Serpent Galaxy

By David McElwrath

Storyline of Reptilians from Andromeda Galaxy

The first Earth Ship to meet the Reptilians was not a human ship but an Advanced Ship of the Ancient and Advanced Race of the Vlar.

The Vlar were a very high Technology Ancient Race who expected to have no fear of the Snakes. However, the race of Reptilian's that w

• Language: English
• Publisher: URLink Print & Media, LLC
• Release date: Nov 23, 2020
• ISBN: 9781647535476

David McElwrath

David McElwrath was born in a log cabin on Dead Man’s Curve in Southeast Missouri, the fourth of seven children. He grew up on a farm and attended high school in Clarkton, Missouri. While in high school, he took an electronics instrumentation and control course with DeVry Tech of Chicago, Illinois. He went to college at Missouri School of Mines in Rolla, Missouri, in electrical engineering. College was interrupted by a tour in the Naval Aviation Flight Training Schools located in Florida. After leaving the navy, he studied heating and air conditioning with Worthington Air Conditioning Company and Carrier Air Conditioning Company and finished a business management course of study with Missouri University in St. Louis. His marriage produced two wonderful children, Cameron and Sharel, who are the joy of his life. He started a construction business in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and did great business until a divorce bankrupted him. He has been doing research into energy systems and writing in later years.

Book preview

Chapter 1

What’s a Snake…?

Somewhere deep under the Rocky Mountains of North America are Nuclear blast proof underground caverns equipped with every conceivable hi-tech toy that tax payer money can buy. There is a meeting of all the top men in N.A.T.O., the North Atlantic Treaty Organization that came into being after the second World War, the second war to end all wars… Now, they are considering a different set of problems.

All the 47 men and women seated around the American Walnut conference table are grim faced and silent. All eyes are on Mike McCallahan, known to all as Iron Mike. He is waiting impatiently while aides are passing out photographs to each of the gathered experts in various fields. Physics, Chemistry, Astronomy, Quantum Mechanics, and many other specialties are represented here. Military men who looked like walking medal displays stuck on ramrods grace several seats around the massively beautiful wood table with its tastefully upholstered side chairs. Rock jaws, steely eyes, and several very feminine ladies seemed to clash violently with each other and with the solid rock cavern hewn out of the very bowels of the Mountain. Specifications called for survival of these caves from a direct hit of 100 million tons of T.N.T. equivalent Hydrogen bomb. It had not been tested, and all present hoped it never would.

Strangely, some of those present today were the very reason this place had been built. Life takes some strange turns.

Professor Cameron D. McCullen, the tall lean scientist with all the letters after his name and a mane of prematurely grey hair is studying the series of photos intently with sharp blue-grey eyes that seem to go right through you and smile at the same time, like a very friendly Cobra who can’t make up his mind whether to eat you or make love to you. He didn’t seem the academic type, more the soldier of fortune or rich playboy. Never the less, he was a full professor at M.I.T and head of the Science department.

Dr. Reginald Smith, cabinet level advisor to the Crown of Britain, the young looking impeccably dressed genius who was putting his mark on the British Scientific community was seated next to an impossibly beautiful sandy haired lady who looked like some lucky millionaires girlfriend. She was in fact, 29 years young, brilliant, and a foremost expert in Extra Terrestrial Biology. It could not be held against her for looking like miss America. She made any man she was near look very good or very lucky. The fact that she was a black belt in Tai-Kwando, a born again Christian, and a Virgin who intended to stay that way until she married was not known by very many men, yet.

A very confident slender built young man with dark black hair and a beautiful full beard as black as a Ravens wing sat near the head of the huge table. He was dressed in an elegant dark blue suit and a crisp white shirt, starched fully, expensive, tailored to his trim waist and full biceps. He moved like a cat and the perfectly cut suit and shirt moved with him. The Yamica he wore gave a hint of his mid East home where he was a Colonel in the Israeli Air Corps. That he was a Military Strategy Genius of the first order was not widely known by many. The little smile he wore when speaking was not condescending, but born of confidence, tested under fire, friendly, laid back, a man who knew he was in control of any situation that came up. You knew instantly that you could count on him to pull his load.

The Dashing Frenchman, handsome, quick, a Top notch Nuclear Physicist with a Nobel Prize, a Title by birth, an Education second to none in the world, a fencing master, and a breeder of fine horses, an obvious lover of life.

