2008-7-22 05:03:00
by Ted Dewey
Oran Thomas took a folder from the briefcase and laid it on the coffee table, then took a quick glance at the man that was seated on the couch beside him.
"Here is a copy of everything you sent us," said Thomas. "Where do you suggest we start?"
"Where ever you say..."
Thomas opened the folder and drew out the contents. Right on top of the pile was the ad that Henry had answered. He picked it up and looked it over. "Henry," he said, "you answered this advertisement that we ran in the newspaper. Also, you sent all these pictures and drawings, and we know that you don't have any patent rights. Shall we talk about that?"
Henry nodded. "Might just as well. The answer to that is very simple. I am not a wealthy man, Mister Thomas. Patents cost a lot of dough and that I don't have!"
Thomas smiled. "So you decided to throw yourself at our mercy. Is that correct?"
"Something like that, I guess."
Thomas nodded. "We had a feeling that this would be your answer."
"Oh yeah? Just what made you think that?"
Thomas smiled. "No rich man, Mister Bower, could ever come up with a contraption like this. You sure must of been badly in need of electric power to come up with such an idea."
"You are sure right there. Several years ago my father died and left me a lot of equipment. He had a machine shop in Prescott. The building was old and the roof leaked so I moved everything out to my ranch. There, I had no electric power. So, I rented a portable gasoline generator, then went to work on my invention.
In less than a year, I had more electric power than I could ever use."
"Then you are a machinist as well as an inventor?"
"I grew up in that shop. And when ever I wasn't doing something else, I was always welcome there."
"Then this first power plant was strictly for your own use. Correct?"
"Yes, I built it for myself, alright. But I had something else in mind. The whole world needs a good clean source of power. Our rivers are all dammed off, and we are running out of oil. Atomic power is dangerous. Some day it will blow us all to Hell!"
Thomas laughed. "I certainly agree with you there!"
"Yes, I have been dreaming about building one of these contraptions for many a year, but didn't get around to it until this last year."
"Just how long have you had this project in mind, Henry?"
"For over forty years, I guess."
"That is a long time. How old are you now, Henry?"
"Pretty old. I will be 67 on my next birthday."
"You certainly don't look it. You must take good care of yourself."
Henry smiled. "I have lived a very sheltered life."
Thomas looked the man over. On the bridge of the nose was a white scar. The left eyebrow, sometime or other, had been split wide open, giving him the appearance of having two on that side -- one slightly above the other.
Also, around the mouth and chin were numerous streaks of white showing through the deep tan. And that left hand, the little finger was missing -- and the right one, a sunken third knuckle; just back of it -- a big bump.
Thomas had some doubts about his statement of having lived a very sheltered life.
Thomas changed the subject. "And what else do you do to make a living besides being an inventor?"
"Right now, I am trying to live on my Social Security check."
"And before that?"
Henry closed his eyes, as though trying to remember.
Thomas was persistent. "Other than working in a machine shop, what other trades have you followed?"
Henry smiled. "I guess I am what you would call, a jack-of-all-trades. I have been most everywhere, and done most everything."
Thomas laughed. "And all while living a very sheltered life?"
Henry blushed. "What else would you like to know?"
"How far did you go in school, Henry?"
"Somehow I made it through the eighth grade."
Thomas removed several papers from the folder and laid them on the table. "What about these drawings? Who made them?"
A faint flush came to Henry's face. "I did. Sure didn't have much to work with, but I thought you would get the idea."
"Don't apologize; they are just fine." He laid them on the table and picked up another. "And this one. It shows one of the machines in action. Also, the scenery around it -- boy, just look at that canyon in the background. Beautiful! Did you do this one also?"
Henry nodded. "I only had some poster board and crayons to work with -- could of done much better."
"I think they are just great. You are a real artist. Do you also do oil paintings?"
Henry nodded. "I used to paint quite a bit. I did a lot of wild life; also Indians and Kachinas. Painted them on leather."
"And what is a Kachina?"
"'The Kachina,'" Henry answered, "is a character invented by the Hopi Indians. And they have one for about every occasion. I guess you could compare them to our Santa Claus for Christmas; goblins on Halloween, or our bunnies on Easter. Get the idea?"
"I understand."
Henry frowned. "Just why are you asking me all these questions, Mister Thomas?"
