ROMULUS (The Innerworld Affairs Series, Book 1) (33 page)

"I hardly think that will be the only problem. Redirecting the planetoid is beyond our capability." Kate shook her head as she pondered the enormity of the situation.

Romulus unraveled the facts and solutions he had come to present. "As you can see, the planetoid enters the rendezvous area in three weeks. There is only about a two-week leeway and then you will have lost your advantage."

"But our ships couldn't possibly make it to that location in that short a time. Maybe where you're from you travel beyond the speed of light, but here we've barely conquered hypersonic speed during the space shuttle liftoffs." Kate's voice became more confident as she quit wondering whether he was legitimate and began anticipating the information he offered.

"My people prefer not to interfere with your culture or development. In this case, however, we have decided to assist you by giving you information which you would eventually discover yourselves, but not in time to save this planet now." Romulus then explained the mechanics, formulas and information needed to increase the speed of Earth's ships sufficiently to reach the asteroid in the time available.

Katherine Houston was a brilliant scientist and a leader in her field. But her expertise was not in rocketry, nuclear physics or engineering. Rom had to go over the data several times before she began to grasp the concept. She made volumes of notes as he spoke but it was still not enough.

Finally Aster had a suggestion. "Rom, if you touched her mind, would she be able to understand better?"

He thought it might be the best way and described to Kate what he wanted to do. Although she hesitated, Kate had heard too much to stop now and agreed to submit to his touch.

With his fingers gently contacting her temple, they communicated on the deepest level. When he took his hand away, Kate sat staring at him with widely dilated eyes. "Good Lord, you've been telling me the truth. I actually felt your honesty. And the fuel, the speed... Why, I understand it perfectly now. Was that your world I saw?" She could barely control her excitement over the experience he had given her. To Aster, she asked, "You've actually been there? Is it really that beautiful?"

Aster smiled broadly. "Whatever you saw could not possibly be as incredible as his world really is. You would have to go there to understand."

"You're going back with him, aren't you?"

Aster smiled and gazed at Rom. "Yes, I'm going back."

Several hours of questions and answers flew by as Rom filled in as many blanks as possible to help the scientist with the job that lay ahead of her and Aster satisfied Kate's curiosity about Innerworld.

Her aging face lined with tension, Kate admitted, "I have always believed in the existence of life on other planets. We may have a tougher time convincing the powers that be."

"We? Our intention was to give you the information and return to Innerworld. We want you to take full credit for the discovery." Rom saw Aster stiffen in her seat.

Kate attempted to reason with him. "I would be more than content to accept the Nobel Prize for the most stupendous discovery of the century and never tell a soul about you. The problem is, even if I understand the theory, it is highly improbable that I would ever have come up with it on my own. Some people would be so suspicious that they would become sidetracked from what had to be done to find out how I did it.

"Also, it's obvious to me that our country cannot do this alone. Off the top of my head, I'd say we'll have to bring in China. Although I've met many scientists from all over the world at various symposiums, I don't carry enough weight in our government, let alone any of theirs, to ensure everyone's immediate cooperation."

Aster watched the woman's expression change several times from dismay to deep thought, to consideration and finally to a very feminine smile, with just a touch of pink on her plump cheeks.

"There is someone, a man I was once... very close to. It's been a long time since we worked together but I'm sure he'd help. He's Professor David Ingram, a nuclear physicist and professor emeritus at Harvard. He helped develop one of the earlier rocket fuels. The Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams is at Harvard, also. He'd know better than I who could be trusted in the Bureau and together I'm sure we could present a solid case. But to whom? The Secretary of State? The President? Possibly both, but it would eventually have to go to the United Nations Security Council. Between David and the Bureau, they could probably force an emergency meeting without having to explain where the information originated."

"The two of you would be sharing that Nobel Prize, Doctor Houston." Aster imagined there was a sad love story involved and wished for a happy ending for the kindly scientist. Kate blushed fully this time and Aster knew she had guessed accurately.

"It would undoubtedly save a lot of time, though, if you would appear at the Council meeting and do that mind link," Kate added.

"No way!" Aster interrupted. "Romulus cannot be exposed to so many people. You know his world would never remain a secret after that."

"Aster's right," Rom said. "I can imagine people searching for the doorways to my world and disrupting our normal course of business."

"I understand," Kate said as her worried look returned. "But I'm afraid you're going to have to at least meet with David personally. I comprehend the theories better now but I'm not certain I could explain them to him. And what if he has questions? I assure you he's as trustworthy as I am."

Rom considered her words carefully before he finally agreed. "All right. It's against my better judgment but I'll meet with him. What do you suggest?"

"He's in Cambridge, Massachusetts and the United Nations is in New York. The most logical thing would be for us to go to Cambridge on the first available flight."

Aster groaned at the thought of another cross-country airplane trek.

Rom touched her hand. "We have our own means of transportation. How soon could he meet with us?"

Kate squelched her curiosity. "Let me call David and set everything up."

Aster noticed the woman did not have to look up the phone number. How many times had she almost called that number over the years? Aster's sense of romance was having a field day.

Fifteen minutes later Kate had made two phone calls and still hadn't reached David. His housekeeper had informed her he was in London. When she called his hotel there, he was out. She left messages in both places.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what to tell you. He could call in ten minutes or ten hours. It wouldn't make much sense to fly to Massachusetts until I hear from him. You could wait here or at my house, or I could call you wherever you're staying."

Aster glanced at Rom. "Can we stay?"

"It doesn't appear we have much choice."

"Could your assistant make some arrangements for us for tonight?"

