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The Lights, Chapter One, Chapter Two, Chapter Three

The lights were brighter now. They were faint in the northern sky a few moments ago when Daniel climbed into the truck. He was sleeping soundly when Roger's insistent knocking urged him out of bed. In the first irrational thoughts of half'-awake Daniel thought the house must be on fire. No, it was those strange lights again. Night after night they had been flittering around the skies outside of Eagle Bluff. Now Roger was roaring down a back country gravel road at sixty miles an hour, and the lights were ahead, always just ahead. They hung low in the sky, and then suddenly ascended, faster than anything Daniel had ever seen. Then they flashed to the right, hung suspended, and took off far down the road. Wondering where he was, Daniel rubbed his face, his eyes never leaving the sky. Thankfully, he'd remembered to grab the camera in their mad dash for the truck.

"Hang on, Daniel." Roger's round, Irish face strained with exertion. "I'm going to turn off the road. There's a lane around here. Hold on, this is going to be bumpy. Can you still see them?" He swung the truck sharply to the right.

Daniel swayed from side to side and clutched a pair of binoculars to his eyes. The bouncing of the pickup made it impossible to hold the binoculars still for very long.

"Slow down, Roger!" he yelled.

Roger jerked the wheel again and Daniel was thrown against the door. "Will you slow down? There's mud all over the windshield. Put your wipers on." Daniel rubbed his arm where it had hit the door handle. He sat up straight and craned forward, trying to see up through the front windshield. The four-wheeler bounced over the ruts; the front bumper churned up the mud. This was a very wild roller coaster ride.

"Don't you have shocks on this thing?" he cried above the straining motor.

"What?"

"Shocks, I said shocks! Don't you have shocks on this truck?"

"Man, you can't have everything," Roger said as he fought to keep the four'wheeler on the road.

"Wait, wait," Daniel said. "There they are again. They were gone, but now I see them again. There! Over there! Heading towards the trees!"

Roger jammed on the brakes. The pickup skidded sideways, biting into the curve. Then, in a spray of dirt and gravel, it skidded to a stop. Daniel was thrown forward. His hands flew out to keep him from slamming into the dashboard. "Holy cats, Roger, you're frothing at the mouth. Take it easy."

Roger shut off the engine; it was quiet inside now. They were both out of breath. "Daniel, we're going to have to walk through this field. Those lights went down in those trees over there."

"Okay, I'll try to walk it, but, I don't know, maybe you should go alone."

"You don't want to miss this, do you? Come on, Daniel. We've come this far. Those lights are close. I've got to see what they are'what they might be attached to."

"Attached to? I think you're crazy." But his own excitement won over his hesitation to walk on uneven, wet ground with his weak legs. He'd brought his cane, but that wasn't going to help much. He was going to have to rely heavily on his friend.

"Well'" He looked at the spot where the lights had gone. "I do see something kind of flashing up ahead in the woods. I'll try to go with you as far as I can, but when it gets too tough for me, I'm packing it in."

"Fair enough, Daniel, my boy!"

"Turn on the dome light." Daniel pulled his single'lens reflex camera from its storage box under the seat. He reached for the door handle.

"How are you going to get pictures?" Roger asked. "There's not enough light out here tonight."

"I'm not going to take the pictures. You are. You've got a steadier hand than I. I've got a fast lens on this thing, and it's loaded with 1600 ASA slide film. If it can't get a picture, nothing can." Daniel took off the lens cap. He opened the lens and set the shutter speed. Then he cocked the shutter. "Here, take it. Hold it real steady when you shoot, or else we'll get fuzz balls for lights." Daniel showed Roger the shutter button, then handed him the camera.

Roger popped open the door and dived from the vehicle into the grass. Nothing hurt Roger; he was built like a tank. He bounced up again on the other side of the pickup, grinning and wiping mud off his shirt.

Daniel shook his head and said a quick prayer for the safety of his camera. He allowed himself to descend with some dignity, conditioned from many years of living with the effects of childhood polio. He had to move very carefully, especially in the dark. And especially with his friend, who in a few moments could make him forget that his own body was as fragile as Roger's was robust. Roger was, as always, in a great hurry. Daniel was too, but his body wouldn't cooperate. Nonetheless, the two slogged across the wet field until they reached the edge of the timber. It was slow going for Roger, and Daniel gamely tried to keep up. He looked into the sky again, hoping that he wouldn't stumble.

"The lights 'they aren't there anymore; they aren't anywhere. They're gone." Daniel stopped suddenly. His side was beginning to hurt. The lights, so vivid moments before, seemed to have disappeared into thin air.

Roger, who was busy sending the flashlight beam dancing off ditchweed and soybean rows, peered up above the tree-line. "You're right, they're gone."

"Look, Rog, maybe we'd better go on back to the truck before I reach the point of no return. I honestly don't know where I am. Do you?"

"Yeah. We're okay, I'm not lost," he answered disappointedly. When Roger went after something, anything, he didn't like to quit. He stood a moment, scowling, watching, apparently hoping for the lights to come back, to tease the two men as they had for the past forty'five minutes.

"There's probably a bunch of people out along these roads tonight doing the same crazy thing," Daniel said. He, too, was disappointed. He had hoped that by now someone would have figured out what the lights were. And the local police had come up empty'handed, just like everyone else.

