James Kinsley switched on recording again pulled the laptop so that they both could see the picture on the screen.
‘You see, Larry, here when I come to the tree, it was not there yet. It appeared a minute later. Now, wait ... If you do not want to wait I can rewind the recording forward?’
Agents James Kinsley and Larry Hampton were in the car of James, and were watching the video with the mysterious creature.
When on the laptop’s screen appeared a strange creature, James cringed involuntarily, hunched his shoulders, and looked out of the window. Outside it was the night. Rare car were driving past. There were not almost pedestrians in the street. When he looked record with a mysterious creature, he’s got each time a strange feeling as if the creature is still somewhere nearby and intently watching him.
Agent Hampton did not answer. He spoke only once when he watched the recording to the end.
‘Did the chief see it?’
James hesitated, shook his head slowly.
‘Not yet. I first wanted to check it out. Check. Suddenly it’s all my imagination. I spent too much time in the hot sun. It’s usual hallucination.’
‘Is the usual? Have you got often of it? Here I am about the same. Record proves otherwise. Video cameras do not record hallucinations and visions. Are there any idea who could it be?’ Larry saying these words simultaneously was putting the video record through the editor. He wanted to break up the time frames for recording when a strange being shot in the James. The fact that the creature was armed, and not an ordinary gun but looks like a laser gun, seriously alarmed.
‘James but you know if it wanted to it could kill you quite easy. The shot was a warning.’ Larry said confidently.
‘About this, I’ve thought yet there on the hill. You know, I had such a strange feeling at that moment. As if I was on an alien planet. And all of you were far-far away. I could not even call for help. Such fear gripped me. It was a strange fear not mine. I have never been so scared. As if except that creature and me there were none else in the whole world. The space around me seemed narrowed. I saw none except him. Do you believe me?’
‘That's why you're so quickly hurried to the car. I immediately suspected that something was not right.’
‘Did you only suspect? You said you saw him?’
‘Saw, but not his face. I thought you’ve met a local guy. I saw the scarlet flash, but how could I to know that this was a weapon? I wonder who he was. In my opinion, this is ...’ Larry paused, hesitated.
James involuntarily tensed, expecting what his colleague would tell. He already knew who was on the hill. Who shot at him. Alien! The real, real space alien! There was nobody around there who could do that. It wasn’t a man. It was the alien or somebody who looked kike the alien.
‘It’s a robot. Runaway robot.’ Larry said confidently.
‘What? Robot?’ James winced, looked puzzled at his colleague. Such an idea he even had not occurred. All this time he was waiting tensely that Larry would says, “Alien” but “Robot”. On such an embodiment, James somehow even did not think. Larry’s guess sowed doubt in him. Maybe indeed he was attacked by the runaway robot? Before his eyes fell the “face” of the alleged robot. Doubts assailed James just for a moment. No! No! And once again, no! It couldn’t be a robot. Larry just did not see him as close as he did. If Larry was in his place he would have realized that in front of him was not a robot created in the Earth’s laboratories, but a real visitor from the distant worlds. If one start to unwind the logical chain one got up the next question. If this is the alien what he was doing there, what he had lost on the Earth?
‘It’s surely escaped from his developer runaway robot.’ Larry kept confidently continued to develop his hypothesis. ‘Simply it could be no more else or perhaps some local, crazy guy who put on himself a space suit. For example, he’s a fan of space series. But the presence of the weapons makes this possibility unsuitable. It remains a robot. It would be good to find out what he did there? Where is he now and who are his developers? There is, in my opinion, two versions – military or a private company. But honestly I have no idea who might now in our time to create such a high-tech creature. I did not notice any power supply cable. Also I saw neither the transmitting nor the receiving antennas. In my opinion, it was a completely independent sample.’
‘Do you have a plan?’ James asked, knowing in advance what will be the answer. Larry did not just talk without any purpose for a few minutes about the mysterious robot. Certainly at this time he at the same time was thinking about the possible steps that they should take. “They?” James stopped himself in his mind. “Who’re “They”? Larry and he or Larry means the local branch of the FBI?”
‘Yes, I have a plan. I propose today to try to track down and catch the runaway robot. If he for example got some errors in his program, he probably wanders around. When we get him and he’ll be in our hands we will try to find out whom he belongs to.
‘How? Will arrange for him a cross-examination?’ In James’s voice sounded the undisguised irony. He personally could not imagine how it is possible to interrogate the robot if he really was attacked by the robot. In the Academy did not teach him what to do with the robots that runaway from the lab’s stuff. It was something quite new for him.
