There's Something About Emily. . .

Prologue

As one of the few members of a million-year-old civilization that had evolved away from being anything physical, the alien entity no longer inhabited any particular world or planet. He now existed only at the very highest, spirit level, totally devoid of any earthly restraints, as we would understand.

His wholly peace-loving race are able to project their minds, to roam and explore the endless space, time continuum, seeking only the acquisition of knowledge and learning, this now being their sole purpose and very meaning of their existence, their raison d’etre. Like all the others, his mind had been programmed from its inception just to gather information, then to analyse, draw conclusions, and predict probable outcomes. Above all else, they needed only to learn from the errors made by other life forms. For wisdom and understanding was surely the ultimate power, if used correctly.

Detecting some form of minute transmission from a far distant galaxy, the alien followed his natural curiosity, and opened the section of his mind that enabled him to transport through the vacuum of space. He had been at rest, probably for a couple of thousand years on our earthly time scale, but even in this self-imposed catatonic state, during which time he analysed all his collected data, a part of his thought processes had still been endlessly scanning. He had been looking for something, anything new, to capture his attention. Now, he had detected a hitherto unknown, small magnetic anomaly in an insignificant, far distant galaxy, one that he was already very familiar with.

In the milliseconds that it took him to direct all his thoughts toward identifying and investigating the anomaly, he was simultaneously accessing all the known data on that particular section of the cosmos.

He already knew of the relatively tiny solar system, the complex of which comprised a single, small, declining sun that was being orbited by a total of eight minor planets and several comets. The only planet of any real interest was the third from the sun, which, for its small size, had a huge diversity of mostly carbon-based life forms.

Still in emergence, all the bio-life forms seemed to be intent on destroying each other in their endless struggles for dominance. It was from this tiny blue planet, that the new electro-magnetic anomaly was emanating.

The alien knew that one particular life form had emerged dominant and supreme since the planet was nearly destroyed by an asteroid strike that had polluted its fragile and unique atmosphere for an aeon. This specie was proving itself to be far more intelligent than any other that had previously inhabited their world. However, in apparent ignorance, not only were they intent on destroying each other, but also the very fabric of the environment in which they lived.

Their genus was called humanoid. They considered themselves to be superior to all the other life forms on their planet. Any lesser creature, they commonly referred to as ‘animal,’ and generally treated them all with a callous disdain.

In order to sustain themselves, this humanoid life form had learned to breed, nurture and harvest many of the other creatures on their planet. They generally believed that all animals had been created by a God, and put there solely for this purpose. Such indiscriminate actions and beliefs had, in many cases, already led to the total eradication and extinction of many other life forms, but they still they carried on, seemingly regardless of the consequences of their actions.

The humans were also intent on plundering all their other worldly resources, which in essence, were vital to their continued existence. Destruction of their environment in order to produce food, and the need to extract mineral resources to progress their civilisation, was apparently of no consequence, or of little consideration, to the long-term effects that it was having on their world. They were constantly hacking away at, and burrowing into, the delicate crust of their planet. Trawling the oceans until they were nearly empty of certain marine life species, and destroying with fire, huge areas of forestation, so vital to the quality of their planet’s fragile atmosphere.

On their present course, the alien had already calculated that they had less than two thousand more of their years left to exist, before the tiny blue planet would reach a point where their specie would be totally wiped out, either from starvation, or from pollution to the fragile environment.

His data scans immediately detected and recognised that the humanoid evolutionary development had moved on considerably faster than expected since he, or any of the others, had last visited their world. On that occasion, choosing to interact, they had implanted certain knowledge into the minds of some individual humans. This had enabled them to design and erect peculiar structures that they called pyramids, which they had used to incarcerate some of their dead.

He and the others had long puzzled over the human obsession with death, and a belief in a life thereafter. They concluded that it was something common to most of this specie, and that previous mischievous interventions by others of their race, might have had some influence in this. The humans, it seemed, had realised that some extraordinary external forces, beyond their comprehension, were affecting and influencing their normal existence. Unable to understand, they perceived that it had to be some sort of divine intervention sent for spiritual guidance, something not too far removed from the truth.

To satisfy and control the curiosity of the masses, the leaders of their respective societies, set about creating many false images and names that became deified, and referred to as Gods. So powerful became the obsession to worship these Gods, it caused the human race to divide itself into many fragmented sects. Each sect identified itself by its particular following. Its disciples, as the followers came to be known, believed that theirs was the only true God, thus denying the existence of all others.

Religion, as it all came to be known, brought about many sacred rites and ceremonies, some involving barbaric forms of sacrifice of other humanoids and animals, made as a gift to a particular God. Such singular beliefs inevitably became the main causation for huge conflicts between the followers of differing religions.

The aliens had noted an obvious similarity between many of the religious followings, but had failed to understand why the numerous and diverse human races could not all live peaceably together, each worshipping their own God. Their observations were still ongoing.

Most of the previous alien visitors had found it all somewhat amusing and interesting. They had repeated their little experiments many times over just to observe and try to assess or predict any differing outcome. Greek, Aztec, Persian, Minoan, and many other civilisations, had all been interesting, in the differing ways that the humans had chosen to worship their particular God. He recalled that the most unpredictable of all, had been the carpenter’s son, Jesus, who had declared himself to be the son of a God. He was considered a particularly strange happening, for this human had seemingly evolved without any of their intervention.

The man had lived his short life trying to persuade those that he met to love each other. The concept of love was not something that the aliens understood, for it seemed to have so many differing aspects, mostly relating to complex human emotions.

The happenings relative to the short life of the man, Jesus, had ultimately given birth to a branch of religion the humans named Christianity, but only after the humans had themselves, put the man to death for his beliefs. It was all totally beyond their comprehension.

