In the Arctic (10 page)

“Well, that’s about it,” Dr. Henderson concluded. “It’s not too late to change our minds. What does everyone think?”

When Jockabeb reached for his coat, saying, “What are we waiting for?” everyone gave the Mission Commander a thumbs-up sign.

Archibald, Jockabeb, and Meatloaf were dressed in their cold weather gear when the transport pod’s hatch was opened. Peering out and seeing no sign of Malum, Zenda looked back inside and said, “A good start, at least.”

Minutes later, Zenda took up her position just as planned. Soon after, she’d called out Malum’s name.

It wasn’t long before the alien from Lues walked out of a tunnel and confidently made his way toward her. However, before Malum reached his archenemy, he circled the transport pod, as if suspecting a trap.

Zenda was standing against the wall so that Malum would not be able to see the chopper unless he turned
around. She pressed the button on her transmitter the moment he arrived in front of her. Per the plan, Zenda then began to plead her case as to why it wasn’t necessary to kill more humans, finally begging for the carnage to stop.

Once the buzzer sounded back in the transport pod, Dr. Henderson opened the hatch. Meatloaf and the boys moved quickly and quietly as they made their way to the back of the Chinook. When the boys were safely on board the chopper, Meatloaf walked to a spot where he could see Zenda and Malum. With a trap of his own ready to be sprung, he raised his one arm and waved.

Watching the Comis pacifist grovel and beg for his mercy gave the heartless Lues great pleasure. That all changed when she looked up and appeared startled. Swinging his dark head around, Malum saw one of the humans standing by himself next to his flying machine.

As the powerful alien turned to give chase, the human bait dashed inside the chopper and yelled, “Get ready.”

Hunched over in the cockpit, Meatloaf watched the deadly creature move with surprising speed. The closer the deadly alien from Lues came, the more terrifying it looked.

Archibald had already slipped off his mittens and was clutching the blue feather tightly in his hand as he lay motionless under his blanket. On the other side of the cabin, Jockabeb was well hidden and doing his best not to shake.

Malum entered the chopper’s cabin thinking how easy it would be to enslave the stupid Earthlings after enough of them had been killed to destroy their will to resist. Looking around and seeing no sign of humans he would soon dismember, the alien killer moved toward the cockpit, already drooling at the thought of how good his next victim would taste.

The alien and the three humans had no idea that a second otherworldly being had just entered the Chinook. This one had floated in right behind Malum and had hovered undetected as the Lues walked forward.

Meatloaf had already shifted his position so the pilot’s seat was between him and the alien that would arrive momentarily. While he thought he was prepared for what he was about to see, he recoiled once Malum’s horrifying head came into view. Then quickly collecting himself, he yelled, “Come and get me, you sorry sack of dung.”

Hearing what he knew would be the pitiful Earthling’s final words, Malum slowly opened his drooling jaws and smiled. Once the deadly tongue emerged, the alien’s giant head shot forward with lightning-fast speed.

“Now, Archibald!” Meatloaf bellowed as he felt a searing pain in his throat.

Knowing that seconds would decide whether he lived or died, Archibald raced into the cockpit and dove onto Malum’s back, peeling back the scaly protective flap as he landed. Before the startled alien could react, Archibald rammed the blue feather quill
deep into the exposed gray flesh. The moment he did, Malum’s taught body went limp.

When Jockabeb yelled, “Nito, Vito, Samu,” nothing happened. Smiling up in the darkness, the Spirit of Simtu nodded its head. It was then and only then that Malum’s immobilized body began to glow—greenish-yellow at first, and then reddish-orange.

Archibald and Jockabeb then backed away, fully expecting a bright explosion similar to those that had destroyed most of the other evil creatures. This time, however, was different.

As the Spirit of Simtu withdrew to the rear of the Chinook’s cabin and slowly drifted out the door, Malum’s glowing body floated up and followed. Once outside, the Lues oppressor who’d dreamt of dominating the universe burst into flames. The Spirit of Simtu had thought it would be a fitting end for the creature that so loved the cold.

When there was only ashes left of what had once been the invincible Lues, the wispy spirit dissolved, but didn’t leave. No, the Spirit of Simtu would not return to the world beyond until his twin brother’s young friends were safely home.

Back in the chopper, the boys were at Meatloaf’s side. The one-armed man who’d made the ultimate sacrifice knew death was close at hand when he looked up at Archibald and said in barely a whisper, “We won. I can’t get Willow home safely, so you need to do that for me.” Then he closed his eyes and died.

While it had been a very costly victory for sure, both Round Three and the life-and-death match went decisively to the humans!

Back in the transport pod, Archibald and Jockabeb took turns telling the others about what had happened to Meatloaf and Malum. While the humans and Zenda were happy that Malum was no longer a threat, they mourned the loss of their seventh comrade.

“How quickly can you have the chopper ready to leave?” Dr. Henderson asked Major McColl.

