Between Two Creeks

I sit quietly as a truck rolls up the gravel lane leading to the gazebo. Slowly Mister Goble and Jeff emerge. As they walk in our direction, another vehicle approaches. A tall man and a woman close their doors and walk in our direction. He is dressed in a dark suit, sunglasses, short hair. Seemingly well fit. The woman is also dressed in a dark blue suit. Taller than the average woman, she’s very attractive and well built. No sunglasses and long brown hair. They are obviously government agents. Like Mister Thomas, the man is equipped with the usual Glock but no shield on his belt. She is also carrying a pistol on her belt. They are both kind of spooky and could easily instill fear in anyone, especially me. “Morning Jethro. Miss Gena.” Mister Thomas turned to us. “This is Jethro Cate from Washington. And this is Miss Gena Northchild. They’re with the Pentagon. Now, hear this: their work is above top secret. You must know that just meeting with them will change your lives. Seriously, just speaking with them requires all of us to be classified “Top Secret,” even you Miss Amy. You probably don’t know this, but you’ve been classified for some time now. What occurred here last summer put all of you on a different level from other folk in the Valley. John, you and Goble have had clearance for years, as you know. Miss Amy, your parents were Secret Service and now you’ve worked with the Sheriff and the FBI. Woody here, your Sheriff, is without question privy to everything that’s happened. Whatever you hear today is for your ears only. For your information, probably no other small community like the Valley has so many agents among us here today. Now, let’s hear what Jethro and Miss Northchild have to say. And this is extremely important. “Thanks George,” Mister Cate said as he removed his sunglasses. “We meet here, outside, for the privacy of our discussions. This area has been surveyed for any listening devices and I have agents watching us as we speak. This should show you just how important this situation is. First of all, we have a national emergency in progress. Dr. Northchild will explain. Miss Northchild stepped forward to speak. “We know that a terrorist organization plans to assassinate the President when she visits here in July. Well, this is not going to happen, but the terrorists don’t know this. Our goal is to capture them in the act.” No one attempted to say a word while she spoke. “This terrorist organization is called Dawn Robin. Some of you already know this. Its leader goes by the name Uncle. His identity is unknown. He may even live right here in Manitou. Last year they tried to develop a serum that would cause a person to hate the President and try to assassinate her. This organization has far-reaching influences in the United States. They’re big and complex. You stopped them last summer, but you didn’t stop the organization. They’re still active. We’ve also discovered this terrorist group is controlled by a government syndicate in DC who is determined to kill the President and establish a coup and take over the government under the disguise as a political party. This would replace President Washington with Vice President Troy Sexton. The goal is to replace our democracy with a communist government called The Communist State of America. Vice President Troy Sexton is sympathetic to a socialist form of government. Some suggest he’s directly involved, but we have no proof.” “Does the President know this?” I asked though possibly being a bit rude in interrupting. Looking a little embarrassed, I added, “She’s got to be in this. She would never tolerate communism.” “Good question Amy,” Miss Northchild said. “The President is in full awareness and is willing to participate in whatever it takes to rid the country of this threat, even if it cost her life, which we will protect at all costs, including each one of us here today. This is the big challenge to each one of you.” “I assure you,” Sheriff Woodson proclaimed, “we are ready and will do our part.” “Sheriff Woodson will coordinate any local work,” Mister Cate explained, “and each one of you will report to him any and all information and activity,”. “Special Agent George Thomas will work alongside him and be our liaison. I need not tell you that each of your lives is at risk and you must work together and protect each other.” Miss Northchild added, “We in Washington know you will. You’ve already proven your tenacity and commitment. But we have another issue of great importance. Jethro will explain this to you.” Mister Cate began to pace as he spoke, “Have any of you heard of the Hadden Interstellar Science Corporation?” We all nodded “No.” “HISCor is contracted with the Pentagon in its research on the use of infrared technology. This arrangement is above top-secret. Because of its work, HISCorp doesn’t exist, at least on paper. The corporation works out of Los Alamos, New Mexico, in the development of infrared defense armament for use in outer space. The military use of infrared weaponry utilizes infrared beams to fire ionizing radiation into a target. This blast of infrared light is virtually impossible to see in light. A stream of white light is propelled with an infrared beam in its middle. We know that such a beam of light has been witnessed here in Two Creeks. So, we know the organization is close by and working in an unknown location. The President’s visit here in July gives them another opportunity but with a different method. We intend to set a trap.”