The next files, p.7
The Next Files, page 7
As the music's tone altered again, a dancer, completely coated in white paint and strikingly resembling a grey alien in Jax's eyes, emerged from the shadows. The abductee slowly stood, his movements depicting confusion and shivering, as if emerging from a bewildering encounter.
Doc and Darli, having arrived, stood beside Jax, who was seated on the ground as though meditating.
Upon opening her eyes and looking up at Doc, she exclaimed, "Look at this, Doc, you won’t believe it ... they’re enacting the Boulia abduction story."
But when she turned her gaze back to the dancers, she found herself alone. The clearing was deserted, the captivating performance vanished, leaving her in a silent, empty space—a stark contrast to the vivid tableau she had just witnessed.
"It all vanished the moment you arrived ... I ... I..." Looking all at sea, she stood and then seized Darli by the arm. "Darli, Darli, you speak the local language, don't you?" Jax asked urgently.
"Yes," Darli replied, a hint of confusion in her voice.
"Then help me find Jibbi Jib."
An elderly woman suddenly appeared from the bushes, stepping into the clearing.
"There, there! Ask her where Jibbi Jib is. I followed him here, and he turned into her?" Jax said, pointing to the woman.
Darli glanced at Doc, her expression betraying concern that Jax might be delusional.
"Ask her!" Jax implored. "Ask her name?"
After a brief exchange in the native dialect, Darli turned back to Jax. "Her name is Tula, and she claims no knowledge of a Jibbi Jib ... but she's willing to answer your questions."
Doc looked on, puzzled. 'How would she know?' he thought.
"Good," Jax said tersely. "Ask her if I imagined the Corroboree? And the abduction story?"
Darli relayed the questions, and Tula responded with a laugh.
"She says you didn't imagine it ... you were shown the truth in the Dreamtime."
Jax, her hand pressed to her forehead as though struggling to stay conscious, barely grasped the revelation. "Where do the Min Min lights go?" she asked faintly.
Darli translated. Tula's response came with a solemn nod. "She says they go to a sacred place."
"And where is this sacred place?"
Darli paused, her knowledge precluding the need for translation. "Quiurnpa," she said softly, "The white folks call it Pine Gap ... the military has taken the lights ... the lights that carry our people’s spirits to the Dreamtime."
Jax reached out, touching Tula's shoulder in a gesture of gratitude. "Thank you, Tula. Now I understand."
Turning, she began walking back towards the hotel, her mind racing with newfound insights.
Baffled and a bit irritated by her sudden departure, Doc called out after her, "Jax! Now, where are you going?"
CHAPTER
SIX
Jax entered her room and collapsed onto the bed. She lay there, her gaze fixed on the ceiling. The light filtering in from outside cast a pattern on the ceiling, eerily reminiscent of the designs painted on the Aboriginal dancers at the Corroboree. She had been a part of something new yet ancient, an experience that was mystical and deeply spiritual. Closing her eyes, she surrendered to sleep, her mind still swirling with the day's revelations.
Meanwhile, in his hotel room, Doc sat engrossed in front of his laptop. The light from the screen illuminated his focused expression, reflecting off his reading glasses. His internet search had led him to a scholarly article titled 'The Earth Grid', which seemed to hold potential clues to the mysteries they were encountering.
Later, Doc and Darli found themselves in the hotel bar. They chose a table and settled in, ready to enjoy the performance of a solo artist on the small stage. The performer, a First Nations girl in her early twenties, sat poised on a stool. She skilfully played an electric guitar, her music enriched by a pre-recorded backtrack. Doc found himself captivated by her expansive vocal range. As she began the final song of her set, a hush fell over the bar, the audience drawn into the spell of her music.
There seems to be so much bad news,
Everybody’s busting each other's dreams.
Don’t cut me down to size when I speak my mind
I’m an outspoken woman, sure as hell not blind.
I’ve got my religion – peace of mind to find,
So come on now fella – let’s walk the same line.
I’m a girl of the world
See it in my eyes
I’m a girl of the world, got nothing to hide
Don’t try to tell me what I have to do
I’ve got my own mind – got my dignity too.
