She didn’t seem overly concerned with what just took place. “Congrats. Your first transfer, Isabella.” Lucas looked around. They were in a barn. He turned back at Isabella.
“What do you mean, ‘transfer’?”
“You don’t know much about your granddad, do you?
“Not really.” A grin was forming.
“He’s a clever man, Isabella. He invented a technology that can move people around—along a realm of some kind. That’s what he’s done to us. He transported us here; I don’t know why. But it must be tied in with those people who were following us. The people in the black car.”
Lucas watched Isabella for some kind of reaction. All he got was a smile.
“Why are you smiling?”
“That’s my travel bag and backpack there. The briefcase must belong to Gramps. He sent them with us. But that’s not why I’m smiling.” She walked over and opened the barn door. A well-presented cedar house came into view. “This is our house. I mean, this is where I grew up and lived until recently.”
Lucas followed Isabella outside and they walked around to the front of the house. Although it was cloudy, the view was spectacular, with areas of grasslands scattered with pockets of widely spaced trees. To the left lay rocky terrain, spat out by volcanic activity from the mountain peaks that dotted the landscape—he remembered such things from his school days. He also noticed some dark clouds moving in their direction. They looked like they were carrying loads of water.
Lucas registered a distant thump, thump, thump sound. He listened hard again but did not register the sounds again, but he was concerned.
“It’s for sale. Do you want to buy it, Lucas? It even comes with views of extinct volcanoes. See the stony rises to the left—those are the rocky outcrops, the humps and hollows you see out there—those came about by lava flows. We also have some lava tubes.”
She was obviously happy to be home and sounded like she would give him a run for his money when it came to earth sciences. Lucas knew what a lava tube was and was happy for Isabella to refresh his memory regarding what a stony rise was.
“It’s spectacular . . . and nice, Isabella. I’d buy it if I had the money.”
Isabella was staring at some trees. The trees were much different and much larger to the surrounding pockets of trees and must have been planted by the pioneers years ago.
Her demeanour seemed to have changed. “The accident happened down there.”
“What accident?” Then he remembered what Starkey had told him.
“My parents. Their car hit one of those trees at the bottom of the driveway. Apparently, the car had a mechanical fault—the brakes and steering failed.”
“Apparently?”
“Yep. That’s what I’ve been told. And then there’s the suicide theory. But I don’t believe that. I’ve struggled with it all. That’s why I went to visit Gramps. But why isn’t Gramps with us?”
Lucas thought he saw movement down near the trees.
“Let’s discuss Gramps later. Just come back here a bit.” Lucas led Isabella behind some bushes. “Look down towards the trees. I think I saw someone down there.”
Isabella nodded.
Lucas saw two men, trying to conceal themselves as they moved towards the property.
“Lucas, I’ve no idea what’s going on but I don’t feel good about it. Come with me.” They headed back towards the barn. This Isabella seemed different. Did she have some kind of multiple personality disorder? Stupid thoughts, Lucas.
“Grab the bags and briefcase, Lucas.” Isabella headed over to a corner in the barn. She placed her hand behind a timber beam and did something. “A concealed button.”
A humming noise started, followed by creaks. Some panels on the floor rose. Isabella waved Lucas over. “A secret hiding place,” she said and smiled.
Lucas wondered if this was the same Isabella. Had something happened in the transfer? The sweet vulnerable image he had of this girl had changed somewhat, but she was still sweet. Was that a twinge of something there, Lucas?
“My dad loved electronic things, including using the sun as a power source. And, although I’m not sure why, he’d set up this hidden bunker with some sophisticated monitoring equipment. Wait ’til you see it. Mum and Dad had some good arguments about this, something about being here or not being here during the time of tribulation. It was all confusing to me, the tribulation stuff, but I had fun helping Dad set the bunker up.”
“Sounds confusing to me too. Shouldn’t we be quiet?”
“Maybe.”
Lights flicked on as they headed down the stairs. The panel closed behind them.
“You’d be amazed at what is happening up there now. Dad had some blowers installed to blow hay and dirt over the panel coverings. No one will be able to locate the blowers—when they’ve done their blowing, they retreat back into their hiding place.”
Lucas nodded. “Smart man, your dad.” But why would someone go to all this trouble? Why try and conceal it? Then he remembered zombie movies. Maybe concealment was a good idea.
They reached the bottom. Lucas looked around. Solid walls. Concrete. Must have expected bombs to be dropping. Maybe that was still to come. He looked at Isabella. She had sat down and switched on a monitor. She turned to Lucas and indicated he should take a seat as well. She reached over and switched on a monitor next to his seat.
“It’s all soundproof. So we can talk.”
“Is the house still furnished?”
“Good question, Lucas. Think not. I suggested to the real estate agent that they leave the bunker as it is for now. I’m not sure why. Maybe I thought I could use it in case the end of the world came.”
“Makes sense . . . well, sort of.”
The sensor-activated hidden cameras recorded the men making their way to the front door.
19 – You are being watched
