Chapter 2
A Mysterious Couple
Triamber returned the next morning at exactly seven o'clock. Landen had only been able to sleep for a couple of hours that night, but fortunately he was ready when Triamber arrived. He had correctly judged Triamber to be a man who expected promptness.Wearing a blue sweatsuit and white running shoes, Landen stood on the front porch with Triamber."So what's the verdict?" Triamber asked."I'm going to Noelm. This should be quite an adventure.""You've made the correct decision, Peter. Thank you for believing my story. You're betting a lot on me.""I'm betting everything on you," Landen said.The two men walked through the quiet neighborhood to a nearby park where Landen often played tennis. Even at that early hour, persons on bicycles and rollerblades were already doing laps around the park."The physiology of Noelmians is different from the physiology of earth's humans," Triamber explained. "You have already experienced your telepathic capability. As a Noelmian, you also have great physical strength available to you. This strength is produced by an increased adrenalin flow. Noelmians have more adrenalin in their bodies than earth's humans.""That explains why I've always done so well in sports. When everyone else tired out, I could tap into a reserve of strength and energy that would enable me to win.""And now I shall give you the training that you need in order to achieve your full potential," Triamber said.The two men spent an hour practicing meditation procedures, then an hour doing calisthenics.Triamber and Landen came to the park almost every day for the next few weeks and did progressively more difficult exercises. On the last day of training, Triamber complimented Landen on his progress."You are now prepared for your mission on Noelm, Peter. I have complete confidence in you. You are a fine man, and if you survive this ordeal, you'll be an even better man. You'll need to use all of your ingenuity to survive and to get back to earth.""Well, at least I won't be bored. This is quite a way to spend my summer vacation. Other teachers go to Florida for their vacations."Triamber laughed. "This is an opportunity for you to earn yourself a chapter in the history books, Peter. You'll be a maker of history as well as a teacher of it. Columbus sailed the Atlantic, Magellan explored the Pacific, Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, and Peter Landen journeyed to Noelm.""I've already been where I am going. This is a return trip.""That's true. I suppose that you and I have been explorers for many years. We are Noelmians exploring the planet earth.""The students in my history classes would be surprised to find out that I'm such an adventurer," Landen said as they began walking home.On the day of their departure for Cincinnati, Landen was filled with anguish, but he tried to present a tranquil exterior to his wife. In spite of his smiles and optimistic statements, Landen feared that he was heading to his death. Susan cried as he bid her farewell, making it difficult for Landen to maintain a stoic demeanor. He fought back his own tears, though, and quickly walked to the car before she could detect the sorrow in his eyes.A short while later, Triamber and Landen were on their plane headed for Cincinnati. Early in the flight, the passengers were served a light meal. As Landen and Triamber were finishing their meals, an attractive blonde woman in her thirties approached the two men."Excuse me, Mr. Landen," the woman said. "My name is Miriam Baalson. My husband and I have seats at the rear of the plane. After you complete your lunch, could you come back to chat with us for a few minutes?""Have we ever met previously, Mrs. Baalson?" Landen asked."No, but my husband and I are familiar with your work. We have some areas of mutual interest that we should discuss.""What are those areas?" Landen inquired."It's much too complex to discuss standing here in the aisle. Please come join us in the back. We'd greatly appreciate it.""Very well," Landen said. "I'll join you in a minute.""Thank you," Miriam replied, returning to her seat.Landen glanced over at Triamber. "What is this all about?"Triamber shrugged. "I have no idea. However, I get the impression that Mrs. Baalson and her husband are not anxious to include me in the conversation."Landen grinned. "Come on back with me. They won't mind.""No. They'll speak more freely without me there. You can use telepathy to allow me to listen to the conversation." "Okay." Landen got up and walked to the rear of the plane.He sat down in the empty aisle seat next to Miriam. Her husband was seated closest to the window."It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Landen," her husband said, reaching over to shake hands with Landen. "I'm Adrian Baalson."Adrian was a tall man with dark hair and thick eyebrows. The intensity of his gaze immediately made Landen uncomfortable."I'll come directly to the point, Mr. Landen," Adrian continued in a low voice. "My wife and I are psychic researchers. Through a complicated series of events, we have come to learn about you. We want to help you fight the Tragadomians."Landen was shocked that the Baalsons knew this much. Triamber is going to be furious, Landen thought glumly. He intuitively realized that it was useless to deny the accuracy of Baalson's knowledge."I have to admit that I'm amazed that you know about the Tragadomians," Landen said. "However, it would be better for you not to become involved in this situation. My friend and I have everything under control.""How can two men fight an entire army of aliens?" Miriam asked. "Have you informed the military about the impending invasion? What is your plan?"Landen almost