ASecretGiftToMankind

Episode2

TheReturntotheCity

ByJohnBaxter

CHAPTERONE
Itsfunnyhowthepassageoftimemakesyouforgetthemoredisturbingmemories,
theonesthatwouldkeepyouawakeatnight,therebymakingthehappieronesseemeven
happier.
Thiswaswhathadhappenedtomeupuntilthetimewehadareunionoftheteam
whomhadallsharedarealsecret,asecretfromaverystrangesortofadventure,takenby
usallsometwoyearsago.Someofthatteamfromthenwerestillworkingformy
department,othershaddecidedtoleaveandhadmovedon,andhopefullyintheircareers,
alsoup.Evenso,thesubjectofourlittleadventurewasnevermentioned.Whenwedid
haveourlittlereunions,overthelastcoupleofyears,theundergroundcomplexwas
mentioned,butusuallyonlytomakeapoint,orcommonground.
Unfortunately,thetopicofconversationonthismostrecentoccasionwasnotavery
happyone.
Wehadlearnedthatoneoftheyoungermembersofouroriginalteamwhohadgoneto
thecity,ayoungchapbythenameofJimWilliams,haddevelopedsevereheadaches
aroundthebeginningofthisyear.Hehadspentalotoftimegoingtoandfro,inandout
ofhospital,mainlyfortestsandscans,andthenthemedicalpeoplehadfoundwhatcould
onlybedescribedastheworstthingtofind.
Alargecancerousgrowthwasforminginsidethebrainitself,anastylumpofcellsthat
weredeterminedtokillhim.Acoupleofhighlyqualifiedmedicalspecialistshadtriedto
planaproceduretheycouldusetoremoveit,butfailedbecauseofthemany
complications.
Thetumourwasdeemedinoperable.
Jimwasdying.
Hewasbynowalreadysufferingthedebilitatingeffectsofthisdisease,andwas
almostcompletelyparalyseddownoneside,sufferingtemporarylossoffeelinginthe
otheronaregularbasis.Theysaidthatitsonlyamatteroftime.
Thatswhywearemeetingrighthere,rightnow.
Upuntilacoupleofdaysago,wehadfelttotallypowerlesstohelpthisyoungfriend,
thenwehitonanideathatwemightjusthavetheanswer,ifweplanandexecuteitright.
Itwouldberisky,but,asJimwasnowdeterioratingatanalarmingrate,wefeltitmight
beworthgivingitago.
Wedecidedthatnightthatifweweretoreenterthatundergroundcitycomplex,visit
thevastlibraryitcontained,copyanythingwecouldfindintherewhichmaybeofhelp,
thenpassthisinformationontoarealspecialistinthisfield,SirGeoffreyDavisin
particular,whohadexpressedaninterestinlearningnewtechniques.
Unfortunatelythough,notfromus.
Hehadsaidthatwhileweweretakingnotesorcopiesfromthisotherhospital,we
couldomitsomethingvitalforthesuccessoftheoperation,andbyomittedthesefacts
throughignorance,wecouldinadvertentlykillJim.Hehadtobetheretoseeandlearn
theprocedureforhimself.HealsoinsistedthatJimshouldgowithusasheassumedthat
theplaceweweregoingtowouldhaveoperatingroomshecoulduseonthespot.

Thiscouldhavebeenamajorsetback,aswehadnttoldhimwherewewereactually
going.Wehadtolethimbelieveweweregoingtotraveltosometopsecretmilitary
baseforthetimebeingtillwewereabletoworkthewholethingout.Wedidinformhim
thatsomeofthestuffhewouldseemightcomeasasurprise,andnottogettoowoundup
aboutit.Thisonlymadehimevenkeenertogo.Wealsotoldhimthatthiscameunder
theOSA,whichheinterpretedastheOfficialSecretsAct
IwentintoseeJiminthenormalhospital.Bynowhewastotallybedridden,and
coulddolittleinthewayofeithermovingorspeaking.Itoldhim,inwhispers,ofour
plan.
Weweregoingtotakehim,andthespecialist,intotheundergroundcity,andtothat
library,gleaningouttheinformationtoallowSirGeoffreytocompleteasuccessful
operation.Ialsotoldhimaboutthesecrecythatsurroundedtheplan,withevenSir
Geoffreynotknowingwherehewasgoing.Forthefirsttimeinweeks,IsawJims
mouthmovetoatinysmile,andhiseyesfilledwithtears.Ileftthehospitalfeelingvery
happy.
Ihavetoadmit,asIsettleddownthatnightinbed,thatIcouldfeelthecomplexagain,
smelltheairinside.Itwasallcomingback.Lotsofdisturbingdreamsfollowed.

