An Unmarked Grave by Kent Conwell Read Free Book Online

proper burial
in the local cemetery. Some of the pieces of the ship had
some sort of hieroglyphics or symbols on them. There was
even a write-up in a Dallas paper."
    I listened with both appropriate interest and equally appropriate reservations.

    My reservations grew as Justin, caught up in the enthusiasm of his mission in life, spoke of the Changing World
Order, then The False Green Gospel, and finally ended up
bogged down in Signs of the Last Days.
    I had a friend who believed in those sort of far-out theories and initiatives. To his disappointment, the world had
not come to an end the eight times he had prepared for it. In
his attic, he had stored crates of Ramen noodles, cases of
tinned meat, and so many five-gallon containers of water
that the ceiling over the bathroom gave way.
    Unfortunately, he was in the tub at the time and got his
arm snapped in two spots. But he still believes. Don't
ever doubt that for every sane person, there aren't at least
five kooks. Once, I heard someone say they'd known
people as nutty as a granola bar. And that was a problem
with no solution, for even if you took out the nuts and fruit,
what you still had left were the flakes. At that moment,
my opinion of Justin Chester was swinging in the same
direction.
    He must have spotted the wry curl of my lips. "You don't
believe me, do you?"
    With a shrug, I passed it off. "Never really thought about
it, Justin. It's an interesting concept"
    "It's more than interesting."
    I glanced at him.
    He was animated, bouncing with excitement and exuding a vibrant enthusiasm. He continued. "In 1948, back before our time, the United Nations was formed. Right?"
    I grinned sheepishly and flexed my fingers on the wheel.
"I'll take your word for it"
    "Well, it was, and then Israel was given world recognition. As an independent nation, the country fulfilled the prophecy
that, in the years to come, she would be a world player."

    Now I was growing uncomfortable. "I never heard that"
    "It's true. It was a Biblical prophecy."
    "Okay" I crossed my fingers that his lecture was over,
but I was disappointed. He was just getting started.
    "To top everything off, today, ethical and moral values
are collapsing, and science is making greater gains in one
year than in the entire previous century."
    I could feel his eyes boring into the side of my head.
    In a somber voice, he added. "Those are the Signs of the
Last Days"
    "So," not knowing what else to say, I asked, "how does
that tie into the UFO business?"
    "It's all part of it. The UFOs and the Changing World
Order." He paused and studied me, seeing the skepticism in
my eyes. "You don't believe me, do you?"
    "Well, I-"
    He interrupted. "That's all right. With the inheritance, I
can buy equipment that will help me prove the UFO existed,
and when I do, you'll be the first one I call. Okay? Just to
prove to you I'm right."
    Fortunately, the city limits of Austin came into view.
    And I sighed with relief. "Okay."
    I pulled up in front of the Chester mansion. Justin remained motionless. "It hasn't changed much" He looked
around at me. The expression on his face reminded me of
a frightened boy heading for the woodshed and a date with a
paddle. "Maybe we ought to go get something to eat first.
What do you think, Tony?"

    "No. Your family's been waiting for you, Justin. They're
eager to see you"
    Clearing his throat nervously, he mumbled, "Would you
mind very much going inside with me, Tony?"
    His request took me by surprise until I realized that after
fifteen years, he was almost like a stranger in his own home.
And even if his family did not treat him as such, he would
feel that way.
    With a grin, I laid a hand on his shoulder. "No problem,
Justin. Let's get it done"
    Halfway up the walk, the door flew open, and Tricia hurried out to meet him, tears running down her cheeks. She
threw her arms around his neck and hugged him to her. "Oh,
Justin, Justin. It's been so long"
    Tentatively, he