Quazum

EXPLORATION 197

Chapter Twelve

“EXPLORATION”

Ben sat alone, leaning down in a chair at the graveyard. He fought to hold back tears, while constantly wiping his eyes. Ben was staring at Gabriel, lying in an open coffin propped up in the center of a field of headstones and grave markers. Surrounded by empty chairs, the graveyard owner and minister, Reverend Andrew, finally walked up to the podium and began reading a disingenuous prepared speech.

“Gabriel Meaux was a proud man living alone in the swamplands since his wife passed away. He was... fifty-six years old and had one daughter, who used to work for the... Space Exploration in California. Mr. Meaux had a bit of misfortune last week.”

Reverend Andrew then squinted to read the paper to himself. He finally flipped pages over and read from another prepared sheet, “Gabriel Meaux will join his wife... Her name was... ‘Ruth’, and she was also buried here a long time ago. We hope they will both rest in peace.”

The minister looked at his watch, then turned to walk back to the main office of the small funeral home building. Two men with shovels walked out looking around at the empty chairs, then began digging next to the casket.

Holding back emotion, Ben got up and walked towards the grave. He leaned over Gabriel’s body and mumbled, “I’m sorry, Mr. Meaux. I truly loved your daughter. This is all my fault, and I owe you my life. You were a great man. And I will do everything I can to help finish what you started.”

When Ben stood back up, he heard a crying voice from behind and spun around. He looked carefully at the trees and motionless tombstones nearby but saw nothing. He finally walked out towards the open graveyard and curiously looked around.

Quazum was squatting down, motionless, next to a tombstone and appeared invisible next to the white bonding composite shape. He continued quietly crying as he watched the gravediggers next to the open coffin. Temperatures were in the upper eighties as Ben walked over and looked around the open field of gravestones.

“Quazum?” asked Ben softly. “Quazum, I know what you’re going through. I just want to talk to you. I might be able to help you. I’m here for you.”

The workers watched Ben talking to the open graveyard and studying the field of tombstones, then looked to each other and laughed. They then continued digging.

Ben continued, “I promise you, Quazum. My life is now dedicated to one life. And I have just one mission. Please. I just want to help you.”

Quazum sat motionless staring at the coffin and listening to Ben, while the workers continued digging.

Ben looked around one last time before finally turning and walking out to his dirty car. He climbed in thinking, then started the car and drove off.

“I think that man is seeing things,” mumbled the first gravedigger.

The other digger laughed and responded, “I’ve been digging these graves for twenty years, and I ain’t never even heard a ghost!”

Quazum finally got up and quietly walked across the graveyard and lines of tombstones towards the men digging. When he got to the grave, he remained unseen. As he began to change colors, becoming slightly visible, he leaned over between the men and mumbled, “I just want to say goodbye to my Grandpa.”

The gravediggers spun around and stared. They seemed confused as they looked around at the empty chairs. Things were quiet before the men began hearing the strange sounds of crying.  

The first man began screaming and pointing towards the coffin. “Aaahhh!!! It’s a ghost!”

The second digger lifted his shovel and began swinging in the direction of Quazum. “I heard a ghost! Get out of here! Go!”

Quazum immediately took off running across the graveyard changing colors again as the gravediggers looked on in shock. They watched the partially invisible figure moving across the lawn before going out of sight.

Rushing into a wooded area, Quazum quickly climbed a tree and hid. He was afraid and sad, and continued crying and wiping his eyes. The gravediggers swung shovels and poked at various gravesites as Quazum remained motionless regretting the commotion he started.

The reverend hurried out when he heard the screams and looked around the empty graveyard. He then began yelling at the diggers, “You didn’t see a ghost.”

“It was talking and moving!” answered one man.

“And it ran across all the graves!” yelled the other.

The reverend looked angry. “There are no ghosts, at least not in my graveyard.”

Quazum remained in the tree looking on as the diggers got back to work. When a slow-moving spider crawled across a web in the tree next to Quazum. He slowly moved closer and reached out to pick up the small spider. As the spider began crawling up his finger, Quazum put it into his mouth.

* * *

At the Space Exploration Agency, Dr. Palmer was standing in front of scientists with a huge computer screen flashing old solar video and explorer video taken from the previous mission. “This area of the Quazmopolis moon has the smallest range of temperatures, only reaching highs of one hundred forty degrees. It could be an area more natural for supporting life.”