Other similar efforts by the aliens to emulate this man, and to create another super being, or dominant race, had so far failed. Genghis Khan and Adolph Hitler numbered amongst many other similar tyrants they had created. These were seemingly ordinary little people that they had sought to elevate. All were subsequently considered by the aliens to have developed egotistical minds that had gotten out of their control, and necessitated a premature termination of the experiments before too much damage was done to the humanoid race.

The aliens, on their part, did not recognise any wrongdoing in their passive interference or interventions. Humans had been considered just another, minor, emerging specie bent on self-destruction in a relatively short period of time. So where was the harm? A few hundred million of their life form, eliminating themselves, had already benefited the rather appealing little planet by preventing an infestation of these curious little warlike creatures.

Although the alien thought that he understood all the concepts, he was no longer able to feel, or experience any real emotion. For feelings such as pain, joy, love, sadness, grief or compassion, had all been identified as weaknesses that influenced thought processes, and interfered with any logical judgement. In consequence, following their own worldly struggles, his ancestors had tried to totally eliminate all such emotions, expunging them psychophysically from their reasoning processes. To a greater extent they had almost succeeded, but in so doing they inadvertently created another problem for themselves, something that was about to become abundantly apparent to the visiting alien.

Association and interaction with his own kind had become largely unnecessary, for unless the individual alien chose to terminate, he could theoretically, live forever. Similarly, should he choose to replicate, he was able to split his mind to create another entity, an exact duplicate, or clone, of himself. All his thoughts and knowledge were automatically passed on, and they became common to all the others, as was theirs to him. The arrangement would appear to be little short of procreative perfection, but it did have certain drawbacks. There was no longer any need for communicative interaction. No argument, disagreement, or mutual enjoyment in being in another’s company. Put quite simply, they had created loneliness.

Simultaneously accessing information contained in all the memory banks of the simple computers, and by intercepting the millions of telephonic broadcasts and communications, the alien was quickly able update his knowledge. He concluded that the human technological achievement had also progressed much more rapidly than he, or any of the others of his race, had envisaged. Scientifically, the humans had reached the point that now allowed the sending of information-gathering probes to the other celestial bodies within their solar system. Significant advances had been made in communications; there were now many primitive satellites in geo-stationary orbits around the planet. He noted a huge proliferation of rather primitive, mechanically propelled, transportation vehicles, most with highly toxic emissions, that were polluting the fragile atmosphere and quickening the destruction of all life on the little planet.

Strangely, the alien realised that he felt saddened by all of this, for he was now considering it to be a rather appealing and beautiful little world. For him, that in itself was something completely new, for a feeling of sadness was surely an expression of emotion, and something he should not be able to experience?

He turned his attention to the social structure now adopted by the humans. There seemed to be a widespread obsession associated with the accumulation of something called money, or wealth, as they called it. Money was used to barter for goods and chattels, or was given in remuneration for a skill or service rendered to another person.

The humans seemed to spend an inordinate amount of their short life span in gathering together many things that they desired, only to abandon, or give them all away, when they died. It was a very strange arrangement that piqued his curiosity even further.

Searching for the cause of the original magnetic anomaly that had prompted this particular visit, he found that the humans had begun experimenting in a very dangerous area of physics. They had constructed a primitive particle accelerator, that he was already aware, had suffered a catastrophic failure at its inception. Its very existence caused him some concern. For while his ancestors were still physical life forms, not unlike the humanoids, his own emerging race had recognised the dangers in this science and abandoned all similar projects. He concluded that if the humans continued to dabble in things, about which they had little understanding or knowledge, this too would serve to hasten the destruction of the planet. It might even have the potential to destroy this whole solar system?

The alien’s newly perceived liking for this world prompted him to explore places his previous visits had overlooked. He was now in a hospital concentrating on a young humanoid mother in the act of giving birth to a brand new life form. The biological concept of human reproduction was understood, but he hadn’t appreciated the depth of human emotion that accompanied the delivery of the infant child. He saw the pain associated with giving birth, then tears of joy in the eyes of both parents. He noted the obvious delight of the people engaged in cleaning and inspecting the newborn infant child, which was giving loud voice to the indignity of such handling.

He brain scanned the infant and found it to be perfect in every way. He was somewhat surprised to find that the infant had somehow detected his intrusive presence, and had suddenly gone quiet. As the newborn child was placed into its mother’s arms for the first time, the alien detected the shared feelings of comfort and bonding that were taking place. This, in itself, left him with another hitherto unknown sense, one of pleasurable satisfaction.

He had found the tiny infant brain to be devoid of all but basic instincts. It had yet to be corrupted in any way. He likened it to an empty computer that craved input. Communicating telepathically, he placed a somewhat pleasing image of himself into the child’s mind. Then, as a parting gift, added a small gem of learning into the memory banks of the infant. This was something that would later emerge to her benefit, for he had recognised she was a girl child. Satisfied, he was about to move on from this environment when he overheard the whispered conversation between the parents. There was tenderness in their private words of affection for each other, accompanied by the touching and hugging, and then the kissing. He wondered what such physical contact felt like. In his loneliness, he wondered what it must feel like to be part of such an intimate relationship. What was the driving force behind all of this emotion?

The door of the hospital ward was flung open and two more, older children, erupted into the room to be instantly gathered into the arms of their welcoming parents. He watched as they were introduced to their new baby sister, who, he now learned, was to be called Emily. Their father formally introduced the twins, Peter and Rita, to the infant. The mother looked on with obvious feelings of pride and affection for her family, this reflected in her tear-filled eyes.