Hans Mueller, the German with the computer mind, holder of 57 patents in metallurgy, electronic solid state devices, a fellow with the most prestigious Science Academy of Berlin, a large stockholder in the largest Arms Manufacturer in Europe, holder of several swimming records from college days, father of 5 children, and a Pastor of a large Lutheran Church in Berlin. He didn’t look a day over 35, but his eyes were ice and blue and seemed to see very far away.

There were other men and women seated around the table and each seemed to be cast in the same mold: genius, successful, outstanding in their fields, the greatest minds that the diverse human race could gather. There were men and women from countries that were not on speaking terms at present, Russians, Arabs, Indians, Chinese, Japanese, Koreans and many who probably wouldn’t tell you their Country of origin if you asked.

Mike McCallhan, the American Secretary of Defense, walked to the head of the table. He didn’t bang on the table, ask for attention, or look around waiting for the attention of those who represented the cream of human kind. Terra, Sol 3, the third little blue planet from the little star at the edge of the Milky way, had spawned these gathered here and nourished them. The reason these men and women were here was known to only one man in this room, Iron Mike McCallahan.

Mike spoke softly but his voice carried like the rumblings of a lion. Everyone could hear every word as he spoke quietly, almost as if sharing a secret, which in fact, he was.

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming on such short notice. As you can see from the handout literature, you are under no secrecy clause or gag order and we have no authority to draft you into anything against your will. We will be discussing something of the utmost importance to the whole Earth and the survival or possible extinction of all humankind. If this is something you can not bear to hear, or if you do not want to get involved, this is the time for you to leave before you learn things that you don’t want to hear. He paused for a time to allow any faint hearted to get up and leave. No one did. He continued: We estimate that there will be as many as three to five years or as few as two years before it becomes painfully obvious to all. We will be in a struggle for our very lives and the lives of our friends and loved ones. Mike delivered these bombshells as if they were a discussion of the weather, not a possible death sentence to all who lived on the Earth. Maybe the possible end of a race who did not even know until recently that they were only one of many races in this section of the Galaxy.

No one looked around to see who was leaving, and no one moved to leave.

Mike continued in a little more business like tone "You have before you photographs of our base on Jupiter’s largest moon. It’s a research base with no defensive weapons, troops, or escape pods. We have been there for over 7 years and we felt it was secure. We made it habitable for a permanent research base to study Jupiter and the other gas giants along with their moons. It will make a good base to jump interstellar when we perfect the hyperdrive.

He paused to let the gathering study the first photograph.

As you can see, there are dust crumbles that look like ashes where the buildings stood, and the ships have 6 inch holes burned completely through them, in one side and out the other melting through anything in the line of fire. The ships look like honeycombs. Two ships are missing and we have no data on either one. again he paused for consideration. If you will look at photograph marked item 2 you will see a copy of a photo given to us by the Vlar. You probably haven’t heard about them yet. They are a peaceful highly advanced humanoid race of bipeds who have been visiting our planet for many years, but all governments have kept quiet about them. As you can see, the being, who our guys are calling snakes. They call themselves something that doesn’t really translate into Earth languages very well without a lot of spitting, so we will call them Snakes, too. They are vicious, territorial, cannibalistic, kill for pleasure, and their sole aim in life seems to kill and conquer, in either order. They steal the technology of the conquered, add it to their tech base, take a portion of the conquered for slave labor and, believe it or not, they eat their slaves, actually keep them for food animals. Their reproduction rate is unbelievable and so is their metabolism. They are all soldiers and they are full grown and trained in seven years, less if an emergency arises.

Mike looks around at the faces after these facts are laid out like tombstones before the quiet people at the walnut conference table and then continues The Snakes have, as you can see, a physiology not too unlike our Tyrannosaurus Rex, except with well-developed arms and hands with opposed thumbs, powerful legs with claws. At around 500 pounds Earth standard, they are a formidable enemy even without weapons. We wouldn’t stand a chance in an alley brawl or unarmed hand to hand. We would be lunch, probably. Their favorite food animals are mammals, but they will eat each other, and even their own offspring if they displease Mom or Dad. This data is from the Vlar. They are so advanced that the Snakes don’t pose a threat to them…yet. I think that the Vlar, though they profess to be observers and hands off of everybody are about to get worried. It is our contention that the Vlar ships that have ‘crashed’ on Earth may have been rigged to give us a hi tech leg up; the microchip, advances in metallurgy, advanced communication devices, and propulsion devices thousands of years ahead of our technology. Accident or not, it sure moved us ahead quickly with Technology we had not even dreamed yet. Our experts in several fields say we are very much like the Snakes-Vicious, warlike, killing our own kind…,

here Mike pauses for consideration of that statement… You know, I hate to admit it, but they may be right. Mike looks around the table at the stunned faces.