Reluctantly and with great care, Daniel turned and headed back towards the vehicle. He glanced over his shoulder frequently as he walked, hoping they would see the lights one more time. He could barely see the four'wheeler up ahead under the light of the now hazy moon. The crickets were in full chorus. The dew'covered weeds were slick underfoot.

Daniel turned to Roger and started to laugh. "Let me take your arm, you big gorilla, before I fall down and break both my legs. Do you think you can find your way back to town?"

"Hey, in my courting days I used to take my wife down some of these lanes for a little, you know, privacy."

"Yeah, and then you'd conveniently run out of gas."

"How do you think I charmed the sweet woman into marrying me?"

"Well, Julia ought to come out UFO hunting with you. She'd probably ask for a divorce."

"You got a problem with my driving?" Roger held Daniel in a firm but sturdy grip.

"You are a maniac, Kennedy," Daniel chuckled.

"That's what my lovely Julia always says, too."

"I wonder what those lights are. They move way too fast for aircraft lights."

"It's a real mystery, isn't it?" They were nearing Roger's mud-caked vehicle. "Who's paying for my car wash, by the way?"

"You are. Who dragged me from my comfortable bed at one o'clock in the morning to go on this mad chase?"

"And a fine chase it was, laddy, while it lasted. But don't worry. I'll get us home, if I don't get us stuck out here."

"You better get us home in record time; some of us have to work in the morning. Some of us don't stay up half the night watching the skies for lights every night, either.

"Don't worry, I'll be at the store bright and early." Roger started the motor and slowly began to back down the rutted lane. "You want me to call you and get you up?"

"Please don't. I have a good alarm."

"We'll have to try again the next night we see the lights. What do you say? You game to give it another shot?"

"Sure. If I survived this attempt, I can survive another. But let's wait until my bruises heal. And let's shoot for a weekend, can we? That is, if we ever see these lights again."

"Weekends don't work out so good. I've got to spend those with Julia and the kids." Roger looked in his rearview mirror as he expertly backed up the truck over the rutted road.

On the drive home Daniel was silent. The lights had been too close. So close, that at moments he felt he could touch them. But they were like rainbows: right there, but not there at all. Not airplane lights, not helicopter lights. He’d seen those plenty of times. These were something else altogether. These he could not get out of his head. He smiled. Maybe next time they could do their light chasing on a blacktop road—a smooth, easy blacktop. It was worth it, but only with Roger along. Roger, the maniac, would keep Daniel safe. But Daniel was bound to be sore in the morning. Sore, and just a little disappointed.

The figure simply appeared in front of Daniel's car. He punched the brakes so hard the shock of his body slamming into the seat belt almost took his breath away. In the fading twilight he thought he saw the figure run to the side of the road and then disappear. His heart was beating as if a pistol, hammer cocked, was pressed against his head. My God, that was so close. I almost hit him. He rubbed his sleeve across his forehead, mopping off the sweat that had instantly formed there. Then he slowly drove the car off the street, pulled his cellular phone off the velcro tab and dialed 911.

Shortly, a police cruiser pulled up behind him. Daniel got out to meet the officer. "Steve. I'm so glad it's you," he said with real relief. "I almost hit this guy. I was heading to the Nest, maybe I was dreaming, I don't know, when somebody appeared right in front of my car, less than six feet from my front bumper. He just seemed to materialize in front of me." Knees shaking, he put his hand on the hood of his car to keep himself from falling.

"Slow down, Daniel, you're talking too fast."

"I'm sorry." Daniel clutched the officer's arm. He felt light-headed.

"Let's sit you down." The officer opened Daniel's car door and Daniel slid into the driver's seat, closed his eyes and then leaned on the steering wheel. The officer slid in the passenger side. "Now if Rachel knew how upset you were, I think she'd be a little worried."

"Just let me get my breath." He sat up.

The officer waited for Daniel's breathing to slow, then said, "All right, you saw someone appear in front of your car, you hit the brakes, and then the figure ran to the side of the road?"

"Right."

"How close did you come to hitting this person, do you think?"

"So close that I can't believe I didn't. I'm afraid I might have hit him. He was right there in front of me." It made Daniel sick to think about it.

"The twilight can play tricks on you, Daniel."

"I know it can. Maybe you should take a look around. He could be lying in the grass somewhere. He could be hurt, or, or worse'" Daniel shuddered at the thought.

"But you said you didn't hit him."

"I don't think I did. But what if I did?"

"And it happened back up the street?"

"Yes, about forty feet or so back."

"All right. You stay here." The officer patted Daniel on the shoulder. Then he walked up the street and walked into the bushes growing along the sidewalk. Daniel caught glimpses of his uniform as he walked into and out of the rows of hedges. Apparently satisfied that there was no victim, he walked back to Daniel. "No one. You haven't hit anyone." Daniel felt giddy with relief. The younger man took his hat off and ran his fingers through his hair. "I wonder where he went. Are you sure you saw someone?"

"Good God, Steve. I'm not crazy." Daniel flared.

"Are you calm enough to drive? I'll follow you home if you want."

"No, thanks. Don't be an over protective son-in-law."

"I'm not trying to be, but you're pretty shook up. You should go home."

