Chapter 16: Chapter 16
“EXAMINATIONS”
With Quazum on top, Ben rolled his suitcase through the line and lifted the case up to the automatic metal detector, x-ray and security strip. Ben cautiously placed Quazum onto the rolling scanner and whispered, “Just keep still and quiet.”
Ben then walked over, removed his shoes and stood with his hands up in the metal scanner. He watched nervously as the security guards walked over with their hand-held metal detector.
“Please remove your shirt,” requested the first officer.
“My shirt? Are you detecting metal inside my shirt?”
“Just remove your shirt... And your belt,” replied the annoyed guard.
Ben watched from the corner of his eye as Quazum went through the x-ray luggage machine and remained motionless.
The security agent walked his dog by the line of suitcases when the German Shepherd suddenly began barking and sniffing the area around Ben’s suitcase. First, the guard approached with a metal scanner and began screening the line of cases, but no metal was detected.
Ben hurried over to the area and tried to pull the suitcase down from the rack when the guard stepped up.
“What’s in the case?” asked the guard curiously.
“Excuse me? It’s just a suitcase, with clothes and brush, and a simple hygiene kit. It’s the same thing I bring every time I fly.” Ben hurried to put back on his shirt and shoes as he waited for the guard.
The dog continued barking and sniffing around the luggage, and the security guard began to open Ben’s suitcase. Quazum moved around changing colors as the dog looked on, noticing a movement.
“What are you carrying onto the plane, sir? What’s in the case?”
“You think I’m carrying a bomb or something?” asked Ben with a nervous laugh. “It’s just clothes. I may have some dog food or something.”
“I think we need to examine the contents of some of these suitcases.”
The confused dog began to relax as Quazum began petting his face, but the guard began to unzip the case with one hand. “Okay. Fine. I have some beef jerky that I planned to eat on the plane. I think your dog is just hungry.”
When the suitcase was open, the guard pulled out stacks of unfolded and dirty clothes. Quazum continued petting and helping the confused barking dog to relax.
Ben pleaded with the guard again. “Your scanner is detecting nothing, and you see nothing unusual. I’ve got nothing illegal or dangerous. How long are you going to hold up this line?”
The security guard finally returned the emptied suitcase and turned to the next customer, “What’s in this bag?”
“Thanks a lot.” Ben zipped up and waited as Quazum ran over and jumped on board. Ben looked around the staring faces and smiled. He then proceeded onto the plane rolling the suitcase towards the gate.
He was greeted by both the stewardess and the pilot when he got to the gate. “Good morning,” said the stewardess. “Welcome aboard.”
“Thank you.” Ben nodded politely, then carefully rolled Quazum down the aisle to his reserved seat. He moved Quazum into the open seat and pulled a blanket from the overhead bin.
“Now just sit comfortably,” whispered Ben. “You can lay back and rest comfortably the entire flight. You can use this blanket and just remain still. It’s perfect..”
“Okay,” whispered Quazum as he laid down.
Ben shoved his suitcase into the overhead bin and adjusted Quazum’s blanket covering the partially visible areas. He then leaned back and stretched out on his seat. “This will be a relaxing flight. And no one will ever see you, just like I promised.”
The stewardess began announcements over the speaker, “Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the pilot and crew, we’d like to welcome you to this direct flight to Los Angeles. Estimated flight time will be three hours and forty minutes, and we hope you enjoy the personal service of the flight.”
Ben pulled out the computer phone from his pocket when suddenly a heavy-set older woman came walking up the aisle. She was looking at seat numbers as she walked. Ben looked over to see Quazum resting comfortably under the blanket and tried to ignore the woman.
When she got to Ben’s row, she read from her ticket again, looking at her seat containing the blanket. “Excuse me.”
Ben tried to ignore the woman and put a phone to his ear pretending to talk.
“I’m sorry, but that’s my seat,” said the woman. “Can you please clear the blanket from my seat?”
“Oh... I kind of need this space for an important blanket that will be flying to California. I’m going to need this seat for space.”
Quazum began to move slightly under the blanket as he heard the conversation. The lady was annoyed and looked down the aisle. “Stewardess? We have a problem.”
