Alien Lover

by Evelyn Judy Buehler

As Adam Townsend walked through the crowd, he drew occasional stares from the passersby. For one thing, he was extremely handsome. At six feet, six inches tall, he weighed two hundred forty pounds. He had dark hair, and his eyes were of a dark and piercing kind. There was a certain magnetism about him, and he appeared to be extremely self possessed. There was also a slight strangeness about him--perhaps in the way his eyes fastened to the distance ahead of him, as though he could already see the destination that he would soon reach. His whole mood was distant, detached. He moved with a certain resolve. From the women, he received adoring glances, for there was something about him that excited the adoration of women, that went beyond his good looks. Perhaps it was the suggestion of power and grace, evident in his every move. Or perhaps it was the deep sense of intriguing mystery about him.

He strolled down the wide avenue of a business section of Washington, D.C. The noonday sun shone brightly. He wore a sleeveless shirt and white slacks. He carried a briefcase. It was summer. He was on his way to a meeting with Annette White, who was the only person in the world that knew his true identity.

Becoming an astronomer had been Annette White's lifelong dream. From childhood, the idea of finding out about distant stars and possibly, planets, had enthralled her. She was now twenty-six years old, and respected in her field. Absorbed with her career up to now, she was, as yet, unmarried. This absorption with her work, in fact, is what led to that great event. It was something that she had never dared to dream could happen.

She had been moonlighting recently at her office in the main headquarters of the space program. Three days ago, she began receiving strange messages on her computer. Incredible and distinct signals from an unearthly source.

"I am from the planet Xor," the message began, and an image of a very distant, very different world was beamed on the computer screen. It was huge, according to the accompaning data, and surrounded by a pink hued atmosphere.

"We are an intelligent species," the message continued. "One reason for this is that our life form has existed for billions of years--for longer than your sun has shone. You may wonder how it is that I can interpret and speak your language. The answer is that we have, in our very long evolution, developed extreme telepathic powers, and other extra

sensory capabilities as well. We have the ability to change our appearance to resemble almost anything. But this is our usual appearance."

An image began to form on the screen before Annette's amazed eyes. It was a completely hairless creature, with an enormous head on a long, slender neck. The body was also slender, and unusually tall ("We all grow to the same height," read the data, "which is eight feet and one inch."). The eyes were as black as ink, and had no whites. No ears were visible. There were two legs and two very long feet. The arms were long, and ended in three long slender fingers on each hand. There was a tiny nose and mouth.

"We see with our minds as well as with our eyes," the speaker continued. "We have always known of your planet. We can see the past, and worlds yet unborn. We can travel the greatest number of light years with sheer mind power. We can do things with our minds that earthlings would consider magic. For instance, we can move things, and also build with none other than mental power. We do not work. My reason for imparting this information, which no one else on your planet is privy to, is to aid in your understanding of how it is possible to contact you in this way. Now you must know why we have contacted you. In three year's time, there will be a world nuclear war on your planet, which, if allowed to take place, will wipe out all life on earth. We can help you, Annette White, to take steps to avert this tragedy. We kow the exact identities of the persons who will create the events that will lead up to the war. They must be tracked down, and unfortunately, killed. The role that you can play in saving your planet, is to help track down and kill these persons. We can send to you someone with unearthly powers, to help you in your mission. His appearance shall be altered to match that of an earthling's appearance. He will be known as Adam Townsend. He will arrive in three day's time. In the interim, please consider carefully all that has been said to you, and whether you wish to participate. And please understand the gravity of it all. Your world is full of wonders, and should not perish. We are the peacemakers. We hope to bring peace to your world."

Annette was shocked, frightened, and awed. How could these things be true? And yet, here she was, conferring with beings from another world. Xor.

Suddenly, upon the screen, there flashed a movie of the earth's destruction. It might have been really happening, it was so vivid! It was horrifying--the most dreadful catastrophe ever witnessed by human eyes. Through bewildered tears, Annette watched the computer screen. When it was over, more words began to appear:

"As I have said, we see the future. And that is the future of your earth in three years, unless you heed our warning, and allow us to help you. In order for this plan to be carried out with expediency, the secrecy of it is most crucial. Sharing this information with any other human being will bring jeopardy to the mission. Perhaps you need some demonstration or display to assure you that this communication is no hoax. Observe. Suddenly, before Annette's amazed eyes, objects in the room began to take on a life of their own. They lifted themselves and floated in midair. Including the chair in which Annette sat! After several minutes, the objects (including papers, pens, a telephone, and Annette's chair) all resumed their exact previous positions in the room. Annette needed no further convincing that she was, indeed, dealing with an alien entity.

"Why me?" Annette heard her own voice in the still room. "Why was I chosen?" In reply, these words came onto the screen: "You were chosen on the basis of personality and character. And also because of the job you hold. We know you have reservations about killing, but think of the lives to be saved."

"When can I expect this Adam Townsend, and what news will he bring?"

"You may expect him in three days. He will bring detailed information about the steps that will be necessary to save the earth. He will inform you of many things. He shall arrive at this office at 1pm on the third day. What you choose to do is, of course, your decision. But before you decide, please confer with Adam Townsend. Goodbye."

