The First Man

The First Man

By John Ross

Copyright © 2012 John Ross

Smashwords Edition

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only.This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Please respect the hard work of this author

This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental

THE FIRST MAN

CHAPTER 1

Mar Yee Elisha was happy, happier than she could ever remember. She turned up the volume on the large surround stereo and sang along with the words to her favourite song. The music pulsated and swirled around her as she stood contemplating her image in the bedroom mirror. What she saw made her feel even better.

Her small delicate face was aglow with life, smooth and today, slightly flushed with excitement. She knew that she was not beautiful in the strictest sense of the word but she knew also that right from her earliest teens she had never had trouble attracting admiring looks from men. It was not something that she had to work hard at and, as usual, today she wore the bare minimum of make-up.

Her hair was deep ebony, just the right length to perfectly frame her face. She was very proud of her hair and at this moment it looked exactly right.

Mar Yee would usually spend time when in front of the mirror to admire her figure ensuring that what she thought of as near perfect had not changed. However today she only turned side-on once to admire the profile that she knew men found irresistible, which attracted their eyes like a magnet and drew envious stares from their wives and partners.

There was something else today on which all her attention was focused. It was the clothes, or rather the uniform that she wore. It was pale blue, almost the same colour as the sky on a hot summer’s afternoon, and tailored to fit perfectly. The trousers, with their zippered pockets and sharp permanent creases and the tight fitting blouse with her last name above the right pocket, were all brand new. As a matter of fact she had just been issued with them that afternoon and had hurried home to try them on. The cardboard boxes and tissue paper that they had been in were strewn all over the floor near where she stood. She had been in too much of a hurry to try to work out how to peel off the tape that had held the cartons closed and so had ripped them open like a child with a new present.

Her gaze wandered over to the jacket that minutes before she had folded carefully and laid on the bed. It was dark blue, which seemed to emphasise the gold flashes on the shoulders and the gold insignia on the lapels and above the left breast pocket. These were the symbol of the International Space Exploration Organisation, a circle representing the Home planet with four arrows pointing outwards to the points of the compass. Above these was a small stylised golden rocket with the large number 4 beneath. As her eyes rested on the number beneath the rocket she could not help feeling a deep sense of pride and excitement well up within her. She knew, and now so did most of the world, that only a few thousand people were entitled to wear the rocket symbol that proclaimed her as a pilot qualified to fly the Deep Space Exploration Vehicles or DV as most people called them. However the number 4 indicated that she was now qualified to fly a DV Mark 4 or Ultra Deep Space Exploration Vehicles to give them their correct name.

The first Mark 4 had passed its trials only weeks before and Mar Yee was one of only six pilots who could fly it. Twenty years of development and refinement had finally overcome all the setbacks, budget cuts, and government mismanagement. From its very first sub-space run it had proved difficult to handle, but once switched to Star Drive it had flashed out to the very edge of the explored universe and back to its home space station in approximately one quarter of the time that one of the old Mark 3’s would have taken. Mar Yee was one of the first privileged few to hear this amazing news which was followed a few days later by the even more incredible revelation that not only had the Mark 4 been operating on auto-pilot most of the way while the test crew was in deep sleep but, it had achieved the remarkable time for its journey while operating at only a quarter of its potential.

Mar Yee let her gaze wander over the insignia on the jacket again. The three gold flashes, the tiny rocket with its large number 4. The full impact of what she was looking at suddenly hit her hard and for a moment she held her breath as she slowly mouthed the words. Captain Mar Yee Elisha, Co-Pilot of the very first Ultra Deep Space Exploration Vehicle UDV01 on its maiden voyage.

Her thoughts wandered back to the first time she had seen the Mark 4. It had been nearly four years ago. She had just been promoted to a full Captain and had flown out to the main space station that was the headquarters of the International Space Exploration Organisation to receive her third gold flash. On the way out in the shuttle, one of the other passengers, an elderly scholarly looking Captain from administration, had struck up a conversation with her. At first she had answered in a perfunctory way not wishing to be drawn into what she thought would be a boring dissertation on the difficult life of a minor bureaucrat. However, as soon as he mentioned that he was involved in the Mark 4 project she almost overwhelmed the poor Captain with her questions. Everyone had, of course, heard of the Mark 4 and the little that Mar Yee had gleaned from the official press releases so far had fired her imagination. Like nearly every pilot in the ISEO she had wondered if she would be lucky enough to be chosen for its first official mission.

