Prologue

The following paid announcement appeared in the Clovis News Journal:

     The former Lillian Grace Maxwell Jacobs of Manhattan, New York; and Mr. Jackson Alexander Masters, formerly of Torrens Creek, Queensland, Australia, were united in marriage on Saturday, June 10, 2006.
     The ceremony was held at Grace Tabernacle Church, Reverend Rick Salazar, officiated. Mr. Joshua Sanders served as Best Man. A reception was held immediately after the service.
    Ms. Maxwell and Mr. Masters are former residents of Clovis; both graduated Clovis High School in 1958.
    Ms. Maxwell recently retired as an editor for Windward Family Publishing Company, of New York. Mr. Masters is a former self-employed Australian bush pilot and outback guide.
    The couple will now reside in Clovis where Mr. Masters will pursue a career as a writer.

            The Cessna 172R Skyhawk gracefully lifted off the runway of the Clovis Municipal Airport and banked slightly north into the bright and clear blue New Mexico sky. Jack and Lillian enjoyed the view of the majestic horizon, which stretched out for a hundred miles across the high plains.

            “Oh Jack, this is so wonderful.”

            “I wasn't sure you'd really want to fly today since you just did all that jet-setting around the country, but I thought I'd take my chances anyway.”

            “You did real well–I can't wait to see the Caprock again.”

            “It's been a remarkable couple of weeks hasn't it, Sunshine?”

            “That's putting it lightly. And by the way, you don't have to impress me by chasing any cows today, okay?”

            “Hadn't even crossed my mind, darling,” Jack replied, as he reached over and placed his right hand on top of Lillian's left knee. She responded by placing her hand on his and grasping it gently.

"We'll be coming up on the Caprock pretty quick like,” Jack reported.

            “I suppose this plane goes just a little faster than the last one we flew in together?"

            “Oh, yeah,” Jack replied with a big grin on his face.

            “No matter how old the 'boy', he still gets a thrill out of his toys,” chided Lillian.

            “You bet ya'. Look over there–can you see those white specks up ahead?”

            “Yes. What are they?”

            “I'm not going to tell you just quite yet. I want you to try and figure it out for yourself first.”

            “So, you mean you already know what they are?”

            “Yes, the airport manager clued me in this morning. He wanted to give me a heads up since I haven't been to the Caprock in almost fifty years.”

            “I noticed the two of you talking quite a bit while you were going through all of the formalities to rent the plane.”

            “He seems like a pretty nice fella'. He's done a great job with the airport. I can't believe how much larger and modern it is as compared to the old days.”

            “Jack, what in the world, I can't believe my eyes, those gigantic propellers on top of those towers...”

            “Those propellers generate electricity believe it or not. The almost constant wind out here moves the blades.”

            “You're kidding me? There are so many of them. They practically cover the whole Caprock in both directions,” Lillian replied.

            “I can't really decide whether to be impressed or depressed,” Jack offered.

            “I know what you mean. The whole sight is pretty surreal though isn't it?”

            “Yes it is,” Jack replied, as he continued taking in the strange sight. Hey, how about we fly over the site where we went down so long ago?”
            “Well, I suppose that would be okay. I don't want to land though, if that’s alright with you?” Lillian responded jokingly.

At first, Jack thought she was serious but then quickly realized that his new bride was only kidding him.

“How are you going to find the place? I mean, that was a very long time ago.”

            “I do remember that we went down a mile or so northwest of Pleasant Valley Cemetery. We should be able to find the graveyard pretty easily I would think.”

The cemetery had been established in the early 1900's and rested along state highway 469, which ran north and south through the state. The community of San Jon, in Quay County sat just a few miles to the north of the cemetery where the highway intersected with old Route 66.      

“There it is my love, the cemetery. Now, we just head northwest a little ways and we should be in the approximate area of our crash–I mean–our former landing site.”

            “Jack, I've been meaning to ask you. What did you do with your business and your airplanes back in Australia?”

            “I sold the business, and the airplanes went with it. I offered to lease everything to Sammy Huggins but he said that he had decided to pursue a new career.”

            “A new career doing what?”

