There Must Be A Mistake Ch. 11

I had my lawyers draw up a nondisclosure agreement that God could not get out of. I went to see Dr. Clawson. I gave him the dates that I wanted to talk to him about and showed him the minutes of the meetings that I was concerned with. I told him he had to sign the nondisclosure agreement for us to continue, and it would only include those dates, and those minutes.

When I showed him where he went left, and should have gone right, instead of left, I think he stopped breathing. I know the words "it can't be possible" came out of his mouth at least a dozen times in a row, as he looked over the new formula. He ran it through his computer, and it worked every time. He asked me who found it; who is going to get the credit for this; all this work is ours."

I asked him, "Exactly where is your work taking you?"

"We are not sure, but there are some exciting possibilities."

"This young woman is not talking possibilities. She is patenting her formula for anti-gravity as soon as we announce it publicly. Delete everything from your computer now. I told him if he even mentioned we had this conversation, he would never work in any science related facility in the world, including the Congo, Chad, and Cambodia. I have contacts everywhere in the world, and you don't want to mess with me."

He said, "I understand my restrictions Mr. Zabo, and I will abide by them. I wish you and this person all the luck in the world. I am happy it was found, although I wish it were me that found it. I hope they realize that they are going to win every science prize there is, because proving Newton was wrong is the biggest thing to happen since splitting the atom."

I had my proof, I knew who you were, and I was about to get in touch with your father, when my daughter called me. She asked me to join this group, and I told her how stupid she was. I told her she was throwing her money away. Dr. Luck was just that, he was lucky. I aggravated her for a few minutes, just like she aggravates me, and breaks my heart. However, I had to forgive her, because she is like her mother, and her father. Both of them were and are impossibly hardheaded, and she is their product. Her children are finding that out now. Aren't you Anna?"

"Why do you always ask me the hard questions grandpa?"

"Because darling, you will give me a short truthful answer; while Laura and Robert would take up more time than reading the Constitution of this great country, backwards."

"I love my mother grandpa, but she has been a pain in the ass for the last few years."

Patti yelled, "I'm getting better."

"So is a cactus, after you've been dealing with porcupines."

"As I said ladies and gentlemen, my granddaughter does give short and very pointed answers."

Everyone laughed, but Stephano laughed the loudest.

"Dr. Luck, you have the money in the bank and the clock is ticking. What do you want to do next?"

"We need centralized laboratory space. We're going to need several of IBM's Big Blues. I will not get into everything else we need. I will speak with Mr. Valentino on that. The list will seemingly be endless, but once we have everything put together, we will go after the people that we need. There is no sense having the people without having the things they need to do their work.

Mr. Schneider has companies that can be retrofitted to produce our molds as soon as we come up with the appropriate designs for the exterior trusses of the spacecraft's spaces between the first and second hull. We need him to start working with the carbon fiber. We have to find out what it can and cannot be turned into as far as molded products, and how much stress it can take. I don't believe the curved exterior of the craft will be a problem. The problem area will be the exterior trusses holding the antennas, cameras, and telescopes. If we can't solve that problem, we won't take them along. I don't want to jeopardize the mission for the sake of transmissions back to earth.

Boeing has been making bladders for refueling aircraft for years. As soon as we have those designs ready, we will see if they can make them for the area between the trusses to carry the water to protect us from the gamma rays and radiation we will be bombarded by.

We are going to need access to Exascale computers William; maybe not today or tomorrow, but within the next few years. We are going to need to sit by them and use them for our own purposes. When it comes to the internal uses of our spacecraft, those are the only computers that will work fast enough to make our mission successful.

Finally, it would be great to know where we were going to build the craft so we could put our scientific people close by. It's not a necessity; it would just be nice to know. I think that's all I'll say for right now."

President Atwater asked, "Does anyone have anything to add?"

Harold Chase said, "I'm hungry."

Callie said, "You are on a diet, you are always hungry."

"This meeting is adjourned. You will all receive notices from Stephano, when our next meeting will be required."