CHAPTERTWO
Icalledatthebankthenextmorning,tocollecttheelectronickeyfromthesafetydeposit
box,andImustadmittheapprehensiononseeingthatpieceofmetalagainreallymoved
me.Thecity,thepowerhouse,thecontrolroom,thestillness,itallcamefloodingback.I
feltnotfear,butmoreofamixtureofexcitementanduncertaintyinournextmoves.The
planhadbeenworkedout,andbecauseweknewtheterrain,wecouldmovealongata
pace.Istillfeltalittleunsureofitall,asthistime,unlikethefirsttime,oneofourteam
wasdependingonustosurvive.Thistimeweknewmoreorlesswhatwewanted,and
wheretogetit.Allwehadtodowasworkouthowtogetit.
BobTaylorwaswaitinginhisgardenaswedroveup,alloftherequiredgearstacked
neatlybesidehisfrontgate,andsomebitsandpieceswemightnotneed,includingafull
blindfoldforSirGeoffrey.
Byoneintheafternoon,wewereatthehospitalwiththespecialambulancecarto
collectJim,andanormalcarforSirGeoffrey,whowasthenblindfolded,beforewe
drovearoundforaboutanhourtoconfusethepassenger.Theambulancecarwent
straighttotheValleyDrift,whilewedrovearoundtillaboutfour,thendownintothe
smallvalleyitself.Imustadmit,myheartwaspoundingatthethoughtofgoingdown
intothecityagain,andmystomachturnedoverasIsawthesmallValleyDriftentrance.
Astheterrainwasrough,IinformedSirGeoffreynottoworryaboutanysudden
movementsofthevehicle,andwegotascloseaswepossiblycouldtotheentrance.

Thestretcherwouldbecarriedusingshoulderstraps,bytwooftheteamatatime,
workinginrotationsoasnottotireanyoneinparticular.Theystartedoffdownfromthe
caveinsidethedriftitself,whileBobTaylorandImovedSirGeoffreythroughthesmall
gap,andintothedrift.Hehadnoideathatwewerenowinthedark,onlyintheshade
becauseitwascooler.Wesetoff.

CHAPTERTHREE
EverythingwasexactlyasIhadremembereditfromourpreviousvisit,those
roadways,andtheoldworkings,allstillperfectlyintact,thoughforsafetyssake,Bob
sometimeswentonaheadahead,checkingashehadthefirsttimewewerehere.Intwo
years,anythingcouldhavehappened.Ithadnt.
WemadequitegoodtimetoTaylorsTunnel,consideringoneofuswaswearinga
blindfold,andothersastretcher.Whenwearrived,twooftheteamclimbeduptothetop,
andthenhauledpoorJimonhisstretcherupinasnearaspossiblehorizontalposition,
withanotheroftheteamatthebottom,usingaropetokeepthestretcherawayfromthe
ladderandthewall.PoorJimseemedalmostoblivioustowhatwasgoingonaroundhim.
OnlywhenwehadJimonhisstretcheratthetop,andintoTaylorsTunneldidwestart
tobringSirGeoffreytothebottomoftheladder,andthentheclimbup.Hehadnever
spokenallofthewayfromenteringtheDriftallofthewaytohere,buthemusthave
beenwonderingbynowwhereonearthweweretakinghim.
Theblindfoldoverhisfacewasstillinplace,andinthelightofourdimtorches,he
lookedlikeamixtureofZorro,andthePhantomoftheOpera.
Heclimbedtheladderwithoutquestion,beingguidedthelastfewrungsbytheteam
alreadyupthere,andthen,aftereveryonewasup,Iwentlast.
Aheadofus,reflectingourtorchandcaplamplightswecouldseetheshiningsurface
oftheblankwall,whichweknewofcoursewasaflushdoor,andwewalkedthelastfew
paceswithmorethanalittleapprehension.
Iplacedthekeyonitspositiononthewall,turningitaswehaddonebefore,andthe
doormovedsilentlyforwardagain,thestepsunfoldingfromwithin.Lightfloodedour
area.
Weneededtoworkfast,changingoutofourundergroundclothing,theboilersuits,the
helmetsandlamps,plusthegloves,andhidthemfromthesightofSirGeoffrey,soit
wouldappearthatwewereaswehadbeenwhenwestartedoutearlierintheday.
Weenteredthebrightlylitcorridor,andIoperatedthekeytocloseit.Silently,itslid
backtoitsposition.WecouldremovetheblindfoldfromSirGeoffreyfromhere,
allowinghimtobeabletomoveforhimselffromnowon,oncehiseyeshadgotusedto
thelightinthepassagewaysaswewalkedthem.Asthelastdoorsilentlyslidopen,I