The alien recognised that a whole new window of opportunity to interact was being presented to him. Hitherto long suppressed emotional feelings were suddenly clawing their way back from the deepest recesses of his mind and into his being. They were making their presence immediately apparent. For the first time, he too began experiencing feelings and desires.

He liked what he saw, and he wanted to be a part of it. He wanted to help this human family in their daily struggle to live a reasonable life. To impart certain knowledge, teach, guide, and perhaps try to show them the errors of their ways. He realised the endless possibilities of such an undertaking, and for the first time, was unable to predict any sort of outcome or conclusion. It would all need great care and consideration… There, two more emotions he was previously unaware of. He found another as well, a joyous anticipation, and excitement, at the prospect of it all…

Chapter 1

David Morrison-Lloyd parked his beautiful new Mercedes Taxi, his silver dream machine, in the lay-by outside of the Chase-side headquarters of J P Morgan, Bournemouth. He glanced at the clock and realised that he was 15 minutes early for his pick-up. Reclining the driver’s seat a little, he decided to shut his eyes. The spring sunshine, warm on his face, quickly induced a feeling of pleasurable contentment, for David was rather happy with his lot. Despite the recession, things had been going quite well for him just lately. He let his thoughts drift back over turbulent events of the past few years. He contemplated all the happenings, good and bad, and attempted to try and pinpoint the factors that had contributed toward all his recent changes of fortune.

David and his school-day sweetheart, Sue Lloyd, had been together, as a couple, for fifteen years. They had met at a wild, girls only, party that had been gate crashed by David and some of his mates. It was more or less love at first sight despite some of the hurtful remarks from her snobby school friends referring to David as her ‘grease-monkey’ or ‘bit of rough.’ Their relationship had withstood the test of time, and after six months, they became proper lovers to celebrate Sue’s sixteenth birthday.

Sue’s parents, both senior partners with a leading Chamber of solicitors and barristers, in the City of London, had frowned upon their only daughter’s infatuation with the handsome young motor mechanic, then Grenadier Guardsman. They considered that she could do better for herself and nagged at her to terminate the relationship in favour of their preferred choice, a rather meek and mild, well connected young gentleman, a pupil barrister, working out of their offices.

Both parents had badly underestimated the will and resolve of their daughter in making her own choices. A blazing family row had ensued culminating in Sue accusing them of bigotry, and they cutting off her allowance after she stormed out of the large family home in the Surrey stockbroker belt.

Living only on her fast dwindling savings, Sue, and a hitherto unknown girl who had advertised for a flat-mate, had moved into a tiny, rented, furnished apartment over the top of a second hand clothes shop in Chelsea. It was a dreadful time for her. She could no longer afford the running costs of her beloved little BMW Mini Cooper, and reluctantly had to sell it to pay off her mounting credit card debts.

The word ‘economise’ was not in Sue’s vocabulary. The concepts were beyond her comprehension. Never before had she ever had to cook, clean or do the household chores. Despite her good education, the only employment Sue was able to find, was as a waitress in a local coffee shop. She hated it, but at least she was able to be nearer to her beloved David, in his Wellington Barracks. The angry young Sue had shunned and refused any contact with her parents for nearly a year. She blamed them entirely for her predicament.

It was David, fed up with constantly getting his ear bent, and now having to supplement Sue’s income, that in desperation, finally managed to bring about, and affect the reconciliation. He succeeded in persuading Sue to invite her parents to the party being held to officially announce their engagement. The Lloyd’s had pretended only to reluctantly accept. Neither were prepared to express their immense relief, for truth be known, they were both very much regretting their actions and desperately missing their only child.

David and Sue had often laughed about the time that both sets of parents were introduced to each other. Sue’s mother, Edith, dressed in all her finery for the party, had proffered her white-gloved hand only to have it vigorously shaken by a big-bosomed woman, dressed all in black, and smothered in tiny mother-of-pearl sequins, her shoulders draped with an imitation, fox-fur stole.

Edith Lloyd, her face a picture to behold, managed to stammer, We are pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr Morrison, Mrs Morrison, how are you both?

How-do m’ducks, nice t’meet cher, I’m sure. It’s lovely day for it, innit? David’s mother and father were Londoners, Cockneys, working class with their own dialect, and born within the sound of the bells of St. Mary-le-Bow church.

The buxom, fun-loving Josie Riley, had become Mrs Albert Morrison when she jumped over the brush with her rather diminutive, fifth generation, baker’s barrow-boy sweetheart. Having just celebrated their silver wedding anniversary, they both now ran and lived over the top of their very own, prosperous, home-baked bread, coffee, and patisserie outlet, in fashionable Chelsea.

Regarded by many to be ‘salt of the earth,’ Albert and Josie were both dressed in the traditional costume of the pearly King and Queen. Immensely proud of their roots, they looked the world in the face, said it as they saw it, and owed not a single penny to anyone. They lived each day like it was their last. Honest, hardworking common people, with Christian principles, they were afraid of no one.

It took quite a few glasses of ale and bubbly before David and Sue saw that Albert Morrison was clutching fondly at the backside of a rather giggly Edith Lloyd on the dance floor. Mr Lloyd, George, it seemed, was getting an ear full from a life-long supporter of the Gunners, regarding the number of black and foreign players now playing in the first team. If he had understood half of what he was being told, he would not have been nodding his every approval to all the vociferous opinions of Josie Morrison.

George Lloyd was to be forgiven, for his attention was directed elsewhere at the time. He was obviously more than a little concerned about the attention being paid to his wife by Albert Morrison, but he was in no position to intervene, at least not until he too found himself on the dance floor and doing the Lambeth Walk with Josie Morrison. The Lloyds still shudder with embarrassment with all the memories of that evening.

