The Man From Mars - Episode Thirteen

   Looking back on my ascent up the sewer ladder was kind of eventful, even though I would have to say the whole climb couldn't have been more than twelve feet tall.
   In that little bit of time, I thought about how I had convinced myself, that I was actually living, a good full life, up to that point. How I was making a difference in people's lives by being an investigative reporter.
   Nothing like being hunted by a large black SUV full of fedora wearing, men in black, to ignite the dopamine in the old brain to make life worth living.
   Before that moment, I never realized how closely I identified to those people that I hunt down who don't want to be found. It is quite exhilarating living this way, if I wasn't so scared.
   The moment of truth came. I was at the top of the sewer whole with my back pressed up against the cover, ready to push.
   It was not what I was expecting when I opened it. I was in an fenced off area of a grade school playground, and I was locked in.
   It wasn't a very high fence, I probably could have climbed it easily, but I saw, what was obviously a maintenance man, heading my way in a golf cart. The closer he got, the more he animated that he was angry with me. But his words kept saying calmly, "Hong Xia told me you were coming. I have been watching for you. I will let you out."
   He told me that the faculty on this side of the school building were probably watching. And with the way society is today, they are probably telling the principle that a terrorist just came out of the sewers. The system running under the grade school buildings. So he wouldn't be surprised if a bomb scare was happening as he spoke. He also said, as soon as he unlocked the fence's gate, that I was to push him aside, as hard as I could, and run for it. He will explain to the police that I was a homeless looking man, taking shelter in the sewers. After the bomb sniffing dogs have their way through the tunnels and find nothing, I should be in the clear.
   So I did as he asked. I pushed him hard enough to knock him on his ass and I ran to the nearest housing section. 
   I found an alley with many nick and crannies in it, where I could hide in, while I threw away my wet pants, socks, and sneakers. Putting on clean clothes and my last pair of loafers.
   At least I wasn't going to look like the homeless man the janitor was going to describe to the police.
   I needed to find a business section of this part of Queens in a hurry, so I can get a taxi, and leave this barrio behind. If I stay in this area much longer, I mean in the United States, I am going to get hemmed in, with nowhere to run.
   There is always a business section, in walking distance from any part of Queens. Yet, I couldn't believe my eyes when I stumbled around a corner and there was a Greyhound Bus depot.
   My next problem, was identification. I couldn't show mine to buy a ticket or the Government's men in black would be upon me within minutes.
   Out of habit, I still went searching in my backpack for my wallet to check on my funds.
   I opened it up, and the first thing I see is a note from Hong Xia. It read; George, you never think ahead. I can never figure out how you have survived in this world as long as you have. I have given you your money back. You'll need it. I have also replaced the bills you were carrying with the same non-sequential dollar amounts. In case you took your funds out from a bank when you first started on the run. You know they can follow that like any other trail. You will also see two counterfeit passports and five fake diver's licenses. They were done by my people so they will pass any inspection by any official. Just don't make a nuisance of yourself, like you like to do, so they don't dig deeper. Take care George. And when this all blows over someday, why don't you look me up on a personal level instead of needing a favor all the time. I cannot for the life of me see how you got married in the first place. That woman must have hit you over the head with a hammer to let you know she liked you. Oh well, never mind. Just come back and see me sometime. XOXO Hong Xia.
   Wow, that note hit me like a hammer. All this time I have been treating Miss Xia on a business level only, when it could have been personal.
   Man, she is a good woman.
   I took out a driver's license that read that I was from California, booked a one-way ticket to Los Angeles for a $179.00 dollars, bought a lunch to carry on, and found my seat on the bus.

   It was at least a three day trip with two transfers. On one of those transfers I was going to hop off the bus and plan my next move.
   Right now, it wouldn't be prudent to stay in the New York area looking for the Man from Mars. I needed some wide open spaces to figure out what the amulet was all about. The Man from Mars told me, after giving it to me, that; "If you can figure out, for yourself, the meaning behind the amulet, the power of the amulet, and why I have given the amulet to you, then maybe this World can be saved from the destruction my World of Atlantis had suffered."
   That is going to be my plan, after I settle in someplace in the mid-west. To answer those three questions the Man from Mars said I needed to figure out. The meaning, the power, and the why.
   That shouldn't be so hard?
   Yeah, right?

To Be Continued...

Next Thursday.

This is,

At Least I Am Up

And Writing

And Not Laying In Bed Moping

Jim Hauenstein,

And,

“You wait for ages for a bus to come, and then two come along at once.”
- Jennifer E. Smith,-

 

That is my story and I am sticking to it!

 

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