Tales From The Triple Suns (Chapter Seventeen)

Last week of my first archaeological dig…what a disappointment.1

In the past twenty-one days, we had assuredly gathered a large amount of garbage, and only the real archaeologist would know if it was valuable or not, but I was disappointed.  It wouldn’t stop me from wanting to participate in future digs, but now I would know not to expect too much.  Now Old Earth…yeah…that’s where the real finds would be.  Half the things already dug up would be available to find once more, since most had been lost or hidden by curators before and during the ‘exodus’.2

Although I’d always been interested in archaeology, I found myself not looking forward to another week of sifting through dirt in search of an elusive Snicker wrapper(whatever the hell a Snicker was, I’ll never know…but I’d found a whole bag of them).  I decided to once again look through the artifacts already found, and turned to leave.  My foot caught on something and I fell flat on my face.  Spitting dirt out, I rolled over to see what had tripped me. 3

At first it looked like a silver stone sticking out of the dirt, but as I prodded it with my toe, more gravel fell away to reveal the corner of yet another metal box.  Part of me wanted to call over one of my co-diggers to deal with it, but why bother…I mean, I was already bored, so why make all of us that way.4

I grabbed a few of my tools and started the arduous task of slowly clearing the area so I could get a good look at the box.  When I finally had it uncovered, I gently lifted it out, sticking a small numbered yellow flag in its place, and a corresponding sticker on the box.  I placed the box on a basket like tray and carried it over to the table to place it with the other relics.5

I wiped my hands off on a cloth as I grabbed the small hand held device that was able to detect unnatural contents.  It had some long complicated name, but people had taken to calling it and x-ray, after the ancient device from Old Earth.  A quick swipe over the top of the metal box proved that the contents were safe, so I slipped on a pair of clear gloves, grabbed a paper-thin tool, and slipped it between the seams.  A gentle quick turn of the wrist, and it was open.6

Just as I thought…garbage.  I took a quick holographic picture of the contents with the site dig camera, then started to transfer the articles to the table.  A pair of gloves…writing instruments…an old time notepad computer…and some pictures.  I avoided looking at the pictures, since they always made me wonder just what had happened to these people when they were removed.  7

At the bottom of the case was a paper notebook.  I put it with the other things, then placed the case under the table with the other cases we had found.  I picked the book up and leafed through the pages.  Great…not even written in Common.  I squinted at a few of the words, chiding myself for not paying closer attention in school when we were taught Esperanto.  Sure, I could speak it…if I had to…but I was lost when trying to read it.  At least I assumed it was Esperanto.  For all I knew, it could have been some other language from Old Earth. (I was betting on Esperanto though, since it was the third largest language at the time of the expulsion)8

I was so wrapped up in trying to decipher the book that I didn’t hear Craig as he walked up behind me.  I jumped when I caught sight of him out of the corner of my eye, and smiled lamely.  9

“How’s it going?” he asked as he tried to hide a smirk. 10

“How are you at reading Esperanto?” I asked.11

“Pretty good,” Craig replied.  “Why?”  He took the small paper notebook I passed him.12

“Translate that.”  I pointed at the entry. 13

Craig started to read. “It’s not Esperanto…well, it is, but it’s Esperanto, French, Spanish, English…all jumbled together…and really old phrasing…Umm…ever since the…discovery, they want us off.  Nothing will change…minds.”  He paused.  “The…queen…no…Quaren.” He stopped and looked at me.  “Where did you find this?”14

“Over there.”  I pointed in the general direction of the small yellow flag, and went to take the notebook back, but he turned away from me and continued to silently read.  “Craig?”15

“Just a sec.”  He finished reading and turned back to me.  “Did you tell anyone about this?”16

“I just found it a few minutes ago.”17

“Did you tell anyone else,” he demanded slightly.18

“Just you.”  I reached out for the book again but he moved it out of my grasp. “What’s going on.”19

“I’m going to have to suspend your dig for a while.”20

“You can’t do that!”21

“Yes, I can.”  He held his hand out.  “Come on…”22

I folded my arms and stared at him.  “No.”  I titled my head and gave him an ‘I dare you’ look. “I want to know why you’re thinking about suspending my dig.”23

He closed his eyes and shook his head slightly…his classic pose for trying to get any anger in check.  “Calinda,” he began as he looked at me.  “Just once could you trust me and not ask questions.”24

