Future Writer Chapter 19 (5 pages)

Chapter 19

As I was contemplating what to use as a common enemy, I looked down to the newspaper which was open to entertainment page. On that page was an advertisement for Star Wars. That's it! I'd have creatures from outer space be the common enemy. I went to the ledger and I updated what had happened in great detail. When I came to the part about Alexia's death, I had to stop. The pain was too much. Every time I placed the quill to the paper I began thinking on the great times we shared rather than writing down what had happened. I knew that to leave anything out would completely change the story. Word, through painful word, I wrote until Alexia's fate was determined. I had to stop writing after that. It wasn't until the following day that I was able to continue. When I reached the present time I began drawing blanks on how an intergalactic confrontation should occur. At that moment I remembered my grandfather using Clancy let his imagination soar. So I blindly let Clancy lead the way. The next day it happened just that way. I turned on the television to hear the news broadcast.

"I'll repeat that, Two unidentified flying objects has been detected over the Atlantic Ocean. The President has declared a state of yellow alert. If you have a shelter, go there at once. Military and civil defense are doing all that they can. If at all possible keep clear of the streets. Military and Civil Defense vehicles must have the streets clear..... "

I called in to work. Nobody was there. I scanned the channels to find out all that I could. I could hear sirens in the distance.

"Are these the flying objects that Clancy wrote about or did somebody actually launch missiles?" I thought to myself.

Television: "... There is unconfirmed talk of Russia's defense system is also in the ready position with allegations that we launched our missiles first. At this stage nobody at the White House has confirmed or denied whether these two UFO's are actually missiles, however, nobody is waiting to find out. As you can see behind me there are..."

"I sure hope that this is just Clancy's space travelers," I thought.

"... For those just tuning in, early warning detection systems have reported two unidentified flying object over the Atlantic Ocean. Whether or not these are missiles or even which way they are heading is not known at this time..."

I went to the Faucet to get water for coffee. As I reached the sink I could see from the window, people loading packed bags into their trunk and and rushing with the masses to flee the city. I turned on the water and the Faucet was only dripping through the spigot. People in a panic were stocking up on water for the time that utilities would be knocked out because of a nuclear attack.

From my living room window, I could see cars lined up along Padre Island Drive trying to get as far from the city as quickly as possible.

At the same time I could hear the television repeating, "Military and civil defense vehicles must have clear access to the streets. We urge all non-essential personnel to stay indoors and out of the way...."

Many thoughts were passing through my head. This could either be Clancy's space travelers, or this could be the real thing launched by the Russian, in which case, the likelihood of missile targeting Corpus Christi is not too likely, or it could be our missiles heading in their direction. Either way, there's not too much I can do about it at this point.

"I'll just have to take the blows the best I can and survive," I thought, "but what's the use? If I die, perhaps I’ll see Alexia again. There's nothing that panicking will resolve."

I found a cup's worth of coffee left in the bottom of yesterday's pot. I heated it in the microwave oven and listened to the news.

"... And now a word from the President. Thirty seven minutes ago our early warning satellite detection system had reported two unidentified flying object over the Atlantic Ocean heading in a southerly direction. Moscow's Strategic missile command denies any connection to the flying objects, and likewise, we also denied their allegations connecting us with the flying objects. Our

satellite photos show these objects as being in the shape of tear drop, silver/grey in color, and unlike any inter-continental missiles to our knowledge.” They are flying at a very low altitude and at a very slow speed. At the moment the USS Constellation is deploying an AWAX and two F-14 fighter for a first hand report. In agreement with PVO (ProtivoVozdushnia Obororuzhie), Chief of Air Defence in Moscow, we have called for a cease fire from all war efforts until the flying objects have been identified. If necessary, Moscow and U.N. alliances have discussed the possibility of uniting forces in order to maintain global in-destruction. And now I will take questions from the press."

"Mister President, will this joining of forces bring an end to the current fighting?"

"Let's not forget why we’re fighting in the first place. When the Russian liberate Dushanbe and release all of the U.N., embassy, and relief agency employees, will we call a permanent ceasefire."

"Mister President, What instruction should be given to the public in response to these flying object?"

"Until we know what we’re dealing with, it difficult to say exactly, but I will say this, If you have a shelter or have access the a fallout shelter, go there and await further information."

"Mister President, Do you plan on engaging these flying objects?"

"Once again, we need to see what we’re dealing with before I can answer that..."

After an hour of listening to the same old questions and the same old answer, I decided to take a walk along the harborwalk. The last time I was here was with Alexia. She was so possessive that day, but I'd gladly take that to have her back. The walk was far from peaceful. Cars along South Padre Island Drive were still bumper to bumper as people were trying to flee the city. To add to the congestion of the traffic, people were abandoning their cars in the middle of the street and walking out of the city. Police and National guardsmen were trying to control the chaos but the number of people were far too overwhelming.

