"Of course. I didn't make him come, he did that on his own and I have told him not to do it again." She looked at him. "Wait, did anything happen to him?"
"No. No one else noticed he was gone."
"That is a relief. I guess in your new position of Forest Sector Leader you know everything that happens down here regardless of who the Overseer is."
"Yes, my Manager is also on vacation."
"And he left you in charge?"
"Yes."
"In addition to everything else? That is probably a lot of work."
Ickcy swayed. "It is. I shouldn't even be spending any time down here talking with you."
"I would miss that. I hope it doesn't happen," she said.
Ickcy looked toward the lake. "Do you have the vegetables for barter?"
"Oh, yes, let me get those for you."
Of course he couldn't tell her about her dismal future. What would be the point? He didn't want to make her anxious, and depressed.
Chapter 24
Back on the ship Ickcy thought about it. He had decided to go along with things until he could come up with some plan. He called Mckcy into his office and put on The Manager Crown.
"Sir?" she asked as she appeared at his open door.
She was back to being the employee and that would make it easier for him to be the boss. "I have the vegetables from Subject #78 for the barter with Subject #22."
"Oh, you went down and saw her?"
"Yes. I believe you are scheduled to go to the Forest Village today?"
She swayed. "Yes."
"Mckcy, I have not been informed officially of any changes so we will proceed as usual."
She looked at him with dismay. "I just thought you might be looking into alternatives. Isn't there something that we can do to prevent it from happening?"
"This issue is being decided way above our pay grade. There is nothing we can do. Was there anything else?"
"No, I? No there is nothing else." She turned to leave.
"Mckcy, remember we are the Overseers. The humans depend on us doing our jobs."
"Yes," she said but her eyes were full of disappointment when she looked at him.
He went by Dr. Lctch's office and saw her sitting at her desk. Surprisingly, she was staring out into space and not at the screen on her desk.
He walked in. Being The Manager now meant he didn't have to whistle at any door and that gave him more confidence.
"There you are," she said. "My 'favorite' Overseer and I see you are the provisional Manager." She was not sullen, but she was not happy either.
"Good afternoon Dr. Lctch."
"I was just sitting here thinking about my work. My ground breaking work that will affect so many of our lives."
"You do not seem happy about it."
"Not as excited as I thought I would be. Did you hear about Subject #78?"
"No." He wanted to hear it from her.
"They are going to dissect her brain. The board has determined that will validate my results even more. They have to be sure, before they give me the award."
"So they will kill her," he said impassively.
"I guess that is the down side."
"Well, it should be interesting. She does possess a very unique mind. I have found that through my conversations with her."
That grabbed Dr. Lctch's attention. "So you have spent time talking with her often?'
He explained about the barter. "In a village the barter comes naturally, but for the Subjects in the Alone Project, we have to help. Most humans cannot provide everything for themselves."
She looked like she understood.
"There is also the transference factor," said Ickcy.
"What transference?"
"The reason Subject #78 demanded I be present when you did your experiments is because she trusts me. She has empathy with me and trust my decisions, almost like a friend."
"Really? That is fascinating. The human has bonded with you? Your Manager was not clear when he asked for you to be present the second time. This may be the first case of this psychological phenomenon."
"Hmm, of course I don't know how it will show up in the dissected brain. I don't have a High degree in Humanity after all.
Chapter 25
As The Manager, Ickcy was invited to attend the meeting of the other groups. He had been informed a special meeting of the Board of Experimenters was going to take place and that Dr. Lctch had made a request to speak.
The meeting was about to start when he walked in and sat down. He noticed several of his fellow coworkers whispering to each other. Normally The Manager of the Overseers did not come to these meetings.
Of course the situation was not normal.
The board asked Dr. Lctch to stand. The board was seated on a platform; each member had their names etched on a plate in front. All he could see from his seat was a bunch of bold letters indicating their various High degrees. Their names were squeezed in a smaller font to fit in the remaining space.
"Dr. Lctch, we are surprised you have requested to address this board," said one of the board members.
"Yes," said another. "You know that the paperwork will take time. Asking about it will not make things go any faster."
"Sirs, that is not the reason for my request. I have come across some information which may be of interest regarding Subject #78."
"That interest is the reason for the dissection," the board member harumphed.
Ickcy was amazed that someone could be more dismissive than Dr. Lctch.
"I would like to delay the dissection," said Dr. Lctch.
"Why on Neubulis would you do that?" asked the first board member.
She glanced at Ickcy. "I have some new information which needs to be verified. If we dissect her brain, it will be lost."
"What is this new information?" asked the second board member.
"I rather not say, until I can verify it."
"Well I find this very irregular," said another.
"Dr. Lctch you understand we have requested a very unique procedure in your behalf. For you to get the highest distinction we award, we must have more data on your Subject. We feel that can only be garnered through a dissection."
Dr. Lctch swayed, and looked corrected. She looked like he had when he went to visit her those first times. "I understand that sirs, and I appreciate the extra scrutiny."
