Escape with the Dream Maker (16 page)

“I reckon she's a goner if you don't come and help us. We all are. You and Abbey fight a lot, but I reckon you're going to be pretty close one of these days. As a matter of fact, I think you're just about half in love with her.”

Despite himself, a picture floated into Dave Cooper's mind. He saw the face of the young girl he had dreamed about constantly. Blonde hair, blue eyes, pretty. He remembered that in the dreams he would get aggravated with her for acting foolishly sometimes, but then there were other dreams in which the sweetness of the girl just almost overwhelmed him.

Reb said quickly, “It's up to you, Dave. You don't
have
to come back. I can't make you. Nobody can make you. Sooner or later you'll wear me out here, and you can go back to being a big football hero. You can drive fancy cars and all that, but just remember, Dave, it's not real.”

All night long, after the two went to bed, Dave thought of what Reb had said. His mind was in turmoil, but again and again he heard those words
It's not real.

When the sun came up, the boys ate the last of the supplies, then Reb said, “Well, I can't hold you here forever. You know that, Dave. Sooner or later a man's got to stand for what's right. I've told you what's right. Now what are you going to do?”

Dave Cooper had already made his decision. He said slowly, “I don't know, Reb. I think I'm crazy, and I think you're crazy. If all this is a dream, it's been a lot of fun, but a man can't spend his life dreaming, can he?”

“No, he can't. Does that mean you're going back?”

Dave Cooper, quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys—at least in his dreams—nodded slowly. “I guess it does, Reb. Let's get back and do what has to be done.”

W
ould you like to join me in the lounge after you're off duty, Ensign Garfield?”

Jake Garfield, of the spaceship
Avenger,
turned quickly.

Commander Ceri Tirion stood watching him, her lips turned upward in a welcoming smile. Her enormous eyes always seemed to hold an invitation, and her long, glossy black hair was exactly the shade that Jake had always liked.

“Why, I'd be glad to, Commander.” Jake always felt bashful and ill at ease with this superior officer.

Her smile widened. “I'll be waiting for you.”

“Ensign Garfield!”

Jake whirled the other direction and found an extremely tall man with a pair of intense eyes fixed upon him. “Yes, sir, Captain Drystan.”

Hugo Drystan, commanding officer of the
Avenger,
was not a man one could ignore. Jake had admired him from afar, and now, as communications officer on the
Avenger,
he was anxious to please his new chief.

“We will be leaving this galaxy in exactly seven minutes, Ensign. You will take the helm.”

“Me, sir?”

Drystan's eyes narrowed. “That's what you've come aboard for—to learn how to command a spaceship of the Imperial Fleet. Have you changed your mind?”

“Oh, no, sir,” Jake said quickly. “I appreciate the opportunity to serve under you.”

Drystan smiled slightly. “It's a little bit frightening being a young ensign. I remember when I was one myself in the Dark Ages. Do your duty, and we will see how it goes.”

Nervously, Jake sat in the chair that the captain had vacated. He was aware of the sinister Lieutenant Zeno, the
Avenger'
s chief gunner, glaring at him. It made him nervous, and he tried to ignore Zeno's smoldering eyes.

He handled the starship acceptably, however, and gave a sigh of satisfaction when Captain Drystan finally said, “You're relieved. Good job, Ensign Garfield.”

Jake left the bridge. As he walked down an outside corridor toward the lounge, he was surprised to find Lieutenant Zeno beside him. He always felt like a child beside the huge man. Clearing his throat, he said, “It's good to serve on the
Avenger,
Lieutenant Zeno.”

“I would advise you not to get too friendly with Commander Tirion.”

Jake stopped, surprised by Zeno's harsh remark. “Why do you say that, Lieutenant?”

“You're not her kind.” There was an almost cruel gleam in the man's eyes.

Jake started to reply when suddenly the loudspeaker said, “Ensign Garfield, report to the bridge at once.”

Holding up his wrist radio, Jake said quickly, “Yes, sir!” He left Zeno, glad to be out from under the baleful scrutiny of the man's brooding eyes.