Their class background being so different, it was a big surprise to both children that their respective parents quickly became such very good friends. Invitations were routinely exchanged to any social function or gathering. The Lloyds found that the Morrisons were the life and soul of any party and always requested that they came dressed traditionally, mostly to amuse their other, pre-warned, guests. Another small factor that might also have had some bearing, was the Lloyds having asked their private investigators to conduct discreet enquiries as to the social standing and financial status of their prospective future In-laws. David’s parents, the Morrisons, were found to be of exemplary character, not short of a bob or two, and the land with the shop on, was probably worth a couple of £million at today’s prices.

The Morrisons were similarly tickled pink at the prospect of having a couple of ‘nobs’ in the family. They loved the plummy, Surrey accents and affectations, amusing many of their friends in the local pubs by imitating and taking a rise out of the Lloyd’s voices and mannerisms.

Both sets of parents desperately wanted grandchildren that would bear their respective family names. Together they secretly began to make plans for a big wedding, but the culture gap was far too wide, and neither family could agree on the venue, guest list, order of service, and many other similar essentials.

Six months later, just to keep the peace, and much to the disgust and disapproval of both sets of parents, David and Sue announced that they had chosen to have their own, private, millennium wedding. The ceremony was to coincide with the welcoming in of the New Year. Nobody was officially invited, they were just advised when, and where, it would all take place. Be there if you liked…

At dawn, on the Millennium New Years Day, they were to be found on the pure white sand of a sun-kissed beach, located on a tiny coral island in the South Pacific. There, they had gathered together with a dozen other couples of a like mind. David and Sue expressed, and made their lifelong vows to each other in the presence of several hundred witnesses, all total strangers. Having proclaimed and promised, they then sealed their devotional commitments with the traditional exchange of wedding rings. It had all been so deeply moving and romantic…

The island, one of two that straddled the International Date Line, was the chosen venue for a huge international gathering. The game plan was to celebrate the new millennium on one island, for it was the first place on the planet to be able to do so. Then towards the end of the day, everyone took to the boats, and to travelled the couple of miles across to the other island, which lay on the other side of the International Date Line. This little island being the very last place on the planet to be able to start the New Year festivities. The beach partying had been non-stop for forty-eight hours.

David smiled to himself with the fond memories of their first nights spent together as man and wife. Now, Mr & Mrs Morrison-Lloyd, the hyphenated name being adopted to please the whims of their parents, the young newlyweds had chosen to make love on a carpet of palm fronds spread out on a deserted beach, and under the stars. It had been so lovely, idyllic, but the grains of sand had gotten into everywhere. It necessitated hours of careful mutual exploration, grooming, searching and cleaning in an improvised seawater bathtub, just to get rid of it all…

David tried to picture the faces of all the new friends they had made during the following two weeks of their honeymoon. Living simply in a veritable paradise, they spent their days making love, walking the beaches arm-in-arm, just chatting, and making plans for the future. Both were accomplished swimmers and qualified scuba divers, and they had snorkelled together in the crystal clear waters, gathering shellfish and crustaceans to be grilled or baked in the dying embers of the camp fire, then shared with the other newly-wed couples, that had similarly stayed on.

David found that the passage of time was taking its toll. Their images and names were becoming somewhat vague to his memory. He made a mental note to renew some old acquaintances when he found some spare time.

He squirmed in his seat. The nagging, constant pain from his old wounds still bothered him. It was a constant reminder as to the horrors of war. This was a chapter in his past life that David wished had never happened, and, but for his frequent periods of discomfort, would now rather forget, if he could.

David had completed his apprenticeship as a motor mechanic, or technician, with a leading BMW dealership in Holland Park in 1997. Already a TA Reservist in the Royal Engineers, there had been a slight lull in his relationship with Sue. He couldn’t now remember why, but fed-up and seeking change and adventure, he decided on the spur of the moment to sign up for the Regular Army. He was delighted and surprised that when Sue eventually found out, she had approved. She apparently had a thing about men in uniform…

Having completed his mandatory nine months with the 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards, Nijmegen Company, David was about to be transferred to the 1st Battalion for active service abroad. Thinking that it might prolong his stay in the UK, and to be closer to Sue for their impending wedding, David had made application for Special Forces and had been immediately accepted for the gruelling training.

Early in 2002, now SAS, he was operational in Iraq. Working closely with US Forces on operation Telic, his covert mission was mainly intelligence gathering in Basrah, but his units’ presence had already been noted. One evening, the unprotected civilian vehicle in which he was a passenger, was blown up by a roadside IED. His best mate, Tommy Carr, had been blown to pieces, but Tommy’s torso had somehow protected David from the worst of the blast. He had survived, but had taken multiple shrapnel hits to his lower body.

Medivacced back to the UK, he was in a bad way. There had followed a long stay in hospital to deal with his injuries. David found it all difficult to remember. His hitherto fit, muscled young body had been reduced to a hideously burned and scarred wreck. The musculature had quickly wasted away during the weeks of fevered pain and inactivity.

On the road to recovery, it had taken many weeks of painfully determined physiotherapy just to get him back on his feet. The surgeons finally announced that they had done their very best for him, but it was still touch and go as to whether or not he would ever be able to father a child. He looked at himself in the mirror and sadly wondered if his beloved Sue would still find him physically attractive enough to ever want to make love again?

For the second time in her life, Sue’s strength of character had been badly underestimated. She was absolutely devoted to her David, and cared little what he looked like physically. Starved of his affections, she longed to be back in his arms and made this abundantly apparent from the outset.

Out of necessity, their lovemaking, previously wild and passionate, had become something needing much more careful experimentation. It was a whole new pleasurable ball game.

