Freddy Anderson’s Home: Book 1 (25 page)

Chapter 43
Shop

T
he next day was Friday. When I got up, the computer said,
“Freddy, you have two mess
ages.”

“Go ahead, computer.”

“First message from Susan James. Freddy, your meeting with the media is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. this afternoon. It will be held in the Crescent City Elk Middle School at Crescent City. End of mes
sage.”

“Computer, acknowledge receipt and then delete first message.”

“Acknowledged. Deleted. Second message from Susan James. Freddy, your lawyers would like to talk to you before you go to the meeting this afternoon. End of mes
sage.”

“Computer, acknowledge receipt and then delete second message.”

“Acknowledged. Deleted. End of mess
ages.”

I looked at the time, and it was only four in the morning, so I decided to go outside, finish anchoring the house, and work in my workshop. I dressed and headed downstairs. Petty Officer Patricia Henderson was on watch and saw me on the scanners, moving about. She was nice enough to make sure that I saw her, so I wouldn’t be startled. After finishing the house, I said hello to her.

“Hi, Dr. Anderson. Where are you going?” asked Patricia.

“It’s ‘Freddy,’ and I’m going to work for a couple of hours in my workshop. I’ll be back for breakfast. Just have the computer call me when it’s ready. Thanks.”

I walked out, knowing that she was watching my every step. I really didn’t care, as they were all going to see sometime anyway. I walked up to the side of the cliff and mentally touched the button inside. I was instantly challenged by the computer and scanned.

“Good morning, Fr
eddy.”

“Good morning. Shop, please report.” I started walking directly through the wall of the cliff. I could feel Patricia’s emotions, and she was freaking out. I knew the lieutenant was about to be awakened early.

“Everything is secure. The project has been completed, and the robots are awaiting further instruct
ions.”

“Home?”

“Yes, Fr
eddy?”

“What time did the lieutenant go to sleep last night?”

“She did not, Freddy. She stayed up until just an hour
ago.”

“That’s not good. Oh well, it’s not my problem. They all need to get used to me.” I walked back into the workshop, and it was exactly as I planned. The problem was—my plans were wrong, and so I started setting the robots to make some changes.

I heard Katie in my head. “
Are you all right, Fr
eddy?”

“Yes,”
I answered, and I raised my mental shields.

Getting the robots set for the changes took about an hour, and I couldn’t do much while that was going on, so I decided to grab some breakfast. When I exited the cliff, several people were standing there, watching.

“Hello, Freddy.”

“Hi, Patricia. You still on watch?”

“No. Betsy is in the computer room, watching the scanners. She has the watch. Where were you?”

“In my workshop. Why?”

“We could not detect your presence in the area. We were worried and more than a little concerned when I saw you walk into a mountain. When I ran out here, the wall was just that—a wall.”

Maggie added, “The scanners don’t reach into your workshop, Freddy. That part of the mountain seems to be blanked out. Even the portable scanners won’t penetrate the cliff. Everyone was worried, except the lieutenant. She said, ‘He’ll come out,’ and Katie said that you were okay.”

“I’m sorry, but you’ll have to admit that the lieutenant was right again. I came out. My workshop is protected from all energy emissions, so the toy scanners that I’m letting you use are useless. No one can see into or enter my workshop without my direct permission. I’m not ready to let you have use of one of the high-level scanners, at least not yet.”

“How will we know when you’re in your workshop or off somewhere else, then?”

“Simple. Home?”

A big voice sounded directly above them.
“Yes, Fr
eddy?”

“If any of the people with level 2-D or above clearance need to know if I’m in my workshop, or if they need to talk to me due to an emergency or to know my condition, please contact Shop and get them the information. Understand?”

“Unders
tood.”

“Did you catch that, Shop?”

The sweetest motherly voice sounded.
“Yes, Freddy, and I will provide the following information upon request: whether you are or are not in the workshop. If you are in the workshop, upon request I will provide your physical and mental condition and allow communication if it is an emergency. Is this cor
rect?”

“Yes, that is exactly what I want. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, Fr
eddy.”

They all looked stunned. Patricia said, “Your workshop computer seems to be more advanced than your home computer.”

“Very much so, but we can talk about that later. Right now, I’m hungry, so I’m going to get myself something to eat. Anything else?”

“No, that should do it. Thank you, Freddy.”