Disbelief on some, horror and glassy stares on others as they stare at the face of death. The Lizard-like warriors of the Stars look back with a cold reptilian hungry stare. Questions, anyone? Mike asks as he scans the group.

Chapter 2

We need a snake bite kit…..

Professor Cam McCullen spoke What is known of the Snakes home world?

Mike nodded to Hans Mueller and said Would you take this one, Hans?

Hans spoke in perfect Oxford English Of course, Mike. My pleasure. and then he went on The Snakes are from a Star cluster some 147 light years from our System, which is a definite plus for us. On the other side, they set up bases for leapfrogging to the next victim. Once they conquer a planet or race, they eliminate all who could mount a defense or become a threat to them. They are brilliant military tacticians and know no retreat in battle. They strike fear into the heart of all victims and attack before the prey knows what is going on and prepare. The young races, like us, fall almost immediately as their level of technology can not stand up to the Snakes weaponry. They have knowledge plundered from a hundred civilizations and they grow stronger and more numerous all the time. The old races with their high levels of technology are left alone and bypassed. But they know that someday the Snakes will come for them, too.

Their home world gravity is 1.7 Earth normal making them very strong physically. Their metabolism is very high, almost as high as our Earth Shrew which has to eat his body weight and more daily. Hans continued. The atmosphere of their home world has methane in it, so the Snakes are able to breathe hydrocarbons and even halogens in small doses without ill effect, but are still oxygen breathing iron and copper hemoglobin blood lizards. They are not cold blooded, and seem to have quite a bit of control over their body temperature and metabolism, whether through the use of drugs or a built in body function, we don’t know. Hans finished.

Mike said Thanks, Hans. Any more questions? The beautiful sandy haired Extra Terrestrial Biologist sitting beside Dr. Reggie Smith spoke: Is there any possibility of a negotiated peace with these beings, Mr. McCallahan?

Mike looked at the E.T. Biologist whose name was Belinda Cannon and thought to himself that she could talk him into anything and said: We have had a team looking into that and discussing those possibilities with the Vlar. The Vlar said that the Snakes only co-exist with races that they can not conquer. They have been known to go back and conquer races that were too strong after they have advanced in technology sufficiently. Mike said. They still attempt to attack the Vlar occasionally in the hopes of getting one of their ships to get the technology. So far they have not been successful in that effort. The answer is no, they will not negotiate unless we beat them, and then they will come back when they are strong enough to beat us. Kind of like the old communists; they would negotiate when we won so they could get half, but not if they won militarily. No offense, Gregor.

None taken, Mike. You are absolutely right… We would have crumbled sooner if the earlier Presidents had Reagan’s guts and understanding. Gregor Rashinsky, the Russian Physicist said with a pleasant toothy smile.

David Ben David, the Israeli Air Corps Colonel spoke up and said Mike, what is the level of the Weapons Technology of the Snakes or do we know what it is?

We have a guess that they are about 100 years ahead of us at our current level of weapons applications, possibly fifty to seventy-five with our new stuff being tested and under development. Mike replied.

What are the propulsion drives for their ships, Mike, or do we know? Jean Paul, the French Nuclear Physicist asked.

We think that they have a singularity driven hyper drive capable of approximately 36 times the speed of light in interstellar space, and about .5 the speed of light inter planetary. Mike replied. We don’t know what the drive mechanism is for the Vlar ships, and couldn’t understand it when we had it in our hands, but we know that they are much, much faster… how much faster, we don’t know.

Belinda spoke again, obviously having given up the peace idea: When can we expect to be attacked or scouted or whatever we can expect?

An American Air Force General, Harold Forester, spoke up: We have already been scouted, twenty six days ago, and have been reported ripe fruit for picking according to the Vlar. We estimate no more than three and one half years and not less than two years until we are attacked in force. The distance of Earth from their assault base will probably gives us at least two years. They work the same way all the time; destroy all major population centers and military threats, usually destroying sixty to eighty percent of the population in the first strike and then go in and wipe up or take captive the remaining population. They like fighting battles with light weapons and even blade weapons just for the sheer joy of blood letting up close. Not a pretty sight to see. The Vlar showed us some home movies that will give you nightmares.

