Far-out Show (9781465735829) (14 page)

At that moment Krinkle and Jones came out of
the papered-over storefront and went to Krinkle's car parked at the
far end of the line of shops. Regimentator slid down in her seat to
be hard to see without losing sight of them.

“Did they rough you up?” Krinkle asked. “We
could sue them for millions.”

Jones was unfazed and cheerful. “No, they
didn't seem to know what to do with me. I had coffee and two
donuts. Those were fresh too. I always like them best when they’re
fresh.”

Krinkle stared over at the papered-over store
window, “They were official but wouldn't admit it. Probably federal
agents. The police pulled us in here on fake charges so these
others could grill us with no news media around to take
notice.”

“Newspaper and drapes on the windows. Cubicle
walls with cardboard taped to stick up to make the walls higher.
They went to a lot of trouble. They sure didn't want anybody and
nobody to see we were in there.”

“More precisely they were going to all that
trouble to hide who they were that were in there trying to twist
our answers around so they could tell the public that my claim is a
hoax.”

“But the news said a lot of telescopes saw
the thing beside the moon too,” Jones noted.

“Typical officialdom. The ones who publicly
laughed when they first heard my report don't want to admit they
were wrong. Or more precisely, they hate admitting I was right
about anything. What did they ask you?”

“Mostly general stuff. Like are you a liar or
just crazy? And what do your special clothes mean?”

“What did you tell them about my outfit?”

“That it’s strange but fun. It’s like I’m
traveling with a one man circus,” Jones said.

“That’s an okay answer,” Krinkle said.

“They mostly wanted me to say I was with you
when you saw it but I wasn't so I wouldn't.”

“If you did they'd find out where you really
were and say it's all a lie,” Krinkle grumbled.

“They asked where we're going. I said out for
a ride. They wanted more detail but that's all I know.”

“You're a good helper, Zippedy Jones. Did you
tell them about my special tools?”

“They didn't ask. Should I have?”

“No, there's no reason for them to know and
it's easier if they don't. The Fodd and the jammer are nobody
else's business. Let's see what signals the Fodd might be picking
up and we'll get on with the search. But we’ll move away from here
first in case they’re watching me out the windows.”

“It's neat that you have a secret weapon
against alien invaders. I think that’s just so cool.”

After a look around to be sure of the traffic
and that no one had come running out of the papered-over shop to
wave them down for more questions, Krinkle drove off down the
street.

Regimentator let two cars get between them,
then followed. “Back on track to beat the weirdo to his prize,” she
muttered.

* * *

Edith Parker, not a notoriously patient
person, pondered murder as she walked her wifty neighbor Mimi
Brownowski in circles near the Oakline Street park to keep her
occupied.

Brownowski, seventy-five and physically okay
but mentally dulled by medical problems, had relatives who had
helped the Parkers in recent years so Edith made the minimum effort
to be sociable on the few occasions when she couldn’t avoid any
contact. Today by keeping Mimi moving Edith minimized her childlike
questions.

Edith carried Brownowski’s cell phone so when
it rang she could answer it right away. “Is it you, Adam?”

“Yes. I have the equipment. Where should I
meet you?”

“By the park on Oakline Street. He’s here.
Watch for me as you drive up since I’ll stay where I can see him
without going close. If he moves I’ll have to move me and Mimi
too.”

“How’s she doing?”

“Don’t ask. Get here fast to take the
pictures and so I can get her home.” She disconnected the call
since he was always reluctant to be the one to say goodbye.

Brownowski now felt the pocket in her dress
and stared at the phone in Edith’s hand. Edith handed that to her
saying, “Yes, it’s your phone. You can carry it now that it’s
served my purpose.” Then after a glance to be sure Nerber was in
sight she started off at a slow pace on another circular path with
Brownowski promptly following.

Edith stopped suddenly and Brownowski bumped
into her back before she noticed the change. At other times that
would have really annoyed Edith but right now she was distracted by
the two cars that arrived and stopped up the street. The first
parked at the curb near the grassy area with the benches and the
gazebo along the park side of the street. The other stopped far up
the block but quickly backed out of sight around a corner up
there.

