The Last Invasion
Chapter Seventeen
“You guys are pulling my leg,” said John as he put another log on the fire. “What are you whackos up to with that tape? I am a scientist not a mystic. In fact, I agree with the Reds that mysticism is pure hogwash. And, I agreed with Bill who thought Remote Viewing was absurd horseshit. Right now, I’m betting that you two somehow made this whole story up as a piece of fiction. Why, I cannot figure. You have nothing to gain by lying... at least as far as I know at the moment.”
“No one is more astonished and puzzled than we are,” said Martin.
“John,” said Courtney, “I am of a scientific mind-set also and minored in Chemistry, so I know where you are coming from. This is some kind of very rare phenomena that is seldom seen so graphically. Why would we lie about such a thing?”
“I don’t know. It really makes no sense. None of it does and, as a scientist, I am use to things that do make sense.”
“Yes of course,” said Courtney, “but the real breakthroughs in science throughout history were stretches beyond the status-quo scientific paradigm. And this is not entirely out of the realm of what the new cutting-edge physics is already studying.”
“Do I have your permission to tell anyone about this?”
“Yes you do. I want some other scientists to get in on this right away,” said Courtney, “this discovery is for all mankind. There are plenty of scientists that will be more than interested, believe me.”
“Okay. I’ll tell you what. Can you make a copy of the tape?”
“Yes. At home I can do it right away.”
“Okay. Make me a copy and get it back to me today and I’ll listen to it once again and seriously think this over. That was really strange and I am having trouble assimilating it. In fact, it the strangest thing I have ever heard or encountered. Then, after I listen to the copy a few more times, I may or may not share it with some others. I have to consider all this. Is that okay with you?”
“Yes it is.”
“John,” said Martin, “I am an ignorant participant in this weird phenomena and do not have the scientific background that you guys do but I emphatically want to tell you, it happened just as we told you. It happened as you yourself heard it happen right on the tape. It really did. I don’t understand it at all either but it happened nonetheless. I am willing to take a lie-detector test and I am sure Courtney is also. In fact, I insist on taking a lie detector test because my integrity on this needs to be substantiated.”
“Yes, I agree with Martin,” said Courtney, “and I will take a lie detector test also. So, I will get you a copy of this tape right away. This afternoon.”
Courtney got up and said goodbye and Martin did the same. As they stepped out onto the street to go their separate ways, Martin said, “wait just a second Courtney.”
“What it is?”
“Courtney, what does Quingming Jie mean?”
“Where did you get that?”
“I saw it written in my dream when I saw all the dead Chinese.”
Courtney grinned. “Well, it’s just more confirmation Martin. Quingming Jie Is Chinese for ‘Grave Sweeping Day.’ It is a Chinese tradition where the relatives celebrate a day of cleaning off the graves of their ancestors.”
Martin smiled and and just nodded.
Walking home, Martin felt light on his feet as he sang All The Things You Are, sometimes wading through snow up to his knees. It felt so good to finally have something hopeful to tell Laura. Now, maybe we will finally get to see Marci and Ken.
Chapter Eighteen
Chp. 1 : Chp. 2 : Chp. 3 : Chp. 4 : Chp. 5 : Chp. 6 : Chp. 7 : Chp. 8 : Chp. 9 : Chp. 10 :
Chp. 11 : Chp. 12 : Chp. 13 : Chp. 14 : Chp. 15 : Chp. 16 : Chp. 17 : Chp. 18 : Chp. 19 :
