Suzie’s Dig
In the blink of an eye, Suzie changed into something more appropriate for a government official on an expedition. She even managed to copy styles from Australia, which would be in character for her disguise. Suzie actually had a great advantage in that she could quote rules and laws verbatim, whereas Janet and every other flesh and blood person on the planet could not. There were simply too many of them these days.
They came to a stop near, but not too close to Janet, hoping she wouldn't question the ancient hovercraft or the travel trailer it was towing. Jack held the door for Suzie as she got out. She walked over to Janet and introduced herself “Hi. My name is Suzie and I think this is my dig site. Are you here to help us? Suzie flashed a government issued ID card, with appropriate badges and signatures.
She also had a government issued data pad showing documentation stating this as her site. Janet was stunned at first, but seeing Suzie’s documentation, she was at a loss as to what to do. She said “This site has been closed and has not been opened to my knowledge. And I would have been informed if it was re-opened. Let me see your documentation again.”
Suzie sent a copy to Janet’s data pad. Janet looked at it and noticed that none of the signatures were people she knew. She said “This is a forgery. I will have to place you under arrest.”
Suzie said “Let’s not get too hasty. I just transferred here from Alice Springs and the paperwork was completed there. Perhaps I am simply missing a document.”
Seeing Paul and Jack, Janet completely forgot about the questions she was about to ask about the ancient trailer they were towing or the out dated model of hovercraft. She said “You certainly do not have authorization to have those two people with you. They have been assigned to me.”
“They were idle at the moment and I will only need them for a week or so. I am sure we will be back before you have another need of them. Now, I really need to get over to our site and get started.”
“I thought you said this is your site, right here.”
“It is, but it is approximately five kilometers due east of here. I was wondering why you were this close, but not actually at the site.”
Suddenly unsure of herself, Janet said “Oh. I was unaware of that dig. My dig was actually right here. I’ll let you go for now, but rest assured, I will be checking on your validity.
Suzie smiled and said “Of that, I have no doubt.”
They all got back into the hovercraft and slowly drove the last few kilometers. When they were close, Paul said “Jack, with Janet this close and watching us, we will need to act as we always do. I know you are eager, but the best course of action to raise the least suspicion is for you to set up camp and I’ll get started with the ground penetrating radar to locate the boat.”
“You are right, as usual, Paul. I just want my boat back. I honestly don’t care which of us finds it, as long as it's found.”
Jack got busy setting up camp while Suzie walked around looking important. Paul broke out the radar and began his search. Based on Jack’s description, he was able to assume much from Janet’s position on the ice. He began with small circles advancing to a much larger search area.
After only four hours of searching, he called Jack. “Jack, I may have it, what do you think?
Jack walked over to the spot on the ice where Paul was holding the radar. With excitement building, he said “The outline certainly looks like a boat, and the depth indicates it isn't on the ocean floor. Shall we begin digging?”
Paul broke out the old Mark One Hole Melter and they began carving a hole in the ice. Jack however, stopped them after only a minute or so. “Paul, we made a huge mistake. We don’t have anything to use for an elevator.”
Thinking rapidly, Paul suddenly smiled and said “That’s okay, Jack, I’ll just come in at an angle so we can simply walk down the slope.”
“Great idea! Let’s make it wide enough to take the hovercraft down. As I recall, it wasn't very easy climbing out ten years ago.”
“That should be easy enough to do” Paul said as he repositioned the melter to allow for the slope of the ice shaft.
As they worked, they didn’t notice Janet approaching. Suzie, alert as ever, was waiting for her. “Suzie, I have been running checks and found nothing on Jack, but Paul will need to accompany me back to Harmony.”
“I cannot allow that, he is needed here.”
“I’m afraid I must insist. He left some unfinished business that must be seen to before he can be released from my supervision.” Janet knew this was a reach for even her authority, but she could see no other way to rescue Paul from what she saw as nothing more than a work gang in a harsh environment.
“Please wait here and I’ll see to them” Suzie said. She walked over to the growing hole in the ice and approached Paul. “Janet is back and says you will have to accompany her back to Harmony." Turning toward Jack, she said "She didn’t say anything about us, however.”