“If you can just take an open seat. I’d really appreciate it. There are several down the aisle.”
“I’d like the window seat that I paid for, if you don’t mind.”
Ben looked around again, then reluctantly picked up Quazum under the blanket and moved him to his open seat as he stood up. The heavy lady struggled to get by and fit into her seat. When Ben looked around to the single seats, he walked over to an older man in a nearby row.
“Excuse me. Can I trade seats with you?” Ben pointed to the seat next to the heavyset woman.
“No thank you. I’m happy in the seat I paid for,” answered the man as he leaned back.
Ben then turned to another woman by another open seat ready to ask again when the stewardess walked up. “Can I help you sir?”
“Yes. I’m just looking for two open seats together... It’s just so I can sit comfortably with my personal belongings in the seat next to me. I just have some important things.”
“All seating is preassigned,” answered the stewardess. “Passengers are not allowed to change seats on request. All carry-on items must be stored in overhead bins or under chairs in front of the seat.”
“Oh yes,” replied Ben. “I forgot about those rules.”
“I can help you store your personal belongings in an overhead bin,” said the stewardess as she reached down to the blanket covering Quazum.
“No, no. That’s okay. I’ll just put it under my chair in front. Not a problem.”
Ben reluctantly walked back to his seat next to the heavy set woman and lifted Quazum carefully. He then delicately began shoving Quazum under the seat in front.
“I thought you said there would be plenty of space,” mumbled Quazum.
“Shshsh. I have to put you down there. I’d go down there myself, but we can’t cause suspicion. You’ll be fine.”
“Are you talking to me?” asked the woman.
“No, it’s just a habit I have. I always talk to myself.”
Quazum lay cramped under the chair around Ben’s legs. Ben struggled to keep Quazum comfortable, as they both squirmed around. The heavy lady watched and was curious about the voices and unexplained movement around the blanket.
Lacy was lying in bed in the busy hospital room surrounded by the medical team that Dr. Palmer put together. Dr. Kjell and the nurses were busy checking meters and testing chemicals going into the arm of Lacy.
“I believe her brain scan is showing no signs of oscillation,” said Dr. Kjell as he held the gauge up to the inside of Lacy’s skull.
Dr. Palmer continued cleaning the bloody opening before proudly proclaiming, “The patient’s heart is now beating on its own. Do you believe it is possible to replace the pragmatic side of the open brain cells?”
“I don’t know,” answered Kjell. “The breathing is not coming instinctively from the cerebellum. No signs of life are being detected in the left cerebrum.”
Dr. Winston stepped in and walked over to the table. He looked over shoulders to see Lacy’s bloody head with the partially removed skull and spoke up, “Are you now accepting her death? Can I have my hospital back?”
Palmer turned and confronted Winston, “Your opinion means nothing in our lifesaving attempt. You are not welcome in this hospital room.”
“I manage this hospital. I am welcome in every room.”
Dr. Kjell ignored Winston and continued with surgery. “I could replace the left aorta, but she won’t have the memory or use of the left pituitary gland.”
“We can resuscitate cells of the gland and use the thalamus to operate a middle structure of the cortex.”
“I’ll replace the cerebral hemisphere with donated partum,” said Kjell.
The nurses ran over to help, and Dr. Kjell leaned down to open his refrigerated chest and pull out parts of the donated brain.
Dr. Winston seemed disgusted as he looked on. “How long will this be going on? She’s a brain-dead lady in a coma!”
“Doctor, you’ve got a waiting room full of patients,” answered Palmer. “Get busy treating the twisted ankles, and leave this delicate brain surgery to professionals.”
Winston left again but was amazed with brain operation skills he’d never seen.
Kjell turned to Palmer and asked, “Is this patient a part of the Science Exploration family again?”
“Yes,” answered Palmer. “She is a scientist only now being treated for something that happened on the first mission to Quazmopolis.”
“That was a head injury and an unapproved pregnancy, but all that had no connection to this.”
“I’m not sure about that.” Dr. Kjell seemed surprised by Palmer’s response but continued operating.
In a speeding police car, with the sirens sounding out, Sheriff Neil and Officer Covert were racing to the airport. The car computer spoke out as the car sped down the long highway, “You will veer to the right in one hundred yards, and maintain that speed till you get to Highway one seventy-five.”