When he arrived back at the bridge, Captain Drystan turned to him. “We have a problem, Ensign. An alien has just been scanned aboard ship. Take care of him. Be certain that he is not free to roam the ship. I will see him when I am free from my duties here.”

“Yes, sir.”

Jake took the elevator down to the master macroscanner's station. The dark-haired officer gave him an odd smile. “Well, there's your alien, Ensign. Doesn't look too dangerous, I'd say.”

Some young women stood just to the left of the platform where crew members and others were beamed out and returned through a transcarrier.

Stepping forward, he said, “What's your name?”

“My name is Sarah.”

“Sarah?” The name had a familiar ring, and Jake's forehead wrinkled. “What is your business aboard the
Avenger?”

“I came to find you, Jake.”

The lieutenant who operated the macroscanner could not suppress a slight laugh.

But Jake asked, “What do you mean, you've come to find me?”

“I've come such a long way, Jake,” Sarah said. She moved closer to him, put her hand on his chest. “Don't you remember me at all?”

Lieutenant Zeno suddenly entered and towered over both of them. “Is this the alien?” he demanded.

“Why, yes, Lieutenant, but—”

“I will take charge of her.”

“But Captain Drystan ordered me—”

Zeno gave Jake a killing look, then turned and walked stiffly away.

“What's the matter with him? Why is he so angry?” Sarah asked.

Jake didn't know how to answer that. He knew that Lieutenant Zeno was in love with Ceri Tirion, and it had occurred to him that the man was jealous. “Never mind that,” he said quickly. “Come with me. I'll see that you have proper quarters until Captain Drystan can speak with you.”

As he began to lead her out of the room, the macroscanner operator turned to his assistant. “Well,” he said, with raised eyebrows. “Sarah, is it? Pretty little thing, and she knows Ensign Garfield. Now, that is interesting . . .”

Jake thought it was interesting too, but it troubled him. He strode quickly down the corridor until he came to a door that opened as he approached it. Stepping inside, he waited for the girl and said, “These will be your quarters.”

He turned to leave, but she said, “Please, Jake, let me talk with you awhile.”

“How do you know my name?” Jake said curiously. He studied her features carefully. She was small, graceful, had large brown eyes and very black hair. She was wearing a strange costume, a simple dress, and he tried to identify it. “I've seen someone dressed like that before. Perhaps I saw a picture in a book?”

“It comes from a long time ago. How long have you been on this spaceship?”

“Not too long,” Jake said. “Why do you keep asking about me—and why do you keep looking at me in such a strange way?”

“Jake, we've known each other in another time and in another place.” Sarah came close and put her hand on his arm. She whispered, “We were friends in another life.”

“What are you talking about?” Jake asked. “You look familiar, but what's this about another life?”

Sarah hesitated, then said, “I don't know any way, Jake, to get at this thing except just to tell you the truth.” She waved her hand around the room. “All of this is just a dream. You're
dreaming
that you're on a spaceship. Back home you always liked those old TV programs and the science-fiction movies.”

“What do you mean? I don't know what you're talking about.”

“There
is
no
Avenger.
I know that's hard for you to believe.” She reached out and tapped the bulkhead. “See. It makes a noise, but that's the way dreams are. Sit down, Jake, and let me tell you who I am and who you are.”

Jake suddenly clamped his lips together. “I
know
who I am. I'm Ensign Jake Garfield of the spaceship
Avenger.
What I
don't
know is who you are and why you are lying to me like this.”

At that moment the door opened, and three people entered: Captain Drystan, Commander Tirion, and Lieutenant Zeno.

“Oh, Captain,” Jake said, stepping back. “This young lady says her name is Sarah.”

“Has she told you why she has come aboard my ship?” Drystan asked, looking at Sarah suspiciously.

Jake's face flushed. “Well, sir, she says she's come to find me.”

Drystan smiled slightly. “I didn't know you were such an attractive fellow that beautiful young ladies would come into space seeking you.” He must have seen Jake's confusion. He turned to Ceri Tirion. “What do you make of this, Commander?”

