*
Tim was at the Eastern top of the Walls with an hour of darkness left. He was starting down into the canyon, when he spotted something moving up the far slope from the town below. It was a Sky-bike with Arty on top of it. Tim was well concealed where he was so he just watched, as Arty got to the top of the canyon and started down.
When Arty was out of sight in the canyon, Tim jumped up and hurried down. He made it to the bottom just as it was getting light. As he jumped down into a dry pool, he was startled by Arty’s voice.
“Spent the night out, I see,” Arty said loudly.
Tim stopped dead in his tracks, hunching down, trying to see into the pool below where Arty’s voice had come from. He couldn’t see him, but the pool was only partially visible.
“I was looking for Hal, you know that,” Tim countered.
“Yes, I know. I spent most of the night looking myself,” Arty returned, still out of sight.
“You didn’t find anything then?” Tim asked. I need to keep this conversation civil.
“No, no I didn’t. What happened to your bike?” Arty was getting closer.
“I left it back there, I had a little trouble,” Tim said as he readjusted his right hand weapon to maximum, then moved both thumbs to fire, with both weapons at max.
“You had a little trouble.” Arty was taunting him. “The guy who wants to run everything had a little trouble, and lost his bike too. You must have run into some really tough hombres?”
“I’m not sure who it was, but I thought it was best to get rid of the bike. I didn’t want them to get suspicious.”
“That’s funny, how come it’s here?” Arty asked. “You didn’t want them to know anything, so you let your bike go, and it homes, and comes right back here. Really smart Timmy,” Arty said as he moved into view in the pool below.
“I didn’t set it to come back here, I can’t understand—”
“There’s too much you don’t understand Timmy, that’s why I’m taking over,” interrupted Arty.
“Like hell!” Tim said as he moved toward the split in the rocks, and the force field.
“Don’t mess with me,” Arty snarled. “Just because you’ve got that Number One thing, don’t think it will protect you forever,”
Bingo! I’m still out of Arty’s reach, but for how long? Arty is, no doubt, working hard to figure out how to strip me of my protection. I’m still too much for him, but I have to figure out how to stay that way.
Arty zipped up the dry water chute from the pool below, and into the pool Tim was in.
Tim pointed both hands directly at Arty’s head.
“I’m not going to try to bullshit you because I doubt if it will do any good,” Arty said as he moved between Tim and the force field. “No, I know it won’t do any good. The one thing I will give you, you are smart Timmy boy, and I might add lucky. I can’t imagine how you managed to gain so much power, so quickly, but you did. I still think it would be for the best if you turned it over to me, but you think differently, and I don’t suppose I can change your mind. Be advised though, I am smarter than you, and I will prevail, so maybe you should make it easy on yourself.” Arty turned and moved through the force field without deactivating it.
“Oh shit!” Tim said under his breath as he deactivated the field so he could go through.
The race is on, and Arty just upped the ante.
*
Tim went directly to Donnart-Ele-Io and summoned Et. “How did Arty manage to go through the field without shutting it down?” Tim asked.
“He has devised a molecular dissimulation device for himself,” the computer answered.
“Like the molecular transfer thing I have?”
“Yes, but not as sophisticated as yours.”
“What can he do? Can he transport himself around the base like I can?”
“No, not yet, but he is working on it,” Et said.
“Where is he getting the information? I thought you said you were the only one that could transport anybody?”
“Arty is extremely intelligent, and getting smarter by the moment. He is figuring out things on his own.”
“In a matter of time, will he be able to get down here?”
“I don’t think so.”
“If he figures out how, can you stop him?”
“I think so,” said the computer.
“You think? I think we’d better figure out a way to stop him, permanently.”
“Yes, that would certainly be the best insurance,” the computer agreed.
Chapter 19
Captured
Tim and Ann were outside the base on top of the Walls, on the sloped west side. They had walked a couple hundred yards along the crest and stopped. Tim wanted to talk to Ann out of the base so he could be certain Arty could not eavesdrop on the conversation. Ann had refused the Nowhere Place because she didn’t like the idea of the molecular dissimulator.
