This is episode nine of the novel, From Here To 1137.
A Gift From Gordon
Early the next day, Tome drove a lumbering combine down the farm’s lane toward the soybean field. A large oak stood at the intersection of two lanes. Tom grinned as he approached the oak. He thought it was incredible how such a nondescript tree held so many good memories. He had sat there many times with his dad. He would be working in the fields, and Tom would bring a lunch or a cool drink on a hot summer day. And his mother did the same thing when Tom worked the fields on a hot summer day. They would lean against the tree and talk. They talked about life.
As Tom drove the combine closer, a man dressed in clean farmer’s clothing came out from behind the tree. Tom stopped the combine and climbed down the ladder to the cab.
It was an unusual occurrence; nobody waits in a field like that for someone.
Tom walked toward the man. He was very ordinary, having no distinguishing features. He wore clean jeans, a red flannel shirt, and a canvas jacket.
“Can I help you, sir?” Tom asked.
“Yes, you can really help me.”
Tom held out his hand, and they shook hands.
“My name is Tom Bales.”
“My name is Gordon.”
“Well, Gordon, it’s a pleasure.”
“Likewise,” Gordon said.
“So, how can I help?” Tom asked again.
“Well,” Gordon said, “I have something for you. You could say it’s a gift, but with the gift comes some responsibility.”
“Did Gene Francis send you?” Tom asked.
“No,” Gordon said. “For a while, you will think I’m crazy, and I escaped from an insane asylum.”
“So you didn’t escape,” Tom joked, “you were released?”
Gordon chuckled. “Let me start by saying, I’m from a long way off.”
“As long as you don’t say from another galaxy, we’re okay.”
“Actually, I am from another galaxy.”
“Okay,” Tom said, “I have a thermos of coffee in the cab. Tell me which pocket your pills are in, and we’ll wash them down with the coffee.”
Gordon held a cordial smile.
“You’re serious, aren’t you?” Tom said.
“I am,” Gordon said.
“You are smiling,” Tom said cocking his head to the side. “I’m not sure if that’s reality or fantasy.”
Gordon continued to smile and laugh.
“Nah,” Tom joked, “I’ve seen a few sci-fi movies and aliens don’t have a sense of humor.”
“We do,” Gordon said.
“So is this where I’m supposed to ask for some sort of proof?” Tom asked.
“This is the place,” Gordon said.
“You’re not going to paralyze me or abduct me to your spaceship?” Tom asked.
“Only if you want me to,” Gordon said.
“So what are you going to do?” Tom said.
Gordon stepped beside Tom. “Tom, turn around.”
“No funny stuff,” Tom said, and he turned.”
“Tell me what you see?” Gordon asked, nodding toward the corn field.
“What would you like me to see?” Ton glanced suspiciously at Gordon.
“Just look and tell me,” Gordon said.
“A harvested field of corn,” Tom said. “And what is left of the cornstalks. They’re brown. A quarter mile away is a fence row, and a road, and beside it runs a creek. Gray sky. What else?”
“Keep looking,” Gordon said.
Then Gordon said as if speaking to the empty field. “Pod, appear.”
Tom squinted, and before him, gradually appearing, was a wavy transparent strip. It first appeared like the heat off the road on a hot summer day. It was mid-fall and chilly. Then a dull black object came into focus. He felt no fear, only wonderment. He glanced at Gordon. Words caught in his throat.
Gordon placed his hand on Tom’s shoulder after only a moment. Then a fully formed cylindrical object appeared, slightly longer than a diesel locomotive. What appeared to be a windshield wrapped around the front. The object hovered about three feet off the ground.
“That’s yours,” Gordon said.
“What is it?” Tom said. “Will it pick soybeans?”
Gordon smiled. “I’m not sure about the soybeans, but for lack of better words,” Gordon winced, “you can call it a spaceship.”
“It’s mine?” Tom questioned. “Can I take her for a spin around the solar system? I don’t have a license, but I can drive that there combine.”
Gordon tossed his head toward the vessel. “Let’s go inside.”
They walked toward it. “Pod open,” Gordon said.
A door opened on the side, steps extended, and Tom and Gordon climbed them into the spaceship.
No comments:
Post a Comment