Freddy Anderson’s Home: Book 1 (27 page)

Another hand went up in front, and the lieutenant picked that one.

“What are your plans for the future?”

“There is a need that I must take care of immediately. I am working on that issue first, and it is not up for discussion. After that, I have a goal that I am moving toward. I have split that goal into hundreds of smaller goals and those into even smaller goals and have prioritized them. I will be working on achieving all of those goals over the next few years.”

“What is your big goal?”

I turned to the lieutenant and whispered, “Would it be bad if I told them my overall goal?”

“Depends on what it is.”

“To colonize other planets.”

Her eyes widened considerably. “Yes, that would be bad to tell them, not because you couldn’t do it but because they will think you’re nuts. Do you have a smaller goal you can share with them?”

“How about the first step—to establish a city on the moon?”

“That would certainly be more believable. After you achieve that goal, then letting them in on the next step would be okay, but let’s take it one step at a time.”

I turned back to the crowd. “First, I must address this one issue, and then the goal I will be working toward is to establish a city on the moon.”

That provoked another loud uprising. When things quieted down, the question was asked. “What are you going to call it?”

I smiled. “I actually have two possible answers, one derived from a book I’ve read by a wonderful and imaginative writer—Lunar City, from Robert Heinlein’s
The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress—
and my own thought is First Base.”

“First Base. Sounds like that’s only the first step.”

“It is,” I said with a hint of mysteriousness. “If you want to ride along, then play nice.”

At that, I stepped down, and we left. Mr. Zimmer said that I did very well, and then he took off.

Several questions were yelled at us while we were heading to the helicopter, but I answered only one. It was a surprise, and I decided that it was worth answering. Someone yelled, “Dr. Anderson, if the media asks for a truce, are you willing to talk?”

I stopped and turned to the reporter who asked the question. “It would be a shame if the media were to ask for a truce after I’ve dropped only one little bomb.” I pretended to think for a second. “In truth, I don’t really need or like the distraction from my work.” I thought for another second and said, “I must admit that the prospects of dropping my next bomb and eventually getting to some of the big ones are looking more and more possible, but then I don’t enjoy destroying people’s lives and putting thousands of people out of jobs, so yes. I suppose I would be interested in hearing what they have to say, but only if my lawyers and the lieutenant here say I should.”

We climbed into the helicopter and left.

“
Red!
”

Everything went black.

“Sire?”

“That is the Red’s stance on the Whites (media) and Blues (politicians) to an exactness that is near amazing. This boy is as close to one of our Reds (top scientists) as I have ever seen in another species.”

Green smiled and said with pride, “Yes, sire, he is.”

Gray mumbled, “With a hint of Gray.”

Blue and Green turned toward Gray with a look of shock, and Blue said, “Green, continue.”

Chapter 47
Straightening Things Out

S
usan said, “That was an interesting answer to the question, Freddy.”

“But it’s true. I would listen, and if they came up with a workable plan that would be beneficial, I might even entertain the idea of calling off the war. We didn’t start it to destroy the entire media world. We started it to set parameters, and if we achieve that goal, then there’s no need to continue with the war.”

“Be careful not to end it too quickly or seem too willing.”

“Okay, but an end to it and a smooth relationship would be good for us all.”

“Not if they think they might be able to get away with things that seem little now but may be big sometime down the road. For instance, don’t promise that they can come along on every test ride.”

“I won’t. Thanks.”

The trip back was uneventful except that we had escorts from the base. We stopped in town first to let Captain Crain off so that he could head back out to sea. When we sat down on the beach at the inn, a lot of people were there.

The captain asked, “What you said about being extremely interested in a girl
 …
was that my Becky?”

“Yes, sir, it was. I know we’re young and all, but I do have a crush on her.”

He smiled. “Well, if you don’t hold her for a while and tell her she’s the one you were talking about, Mrs. Crain is going to have a very upset little girl on her hands.” He pointed to Becky up at the inn. She was crying.

“Lieutenant
 
…”

“I see her, Freddy. I understand.” She cut the engines while giving hand signals to the team. The SEALs spread out for protection. Katie stayed next to me as my bodyguard. I climbed out and ran to Becky. We hugged, and I asked if she’d watched the meeting on television.

“Yes, I watched.”

I lowered my head and shyly asked, “You’re not mad at me for telling the world that I have a crush on you, are you?”

She threw her arms around my neck and kissed my face all over. Then she planted one right on my lips that was really very nice. I heard a loud clearing of someone’s throat, and she quickly pulled away. Captain Crain was standing there. He looked over at Mrs. Crain and said, “Watch these two,” and then he looked back at me and added, “Real close.” I must have been as red as a beet, and I could hear laughter from a place that caught me off guard—heaven?

With a loving look at her husband and at us, Mrs. Crain said, “I will, my captain.”

“It’s time for me to go. Becky, how about tossing some of those kisses my way?” the captain asked.

Becky jumped up and ran to her daddy. Something was wrong, but I couldn’t put a finger on it. They hugged, and he carried her and Annabelle out to the docks. After many hugs and kisses, the crew climbed aboard and cast off. Becky and I held hands as they left, and then I let her know I needed to get home but that I’d try to come to see her again soon.

She took a defensive stance and asked, “How soon? You go away for weeks and weeks and never say a word. I can’t even write you a letter because you have no address. How do you get your mail? What about e-mail? Do you have an e-mail address?”

I looked up at the lieutenant, and she said, “I’ll remind him. He can always call, but his e-mail is off-limits. I don’t want that getting out.”

I held my arm around her waist and kissed her on the cheek. “Becky, once again you’ve pointed out something that I’ve completely overlooked. What would I do without you?” I turned to the lieutenant and said, “She has a point. I need to set up an address to get mail.”

“It’s a good point. The SEALs need a way to get mail also. Petty Officer Parks will take care of it.”

“Yes, ma’am, I’m on it,” said Parks. “It’s getting a little crowded here, don’t you think?”

“Yes, we need to go anyway,” I agreed. “I have a lot of work to do. Bye, Mrs. Crain, Johnny, Carroll.” I knelt down and kissed Annabelle on the forehead. “Bye, Annabelle.”

She wrapped her arms around me and gave me a big hug. “Bye, Freddy.”

I straightened up and gave Becky one more hug and kiss on the cheek and said, “See you soon.”

Everything went black.

The Green said, “We need to stop here. The creature is strong, but if we continue without rest, we could burn it out. We can start up again in a few days.”

Gray said, “I don’t care if we burn it out. I want that information!”

Blue picked the Gray up by the top of the head and said, “If it burns out, fool, then we will never have the information.” It turned to the Green and said, “Two days.”

Then it left, with the Gray squirming in its grasp.

To be contin
ued …