Weak and Weary: Prologue 5

Professor Embry was tired. Any number of similar adjectives might have been more accurate, but he was too exhausted to think of any. Ever since the moment he escaped from Porter’s men he had been running on adrenaline and junk food. Nearly ten days now – and he could feel his will slipping. Having finally received the money and pistol he mailed to himself over a week ago he had, for the first time, no real goal. No next move. He suspected that his idea of disappearing into the Midwest was beyond his capabilities. The only thing he knew for sure was that he needed to head west, but he didn’t know exactly why. He mindlessly flipped on the radio and began to catalog the details of the last months.

For some time he had viewed this new particle, and its method of attraction and containment, as a singular oddity. Since meeting Agent Porter he had started to take a broader view. Firstly, the particle was not unknown. Not a “new” discovery, as it had apparently been pursued by science before. Second, there was the behavior of animals. There was the fact that a raven had basically woken him up with a significant push in the right direction when he found the formula and the shape for particle attraction and containment. Then there was the attraction shown to living things he had seen in his own home. Not only had he at times been escorted on his ride by other birds but he had also noticed an attraction to his particle cage from various other animals, from plentiful invertebrates to cats, dogs, mice. But most importantly there was something else.

Embry had always been a seeker. A human scanner looking throughout perception for… something. He felt close at times whether through scientific or spiritual pursuits, but always felt he was finding a dim reflection of something bigger. Like the footprints of dinosaurs in rock, proof of something huge but not actually that thing. In dreams he felt the closest, in art or music. Since finding the particle he had felt something more concrete. Rather than a quiet pull or intuition he now felt a different sureness. A more confident direction. An instinctual treasure map had been activated. It was almost a communion with the particle itself.

As Embry drove through the night he realized that in the time he had been running from something he should have been running towards something. He had the distinct sensation that fate was chasing him. Behind him may be the very thing that’s in front of him. Fear had been driving him, shaking him from his usual solid, perceptive state. It was with these thoughts in mind that he heard a news report on the radio.

“Authorities are investigating a fatal shooting at the Jupiter Motel. Details are unavailable at this time but they are urging anyone who has information to come forward and cautioning that the responsible party is still at large…”

Embry didn’t have to wonder what happened. He didn’t feel responsible, but he knew that it was him they were after. People who didn't exist were coming to get him, and they wouldn’t stop. He also had an inkling that these same people outranked any authorities he might be able to find.

So. There was his answer, and now he was certain that it was the right one.

He pulled over on the side of the road and leaned his seat back. He smiled at the raven that landed on his side view mirror before drifting into his first peaceful sleep since leaving home. Waking to a hard tapping on the window he saw several men surrounding the truck, guns drawn.

“Gentlemen, you won’t be needing those. I have a feeling you’re not allowed to use them anyway. You’ll want to bring that bag. Where will I be meeting Agent Porter?”

As the men roughly escorted him into their SUV he was surprised to see relief in their faces. Perhaps they were tired, too, or perhaps Porter had been somehow threatening them. Either way there was something about his sudden surrender about which they were very glad. Embry couldn’t help but feel that he held more power in this situation than he thought. Turning to the window he saw that the power was in the bag they were carefully carrying to another vehicle at arm’s length.