Intragalactic Frontier Chapters 21 to 25

21

Back to Tim's Land

They slept for the whole day, woke up only to eat something . The next day they felt normal . Frank met his father and told him everything.. Only left out the part played by Zo and group…

He sat in his room thinking of connecting with Re, when Redim and Richard came and sat with him.

Redim could see Frank was indecisive about something , ' Frank what next? I never thought that Re and group would be rescued by their own because thousand years is a long time .. very long time..'

Richard felt Redim could do anything , ' If so ,are they going to stay here forever!'

Frank replied , ' No .according to Re's statistics they are just adolescents You see, if their life span is 10000 years and now they are less than 2000 years old .they are young. When they had reached here they must have been just small kids..But unlike us they get all the acquired knowledge of their ancestors.. they have their vehicle intact, they all know how to operate it,'

Redim was excited , ' I wanted to talk to you exactly the same thing..You remember you said the speed of that spacecraft is hundred times the speed of light.. I don't believe it though.. but their spacecraft has a speed that we can't even imagine. If you Google it ,you will find it that nothing can move faster than light unless, some scientific jargons say it needs infinite amount of energy! Contradictory statements from the scientists must give us the hope!'

'Let us presume they can travel hundred times faster than light and they have the fuel or whatever , they can actually go to the nearest solar system which is just 4.37 light years away.. we, humans at this present knowledge , cannot think of travelling that distance but ..Re can!'

Re appeared beside her , ' Redim you are the most intelligent and bold person in this world! I heard what you did back in the centre and I am simply in awe of you..;' he looked like the exquisite doll ..Frank recalled the night that he appeared for the first time. .

Frank smiled , ' Redim likes to collect fans . Now she collected some here ..Her presence of mind is legendary! Did you hear what she said about your options'

Re became little solemn , ' what she said is possible theoretically but not practical .We do have the spacecraft that travels hundred times the speed of light but we have two very big problems. I came to discuss the same'

Richard asked , ' oh that is why you asked Zo to stay back in USA! But I felt sorry for them.. leaving them like that was not human thing you know!'

'Richard , Frank is very lucky to have friend like you and Redim. I have been around the human being for generations and I find you to be very refreshing. You people think first about others and their welfare unlike the majority of the human kind!' Re said smugly.

Frank was amused , ' I think you had met all wrong people until now ! We humans are good at heart and only circumstances make them selfish!'

Redim was irritated, ' we are wasting the time .. Now we have to find a way to help them.. Re you said you have some problems .. tell us.. we can find a solution for it…'

Re thought for a while .. He did not want to tell them the unsuccessful search for the missing gadgets. Ro and group had searched the surroundings with fine tooth comb they could not find anything.. They even searched the basement in Frank's house.

Finally he said, ' the biggest problem is to find how the spacecraft came into our cavern .We have been trying to find that for the past thousand years and unless we bring it out ,there is no way of taking off! The mountain above the cavern is solid rock… so no hope of breaking them!'

Frank was surprised, ' but you people have the capabilities of digging a complicated tunnel under the water so why you had not tried to make an exit?'

Re smiled and said , ' the tunnel was already there ..it was a natural duct . we found it when we had found ourselves trapped in the cavern..we did not have the tools now we made some tools out of the objects that we collected from the villages but certainly we could never break the mountain!'

Redim was decisive , ' Well one at a time.. so the first thing to find an opening in the mountain.. Till now they all have searched from inside the cavern but I am sure no one had tried it from the exterior side ,on the surface of the mountain. So we will take it up today!'

Re was delighted and said , ' yes ..we never thought of it.. Brilliant Redim'

Frank was happy that they have something to do to help . Re told them they would meet them on the mountain in an hour's time and he disappeared ..

They got ready to go out for the whole day.. Richard had more experience in mountaineering as he had been wandering these mountains since his childhood. But both Frank and Redim were trained climbers as they were very fond of climbing .

It was with pleasure they got ready. Mary had packed a sumptuous picnic snacks, lunch and even light supper . Richard was happy to take care of the burden .

Franks parents were happy to see them going for a picnic . Francis thought his was searching for the so called treasure and he was quite pleased at that…

Frank did not want everyone to know that their interest was the mountain behind his house . so he took the car and drove through the village and took another road that went around the mountain .

The road was without any traffic as it came within Tim's land and private property.. the GPS tracker showed them that they were exactly behind the house . Frank parked his car under a tree and they started walking towards the mountain . the mountain was not very steep but had very thick vegetation .So they walked parallel to the mountain slope when they found narrow pathway which had been formed by people who had come to collect firewood .

Frank told , ' most probably the opening would be at sides rather than at the top ,as Re told the mountain was solid rock and there was no possibilities that they entered here through the top..'

Redim said , ' yes .. but unless we check everywhere we cannot tell.. so let us look around the slopes and then climb the summit'

Frank wanted the three of them together, even though he did not expect any trouble, he did not want to take any risk

He was still worried about the Seekers.. Everyone would think that they were hunting for the so called treasure that the old man was talking..

Even the villagers might come to see and he was glad it was not easy to come this far without transportation..

Redim started walking fast , tapping the slope now and then with the stick that she brought from home.. Obviously it was a walking stick..

They walked on the narrow path tapping to see if any hollow area was there..

They encountered few deer and rabbits but nothing that could be an entry point for the cavern with in..

Redim's energy was down after walking three hours.

So sat down under a tree, after clearing the undergrowth .Mary had packed very thoughtfully a mat too.

Frank spread it while Richard was checking out packets labelled as lunch. He took them out and kept on the mat where Redim was sitting there spent..

Both Frank and Redim were tired but Richard was in his element..

He used to walk all these places alone, sometimes with the old man. But now he had a mission ..to find the entry ..He couldn't take rest after having lunch; he left them there as both of them were taking a much needed breather ...

