The Gravity of Anti-Gravity (11 page)

We agreed to keep our conversation between the three of us confidential until our meeting at 10 AM on Monday with the FBI people. We’d meet at 8 AM, get our stories straight and be ready for our revelation at ten.

“I hope you are very persuasive, Dr. Brooks. The world as we know it might depend on it.” Stella cautioned.

-16-

Thursday evening, I called Brenda to confirm our date for Saturday. I’d just received my first, full time check from JPL. When I looked at the amount and compared it to my check amounts from In-N-Out Burger, I felt like Daddy Warbucks.

“Brenda, Donald Trump calling,” I spoke with authority and a deeper voice. “Since I have more money than sense, where would you like to go to dinner Saturday night?”

“Well Mr. Trump,” Brenda answered. “I’m sorry I didn’t know you were single again. I want to go anywhere you want to go as long as it has ‘Ritz’ in the name. I’ve always wanted to go to a restaurant with ‘Ritz’ in the name.

“My dear” I answered, “If there’s no place with that name in the area, I’ll have my assistant buy a restaurant and change the name before we get there.”

We both laughed. Then Brenda said any decent place where we could sit at a table and have real people wait on us was fine with her. I suggested that after dinner we go to a movie. There was a new science fiction blockbuster starting tomorrow.

“Bill, that sounds great,” she answered and added. You do love your science fiction don’t you?”

“Brenda, see you at seven Saturday, bye.” I said and hung up. I thought, ‘science fiction’, if you only knew.

Friday at work, Dr. Brooks, Stella and I met to fine tune our strategy. We decided that designing an electronic version of the Flying Wallenda would be easier to sell to the government and end up being more reliable. Money would be no object. And if the government were smart, they would license the technology to the world.

“You know Bill, the first time you referred to your unit as the Flying Wallenda I was amused,” said Dr. Brooks. “But the more I thought about it, it kind of makes sense. The Wallendas did crazy stuff in the air, on tightropes and thrilled the world in their day. I think that’s where you might be going, minus the tightrope I hope.”

“I just hope the tightrope doesn’t turn into a noose,” I added.

We all worked independently for the rest of the day and then we compared designs, Stella had progressed the farthest and had a rough outline for the entire project in just a few hours.

“Dr. Morton you’re not only gorgeous, you’re brilliant too.” I commented while studying her work. “Dr. Brooks, you have got to take a look at this. She has captured my concept with concise clarity.”

“Mr. Burton, be careful,” Dr. Brooks commented. “We don’t want any sexual harassment suits rolling in.”

“If two wonderful complements qualify as sexual harassment, then keep them coming.” Stella said.

After Dr. Brooks finished looking over Stella’s outline, he was stunned too. “Great work Dr. Morton. Bill, she’s done the best job here. Let’s formalize her presentation for our meeting Monday morning. If we finish it tonight, we can take the weekend off.”

“That would be great.” I said. “With the whirlwind I’ve been riding the last few weeks, I could use the rest. I’m sure you two are tired too.”

“True. Now let’s get to work” said Dr. Brooks.

I got home at 8 PM exhausted. I was disappointed that Stella hadn’t invited me over but I reasoned it was because she was as tired as I was. I went straight to bed and didn’t wake up until ten the next morning.

I decided to have a leisurely day before my date with Brenda. I called Jerry to see if he was ready for an update from me on the world’s biggest fiasco. I was able to organize a meeting with Pops, Grandma, Joanna and Jerry about 5 PM. It turned out that Jerry was taking Joanna out for a night on the town before he left to go back to the Army so he agreed to come over early. We all went to the barn.

“I guess there is some truth to the saying that ‘criminals always return to the scene of the crime’,” Jerry commented.

“Criminal or hero,” I replied, “it’s in the mind of the beholder.”

“Heavy stuff,” Jerry said and then his mood brightened, “so what’s up? You know I’m in a hurry. I’ve got a date with a hottie!”

