There Must Be A Mistake Ch. 17

"Did your mother or sister read the Japanese protocols on Stasis that were done back in the 1970s and 80s, when they were first dreaming up their deep space programs? They hadn't put their first satellite in orbit, but it was typical oriental thinking. They always plan 20 to 30 years advance. That's why they nearly put the American automobile companies out of existence with their small, fuel-efficient automobiles."

"I do not believe my mother or sister even know those protocols exist sir. Would it be all right if I make another phone call, and you can tell my mother what you told me?"

"Go ahead Robert; I would be pleased to talk to her."

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

"Fred, are we talking about my son, or did someone else show up at your house?"

"Patti, I have more friends at Michigan then you do. Your boy is extremely bright, and when I get finished with him he is going to dazzle the political landscape."

"How have you been feeling lately Fred? Has anyone hit you with a baseball bat? Robert hasn't opened a book since high school."

"I'm surprised he opened one then. Did you know he's photographic?"

"Stop pulling my leg Fred, he has problems using a cell phone."

"It's easy to fool a mother or siblings if you want to, especially if you want to look lazy and have other people do your jobs for you."

"I'll kill that son of mine. Everyone has been doing his work for him, because nobody thought he could do it for himself."

"Do you see what I mean Patricia, if you can get away with it, why not?"

"Did you know I have a gun, and a permit to use it?"

"You shouldn't have told me that Patty, now I have to recuse myself when it comes to your death penalty sentence."

"Wait until I tell my husband he's been fooling us all these years. He'll beat the shit out of him."

"Can I get to the reason I called now please?"

"I can't wait to hear this."

"Did you read the Japanese protocols on deep space travel written in the 70s and 80s?"

"The Japanese didn't have a space program during that time."

"As I just finished telling Robert, the Japanese think 30 years ahead. They may not have had rockets or satellites, but they knew deep space travel required sleeping for a long period of time. I don't know what they found, but while I was at Harvard I read everything, and anything that came past me. I think it would be worth a look, because Robert said you're in trouble."

"Trouble is too nice a word for what we're in. I would read a comic strip at this point if it would help us."

"In that case, there is always 'Brewster Rockit: Space Guy.' He's in the paper every day."

"The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court reads the comic strips?"

"We all do. Have you ever heard the arguments we have to listen to every day, day after day? They are so filled with bull crap we have to leave our shoes on the mats as we leave the court. We hear five minutes worth of evidence and 55 minutes worth of garbage. It's disgraceful. Even when we ask them questions, they dance around the issue and throw bull crap at us. Sometimes I wonder if they really went to law school."

"No wonder they give you guys off for the summer. It takes that long to get the stuff off your pants. Enjoy your vacation in Barbados, if we need the aircraft, we will let you know and send a replacement to bring you home."

"Thank you Patty, I hope this information helps you."

"Any port in a storm Fred; and right now we need a port desperately."

(For now, you will have to read 'Honor Thy Mother and Thy Father' to find out what goes on in Barbados. I am not going to start off on another tangent at this point except to say Robert starts off very well when he joins the Hastings family and the beginning of the campaign. When my current story is completed, I believe this will be the beginning of my next venture. I have not picked a title for it yet, nor have I decided if it will be my next story. However I have always liked these characters, and there is a built in storyline to continue following." P_D10)

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

"It was a shame we had to get rid of him sir; he was beginning to become a standup guy."

"He would have always been an anchor around our necks Paul. He saw all our faces and knew how we operated. This way he died a national hero and will always be remembered as such. They will probably bury him in Arlington, with full honors.

Now we have to find a way to pull off Williams plan. If it works, it will be a thing of beauty. We will be able to retire in style."

"Do you mean it Colonel; this is going to be our last one."

"This is going to be my last one Paul. If you want to take over this operation, it is up to you. You have the brains and the experience to do it. Our team will follow you, because they respect you. You haven't spent one dollar of the millions you have in the bank. I want you to live long enough to spend it. When we finish this job each member will get between $20 and $40 million depending on longevity. You will get $150 million, and I will be getting $250 million. It's not a bad payday. William has been more than generous with us, and we have come through for him every time. I don't want to break that record, and I want us to part friends. We have to do this job perfectly, down to the last decimal point. I want our equipment triple checked. The rifles cleaned and ready to be re-bored and shot 100 times each afterwards.