He walked further away where a big rock was sticking out. It used to be their favourite place. The old man even had kept a camp cot there and few items to eat..

But it was a long time ago...The cot was still there...rusted but surprisingly intact..

The shelf that was there in the base of the rock totally obscured by some creepers.

He chopped them off, so that he could connect with the past..A jar of jam and a blackened kettle were left..

He felt nostalgic ... The grey bird appeared on his side..It started talking in that metallic voice..

Richard 'I am Ro.. I had my doubt about this place.. We have been searching this place since morning ..

All the other places looked so natural except this rock . You can see yourself here'

Richard by this time past any surprises.. He looked at the rock .. yes it did look as if someone has pushed it into a hole...it was sticking out at least three feet and four feet above the ground.. Without touching anywhere except the side of the mountain, moreover the ground below was almost flat and gave an impression of a cave..But it had only a shelter at the top and the three sides were open with only vegetation covering the sides ..

Once again he checked the walls of the mountain, especially the place where the rock was attached to the mountain..But he couldn't find anything out of the ordinary..

He told Ro to call Frank and Redim..

Even before he could tell him where they were, Ro left.

Richard climbed on the shelf like structure and tapped using a stone on the juncture where the rock was attached.. But there was no change in the sound...

He pushed at the rock to see if it moved but it did not budge even a little... He cut few wild shrubs and the creepers that were grown under the rock..

When Frank and Redim saw the place .. it was almost like a cave ..

Frank was surprised to see a camp cot and the jar of jam... Richard explained about his childhood escapades with the old man..

Ro told them about their inability to find any entry point around the mountain and continued,' this place looked promising as the rocky outcrop looked unnatural'

Redim was looking around, 'But it looks so natural.. I have seen like this kind of outcrops in mountainous areas. Nothing special .. But nothing wrong in checking this out'

Frank was excited and thought this could be the place where the spacecraft entered the cavern but on the other hand the spacecraft couldn't have landed here .. So it must have landed elsewhere and then, when they found a cavern they must have hidden it there… Even if they did not find the entry point, they could find an exit hole big enough to bring the spacecraft out..

So he started examining every inch of the place..Redim was interested in the shelf .the top of the shelf was in right angle to the outcrop... but there was no gap between them ..A bat that was hanging in the rock suddenly started flying around and Redim jumped out and moved further away.. The bat was flying around and fell on the floor and disappeared .. Ro flew to the same spot where the bat fell and Ro hopped around to search for the bat . Redim came running and knelt near Ro to check the base of the shelf ..Ro pecked the base with its beak and suddenly few bats flew out and Ro and Redim toppled sideways …Frank and Richard both came to help Redim but Redim jumped to her feet , ' That is it .. You see it was not the outcrop but the shelf that is covering the hole .. Come let us push it..;

Re and many from their group appeared, Frank told them to move away and the three of them pushed but nothing happened.

Re flew near them and screeched at them to stop ..

'Frank it is definitely our work. I can recognise the work. It cannot be pushed but you have to slide it to one side. Just check'

Frank remembered the tunnel's opening and how the door moved to one side when Re had pressed a lever…

Frank searched for a lever and Re showed him a round smooth area a foot above the ground.. Frank pressed on it but nothing happened and Ro flew near him and said, 'don't press but slide it to left or right ..' still nothing ..' Then he slid it to the top and he could feel it moving slightly and many more bats flew out. Richard came down on his knees to help him and now both slowly manoeuvred the smooth area to the top and with a grinding noise it moved upwards revealing a hole beyond .. They kept moving it until the shelf touched the outcrop ..

Re and group screamed in unison..Flapped their wings and flew here and there and their happiness was so infectious that Frank laughed and Richard picked up a nearby bird and threw it up and flew with a scream… Redim came and hugged Frank.

Re and Ro flew through the opening which was around 4 feet in diameter and behind them Richard stretched his head in, to have a look..And pulled his head immediately out..

He couldn't see anything ..It was pitch dark.. He switched on his cell phone's torch to have a glimpse and he called Frank to show him.. There was a narrow ramp or one could call it a ledge that went down as far as they could see. Redim pushed them to have look and she gasped..Re and Ro were flying towards them ..

Re was flapping his wings and stopped just above their head

, 'thank you so much.. we could never have found it.' We had been searching for it for thousand years.. I take back my words .. You people are intelligent and very soon you may overtake in technology.. I have seen the tremendous progress in space research in these past years .Frank, it was really brilliant to think of the exterior side of the mountain '

Frank , ' but I don't understand something ..If this ledge goes all the way down, why you people had not found it ! '

Re replied, 'Yes that was what I wanted to see.. The brilliance of my people is seen in this .The ledge leading to the cavern curves when it reaches the cavern and the curve is blocked exactly like this from the exterior side ..So when we had explored this ledge we could not find any exit. But there are several holes all over the cavern… these bats come through them .. So we never doubted it'

Richard asked if they could bring the spacecraft through this hole

Ro replied to him, 'yes we can bring it out. Our spacecraft reaches its maximum speed immediately .It must be small to travel in that speed'

Redim was thinking of the problem ahead.. The spacecraft was ready and the coordinate of the location would be easily got as Dr Vasudevan had promised her to draft a plan to reach the nearest solar system ..

'Re your problem have almost solved .. So now it is the celebration time ... Cover it once again, so that no one accidently finds the opening ... Let us go home and plan '

Re landed on her shoulder, 'sorry , the matter is not that easy.. You people go home , we will cover it up. I don't know how to thank you.. But I will find a way...I am waiting for Zo to come back...Frank I will come and meet you tomorrow'...

It flew to him and sat on his shoulder and said in his ears, 'a small problem is there ...I will let you know tomorrow..'

Frank petted the bird and it flew.

