
"Problem Nine, you've got the wrong answer. The electrical bonds on the atoms won't allow that combination. Here, let me show you.” I took another page, and sketched the answer out. “This combination will work. Do you see how I reached this molecule?”
"Sort of. You have to combine both ionic and covalent bonds, don't you?”
"Exactly! It's a slightly more complicated hydrocarbon, but considerably more stable.”
"Great!” Her smile made her face very pretty, which was honestly something I hadn't paid much attention to, previously.
"Okay, kids, break it up in there. Cal, I, uh, don't have any pajamas or nightclothes for you. I'd prefer that you not run around in your birthday suit, so if you could leave that costume on for the night, we'll get it washed tomorrow. Betty, since you're a bit tall, I think one of your old overalls might fit Cal, he could wear that tomorrow morning while we do the chores.”
"Thank you, Harry. I appreciate your courtesy to a complete stranger.”
"As long as you're not Valentine Michael Smith, I'm fine.” He laughed. “Sorry, science fiction classic reference. Um, Betty, if you'd go on upstairs to bed, I do want to tell Cal something.”
"Dad, I'm not going to sneak down the stairs and molest him.” He glared at her. “Fine.”
"If I'm causing you problems, Harry, I'm sorry. I can leave.”
"It's not that. Betty … she's gotten my height, and it's made her a bit gangly. You're a good five foot nine, and she's still got you by three inches. We have a girls’ basketball team; she'd be on it if she was coordinated. But she's not, and ain't no boys ever actually given her any time, like you've done. Ever. I don't want her hurt, is all.”
"I know I was raised to be polite, Harry.” I looked him in the eyes when I said that.
"I believe you, Cal. Tell you what. That couch should be comfortable for you, and if you need something to eat or drink, there's food in the fridge. We'll talk more in the morning, if you don't mind.”
"Certainly not, sir. And just to ask permission, may I read any of your books in that case over there?”
He chuckled. “Sure. The way you read, I'm surprised you haven't already read most of them. You have a good night.”
He went up the stairs as well. He left a light on in the other room, as well as in the hall. I didn't hear his door completely close. I squinted, and could see through the walls. He had gone into his room, pulling out something that I presumed was a projectile weapon. I looked a bit further down, and saw Betty. She'd shut the door to her room and was laying on her bed.
She wasn't wearing any clothes, and I could see her hands furiously working on her sex organs. I didn't have any real-world experience with that, but I'd studied it in biology, years ago. It was obvious that these human females were nearly identical to the females from my planet. I saw her raise her legs up; she had reached a sexual peak. Interesting … and I could feel myself becoming erect from the sight.
I'd had erections before, and knew about masturbation. I decided that tonight, it would not be a good idea to do so. Instead, I diverted my eyes from upstairs and walked over to the bookcase.
Some of them were obviously fiction. Others were, disturbingly, reality. Apparently, this race fought wars against each other with regular frequency. Not that I particularly had anything against violence. It just had to have a purpose, was all.
I went to the couch, stretched out on it, and fell asleep relatively quickly.
I woke up relatively early for me, to the sound of something outside making a loud racket. I shook my head, to get it clear. Harry came downstairs a few seconds later.
"Yeah, welcome to the country, Cal. We have a dozen chickens and that one annoying alarm clock. But it makes it easy to have enough eggs for breakfast.”
Betty came downstairs immediately afterwards. “Come on, Cal. I need to gather the eggs this morning for breakfast, you can carry them.”
Harry looked at me, giving me a wink. I remembered what he'd said, nodding back at him. Betty gave me a padded basket. I followed her out back, to a fenced in area that had several small, feathered creatures in it. She put a hand into a bucket, throwing some yellow things onto the ground. The creatures ran to get it, pecking at it with their faces. She opened the gate, quickly slipping in. I followed her.
"You have to watch these chickens. Sometimes they try to escape. Jethro always runs off any fox or other critter that tries to get them.”