Our team will be made up of six men, four women. I want five extraction methods. A family van, a sports car, a sedan, and a beat up old truck. I want a boat on the spur of the Monongahela River, called Cleat Lake at the end of his property. We can make it look like a boat party if they get too close.

The east side of his estate borders the Cooper Rock State Park. We can get lost in there for a decade if we have to.

There is plenty of ground cover. There are trees everywhere surrounded by brush, for that all around 'good ole boy' look. We have to find out if there are any sensors on the property. I don't think so, because there are a lot of animals roaming free in that area. Check for cameras in the trees, especially infrared. You know the drill; why am I explaining it to you?"

"Habit sir, you've been doing it for 23 years, why stop now?"

"I guess I will miss it after this one is over, but this is my last one."

"Where are we going to live sir?"

"Am I going to have to kill you to get away from you?"

"I certainly hope not Colonel. Who is going to write on my headstone, 'I can hear you Sergeant' if you're not here to do it."

"How about Vancouver Island Sergeant?"

"It's an island, isn't it?"

"That's a great way to get shot Paul."

"It was my way of telling you I know nothing about it sir."

"There is plenty of hunting and fishing up there, but most of all there are trees. I expect you to count each and every one of them."

"As you wish sir; I have not disobeyed one of your orders since we met. I'll be damned if I'm going to start now."

"Assemble our team, I will do a quick briefing, and we will meet in Morgantown."

"Yes sir."

"Paul, bring six alternates just in case this thing goes sideways. This one has got to go perfectly, and there is plenty of money to go around."

"Yes sir."

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

"You do know what's going to happen when I see my son don't you?"

"I'm sorry Steph, you are fourth online. I'm first, then Laura, Anna and you. The girls did all his chores for him for so many years they want to take pieces out of his hide. He has fooled each and every one of us. If it wasn't Fred, I would've had my doubts, but there is no smarter man then Fred Hastings. Robert could not pull the wool over his eyes in such a short period of time. Fred said they had a wonderful conversation and he was very impressed by Robert's depth of knowledge. I almost fell on the floor when he said it. I'm going to kill that boy. For 10 years I yelled, screamed, begged, and bribed him to study, learn about computers, do his math homework, and so many other things a good parent does. All that time he has been laughing at us behind our backs. He did that to aggravate me and to get all of us to do things for him. It worked Stephano; I'm going to kill him."

"I will miss you when you're in jail."

"It will be justifiable homicide, and I will have the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court on my side."

"I don't know what he did when he met Fred, but I would die to have a transcript of it."

"Maybe he'll have to come home to get as clothes?"

"Do you think he would be that stupid after what he's done during his college years? He will probably never set foot in New York again."

"It doesn't mean we can't go to Maryland."

"Yes, that will be fun. Tell me when and I will meet you there."

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

Laura yelled, "Mom come down here you have to read this."

"Don't make me read the whole thing; give me a synopsis of what you read for the last three hours."

"How could they have had the answer to stasis without having a rocket? They didn't test it, because their government wouldn't fund it. We were on the right track, but it would have taken us another few years to crack the code. It took them 14 years to do it, because they didn't have the computers we have now. They hadn't launched their first satellite into orbit yet. Now we have to build the unit they envisioned. We can update it with new materials to make it better. While we're doing that we can search for a volunteer to go to sleep for a year."

"You don't have to search anywhere, you have your volunteer."

They turned around and Junie was smiling at them.

Patti said, "No Junie, you've been through enough in your young life. Let us find someone else to do it."

"Patty, if Delicious had not saved me from my father I would still be his personal whore. I might as well have been dead, because that's the way I felt. When I needed help again she sent me into your arms, and you welcomed me like family. I have never had that feeling before. My mother died when I was seven years old. I was kept locked up in that house to make sure I was pure when I reached my 13th birthday. You know the rest of the story. Please let me do this, I want to pay you back for your kindness."

