When he got back to his residence he immediately took the paper he had found on Level–9 and opened it. It was a schedule of some kind. No name was on it but it was definitely a test schedule of some kind. Someone had written THE HUMP in bold letters and the number 5725 after it. He had no idea what it meant. Maybe he could work it into his conversation with Lynn later tonight.
After taking a long hot shower and shaving he put on a clean pair of slacks and a polo shirt. He decided to just wear his Dockers without socks. He wasn’t going to be any more formal than necessary.
He wished he could take some flowers to her but that seemed impossible out here in the middle of this wasteland. He went out to the Hummer and got the map and brought it in looking for anything that referred to the Hump.
He found a magnifying glass in the desk drawer and sat down at the table and started an inch by inch search. After twenty minutes he gave up. Nothing on his map said anything about a Hump and no elevations were listed. Maybe it referred to something entirely different. Whatever it was, he was no closer now than when he started.
It was going on 7:30 p.m. when he hopped in the Hummer and headed back to the S-4 facility. The sun was directly in his eyes as he drove along the dusty path. He passed one of the patrol cars but all they did was watch as he drove by.
It was three minutes after eight when he knocked on the door to her pod as she called it. She opened the door and invited him in. She looked stunning in a black chiffon dress with spaghetti straps.
“Welcome to my pod,” she said.
“You look lovely,” he said.
She laughed, “Just lovely? I put a lot of work into this buster.”
“Did I say lovely? I meant spectacular, gorgeous, and beautiful.”
“Come on, don’t stop now,” she said, laughing again.
“De-lovely, delightful.”
Okay, okay.I guess that will do. All kidding aside, I did appreciate the lovely comment the most,” she replied. “Come on, I’ll show you around.”
They took a tour of her pod and he was surprised at how nice it really was. The rooms were spacious and very well appointed. There was an awkward pause when they got to the bedroom.
“This is my bedroom. I don’t spend much time here,” she said.
“That’s too bad.”
“I meant, I spend a lot of the time in the lab,” she said, slapping him playfully on the chest, “Anyway, would you like to open the wine? I have a very nice Merlot to go with our meal.”
“Show me the bottle and I will do the honors.”
She took him to the kitchen and gave him a captain’s tool to open the wine.
“A captain’s tool. I’m impressed,” he said.
“It’s the only way to open wine. Those things with the wings on them are for pretenders. Real wine drinkers use one of those,” she said, inclining her head towards where he had laid it on the counter.
He let the wine sit to breathe while they talked about the various wines they liked. He poured a small amount in the wine glass and swirled it around before offering it to her. She took a small sip and let it roll over her tongue and around in her mouth. She let it slide down the back of her throat.
“Nice,” she said.
Raymond took a sip from the same glass and did the same before pronouncing it delightful.
They had a simple meal of New York Strip steak, baked potato, and asparagus. His was medium rare, the same as hers.
“How did you know I would want mine medium rare?” he asked.
“Real steak lovers wouldn’t think of going past that so I figured I would be safe with medium rare,” she said.
“How can you cook a steak down here? I see the Jenn-air but where does the exhaust go?
“It connects into the exhaust vent that goes to the surface. I once asked how they kept people from smelling the food we cook and was told it had several different types of filters.”
She wanted to know all about what he was doing here at Area–51 and was he really over General Devin. He explained that it was determined that a civilian needed to be in the loop and he had been elected.
“Elected by whom?” she asked.
“The President.”
“Like our President? President Sampson?” she said, her eyes wide.
“The very same one.”
“Wow. I’m practically feeding royalty,” she said.
“Give it a rest. It is no big deal. I was just the poor schmuck whose number came up that day. Look, let’s talk about you. Tell me about Lynn Yurris.”
She told him about growing up in Georgia and going to school in the south, her love for theory, and her desire to make a difference somehow. She was articulate and seemed to always have just the right words to make him really understand what she was saying.
He enjoyed listening to her. He was amazed when he glanced at his watch. It was going on eleven o’clock. He helped her clear the table and rinse the dishes before loading them into the dishwasher.
“Would you like an after dinner drink? I have some Brandy and some Grande Mariner if you’re interested.”
“Maybe a short Grande Mariner,” he said and she poured some in a large brandy snifter.
She took a sip first before handing it to him.
“Mind if we share?” she asked, sitting down on the couch next to him.
He could feel her warmth as she sat there.
“Have you ever heard of the Hump?” he asked.
She looked at him strangely.
He burst out laughing, “Sorry. It’s a place.”
She put her hand up to her mouth and laughed too.
“And you thought I was bold at our first meeting,” she laughed.
“Sorry about that. Really,” he said.
“The Hump? I think so. It’s a mountain or large hill; I don’t know which, someplace behind us. Toward the north gate I think. Why?” she asked.
“Nothing really. I just saw it on a piece of paper and wondered what it was,” he said.
“Sorry I can’t be more help. I could ask around for you,” she said.
“No. Please. I think it would be better if I found out on my own.”
“Oooh, spy stuff,” she said.
“Yes. Eller. Raymond Eller,” he said in his best James Bond voice.
“Somehow that doesn’t have quite the same ring to it,” she laughed.
“Yeah, I guess not.”
“I like having you here better anyway.”
“Better than James Bond?”
“Well, except when Sean Connery was playing the part. Now he is sexy.”
“Give me a break. He’s old.”
“Sexy,” she insisted.
They talked for another hour before both knew that the time had come for the next decision.
“Look Lynn, I have enjoyed every minute of this but I had better get back. I know you have a big day tomorrow too.”
“I understand. You’ll be careful driving back in the dark? It’s a lot trickier at night,” she said.
“I’ll be careful. Thank you for a lovely evening and you really are spectacular,” he said as he got to the door.
She put her hand on the doorknob and opened it slightly.
“Thanks for stopping by,” she said just as he pulled her to him and kissed her. It was tentative at first but she pressed against and he found himself probing her mouth with his tongue. Slowly they pulled apart.
“I'd better go now,” he said.
“I know,” she said, and opened the door.
“Goodnight Lynn,” he said as he entered the deserted hall.
“Good night Mr. Bond,” she said smiling.
She watched as he entered the elevator and waved as the doors closed.
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
After Eller retrieved his Hummer he drove into the cold night air. His lights seemed to disappear as if being swallowed up by the darkness. The moon was just a small sliver adding to the murkiness. The only things he could see clearly were the billions of stars overhead. Incredible, in just a few years we could be going to one of those distant worlds, he thought.