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” asked Covert.
“It’s fine. We’re just going to ask a few questions. No press and no media.”
Covert looked over at Neil as the car drove itself, “What do you think we might find?”
“Just some simple information about Ben Thomas’s real mission. That’s all.”
“And if we catch him? Can we arrest him for travelling with a ghost?” Covert laughed as he made his comment, and Neil looked annoyed.
“We’ll find out about what Ben Thomas may have found in Back Bayou. And we’ll examine what he’s carrying in his suitcase. That’s all.”
“You think he’s got the ghost? That would explain this whole mystery.”
Sheriff Neil ignored the question and opened his laptop computer again. He began typing on the keyboard and searching the screen for information before answering, “We’ll find out exactly what he carried on board, and what airport employees may have witnessed.”
The car computer spoke up again, “International Airport is coming up. We will be turning right in exactly one hundred yards and entering access to passenger drop-off.”
“Do you have any idea who we’ll be talking to?” Covert pushed buttons to take over control of the automatic steering. “Do we have any reports of possible ghost sightings at this airport?”
“I just know we’ll be looking at all flights heading to the west coast and asking for identification.”
Neil pulled the car up the driveway to the drop-off section and pulled into the unloading zone. Covert and Neil jumped out and began walking into the airport terminal when an airport security officer ran up.
“Hey! You can’t park there. It’s strictly for passenger drop-offs. No parking longer than thirty seconds.”
Neil held up his badge and continued. “I’m Sheriff Neil of the Back Bayou Police Department. If you have a problem with my investigation, you can file a complaint with Metropolitan PD in the District of Columbia. Thank you.”
The officer seemed confused as Neil and Covert continued with the car engine running and police lights flashing.
They walked through airport doors heading for the first airline gate. Neil immediately skipped right through the line of passengers and walked directly up to the agent behind the counter.
“Have any of you seen this man?” asked Neil as he lifted the computer phone and showed a photo of Ben in front of New Used Cars.
“I don’t know,” answered the confused agent.
Another agent immediately spoke out, “We deal with nearly a thousand passengers a day. Many looked like car salesmen.”
“Can anyone confirm the identity of this man?” asked Sheriff Neil a second time.
Agents reluctantly looked at the photo before one agent finally responded, “No. I definitely don’t recognize that man. He has not come through this line today.”
“And I’ve never seen that man in my life,” said another agent as he shook his head in agreement. “I’m sure of it.”
“Thank you,” replied Neil. He then walked to the next airline counter. Covert followed but was confused. “What do you think they can tell you?”
Neil walked past people in line and again walked up to agents behind the counter, “Have any of you seen this man today?” Neil held up the computer with the photo of Ben.
“No,” said the first agent. “That man has not come through this line.”
Neil continued showing the photo to other agents behind the counter and was about to walk away when one female agent stepped up. “He came through my line this morning. I remember him.”
Everyone looked surprised as Neil walked past customers and asked directly, “Was his name Ben Thomas?”
The agent began typing information on the computer. “Yes, he was flying directly to the airport in Los Angeles. That was a flight that left more than an hour ago.” The agent checked the computer for the exact times, “He said he was going home and will be arriving in California later today.”
Neil looked at the agent directly, “Did you notice anything unusual?”
“What is this?” asked the manager as he stepped up. “Names and destinations of passengers are not public record! Do you have a warrant?”
“I’m talking to this agent,” replied Neil. “Did you witness anything unusual?”
“He had a carry-on suitcase. But I noticed he was very cautious. Seemed to be avoiding questions.”
Neil was not surprised. “Any strange colors? Or unexplained motion?”
“Are you trying to claim another ghost sighting?” asked the manager. “We don’t allow ghosts on our airplanes.”
“I may have seen something, but my glasses always flash lights. It doesn’t mean anything.”
Neil looked around at the line of curious waiting passengers and continued. “Did he check in luggage, or was it just a carry on bag?”
“Any possible ghosts?” asked Covert.
“It was a single carry-on bag.”
The manager stepped up again. “What kind of police are you? You’re asking about ghosts?”
