Intelligent Design: Revelations to Apocalypse by J. M. Erickson Page B
Authors: J. M. Erickson
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Bay.
“Just rest, Anthony. I guess help is coming,” Riesman said. He nodded and closed his eyes.
She surveyed the open, desolate field tucked at the end of a peninsula. A Civil War fort stood in ruins on a nearby hill overlooking the vacant field and ocean. Light swept across the sky from the automatic lighthouse beside it, and faint light from the Boston skyline bled through the fog. Riesman took a deep breath, and the refreshing smell of sea salt, ocean and some kind of flowers eased her tension.
I’m alive.
Only the constant flow of air traffic heading over the island into Logan International Airport marred the setting. The roar of engines moved from a distant hum in the east to a loud thunder as they passed low overhead, and then faded as the planes coasted in for landing. Always another plane followed right on their tail.
Dee Dee stood by the driver’s door staring at her tablet while Vespere and Lux organized back packs, five of them by Riesman’s count.
This is an operation. Some kind of extraction
, she thought.
How many times have I been here … usually with my own gear and boots …
Cold rose through the soles of her mangled shoes, and Riesman’s heart grew heavy as she tried to figure out what to do next.
As if reading her mind, Perez spoke quietly but clearly.
“You know you can never go back, Bobbie Jo. Those people back there are killers. They killed Hiaki and your boss with ease. You and the other girls were on the list, and I would have joined you shortly, I’m sure.”
“I can go to the police. I have friends in D.C. …”
“And then the same people that set your boss up, interrogated Hiaki, and killed them both would find you. They would assume you know something.”
Riesman raised her voice above the airplane noise.
“But I don’t know anything!”
“I know that, Bobbie Jo. I know that,” Perez said. He took in a deep breath and continued. “But they don’t. And these are the kind of people that don’t like loose ends. The people who sent that hit team don’t know how much or how little you know, and they won’t be happy until you’re dead.”
Riesman tried to find fault with his logic, but considering that she’d escaped death less than two hours ago after being compelled to be a part of entrapping a German national, Perez’s analysis seemed accurate.
“But what about my family? My sister and nieces …” Yet another plane rumbled in the distance.
“They'll be safe if you’re presumed dead. If they think you’re alive, they become bait.”
Perez shuffled across the seat towards the door. Taking the cue, she assisted him outside, and he leaned on the car facing the field, looking settled but tired. The sound of the plane overhead receded and, surprisingly, none took its place. Riesman looked east and didn’t even see any navigation lights.
“Looks like my ride is here. Do me a favor and hold onto this until I get back.” Perez handed her his tablet. “I may get a new one, but I want you to hold onto this because it belongs here, and it will help you with some answers. I’m going to be gone for a while.” She frowned.
“Anthony? What are you saying?”
“Right now it’s rebooting and should be back online in about a week. The transmissions are weak and it desperately needs recharging,” he explained.
Though reluctant to touch it in light of what happened last time, she took the tablet. The night had grown strangely still, the roar of descending planes having ceased. She turned and looked east again—no oncoming planes, just an empty field.
She turned back to Perez with a frown. He took another deep breath, as if the prior conversation had exhausted him, and pointed directly upward. She looked up and gasped, eyes wide, heart suddenly racing. Above them, a massive, black bird silently descended. Riesman took a step back, shaking her head in disbelief. A moment later, landing gear emerged from the smooth, black ship.
Earthers, Terrans, Venus, not
“Just rest, Anthony. I guess help is coming,” Riesman said. He nodded and closed his eyes.
She surveyed the open, desolate field tucked at the end of a peninsula. A Civil War fort stood in ruins on a nearby hill overlooking the vacant field and ocean. Light swept across the sky from the automatic lighthouse beside it, and faint light from the Boston skyline bled through the fog. Riesman took a deep breath, and the refreshing smell of sea salt, ocean and some kind of flowers eased her tension.
I’m alive.
Only the constant flow of air traffic heading over the island into Logan International Airport marred the setting. The roar of engines moved from a distant hum in the east to a loud thunder as they passed low overhead, and then faded as the planes coasted in for landing. Always another plane followed right on their tail.
Dee Dee stood by the driver’s door staring at her tablet while Vespere and Lux organized back packs, five of them by Riesman’s count.
This is an operation. Some kind of extraction
, she thought.
How many times have I been here … usually with my own gear and boots …
Cold rose through the soles of her mangled shoes, and Riesman’s heart grew heavy as she tried to figure out what to do next.
As if reading her mind, Perez spoke quietly but clearly.
“You know you can never go back, Bobbie Jo. Those people back there are killers. They killed Hiaki and your boss with ease. You and the other girls were on the list, and I would have joined you shortly, I’m sure.”
“I can go to the police. I have friends in D.C. …”
“And then the same people that set your boss up, interrogated Hiaki, and killed them both would find you. They would assume you know something.”
Riesman raised her voice above the airplane noise.
“But I don’t know anything!”
“I know that, Bobbie Jo. I know that,” Perez said. He took in a deep breath and continued. “But they don’t. And these are the kind of people that don’t like loose ends. The people who sent that hit team don’t know how much or how little you know, and they won’t be happy until you’re dead.”
Riesman tried to find fault with his logic, but considering that she’d escaped death less than two hours ago after being compelled to be a part of entrapping a German national, Perez’s analysis seemed accurate.
“But what about my family? My sister and nieces …” Yet another plane rumbled in the distance.
“They'll be safe if you’re presumed dead. If they think you’re alive, they become bait.”
Perez shuffled across the seat towards the door. Taking the cue, she assisted him outside, and he leaned on the car facing the field, looking settled but tired. The sound of the plane overhead receded and, surprisingly, none took its place. Riesman looked east and didn’t even see any navigation lights.
“Looks like my ride is here. Do me a favor and hold onto this until I get back.” Perez handed her his tablet. “I may get a new one, but I want you to hold onto this because it belongs here, and it will help you with some answers. I’m going to be gone for a while.” She frowned.
“Anthony? What are you saying?”
“Right now it’s rebooting and should be back online in about a week. The transmissions are weak and it desperately needs recharging,” he explained.
Though reluctant to touch it in light of what happened last time, she took the tablet. The night had grown strangely still, the roar of descending planes having ceased. She turned and looked east again—no oncoming planes, just an empty field.
She turned back to Perez with a frown. He took another deep breath, as if the prior conversation had exhausted him, and pointed directly upward. She looked up and gasped, eyes wide, heart suddenly racing. Above them, a massive, black bird silently descended. Riesman took a step back, shaking her head in disbelief. A moment later, landing gear emerged from the smooth, black ship.
Earthers, Terrans, Venus, not
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