There were several nests made of some plant material that some of the chickens were sitting on. Others were empty of birds, but there were what obviously were eggs in them. She handed those to me, then stuck her hand under the other birds, to see if there was anything under them. I ended up with ten eggs.
"Do you always get up this early?”
"Yeah. In the winter, the rooster doesn't crow until well after I'm up, because I have to get to school. But right now, it's still August, so we're up and going now. Dad works in town during the week, then normally a couple of nights at home on our garden. We … we don't farm anymore, not like we used to. Not after Mom died, and Dad had to sell most of the land to cover the bills. Do you think I'm cute?”
Her change of subject startled me. “Your face is awfully serious most of the time. But when you smiled last night, you're very pretty.”
She blushed. “Thank you. No one from around here thinks that about me. Most of the boys think I have to be attracted to girls, because of how tall I am. I like boys. I don't know what to do.”
"Well, Betty, you're the prettiest girl I know in … well, wherever we are.”
Harry had heard the last. “Didn't even think about that, you might not know where you are. We're just south and east of Hutchinson, Kansas. Right in the middle of nowhere. It's good farmland. How many eggs did you get?” I showed him.
"Betty, why don't you scramble them all up, with some sausage? I'll take Cal out and get the morning things done, get a couple bales of straw down.”
"Okay, Dad.”
I followed him to one of the other structures. It was large and seemed to be made of the same material as the chair I'd used last night. Harry saw me looking at the doors. “Yeah, she needs a new coat of paint. I don't have time to put it on right now. And you won't find me putting up one of those new steel buildings. A wooden barn is able to breathe and give you a lot better storage.”
"Betty was 13 when Elspeth died. I was a farmer, but Elspeth wasn't the usual farmer's wife. She was a full professor with the University of Kansas. During the school year, she'd go up on Monday, stay all week, Betty would be with her and I'd stay here and farm. During the summer, we'd all be together down here. It's not conventional, but it worked for us.”
"Well, Elspeth had to go up to Lawrence that summer for a week, some symposium of some kind. She was getting ready to head home. Tornado hit Lawrence that Friday evening while she was leaving town. She ran into a building for shelter, damn thing was an unreinforced steel building, fell over and crushed her leg. She didn't die, then. She was in the hospital for three months, because she'd gotten a blood infection. Friday, June 19th, 1981. Just over 3 years ago. It wasn't until September that she passed away. University covered her medical bills, that wasn't the problem.”
"This is farming country. Neighbors tried to help. Harvested some of my crops for me, we pull together when it's one of our own, of course. Her life insurance policy meant I could keep the house, the fifty acres around here. Had to sell the rest of two sections. Loans on equipment still have to be paid, and if they're not, they come take them. Can't be a farmer without equipment.”
"So, I've spent the last three years raising my little girl by myself, and I'll kill anyone that hurts her. I'm a little bitter about what happened to us. Hell, I'm a LOT bitter about it. I can't change time, though. You don't go playing with my daughter.”
"Harry, doing anything to make you angry is the last thing on my mind. I'm … well, I've got a lot of things I have to figure out. I did really mean it, though. Betty is pretty.”
He looked at me in silence for a couple of minutes. “Follow me.” He climbed a ladder along one wall. There were large bundles of some material up there. “I'm about of the opinion that you're a complete city boy, so you may not know what hay or straw is. This is the hayloft, where bales are kept until they're needed later. We have straw up here now, not hay. You use hay to feed animals; you use straw for their bedding. We need a couple of bales for the chickens, for in their coop.” He walked over to a door that led to the outside.
I walked over, looked at the bales of straw, then reached down and picked one up with each hand. Harry had opened the door, then turned around. “Now, you use these …”
"Is there a problem, Harry?”
"Cal, how strong are you?”
"I really don't know, Harry. Why?”
"Would you put one of those bales down for me, for a second?” I did. He walked over and picked it up. “Okay, you just picked up about a hundred pounds of straw, by the strings, in your bare hands. Are you okay?”
"Sure. Did you need them in the chicken coop?”