"The worst thing I can do now is go home; I'd just sit and think about how I almost killed someone. I'm going to stop in at the Nest before turning in for the night. Tell Rachel I'm all right."

Daniel often chose to sit in the Eagle's Nest dining room because it was frequently empty on week nights'as it was this night'and he enjoyed the privacy this afforded him. But half-way through his iced tea he found himself feeling ill. Maybe coming here wasn't such a good idea. Death had almost touched him, and he didn't like the way that felt. Maybe he should go home as Steve had suggested. He decided to do just that, but as he pushed himself off his chair, he paused at the sound of a voice behind him.

"Hello." The voice was distinctly feminine.

He quickly sat back down and turned around in his chair. A woman, a beautiful woman, was smiling warmly at him.

"Hello," he said in return.

The woman turned from him then and seated herself across the room.

Her beauty made him uncomfortable. He picked up his iced tea and took a swallow. Then he set it down and began stirring it with his spoon. He quickly glanced across the room at her. She smiled back.

Daniel feigned confidence, his typical reaction to attractive women. Thirty'nine years of living in a polio-ravaged body left indelible scars--emotional as well as physical. He had caught this disease when he was five years old and it had almost killed him. When the virus had finally run its course, it had stripped him of much of his usable muscle and stamina, as well as his confidence.

He wiped his hand across his forehead, self-consciously smoothing back his receding hairline. Suddenly he felt very brave. The near accident both he and the figure on the street had escaped made everything else seem trivial by comparison. What did he have to lose if he asked her to sit and talk with him? All she could do would be to say no. And so what? The most she could do would be to say no.

He rose from his table, gripped his cane and began to walk to her. He paused--almost in mid step. What was he doing?

It was too late. He'd committed himself, and right now he was standing before her. "Uh, excuse me for intruding. You looked as if you might want some company, but--" He looked towards the door. Three short steps would have him out of there. He felt himself blushing.

"No, please stay."

"Well--" He hesitated. His face was prickling from the heat of acute embarrassment.

"Please?"

"This is really unlike me. I'm so sorry. I'm also extremely embarrassed as you can probably see by the color of my face."

"There's no need to feel embarrassment. I would love to talk with you. Please sit down."

Daniel sat. A waitress came to the table. "Would you folks like something?"

Daniel looked questioningly at the woman. "Would you?" he asked.

"Yes, I believe I would have some coffee." Her words had a slight accent to them, like a foreigner straining to pronounce each word just right, just so.

"Anything for you, Daniel?" the waitress asked.

"Don't think so, Dorothy. I've got iced tea, uh, over there." He looked back at his table.

The waitress smiled. "I'll get it." She brought the tea to Daniel and then left.

Now the woman extended her hand across the table to him. "My name is Sara--Sara Balyang. May I ask your name?"

"I'm happy to meet you. My name is Daniel Alan." Daniel took her hand, gently shook it, and held it briefly. In that short moment he studied every beautiful detail of her. He was swept away by her. She had soft black hair that fell over her shoulders and spilled down her back. Her dainty nose was set into a beautiful face. Her ears were almost like those of a pixie, and her blue, almond shaped eyes were like bright lights sparkling from a multifaceted prism. When she turned her head the highlights in her hair danced to frame her face.

Her beautiful necklace, her earrings, her dress--all contributed to the impact she made upon him. Daniel thought it ironic that the rustic, rough wagon wheel chandeliers hanging above them were providing the light that made the image of this delicate woman dance before him. Daniel couldn't take his eyes from her.

Daniel caught himself staring. He hoped he hadn't made her feel uncomfortable. He was nervous. What could they talk about? He was in way over his head. "Uh, nice weather we've been having, isn't it?" tumbled from his mouth before he could stop himself.

"Yes, it's very nice," she answered pleasantly. "The climate here in the summer is beautiful. Everything is lush with life."

"Iowans always talk about the weather," he said apologetically. "It's an easy way to get a conversation going. Force of habit, I guess."

"But when the economics of the area depends upon agriculture, the weather plays a most important role. Don't you agree?" she said seriously, ignoring his discomfort.

"I agree." Daniel hesitated, then said, "Are you from around here?"

"No, I'm not."

"Oh. May I ask where you're from?"

"I'm not from America. That is, I wasn't born in America. I work all over the world."

"What kind of work do you do?"

"I'm a medical consultant."

"That sounds like a demanding career."

"It is. But it also is most satisfying."

"Do you consult in the area of medical hardware or are you more involved with pharmaceuticals?"

"Both."

"Both? Well, now, that must keep you hopping all the time."

"It does."

"Do you plan on staying in this area long?" He was surprising himself. How could he be this bold with her?

"It depends. If my work is successful here, I may stay a few weeks. If not, I'll move on to my next assignment in a few days. I'm quite flexible."

Daniel felt a sudden pang of disappointment. "Where did that come from?" he thought to himself.

She looked at him carefully. "I suspect I'll be here for a few weeks at least."

Relief washed through him. He knew he was setting himself up for disappointment, but he didn't care. "Where were you on your last assignment?"

"I was in France. I was a consultant on the genome mapping project. Are you familiar with genome mapping?"

"I believe you're talking about the DNA molecule mapping project. I know that the French team is going at it somewhat differently than we are here in the States. Supposedly the French team will finish their mapping before the US team, but in the end the US team will have gathered more details along the way, making our mapping more complete. Quite a competition going on."