In response, Joanna smiled, blushed and looked at Jerry lovingly.

Then I began to explain the plan we had devised at JPL.

“Remember,” I said. “What I am going to tell you must remain strictly confidential. I hate to remind everyone again, but just because everything looks rosy now, don’t forget the situation could get ugly very fast.”

“To keep us all telling the same story, remember the only two people involved are Pops and me, and that Pops never understood the purpose of what he was doing. The rest of you have to play stupid. You know nothing!” I said.

“You can count on me,” Jerry chuckled.

“The FBI will probably interview all of you and you have to act surprised if they hint at the project.” I told the group. “These guys are masters at reading body language, so this is a test of your acting skill. Just keep it light and keep asking why they are interviewing you.”

“The FBI guys will probably find me under a rock in
Afghanistan,” said Jerry. “Do you think they’ll want to wrinkle their suits and go there for an interview?”

“No Jerry, It’ll be the CIA, if it’s anybody. Let’s all agree not to volunteer the information that Jerry was here at all, except to take Joanna out. Maybe they won’t consider him a person of interest and he’ll escape their interview. By the way Jerry, I gather from what you just said that you are going back to
Afghanistan?”

“I don’t know for sure yet. I’m going for yet another four weeks of advanced training. Then I’ll find out.” Jerry answered.

“So for me, D-day is Monday,” I continued “That’s when we will tell the Feds what happened. My boss, Dr. Brooks and my associate Dr. Morton are going to explain that the time wave was just an unfortunate side effect from my anti-gravity experiment; that it was an accident of huge unforeseen proportions. From there we are going to convince the government to let us do the research and experimentation at JPL.”

“That’s all I have to report and in your reality, I’ve told you nothing. Mentioning anything to anybody out side our circle will result in certain and instantaneous death. I added the last part for effect, but you get my drift. If I come home Monday night, all went well. If I don’t, you’d better get some bail money together.” I added.

My date with Brenda was great. We reminisced about high school and all the fun we’d had during that time. The food was good and the science fiction movie better. It felt good to get my mind off my situation and possible impending doom.

Near the end of the evening, it came again, that dreaded sentence.

“Bill, I need to talk to you.”

“Oh no, I cringe when someone says that to me. It is always bad news.” I said.

“Bill, I hope you’ll like what I have to say. Remember when I told you I thought dating other people would be good. And you responded that unless we could be exclusive, you didn’t want to see me. That whole thing hurt me deeply and I know it did you too. I loved you but I had my friends, my church and my parents telling me it was the right thing to do. It wasn’t. The silver lining is that I am positive you are the one I want to spend the rest of my life with.”

“Wow Brenda, I don’t know what to say.” I said and it was certainly true. Then I grabbed her and kissed her passionately and deeply. Brenda responded with an emotion I’d never seen before. When I looked at her, tears started to roll down her cheeks and she kissed me some more.”

“Bill, I want ‘exclusive’ to be in the description of our relationship again. And I hope that’s only the beginning.”

Uncontrollably, the image of Stella’s naked body jumped into my head. I realized that those amazing evenings with Stella would have to end if I went along with Brenda’s proposal. I was starting to have feelings for Stella but I loved Brenda. I was furiously trying to get through this moment, keep Brenda, and not give up Stella.

“Brenda, I love what you are saying!” I said. “But if you only knew what was going on at work right now. I do want a lifetime relationship with you too but I’ve got to keep my eye on the ball at work. Soon I expect, things will mellow out a little and I promise to take our relationship to the next level. If you can just allow me a little time to sort out my future and that includes you, I think it would be best right now.”

“Understand, I am not saying no, just soon,” I added.

“Bill, I’ll give you all the time you need. I don’t know what’s going on at your work and I know you can’t tell me. When the problems there are resolved, I know you’ll come back to me. For now, I’ll be here, waiting.”

“Brenda, you’re getting too serious. We are still going to date as often as we can. We’re still a couple. Just let me work through the chaos in my life. I might even know something Monday or Tuesday.”

