2008-8-9 03:52:00
by Ted Dewey
It was two o'clock in the afternoon of the following day when the whirling blades of the chopper lifted them into the air.
Up and up it went; gaining altitude lifting them over that high mountain.
Just before they took off Rodney had given the pilot special instructions. "Circle around a bit and show Henry what our project looks like from the air."
The pilot did just that and it was a sight that Henry would never forget. There were the neat rows of houses with the red tile roofs. He saw the machine shop and the huge library. A huge mass of rock from the tunnel was evidence of a large cavity back in the mountain. The neat rows of gray colored wind machines were whirling in the breeze. There was a great feeling of satisfaction in Henry's heart as they passed them by.
Suddenly the co-pilot who was sitting in front of Henry pointed down with his finger. "Looks like someone else is doing some building down there."
Henry looked down at the spot where the man was pointing. Sure enough: A large building was there and it certainly didn't look like the work of Indians. Sitting at one end of a long runway was a black and yellow plane.
Henry's mind raced back to the day that they had arrived. Rodney had spotted a plane of this color following them in. Could this be the same one?
This place was just over the mountain in The Valley of Hope. Wouldn't this be on the land that Ventures Unlimited had leased from the Indians? Whatever the cased, he would report this to Rodney and Thomas when he returned.
Henry was feeling great. In about another month his contract with the company would be completed. His year with them would be over. He would be free to come and go as he pleased.
No longer was money a problem. Both his wages and security check had been deposited at the bank every month. Maybe now would be a good time to enjoy some of it.
He wondered about Julie. Would she still be working on Whiskey Row? It had been almost a year since he had seen her. Maybe she was gone, or had met someone else. She could have even gotten married! What a terrible thought.
For the first time since he had met her he could afford this little beauty. He hoped that she was still there and single.
Now that he was a member of the club he could take her back with him and could live there free for almost the next twenty years. But no need for that. They could take trips around the world and live the life of Riley.
It seemed to Henry that the trip had taken just a few minutes. The big chopper was settling dawn at the airport in Prescott. From there he took a cab to the city and stopped at the bank to draw out a thousand dollars. Then he headed for Whiskey Row.
His first stop of course was The Western.
He stepped inside and looked around. The long bar was almost full and Julie was behind the plank. Her back was toward him and she was going through a drawer in the cash register.
Henry cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled, "TIMBER!"
There was a startled look on Julie's face as she spun around and stared at Henry. Her face was white she looked like she was seeing a ghost!
"Henry," she whispered. "You old devil. I thought you were dead!" She opened the gate and ran to him.
Henry took her in his arms and held her close. "Me dead? What in the world ever give you that idea!"
Julie began to cry. "Oh Henry... You disappeared so suddenly... And right after those two tough looking characters were looking for you. I drove out to your house a couple of times. It was locked up tight..." Tears were running down her cheeks. "I thought you were dead!"
Henry kissed her on the forehead. "You had better get back on the job. Didn't you hear me yell?"
"I sure did, and from the way they are coming through that door so did the rest of the town."
"Aren't you going to wait on them?"
Julie wiped her eyes and blew her nose in her handkerchief. A trace of a smile come to her pretty face. "I had just finished checking out when you yelled. I am through for the day darling."
"Goods let's grab a seat while there is still a couple left." They found a pair of empty stools and sat down. A new girl began filling the order.
Several people gathered around the pairs giving Henry a genuine welcome home. Everyone tipped up their glasses and drank to their health.
Henry was all smiles. It was great to be home and have a few beers with his friends.
The girl finished filling all the glasses and then turned to Henry, "That will be twenty dollars, even."
Henry produced a hundred dollar bill and laid it on the bar. He was about to say ring it up when Julie spoke. "Bring me back the change Bessie. This old goat is going to take me out to dinner and I don't want him spending all his money on booze."
Henry grinned. As usual Julie was trying to look after him. Well he had a surprise for her. Before this night was over she was going to be invited to do just that for the rest of her life.
-- End Of Chapter Twenty-Two --
"It's like I was shot out of a cannon. I'm so overexposed that I make Paris Hilton look like a recluse."
-- Barack Obama
Word of the Day
Insipid -- Lacking significance or impact ("An insipid novel"); not pleasing to the sense of taste
Copyright © 2008 by J.J. Dewey, All Rights Reserved