Life is tough enough – without being unkind
Show me you’re a good man – show me that smile.
I know you want to lay me – that’s what’s on your mind
But I ain’t no conquest – for your ‘piece’ of mankind.
I’m a girl of the world
See it in my eyes
I’m a girl of the world
Got nothing to hide
I’m a girl of the world mother nature’s child
A girl of the world
Mother nature’s child…
I can do anything — I want to do
Do it any time — think I might
I hold my life — in my own two hands
I am who I am — not what you demand!
I’m a girl of the world
See it in my eyes
I’m a girl of the world
Got nothing to hide
I’m a girl of the world
Mother nature’s child
A girl of the world
Mother nature’s child…
The song concluded to enthusiastic applause from Doc, Darli, and the roughly thirty other audience members. As the performer set down her guitar, Doc was taken aback to see her heading straight towards their table. Darli stood and welcomed her with a warm embrace, while Doc got to his feet.
"Doc, meet Alona, my sister," Darli introduced them.
Doc extended his hand, impressed. "Hey, you were fantastic. Now that I see you both side by side, the family resemblance is clear. Please, join us."
Darli's curiosity piqued about the last song. "That last song…"
"Girl of the World?" Alona interjected.
"Yes, did you write it?"
"I co-wrote it with a guy in Sydney, online. Did you realise it's about you?" Alona asked Darli, her smile playful.
Darli's smile mirrored her sister's. "I had my suspicions, but I also think it resonates with every girl's journey."
Alona's gaze then shifted to Doc, her expression earnest. "This girl went through a lot to succeed in her career."
Doc nodded in understanding. "I can relate to that struggle. And your song captures it beautifully. It was truly exceptional. Do you have plans to release it?"
"Soon, hopefully. We recorded it a few months ago. Darli was the one who paid for the studio time ... she's the diamond, my big sister," Alona shared with a look of gratitude towards Darli.
Asleep on her back, Jax remained motionless, a picture of deep slumber. Abruptly, the haunting sound of a didgeridoo shattered the silence, its deep tones reverberating through the room. Jax's eyes darted rapidly under her closed eyelids, her subconscious stirred by the ancestral music. The Aboriginal pattern, cast upon the ceiling from the light outside, began to creep along the wall, moving across the pillow, and finally imprinting itself upon her face. The rhythmic clicking of sticks synchronised with the didgeridoo, growing louder and more insistent.
Suddenly, her eyes flung open wide as a loud banging resonated at the door. The music ceased abruptly, plunging the room back into silence. Jax sat up, startled, her heart racing with adrenaline.
Outside, Doc's voice was clear, "Hey, it's 7 am, partner. You've been asleep for hours. Meet you in the coffee shop."
Entering the coffee shop, Jax found Doc seated at a table, absorbed in his phone, a cup of coffee in hand. He glanced up at her over his glasses, "I ordered you coffee, toast, and Vegemite."
She sat down, still processing the night's events. "Ta. I can't believe I slept so long."
Doc took off his glasses, looking a bit weary. "You needed it, I guess. Gave me a chance to dig into some research."
"I think I did some research too, in my dreams. What did you find?"
Doc put his glasses back on and began to read from his phone. "The Earth Grid. It's about a place in Australia where two opposing force fields converge, creating a gravity vortex. This neutral centre, called a Bloch Wall, is part of the radiant energy spectrum. These 'hot spots' on the Earth grid resonate at 10^12 Hertz, a frequency that could generate a vortex in space-time. This place, a sacred site to the indigenous, is where Pine Gap, a secretive U.S base, is located. There's a similar vortex in the Bermuda Triangle."
Jax was intrigued. "That's in line with my theory, but doesn't help yours much."
Doc sighed. "Here's the thing, Jax. I applied for a job during the Eight Dragons investigation, something to help with Uni expenses. I didn't get it, so now I'm a bit strapped for cash. I can't afford to keep working with you, not like this."