"Normally, I'd let them down via rope from up here, because of the weight, then take them over there.”
“They don't weigh that much. If you just want to drop them out, I'll go down and catch them.” I put them on the floor by the door, then jumped out and down. I turned up. “Go ahead, Harry.”
"Cal, this could hurt you, a lot.” He saw me standing below him, so he pushed one of the bales out. It fell, to me quite slowly, and I was in an easy position to catch it and put it down. He stared in amazement, then pushed the other one. I caught it just as easily, then picked them both up onto one shoulder, walked them over to the chicken yard, and put them down.
"Son of a bitch. Cal, can you come over here?” There was a large piece of metal, it looked like it had been part of some kind of equipment at some time or another. “Can you move this?”
"Sure. You're probably right, I think I must have been a city boy. I don't know what this is, I don't think I've ever seen something like it before.” I made sure of where I could get a grip on it, then tugged it up. “It's a little awkward. Where did you want it?”
He pointed to a spot about twenty feet away. I walked over there and gently placed it back down. “You … you … son of a bitch.”
"What's wrong, Harry?”
"That's what's called a four-bottom plow. It weighs a shade over 900 pounds.”
"I've always been a little strong for my size. Is that a problem?” I realized that I'd made a massive error in staying hidden, I wondered what I'd have to do now.
From the door to the house, Betty hollered out, “Breakfast is ready! Come wash your hands and get it while it's hot!”
Harry just shook his head. “Let's go get some breakfast. I have me a suspicion that we ALL need to have a talk after breakfast.”
Betty had a creation sitting on the plates for us that smelled good. I realized that it was made from the eggs that we'd collected earlier this morning. There were two glasses of white liquid, one for her, one for me, and a cup of some dark liquid for Harry.
"Was Cal helpful in getting the straw down, Dad?”
"We'll talk after breakfast, sweetie. I … our plans of going into town this morning … we need to have a talk.” She was puzzled, but acquiesced to what Harry said. I was quiet, furiously thinking. I knew I could easily get away from these people, but I had read enough that I was disturbed about this planet.
When we finished eating, Harry said, “Leave them,” to Betty, when she started to pick the dishes up. That surprised her; it was obvious she normally cleaned up immediately.
"Both of you, come into the living room with me.” He pointed to where he wanted us to sit. “How many of them did you read last night?”
"I think you know the answer to that, Harry. Look, I appreciate what you've …” He'd held up his hand.
"I think you may be misunderstanding me, Cal. I'm a lot rougher than I used to be. I could put on a three-piece suit and hobnob with the heads of the University, even with the Kansas legislature, without a problem. Something got taken out of me when my wife died. I … gave up all the refinement, because it wasn't worth two shits to me, not without someone special in my life to share it with. Got stubborn, even, which is why I didn't call anyone last night about you. But I've a problem, and that's my memory. I remember damn near everything I've read. So, no bullshit, son. Tell me where you're from.”
I took in a deep breath, then sighed. “Truth. I'm probably, unless someone else did what my parents did for me, the last survivor from my planet. No, I don't know where it would be, in relation to this one. My Dad was the rocket scientist, and I literally mean that. He had designed a capsule; it was supposed to be a single man test unit. It was for intergalactic travel. Suspended animation of sorts. Something … and I don't know what it was … started tearing our planet apart. I remember some report of a rogue white dwarf, but I really don't know.”
"My mother and father put me in that capsule, launched me. The computer navigated it here. It caught your radio, television signals, taught me the languages. It also told me that about a day after I launched, my home planet was completely destroyed. As for how we look similar … my mother was the biologist. From what I've seen, we share nearly identical DNA, so it's possible at some point in your planetary past, you were visited by the same beings that visited our planet and seeded it.”