They all stood up and began talking with one another as they proceeded to the banquet area for an afternoon meal. The spacecraft was not the only topic they discussed. Many other areas of their businesses were talked about. Deals were brokered, sales of companies begun, or finalized, and hundreds of millions of dollars changed hands before dessert. This is what William Zabo was talking about. There was not a pen or piece of paper in evidence. These people used their minds to make deals that other people would take months to make a decision. They were the elite; the "Point One Percent (.1%) of the One Percent (1%) of the richest people in the world, and they didn't get their by chance.

********

The National News carried the event, but left out Williams caustic comments about the press at the end. No editor wanted the public to see how one of the wealthiest men in the world treated the press corps. It would diminish their standing with their constituencies, but more importantly, with the companies that bought commercial time. It would be a disaster of epic proportions for them.

********

Tuesday morning at 9 AM, Theodore Nugent and Rod Laver filed two patents under the name of Delicious Luck. The first was for the nuclear power plant and the second was for the Ion/H2 engine. When they completed this task, they took their limousine to the Department of Energy and filed a request to build the power plant in a 1/90 scale for use on the spaceship. The Department of Energy had no control over the Ion/H2 Engine.

They were told it would take between three and five years before the nuclear power plant would come under consideration.

Ted Nugent asked for this to be put in writing. It was given to him on a Department of Energy letterhead.

They went to the Federal Court, a few short blocks away and filed for a 'Show Cause Order' from a judge that was on standby from a fellow attorney in New York, Tom Shackleford.

They returned to the Department of Energy and gave the same woman the court order.

"We will see you in court next week; have a good day."

She was on the phone to her superiors before her door closed. She knew trouble when she saw it coming at her.

Her boss asked her the name of the attorney's they would be facing.

She looked at the order and said, "Thomas Shackleford and James Hurst; for the Winner's Group."

"Oh fuck; we are in trouble. Move this request to the top of the list and forward the request to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Tell them to go over it with a fine toothcomb. If there are no flaws, tell them to approve it as soon as is humanly possible. I don't want to wind up in court for the rest of my life."

"I'll get right on it sir."

3 PM that same day, the Winners Group received a phone call from the Department of Energy asking to speak to the attorney in charge of the patent filed for the Nuclear Reactor in the name of Delicious Luck.

The operator said, "One moment please."

"This is Vincent Caruso, how may I be of service?"

"Hello Mr. Caruso, this is Caroline Freeman, from the Department Of Energy. We have forwarded your request for the Nuclear Power Plant, both in 1/90 scale and in full working scale to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission with our approval. It is in their hands now. If you have any further need to discuss a time frame for approval you will have to contact them."

"What took you so long Miss Freeman? I expected this phone call before lunch."

"The NRC had a bug of its ass about the speed we approved it. We had to use considerable muscle to get them to take it, and move it to the top of their list. They are not going to be easy on you, Mister Caruso, they are going to use everything they can to delay you from moving forward."

"We are well aware of that possibility, and we will be ready for them, just as we were ready for you. Thank you for your time. Goodbye Miss Freeman."

Caroline shook her head. "I would not want to be on the technical staff of the NRC. If they forget a comma, or a colon in a technical sentence, they are going to be in court."

***********

In another part of Washington, Celeste and Philip Castronova were in the Senate dining room speaking with Senators from several southwestern states, with large military land reserves. Their money helped give them their seats in this elite group of lawmakers, and they were loath to lose it. However, they also were beholding to other large donors, and to the military that controlled those large areas of protected land. They would not give up 1 inch of it for some frivolous undertaking.

Philip threw the knockout punch.

"If you don't give us access to a minimum of 100,000 acres of land, in an area we choose, we will not give our military access to Dr. Luck's new radio invention that transmits sound around mountains. We own 20% of that patent. Two of our friends own 20% each. Dr. Luck owns 21%. We will offer it to every country that can pay for it, but the greatest country in the world will not have access to it. Tell that to your President, while we flood the airways with advertisements telling the people of this great country what you turned down. All of you will be private citizens after the next election, and your friends on the other side of the aisle will be happy to take over for the next eight years, or more."