‘Do not sneer. We’ll catch him and check. Maybe on his body there is a serial number and address of the company who made him company’s brand or stickers or something like that. May we’ll find also some inscriptions or warnings. Who knows maybe robot even knows where is the agent Leroy now. Perhaps Polyakov and our agents kidnapped and kept in the vicinity, in a secret laboratory of some private company. It is possible that this robot or another guards them. If everything be fine we’ll get to bottom of this case. We’ll get a promotion. Have you any objections?’
James thought about all what he just heard. Robots armed with lasers, kidnappings, secret laboratories ... It’s all looked as some Hollywood’s blockbuster! But maybe everything is much simpler? Rather, it is not so? Maybe after all he is right, James? What if he really faced with a real alien? Everything was pointed on this. Traces found on the hill, the molten soil around. And the most important evidence that he was right was a record made by him personally.
James did not persuade Larry. He was agreed with him in one thing. They should again return to the scene place and check carefully everything around, inspect each rock and grass’s blade. Perhaps there appeared some new evidence. Perhaps, but not desirable, they’ll again meet with that creature.
‘I agreed. Will you inform our chief about what are we going to do? It’s some kind of operation.’
‘Are you asking me? You are in charge.’
‘Not exactly, both. We’re partners.’
‘When we finish and get some positive results then we’ll report. Now, what we can report about? We carry out a repeated inspection of the area. We collect clues, evidence. Perhaps again we’ll questions the local folks.’
‘It’s kooks all logical. But the robot is armed.’
‘We also you know will go there not with a water guns. I think we can find among our staff something equal to the laser. Although we can manage that situation using only our personal arsenals. Why would cause too much curiosity among our colleagues. So did we decide? Are you with me?’
‘Of course I’m with you. Let’s do it in this way. Now we’re going home and make some preparations. Then we’ll meet outside the city on the road leading to the scene place. Okay?’
‘Agreed.’ James looked at his watch. It was exactly 10 p.m. ‘We’ll meet at 11 p.m.’
Agent’s cars drove in different directions. The small dog which for some time was watching the cars thought for a moment whose car to chase. Her choice fell on Larry’s car. An empty street resounded with a loud, removing dog’s barking.

* * *

In the office of the local branch of the FBI, much agitated, came in the intern Leslie Stevenson. While she was in the hallway, she frantically pawing in her head, all more or less significant events that have taken place in the local branch of FBI during her practice. It seemed there wasn’t happened anything bad. She didn’t break any instructions and what she could break if she worked there only about two months working all that time at the computer, systematizing and archiving the data which did not represent absolutely any value for either terrorists or fighters for.
She did not understand the cause of calls her to the boss’s office. At the same time, Leslie knew very well that should have happened something serious, if they remembered about her. Now she’ll get to know everything.
‘Did you want to see me, sir? I’m intern Leslie Stevenson ... Sir!’ She introduced herself loudly, by entering into the Nicholson’s office.
‘Ah, Stevenson. Come in, sit down.’ Chief of the FBI with a friendly gesture offered her a few arm chairs at her choice.
After a moment, Leslie carefully perched on the edge of one which was not too close but not too far from the chair in which sat Nicholson. She prepared to listen to him.
‘How long are you working here?’ Nicholson asked, carefully examining her. “She won’t become a good agent. She’ll be good enough only to sit at the computer, make coffee and to shift papers from place to place.” Nicholson unexpectedly concluded even for himself. “But let's see how she’ll cope with the first task. The first impression is often wrong.” Nicholson argued in his mind to himself decided to give the girl a chance to correct not a very favorable first impression that she made on him. Actually, for this purpose she sits now in his office.
‘Three. ... For two months, sir.’ Leslie said and got a little embarrassed.
‘Do you like your job, team? Everything is all right?’ Nicholson asked.
‘Yes sir. Thank you, sir. All is well, sir.’
‘Lesley. ... Do you mind if I address you simply Leslie?’
‘No sir. This is my name.’
‘Fine. Then I have a request to you, too. It is not necessary after each word add “sir”. Do you agree?’
Leslie could not help smiling. She nodded.
Matthew Nicholson decided that for entrance he took enough time. It was time to get down to business.
Do you know why you had been called here? I suppose not.’
‘Yes sir. Oh sorry. No I do not know.’
‘We want to charge you your first assignment. In whichever way you deal with it depends on your future career here. You've probably heard about the disappearance of agent Jennifer Leroy?’ Nicholson stared at Leslie.
The girl's face immediately became serious but her gaze attentive. Now, looking at her, Nicholson believed she knowingly went to the FBI Academy. Most likely she’ll be an excellent agent. But time will show it.
‘I know sir. Excuse me, sir. I can not break the habit to address you using 'sir'. On the girl's face appeared an apologetic smile.
Nicholson waved his hand.
