She wanted to know all about what he was doing here at Area–51 and was he really over General Devin. He explained that it was determined that a civilian needed to be in the loop and he had been elected.
“Elected by whom?” she asked.
“The President.”
“Like our President? President Sampson?” she said, her eyes wide.
“The very same one.”
“Wow. I’m practically feeding royalty,” she said.
“Give it a rest. It is no big deal. I was just the poor schmuck whose number came up that day. Look, let’s talk about you. Tell me about Lynn Yurris.”
She told him about growing up in Georgia and going to school in the south, her love for theory, and her desire to make a difference somehow. She was articulate and seemed to always have just the right words to make him really understand what she was saying.
He enjoyed listening to her. He was amazed when he glanced at his watch. It was going on eleven o’clock. He helped her clear the table and rinse the dishes before loading them into the dishwasher.
“Would you like an after dinner drink? I have some Brandy and some Grande Mariner if you’re interested.”
“Maybe a short Grande Mariner,” he said and she poured some in a large brandy snifter.
She took a sip first before handing it to him.
“Mind if we share?” she asked, sitting down on the couch next to him.
He could feel her warmth as she sat there.
“Have you ever heard of the Hump?” he asked.
She looked at him strangely.
He burst out laughing, “Sorry. It’s a place.”
She put her hand up to her mouth and laughed too.
“And you thought I was bold at our first meeting,” she laughed.
“Sorry about that. Really,” he said.
“The Hump? I think so. It’s a mountain or large hill; I don’t know which, someplace behind us. Toward the north gate I think. Why?” she asked.
“Nothing really. I just saw it on a piece of paper and wondered what it was,” he said.
“Sorry I can’t be more help. I could ask around for you,” she said.
“No. Please. I think it would be better if I found out on my own.”
“Oooh, spy stuff,” she said.
“Yes. Eller. Raymond Eller,” he said in his best James Bond voice.
“Somehow that doesn’t have quite the same ring to it,” she laughed.
“Yeah, I guess not.”
“I like having you here better anyway.”
“Better than James Bond?”
“Well, except when Sean Connery was playing the part. Now he is sexy.”
“Give me a break. He’s old.”
“Sexy,” she insisted.
They talked for another hour before both knew that the time had come for the next decision.
“Look Lynn, I have enjoyed every minute of this but I had better get back. I know you have a big day tomorrow too.”
“I understand. You’ll be careful driving back in the dark? It’s a lot trickier at night,” she said.
“I’ll be careful. Thank you for a lovely evening and you really are spectacular,” he said as he got to the door.
She put her hand on the doorknob and opened it slightly.
“Thanks for stopping by,” she said just as he pulled her to him and kissed her. It was tentative at first but she pressed against and he found himself probing her mouth with his tongue. Slowly they pulled apart.
“I'd better go now,” he said.
“I know,” she said, and opened the door.
“Goodnight Lynn,” he said as he entered the deserted hall.
“Good night Mr. Bond,” she said smiling.
She watched as he entered the elevator and waved as the doors closed.
After Eller retrieved his Hummer he drove into the cold night air. His lights seemed to disappear as if being swallowed up by the darkness. The moon was just a small sliver adding to the murkiness. The only things he could see clearly were the billions of stars overhead. Incredible, in just a few years we could be going to one of those distant worlds, he thought.
He bounced along on the hard packed sand, trying to maintain his bearings in the darkness. He instinctively felt like he was going in the right direction but without a landmark of any kind it was difficult to tell for sure.
He had been up and down this road many times by now but he had always managed to head back before the sun had set. Now he wasn’t so sure he had done the smart thing. Maybe he should have just stayed at S-4 and crashed in one of the unused accommodations or ‘pods’, as Lynn referred to them.
He looked at his watch, it had been twenty minutes since he left and he still couldn’t make out anything that was even vaguely recognizable. He was wishing he had brought his portable GPS with him. He turned on the overhead auxiliary lights but all he could see was more sand stretching out for miles and miles. He was lost and he knew it.
Nothing frustrated him more than not being in control of a situation and he was definitely not in control of this situation. He stopped the Hummer and waited for the dust to settle.