Celeste said, "Dear, I think you just ruined their desire for dessert. Let's go home, I miss our children."

William Zabo was across the Potomac, at the Pentagon. He was speaking with Gen. Haley, a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was delivering the same speech to him. The only difference in his speech included military funding. He had enough influence on the House Budget Committee to reduce military spending to the bone.

By the end of his meeting, Gen. Haley said he would do everything in his power to give William access to restricted military areas for their project.

When he was back in his limousine William sent a short text to Philip. "Mission accomplished."

Philip replied, "Here too, going home."

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

47. Planning

Jennifer grabbed me around my neck and kissed me as if I had been gone for a year.

"Don't you ever leave me alone again. I am so horny I could fuck an elephant."

"Jen, you can't take me, how are you going to fuck an elephant?"

"I don't know, but I would give it damn good try. Gordon is with Roz, we are going to bed."

"Have you ever heard of jet lag?"

"Have you ever heard of death by a pregnant woman? You owe me Even. You've been gone four days. It's time for you to catch up."

"If you two don't stop talking and go to your room, Delicious is going to attack and kill me."

"Take her for a run, Gray, a very long run. When she is exhausted, keep her running longer. Then turn around and have her run home. If she can rape you after that, you better have a physical before you get married. You could die on your honeymoon night."

Delicious jumped on Gray's back. "Let's go Gray, let's leave my parents alone so they can scream all they want. I'm going to prove to you that I am as good as you are both at running, and in bed."

"You are on short stuff."

Delicious hit his arm. "I am a girl. 5'7" is tall for a girl. 6'3" is above average for man. Now do you want to run, or do you want to chicken out?"

"Little girl, you are so lucky I love you." He climbed up the stairs, while she nibbled on his ears, and kissed his neck. They were an odd couple, but they were madly in love with each other."

We were naked when we heard the front door close, and I took my beautiful wife by the hand and led her to the shower.

"I took a shower this morning."

"Did you take one with me?"

"You weren't here, how could I?"

"Well, this will be your first shower of the day with me."

"Even, we will be wasting water."

"No we won't, because I would be taking a shower anyhow. This will be a shower for two."

"You are a pain in the ass."

"I am too big for your ass, and that will be $10 please."

"You said that word too. You owe the pretzel jar $10."

"Agreed."

The shower took a very long time, but Jennifer did not complain. I was able to get her to orgasm by playing with her breasts. I could tell she missed me, because her body was on a hair trigger. When my tongue touched her clitoris the first time, she screamed my name, and exploded. Her body turned to mush, and she slithered down the wall, until we looked eye to eye.

"Hello baby, am I catching up yet?"

"I will never understand how you went all those years without having sex. You are marvelous at it. I love you husband. I am never letting you out of my sight again."

"I can live with that. Would you like to go to bed and get laid now?"

"Can we cuddle first; I think I need a nap."

"You are in charge of this household. We will do whatever you want."

That was that way our day went; we napped, made love, napped again, and repeated this over and over again.

Delicious pounded on our door around 8 o'clock and asked if we were going to have dinner with them.

"I am eating pussy, go away."

"Dad, you are so gross."

Jennifer didn't think so, as she came again, and again. I wasn't doing too badly in that department either. Our blue sheets had stains on them everywhere, and in the very early hours of the morning, we had to change them, because there wasn't a dry spot to lie down on.

My body got me up at 9:30 AM, although my mind wanted to stay in bed with my wife. Coffee and food helped, but getting back to work helped more.

Gray came down to the lab at 10:30 AM and reminded me that Delicious was leaving with him that Friday and going to Houston to file his paperwork to leave NASA.

"You are not going alone. I'm sending two guards with you. If you say no, Delicious stays here."

"I had a feeling you were going to do something like this Even. Are they the two drivers from the armored cars that got blown to hell?"

"Yes they are, and you will be going to Houston in an armored SUV. I am not taking any chances with either of you."

