The Prometheus Effect (24 page)

“
Probably best not to go into detail but let's just say that we aren’t the only ones who have been hit hard by this and want the truth.”

“
We need to work together on this. Find friends internationally, discover the stress points and exert pressure.”

“
Spoken like a true investigative journalist.”

“
Personally I hope to find my friend Sarah. It stands to reason that if we can determine what's become of the people that have been arrested, then the trail might lead us to the kind of influential opposition we are looking for?”

“
I see your logic, although I believe the closer you get to that truth, the closer you'll get to an early grave. If the powers that be had any sense whatsoever, they would have disposed of those people at the earliest convenience.”

“
I can't bring myself to believe that until I’ve seen proof with my own eyes.”

“
Trouble is the public may see any extreme measures like mass executions as justified if they continue to buy the alien story. The more the government paint the picture of merciless tyrants from outer space the less pity they will have on them when discovering their demise. If you want to cover that angle that's great but be careful. You're more use to us alive. You're chipped, you'll have certain freedoms that I don't have. I know I don't need to say this but be careful. Don't trust anyone, get a weapon, secure your home and try not to arouse suspicion.”

“
I think it's a bit late for that, my research notes were...stolen recently. I was stupid and got caught out.”

“
Trouble is your just some hack journalist who no-one would miss if you disappeared. Maybe you can make yourself more difficult to touch, make the enemy nervous about dealing with you.”

“
This is some really scary shit, mate.”

“
Absolutely.”

“
Just one thing. Is it me or are the red skies fading?”

“
Could be. You know how the ozone layer fixed itself? I guess it's likely that in time, the gases may return to normality and the blue will be back but to be honest, by the time that happens, the governments of the world will have already put themselves in a position of power so superior, I don't think it would really matter.”

“
Do you think that there are other countries that are experiencing the same things, do you think that it could conceivably be so widespread?”

“
I think that's possible but you know how it is? There will always be an Achilles heel somewhere. Let's hope that other guys like us are doing their part over there too.”

“
How can I get hold of you?”

“
You can't and I can't tell when I’ll next be able to call, but I will. Stay safe.”

“
You too mate.”

Joshua gently placed the handset down and plunged his face into his hands. Never before had he felt so vulnerable and so very small.

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

25
^th
December 2020

London

Joshua drove slowly through the deserted streets of the capital. After the horrors of the previous months, Christmas may not have been the consumer-fest that it once was but it did if anything, have more of an impact than ever before in terms of a time for family congregation. Joshua enjoyed the quiet urban landscape, it felt like dawn rather than lunchtime as he neared Ealing. The journalist had someone on his mind, someone who he no doubts would need a modicum of company right now.

The best thing about the desolate avenues of London was that at least Joshua knew that he was not being followed, at least by the more conventional methods. Since the phone call to Coffey, the young reporter barely took three steps without looking over his shoulder. He had not even gone home to his new but sparse apartment. He had spent barely a few hours there since taking the keys.

Pulling the maroon Citroen up outside a slightly dishevelled looking terraced house he was thankful that a parking space was nearby. Joshua made sure he used a different pool car every time he went out, he had gotten nervous of late regarding possible tracking or even the threat of a car bomb. It made sense to cover all the bases. Clutching a bottle shaped gift, wrapped in Christmas paper, he nervously knocked on the door marked 23. The house was in need of a facelift, it had really begun to look its age. A few moments passed before Joshua could hear motion from inside. The blue door finally squeaked open and a very frail looking Jimmy Stock stood before him dressed only in a pair of brown pyjamas and a comical pair of fluffy slippers.

“
Hi Jimmy. Remember me?”

Jimmy's face was pale and stubbly. It looked as if he had not been well at all in the previous weeks. He was a mere shadow of the jovial cab driver that Joshua knew.

“
Bloody hell.” Jimmy muttered as he tried to comprehend the meaning of Joshua’s visit.

“
Here, I've brought you a little something to warm the cockles.”

Joshua thrust forward the gift, it was quite obviously a 75cl bottle of spirit judging by the shape and weight. Jimmy took the gift, with curiosity and amazement etched on his face, he tore the paper to reveal its contents, a bottle of scotch whiskey.

“
Damn, this must have cost a fortune?” Jimmy murmured as he seemed refused to accept Joshua's presence as an act of kindness.

“
Well, prices have gone up but I kind of figured you might fancy a sniff being Christmas an' all.” Joshua smiled, he had a genuine set of features and Jimmy's suspicions were beginning to wear off.

“
Better come in then. Excuse the mess.”