sighed with relief. There were significant gaps in the couple's knowledge."I'm sorry, but I'm not allowed to reveal our plan," Landen said. "You are brave to offer your assistance, but your help is not needed.""I wish that you would reconsider, Mr. Landen," Adrian said. "My wife and I could be of tremendous assistance to you. We would prove to be formidable enemies for the Tragadomians. I have powers that could send their spaceships crashing into the ground."Landen's eyes widened. "Your psychic research has apparently been quite successful."Adrian grinned. "It has been successful because I delved into areas that other psychic researchers have been too timid to explore. My studies of occultism have made me a master of the supernatural. You would be a fool not to make use of my powers."Landen stood up. "My friend and I will not form an alliance with anyone who uses black magic. Please do not interfere with our activities.""We are not easily dissuaded," Miriam said. "It will be better for you if you accept our offer.""I thank you for offering your assistance, but I must decline," Landen said. "Good day, Mr. and Mrs. Baalson." Landen returned to his seat next to Triamber. "Did you hear everything?" Landen asked.Triamber nodded. "I saw through your eyes and heard through your ears. Your ability to form a telepathic bond is steadily improving.""Well, what's your opinion? What does this couple want?""I don't know," Triamber said. "I was as startled as you were to hear Adrian Baalson mention the Tragadomians. We'll have to be on guard against that couple. They could cause us problems."After the plane landed, Landen rented a car, and Triamber drove 67 miles to the area in which the Tragadomians would land. The two men often glanced back at the roadway in order to make certain that the Baalsons were not following them. Landen and Triamber checked into the sole motel in the rural area, then went searching for the stretch of land that the Tragadomians had selected as an ideal landing area.In the vision, Triamber had seen a map on which was marked the exact location of the planned landing. The chosen location was in an open area that was far enough from the town to be satisfactory for the Tragadomians, who had no desire for earth to know of their existence yet. The element of surprise is of the utmost importance, and the Tragadomians would not relinquish this advantage unless absolutely necessary. Triamber was convinced that they would secretly land in their carefully chosen field and then silently slip away into space with their captive.The following morning, Triamber took Landen to the field to await the arrival of the spacecraft, which he expected to reach earth that day. Triamber then drove a mile away, tore two trees out of the ground, and spread them across the road to prevent anyone else from entering the area by car. He wanted to prevent a human from wandering into the area and being captured instead of Landen. He especially wanted to keep the Baalsons out of the area. Triamber posted himself on higher ground so that he could spot anyone entering the vicinity on foot.The hours passed uneventfully for Landen. He wondered if Triamber had been wrong about the time or place of the Tragadomian landing. No, he thought, Triamber was too exact about details to make a mistake in a matter of such importance.Landen lay back against the gently sloping hillside and gazed up at the night sky. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of stars were visible from here in the country, far from the bright lights of the city. He loved the sight of a star-filled sky. It reminded him of the beauty and harmony of the infinite universe. Landen speculated that one of these stars might be the sun around which the planet of Noelm orbited. Suddenly, a red light appeared in the sky. Landen sprang to his feet, realizing that his moment had come. As the light grew larger and brighter, Landen could almost hear his heart beating in his chest. This was it! Landen resolved to control his fear because he was responsible for the fate of earth. He grimaced as he thought of how so much depended upon a weak and fallible being like himself.The sleek battle cruiser slowly descended into the grassy fields eighty yards from him. Landen was forced to squint as he looked at it because of the glaring red light that it emitted. He spotted several figures moving toward him. The bright light had so blinded him that he had failed to see any Tragadomians emerge from the spacecraft.Landen quickly reasoned that he should run from them so as to appear that he did not want to be captured. The Tragadomians would expect the typical human to flee in terror upon seeing them. They might become suspicious if he just stood there as if he were waiting for them.Landen turned and began to sprint up the hill. At that moment, he saw Adrian and Miriam emerge from behind some tall bushes on that hill. They had placed themselves in their hiding place before Landen and Triamber had arrived. Landen shouted to alert Triamber, who immediately came running, hoping to intercept the Baalsons before the Tragadomians seized them. The Noelmian Loremaster was too far away, though. Tragadomians closed in on the couple. Landen was jolted by what felt like an electrical shock. He instantly lost control of his muscles, went tumbling back down the hill, and lay motionless on the ground, conscious but paralyzed.The four Tragadomians who stood looking down at him appeared exactly as they did in Landen's telepathic vision. One of them aimed a rectangular box at Landen and pressed a button on it which caused a yellow beam of light to be emitted. Landen passed out the moment that the beam touched his face.
