Algorithm - Book 1 - The Medallion

Chapter 18

            "Alpha. Like the first letter of your Greek alphabet."

            My Greek alphabet?

            "You just made that up, didn't you?" asked Adam. The stranger grunted, but it was hard to tell if it was an answer or merely a reaction to his injury. Adam thought a moment about asking about his last name, but decided that could wait. "Well, Alpha, you showed up just at the right moment. We've got a lot of questions which I'm dying to ask, but first we're going to make a stop to make sure you don't bleed to death. We need to patch you up."

            Linda asked, "Where exactly are we going? To the police?"

            "That would be the right thing to do, but maybe later. Right now we need a place to clean up, to talk … and to eat. I hope Hedda is an early riser. Breakfast would sure hit the spot."

***

"We won't stay here long, Hedda," Linda managed to burble between mouthfuls of pancakes and eggs. They sat around a wooden table in the kitchen above the mining museum.  Adam sauntered in.

"You sure look better after washing up," said Linda.

"Herman will search for us, and it's likely he'll come by here, so we'll need to hurry," said Adam.

As an afterthought Adam asked Hedda, "Have you see Ben since yesterday?"

Hedda scowled and shook her head. "Ain't seen 'im. Maybe he went back to New Jersey."

Somehow I don't think so.

"Now ya no never mind 'bout him or Herman. Eat up. How 'bout some more coffee?"

Both Adam and Linda nodded enthusiastically. While the two dived into the pancake stacks as quickly as they came off Hedda's gas stove, Alpha sat quietly at the end of the breakfast table studying them.

Hedda said, "Your friend there doesn't have much of an appetite."

Adam slugged down his cup of coffee and turned to Alpha. "How's that leg feel?"

Adam had managed to extract several BBs from Alpha's calf. Peroxide, gauze and an Ace bandage finished the patch up.

"Much better. Thank you."

"Maybe now would be a good time to clear up some things."

"Perhaps I should begin," Alpha suggested.

Hedda planted the last of the pancake stacks on the kitchen table and slipped into a chair. The sounds of munching and dinnerware died down as the three watched Alpha straighten up in his seat, yellow eyes staring intently at them. "I have surmised that you know something of the disk … that is, the contents of the disk?"

Adam said, "Well, we know it contains genetic information."

"Correct. It contains all the design information necessary to build … humans."

Linda paused sipping her coffee. "To build us? That's quite a claim. How would you know this?"

"I know this because your disk is not unique. It was found in many other places … in other parts of this galaxy."

Her coffee spilled. Linda hurriedly placed the cup down and wiped at the wet tablecloth with a napkin. Adam's eyes widened. Hedda shook her head slowly from side to side.

Adam was the first to respond. "Perhaps you can begin at the beginning?"

Alpha leaned back into his chair. "Please do not be alarmed, but I must tell you that I am not from this planet."