"You wondered about my clothes. These are supposed to be camouflage. Under my home star, they wouldn't be so … garish. It was quite a shock to me, to see so many things on this planet that have the color that, to me, represents danger. My craft did come in for a landing, a crash landing. It's at the bottom of that tunnel you called a salt mine. It didn't surprise me that Jethro likes me. I learned how, in the Scouts, to be the friends of many animals. What did surprise me was when some creature that was at the entrance to the mine attacked me.”
Betty had been changing colors while I was talking, now it seemed she was angry. “Cal, what kind of fools do you …”
Harry interrupted. “Betty! That's enough. What'd that critter look like?”
I held my hands apart. “About this long. It was maybe two inches in diameter. It made an odd noise on one end. I held my hand out, so it'd know I was friendly. It jumped up and tried to bite me. The fangs just bounced off my skin. I … um … I hope it wasn't a pet. I picked it up, to give it a good shake. When I did, it broke in half.”
"Cal, do you mind if I check a couple of things out?”
"As long as you're not planning on turning me into some kind of science experiment, or contact your government.” I nodded at his bookshelves. “From what I read last night, that seems to be the usual fate of visitors from other worlds. You're right, I'm not Valentine Michael Smith, but I really don't want to meet his end.”
He chuckled. “I understand. Actually, I do. No, I have some simple things.” He pulled something out of his pocket. “I don't want you to hurt yourself, but if what I suspect is true, it won't.” He opened it up, walked over to me with it. I held my hand out, palm up. “If this does hurt you, I sincerely apologize, Cal.”
Betty started to scream when she realized what Harry was doing. He took the knife and put the point into the palm of my hand, hard. The tip of the knife broke off. She quit screaming, staring in shock. He took the remaining edge, shaved some hairs from his arm, to prove to himself that it was still sharp, then ran it first across the sleeve of my jumpsuit, then across the palm of my hand. It did nothing to my clothes or to me.
"Strength, invulnerability, and I'm guessing speed. The reason Betty climbed up on the roof was she saw a cloud of dust out by the mine, when there shouldn't have been anything out there. That's why she saw you, laying out there. Anything else?”
"Um, yes. I have telescopic and microscopic vision, and apparently, under stress, can send out some kind of laser beams through my eyes.” I grew quiet.
"And …”
I nodded. “I apologize, I promise to respect your privacy. Keep in mind that until I got here yesterday, I had NONE of these powers or abilities. In that respect, and if there's anything else I can do, I'm as completely in the dark as you. Although, I'll clarify that. I can see quite well in complete darkness, as well.”
"I suppose that's what gave you the ability to read so fast, too.”
I smiled. “No, actually that's always BEEN something I could do, although not quite at this speed. Drove Mom crazy, trying to keep new materials for me. I didn't quite tell you the truth, yesterday. I probably am a super genius.”
Betty realized something. “Hey, wait a minute. You just said you'd respect our privacy. Does that mean you can see through walls?” At my look, she wailed, “Oh, my GOD!”, and started to get up.
"Betty, you've nothing to be ashamed of. I … reacted … as anyone would, I simply didn't act upon it, is all.”
"You … you liked what you saw?”
"I'm fourteen, and male. Of course, I liked what I saw. Although I don't think this is a conversation we should have with your father right here.”
He laughed. “Hell, what could I do, if you pissed me off? If I slapped you, I'd break my hand. I just watched you pick up nearly half a ton of steel and iron and carry it twenty feet like it was nothing. You jumped down from the barn loft to the ground and didn't even lose your balance. You're like one of them comic book characters, except I've got you sitting in my living room. What the hell do we do with you?”
"Enroll him in school with me. He's your cousin's son, they got killed earlier this year, and it's taken them a while to find his nearest relative. They home schooled him, so he doesn't have records. Cal, you'll have to take tests to see where you stand in school, but that won't be too much of a problem in anything but Social Studies and English. It's too late for you for football season, but if you keep your power down a bit, you can be the leader of the basketball team. Spring time, you can go out for baseball.”
"And what do you get out of this, young lady?”, Harry asked.
