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![]() Michael and Maria sneak along the side of Mr. Seligman's house.
"What are you doing?" says Maria.
"Shut up," says Michael. "We got to get closer. I need to see what's going on."
"You're going to get us into trouble.."
"No," says Michael, "you're going to get us caught with all your yapping."
"Ow," yelps Maria, as Michael yanks at her arm to pull her below a window. "Michael!"
"Someone's going to see you!"
"We shouldn't be doing this at all."
"Well, we can't wait around for Max to tell us what NOT to do."
"Okay, okay, okay. What's that guy doing with Mr. Seligman?"
"That's what I want to know."
Maria and Michael edge up toward the closed window for a look.
"OMG," whispers Maria just as a flash of light hits them.
"Turn around slowly and raise your hands where I can see them."
Riverdog looks from Liz to Max.
"You know," he says.
Liz nods.
"When we researched the crash, we knew there was an archaeological team composed of students and teachers who discovered the second debris field."
"And that there was one woman," adds Liz.
"I thought it might be my grandmother ... "
"What is not known," says Riverdog, "is that there were others."
"Others?" asks Max.
"Visitors."
Liz looks at Max.
"I thought you said you told us what you already knew."
"And I did. Nasedo stayed at the reservation. The rest, I know not. It is possible that one or two may have lived. I don't know."
"There were four," says Max. "Two died at the scene, two survived -- Nasedo and one other, held by the military."
"Are you saying there was more than four?" inquires Liz.
Riverdog nods.
"There were several different crashes besides yours. Many visitors, maybe twelve or more. It is whispered that a third may have lived," says Riverdog.
"What happened to this visitor?"
Riverdog looks at the photo again.
"This photo," continues Riverdog, "was taken in 1959, shortly before Atherton was murdered ... and this man disappeared."
"So this man could be alien."
"I don't know."
"Max, he could just be an associate of Atherton. ... What I still don't understand is my grandmother's connection to Atherton and Nasedo and this man."
"There were many of us," says Riverdog, "who helped the visitors, an underground. Many of us who said nothing because of what happened."
"Happened?" says Max.
"One of the visitors was beaten to death by the military at the crash scene."
"Beaten?" says an alarmed Max.
"With a rifle."
"You know this?" asks Liz.
"I was there too," says Riverdog.
Mr. Seligman and his guest sit on the sofa reviewing the photos he took out in Frazier Woods, near the reservation where the cave is. It's the photos Seligman shot of Max and Liz.
"It's been a long time."
"Liz Parker is a brilliant science student."
"Does she know?"
"She has had an unusual interest in molecular biology."
"And Max?"
"More interested in Ms. Parker."
There is a knock on the door.
Seligman takes the photos and slides them into the open coffee table drawer and shuts it, then goes to the door. The knock becomes more persistent.
Seligman opens the door. It's Sheriff Hanson.
"Sheriff! To what do I owe this pleasure?"
Hanson motions the deputy to bring Michael and Maria forward. Seligman shows surprise.
"We caught these two by your window trying to break in."
Seligman raises an eyebrow.
"We weren't trying to break in," says Michael.
"We were just trying to see if Mr. Seligman was home."
"Really?" says Seligman with a hint of disbelief directed at Michael.
"Mr. Guerin, won't you come in? You're late as usual."
Hanson grows confused.
"Mr. Guerin and Ms. DeLuca receive remedial science instruction from me in the evenings."
"So they weren't breaking in?"
Mr. Seligman smiles at Michael. "Won't you come in?"
"Sorry to have bothered you. I guess you won't be pressing charges. It just looked suspicious."
"Mr. Guerin has always been a bit unorthodox."
"Yes, sir. Have a good evening."
"Next time, try the front door ," he says as he motions Michael and Maria in. Maria hesitates, but Hanson waits until he sees them go in.
"Come along, Ms. DeLuca. We've already wasted too much time.
Maria looks to Hanson, then reluctantly steps in.
"So you're saying that there was a sort of underground railroad for aliens," says Liz.
"Yes," confirms Riverdog, "but I knew little about it. I was young and only knew Nasedo and while he did befriend us, I was warned to avoid him."
"By whom?" asks Max.
"The elders. And when Nasedo brought death ..."