Captain Sharn Moon of Administration had never had such an attractive young female so interested in everything he had to say. His job of organising all the stores and equipment for the mark 4’s test flight had given him a unique insight into the structure and layout of the ship and he found himself giving details to this delightful young lady that he later realised were not yet cleared for publication.

Mar Yee was quite oblivious to the effect she was having on the elderly Captain, as she was totally absorbed in what he was telling her. A picture of the ship was forming in her mind and slowly being given substance from the details she was gaining. She was annoyed when the voice of the shuttle pilot announced their imminent arrival.

Captain Moon seeing the look on her face and interpreting it as one of disappointment that the trip was over said. Look why don’t I show you over the Mark 4 after your ceremony is over and then maybe we could celebrate your promotion with a drink.

Mar Yee could hardly believe what she was hearing.

You mean the Mark 4 is here at the space station?

Yes. Dock 1. I have clearance to go on board and I am sure that I can organise for you to accompany me. That is, if you want to.

Want to! Of course I want to. Where will I meet you? What time? Will we be able to go onto the flight deck? What about the engine room? Mar Yee’s questions came tumbling out, as she was almost breathless with excitement.

As the shuttle went through its docking manoeuvres they organised to meet in four hours time at the security point in Dock 1.

After disembarkation Mar Yee hurried off to find her quarters so she could freshen up for the ceremony, leaving behind a very happy Captain Moon who could hardly keep the smile from his face.

During the promotion ceremony she had to concentrate to keep her mind on the formalities as she kept thinking ahead to the Mark 4. Once she nearly missed a response she was required to give and mentally chastised herself, but still her thoughts kept leaping ahead to the Mark 4. It was ironic, she had been looking forward to this ceremony for weeks and now she found herself wishing the time away. The ceremony dragged on and on as a number of the ISEO’s more senior officers spoke of the glorious past history of the organisation and how grateful they all should be to serve in its ranks. The guest speaker for the night was one of the original pilots on the first flight of the now obsolete Mark 2. He was now an elderly little gnome of a man with a few wisps of white hair that hung over his ears. As he spoke of the evolution of the International Space Exploration Organisation, Mar Yee, against her will, found she was listening intently to the old man. For a while she even forgot her excitement at the anticipation of shortly being able to see the Mark 4. Retired Captain Saul reminded the gathering of how the ISEO had grown from just one nation’s space program to eventually encompass all the nations of a united world. He concluded by stressing that just as shared information and a common goal had overcome distrust and national barriers the same principles could now work within the tight confines of a crew in deep space.

At last the formalities were over. Mar Yee had her shiny new gold flashes and the scroll proclaiming that on this date she had received the rank and privileges of a full Captain in the ISEO. She felt a surge of excitement run through her as she accepted the congratulations of her fellow officers. A full Captain in the ISEO! She had made it! This had been her ambition since she had first heard the history of early space exploration at school and continued during the long years of senior school where she had majored in Anthropology and qualified for her pilots licence at the same time. The rigours of the selection process for the ISEO and the long lonely hours of total isolation in deep space now all seemed worthwhile.

Now in just a short while she was going to see the Mark 4. A quick look at her watch made her realise that she would have to skip the cocktail party if she were to meet Captain Moon on time. However it was not until they were being ushered into the Officers formal mess where stewards were hovering with trays laden with drinks and food that she managed to make her apologies and slip out into the corridor.

As she hurried across the huge Space Station towards the deep space docking area she was hoping that Captain Moon was a patient man. It was already thirty minutes after their agreed meeting time when Mar Yee finally emerged from the central corridor that opened onto the docking area. As she looked around for the Captain she was whispering to herself. Please be here. Please be here.

Then she saw him; pacing up and down near the security entrance. He turned and she saw the look on his face and immediately decided that Captain Moon was definitely not a patient man.

He saw her, stopped pacing and Mar Yee could see the anger in his eyes. Before he could speak she switched on one of her dazzling smiles and watched as his anger melted away. He almost stuttered as he asked where she had been and then quickly accepted her apology.

Captain Moon was obviously well known to the guards at the security point as they readily accepted his ID and issued a visitors pass to Mar Yee after her handprint identified her on the computer.

They walked down the entrance tunnel together and around a right angle bend and there it was! The connecting aerobridge was made of plexiglass and the full length of the Mark 4 was visible.

