5. A Surprising Confluence of Events

 

            “I don’t understand, but this is where she is coming to,” said Howard, with both paws up on the dash of the Ford as he peered intently into the darkness. He was staring at the ranch buildings across the two lane highway from where Russell had parked.
            “I sure hope you’re right, Howard. Because if you’re not, I’m nuts for listening to you, and you’re just plain nuts,” said Russell. It had been a long day with no payoff yet and he was tired and hungry and losing patience.
            They both waited there in the dark for a good ten minutes, saying nothing.
            At last, something was moving out there, just barely discernible. It was something out in the scrub on their side of the highway. Something very tall, and dark was walking toward the roadway.
           He walked like a man, but couldn’t be a man, because no man on earth was that big.
            Russell was thinking of descriptors because that’s what lawmen do, describe what they are seeing.             This walker was nine feet tall if he was anything at all, and in addition to that, he was carrying something in his arms.
            “I think she’s here,” said Howard, making no sense to Russell.
            “Wait. What?” said Russell.
            “Watch,” said Howard. “I think he’s carrying Bertie!”

            The walker stepped out into the relative light of the highway carrying his burden as if she were a small child. In just three steps he had crossed the asphalt and was heading down the driveway toward the ranch house. There were lights on in the house, but no yard light in front.
            Russell and Howard looked at each other, completely astounded. Neither one was sure what to do next. Russell had to admit that it did seem to be Bertie in the big walker’s arms. He was so appalled that he forgot to breathe.
            Howard didn’t forget to breathe. “We have to go down there, Russell. Wake up! You’re armed, right?”
            The big black figure stepped up both steps in one step onto the broad porch of the ranch house. Shifting the quiet person in his right arm to his left, he then knocked on the door and waited. Russell noted that the creature was right handed, automatically.                     Nine feet tall, bipedal, black, right handed..he thought to himself, as if he was going to write this up.
            There was a shaft of light suddenly as someone opened the door. A tall thin man stood in the light from the interior of the house. He seemed to be talking to the large dark figure for a few moments, and then he took the woman’s body out of the walker’s arms. He seemed to say a few more words then he carried her inside.
The tall black walker passed up the gravel drive in a very few steps, crossed the road, and disappeared back into the desert, becoming invisible in just a few more steps.
            Sheriff R. Ohlmstead started up his big Ford and rolled quietly across the highway and down into the gravel passing a huge letterbox with the name Flores painted on it. He noted that too. As if he might some day actually report this day’s doings.
            Howard was clear up on the dashboard staring out of the windshield.
            The gravel crunched under their tires and Russell parked the thing quite near the front door. There wasn’t exactly a lawn, just scrubby weedy grass, so it didn’t seem to matter much where he parked. He pulled on the brake, and shut the Ford down.
Russell opened his door and stepped out followed immediately by Howard, who was not going to be left in the vehicle this time. They went up the same two steps to the big porch and Russell knocked on the same big wooden door as the black figure had moments before.                 They waited.
            Soon, the same thin man opened the door and looked out. He took a look at the officer’s vehicle and then at Russell himself and finally glanced down at Howard.
            “How can I help you, Officer?” said Dr. Hector Brown.
            “I’m not sure,” said Russell. “I just saw something impossible, but this impossible was carrying a friend of mine. I have spent this whole day looking for her. Maybe you can help me understand, sir. Because I don’t understand,” Russell continued.
“Ah, I take it you saw Pollis. Well, come in. We need to talk,” said the thin man in a soft slightly Hispanic sounding voice. “It’s a rare thing, to see him, you may be sure!”
            “My name is Hector Brown. I am staying here with Mike Flores, the ranch owner, who is probably sleeping downstairs.”
            The room was all paneled in wood, rather dimly lit with three floor lamps and was furnished with several pieces of expensive looking rustic furniture. A large hall led off to the back of the building.
            On one of the sofas Bertie lay, hair disheveled and bare foot. She seemed to be sleeping, but unharmed. Her breaths came regular and easy.
            “Please, lets all sit, and I’ll tell you as much as I know,” said Hector.
            Howard jumped up on Bertie’s sofa near her head and began to look her over carefully.
            Russell found enough room down by her feet to sit.
            Hector took a low armchair facing the sofa.
            “First thing to say is that this is brand new to me too. As you know, she just arrived. The person who brought her said that he found her walking in the lights over on the hillside. You’ve seen the lights, I assume?
            “Pollis is a friend of mine. He is not human, obviously. He is a Desert Walker, another type of man. He said that while she was partially aware he told her that he would take her someplace safe. So, he brought her to me. I am a medical doctor in addition to my other endeavors. I have had a quick look at her and she seems grossly healthy, but in some state of partial hypnosis or some such.
            “What is your connection to this lady, Officer?” he continued.
            “She is the Apache John store owner. I know her from there.             This morning, when I stopped in for coffee as I always do, she was gone. Howard here, is her cat. Um, he’s pretty unusual too!” Russell laughed a bit.
            “We have been looking for her all day. I don’t understand why or how she could have been found wandering among the lights on the hillside, Doctor? None of this makes any sense!”
            While Russell was still talking, Bertie sat up suddenly.
“Howard!” she said, and grabbed the big tabby in her arms. While holding him closely, she looked around the room and at Russell and then Hector.
            “Russell, where are we?” she said.

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