“
It was beautiful, like a falling star. But that’s not how
they
saw it. No. Mike and I found it, but they took it away. It’s a good thing they let us go, too. Otherwise, I would have gone berserk.”
Jesus, was my brother was losing his mind? Joe was level-headed; he was a lieutenant commander climbing the Navy ranks.
“
I don’t think we should have touched it,” he continued, babbling, “and I don’t think they should have taken it, either. It will make you sick.”
“
Joe...”
“I didn’t know where to go,” he said miserably. “I can’t think. I could barely think during the interpretation. No. Wrong word.
Interrogation.
But I’m smart, kind of, you know? I got us out of there.”
The hole in my gut was widening by the second. I crossed to the window. I expected to find the military car Joe usually drove, but the driveway was empty.
“
Where’s your car?”
“
I don’t know. It’s gone. I switched it. Then we walked. So bright outside. Close the drapes.”
I closed the drapes. I crossed the room in two strides. I didn’t care if he got angry; I took him by the shoulders.
“What the devil are you talking about, Joe?
”
My brother let out a low, guttural snarl. I wasn’t sure he recognized me. I let go, backed up. He slapped himself in the face, hard, and then took another deep breath that looked painful. Next, he fell to the wooden floor, so hard that the entire house shook. He hugged himself, curled in the fetal position. When he looked up at me, I could see a little of my brother again, just a little, but I’ll never forget the agony in his eyes.
“
Jack! You can’t let me leave here. I don’t want to be locked up and I’m afraid.”
Now I was afraid, too. Very afraid. But I knew I was the strong one...for now.
“
You need to see a doctor,” I said.
“
No, no! Jack, listen. Don’t you understand? They’ll find me, and they will lock me up. And I’ll go crazy. No, Jack, please. Keep me here. I’m AWOL.”
“AWOL!” I should have figured it out. “What the hell happened?”
Instead of answering, my little brother crawled into the corner of my bedroom and would say no more. In fact, he didn’t seem capable of talking.
Sweet Jesus.
I stood watching him a moment, as he rocked himself back and forth. I didn’t know what to do. Then I thought of Anna. Sleeping right across from her was his sick buddy, Mike.
* * *
I grabbed my gun and house keys.
This old house had those cool, custom keys that would lock doors from both inside and out. I’d never liked them before...but now I was glad. I locked the glass doors to the tiled patio, then stepped out of the bedroom and left my brother Joe in the corner. I turned toward Anna’s room and froze.
Mike was standing in the middle of the dark hall.
He didn’t recognize me.
He just stood there, staring into space.
I approached cautiously. “
Hey, Mike.”
No response. He stood stone-still. I moved carefully around him and opened Anna’s door. She was sleeping. I thanked the gods for her safety. As I turned to leave, I tripped on the large stone she used as a doorstop. I cursed silently, but it was too late.
“
Dad?” Her sleepy voice carried eerily into the hall. Mike was still standing there, but now his head was cocked to one side like he’d heard something.
I faced her and put a finger to my lips. Anna saw my gun and drew her covers up tight.
“
Honey, I don’t want to scare you,” I said softly. I slipped into her room and shut the door behind me.
I sat down on her bed and kissed her forehead. She would have none of it, though.
“What’s going on?” she whispered, pulling away.
I didn’t know what to say. That I was afraid for my daughter because my brother and his Navy buddy seemed to be out of their minds?
“Anna,” I began, keeping an eye on the closed door. Jesus, what the hell was going on? “Your uncle—and his friend—are ill. I think.”
“But if they’re just sick, why do you need your gun?” Anna was always observant...and right to the point.
“
I’m just going to make sure you’re safe.”
We tensed at a scratch on the door. A slight pawing made me bristle—and caused me to squeeze my gun a little tighter. My gun? With my brother and his friend in the house? Maybe I was the one dreaming. Or the one ill. None of this made sense.
Anna backed into her bed as much as she could, her eyes wide, the color gone from her cheeks. “
Daddy, what is that? Is it Uncle Joe? Is he okay?”
It wasn’t Uncle Joe, I knew. And he wasn’t okay. Nor was his buddy, Mike, who was going insane just like my brother. But I was the father, the protector.
“
Sweetie, I think they have some rare infection—”
“From what?”
“I don’t know.”
I recalled my brother’s words:
“I don’t think we should have touched it.”
Jesus, what the hell had they touched?
“What are you going to do, Daddy?”
I thought about it. “For starters, I’m locking you in here. Don’t let anyone but me in, okay?”
“You’re not locking me
in!
”
“
Just for five minutes, honey. I promise you. I want to get those two, ah, settled. They can’t think straight, and they are agitated.”
She nodded, her eyes big and round and reflecting what little ambient light was in the room. “
Is Uncle Joe all right?”
“
He will be.” I prayed that this was true. “I’ll make sure. I just need you to stay put for five minutes. I promise I’ll be back.”
She was almost on the verge of tears now, forcing control. “Okay.”
On impulse, I handed her my gun. “Trade you for your knife?”
She took the gun in her hand, feeling its weight. She knew how to shoot; I’d taught her. I could tell she was conflicted between fear and comfort. She reached under her pillow, handed me her Bowie knife. Like father, like daughter.
Another scratch at the door. “Get behind your bed,” I ordered.
She silently complied, slipping out of her covers and wedging herself between the wall and bed.
