Uncertainty Principle “Why am I continually raked over the jagged edge of hope?” Millie Willard Book 4 By R. W. Zuidema 1 Prologue: Someone once said that it was all about making the proper life choices, something that I was never good at, so I elected to not make choices. The thing is if you don’t make them for yourself, then someone else will make them for you. I chose to let the Army make them for me. As it turns out, they are very good at making decisions for other people. However, those decisions do not always have that individual’s best interests at heart, which I found out very early. So, at one point, I made a decision of my own, and told them I quit. It went surprisingly well for about two years as Laura Peddington, bike messenger, in Vancouver BC. The buzzer sounded and the door to my cell unlocked. Two prison guards stood just outside. “You have a visitor, Miss Willard, a very important person, so we need you to be on your best behavior.” They led me down the hall, past the other cells, the guards shoving me forward down the hallway. They led me, not to the family visiting room with the reinforced glass wall between inmate and visitor, but to an open room with a table and chairs. A man in an expensive dark suit sat in one of the chairs. He stood when I entered the room. The guards pushed me into the chair across from him and handcuffed me to a large U bolt on the table top. “Is that really necessary?” the man asked. 2 “If you want to keep your nuts, it is,” the guard answered. “Leave us, and this conversation is not to be recorded,” The man said. The guards left and the man sat back down. “Ms. Willard, my name is Thomas Bonnrich. I’m a senator from New York State. I’ve been trying to get in to see you for quite some time and have been prevented from doing so.” “Why?” “Because the Army did everything they could to keep me from knowing where you were.” “No, why would a US Senator from New York be so interested in seeing me?” “Because I think you are being unfairly treated. I reviewed your case after the Washington incident. You were acquitted of all charges.” “Except disobeying a direct order,” I answered. “An order that was clearly unlawful, that you as a thinking human being had a duty to disobey.” “Apparently the Army didn’t see it that way.” “I believe with enough pressure, I can change the Army’s mind and get you out of here.” “Okay I’m listening.” “But I’m going to need some information,” he said. “What information could I possibly have that would help you?” “Tell me about Graybeard.” “Who?” 3 “Come, come, Ms. Willard, there is no reason to be shy with me. I am a United States Senator, with the highest security clearance. So, there is no reason not to tell me.” “No reason, except I’ve never heard of this Graybeard guy.” “It’s not who, but what – and I have reason to believe that you do know a lot about it.” “And what reason is that?” “Nice try, but, I have my sources. Let’s just say it was no accident that you were imprisoned on this Air Force Base. There is something going on here that I believe the American people should know about.” “Did your sources tell you that I was just moved here, and I don’t get out much?” “Just moved here, when?” he asked, as if his sources were giving him incorrect information. “Days ago,” I answered. “So maybe you don’t know yet. No matter. I think we can still help each other out. I believe you are here as part of a project called Graybeard, and I believe this project has serious consequences to our nation and the freedom of its citizens.” “I’m not so sure I like where this is going. You make it sound so lofty, when it’s really more like treason.” “You’re an intelligent woman, Ms. Willard. You must decide for yourself, but when you know more and really think about the implications, you will do the right thing. Let me 4 know when you are ready to talk again.” “How?” I asked. “Call my office. All you have to do is mention Graybeard and they will know what do.” He stood and pounded on the closed door. A minute later the two guards were back to let him out and take me away. 5 Chapter 1: I was allowed to change out of prison orange and back into my Northwest 90’s grunge before being taken to the main administration building at Holloman Air Force Base. The admin at a desk in the main office area looked up at me and said, “Did you enjoy your prison stay?” “It was blissfully short,” I answered. “You’re expected in the commander’s office. Please go on in.” Three men occupied the office. One was a ranking military officer; I assumed was the base commander, one was dressed in a dark suit. The third man was younger and dressed jeans and an Oxford shirt. “Not exactly government issue,” the man in the suit said when I came in. “I’ve been on vacation,” I answered. “You’re in the air force now, Airman Willard, so we’ll get you properly attired,” the base commander said. “But I suspect that these two would like to get on with their work, so I will leave you with them for the rest of the day.” He turned to the two men, “carry on then,” and he walked out of the room. The man in the suit said, “Willy, go get things ready. I need to speak with Ms. Willard.” “I need her back, David, because this is the woman I was 6 telling you about, she’s going to make our project a success.” The man in the Oxford shirt and jeans walked from the office. “I’m Dr. David Grey, I’m interested in what was said at your meeting with the good senator.” “It was rather short once he was convinced I didn’t know anything about the project he was asking me about.” “And what did he ask you about?” “A project called Graybeard,” I said. “Is that the project the other man was talking about?” “No, the other man is Dr. Wallace Grummond and the project he was talking about is called IMP.” “Well, the senator seems to think I was moved here to be part of this Graybeard Project. He promised to get me out of prison if I helped him.” “Did he say how he came into this information about Graybeard?” Dr. Grey asked. “He said ‘sources,’ but wouldn’t elaborate on who those sources were.” “Not that it matters, seeing that his sources are completely wrong. Anyway, Dr. Grummond is rather anxious to get started.” He ushered me out of the office, closing the door behind him. “There you are. Come on Millie, I have something to show you I think you’re going to like. Oh yes, I’m Dr. Wallace Grummond,” he said as he led me to the passenger side of a burgundy colored civilian version Hummer. “David, you don’t mind if the pretty girl gets shotgun, do you?” Our 7 host didn’t wait for an answer; instead he rushed before me and opened the door. He helped me in with a little more fondling than necessary. “Nice muscles, I like a girl with muscles.” The whole incident was rather inappropriate and I should have objected. But there was something about this guy that I liked. “Just make sure you keep your hands on the wheel, Dr. Grummond, or we’ll end up in a ditch,” Dr. Grey said. I situated myself in the seat; Dr. Grummond was around the other side and starting the vehicle before I secured the seat belt. The engine roared and we shot off, turning left onto a wide, straight, sand covered road, heading directly north, away from the other buildings. “Not too much fallout from that George Row incident I hope?” Wallace asked. “That’s why I was on vacation,” I said, “or, more accurately, hiding out.” “Who is George Row?” Dr. Grey asked. “Who was George Row,” I corrected him. “He was the one that caused all that trouble in Washington three years ago. And this girl is the one who stopped him,” Wallace said as he laid his hand on my thigh. “And this is the person you want on this project?” David Grey asked. “Don’t worry, Mr. Harfax said she’s as gentle as a kitten once you get to know her.” “Harfax? You know Harfax?” I asked. 8 “Yes, Faxy and I go way back,” Grummond answered. “Well, next time you see Faxy, tell him this kitten would like to kick him in the balls.” “Yup, we must be talking about the same Faxy,” Grummond said. We rode for the next half hour in silence as the setting sun turned the dry desert into an ethereal alien landscape of purple, red and orange. The road cut through a steep sided canyon, blocked by a chain link fence gate, seemingly in the middle of the wilderness. Dr. Grummond pushed a button on a device he kept in the center console. The rusted steel gate slid aside on rails letting us in.