The sky was the same washed out grey as the buildings in the city. In this area, on these streets. he knew he stuck out like a sore thumb. He skirted around prostitutes, drug dealers, hustlers, pimps, his coat collar up, his head down.

“ Hey honey anything you want for 15 bucks “

He looked up briefly. She was maybe thirty, going on sixty, it was hard to tell.

“ No thanks “ he carried on walking.

“ Well fuck you asshole “ she turned to another woman and laughed.

He walked on.

As directed on the corner of Main Street stood the bar. A huge, muscled, bald, tattooed man standing behind the counter stared at him silently as he entered.

“ I’m looking for Lou “

The barman said nothing and motioned with his head to a table in the corner. An old smartly dressed man sporting a brown fedora sat at a table studying a newspaper. He walked over.

“ Lou ? “

The old man looked up

“ You John ? “

“ Yes “

Lou stared back down at his paper.

“ It plugs a port,

four letters beginning with C “

“ Sorry ? “

“ Crossword clue “ He tapped the paper with his pen. “ It plugs a port, four letters “

“ Cork ? “

The old man scribbled it on the crossword

“ Yeah that works. You got it “

John pulled a chair out and sat down opposite.

“ No problem ! “

Lou looked up and stared at him at him unblinkingly.

“ No, I mean have you got it ? “

He reached in his coat pocket.

“ Oh I see, Yes “

The old man reached into a scruffy brown satchel and bought out a notebook, placed it on the table in front of him, lifted the lid, and motioned with his hand for him to pass the memory stick. Hands trembling he passed it. Lou plugged it into the usb socket, tapped some buttons and stared at the screen. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a fat brown envelope and slid it across the table.

“ It’s all there, count it if you want “ He continued to stare at the screen.

John slid the envelope into his coat and stood up.

“ Can I go now ? “

Lou pulled his eyes away from the screen frowning.

“ Sure you can go, this ain’t a date, just one thing, how did you come by it ? “

John shrugged

“ Does it matter ? “

Lou stared back down at the screen.

“ You got copies ? “

“ No I don’t want anything

more to do with it “

Lou motioned with his hand for him to leave, never taking his eyes off the screen.

A week later the city burned, cities all over the world burned. On a smouldering newspaper stand a copy of the Daily Herald sat awaiting its fiery end. The headline and sub header read.

Military Called In To Regain Control

Total societal breakdown imminent as truth behind extra terrestrial existence revealed.

John picked up the telephone ringing on his leather topped desk.

“ Yes Sir Mr President, coming right in “