Mar Yee stopped dead. My God it's so small. She was used to the gigantic bulk of the Mark 3’s and the earlier models with their huge engines and propulsion pods. This gleaming, sleek machine that she was looking at was only about a quarter of their size. From a rounded nose its lines flowed smoothly back to a slightly bell shaped end that was obviously the propulsion area. There was none of the usual antennae and discs protruding from the hull, just a smooth sweep of silver that reflected the lights of the space station. There were no obvious joins or changes in the surface structure of the craft. It was almost as if it had been shaped from one piece of highly polished metal.

God it’s beautiful, she whispered, as she let her eyes move forward towards the nose where this time she noticed a slight bulge that must be the bridge and command area.

Mar Yee could not see what was at the rear of the bell shaped end that she had assumed was where the craft generated its propulsion. Here again the Mark 4 was radically different from any previous space vehicle. All others, no matter how small, had very large disc shaped appendages from which the propulsion medium was expelled to create the tremendous thrust necessary for interstellar flight.

Also missing were the much smaller jet thruster engines attached to the hull, which were used on other ships for manoeuvring at less than interstellar speeds.

Captain Moon was used to this type of response from people who were viewing the Mark 4 for the first time. It had been his own reaction and so he waited until Mar Yee was ready to move on.

They moved slowly down the plexiglass tunnel towards the opening in the side of the ship. Mar Yee could not take her eyes of the shining silver hull as literally hundreds of questions formed in her mind. Amidst all these thoughts there came the sudden resolve that one day soon she wanted to fly in this fantastic ship.

This thought was still firmly fixed in her mind when they arrived at the entrance to the ship. The plexiglass tunnel met the gleaming side of the ship and seemed to be bonded to it with no seam or join showing. At the door the tunnel material just seemed to change into the silver material from which the ship was made. There was no door as such, just a perfectly square opening that led into an entrance portal on the ship..

The entrance portal was just a short passage that opened into what appeared to be a central corridor. As they passed through into the corridor Captain Moon turned to a small panel and said to Mar Yee. Watch this. He opened a small cover and pushed a black button. Immediately the space where the entrance portal met the corridor became solid and indistinguishable from any other section of the wall apart from a thick red line that traced where the opening had been microseconds before.

Captain Moon was disappointed with the reaction from Mar Yee. He had expected exclamations of wonder or at least surprise. However all he got was a question, Which way is the bridge and control room?

The next hour was one of surprise, excitement and high emotion for Mar Yee as she was shown through the ship. It was so new, so different.

The bridge was quite spacious. Unlike the older models there were two completely separate control positions, one for interstellar flight and the other for interplanetary flight that also doubled for manoeuvring the ship for the delicate docking procedures. Completely unfamiliar to Mar Yee were the controls that she interpreted as the engineering management system. Although bewildering in their complexity there were so few of them compared to the older ships that she was used to.

Mar Yee could not help herself and just had to sit in the command position, so after a questioning look at Captain Moon, who nodded his assent, she moved forward and sat in the very large chair that was positioned between the two control consoles. She searched with her hands along the sides of the chair trying to find the control mechanisms that allowed the chair to be adjusted or moved. She looked up to find Captain Moon smiling at her.

You won’t find any controls. It is completely automatic, he said as he moved over to her and pointed to a thumb print pad on the right armrest. When you are registered as a crew member you place your thumb there and the seat remembers your preset comfort settings.

Ok Mar Yee replied. But how do I then get the thing to move so I can reach the two control consoles.

Captain Moon said simply. I will show you. Hop up and let me sit. Mar Yee got up and moved to one side and watched as Captain Moon sat and pressed his thumb on the pad.

The seat seemed to flow around his body until it fitted his contours almost exactly. He moved his right hand towards the interstellar console and the chair moved forward, and then to the right, into exactly the correct position for him to manipulate the controls. It’s controlled both by your reflexes and your brainwaves, said Captain Moon as he reached to his left and the seat moved to place him in a comfortable position in front of the interstellar controls.

Getting to his feet he said. Ok, ready for the engine room now? Follow me.

They moved down the central corridor past the door where they had entered the ship and were then confronted with a blank wall that had the, by then familiar, red outline for a doorway. Captain Moon activated the door and they moved into a fairly small rectangular room that had completely bare walls. Along the centre of the room from just inside the door a raised boxlike structure ran the length of the room. Attached to its upper surface there were many controls interspersed with what were obviously access panels. Tools of all odd shapes and sizes were clipped along the vertical sides of the structure.