“Assuming the weather up top is good enough to fly, half an hour,” he answered. “I want to get out of this place as much as anyone, but I think we need to make one sweep though the tunnels to see if we can find my crew, the SEALs, and Dr. Watanabe.”

“I know the tunnel system better than you do,” Zenda said, “so let me conduct the search while you prepare for departure. I can also check outside weather conditions from the transport pod.”

“Fine by me,” Major McColl replied. Then he looked at the boys and said, “You two come with me. We have body bags stowed on board. We’ll unpack one for Meatloaf and one for what’s left of Lynch. We may need more bags depending on what Zenda finds.”

While Zenda searched the tunnel system, Major McColl and the boys carried out their grim task. The
others transferred the remaining C-Rations and sleeping bags back to the chopper.

Forty-five minutes later, Zenda arrived at the back door of the Chinook. “First, the good news,” she began. “The conditions outside have improved enough so you should have no problems leaving.”

Shaking her head, Zenda then delivered the bad news. “I am sorry to say that I wasn’t able to find any trace of your colleagues inside the tunnels. My guess is that Malum disposed of their bodies in places we’ll never find.”

Professor Eberstark, who’d been the quietest since arriving at Checkpoint Zulu, then shocked everyone when he announced, “I don’t plan on making the trip back to Thule. If Zenda will permit me, I intend to leave with her when she returns to her home.”

Seeing the looks of disbelief on his colleagues’ faces, he explained his decision, saying, “I’m an old man who probably doesn’t have that much more time to live. My whole life has been devoted to studying and researching the universe, but obviously I’ve never been able to leave Earth. Now I have a chance to do so. Besides, I may be able to help Zenda convince the Lues to abandon any plans to come back to Earth. What do you say, Zenda?”

“I would be honored, Professor Eberstark,” Zenda replied, bowing her head.

“Are you sure?” Dr. Henderson asked, obviously stunned by what she’d just heard.

When her colleague nodded his head, she simply said, “Well then, I wish you luck.”

Zenda informed the group that it wouldn’t take long to prepare the transport pod to depart. Then looking at Major McColl, she reviewed how the Chinook would leave. “When we’re all ready, I will take control of your helicopter the same way Malum and I did when we brought you here.

“After I have guided your craft up through the shaft and navigated it to a safe altitude, I will return control to you. At that time, you will be able to re-establish radio contact with others. The professor and I will leave shortly after that, so please keep your craft away from the entrance when I give control back to you. I trust all that is clear, and I am sure that all will go well.”

Zenda then walked up to the five humans she would be leaving soon and, one by one, placed her palm on theirs. When she came to Dr. Henderson, she said, “I know this has been difficult for you, but it was the only way for my father to resolve the conflict with the Lues and save your planet. I hope you understand.”

“I do understand,” the Mission Commander answered. “You came in peace. Now you will leave in friendship. Thank you, Zenda.”

The Chinook’s two propeller blades began to rotate thirty minutes later. Jockabeb was seated to the right of Major McColl in the cockpit, and Dr. Henderson was in back with Archibald and Willow. As the large helicopter lifted off the icy surface, Willow took Archibald’s hand and said into her microphone, “I have never been so happy to leave any place in my life!”

Zenda was back in the transport pod controlling the Chinook and tracking its progress on the computer screen in front of her. Professor Eberstark stood at her side. When the large white panels at the top of the shaft were opened so the chopper could rise above ground, she looked up and asked, “Do you have any regrets, professor?”

His response was immediate and unequivocal when he replied, “Not a one.”

Moments later when Zenda had transferred control of the helicopter back to Major McColl, she said, “Well, professor, now it’s our turn.”

As soon as his radio became operational, Major McColl contacted the respective command centers at Thule and Langley. After saying he’d rather not discuss the mission until he returned to Thule, he signed off and waited for the transport pod to appear.

The Chinook’s directional searchlight was trained on the opening in the tundra when the alien spacecraft finally rose out of the shaft. As it hovered above ground, the large panels slid back into place and totally disappeared into the vast frozen sea of white below. Looking down, Jockabeb whistled and shouted, “Wow!”

The moment Archibald heard his brother on the open line, he poked Willow and exclaimed, “Come on, we’re going up front.”

The two teenagers arrived just in time to see a bright flash of light followed by only darkness. When Willow asked Major McColl what had just happened, he
answered, “You just witnessed what no other human being has ever seen—time travel!” Then he laughed and added, “I bet Professor Eberstark is beside himself right now.”

The winds were relatively calm during the trip back to Thule. As a result, the Chinook made good time, landing mid-afternoon.

During the trip, Willow and Archibald took off their headphones so they could talk privately. Dr. Henderson paid no attention to them because she was totally absorbed in writing a summary of everything that had happened since she’d arrived at Checkpoint Zulu. Several times she’d stopped writing, wondering how she would ever explain the incredible events of the past twenty-four hours.