"So?" asked a board member.
"I still would like a little more time, if possible, of course."
One of the board members tsk tsk-ed in a disapproving manner.
"If my theories are correct, the findings will be worth any delays," said Dr. Lctch.
"I think we will have to consider this off-line," said the first board member. "We will let you know of our result in five days."
"Five days?" asked Dr. Lctch. "Can I start my investigation in the mean time?"
"No, absolutely not. Her brain is just like we want it, if you start whatever you are thinking of doing, there may be some contamination. We can't have your experiment affect the larger one. This Subject is no longer just yours, it is ours."
Ickcy allowed himself a small smile. It had gone better than he could have hoped. They were not going let Dr. Lctch experiment on Suki and they were going to delay the dissection. It gave him a little more time to think things through, once his plan was in action there would be no turning back.
Chapter 26
Ickcy finally had time to visit Subject #5. He took the shuttle down close to the Forest Village. He knew which house she lived in. It was one of the oldest houses in the village, just like its occupant. He whistled at the door and waited.
He could have walked right in, humans were not supposed to have any privacy, but seeing that Subject #5 was dying, some decorum seemed right.
"Come in," said a feeble voice from inside.
Ickcy did.
"Oh, hello Manager," said Subject #5.
Of course, thought Ickcy, she probably thought it was The Manager comin
g to visit, and in this case she was right, although The Manager was different.
"Hello," he answered.
The old woman peered at him over his spectacles. "You are not the same as the last time."
"That is correct. My boss, The Manager, took a vacation and I am now the temporary Manager. I came to see how you are doing?"
"I'm still alive," she sighed.
"Do you need anything?"
"I need to go back to Earth," she smiled. "I dream of it almost every night. You know I have family there."
Probably not any more, thought Ickcy. Subject #5 had been with them almost fifty years and she had come to the planet in her late twenties.
"I know you are thinking I am old and there is no one left for me on Earth."
Ickcy didn't reply.
"Well, I had a child."
That was a surprise, the humans brought to Planet Humex were not supposed to have any children. "A child?"
"Yes, I told your boss and the one before him. I had a child and left him to be raised by my parents. I was young and irresponsible and they were able to give him things I couldn't. It was supposed to be a temporary situation until I matured a bit."
It was an unusual situation and Ickcy could see how they would have missed something like that. "What did The Manager say?"
"He said he was looking into it and would come up with a solution to my request soon," said the old woman. "And then he went on vacation."
And left him with another problem, thought Ickcy.
"There are two things I can discern from this, one, your boss was not serious about his offer or, two, and I think this is true, he figured you could provide the solution. Maybe that is why he sent you."
Ickcy smiled. This old woman was as smart as an Urtl. (Reader: an Urtl is one of the smartest animals in Neubulis. It looks a bit like a cross between ferret and fox.)
"What is your name?" he asked.
"I've been told my number is 5, but if you want to know my real name it is Matilda."
"Okay, Matilda, I am the temporary Manager, but for the next days I can do whatever The Manager can. I will look into your request."
She turned away and looked disillusioned. "Sure."
"I promise you Matilda I will tell you something soon."
She looked at him again. "Even if it is bad news?"
"Wouldn't you rather know?"
"Yes, absolutely yes," she said. "You finally get it. I am old and don't want to be led on. I can't keep hoping for this to happen if there is no possibility it will."
Chapter 27
Suki saw him carrying two bottles. He walked slowly towards the cabin, as if he didn't really want to.
"Hi Ickcy," she greeted him.
"Hello Suki."
"This is a surprise, I did not think you were coming down so soon. Especially since you are so busy with your three jobs."
"This is important. Let's sit down."
They sat in their usual chairs facing the lake.
"Here," he gave her one of the bottles.
"What is this? Is it the chemical you put in my water?"
"No. The humans across the lake make it and call it moonshine. It's kind of a nice name."
"Liquor?" She was surprised. "Is it a gift?"
"I want you to drink it."
She smiled. "I don't usually drink anything stronger than wine or beer. The last time I did I ended up here."
"I don't have any of those. I could only get moonshine," he sounded serious.
"Are you drinking moonshine as well?"
"It's our version of moonshine and yes I plan to. I have some disturbing news for you."
She held onto the bottle realizing that maybe it would help.
He told her what was planned for her brain. "I'm sorry," he said at the end.
"Dissection. My brain, my life, oh," she sighed. "When is it supposed to happen?"
"In five days."
"And you told them I was not alone?"
"Yes. I tried all kinds of things, but no one is listening. We might not have many of your negative feelings, like jealousy or greed, but we do have professional pride and stubbornness, especially the Experimenters. They are convinced this is the only way to find out why you are so different."
She smiled wistfully and watched the lake quietly. Then she opened the bottle. "Vive la difference," she said sarcastically as she took a gulp. "Look where the difference has brought me."
It didn't matter whether she drank hard liquor or not, whether she destroyed brain cells or not. She told Ickcy about it.
"The liquor destroys human brain cells?" he asked thoughtfully.