Palmer looked around the room noticing the same group of uninterested scientists. “Do you have any questions?”

“What’s different about the cactus plants this time?” asked Chris. “Why do you think they’ll grow now?”

The group of scientists mumbled their approval of the question before Palmer responded, “New Arid Cacti plants we’re testing are surviving temperatures in a range of two hundred degrees.”

“So is this all an effort to grow cactus?” asked Oliver.

Dr. Palmer then walked up and pointed to computer images. “The new satellites have also detected unexplainable motion. I believe there may already be a tiny form of life on Quazmopolis, which may not be visible to the human eye. New radar detectors can measure that movement. I want that investigated.”

“But you have to take into consideration the winds and rolling rocks.”

“Or it could be a simple explanation of a flaw in the satellite camera,” responded another young explorer after raising his hand politely.

“I believe it is a form of life that lives between the rocks. It may just be too small for the human eye. I need you to find it. And that is the real purpose of this mission.”

Dr. Palmer continued rolling video taken from space onto the big screen. He zoomed in on a small motion in the colored rock, and graphics appeared on screen showing a small simulation of the movement.

“I only see a one second blur. It’s hard to classify that as life,” responded Oliver.

“A scientist on the last mission also claimed to have observed movement,” answered Palmer. “I want to know what she saw. That is a strong base of this new mission.”

“No life form that we know could survive a daily climate change ranging more than one hundred seventy-five degrees,” replied Pilot Jenkins. “We spent a week performing tests, and we barely survived ourselves.”

“In addition to finding life, I want to successfully begin a permanent life on Quazmopolis,” answered Palmer. “And I know we can do that.”

“But why? There are planets closer to our solar system that have a gravity force closer to earth,” said Chris before closing his laptop computer. “And who cares if this cactus plant even does survive?”

Dr. Palmer walked back to the computer screen. “I’m glad you brought that up. With the untested technology, we’ll be able to turn sedimentary rock into a simple form of dirt capable of absorbing water from this oxygen-based atmosphere to support life. So, in a billion years, that moon may carry an intelligent form of life that we started.”

“Temperature variations may be increasing,” mumbled Oliver. “Couldn’t that just put an end to the life forms we create?”

“Do we want to risk everything in the hopes of just growing a plant?” asked Chris. “If there was gold on this planet or some way to turn a profit, I could see the value...”

“No offense Dr. Palmer, but the media will be questioning everything we do.” Oliver looked over the documentation before asking, “Is this mission to be kept secret?”

“I want the media exposing every aspect of this mission. We are bringing life to one of the oldest land masses in this galaxy. It is a major milestone for the entire human race.”

Alice then poked her head into the conference room. “Dr. Palmer? I’ve got some information for you.”

“What is it? We’re in a meeting.”

“Well, it’s just that Lacy and her father were attacked at their home in Louisiana.”

“Who?” asked a surprised Dr. Palmer. “Lacy Meaux?”

“All we know is that the police went in to ask questions, and Mr. Gabriel Meaux, her father, responded with gunfire. He was shot and killed.”

“And Lacy? How bad is she hurt?”

“We don’t know. She was shot in self-defense by local police and is now in Emergency Care,” said Alice reading from her computer. “She has a fractured open skull, pierced by a bullet.”

“Oh God...” Palmer got up and hurried out the door. “This meeting is over.”

Alice ran alongside Dr. Palmer as he walked up the long hallway towards his office. “It’s a brand-new report. I saw it just minutes ago. It all happened over the weekend at the Meaux swampland, a property owned by her father.”

“Was Ben Thomas involved?”

“Ben?” Lacy looked down and studied from her computer screen. “Well, no. He’s not mentioned in the report.”

“Get Ben Thomas on the phone,” replied Palmer as he turned and walked into his office. “I want to talk to him.”

“I’ll see if I can reach him, but I don’t know...”

“Now!” yelled Dr. Palmer before closing the office door and walking over to his own computer.

Palmer touched icons on screen and spoke into the computer as he typed, “Get me news on Lacy Meaux and her family in Louisiana.”