“I saw nothing I would consider a ghost,” replied the agent. “But I can say he was very protective of that suitcase.”
“Protective? What did he do?”
“He wouldn’t let me touch it. He said he’d be using it during the flight.”
“Nothing else?”
“That’s all.”
Neil thought about the explanation, then turned and walked back out the airport door followed by Covert. The agent looked confused, and the manager was upset before normal service continued. People in line began walking up again asking about tickets.
Dr. Kjell was carefully leaning over Lacy’s open skull and sewing the brain implants into open spaces. The nurse leaned in to shine a cheap flashlight as Kjell attached small portions of the brain tissue.
Dr. Palmer stepped back and looked on nervously before pulling off his mask and walking into the employee sitting area. Palmer collapsed in an old chair and looked emotionally drained when he noticed the Emergency Classified Police computer on a nearby desk. Palmer got up, walked over to the computer and began typing questions.
When the computer began speaking up, Palmer immediately turned down the volume and read, “Reports of sightings have continued this morning with unexplained video and audio recorded at a nearby hotel. An unnamed customer was reported as suspicious by a woman at the front desk and the hotel manager.”
The video taken from a mounted security camera showed Ben arguing with customer service with his back turned before awkwardly rolling out his suitcase.
Palmer immediately reached down to tap on the video screen, and zoomed into tighter shots. He recognized Ben’s face, then zoomed in to study expressions and searched for anything unusual.
Each shot showed nothing unusual, but as Palmer continued zooming into the area around Ben’s suitcase, the video showed slight color changes and unexplained motion, similar to movement on Quazmopolis.
The voice over of the computer continued, “One lady from the cleaning service and several customers also claimed to hear voices and see unexplained movement.”
Palmer studied the video but saw nothing unusual. When he began zooming into closer shots of Ben’s suitcase, he was sure of seeing additional color changes on individual frames of video. The computer voice continued.
“Additional sightings were reported outside the hotel lobby. One man suspected a possible weapon after noticing the careful handling of a suitcase by a man walking in a parking lot.”
“Another older couple claimed to see a car door opening and closing automatically while the driver was loading a suitcase into the trunk of the car. An investigation is being conducted now by Sheriff Neil and Back Bayou Police.”
Palmer touched the screen and opened additional files before the computer continued.
“Sheriff Neil was last reported questioning people at the local airport following his visit to the motel. Although workers did not report ghost sightings, several employees admitted to strange activities of one man boarding a jet bound for Los Angeles.
Again, Palmer stopped the video to zoom into shots of Ben checking in, standing in airport lines, and then making his way by security.
“With photos, airline employees were able to identify Ben Thomas whose flight for one had already left for Los Angeles.”
Palmer continued examining the video showing Ben checking in and going through detectors and being searched. Dr. Palmer again noticed something strange when he zoomed into closeup shots and could see the confused dog seeming to be petted with no one in sight.
After looking around the empty room, Palmer typed in questions about Lacy and her life in the Back Bayou. Classified pictures and information immediately began flashing, and the computer continued.
“Sheriff Neil reported unprovoked gunfire and an unlawful confrontation when asking Gabriel Meaux questions. First shot was reported to have come from Gabriel Meaux. Classified information shows Ben Thomas was first to return the gunfire that killed Meaux at the scene.”
“Lacy Meaux reportedly fired the first shot, but classified information showed the first shot coming from a police detective on the scene.”
Dr. Palmer then opened satellite pictures before making another request, “What information was discovered in the cabin where Lacy Meaux was shot?”
Computer zoomed in to an overhead shot of the cabin, and Palmer adjusted the angle and focus from the day of murder. Police were surrounding the cabin with guns drawn.
Palmer zoomed in to see complex solar panels across the roof along with the satellite dish, partially covered by leaves and branches. He was confused by the unique shapes of the panels and zoomed into out of focus shots.
Dr. Winston suddenly walked up looking over the shoulder of Palmer and the overhead shots of the cabin.
“That Lacy Meaux must have been a hell of an engineer to set up homemade solar panels like that. I read a full report of the complexity of those panels. That ain’t easy stuff that anyone can build at home.”
“Lacy was a trained scientist, an expert on solar electricity,” replied Palmer. “This technology comes from years of training.”
