Angelika Queen Of Mars

Chapter 40

Chapter 40 Magical Mystery Tour Part 2

We stayed in warp drive from mars to earth, both ships traveling close together. Just before taking up an orbit over earth Kha'Mak transmitted the coordinates of the meadow near Judith where I had planned to leave the saucer. Even though it was the dead of winter when I first spotted the place, something about it grabbed my attention as a place to land and perhaps set up some sort of info gathering station. By now, we were in constant communication with the Tajvana, talking to captain Neshok who was surprised that Kagorian radar and scanning technology was as sophisticated as it was.

"I think they may have picked me up there for an ock," he told Kha'Mak,

"We're in full clocking mode right now, I guess I shouldn't have fooled around so long, are you ready to get started on this thing?"

We were, moving into position over south western Montana, as captain Yemock moved his recovery tug out of the Tajvanna and beginning the decent to the earth's surface. Around sixty thousand feet Yemock's voice came over the comm,

"Hold up, I'm having trouble getting this, (explicative unclear) to work, wait…There we go." Watching our scanner screen, we could see a massive cloud formation encircling our two craft.

"This is amazing!" exclaimed Na'Kal, "What exactly is he doing?"

"It's called an atmospheric generator," replied Kha'Mak.

"Very old tech, I've got a friend who works for a weather control company, who tells me you have to be very careful with those devices as you can create all sorts of havoc on the ground. I'm sure we will be landing amid one terrific storm, however it will certainly keep the locals away."

"What kind of radius or area are we talking about here?" I asked. Kha'Mak looked at me and shrugged, "Depends on how long he runs the collection setting, generally these things can create up to a fifty or sixty li storm zone." Already the sky around us was absolutely black; I could see terrific lightening flashes and assumed there was thunder to go along with it. Kevin and Ethan had come up to watch the show as well with Kevin commenting,

"s**t, we aren't going to be landing in some damn tornado are we?"

"What's a tornado?" asked Kha'Mak It hadn't occurred to me but that's all we needed was giving birth to an Oklahoma twister. Kevin glared at Kha'Mak,

"Man you aren't serious are you? When I was a kid, we were down in Oklahoma for some Indian pow wow. Anyway, the weather changed just like that, the temperature dropped, the sky got all black like it is now, the wind picked up and we saw a twister come down right out of the sky. Thank god it didn't come towards us, scared the crap out of me, mom had seen them before and just started looking around for a ditch to crawl in. We don't have them too much out on the rez, but every time it gets bad out I keep one eye on the sky."

I gave Kha'Mak a quick description of what a tornado was and did,

"I suppose each planet has its own quirks of nature, but they sound so…unpredictable."

The scanner screen showed one hell of a rainstorm taking place outside, however it didn't affect us very much.

With Yemock landing right on the exact coordinates, we set down a dozen or so kat's away. Yemock deposited my saucer perfectly then rose back up into the storm; I looked at the little craft that had caused so much trouble as the rain pounded it just sitting by itself in the wet meadow. Taking several photos of it, we then rose to around forty thousand feet moving north towards Missoula where I made a couple of phone calls on a "throw-away" phone I had previously purchased. Being right over Missoula, I could connect with a cell tower, but the NSA would have a hard time trying to figure out whom or where I was, my first call went to the convenience store in Judith.

"Hello, is this the Judith convenience store?"

"Yes, how may we help you?"

"Is Beth there?'

"No, she hasn't worked here in over two months, who is calling please?"

"Well, this might sound like a crank call, but I assure you it isn't, I was last in your store with the queen of mars, a few months back. I don't know if you have been following the news but the queen had promised a gift to the people of this country, that gift is now sitting in an open meadow several miles southwest of your location on the west side of the river. The easiest way to get there is to cross the river just a little south of the ranger station down there, work north and you should see it. Oh, we're sorry for the storm, but we needed a little cover to leave the gift in, and I will be calling the newspaper and TV station in Missoula alerting them as well, we want as many people to know about this as possible to prevent the government from hiding it."

There was a long pause, making me think they had hung up.

"What exactly is this "gift," you are leaving us?"

"Simple, a flying saucer."

"How come you don't sound like an alien?" came the reply,

"How's an alien supposed to sound?"

"Well…I don't know, you don't sound like that queen."

"I'm not; she's very busy right now, supervising things on New Uromath, or Europa, as you people call it. Listen ma'am, believe me or don't, but I swear to you there is a real honest-to-god flying saucer sitting in a meadow southwest of your store, check it out, good bye for now."

My call to the TV station required three tries, as they kept hanging up on me, until some flunky took my call.