The computer began reciting news as Palmer pulled out files. “Attempted arrest was made with Gabriel Meaux on Saturday at his property. It is reported that Gabriel Meaux fired one shot at police officers. Return fire and bullet exchange took Meaux’s life. Police ruled the police shooting was in self-defense. No investigation is underway.”

Palmer continued typing and opening new documents. He read the fast flashing news from around Louisiana, then asked the computer, “Do you have information on Mr. Ben Thomas?”

“Ben Thomas was a one-time employee at Space Exploration, and most recently an employee of ‘New Used Cars’ dealership in Culver City.”

“Was Ben Thomas in Louisiana at the time of the shooting?”

“There are no filed reports of Ben Thomas in Louisiana.”

Dr. Palmer thought for a second before asking, “What was the last location of Ben Thomas?”

The computer paused before speaking up again, “Ben Thomas was documented last week at a car service station in New Mexico. The transaction was for sixty-seven dollars and...”

“Where else?”

“Another transaction took place in Houston, Texas. Also, for a car service. This transaction was for fifty- four dollars and...”

“Any other documented transactions... In Louisiana.”

Computer screen was quiet as Dr. Palmer opened other files on screen searching overhead shots of Louisiana. He zoomed into satellite images around areas of the swampland before the computer spoke up again.

“Credit card also shows purchase at a small store in Back-Bayou, Louisiana. Store is called Guns-R-Us.”

* * *

Quazum quickly walked along the sidewalk next to big city streets, jumping into alleys and hiding from average people. Wearing no clothes, Quazum continued changing colors trying to remain unseen. Some people noticed a strange movement, but Quazum remained still whenever necessary and was never confronted.

Approaching an old grocery store, Quazum peaked through the window. People were walking in and out and pushing carts with their big bags of food. Quazum moved carefully over to the side of the door debating whether to go inside. When the grocery doors opened suddenly, a scared Quazum jumped into the base of a shopping cart. Remaining unseen, he changed shape and color as the cart moved inside.

A group of workers turned to the open door seeing no one coming in or leaving. When the doors closed, Quazum remained motionless at the bottom of the cart.

“Did you see something?” asked Nancy, a female cashier, as she pointed at the empty cart.

“I didn’t see anything,” answered a co-worker. “What did you see?”

“It was like something invisible moving in the shopping cart right next to the door. I know I saw something.”

“I think you’re just seeing things again,” said the co-worker with a laugh. “Ain’t no ghosts ‘round here.”

Quazum continued sitting in the bottom of the empty cart and remained motionless. An older woman walked up suddenly, grabbed the empty cart, and began pushing Quazum down the aisle. He rode along patiently and remained quiet before the cart stopped. The woman then began checking the fresh produce before Quazum jumped out of the cart and climbed over the aisle to a section of cereal.

Nancy, the cashier, was immediately suspicious again when she noticed slight sounds. She closed the register and quietly walked towards the empty aisle of food. Nancy stared down the empty rows looking for any sign of motion when she noticed an unusual motion on a shelf of groceries sticking out in the aisle. She looked confused and moved closer to the shelf.

As she walked up the aisle, she stared at the unexplained motionless colors that looked out of place, then walked up closer to the shelf trying to read the strange colored markings on several boxes. Nancy reached out to examine the strange shaped box and mumbled, “What are you? Are you some kind of ghost?”

Quazum remained motionless before finally speaking out. “My name is Quazum.” He then began changing colors to expose himself and reached his hand out nervously.

Nancy suddenly jumped back and began screaming, “It’s a ghost! I saw it! A ghost!” She then ran down the aisle back towards the check-out area. “We got a ghost in aisle six! A ghost in aisle six!”

In a panic, Quazum climbed up the side of the shelves again knocking over cans and boxes and hid out of sight at the top. Store employees and shoppers immediately ran over and stared down the empty aisle.

“What are you talking about?” asked a coworker. “I don’t see no ghost!”

“There was something moving! It was next to a cereal box! I saw it change colors and move!”

The shoppers continued looking before Quazum cautiously climbed back down the side of the shelf. Before heading to the door, Quazum changed color again and raced back down the aisle. He grabbed a box of salt, then continued changing to blend in. After finally jumping into an empty cart, Quazum rolled out of the store leaving shoppers and store workers in shock.

* * *

Ben walked into the local library. The place looked empty with one older librarian wearing reading glasses and sitting at a desk. Ben stepped up and asked politely, “Excuse me. I’m looking for some local property documentation that’s not available online.”

