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Alan Virdon woke up with a start.
Someone had called his name.
Not called. Whispered.
He lay still and listened in the silent darkness.
Nothing.
He propped himself up on his elbows and looked around. In the dim light of a dying fire, he saw both Burke and Galen sleeping soundly. No sound now except for their quiet, rhythmic breathing.
He looked around.
They were in a very old and abandoned subway station. By the look of it from the late twentieth century. He thought back to how they had gotten there. Yesterday. They were being chased by a group of five or six gorillas on horseback. And those gorillas were getting close. Very close. So close that the soldiers had pulled out their nets and were preparing to scoop up the three fugitives when suddenly...miraculously...a cave opening had appeared. They had ducked inside and then, just as inexplicably, the apes had ridden by as if they hadn’t seen it.
The fugitive trio had explored the cave as a place to stay safe only to find that it wasn’t really a cave at all; it led down to a subway station. When they first arrived on the platform, Burke had tried to explain to Galen what a subway station was. As they stood on the edge of the platform, Burke pointed to the left and started to explain. “The train would come from this tunnel,” which was now collapsed in and filled with rocks and debris “move down these tracks,” he moved to trace the rusted and twisted metal rails in front of them “and then continue on through that tunnel.” He was now pointing to the right at an equally collapsed and filled-in tunnel. “It was a quick way to move hundreds...thousands...of humans without clogging the streets above with more traffic.”
Galen shook his head in disbelief. “Your world was truly a world of wonders.”
“As you can imagine, Urko had a different response when I explained it to him.”
This subway station was quiet, comfortably cool, and well hidden. They had decided to hide out for a few days. But first, they were going to try and get a good night’s sleep and as Virdon now looked over at his friends, it seemed that’s exactly what they were doing.
He lay back down and closed his eyes. He needed to join them in that sleep.
A few moments of silence. He breathed deeply in and let the breath out.
Was that it again? He sat up and listened. His name, being whispered.
Again, only louder.
He called over to his companions. No reaction. At all. They are deep asleep, he thought.
He went over to them and tried to shake them awake.
No response from either of them.
“What’s going-” he thought out loud when he heard his name called.
Louder this time and more urgent.
He got up and walked over to the edge of the platform. He looked down at the rusted tracks and let his gaze slide to the tunnel on the left. Still full of debris. He looked over to the right and cocked his head to one side in confusion. That tunnel was now free and clear of all obstructions and as he was about to call to his companions one more time, an overhead light went on about fifty yards down in the tunnel.
He heard his name coming from that direction.
He looked back at his friends but with a shrug of his shoulders and a shake of his head, jumped down and headed into that tunnel. It was dark, pitch dark, but the light ahead drew him in. Like a moth, he thought. It felt cool. There was a breeze, but the air smelled staler. He kept walking…slowly now...because he couldn’t see what he was stepping on but as he got closer to the light and his path became more illuminated, he walked a little quicker and with more confidence.
As he stepped into the circle of light on the floor, the light suddenly went out. He stood there for a moment and then looked back at the platform, now nearly indistinguishable in the complete darkness. He was about to turn and return to the platform when another light went on.
About fifty yards ahead of him.
He walked to that light and again, as he got to it, it went out and another came on further down the tracks. This happened five more times until Virdon was so far from the platform that he could no longer see the tunnel’s entrance he had entered just a short time ago. As he entered the circle of the overhead light this time, however, it didn’t go out. Instead, it angled forward to shine in front of him. The circle of light now illuminated a black wall that closed off the tunnel entirely, blocking any more forward movement. In front of him now, in the middle of that black wall, was a door.
He approached the door, took hold of the handle, and opened it.
He peered in.
It was a large room with an overhead light in the center and a low platform across the room opposite the door.
“Please, come in,” Virdon heard. The voice had a slight accent that Virdon couldn’t quite place.
He walked into the dark room until he stood under the bright light that was shining down in the center. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he saw that a man was standing before him on the low platform. He was wearing a spotless, all-white suit and black gloves. He had black hair and Virdon could tell, even from where he was standing, that the man had two different colored eyes. One looked black and without a pupil, the other was a brilliant, icy blue.
“Who are you?” Virdon asked.
Though the man’s mouth did not move, Virdon heard, >>My name is Lu’uke. Welcome, Commander Virdon.<<
“How am I hearing your voice?” Virdon asked, his eyes narrowing. “Your lips aren’t moving.”