heardhimgaspashecaughtsiteofthecitybeneathus,acitythatlookedexactlythe
sameasitdidthosetwoyearsagowhenwewerelasthere.
Wherearewe?SirGeoffreyaskedinachokedwhisper.
Nooneanswered;wejustmotionedhimtowalkdownthemanystepsdownthesheer
faceofthehugecavern,allthewaydown,andontothepathwaysleadingtothissilent
city.
Aswewalked,Iexplainedtohimthathewouldseesomeveryadvancedequipment,
andvariousotherunusualthingshewouldbelikelytoseeaswetravelled,thoughIdidnt
reallyknowmyselfifthiswouldbetrue.Iexplainedthathisteacherwouldbeasortof
videotape,thoughnotsayingthatwefirsthadtofindtherightone.
Aswepassedthefirstdwellinginthedistrictnearthelibrary,wedeliveredJiminto
thebedtheresohecouldrestproperly,andtwooftheteamstayedwithhim.Asa
precaution,Inoteddownthesymbolsonthetelephonemachine,shouldweneedto
contactthemquickly.
Thelibrary,whenweenteredit,lookedmuchthesameasithadthelasttimewewere
heretoo,thesamewallmaps,thelearningaidmachineryreadytobeinitiated,andthe
banksandbanksofvideoboxesreadyforanyonetolearnfrom.
Unfortunatelyforus,theyweremarkedupinthissymboliclanguagewedidnot
understand.HowthehellweweregoingtofindexactlytherightonesforSirGeoffrey,
wehadnoidea.
Heexpressedadesiretoreturntohispatientandleft,withanescort,whiletherestof
usdiscussedthemajorproblemswenowfaced.Couldwefindthecorrectlearningaids,
andcouldSirGeoffreybeabletounderstandwhathewasbeingshown.
Thelightsabovethecitywerenowstartingtodim,soastosignifytheapproachof
night,soweleftthelibrarytohavealittlethoughtaboutournextmove.
BobTaylorsuggestedthat,whilethemedicalpeopleweresettlingdown,andsincewe
werealreadyhereinthecity,weshouldcheckonourrepairjobfromourlastvisit,justto
seehowitwasholdingupandmakesureitwasstillnothreattothelandabove.Sincethe
controlroomandthepowerhousewereonlyashortdistanceaway,wecoulddetourout
thatwaywithoutarousingsuspicions,andbebackatthedwellingbeforeweweremissed.
Iremovedmythicksweaterandleftitonthetable,asthewalktothepowerhouse
wouldhavetobebrisk,andwouldgetquitewarm.Idcollectitonthewayback.
Thecontrolroomwhenwegottherewasasithadalwaysbeen,thecomputersclicking
away,spoolsspinning,lightsflashing,stopping,reversing,stopping,andrepeatingall
overagain.Athoughtpassedthroughmyheadthatifthepeoplewhoownedthiscomplex
weresoclever,whyweretheyusinganoldfashionedcomputerstoragemethod?Alla
littletoohighbrowforme.Nevermind,onwardtothepowerhouse.
Thosesilvercoverallswerehangingontheirpegs,asbefore,andweslippedintothe
suits,finallyopeningthedoortothereactorroomandentering.Itwasalmostthesameas
wehadleftit.Isayalmostbecauseonthepipeswehadrepairedwiththebandage,there
wasnosignofthebandageanywhereonanyoftheleaks.Iapproachedforacloserlook,
thinkingthatthebandagecouldhavechemicallymergedandblendedinwiththepipe
overtime,butwecouldseethatthatwasnotthecase,andIwasntsurewhetherIcould
believewhatIwasseeing.Wheretheholeshadbeen,andwherewehadtapedit,that

wholesectionofpipeworkhadbeenremovedandreplaced.Thishadhappenedtoallof
theotheroriginalpreviousrepairsitestoo.
Thiscouldmeanonlyonething.
Theownersofthiscomplexmusthavebeenback,andmusthaveseenourrepairwork.
Theywouldnowbeawarethatsomeoneoutsideoftheircasteknewoftheexistenceof
thiscomplexandtheymighthavetakenstepstomaintainitssecrecy.Whenhadthey
beenhere?
Thisdiscoverywasthemajorsubjectdiscussedonourwaybacktothedwellings.
Someone,orsomething,hadbeenback,witnessedtherepairwehaddone,sotheymay
haveactivatedsomekindofmonitoringequipmenttotrackanyonereenteringthe
complexatsometimeinthefuture.BigBrotheriswatching,andallthat.
Aswepassedthelibraryonourwaybacktothedwellings,Icalledintoretrievemy
bulkysweater,andsawthatsomethingwasslightlydifferent.Onthetable,nexttomy
sweaterwerefourvideotypeboxes,allwithsimilarmarkingsonthem.Iglancedoverto
Bob,whojustshruggedhisshoulders,thenputoneofthedisclikeobjectsintothereader.
WhatIsawprojectedontothewholewallwasquiteobvious,eventoalaymanlikeme.
Iwaswatching,andlisteningto,inEnglish,atutorialonbrainsurgery,inallitsgory
graphicdetail.
Theimplicationswerenowhuge.
Notonlyhadtheseownersbeenback,theymuststillbehere!
Theyhadoverheardourconversationaboutwantingtofindthecorrecttutorials,and
hadplacedthemwherewecouldntmissthem.Isupposethisalsomeanttheywerenot
hostileeitherastheywouldhavegotridofusbeforenowiftheyhadwantedto.
Weknewwewerebeingwatched.
Forthesecondtimeintwoyears,IfeltthatterrifyingfearthatIhadaccidentally
oversteppedthelinebetweenwhatIwassupposedtoknow,andwhatIwasnotallowed
toknow,andsooneroflater,therewouldbeconsequencesofsomedescription.BothBob
andIheadedforthedwellingatabriskpace,thinkingwewouldbesaferinnumbers.