"The alcohol does," she answered and then realized what he was thinking. "Do you think they will want my brain with cells destroyed?"
"How much liquor do you have to ingest to affect your brain?"
"More than this bottle and if I did destroy my brain, what kind of person would be left?"
"You are right it is not worth it. I have a better plan," said Ickcy, "and it does not involve, liquor."
"Really?"
"I was responsible in getting you in this mess and I feel I should help you get out." He took off his space suit glove. She saw two long fingers and he put one into the bottle.
She watched, temporarily distracted from her plight. "You drink through your finger?"
"Yes, we use our mouths only for speech."
"That seems strange."
"Well we never choke when we talk and eat."
That was better; she nodded. "So, you have plan?"
"There is a small transport that is used sometimes for inter-planet travel. As The Manager, I have access to it. It can only accommodate a few passengers, but its range should be enough to take us to Earth."
Suki's eyes opened wide. "Earth?" she whispered.
"I think I could take you there. You would be safe."
"That would be wonderful. I could hug you."
"Well, that may be a little ?" he stopped and it looked he had seen something behind her.
"So this is what I find," said a voice. She turned around and saw it was Enrico.
"Enrico? What are you doing here?"
"Obviously I was not expected. I missed you and I thought it would be romantic to come see you. Now I know the real reason why you didn't want me to come to the cabin. You have your alien lover here, all friendly and cozy."
"Enrico, you have it all wrong. This is Ickcy and he is my friend."
"A friend?" said Enrico implying something else.
"Well I see a problem with you being friends," said another voice coming from the other side of the porch. It was a white suit. "You are not supposed to be friends with the Subject, sir."
"Mckcy, why are you here?" asked Ickcy.
"I saw Subject #30 leave the village in a hurry. There was no need to follow him, because I knew exactly where he was going. I got here before he did and I heard everything."
"Everything?" asked Ickcy.
Mckcy swayed. "All of it."
"What do you think?" asked Ickcy.
"I think we need to discuss it on the way back to the ship, away from these two," said Mckcy. She turned to Enrico. "Get back to the village now and there will be no repercussions."
Enrico glared at her, but he nodded slightly. "I will go straight away. There is nothing for me here."
"Ickcy?" Suki still had so many questions about what was going to happen.
"Don't worry Suki, we'll figure it out," he said and he joined the other white suit walking towards the forest. She heard them talking in their own language.
She turned to find Enrico's hostile look. "Well I'm leaving as well Suki. I hope I never see you again."
"Enrico, please, you have to believe that he is really just a good friend."
"It's hard to believe you. There has to be more."
She thought about telling him about the dissection, but she didn't want his pity. She wanted him to trust her word. "You don't trust me, so I guess you are rig
ht. It is good-bye."
Enrico turned and headed towards the lake. She could see the canoe that had brought him bobbing near the end of the dock.
She watched him get in the canoe and paddled away. There goes a guy she might have cared for, she thought, as she took another swig of the moonshine. She sat down again and thought that was the least of her worries. Her life would be over unless Ickcy could figure out something and she couldn't do anything about it. She took another sip. At least Ickcy had been right about one thing, moonshine was a nice name.
Ickcy was concerned. He did not know how Mckcy was going to react. So far, as they walked back to the shuttle, she was talking about Subject #30.
"He does not mean to be a problem, but he is very driven. Just the other day," she said and he stopped listening.
Mckcy could report him and that would be the end of his plans to save Suki. There were not many days left to come up with anything else. Suddenly he became aware that Mckcy had stopped walking. They were out of the human's sight.
"I need to tell you something," she said.
He swayed slightly.
"I could hug you too," she said.
"What?'
"I think your offer to take Suki to Earth was one of the nicest things I've heard. I was trying to figure out how to save her, and I couldn't think of anything. Your idea is ? I think it could work."
"Really? It was the last possible thing I could think of."
"I also heard you got several more days before the dissection."
"Officially, Dr. Lctch got a few more days. Sadly, they are still going to go through with it." Ickcy told her how he tried to convince Dr. Lctch that questioning a living brain was so much more informative than doing a dissection and although she had agreed, the Board of Experimenters had not. They would not be persuaded.
"I have heard the board is like that. So do you know how to pilot a transport to Earth?"
"I've never done it before, but I have seen it done, on the trips back home."
"Hmm, those are shorter trips."
"Yes, but it should be the same principle."
"I want to go with you."
"Do you have piloting experience?"
"Actually yes," said Mckcy. "I took classes when I was hoping to travel through the galaxy. My family convinced me to change my degree and become an Overseer instead."
"Mckcy, why would you sacrifice your career and position to help a human?"
"Why do you do it?"
"I feel responsible for her. Part of what she did she did without knowledge. "
"Part, but not all. Even when you warned her about the two mile limit, she still went beyond."
"I know. It turns out humans do no like to be alone. It shows me that their drive to be with each other is greater than the possible consequences," he paused. "I also like her and don't want her dead."