Professor Cam McCullen looked Mike McCallahan in the eye and said Obviously we must take the initiative on many fronts and in many directions. What has been done, what is being done, and what can we do to prepare for this Snake hunt which you obviously have planned?

You have hit the nail on the head, Professor. We aim to go Snake hunting as soon as we can. The first missions will be glorified suicide missions to gather data and find out as much as we can and send it back by ultrawave while we are being blown away, but it is imperative that we be as ready as we can when they come. Who knows, we may even be able to take the fight to them if we learn enough quickly enough. We always liked Rattlesnake hunts and Bar-B-Q’s in Texas… We were never on the menu before, though. Mike paused amid a few chuckles.

We have several plans to start yesterday. We want to start weapons research in deadly earnest in all areas, even the wild and hairy left field not a chance ones. We want to experiment with every propulsion system from a goose fart to time warps and wormholes. We want to train all the men, women and children who can walk and carry a gun for combat and send guns home with everybody like the Swiss do. We want to send several colonist ships far away so that if we lose, the race of Man will not die so quickly. One of them might run into someone who can help us, even. Finally, and most importantly, we want to organize an elite military and scientific force to carry the fight to the enemy if possible. It will be beyond National Boundaries, above political control and bickering, and it will have first call upon the wealth of Earth and the resources of Mankind Worldwide. We want it to lack for nothing that Earth can provide. It will be under the control of one man who is answerable to God and Himself. These are desperate times and we can’t do half measures and survive. This force will have the status of a Nation and will be our only hope for survival against a ruthless more numerous and advanced enemy. The fate of our planet will rest with our Earth Defense Forces Legion or as our boys call them, STAR TROOPERS. Mike paused and looks at the group. We at N.A.T.O. Command have combed the world for you people. We know everything about you and like it. You are the cream of humanity, our hope literally for life. Professor Cameron McCullen, we are hereby asking you to head up and organize this force using these men and women as your people to recruit, train, lead, educate, and probably die for Earth. This is an all volunteer force. I will not lie to you or sugar coat the truth … with current data, we expect that you will fail and we will lose, and the survivors will be enslaved for food animals for the Snakes. But, there is that spark in one of you that may save us. Mike paused a long time for thinking to be done and decisions made. Now, you do not have to join. You can sign up for the Colonizing ships and you will be instantly accepted with your credentials and we will be glad that your seed will have a chance to live on in some distant world. Or you can chose to accept this damn fool assignment to get yourself killed in a desperate effort that is probably going to fail. No one will blame any one of you for walking out that door and going your way. In fact, you would be smart to do just that. We have no right to even ask this of you. Mike said passionately. You may just get up and leave now and nothing will be said, ever. You would be a fool for joining this force. You most certainly will be killed, probably even eaten!" the tears were running down the big man’s cheeks and splashing on the table on the photograph of the creature that may spell the end of all they held dear… family, friends, children, even the race of man.

Secretary of Defense Mike McCallahan stood before the beautiful walnut conference table with the gathered young and not so young men and women of the human race with tears running down his handsome face, unashamed, not even wiping the tears, just looking at the assembly. He locked eyes with every man and woman for a short time, saw what he knew he would see as they all sat motionless, not choosing the door. Mike stood erect to his six feet four inch frame and saluted the people. May God bless and keep each and every one of you and may your mission be successful. With that he turned to Professor Cam McCullen and said Cam, they’re yours now. Earth is counting on you. and turned and walked out the door.

The four aides assigned to the force came up to Cam and asked for instructions. Cam stood and looked at the assembly for a long moment. Then he said. This was not what I expected my day to be like at breakfast this morning. I am in shock, as I imagine you all are. I think this falls in the category of an offer you can’t refuse. It would be a shame to waste so much brain power as gathered here and we have so little time. Would each of you sleep on what you have learned here today, consider the problems which we will probably encounter and propose several courses of action based upon what you know. Then hypothecate or extrapolate as far as you can and propose courses for those extrapolations. Pure Blue Sky, no limit. I want every hair brained, off the wall, stinking idea you can come up with whether you think it has any merit or not. You will each be assigned a topic to research and report to the Force. We must hit the ground running and use all our assets fully. Also, list your strengths, interests, hobbies, scientific training and abilities, and any allergies you may have or have had. As of this moment, you will not smoke, get drunk on duty or three hours before duty. You will take a complete mineral and vitamin supplement daily. That’s an order. We can’t afford to lose even one of you. Probably most importantly, tell me what you really like to do. We might as well enjoy this, right?" Cam said smiling.