On his discharge from hospital David was summoned to meet his CO. He announced that he had chosen to leave the Army despite the Regiment’s offer to find him a suitable administrative post. Both Sue and the parents were influential in the decision-making, for they had all been beside themselves with the worry. David had realised that he probably might not have gotten through his ordeal, but for their loving support, and constant bedside presence. He felt obliged to seek their views and advice before making such an important career decision. The thought of being a desk-bound pen pusher, horrified him, and he doubted that he would be able to stick with it. He also felt that he had given more than enough of himself to the service of his Country and considered that, if anything, they owed him big time.

The MOD, in considering his compensation award, unfortunately didn’t quite see it that way. He hadn’t lost a limb, was not severely incapacitated, and was seemingly making a full recovery. It was basically just down to coping with the trauma and disfigurements. His offers of compensation, on the sliding scale of entitlement, were woefully inadequate in his view. They took an even further decline when Sue joyfully announced that she had at last become pregnant. The whole family were delighted, more so when the scan revealed that she was carrying twins, but David’s claim was reduced even further, because he had now proved that he was capable of fathering a child.

‘Bastards,’ David had thought, but he knew that with the MOD, he was dealing with the civil servant mentality where everything was either black, or white, with no shades of grey to argue about…

A gentle tapping on the driver’s side window interrupted his thoughts, and brought him back to the present. He sat up with a start. A familiar grinning face was looking at him through the glass. He dropped the window and smiled back, Hello Rory, I’m sorry sir, I was daydreaming.

Hello David. Are you here for me today? I have to go to Heathrow Terminal five.

I’m your man, sir, replied David as he hurriedly exited the car to put his passengers luggage into the boot. He liked Rory McGregor, one of his regulars. David knew that Rory was an Account Manager with J P Morgan, a bit of a fitness freak, and an all-round good egg.

Lovely car David, is this a new one? Commented Rory as he slid into the back seat. David closed his door and got back into the driving seat.

Yes sir, I took delivery and got it plated only last week. I’m afraid I’m still running it in, so we won’t be breaking any speed records today. Do we have plenty of time, Sir?

My flight is scheduled to leave at 1430 and I’m already checked in on line, so, yes, I think we’re okay David.

Thank you sir. Is everything alright with you, how’s the family?

David and Rory had children of roughly the same age, but David secretly envied Rory’s lifestyle and, in particular, his beautiful house, set well off the beaten track, in the lovely Dorset countryside. It was in stark contrast to the ex-council house that David and Sue had purchased in New Milton, a small town in the New Forest.

The imminent birth of the twins, Peter and Rita, in the spring of 2003, had prompted them to seek and provide a better quality of life for their new family. David had previously brought Sue down to the New Forest for a long weekend. They had stayed in a modestly priced hotel in Brockenhurst, while exploring the area.

The couple liked what they saw. The newly declared New Forest National Park, together with the unspoiled coastline, reflected the different pace of life adopted by the mostly retired people, that lived there. David’s modest compensation payout had been enough to put down the deposit on the 1960’s built, fairly spacious, three-bed semi. There had been just enough left over to buy a Peugeot 406 Estate car, to kick-start his own little taxi business. David did his apprenticeship contracting to a couple of well-established local taxi firms, but picking up old ladies and ferrying drunks around was not to his liking. He applied for his own Operators Licence, traded the Peugeot against a second hand Mercedes, and moved up-market, concentrating more on the ‘executive’ type of work.

David, an excellent driver, carefully negotiated the traffic lights and roundabouts, then hit the dual carriageways that led up onto the motorways. He took the speed up gently and smoothly to 60mph, just under 2000rpm, then engaged the cruise control.

The in-car conversation with Rory touched upon their respective families, wives, the children growing up, sport, politics, the recession and all the usual things that two young fathers would normally discuss. Rory knew all about David’s military background and the terrible wounds he had sustained. He expressed his delight that David’s luck appeared to be ‘on the up’ what with a new car and all…

I couldn’t have done it without the help from my In-laws, David confided. They have decided to give Sue a gift of three grand each year as part of her inheritance. Some tax avoidance thing that you probably know more about than I, Rory. It couldn’t have come at a better time, though. Sue was going to have to get us another car to run the kids to school. We decided that she should have my old Merc, and I should get a new one, lease hire, for the business. I still keep the old one plated, though, I might need to use it occasionally. Y’know, it’s a funny thing Rory, but it seems that just when Sue and I find ourselves struggling a bit, something always seems to turn up for us. I reckon him upstairs must be looking out for us…

David dropped Rory off at his destination with plenty of time to spare. His return trip was to pick up an elderly couple, coming back from a Bangkok holiday, into the South Terminal at Gatwick. The M25 drive of about forty miles to the other airport was largely uneventful, and he took it at a very leisurely pace. It also afforded him further time for his reflections.

David realised that his off-the-cuff comment he had made to Rory, about someone upstairs watching over him, could almost have been true. There had been several strokes of good fortune just lately. The first was shortly into the early spring of 2007, when Sue announced that she was again pregnant. They had been trying for another child for several months. Peter and Rita, by then nearly five, were still a bit of a handful, but they were just about to be starting school. Sue’s pregnancy had gone particularly well and little Emily made her September entry into the world with the minimum of fuss and bother, an easy delivery. David had jokingly remarked to Sue that she was getting to be ‘a bit of an old hand at it’ and got a playful slap for his cheek.

Emily has blonde hair and beautiful, big brown eyes, like her Dad, while Peter and Rita are brunette and their eyes, blue/green, like their Mum. So little ‘Em’ as she came to be referred to by all the family, was always going to be a little bit different somehow. And so it was…

Sue had found difficulty in breast-feeding the twins. She found that she was unable to produce enough milk to satisfy her children’s lusty appetites, and her nipples became very sore and painful in the constant effort. She had found that it was necessary to supplement their diet with powdered milk, eventually weaning them onto it completely.