"You appear to be quite knowledgeable, Daniel. I'm impressed."

"There's a reason I have at least some knowledge. My daughter, Rachel, is a molecular biologist--a researcher--at BioMed Laboratories just outside of Eagle Bluff. You're familiar with that company, I suppose?"

"Yes, I am."

"Have you done consulting work for them?" He quickly put up his hands. "Wait, I apologize. That's none of my business."

"I don't mind your questions. It shows me you're interested in the medical field."

"Yeah, well, I've got my reasons."

"What would those reasons be?"

Was she totally unconscious to his physical plight? "I'm looking for a cure," he laughed.

"A cure? What kind of cure?" Her face showed sudden interest.

"I'm looking for a new body, but I don't think I'll find one any time soon." He choked down the bitterness that almost slipped out.

"A new body may be quite difficult to find."

"Oh, well," Daniel said casually, "maybe in my next life."

Her smile erased his frustration. Daniel looked up as the waitress returned with Sara's coffee. She set it down and said, "Will there be anything else?"

"I'm fine. Thank you very much," Sara answered. Then she turned her attention back to Daniel. "How long have you lived in Eagle Bluff?" she asked. "All of your life?"

"No. I came here after my wife divorced me."

"How long ago was that?"

"Twelve years ago."

"That's unfortunate you are divorced. And you haven't remarried?"

"No."

"You have no regrets living alone?"

"I have regrets, but the fact that I haven't remarried isn't one of them."

"Oh. Is Rachel your only child, or have you been blessed with others as well?"

"Rachel is my only child. And she just got married a few months ago, so I guess she isn't much of a child anymore," he said wistfully.

"Do you like children?"

"Yes, very much."

"I suspect, then, that you are looking forward to grandchildren?"

"I am. But grandchildren may be out of the picture for a while because right now Steve is working towards a Masters degree. It's kind of difficult going to school during the day, working at night, and then trying to be a good father on top of it."

"I'm sure it would be quite difficult. What is Steve getting his Masters degree in?" Sara asked.

"Psychology. He's a police officer and he hopes to use his psychology expertise to do some probation counseling later on." He didn't know if she was truly interested in the mundane details of his life, or if she was simply being polite, but she appeared to be interested, so he kept talking.

"And you, Daniel?" Sara pronounced his name so gently, "do you also go to school?"

"No, I teach math and chemistry at the Eagle Bluff community college outside of town. Maybe you've seen the campus."

"I have driven through it. It's an impressive facility. Do you like your work?"

"Very much, but my job demands a lot of my energy."

"I suspect that you're the type of person that could work too hard. Am I correct?"

"Oh, yes. At times I work too hard. People have called me obsessive, in fact."

As she continued to ask him questions about his life, about his family, about his pursuits, he answered with the proper amount of interest, but he listened with only half an ear while he began taking inventory of his own physical attributes: short in height; left leg stunted with a build-up on the shoe; weak right arm and back; braces on both legs. He'd been called handsome by some women he'd known, but he was quite amazed that this beautiful woman was paying attention to him at all.

He was suddenly aware that she had stopped talking. She stared at him. "You appear preoccupied, Daniel. Would you share your thoughts with me?"

Daniel blushed. "No, I don't think so."

She smiled at him from across the table.

"You're going to start thinking that fire engine red is my permanent skin color."

"I don't mean to make you uncomfortable. I enjoy talking with you."

"I enjoy talking with you, too," he said.

"Do you come to this eating place often?"

"Yes. I hate to cook." He laughed.

She looked him squarely in the eye and said, "I'm a wonderful cook."

"I envy you. I really envy you," he said with genuine sincerity. Suddenly Sara looked very sad. Daniel felt instantly sorry for her, but he didn't know what he'd said to make her feel this way. "I've offended you in some way." He clumsily reached across the table and grasped her hand.

"No, you didn't offend me." She put her other hand to her face as if to hide her face from him.

"I'm sorry, Sara." He released her hand.

"That's all right. It's not your fault."

He looked at her kindly. She was so nice, he wanted to take her home with him. She took a sip of coffee. He could see tears forming at the corners of her eyes.

"You're crying. I must have hurt you in some way," he said, distressed.

"No, Daniel, you haven't. It's my problem, not yours." Wiping her tears with her napkin, she said, "Tell me, do you find life exciting in Eagle Bluff?" She straightened herself in her chair as if to begin again.

"I don't know if you could call it exciting, but I love it here. With the Mississippi River only two miles east of town, it's an easy drive to the bluffs'a beautiful part of the state. Sometimes my family and I go to the river on Sunday afternoons."

"It sounds like fun."

"It's great fun. This little Iowa town can be interesting if you know where to look for it. Say, did you read the local paper today?" He wanted to distract her from whatever was making her feel so wretched.

"No."

"You should read it. Wait, I'll get it from my table."

Sara motioned for Daniel to remain seated. "I'll get it."

When Sara brought the newspaper back to her table, Daniel spread it out. He pointed to the headlines. "Look at this. For three weeks, now, we've seen these headlines." He read them to her. "For third straight week strange lights seen in sky!" He looked up from the paper. "Lots of folks around here have seen these lights. Steve, my daughter's husband you'll remember, has seen them several times on his late night rounds. My friend Roger has seen them. I've seen them, myself."