After a moment Krinkle and Jones got out of
the nearer car and carried two cartons from the back seat to the
gazebo. That done, Jones got a fast-food restaurant bag from the
parked car and settled on the bench facing the gazebo. He inserted
his ear buds, selected a play list of numbers on his small music
player, then opened the bag to enjoy the tacos and soft drink he
had bought along the way here.

Edith was instantly very alert and interested
when Regimentator, carrying a camera with a long lens, hurried
around the corner where the second car had pulled out of sight.
Mrs. Parker stepped off the sidewalk for a better look.

A taxi pulled up, the driver stopping several
yards behind Edith who didn’t notice it because she was focused on
the woman up the street. Adam got out and called, “I’m here. Are
you ready to take the cab and go home?”

Edith glanced behind her and gave a jump of
surprise to find a vehicle and her son there. “Oh, you’re
here.”

“He’s ready for you and Mimi. I’ve given him
Mimi’s address,” Adam said.

Edith looked at Regimentator now staying out
of easy sight. “No, I should stay here for a while. There may be a
problem. Competition. Pay him and get a number I can call on Mimi’s
phone when we’re ready to go home.”

Adam shrugged and leaned in the open door of
the taxi to handle those details. When he looked around though he
found Brownowski standing beside him obviously expecting to get in
the taxi. He called, “Mother? What about Mimi?”

Edith was moving around a bit to see what the
man in the gazebo was doing since watching him but not being seen
by him seemed to be the focus and concern of the woman up the
street. At Adam’s question she glanced back, saw the neighbor and
grumbled, “If we hadn’t needed her there’s no way I’d have brought
her here or anywhere.”

Concluding that the woman up the street
wasn’t going anywhere for the moment, Edith went over and took
Brownowski by the arm. “Come on, Mimi, we came to see what’s in the
park so let’s do that before we take a taxi home. We’ll go for that
ride in a few minutes.”

When they were safely out of its way Edith
emphatically waved away the taxi. The driver shrugged, threw a
U-turn, and drove away.

Edith waved over Adam and pointed out Nerber
who had been standing in among the trees at a spot where he had a
clear view of the gazebo and the benches by the sidewalk but
probably could not see either the Parkers at this end or
Regimentator at the far end of the block. “Over beyond the gazebo.
Among the trees but where he can see out. Been standing there.
Can’t tell if he’s phoning home or anything. Do aliens really do
that? Anyway, make me proud. Go get some pictures the world wants
to pay to see.”

Adam said, “I rented both a video and a still
picture camera. Here I go.” He nodded and dashed across the street
and in among the trees at this end of the C-shaped woods, stalking
Nerber the way he had seen characters in movies act.

Edith watched him go, rolling her eyes at his
conspicuous and exaggerated manner. Then she remembered Brownowski
who had wandered off down the street the way the taxi had gone. She
decided that, tempting as it was, she shouldn’t leave the old woman
on her own. She sighed and went to retrieve and redirect Mimi to
where she herself could keep an eye on the other woman with a
camera in case intervention to thwart that one’s plans was called
for.

Jones sat on the bench happily consuming his
tacos to the beat of the music on his iPod.

Krinkle was alone in the gazebo, his distress
showing as he made a feeble kick at the cartons at his feet that
held the Fodd and his jammer. He grumbled to himself, “Secret
weapon, my foot. A static detector's all the Fodd is. The needle
keeps quivering but there are no ETs around here. I hate to
disappoint Zippedy by letting him see me like this but I'm close to
being despondent. I should think happy thoughts to cheer me up but
I need positive results, not wishful thinking.”

Nerber called tentatively, “Hello. Being you
a niceness guy?”

Krinkle spun around to find Nerber squatting
among the shrubs planted around the outside of the gazebo. Wilburps
hovered by his side. He had moved over from among the trees but
stopped there to be less noticeable and vulnerable as he tested the
welcome.

Krinkle said, “You startled me, mister. I
didn't know anybody was around here as I...uh, practiced my lines
for a play. Yeah, a show.”

