Writing It

Bigsy looked out of the car windows as they drove along the highway. It wasn't a fast road, but one with long curves and undulations. Both sides Bigsy could see prominent red rock outcrops. Quite striking. 

"Many people say this area is mystical," said Chuck.

"I can see why," said Bigsy. "The scenery is most impressive." 

Tom nodded, "Around this part of the desert there is much of four colours," he said.

Clare had visited the elemental spa. There was a willow stream that ran through the area which the brochure said was inspired by a place called Havasupai, an oasis deep in the Grand Canyon where energy unites and restores. 

The spa had a mesa rooftop pool under the deep blue Arizona sky. Clare enjoyed a private cabana and could look out towards the McDowell Mountains.

“Guys, I need to contact Clare” said Bigsy, “ Otherwise we don’t know what she will do. She knew we’d treat the first day as decompression and had already said she’d go to the spa in the hotel. She won’t be looking for Chuck or me until early evening. But we don’t want my apparent disappearance to alarm her.”

Clare had slept through until what she thought was late. She had woken up once at around 7 am UK time, which was still only midnight in Scottsdale. Then she had slept for another 7 hours. Her watch was still on UK time and said 2 pm. 

Bigsy awoke. He could hear something around the camp. A crack of a twig. The merest hint of pebbles skittering down towards a gully.

 Then he noticed a light. Within it he could see a shadow. A silhouette of someone. Slim, with a hair bun. 

Bigsy awoke. He could hear something around the camp. A crack of a twig. The merest hint of pebbles skittering down towards a gully.

Then he noticed a light. Within it he could see a shadow. A silhouette of someone. Slim, with a hair bun. 

“So, what would be the reason?” asked Bigsy, “Why are they after you? What was ‘The Old Team’ doing”

 “Okay,” said Chuck, “Let us check our logistics and then we can tell you more. I started to explain this last night, but I think both of us have a hazy recollection of what we said.”

“What I can’t understand,” said Bigsy, “Is how Chuck keeps coming back to us when there’s a problem? A year ago, we had trouble with the vaccines, and now again? Surely there are other people he could call on?”

Mike looked at Chuck, and they both smiled. 

 “Go on, tell him,” said Mike.

 “Well, Bigsy, it’s like this. Have you heard of sleepers?”

"So, look," said Bigsy, "I still don't know how we got away from whatever was happening at the hotel”

 Mike explained.

 "There were several of us on the way to the meeting place at the hotel. I don't know who called us there. I wondered if it was Chuck, but he told me he hadn't requested the meeting. What I know is that it was one of the original team of us that worked together out here a few years ago. Anyway, I was the first to arrive. You and Chuck showed up soon after me, and I could tell you knew one another well."

Bigsy awoke with a start. He still felt woozy. He noticed it was dark and that he appeared to still be in the car. Earlier the roof of the car had been open, but now he seemed to be more enclosed. He attempted to move his arm, and to his relief, it appeared to be obeying him.

 "Hello," he ventured. "Is there anyone here?”

 He looked around and could see that he was alone in the car, parked in a small enclosed area surrounded by rocks. He worked out that they were still in the desert. He remembered that they were in Arizona. Then he noticed the driver of the car standing a few metres away.