Cam had the four aides introduce themselves. Fred Cowens, Ralph Gremard, Allen Hayes, and LeRoy Jones Jr. Cam said Fred will set up a schedule so that each of you will spend two hours with me in my quarters or your quarters, your choice, and we will get to know each other. You ladies can have your first choice of times if you like. Cam said.

"Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

I hereby set up a twelve member board of judges that will be selected at random for any matter of dispute with me or any other member of the Force. If a judge selected is involved in the dispute, the next computer selection will be called. The judges decision will be final in all matters except strategy, tactics, and personnel assignments. These I will reserve to myself… the buck stops here. My door is always open, night or day. Er, ah, well, unless I have a ‘do not disturb’ sign on my door, then please call first. No need to embarrass each other. We will all eat together, live in the same dorm, and be family. Each of you will wear a communicator 24 hours a day, even when you shower." Cam said.

I suggest that you get to know each other while I am getting to know you. With two hours per person and almost fifty people, it will take me about a week of 18 hour days. During this time you may do whatever you like after you do your reports. Fred will assign you a time slice. If it is not convenient for any reason, you may trade or ask for another slot. I suggest that you take care of any letters of resignation, sell any real estate, get rid of any cars, planes, anything personal that you can’t store for later use if there is a later. We will meet back here in six days at six o’clock in the morning, or for you military types, at Oh six hundred hours. For you Marines, that will be Monday, and the big hand will be on 12 and Mickeys small hand will be on six.

LeRoy, one of our aides here, will help you finalize all your business and personal life into a ball, take the ball and put it in a box and put it on the shelf. The Force will pay off all your debts, even gambling debts, and fund a pension for you if you live to collect it. I don’t want you to have any worries… none. Is that clear? I want your mind on our business all the time. You are Star Troopers now. Cam said. See you at six a.m. in six days."

Chapter 3

If my People…

C ome in. It’ s unlocked. Cam called. My name is David Ben David, Cam. I am proud to make your acquaintance and to be a part of the Force. said David Ben David, the former Israeli Air Corp Colonel. What do we call you? General, Captain, Boss?"

No, I am the honored one to have you in our group, Dave. You can call me from Cam. May I call you Dave? Do you prefer David? I know that you know, but King David in the Old Testament was a man after God’s own heart. It means beloved, doesn’t it? Cam asked.

Yes, it does. You’re very well read for a Gentile, Cam. David Ben David commented.

You’re right, Dave, I am a Gentile, but I’m grafted into the Fig tree through the blood of Jesus. Cam said.

Well, then you know that we Jews don’t recognize Jesus as our Messiah. We are still waiting. David said with a smile.

Have you read the New Testament, Dave? asked Cam. I have a hunch that you know that I have not. David Ben David smiled back at Cam. It is forbidden for us.

I’ll bet you are an Old Testament expert, though, aren’t you? Cam asked.

Well, I’ve studied it since my youth. David said.

Do you know how many times Jesus is mentioned in the Old Testament, and how many specific prophecies Jesus fulfilled in the Old Testament? Cam asked. Or what the specific odds are that Jesus was a fake and not who He said he was?

I have not considered that, Cam. I am a Jew, a son of Abraham, and David, and I worship Jehovah, and Him only. David Ben David said, this time a little testily, with an edge to his voice.

So you’re saying that you don’t care about facts, that your mind is made up and you would never change it regardless of the new data, or if Jesus is the Messiah, you don’t want to know, anyway, is that right? Cam asked a little more pointedly and forcefully.

Damn right! It’s none of your business what I believe anyway. We were God’s people when you people were screwing your sisters and humping animals! Where do you get off preaching to me, Mister? David Ben David was pissed.

"You’re right, Dave. I apologize. Do you play poker?

Got any money?" Cam asked.

David Ben David quickly cooled down, and then a little sheepishly said Yes, I play. I really like to play poker. And yes, I have money. Shekels, dollars, and a little gold and silver. A man has to be prepared, you know.