“You’re welcome.” As I was walking away, I could feel the emotion and at least one had a little fear. I touched that fear, and it was about the workshop computer. She had a fear of intelligent computers—strange. I could also hear them examining the wall. I said a little mental “good luck, girls” and walked into the house.

Blue said, “If he knew what we know, he would have fear of intelligent computers also.”

Everything went black.

Green smiled. “He knows now. I just gave him that memory, and the Body System reinforced it with information of their own.”

Blue looked pleased. “Good. Continue.”

Chapter 44
The Office

C
olleen was in the kitchen, preparing breakfast for everyone—bacon, spicy potatoes, and eggs, just the way I liked them. I asked Colleen how long she was going to have to do KP duty. “Are you being punished? You don’t seem to enjoy it much, although you are very good at it.”

“The lieutenant has already requested that additional people be screened for the cook and other positions. Moreover, I’m not being punished. Someone has to do the job until we get a regular cook, and everyone here knows that I can cook, so I was volunteered. The cooking is not the part I like or dislike. It’s the cleanup.”

I smiled. “I like the cleanup. I have a brain block to cooking. I tend to make it way too complicated and try to reinvent each recipe. It seldom comes out very good.” I said in a low tone, “In fact, sometimes it comes out very badly from both ends.” On a cheerier note, I added, “Cleaning up takes no mental abilities at all, and I can think and plan while I’m doing it. I like having my hands in the hot water while washing dishes, and the talk that usually goes along with two or more people in the kitchen can be fun.”

She smiled. “I’m getting enough help. It’s a nice offer, Freddy, and you’re a good kid,” she said, ruffling my long hair, “but the lieutenant already assigned people to help with cleanup. They are on KP duty.”

“Really? What’d they do wrong?”

“That’s not for me to say. Ask the lieutenant. The orders are to give you all the time you need to work on your projects.”

“I see.” I know I sounded a little disappointed.

“What’s the problem?”

“Susan is a very intelligent person. She knows that if I allow her to take over everything and do little or nothing for myself that I will end up being dependent on the team. That’s not the type of situation I want to be in.” I sighed, deciding to call my lawyers. “Thanks for breakfast. It was excellent. I liked the spicy potatoes a lot. They taste really good mixed in with the egg yolk.” I left the kitchen, knowing full well that Colleen would report our conversation to the lieutenant the moment I was out of sight.

I went into the office and opened a line to my lawyers at Zimmer and Venski. We had a good discussion about what I should say at today’s meeting, and Venski informed me that Jeff Zimmer was already there to represent me and protect my interests. The biggest thing he emphasized was not to talk about the lawsuit. After we concluded our conversation, I went to see Lt. James.

“Home, where is the Lieutenant?”

“She has made an office out of the closet next to the computer
room.”

“Thank you.” I thought,
Interesting. I need to see this. That room is really too small to be an office.
My office was in my room and in my workshop, so I had no need for this one. It was a nice office, though. I had stuffed it with loads of goodies. I had to set this straight right now, and I had to do it tactfully. “Home, is she alone?”

“No, she has four others with
her.”

“Thank you. Well, that lets out paging her to her office.” I got up and went over to the computer room. As I went by the closet, four people were standing outside, talking to someone inside. The closet was too small for more than one person at a time. I approached, and everyone parted. “Lieutenant, there you are. I was just in your office, looking for you. Are you turning this into a watch room or something?”

She looked at me and said very honestly, “No, Freddy, I’m turning this into my office.”

“Why?”

“Because I didn’t think you wanted me in your office.”

I sat down on her two foot by two foot desk. “Look, Lieutenant. I have a problem with this. I plan on entertaining people, possibly the admiral and definitely people from the town. I may need to invite some members of the media at one point or another. How’s it going to look when they find out that the person in charge of this place sits in a closet? You’re the boss. My life is in your hands, as well as that of the team’s. You make all the decisions. You’re my liaison to the base. You’re the only person, short of the president of the United States, who I trust to control my life and teach me how to be independent, as far as knowing how to do everyday things. I should be calling you Mother. You think I would put my mother in a closet? You want to embarrass my girlfriends”—I motioned around me at the team—“and me like that?” I was purposely acting like I was spinning up, getting madder and madder.

