Majestic Read online

  She called out to him from the back seat. “Where are we heading to, Captain Hook?”

  He turned to face her. She was giggling, the sunlight glaring back at him off her sunglasses.

  “We’re gonna head to a little cove down the lake a bit. A perfect place to enjoy that nice picnic lunch and bottle of wine you packed for us.”

  “Is booze allowed on private boats?”

  “Sure, as long as the driver doesn’t drink.”

  “So, that means you’re not going to have any?”

  Wyatt laughed. “Of course I’m going to have some. That law only applies to civilians—I’m the police chief, remember?”

  “Oh, double standard, huh?”

  “Yep. But, only because you’re with me, and only because pretty soon the laws won’t matter anyway.”

  Allison grimaced. “It sounds like we need to talk some more.”

  Wyatt turned his eyes back to the sparkling view through his windshield.

  She called out, “Hey, can you turn on the police siren?”

  Wyatt flipped the switch and the shrieking sound caused him to jerk. He couldn’t recall ever having used the siren before, and he was shocked at how loud it was.

  Allison was laughing her head off in the back seat, yelling, “Woo! Woo!”

  He smiled at her girlish silliness—he loved that about her. Vivacious, full of life, finding reasons to laugh despite how serious everything was right now.

  “Go full speed! C’mon, Chief—be wild and crazy!”

  Wyatt yelled back. “Okay, hold on tight, you little nut!”

  He rammed the throttle forward and the bow rose high in the air as the craft struggled for equilibrium. Then, after a few seconds, it slammed back down again. Now, that the boat was level on the water it picked up speed like a rocket, and they were streaming across the almost empty lake. It was early fall, so there weren’t many other boats out on the water. And, since Kootenay Lake was so huge, it wasn’t difficult to find empty space to put a boat through its paces.

  Suddenly, he heard a scream.

  He spun around in his seat and saw Allison laughing, her long brown hair blowing in the wind.

  “My hat!” She pointed behind them.

  Wyatt pulled back on the throttle and spun the boat into a tight circle. Allison leaned over the side as they headed back in the direction they had come from.

  “There it is!”

  Wyatt pulled slowly alongside the spot she was pointing at, and shut off the engine.

  Then, she cried out, “Damn! It just sunk!”

  Allison stood up on top of the lounger and yanked her halter top up over her head. Then, she wriggled out of her shorts and tossed her sunglasses onto the seat.

  She had a bikini on underneath, bright red with white polka dots.

  Wyatt caught his breath.

  She dove over the side and disappeared beneath the clear blue water.

  Wyatt dashed over and yanked the extendable ladder out from a hatch in the hull, and slipped it over the side.

  He peered down, but couldn’t see any sign of her. Panicking, he yanked off his t-shirt and shorts. Down to just his bathing suit now, he stood on the edge of the boat ready to dive in as well. Then, he heard her voice from the other side of the boat, and felt her soaking wet hat smack him in the back.

  “I’m over here! And, it’s cold!”

  “The ladder’s over on this side. Get over here.”

  She disappeared under the boat and a few seconds later reappeared with her hands on the lower rung. “Be a gentleman and give me a hand, Chief.”

  Wyatt helped her back into the boat and slid the ladder back into its slot. She stood there shivering, long hair plastered across her face. Wyatt opened a locker, pulled out two large towels and wrapped them around her. She cozied up to him and he hugged her.

  With her teeth chattering, she said, “I think…now would be a good time…for a glass of wine…don’t you think, Chief?”

  “Good idea.”

  He gently lowered her down to the lounger and tucked the towels around her. Luckily, even though the lake water was cold, it was a sunny hot day and she’d dry off fast. He reached down to the picnic basket, opened it, and pulled out a bottle of Bordeaux and two wine glasses.

  “Do you want to eat first?”

  She shook her head.

  “Okay, wine it is.”

  Wyatt poured and handed her a glass. She moved in closer to him and laid her head on his chest. He pulled the towels around her exposed legs and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

  They sipped their wine in silence for a few minutes as the boat drifted along lazily with the current.