"Certainly." Kate walked to her desk to call Walter in and noticed the open channel. She could not remember the last time she used it and assumed she had left it on without thinking. After all, Walter had been her right hand for ten years. He would never intentionally eavesdrop on her.

"Walter, are you still there?"

"Yes," his slightly high-pitched voice answered her.

"Please come in. We need a favor."

Walter appeared with pad and pen in hand almost instantly.

"Walter, this is Miss Mackenzie and Mr. Locke. They need a place to stay tonight. Please assist them with whatever they would like."

Again Aster spoke up, her voice bristling with authority. "I remember there was an excellent resort on the outskirts of Escondido. If they have a suite, I'd prefer that. Otherwise, I'd like a large, non-smoking room with a king-sized bed. Also, we'll need to rent a car when we get there. If you can reserve us a Prius, please do so, if not, another hybrid will do." She reached into her purse and pulled out the "corporate" credit card the governor had given her. "Here. I'm sure you'll need this to make the arrangements. Also, if you would please get us a cab to take us there that should do it." She gave the man an appreciative smile.

Walter rapidly wrote down her instructions and practically clicked his heels as he whirled to perform his tasks.

Rom raised an eyebrow at the woman he had once thought of as a nervous colt. Aster was on her own turf and very accustomed to doling out orders and being obeyed. She would do just fine as Co-Governor of Innerworld.

Kate held out her hand to Aster then to Rom. "I'll call you at the resort if any problem arises. Thank you hardly expresses how much I appreciate your visit."

"It was a pleasure, Doctor," Rom said seriously.

When they exited Kate's office, Walter had everything in order. "I will drive you to the resort. It would take forever to get a taxi up here," he offered with a nervous giggle.

The threesome remained quiet on the long, slow drive down the winding mountain road. Rom didn't appear overly impressed with the unpopulated countryside and its occasional pine tree. Aster could see most of his concentration was centered on popping his ears during the descent from the mountain. Eventually, they were out of the Cleveland National Forest surrounding the observatory and made their way through the rural Indian reservations.

Suddenly Rom bolted forward, darting his head from side to side in alarm. He quickly recovered his composure for Walter's benefit but Aster could see by his eye movements that he was not relaxed by a long shot. Walter did not seem to notice Rom's concern as he blended in with the bumper-to-bumper traffic on Interstate 15, heading for Escondido and San Diego.

It tickled her to think that the proverbial shoe was now on the other foot. Rom's first experience in Outerworld would include a traffic jam. Rom gripped the dashboard as Walter alternately rushed forward and slammed on his brakes inches from the car in front of him.

Several cars had radios blasting so loudly that the noise vibrated through their closed windows. Horns blared every few seconds whenever one car cut in front of another. They also passed drivers casually reading their newspapers or talking on their cell phones, unwilling to lose their precious time in unproductive activity.

Rom now had a much better understanding of how the emissary could have been killed. When he got back, he was going to recommend hazardous duty credit for everyone forced to cope with traffic in Outerworld.

A stressful half-hour later, they arrived at the resort. Walter insisted on ushering them to the registration desk to make sure all his requests had been complied with.

As soon as they were in their room, Aster took Rom's hand. He had not uttered a sound since they left Palomar. "Are you all right?"

"I guess so. I understand why descending a mile-high mountain would affect the pressure in my ears. I was even expecting the automobiles to look and move the way they do. What I cannot fathom is what all those people were doing on that road? I was beginning to think we were facing a threat greater than the planetoid. And what is that horrible smell outside? And the noise! How can you stand it?"

Giving him a quick kiss, she smiled and said, "That, darling, was a freeway. You should see L.A. if you think that was bad. Smog, automobile exhaust and some other factors, account for the smell. I couldn't have thought up a better example to initiate you to air pollution. Now you see why I was so fascinated with your filters. There's still time for you to reconsider."

"Aster..." His deep voice warned her to give it up.

She shrugged her shoulders. "One other little thing," she said as she walked to the door, turned the lock and fastened the chain, "we double-lock everything here. Is there anything you'd like to see while we're in my world? The Pacific Ocean? The San Diego Zoo? You know what you probably would have liked if we had time? A football game! I wonder if the Chargers are playing at home tomorrow."

"I saw a football game on our monitors many years ago. Interesting game but it never caught on in Innerworld. As for points of interest, if it means getting back on that freeway, I think I'll stay right here. A sign downstairs said this place has a restaurant, shops, a theater, a pool and..." Rom paused as he pulled her down onto the bed with him, "I have you."

Aster gave herself up to the sweetness of his kisses until her stomach made an angry rumbling sound. "I haven't eaten all day," she said with a laugh. "At least let's go to the mall. We really do need a change of clothes. It's not far and we can eat there." She refrained from reminding him who had wanted to pack something. "Besides, I have to get Cherry some of her favorite perfume. I promise I'll only take side streets and I'll drive very carefully. Okay?"

"Do you think I could deny you anything you really wanted? I'd like to ask you a question first. What was your impression of Doctor Houston and Walter?"

"I'm sure she'll do the job and keep your secret, if at all possible. Her assistant is another matter. Aside from the fact that he is very high-strung and decidedly effeminate, he was gawking at you as if you were peculiar, not as though he was attracted to you. Another thing that I thought was strange was how quiet he was on the drive here. Every devoted admin I've ever known would have pumped us until he knew our connection with his boss. But it's probably nothing. I'm probably just being overly suspicious."

"I don't think so. Remember your intuition about Victor. We can definitely trust Doctor Houston though. I'm glad you suggested I touch her mind. She doesn't have a deceitful bone in her body. I have no doubt about her abilities, either."