Impact

89

Jackie laughed. "You really are crazy, you know that? We'll be lucky just to get our ass into port in this storm. But you want us to cross Muscongus Bay to send a message? Can't this wait until tomorrow?"

"We have no idea when the weapon might fire again. And something tells me the next shot might be the end."

"How's that alien machine gonna know English?"

"It's highly advanced and it's been listening to our radio chatter for at least two months now, since it was awakened."

"If it's so advanced, call it on the VHF."

"Come on, Jackie, be serious. Even if it could distinguish our radio call from a billion other signals, it wouldn't take it as official. What's required is a big, strong, powerful signal hitting it with a clear message. Something that looks like an official communication from the Earth."

Her father turned to her. "Why can't the government deal with it?"

"You trust the government to handle this? First of all, they're in denial. Either they'll hold endless meetings or they'll take a potshot at it. Either way, we're dead. On top of that, I think the CIA, among others, have been trying to kill us. Even Ford was afraid of them. We're on our own--and we must do something, now."

"Getting to Crow means traversing the Ripp Island tidal bore and then three miles of open water," said her father. "We'll never make it in this storm."

"We've got to make it."

"And once we're there," Jackie continued, "we're going to waltz in there and say, 'Hey, can we borrow your Earth Station to make a call to aliens on Mars?' "

"We'll force them, if need be."

"With what? A boat hook?"

Abbey stared at her. "Jackie, you don't get it, do you? The Earth is under attack. We may be the only ones who know it."

"Hell with this," said Jackie. "Let's take a vote." She glanced at Straw. "What do you say? I'm for going to Vinalhaven."

Abbey looked at her father, his pale eyes red, his beard dripping water. He stared back at her. "Abbey, you sure about this?"

"Not completely."

"It's more like an educated guess, then?"

"Yes."

"It sounds crazy."

"I know it does. But it isn't. Please, Dad, trust me--just this once."

He was silent for a long time, and then he nodded and turned to Jackie. "We're going to Crow Island. Jackie, I want you as spotter. Abbey, you navigate. I'll take the helm."