They left everything and returned home. When they reached home it was dark

Mary was surprised to see the supper she packed was returned untouched …she started preparing an elaborate dinner. They had a sumptuous dinner and Francis did not ask anything and they did not volunteer.

********

22

Unforeseen Circumstances

The next day dawned with unexpected news from the police. Francis got a call that the report about The Seekers had come from the Interpol and they had the irrevocable proof that they had been murdering people to get information about the ancient treasures in various countries and the old man Oliver was killed by them for the same reason .But The Seekers did not find what they needed in the old man's house..Even though they tortured him he did not reveal anything. But they found a map in his house. That map showed a location of a mountain range –Western Ghats that was hundred kilometres away from the old man's place. The copy of the report, the map and the detailed report of the circumstances in which the FT Group chairman was threatened were given to them and the same would be handed over to the Chairman and they would meet him shortly!

Frank was little relieved to hear the news. The focus of attention would be shifted to the treasure hunt! Redim looked at him and he nodded his head in understanding Francis was tensed...he was not sure if he would be implicated in the old man's death as he had informed them..

When the four police officers arrived, Philomena treated them like her long last friends and as usual her hospitality was flawless. Finally they were left to speak!

The DIG handed over the file and thanked Francis for setting a trap to catch the international criminals

He added, 'Interpol has praised your service and here is a letter of appreciation for you. Moreover these criminals had a bounty on their head... its value amounting a million USD and you know that is a very large sum indeed'

Francis was moved beyond words. The past few days were like hell as he anticipated the worse and media having their fill..And he couldn't express any such things to them so he remained silent .Frank understood his dilemma and came forward and gave a hug and said, 'Dad you were correct ...finally we could get rid of the criminals .As you said we could have a memorial for the old man who sacrificed his life ..Officers my father was worried where these criminals would come and haunt this place. Now thankfully everything cleared... Now we would like to ask you to keep my dad's name from media. We don't want any copycats coming forward to take revenge on us...The prize money will go to charity in the old man Oliver's name here in our locality .'

Francis came out of his emotion and took the cue from his son,

'My son is faster than me of course but we thought we should do something for the old man as he was the reason that the criminals were caught. Unfortunately he is no more… The map is an added advantage...we will be finally left in peace. Thank you gentlemen for coming all the way to this rural area....'

They all laughed. They once again experienced the wonderful warmth of Philomena and left praising them all!

The news made headlines the next day and not very surprisingly Francis Timothy's name was not mentioned other than to mention that the village was near Tim's Land. Few reporters who had come to Tim's land even mentioned about the strange happening before the old man's death and how criminals had been searching the neighbourhood to get the map...the news reporter added that, they murdered for a non existing treasure as the area they had mentioned was tourist area and there was no way any treasure could be left as it was explored thoroughly by the millions of tourists who visit to see the natural falls and for the medicinal benefits of that place..

Thus the matter of Oliver's death came to an end. All who were associated with the incident gave a sigh of relief. Richard thought sadly of the old man and how he had left all his belongings to him in a written will! The police had handed over the will that was written by Oliver few years back when Richard was his regular company...Richard missed him...he was his only companion till last

Redim spoke to him, 'Richard, I understand how you feel, .but life moves on... we have a very big responsibility ... we need to see these extra-terrestrials are safe... we did not select them but they came to us.'

Frank came to them as he overhead Redim, 'yes what Redim tells makes sense... they came to us asking for help... we must continue to help them without exposing them to the world. If that happens they would remain as the guinea pigs used for experimental purpose. So either we must find a safe place in the space or we must see they live peacefully here in our land. But our life time is so short so we cannot give a guarantee for their safety... so we need to find a solution, I am expecting Re... Come let us go to the room'

Richard was thinking hard. The problem was real and he felt very protective of Re and group. He had no idea why he felt like that but at the same time, since his childhood he had been dreaming about meeting the extraterrestrial and that was the reason he totally believed the old man's tall stories about talking animals... He was eager to know about the group that was left in USA.

In Frank's suite, Redim was seated in the couch and Frank was standing with the closed eyes. Richard quietly sat on a chair. Frank was wondering about the delay when Re appeared as an eagle..!

Frank locked the door and asked Re to be seated on the coffee table and he sat opposite to him on the couch with Redim.

Re simply sat and looked from one to another. Redim couldn't bear the silence, 'what is the matter Re? I think you are Re!'

Then another eagle appeared and perched on the same table near Re. Redim continued, 'now who are you? We were waiting for Re... So we guessed he was Re... .'The second one turned to look at Redim, 'I am Re ... he is Zo...just back from USA... '

Frank, 'Now you can tell us what they were doing there because we have to speak openly ...'

Zo opened its wings as if he was stretching himself and said, 'Well, you knew what happened in NASA, it was our mistake that the accident happened there ... I was the one who tried to send a message back but the radio had a strong receiver but the transmitter was not so strong in the radio frequency and I thought I could increase its capacity but you know the result. So we stayed back in search of the most powerful radio transmitter and we came to know that it was in Chile's Atacama Desert at an altitude of 5050metres above sea level but once again we were disappointed because that observatory too had no powerful transmitter.

Then we came to know of NASA's Deep Space Network and there we could send our messages. But we did not get any reply...once again we observed the signals that used Re's name, now it was very feeble but clear... Finally we came to the conclusion.'

Re continued, 'that signal was a pre-programmed one... Perhaps every thousand years or so... It gave a warning that we should not go back and to take over this planet as ours! We had a discussion with my mates and all are against the idea! Yes Frank, this thousand years have given us some of your humanity, it has seeped into us I think... Something very new to us...but that is it.'

Frank couldn't help but smile as the old eagle hung its head in shame as if having some sentiments was disgraceful.

, 'well, that is it then! What is your next plan? Frank asked them thinking it would make everything easier if they asked for specific help.

