To See the Evening Sky

By Scott C. Anderson

The events are current to the world as we know it.
This adventure involves three alienated engineers heading for the reconstruction effort in Puerto Rico. Each man has been damaged by life, which changes dramatically as their small aircraft collides with the off-world activities of a secretive alien race. This human society will remain a mystery but will offer each man a new chance at life.
A subterranean alien civilization has been living and mining beneath the earth’s crust for over 700 years. Though separate from the surface humans, on occasion, the two worlds collide.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jan 17, 2022
• ISBN: 9781678188788

Book preview

To See the Evening Sky

Second Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher.

© 2021,2022 by Scott C. Anderson. All rights reserved.

ISBN 978-1-6781-8878-8

A three-hour tour

This story details the exploits of three damaged men.  The words damaged or abused are easy to pin on a friend, relative, or stranger without fully knowing or understanding the entire story.  I have known people who simply won’t ask for details, in part because they don’t want to invest the time in someone who simply wants to bare their soul.

At the time of these events, the relief efforts for the Puerto Rican victims of hurricane Maria were still ongoing.  The massive cleanup operation provided an opportunity for workers, untouched by the hurricane, to immerse themselves in the efforts of helping others. 

Three men, Benjamin Colton, Andrew Elsinore, and Billy Porter had recently signed with an independent engineering contractor based in Florida.  The men were traveling in a private twin-engine airplane, a Beechcraft B60 Duke, and flying east over the Atlantic Ocean.  The midday sun washed over the vastness of the ocean, which allowed each man a few precious moments of privacy and reflection. 

Benjamin Colton took all the time he needed to view the whitecaps of the empty ocean from his co-pilot seat.  He had no official flight duties, other than to look for something that was out of place.  Luckily, since nothing out of the ordinary was happening, he lost himself within the droning of the engines.

Andrew Elsinore, a senior engineer and accomplished pilot, appreciated his old and dependable aircraft.  He was still single and had recently turned forty.  For personal reasons, his normally busy thoughts were also lost in the droning of the engines. 

Sitting in the back, Billy Porter was a young, well-built, and talented engineer.  Currently, Billy was between jobs and took this temporary assignment to lose himself within the issues of others.  He had been told that his efforts would help the people of Puerto Rico, though the young man had to admit to himself that he was working only for selfish reasons.

And as for Benjamin, well, Benjamin Colton was simply a lost man looking for a new direction that would add purpose to his life.  Money was one thing, but personal satisfaction within a solitary life is what Benjamin was seeking.

The steady drone of the twin engines allowed Benjamin to take a closer look at this aircraft.  A 1979 model, Andrew had kept the six-seat plane in excellent condition.  The silence from the three men filled the cabin as a welcome friend.  The next set of observations from Andrew, or Andy as he was known, sounded out of place.

Later, Benjamin would remember that Andy was complaining of problems with his instruments.  At that time there were no issues with the engines and the plane seemed to be in good running condition, though there was some light buffeting. 

Benjamin did remember a headache and slight dizzy feeling, but nothing worth mentioning.  The time was 2:20 p.m., on a clear and sunny Sunday afternoon.

Benjamin was in the co-pilot seat and waiting to assist his friend if help was needed.  He had little to no flight experience, but that wouldn’t stop the man from at least trying to help his new friend and coworker. 

Benjamin focused on the radio and controls, waiting for Andy’s direction.  He quickly realized that they were somewhere in the southern quadrant of the Bermuda Triangle.  The tales of hazards and mayhem were interesting, but Benjamin quickly dismissed the ideas and concentrated on his friend.

Reflected light within the cabin, and then shadows from an unknown source, danced around the interior of the small aircraft.  Andrew continued to focus on the radio and controls.  Benjamin wanted to help with the radio, but he also didn’t want to interfere with Andy’s frantic attempts to control his airplane.  Out of habit, Benjamin glanced at his watch.  The time was 2:27 p.m.

Somehow, Andy steadied the aircraft long enough to take a good long look outside.  Out of place, acres of flat grey panels filled the forward and side windows.  Benjamin knew that this was all wrong.  Benjamin also knew that the panels were probably metal, or at least a metallic fabric, because it appeared as though they were the panels of a massive airship. 

Andrew, as the pilot, continued to wrestle with the small airplane to keep it steady.  The nose of the little Beechcraft would rise, only to be buffeted again by turbulent winds over the massive flat surface.

Andrew continued to work the radio, but he was still unable to establish communications.  The dance between the two aircrafts continued until Andrew attempted to pull up and avoid the airship altogether. 

With a sudden move from below, the Beechcraft then physically struck the mystery ship.  The little airplane struck whatever was below only once, and then all power failed.

Benjamin kept quiet and allowed Andrew all the room he needed to control his aircraft.  The twin propellers had suddenly stopped, but they weren’t bent or damaged.  The chaos and sudden drop in noise drew the man’s attention to the unknown surface below the airplane.