Ceri Tirion fixed her enormous dark eyes on Sarah. She studied her carefully, and the room grew very quiet. Finally she said, “I think the girl is telling the truth. There's no evil in her. She has truly come on board seeking Ensign Garfield.”

Zeno growled, “And what would you want with an officer of the Imperial Space Fleet?”

Sarah said, “You wouldn't believe me if I told you.”

Ceri Tirion put an arm around her. “I might believe
you, Sarah. Why don't you come with me to my quarters? We can talk there.”

Drystan nodded slightly, and the two women left.

Zeno said immediately, “She's obviously a spy of some sort, Captain.” He turned to glare at Jake. “And you know her, you say?”

“No, I don't. She claims to know
me,”
Jake blurted.

“Well, Commander Tirion will sort it all out, I'm sure,” Drystan said. “After she has finished with her examination, perhaps you'll know a little more about why this woman has come through deep space to seek you out.”

Jake watched the captain and Zeno leave, then followed them outside. They seemed to have forgotten him, however, and he wandered back to his own quarters. When he was inside, he called forth a glass of pink lemonade, which was created merely by the sound of his voice. It was a drink that he alone on the
Avenger
loved. He went over and looked out the space window at the millions of stars that sailed by, turning into fine points of light as the
Avenger
flashed past them at light speed. He never tired of watching the heavens.

Finally he went back and lay down on his bed. “Sarah . . .” he said. For a while he thought of the girl and at last dropped off into sleep.

 

Sarah almost despaired of ever convincing Jake that everything about him was merely an illusion. For more than a week she had seen him every day, but nothing changed his mind. He would sit and stare at her as she recounted adventure after adventure that the two had shared in Nuworld. His eyes would grow thoughtful, but there was a stubborn line through his lips, and he would either say nothing or else shake his head and insist,
“Those
are dreams you are talking
about.
This—”
he would knock on the floor or tap the ceiling “—this is reality, Sarah.”

 

Commander Tirion had several interviews with Sarah, then reported the result of them to Drystan. “Captain,” she said, “I am very puzzled.”

They were in his cabin, sipping cool fruit drinks, and Drystan held his up to the light. “This is good,” he said, then his attention came back. “I've heard the girl's story. All about how earth was blown up in a nuclear war, and seven children were saved, coming out years later into a world blasted by the holocaust.” He shook his head. “She tells the story well enough. She has a remarkable imagination. I can almost see some of those things she talks about.”

“What's your opinion of her, sir?”

Drystan's eyebrows arched. “My opinion? She seems to be a sweet young girl. But what's more important, Commander, is what you, a woman, think of her?”

Ceri Tirion leaned back and ran a hand over her dark hair. “I'm very puzzled. There's no evil in her, of that I am sure, and she's totally convinced that what she says is true. She's not deliberately lying about these things.”

“Are you telling me she's insane?”

“No, I didn't say that.”

“Men who claim to be Napoleon Bonaparte, no matter how sincere they are, are usually considered mentally aberrant.”

“This girl has none of those signs of insanity. And she really believes what she's saying.” The commander took a sip of juice, licked her lips, and then smiled. “Wouldn't it be odd if she were telling the truth? If all of this
is
a dream.”

Drystan did not answer. He simply shook his head.
“She's got Ensign Garfield half convinced, I think. He pretends to be resisting her story, but I can tell that she's having an influence on him. Do you think so?”

“She's very convincing indeed, and Ensign Garfield is very young. I've learned that he has had dreams of the very things that she's told him about. Now, he's beginning to wonder if the dreams are the reality and we are the illusion. It will be interesting—” she smiled again— “to find out which is the truth.”

 

Jake was in an agony of indecision. He had tried time and time again to trap Sarah, but she always told her stories exactly the same way, and the rub of it all was that Jake found himself seeming to remember the very things she talked about. The more she told him about Nuworld and Josh, and Wash, and all of the other Sleepers, the more real it all became.