“Don’t you think you’re being a little silly?” Ann asked.
“You’re the silly one. Can’t you see what’s happening? He has got you all buffaloed. Dammit, wake up!” Tim was upset, but he was still trying to keep the volume down.
“See what? You don’t know what happen to Sims? He could have had an accident, or he could have run into one of the baddies. A lot of things could have happened to him, and Jake was shot down by missiles. It almost happened to you, remember? Don’t blame everything on Arty.”
“Like hell, Arty got rid of both of them,” Tim said it in a low volume, but the certainty was in the tone he used.
“Oh geez Tim, he’s your brother, how can you say that?”
“He is not my brother, that’s what I’m trying to tell you.”
“He’s some kind of monster, right Tim?” Ann gave him a screwy made to order look.
“Ann, he’s not the old Arty. For christ sakes, just look at him. Do you think he is normal?”
“He needed to do that so he could be free again. I think it’s kind of neat. Besides, it’s still Arty, and he’s just trying to help us,” Ann said calmly.
“Phew, I don’t know how to explain what has me so uptight. It’s just that. . .I don’t know, but he’s got too much power? He’s—”
“You’re the one with all the power,” Ann interrupted. “Arty told me Mr. V is your friend, not his. Aren’t you this Number One dude?”
“Yes, but?”
“But what?”
“Look, can you listen for a minute, please?” Tim looked directly at Ann. “Just listen to me, okay.”
He waited for her to answer, and when she just looked back, he continued.
“When I first came to this place, I didn’t just walk in.” Tim stood up and walked a short distance, then turned. “Ann,” he continued, “somebody killed me right at the entrance.”
Ann snickered.
“Are you going to listen to me, or just pass off what I’m trying to tell you?” Tim begged.
“I’ll listen, if you make some sense.”
“About Arty, this thing he’s done to himself. It has taken anything human about him and changed it. He is not human anymore, he is different,” Tim spoke slow and deliberate.
“Different?” Ann’s tone was sarcastic.
“It’s more than just a head floating along on a machine. There is something wrong, and I’m trying to explain it, but you don’t want to listen,” Tim said getting frustrated.
“Okay, okay, so what’s your story?” Ann said getting tired and giving in.
“My story is that when I died, I—”
Ann snickered again, to interrupt him.
“Look, stop this shit! Tim shouted. “It’s like you haven’t ever been here. I mean, look what’s going on around you now. You’re living in a place that is so far ahead of you it is unimaginable, or maybe unacceptable to you.”
“What about you Timmy, you’re the one that can’t accept anything? You’re the one that is imagining things.”
“What is going through your h
ead? I’m trying to be serious? I’m trying to warn you, and you are playing games. This thing, as I’m trying to explain, is serious.”
“Serious, it was serious, but we’re safe now. No one can hurt us. I, just, don’t, want, to, be, hurt, anymore!” Ann screamed at him.
“That’s the point, you feel safe. Arty is making you feel safe, but he’s not concerned about you. He’s in la-la land. He’s not Arty, he’s the ultimate dictator, he’s the ultimate warrior, all wrapped into one.”
“God, talk about la-la land, Tim you should hear yourself.”
“There’s still something that you don’t understand.”
“And, what is that?”
“Are you going to listen this time?”
“Yes, yes, I’m getting tired of this, really I am. You’re just making too big a thing out of nothing, but, go ahead, if you must.”
“Gee thanks. You know, if something strange hadn’t happened to me, I wouldn’t be so concerned.”
“Well, what is this strange thing Tim, I’m all ears?”
“I died, I really did. You can check with Mr. V if you like. Anyway, he brought me back to life, but as I died I experienced something. It’s hard to explain, but it was like, wow, my brain, my thinking was so free. I didn’t have to waste time with my body, and with all the other bullshit that clouds everyday thinking. The thoughts were so pure, and things I always had trouble figuring out were right there. Everything was so simple, so clear. It is so hard to describe, and it lasted for just a moment, and then I died. When I came back everything was the same as before I was shot. But, for that moment, Ann, I was something different. I didn’t have the same thoughts. I wish I could explain it better.”