            “He and his family are going to start a camel ranch.”

            “A cattle ranch? That's okay, I suppose.”

            “No a CAMEL ranch.”

            “Camel?”

            “Yes. Camels are quite popular in Australia; some folks even race them.”

            “Now, that would be a real sight, a bunch of camels lumbering across the outback trying to outrun each other.”

            “Camels can actually move pretty darn fast, faster than most people think.”

            "You almost sound like you're speaking from personal experience, Jack."

            "I am in deed, but I'll have to tell you all about it some other time," Jack replied with a wink. “Well, there you go, Sunshine. We're right over our little 'spot' now.”

            “My, it doesn't look any different than it did fifty years ago.”

            “Sure doesn't. It's almost as if time has stood completely still out here.”

            “I can wholeheartedly agree with you on that statement. Other than those giant windmills back there on the Caprock, everything looks pretty much exactly the same," replied Lillian.

            “What do you say I swing this aircraft around and head back home, but I'll take us over the old Long Grass Ranch on the way back?”

            “That would be interesting to say the least.”

            “That's what I was thinking.”

About thirty minutes later, the Cessna carrying Jack and Lillian arrived over the northern most section of the old ranch. Farther to the south they both could easily see that a massive amount of construction was going on.

            “Well, would you look at that?”

            “What is it, Jack? Oh, wait a minute, I see what you mean. What in the world are those things?”

            “Well, the term 'crop circles' is what just popped into my head, but if you look closely enough there aren't any crops,” replied Jack.

            “No there aren't. It actually looks as if the designs or whatever they are– are either dug out or engraved into the top soil.”

            “That's exactly what it looks like to me.”

            “What do you suppose those things are ...” Suddenly, their conversation was interrupted by the sound of the aircraft's VHF radio breaking squelch.

            “Calling the pilot of the unidentified Cessna aircraft, you are hereby directed to depart our airspace immediately.”

            “What?” Jack muttered.

            “Jack, can they do that?”

            “I don't think so. The military at Cannon Air Force Base just south of here can, but not those folks.”

            “This is the flight control tower at Mission Indigo at Clovis, be warned that intrusion into our airspace will not be tolerated. You must depart this area immediately.”

            “That sounds pretty scary to me, Jack.”

            “That's exactly what they're trying to do, to scare us. Doesn't that make you just a little more curious about what's going on out here?”

            “Yes, but I'm not sure I'm up for that today.”

Jack glanced over at Lillian and realized that she had suddenly grown quite pale.

            “Okay, my love. I'll get us out of here right now. What the heck?”

            “What's wrong?” Lillian asked nervously.

            “The oil pressure gauge, it just went to zero.”

            “What does that mean?”

            “It means if the gauge is still working correctly, we have no oil pumping through the engine right now.”

            “Is that a serious thing?”

            “Yes, very serious. Without oil, the engine will overheat and....” Suddenly, Jack noticed black smoke as it began pouring out from the engine compartment cowling which was located at the front left-hand side of the aircraft.

            “We've got to sit this thing down right now before we lose all power. Hold on tight, Lillian.”

Jack immediately began preparing the aircraft for an emergency landing. He also grabbed the radio microphone and began transmitting. “Mission Indigo, this is 'November-53761', we've lost all oil pressure and are now quickly losing engine power. We're preparing to land immediately.”

            “November-53761, your transmission has been received. Be aware though that you are not authorized to land on our property. We repeat, do not attempt a landing here. You are directed to head due east and to attempt an emergency landing on a different property or possibly a county road or highway. We repeat, do not land on our property. Is that clear?”

            “Clear as mud,” Jack muttered to himself as he quickly dropped the radio microphone into his lap in order to wrestle with the controls of the plane with both hands. The aircraft was quickly becoming more and more uncontrollable.

“I'm sorry about this sweetheart–I have no idea why this is happening.”

            “It's okay my love, just focus on what you've got to do and get us down safely, okay?”

            “You can count on that, Sunshine!”

Suddenly, the aircraft engine died. An eerie silence followed.

The silence only lasted a few seconds though. It was soon broken by Lillian's bloodcurdling scream.

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