CHAPTERFOUR
WearrivedatthedwellingwhereJimwasbeinglookedafter,and,aswewalkedinI
sawthetorsoofSirGeoffreybentoverthepronebodyofJim.Helookedatussternly,
andshookhishead,signallingforustogooutside,whichwedid,andhefollowed.Once
outofearshotofJim,hegavehisdiagnosis,
Unlessthesurgeryisperformedinthenextdayortwotorelievethepressureonthe
brainitself,Jimwillgobeyondthestagewherehecanbehelped,thetumourwillcause
permanentdamage,andhewillbecometotallyincoherentandthentoavegetativestate
withindaysofthat.Withinweeks,hewillbedead

HereturnedtothedwellingtocontinuetomonitorJimsprogress,orlackofit,andwe
enteredthenextdoordwellingwherewewereabletotelltherestoftheteamwhatwe
hadseenatthepowerhouse,andwhatwehadfoundinthelibrary.
TheybecameveryexcitedattheprospectofbeingabletohelpJim,thoughwhenItold
themwhatSirGeoffreyhadsaid,themoodcalmedalittle,andbecamealittlemore
serious.
Whenweexplainedourtheorythatthecityownerswerestillhere,weknewwehadto
makedecisions,andnotalotoftimetomakethemin.Itbasicallyboileddowntotwo
scenarios.Wecutandrun,leavingthecitytoitsowners,orstayanddowhatwehad
plannedtodoallalongandhangtheconsequences.
ThecutandrunideawouldsentencepoorJimtocertaindeath,andcausemajor
problemswiththe,uptonow,veryunderstandingSirGeoffrey.Hewouldreallystartto
asktheawkwardquestionsthen.
Wethoughtthroughthesecondoption.RemainandtrytocureJim.
Itisevidentthatthecityownershavecompassion,astheylefttheboxesofdiscsout
forus,andsomeoftheteamthoughtthatwemightgetfurtherhelpalongtheway,though
Iwasalittlescepticalaboutthis.Wewerethetrespassershere,andthehelpthatwas
givensofarmaybetogetridofusassoonaspossible.
Thesetheoriesweredoubtful,as,iftheyhadleftthediscsintheracks,wewouldnever
havefoundthem,and,afterJimhaddeteriorated,ordied,wewouldhaveleftanyway.
Maybethiswasakindofrewardforfixingthepipesinthepowerhouse,although;up
untilwehadleftthelibraryandgonetothepowerhouse,theywouldnothaveknowwho
hadaffectedtherepairs.Ordidthey?
Thislastpossibilitystartedtochangemytrainofthought.
Supposewehadbeenwatched,recordedinsomeway,whenwefirstenteredthecity,
thatsecuritysystemwereadilydismissedwhennoonecametochallengeus.Perhaps
theyknewallalongitwasus,andthatwehadbeenthere.Theyknewwehadrepairedthe
pipework,possiblybeforetheyhadachancetoknowitwasbroken,and,afterwehad
left,camebacktorepairitproperly.Perhapstheyknewthatwehadstoppedthecity
beingdiscoveredbythebetrayaloftheheattothesurfacefollowedbyahugeexplosion
inafewyearstime.Theycouldonlyhavegottheconfirmationitwasusfromour
conversationsinthelibrary.Oneofthemmusthavebeentherewhenwewere!
Itriedtoremembereverylittledetailofwhenwehadtalkedinthelibrary,whatIcould
see,whatwaswhere,butdrewablank.Icouldntrememberanythingspecific.
Ourattentionwasthenturnedtotheplanforthefollowingdayandwedecidedthat,
whileSirGeoffreywasbeingeducatedinthelibrary,someofuswouldtrytolocatethe
sickbay,ormedicalfacilitywhereSirGeoffreycoulddohisstuff.Aplacethissizemust
havesomethingofthatnaturesomewhere,butwhere?
Isleptverylittlethatnight,sortingoutthemethodswewouldusetofindtheroomswe
needed,andhowbesttosearchthecomplexmethodically.
IhadvividnightmaresaboutSirGeoffreyoperatinginafilthyroom,withabluntsaw,
andrustyoldpliers,theblooddrippingontoastrawcoveredfloor,infestedwithbugsand
rats.YoucanimaginethestateIwasinbythetimeBobTaylorwokeme.Iwas
physicallyshaking,andthesweatwaspouringoutofme.Ittookawhileformetocalm

