Greg Krojac - The Schrödinger Enigma

The rain started falling harder as they approached the entrance of the tunnel. Normally, they would have seen a concrete tube, sparsely lit by the lamps that were lined up at regular intervals along the walls. They would have perhaps seen the lights and heard the whine of an approaching or disappearing train. But they felt a little tense as they left the daylight to enter the dark abyss. Suddenly the tunnel was dimly illuminated as Jason switched on his flashlight.

“You may have the eyesight of a cat, Enak, but we don’t. We’ll feel better seeing where we’re going.”

Enak nodded and this time accepted the offer of Miriam’s flashlight, switching it on and allowing its beam to reach into the darkness.

The seven advanced, keeping well away from the third rail, each of them occasionally looking behind them as daylight gradually disappeared from view. Ruth tightened her grip on her husband’s hand. She had never been in a situation like this before, being used to the open spaces of the farm and the Amish community. Now wasn’t the best time to discover that she was claustrophobic, but she trusted in God to help her through this ordeal.

Very soon any remaining illumination had disappeared and the only light they had was from the flashlights, making everyone except Enak a little more nervous. They edged their way slowly along the tunnel, placing all their faith in the Argon and Jason to keep them out of trouble, Ruth holding Jacob’s hand and Miriam holding her brother Samuel’s hand. All four of them felt a need for both human and family contact to calm their nerves. [36] — [37] break this up Sitara would have loved to hold Jason’s hand – for security purposes of course – but he couldn’t afford to be distracted from protecting their rear, so she gritted her teeth and walked steadily along the tunnels, masking her fear with fake bravado. Jason sidled up behind her and whispered in a hushed tone low enough that the others couldn’t hear.

“It’s ok to be nervous. I’m nervous too. But I’m right behind you. I won’t let anything happen to you – to us.”

This made Sitara feel a little better, although she was disappointed that he had noticed just how nervous she was. She thought she had been hiding it quite well.

Each time they approached a station – Congress Heights, Anacostia, Navy Yard, and Waterfront – brought a new risk. Of course, they were walking into the unknown with every step between stations too, but as the tunnel opened up to reveal each station, it also opened up the possibilities of an ambush. Having successfully negotiated their way past the four stations, their next destination was L’Enfant Plaza, a major subway intersection where they would have to change tunnels and follow either the Orange Line or the Silver Line to McPherson Square. They would then have to walk the rest of the route to The White House above ground.

As they neared L’Enfant Plaza, Enak suddenly raised his hand and put a finger of his other hand to his lips. The group following him waited silently as he whispered.

“Stay here. I am sure I just saw a narrow beam of light crossing our path, at about knee height. We have to be careful not to disturb it. It could be trap or, at best, it could set off an alarm.”

Enak moved forward and very deliberately stepped over an invisible obstacle. He waved Jacob forward.

“I am going to guide your leg over the light beam.”

Jacob looked at where Enak was pointing to but saw nothing.

“What light beam Enak? I can’t see anything.”

“You cannot see it, but I assure you that it is there. The light frequency is outside of your spectrum of visibility. I apologise in advance for the physical contact, but there is no other choice.”

Enak put one hand underneath the man’s thigh, while Jacob placed a hand on Enak’s shoulder.

“Jacob, when you feel the pressure of my hand lifting your leg, raise your other leg towards your chest and I will lift you up, turn and place you on this side of the obstacle. Do you understand?”

“Yes. I understand, Enak. Pressure. Lift other leg. Got it.”

With one swift movement, Jacob was on the other side of the light beam. Jacob was impressed.

“Praise the Lord, you really are strong. You picked me up as if I were a child.”

Samuel was next, and the operation was executed with similar ease and precision. Then it was the turn of Miriam. She was both nervous and a little excited by what was about to happen. Enak apologized in advance and placed his right hand under her left thigh. She gave a gasp and put her left hand on the Argon’s right shoulder. She was lifted in the air in a motion that made her feel like a ballerina, before gently landing on the other side of the beam, enjoying the tingling sensation that her body was now experiencing.

Only Ruth and Jason remained. Ruth walked forward and prepared to be lifted over the obstruction. She looked at Jacob as Enak explained what he was going to do, and her husband nodded to her that it was going to be alright. The Argon placed his hand under her thigh and started to lift her, just as he had all the others, but suddenly she wriggled free.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. But only my husband has touched me there.”

Jason rushed forward and led her to the other side of the beam, knowing that there was no point in holding back now – the beam was already broken. The important thing was to be prepared for anything that might happen next.

The silence was profound as they waited in the darkness, their flashlights switched off. They couldn’t even see their hands in front of their faces. They heard whispers from the darkness, but far too quiet to make out what they were saying. Was it English or some other strange alien language? He had no idea what the natural language of the Argon sounded like, but Jason was certain that he’d be able to recognise a human tongue. Suddenly they were blinded by the glare of a trio of flashlights. A voice punctured the silence.

“Put down your weapons and identify yourselves.”

The dazzling light was moved slightly away from the group’s eyes, allowing the seven to at least make a semblance of seeing who was blocking their path, even if they were only silhouettes. The voice repeated its order.

“This is Gunnery Sergeant Lavisser, of the 1st Battalion, 10th United States Marine Corps. Identify yourselves and put down your weapons.”

Jason motioned to the others to do as they were told.

“My name is Jason, Jason Green. We’re a small group of survivors, trying to make our way to the White House, the PEOC room.”

“Why would you want to go there?”

“We were hoping we might make contact with other groups of survivors, here in Washington D.C. or maybe even in other states.”

“I can tell you now, Mr. Green, there’s no point in trying to get to the White House. It’s in enemy hands.”

Sergeant Lavisser noticed Enak at the back of the group, trying to look as inconspicuous as a five foot six inch stocky Argon could.

“Is that an Argon you have there?”

Jason was surprised to hear the Gunnery Sergeant call Enak’s species by name.

“It is.”

“Prisoner or friendly?”

“He’s with us, he’s a friend.”

“Mr. Argon, would you mind stepping to the front of your group please, so that I might take a better look at you?”

Enak made his way to the front. A voice called out from the darkness.

“Alemal. It is Enak! It is Enak!”

A female Argon moved into the light.

“ Ej, in ilewk, Enak ?”

“ Oidn, in ilewk imim, Alemal .”

The sergeant gave a diplomatic cough.

“Please, guys. We humans don’t have those translator gizmos that you Argon folks have.”