  “Do we need the anchor?”

  “No, this lake is deep—we’ll be fine. It’s nicer this way, don’t you think? Just drifting along?”

  She nodded.

  After a few minutes of silence, Wyatt broke the spell. “This doesn’t seem real. Us sitting here like this—everything seems so peaceful, so right. It’s hard to believe that a cataclysm is on its way.”

  “It is nice. At times like this, the world is a beautiful place.”

  Wyatt pointed to the south, in the direction of the Sun. “It’s somewhere up there right now, isn’t it? Coming towards us, hidden from view.”

  “Yes. It’s coming in from slightly behind the Sun. That’s why at this time of day you can’t see it. The Sun is far too bright. And, there are no chemtrails up there right now, so the atmospheric conditions must be okay today.”

  “Do you think it’ll work? Going back to 1963?”

  Allison took a long sip of her wine, then held out her glass. “More, please?”

  Wyatt poured and filled his own glass, too.

  She sighed. “I have to hope that it will—the science seems right. But, we won’t know until we try.”

  “Why 1963? That’s the year Kennedy was assassinated. Cutting it kinda close, don’t you think?”

  “It was a tough choice. But, he was elected in 1960, so that wouldn’t have been a good time. He was too new in the job. Then, in 1961, there was the ill-fated Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba. That was an embarrassing disaster for him, and he was distracted recovering from that for the rest of the year.

  “In 1962, he had the Cuban Missile Crisis to contend with. America and Russia came close to nuclear annihilation, and he came out on top. So, that year would have been a bad one, too, because post-crisis diplomacy with Russia and America’s allies took up most of his time.

  “We decided that 1963 was the only time we could do it—and, of course, he was killed on November 22nd of that year, so we need to get Earth back to a date well before then.

  “It will be a good time in another respect as well. Kennedy was concerned about UFO and alien activity and he demanded that the C.I.A. brief him in detail. They refused, and Kennedy gave them a deadline. It was to be February of 1964, but, as we know, he didn’t live that long.

  “So, we know that he was suspicious of the C.I.A. and in fact wanted to dismantle it. He was vitally interested in the UFO topic in 1963. Our going back to that time will be good, because we know from history that it will be foremost on his mind. He’ll give us an audience.”

  Wyatt gazed up at the sky. “Here’s an uncomfortable question for you. In the quest to keep the lid on the UFO and alien crises, did Majestic 12 have JFK killed?”

  Allison was silent for a few seconds. “I don’t know. And, that’s the honest truth. It’s possible. I’ve heard some rumors, but lips have been sealed on that one, for obvious reasons. But, if we did, wouldn’t it be ironic if we succeeded in going back in time to save his life? The life we stole?”

  Wyatt whistled. “That would be surreal.”

  He pulled her in tighter to him. She felt so good. Her body was warm underneath the towels, yet her little button nose felt cold against the side of his neck.

  His mind was filled with a million questions, most of which he guessed she couldn’t really answer. He asked another on
e, anyway.

  “How will you even get through the front door of the White House? Since you folks will be from the future, he won’t have a clue as to who you are. He won’t give you the time of day, and neither will the Secret Service.”

  She smiled. “We’ll find a way. Trust me.”

  Wyatt drained his wine. “If this works, it will be so strange for all of us to be back in that era. You and I won’t even have been born yet, and my mom and dad will be able to see themselves as young adults.”

  Allison shook her head. “We need to warn them to stay away from themselves. There can’t be any contact between the present and past of the same people. We can’t predict the outcome.”

  Wyatt nodded. “Okay. Too weird to even imagine, anyway.”

  He paused for a second before asking his next question, which he couldn’t have known at that moment was going to be his last for a while. “You mentioned you had an underground facility that we’ll be going to. Where is it?”

  Allison sat up straight and shrugged the towel off her shoulders. Then, she wrapped her bare arms around Wyatt’s neck and moved her face within inches of his.