"Don't you people read the news? The queen sent word through NASA and the European space agency as well, that she was donating a real 1950's flying saucer to the people of the United States. I think she even threw in some core samples of mars as well, they should be on the seat."

"Yeah, I think I saw something about it."

"Well there you are, we placed it in a meadow several miles southwest of Judith, you know, the queen's favorite coffee stop, I kid you not, it's really there, all we ask is that you and the Missoulian really get the word out so the government can't cover this thing up. For Christ's sake just go and take a look, I am calling other news sources so don't take a chance and get scooped OK?"

"Well there's a pretty bad storm down in that area right now, it's flooding all the creeks and streams."

"How 'bout that? We created that storm out of thin air for cover, now go check out that saucer."

I had no idea if this would work; all I could do was hope. Right now we were headed for the black hills and home. The plan was for the Tajvana to maintain a high orbit over earth while Captain Neshok and his crew all jumped into Yemock's ship and set down at my place, however a call from Yemock changed things.

"Where are we supposed to land, there's a ship already down there, we thought it was you but Yemock says it's Amulian, expecting guests?"

"Boy, it didn't take them long," I thought. The invitation I had extended to the Amulian ambassador awhile back was being called in, "Those are Yemock's buddies down there," I replied, "There's another spot just north of where they are, we'll set down next to you OK?"

Well it certainly looked like a "full house," this week, not to mention all my relatives, and those of Robarik's who would be dropping by. I deliberately maintained the pines around the adjacent property to the house so that moderately sized craft could land and not be seen from either the road, or from the neighbor's property. I was very fortunate that they didn't live here on a permanent basis, and generally only came during the summer spending most of their time in Minneapolis. I can't remember when we last had three ships on the ground, if it weren't for the fact that everyone had their asymptotic amplifiers on, or as everyone called them…Cloaking devices, I'd be very worried.

It was just after dark, the best time to land, as objects descending in daylight hours tend to attract the eye. The Giuffrida was now a hive of activity, as everyone prepared to leave, although some of us would still be sleeping here as there was just no room for everyone at the house. Moreck's parents along with captain Neshok and his wife would be sleeping in the guestrooms. Robarik and his daughter would also get a room. Carman and Tarsig were there to greet us holding large flashlights to guide the way. When I approached Carman to greet her, I was greeted with a weak smile along with Tarsig's expressionless face.

"Something wrong Carman?" I asked, she grimaced then just shook her head,

"I'll tell you later, there's a couple of those Amulians in your new building, they showed up three days ago, did you know they were coming?"

"Yeah, I just didn't think they'd show up so soon, well they've got company captain Neshok brought more." We didn't have anymore time to talk as Jeff and the rest of the guys spotted her, and rushed over. Now she was engulfed by my guys who were laughing and joking as they greeted her. I watched her face as the guys hugged and joked with her, but I could tell something was wrong, this wasn't good.

By now Neshok, and his wife, along with his crew, and Yemock's people were wandering around, so I called captain Yemock over and pointed to the new outbuilding.

"That was some top notch work back there in Montana captain," I exclaimed.

"I think there are a couple of your countrymen over there in that building. I know how you folks don't like to be pestered, so if you like, you guys can hang out in there. It's got a small kitchen, lounge and bunks. I'm sure your buddies are poking around on the computer, but if you want to join us over at the house you're more than welcome."

He made a face, and then said something to Sarmak and Owlsek before moving off towards the barn. Eventually, everyone else gravitated to the house with the kitchen quickly filling. My first order of business was showing Kha'Mak and Na'Kal where the basement door was, since both were eager to go through Moreck's library down there.

As everyone else chatted and talked, I kept my eye on Carman as I made a pot of coffee. She wasn't smiling a whole lot, neither was Tarsig. Pulling Moreck aside, I asked him,

"Something's wrong with Carman and Tarsig. Carman won't tell me what it is; maybe you could speak to Tarsig?"

"You're right," replied Moreck, something is bothering her as well, there's too much mental "noise" in this room, otherwise, I could focus in on her mind, but I'll try and have a word with her."

Going to my room to remove some things so Moreck's parents could sleep there, Carman slipped up behind me,

"Damn Carman don't do that, now, what's the problem?" Suddenly Tarsig and Moreck appeared, closing the door; I looked at Carman whose face had lost all expression.

"Several nights ago, two guys broke in here; Tarsig and I had stayed up to watch a movie, and had just gone to bed." She grimaced, then continued,

"Long story short, I shot and killed one, Tarsig killed the other guy." She stopped waiting for her revelation to sink in, but I looked at Tarsig, who looked to be on the verge of tears,

"He just came into my room, Moreck had given me a small pulsor for protection, it-it must have been set too high, when I shot him with it, he flew backwards hitting the doorframe then just fell…dead."

