The Eighth Chapter – (by Ronni Paine)
When Harrison floated up to the dock in the boat two men were waiting. Both had short dark hair and their faces were expressionless. “Hello!” Harrison greeted cheerfully. Both the men just nodded curtly. “How are you on this lovely day?”
“Oh fine,” replied one of the men. The other said nothing. Harrison didn’t attempt to make conversation again as they helped him tie up the boat.
“Well, thank you chaps! By the way, do you know if that small diner on Second Street is still there? I haven’t been here in a few years.”
“Yes, it’s still there,” one of the men replied.
“Thank you! Well, goodbye!” He nodded politely then walked away. Neither of the men said goodbye, and Harrison thought their unfriendliness seemed strange. It was like there minds were on another world or something. But then again, not everyone was cheerful.
After paying for his boat to stay there, he walked the short walk to the small café. He chose a spot at the counter and was looking at the menu when two men sat on either side of him. He turned to look at each of them. Both were large, muscular men, wearing all black and staring at Harrison. “Hello there sir. You don’t look familiar, are you new in town?” the man on his right asked.
“Well I haven’t been here in about two years. I just came from the island about half an hour ago.”
“Ah. And what island would that be? Do you live there?”
“Pitcairn Islands. And yes, I live there. And if you don’t mind me asking, why are you asking me all these questions?”
“Curiosity my friend. We just like to get to know the people in town. Now just one more question if you don’t mind. Is the water that you drink on that island any different than the water elsewhere?”
“Why yes but why-“ he was knocked unconscious by the man to his left.
When he woke up Harrison found himself in a small brightly lit room. The walls were cold metal, and it was empty except for himself. The door was of course locked. He ran his hand through his hair then scooted over to sit against the back wall. He wondered what the hell was going on. It must’ve been a misunderstanding, he hadn’t done anything wrong. And who were those two guys? They weren’t wearing police uniforms, but they might have been undercover. There was hardly any crime in the area, so it couldn’t a gang. Unless one had moved in during the past two years, which Harrison felt was doubtful. A cool female voice suddenly came from the ceiling, where Harrison noticed a speaker when he looked up.
“We hope you are all right. Please be patient, and Bernice will be seeing you soon.” Harrison wondered who Bernice was. The chief of police maybe? Although so far this seemed like a pretty strange prison, not that Harrison had much experience in those. Maybe I should stop guessing and wait and see what happens, he thought.
About ten minutes later, two men walked in. They looked very similar to the ones from the café, but after a closer look he realized they were different men. “Get up,” one of them ordered. “Bernice will see on now.” Harrison slowly stood up. One of the men grabbed him and quickly handcuffed him. With one man holding each of his arms they led him out of the room and down the hall. After an elevator ride and several turns they stopped in front of a large wooden door. Than man on Harrison’s right sharply knocked and a voice said “enter.” The man opened the door and they walked in.
The room was a fairly large office, lined with bookcases, none of which contained books, but rather a large variety of strange items. In the center of the room was a large wooden desk, and behind it was a large chair, more like a throne than a chair. In the throne sat a man. His brown hair was graying, and his face was expressionless. His cold blue-green eyes stared into Harrison’s making a chill run down his spine. There was something very eerie about this man. In front of the desk was a simple wooden chair that didn’t look very comfortable. Harrison was shoved into the wooden chair and the two men stood behind him.
“Hello, I am Bernice. First of all, are you feeling all right?” He had a strange accent that Harrison couldn’t place.
“Yes, I feel fine. But I’m very confused as to wh-“
“Good. What is your name?” The man interrupted.
“Harrison. And may I ask why-“
“No. No questions allowed from you. Where do you live?”
“Pitcairn Islands.”
“Who lives there with you?” Bernice continued.
“Would you first please explain-“
“No. Who lives there with you?”
“Aaron Thatcher and his daughters.”
“Really. You live on an island only with another man and his children? Interesting.”
“Yes, I’m the butler. Are you trying to imply something?”
“Of course not. Also, what did I say about asking questions? Now, what do your duties as butler include?”
