Bea Cannon - A Small Gray Dot

“Do you want a chaser? I have juices and sodas…”

“No, sir. This is fine,” I said reaching for a glass.

Morgan grabbed a glass and held it up. “Just the whiskey, Doctor.”

We sat in silence as we drank. Dr. Bennett broke it with a sigh.

“This adds a different aspect, Tennessee. The Binqua not only planned to take advantage of the Event but made their preparations far in advance.” He sat silent for another moment, then said, “I should tell you that I’ve also learned how they’ve managed to have so much merchandise on hand.”

I frowned. “What do you mean? When I saw their buildings, I knew they couldn’t be manufacturing all the goods they distribute but I assumed they have a lot of suppliers.”

“I thought that was the case, also, before I hired on with them. Afterward, I discovered they do have a few suppliers, but then, I began to notice how much more merchandise seemed to go out than come in. I couldn’t fathom how that could be until last week. In going through Henderson’s files, I saw a different machine of which they have a number in the backs of all the warehouses. Most of the items the Binqua sell come from those devices. They are replicators.”

Morgan stared. “What do you mean “replicators”?

Again, I was hearing something incredible but I thought I knew. “Remember those old science fiction series and movies before the Event?” At her nod I continued. “Do you recall the ones with plots about technology that instantly created food or drinks or other items?” I saw it dawn on her. I nodded. “Yes. It’s like that.” I looked at the doctor. “Right?”

He smiled. “Yes, it is. Only, for the Binqua that technology is fact. I don’t presume to know how it works but it does, and they turn out many goods with it. I believe that over the years they captured images from our television broadcasts and programmed the replicators to produce the actual items. They could likely reproduce anything they want – except water. They don’t seem to be able to make that. It’s probably why they’ve bought so much of ours. A certain amount comes in by way of supply trunks but I think they have somehow tapped into a supply somewhere and are also stealing it. Perhaps it is another way they’re using the anomaly. On the other hand they reproduce fossil fuels and glut the market.

“I have learned that they created an underground pipeline from their premises. They have a replicator that constantly pushes it out and through this pipe, though how they got it underground without anyone noticing is a mystery. It goes to that refinery and storage facility out on the west side and tanker trucks load up and take it all over.”

I looked at the very good scotch whiskey we were drinking. It tasted like the real thing. “Did this come from them?”

He smiled again. “No, it didn’t. I have a stock from before the Event and this came from that. Still, the items they reproduce can’t be told from the originals.” He leaned forward peering keenly at us.

I thought he was getting ready to hit us with more information. I braced myself. I was not looking forward to hearing more disturbing shit.

He apparently saw that because he said, “It’s late. Morgan, I know you’re anxious to see your sister but I believe you need to rest before taking the trip you’ll have to make to get out of here without the guards seeing you. Tennessee, you could use some rest, too. It’s safe here and I have plenty of room. Stay tonight and leave tomorrow.” He sighed. “I would try and take you out in my car but I don’t think that will work since they’re bound to be looking for Morgan and will check every car that leaves.”

I glanced at my watch. I was startled to see it was after eleven. Time flies when you’re having fun. The doctor made a good point. They would definitely be looking for Morgan. We would have to cross the strip and that wasn’t going to be easy even with rest. We’d have to remain until nightfall the next day but that was preferable to taking Morgan across the strip without getting some sleep.

I nodded. “You’re right though I need to check with Madison first to see if she’s had any trouble.”

Morgan, who’d had two drinks to my one, was quiet as we went back to the phones in the lab where I spoke with Madison and learned that, so far, things were quiet. I advised her of our plans and she and Morgan talked for a few minutes. Then, Dr. Bennett showed us a closet where we hung our coats before he led us upstairs. There were five bedrooms and he invited us to choose which we wanted to use. Morgan went into one, I took the one beside hers.

I stripped and climbed into the shower of the bathroom that came with the room. The drink had calmed me but as the water poured down, my mind kept jumping back to everything I’d heard that night. I dried off and fell into the comfortable bed. The one thing I needed to do first was get Morgan back to Madison. Then I could make some concrete plans.

I didn’t know how, but I was going to do my damnedest to help stop those assholes. I supposed notifying the authorities would be a place to start. Of course, they would have to be convinced but if I had to kill an alien and drag the carcass to them, I would gladly do so. With that thought, I drifted off to sleep.

I awakened to chimes and as my sleep fogged brain cleared, I realized it was the doorbell. I glanced at the window. Still dark. I reached over and dragged my watch from the nightstand. I hit the little light button and peered at it. One-fifteen a.m. No wonder I felt so groggy. I’d been asleep for barely an hour. Good news seldom showed up that time of night so I slid from bed and pulled on my pants and shirt. I eased from the room and made my way over the carpeted floor. I stood quietly at the top of the stairs, listening.

The doctor had already gotten to the door and opened it.

“Why, hello Terrance,” he said, his voice gravelly with sleep and sounding surprised. “What are you doing out this time of night? You should be in bed.”

A nervous young voice said, “I just come by to tell you somethin’. Can I come in?”

“Uh, all right.”

I heard the door close. The voice sounded familiar but I couldn’t place it.

“All right, son, what is it?”

“I just wanted to tell you that th’ lady what was here last night was tryin’ to git outta th’ entry an’ th’ guards took her. I don’t know why they wanted her but I heard one of ‘em say he was taking her to Mr. Bedlow. I wouldna come but she was hollerin’ an’ kickin’ like she didn’t wanna go with him an’ then he hit her an’ she fell. I think he knocked her out. Then he put her in that jeep they use.” He took a breath. “I thought you might wanna know, since she was here an’ all, so maybe you could go an’ put in a word to Mr. Bedlow an’ spring her. You know, like you did for me.”

What? I spun around, and quickstepped to Morgan’s door and threw it open. I switched on the light. The bed was undisturbed, and the room was empty. I spotted a scrap of paper on the bed pillow, and snatched it up: “Dear Mr. Murray, thank you for all your help. Thank the doctor for me, but I’ve got to get out of here and I don’t want to wait ‘til tomorrow night. You told me how not to get lost so I’m going to slip past the guardhouse. It’s dark and they won’t see me. I’ll call you in the morning.”

Shit.

Madison said she wasn’t impulsive and perhaps ordinarily she wasn’t, but, judging from the fact that she’d gone off with Talbert after drinking and now this, apparently she was quite impulsive after a couple of drinks. Damn. Didn’t the doctor have an alarm system?

I jammed the note into my pocket, went back out, and bounded down the stairs.