>>I am one of the Eyes of our community.<< Virdon heard this answer too. >>Many of us here have special gifts. Telepathy is mine. If you don’t mind, I prefer to communicate this way.<<
“How do you know my name?”
>>My community knows you. We have followed you. We are anxious to meet you.<<
“What community?” His voice made a slight echo in the room.
>>We are a community of humans who have lived underground since the Sudden Cataclysm.<<
“The Sudden-”
The man’s voice in Virdon’s head cut off the rest of his sentence. >>For over one hundred generations we have lived here. Biding our time. Planning. Waiting.<<
“Waiting?” Virdon said, his voice echoing in the empty room. “For what?”
>>For our chance to retake our planet from the animals who control it now.<<
Virdon paused and let that sink in. Finally he asked, “Why am I here?”
>>As I said, I am one of the Eyes. My Community Task, along with my fellow Eyes, is to search the waves of the outside world for other humans with special talents and bring them into our community here.<<
“I don’t-” Virdon started but was interrupted again.
>>Your wave, and the wave of your companion Burke, Peter J., shone so brightly that we gently led you here. When the time was right, yesterday in fact, we allowed you to see the entrance of the cave while at the same time ensuring that the animals chasing you did not see that entrance.<< Lu’uke gave Virdon a slight smile. >>Once you were here, we knew that your innate curiosity would not be able to ignore a late-night whispering of your name. We wanted you to settle in and feel safe so we made you see both tunnels as impassable until we were ready to bring you here.<<
Virdon remained silent.
>>And here you are.<<
“Why just me? What about, Pete?”
>>We thought it was better to approach you, being more...let’s say, perceptive...than your companion.<< He paused a moment and made a little frown. >>You’re fearful. Don’t be. We are peaceful. Some of my community are back on the platform using our telepathy to ensure that your friend stays asleep. We would hate for him to wake up and have concerns about you.<< He paused for a moment and then continued. >>Please trust me. Your friend is safe.<<
Virdon let out a sigh of relief so Lu’uke continued, >>You can bring our offer to him .<<
“What offer?”
>>We believe that you and Burke, Peter J., being from such a distant past, have special and useful knowledge and skills that we wish to bring into the community. Our gifts were given to us by the holy fallout. But yours come from a natural human superiority. We celebrate that and see all that it could add to our cause. We can help each other.<<
Virdon again remained silent.
Lu’uke narrowed his eyes and his voice took on a gentle compassion. >>You are afraid again? Why? Why is there such fear and confused skepticism in you? You have no need to fear. Our community is ready to welcome you. We have been leading you here, making a special effort on your behalf, for a long time. Almost since the moment you arrived and appeared in the wave. Every decision you have made that has led you to us at this moment was guided by our unseen hand.<<
He held out a gloved hand.
>>Join us. You will live with your own kind. No more running or hunger. No more hot days and cold nights. No more fears and worries. No more apes. Ever. Think of it.<<
He waited a moment. >>Please say yes.<<
Virdon gave his head a slight shake. “It’s so much to take in. Let me talk to my friends. We have been looking for a safe place for a long time. We are so tired of running.” His eyes brimmed with tears.
Lu’uke closed his eyes and took a deep breath. >>Your wave is so strong. It’s almost intoxicating.<< He cocked his head to the side and opened his eyes. >>You are also thinking that perhaps we can find a way home for you. Perhaps. Our skills here are extraordinary and our community is in many ways far ahead of the one you left.<<
He smiled again. >>So like I said: Perhaps.<<
A moment of silence filled the room and Lu’uke’s smile turned into a grin. >>But once you see what your life here is like, I don’t think you will want to leave us.<<
“The three of us have been on the run-”
>>One moment.<< Lu’uke’s smile vanished and held up a hand to stop Virdon from continuing. His voice was suddenly very hard and very loud in Virdon’s head. >>This offer is for you and Burke, Peter J. Only. We are a community of humans. Your animal friend can never join us and must never know of our existence. He will remain asleep and once you and Burke, Peter J. have joined us, you will simply disappear from his life. Forever.<<
“But we travel together. We’re friends. More than friends. Brothers. We have learned to trust each other. Depend on each other. We have to.” Virdon’s voice turned pleading. “On his own out there, he won’t survive. They’ll find him and they’ll kill him.” Silence greeted his words and Virdon swallowed hard. “His own kind will kill him.”