It was so different from anything that Mar Yee had experienced or even expected that she stood just inside the door and stared. She had no idea at all as to how the propulsion was generated, what fuel, if any, the engine used. This was something entirely new and as she looked at it she felt a shiver of excitement.

Captain Moon interrupted her thoughts. Come on. We just have time to look at the crew living quarters before we have to be clear of the ship.

The crew quarters were large and luxurious. She thought of her last trip on one of the old Mark 2’s with its huge bulk that was mostly the propulsion system and its tiny crew quarters that had been fitted in amongst the computers that ran the ship. The crews spent months eating, sleeping, and working in such cramped conditions that in some areas it was impossible to pass each other and they literally had to work out a one way system of movement. This by comparison was absolutely grandiose.

There were even separate cabins for the crew and Mar Yee noted with astonishment that each contained a double bunk. The communal area was quite spacious and even had two portable readers that Captain Moon informed her had an extensive library of both modern and traditional literary works.

Suddenly, Mar Yee realised that she had been staring at her uniform jacket for some time while she had been caught up in her daydream of the past.

She smiled to herself now as she remembered how disappointed and dejected Captain Moon had been when after they had returned to the docking area she had politely thanked him and hurried off before he had worked up the courage to ask her if she still wanted that drink.

So much had happened since that day. She was now married, had completed her training on the Mark 4 and had finished her studies at the International Space Exploration Organisation University. Cadet Mar Yee Kharmon who had entered the Academy all those years ago, or so it seemed, had now become Mrs Mar Yee Elisha, Anthropologist, and Captain in the ISEO.

Now she was within days, maybe even hours of the greatest adventure of her life.

As she changed out of her uniform into the bulky black tracksuit that she inevitably wore around their apartment, her thoughts turned to her husband, Ahdum Abell Elisha. They had first met at the pilot’s conversion course for the Mark 4. Ahdum had been the quiet one of the group who was always studying, or, when the others were partying, out on a fitness hike or working out in the gym. He had been really surprised when Mar Yee had first shown an interest in him and initially had tried to avoid her as he considered her too small and delicate for the likes of him. She persevered, however, and in the end it had taken one of her famous temper tantrums to shake him into realising that he had fallen in love with her.

It had been the day after their first sub space flight in the Mark 4 simulator. The others had gone out on the town to celebrate but Mar Yee had accompanied Ahdum to the gym where she had tried to keep pace with him on the treadmill. It had been hopeless, and after ten minutes or so, she had given up and sat watching him. Ahdum had continued with his routine for another thirty minutes before pausing for a drink. Looking up he had seen her watching him and had said casually. If you are tired why don’t you go home to bed? I don’t like people watching me while I work out.

At this Mar Yee had exploded. Watch! Do you think that that is how I like to spend my time watching and waiting for you Ahdum Elisha? I am going to walk right out of here now. I am sick of wasting my time on you. You bloody stupid oaf.

Ahdum, shocked by her outburst had at first stood stock-still but then out of instinct had reached out to her and she had rushed into his arms. From there, their love had blossomed and the odd couple, as the others called them had become totally devoted to each other.

Ahdum and Mar Yee had graduated first and second in their conversion course and received their diplomas from the University on the same day. Ahdum was a botanist, which seemed to be a natural extension of his love of the outdoors.

They had married a week after being told that they had been selected to be Pilot and Co-pilot on the first mission of the Mark 4. Until that time, the future had been so uncertain that they had chosen not to discuss it and had lived for the present. The dark fear in each of their minds had been, What if I am chosen and the other is not.

Again Mar Yee realised that she had been daydreaming and started to hang her uniform in the cupboard at the end of the bed. She had just finished and had turned to leave the room when she heard the lock on the front door of the apartment being activated and the door opening. Running out to the top of the stairs she just glimpsed her husband as he went through to the kitchen. Coming down the stairs she waited to hear the door of the refrigerator being opened and for Ahdum to start his nightly ritual of foraging for fresh carrots and tomatoes for his usual pre-dinner snack. Tonight she was disappointed, but moments later heard the cold drinks cabinet being opened.

As she came into the kitchen Ahdum was pulling at the cork of a bottle of champagne and said over his shoulder. Get the glasses would you please love.

