Science Fiction

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Summary

The escapade of the two boys - Achala and Missaka gets Missaka killed. When Achala is questioned by the two CID officers - Sameera and Mayuri, he claims that they promised to meet at a rendezvous point to see the 'flying lights'!, but Missaka never turned up as promised. Sameera and Mayuri may be Achalas only hope for exoneration when he's accused of murdering his best friend.

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The Chip

by Sajitha Prematunge

15 minutes later they were at the Remand. There were three chairs and between them a long, wooden table, in the interrogation room. Mayuri placed a tape recorder in the middle of the table, Sameera dealt with the questioning.

"Where did you and Missaka go last Tuesday Achala....?" asked Sameera softly, pulling up a chair, Mayuri was already seated. "To the river...." said Achala glancing at Mayuri. "Why?" asked Sameera.

"To see the flying lights." Achala started staring at Mayuri. Sameera broke off the stare by saying "What lights Achala?" Achala was silently staring at Mayuri again. She started feeling uneasy and looked at Sameera for help.

"You have a problem Achala?" Sameera asked somewhat annoyed. "What" Achala asked, at a loss. He turned back to Mayuri. "Have I seen you somewhere before?" "I think you've mistaken me for someone else." replied Mayuri.

"Why didn't you tell your parents about your plans?" asked Sameera dragging the boys attention to the matter at hand. "I told you guys, I was afraid they would laugh at me." said Achala glancing at Mayuri again.

After half an hour of questioning the two officers were out of the interrogation room, while Achala was taken back to his cell. Mayuri was the first to speak. "Why did he say he was better off in jail? and why did he keep starring at me, do I know him from somewhere?"

"It's possible that he believes that aliens are out to get him, if so he's definitely safer behind bars. And I can't answer your second question." explained Sameera. Mayuri rolled her eyes. 'Him and his flying saucers' she thought. "Who's next in our list?" asked Mayuri changing the subject. "Mr. Perera, the old man who found Missakas body."

The interview with Mr. Perera didn't throw much light on the investigation. Though he did say that the boy appeared to be in good health when he saw him, hanging around the same area, two days before his death, had no idea what he could have been doing in the marshes.

Desperate situations call for desperate measures, on a hunch Sameera suggested hypnosis, and left with no better choice to get their son out of a conviction, his parents agreed.

Mayuri didn't believe in hypnosis at all and decided to stay out side until the whole thing was over. It took ten minutes to put Achala under. "Achala I want you to tell me what happened after you went to the river last Tuesday night."

The psychiatrist started soothingly. Closed eyed and seeming to be in a deep trance, Achalas' face was free from any emotion. "I was early. I had to wait for Missaka." "Then what?" coaxed the psychiatrist. "Missaka came...." Sameera was puzzled, Achala, when they questioned him, said that Missaka never turned up as promised. Achala kept on talking "Then we saw the flying lights...." Sameeras face suddenly lit up. "We went to get a closer look."

Achalas suddenly started getting agitated, his face marked with sheer horror. The psychiatrist picked up on this "What do you see now Achala?" "There's a space ship and Missaka is going near it. I'm following him...."

"Remember Achala you are safe and sound here. You are just thinking back." soothed the psychiatrist. The wrinkles wore off of Achalas agitated face. Sameera put the recorder he was holding, on the table, scribbled something on a note pad and gave it to the psychiatrist.

"Do you see anything or anyone else Achala?" ventured the psychiatrist, referring to the note pad. "Yes...there are...." Achala closed his eyes tighter trying to concentrate. "There are strange beings....mm....all around the space ship. They have big eyes and heads.

They're short and....thin....awfully thin." Achala went on dreamily. "What else do you see Achala." "The others are starting to pour in now." said Achala nonchalantly. "What others?" asked the psychiatrist, puzzled.

"The others who come to watch the lights...." Achala squinted in the brightness of the lights in his visions. "Who are they Achala, are they human?" The psychiatrist asked a series of questions given to him by Sameera, who was now keenly observing. His decision to hypnotize the boy actually paid off.

"Yes they are human, they come here all the time....to watch the flying lights." "Do you know any of them, can you recognize any of them Achala?" "Yes I know one. A woman....the one who came here the other day....Miss....Mayuri."

To be Continued next week...

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