>>Because they’re animals, Virdon. You are agreeing with me.<<
“But Galen is not an animal. He is a very gentle soul. He would add great knowledge to your community.”
>>Isn’t their first law: Ape shall never kill ape?<<
“We both know that’s not true. It’s preached but not actually practiced.”
>>That is not our concern. He is an ape. And we believe that any ape, eventually, will seek the destruction of all humans--<<
Now it was Virdon’s turn to interrupt, “That’s not true. You're wrong. Like us, Galen seeks peace and equality between apes and humans. A better world. He can help you as much as Pete and I can!”
Lu’uke’s eyes turned icy and Virdon felt a chill run down his spine. The whole room suddenly felt cold. >>I don’t think you understand what you're risking right now. We are offering you peace and comfort.<< Lu’uke’s voice was tinged with impatience. >>Perhaps a way home for you. Our community is blessed with all sorts of humans who have many and varied gifts.<<
He brought his hands together in front of himself. >>Don’t be foolish, Alan Virdon. Do not think only of your animal friend. Think of what you want. Think of what your friend Burke, Peter J. would want. Don’t miss this opportunity to live among your own kind. Humans who are individual and special; human beings who have talents and gifts to meet your every need-<<
“Can’t you hear your own hypocrisy?” Virdon asked with a sharp edge in his voice. “You insist that all humans are individuals--precious and talented--while at the same time lumping all apes into the same category of violent anim-”
At that moment, Virdon froze. His mouth open, his arms outstretched towards Lu’uke.
Lu’uke stepped off the platform and slowly approached the motionless Virdon. And for the first time since he had appeared before Virdon, Lu’uke spoke out loud.
“You disappoint me, Commander Virdon.” His voice was cold and hard like flint.
The living Virdon statue made absolutely no movement.
“I was hoping that you would see our point of view and join us. I believed you to be a more reasonable and intelligent human. I had high hopes for you and your companion. Your knowledge of the past combined with your instincts and intelligence would have been invaluable to your race.”
He walked around Virdon and continued to speak to the immobile astronaut. “Your affection for the animal with which you travel suddenly radiates off you and is an unforeseen complication. Your wave gave no hint of your resolve on this. We knew of your attachment to that animal but had no idea it was so intense. We believed your desire to get home would be more important to you. Your belief in these animals’ ability to work with humans is truly dangerous. It is one we cannot allow to infect our community.”
He moved around to speak his final words to Virdon’s transfixed face. “Therefore, both you and your companions will be returned to the outside world. We will ignore your waves from now on. We will continue to search for and bring into our community other minds that have been identified.” He continued without speaking out loud. >>Goodbye, Commander Virdon. We shall not meet ever again and you will not remember me or this encounter.<<
And with that, Alan’s eyes rolled back into his head and he crumpled to the ground like a puppet whose strings had been suddenly cut.
************
Alan Virdon woke up with a start. Someone had called his name. He sat up and looked around. Pete was in a far corner of the subway station, urinating. He called over his shoulder, “Alan. Glad to see you awake. Boy, did I sleep well.”
Virdon ran his fingers through his hair. He felt well-rested. He had slept well too. A deep, uninterrupted, and dreamless sleep. He stood and stretched.
“Alan?” Galen called from the edge of the platform.
Virdon strode over to it. Like last night, he saw that the tracks were twisted and rusted and that both tunnels were filled in and impassable. “What’s up, Galen?”
“Do you feel a breeze of cool air coming from that tunnel? That fully blocked tunnel?” He pointed to the right.
Virdon remained still for a while and shook his head. “No.”
“Come on you two,” Pete called. “For some reason, I want to get outside and back to our wanderings right away.”
Then suddenly Virdon did too. He put a hand on Galen’s arm and pulled him away from the platform’s edge. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”
As the trio began to climb the rocky walkway back up the cave and its entrance, Virdon hung back and looked over the subway station. Didn’t they talk last night about staying here for a few days? Now as he tried to bring the memory of that conversation back, it slipped away like a dream that you can’t remember in the morning. There was something about this place--a weird deja vu-- that he couldn’t put his finger on.
Burke’s voice broke his reverie, “Come on, Alan. Let’s go.”
Alan shrugged, turned, and hurried to catch up with his companions.
On the subway tracks just outside the tunnel on the right, Lu’uke shook his head and with sadness written across his face, turned and walked into and through the rockslide and disappeared.