Survivors

Twenty minutes later Bretnel called them back together. He looked pretty grim, so it was no surprise when he said “It is as I feared, Mr Farley was indeed wearing a tracking device. I have administered a level of first aid and he is now in no immediate danger”.

“Hmmph, so what!” Snarled Luke

Bretnel ignored Luke and carried on “I have considered this next course of action very carefully. I propose that I take Mr Farley along with some provisions, a tent and medical supplies from the base and deposit him some considerable distance from here. I further propose that I do this with a number of prolonged stops at a variety of different locations”.

“Why’s that then?” asked Joe.

“Well if I provide the Aliens with data of Mr Farley stopping for a couple of hours in an assortment of diverse positions this will at least give them a number of areas to investigate. The spread of these investigations will make it less likely that they will concentrate all their resources in this particular area. Mr Farley will, no doubt, be picked up by the Aliens, but his predicament will not have changed. He will still be a tool, witting or unwitting, but there is nothing we can do about that unless we are to draw attention to ourselves or end Mr Farley’s life”.

“Won’t he just tell them all about us when they pick him up?” asked Holly.

“Oh I doubt it” replied Bretnel.

“You’re bloody nuts!” hissed Luke “Why the hell wouldn’t he tell them!? Why on earth would you trust someone like Jacob not to talk!?”.

“I don’t!” Said Bretnel emphatically. “Which is why when I was giving him the first aid I also injected him with a little rohipnol. This will mean that he will remember next to nothing of his encounter with us. He may also have an absolutely splitting headache”.

“I think he’s going to have one of those anyway” interrupted Joe grinning slightly.

“Quite so master Joe” replied Bretnel “He may remember the odd thing, but his recall will be fragmented and will certainly lack cohesion and lucidity”

“And what he does remember will be pretty screwed up won’t it!” hhipped in Joe, now beaming.

“What do you mean?” Asked Holly.

“Well, a giant gorilla, flying, spiders, all pretty hard to get your head round”

“I recommend that I terminate this conversation and that I depart as soon as we have collected the items Mr Farley will require. Can you therefore assist me in gathering the equipment as speed is currently of the essence”.

Holly and Joe jumped up willing to help. Luke folded his arms and pointedly sank deeper into his chair.

“We should just dump him!” he said coldly.