  She whispered, “Enough of this depressing talk. It’s high time you and I had a ‘moment.‘”

  Her beautiful blue eyes were intoxicating, strangely enhanced by the wet strands of hair that snaked across her face.

  She kissed him. A different kiss than the one she’d laid on him when they sitting on his deck. This one said so much more.

  He kissed her back and, within seconds, their tongues were swirling, exploring. She sighed as he unfastened her bikini top. Allison slid on top of his lap; he slipped his hands under her bikini bottoms and in one swift move dropped them to the floor of the boat.

  For just a split second he thought about how they were out on the lake, in an open boat, with no protection whatsoever from prying eyes. Drifting along in an easily recognizable police craft. However, the one bit of solace he got was knowing that most boats wouldn’t allow themselves to come within spitting distance of a police boat—most boats had liquor onboard, and most of the drivers drank. Just like Wyatt.

  He hadn’t even noticed that she’d already slid his bathing suit down to his knees. He reached down and pulled it off.

  She raised herself up, inviting his lips to caress her breasts. He started with his tongue and pursed his lips over one nipple—then the other—back and forth until gently grasping a nipple in his teeth and squeezing. A long, drawn-out moan expelled from her mouth. She flung her head backwards while at the same time grasping his penis in her hand and pulling it up against her vagina. She slid it in and out, back and forth, until finally allowing it to find its own way.

  As they swayed and rocked in rhythm together on the back lounge of the Sea Ray, the Sun beating down on their skin, Wyatt’s brain was still working. He tried to remember the last time he’d had sex—but he couldn’t. He knew it wasn’t that long ago—maybe just a few months—but, whenever it was, it was totally forgettable right now. He couldn’t even remember who he’d been with. He looked up at her face at the exact same time as she looked down at his. She smiled in a lazy sort of way and pursed her lips. He accepted the invitation.

  As their tongues swirled against each other in passionate excitement, Wyatt’s brain punched out another thought.

  How could this be happening?

  He knew he was in love with the stunning Allison Fisher.

  What had he done that deserved being dealt a cruel hand like this?

  Hopelessly in love…and Gargantuan was coming.

  Chapter 46

  She was standing at the kitchen counter, peering into the backyard at what seemed to be nothing in particular.

  Wyatt and Allison strode quietly up behind her. He gently touched her shoulder.

  “Mom?”

  She took a second to respond, then turned her head slowly. In a weary voice, she responded. “Oh, hello, Wy. And, Allison—so nice that you’re still visiting with us.”

  Allison stood beside her and gazed out into the garden. “You look worried. What’s out there, Helen? A bear, or wolf?”

  “Oh, no. I can only wish for something simple like that.”

  Helen turned and looked at her son.

  “It’s happening with your father again. The surgery worked—his strength and vitality are back—but so are his little spells. He’s out in there in the studio right now.”

  Wyatt gave his mother a hug. “Mom, the alternative would have been worse, don’t you think? He was aging right in front of your eyes.”

  “Yes, Wy, you’re right. But…I still worry. He gets that look in his eyes, starts to glow and that transparency thing comes back again. When that happens, it’s like he’s possessed. He just goes right out to the studio, sometimes without even bothering to dress.”

  Wyatt rubbed her back, reassuringly. “We’ll go check on him, okay? Do you want to come with us?”

  Helen shook her head. “Thank you. Yes, please go. But, I’ll stay here. It upsets me too much to see him like that.”

  Wyatt nodded.

  “Mom, I should warn you that sometime in the future, you, Dad, and I are going to go with Allison to a special place she has. You know all about what might happen now, even though we don’t know exactly when that will be. But, Allison has a safe place for all of us to go to. I don’t want you to worry—she’ll take care of us. Might be a smart thing, though, to pack a bag for you and Dad. In case we don’t have much time.”

  Helen’s eyes opened as wide as saucers, and she looked at Allison. “This sounds serious. Is it going to be sooner than you thought?”

  Allison shook her head. “No, Helen. We’re fine for quite a while, I can assure you. There’s no imminent danger. But, Wyatt’s advice is smart—best to be prepared.”

