Dark as Daylight Ch. 10

I'm going to laugh all the way out of his lawyers' office, and meet him outside. I will light up the biggest, most expensive cigar I can buy. I'll walk over to him, shake his hand, and thank him for giving us a property worth 100 times more than he received for it.

He'll be left standing there, wondering what he missed, what was under that property, and what 'we' put over on him. Why did we fight so hard, and so long for a lower price?

I hope he has thousands of sleepless nights wondering what he lost, by selling us that property 'for a mere $6 million."

Rosalynn smacked him. "God will get you for that Rod."

"I'm sure She will, baby. What She gives me as a punishment for this misdemeanor, I will gladly bear, as I tell my friend, Even, the story, when my penance is over."

Richard said, "Fax the paperwork to me when it's finished. Holden and I will sign it, Teresa will notarize our signatures, and will send it back to you.

You don't laugh enough, Mister Laver. This sounds like a good opportunity for you to start, and a good man to laugh at. Take the money out of Holden's South African Premier Gold Trading Account. The price of gold is about to tank soon anyhow, and we will be putting it into the Chinese 'Rare Earth' purchases within the next fifteen days."

"Richard, as always I'll do what you want me to do, but all the reports on gold say it's going to continue to rise by another 200 or 300 dollars, before this run is over. Why would you give up that amount of money, when these deposits of 'Rare Earth' are unproven?"

"Mister Laver, please give Mrs. Laver $100, and ask her to take a similar amount from my account. I am under age and therefore not allowed to make a wager, so she will do it for me. The end of the gold rush will happen by the end of next week, when Deutsche Bank fails to meet its dividend.

The Chinese government has been sitting on secret information about these 'Rare Earth' deposits for ten years. They have been waiting for other markets to dry up, making them the only game in town. They waited too long.

Holden was looking at some satellite photos and saw some interesting construction work being done around the south eastern edge of the Gobi Desert. All the trucks went from this one construction site to one plant for analysis. Holden used one of the geosynchronous satellites to see what this plant was emitting into the atmosphere, as waste gases. That's what told him what they were digging up, and that's why we purchased, and are continuing to purchase, all the land in that area.

The Chinese government is going to have a fit, when they realize they've been excavating on the private property of US citizens."

"Why do I have a feeling I better brush up on international law?"

"You don't have to Mister Laver, I can walk you through it."

"I hate you Richard, I don't like you, I hated your father, and I really, really don't like you."

"What dialect would you like to learn it in?"

"Goodbye!"

He slammed down his cell phone, screamed, "I don't like you either, Even."

He went to the refrigerator, took out a bottle of iced tea, and went into the den to sulk.

Soon he felt gentle hands rubbing his neck and shoulders.

"Please don't, I want to feel miserable. A fourteen-year-old boy told me he was going to lead me through International Law in any dialect of Chinese of my choosing. How low have I fallen to let that happen to me?"

"Mister Rodney Laver, love of my life, when did you lose your first case?"

"I haven't lost a case yet."

"Do you foresee yourself losing a case anytime soon?"

"The only tough one coming up is with Elizabeth. The facts of the case are with us. All things being considered equal, Vinny and I should walk away from that one with another victory."

"Well, since my husband, and my love, are still unbeaten, I think I'll go upstairs, take a long bath, or maybe a quick shower, and prepare myself for him, and him alone. That is, if he's not too miserable to join me."

By the time Rosalynn made it to the bedroom, removed her clothing, put them away properly, and turned down their bed, Rod filled the tub, put in her favorite bath oil, and made sure it was foaming high with bubbles. He lit scented candles and surrounded the entire bath suite with them. The effect made the look very enticing. He placed large, fluffy towels for her to wrap herself, and her hair in, on the bathroom chair, within easy reach, when she finished bathing.

When Rosalynn walked in to the en-suite bath area she gasped.

"You did all of this for me? I thought you would want me in bed with you, instantly, and the heck with foreplay."