Winston looked closer at the computer shot and laughed. “It’s all strange. A single afternoon rain in Back Bayou would have cleaned those panels right up. They were definitely being hidden in the rain. I think she was involved in a big coverup.”
Dr. Palmer studied the structure again before getting an idea. He then turned and headed for the door.
“Where are you going now?” asked Winston. “You’ve got a patient in ICU.”
“I’ve got to investigate something new,” answered Palmer as he made his way out of the hospital.
The jet was landing at the Los Angeles airport, and Ben struggled to keep his feet from bumping Quazum, who was crammed under the seat around Ben’s legs and covered by a blanket. The heavy woman beside him continued noticing strange movements and sounds coming from below.
“How much longer?” asked Quazum.
“It’s okay,” answered Ben. “We’re here. Just hold on.” Ben turned to the woman sitting next to him and repeated, “I’ve just got to hold it together. Not much longer.”
The woman looked confused and continued watching Ben and the strange shaped suitcase.
Everyone was quiet as the stewardess began talking over the speaker. “Flight to Los Angeles is now arriving. Temperatures in the big city are now in the mid-seventies. Please keep seatbelts fastened and seats in full upright positions. All carry-on items must remain in overhead bins or under seats.”
As the solar jet landed, the seatbelt signs turned off, and crowds of people got up and began pulling cases and boxes out of the overhead bins. Ben lifted Quazum onto his lap.
“Just hold still. We’ll get out and follow the line.” Ben noticed the confused woman watching again and repeated, “I’ve just got to hold still.”
Ben finally got up and pulled out his rolling suitcase from the overhead bin and loaded the unseen Quazum on top. They then began to exit the plane.
“Thank you for the great flight!” said Ben with a wave as he passed the cockpit.
“Oh, thank you,” answered the surprised captain.
“Can I walk on my own now?” asked Quazum.
“No. Just ride along. We’re almost there.” Ben continued rolling quazum out as people looked on with faces of curiosity.
“Hello sir,” said the driver as Ben walked up to the unique looking fancy car. “I can take you anywhere in the big city.”
“Great. I need a ride out to a small apartment south of the big city. Is that a problem?”
“No problem at all! I can take the carpool lane down the busiest freeways and have you there in less than an hour!”
Ben carefully lifted Quazum and moved the invisible weight into the back seat as the confused driver looked on. “Can I help?”
“No. I got him. I mean I’ll just carry everything in the back with me.”
“Fine. I’ll switch to manual steering if traffic backs up.
Ben then whispered to Quazum when the car took off, “Just sit tight. We’ll be home in less than an hour, and you can stretch out then.”
Driver looked back. “Anything you want to listen to on the radio, or watch on screen? Feel free to use all settings and controls on the back of my seat.”
“Thank you. We’re okay. I mean I’m okay,” said Ben. “Just head south on the four twenty-five freeway, and I’ll direct you when we get close to the exit.”
Cab driver noticed Ben carefully adjusting the seat and whispering to Quazum.
“What you got in that suitcase? It’s legal I hope,” said the driver with a laugh.
“Of course it’s legal. Just get us home. I mean get ‘me’ home.”
Rico, the taxi driver, was slowly driving down the bumpy road. Dr. Palmer sat calmly reading from his computer and looking out the windows, seeing old trees in the wooded area
The computer car map then announced, “Gabriel Meaux property is made up of one hundred and forty-seven acres of swampland. It is to the left in one hundred yards.”
Rico slowed down and studied the turn, “I don’t see a clean entrance, but I can pull down this gravel driveway and just drive down as far as I can go. Is that okay?”
“That’s fine,” answered Palmer. “Take the dirt road, and look for an old cabin.
The car continued down the bumpy muddy driveway looking through marsh and tree branches before Rico noticed Gabriel’s cabin in the distance. “Looks like an old cabin back there behind the barbed wire fence. I see something.”
Palmer looked curiously through the dirty cab seeing the broken windows and damaged log shaped walls. The front door was open.
“I think this is about as close as I can get,” mumbled Rico. “I think you can get there by climbing through the barbed wire fence and going down that path on the right. I can go with you.”
