Image Carriers. Genel Anthony

silent pauses before hanging up.

      Adam was now perplexed. Evelyn was strange to say the least, but she had never done anything like this before. She was a very secretive person and did take off for months at a time. She just disappeared and then popped up again. That was her. When Evelyn did embark on her disappearing acts, she did not feel it necessary to advise Adam beforehand, so why now?

      Joey pulled up in front of the secluded property. After speaking on the intercom, he drove up a slate road towards the mansion. The beautiful lawns and gardens were still looking exquisite. His car came to a stop under the extended roof. His car was now shaded from the morning sun. The flowers tangling around the two pillars holding up the outer roof blocked out most of the glare, shading the entrance to the house. In contrast, the living greenery facing the sun looked happy with its purple and white flowers, which appeared to consume the fresh morning sun. Little birds and finches darted around on the nearby lawn and they made soft chirping noises as they rummaged for juicy tit bits to swallow.

      An old man came out to meet Joey as he got out of his car.

      Tom was surprised to see Joey and enquired about Adam’s whereabouts. Joey thought that he would take the opportunity to see if Tom was available, as he was in the area and took a chance to see if Tom was at home. Tom smiled and invited Joey in, reassuring him he did the right thing and that he was always welcome.

      “I spoke with Adam last night, and we thought that we would visit again,” Joey explained to Tom.

      “Good, good,” Tom said. “So Adam is on his way?” Tom asked, looking livelier.

      “No,” Joey quickly intervened. “I was just in the area, so thought I’d see if you were home…” Joey stopped talking and looked down, trying to think of something else to say.

      “No! No! That’s fine, son,” Tom said, noticing the uncomfortableness in Joey’s body language and voice. Then silence fell on the pair for a few seconds that seemed to go on, until Tom finally continued. “So, when would it suit you guys to visit? We can have another chat.”

      Joey, still standing awkwardly in the hallway, quickly made a gesture that he was heading off again, giving the impression he was not going to stay. He then responded: “Anytime, Tom, just let Adam know.” He walked back to the doorway. “I will let Adam know I popped around to say hello.”

      “Yes, I think the quicker we can get this sorted, the better. I am not a young man anymore,” Tom said, as he chuckled to himself, walking Joey out. “The sooner we sort this out, the better it will be…” Tom confirmed. He then pushed open the large, heavy door that led to the front porch. The adjoining door was bolted down and was not necessary to unlock and open as well. “Have a safe trip and see you boys soon,” Tom said, trying to keep his voice up as Joey headed for his car.

      Joey jumped in his old car and waved at Tom as he pulled away, revving his engine just a little too loud for Tom’s sensitive ears.

      Chapter Five

       The Group

       What does this all mean for mankind?

      The group united as they walked around Tom’s house, picking on little snacks on shiny silver trays Tom and two of his guests had made. The kitchen was huge, and expensive cooking utensils hung off silver hooks over a large steel rectangular bench-type table that seemed to separate the kitchen into two parts.

      About eight or nine people walked around the house, feeling quite at home. Yet, upon closer inspection, one could see that they were not really comfortable, but looking guarded or anxious. Why? And who are they?

      Tom quickly gathered his visitors around and instructed them to make their way into the large room. They shuffled loudly, some of them eating chips, nuts, biscuits and sandwiches cut into triangles, while a few others did not touch anything. The last guest walked into the lounge room behind Tom and sat quietly on an armrest of an old, bulky lounge chair. Someone else sat in the chair.

      “Okay, okay, everybody,” Tom spoke, gesturing for them to focus on him. “Tonight’s meeting was another success, and we are really beginning to understand what is happening. Kris’s images were especially interesting…” He stopped and

      looked down; seeming to think what to say next for a moment. He then continued. “We will have a lot to analyse over the next couple of months or so. Okay, let’s quickly summarise what we already have!”

      “I still think this is very dangerous!” said a lady sitting near the old drapes by the window. “If this is all true, why us, what can we do about it?” Michelle was predictable. At nearly every meeting, she concluded with the above statement. The group was expecting her comments.

      “Michelle,” Darrin interrupted, “this is very important and you always seem to be downplaying our discoveries. Aren’t you interested in finding out what the hell is going on here?” Darrin is a quiet middle-aged man and spoke very little. When he first attended these meetings, he didn’t say much. He sat back and observed. It was Tom that encouraged him to trust the group. Darrin had many images, and his recent contributions were informative. Lately, Darrin was talking more, surprising many of the group members. “Michelle,” he continued, “don’t forget we are all in this together. This is what we agreed to do. Things are changing and we are getting more information. Isn’t this what we have been striving towards?”

      “I agree!” A loud voice echoed near Tom. Amanda wasn’t shy and was very talkative. However, everyone in the group noticed that over the last few months, Amanda wasn’t as talkative and as bold as she once was. She awkwardly got up from her chair near Tom and began walking towards another more comfortable chair on the other side of the room. “I agree with Darrin. For God’s sake, this is what we have been working towards. I think we are really zeroing in!”

      Michelle chimed in, exclaiming, “I know guys! All I am saying is that this is getting dangerous. I have two young children, and if this information is true, what are we supposed to do about it! All we can do is warn our family and friends?”

      “Most of us have children” was a response from the corner.

      “Tom, what do you think our next step should be?” Amanda asked.

      “Okay, okay, I will be quick on this one, as I can see some of you are keen to get going. I think we are also in for some bad weather tonight, so let’s move this forward and close our meeting for this month.” Tom paused again, as if thinking how to put his next question or he lost his train of thought. He seemed to be rapidly growing older. Many in the group wondered if Tom was up to these meetings because he looked physically exhausted at times, perhaps even sickly.

      “And…” Darrin jokingly added, prompting Tom to continue his sentence. Darrin was fond of Tom and would not allow anyone to disrespect him.

      “Oh yes,” Tom continued. “Let’s all think about what transpired here tonight. Remember not to document anything. Write in code and keep safe. We will resume as per usual in seven weeks’ time or thereabouts…”

      “Tom?” Martin intervened. Martin, a mysterious man who joined the group only twelve months earlier, one of the last to join the group, was indeed an obscure man. He rarely spoke about himself or his personal situation. Well- groomed, extremely handsome, tall and intelligent, a man of few words, but when he talked, people listened. He spoke with empathy and logic. Whenever Martin talked, the group would stop what they were doing. Martin only spoke when he had something important to say. “I think maybe, we should bring the meetings forward considering what we discovered tonight.”

      “I think our meeting dates should stay the same. I am finding it hard to get away every seven or eight weeks as it is. We have lives, you know,” Michelle protested, looking anxiously at her watch and being very conscious about the deteriorating weather outside.

      “I agree with Martin,” said Darrin. “We should have an earlier meeting to discuss our next plan. It doesn’t have to be as long as our regular meetings.”

      “I