She stood up and put her arms around me. “Okay, all right. I’ll move into the office. I’d be honored. I should have asked, but I thought you wanted it for yourself.”

“I already have two offices. Why do I need a third?”

“What two offices?”

“The one hidden in my bedroom and the one in my workshop.”

She frowned at the mention of the workshop. “Freddy, I’ve been informed about your workshop.”

“Wasn’t it nice of me to give the girls access to information about me when I’m working? I didn’t want them to worry.”

She looked at me as if I had just ruined her approach on the subject, which was exactly what I was trying to do, but I could see the subject was not closed.

The Gray said, “Crafty little creature.”

Everything went black. Darn.

The Green said, “I bet you like that about it.”

“Actually, yes I do.” He looked up at the Blue and hastily said, “Continue.”

Chapter 45
Town Council Plus a Few

“I
talked to my lawyers and one of them is going to meet us in town. His name is Jeff Zimmer.”

Susan looked impressed. “Zimmer—of Zimmer and Venski?”

“Yes. Do you know them?”

“I’ve heard of them. They took the government on in a case over women in combat situations and won.”

“Yep, that’s them. They helped me gain my emancipation. My father always said, ‘Hire the best for the job, and you can expect to get the best job done.’”

“Is that why you hired that construction company? They were a long way away from here.”

“Yes, they’re the best for single construction projects, and they’re very honest.”

“Well, they did a great job—not a single crack after traveling three thousand miles. You do realize that this house is bulletproof.”

“Of course. I designed it. And who shot at my house?”

“No one. It was just an examination. My apologies; I temporarily forgot you designed it.”

“That’s okay. When are we leaving for town? I’d like to stop in and say hello to Mrs. Crain and my friends before the meeting. I’d like to get their call on the activity in their town before I make my final decision on what to say to the media.”

“That’s a good idea. I’ve had two people in town, watching. I think you should also talk to them to see where the support and nonsupport lies.”

“Great. Can you bring them in, or should we meet them there?”

“We’ll meet them in town, so we need to leave in about an hour.”

“Okay. I’ll call Mrs. Crain and see if we can have lunch at the inn. I’m sure she’ll let us hold a meeting there. How many for lunch?”

“Lunch at the inn is out. Right now, it’s full of media people.”

“Yes, I guess it would be. Sorry, I didn’t think.”

“You get yourself ready, and I’ll contact the watchers to set up something else.”

“Please include Betty Caster, Devin Miles, and Karen Jenson, if possible.”

“I’ll try, but they are all really busy. The entire town is busy.”

“I understand, but let them know that I’d like to have their input before I make a decision that could affect them.”

“Put it that way, and I don’t see how they could refuse.”

At ten o’clock, the lieutenant had the computer call me downstairs. Everything was ready. A helicopter was sitting on the left pad with the rotors idling. The designated group boarded, and off we went. The helicopter took the ocean route, and the trip was very quick. I did have time to notice the dozens of sea lions and hundreds of birds that were on or near the surrounding beaches.

“Yes,” said the lieutenant in a soft voice filled with wonder, “no matter what else you do, that”—she pointed to the beach—“justifies your existence.”

I whispered back with wonder in my voice too, “You haven’t seen anything yet.”

She put her arm around me, and we watched the beaches all the way into town.

We landed in the back lot of the lumberyard, left the helicopter, and went into the Town Hall. The meeting was already in progress, and I guessed that most of the top people were there, including Captain Mike Crain and Captain Bob Allen. Captain Crain came right up to me and picked me up. Katie moved ten feet to his side and touched his neck before the lieutenant could give her a quick hand signal that it was all right. Rubbing his neck, he looked back at me with a smile that went from ear to ear. He said in a voice that everyone could hear, “This is the child who’s bringing fishing back to the southern shores. Three cheers for Freddy!”

Everyone cheered, “Hip, hip, hooray! Hip, hip, hooray! Hip, hip, hooray!”

Captain Crain held me on his shoulder until we reached the table, and everyone quickly sat down. I had the seat at the center, and the lieutenant was next to me. The rest of the team was dispersed to check security, except Katie. She was standing there looking as if she would kill anyone who so much as looked at me the wrong way. Everyone saw the lieutenant motion to her not to react to the captain, and they knew that without that signal, she would have killed him. Consequently, many of them were looking at Katie instead of me. Normally, this would have been fine with me, but I needed their attention, so I used telepathy to tell her, “
Katie, you’ve frightened them all.”
She smiled and went over to the captain. She put out her hand and said, “I’m sorry, sir. It’s just that you surprised me. No hard feelings?”