Billy Porter, the young and muscular engineer, had also kept quiet and out of the way.  Benjamin then noticed that Billy and Andrew appeared to have passed out.  Glancing around the cabin, it didn’t look as though there was a gas leak or some obvious reason to knock the two men unconscious.  Anxious but not panicked, Benjamin found that he was still alert, though he continued to feel a little dizzy. 

The sound of the wind and motors had faded to an eerie silence.  Benjamin glanced slowly to his left, and then right.  Looking again to his left, the man was more surprised than shocked.  Four or five people were standing on the deck of the airship, but no one was trying to talk to him. 

Benjamin then decided to wait and watch as a crewman, dressed in a uniform that appeared as an overall, stared directly at him.  The crewman then glanced down at a bright yellow handheld device in his right hand. 

Instantly, Benjamin saw that the plane was lifting from the surface of whatever this ship was.  Looking out the right-side window, Benjamin could clearly see the slightly-damaged airplane lift from the surface.  Also, the oils and aviation fuel, which had been dripping from the right wing, were also captured in the same holding field and lifting as a pool from the ship’s surface.

The actions appeared in slow motion.  Benjamin swung his head to the left and again made eye contact with the crewman.  The airplane was now moving silently across the surface of the ship, and kept pace with the walking crewmember.  Benjamin knew that he was conscious, and felt little pain or discomfort.

More curious than frightened, Benjamin desperately wanted to see every detail of the move, even though his head was now beginning to pound.  A dark square section of the decking was open.  Benjamin watched as the crewman guided the little airplane over to the opening.  The plane reached the leading edge of the darkness, and then began to drop into the bowels of the ship.

Benjamin wanted to wake up.  In the past, he had dreamed of technically-accurate situations that appeared absolutely real.  But, when confronted with facts that were inaccurate or impossible, this conflict would suddenly cause the man to wake up.  He hoped that this was the same situation.

The man continued to feel that he was dreaming.  The crewman, with little to no effort, stepped from the ledge of the opening and, with no visible means of support, followed the aircraft as it descended into the ship.  A few moments later, the aircraft came to a soft landing in what looked like a hanger or parking garage. 

The crewman’s feet and lower legs were all that Benjamin could see from the left-side window of the cabin.  He quickly glanced to the right and saw that the fluids were still suspended a foot or so above the deck. 

Suddenly, Benjamin turned to his left and saw the crewman with the handheld land softly on the deck next to the airplane.  Reluctantly, Benjamin realized that he must be awake.  At this time, he knew that he was passing out, as he closed his eyes and could feel his body drift off to sleep.

For Benjamin, some dreams could be annoying.  It was his experience that some dreams were so real that they couldn’t be distinguished from actual events.  Others simply didn’t make sense, and were all about running from snakes or being stuck in perpetual arguments.  The man knew that he had personal baggage, but he was also willing to carry that load until he found a resolution for his issues.

Slowly, from the depths of a deep sleep, Benjamin opened his eyes.  He yawned deeply, and then suddenly felt vulnerable.  He was in a quiet and dimly-lit room.  The small amount of light allowed the man to see that he was in a hospital bed, not alone, and with drapes covering what should be windows.  The room was clean and white, and the air felt crisp, as after a rain.

The door opened and a large and beautiful woman, dressed in tan, entered the room.  She carried something in her right hand and approached the first bed in the row.  The first must have been Andrew, as Benjamin could see Billy in the bed next to his.  There were only three beds in the room, and his was the last in the line. 

The last thing he remembered was being aboard the airplane.  This shouldn’t be real.  Benjamin said the words out loud.

The woman heard the comment and turned to face Benjamin.  Well, how are you feeling?

I don’t know.  He was telling the truth.  This didn’t feel like Puerto Rico.  In fact, Benjamin wasn’t expecting to see any of this. 

You’re right, this isn’t Puerto Rico.  The woman seemed to sense the words and confusion in the man.  My name is Varna.  You’re near the island of Puerto Rico, and you’re safe with us.  Varna said the words with conviction, as though she were stating a simple fact.

This didn’t make sense.  Still confused, Benjamin had no reason to doubt the woman, and asked, Where exactly are we?

Initially, Varna hesitated, projecting that she felt that she should wait for the doctor.  She then stated, You’re less than three miles beneath it.  Safe, and with a large group of humans.

Suddenly wide awake, Benjamin felt that he heard the term humans as though there were other options.

Andrew and Billy continued to rest quietly.  Varna, the minute that she found one of the men awake, had activated a communicator that she wore as a wristwatch. 

A soft knock on the door grabbed everyone’s attention.  A middle-aged man entered wearing a black polo shirt and black pants.  Actually, everything he wore was black.  Benjamin felt that the doctor was in his late thirties to mid-forties, clean shaven, and with short jet-black hair.  The doctor didn’t appear to have any specific nationality.

Serious and smiling, Parra-san extended his hand and said, It’s good to see that you’re up.  How are you feeling? 

The doctor seemed to stumble, as if forgetting his manners.  He added, Oh, my name is Parra-san.  I’m a physician with the Temperate Order.  How are you feeling?

I’d like to say I’m fine, but I need to know where I am.  Benjamin didn’t want to sound harsh, but it may have come