Greg Krojac - The Schrödinger Enigma

“We’d better check the boots.”

“Why do we need to check our boots?”

“The car boots. The trunks of the cars.”

“Ah. Why didn’t you say so?”

Jason gave a sigh. There would always be the occasional confusion between British and American speakers of the same language.

The car boots were checked and everything appeared to be ok, so the small band of men, women, and one child started to edge their way past the obstruction, only a couple of feet from the side of the bridge.

Suddenly, confusion reigned as three Argon warriors leapt over the guardrail. Two of them grabbed Sitara and Miriam, each holding one of the women under an arm, as easily as a child might carry a teddy-bear, while the other threw punches at nearby Marines who had instinctively turned to try and prevent the kidnap. It was all over in a flash, and the three aliens threw themselves into the waters of the Potomac, disappearing from view.

The two women were suddenly aware of being dragged underwater. They struggled as best they could, fighting both their captors and the panic that being hauled underwater was provoking. Each woman had a large palm clasped over her mouth, while stubby fingers pinched their noses closed. The Argons were highly efficient swimmers, and the speed at which they swam underwater to a bank further down the river, was the only thing that prevented the women from drowning.

The nine who were left on the bridge were frozen in shock for a moment, before they were aware of Jonas shouting at them to run. Samuel was beside himself.

“We can’t leave them. We can’t leave my sister.”

As the others ran to the Arlington side of the bridge, Jason turned round and ran back to where the stricken young Amish man was standing. He grabbed Samuel’s arm and half-dragged him off the bridge to where the rest of the group was now tucked behind a bush. He held Samuel’s by the shoulders and looked him in the eye.

“We’re not leaving the girls behind, Samuel. Not Miriam. Not Sitara. If they’d meant to kill them, they would have done so. We’ll get them back. I promise.”

Siroll joined the two men.

“Jason is correct, Samuel. They have been taken, not killed. We’ll get them back”

Samuel knew that the main reason he and his sister were still alive, was because of Jason and Enak. He trusted the men. If anyone could get the girls back, it was these two guys.

The three Argons and Jason moved a few yards away from the rest of the group and began to prepare a whispered plan. Jason needed to know what they were up against.

“Why did they kidnap the girls instead of killing them? Or the rest of us, come to that?”

Siroll felt uncomfortable telling Jason of the fate that awaited Miriam and Sitara, but there was no way to sugar-coat it.

“They will be auctioned off and become the sex slave of whoever buys them. Argon women are treated little better, but at least there is an element of choice about whom we spend our lives with. We are allowed two refusals to marry, but if a third man wishes to marry us – we have no choice and become our new husband’s property. Captured women don’t even have a choice. Eled, Enak, and myself are disabled in the eyes of Argon society. We care about others. We have compassion. But remember, we are the exception, not the rule.”

Eled continued.

“There is a waiting period of three days while invitations to bid are distributed to the most revered warriors, and the women are examined to determine their menstrual cycles. A menstruating woman is deemed a particularly fine prize, so, if she is approaching the time that she will bleed, the sale is sometimes delayed. I know it does not sound like it, but that’s a good thing. If that is the case with either Sitara or Miriam – preferably both – that may give us a little more time.”

Jonas shook his head.

“We can’t leave them with the Argons for a second longer than we need to.”

Enak had an idea.

“I have thought of a way to rescue them, but we will need help from one of the nurses.”

Jason didn’t like the sound of that, but Enak continued to explain his plan.

“You have seen how Argon men carry your females under one arm, as if they weighed nothing? Do not forget that Eled and I are also Argon. We possess the same strength. If we can get into where the women are being held, we can carry them away just as they were when they were taken from us.”

Jason thought for a minute.

“It may work. But how will you get close enough?”

“I suggest that Eled and I steal the uniforms of two sentries – there will only be two, I’m sure. They will be complacent as they think that you humans are beneath them and that you pose little threat. The next part of the plan is the part that I do not like, and you will hate. We will take one of the nurses with us, as an act of deception to make them think that we have captured another female to sell.”

Jason shook his head.

“You’re right. I don’t like it. It’s too much to ask someone to do. We could end up with three women being sold into slavery.”

Siroll nodded.

“I know it is horrible. But it is our best chance. We do not know how much time we have. And Enak and Eled will not let any harm come to the nurse.”

Jason still wasn’t sure.

“Will they be safe overnight?”

Siroll nodded. “They will not be treated particularly well, but they will be safe. Their captors will not wish to damage their merchandise. They are safe for tonight, anyway.”

Jason reluctantly agreed to the plan.

“Where do you think they’re being kept?”

Enak pointed at a ten-storey building nearby. Jason scrambled over to one of the Marines.

“Marine Geek. What’s that building over there?”

“The hotel?”

“Yes. The Marriott Hotel”

“That’s the Key Bridge Marriott Hotel.”

“Do you know anything about it?”

“I know some.”

“Tell the Argons anything you know.”

Jason then moved across to where the two nurses were reminiscing about safer times.

“Hi girls. Sorry to interrupt, but Enak has a plan to rescue Sitara and Miriam. The only problem is that we need your help. And it’ll be dangerous.”

Both women, US Marine Corps Nurses, were eager to help, but the rescue mission only needed one of them. For a few seconds there was a little light relief as the choice was made by the result of a best-of-three battle of rock-paper-scissors. Jason returned to Siroll.

“Roberta has volunteered to help with the rescue. Will the girls be safe during the night?”

“Yes. As I said, they will not want to damage the merchandise. They will be kept in a room inside a charged plasma containment bubble.”

“What’s that? Some kind of force field?”

“I do not know what you would call it, but probably.”

“How can Enak and Eled get the girls out, if they’re trapped by force fields?’

“Do you remember the implement I used to repair the damaged arm of Eled?”

“Yes?”

“The tool is very versatile. Mine is out of energy now, but both Eled and Enak still have theirs. They can use them to break the force field.”

Now he knew more details, it sounded a very good plan to Jason. It had to be – it was the only plan they had.

“OK. Let’s do it. First thing tomorrow morning, as long as the girls will be safe. Today’s been hard. It’ll be better for all concerned if we start afresh tomorrow. We’ll sleep hidden from view under one of the bridge’s arches tonight.”

In a room in the Key Bridge Marriot Hotel, Sitara and Miriam were comfortable on the large double bed in a King’s Guest Room. As holding cells go it was luxurious, and even had a great view. The door wasn’t even locked, as Sitara soon discovered when she went to leave and bounced back off an invisible wall. Miriam sighed.