|
Science Fiction:
The Chip
by Sajitha Prematunge
"I didn't tell anybody for the fear of being laughed at," said Achala,
a young boy about the age of 14." Well you made a wise choice," said
Missaka, with a sarcastic smile, he was about the same age. "Come on man
I'm serious..." said Achala and continued.
"Look nobody believes me, but you, you're the perfect son, the
perfect student, you're perfect for the job. Anyone would believe you."
He paused a little, since there was no reaction, continued. "What do you
say ha? You have nothing to lose. If they don't turn up we just come
back home." "Alright then, tonight, I'll meet you there," said Missaka
in a more serious tone this time.
Only a few hours later, the peaceful town of Horana was swarming with
policemen, police cars, and sounds of wailing sirens. "I told you a
thousand times. We did not go to a party without telling our people at
home," said Achala annoyed.
"Then where did you two go Achala?" Asked a woman. She was dressed in
a police womans uniform. Achala remained mute. "Where did you and Jason
go?" Repeated the woman indifferent to the persistent silence.
"To a place..." said Achala making conversation, "near the river."
"For what?" snapped the woman. "This was difficult for Achala, but he
managed to say "To see the flying lights." The woman indifferently took
notes.
"Mayuri" called a man peeping through a door. "Hi!" Answered a woman
inside the room focusing on the interrogation between the police woman
and the boy. She was dressed in civil, but from her air, it was clear
she was from the CID.
"Did you come up with anything?" asked Mayuri from the officer who
interrogated the boy.
"Well the boy is nuts. He said something about making plans with
Jason to go to this spot hear the river to see "flying lights." "He says
they both promised to meet there. The boy, Achala, goes there he waits
for half an hour, that means until two o'clock in the night and Missaka,
the missing boy, never turns up.
Spooky ha?" "Maybe the boy's telling the truth" said the male.
"Interesting theory. Aliens, but here in Horana I seriously doubt it
Sameera" said Mayuri.
Three days later Sameera and Mayuri, the two CID officers, found
their missing boy, dead in the nearby marshes, his body well preserved
no signs of mutilation. "Any idea what the murder weapon was?" Asked
Mayuri. "No, we can't even find the cause. No cuts or bruises.
Could be poisoning." Answered Sameera. "What about the nose bleed?"
Asked Mayuri observing the small streak of blood that ran down Missakas
nostril. "Yah, we're working on it" "The old man living nearest here
says he saw the boy two days ago in these marshes at about 7.00 p.m.
He's the one who found the body," said a police man intersecting
their conversation. "You mean he was alive when he came in here? Why the
hell come here at all at 7 pm?" asked Mayuri puzzled. "My point exactly"
said the policeman and went back to his duty.
"I've heard that aliens don't kill their victims straight away," said
Sameera smiling teasingly at Mayuri.
A week later Sameera was behind his desk, when there was a familiar
knock at the door. "Come in" said Sameera before Mayuri entered the room
and took a seat. "They've arrested Achala for the murder of Missaka"
said Sameera. "What!" said Mayuri in amazement. "But he's just a kid."
"The trial will take place in juvenile court next Wednesday..."
explained Sameera. "If he's convicted he'll be sent to a mental
hospital." "In other words a nut house," said Mayuri smiling. "Oh! I
wouldn't call it that, but I think we ought to have a talk with Achala"
said Sameera.
To be Continued next week...
[email protected]
|