“I have no idea what she’s up to, but I guess I have no choice. At the moment, I think she’ll ignore you." Paul adopted a sad expression on his face and continued "I suggest you keep going, get your machine and go home. As fun as it’s been knowing you, I can’t bear to see you stuck here longer, if you would rather be elsewhere.”
“Elsewhen” Jack said. “The word is elsewhen, weird, I know, but it’s the only way to properly express yourself with these complex time jumps.”
“I’ll miss you, Jack” Paul said before turning and walking back across the ice to Janet.
Jack and Suzie stood at the edge of the hole watching Paul go away. Suzie said “Are you just going to let her take him?”
“I don’t see what choice we have." He looked at the barely started hole in the ice and muttered "I guess my job just got harder, though.”
Suzie didn’t say anything. Jack kept working in the ensuing silence. Finally he said “What if I get this boat free, jump us back in time to get free of the ice, and then move south to the Washington, DC area and jump back here to rescue Paul?”
Suzie jumped up and said “That sounds like a great plan, Jack!” She stepped over and kissed Jack on the cheek, or, as close as she could without passing through his head. She said “Its times like this that I wish I was a real person.”
Jack saw her attempts and said “Suzie, spending these past ten years with you has been wonderful for me. I know you are not ‘real’ so to speak, but as a man getting up in years, companionship is more important than other things. Yes, it would be nice if you had a real body, but you are who you are. And a kiss on the cheek would have really been nice. Thanks for the effort.”
Suzie's expression changed from glum to something close to her normal self as Jack spoke. After a minute or so of silence, Jack turned back to his work. At his current pace, it would only take him a few days to melt his way to the boat. Hopefully, it would be the right boat!
~***~
Janet led a reluctant Paul back to her base of operations. In no time at all, they were airborne on their way back to Harmony. Paul, however, would not speak to her, or even look in her direction. Once again, she was stumped. “Paul, why won’t you talk to me?”
Looking up for the first time since being led away from Jack and Suzie's dig, he said “I don’t have anything to say, Janet.”
Janet felt exasperated with Paul and said “I keep trying to save you from these horrible jobs you get yourself involved in and you never once thank me.”
Suddenly furious, he exclaimed “Thank you! Why on earth would I ever thank you? This is where I want to be, not stuck back in the city. There is nothing there for me; this is where my work is, not there. You keep interfering and making it harder to do what needs to be done. Why can’t you just leave me alone?” Having said his piece, he turned his back and tried his best to ignore her.
Janet was stunned. She had no idea he would actually want to be here. She didn’t know what to say. Finally, after much soul-searching, she said “Paul, I am sorry. I had no idea you actually wanted to be here. I thought I was helping you by getting you away from here. Although I can’t understand the attraction to this ice and this old junk you dig up, I can see that you are sincere. Please forgive me.”
This certainly came as a shock to Paul. He was under the impression she was out to make his life miserable. Never had it occurred to him that she was actually trying to help. Finally, he said “Janet, I can’t see how you came to your conclusions, but I forgive you. Just please, let me do my job from now on.” In his mind, however, Paul was very nervous. This all seemed real sudden…too sudden. It made him feel uneasy, which he never had been around women before. He was always relaxed and confident around the ladies. After all, it wasn't like being with a woman meant anything. And besides, they always took the lead anyway.
Looking at him with an expression on her face that Paul found to be sincere she said “I have tried to show you for quite some time now that I actually care about you and want to spend more time with you, but obviously, you never got the idea. When I found you way out in the wilderness by yourself, I was looking to have a good time, and couldn’t think of anyone but you to spend it with. That is why I was dressed like I was.” Janet's insides were all a-flutter with nerves. “Why was that,” she wondered to herself? “I have always been good at getting the guys to do what I wanted. Why is it so different with Paul?”
“Wow. All you had to do was say something, Janet. I really had no idea. I assumed you hated me and were trying to make my life miserable for some reason." Frowning, Paul continued, "But why me? You are government. I’m just a civilian. I can’t think of anyone else that has crossed that line.”
“Actually, I did some checking and there is no law against it that I can find. So, what do you say? Would you like to spend some time with me? I like you Paul. I don’t know why, but I do. You're different than most other guys.”
Paul had only recently noticed that Janet was attractive, now she surprises him with this. Smiling, he said, “Sure, Janet. That might be fun.” His concerns started to melt away.