“Dear boy, that’s what the aliens used to get to earth. That’s how we learned about Element 115 as a potential fuel source for space travel. It acts as an anti-gravitational material. When placed in the proper reactor, for lack of a better word, it can distort time and actually fold it. I don’t know all the details but Dr. Robert was working on it.”
Snapp was dumbstruck. Not only did Barnett confirm that Lake, or Dr. Robert, was actually involved with one of the world’s best kept secrets, but he was the key to proving that life on other planets existed. A thousand questions rushed to his head but they would be better asked of Dr. Lake.
“I can’t thank you enough for all the information you have given me, Doctor Barnett.”
“It was a pleasure to talk to you. You are much less arrogant than the other reporters that have come around. Some are just prima-donnas, surly, mean spirited, and damned rude,” he said.
“Unfortunately, I’d have to agree with you in most cases”
The doctor waved goodbye from the front swing as Snapp got into his car and left. As he pulled out, a black car fell in behind him. He headed back to the office, unaware that he was being followed.
George sat with the contents of the backpack Lake had given him strewn across his desk. He started checking his notes from his meeting with Dr. Barnett against anything that might confirm either man’s story. He was deep in thought when two men came in and asked to see him.
“I’m George Snapp, what can I do for you?” he asked a very large, dark skinned man. The man was dressed in a three piece suit and had on sunglasses which he did not remove.
“It’s what we can do for you, Mr. Snapp,” he said.
“I’m not sure I understand. What can you do for me?”
“Give you some advice. It is not a good idea to be talking to people like Lake or Barnett. They can do nothing for you except bring trouble,” he said.
George was conscious of the other man staring at him.
“Why would that bring trouble?”
“Some things are best left alone. People who start poking their noses in places they don’t belong often find more trouble than they can handle.”
“And I am doing that?”
“Let’s just say you are walking dangerously close to that line of no return,” he said.
“This is a threat. You’re threatening me,” George said, raising his voice an octave.
“No sir. This is just a visit about your wellbeing. People like Lake and Barnett are detrimental to our National Security. They do not abide by the contractual obligations that they freely signed during their employment. Your association with them could be construed as your willingness to follow them down the same path. That would not be beneficial to you,” he said.
“And if I continue my association with them?”
“It would be at your own risk. I have given you some good advice; whether you chose to follow it is your decision. Good day Mr. Snapp,” he said and turned to go out.
“You can’t threaten me,” Snapp shot back.
The large man stopped, turned and looked at him. “If I said I would kill you if you continued to pursue this matter, that would be a threat. I didn’t say that…exactly. My visit is a goodwill gesture from my employer,” he said.
Without thinking George said, “EG & G Inc.?”
The man took off his glasses, carefully folded them and placed them in his top jacket pocket.
He looked hard at Snapp for a few moments before saying, “Mr. Snapp, I cannot stress enough how precariously close you are to getting me upset. You do not want to get me upset. Do you understand what I am saying?”
George just shook his head. It was a foolish thing to do. Pissing off two guys who were making a thinly veiled threat was not the smartest thing he had ever done. The man continued to look at him; finally he took his glasses out of his pocket, unfolded them and put them back on.
“You do not want to cross my path again Mr. Snapp. I won’t be quite as magnanimous the next time we talk,” he said and was gone.
George sat down, shaking. He wiped the sweat from his upper lip and forehead. One thing for sure, they were proof that Lake and Barnett had worked for the government at one time. They had unwittingly confirmed it.
“Are you all right?” one of his colleagues asked.
“Oh sure. I just got a little dizzy. I think I stood up too fast,” he lied.
“Got to watch that at your age,” his friend joked.
“Nice. I’m ready to pass out and you want to kick me while I down. Go pick on Linda for a while,” he kidded back.
Now what? Obviously they had been following his movements. They had mentioned both Lake and Barnett. Maybe they were telling the truth and the two really were a threat to National Security. The last thing he needed was to have the Government come down on him. They could put him out of business if they wanted to, he suspected. It was a good story but was it worth the associated risk?