"Oh, really?" Sara said curiously.

"Yes."

"Please tell me about them."

"Well, they're scaring a lot of people. They kind of look like aircraft running lights, but they dart around the sky so erratically it's hard to really know what they are."

"Perhaps it's a natural phenomenon."

"They don't look natural. Roger thinks the lights might be attached to a vehicle."

"What kind of a vehicle? An airplane, a helicopter perhaps?"

"I don't think so. There's no motor noise. I've seen lots of aircraft before, both inside and out. These lights seem to be something totally different."

"Perhaps it was a weather balloon."

"Or maybe it was swamp gas," Daniel said teasingly. "The government always blames weather balloons or swamp gas whenever a UFO is sighted, but these lights are neither of those."

"Well, if it was a real flying craft, perhaps you weren't close enough to hear the motor."

"Maybe. But if this is a flying craft of some kind, wouldn't you think they'd fly without lights so they wouldn't be detected?"

"Possibly. But if this truly is a flying craft, perhaps the lights are used to prevent other aircraft from colliding with it."

"I've thought of that. You may be right. Have you ever seen an unidentified flying object?"

"No, I haven't." She leaned against her chair back as if she was preparing herself for a story she knew Daniel was about to tell. "Tell me about when you, yourself, saw the lights."

Warming to Sara's expectations, he began, "Last week my friend Roger and I were driving in the country between here and the river. We thought that with a little luck we might get a closer look at them'the lights. Roger had seen the lights fly around the sky over the woods east of town. A few nights ago he got me out of bed to go light'chasing. The timber is dense around Eagle Bluff, which makes it almost impossible to go beating through these woods at night. I'm not physically capable of walking across rough ground, anyway'especially in the dark."

"Now you seem convinced that the lights are real. Do you believe they are something other than a natural phenomenon?"

"I don't know. I'm quite confused about the whole thing. The lights certainly seemed substantial at the time. From a distance they were almost ethereal, but the closer we got to them, the more tangible and frightening the lights became. From a distance they looked like moths fluttering around a candle."

"That's quite poetically put."

"I don't mean it to sound poetic. I'm trying to find the right metaphor that will help you understand what I saw. I wish you could see them yourself."

"I very much hope to see them, especially now that you've described them. I'm truly curious." Sara smiled.

Through the Eagle's Nest's large bay window Daniel could see the traffic passing by the courthouse. In good'natured fun youngsters were shouting at each other from their cars as they drove around the square. It was late, but then, it was summer vacation. Suddenly, one of the cars squealed the brakes and came to a sudden halt. Daniel shuddered as the details of his near-miss earlier this evening came back to him. He pushed the thoughts away. I didn't hit anyone.

Daniel looked back at Sara and took his chance.

"Uh, I'd like to ask you something. Please don't feel as if I'm being too forward with you."

"Yes?"

"Well, maybe some afternoon if you had time off from your work you could stop by the college and we could have coffee together. That is, if you wanted to. I work in the student services building. I'm easy to find. I can take a break just about any time in the afternoon." He heard himself rambling, begging. "Or, I could pick you up sometime for lunch, that is, if you tell me where to find you'" His nerve was slipping through his fingers just as he was beginning to find it.

Sara's face lit up with a magnificent smile. "I think that would be most enjoyable. I'll try to come sometime," she said cheerily. "Thank you very much for asking."

"Okay, then," Daniel said. Leave it at that. Go home. But he couldn't. He was captivated by her. He found himself laughing and joking with her as if he had known her for years. And she appeared to be enjoying herself. Maybe he was selling himself short; maybe she liked him.

The waitress poked her head in the door and gave Daniel a lights'almost-out expression. He glanced at his watch. He couldn't believe they'd been talking for an hour and a half. Sara said, "I must apologize, Daniel. I really must go now. It's very late." She gracefully rose from her chair, accidentally brushing against Daniel's hand as they started for the door.

At the cash register Daniel paid the tab. He felt more relaxed than he'd felt in a long time. As they walked past the lunch counter he noticed that the night'owls were still engaged in earnest conversation with the truckers. Daniel didn't hear what they were saying, nor did he care. Their voices were just background music. The figure he'd nearly run down had almost faded from his mind now. He felt buoyant and alive. He had met a woman he wanted to see again. He hoped she would come by to have coffee with him. He hoped he hadn't turned her away by appearing too eager.

They stood out on the sidewalk in front of the diner. "Where are you staying, Sara?"

"I have a room at the High Point Bed and Breakfast on Victoria Street."

"That's a nice bed and breakfast. At least you'll be comfortable while you're here. May I walk to the parking lot with you? This is a safe town, but I'm looking for an excuse to talk with you a little longer." He laughed. "That is, if you don't mind."

"It's not necessary to accompany me. I appreciate your thoughtfulness, though."

"Did you drive here?"

"No, I walked. I love to walk on beautiful evenings such as this one."

"Well, could I drive you home? I'm harmless." Daniel stepped back, put his palms out and grinned. "See. No weapons."

She smiled warmly and said, "I prefer to walk home alone. Thank you for offering."

"All right, then. Good night."

"Good night." She smiled again.

He watched her as she walked down the street. Then she turned at the corner and was gone.