We sat there in my Saturn and made out for several sultry minutes. Brenda got out of the car, slammed the door, smiled at me and said, “It’s time to get a new ride, Mr. Trump. Call me soon.”

-17-

After a fitful night’s sleep, Sunday night, I got up early, and went to work. I was relieved to see that Stella was already there when I arrived.

“Hello, lover boy, how was your week-end” She said.

“It was fine, but seeing you here, with your beautiful, confident smile, has reduced my stress level, about in half.” I answered.

“Keep in mind, my young friend, the outcome today will depend on our sales ability above all. We’ve got to convince these two government drones that our proposal is the best for all concerned.”

“Stella, you could sell water to a fish, but government drones, I don’t get.”

“Bill, these ‘Agents’ have no real authority to make any decisions. They’ve got to take the information we give them today back to their superiors and that information must trickle up their chain of command to the highest levels. These Agents are not scientists and neither are the politicos above them. That’s why I wrote what I will refer to as the ‘layman’s guide to anti-gravity.” Stella said.

“Anti-Gravity for Dummies would be more apropos.” I said

“It would. I have also been very careful not to actually explain the concept of how the anti-gravity effect is produced. I deliberately made my dissertation a little obtuse.” Stella explained.

Wouldn’t a simplified explanation help our cause?” I asked.

“Yes and no.” Stella answered. “It might help them believe your concept actually works but the more specifics we give them, the easier it will be for them to circumvent us. Also putting usable information in the hands of several levels of bureaucrats opens up another huge set of problems – leaks.”

“Stella, you never cease to amaze me.” I added “Now let me see what you wrote.”

When Dr. Brooks arrived, we showed him the copy of ‘Anti-Gravity Theory’ a.k.a. ‘Anti-Gravity for Dummies’ that Stella had written and filled him in on our thoughts.

“Brilliant, Dr. Morton, just brilliant.” Dr. Brooks said. “Bill, I don’t want to downplay your role in this whole thing but Dr. Morton’s thought processes are far ahead of mine and I think yours. Why don’t we let her take the point on the presentation to the Feds?”

“Agreed,” I said.

Promptly at 10 AM, Bains and Reynolds arrived. We had already informed the other members of the research group that there would be a preliminary meeting with the inspectors and Dr. Brooks and that they would be called in when needed. We escorted the two FBI inspectors into my and Stella’s office. We provided the men two folding chairs to sit on so they wouldn’t become too comfortable.

Dr. Brooks stood and announced, “Gentleman, we have the answer! We have brought you to this small office because what we are about to tell you is a story of a young man with huge ideas. A story that will certainly change the world in ways we can’t even conceive of now.”

“Cut the crap Dr. Brooks.” Inspector Reynolds said. “Our people want to know something, now! I hope your brain trust has come up with something solid. If you haven’t, I’m afraid we will have to recommend to our superiors that they transfer the project to a different government agency.”

Dr. Brooks had a shocked and frightened look on his face when he sat down and said. “OK then. The esteemed Dr. Morton will tell you the whole story, start to finish. After that, we will answer any questions you may have.”

A half hour later, Stella finished. Both FBI Agents were entranced; not only by Stella’s beauty, but how she logically and concisely articulated the facts. She particularly emphasized that the refinement of the project must stay at our facility.

Inspector Reynolds jumped up and roared, “Give me one good reason why we shouldn’t take this kid out of here in handcuffs? He’s cost the world billions. People are going to want some pay back!”

“If you are looking for a sacrificial lamb, inspector, let me tell you what locking up ‘the kid’, as you referred to him, would accomplish,” said Stella with amazing determination. “Versions of his invention will save the world trillions in saved energy costs by reducing the weight of everything that moves. I believe that eventually, his technology will make deep space travel a possibility also. The potential is unlimited and you, inspector Reynolds, want to lock him up? A little short sighted, don’t you think?”