But Re and Zo both did not answer. Redim prompted them by asking, 'what happened to the group that stayed back. You said you had some other work for them'

Re eagle's look was penetrating..., 'You really want to help us but we have a problem, bigger problem than finding an exit from the cavern ...'

Frank was alarmed, 'but Re you should tell us everything... only then we can help you// First believe that we are here to help you ...so don't hesitate;

Zo replied, ' Frank, it is not that we distrust you. But it is not possible for you to help us because our technology is much superior to yours !'

Re added, ' yes Frank ..Our spacecraft uses magnetic levitation and superluminal particles to move at that speed. We have lost few very important gadgets that are needed. Until we find them, we cannot think of travelling'

Richard asked them, ' Lost them.. How was it possible? You misplaced them perhaps!'

Zo eagle said, 'we don't know'

Redim wanted to know, 'if you have been warned not to go back, what is the other option!'

Re replied, 'yes we held a meeting to discuss the same. The males of our community are ready for adventure of the unknown… But the females wanted to find their origin and go back to the place from where we came. But now this message from above changed everything. We have only one option left that is to find a habitable globe in the universe and establish it as ours. But we don't want to go to a globe where already life is existing as we don't want to destroy life. So we have started the search. Redim has already some idea and we hope we will get there finally! Am I right Redim?!

Redim was amazed that they knew everything., ' I thought the same Re.. Because you have to go to another planet in our Milky Way we have several solar systems we are trying to find one as you have the transport... You see, your transport is ready and destination is still unknown

Frank laughed... 'In transit but destination unknown... Ok let us fix it! Meanwhile you people must keep searching for the vital gadgets because no use of doing anything without them....'

Richard was still thinking about the objects that they took from the basement, 'Re you people had found some things from the basement and you said that they were for your survival! Did you search among them for the rest of the gadgets?'

'Those things were our survival kit. We were glad that nearly 100 cylinders were found and we need only 32... One for each... That kit keeps our energy going for the set time. We searched in the basement for the gadgets but found nothing.'

Frank, 'now we know all the problems and we will clear all of them. You people can search for the lost things and we will concentrate on the feasible destinations.'

Both Re and Zo said they would arrange an intense search for the lost items and they vanished from sight...

*******

23

Investigation

Frank removed his Link and kept it away. But he knew now it was of no use and they were always spied on. Even now he was not completely sure if the ETs were not here!

Richard wanted raise a question to Frank but Frank seemed to be totally immersed and Redim was looking at her cell phone .He recalled everything that happened so far. He decided to clear all the doubts as there was no point in going behind them without proper understanding. Re said they lost some gadgets and he thought it must be like a machine and certainly larger... so it couldn't have lost but deliberately hidden from them.

'Frank, what is that you thinking so deeply?' I have some doubts'

Frank smiled,' I remember how you made all the teachers to run from you with your innumerable questions! Now shoot away....'

'Frank you said we need to help these creatures ... But we don't know anything about these aliens because they have no idea. So how are we going to find more?'

Redim came over, 'Richard no need to find more about them. We need to find a suitable uninhabited or unoccupied planet; the rest is up to them'

'No Redim, we need to know something more...The tablets tells us a story of an UFO landing and the people who witnessed, died except one ... the person who drew the stone tablets .In one of the tablets , few people were gathering something from the ground and placing them in a box …'

Redim did not give much attention to the tablets so far... she made up her mind to study them little closely...

Richard said, 'in that case, why don't we go once again to the old man's house and search properly! Our library has some manuscripts that dates back to more than thousand years...I have seen those palm leaf manuscripts in the library. May be we can find something.'

Redim was curious about the palm leaf manuscripts. Irrespective of her decision of not looking into the past, she wanted to see the library. Frank and Richard both were waiting for her response.

Redim laughed, 'I think you know the psychology ...Yes definitely I am interested in the old manuscripts so we will start from here. Let us go to these places, who know we may find all those gadgets that they are searching.'

They set of to the library immediately in Frank's car. The librarian was an old man who knew Richard very well. He was happy to help them as Frank had already promised a better infrastructure for the library.

Redim was in awe of the collection of books. She did not expect a small village to have such a big library...

The librarian took them to the second floor and showed them the attic where all the very old manuscripts were kept in secure containers... He showed a bamboo ladder that was used to enter the attic. 'There is no need to tell you people all these when Richard is here... he knows this place much better than any one... I will leave you here and when you finished let me know' he left them

Redim asked Frank, 'how come this small place has such a well stocked library'

Frank told her how their family had the habit of donating books for generations. All these old manuscripts had been given by their family to the library. In fact it started as a locker for this old manuscript as people wanted to steal them thinking that they could find the map of the treasure...Only now the interest for the treasure has been reduced...

​ Frank first climbed the bamboo ladder, when Richard asked him to move out as they were not familiar about these homemade ladders.

So he climbed first and lifted the attic door...which had to be lifted slowly so that it could be kept to the other side on the floor...

Last time when Richard came here, it was so dusty and there were no furniture...

But now a table and four chairs at one side and few iron boxes with bar locks were seen.

He climbed up and asked them to climb one by one. Redim came up next as she wanted Frank to hold the ladder.

When all the three entered the attic, Redim exclaimed about the iron boxes.

'These boxes might fetch a huge amount for their antique values... look at the locks... never seen one like this before'

Frank had seen them before and in their basement few could be seen. He thought he should check the basement properly one day...

The antique boxes were not locked though...Redim sat next to one box and tried to open it...

She was in a comfortable jeans and a loose long top. Now her attire helped her to sit on the ground easily...She removed bars one by one from the slots...there were six of them... Now she pulled the handle which was like a big knocker on the top... but she couldn't even move it a bit... it was so heavy... both Frank and Richard laughed heartily as they knew she would not be able to lift it...Frank asked her to move aside and both lifted the lid together…

The manuscripts were neatly stacked with labels... Now Redim's curiosity got better and she sat to pick the first bundle. It was written 2000bc.