"... their fears were justified," says Max.
"So the tribe protects you," reasons Liz "because you know too much."
Riverdog nods.
"I've put you in danger," says Max, disturbed that, inadvertently, that he may have placed another life in danger.
"Max ..." says Liz, putting her hand on his shoulder to comfort him.
"It is a risk we took," says Riverdog.
"Is there anyone else who could tell us about this man in the photo?" asks Liz.
"Perhaps you should begin at home."
Liz straightens.
"Home?" asks Max.
"Your grandmother has gifted you."
Liz nods. It is becoming clearer.
"The will."
Max looks curiously. Liz explains.
"When I turn 18, I receive an inheritance from my grandmother."
"I thought you had everything."
Liz shakes her head.
"No, ... but I thought it was just cash or something. There must be something else, something important."
"How is that going to help us now?" asks Max, his frustration beginning to show.
"I don't know," considers Liz, "but I'll find a way."
Maria and Michael sit on Mr. Seligman's sofa, trying hard not to show their nervousness. Mr. Seligman and his guest sit in chairs opposite.
"Well, Mr. Guerin, since you're not too keen on attending my biology class, perhaps you can explain why you and Ms. DeLuca are here?
Michael and Maria exchange looks. Michael, as usual, seems at a loss for words.
"He didn't want to come," blurts Maria spontaneously, "I made him."
"Really?" says Mr. Seligman, the disbelief on his face so obvious that Maria's stomach is churning.
"Michael needs to graduate this year," says Maria, quickly making up her story as she goes along. "And he needs to work," she says, "because he lives on his own."
Mr. Seligman waits sternly for the rest of Maria's story. Michael's mouth is hanging open as he tries to figure out what Maria is going to say next.
"Well," says Maria, "the reason he misses class is because he's so tired ... you know, between work and school, that he needs a second chance."
"Yeah," Michael agrees, "I was hoping you could cut me some slack this year."
Seligman's eyebrows raise.
"He was too embarrassed to ask," continues Maria, "but Michael was actually hoping that if he talked with you now that you would let him retake biology this year so he could graduate"
"Yeah, that's it," agrees Michael, a little too quickly.
"No," says Seligman firmly.
"You're not going to even give me a chance," says Michael, his voice raising in annoyance.
Mr. Seligman's still unidentified guest, who has been silent to this point, speaks up.
"Perhaps your student deserves a second chance."
Michael, agitated, forgets for a moment, who this man is and angrily says, "Who the hell are you? And what do you have to do with my life anyway?"
Maria gasps.
My man gives a knowing smile.
Mr. Seligman gives Michael a disproving look.
"My name is Charles."
"Well, Chuck, I've been doing okay on my own, so butt out."
Maria jabs Michael in the ribs.
"Michael!"
"Oww!"
"Shut up, Michael!" Maria says under her breath.
Michael looks up and around and comes to his senses. "Oh, shit!" he thinks to himself.
"Maybe we should come back when you don't have any company," says Maria and starts to get up.
"Sit down, Miss DeLuca," says Mr. Seligman. "I think Mr. Guerin owes an apology to my guest.
Maria reluctantly eases back into the sofa.
Michael fidgets. He's always uncomfortable with "the apology".
"Perhaps your students would like some tea or soda or something?"
Mr. Seligman is not happy with this prospect, but looks at Michael.
"Coffee. Black." He's stalling. No apology.
"Miss DeLuca?"
The last thing Maria wants is a drink.
"No, no thank you. I really have to get back home."
"Why? School doesn't start for a few weeks," says Charles.
"We have any early shift tomorrow."
"We? Where do you work?"
This is more information that she's wants to give.
"Michael and I work The Crashdown," she says.
"That's the cafe I mentioned," says Seligman.
Maria is immediately suspicious. She has NEVER seen Mr. Seligman in The Crashdown.
"I've never seen you there," says Maria to Charles.
"I'm new here," he says.
Liar, liar, Maria thinks, desperately wanting a sniff of her cypress oil.
"So what do you do?" asks Michael.
"Radio astronomy."
"So what's that?"
"I listen to the stars."
"What do you mean, 'listen to the stars?'" asks Michael.
"I monitor sound anomalies."
"What do you expect to hear?" says Michael, "Little green men?"
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