0179: A Lot Not to Know
“Are those spaceships?” Constance asked as she glanced over her shoulder, past the other refugees, to see the asteroid pod now juxtaposed against other shapes that were as compelling as they were strange. In addition to the greenish tripodal object, there was a third that was silver in color and saucer-shaped, with a conical top and a ring of spheres around the bottom edge.
“I’d be genuinely grateful for a better theory,” Lamont admitted. Constance had joined him at the front of the group, where he was pacing toward the corner of the large chamber. The grim set of his jaw was evident on a face that Constance had always thought was rather skeletal.
“What does that mean?” The colonist pressed. “Are there others here? Other–people?”
“We haven’t seen anyone,” Lamont explained, “but this tower goes down for hundreds of miles. That’s a lot to not know. Which is why all of you are going to remain exactly where I take you.”
“In this corner, you mean?” Constance asked.
Ignoring the question, the newspaperman motioned for her to hang back while he proceeded closer to the smoothly concave corner. To her surprise, a rectangle of what had once been smooth and relatively featureless wall was suddenly open to reveal some kind of cylindrical chamber, the inside of which was flooded with a white illumination distinctly brighter than the soft and diffused glow of the larger space. The change had happened so quickly that it did not even occur to her to jump in surprise, and she had no idea in what direction the wall had receded to create the opening.
“This is an elevator,” Lamont explained to the wide-eyed visitors. “Everybody stand with your backs right up against the wall, or it won’t work.” Noting their hesitation, he waved his hand invitingly. “In you go, then. Pretend you’re sardines.”
With a flutter of murmuring, the group filed in. They all followed Lamont’s instructions. Constance gasped in surprise as the curved wall seemed to pull her to it just as she touched her back to it, as if she had magnets beneath her jumpsuit. She saw that each of the other visitors exhibit a similar reaction. It took all of five seconds for Jamie and Everett, the Downs twins, to recognize the implications and begin scooting themselves up the wall until their heads were level with those of their parents. They cackled gleefully as their feet dangled two feet off the floor. Constance shot them a warning look.
Within moments, everyone had their backs against the wall except for Lamont, who stood beside the opening and Rico, who stood outside of it.
“I do not think I can fit,” Rico observed.
“It’s for the best,” Lamont said. “You can stay with Lazarus. If I’m not back in half an hour, you know where to look.”
The larger man frowned, but nodded. Lamont turned into the elevator, paused, and then turned back toward Rico. He lowered his voice, but Constance had sharp hearing. “On second thought, if I’m not back in thirty minutes, I recommend that you return to Westward and let them know.”
The security specialist’s expression darkened. “Señor, I am not going to leave another—”
Lamont silenced him with a quick slice of his hand. “I can’t bloody order you,” he hissed, “but think about it.” Then he pulled the half-spent cigarette from his mouth and tossed it at Rico’s feet.
Next: An Air of Steady Confidence