She looked up at Frank and asked him ' do you people know the worth of this 4000 year old manuscript in the antique market?? How careless!!It should be handed over the heritage department'

Richard was taken aback... He had a good collection of them at home as he had a fondness for anything old... but he never knew they could fetch money... so he asked, ' tell me how much you think it might fetch?

Redim said, 'depending on the age it could fetch anywhere between half a million to one million USD she was there during an auction in one of the antique house in UK and she was shocked to hear the price of some of the artefacts that would be found ordinarily in any old houses in India.

Now these priceless artefacts were laying here without any protection...Frank understood her concern, 'Redim, this is a village... No outsiders can come that easily... Even if they come, they will not be allowed to roam freely. In the night most of the villagers will be sleeping in front of the library or the church.

Now dad had arranged many CCTV all over these places in the village .It is safer than any museum. But don't worry me will make some arrangements for these to be kept safe in a proper manner... But now let us do what we have come for!'

They sat around the box and checked the bundles. The bundles were marked from 1500BC to 2000BC .they kept them safely back and closed the box. They kept all the bars in places but did not know how to lock it. So left it as they found it.

One by one they checked the boxes and in one box all the bundles of manuscripts were labelled 1000AD to 1500 AD.

They picked them and kept on the table so that they could browse them. The manuscript was written in Tamil language, one of the oldest living languages on earth and all the three of them could read it easily.

Mostly it was all some old poetry or some notes on medicines or some notifications about the donations given by someone to someone... One of the bundles was bigger with many leaves and the label was 1000 AD

Since the label was 1000 AD, Frank opened the last one without much interest. The first leaf the words were written in a bold and clear writing "We saw God today"

Frank was excited... It was unlike the others where the entire first page had some kind of salutations to God.

Redim and Richard dropped what they were reading and looked at the bundle that Frank was holding.

He shifted to the second one

"The Gods came as fire from above"

They started reading quickly...there were around 30 leaves. They read quietly all the leaves and sat up...

Richard was the first one to come out of the shock!

'This story has been passed on one another until it was written by someone! Now everything makes sense. There were two spacecrafts one left back leaving one here back on earth'

Redim was visualising the entire thing and as if in a trance she said, 'yes and Re couldn't recall from where they had come. Because they were unconscious .All the young ones of these creatures were in one spacecraft and I think the elders brought them here and found a safe place and hid them.'

Frank appreciated her clarity of thoughts. The elders killed everyone who saw them except one man .He came back to the place next day with few more and picked up all the evidences found on the spot and hid them. He secured it so well that it remained hidden until the old man Oliver and his father found them after a millennium... All those who had seen or heard were killed mysteriously so the news never came out.

Yes Redim, I think the other spacecraft were here for few days or months. 'Here it says that one God was angry and left'

So one as you said left, the other one was hidden in the cavern....'

Richard was listening to them with complete concentration and his imagination started working overtime and said, 'one thousand years they have been here waiting ... How sad! in their planet some calamity must have struck and few elders picked up some eligible male and female kids to safeguard the continuity of the race and left them to find a place of their own.. '

Frank added to his story, 'they gave them the entire knowledge and memory except their origin because their planet was no more'

Redim, 'But why didn't they stay? If there was a problem in their planet, they could have stayed …'

They were silent for some time; Frank was thinking about Re and his attitude towards the word of honour … 'perhaps they gave their words that they would come back... Like dying with the sinking ship'

'Oh yes ... sacrificing their life' Redim's eyes were misty imagining about the entire sequence...

Frank said, 'Re is telling us the truth and now all we have to do is find a suitable planet in our galaxy .the *Proxima B seems to be a habitable planet [*livescience.com] which is nearest to our milky way. The recent study says its distance from the sun is right for it have water. Frank showed them the relevant highlighted article in his cell phone

"The major message from our simulations is that there's a decent chance that the planet Proxima B would be habitable," said Anthony Del Genio, a planetary scientist at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York City. Del Genio is also the lead author of a paper describing the new research, which was published Sept. 5 in the journal Astrobiology."

Redim was excited and said yes Dr. Ashwin in NASA also said the same thing...

Richard was cautious, 'it is not in our hand. Re and group must be ready for travel. They have not found the important gadgets so far... Let Redim find the coordinate or whatever they need to travel and let us search for the gadgets'

Frank agreed to that immediately and asked, 'Redim is it ok with you ...how are you going to get the information?

Redim had already sent a mail to the scientist anticipating this eventuality and she said, 'I am in contact with the Dr Ashwin and two of my friends are working on it ... yes I can definitely produce what is needed ...'

Frank was impressed with her confidence Richard was happy that he would not be asked to something that he had no idea.

Richard said, 'let us go to the old man's house once again. We may find something there!'

Redim said that she has some work to do so she would be here in the library'

So it was decided that they would pick her later when they returned from the old man's house. His house in the outer area of the village isolated from all the others houses. The nearest house was Richard's house where he lived alone.

Frank drove right up to the old man's house and parked the car.

The police notice was still there and they both bent down to reach the doorway. The door was locked and Richard took the key from the small ledge at the top of the door. He knew that the old man always left the key there and never locked the door.

The interior was a depressing site. The police markings could be seen and they had searched everything and scattered the things here and there. The villagers were frightened of the old man and even while he was alive, no one would come anywhere near him...

Frank looked around the place and he had no idea where to start. There were three rooms and a hall. He just walked around the place without disturbing anything. Richard was in the front room looking at everything...

Frank did not see anything of interest in the hall, so he moved into another room which was towards the back. The corridor that led from the hall was dusty Frank thought perhaps it was left as it was by the police because of the dust .He slowly entered the dark room, the window was closed with nailed bars .. He switched on his torch in the cell phone .There was a cot at the centre without any mattress and covered in dust. He went around the cot to see anything was kept near the wall.

