CHAPTER 5: All For The Want Of A Keycard

From the journal of Doctor Jon Quayle Cornelius.  David, Peggy and I have conducted a preliminary survey of the secret science laboratory up on the mesa that overlooks Strangerville.  It has been completely abandoned with no trace of life left.  Cause of the abandonment:  Unknown.  Whereabouts of the lab personnel:  Unknown.  Fate of them:  Also unknown.

"Can't you dress like a normal person, Cornelius?"

"What do you mean, David?  This is all the rage in Carnaby Street.  My clothes are all made by Mr Fish"

"That doesn't surprise me..." said David, with an incredulous raise of his eyebrow at Cornelius' comment.  His eccentric English scientist friend stood out like a sore thumb in this sleepy...and disturbing...American town.

"Care to join me in a hearty breakfast?" said Cornelius.  "It's the best way to start the day"

"What is that you're eating?" asked David, looking at Cornelius' plate with suspicion.

"Grilled plantain.  I developed a taste for it on my last visit to India.  Got stuck there when war broke out with Pakistan.  Grisly business but I did learn a lot about the ancient myths and unexplained mysteries of the Sub-Continent whilst I was confined there."

"You make it sound all so blasé, Cornelius.  Anyway, to business.  Have you contacted the DPR about what we found yesterday?"

"I did...and I'm heading to HQ tomorrow to discuss things further with them and to start compiling that evidence we picked up.  Now if only we can get access to that restricted level, we can find out what went on."

"My thinking is that there are so many scientists walking around Strangerville one of them might know the layout up at that lab and know how to get through that door." said David, keen and eager to try out his idea to befriend the locals in town.

"A jolly good idea.  Go for it and let me know how you get on" Cornelius replied.

David sauntered into the bar.  He had noticed that the jukebox was always playing in this place and it was always playing songs from about 5 years ago...the pace of musical change these days were such that already a song from 1960 sounded old fashioned.  The barkeep, Mr Dill, looked up and nodded at him; an acknowledgement that the visitor was fast becoming a regular here.

"Whatcha havin'?" asked Dill.

"A coffee.  Cream, 1 sugar" David replied.

"You got it.  How's things going with you and his Lordship?"

"Dr Cornelius is still an eccentric...but brilliant, mind you.  Anything interesting happening around here of late?"

"Not much...We had a lot of the army guys in here yesterday...they'd just been on manoeuvres and today we've got a couple of thirsty hikers in."

David noticed a man he hadn't seen before standing over by the jukebox.

"That's one of the hikers..." said Dill and as he said that he leant in close to David and spoke in a very hushed voice.  "...when they came in, they looked spooked."

"Spooked?" enquired David.

"Yeah, like they had some kind of harrowing encounter.  Don't ask me what it was; I didn't ask them but since they came in they've been quiet and nervy."

"Thanks Jack...keep the change" said David, paying a five dollar bill for his cup of coffee.  He then walked over and sat down next to the two hikers.

"Hi there, guys" said David.  "Do you mind if I sit here?"

The darker of the two men looked up at David and said "sure" in a non-committal way.

"I hope you don't mind me asking but Jack over at the bar said you guys are hikers.  I do a fair bit myself and was hoping to get up on the trails, up towards the Mesa."

"You'd be wasting your time if you did" said the darker of the two men. 

"Oh, why's that?" asked David.

"The local military's going to occupy that area for a while.  We were up there yesterday and nearly reached the summit of the mesa when all these army trucks, jeeps and even a couple of helicopters descended on us and surrounded us.  

"Were they on exercise or....?" enquired David.

"They seemed to be on a mission to clear the mesa of any civilians.  They swarmed around us and an officer told us the area was being used for army purposes but they weren't clear on what that was...so we had to leave, immediately. 

"What did you do?"

"We didn't hang around, we were straight back down that trail and back into Strangerville."

"Did they give any explanations..." but David's words petered out into a whisper as a soldier walked past the three of them and shot them a look of contempt,

 

"You have to watch what you say around here, young man" said the hiker.  "I don't like the vibe of this place; we're leaving as soon as we can!

"Those men looked frightened, Cornelius...are you eating again?" said David when he got back to the house.

"I find a series of small meals interspersed throughout the day instead of 3 big meals keeps me healthy and sharp.  What were these men frightened of, did they tell you?"

"The army's been chasing people off the Mesa; they must know about the disappearances at the lab and are moving to seal off the area." 

Cornelius put down his knife and fork and stood up, abruptly.  "Then we have no time to lose.  We have to get back to the lab and continue to search for a way through that door!  Are you coming?"

David shook his head.  "Sorry Cornelius, but not this time.  I have to make an appearance at Britechester University; they're still paying my wages but whilst I'm there I'll use their extensive library to see what other leads I can find."