I glared as I stormed by him in anger and headed towards the vehicle.  How dare he suggest that I didn’t trust him?!  I trusted that man with my life, my love and my soul.  In fact, some days he was the only thing I believed in.  I climbed into the open vehicle, wishing that it had doors that I could slam.25

Craig got in the driver’s side, started the vehicle and began to drive away in silence.  We were nearly back to the community when he finally glanced at me.  “Cali…”26

“Shut up.”  27

My eyes grew wide as the vehicle skidded to a stop in the middle of the dirt road, and automatically put my arm out against the dashboard.  I looked at Craig, ready to bitch at him, and stopped.  He was staring straight ahead and his fingers were gripped around the steering wheel.28

“Tell me everything you know about D.N.T. planets,” he asked with forced calmness.  He waited while I silently stared at him…as some back part of my brain wondered who this stranger was that replaced my husband.  “Please.”29

“Only that people were forcibly removed from them over four hundred years ago with no known explanation.”  I paused.  “And that the rumors ran from everything from secret military installations to sanctuary planets to biological-scientific testing.”30

He nodded slightly and his eyes quickly glanced my way.  “Anything else?”31

“Some military training was performed on a few of the planets.”  I watched as his hands tightened slightly.32

“I need your word that you won’t tell anyone about the book you found.”33

“Why?”34

“Cali…” He sighed then looked at me.  “Please.”35

I could see concern in his eyes, but beyond that I was shocked to recognize something similar to fear there.  I had never seen that look in his eyes in the nearly four years that I had known him.  Something in that book had spooked him, and he was afraid for my well being.  “Okay,” I finally said. “You have my word…my promise…on my honor that I will tell no one of that book.”36

“Thank you,” he whispered, then started the vehicle again and continued to drive to our home.37

~~~~~~~~~~38

Craig didn’t look at me as I sat in the chair next to his behind the building we lived in.  He had been silent the rest of the ride home, and disappeared with the notebook for the rest of the afternoon.  I was still annoyed at his arbitrary canceling of my dig, but pushed it to the side in concern of what was going on with the notebook.39

He finally glanced my way.  “Don’t try to find out…don’t snoop…don’t call anyone…don’t do anything…just forget you found it.”40

“But…”41

“Don’t.”  He squeezed my hand gently as that look reappeared in his eyes.  “Just…please…do what I ask.”42

~~~~~~~~~~43

Craig sat at the kitchen table most of the night, staring at nothing.  I knew he was rapidly working things out in his mind, weighing options, going through scenario after scenario.  Part of him wanted to ‘forget’ the book had been found, and it would not be listed in the catalogue of artifacts, while part of him knew that he had to report the find, and whatever was in the book.  44

He finally reached a decision as he got up, grabbed a beer from the food processor, and then walked to the vid-phone.45

~~~~~~~~~~46

Mark sat in the chair by the couch and looked at us.  “Sounded serious on the phone, boss…what’s up?”47

Craig hesitated then handed to notebook over.  “Found at the dig site.”48

Mark took it and looked it over.  “Really,” he said slowly.  “What’s it say?”49

“Twenty-second century Esperanto mix, some English…” Craig wet his lips.  “I only read part of the first page.”50

I looked between the two men, wondering why Craig was suddenly nervous.51

“Who found this?”  52

“I did,” Craig said before I could open my mouth.  “Dropped by the dig to visit…saw it sticking out of the ground, and dug it up.”53

Mark studied him for a few moments.  “Okay,” he agreed with a nod.  “You know I have to report this.” 54

“Yeah.”55

“And that’s they way you want it written up?”  Mark asked.  “Wording as flexible as possible?”56

“Yes.”  Craig leaned forward slightly.  “And could I get the real history of this planet?  Not the version that was sent to us, but the actual history.”57

“Have it on your desk by morning,” Mark said.  “Anything else?”  He rose when Craig shook his head and started for the door.  “You know,” he said as he turned back.  “Don’t worry about this,” he held the book up.  “Your security rating should clear you.”58

I stared at the door as it closed, my mind whirling at the events that just happened.  I jumped slightly as Craig’s arms wrapped around me, and I felt his lips on the back of my head.59

“Mark’s the official government contact, remember?” he whispered into my hair.  60

“I found the book.”61

“No…I found the book,” Craig insisted.  “Just trust me on this.”62