Jax responded casually, "No worries, I'll pay you from my earnings and get NewsLine to cover our costs."
As they were talking, a waitress arrived with three cups of coffee and toast with Vegemite.
"Three cups?" Jax questioned, curious.
"One for you, one for me, and one for ... Ah, here she comes. Good morning, Darli."
Darli approached, looking bright and energetic. "Morning, guys. How are you feeling, Jax?"
"Still a bit wobbly ... these visions..."
"About Jibbi Jib?"
"Yes."
"Can you tell me about your first encounter with him?" Darli inquired, taking a seat.
"He just appeared in my hotel room in Boulia," Jax began, her voice tinged with a mix of wonder and bewilderment. "It was as if he entered as a sphere of energy, an orb that shimmered and pulsated. Then, almost like a mirage taking solid shape, he transformed into his physical form."
"Describe what he was wearing?" Darli prompted.
Jax recalled, "Traditional white body and face paint, a loincloth, and shoes adorned with feathers."
"Those are intathurta shoes ... He's a Kurdaitcha man. The shoes make him invisible to others and enable him to move without a sound," Darli explained.
Doc, intrigued, asked, "What exactly is a Kurdaitcha man?"
"In Indigenous Australian culture, natural death isn't recognised. Deaths are attributed to evil spirits or curses, often identified by those near death. A Kurdaitcha man is a ritual executioner sent to seek vengeance," Darli explained.
"But why would a Kurdaitcha man visit me? There hasn't been a death," Jax wondered aloud.
"He's also a shaman, a conduit to the Dreamtime. His visit might be connected to the Min Min lights being captured, possibly for study at Pine Gap," Darli suggested.
Doc, with his scientific perspective, connected the dots. "The magnetic grid anomaly at Pine Gap ... The U.S. military might be examining the Min Min lights. It could have been part of Dr Sagan's work."
"He called me Jannali," Jax added.
"The name means 'moon'," Darli informed her. "In shamanic terms, it's a name of immense power."
CHAPTER
SEVEN
A long stream of red dust trailed behind Darli's SUV as it sped along the dirt road, cutting a gun-barrel line through the flat red desert plain. Darli was at the wheel, with Doc riding shotgun and Jax nestled in the backseat. Doc was in the midst of recounting Alona's captivating performance at the casino bar to Jax when Darli decelerated the vehicle.
"There’s a sign ahead," Darli interjected, her voice cutting through their conversation.
Gently braking, she brought the brown Toyota RAV4 hybrid to a stop. They all peered at the sign standing starkly against the landscape: 'US Government Military Installation of Pine Gap - Proceed no further - this is a military zone. Trespassers will be imprisoned.'
"That's a bit heavy," remarked Doc remarked dryly, his tone betraying a mix of scepticism and amusement.
Darli glanced back at her companions. "Should we go up to the gates?"
Jax leaned forward, her eyes glinting with determination. "Go for it," she said confidently.
As they crested a small rise, a high fence surrounding the base came into view.
Doc continued, his voice tinged with intrigue. "Rumour has it that Pine Gap has underground levels like Area 51 in the States. Some say there are downed UFOs and extra-terrestrial remains hidden here, though officially, it's just a satellite monitoring station."
"Yeah, right ... Why here, though? Why not use Parkes in New South Wales if it's good enough for NASA?" Darli mused.
"You’ve got a point there," Doc conceded.
Darli brought the car to a halt in front of the towering ten-foot-high gates. Almost on cue, a military jeep rolled up from within Pine Gap, heading towards them.
Jax chuckled from the backseat, "Well, that didn't take long."
Doc and Jax exited the vehicle, leaving Darli behind to wait. After presenting their IDs through the mesh, the security personnel unlocked the gate, guiding them onto a jeep before driving off, abandoning Darli in the SUV.
Throughout the bumpy journey towards the facility, Doc and Jax scrutinised the layout of the base. A dozen massive, white domes, like colossal golf balls, were interspersed among approximately ten principal structures of varying dimensions. Jax cast a questioning glance at Doc, who responded with a shrug, equally baffled by their function. The jeep came to a stop outside an elongated, two-storey building, where the guards escorted Jax and Doc inside.
