Chapter 8
The school’s yearly field trip to the museum coincided with the opening of the new Terran exhibit. Sarah and Grace joined Kyle, Dan, and Alan walking into the great main hall. “Have a look around for a few hours and be back here at three for everyone,” Mrs. Turner, world history teacher, announced to the big group of students.
Together Kyle and Dan and their group roamed the hall seeing all of the displays of stuffed animals and sculptures until Kyle saw a big sign that read up above “Foundations of Terran Culture”.
“Hey, let’s take a look inside,” Kyle said.
They all walked into an adjoining exhibit hall seeing all of the artifacts Dr. Brown had collected from his recent trip to Egypt. However, everyone’s eyes become drawn to the center of the room seeing the obelisk standing in a glass case.
“Fascinating, isn’t it?” Dr. Brown asked.
They all turned around to see Dr. Brown with his graying hair and his average to medium stature for his height dressed in a nice suit, unlike the clothes he was used to wearing outside under the bright sun. He admired the obelisk with great accomplishment appearing on his face.
“Yes, where did you find it?” Kyle asked.
“Giza, Egypt,” he explained. “For years I have investigated the existence of the Ancient Ones on Earth and I feel I have finally found my proof.”
“What is it?” Dan said.
“That’s the thing. We aren’t entirely sure what it was used for. The writing on it is very old. Not too different from Egyptian hieroglyphics.”
At the end of the day, everyone was filled out and the doors were locked, but by night inside of the Terran exhibit, a dark hooded figure gazed at the obelisk staring in front of the glass case. Outside the night watchman sat at his desk experienced static and snow on his security monitors that watched the room.
The burglar worked like a professional meticulously using a suction cup and a sharp knife cutting a circle in the glass case as the security guard absent mindedly walked past never noticing him there. The guard checked the camera looking up to see if the light was on and walked out just as he came back in. The burglar popped out the cut circle of glass and reached inside slowly lifting out the obelisk. He slipped it into his knapsack slinging it over his shoulder.
Inside the Smith home Michael, Kyle’s father, sat in his own private office with two view screens opened up in front of him of a man and a woman who were members of the Terran High Council. The council was comprised of some of the wisest and most capable Terrans among their race. Beside him, Michael watched the evening news on his flat screen T.V.
“To recap our top story today,” the reporter started. “A break in at the Natural History Museum occurred last night with an item stolen from the new Terran exhibit. However, there are no suspects at this time as the authorities try to continue with this investigation.”
Michael switched off the T.V. and said, “Earlier today I received the phone call from Dr. Brown. He said the only thing that was taken was the obelisk.”
“Was he able to decipher the markings?” the woman said from one view screen.
“No, he said his team was still working on it, but he feels it could have been used as a weapon of some kind.”
“Should we have any reason to worry?” the man in the second view screen asked.
“I am cautiously optimistic right now.”
“But if they are back shouldn’t we be more on guard? If in fact they are responsible for the theft,” the woman questioned. “We don’t know if we were able to get them all.”
“We also heard of what happened at the school’s pep rally,” the man said. “A fire hose turned on by itself and spun around the whole gymnasium though from what I’ve heard the administration is handling it.”
“I agree with keeping on our guard but we also need to be looking out for our children,” Michael said. “Everything should be on a need to know basis. I have to protect my boys. Only when that becomes a real threat.”
“We understand. We’ll advise the rest of the council.”
“Stay safe, Michael,” the woman said.
“You too. Thanks.”
Michael pulled up the museum website on his laptop finding the museum website and looked at the photo taken of the obelisk. He looked at it more closely leaning back in his chair appearing deep in thought.