Jimmy led Joshua in to the hall. Wiping his feet on the mat, Joshua soon realised that the mat's purpose was to wipe the feet on
exit
so that the pavement outside did not become covered in all manner of rotten food and other household horrors. The house was Victorian, the wallpaper was pure 1950's floral travesty. The home reminded Joshua of his grandmothers, minus the colossal amount of refuse which seemed to be piled up as if being collected for some unknown purpose. On entry to the living room, there was a single comfortable upholstered chair which was obviously Jimmy's, the only other place to sit was on a coffee table which firstly would have to be wiped clean of several weeks worth of food cartons.

“
Please, sit down.” Jimmy pointed to the chair and Joshua with some relief sat back in the deep comfort of the well used piece of furniture. Jimmy swatted the cartons from the table and prised two small glass tumblers from the sticky surface. Joshua crinkled his nose at the thought of imbibing any moisture from the foul vessels but when in Rome...

“
How's your Christmas going so far?” Joshua asked optimistically.

“
Quiet.” Jimmy said quietly. His whole demeanour had changed since that day at the hotel. He looked visibly depressed and run down.

“
Yeah, me too. I guess things have been very hard for you over the last few months what with everything that's going on in the world?”

Jimmy poured two very large measures of whiskey and handed one to Joshua.

“
You know I better not get caught drink driving after this!” Joshua joked seeing the vast quantity of alcohol in his glass.

“
To be honest...it's all passed me by.” Jimmy said with a sigh.

“
How's work?”

“
Not working at the moment. Not really up to it.” Jimmy sat on the table and rubbed his leg vigorously.

“
But your here, your still going, that's the main thing.” Joshua did his best to initiate conversation but was failing poorly. The whiskey in Jimmy's glass was diminishing far too quickly for Joshua's liking.

“
Come on then.” Jimmy said with a loud puff of air.

“
What do you mean?”

“
Well you're not here for a social so what have you come for?” Jimmy had definitely become a cynic over the months, his spark had gone, his humour lost. Joshua took a deep inhalation of breath. He was not entirely sure whether or not to put the old man through this.

“
To be honest, I’m not sure. I was kind of hoping you could help in some way but I'm not so certain now. A lot has happened that I think you would find very hard to grasp, things that change...everything I guess. The way we perceive the world we live in, normality has...vanished.”

Jimmy grunted.

“
And you think things haven’t changed for me? You think my world hasn’t changed at all? Welcome to my fucking world mate, join the fucking club!” Jimmy's tone was angry and contemptuous, Joshua had not done a very good job of explaining himself.

“
I know Jimmy, I do know that. What I have come to say is, if there's any way of making you understand is...that it's alright. You don't have to worry anymore.”

Joshua was making little sense to either Jimmy or himself.

“
It's all going to go away is it?” Jimmy said with sarcasm.

“
Well when you put it that way, I guess it never really came.”

“
Look, I don’t have time for you to play silly buggers, I'm a busy man!” Jimmy was confused and rightly so, Joshua needed to tackle this head on.

“
OK, OK. There's no easy way to tell you this but...I have almost undeniable proof that the alien invasion is in fact a falsehood created by the government in an attempt to bring about a new world order.”

A silence ensued. A look of utter disdain followed and Jimmy rose to his feet. For a moment, Joshua thought he was about to be struck by the shaking taxi driver who appeared to be devastated by the notion.

“
Get out! How dare you do this to me after you know what I've been through!”

Joshua stood and knew he had to talk fast.

“
Just listen to me! I'm not saying for one minute that your experience didn’t happen or that it was a figment of your imagination. I'm saying that your experience was a savage act of terror carried out by a government organisation... in order to convince you and in turn others that the alien threat was very real and very present. You were the victim of torture and psychological warfare for God's sake. You are a tool of the governments propaganda machine. If you only give me five minutes, I can tell you thinks that will make your toenails curl, things that will make you think differently about your whole life. There are no aliens, you don't need to fear them anymore!”

Jimmy stood open mouthed and for a moment, Joshua feared that he may be about to have a seizure or a cardiac arrest. His hands shook noticeably as he clutched the tumbler and slurped up a large mouthful of scotch.

“
Where the proof?” He said sternly.

“
I have no material evidence but I have friends who are in highly privileged positions, I can explain if you let me?”

Jimmy sank back down to the stained mahogany table and blinked hard. Joshua was grateful for the opportunity to talk more and took his seat once more.

Joshua carefully and slowly explained step by step how he had come to his conclusions. He trod carefully not to preach his own beliefs but stick to the facts at hand. The most compelling evidence being Coffey's revelations, he tried to explain the most simplest of terms how this was at all possible. It was only when Joshua began to reveal his 'facts' that he realised what a flight of fancy his whole story was and how easy it would be to swish it away and discredit it.

“
Remember back in the hotel, the room service, the young chap who brought us our drinks?”

Jimmy nodded whilst still staring into the golden depths in his glass.