down,thoughwheneverIthoughtofthosedreams,evennow,Istillbreakoutinasweat
again,andthehaironthebackofmyneckstandsup.
SirGeoffreyhadsleptwell,stillinignorancethatthecitydidnotbelongtous,andour
fearsthattherealownerswereheresomewhere.Wedidnttellhimeither,justincaseit
upsethimtoapointwherehecouldntoperatewhenthetimecame.Whenwewereall
ready,weguidedSirGeoffreytothelibrary.
Onentering,Ihavetoadmit,Igavetheplaceareallygoodscanthistimewithmy
eyes,thoughallthatbetrayedourassumedsolitudewasthepresenceofthediscs,nextto
themachine.
SirGeoffreyseatedhimselfatthemachine,andthenplacedthefirstdiscintothe
machine,whichautomaticallystartedtoplay.ItwasinEnglish!
Welefthimtolearnfromthesediscs,somethinghewasquitehappytositthereand
do,andtherestofussetouttofindthismedicalfacility,thoughthiscouldbelikelooking
fortheproverbialneedleinahaystack.Wehadtofindit,orJimwasbeyondhelp.
Asweapproachedthedoorsintothecontrolroomsection,wedecidedtosplituptotry
tocovermoreground,takingonedoor,thenthenext,seewhereitgoes,comebacktothe
beginning,andtaketheseconddoor,andsoon.Alengthymethod,buteffective.
Wewalkedtothefirstdoors,oneoftheslidingtypes,andtheyremainedclosed,asdid
thenext,andthenext.Fromallofthedoorsleadingfromthatcorridor,onlyoneset
operated.Weenteredanothercorridor,andonceagain,onlyonesetofdoorswouldopen
fromthere.Thishappenedallthewaythroughaboutsixorsevensections,tillthelast
unlockeddoorledusintothepreoperationpreparationroom,andthenintoanoperating
theatre.Wehadfoundthisveryquickly.Tooquickly.Wewerebeingled,andwatched.
Theroomitselfwasverywelllit,withlotsofelectronicequipmentabouttheplace,
andthoughIamnoexpertonwhatanoperatingtheatreshouldhaveinit,thisappearedto
beaboutasnearasIcouldjudgeonetolooklike.
Notimetolookagifthorseinthemouth,wetracedourstepsbacktothecity,thento
thedwellingtocollectJim,andtakehimtothetheatre.Aswedidso,allofthepreviously
lockeddoorswerenowopen;theslidingdoorswouldopenasweapproachedthem,even
ifwedidntgothroughthem.
Weknewwehadnotfoundthetheatrebyaccident;theownerswereguidingus
throughthelabyrinth,lockingthewrongdoorssowecouldonlyusethecorrectones.
Thishadsavedushoursofsearching.Weretheyreallytryingtohelpus?
Aswewalkedoutfromunderthebaywindowstyleglasswallwhichprotrudedfrom
thefrontofthecontrolroomaboveus,Iturnedandlookedupatthelargesmokedglass
windowsonthefront,tryingtogetaglimpseofwhoorwhatwashelpingus,throughthe
darkenedglass.Icouldseenothing,andnoone,andnomovement.Theymaybethere,
butIcouldntseethem.
CHAPTERFIVE

Jimneithermovednormadeanysoundaswecarriedhimtotheoperatingrooms.He
laythere,likeacorpse,whiteandlifeless,noneofusreallyunderstandingthedepthof
thepainhewasin,hisbodyamereshadowofwhatitusedtobe,solightwashisweight
thathewasnotputtinganystrainonanyofthepeoplecarryinghim.Attimes,hisdrip
feedbottlesfeltheavierthanhedid,andsomeformofglucosewastheonlyfoodhe
couldnowtake,directlybydripintohisblood.
Wearrivedattheoperatingtheatre,andplacedJimontooneofthetrolleysstandingat
theendnearestthewallinthePreMedicationRoom.Wedarenotenterthetheatreitself
incasewecarriedsomeinfectionintotheplace,andthiscouldhavedireconsequences.
WhiletheteampreparedJim,IsetouttocollectSirGeoffreyfromthelibrary,thinking
heshouldhaveseenenoughtobeabletodotheoperation.WhenIarrived,hewassitting
backinthechair,athoughtfullookonhisface.Heglancedatusasweentered,then
shookhishead.Wefearedtheworst.
Heexplainedthathehadlearnedagreatdealfromthesediscsaboutbrainsurgery,this
extraknowledgehewouldcarrywithhimforhisentirecareer,thiswasnottheproblem.
Theproblemlaywiththeequipmentthatwasbeingusedinitsperformance.Hehad
neverseenanyofitbefore,andeventhoughthesediscsshowedthebasicuseofeachand
everyoneoftheseimplements,heknewhecouldntuseanyofthisstuffsafelywithout
someexperienceofoperatingthedevices.Itwouldtakehimyearstolearnhowtouse
eventhemostbasicoftheequipmentcorrectly.Hecouldnotoperate.
Ourmissionwasafailure.Wehadassumedthatthealienequipmentwouldhavebeen
similartoourown,butevidentlynot,andthatweallcouldhave,undertheguidanceof
SirGeoffrey,assistedwiththeoperationitself,assortoftheatreassistants,operatingthe
gastaps,orhandinghimtools,thatsortofthing.Allthatwasnowgone.WithoutSir
Geoffrey,wehadnohope.Jimhadnohopeeither.
Weleftthelibrarytogetherandheadeduptotheoperatingtheatre,hopingthatSir
Geoffreymayseesomethingthereheknewandrecognised,feltcomfortabletowork
with,andcoulduse,somethingtosavethemission,sotospeak.
WeenteredtheanteroomwhereJimhadbeenprepared,andSirGeoffreygazed
throughthewindowsintothetheatre,andshookhishead.Forhimtotrytousethis
equipmentwithoutthepropertrainingwouldmorethanlikelykillJimthancurehim.
Iaskedtheotherstostepoutside,soJimcouldnothearwhatIwasabouttotellthem,
theproblemsaboutthecomplexityoftheequipment,andSirGeoffreyslackof
experienceinitsuse.Aswestoodoutside,IexplainedwhatSirGeoffreyhadsaidinthe
library,andhisexpressionhereagainintheoperatingsuite.
Allofthefacesonalloftheteamtookonasolemnexpressionwhileweponderedand
triedtoseeifwehadanyotherideastotry.Atlonglast,asthesortofexpeditionleaderit
felltometogobackinandexplaintoJimtheproblemswehadthatwecouldnotsolve,
hopingthathecouldunderstandmeenoughtorealisetheconsequences,andhopehe
wouldnotbetoounhappy,asourlongshothadnotworked.
ItookadeepbreathbeforeIgraspedthedoorhandle,turnedit,andwalkedon,straight
intothedoor.
Itwaslocked.