Cornelius picked up the keys to his Porsche, bade David goodbye and went without delay to the Mesa.

He had planned in advance to meet his other colleague at the lab.  Her name was Peggy Chalke whose talents extended to being a computer expert...something that might come in handy when investigating the laboratory.

"Peggy, wonderful you could join me on such short notice.  How did you do with those documents we collected yesterday? he asked.

"I'm not sure about most of the technical terminology used there but I am getting a decent list of scientific personnel who worked here and what their specialties are....so what's the plan today?"

"Get in, search for more evidence in the paperwork, find a key to that electronically operated door and do it all before the army kicks us out." he said, matter of factly.

"Is that likely...I mean the army storming in and kicking us out?"

"Oh indubitably."

"Then count me in!" she replied, enthusiastically.  

Nobody Move - Corduroy

They both knew the basic layout of the lab and could find their way around easily enough, which saved considerable time:  A commodity they didn't have a lot of.

"Here's the door, Peggy.  If the personnel left here in a hurry there's a good chance they've left a some kind of key to the door." said Cornelius, looking at the formidable barrier.

"How does the lock work, let me have a look" she said, taking a closer look. 

"Hmmm, there's 3 levels of authentication by the looks of it" she said, seriously.  "The first is a grid of push-buttons numbered 0-9.  You would need a numerical code which you enter and then press this green button at the bottom.  The next is some kind of scanner; see this blue light.  I'm not sure if that's a fingerprint reader or..."

"A retinal scanner which reads the unique patterns of nerves and cone cells in your eyeball.  We've been working on such technology at Cambridge." said Cornelius.

"Very advanced.  The third requires a card...much like a credit card with a magnetic strip that contains a release code for the door."

Cornelius pondered these three things.  "The retinal scan is out of the question until we can find someone who worked here.  That leaves the numerical code or the card.  Let's get searching."

Peggy found a procedural manual for the lab and searched for any clues to what the code might be.

Meanwhile Cornelius found some cards but none of them worked on the door.  However searching documents and boxes did reveal more information about the work of the lab and the technology contained within.  Cornelius understood some of it; unknown biology and fauna with hints at  biological warfare research.  Peggy learned that the base was on the cutting edge of computer technology; the theory she understood but she had figured the United States was about 5 years away from achieving some of the things mentioned in the manuals.

They had spent about 3 hours in the lab before Cornelius' attention was alerted to something outside.

"I hear a faint sound of a helicopter out there..." he said, craning his ear to get a better listen.  "They're closing in and they might spot the Porsche parked outside.  Quick, Peggy, let's gather what we've found and head out before that chopper lands!"

Cornelius dropped Peggy off at her home before heading back to Strangerville, where he arrived just as the sun was setting.  He placed the documents he had retrieved in a briefcase and locked it and then pondered what he would do next.  He saw out of the window that the little shack run by the local conspiracy theory group was still open so he decided to head down there to have a chat with the people there.

"Hello again" said Cornelius, cheerily, as he approached the shack.  "It's Judith, isn't it?"

"Doctor Cornelius, what a pleasant surprise.  How's your investigation going?" Judith replied.

"Oh it's fascinating, all of it, and we're making some progress.  I've been up to the Mesa twice now..."

"REALLY?  Is it as bad as we fear?" she said, wide eyed with interest.

"It could be; I'm gathering data"

"You know, Dr Cornelius, I just love your accent.  I could listen to you speak all day.  British men are so sexy"

"How now brown cow..." he said in a velvety smooth voice

"Oooh, that makes me swoon a little.  You giving any lectures whilst you're out here?"

"I've no plans right now but I'm really concentrating on investigating the lab but I've hit a little problem..."

"What's that?  Maybe I can help you?"

"There's this door..."

"Is it marked 'TOP SECRET'?" she answered, her eyes wide with excitement.

"As a matter of fact; yes.  But it requires a numerical code or a key card to open it.  You wouldn't happen to know where I could get hold of either, would you?"

"Maybe I can...but it'll cost you" she said, looking Cornelius straight into his eyes.

"Money won't be an issue" he replied.

"Oh I don't want money; I want information.  Whatever you find up there, I want to know about."

"I accept your terms, fair Judith.  Get me that code and I'll get you a copy of the file I'm compiling."

Cornelius then nodded and headed home; he had to work out whether the information he was gathering was very compromising or just a load of technical jargon.  Along the way he encountered the Mayor of Strangerville; Ted Roswell.  He was still suffering from the effects of the mystery illness.

Cornelius still couldn't get Roswell to acknowledge him or to break through the mental state the man was in.

"I swear, Mr Roswell, I will find a cure for you and your fellow citizens" Cornelius said, earnestly.