Daniel remained standing in the parking lot for a few moments, basking in the warmth of Sara's presence. He felt relaxed. Unrealistic as he knew it to be, he already realized he liked Sara very much. But there were other women he had liked, too. Not many. Daniel for the most part kept to himself. But once in a while he would find a woman who truly interested him. For some reason he never seemed to remain interested long. Then he would convince himself that he'd never find another woman as wonderful as the last one almost was. It had gotten to the point where he didn't care anymore. He all but enjoyed brooding about the fact that he didn't have anyone to nurture.

But this woman was different. In just an hour and a half of conversation she had given him hope. She was magic. He wasn't even sure if he could pinpoint what attracted him so strongly to her. But he was attracted, and he had no intention of letting her go too easily.

At eleven o'clock the parking lot was nearly deserted. The Eagle's Nest diner was about to close. Most of the truckers were walking up the street to the motel, and the rest of Daniel's chatty lunch'counter friends were saying their last goodnights to the waitresses. Through the windows he could see the busboy wiping off a table. The mercury vapor lights on the parking lot cast an unearthly gleam on the expanse of asphalt. Daniel's car, one of the few remaining, looked isolated and almost alien in the pale glow.

As he reached his minivan, he stuck the ignition key into the door lock and pulled open the door. Then he slid into the driver's seat, closed the door and jammed the key into the ignition. The engine smoothly came to life.

Daniel couldn't remember when he had been so comfortable so quickly with a woman. He was actually amazed with himself, because even though at times he found himself nervous in her presence, at other times he was quite self'confident.

When he had spoken with her'the thought of her made him smile now'he had felt emotionally alive. He so wanted to get to know her. Keeping the emotional brakes on would not be easy for him. And, of course, he had to face the fact that he may never see her again. If she wasn't going to become interested in him, better for her to drop him now, rather than get his hopes up. He chuckled at himself. Orchestrating again. Typical of him to try and figure out the moves of both sides before they even got to know each other. Maybe that was one reason his previous relationships were short'lived.

The gentle idle of the minivan's engine seemed oddly comforting to him. He slipped the car into drive and steered out of the parking lot and into the street.

Daniel shared most deeply with his daughter, Rachel. For years it had been just the two of them, and he still visited her frequently. He hoped it wasn't too late to stop by to share his day with her before going home.

As he approached her house he could see that the lights were still on. He suspected she was up, reading yet another paperback novel. Rachel was an insatiable reader, often reading well into the early morning. He recalled how when she was still living with him, how grouchy from lack of sleep she could be. He missed her now that she had moved out of the house. He missed her breakfasts. But Steve was the right man for her. It was Steve's turn to enjoy her breakfasts now.

Daniel slowly pulled into the driveway. Then he took his cellular phone, punched in Rachel's number, and laid the phone in the TTY he always brought with him. Through a window Daniel could see the table lamp flutter in response to the telephone's ring. Then, "THIS IS RACHEL, GA," appeared on the display.

"IT'S DAD, SUNSHINE. I'M IN YOUR DRIVEWAY. LET ME IN. SK SK."

When he hung up the phone she was already standing, door open, at the top of the steps. Tank, Steve's golden lab, greeted Daniel at the door with a drooling grin and a good-natured bark. Rachel was taller than her father by a good six inches. Her hair was blonde, her skin fair, and she had that girl'next'door quality that Daniel knew drove Steve crazy. And Rachel was almost totally deaf.

"I came to talk to you. Are you wide awake enough to listen to me?" he signed.

"Sure."

"Reading a book?"

"Yes. I'm waiting up for Steve. He'll be home at one."

"Tough work hours. He goes to school all day and works most nights. I couldn't do it."

Rachel grinned. "We're young, Dad. We can do anything."

Daniel walked into the house.

"I heard you had a close call today. Steve told me about it when he called earlier."

He chuckled. "I almost forgot all about that. Yeah, I almost hit someone with the van. It scared me badly." Daniel briefly flashed back to the horror of it, then refocused his attention on the conversation.

"I'm sure it did. Steve said you were pretty upset. So where have you been all evening?" Rachel sat down on the couch. Daniel sat back in her recliner.

"At the Nest."

"Oh? You should have come over here. I'm better company--especially if you're upset."

"I--uh--I met a woman tonight. She's new in town," he began hesitantly.

"Really?" Rachel shifted on the couch. "Did you ask her out?"

"Well, yes and no."

"Is that a yes or a no?"

"It's a--sort of--. I sort of asked if I could see her again."

"So you like her?"

"Yeah. I'd like to see her again."

"What's she like?" Rachel pulled her feet up on the couch and tucked them beneath her.

"Really nice."

"Aren't they always nice? Every time you meet a new woman she's the most wonderful woman you've ever met."

"This one's different."

Rachel looked at Daniel inscrutably.

"Maybe you'll meet her sometime," he signed.

"I'd like that. Want some popcorn?"

"I should go. I didn't realize how late it is. I've got to get up early."

"No, just sit. I'll throw some popcorn in the microwave. It will only take a minute."

When the corn was finished popping, she handed her father a bowl. "She must have been something to make you get over your scare so quickly. She must have made quite an impression."

"It's difficult to explain how she affected me."

"What's the real reason you didn't ask her for a date?"

"I was afraid to. I was afraid she'd say no."