“Well in a way I’m more than the butler. I am the local entertainer, cook, mental support, chimney sweep, official ribbon-tier, nanny, pet caretaker, substitute hair brusher and banana peeler in cases of fractured arms, lost-monkey finder, gold fish feeder, brave rescuer of drowning young girls in oceans and fish ponds, and much more,“ Harrison explained with a small smile.
“Interesting, very interesting. Now tell me about the water on your island.”
“I don’t see how that is significant to anything.”
“It’s significance is insignificant to you. Answer the question now.”
“Well, Mr. Thatcher filters it using this special plant.”
“What plant is this?”
“I have no idea what it’s called. I’ve never seen anything like it before and I know quite a bit about plants. He never told me either. Kept that secret to himself. I know he found it when we moved to the island.”
“I would like to meet this Mr. Thatcher. Pitcairn Islands is where you live? I will have someone go there. Now as for what to do with you…what did you say your name was again?”
“Harrison.”
“Ah, yes, Harrison. What an peculiar name. Now, as for what to do with you. The most logical thing is to make you like the rest of the humans. However, the most logical course is not always my favourite. No, I would like to attempt a little experiment on you,” he said with a sly smile.
“An experiment?!” Harrison was alarmed. “What do you mean experiment? Who are you anyways? You talk about humans like you’re not one, though you certainly look like one to me!” Bernice chuckled.
“You’ll find out soon enough. I am not a human. Neither are most of the people who work for me. We are Fordavians to be specific. However I believe humans prefer the term ‘aliens’.”
“Aliens? Are you joking?” Bernice chuckled again.
“Of course I’m not joking. You humans appear to never believe anything.”
“Well aliens are not something we’ve ever had proof existed so we question things such as this,” Harrison explained.
“I wouldn’t think humans would need proof to believe something. That seems apparent in your religion. However I’d rather not get into a discussion about your religion. That was the most unpleasant topic I studied in regards to humans. Now would you like to know your fate?”
“I suppose I don’t have a say in the matter.”
“How would you, Harrison, like to be a…butler I believe the word was? For an alien?” He gave Harrison a large, creepy looking smile.
When Harrison floated up to the dock in the boat two men were waiting. Both had short dark hair and their faces were expressionless. “Hello!” Harrison greeted cheerfully. Both the men just nodded curtly. “How are you on this lovely day?”
“Oh fine,” replied one of the men. The other said nothing. Harrison didn’t attempt to make conversation again as they helped him tie up the boat.
“Well, thank you chaps! By the way, do you know if that small diner on Second Street is still there? I haven’t been here in a few years.”
“Yes, it’s still there,” one of the men replied.
“Thank you! Well, goodbye!” He nodded politely then walked away. Neither of the men said goodbye, and Harrison thought their unfriendliness seemed strange. It was like there minds were on another world or something. But then again, not everyone was cheerful.
After paying for his boat to stay there, he walked the short walk to the small café. He chose a spot at the counter and was looking at the menu when two men sat on either side of him. He turned to look at each of them. Both were large, muscular men, wearing all black and staring at Harrison. “Hello there sir. You don’t look familiar, are you new in town?” the man on his right asked.
“Well I haven’t been here in about two years. I just came from the island about half an hour ago.”
“Ah. And what island would that be? Do you live there?”
“Pitcairn Islands. And yes, I live there. And if you don’t mind me asking, why are you asking me all these questions?”
“Curiosity my friend. We just like to get to know the people in town. Now just one more question if you don’t mind. Is the water that you drink on that island any different than the water elsewhere?”
“Why yes but why-“ he was knocked unconscious by the man to his left.
When he woke up Harrison found himself in a small brightly lit room. The walls were cold metal, and it was empty except for himself. The door was of course locked. He ran his hand through his hair then scooted over to sit against the back wall. He wondered what the hell was going on. It must’ve been a misunderstanding, he hadn’t done anything wrong. And who were those two guys? They weren’t wearing police uniforms, but they might have been undercover. There was hardly any crime in the area, so it couldn’t a gang. Unless one had moved in during the past two years, which Harrison felt was doubtful. A cool female voice suddenly came from the ceiling, where Harrison noticed a speaker when he looked up.