"I will do that," said Annette White. "Goodbye." The computer screen immediately went blank. Annette turned it off, her mind a whirlwind of thought, her body a whirlwind of emotions. She was confused. She felt that she must go home and think this carefully through. She left the office.

Once home, after a light supper, she reclined on the sofa and tried to sort things out. She felt that she must tell someone. Suppose the creature had lied? Her silence could be disastrous in this case. Yet, if she did tell someone, would she jeopardize billions of lives? It was a terrible responsibility! She wished that she had someone with which to share it. She decided at last that she must wait to hear from Adam Townsend, and make her decision based upon that meeting.

Then she thought of the thing that most disturbed her. She was not a killer. She knew that she could never kill anyone. She also pondered that to do nothing for three days would be more responsible than to commit a disastrous act grounded in ignorance.

She then asked herself if she ought not to fear creatures whose powers were so superior to humans'. They could read her every thought, watch her every move. She only hoped that she could trust in her assumption that with knowledge, comes wisdom. And virtue.

Adam Townsend had reached his destination. He entered into a large building, and stepped into an elevator. He got off on the second floor and walked down a cool, air conditioned hall. He stopped at room 209. He knocked lightly on the door. Annette White let him into her large office. She locked the door. They were alone. "Hello," said Annette, catching her breath and looking into the hypnotic eyes. He was gorgeous!

"Hello," said Adam Townsend, in a deep, melodious voice.

"Won't you sit down?" said Annette.

"Thank you," said Adam. They sat.

"I guess I'll get right to the point," said Adam. "You have waited long enough." He put his briefcase on his knees, and opened it. From it, he withdrew papers. He gave them to Annette. She read them. They were a very intricate and elaborately detailed description of the actual events, including the major and minor players that would lead up to the destruction of earth. Imagine the world a stage. This scene would be the destruction of earth. It was to take place in only three year's time.

As Annette studied Adam's papers, she noticed that the events were listed in chronological order. They began with relevant events that had just occurred today, according to this morning's newspaper. They had been listed accurately. What was more, Adam's papers made sense, Annette decided, after an hour of studying them. It was plain for Annette to see how today's events could lead to tomorrow's tragedy. For, weren't there already wars and rumors of wars?

She was grief stricken. Adam noticed and said, "Do not give up. There is yet hope." He gave her more papers, which she read. They detailed a way to avert the tragedy. Three key persons from different countries must be killed. These papers showed, by listing a logical and very detailed sequence of events, how killing the three persons would eliminate the danger.

In essence, Annette White must become a spy. A spy for the benefit of her planet. After reading all of the information, Annette was completely convinced. Knowing what she now knew, she would not shrink from killing. The three that must die were all government leaders from the USA, China and Britain.

Adam caught Annette's glance and asked, "Have you any questions?"

"Yes. When and where will these assassinations take place?"

"First let me ask if you've taken your yearly vacation from work?"

"I see your point. I will arrange to take my job vacation immediately."

The following week, Annette and Adam sat on a plane bound for the orient, both wearing dark glasses and carrying briefcases. The first assassination would take place the following morning. They checked into a hotel in Beijing and had dinner. As they ate in the elegant dining room, Adam's mysterious eyes bored into hers. "You are a very beautiful woman," he said. Annette was excited, but not just from the wine.

"Thank you," she murmured.

"Your kind is beautiful and exotic." He kissed her fingers. She blushed. Her eyes glittered with pleasure. He reached over and brushed a strand of hair from her eyes. "You are my destiny," he said. Annette's heart beat faster. She wondered what exactly that had meant. Was he interested in her romantically? She had felt drawn to him like a magnet from the moment they'd met. Later, they went up to their separate rooms to sleep.

Next day, Adam appeared to know exactly where he was going. Their destination was the government headquarters in Beijing. They had set out to assassinate the Premier of the State Council. Annette was nervous and upset. She knew she mustn't let it show. It was her task to create some sort of distraction, so that Adam could take good aim at the Premier.

Once they had arrived at government headquarters, Adam kept a slight distance away, and Annette lingered near the stairs. In fifteen minutes, the Premier and ten other men emerged. As they began to descend the stairs, Annette stepped forward and began taking pictures. The group paused. It was a minor distraction, but it gave Adam time to act. He was fifty feet from the group on the stairs. He raised an arm and pointed an index finger at the Premier. The Premier slumped and fell. His men turned to him in alarm and concern. Some of the men had noticed and others had not, but none understood the finger pointing. Annette was forgotten.

Adam walked over and took Annette's hand. They slowly walked away. As soon as they were out of sight, Adam, still holding Annette's hand, closed his eyes. Annette felt a sensation like swift flight. She closed her eyes. When she opened them a moment later, they were outside of her Washington, D.C. apartment. Incredible!

Inside, Annette sat. She put her face in her hands and sobbed softly. Instantly, Adam's arms were around her. He held her, whispering words of comfort. She searched his eyes and asked, "What now?"

"We will have to go to England."

"How soon?"

"Next week."