Thomas smiled. "Part of my job, Henry. Our company wants to know all about you, right down to the last detail. Then if we are satisfied, I am authorized to make you an offer."
"Then you are definitely interested in my project?"
Thomas nodded, "We certainly are, Henry. Not only are we interested in your invention, but also in you. So if you don't mind answering a few more questions."
"I guess it is okay, but..."
"Is something bothering you, Henry?"
"I just can't help but wonder..."
"What is it man? Speak up!"
"Alright I will. You have all the drawings of my invention; also you are pumping me dry. How do I know that you won't pull out of here, and take everything with you?"
The face of Thomas turned slightly red. Slowly he nodded his head. "I know exactly what you mean and I sure don't blame you one little bit for being careful. Also, I realize you know very little about our company."
He quit talking and once more opened the briefcase. In his hand was a large brown envelope. "Perhaps this will give you more confidence in our company..." He opened the flap and dumped the contents on the table.
Henry's eyes grew big and round. Never before had he seen so many one hundred dollar bills in one pile.
Slowly, Thomas begin gathering up the money and stuffed it back into the brown envelope.
"There is exactly fifty grand here," he said. "A partial payment for your invention. If I intended to steal this from you, I sure wouldn't be carrying this around. Now would I?"
"I guess you are right at that."
"I am only trying to do my job, Henry. Our company has a lot of confidence in me and I sure don't intend to let them down. Also, I am trying to look after your interest as well. I want you to trust me."
Henry nodded. "That makes a lot of sense."
"Now I am going to tell you something else. We had some of the best engineers in New York City take a look at your drawings. And according to their report, the thing should perform just as you say it will." Thomas quit talking and once more opened the briefcase. He drew out a legal looking document and handed it to Henry.
"When you sign this in front of a Notary," he said, "this fifty thousand is yours. Then we will go to Prescott and inspect the working models. Then if everything is like you say, you get another fifty. How does that sound?"
"Great. Just great!" Henry reached down and pinched his right leg. Surely he was dreaming.
Thomas got up and walked over to the window. For a moment, he stood staring down at the street below. Suddenly he turned around and a big smile was on his face.
"There will be no more questions, Henry. I was merely trying to get acquainted. I hope I didn't overdo it. Now, I am going to confess something to you..."
Henry looked puzzled. "And what is that?"
"This might come as quite a shock to you my friend. But before I came out here, our company ran a thorough check into your past life. And, you passed with flying colors. We need men like you Henry. Someone that is not afraid -- someone with vision."
Thomas quit talking and drew a little black book from his shirt pocket. He opened it and smiled at Henry. "It says right here. Quote... This man Bower has somehow managed to get himself into most every war and revolution that has happened on this earth since back in the late thirties. His most recent escapades were as follows: The overthrow of the Somosa family in Nicaragua; The revolution in El Salvador..." Thomas quit reading and grinned at Henry. "Shall I continue?"
Henry's face was red. "I guess I have gotten around a little."
"This sheltered life that you have been living -- it has been quite an eventful one, Henry. And we like your style. Also, we like your invention, and would like to put it to work for the good of mankind, and the world of the future."
"That is exactly what I had in mind."
"Also, we would like for you to go to work for us for a period of at least one year. We are tackling a big job, and hope to have it completed in that length of time. What would you say to twenty-five hundred a month, plus expenses, of course."
Henry gulped. "Who do I have to kill?"
Thomas laughed. "No one of course. We are going to save lives, not take them."
"And where would I be working?"
"I am not sure, but I think it will be somewhere in this state."
"When do you want me to start?"
"As far as I am concerned, you have already started."
"What will I be doing?"
"You will be building more of these machines, Henry. Where we are going there will be no electric power; I am certain of that. We are certainly going to need a lot of it."
Henry was still puzzled. "I still don't know exactly what this project is all about. Can't you explain?"
Thomas nodded. "At least I will give it a try, Henry. We are going to build a sanctuary -- a town or city -- as far from civilization as possible. This will be a place that a few of us might survive after someone pulls the trigger that will start an atomic war -- a war that will destroy at least ninety percent of the people on the face of this earth!
-- End Of Chapter Two --
Copyright © 2008 by JJ Dewey, All Rights Reserved