He tripped on a bundle on the floor...he just managed to save himself without falling... he focussed the light on the bundle and it looked like a sac tied with a rope .He kicked at it and thought the old man must have kept rocks for some reason. He kicked at it once again and the bundle hit the floor with the metallic sound. Richard came there at that time and asked Frank 'what was that thud'

Frank showed him the bundle and Richard laughed and said, 'the old man had always picked up small metallic things... now I know he had given them to Re… Let me see'

He squatted near the bundle and untied the rope. He couldn't see anything inside so he just placed his hand inside to pick something.

He had brought out a thick round object that was shining even in the dull light. Frank lost interest and moved away when Richard's came with excitement. 'Frank point the light here'

The light showed a yellow metal and he gave that to Frank...

Frank was so surprised that he almost dropped it. It was heavy and shining...unmistakably Gold! He said, 'it is gold ... not a coin too heavy ...must weigh at least half a kilogram... is there something more? '

Richard said 'another 3 more' and brought them out with difficulty... Frank gave the one in his hand to Richard and laughed... 'Richard you are the owner now, remember what the police said ... Even they gave you the will of the old man... he left everything to you... remember!'

Richard looked dazed and said. 'Imagine me helping a poor man! But why didn't he tell me?

Frank said, 'did you find anything? Come let us go!'

Richard kept all the gold blocks inside the sac and tied the sac. He thought for a while and carried it with him. Frank looked at him and said 'please store it in a safe place'

Richard kept the bundle in the car and closed the door and left to pick Redim from the library...

Frank could see that Richard was deep in thought... he should have been happy instead he looked pensive. Frank finally couldn't bear it anymore. He asked him, 'come on Richard, you should be happy! What is making you miserable! Don't tell me you are ok'

Richard looked as if he woke from a deep sleep. He turned to look at Frank, 'you see the old man used to tell me about the vast treasure that he had seen it but I never believed him. He had described the gold blocks that were heaped somewhere.'

Frank was astounded, 'but why didn't you believe him?'

'Because he said that he had seen thousands of gold blocks like the one that we have in the bundle here! He was always fond of anything that shines so I thought he was describing his dream. But now I am not sure!'

'Did he tell you where he had seen them' Frank became very curious...

Richard said, 'now I understand everything better... he told me he was taken by the talking animals ...he fainted and when he woke up he was there with the gold ... The whole area was filled with gold and again he fainted and woke up in his house..He used to tell this to everyone who listened to him. It became a joke after sometime. I used to divert him from this topic as everyone would laugh...But now I believe him...An enormous amount of gold is lying somewhere over there and Re knows where it is'

Frank recalled, 'yes Richard you are correct because once Re told me that the treasure is kept as a bargaining deal... The police gave us the map... but the location was in the Western Ghats – a tourist place in the mountain range some hundred kilometres away from here ...'

But hundred kilometres! Do you think, they couldn't have taken the old man so far?' Richard was uncertain...

Frank was sure, 'I could believe anything of these extra- terrestrials .so superior to us... Sooner we find a home for them better for the humans'

*******

24

Hurdles

When they arrived near the library Richard got down fetching Redim and Frank remained in the car... watching the kids playing in the church ground …

Richard came running shouting his name...Frank saw the fear in his face and he got down... Richard said, 'Redim is not there … '

Frank thought, 'ok I will call her ...' But her cell was switched off

Richard pulled his hand towards the library... They both ran into the library.

The librarian was fallen face downs on the ground near his table... Frank ran to him and turned him over...checked his pulse near the jaw... thankfully the pulse was strong. Richard brought a bottle of water and splashed on him... He showed some life... his eyes rolled and he opened his eyes and tried to focus… When he saw Richard he lifted his hand towards him...so he sat beside him and asked him gently 'what happened? Where is the doctor?'

The librarian sat up; 'two men hit me and pulled the doctor in gun point' he looked around hoping to see them...

He couldn't tell anything more... He couldn't even tell how they came...

Richard ran towards the boys who were playing in the church ground and asked them if they had seen any car? Yes they had seen a black car sometime back...yes they had seen a lady getting into the car…

Richard came back to tell Frank about the car… Frank regretted that he left the Link at home .. He thought of calling his dad when he saw the grey bird perched on the door, their eyes met and then it disappeared. He felt completely at peace after seeing Zo.

He gestured to Richard to stay and moved a little further as the soft voice said in his ears , ' the Seekers have abducted her and we have sent reinforcement to rescue her so not to worry…but take your car and move to the national highway'

Frank pretended as if he was on the phone and he told the librarian Redim is safe we will bring her now... Kindly don't tell the villagers as they would be frightened... I will bring her here....'

He ran to the car...Richard came running along with him and got in … they shot off towards the national highway... Frank told him what Zo said and Richard felt so thankful to those little ones and his affection became hundred folds…

They reached the NH45 in no time and he continued to drive towards the airport route …After driving for some time, they could see a black car moving slowly and moving as if they did not know where to go...

Richard said, 'either the driver is drunk or the car is drunk... Look at the way it is moving... Thankfully traffic is less today...Look out Frank...that fool is stopping'

Frank just slowed down a little and to their amazement Redim got out of the car and immediately the car took off.

Frank stopped the car beside Redim and Richard got out and asked her whether she was ok?

She laughed and said, 'when Re and group is there why should I worry about my security?' But it was scary...they were not part of the The Seekers but they came to know of a treasure through informer in Interpol and they had all our photographs. They came into the library to ask about our whereabouts but they saw me and thought if they could kidnap me, all would be known... I started screaming when I was told in my ears not to panic but go with them. I could barely hear but I understood out guardian angels Re and group were there. After that, it was a bad comedy as they thought they were threatening and I was extracting all I could from them...