"He'll be the big man on campus. And my status will go through the roof. You know I lost a year, when Mom died. And … you know how many people treat me. The only reason I'm a junior is they felt sorry for me and passed me anyway. Cal should be able to easily come in as a junior. You're now fifteen, Cal, not fourteen. That's the right age. And … Dad, I've read a lot of your books, too. If Cal is going to live here for the rest of his life, he's more like Thorby at this point.”
I chuckled. “I don't see Harry as Baslim, although you could be Leda, I suppose. Thing is, you're right. I do need to learn about this planet. The nations here. How business is conducted. Do you even use currency, or is there some other form of fund transfer?”
"We use money, currency. Um, Dad, you know that Labor Day is coming up, real quick. That's a three-day weekend for you and I. If we set things up so Cal can start Tuesday after that, we'd have the weekend to … can you see through dirt and rocks?”
"I did in the … salt mine, I think you called it. Yes, it's not too difficult. Why, are you thinking of buried treasure or something like that?”
She grinned. “Exactly something like that. There's a place, about 250 miles from here, that's supposed to have a buried treasure. Over half a ton of gold bars. That's over six million dollars’ worth.”
"I take it that gold is valuable on this planet?”
Harry nodded. “Oh, yeah. That, and diamonds, are two things that can be found and not break the law.”
"So, why do we care about not breaking the law?” I casually asked.
"Um, because we're a society of laws. And if you don't obey the law, then you can go to jail or prison for a very long time, or even be put to death,” Harry said.
I went into the room I'd found was called the kitchen. I turned the stove on, letting the burner get red hot. I put my hand on it. Betty went to pull it back off, fearful for me. I smiled. “This isn't hot, or hurting me in the least.” I turned the burner back off. “Harry, go get that projectile firearm in your room.”
He shook his head. “Cal, I …” He saw my eyes, then nodded. “You're right. You've got to know, don't you?”
He quickly retrieved it. “This is a thirty-caliber hunting rifle. If you'd be so kind as to step outside, in case it ricochets. And if it doesn't, it'll make it easier to dispose of … well, you.”
I laughed. “Harry, I like you. I suspect that in the past, you were a totally honorable and decent man, but you've been crapped on enough that you're ready to get some of your own back, aren't you?” I walked out into the yard, tapped right over my chest.
Betty just closed her eyes in fear. I looked at Harry as he sighted in, then there was a loud noise. I felt a small push on my chest and looked down. There was a chunk of metal, flattened, stuck to my chest.
"I actually felt it push me, just slightly.” I looked down at it, in my hands. I squinted a little, using the beams from my eyes. “Here you go, Betty. My first present to you.”
She held out her hand. The flattened piece of metal now had a small hole in one end, for a chain to go through. Engraved in it, in very small letters, it read 'To Betty, from Cal'.
"I have a better idea. Do you have a map, of approximately where this treasure is supposed to be?” Betty nodded, going into the house. She came out with a large book.
"We're here, just outside of Hutchinson. It's supposed to be somewhere in the canyon, over in Colorado. What are you thinking?”
"Harry, you said that plow I picked up was almost a thousand pounds. From what I saw in the dictionary, that's half a ton. I can carry that, easily. And I can run 250 miles in about that many seconds, maybe less, now that I know what I'm doing. Why don't you start figuring out what to do with half a ton of gold? Oh, and Harry? I don't want to upset you, but we have a tradition on my planet. If someone is going on a trip, they get a kiss from a pretty girl. And you don't qualify.”
He broke into a wide grin. “Damn, you are a sneaky little shit. I think I'm going to like having your alien ass around.”
Betty looked at me with a combination of fear and sudden hope. I just smiled, then took her in my arms and gave her a good kiss. I'd seen all the education films, so I knew how to use my lips and tongue to arouse a woman, even if I hadn't gotten much chance to use them in real life. Okay, no chance, until Betty. I felt her shudder in my arms, so I knew I'd done the arousal part right. I could also smell something, too, and I felt myself grow a bit hard. I pulled back.