What’ll we play for? Wanna play dealers choice? How about a dollar ante, three max raises of twenty dollars each table stakes? Cam proffered.

Shoot yourself, pick your poison, deal’em out and read’em and weep. said David, in a little better frame of mind. I can use the money. Baby needs a new pair of shoes.

I didn’t know you were married, Dave. Cam said. I’m not, but it sounds good. I went to Missouri School of Mines Engineering school and earned a lot of extra spending money from the guys in the dorm. Dave said.

You were not a Fraternity man? I would have picked you for a Fraternity man, a Greek, so to speak. Cam said.

Too hard to keep kosher in a Fraternity. David said. Seven card stud, little Chicago, low hole wild, roll your own on the last card. Cam said, shuffling and mixing the deck of cards skillfully.

Say what! Is that a game or are you making it up as you go along? David asked.

Seven card stud. You get 2 cards down, four cards up, betting on the up cards as we go. The last card you may ask for it up or down, depending on your low hole cards and whether you want to take a chance on getting a lower card down on the seventh card and blowing your hand. Little Chicago means that the lowest spade card, the deuce of spades or whatever spade is lowest of all of our hole cards, wins half the pot regardless of who wins the high hand. Simple, huh? Cam asked playfully.

"I guess it is a game, but it’s an off the wall game.

Wild cards make it impossible to figure your hand and know what you have." David said.

Not impossible, just difficult, Dave. Wait until we get to spit in the Ocean and Boo Ray. And of course, Texas, one of my favorites. Cam said, enjoying himself.

Forty five minutes later Cam had all of David’s Shekels, Dollars, gold and silver, and three I.O.U.’s for seven hundred dollars.

Damn! I knew you couldn’t trust Christians. Ever since the Crusades you guys been screwing’ us Heebs. David Ben David said a little thickly after three big glasses of Mogen David, or as Cam called it, Mad Dog. It was in a crystal decanter and had little ice crystals in it where it had set in the freezer for a good while. In fact, thought Cam, it was good, and good for you. Drink a little wine for your stomach’s sake the Bible said. Cam said as he held up his glass of wine in toast.

Let’s cut cards for your money, Dave, double or nothing, win or lose, make you a big loser or an even money night. What say? Game? Cam asked friendly like.

David looked at Cam across the little table, got out a little piece of paper that he was using for I.O.U.’s and wrote out the sum total of all his losses and put it in the middle of the table and looked at Cam. Deal the Cards and read’em and weep. David Ben David said to Cam.

Cut the cards, sucker. Cam said to David, offering the deck to be cut.

Run’em said David, smacking the deck but not cutting them.

Cam picked up the deck and started dealing the cards.

Five card stud showdown- winner take all. Cam said melodramatically while dealing all the cards face up. Seven to garbage, five to no help, ace to no help, jack to the pair, nine to no help, king to the pair, six to no help, a ten to the two pair, and an ace to the pair. Two pair, kings over jacks beats aces, sucker. You lose. Again. Cam said a little testily.

Well, you beat me fair and square. I’ll pay up tomorrow, Cam. I’d like to say I enjoyed it, but God doesn’t like me to lie. We have to kill goats and lambs to atone for stuff like that. David Ben David said conversationally.

Cam gathered up all the loot and the I.O.U.’s and stuffed it in a drawer. About that time the doorbell rang and Cam called Come in, it’s not locked."

Belinda Cannon walked through the door and saw the two men seated at the table with the cards spread out and said Boy, you guys have sure been working hard, I see. This military life is going to be a piece of cake.

That’s the longest two hours of my life David Ben David said laconically as he pushed his chair back and rose to leave. I’ll pay you tomorrow, Cam. G’nite all. Watch it pretty girl, he’ll have your pants if you let him. David Ben David said as he walked towards the door.

Not without a wedding ring, he won’t Belinda replied back to David as he closed the door.

Cam rose to greet Belinda as she came in. He stuck out his hand and said I’m Cam McCullen.

Belinda took the proffered hand and gripped it firmly as a man would and said I’m pleased to meet you, Cam. My name is Belinda Cannon.

