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Whitney ran across the field toward the farm with Steel chasing behind her. She could hear a spacecraft nearby, but it was still out of sight. She dashed into the barn and looked around. Whitney was out of breath from the long run. A human form darted behind some bails of hay in the loft. Whitney jumped nervously then relaxed.
�Smidt! I need to talk to you!� she called up the ladder. �Please come down. I need to talk to you about a man called Zach.� She heard someone scurry along the loft but couldn't see anything.
�What about Zach?� Smidt asked from somewhere above.
Despite the fact that she thought Smidt was Zach, there was no accent. �I need to find him. It�s very important,� Whitney informed him. She continued to scan the loft. �Do you know where he is? How do I get in touch with him?�
�You don't find him--he finds you,� Smidt informed her simply.
�I know he uses the black horse,� she announced. �You must know who he is.�
�I can't help you--now go away,� Smidt announced firmly.
Whitney then heard Steel�s vicious growl. She spun and saw the wolf standing by the open barn door. Whitney ran to the door and looked outside. An alien ship flew over top of the trees. It was flying fairly low to the ground, which could only mean they were looking for someone. The ship picked up speed and continued past the house and out of her sight. Whitney shut her eyes and allowed a sigh to escape. Steel ran from the barn. Whitney returned to the loft ladder.
�Please--I need Zach�s help. I need him to find my friend. The aliens are after her, and I can�t locate her. Will you give him that message?� Whitney pleaded.
There was silence. Whitney wondered if Smidt had escaped through some other opening without her knowledge.
�Yes, I�ll tell him--if I see him,� Smidt said softly from somewhere near the ladder.
�Thank you,� Whitney announced gently. She turned and approached the barn door. She looked outside but didn�t see anything unusual. Steel wasn�t around. He must�ve gone to the house. She left the barn and walked across the farm toward the house. The wolf wasn�t on the porch, as she had thought. Whitney walked around the side of the house.
The alien ship had landed in the field just beyond the house. Ten feet before the ship lie the motionless wolf. Whitney gasped then darted back for the house. She jumped onto the porch. An alien appeared around the other side of the house. Whitney skidded to a halt. The alien fired his laser gun at her. Whitney dove to the porch floor, rolled, pulled her gun, and fired at the alien. The alien jolted and fell to the wooden porch. Whitney sprang to her feet. There was a sound from behind. She spun around. An alien stood behind her with his laser gun aimed.
Whitney blocked the laser gun with her forearm and rammed her knee into his groin. The alien fell to his knees in agony. At least their anatomy was the same. Whitney snatched the laser gun and kicked the alien in the chin with a harsh snap kick, knocking him onto his back. She fired at the fallen alien. Another alien appeared before her. She fired again. There�s the sound of a laser blast from behind her. Everything went dark.
Whitney could see a tiny light just beyond the darkness. She slowly opened her eyes and saw the outline of a man leaning over her. Whitney's eyes focused and she could see the man's disfigured face. Whitney jumped in surprise to the unfamiliar mutant. Smidt quickly looked away.
�Are you alright?� Smidt asked without looking at her.
�What happened?� she asked while feeling weak and dizzy.
�Apparently they stunned you,� Smidt remarked gently and looked back at her.
Whitney took her first good look at Smidt. His one eye socket was swollen shut and he was missing an ear on the same side. He had brown, shoulder length hair, which closely matched that of Zach. Whitney slowly looked around the porch then sat up.
�Why? Why wouldn�t they just take me with them?� she asked softly with confusion.
Smidt handed her a note. �Maybe this has something to do with it. They left this near you.�
Whitney unfolded the paper and read it out loud. �We have your friend. If you ever want to see her alive, bring the Drexillian transmission to the front gate of the spaceport. If you do not do so in two days, your friend will die.� Whitney lowered the paper. �Drexillian transmission? We don�t have access to transmissions--� Her eyes suddenly widened. She turned toward Smidt. �I need to find Zach. Tell him it�s an emergency. I need him to meet me at the space port tonight at eight o�clock.�
�I�ll find him,� Smidt said firmly.
�Thanks, Smidt,� she said gently. She slowly pulled herself to her feet and attempted to run from the porch. She was weak and could barely walk--let alone run. She paused along side the house and stared at the wolf lying in the field. She ran toward Steel then slowed down.
�Oh, Steel,� she said softly with a sad look.
The wolf opened its eyes and whimpered softly while looking at her. Steel wagged his tail.
Whitney smiled with relief. �Come on--get your legs and let�s go.�
The wolf slowly stood on unsteady legs, shook off, and then slowly walked toward her. She lowered herself and pet the wolf.