"Call her."

"I can't." Disgusted with his own lack of courage, he shook his head. "I can't," he signed again.

"Well, if she likes you she may call you. Do you think your ego could stand that?"

"My ego can stand it. I really want to see her again."

As Daniel sat down on the edge of his bed, he became painfully aware of the braces on both of his legs. He took his shoes off, slid off his pants and then began to unlatch the velcro straps that held the braces tightly on his legs. He sighed with relief as he unfastened the last strap. Wearing the braces, especially until this late hour, made his legs swell. The braces were a God-send, but they were uncomfortable. They also added twelve pounds to his overall weight. Without them he needed a crutch to walk, but with them he could walk with only his cane. He couldn't walk far, for he simply didn't have the energy, but his braces gave him a comfort and a security he cherished.

He had to go to the bathroom. He cursed himself when he realized his crutch was standing in the corner of the bedroom four steps from him. He had forgotten to set it next to him when he took off his braces. He carefully hobbled over to it, taking care that he didn't bump or stress his weak knee. The crutch felt secure under him. He switched on the bathroom light, relieved himself, switched the light off and hobbled back to bed. His cat Sugar lightly jumped on the bed and began to knead Daniel's stomach with her front paws. Daniel stroked her fur and she purred softly as he began to replay the evening's events in his mind. He thought about how joyful he felt when he was with Sara. But sleep overtook him. Sugar's soft purring lulled him to sleep.

Daniel's alarm went off. He had slept well, but even so, it was difficult to get up. Ordinarily Daniel was a morning person, but not this morning. He wanted to see Sara again. Maybe he should stop by the High Point bed and breakfast before he went to work. Maybe she would be pleased to see him take the initiative to visit her. No, he decided, not a good idea. He hardly knew her. Patience, he told himself. Why hadn't he simply asked her for a date last night ? Everything would be so much less complicated now if he had.

He was hungry. He headed for the kitchen. The sun was spilling through the loose weave of the curtains above the kitchen sink, spattering little droplets of light on the tablecloth. He broke two eggs and dropped them into the frying pan. He hoped he would be of some use at the Achievement Center today. In his mind he could see a long line of math and chemistry students waiting for him. The compressed summer schedule produced many panicky students.

The telephone rang. It startled him because only his mother called him early in the morning and he had just talked to her yesterday. She wouldn't be calling again this soon. He picked up the receiver. "Hello?"

"Is this the Daniel Alan residence?" He recognized the voice. It was Sara's.

Chapter Three

"Sara." He struggled to keep the excitement out of his voice. "How nice to hear from you."

"I'm also happy to speak with you. I apologize for calling so early, but I thought it would be easier to speak with you at home before you became involved with your work."

"Well, sure. What can I do for you?"

"Nothing, really. I simply wanted to say how much I delighted in talking with you last evening, and I wanted to wish you a good day."

"I wish you a good day, too. I liked talking with you last night'too." Such an intelligent response.

"I'm glad. It was a most enjoyable conversation. I don't know many people in town."

"Sara'would you like to go to dinner or a movie with me sometime?"

"Yes. That sounds like fun."

"All right. Would you consider going with me this evening?" Why was he being so formal with her? Because he liked her. He didn't want to blow this.

"I would love to go with you this evening."

"Well, great." Daniel could barely contain himself. Remaining cool under fire was not one of his greater talents, and he knew it. " How about a movie? It starts at seven'thirty."

"All right."

Would it be okay if I'd pick you up at seven?"

"Yes. I'll be ready at seven."

"Shall I pick you up at the bed and breakfast then?"

"Yes, please. I'll be standing out front, waiting for you."

He was immediately touched by her consideration for him. He could hardly wait to see her.

The last of the day's sun glanced off the van's windshield as Daniel pulled up to the bed and breakfast. Sara was there on the sidewalk, just as she had promised. Before Daniel had a chance to get out of the car, Sara had stepped off the curb, opened her door and slid in. "Sara, I'm supposed to open the door for you."

She looked at him, grinning warmly. "Too late!"

"You're too fast for me."

"Oh, I hope not," she said sweetly.

Daniel wanted to kiss her. "It's nice to see you again," he said.

She settled back against the seat and put her purse on her lap. "I'm pleased you asked me out."

Daniel pressed the accelerator, then turned towards her. "I hope you like the movie."

"What movie is playing?"

"It's called, The Train."

"Hmm, an interesting title."

He smiled. "I forgot to tell you that Eagle Bluff's theater can't afford current films. It runs old classics. Would you rather do something else?"

"No, I'm looking forward to the movie." Her light, fresh smelling perfume smelled like baby powder. It made him crazy.

There were few people in the theater on this week night. Just as well. He didn't want to watch the movie while trying to look through someone's head. "Would you like popcorn before the movie begins?" he asked politely.

"Yes, I would."

He started to get up. She put her hand on his arm. "No, I'll get it."

Grateful that he didn't have to get it himself, he handed her a five dollar bill. When she started up the aisle towards the concession stand out front, he slumped back into his seat. So far so good.

When she returned, she handed him his box of popcorn, then sat down with her own. She handed him his change.

"Thank you for getting the popcorn." He put the change in his pocket.