Then suddenly the driver started moving in a zigzag manner and he stopped altogether. He turned and said to get out with such a fear in his eyes, I almost felt sorry for him.Then I got out....'

They heard a terrible crash like a thunder and just hundred metres away the black car was rolling like a toy car and burst into flame.

Redim was distraught and she said, 'My God, Re's people were there ...' but near by the voice came over 'don't worry doctor ... we are all safe'

They got into the car then Richard just wanted to make sure if any CCTV were there luckily there was none and they returned back the way they came... They stopped to tell the librarian that all was well and moved towards home.

Frank told them to rest for a while and meet him in another hour...

When they met him after a while, Frank had his link and he had written all the events that happened from the day he met Re in sequence...

. He was puzzled over one thing and he voiced it aloud,

'Why we are watched so closely? Why they were not as happy as they should in the discovery of the exit? They said they lost some gadgets but why are they so important?'

Richard replied, 'if we were stranded in another planet and we had the ability to watch others, we would watch too! I don't think they watch us intentionally but the fear of discovery is always with them I guess'

Redim appreciated Richard, 'Frank I wouldn't give much importance ... If they are watching us, it is to give their protection ... you see we are the only humans who could reveal their presence on earth ... Moreover they know you both well but I am an new entity so naturally they are cautious!'

Frank said, 'perhaps the gadgets they lost must be the key to the journey ...that is why they were not overjoyed to find the exit..' well .. Richard has personal good news to tell you.'

Redim laughed and asked him if he is getting engaged...

Richard, 'good news? Me? No doctor... Frank you mean the gold?'

Frank said, 'was it not good news? Lifelong you could explore these mountain ranges without thinking about the money!

Now even Richard laughed and said, 'even otherwise my parents had left me enough....'

He told everything that happened in the old man's house and went down to retrieve the bundle that he had left in Frank's car!

Frank said, 'such a loveable person... Anyone would forget a valuable legacy like this...'

Redim was eager to check the gold blocks! It did not have any markings but it was evident that they have been moulded roughly, manually and not made by machines...

She finally said, 'the answer is with our beloved intragalactic friends... Anyhow, I want to ask them something... Hope they appear now..!'

She looked around and taking the cue from her Re and Zo appeared like eagles...

Frank welcomed them and pointing at the gold asked them

, 'what is this Re? You have been hinting at a treasure for some time... ever since you met and even you remarked that you are keeping as a treasure but I never realised that could be gold!'

Re said, 'I beg your pardon. I would have hand over the treasure but you did not show much interest in it... We trust you... even now I can show you and the treasure will be yours... We toiled over one thousand years to collect gold from all over the world… from the gold mines or from palaces or places of worship... we brought them here and made into these round wedges... we had seen how the giant humans killed each other to get this metal so we collected them to use as the bargain..'

Zo continued from where Re left, 'but our experiment with the old man failed... we gave him these wedges and asked him to kill your dad …'

'What!!' all the three shouted in various modulations...

Zo went on, ' yes to kill your father as he showed lot of interest in finding the treasure and he kept on quizzing the old man..So we prepared a map deliberately showing the wrong location. But the old man had some sense of loyalty towards your dad...so he neither killed him nor showed him the map... But Francis knew for sure because Oliver described what he saw...

De nodded his head, 'but the old man never gave much importance to wealth...a simpleton really...He couldn't differentiate the reality from his imagination till last... In fact that helped us safe from discovery...

Redim asked now, 'so you have the treasure'

Re once again nodded his head... Frank had an idea...

'We need to find a place for you in the space ...well. We need to do it without attracting the media or public... We will use the treasure as a decoy...when the whole world is watching the discovery of the treasure we will send them off'

Re flapped its wings to show its approval!

Redim went near Re and petted him and asked, 'Re, I would like to see your colony in the cavern... could you take me? Now we have found the exit, it should be easier!!

Re said immediately yes... the tunnel is easier... of course you need to crawl a little... but on the other hand, the other entry point has a sudden incline narrow ramp to go down at least for a kilometre and not so easy to walk. The tunnel makes you uncomfortable but not dangerous....'

Redim agreed...But Frank cautioned them... 'Not in the day time only when it is dark ... Otherwise unnecessary prying eyes will follow us... tonight then..'

They all agreed to visit the cavern in the night.

*******

25

Important discovery

Mary was surprised to see them early for dinner... Francis and Philomena both were not there as they had been asked for some opening ceremony and expected only the next day .

They had their dinner unusually quietly and Mary thought they were upset about something and she maintained her distance...When they had their dinner immediately they went back to their respective rooms as if to prove her point.

Redim set the alarm for 11.40pm and slept... Richard was too keyed up to sleep. He was thinking of his dull life and how all these excitements came suddenly... how it gave two genuine friends and of course the lovely little talking animals.. He couldn't think of them as aliens...as he had heard them since his childhood... His thoughts about the old man were one of regret. He never believed him but liked to listen to his tall stories. Now he wished he had believed him…when it was thirty minutes to midnight, he got ready. He remembered that they have to crawl, so he padded his knees with one of his vest and wore a loose fitting jeans and a tee .He took his cell phone and secured it in his belt and took the torch.

He went to Frank's suite and knocked at the door, the door was kept open so he entered his room. He saw Frank waiting fully dressed.

Richard asked if he had padded his knees and Frank smiled and said, 'Richard, I did not forget my experience... so padded them with my thickest old shirts ...

Redim said, 'me too! I had stuffed some tops into my stockings'

'Then what are we waiting... come let us go....' Frank started moving. Richard switched of the lights and followed them...

When they came down, Richard cautioned them about the security and Frank said, 'mostly he will be sleeping but it is better we go through the back door....'

