@geraldinebanksJanuary2025
It was a cold day in January, Martin had just parked his car and was heading into the house. Just as he placed the key in the door a young woman approached him and touched him gently on the shoulder.
“Martin Smith, are you Martin Smith?” She said with an urgency like rapid gun fire.
“Yes, that’s me , what can I do for you?” He turned to look at the person who had approached him, Martin was relieved when she took a step backwards.
“My name is Maria Turner, I know your wife Sandy, I just wanted to let you know that Alex is safe, he is with us.”
This was news Martin did not really want to hear. He turned and faced Maria.
What do you mean? Alex is dead, our son is dead. Who are you? I don’t want you upsetting my wife. We’ve been through enough. We’re OK as we are.” Martin turned and put his hand on the key and turned it , the front door opened.
Maria said sharply.” We’ve got your little boy, we rescued him from them and now we need your help.”
” Alex was taken away from us, he was cared for by the authorities, we couldn’t look after him ourselves. He was a very sick little boy”. He pushed the door open to go into the house.
” Alex is alive” Maria again touched Martin’s elbow, Martin turned around.
Maria continued ” We know you lost the signal, but there is a window of opportunity just before the children go to the final processing stage where we can rescue them from certain death. We were able to do this for Alex. His original chip was removed, he is at one of our secure research and development facilities, being well cared for. It his best chance. The authorities are killing children : “healthy” children. We have to stop them.
Martin had the opportunity to enter the house and close the door on Maria’s face, he chose not to.
“Alex was not a healthy boy, we couldn’t have cared for him. We have two other children now.” He looked at Maria, and reached for the door with his hand to close it.
Maria opened the bag she was carrying and handed him a photo. It was Alex. He looked about four years old now, pale and skinny but smiling and being held comfortably by a stranger. Alex held on tightly to his favourite toy elephant, the one Sandy had insisted on putting in his little suitcase when she was packing for him to go away.
“That’s him, he’s a very happy little boy, we saved him Martin. I know it’s a lot to take in, so keep the picture. I’ll let you think it over. We will get back in touch , you must let Sandy know. Be aware though, that if the authorities find out he’s alive, they will kill him, or denature him as they like to call it. We have pictures also of that and the facilities the Government use, they are not pretty. Goodbye for now.” Maria turned and walked away quickly.
Martin closed the door behind him and walked into the hallway clutching the photograph of Alex. Sandy wasn’t home, she would be late back from work and the twins were staying with Sandy’s mother for a few days. Martin had time to think. He sat down on the kitchen chair and put his head in his hands and burst into tears . He held Alex’s photograph and looked at it as he sobbed. Eventually when the tears had stopped he felt exhausted. He put the picture on the table and got up and boiled the kettle to make himself coffee.
Many thoughts and different scenarios went through Martin’s mind as he sipped his coffee. Alex was alive and looked well but according to what he and Sandy had been told he should be dead. Sandy will want him home with his family no doubt. The Authorities obviously would not want that or indeed permit it.
Whoever had Alex , would have to keep him and look after him. Perhaps there could be visiting rights. What help could him and Sandy be, probably financial, but they had no money, everything was accounted for . It was all monitored everything was online, the Government knew where every penny went, there was no way they could use any of their earnings for this , it would be discovered very quickly, and what would the Authorities do? Was Maria telling the truth? It was difficult to know. Martin thought it all through but could not see an answer or indeed what they could do next. He closed his eyes and let his mind wonder.
He woke up from a deep sleep and raised his head from the kitchen table . Sandy was standing over him.
” Alex, it’s Alex” She cried out, her hand reached out for the photograph. Martin straightened himself up in the chair and handed the photograph to Sandy, she held it up to her face and kissed it.
” My beautiful little boy, when was this taken? He’s grown, he’s grown so big and what a big smile!”
Martin stood up and turned to Sandy.
” Sand, this is going to get very complicated, Alex is alive, a lady called Maria said that she knew you….”
” Yes , there was a Maria who I spoke to initially about the chip, but I never heard anymore from her, it was all very hush, hush.”
” Well , whoever has Alex, Maria didn’t or wouldn’t give me any details other than to say he was safe and well, will be back in touch with us, until then we don’t need to make any decisions….”
” Decisions? I want my baby back. What the hell is going on?”
” Sandy, we have to be careful, whatever has happened to Alex, well he is still in danger, we have to know all our options. “
Sandy calmed down and Martin brushed some loose hair that had fallen on Sandy’s forehead, onto her temple. They held each other and Sandy began to sob…there was nothing to say, he knew they that they were faced with an uncertain future and had to wait, but she looked at the photograph again.
” My Alex, my gorgeous little boy, he looks well. ” Sandy sobbed and put her head on Martin’s shoulder. She began to sob uncontrollably
thenotsomightyom 