  Helen took off her apron, and walked to the foot of the stairs. “I’ll do that right now, then, while you check on Willy.”

  Suddenly, she grabbed onto the banister and gasped. “Did you feel that?”

  Wyatt opened his mouth to answer, but then noticed out of the corner of his eye the chandelier swaying in the dining room. Then, the silence was shattered by the shrieking sound of car alarms out on the street.

  He jumped up, ran over to his mother, and held her tight.

  He could swear that the floor was shifting under his feet—very gently, but noticeable. Like an undulation, pulsing up and down.

  “It’s an earthquake, Mom. Just hold onto me—it won’t last long.”

  Helen struggled to talk. “We never get earthquakes here, Wy.”

  Wyatt winked at Allison. “Oh, sure we do, Mom. Your memory isn’t as good as it used to be.”

  Suddenly, it was over, except for the car alarms and the gentle swaying of the chandelier.

  Helen squeezed his arm. “Wy, I don’t think I want to go upstairs right now. I’ll wait in the garden while you and Allison visit with your dad.”

  “Okay, Mom. That’s probably a good idea.”

  Wyatt led the way out the back door and into the garden. Helen sat down on a Muskoka chair just outside the back door. “I’ll wait here for you.”

  As they approached the studio door, Wyatt caught a glimpse of his dad through the window, pacing back and forth inside.

  Allison whispered. “You were lying, weren’t you? You’ve never had an earthquake here before, have you?”

  Wyatt shook his head. “No, but she doesn’t have to be reminded of that.”

  He raised his hand into the air with a flourish. “Look around you, though. We’re surrounded by mountains, most of them dormant volcanos. It was only a matter of time. The epicenter was probably a long way from here—maybe Vancouver, which is a severe earthquake zone.”

  Allison remained silent.

  Willy didn’t seem to notice them when they entered the studio. He just kept pacing, one hand on top of his head, the other one swinging at his side. As Helen had told them, Willy was glowing and his skin was slightly transparent.
If he’d noticed the earthquake, he certainly didn’t show it.

  Wyatt glanced over at Allison, who didn’t seem the least bit shocked. He reminded himself that she was familiar with Willy’s condition, with what she’d known about her own father. Plus, Wyatt was pretty sure that there wasn’t very much that could shock the very-much-in-control Allison Fisher. At least, not that she would betray.

  “Dad? Are you all right?”

  Willy whirled around, hair disheveled, eyes wild. At that moment, he looked like a mad scientist.

  Except for the attire. He was dressed only in boxer shorts, and seemed so distressed and distracted that he showed absolutely no shame at Allison seeing him that way. Normally, Willy was a proper gentleman, with old-fashioned modesty.

  “Oh, hi, Wyatt, Allison. I don’t know what I’m doing in here. I’m just…all mixed up today.”

  Wyatt walked over to the center of the room and stared across the expanse of floor. The large granite sphere had been moved. And, the carved tunnel entrances in the sphere had been opened up, made larger.

  But, more puzzling than that were two other balls that were now on the floor, arranged in a way that made kind of a triangle between all three. Both had obviously been carved by Willy, just like the big granite one. The one at the top of the triangle was the largest and its stone type was different from the other two as well. It was a lighter, almost golden material—Wyatt guessed marble.

  The original sphere was positioned about ten degrees down to the left of the big golden one. The third sphere was positioned well down from the other two, and it was also the smallest of the three.

  It had been a long time since Wyatt had studied geometry, but he recognized the triangle formed by the three balls to be in the category of ‘obtuse.’ He didn’t know what to think about this latest puzzle, so he looked over at Allison with a question in his eyes.

  She showed no emotion as she looked down at the floor. She pointed at the small sphere. “That’s Earth. And, that golden one is the Sun. Of course, we now know that the original one on the left there is Gargantuan.”

  Allison turned to Willy. “Any sensations when you were doing these other two? Or, when you were arranging them like this?”