“What do you want to know?” asked the annoyed librarian.

“Just information about land, some owners, and maybe other property of the same owner around the city?”

“Land in the Back-Bayou? That’s all in the files and the public computer section.” The librarian pointed to a faraway aisle, then adjusted her glasses, and continued reading from her book.

Ben looked around seeing the empty rows, empty desks and unused computers. “I see. Thank you. And don’t get up.”

The librarian didn’t respond as Ben walked over to an assortment of files. Under the entire Meaux family, there was just one name and one address. No other documentation could be found.

Before leaving, Ben walked over to computers and asked for information on the history of iguanian species, chameleon type lizards, and their process of giving birth.

A diversity of old photos and drawings of the evolution history of the reptile species began flashing on the screen. Ben typed in questions and began reading the complicated information. As the computer listed photos and drawings of squamate reptiles with their open eyes and ears, Ben studied the color-changing reptiles and their amazing way of becoming invisible to the human eye.

The computer spoke up, “Reptiles arose on earth in hot climates more than three hundred million years ago during the carboniferous period. Many reptiles possess ectothermic metabolism and have a stronger more protective coating of scales allowing the species to live in temperatures varying from extreme heat to freezing.”

Ben continued opening files and reading from an assortment of documentation trying to understand the species of life from Quazmopolis, and how a body may function in a different form of gravity.

“The historical number of reptilian species is estimated to be more than twice the number of mammal species evolved on earth. Fossils show modern birds, snakes, lizards and semiaquatic animals are the only form of reptilian life still living on earth today.”

Pictures and video continued flashing on the computer, and Ben studied dinosaurs and extinct reptilian life on earth. “Some reptiles today use a variety of camouflage methods changing their own color to minimize the risk of being detected by predators. Some are also known to use white scales, often only noticed by a moving shadow.”

“Hmmm...” mumbled Ben as he continued his search.

“Primary foods for reptilian species vary from fruits and nuts to a variety of meats and insects.”

The librarian suddenly walked up, reached out, and turned off Ben’s computer. “We have a policy of no audible noise in this library. You must supply your own headphone source.”

“But there’s no one here. Who am I disturbing?”

“Me,” answered the receptionist. “You’re disturbing me.”

“Well, I’m sorry, but I...”

“If you disagree with library rules, you are free to leave.” The librarian then returned to her desk, put back on glasses and continued reading.

Ben quickly scribbled down information and snapped photos of screen images on his personal computer before returning books to their shelves.

As Ben walked out, he politely smiled and waved to the uninterested librarian. “Thank you for all your help.”

* * *

Quazum was kneeling over a c***k at the side of a building and studying the ants and bugs crawling up the side. He looked around nervously, then reached out to lick the wall, getting a taste of the small bugs.

When crossing the street, one driver swerved nearly missing him. The confused driver stopped the car and stared out his car window seeing a strange partially invisible figure crawling under another car parked on the side of the road. The car then slowly drove away.

Trying to keep out of sight, Quazum rushed across the sidewalk and into an alley carrying a plastic bag filled with small items. While surrounded by intoxicated homeless people wrapped in blankets, they sometimes glanced up curiously as Quazum walked by. The homeless men would then take another swig from their bottle.

Quazum filled his small bottle with water from a tap on the side of one building and carefully poured in salt from the container he stole from the store. He then crawled into the corner of the alley and pulled a dirty blanket over his body.

After falling asleep, one homeless intoxicated drunk noticed a slight motion at the corner and walked over looking down at Quazum. He reached out to grab the blanket before Quazum spun around and pushed his hand away.

“A ghost! I saw a ghost!” The homeless man then quickly ran down the alley. Other men looked around before going back to sleep.

Quazum took another drink from his salt water bottle and leaned back. When he noticed a half bottle of whiskey in the corner, Quazum walked over and curiously smelled the bottle. Recognizing that distinct odor from Gabriel’s drinks, Quazum curiously took a small sip from the bottle.

He immediately coughed and cringed from the sharp taste as it went down and then carried the bottle over to his blanket on the side and laid back down, covering his entire body.

While staring down the long dark alley, Quazum took a bigger sip from the bottle, then closed his eyes and went to sleep.

* * *