So they moved through the back door and walked on the walkway that connected the walkway that ran parallel to the ravine… Frank wished he had been taken through this route instead of the one Re took him...

Re and few more of their people appeared around them... now they were all had taken the dwarf form Redim and Richard both became their instant fans... The exquisite beauty could be seen starkly in the torch light...

Re said, 'it was easier to go through the tunnel walking rather than flying... So we always take this form when we use the tunnel... There is no need to caution you about the secrecy as our survival depends on us being undetectable '

Richard said, 'don't be afraid... we will never betray our friends and you have helped us few times and you have earned our allegiance ... You see it is kind of a human thing....'

Frank, 'Human thing! Yes it sounds correct ...'

They came near the ravine and the flash flood was still gushing down in a loud clatter...Frank thought it was much better than the first day but Redim was really scared to think of going down and moving underwater to reach the other side !

She asked him if it was really safe but then Re's people disappeared down.

Re told them, 'sit here and find the rungs below, when you find the rungs, you have to flip over to climb down...just two rungs and then the tunnel would be seen .. You crawl through....'

Redim sat and tried to find the rungs in the wall of the ravine...She could feel it...she kept the legs on the rung and flipped over holding the edge... slowly she felt around until she found the next one and she could see the tunnel … she crawled into it without difficulty.. Frank waited until she was out of sight and then asked Richard to go... Richard climbed down so effortlessly and then Frank went down...

They crawled through the tunnel noiselessly and when Redim came to the junction, she stopped and Re appeared beside her to give the direction...

Finally Redim came out and she gasped in surprise... she would never forget the sight as long as she lived... The paradise must have been like this she thought...

Re and his people, as a welcome sign placed so many floating lights all around the cavern's interior.. The banana plants and the corn fields were lighted with some yellowish lights and the rest were bluish lights … it gave an appearance of a mini globe... or an indoor stadium... the lights were moving here and there making the place so unreal..

The rocky columns were all lit so brightly with white lights and it looked like lit adorned Christmas trees and standing at the centre ,gleaming in the light was the spacecraft the shark as Frank called it.. Redim never expected to see such beauty and she was too stunned to move... Richard bumped into her and whistled to show his appreciation and even Frank did not expect it to be this beautiful because previously only few lights were there...

Redim turned to look at Frank and said, 'thank you Frank... I will cherish this memory till my last breath'

Re told her, 'Redim, you must thank us not Frank'

They all laughed... All Re's people were there all around them…Richard picked one female to look closely and she said, 'hello Richard ...Remember me ... I used to sit on your window .the green parrot ...'

Richard remembered... The parrot was a regular visitor when he was young... When his parents died, one of the reasons that he had not wanted to go and live anywhere because of the parrot!

The female continued, 'I am Gee and I had seen you crying alone most of the nights'

There was an absolute silence... Richard was so embarrassed and he gently kept Ge on the ground...Frank could see he was emotionally moved so he went near him and gave him a hug... Redim gave him a slap and said 'lucky guy' and laughed. Richard pulled himself with difficulty and laughed with them.

He said, 'I was lonely child but got over it long time ago.

Ge agreed, 'I stopped coming to see you'

Richard looked at Ge for sometime as he recalled the parrot..There, Re called them over to show the spacecraft and everything went out of their mind .

The first thing that struck Redim was, it's size and the colour. It was really small and she had never seen that peculiar shining pinkish colour... Richard was so attracted to it... he went around it touching it here and there. It was very hard to touch unlike any metal he had seen... Frank peeped inside the spacecraft...everything was as he had seen it... Redim wanted to see the interior properly and she asked Re and crawled in... She could see so many equipments all along the ceiling and in the nose area...To her amazement, all of them were ticking away and the monitor showed some weird markings...she slowly crawled between the aisles to see how the seats were arranged …. It was all so neat and compact... Frank called her out and slowly she came out.

Richard went in and took a long time coming out... He looked dazed...and asked Re 'all the monitors are working and you said you have some problems!'

Ro came forward and said, 'we lost the starter key, superluminal particles emitter and the location fixer... either we have lost it or misplaced ... we have been searching for it'

Richard was very pensive, he thought he had seen the peculiar shade of The LED light somewhere .He asked Frank, 'we have seen this kind of a display somewhere in a cell phone'

Frank thought for a while and remembered what he brought from the old man's house.., 'Richard you remember, and you brought a square cell phone from the old man's house! Do you think it could be the one?'

Redim said, remember I too showed you something like this which I found in the cave '

Frank squatted beside Re, 'Re the gadgets you lost... what is the size of them... is it small like this' he showed his cell ...the whole group became silent ...

Re said 'yes but not rectangle but a perfect square! But why Frank... don't tell me you found them'

'Not I, Richard found it in the old man's house and the rest Redim found them in the cave'

No one spoke for sometime... Ro said, 'impossible, we have checked everyplace in your house '

Frank said, 'I will tell you where it is ...go and fetch them... I want know if all the gadgets that you need are there or not'

He told Ro where he keeps the key to the bed drawer and asked him to open the drawer in the right side below the mattress. Take one more person with you '

Ro was so ashamed that he didn't check his bed, he apologised profusely to Re but Re was in euphoria... he wanted him to go and get it…

Ro and few more disappeared … few brought the some kind of baked corns and gave it to them but they were too excited to taste... they all waited... Only Richard was going around the spacecraft and observing it keenly and many little ones were following him.

Richard was familiar to them as they had been seeing him since his childhood. So they wanted to be with him...looking at him and talking among themselves

They have to wait only few minutes before Ro and group appeared. All of them came running and surrounded them... A cheer went off... they found all the essential gadgets they needed!

Redim said,' we have to find you an Exoplanet as your destination... Be cheerful...we will find you that too…'Frank said that they were leaving and a visibly happy Re accompanied them...

********