As I walked I came to an older gentleman sitting on the rocks that lined the harbor. He was calmly fishing as if to be completely unaware of the situation at hand.

"Good Morning," I said to him.

"Buenos Dias," he answered while nodding.

"How's fishing?"

"Slow as usual at this time of the morning."

"Pardon me for noticing but you have got to be the calmest man in Corpus Christi."

"What is the good of it?" he asked, "A lot of people lowering themselves below that of animal, for what?"

I thought about what he was saying and it made sense.

He continued, "Animals don't even act this way in a stressful situation. They accept it and continue with life. It reminds me of a song that I first heard Elvis Presley sing called Peace if the Valley. Have you ever heard of it?"

"Yes," I said while sitting on a nearby rock.

"I don't know who wrote it but I heard that the author was a soldier who was home for the holidays during World War II. After leaving his family to resume fighting in Europe, he saw from a train cattle and horses in a peaceful valley, unaffected by how tragic the world at large has really become. The author thought how natural it was to be at peace, and how man, as much as he wants to be one with nature, pushes to resist it. The world will take its course and were just

here for the ride."

"What a concept?" I thought to myself while asking, "And fishing brings you closer to nature?"

"No," he answer, "I just like to fish."

"What advice would you give to all of these people who are fighting tooth and nail to get out of the world in which they created?"

"If a bomb falls it falls and their nothing we can do about it. If we are in the city or ten miles from the city, it makes no difference. Fifty miles, you might have a chance of survival. These people are fighting one another to be at the same place on the totem pole as they already are. So why fight?"

"This guy should run for President," I thought.

Just then his line tugs. He pulls hard to set the hook. The fish has taken the bait and is making a run for it. The man plays the line to tire the fish so it won't snap the line. Slowly the drag on the real stops releasing and the fish is pulled in.

"A smelly carp. I don't want it. Do you?"

"No," I told him.

He wedged the pole in the rocks and grabbed the fish and with a pair of pliers rotate the hook from its mouth. He then through the fish back in the water.

"He'll be fine," the man said.

He re-baited the hook and threw it back in. I picked myself up and stretched.

"I'm going to be on my way. It's been nice talking with you."

"Yea, you too," he said.

I continued walking until I came the restaurant where Alexia and I last had breakfast together. I wondered if I'd ever get her out of my head. I know this sounds weird but since she's been gone I haven't thought one single thought that she wasn't a part of. I went to a convenience store yesterday to pick up bread and milk and I couldn't help but wonder which kind of bread she would get or whether or not she'd get the gallon or half gallon of milk. Everywhere I look I see somebody that has some feature that reminds me of her. It might be a nose, a facial expression, or posture, there's always something that I find in somebody that makes me want to start talking to that person so I could dwell on her memory. As I reached the entrance to the harbor I saw the first signs of organization where the traffic was concern. Police officers were directing car to the sides of the road while keeping the center of the road clear for emergency passage. Those cars that were abandoned were quickly towed away. Pylons were set out for to help direct traffic. Cars were turning back towards the city, and back home. Upon seeing this I realized that there must have been an announcement that I did not hear. I walked along a dock where a sports fishing

boat was just being moored to its cleat. I asked the deck hand if he had heard anything new on the radio. He told me that the two objects are flying south and have turned towards the tip of Africa. I thanked him for the information and began to walk home. I turned on the television and better that just an announcement, they had photographs from the escorting F-14 fighter plane.

The announcement said, "... in these photographs. Their objective is not known, but precautions are being taken in case these two objects become hostile. There has been many attempt to communicate, but some far, all attempts has failed. The objects as you can see are teardrop in shape and resemble mercury in appearance. They have changes course near Cape Town South Africa and is now heading towards Port Elizabeth. As you can see, the two objects are visible from the ground. The object that you see flashing opposite of the two objects is a Russian MiG 21 also assigned to escort the two flying objects. The MiG and the F-14 are in contact with each other and have established evasive action should they become a threat. Once again, we do not know of their intentions and their action are being closely monitored by both sides of the present conflict...."

I wish Alexia was here to see this. She said that the way to stop the world from fighting would be to find a common enemy, and she was right. Who would believe a Soviet made MiG and an American made F-14 would team up. Now all we need are for these things to disappear and things would be back to peace. I don't know...

The Russian are still hold Dushanbe hostage. Maybe these things shouldn't disappear so quickly. What would it take to have the Russian troops release the hostages in Dushanbe? Maybe by allowing the crooked militia officials to receive financing through means other than drugs. Maybe by having the crooked militia officials disappear. It seems like every time I write something in the

ledger, it rebounds and slaps me in the face. What a mess I've created.

At least the fighting has stopped, temporarily.