"Junie, you have no idea what the downside is to this experiment. You could die. You could wake up, and your bones could be dust because of lack of use. Your muscles could atrophy. We just don't know all the bad things that could happen to you."

"Wouldn't you be telling these same things to the stranger who volunteered? Is it because you know me that you're afraid that something bad will happen to me and not him? Don't you think that's unfair?"

"I won't let you do it Junie, I'll do it myself first."

"Now doesn't that make a lot of sense, Laura? How many years have you put into this project? If you go into the chamber, and you die, all the knowledge you've gained dies with you. If I die, you can do an autopsy, and find out where you went wrong and fix it. This wonderful mission depends on you and your mom getting it right. Use me, and don't let me die in there."

"I have a better idea mom, let's put Robert in there."

"Anna as much as I agree with you, I'm going to have to let that pass. We need a volunteer, and somehow I don't see your brother volunteering for this assignment."

"I have always forged his signature mom, and you never noticed."

"Yes I did. I just never said anything, because it was to my advantage not to get into an argument with him."

"It's decided then; I am the guinea pig. I do not want a pink sarcophagus. I want something lively, and vibrant. A bright gold or orange, something that will make me stand out in the dark. I don't want anyone tripping over me. Oh, would you have someone dust me off every week or two?"

Callum threw her over his shoulder and smacked her on her rump.

She screamed, "What was that for?"

"I don't like dusting. Now I'm going to have to dunk you in the deep end of the pool because you gave me a job to do."

"I don't have a bathing suit on."

"I do."

"Callum put me down."

"Trust me, I will, way down, approximately 10 feet below the surface."

"You wouldn't dare do that to me."

Laura said, "That was the wrong thing to say Junie. Hold your nose you're going for a swim."

Callum walked up the stairs, carrying Junie like she was a matchstick. Everyone followed behind them, laughing, while she was kicking her feet and yelled at him to put her down.

Callum asked her, "Why aren't you using your jujitsu on me, like you were going to use on Robert?"

"If you had a brain in your head, instead of a muscle, you would realize I didn't know jujitsu."

Cassie said, "OOOOOhhhhhhh, good one Junie."

As they reached the pool Callum said, "Do you want me to jump off the side, or the diving board?"

"It doesn't matter to me, because I'm not going."

"Do you want to bet on that?"

"My body may go, but my mind is staying above the water."

"If you don't mind my saying so, your mind is all wet."

He walked to the diving board, took her off his shoulders, and placed her in front of him. He turned, and looked her in the eye. "Junie Penick, you are the bravest woman I have ever known."

He put his lips against hers and kissed her passionately.

Her arms flailed out to the sides not knowing how to react to someone who was kissing her for her pleasure, rather than kissing her because he owned her. She felt it all the way down to her toes.

She lost her balance grabbed him and they both fell into the pool awkwardly.

There were peals of laughter especially from Christian.

"He's teaching me how to do that. I've been practicing on Cassy. I'm doing very well."

"You haven't touched me you moron."

"Oh yes I have, but it's been so good you can't remember a thing."

"Do you want to wind up in the pool like Callum?"

"I bet you can't do that to me."

"Listen puffy, you are an easy mark compared to Callum."

"Shall we go to the diving board and find out little sister?"

"Getting ballsy aren't we big brother?"

"You said I was an easy mark, prove it."

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

Callum helped Junie out of the pool. She went to swing at him for getting her wet, but he caught her arm and pulled it behind her back. He kissed her again.

"Why are you kissing me?"

"I'm kissing you because I like you, I like you very much. It's not because I feel sorry for you, because of what happened to you with your father. It's not because I'd like to get into your pants, at least not right now. I genuinely like you, and as I said before, I think you are one of the bravest women I have ever known. I don't know how you survived all those years under your father's oppression. It says volumes about your courage. You have tasted freedom for just more than a month, and now you are offering yourself up for an experiment that could kill you. Women fighting in the military have nothing on you Junie Penick, you are one awesome woman. Beware, I'm going to kiss you again."