"We can fly down if it would make you more comfortable."

"I wanted you two to be able to talk, but either way with these two men traveling with you that will not be possible. Yes, please fly down. I will have Rod make all the arrangements. I will start paying you $300,000 a year as soon as you resign from NASA."

"Even I don't need your money."

"I just put $80 billion in the bank. Do you think $300,000 a year is going to hurt me?"

"I want a raise."

"NO."

"I'm going to be your son-in-law, and you are paying me pennies."

"You are getting my most precious asset. Hurt her, and you will know what pain really feels like."

"When I thought I lost her, all I felt was pain. Nothing could hurt me more than that."

"I will have Gordon hit you like he hit Rod."

"Ouch."

"I want to get to work on the trusses for the exterior hull of the vehicle. Every time I think about it, it gets a larger. At this moment I am thinking of a diameter of 150 feet, but I don't think that's going to be enough. I have to find out how much water we are going to need in that outer shell to protect us from the radiation. Is it going to be one foot thick or 3 feet thick? I don't know?"

"I do!"

I turned around and saw my five-year-old son jumping down the stairwell. "Be careful Gordon, if anyone's going to break your neck, it's going to be me."

He ran to me and gave me a big hug. "Hi dad, did you have a fun time while you were away?"

"I wouldn't call it fun, but businesswise it went well."

"Can I ask you a favor for the next time you go away?"

"Sure, anything you want."

"Please take mommy with you. She screams a lot when you're not here."

"Who is going to take care of you if I take your mommy with me?"

"If you're only going to be gone a short time, I'll be fine by myself. Leave me a jar of peanut butter, some milk, bread and my cell phone and I'll be good for the week."

"If you ever say that to your mother, you will never reach six Gordon; especially the part about the cell phone."

"Doesn't mommy like Danielle and Brandy?"

"It has nothing to do with them. Well, it has everything to do with them. Now how much water do we need between the first and second hulls to protect us from gamma rays and radiation?"

"As much as you going to want to put people into stasis, as soon as possible, after we leave our part of the universe, they are not going to want to do it. Everyone is going to be too excited to go to sleep. You will have to think about four days of drinking water for everyone on board, plus showers and using the bathroom. If you limit us to 60 instead of 80 people, you will only be saving us 2000 pounds of water, so that will not be a problem. We will need 30 inches of water for minimum protection from everything space will throw at us. The larger you make the external sphere the more that water is going to weigh. As long as Delicious has no problem with getting us off the ground with that much weight, we are fine."

"Do you doubt my engines capacity tiny?"

"I'm not tiny, I'm five."

"Well in that case shorty, where's my kiss?"

He kissed her. "You taste like soap."

"That's because I washed my face with soap."

"Don't you wash the soap off your face with water afterwards?"

"Do you want to be able to sit down at Gordon 2, or are you going to be mean to me today?"

"Can I think about that?"

"Can I hit you now and take it back later?"

"No, I don't think that would work out very well for me. We have to figure out how much the water would weigh, but dad doesn't know the size of the exterior of our ship yet."

"Do you have a rough idea dad?"

"I was thinking of diameter of 150 feet. I don't want to go any smaller than that because of the electronics, life-support, sleeping compartments, food, medicine, maintenance supplies, seeds for food, and all the other supplies we will need to start a new life on the new planet. I would like to do one other thing and surprise the shit out of everyone back here at home."

"You have an evil grin on your face, Dad. What are you thinking about?"

"Could we build a probe and as we pass through Heliopause, launch it back to earth, and have it transmit pictures on its reverse course. We can add a message from us with pictures of stars from angles they have never seen before. No one would ever be able to call what we did a hoax."

"Even they are going to see us building the ship, launch it, and flying it out of Earth's atmosphere. No one is going to call what we are going to do a hoax."

"Well, it was just a thought. Numbers person, get me the weight of 36 inches of water for the interior space between hull number one, and two using a diameter of 150 feet."

"Do you want it now dad, or should I go say hello to mommy first?"