Chapter Forty-Nine: Safe and Out

After receiving the phone call Harold decided to search out the source of the call. If Idlewild really was a “safe-zone” as he had been told, then it made sense that the person who called him would be here in the park. He also started to think that if the park interfered with the monitoring of the agency, then it could look suspicious if he stayed in the park too long. There had to be a way to find the mystery caller without endangering himself or anyone else.

Harold went back to the office and spent a few hours working, mostly just passing the time with menial tasks. Before it was too dark outside, he went to the lab and got Serenity from her cage. It was a good cover, certainly very believable. He let the others that were still in the office know that he had Serenity with him and that he was going to go out for some “sensory experimentation”, as he put it. It was a made-up word he used to justify why he had to take her outdoors. It wasn't something he had ever done before.

Once in his car, Harold made his way back to the park where he would look for the man with the answers. He worried that the agency knew what he was up to. At any moment the game could be up. If they could read minds, then why haven't they done anything to stop him? His palms were sweaty and his heart raced as he made the final turn into the park. He got out of the car and helped the chimp out and casually strolled across he lawn, feeling more relaxed even though he still wasn't sure this area was safe.

After about an hour of roaming the park, Harold decided to let Serenity wander around a little on her own. She scurried about excitedly, obviously thrilled at the dramatic difference between this place and the cage she found herself in every other day. Harold closed his eyes for a moment only to be surprised by a loud yell. He looked over to see Serenity jumping up and down with a yellow pair of Spongebob Squarepants boxers pulled over her head. She had climbed into the open window of a car and grabbed them from the backseat. The owner of the boxers was running to the car, decisively displeased that they were being used as a headdress by a primate.

Harold also began running to the chimp saying, “No, no, no, Serenity! Those aren't yours!” He always talked to the Chimp as if she knew exactly what he was saying. After all, this was the entire purpose of Project: Prodigy. To create a comprehension within the chimp's mind – to make human-like thought and comprehension possible. It was slow-going so far, but a breakthrough was expected any day now.

He pulled the boxers away from Serenity somewhat forcefully and apologetically handed them to the large, black man that stood in front of him with a disdainful frown on his face. “I'm so sorry. She's never been outdoors before, so this is all very new to her. I'm really very sorry.” Harold apologized profusely to the man and then turned to Serenity and continued. “Those aren't yours! Do you understand? They belong to this man.” Serenity acknowledged with a crude nod that she understood, which took the man somewhat by surprise.

“Can you wait here a minute?” asked the man.

“Uh, sure,” responded Harold. After all, he had nowhere he needed to be. He continued to scan the area while he waited for the man to come back.

Harold didn't know it yet, but his problem with the agency would soon be solved. Something beyond the understanding of an ordinary mind was about to take place. The agency would be left helpless to act any further on any person.

* * *

The encounter that Sam and Chris had just had with the strange, thin man left them feeling particularly good. Assured that they had nothing further to worry about, they got up from the bench and made their way out of the park. Trusting the words of the stranger, they decided to leave Reno - at least for the moment. They had grown to like he town and thought it might not be a bad place to settle down. But for now they thought it would be nice to go home.

Chris would leave the university, denying the doctors any chance of solving the mystery placed before them. Sam was leaving the fear and confusion caused by what the agency had done to her and through her. Maybe Chris would go back and dig out the old motorcycle and they could return to the diner. It was as good a plan as any, and one they agreed on together.