‘Call me as you like.’ He permitted. ‘So we are investigating that case. This headed by a senior investigating agent James Kinsley. Larry Hampton is in his team. He’s his partner. Today they are together with the experts went to the scene. In my opinion there is not all clear. Experts have found a lot of unknown. They also found the isotopes unknown to science substance. We are waiting for a detailed report. But in my opinion there was something else. Kinsley and Hampton both don’t tell all what they know. I don’t know why. It is possible they decided to find out what happened there without our help and only then make a detailed report when everything is finished. It looks like they may themselves have not yet fully understand with what they faced. Like all of us.’
Listening to the boss Leslie felt her back ran a nasty chill. She was sure that Nicholson doesn’t tell her to the end everything what is he knows too. She like all in the department heard about the rumors that circulated about the disappearance of Leroy and her ward Polyakov. About Martian’s signal had heard too. Is the boss decided to send her to Mars in order to bring back to Earth the mythical Leroy’s transmitter?’
‘Do you here me?’ Nicholson asked.
‘What? Huh? Excuse me, sir. I thought about Leroy’s case.’ Leslie forced herself to look straight into the eyes of the boss trying not to miss a single word uttered by him.
‘There are many uncertainties with the disappearance of Leroy too. We could not find her yet. Usually as you know we do it quickly. So, I want to instruct you to track down today agents Kinsley and Hampton.’
‘Track them down both at once? But what if they disperse in different directions?’ In the girl's voice sounded panic.
On Nicholson's face appeared a short smile.
‘I have a suspicion that tonight they’ll be together at the same place. They're up to something but they didn’t want to notify any of their colleagues. I want that you’ll follow them and if it be necessary make a report to the officer who’ll be on duty at the department. We will take care of the rest. Not difficult, right?’
Leslie pondered the words of the chief. Indeed at first glance there was nothing complicated. It wasn’t too complicate to watch the agents. She could use for that purpose the GPS navigator.
‘I agree, sir.’
‘Of course you do. Another response I did not expect to hear. I do not need to remind you that it is advisable that Kinsley and Hampton not suspect that you follow them. They might be offended and decide that we or I do not trust them. Suspect them in something. In fact you play the role of watcher and secret cover. Could you manage with this mission?’
‘I think so, sir.’ Leslie's voice sounded confident.
‘If you sure you can start to fulfill your task. In the morning I’ll be waiting for your report. If there happened something extraordinary you can call me at any time. I’m I clear?
‘Yes, sir everything is clear to me.’
‘Fine. Good luck to you.’
‘Thank you, sir.’
Leslie got up and feeling a slight excitement hurried to leave the cabinet of her chief.
It was late. Almost all the staff went home. At the department left only the officer on duty and the special squad which was ready to go at any time to any place in the state at the first alarm signal.
Leslie with the feeling that she’s got finally some assignment though not too important hurried to her office. She has not much time for the preparation.
After leaving the administration building she hurried to the parking lot for official vehicles. When she was ready get into her Lesley suddenly seemed that someone was watching her. Keeping one hand on the open door she carefully looked around. The time wasn’t still late but in the street where was located the building of the local FBI department has always been a few passers-by. A close girl’s look noticed near one of the houses on the opposite side of the street someone's vague shadow. Leslie immediately decided that she was being watched from there. Her hand involuntarily reached for the inside holster under her jacket where she carried her gun.
At the same moment in the place where could be seen a vague shadow flashed a bright point of light. One moment and across the street without any sound like a thin thread stretched fairly bright green beam. It found the car of the girl. As under the influence of hypnosis with her wide opened eye wide Leslie unable to move looked how was melting and dripping onto the pavement the mirror of her car from the driver's side. In her nostrils hit a sharp and unpleasant smell of burnt plastic. Then the beam went out as suddenly as it had appeared. It was the smell of plastic which brought Leslie back to her senses.
Startled she took a step back and looked at the place where there was a vague shadow. There was no one. Shaking his head as if to get rid of the obsession she automatically got into the car start the engine. Only now being as it seemed in safe she felt fear. Her hands were trembling. Thoughts in her head confused. Not knowing what to think she forced herself to think about the upcoming mission. About the incident that happened just now she would think later. Maybe even tell someone of her colleagues but not now. By taking this decision Leslie went to his home.
As soon as her car drove off, out of the shadow of the building quietly appeared plarm. It was Tio. The asphalt beneath his feet began to melt, sag. The air thickened around him illuminating the pale crimson glow. Fell to the ground a few dead birds and countless midges, pervades the evening summer’s air. Plarm stood still less than a minute and then disappeared into the dusk.
Tio relentlessly continued to look for Max and Jennifer.
 

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