“So what has it got to do with Arty?”
“Don’t you see? He doesn’t have the body to worry about. In that little moment, I felt like pure thought. I think Arty is going through the same situation, only his isn’t temporary, it’s permanent, and it scares the hell out of me. I think he’s out of control.”
“But Mr. V wouldn’t let him do anything bad?”
“Mr. V has no control. He’s just doing his job and that is to take care of the base. He’s letting Arty do what he wants, and something smells about all those machines he’s designing.”
“He’s just having fun. You seem to forget what he went through, and you don’t hesitate to play with the machines too.”
“I know, I know, but all those new machines will be automated, and armed?”
“What do you mean automated?” Ann asked.
“They don’t need operators; they can work on their own.”
“So?
“A neat little army of his own, is what I mean.”
“Arty’s not making an army, and even if he is, it’s just to protect us.”
“Protection, you still think he shot that plane down to protect me,” Tim said.
“Yes, and you are being such a jerk about that,” Ann snapped.
“A jerk, Ann, he killed a pilot for nothing! I didn’t need his protection. That pilot was not after me, he didn’t even know I was there, and even if he did, he couldn’t have even gotten close.”
“Oh Mr. big shot, you didn’t need any protection,” Ann said jokingly.
“That is not what I’m saying. I’m saying our TT Fighters are invincible against the ones we ran into. I’m positive I was in no danger, and Arty knew that. I’m telling you he killed that guy for sport.”
“Well, that guy turned after Arty, so it was his own fault, and look what happened to Jake, his plane wasn’t so invincible, was it?”
“Yeah, well, there’s something fishy about that one too.”
“It almost happened to you Timmy, the same damn thing, and you’re telling me that, quote, 'something’s fishy?'”
“Ah boy, I guess I’m just wasting my time here because you’re certain I’m wrong. Well, to be honest, I really do hope I am. I don’t want to see more people disappear.”
“Tim, even if what you say is true, Arty wouldn’t hurt us. If he’s at fault; it’s because he is trying to protect us, that’s all.”
“What about Sims?”
“Oh, Sims was being an asshole. I’ll bet he ran off.”
“And left his family? No, he was too close to them. Something happened to him, I’m sure of it, and I’m just as sure Arty had something to do with it. Sims was not being an asshole, he was just wary of Arty.”
“We need him Tim, because it’s a mess out here. Arty says that it’s us against them. I trust Arty, I don’t trust them. Get my drift?”
“I understand that, but I don’t think you have it right. You’re safe, you think? Ah—” Tim stopped talking and looked to the East.
“I think I—” Ann started to say
“Shush,” Tim interrupted.
“What are you looking for?” Ann asked as she turned to look in the direction Tim was facing.
“Shhhhh, listen.” Tim put his hand up toward Ann’s face to keep her quiet.
“For what?” she said as she pulled her head back away from his hand.
“Listen, hear them?” Tim pointing in a southeasterly direction.
“Hear what?” Ann asked, not looking.
“Helicopters, I can hear helicopters,” Tim said softly.
“Where?” Ann laughed.
“Out there.” Tim pointed out to the Southeast again. “There, there, oh damn, they’re headed straight for us. I wonder what they’re up to?”
“Where, I still don’t see them.” Ann finally looked in the direction Tim was pointing.
“There, down low, just over that peak there, see them? Six of them, and they’re staying low,” Tim said as he hunched down and pointed again.
“Oh yeah, yeah I see them now. Hey, they are coming this way,” Ann said surprised.
“Yeah, let’s get back down. We don’t want to be seen,” Tim said, getting up.
“Oh Tim, you are so strange. You are afraid of everything. They can’t see us.” Ann was giggling.