"Baby, you said you wanted to take a bath first. Here it is. Enjoy yourself, I will read until you have rested, and come to me."

She smiled, kissed him and moved to the oval tub. She sat on the rim demurely. With her legs together, she slid into the oval tub and screamed.

"Rodney, you fucking bastard, I'm going to kill you. The water's freezing."

42. The Signal

It was 2:30 AM, in Socorro New Mexico, where three postdoctoral students, and two graduate students sat monitoring the signals coming through the 'VLA.' (Very Large Array) As was usual for this group of twenty-seven radio telescopes, 25 meters across, only the sounds made by the stars, and those left over from the Big Bang were picked up.

One by one, they laid their hands on their desks, put their heads on them, and fell asleep. There was just nothing to do, until they were relieved in the morning.

Doctor Stephen Wilkerson awoke to the sound of a servo moving one of the large dishes automatically. He believed something had gone wrong with the system, and decided to check on it.

Before he was able to climb the ladder to get to the controls, the twenty-six other dishes turned in the same direction. The alert signals screamed they had picked up an anomaly.

From asleep, to absolute attention the five-member team were at their stations wondering what the hell was going on.

Doctor Jane Meadow pushed a button that connected her directly to the University of New Mexico's top scientist, and the leader of this group.

Doctor Juan Alvarez was startled out of his slumber, and picked up the phone.

"Alvarez."

"Doctor, this is Jane Meadow. We have a signal coming in from deep space. It is heading towards Planet Zero at 86,000 mph.

It is definitely not random noise. It is a repeating message of some sort, and we are trying to record it now."

"Send it to the university lab, I'm on my way."

"Yes Doctor."

*************

As soon as Doctor Alvarez slid his identity card through the identification slot, every light in the huge laboratory turned on. The huge computers were always recording. They were collecting every bit of information sent in by the VLA. After analyzing it, and reanalyzing it five days later, if it was of no use to the scientist, it was put into external storage to make room for more information.

This was not to be the case with this new signal. The computer analyzed it, Dr. Alvarez analyzed it, the computer reanalyzed it, and he reanalyzed it.

Sagely, as a dedicated scientist, with more than forty-years of experience, he called Meadow back.

"Yes Doctor Alvarez?"

"Do you believe this shit? It's authentic, it's from the Good Luck 1. They made it. They are landing on Gliese 581G, but they've renamed it 'Atwater Luck."

"Calm down Doctor, we don't want you to have a heart attack before the news conference. We have verified the same thing, and there's much more to the message than that. Did you read the whole thing?"

"No, once I got through that section, I let the computer take care of the rest, and called you. I want every word transcribed perfectly. I want it on disc, at least a dozen times. I want a copy on each of you, I want copies hidden in a place only you people know. I don't even want to know where they are. This has got to get out into the public eye, before some government asshole tries to cover it up. I'm not even going to notify Cal Poly. They get most of their funding from the government."

"We can use the magic of Twitter, and the Internet for the initial releases. We could do that right now."

"Twitter only allows you 148 characters."

"You've never seen me abbreviate Doctor."

"Leave my name off the Twitter. The Internet posting, we will do it thirty minutes apart, as if you sent it out, and then called me. I will ream your ass for doing it that way, but you will get in 'A' on your thesis."

"Are you trying to bribe me Doctor?"

"You bet your ass I am."

"I accept. It will be out in the universe in ten minutes, expect a phone call, at home, in fifteen."

****************

Chicago, Il. 6:40 AM

They were sitting down to breakfast, listening, more than watching CNN, thinking about what was going to happen today during their final exams for this semester. One more semester, and they would have to decide what they would do with their lives, when they entered graduate school.

What the hell did sixteen, and fifteen-year-old girls do, when faced with this dilemma?

Rebecca said, "I think I'll get laid before I make that decision."

Debbie replied, "That's a good choice, can we do it together?"