“We hope you are all right. Please be patient, and Bernice will be seeing you soon.” Harrison wondered who Bernice was. The chief of police maybe? Although so far this seemed like a pretty strange prison, not that Harrison had much experience in those. Maybe I should stop guessing and wait and see what happens, he thought.
About ten minutes later, two men walked in. They looked very similar to the ones from the café, but after a closer look he realized they were different men. “Get up,” one of them ordered. “Bernice will see on now.” Harrison slowly stood up. One of the men grabbed him and quickly handcuffed him. With one man holding each of his arms they led him out of the room and down the hall. After an elevator ride and several turns they stopped in front of a large wooden door. Than man on Harrison’s right sharply knocked and a voice said “enter.” The man opened the door and they walked in.
The room was a fairly large office, lined with bookcases, none of which contained books, but rather a large variety of strange items. In the center of the room was a large wooden desk, and behind it was a large chair, more like a throne than a chair. In the throne sat a man. His brown hair was graying, and his face was expressionless. His cold blue-green eyes stared into Harrison’s making a chill run down his spine. There was something very eerie about this man. In front of the desk was a simple wooden chair that didn’t look very comfortable. Harrison was shoved into the wooden chair and the two men stood behind him.
“Hello, I am Bernice. First of all, are you feeling all right?” He had a strange accent that Harrison couldn’t place.
“Yes, I feel fine. But I’m very confused as to wh-“
“Good. What is your name?” The man interrupted.
“Harrison. And may I ask why-“
“No. No questions allowed from you. Where do you live?”
“Pitcairn Islands.”
“Who lives there with you?” Bernice continued.
“Would you first please explain-“
“No. Who lives there with you?”
“Aaron Thatcher and his daughters.”
“Really. You live on an island only with another man and his children? Interesting.”
“Yes, I’m the butler. Are you trying to imply something?”
“Of course not. Also, what did I say about asking questions? Now, what do your duties as butler include?”
“Well in a way I’m more than the butler. I am the local entertainer, cook, mental support, chimney sweep, official ribbon-tier, nanny, pet caretaker, substitute hair brusher and banana peeler in cases of fractured arms, lost-monkey finder, gold fish feeder, brave rescuer of drowning young girls in oceans and fish ponds, and much more,“ Harrison explained with a small smile.
“Interesting, very interesting. Now tell me about the water on your island.”
“I don’t see how that is significant to anything.”
“It’s significance is insignificant to you. Answer the question now.”
“Well, Mr. Thatcher filters it using this special plant.”
“What plant is this?”
“I have no idea what it’s called. I’ve never seen anything like it before and I know quite a bit about plants. He never told me either. Kept that secret to himself. I know he found it when we moved to the island.”
“I would like to meet this Mr. Thatcher. Pitcairn Islands is where you live? I will have someone go there. Now as for what to do with you…what did you say your name was again?”
“Harrison.”
“Ah, yes, Harrison. What an peculiar name. Now, as for what to do with you. The most logical thing is to make you like the rest of the humans. However, the most logical course is not always my favourite. No, I would like to attempt a little experiment on you,” he said with a sly smile.
“An experiment?!” Harrison was alarmed. “What do you mean experiment? Who are you anyways? You talk about humans like you’re not one, though you certainly look like one to me!” Bernice chuckled.
“You’ll find out soon enough. I am not a human. Neither are most of the people who work for me. We are Fordavians to be specific. However I believe humans prefer the term ‘aliens’.”
“Aliens? Are you joking?” Bernice chuckled again.
“Of course I’m not joking. You humans appear to never believe anything.”
“Well aliens are not something we’ve ever had proof existed so we question things such as this,” Harrison explained.
“I wouldn’t think humans would need proof to believe something. That seems apparent in your religion. However I’d rather not get into a discussion about your religion. That was the most unpleasant topic I studied in regards to humans. Now would you like to know your fate?”
“I suppose I don’t have a say in the matter.”
“How would you, Harrison, like to be a…butler I believe the word was? For an alien?” He gave Harrison a large, creepy looking smile.