Mar Yee’s heart skipped a beat. Was this a celebration? Had Ahdum been given a departure date? They had been ready now for weeks but had been held up while the ISEO argued amongst themselves as to the composition of the rest of the crew. It had been an extremely frustrating time and somewhat of a letdown after the emotional time of their choice as Pilot and Co-pilot, their marriage, brief two day honeymoon, and the final days of their training. The time had dragged as they had gone back over their launch procedures numerous times just to fill in time.

She knew the answer as soon as her husband turned around. He had a smile on his face and in his top pocket she could just see the red and white stripes of an official ISEO envelope.

When? Come on out with it. When.

Three weeks from today. The first day of summer.

At last! At long bloody last. Do we know who the rest of the crew are yet, or are they going to stuff around with that to the very last minute.

No. We are scheduled to meet them at 1000 hours tomorrow in the General’s office. I believe they are husband and wife too. The Navigator is a Seeth Tuton and his wife, Elive, is the Mechanic.

Mar Yee could think of nothing else to say and stood staring at Ahdum. Her mind was a turmoil of emotions and fleeting fragments of thoughts. Three weeks. Three weeks. God it would seem like three years. Why could it not be tomorrow! Seeth! Elive! Who the hell were they? Why had she never heard of them before? What were they like? She then realised that they must not be qualified pilots.

Ahdum, watching the emotions reflected in his wife’s face and realising what she was thinking, put his glass to one side and took her in his arms.

Don’t worry, we have so much to do that the time will fly by, He said as he stroked her hair. As for the Tutons we will have to wait till we meet them tomorrow and then we will have plenty of time to get to know them during the mission.

For now, there is just you and I, and a full bottle of champagne. So let’s celebrate.

CHAPTER 2

Mar Yee could hear a bell ringing. It reminded her of the bell on the ice-cream truck that she had seen in an old movie at the museum where her mother had taken her during school holidays many years ago. But this bell was getting louder and was making her head hurt.

Suddenly, she was wide-awake as Ahdum’s muffled voice came from under the pillows. For God’s sake turn the bloody thing off.

For a moment she was confused but then remembered the champagne, the celebration and the wild love making that had followed. As she felt the emotions begin to flow through her again and started to turn towards her husband she suddenly realised that the ringing was not in her head but the bedside alarm. Reaching out Mar Yee turned it off. The ringing stopped only to be replaced by a dull thumping which seemed to emanate from behind her eyes.

God! Why had she let Ahdum open that second bottle?

Opening one eye she peered at the clock on the alarm. Noting that this morning she would be the first in the shower she climbed gingerly out of bed. Two hours before they had to report to the General’s office and she would need most of that time to get herself into shape.

The shower was no help at all, the warm water tending to send her back to sleep. After shaking herself awake for the third time she gritted her teeth and turned the cold tap full on. A split second later she regretted her action as the freezing water blasted her. However, after thirty seconds she was wide awake and almost enjoying the feeling as the cold water brought life back to her body. Leaping out of the showershe grabbed her towel and wrapping it around herself walked into the bedroom.

She could see Ahdum through the door standing on the landing at the top of the stairs and called to him. What are you doing out there honey. It’s your turn in the shower.

As she walked further into the room she could suddenly see that there was someone else standing just in front of Ahdum on the stairs. The man was dressed entirely in black with a white clown’s mask covering his face. He was much taller than Ahdum and stood with his feet wide apart, slightly crouched and with both hands grasping a small pistol. Ahdum turned towards her and the look of disbelief and surprise on his face made her gasp.

Mar Yee shocked by what she was seeing took an involuntary step back, let go of the towel, raised her hands to her mouth and screamed.

The intruder who had been pointing his pistol at Ahdum swung around raised his arms and fired into the bedroom. The shot sizzled past Mar Yee’s arm burning her skin as it passed and scorched a large hole in the wall behind her. As he raised his arm to fire again the full impact of Mar Yee’s naked female form took its toll and he paused for just a fraction of a second.

Ahdum now recovered from the shock of being confronted on the stairs by this armed man grabbed at the pistol with both hands. The weight of his attack forced the intruder’s pistol down just as he fired again. This time the shot burnt a large hole in the floor at Mar Yee’s feet.