"Shall we take a plane, or use your unique method of travel?"

"Whichever you prefer."

I prefer your method. It's much quicker and cheaper."

During the following week that they spent together, Adam and Annette became romantically involved. Adam had told her that he loved her. Annette declared that she had loved him at first sight. They had romantic dinners and went dancing. They went on picnics and other outings together. And Adam moved in. He was thoughtful and kind, and the touch of mystery about him drove Annette wild!

"Darling," he said to her as they lay in bed one night, looking out of the window and up at the stars, "I can read your mind; I sense what you're thinking. I can stalk the night--and enter your dreams when you're sleeping. I can feel your feelings; I care for what you're feeling. I know your heart; I can love what you love. And your soul's vibrations, I can enter as a room." Annette had never met a man of such passion and romance.

He had spoken to her of his hopes for peace on her planet. And she had shared her hopes with him. On the appointed day, they stood outside the apartment, holding hands. Annette again felt a queer sensation of flight. This time, she kept her eyes open. She seemed to have tunnel vision. Everything seemed to be a blur, but in reality, time and space was traversed so astonishingly quickly that there wasn't time to pick out an individual sight or scene. In seconds, they were on the steps of Parliament in London. They mounted

the steps and entered the building. They walked through a vast hall, and entered a large room, where Parliament was in session. Prime Minister Agnes Thompson was speaking. Adam lingered near the door, as Annette took the center aisle and walked toward the front of the room. About halfway, she pretended to faint. All eyes turned to her. Adam raised his arm and pointed his index finger at the Prime Minister. After this, the Prime Minister stared straight ahead for a few moments, as if startled, then she slowly fell forward.

Shocked and appalled, the crowd gasped. Some people rushed forward to assist her. Annette pretended to revive, and someone helped her to her feet. She thanked him, and moved through the crowd toward Adam. Outside, she closed her eyes. Seconds later, she was home.

Annette gave Adam a meaningful look. "One last time," she said. "We do this one last time."

"Yes," said Adam. "Then, it will all be over. And the next assassination, if you read my papers carefully, will be a member of the U.S. congress, whose deciding vote is destined to tip the scales in favor of war. Nuclear war. We must prepare ourselves. It will happen tomorrow."

That night, as they lay in bed together after making love, Annette said, "Tell me about Xor."

"It is a world very unlike yours," he whispered against her hair. "It is a world of pink skies and blue clouds. We have three suns. One of them is a red giant, one hundred million miles from the planet. And one of them is a very young, blue star, fifty-four million miles from Xor. The last is a huge star, eight billion years old, which, in approximately three billion years, shall implode and become a black hole. That shall, of course, be the end of Xor. This star is seventy-two million miles away from Xor. We have very little of what you call 'night', but when we do, twelve moons are visible from the side of Xor on which I reside. And the skies are encrusted with stars like diamonds. Usually, when one sun rises, the other is already shining, so sunrises are not often very dramatic there...unless both bright ones rise at once, which is rare and very beautiful. On the rare occasions when the bright suns set at once, it is equally lovely. For then we have a sort of reddish night, from the glow cast by the red giant sun. We have something like your 'plants' on Xor. But ours are of a predominantly bluish color, in varying shades and shapes. They have many different textures and tastes , and are our only food source. We have no animals. We have no winter. It is never cold. Our houses are built of stone. Our furnishings and clothing, like yours, are made from both the sturdier and softer varieties of our 'plants.' We have beaches and lakes and oceans, but they are not filled with water. It is a different chemical mix that we drink as you do water. It would be poison to you. If we were to remove certain chemicals, it would then be rendered 'water.' Our medicine has advanced to such a degree that we have no pain--no sickness. We are extremely long lived. When this is over, I would like to take you back to Xor. I love you."

Annette had listened dreamily to Adam's description of his planet. "What a lovely land he speaks of," she thought. "How wonderful it would be to go there."

Aloud, she said, "I love you too, Adam." "I would love to go to Xor. I can't stay here without you."

Next day, Congressman Tim Brown was on his way to lunch. He was in a good mood. He walked down the almost deserted street, in the bright summer sunshine. He whistled as he walked. He suddenly saw a beautiful woman and a handsome man turn into his street. The woman began waving frantically. He stopped, puzzled. The man began to raise an arm, the index finger of one hand pointing at him. Immediately, Tim Brown felt a searing pain go all through his body. He fell to the pavement and died.

Back at her apartment, Annette embraced Adam. "It's over! It's finally over!" she cried. "We've saved the earth!" Adam said nothing. "Where do we go from here?" Annette asked. "Take me with you, Adam. Take me to Xor. I can't live without you." Adam said nothing. "Poor darling," said Annette, going to the window and looking out, "are you tired? We could rest, and then go out for dinner." Adam said nothing. Annette turned to him and stared. "What's the matter darling?" Adam slowly raised an arm, his index finger pointed at Annette's heart. That's where the pain began. She felt it radiate from that point, all throughout her body, in a searing kind of way. She spilled to the oriental rug like wine from a glass. As the last light went out of her eyes, she murmured, "Women in love can be such fools."

The conquerers had come.