Sue knew the importance of any newborn infant taking milk from its mother in the first few hours of life. Quite apart from the bonding process, she’d read somewhere that there were important anti-bodies or some essential substances in the mother’s milk that would provide a natural resistance to infections. Little Emily, she found, was very gentle on the nipple and as she suckled contentedly, Sue whispered to her in terms of encouragement and endearment, like many mothers do.

There is a short period after a child’s birth when the eyes appear to be watery and unable to focus properly. It varies in the time it takes for the child to overcome this, but one day, a parent will notice that the infant has achieved this milestone, and is actually looking at them properly through focused eyes. Recognition is born.

Not so with Emily, though. Sue had noticed from day one that her baby, while still sucking eagerly at the nipple, was also looking her straight in the eye, and seemed to be drinking in every little thing that Sue was saying. It was uncanny, even a little scary at times. She told David about it, and both sets of parents, amused and enthralled, watched the child as Sue cooed lovingly over her.

She’s probably only taking comfort from the sound of your voice, love. She is obviously far too young to be able to comprehend the meaning of your words, but it certainly looks as though she does. Keep on doing it though, try reading her little stories, or nursery rhymes. After all, it can’t hurt can it? It might even help her later on, when she starts learning to talk, who knows?

You don’t think there might be something wrong with her do you, David?

Like what, love?

Well, I don’t know. This is not what you would call normal child behaviour, is it? Perhaps some form of autism or something? Should we get her tested, do you think?

David, taken aback, had to think for a few moments.

Sue, love, she’s only six weeks old. I’m not sure that there is even a test for that sort of thing at her age. Look at her. To all outward appearances, Emily’s a perfectly normal and very beautiful little child. Stop worrying for goodness sake; I’m pretty sure she’s okay. Lets just carry on as normal for a while. She might prove to be a child genius, who knows?

They both chuckled at the thought, and even discussed the possibilities of such a revelation. Emily, meanwhile, still sucking contentedly at the breast, just appeared to be listening.

I am sensing that your parents suspect there is something wrong with you Emily. I think you should endeavour to behave more in keeping with a normal human infant, and try not to cause them concern.

‘I don’t know how a normal human infant should behave, Jojo. Can you teach me please?’

I’m not sure either, little one, but I will do some more research to see if I can find an answer to the problem. Meanwhile, it might help to watch Peter and Rita, perhaps, if their behaviour is normal, you could try to follow their example.

‘Yes Jojo, I will try to do that. Thank you.’

David slotted the car into a double parking space in the short-term car park at Gatwick South Terminal. He deliberately chose to park on the less busy upper levels, because of the several incidents of minor damage to the car paintwork in the past. That’s the big problem these days he thought to himself, nobody seems to care about anybody else’s property. The world would be a much better place if people were more polite and considerate toward each other. He took the stairway rather than the lift, and then the path alongside the moving walkway into the South Terminal. He felt better for having stretched his aching legs after the long drive.

A glance at the ‘Arrivals’ board told him that the Bangkok flight was ‘baggage in hall’ already. He smiled and congratulated himself for his timely arrival. The Hart’s, Doug and Freda, would be coming through very soon now. He didn’t need his name-board. They were regulars, and very well known to him. Settling on a good vantage point to see passengers coming through into the Arrivals Hall, he took the weight off his feet by hitching his backside up onto one of the high stools in front of the coffee shop. Someone had left part of a Sunday newspaper on the counter. David pulled it towards himself and idly scanned through the several pages. There was little of interest; it was full of the political parties squaring up to each other in the forthcoming election. He had little time for any politicians; they were all the same to him, a bunch of conniving, lying bastards, all out to feather their own nests at the expense of the taxpayer. If he had his way he’d sack the whole bloody incompetent lot of them, then find all the best brains in the country to fill all the Ministerial positions irrespective of their particular political leaning. Pay an attractive salary, put them on two-year contracts with fixed objectives. As for the one-eyed, Scottish slime-ball currently in No10, well, he’d be the first one up against the wall come the revolution… David smiled at the thought, and rubbed his aching thigh, ‘damn them all’ he muttered and pushed the paper away in his disgust. Whatever has happened to one of the greatest manufacturing countries the world has ever seen? Where did the slogan ‘British is best’ disappear to? God I wish I was in charge he murmured out loud. He realised his outburst had attracted the curious attention of another Taxi driver, similarly seated a few feet to his left. David smiled at him and indicated to the newspaper.

Damned politicians. Sorry mate, but they make my blood boil. There isn’t one with an ounce of honesty or integrity.

The man smiled back in understanding, Yeh, that’d be right pal, that’d be right. He buried his nose back into his coffee cup in apparent disinterest at any further discourse on the subject.

Embarrassed slightly, David returned to his thoughts. ‘God almighty, what is wrong with me today? I certainly got out on the wrong side this morning, didn’t I. What’s brought all this on? Come on Davy boy, snap out of it, let’s think about something else instead.’

The Hart’s came through pushing a huge pile of luggage. David moved to intercept them, they hadn’t yet looked in his direction.

I suppose you two would like a lift home, would you?

They turned to the sound of his voice, their faces reflecting joyous relief at his presence.

David, my boy. You don’t know how good it is to see you. We have been through an absolute nightmare, I can tell you. Do you know we were both stuck in our hotel room for a whole week. Couldn’t go out, it wasn’t safe. We could see all the rioting from our window. It was terrible.

David took the luggage trolley from the effusive Mr Hart.