Jimwasstillaloneontheotherside,andwecouldntgettohim,theelectroniclocks
wereholdingthedoorfast.Westartedtopanic.Wehadtoopenthedoor.Wetried
everythingwecouldfindtohand,buttonoavail.Westartedtoblameeachotherfornot
stayingwithJim.
CHAPTERSIX
Theeventsthathappenedfromherearestillvagueinallofourminds.
Oneminuteweweretryingtoopenthisdoor,thenextwewereallgettingupoffthe
floor,feelingalittlegiddyandshaky.Iglancedatmywatch.
Wehadsomehowlostaboutthreehourssomewhere.
MyfirstthoughtswenttoJim,aloneintheotherroom,soIwenttotrytoopenthat
dooragain.ItopenedautomaticallyasIapproachedit.Inside,Jimwaswherewehadleft
him,onlythistimehewaswearinganoperatinggown,andhisheadwasboundin
bandages.
SirGeoffreymovedforwardandstartedtocheckonthesedressings,andJimsgeneral
health.Hewenttochecktheincisions,andthestitches.Therewerentany!Theonly
visiblemarkwasasmallroundholeinthetoprearofhishead,buttheskinappearedto
havebeenweldedshut.
AsIleanedoverhispronebody,Jimopenedhiseyes,smiled,andspoke,forthefirst
timeinweeks,thatitwasnicetobeback.Weallfeltasifwehadwoneverythingyou
canwininlife,lottery,pools,andtheworks.Thefeelingofelationwasintense.Wehad
succeededinourlittlequest.Jimwasgoingtobefine.
Alittlethoughtbroughtmebacktoreality.Ifsomeonehadbeenwatching,theywere
notherenow,andeverythingwasasithadbeenbefore,so,whereandwhatwerethey?
Jimfilledusinwiththedetailsfromwhenwehadgoneoutside,andhadnotreturned.
Hehadlaythereforonlyafewsecondsbeforehesensedapresence.Someoneinthe
roomwithhim,eventhoughheknewwehadalllefthimalone.
Hehadtriedtoopenhiseyes,butcouldnt,andhewasawareofasoftlowvoice
tellinghimnottotry.Wasthisdying?WasthisourMaker,heretocollecthissoul?He
couldrememberbeingmovedintothetheatre,andhisclothingbeingremoved,butbeing
totallyhelpless,unabletostopwhateverwashappeningtohim.Hewasalsoawareofa
verybrightlight,ashecouldseeitthroughhisclosedeyelids,andasortofcrackling
sound.
Hewasthenmovedagain,tothetableitself,andheardsoundsofthingsbeingmoved
about.Clothbrushedhisface.Somethingwasstrappedtohisarm,andhecouldhear
bleepsandhisses,ticking,andwaterrunning.Ashadowfelloverhisface,so,fighting
againsttheodds,hetriedtoopenhiseyes.Throughthelittleslitsinhiseyelids,hecould
seeafigure,dressedinwhite,bendingoverhislegs.Herememberedhisappendix
operationmanyyearsago.Washedreamingaboutthis?
Thefiguremoveduptohishead,andshavedasmallpieceofhairfromasmallcentral
partofhisskull.Asthefiguremovedback,Jimtriedtoseeifhecouldpickoutaface,