The interior of the building was sleek yet austere, a hallmark of military establishments. They halted before an office door, instructed to wait. The guards withdrew. The door bore the inscription: Colonel Charlie Connors, Base Commanding Officer. After a brief interval, an adjutant motioned them inside, then to another office.
Colonel Connors, a distinguished American in his fifties, clad in military attire, stood behind his desk and signalled the adjutant to depart. He spoke with a southern drawl, "Doctor Lee and Miss de Loite, welcome to Pine Gap. I’m Charlie Connors … you can call me Chuck. You Aussies are fond of nicknames, mine’s inspired by the 60s TV show 'The Rifleman', featuring my namesake..." Receiving no reaction, he proceeded, "Hmm, seems that was before your time. Please, take a seat." They obliged.
Just as Jax was about to speak, Chuck gestured for silence. "I know, I know, you’re eager to hear about Dr Sagan. Let me assure you, this could have been a rather mortifying predicament for us ... But, I believe the best approach to quench your curiosity is to..."
A buzzer interrupted, drawing his attention to a compact surveillance screen on his desk.
"Excuse me..." He pressed a button. The door opened, and the same adjutant ushered in a man clad in a white lab coat.
Chuck rose. "Miss de Loite and Doctor Lee, this is Dr Sagan."
Dr Sagan greeted them with a friendly nod.
Jax, bewildered, began, "But?"
Chuck interjected. "Thank you, Doctor Sagan." He nodded at the adjutant.
The adjutant acknowledged Sagan, and they left. Chuck motioned for Jax and Doc to sit once more. "As I was saying, it could have been quite embarrassing for us, yet we managed. It turns out, Dr Sagan was romantically involved with a woman in Alice Springs. They wed, and she desired to depart from Alice Springs ... I’m not implying that was her sole motivation ... but we’re fairly certain she saw Dr Sagan as her opportunity to leave. When Dr Sagan declined to accompany her, she concocted an intricate abduction hoax to coerce us into relinquishing the esteemed doctor."
Suddenly, both Chuck and Doc were distracted by Jax, who had reclined in her chair, laughing heartily.
"Yeah, well, I guess you could find it amusing," Chuck said, visibly agitated by her laughter.
"Ah, Colonel," Jax said with a sigh, wiping tears from her eyes, "honestly sir ... I’ve never heard so much nonsense in my life. Who writes your material? I'd fire him if I were you."
Doc began chuckling as well. "She’s right, Colonel. What a load of codswallop!"
Chuck stood, his face indignant, glaring at them. "I’m sorry you find the official explanation laughable ... I showed you the respect of not only introducing you to Dr Sagan but also offered an explanation of the circumstances, and you show no respect in return." He pressed a button on his desk. "I bid you both, good day."
The adjutant entered and gestured for Jax and Doc to leave. Chuck sat back in his chair, glaring with contempt. Jax remained standing, returning the stare. "I’m sorry, Colonel, no disrespect intended, but I’d consider my suggestion. There are many great writers out there. I can recommend a few if you like."
The Colonel ignored her, focusing on papers on his desk.
"Thanks for your time, Colonel," Doc said facetiously.
"So, I suppose a tour of the facility is now out of the question?" Jax joked.
Chuck snapped, "Adjutant, show the civilians out."
The tall, skinny man replied submissively, "Sir." He opened the door for Jax and Doc to leave.
CHAPTER
EIGHT
Doc and Jax alighted from the same US Military jeep that had transported them into Pine Gap. The gate swung open automatically, and two guards observed them as they proceeded towards Darli's SUV.
Perched on the bonnet, Darli leapt down to welcome them. "Welcome back to Australia. How was America?"
"Glad to be back; it wasn't particularly hospitable there," Doc answered.
Jax, seizing the opportunity for a final quip, lobbed a sarcastic comment, audible to the gate guards. "Don’t worry, we're on our way out ... we can tell when we're not welcome on our own country."