Struggling fiercely they fell through the door into the bedroom. Another shot went off smashing the glass in the mirror. Ahdum, getting an arm free, punched the intruder on the side of the head. A knee caught him in the stomach knocking the wind out of him. He put all his remaining strength into hammering at the intruder’s head. His grip on the gunman’s pistol hand started to slip and with a grunt the man brought his hand up and smashed the pistol into the side of Ahdum’s head.

Ahdum could feel consciousness slipping away and tried again to grab at the pistol but could not stop himself being thrown to one side by an opponent who was clearly much stronger than he was. As he tried to get to his feet he looked up to see the pistol pointed directly at his forehead. He froze as he waited for the shot. In a moment that he would remember for the rest of his life his mind was screaming, No! No! Then just on the edge of his vision he saw Mar Yee launch herself at the man.

Mar Yee had not moved as the men struggled. Her mind could not take in this sudden dramatic change. Everything was happening so fast. Then she saw Ahdum get hit in the head with the pistol, saw the blood on his face, and his struggle to get up. She was suddenly very angry. Why was this man hurting her husband?

She saw him raise his pistol and thought he was going to hit Ahdum again and without the slightest hesitation leaped at him. Her body hit him hard on the shoulder and her head crashed into the side of his.

The pistol went flying out of his grasp, slid over the carpet and under the bed.

Mar Yee felt an explosion of pain in her forehead and, on the verge of blacking out, slid off the man and slumped to the floor.

Ahdum, realising that even both of them together were no match for the strength of this man, staggered to his feet as the intruder dived towards the bed and began trying to reach under it for the pistol. Reaching down, he grabbed Mar Yee by the arm and literally dragged her to her feet. She collapsed against him and he almost fell. Not daring to look at what the man was doing he started towards the door.

Each step seemed to take an eternity as he half carried half dragged Mar Yee out the door and down the first few stairs. He was totally focused on the front door at the bottom of the stairs and wondering how he was going to open it, without letting go of Mar Yee when, with a splintering crash, the whole door seemed to burst inwards and fly across the hall. It was followed by a large burly man who immediately turned and looked straight up at Ahdum.

Ahdum, still groggy from the blows to the side of his face, just kept on going down the stairs. He was so concentrated on saving Mar Yee and getting out the front door that what had just happened directly in front of him seemed so remote as to almost be a dream. It was as though he was an observer and not really involved. He noticed that the man had on a suit that was well tailored but appeared to be too small for his huge frame. He needed a shave and his blond hair was all messed up.

He heard an explosion and only then noticed that this new intruder had raised both hands gripping a pistol that was still smoking from the shot.

The man fired again and Ahdum could not figure out why he had not been hit. Surely he could not miss from this range. It was then he heard the piercing scream from the top of the stairs and realised that the man had fired over his head.

Trying to turn to look over his shoulder Ahdum stumbled and fell against the man at the foot of the stairs who held him and then gently sat him back on the bottom stair.

Ahdum realised that he was still holding Mar Yee and should be trying to get out the door but the new stranger was holding him very firmly and saying something to him. What was he saying?

Something about security. Yes ISEO security. He was from ISEO security.

The next hour was one of bewildering activity for Ahdum and Mar Yee. Firstly, the security man, whose name was Abram, helped them both back up to their bedroom to get dressed. At the top of the stairs they passed the body of the intruder. He lay flat on his back with one hand still holding the pistol. He had been shot in the chest and already a pool of blood was forming around his body.

Abram covered the body with a sheet from the bed and went downstairs to use the phone while they dressed. By the time that they were both at least decent Abram returned with three other men who were all dressed in the uniform of ISEO security.

Ahdum, full of pent-up anger that all this could happen in their house, that was supposed to be in a security enclave, and just starting to realise how close they had both come to being killed, immediately confronted Abram.

What the bloody hell is going on here? Who is that man and why did he try to kill us?

Abram placed both hands on his shoulders and ignoring his questions said in a quiet controlled voice. You are not safe here anymore. We are going to take you to the ISEO base. Please come with us at once.

Before he could reply, both Ahdum and Mar Yee were gently, but firmly, propelled out the door and down the stairs. Abram, with pistol drawn, preceded them and looking around at Mar Yee; Ahdum could see the fourth security man covering them with his pistol from the top of the stairs.

As they reached the front door Ahdum, who was now starting to think rationally and with his training and self discipline rapidly overcoming his shock and anger, stopped, removed Abram’s hand from his arm and turning to him said. "We are not going any further until I have seen some identification