A voice entering the kitchen said, "You two will do nothing of the sort. If I have to put cement in there, I will, but no boy is getting in there, until you are in love with him, and he with you.

Sam and I will make that decision for you. He'd better play golf, otherwise your grandfather will kill him if he touches you."

"Grandma, that's so old-fashioned. Young women, our age, have consensual sex all the time. We know how to protect ourselves from diseases, and how to enjoy ourselves, while having sex, and not making love.

Any male, who decides to take advantage of us, without our consent, will wind up in the hospital, because of our advanced knowledge of self-defense techniques.

If he has a weapon, we will agree to his demands, and ask him to get undressed so we may enjoy it as much as he will. As we undress, and he undresses, he's a dead man. Either Debbie or I will hit him in his throat, and when he grabs it to breathe, kick him in his privates. As he goes down to the ground, we will jump into the air, and land between the fourth and fifth vertebrae of his spinal column snapping it, killing him instantly.

We will dial 911, ask for help, and redress, protecting our modesty, prior to the police arriving on the scene."

"I hate those two Joan. Talking to them is like talking to the logic of the ages. They have everything figured out, before anyone else knows what they're going to do to them. It's quite disgusting."

"Good morning grandpa."

"Good morning children, anything interesting on the news?"

"Yes, General Motors paid off the government. They purchased all the stock back from them at a premium price. The government made a few billion dollars by keeping General Motors afloat during the depression/recession, depending if you're speaking to a Republican or Democrat."

"And which are you two?"

"You know you can ask us that question. We are not old enough to vote yet."

"God knows they should let you vote. You are smarter than half the people that do vote."

"Even you, grandpa?"

"Hell yes, even me."

Loud music emanated from the television, indicating something special was about to be announced. You could see papers being handed to the on screen announcer, as she prepared to read the statement:

"This just in to our studios from the University of New Mexico, in Phoenix.

Doctor Juan Alvarez, the chief scientist of the Very Large Array Radio Telescopes, in Socorro New Mexico has verified they have received a message from the spacecraft Good Luck 1. It is landing, or has landed on the planet Gliese 561G, which they have renamed 'Atwater Luck,' after our former President Clark Atwater, and the brilliant scientist and engineer, Doctor Even Luck. They have sent the frequency to radio telescopes all over our planet to listen, and verify the message for themselves. We are told this message contains greetings from each family on board the spacecraft to those they left behind.

Each family will receive a call from the University, when time permits. Please do not call the University. They are extremely busy dissecting the remainder of the message at this time. This is Robin Mead reporting.

Now we will go to our chief scientific reporter, in Palo Alto California, Doctor...."

Debbie and Rebecca were screaming and dancing on the table. Joan and Sam were desperately trying to get them down before they broke their necks.

"They made it, can you believe it they made it. I knew they would. I was worried but I knew they would make it. I bet you we have a sister or brother, maybe two, maybe three, but I know we have a sister or brother already."

"That's brilliant Debbie, mom was pregnant when she left."

"Oh yeah, I forgot. Well we probably have two or three sisters or brothers by now. I wish we could see them, and play with them."

Joan said, "Why don't we plan to take a trip on the Good Luck 2. I will make a wager they will make a stop at this newly named planet, if for nothing else to bring supplies, and medical equipment that might be getting low."

"Can we do that grandpa; would you mind?"

"You both know I have a fear of heights. I hate going to golfing tournaments when I have to fly. You expect me to get into a spacecraft and go to another planet? You bet your ass I'm going. I'll be the first one on the damn thing."

Rebecca yelled, "I know what I'm taking in graduate school."

"What?"

"Mining."

"Mining, why would you choose that as a course of study?"