Without warning Cam pulled her to him and put his lips on hers and began to kiss her firmly. All his breath went out with a whoosh as he grabbed his crotch and collapsed on the floor. Belinda leaned down over him to see if he was hurt very badly, got up and went to get a cold wet towel. She got him up on the sofa and put the towel on his forehead while she stroked his hair. He was much younger than she had thought at first, very handsome, even, and hard as iron all over. "Sorry, Cam. Yes, I am a virgin. Yes, I will be a virgin when I marry. Yes, I will marry. Yes, I am looking for a man, as much good as it will do me now. I’ll probably be lunch for one of those T-Rex Snakes and never have had a man, but if that’s the way it has to be, that’s the way it will be. She sat on the sofa by Cam for a good while, stroking his hair, massaging his neck and arms, and lusting after him, but he would never know, she vowed.

Cam lay on the sofa for over half an hour while Belinda stroked his hair and petted him. This is better than sex I’ve had with a lot of women, he thought to himself as he lay on the sofa faking pain. He had planned for three responses and this was one of them and he had been prepared and had faked the response to see what response he would get from this beautiful woman of high principles.

I’ll die for you but you can’t have my body. That belongs to my husband, if I ever live to get one Belinda said to Cam as he lay off the pain act and looked up at her.

I apologize Belinda. That was a crude thing to do and I got what I deserved. Cam said apologetically.

I’ll have to admit it was more interesting than a tap on the knee with a rubber hammer, Doc, and I may even have enjoyed it or participated if given the choice. Did you get the results you were expecting? Did I flunk my exam? Do you do this to all the girls? What do you do to throw the guys? I bet it’s something different with each person, isn’t it? Why is the sky blue? I hate to say it, but I enjoyed sitting with you quietly. Most men either grab and get clobbered or are not my type, or are just boors, or are sissified, or I guess I just run them off before they get a chance to impress me. I’m twenty-nine and it looks like I’ll never get married, but that’s what it will take. Belinda said with finality.

Where did you learn that move? I’m at least twice plus a big as you. Cam asked. He thought to himself that this was one sharp girl… she probably saw through his ploy to rile her and stir the pot to see what she would do. He had hit David Ben David in his religion and he had held. He had taken his money and dented his pride, and he had held together, in control, a gentleman. This is fun, Cam thought to himself. This girl sees right through me, though.

Belinda began to talk about her childhood, her college days, her home, parents, her years as a professor when her students were about her age and mooning over her continually, about her hobbies, martial arts studies, what she liked to do, what she wanted out of life, how she felt about the new realities of life about to be thrust upon them from deep space, about their chances of surviving the coming storm. It was lucky that she was the last appointment of the day because they talked all night and were still talking when the doorbell rang for the first appointment the next morning. Cam hated for the time with Belinda to end. When she left he felt a little empty place inside that he was sure was not there yesterday. He attributed it to going without sleep and took his next appointment to the geedunk for coffee and breakfast. The next man to prod and tear open was Gregor Rashinsky. After coffee and breakfast, they went to the gym and beat each other for half an hour… Gregor loved to box and he was very good. He seemed to have six arms. Cam couldn’t get the little hundred and five pound girl off his mind… Gregor was a good solid dependable man who could hit like a sledge hammer. Often and accurately.

You box pretty good, Cam. You blacked my eye. Not many men have ever done that. Gregor said as they walked to the showers.

Cam hurt in places there shouldn’t have been places. I think you did that to yourself to make me feel better, Gregor. Cam said.

The next appointment was a brilliant Theoretical Physicist so a large amount of the two hours was spent on the Theory of Relativity and how it related to faster than light drive systems, and what may be possible in hyper drive systems. Cam was very impressed with this young man from China, Li Han, and had some ideas he wanted to work on with Li. The quality of these people that had been gathered from all over the world was building a fire of hope in Cam as he met with his people, probed, pushed, tested, baited, mistreated, and pushed some more. There wasn’t a clinker in the whole bunch so far, and they just seemed to get better as his bloodshot eyes got worse. He was running on coffee and not sleeping or eating. He was not even taking his minerals and vitamins as he had ordered everyone to do. After the fourth day and night, twelve of his people came and got him out of the swimming pool, put a robe on him and took him to his apartment in the complex. They put him in bed over his feeble protests and then they all left except a guard on the outside door and Belinda sitting on his bed stroking his hair occasionally and just sitting beside him quietly, looking, sitting, a stroke of the hair every now and then as he quickly fell asleep and slept for eleven hours straight through.

Chapter 4

Uncle Sam needs you, boy …

Six O’clock Monday morning in the conference room under the Rocky Mountains…

"Well, I met all of you.