The captain took her hand and said, “None at all, young lady,” as he smiled his big, friendly smile. “I don’t think I could ask for anyone better to protect one of our town members.”

That settled everyone down, and we discussed the town and what would be best for everyone. I was surprised at their answers. They wanted to have the media there. It was good for business and with all the attention I was attracting, it would likely cause a boom in the population, and that would create more jobs, more revenue for the stores, and spark an increase in the price of their catches.

“Are you sure this is what you want? This is such a nice town, and you all get along so well and work together wonderfully. Do you really want to expand?”

I got a resounding yes from everyone, except Betty Caster. I asked her what her reservations were.

“I come from a big city. I moved out here to get away from the crime.”

Mayor Devin Miles patted her on the back. “It’s going to stay crime-free, Betty. Isn’t it, Lieutenant?”

“With Freddy’s permission, it will.”

I looked at her and asked, “What permission?”

“I want to use your lie detector in the local court. It’s a good way to test it out, and it will give this town one of the best courts in the country. Instant knowledge of the truth will make it so people won’t be able to get away with anything.”

“That’s a good thing for keeping crime down, but it would be bad if you started using it for checking to see if your husband was cheating on you or to settle arguments with your kids.”

“Why?” asked a shocked Mayor Miles.

“How do people react if they know a person can read their minds? They stay away from that person. They become paranoid, and they eventually move away. It could be simple little things that aren’t even a crime, like asking, ‘Did you make it to home base last night with your girlfriend? What were you doing out with your neighbor’s wife last night? Is your kid really as good as you say? Did you really bake this yourself?’”

“Freddy, I think we get the point. The unit will need to be monitored very carefully and used for the express purpose of solving crimes or major disputes.”

“Yes, and to that effect, I haven’t patented it yet, so I will need assurance that it will be kept in control of someone who reports to us on a regular basis. It will have to be one of the SEAL team who uses it and keeps it.”

“Can’t you trust someone from the town?” asked Betty.

“I trust you a lot, but I don’t want to put your life in jeopardy.”

“My life?”

“Yes. People may come here to conduct espionage. Just one of my inventions could make someone a multimillionaire. Some people would kill or hire someone to kill for them for such a chance.”

Betty turned red. “I think you’re right, Freddy. It would be better if one of the SEAL team handled the unit.”

“Good, as long as the lieutenant agrees to that stipulation, then it’s not a problem.”

Susan nodded her head. “That will also give us daily reports on the whereabouts of the unit. If it was stolen, then Freddy could patent it before anyone else could take it apart and figure out how it works.”

“Well
 …
if they take it apart,” I said sheepishly, “I hope they’re in a bomb shelter so that no one else gets hurt. Many of my devices are booby-trapped with very powerful explosives.”

Betty said nervously, “We need the unit, and I have no problem with one of the lieutenant’s people doing
all
the handling of it.”

Captain Crain sat back and laughed. “What? No guts, Betty?”

“Not for blowing my brains out, no.”

“Well, it’s time for Freddy and his companions to eat before he takes on the media. We can work out the details over lunch,” said Mayor Miles.

Lunch was catered by Betty’s Diner, and it was great. We had to hurry, though, as the time to leave for the meeting was getting close. Everyone except the mayor and Captain Crain had already left for Crescent City and would meet us there.

Blue looked thoughtful. “That’s very interesting.”

Everything went black.

“Sire?” both the Gray and Green said at the same time.

“Instead of running to the Blues, the Yellow, and sometimes the Whites the moment he thinks he has any possibility of a breakthrough, this one hides his inventions and traps them so they cannot be stolen before he has them completely ready.”

“Yes, sire. That is their way. They work on an incentive program called money. It is an ingenious program. You need money to eat, and the more money you have, the better you can eat. However, the more money you have, the more you need to keep what you have. It is a vicious circle that forces them to work harder. Of course, a few have found a way to beat the program, and they hold most of the money.”

Blue looked shocked. “If we stay in contact with this species, we will correct that greed.”

Gray said, “I certainly hope so.”

Blue said, “Please continue.”