“Someone must have come up with a national security justification. They must think it has espionage capabilities. Maybe they think it’ll read minds.”
He studied the landscape. There was no sign of movement. He rose and trotted to the intersection beneath the yellow glow of a metal halide bulb. The water tower had interesting possibilities.
“That doesn’t make sense. There was nothing like that in the documentation.”
He went to the base of the tower and placed one more package there, and then he tossed a couple more in the snow down each of the intersecting streets. Going back to the corner, he hung a right. A large snow covered rock lay next to the curb. John set another package against the cement curb and covered it with the rock.
He jogged down the sidewalk. “I know, but what else would warrant their funding this research? I can’t see DARPA being involved in modernizing the phone system.”
John slowed as he neared the building Caitlin had described. It was a large complex with a glass entryway and few other windows.
“I didn’t tell you what Dewatre said about it?”
“Oh? What did our friendly Frenchman know?”
“He claimed it was alien technology.”
That made John stop. He ducked behind a lodge pole pine and caught his breath. “Was he serious?”
“I thought he was, but that doesn’t mean he was right.”
“No, but it does add an interesting set of possibilities and might even explain a few things that have been bothering me.”
“Oh, like what?”
“Like how did your husband get involved in this mess in the first place? If he received the devices from someone up here then what was his connection with them? For that matter, why was the original research done here, near the Los Alamos lab, when they’re more interested in weapons and nuclear power?”
“I’ve been giving it some thought too. You know I never liked that the helmet and eggs looked like a product run while everyone refers to them as prototypes. What if they are from off world? If someone brought them here for trade or even as a gift it would explain why it looks like it came off a product line rather than out of a lab.”
“Yes and that makes sense in one other way.”
“What’s that?” he asked.
“The documentation said they’re independent of language. What if they are meant to be nothing more than a translator? If you’re postulating alien races then they need to be able to talk to people they meet. What better way to do it then with a device like this?”
“Yes. I hadn’t thought of that. It does make sense.”
“Maybe that’s why everyone wants it so bad. Whatever government controls it controls all communications with these aliens.”
“But still, we’re supposing aliens have contacted someone here. That’s a pretty far reach for my imagination.”
“Oh? Who was it that said you should imagine one impossible thing before breakfast?”
“I don’t remember. Let’s see about getting you the hell out of there. I’m at the front door. Were there any guards there?”
“Yes, there was a uniformed receptionist. He checked Holdren’s ID before letting us pass.”
“Damn, human guards are a pain in the butt. Is there any other way in?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t see any the way we came.”
“How about windows? Is there one in your room?”
“Yes, there’s one, but it’s barred.”
“I can handle the bars, but it would be noisy. All right, how do I find you?”
“Take the elevator, turn left and go to the first corridor, turn right and I’m in the third door on the left.”
“Okay, lovely lady, prepare to be rescued. If you need to pack, get started.”
“I’ll be ready, but, John, be careful.”
“I’m always careful. Now be quiet for a while, I need to concentrate on what I’m doing.”
“Sure, John.”
John moved to the edge of the building. He set both his bags behind a bush and transferred a few items to his coat pockets. Removing his poncho, he covered the bags with it. Then, with another pair of alligator clips and wire, he suspended his driver’s license from around his neck. He unzipped his coat, hung the Uzi’s strap around his neck, and zipped up.
His pants were dark enough that the blood shouldn’t be noticed unless someone really paid too much attention to them.
Turning on the field strength indicator, John walked to the front door. He pushed the door open and walked into the lobby. A few plants were in the corners. A small sofa sat against the left wall; on the coffee table in front of it were several magazines and a telephone. The guard, a young man in a rent-a-cop uniform looked up from a magazine as John walked in.
John raised the power meter to eye level, studied it carefully, and then moved it about as though he were trying to find the source of a signal.
“Can I help you?” the guard asked.
“Just trying to find our leak. Some of the experiments release a little radiation and the boss is concerned it may have gotten into the ductwork. Hell, it’ll be harder to get out than asbestos.”
“You have a radiation leak?” the guard asked. Concern shadowed his voice as he set down the magazine and stood up.
“It’s nothing major, a few hundred rads worth at the most. Well, in all probability it wasn’t more than a few hundred, a thousand at the outside.”
“Why wasn’t I told? We’re supposed to be notified of any hazardous conditions. It’s in our contract.”
John moved the meter closer to the fluorescent lights and the readings strengthened.
The guard moved closer for a better look at the meter.
“You think I didn’t warn the boss about letting you guys know? I told him,