Tim looked to where he had spotted the helicopters. “I don’t believe you. You’re the one that has to be safe at any cost, and when some danger does show up you don’t recognize it. We are getting out of here now, understand?”
The choppers were still far away, but getting closer. Tim had a hold on Ann’s hand, and was pulling her after him. She was following, but not without putting up a little resistance. “Will you hurry up, we don’t want to be seen,” Tim said.
“I thought you were invincible, why are you in such a hurry?”
“You’re not! So I’m trying to protect you, keep you safe, just like Arty’s trying to do, now move!” Tim gave Ann a hard pull as he looked over his shoulder.
Just above the six helicopters, Tim spotted two other aircraft. He watched them for a couple of seconds as he continued to pull Ann down into the canyon. The two new craft were moving incredibly fast and heading right for the Walls.
A few seconds later, the air around them was disrupted by a horrendous pressure, and an ear busting crash from above them. Tim instinctively dropped into a crack in the rocks, hauling Ann in after him.
Tim poked his head out of the rocks and looked to the Northwest, the spot he knew he would see the retreating jet fighters. The two F-15’s were in a steep climb and would be out of sight in seconds.
There was another blast of pressure and sound from just above their heads as a second pair of planes roared over, again, well above the speed of sound. These two planes had come from the Southwest, and now it was obvious the target of their intentions was the Walls.
Tim pulled Ann out of the crack, ran to the edge of the canyon and started down. They had gotten no more than fifty feet, when a helicopter gun-ship came zooming up the canyon. Tim tried to pull Ann behind a rock, but she was struggling with him, and the helicopter spotted them. It slowed as it moved pass them, turning its nose to point directly at them. The forward momentum of the helicopter was checked and it started to drift back down the can
yon, still pointing toward them.
Tim was pulling Ann along roughly and their descent down the steep rocky slope was swift and erratic.
“Down there!” someone was calling them on a bullhorn from the helicopter. The sound echoed back and forth in the rocks.
“Hello down there. We mean you no harm. Please stop before you hurt yourself. I repeat, please stop! We will help you,” the caller from the helicopter said.
Tim and Ann were sliding, mostly out of control, and were almost to the bottom of the canyon when another black helicopter appeared, coming down the canyon. This one also pointed its nose in their direction as it moved toward them.
“Stop where you are!” a bullhorn on the second ship commanded.
Tim and Ann reached the bottom of the canyon in a heap. They were in the pool immediately above the one that contained the entrance to Timtown.
“Goddamn, I knew it!” Tim exclaimed.
“Knew what?” Ann asked out of breath.
“They know we’re here. Shit, how the hell did they find us?” Tim yelled to be heard above the noise of the two helicopters converging on them.
“They don’t know anything about us, you’re just being paranoid, again,” Ann yelled back.
“Bullshit, that’s the army and they’re looking for ‘us’! I’ll bet you anything,” Tim yelled.
The second helicopter had moved down as far as it could go without putting itself in danger. It hovered a hundred feet above their heads.
“This is Major Warren, and I instruct you both to remain where you are. We are sending people to pick you up. We will transport you to safety. Do you understand?” the voice from the speaker boomed down on them.
“What do we do now?” Ann shouted, as Tim pulled her along the rock wall of the pool toward the next pool down.
“We get back inside, that’s what,” Tim explained.
“What for, they said they want to help us?” Ann yelled as they crawled along the rock wall, headed for the entrance pool.
“What do you think is going to happen when they start to wonder what we’re doing up here? We look like we’re in pretty good shape, considering what’s been going on lately, and I don’t want to explain where I got this suit of armor I’m wearing.”
They had made it to the crevasse that went into the mountain and into Timtown.
“What if they can take us someplace safe? Maybe just like it used to be? Oh Tim, I want to go home. Please, I don’t want to spend the rest of my life inside a mountain. Think about it? They aren’t going to hurt us. I’m sure, and we can lie about what we’ve been doing up here. We’re just kids; they’ll believe us, please!” Ann’s face was turned up to his, and her eyes were pleading with him.