"When I heard Tarsig scream," added Carman, I had my Sig off safety. I came out of my room; saw this guy standing there in the hall holding a gun so I just…dropped him, center of mass, just like they taught us."

"What will they do to me?" cried Tarsig, I killed another being, I killed one of you Kagorians!" Moreck tried his best to comfort her as I said,

"Just calm down Tarsig, nothing is going to happen to you, what did you do with the bodies, did they have a vehicle of some kind?" Carman had indeed calmed, as she replied.

"Tarsig's guy didn't bleed, I don't know what those pulsor things do, but it sure put him down. My guy was bleeding all over, but we got everything all cleaned up, both of us went over everything three days straight, even stayed home the next day cleaning this whole damn place. We got the bodies rolled up in plastic sheeting, loaded them in the scoop bucket on your tractor, and took them out back. It took a bit of doing," continued Carman. "But I got a nice hole dug, we dropped them in, then I took Tarsig's gun, set it on high and just kept blasting them." I looked at Moreck who shook his head and grimaced.

"It just melted 'em to ash," said Carman matter-o-factly. We then took everything out of the truck they were driving and threw it in the pit, we burned all that stuff up too, then threw in a bunch of sticks and brush and burned all that up, stirred everything all up, dumped several gallons of water in on it, then stirred it all up again, before covering up the hole."

"You said they had a truck," I said, "Where is it now?"

'In the shed," replied Carman, "We went through it very carefully, I don't know, maybe we could burn it up as well." Shaking my head, I said,

"You know they've got a burn ban going on around here, you're damn lucky you didn't get a bunch of forest service guys coming down on you, no we'll have to think of something else."

"The ban is off, I checked," replied Carman, I'm sorry, but what else could we have done?"

I looked at both of them, as well as Moreck who was also very worried looking.

"You did right; actually I'm proud of the both of you, anything in the news about two missing men?" Carman shook her head,

"Not yet, I've been watching, they were pretty bummy types."

"Any idea what their names were?" I asked. Again she shook her head,

"You know we didn't stop to ask, and we were in such a hurry to get rid of all the evidence, we just threw their wallets and papers from their truck into the fire."

"Nameless men in a nameless grave," I muttered, "Well they aren't the only ones buried in an unmarked grave around here, Moreck, his brother, and father are buried in the family cemetery there's another guy that was with them that got shot, Moreck told me once where Colin buried him but I've long since forgotten."

Before our little "meeting," broke up. I told Moreck and Tarsig,

"As far as I'm concerned, this matter is over and done. Tarsig, I know you're extremely upset, and I don't blame you, I'd hate to see the same thing happen to you as did my great great grandfather, we certainly don't need government investigators snooping around here. Look…Those were bad men, chances are, that if you hadn't of shot them, someone else would have. Now, we've got guests waiting, Carman I'm sorry this is getting dumped on you, but everyone wanted to come at the same time."

"Well that's what you're paying me for," she replied, "Say, what about those guys out in the shed,?"

"What! The Amulians?" I replied, "Have they been bothering you?" Shaking her head, Carman replied,

"I thought it was the Giuffrida at first, but then these weird guys came to the door and wanted us to help them with the computer, so Tarsig and I went out there and showed them how to use it. I will say one thing, you don't have to tell them twice about how to do something, they pick things right up."

While Carman and Tarsig helped get Moreck's parents set up in my bedroom, I saw to it that captain Neshok and his wife were settled into one of the guest rooms. Tomorrow we would set up a large tent to sleep in, but for tonight the rest of us would be sleeping in the Giuffrida. In the morning all of my guys, with the exception of Kevin would be heading for the airport and home to see family and friends for a week or so, since Kevin didn't live that far away, and his car was here, he just planned to drive.

Around one in the morning, things began to wind down, the Neshok's had gone to bed, along with Moreck's parents, Robarik and Moreck were getting ready to call it a night as well.

On our way out to the Giuffrida, Dori and I checked in with the Amulians who were staying in the "bunkhouse" part of the shed. As we neared, I became aware of a strange musical sound unlike any music either here on earth or Falth. Upon knocking, a voice responded,

Who is it, what do you want?"

"It's me, Jake Gandrigg, just checking to see if you've got everything, or need any help with the computer?" There was a long pause, then a voice replied,

Everything is fine, perhaps you could check with us later…in the morning, we may have questions then."

"I wonder if that female I saw is in there?" wondered Dori,

"I didn't see any female," I said, "Are you sure?" She nodded,

"Well we'll worry about that later," I replied, "Right now its bedtime."