“I’ll be back in less than five minutes.”
Peeking over the ruffled comforter, she looked up at me. “And if you’re not?”
“I will be
.”
* * *
It all happened at once.
As I opened the door, I shoved Mike hard across the wall, and turned to lock Anna’s bedroom door. Anna, good girl, made no sound. Mike was dazed at first. Then with a rush of rage, he lurched toward me. I had his arm locked behind him before he could say “Boo.” I knew, the easier I made it, the likelier it was that he would comply.
“
Easy, fella,” I soothed.
He fought me, then calmed down. It was a good thing he did...I had the hunting knife ready.
I let up on my grip a little.
“
Joe?”
“Joe is my brother. This is Jack. You came here because you are sick, remember?”
His arms dropped and I released my grip. He stumbled, caught the wall. He turned to face me. His eyes were glazed, lost. He blinked once, twice. “Jack?”
“Yes.”
“
I was trying to sleep. I couldn’t. I don’t know why I’m standing here...”
“It’s okay,” I said. I flipped the knife over, hid it behind my forearm. My heart was hammering hard enough to pound in my ears. Mike continued bracing himself against the wall. His eyes weren’t right. They were wild. Like one of the animals at the zoo. I continued gripping the knife. “What made you sick, Mike?”
“The meteor.”
“What meteor?”
“It landed...we saw it fall...we shouldn’t have touched it. God, I’m thirsty. I feel so sick. I’m dying. I know it. I can feel it.”
Alarm rang through me. I’m a simple man. A park ranger. A father. A good friend to many. I didn’t know much about things that fell from the sky...or what they could do to a person. Unless my brother and his friend were babbling incoherently about the exact same thing, then I suspected something very alarming was happening...and it was happening to my own flesh and blood. My brother. And I hadn’t a clue what to do about it—or for him.
But one thing was certain. I needed to get Mike away from my daughter’s room, and secured in his own. I put a tentative hand on his shoulder. The guy was burning hot. I coaxed him back down the hall. He went willingly enough, stumbling often.
“Get some rest.”
“
I can’t sleep. I...I can’t think either.”
I guided him into the room, led him to the bed. “Just relax,” I said calmly. “You’ll feel better in the morning.”
Mike turned to face me. “You think so?”
I lied again. Some Native Americans believe it’s okay to lie to protect yourself. I didn’t see any fault with that logic now. “Yes, I know so.”
I sat him on the bed and inched toward the door. “You just relax,” I said again.
He stared at me blankly. Too blankly. There was that old joke that the lights are on but nobody’s home. That was exactly what I saw in his expression. The hair on my neck stood on end, and I shivered.
I shut the door, fetched the key and locked him securely within.
My sick and deranged prisoner.
* * *
I returned to Anna. By now, she’d worked herself into a frantic state. “Daddy, what’s wrong?”
I paced inside her room, thinking fast. I had to contain these two, my brother and his friend. I didn’t know how incoherent they were, but I couldn’t take any chances. My first concern was Anna. Always Anna. I had to be sure she was safe.
I forced myself to calm down. I stopped next to her bed and had her climb over next to me. “Baby,
you know something is wrong, right?”
“I think so
.”
“I think something might be very, very wrong with your uncle.”
Despite her strength, and her maturity, tears sprang from her eyes. She loved her Uncle Joe.
I hugged her tight as she struggled through her emotions. I said,
“
I need for you to be safe, baby.”
“
What about you?” she said through the tears.
“
I’ll be okay. You know me. I’m always okay.”
“
But Daddy...”
“
Hush, angel. I’m the father here.”
Anna did hush as I ran my fingers through her hair. That always calmed her. I pulled my cell out of my pocket. Dialed.
“
Brice here,” came the sleepy, slightly irritated reply.
“
Brice, this is Jack.”
“
Don’t tell me you’ve got another wildcat.”
“No.
I need a favor from you.”
“
Carter, it better be good.”
I motioned for Anna to get dressed. “Can I bring Anna over to sleep there?”
Anna looked at me like I was crazy. Maybe I was. “No! I want to stay with you.”
I ignored her as Brice came fully awake. After all, I had never asked him for anything. “Here? Sure. Hey, is everything okay, Jack?”
I remembered my brother’s words:
Jack, I have to tell you something. But you can’t tell anyone. It’s a secret.
I considered, and figured it was best to keep Brice out of it. “Everything’s all right,” I answered smoothly, “I just have to help out a friend, that’s all. I don’t want Anna to be here alone.”
“
You need any help, Carter? The wife is here; Anna will be fine.”
Anna was dressed. I next pointed to her laptop and backpack. “
No, no. I just have to leave for a while. I may not be in tomorrow. Sorry. I need to take a personal day.”
“
I don’t think you’ve ever taken a day off in the last ten years,” Brice’s voice had a touch of concern. “Take all the time you need.”
“
Thanks,” I replied. “See you in a few.”
* * *
On the drive to Brice’s place, I told Anna not to mention anything at all about her uncle and his friend visiting or being sick.
“
Why?”
If I had a dime for every time Anna asked why, I’d be stinking rich. I said,
“
Because, darlin’, you know Uncle Joe is in the military. Something happened to make him sick. Top secret, I think.
Our
secret.”
“But w
hat happened?”
“
I’ll tell you later. For now, can I trust you to keep this to yourself?”