21

It was fortunate for Barrow that she did not ask to speak to her husband, because at this point Barrow no longer knew where Franklin was. Master of strategy that he was, Barrow’s weakness was that he did not understand the efficacy of violence. Franklin had been kidnapped. And here is how it happened.

Franklin was asleep on his cot in the windowless office when the door burst open. Heavily armed figures clad entirely in black rushed into the small room. They surrounded Franklin, who sat up, and one of them stuck a needle in his arm. Franklin lost consciousness.

When he awoke, he was on a low bunk in a prison cell. The whitewashed cinder block walls were scratched and a little dirty. Franklin stood unsteadily, feeling very weak. He slowly walked across the cell to the steal door with a small, barred opening. He could not see anyone, but there were a number of voices yelling and calling back to each other, and Franklin could hear the low rustle of closely-packed life.

Some hours later a group of four or five people carrying weapons and wearing black came to his cell and opened the door. No one spoke. Franklin was led out of the cell and along the cell block. They passed through several steel doors and heavily secured chambers. He was put in a small room with two chairs and left alone.

After a long wait, the door opened and President Welles walked into the room.

‘Mr Franklin. Welcome back to Earth. My condolences about the passing of your cousin.’

‘Thank you, Ms President,’ said Franklin.

‘I’m sorry about the accommodations. I suppose you are wondering why you were rescued from the Association only to be placed in a prison cell.’

‘I didn't know I had been rescued,’ said Franklin.

‘You were,’ said Welles. ‘Barrow had no intention of ever letting you go free. You know too much about the many embarrassing details of his little expedition.’

When Franklin didn't say anything in response, Welles continued. ‘We had reliable intelligence that Barrow's intentions were to have you murdered. So we acted. We brought you here in order to keep a low profile.’

‘Where is here?’ asked Franklin.

‘A federal penitentiary.’

‘Well, I guess I should thank you,’ said Franklin.

‘Don’t mention it,’ said Welles. And then: ‘But since you do, there is something I’d like to discuss with you. I don’t know what you had to endure...what happened on that ship. No one does.’

‘I told Barrow.’

‘You did? Well, that’s no matter. It’ll still just be his word against ours. You see, I’m worried about our situation with the Aliens, Mr Franklin. We hopped into bed with them so fast, we didn’t think what we were doing, but now it’s starting to look like they’re a little closer than kissing cousins, and things aren’t looking so good.’

Welles stopped for emphasis, but clearly did not require a response to continue.

‘We need to even the odds a little, open people’s eyes to the dangers of getting cozy with these guys, and I think your miraculous return has given us just the chance we need. You see, I want you to tell the story of what happened, but maybe with a little poetic license.’

‘My wife writes poetry,’ said Franklin.

‘No doubt she would approve. Listen, I want you to say that the Aliens ambushed you, that they killed that cousin of yours, and then everybody else. They didn’t want you to find out what was out there and so they attacked you without provocation or warning, and their intent was to kill. That’s what really happened. We’ll have to come up with some reason why you escaped, but I’m sure we can do that.’

‘They didn’t attack us,’ said Franklin.

‘I realize I’m asking you to lie, Mr Franklin, but the fate of humanity is at stake. We are past half-measures and courtesy.’

‘I don’t know what to say,’ said Franklin. ‘Do you suppose I could call my wife?’

‘I’m afraid we have to keep this under wraps for now. I’ll have the boys take you back to your accommodations so you can think about it. But don’t take too long. We need to move quickly if we are going to stay out ahead of that little bastard Barrow—especially if he tries to teep what you said to him about the Investigator.’