"Yeah, let's hold off on anything else until I get back, shall we?” She was sweating and looked like she had last night when she'd had an orgasm.
"Damn, Cal. Or is your name Casanova? I've never seen a girl react like that just to a kiss. Not sure I like it; it is my Betty after all. But … if you won't hurt her, then I think I withdraw all my previous objections.”
"Hold that thought, Harry. And you might clean up those dishes and get a spot ready, so we can figure out what to do with the gold I'm going to find.”
I took off running. I didn't realize that once I hit a certain speed, the ground actually became irrelevant, and then I was flying. WOW! I was about half a mile up. My telescopic vision made it easy to see the ground and what was ahead of me. I have no idea actually how fast I was flying, but it was much quicker than 4 minutes and I was near where Betty had shown me on the map.
I wondered if I could, so I tried to pull into a hover. And it worked. Wow, not only could I fly, but I could stop in mid-air! I looked down at the ground, then realized that my ability to see through rocks was limited. So, I lowered myself to a quarter mile up. That let me see through the rocks, in a path a hundred feet wide, and down a good fifteen feet through the rock floor. I didn't see any humans in the canyon, only some animals. After half an hour of sweeping my vision back and forth, I was beginning to think this was what the books I'd read called a wild goose chase. Something came into my view about then, that was difficult to see through.
I looked around normally, and seeing nothing around, lowered myself to the ground. What I saw was buried almost five feet down. That took me a few seconds of digging with my hands, to get to it. There were many sacks of gold. The sacks themselves were rotten. In addition, there were a hundred small bars, maybe weighing a pound each, with some writing on them that I didn't recognize. That was something I hadn't thought of, transporting it back. I got to thinking through some of the materials I'd read, then smiled. I took all the loose gold, put it into a pile, then turned my heat vision on it. It quickly melted into a large puddle.
I suspected that I could do something else, too. I took in a big chest full of air, then making a small venturi with my lips, blew the air out forcefully. That instantly chilled the gold, so that it was solid. I played with heating and freezing it so that I had it into a cube just over a foot square. I admit, I giggled a little when I dipped my hand in molten gold, letting my fingers play in it. The bars, I simply tucked into pouches on my legs.
Picking the mass of gold up, I jumped into the air. It was a little bit of a strain on me, but I was able to fly. I realized as well that I better stay closer to the ground, if I didn't want to be picked up by flying military craft. I landed ten miles west of the house, so that just in case anyone saw me, it'd be quite a distance away, then ran the rest of the way.
Jethro barked on seeing me, then came running down to greet me. “Howdy, buddy!”
"Son of a bitch …”
"I didn't think things through, Harry, I'm sorry. I probably shouldn't bring this into the house, I don't know that your floor could handle it.” I set the gold cube down on the ground just outside the house. I reached into my pouch. “I found these, too. I can't read the writing, it's not in English, but there're a hundred of them.” I put those on the ground as well.
Betty came out. She had changed her clothes, and was wearing a dress that exposed her legs. “You found it?” She came running down and gave ME a kiss. Enthusiastic, but not trained.
"Damn. Okay, hang on, let me think a minute. I know someone in Wichita. Can you, I don't know, get a small chunk off that? Maybe twenty pounds or so?” I broke off a corner of the gold. “You melted that, right? To get it into a cube? Hang on, this ought to work.”
He ran into a shed, pulled out a heavy metal box. “This is an old wheel weight mold. I picked it up so I could make my own tire weights, when I'd have to change a flat on my tractor. Can you melt the gold, so it drips into that? This big one is one pound. Get them into that, then dump them into a bucket of water so they cool. Betty, you need to go find Cal some clothes to wear over what he's wearing. We ARE going into town today.”
I quickly made twenty-five one-pound chunks of gold. Harry had twenty of those small bricks I'd found, as well. Betty found me a set of old coveralls and a farm shirt to put on. While I was using the bathroom, since by this point I did have to evacuate things, Harry was using the long-distance communication device they had. I remembered from my reading they called it a telephone.