“Hi Lily, sorry to wake you,” said Hank into the phone. “Lily, listen, I’m sorry, I know it’s late, but I need your help badly.”
“What’s going on? Is it Juan?”
“No, no, there’s someone else. There is a, uh, a woman here, and she’s very sick, and confused, and…I don’t know what to do. Would you come to my cabin?” Hank pleaded.
“A woman? What are you talking about?”
“I know it sounds strange but it will make more sense when you get here. She has nothing with her, so maybe bring some spare clothes if you would, and some, uh, female things, you know? And do you have something for fevers?”
There was a long silence.
“Are you still there?” asked Hank.
“Yes…just trying to process. So you want me to bring spare clothes and, and things, to your cabin because there is a sick woman there? Hank, we’re fifty miles from the nearest town, how did she get here? And who is she? Did one of the cowboys bring her from town?”
“I, I, she’s, well…I’ll explain when you get here,“ said Hank. “But we need to keep her presence a secret. Please, will you hurry?”
“Hank, what have you done?” demanded Lily.
“Nothing. It’s not what you think, Lily.”
“And what is it I’m thinking?”
“I don’t know, but I know it’s not this. Please, come before she wakes?”
Another minute of silence.
“Okay, Hank. I’ll come, because I know you’re an honorable man, and I trust you. And I’m sure whatever this is won’t change my mind. Right?”
“Oh good, thank you. Yes, I expect so,” replied Hank.
Some minutes later Hank saw car lights coming down the drive. A moment later a car door thumped shut. Max barked.
“Shh, it’s just Lily!” hissed Hank.
When he heard her footsteps on the porch he opened the door. Max ran out.
“Thank you for coming, Lily,” he whispered, as he welcomed her in. “Do you want some coffee?”
“No, I’m wide awake, Hank,” she whispered back. She set a bulging bag on the floor. ”I just want to know what’s going on. Where’s this lady?”
“Yes, of course. I’m sorry to trouble you tonight,” said Hank quietly. Then he motioned to the couch, where Kris was sleeping, completely wrapped up again, except for one small, pale foot protruding from under the blanket.
Lily’s eyes grew wide as she took in the scene. Then she looked questioningly at Hank.
“You know, I almost didn’t believe you had someone here. Who is she, anyway?”
“Come sit at the table and I’ll tell you,” said Hank as he pulled a chair out for Lily. “When she wakes we’ll give her some medicine and a change of clothes. There’s a lot to do yet.”
“Maybe I’ll take you up on the cup of coffee after all,” said Lily as she slowly sat down at the kitchen table.
Hank poured her a cup and warmed his own, then he began, “When Juan was getting on the plane tonight he whispered to me that this woman was here in the house.”
“What?” interrupted Lily. “Is this Juan’s doing?”
“Now hold on a minute, Lily. Don’t jump to conclusions, they’ll be all wrong anyway. No, this wasn’t Juan’s doing, he just discovered her first. I think he was trying to warn me so I wouldn’t have a heart attack when I got home. I almost did anyway. I still might have one, once her story fully sinks in.”
Hank paused for a sip of coffee.
“Okay, what’s her story then? How did she get here?” prodded Lily.
Hank was silent for a while, trying to decide where to begin, and just what to tell Lily.
“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking tonight, much more than usual. I’ve learned things that are hard to understand, and hard to believe. This woman’s story - wow, hard to know where to start. I guess with the basics: she’s the product of a perverse, demented, science project. She needs someone to care for and protect her.”
Lily nodded hesitantly, wondering where this was going, and then cut in, “I don’t know what you’re saying. Where did she come from, and how did she get here, Hank?”
“I know you won’t believe this now, but she came from space. She came to Earth from space, on a ship. She was created out there, somehow, and all she knew was her mission, which was to live in a colony with others like her, look for habitable planets, and send detailed reports of everything back to something she calls Haven.
I guess there’s a lot of people out there. She said Earth is a secret, our planet with liquid water and people, our existence, our coordinates - all hush hush. But somehow it leaks, word gets out and those that hear about Earth want to come here. There’s been other attempts, too, and she thought some had tried and made it, but now she thinks she is the first to make it here alive.”
“Come on, Hank. You got me out of bed for this?” said Lily, clearly annoyed. “What do you take me for? I thought you were a good man, Hank, I trusted you. You’re the first man I’ve met that wasn’t full of lies and manipulation. So don’t do this to me.”
Lily stood up as if to leave. Hank sat back in his chair and sipped his coffee. His face was hot and red. He ran his hands through his hair. Lily’s directness always knocked him on his heels.
“You also know I’m not much of a story-teller, Lily. And look, I respect you, you’re a straight shooter. I wouldn’t dream of intentionally hurting you, or doing something to lose your trust. There is a lot to unpack here.”
“Well, does she have a name? Tell me the truth, and it better make sense,” pressed Lily.
“Her name is Kris. Look, from what I gather she’s only been on Earth a few days, maybe a couple of weeks, tops.”
“Oh Hank, come on. I’m going to take my things and go. It’s late, and I’m too old for nonsense.”
“Lily, I understand how you feel, but please listen. If you would just stay a little longer, extend me just a little more trust, until she wakes, then you can see for yourself. Maybe you’ll think differently. I’m honestly not playing a game with you.”
Lily stood staring a Hank for a long time. She checked her watch, rolled her eyes, and sat back down.
“Okay, Hank. I’ll play along until she wakes. But you’re on thin ice, I hope you know what you’re doing.” Lily let out a big sigh and said, “Okay, she’s only been on Earth a few days. Go on.”
“Thank you, Lily. Yes, she said that at this Haven place they were shocked to discover her on-board one of their unmanned cargo ships that takes supplies to, and brings back I don’t know what, from the colony. She said the people were surprised and angry to find her. She’s not strong, not used to our gravity, I think. And her immune system, I suspect, is being challenged heavily right now. Oh, and, uh, normal, uh, female functions, were either suppressed or just don’t happen in space. But they are starting now and she is pretty scared. That’s another reason why I need your help tonight.”
“You know, Hank. I still can’t believe a word you’ve told me. I mean I want to, because they’re your words. But this is preposterous, it’s too much to believe.”
“I know, I know, I get it,” replied Hank. “I’d never expect you to believe something this big without evidence. But she’s a pile of evidence all by herself. You’ll see. Now listen, I said we needed to keep her secret, right?”
“Okay, but why?”
“Well, she’s the woman Dr. Zell and those men are looking for. She’s the person they hauled Juan away to find. But she thinks they will kill her if she’s found. So, can you keep this quiet?”
Max scratched at the door and Lily jumped, spilling her coffee.