My flight home was scheduled to leave the following morning at 11. Nicki wanted to be sure that we had enough gas in the Chrysler so took me along while she filled up, joking that I might get to see more of "beautiful downtown Fairbanks." I agreed and we drove around, taking the "scenic route."

Nicki nudged me with her elbow, "Here. Load it up." It was the scrimshaw box again.

"Sure." This was becoming familiar to me again. As we drove around the wide streets in the dark we saw a collection of headlights approaching. There were dozens of vehicles in a line and Nicki pulled the car to the curb. "What's that?"

"It's just the monsters. They do this every now and then."

As they drew closer it was obviously a military convoy of Hummers and larger half-track vehicles. They were painted white and gray-blue - camouflage for the icy environment - and were a reminder that Fairbanks is a strategic location for the same forces that run the death ray. My anger ignited again but Nicki quickly drove away and we stopped for gas.

The gas station was run by an Inuit man. I went inside to get us both some coffee. The owner's wife was inside. In fact, it appeared they lived there in the station. I could hear a baby crying as I poured the coffee and when I went to pay for it, I saw the baby sitting near the cash register. It had a thick red growth on its chin - bright red -and it displaced the skin on the child's entire neck. This was another birth defect, but was it related to the heater? Was this just a coincidence? Or was something really wrong in Fairbanks?

Nicki was in such a good mood that I didn't mention the baby. We smoked some more, listened to more Allman Brothers on her 8-track and headed back to her place before meeting our friends at the Mecca.

The party was small. Dave and Marie both thanked me for coming and gave me a miniature bottle of Khalua as a joke parting gift. I suspected the drink had some personal significance relating to their inter-racial marriage, but I didn't ask. Jonas also thanked me and took me aside, "Hey. Nicki really shined up to you. I can tell you like her too. You keep in touch with her - okay?" I assured him I would do that. Later he was too drunk to talk, but we had said everything that was important.

I wanted to say something special to Nicki, but not "good-bye." She had gotten to me, had shared some special moments with me and had allowed me to be vulnerable - to be human. Later when everyone had gone home we returned to her apartment and talked all night. For some reason I was not tired at all and we shared our life and times in a way that I have not done in many years. Although we were not physically intimate, there was a bond, a future, but I didn't know how it would develop.

In the morning there were phone calls. I called Vey back in Connecticut and Dave and Jonas called me to say thanks. Nicki took me to the airport and I gave her my parka and retrieved my leather jacket and suitcase. Fatigue prevented me from getting emotional and I was soon back in Connecticut, making notes and writing my story.

No, it doesn't end here. In fact, this is just the beginning of what happens when you reveal the truth and confront the most powerful organization on Earth. The story was published [see story], in part, and it did get a reaction. And that's next.