"What are they going to need on that new planet of theirs? They're going to need someone to find iron, coal, and other metals and ingredients in the soil, and in the rocks to grow their society. We don't want them to start in the stone age again. We want them to start in the metal age. They are going to need information on how to make everything, from a simple spoon, out of a non-toxic material, to an airplane out of plastic. We will have to build everything from the ground up, without polluting the atmosphere. We don't want to make the same mistakes there as we did here in the beginning. This is just the start of our adventures into deep space, let's do it right the first time."

"And you young lady, what have you decided to bring to the table?"

"My boyfriend."

Sam picked up a bagel and threw it at her.

Debbie caught it, before it did any damage.

"That is the only hole your boyfriends' prick is getting in, while I am alive. Until you have a ring on your finger, and a ring through his nose, you are staying a virgin, and I have a shotgun to prove it."

"Mom and dad didn't wait."

"Your mother and your father were more than 1100 miles away from me at the time.

You live in the next bedroom. You go to school 15 miles away from me. If your boyfriend lives south of Canada, east of Ohio, east of Indiana, and north of the Mason-Dixon line, I will find him, and when I do, I will roast him like a marshmallow."

"Your grandfather is a little testy this morning, don't you think?"

"Yes grandma, but what is he like on his bad days?"

"Just think what you do to him at Eagles Nest, par 5, 11^th hole, and cube root it. You will be close."

"That's not fair Joan, they still hit from the lady's tees. The men's tees are 20-yards back."

"Oh you poor dear; you are 5' 11" and are 180 pounds. Becky is all of 5' 1' and 110 pounds, and you are arguing over 20 yards? Would you like to rephrase the question?"

"No, I think I'll pass."

"Grandpa would you call Charleston for us to see when they're going to start making reservations for the first exploratory trip for the Good Luck 2?"

"Honey, after the news we just received, I guarantee you we will get first choice. However, by the time you get home from class today I will have that information for you. Go to class, and outrage your classmates with your brilliance."

"We get bored doing that. The next thing they're going to throw at us is the professor.

I don't believe she's going to be happy with that. I don't know why she doesn't give us the 'A', and tell us to leave. We are the only ones that ever answer her questions correctly. Sometimes, we have to correct her, because her information is dated. Man does she get angry with us, when we do that."

"I cannot understand why Professor MacSavage would get angry with you, when you embarrass her in class. She is a full professor, with more than twenty years in teaching; fifteen more in research, and four best-selling books in astrophysics. If it was me, I would smile politely, walk over to you, with open arms, hug you, thank you for correcting me in front of the twenty-two students in her class. Then, I would stick a knife into your heart, and watch as you bleed to death on the floor in front of my shoes, before I called the police.

When they arrive on the scene, I would explain the situation calmly, and claim self-defense, because you threw acid at me. When they asked where the acid was, I would reply, "In Her Damn Smart Mouth."

"I think I'll skip class today; I have a heart ache."

Rebecca agreed. "Me too Deb, grandpa just gave me one."

"You two have as much chance of skipping school, as I do of getting a hole-in-one, at Greendale's' 16^th hole par three."

"I don't know why you have so much trouble with that whole grandpa. Debbie and I have holes in one on it. Grandma just missed by 2 inches to the left. That would've really ticked you off if she made it."

"If your grandmother made that shot, I would have broken every one of my clubs on the spot."

"Do you see what you did grandma; he would've gotten rid of those old rusty clubs, and bought himself a real set."

"Rusty set! That set of Callaway's cost me $4000."

"A good set of handmade Pings' would have cost you $2800, with four lessons included. Your game might improve if you try it."

"Joan take them to school, before I kill them."

"It's your turn Sam."

"If I take them to school today, I will tie them on the front of the car, and crash into a concrete abutment."

"Let him take us grandma. If his driving is as good as his driving at Indian Wells, he will miss the abutment, and wind up in the water."

"That's it, school now, either that or you are grounded for life."

"I guess school doesn't sound so bad. Goodbye grandma."

"Remember, you don't have to send him back."

The End

Chapter 10

Dark As Daylight

by

Prolonged_Debut10