She squeaked, "Okay!"

He did, but this time she joined in. Her arms reached around his neck, as his reached around her waist and brought her body to his erection.

It was such a touching scene, a hush fell over the pool area.

When they broke apart, Junie's face was bright red. Her blood pressure was at a record high, and she felt the erection of a man who wanted her but was not going to take her without her permission.

"I think I need a drink of water."

"Sit down by the table; I'll go inside and get you a glass."

Anna yelled. "Do you see what you did to that poor girl Callum?"

"Be quiet Anna that was my first real kiss. It was really nice, very, very nice."

Anna laughed, "Let me know when your toes uncurl."

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

Christian said, "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sorry the gentleman is no longer here. Ladies, my sister will now push me into the pool."

"Take your position Cassie."

"What position asshole?"

"We are going to take the same positions Junie and Callum were in. Then you are going to throw me into the pool; right?"

"Oh, right."

"Are you ready Cassie?"

"Yes I am."

"My sister will now throw me in the pool. I am ready."

Cassie made a grab for Christian's stomach.

Christian took a step back, and dropped to one knee. Cassie's arms flew over his shoulders, and his hands grabbed her tiny hips. He lifted her into the air as she cursed at him.

Cassie tried desperately to find something to hold onto besides his hair.

Christian bent his knees, sprang up, and threw his little sister high into the air. On her way down she screamed, "Oh fuck!"

She hit the water in a very unladylike position, and for a very tiny girl, she made a huge splash.

When she surfaced, she received a huge round of applause. She looked around for her brother to give him a piece of her mind. In horror saw him running up the diving board.

She yelled, "Christian No!"

He sprang off the end of the diving board, high into the air, and on his way into the water, did a perfect cannonball, landing within a few feet of her. The volume of water he displaced pulled her under the water with him.

When she surfaced the second time, she was spitting out a mouthful of water again.

As she cleared the water from her eyes, she said, "I'm going to kill that...."

Christian grabbed both her ankles and pulled her underwater for the third time.

She surfaced 15 seconds later. Christian had her in a lifeguard crawl, with his arm under her shoulder and her head resting on his chest. He towed her to the shallow end of the pool, helped her to her feet, and up the steps.

He sat her down next to Junie, while everyone laughed.

To add insult to injury he asked his baby sister, "Cassie would you like a little more water to drink?"

"You bastard; I'll get you for that."

"You were the one who said you could push me into the pool, weren't you?"

"Yes I was."

"Was I within my rights to prove you wrong?"

"Yes, but did you have to drown me in the process?"

"It was an object lesson. You will never tell anyone you can push me off the diving board, and into the water again will you?"

"No I won't, I'll just tell them I can beat you and everything else."

"That is your prerogative, until I beat you at everything else, and put you back in your place."

"You can't beat me at anything."

"What do you want to lose at next?"

"I'll tell you in the morning."

"It's going to take you that long to figure out the one thing you can beat me at?"

"There's a long list of things I can beat you at. Right now I'm water logged, because some jackass tried to drown me. We will pick this up tomorrow. "

"I guess that makes sense to someone who's going to lose."

Callum returned with a large glass of ice water and handed it to Junie.

"Thank you Callum, would you like to take the horses out for a ride?"

"Aren't you a little wet?"

"By the time you finish saddling the horses, I will have changed and I'll be ready to go."

"I have to change also."

"So let's both change and take the horses out for a ride."

Callum smiled, "Do you want to change in my room?"

"Maybe in a year or so."

"I'll wait; I'm not in any hurry."

"Really, you'll wait?"

"You are the first woman I can say I feel that way about. Yes, I'll wait."

"If you wait for me, I'll wait for you."

"That's not funny Junie, you'll be sleeping."

"No, I'll be dreaming; about you."

"In that case let's make the most of the time we have together. I'll give you a few things to dream about."

Callum took Junie by the hand and they walked slowly back to the house.

Laura yelled, "Junie can't go into stasis pregnant."

"Don't worry about a thing Laura. We won't be going that far. We are just going to give her some wonderful memories for her to dream about while she is in stasis."