andsawasortofniceface,butnotapersonface,andonlyforasecond.Heremembers
thoseveryblueeyes.Atthispointsomethingwentintohisarmbycompressedairor
somethinglikethat.Thenextrecollectionwasme,standingoverhim.
SirGeoffreywasbesidehimselfwithworry,pushingpasttoexaminehispatient.He
checkedhispulse,thecolourandskintone,woundsanddressings,bothofwhichwere
verysmall.Hecheckedagainandagainthistinylittleincision,declaringthatthissurgeon
wasthebesthedeverseen,andworkingtogethertheycouldrevolutionisebrainsurgery.
Ifonlyheknew!!
NowwasthetimetocomecleanandtellSirGeoffreyexactlywherehewas,andallof
thedetailswecouldgivehim.Itwasonlyfairthatwecameoutwiththetruth.
Iexplainedthatthecitywasnotofhumanorigin,andcertainlynotofearthlyorigin,
andhowwehadfoundit,andthenexactedarepairtothepipework,thecitybeingtotally
emptyatthattime.Thistimewasdifferentthough.Theownershadoverheardourneed
forthediscsinthelibrary,andhadputthecorrectoneswherewewouldfindthem,
guidingusbylockingdoorsremotelytotheoperatingtheatres,and,wheneverythingelse
failed,theoperationitself.
SirGeoffreyaddedsomethingtothisbysayingthatwhilehewaswatchingthediscsin
thelibrary;hewasabouthalfwaythroughthefirstonewhenavoicebehindhimasked
wheretherestoftheteamhadgone.Hesaidhehadresentedtheinterruption,andnot
botheringtoturnaround,informedthespeakerthatwewerelookingfortheoperating
theatres,andtheycouldfindusthere.
SirGeoffreyhadhaddirectcontactwithanalien,withoutrealisingit!!FirstContact!
Wewerestillchattingabouttheeventsofthelastfewhours,sortofcomparingnotes,
whensuddenly,thephoneonthewallstartedtoring.Theconversationwentveryquiet.
CHAPTERSEVEN
IfanyonehadtoldmeatsometimeinthepastthatIwouldhavebeenterrifiedofthe
soundofaphoneringing,Iwouldhavelaughedaboutit.
Notthistime.
HereIwas,lookingatthisinoffensiveobjectonthewallasifitwasthreateningmy
veryexistence.Allconversationintheroomhadceasedwhenthewarblingtoneofthe
phonehadstarted,andnowalltheteamseyeswerelookingatit.Itrangforawhile
beforeanyofusmovedorspoke.BobTaylormotionedmetoanswerit.ThanksBob.
Iwalkedtothephone,andpickedupthereceiver,bearinginmindthatthesephones
wereasortofvideophoneandIwasmorethanalittleapprehensiveaboutwhatIwas
abouttosee.WhatIdidseewastotallyoutofplace,butatleastitwasquitepleasant.The
wholewallnowcontainedapictureofabunchofdaffodils,inflower.Thecallerhad
selectedsoundonly.
Iplacedtheearpiecetomyearandsaidhello.Asoftvoicespoke,sayingthatour
leaderwastogototheanteroom,theonebehindthecontrolroom.Therewasaclick,and
thepictureonthewallvanished.Iturnedtotheteamandrepeatedthemessage.Aftera

veryshortdiscussion,Iwasnowelectedthatleader,sinceitwasmyideatoreturnto
thiscity.Ifeltasthoughmyfriendshadjustgivenmeadeathsentence.
Iwalkedslowlyandsteadilyfromthechangingroomsoftheoperatingsuite,arranging
tomeettheothersatthemaindwellingsonmyreturn,shouldtherebeareturn.
Iwendedmywaythroughthecorridors,untilIarrivedatthecitydome,andthen
turnedtowardsthestepsleadinguptothecontrolroomcomplex.AsIreachedthem,I
lookedroundandsawmyteamemergefromthecorridorsfromwhereIdbeen,carrying
Jimonthestretcherandmakingtheirwaytothatlastdwellingonthestreet,wherewe
weretomeetup.
Ilookedahead,wonderingwhatIwasabouttoencounter.
Idontknowwhy,butwhenIarrivedatthefirstanteroom,possiblyoutofhabit,I
knockedonthedoor.Therewasnosoundfromwithin,soIopenedthedoorandwalked
in,myeyesscanningforwhateverIneededtosee.
Nooneandnothing.Thewholeroomwassilent.
Myheartwaspoundinglikeadrumbynow,andIjustwantedtogettoknowwhatthis
wasallaboutandgetoutofhere.
Ipassedthroughtheroom,andthenheadedtowardsthedoorleadingtothe
powerhouse.Itopenednoiselessly,andIknewtheywantedmetogothroughthisdoor.I
alsoknewwhichwouldbethenextdoortotake,butIwasveryslowtogotoit.
Itopenednoiselessly.Theroomitselfwasinsemidarkness,allofthelightcoming
fromaceilingfittinginthecentreoftheroom.Itwaslikelookingatasnookertable,the
tablelitbutthesurroundingsnot,thoughthiswasalotlessbright.Iwalkedtothechairin
frontofthetable,andsatdown.
Iheardamovementfromtheothersideofthetable,andIstrainedmyeyestoseewho
orwhatitwas,buttonoavail.Whoeverhadsetthismeetingupwasmakingsurethat
therewasnowayIcouldseethem,soIreasonedthatifIcannotseethem,theycannot
seeme.
Thesilencewasbrokenbyavoice,thesamevoiceIhadheardonthetelephone,
thankingmyteamfortherepairswehadcarriedout,andalsokeepingthecomplexa
secretfromotherpeople,thereforepreservingthesecretanderadicatingthepossible
consequencesofdiscovery.
I,inturnthankedthemforthehelpwithJim.
Therefollowedamomentofsilence,andIknewthereasonformysummonstothis
meetingwasabouttobedisclosed.IhopeIwasready.
Thevoicestartedtotellofthewholehistoryofthecomplex,andwhyithadbeenbuilt
hereinthefirstplace.
Thebuildingstarted,inEarthyears,around2500yearsBC,bythepeopleoftheir
homeplanet,toactasbothaholidayresortandrefugeforpeaceandquietbetweentheir
thentwocolonies,Earthbeingroughlyequaldistancefromthemboth.
Asthepeoplefromthehomeplanethadtovisitthesecondcolony,oneitherbusiness
orfamilyvisiting,thiscomplexwasidealasashortstopoverontheway.Thisplacewas
ahiveofactivitywhenthetradingbetweenthecolonieswasinfullswing.Itbecame
almostlikeathirdcolony,ashugenumbersofstaffwererequiredtohelpruntheplace,
andmonitorthemanyrecyclingtasksthecomplexusedsoasnottobetraytheirexistence