"I was happy to do it for you." Sara sat down, then laid back in her seat and looked up at the ceiling. Every square foot of the ceiling was imbedded with tiny lights. "Tell me what you see up there, Daniel."

Daniel looked up and allowed his eyes to go slightly out of focus. For just an instant he felt nauseous. It was almost the same feeling he'd had after the near-car accident yesterday. "The Milky Way," he said. Quickly closing his eyes helped him choke down his discomfort.

"Really? Tell me more."

"Oh, you'll think I'm foolish."

"No I won't."

He cleared his throat, then turned his head to look at her. "This sounds stupid, but when I'm here by myself I pretend I'm--no, you don't want to hear this." He was embarrassed now.

"Of course I do," she said encouragingly.

"Well'sometimes I feel like I'm in a spaceship flying towards the lights'the stars. The lights seem like stars." Should he be telling her this? But he continued. "Sometimes it's good, healthy fantasy, and other times it seems'real, like I've actually made the trip myself. It scares me."

She looked him squarely in the face. He'd said too much.

The light from the projector came on and the curtain went up. He looked at her flickering face. "You think I'm crazy," he whispered. "I'm sorry."

She leaned next to his ear as the movie's theme music blared through the theater. "I know you're not," she whispered back.

"I . . ."

"I know you're not," she said again.

They sat down at a table in the Eagle's Nest dining room and then made small talk while waiting for their food order to come. Daniel explained how the director of The Train had set up several cameras for the spectacular train wreck at the end of the movie. He'd learned the details of this on one of the cable TV movie channels. That knowledge was useful to him now. Sara listened intently, asking questions as if she was genuinely interested. Perhaps she was.

He didn't want to bring up the embarrassing remark he'd made in the theater about taking trips into space, but he had to talk to her about it. He couldn't leave her thinking he was emotionally unbalanced. He at least wanted to appear like a normal human being to her. "About my, uh, space flights. Maybe I should explain this in a little more detail."

"Daniel, have you ever had any paranormal experiences?" Sara said abruptly.

Daniel shook out his napkin and laid it on his lap. "This is a trap, isn't it?" he said good naturedly. "If I say yes, you'll think I'm crazy, but if I say no, you'll think my trips into space are because I'm a space case. I believe I'm safest if I answer maybe."

"Answer yes or no." She looked at him as if she were trying to read his mind.

"Yes."

"Yes?"

"That's what I said, yes."

"Would you care to tell me about them?"

"Not now I wouldn't. The experiences are too involved. I think the stories are best left for another time. Why did you ask me this?"

"Because perhaps it could explain why you think you have taken actual trips into space."

"I don't follow you."

"The word, paranormal, refers to events that aren't normal. Paranormal experiences occur outside of the normal spectrum of events. True?"

"True."

"The explanation of how they occur is at present beyond our understanding. This lack of understanding can cause us to dismiss the experiences as simply imagination. Could it be that when you thought you took trips into space you were actually slipping into another level of reality?"

"Well, I never thought about it like that. I just know the feeling is very real."

"That feeling being . . . ?"

"That feeling being that I have actually taken trips into space--more than once, in fact. I even clearly remember seeing stars out the view port."

"Who was on this ship with you? Do you remember?" Daniel could see that Sara was intrigued.

"I don't know. I'm frightened, though. It's not a pleasant experience."

"If it frightens you so much when you look at the lights on the ceiling, why do you continue to do it?"

"I don't know the answer to that question. If I wouldn't look up, I wouldn't be uncomfortable, I wouldn't be afraid. But I continue to do it."

"Sitting in a darkened movie theater before the movie begins can be a meditative experience in itself. The theater is dark. The seats are soft and comfortable. There are people surrounding you, mumbling into the darkness. It can be like sitting in the center of a mantra. Not your mantra, of course, but a mantra, nevertheless. It would be quite possible, then, to slip into an altered state--an altered reality."

"I suppose that's conceivable. And how about you?" Daniel asked. "Have you had paranormal experiences?"

Sara looked down at her food, then looked up and stared at him intently. "That's another conversation for another time."

He studied her face, but found it unreadable. What did she mean by that? He didn't know, but at least she was sympathetic to his experience. He laughed. "I'll take that for a yes. And you don't think I'm crazy?"

"No. I think you're quite sane. Sane and honest. Not many men I know would have the courage to let their guard down on a first date."

"Then how about a second date? Would you like to have lunch tomorrow at the college?"

"With you?" she teased.

"Come on, don't make this difficult for me. I'm letting down my guard on the first date, remember?"

"All right, I won't make this difficult for you. I would love to have lunch."

"Let me give you directions so you can find me."

"That would be helpful. I've driven through the campus, so I'm somewhat familiar with where many of the buildings are located."

"Well, my building is Building Six. It has a huge cable TV dish on the roof. The Achievement Center is in that building."

"All right then. We could meet at about eleven-thirty?"

"Eleven-thirty."

When Daniel took her back to the bed and breakfast, she asked to be let out a block before her door. It was such a nice evening, she explained, that she wanted to walk. Daniel insisted on opening her car door. He embraced her but was careful not to kiss her. There was no way he was going to endanger this relationship, if that's what this had the possibility of becoming.

As he drove away, he caught a glimpse of her in his rear view mirror. Even under the street lights she looked beautiful to him as she walked down the street towards the bed and breakfast.

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