“I was in my own thoughts and did not listen
but certain am I that you were lining well. How is today for you?
Is politeness to ask, yes?”

Krinkle nonchalantly picked up the Fodd to
move it where it would be less conspicuous - but bobbled and almost
dropped it when he saw the high reading it was giving. “Uh, yeah,
I'm fine. Maybe things are more exciting that I realized.”

Nerber moved cautiously to the gazebo steps,
Wilburps by his leg. After Krinkle turned in a full circle,
watching the Fodd dial as he did so, he looked at Nerber with new
interest - tinged with fear.

“Are you a niceness person? One with a wide
spread mind not jumping to concussions without knowing the beings
you are lucky to meet? What? Oh,
conclusion
, not
concussion
is meant.” He forced an awkward smile.

Krinkle moved slowly over to one side as
Nerber stepped into the gazebo and moved slowly in the other
direction. They stayed a safe distance apart but left each other an
opening to escape the shelter if that seemed warranted.

“Did you travel a long way to get here,
Stranger?”

“A very long way.”

“Are you a scout for others like you?”

Nerber gestured that Wilburps must translate
for him - so each time he hesitated before he spoke. “No, I am
alone. It is hard to explain. I try to do challenges for an
entertainment program at my home.”

“You're an intergalactic reality show
contestant?”

“Such things make sensible to you?”

“We have them too. Not intergalactic ones,
earthy ones. I reserve judgment about how sensible that makes
us.”

“They are popular with your
peoples
?
That seems to be the word your kind use where we would say
guys.”

“Apparently they get an audience when there's
not much else on. What challenge are you attempting right now?”

“Staying alive.”

“Do you have ray gun weapons we have no
defenses against?”

“I have no weapons, only a translation device
and my witlessness. Is proper word
witlessness
?”

“It gets across the message in a crude way.
How long before you travel home?

“I have lost contact so it is fearful that
never is when.”

“You're stranded here alone and unarmed?
That's not as scary as I thought you would be.”

“Is plenty enough scary for me.”

“Wow, my Fodd works!”

“This makes you feeling okey-your-dokey?”

“It proves what I've been laughed at for
years for saying - I can detect alie... Uh, unusual stuff. This
proves that dreams can be paths to important discoveries.”

“You are scientist type, no? You want to
know, not to kill before you learn any secrets to be shared?”

Nerber reacted with fear when Krinkle glanced
sharply at Jones still enjoying his meal and became obviously
cautious. He asked, “That one is a risk for me?”

“He's my helper but he may not understand
that things have changed. This is now a quest of delivery, not just
one of discovery. The mobs can't be allowed to find you. At least
not right away.”

“This sends to me the mixing up of signals
but I find I have only limited options.”

“We should get out of sight. That includes
not letting Zippedy see where we go. Leave this to me.” Krinkle
picked up and turned on the jammer.

Nerber said, “Please to have all my leavings.
Is that thing what please?”

“It's my jammer. It'll deal with any and all
signals from others. We're secure now.”

Nerber looked at his zerpy that was
apparently having problems translating that for him and
shrugged.

Krinkle, carrying the Fodd and the jammer by
the handholds cut into their cartons, gestured for Nerber to follow
him as he went slinking out of the gazebo, staying low even though
they were out in the open. Nerber and Wilburps followed, also
staying low.

They circled wide around Jones to Krinkle's
car parked at the curb at the edge of the park. Jones was
blissfully lost in the music on his player device, eyes closed.

* * *

Regimentator had been distracted when her
cell phone fell out of her pocket along with them when she took out
a packet of lens wipes.

Since she considered the phone a vital tool
of a modern sneak she took a minute to test several of its
functions to be sure it hadn’t been damaged by the fall. Finding
out she didn’t have its services at a critical moment would be too
infuriating to tolerate. Better to know now so she could plan
alternative routes to whatever she wanted to do.

Thus distracted, she didn’t notice Edith
Parker closing in on her as fast as she could without running and
without getting so far ahead of Mimi Brownowski that the old woman
might call out in fear or in annoyance and spoil Edith’s intended
effect.