tothelocals.Everythingfromfoodtowastedisposalwashandledwitheasehere,
cateringforupto200guestsatatime,anditwouldstillhavebeeninuse,haditnotbeen
foramajordisaster.Theirracesufferedacatastrophe,whichdecimatedtheirpeople
Around90ofyourEarthyearsago,adiseasebrokeoutonthesecondcolony,
somethingthathadbeencarriedinfromsomewhereoutsidetheplanetitself.Thoughnot
fatal,andhavingnoilleffectsonthepersoninfected,itseverelyaffectedtheiroffspring.
Allofthechildrenborntothemwerebornwithoutanymeansofreproducingthemselves.
Theyhadtheorgans,justnottherealworkingparts,asinsperm/egg.Thismeantalmost
instantextinctiontothissuperracewithinonegeneration.
Naturally,thehomeplanet,notwishingtobecomeinfectedtoo,hadtoclosedownthis
complex,andtheshuttleservicebetweenthetwowasalsostoppedinanefforttoblock
thespreadoftheinfection,whichwashighlycontagious.Thesevisitorsnowarethefirst
oftheirkindfromthehomeplanettosetfootinthecomplexsinceitwasclosed,their
missionwastoseeiftherewasanykindofnewsfromthesecondcolony,andtocheck
thisinfectionhadnotwipedoutthehumanracelivingabovethecomplex,andtotally
ignorantofitbeingthere,somethingthattheywouldhavebeenreallysorryfor.
Asluckwouldhaveit,fromtheirpointofviewthatis,thehumanracecouldneither
catchnorcarrythisdisease,aswewerephysicallytoofardowntheevolutionaryscalefor
thisvirustoaffect.
Theywerealsoawarethatwehadenteredandrepairedthecomplex,buthadtoget
somedatabytestingahumantomakesurewecouldnotbecarriers.Thistheydidwith
Jiminthetheatre.Wecannotinfectthemaswecannoteithercatch,orcarrythisvirus.
Whentheyhadfirstarrived,theyweresurprisedtoseethatarepairjobhadbeendone
inthepowerhouse,andatfirsttheywerehopingthatsomeonefromthesecondcolony
hadbeenandeffectedtherepair,butwhentheycheckedthelandingstationlogsfor
incomingflights,therewerenoneshown.Therehadbeennotrafficsincetheevacuation
onthecomplexallthoseyearsago.
Theycheckedalloftheemergencydoorlogs,andfounddoorFivehadbeenopened
about2Earthyearsbefore.Thiscouldonlymeanthatsomeofthenativesmusthave
enteredthecomplex,thenativesbeingourteamofcourse,andtheystartedtocheckthe
videosofourentering,andleaving.Whiletheywerecheckingonthecomplex,and
givingitafullservicetokeepitoperational,thedoorfivealarmswentoffagain,andthey
detectedusenteringagain,thistimewithasickJim.
Afteraquickcheck,wewereidentifiedastheentrantsfrom2yearsago.Theysenta
communicationtothehomeplanetthatwewerebackandtorequestinstructionsonwhat
todo,andweretoldtoseekcommunicationwithus,aswecouldbetrusted.Thisthey
werenowdoing.
Theyhadamessagefromtheirleadersonthehomeplanet,arequestreally,andalsoan
offertomaketous,asthesevisitorshadtoreturntothehomeplanetverysoon.
Themessagewasthis:
Thedisease,thoughtheystilldidntknowhow,hadbeensmuggledinsomehowand
hadnowreachedthehomeplanetandwasalreadyravagingthepeoplethereasithadthe
secondcolony.Inthenexttwogenerations,theywouldallbegone.

Theythenmadethisremarkablerequestofushereinthisdarkenedroom,beneatha
plotofland,underanewhousingestate.
Couldwepleasemaintainthecomplexinitstickingovermode,whichwasmoreor
lessselfmaintaining,ontheoffchancethatsomeonesurvivingfromthesecondcolony
maycomeheretofindwhathashappenedtothehomeplanet.
Theofferfromthisrace,fromaworldunknowntous,wasthecomplexitself.
Wecanhaveit,thewholething,initsentirety,tobeoursuntilwehavenofurtheruse
forit.
Therewerenoweaponsforanygovernmenttogaintechnologyleftinthecitythat
couldbeusedtoendangerhumanlife,ortosubjugateitspeople.
Theonlystipulationthatthisraceputonthisgiftwasthat,shouldanyoftheirrace,from
whatevercolony,arrivehere,wemusttellthemeverything.
Thecontractwasmade,andbinding.

JohnBaxter2010/2015