Let’s get you and Freda in the car then, Doug, and you can tell me all about it on the way home. You’re both looking just about all-in, and I expect you’d very much appreciate a proper cup of tea, by now?

Got it in one. Lead on David, my boy, we’re all yours…

The journey back to Barton-on-Sea was largely plain sailing. It wasn’t quite rush hour yet, but the M25 and M3 traffic was slowly building up towards it. David put the car in the nearside lane and set the cruise to 60mph. He only needed to move out just a few times to pass the occasional slower moving heavy goods vehicle. He knew that travelling in this manner was easy on both the car and driver. It was also amazing how quickly a steadily maintained speed gobbled up the miles.

He listened patiently while Doug and Freda narrated their nightmare holiday experiences. He made all the right noises in all the right places, but was somewhat relieved when it all started to tail off. They had never once asked him about Sue and the children, but what did it matter, they were a lovely old couple. He stole a glance in his rear view, and was pleased to see that they were both nodding off. The luxurious warmth and almost silent hum of the car, coupled with a lovely smooth drive, often induced that effect on his passengers. He smiled to himself and realised that he was quite proud in being able to provide that simple pleasure for the people that he liked.

His mind went back to the subject of his recent good fortune.

David was delighted when Sue had decided to return to her studies with the Open University and try again for her accountancy qualifications. At home, Sue was running the office, doing the bookwork and taking bookings for the taxi business. She was already a great help to him, and had even acquired her taxi badge, so that she too could drive if circumstances ever required it. Sue explained her decision pointing out that she would soon have more time to spare when the twins started school. She estimated that if she could devote about three hours a day to study, with luck, she would be able to qualify within two years. David knew better than to argue, but did question whether little Emily, now a toddler, might not up take more of her time?

David, she is such a little angel. She is never any trouble. If I put her in her playpen, she sits there watching what I do, and listening to everything I’m saying. I swear she understands all that I’m telling her. I’ve even taken to doing a running commentary on all of my actions just to keep her amused. She never plays with toys like the twins used to. I’ve watched her pick up one of Rita’s dolls, examine it carefully, and then put it to one side. I think she somehow worked out that it was something inanimate, and was therefore of no further interest to her. If I leave her alone in her cot, she doesn’t worry about it. She will just lie down and gaze vacantly up at the ceiling. Sometimes I hear her chuckling to herself and gurgling unintelligibly. She still worries me a bit David, I’m sure there is something not quite right in that tiny little head of hers.

Sue, we’ve been over all this before. Emily is barely a year old. Just look at her. Does she look abnormal in any way? Is she reflecting any of the classic symptoms of autism? I agree that her talking is a bit slow, and sometimes, I too wonder just what goes on in her tiny mind, but I am absolutely sure that we have nothing to worry ourselves about.

She’s teething David, her gums are looking very sore, but she doesn’t cry at all. Okay, she won’t eat anything hard at the moment, that’s understandable, and she’s a bit off with twins, that too. I just can’t quite put a finger on it all, David, but it doesn’t seem right to me, it just isn’t normal child behaviour.

Who are you comparing her to, Sue? The twins? They were a nightmare at her age. Do you recall your frustrations in trying to get Peter to crawl, and to pee in his potty? Or all those sleepless nights when we were trying to get Rita to sleep through, without crying to come in our bed? Yes, of course you do. Does Em do any of those things? The answer is ‘No’ and we should be thankful for it. She is a brilliant child, no trouble at all, but if it will put your mind at rest, let’s try and make an appointment with a child psychologist, or behavioural expert, of some sort. You can’t be concentrating on your studies if you are worrying like this, can you?

I wouldn’t know where to start with anything like that, David. Dr. Salmon I suppose, but I hope she doesn’t think I’m some sort of paranoid mother when I tell her how perfect Emily is. She might make an appointment for me instead.

They chuckled at the thought. David embraced Sue and kissed her tenderly. Emily watched her parents in silence.

You need to develop your language skills Emily. It is important that you begin to communicate verbally.

‘Why do I need to be able to do this Jojo? If I can learn everything from you and we can communicate with each other. I don’t need to be able to speak, do I?’

We are communicating in a way that is no longer possible by most humans, Emily. From your birth, I opened parts of your mind to impart certain knowledge to you, and I made parts of me available for you to access. Yes, we can communicate, but you are reading my thought waves, and that does not require you to learn any particular language. You will be able to understand the thoughts of any human as soon as you can train your mind to lock on to, and interpret, their particular brain wave patterns. But you will still need to develop and master the spoken language skills, in order to communicate normally with others of your kind, Emily. This is something that you can only achieve for yourself, for I cannot help you with this. It is no longer possible for me to speak or communicate in this manner. Your intelligence quotient is already far greater than that of most humans and it is a fairly simple matter for you to learn to use vocal communication. Indeed, it is a skill that every normal human child will learn in the first few years of its life. I sense that your parents are concerned that you are not learning to speak, Emily. We should try and allay their fears, shouldn’t we?

‘Yes all right Jojo, I will try and learn to speak. I love you Jojo, you won’t ever leave me will you?’

I will always be here for you Emily.

Love was something the alien was unfamiliar with. His data banks contained little information on this hitherto little investigated human trait. He recognised only that it was something deeply emotional. His limited encyclopaedic knowledge told him that it was to have a passionate desire, longing, and feeling for something but he was left struggling when trying to comprehend the full meaning of Emily’s words, when they were directed toward him.

His short relationship with this tiny infant humanoid had been interesting up until now. He had enjoyed carefully imparting tiny pieces of knowledge into the very limited capacity of Emily’s mind, but he sensed that there was something else, much larger and beyond even his comprehension, in there as well.