“No.” Palmer got out of the taxi and studied all the surroundings. He began stepping over muddy holes and walking towards the cabin. As he got closer, he first noticed the clean porch with muddy steps. Palmer studied the surrounding area and noticed a single shot from a rifle had been fired from inside through a window.
The kitchen seemed normal with the fire powered stove and a small refrigerator plugged in with wires going up the wall.
As Palmer lifted items around the entry, he noticed the aquarium of roaches. Palmer examined closer and noticed how roaches were reproducing and how they were being removed.
“You see anything strange in there?” shouted Rico as he curiously climbed out of the cab. “Do you need any help?”
“No,” replied Dr. Palmer as he walked up to the door. “I’m just examining the location of gunshots. Just wait in the taxi. I’ll be done in a minute.”
Palmer noticed the chess board, then walked back to separate rooms and counted three beds. He walked up to the old computer and tried to turn it on. Messages immediately popped up showing records set of computer games.
After pushing buttons turning on the computer, Palmer noticed links to Science Exploration pages that had most recently been viewed. Computer then began announcing, “Science Exploration is planning a new mission for Quazmopolis. Take-off is scheduled for midday tomorrow. Scientists will be searching for possible forms of life, and will be laying down a new bonding composite base, and planting Arid Cactus Plants capable of surviving severe temperatures.”
Palmer finally unplugged the computer and turned around noticing a shotgun in the corner. He picked up the gun to check the cartridge and immediately noticed green rubber bullets with another box labelled “Safe to shoot” without injury. Bullets will not pierce human skin.”
The exterior walls of the cabin and windows seemed clean and kept up, and Lacy’s car with the California license plates was hidden in the back.
Palmer walked out and noticed an original SEA parking sticker on the corner of the window.
A ladder on the side of the cabin led to the roof, and Palmer began to climb. He then began examining the dozens of uniquely shaped solar panels, all clean from the daily afternoon showers. Palmer pulled off the top of one of the panels and saw it was manually created and installed. He was impressed with the complexity of the wiring.
“Honk! Honk!” Dr. Palmer looked around to see a shiny new sports car driving up the bumpy dirt road before parking alongside Rico in the taxi.
A salesman in a nice suit, Joseph, saw Palmer and jumped out of the car walking towards the house.
“Hi! Welcome to the marshland! This is a really nice piece of property you’ve discovered.”
Palmer climbed down the ladder and began walking back out to the salesman and seemed annoyed. “Yes. I’m sure it’s very nice.”
“I’m from Acadian Realty, and we’re getting daily offers from people around the world looking to buy this plot of land. It’s around one hundred and fifty acres of undeveloped prime real estate.”
“One hundred forty-seven acres. And I’m not interested in Back Bayou real estate,” said Palmer politely.
Joseph grabbed Palmer’s arm and turned him around, “Did you know Gabriel Meaux? Or his daughter?”
“His daughter Lacy worked for me in California.”
“Yeah, she’s been living out here with her Dad for a long time... Before they got killed by police.”
“Lacy Meaux did not die. She is currently being treated.”
“You think she might live?”
Palmer looked around before answering. “We don’t know. A neurologist from California is treating the bleeding aneurysm. We believe she will survive.”
“Hmmm. If she lives, I guess there will be a huge inheritance tax,” said Joseph. “It will still belong to the state. And I’ll be selling it.”
“There are no other relatives that may have an interest?”
“No. Gabriel Meaux’s only relative was his daughter Lacy Meaux.”
Dr. Palmer looked around the swampland property. “What would be the cost of one hundred and forty-seven acres in the Back Bayou?”
“Hey! If you’re interested in investing in some prime real estate of uninhabited cajun land, I’m the man to talk to. I can set you up with land in the marsh that you could never even find on-line. Land like this is something that’s rapidly growing in value across all of Louisiana.”
Dr. Palmer reached out to the hanging moss and thought about the possibilities.
“And if not here,” continued Joseph, “I’ve got a hundred acres down the street in much better shape. You could maybe build an apartment complex. Or just use it for vacations.”
“I may be interested in this property,” replied Palmer. “All one hundred and forty-seven acres.”
Joseph, the realtor, stepped back surprised; then smiled at Dr. Palmer.