What he didn’t know was that his unique sensory perceptions had, so far, been unable to unlock the complex part of her mind that controlled all her basic feelings. This particular aspect of the brain was part of normal human development. It was to be shaped, nurtured, and guided by all the love and tenderness experienced by the child in her early, formative years.

Long suppressed in his own being, it was the very part of him that was now struggling to emerge. Coupled with it all came the realisation that there was so much more to learn about humans.

Emily sat quietly in her playpen watching Peter and Rita as they played on the floor beside her. The children had an old pack of playing cards all spread out, face down, on the carpet. They were playing a simple game called ‘pairs.’ This involved alternately turning over two cards to make a matching pair. If the player failed to make a pair, the cards would be replaced face down, in the same position. The secret was in remembering where, in the mass of cards, each number was to make the required pair.

Rita was always slightly better at this than Peter, who quickly tired of the game if he couldn’t win occasionally.

David, comfortable with his feet up, was reading his paper, Sue sat at the dining table struggling to concentrate on some boring accountancy textbook. She glanced up at the children as Peter made some accusing comment to his sister.

Come on you two, play quietly, or you can both take it up to your bedroom. Your father and I don’t want to be listening to your incessant bickering all the time.

But she’s cheating, Mum. She knows where all the cards are.

But that is the whole idea of the game, Peter. You must try and remember where you turned them over. Rita can’t be cheating, she is just remembering better than you.

She is cheating, Mum. Emily is telling her. I am playing against both of them, it’s not fair.

That is enough Peter. Emily is only a baby. She cannot possibly be doing what you say. She can’t speak and probably doesn’t even understand the game you are playing.

She does Mum, she tells Rita if it’s the right card by slapping her hands on her legs. It’s not fair, I’m not playing anymore.

Peter got up from the floor and went to sit in front of the TV.

Intrigued, Sue left what she was doing and lifted Emily from her playpen. They sat down with Rita on the floor, Emily between her legs.

Alright little one, let’s see if Peter’s right. Sue turned over a six. There were twenty-nine other cards left to choose from. She moved her hand slowly over the cards watching Emily all the time. As she reached the right hand extremity, Emily slapped her little legs and excitedly and made a happy gurgling sound.

This one Em? You want me to turn this one over? Emily slapped at her legs excitedly. Sue flipped the card over… it was another six.

My God, she did it David, did you see that? Emily did it, she picked the right one. I swear she did it. Clever girl Emily, can you do it again? Watch this David.

David put his paper aside as Sue turned another card face up, this time it was the queen of hearts. Sue slowly moved her hand over the remaining twenty-seven cards while watching Emily all the time. There was no reaction until her hand got back to the face-up card. Emily again slapped enthusiastically at her little knees.

What this one Emily, the card beside, is that the one I should turn over?

Little Emily was beside herself with agitated excitement. Sue flipped the card; it was the queen of clubs. The colour drained from Sue’s face as she gazed incredulously upon her tiny baby.

No, it’s not possible is it David? She’s barely a year old. She can’t be doing that at her age. Tell me its just coincidence.

I don’t know Sue. Here let me have a go with Emily, see if she can do it again, for me this time.

Sue and David changed places on the floor.

Come on Em, do another one for Daddy. David reached forward and randomly turned over the ace of diamonds.

I know that one, let me, let me do it, Dad, squealed Rita excitedly.

Just a minute Rita, we just want to see if Emily can do it. Besides, it’s still her turn, isn’t it.

David moved his hand slowly over the remaining twenty-five playing cards looking all the time for some reaction from Emily, there was nothing. After about half a minute, David turned another card at random, it wasn’t a match. Rita seized the opportunity and quickly matched the ace of diamonds with the ace of spades, but failed on her next go.

There were now twenty-four cards left on the table and it was Emily’s turn again. Sue couldn’t bear not to be involved. She was back on the floor with David and her daughters again.

Come on Em, try and do another one for Mummy. Which card should I turn over first? Sue moved her hand over the cards looking for her baby daughter to do something. There was nothing, no reaction at all. Emily was staring intently ahead, her mind seemingly elsewhere. Sue lifted her over and gently bounced her in her lap whispering her name.

Emily, Emily… Come on baby, play with Mummy now, there’s a good girl. Look at Rita. She wants you to play some more. Which card Emily? Tell me baby…

Emily turned her tiny face and looked into her mother’s eyes. She stretched up her arms obviously seeking a cuddle, as far as Emily was concerned, the game was over.

Have a care Emily. You are displaying behaviour that is not what your parents expect of you. I can see that you are gaining some pleasure from this simple game, but it would be prudent not to show yourself to be too clever. Your parents already sense that you may be slightly different to your siblings. Perhaps it would be wiser not to make your advanced development too apparent until a little later in your life.

‘Oh, Jo-jo, Mummy and Daddy are both enjoying watching me play, they think I am such a clever girl and I like that… Do I have to stop playing?’

Give your Mummy a cuddle Emily, she will like that even more. Demonstrate your affection, it will help to put her mind at rest. If you really want to please your parents, try to concentrate on learning to speak your language. I sense that this particular aspect of your development is causing them some concern.

Emily’s first birthday was celebrated in the traditional way with the single candle being extinguished with a rather wet-blown raspberry. It was a time of great excitement for all the family. Emily, much to the delight of everyone, had suddenly found her tongue. Almost on a daily basis, her vocabulary was increasing, as was her diction and enunciation. Baby words were not for Emily, with the guidance of her delighted parents, she was quickly learning to express herself in the proper way.

David loved to sit with the children, Emily usually on his lap, and read them a bedtime story. As he read the words, he moved his index finger across the page pointing