The turntable finished a 360 ° sweep without revealing anything suspicious.
Richard muttered, “Well I’ll be damned.”
“What now?” Erin asked.
Bill shrugged, palms up. “We don’t have a lot of options, actually. We can dial in Greenhouse Earth or Mutual of Omaha Earth. According to Kevin, that’s it from here. Right or left. And we can only move our viewpoint on that side by moving the gate on this side. But, hey, I’m open to suggestions.”
Richard shut off the gate. “Good points, Bill. People, this calls for some thought. And beers. Many beers. Followed by food and more beers. Then maybe some discussion, but definitely beers. Dempsey’s, anyone?”
He looked at each person in turn. There was no argument, so he powered down the rest of the equipment, and everyone headed for the door.
“Uh, hold on,” Kevin said. Pulling out a set of keys, he locked the lab door and made a point of testing it to make sure it wouldn’t open.
“Yeah, I hear ya,” Bill said, giving a thumbs-up.
***
“Wow. Like, just… wow,” Bill muttered. The events of the day were so far beyond anything he had expected or imagined that he was having trouble processing it. He suspected he wasn’t alone. The faces around the table looked as shell-shocked as he felt.
The waitress came by, but the drinks had hardly been touched. She walked away, looking perplexed.
After several minutes of silence, Bill said, “So let me see if I understand this. There are alternate Earths on either side of us. One is like Wild Kingdom. The other is some kind of post-apocalyptic horror with a Venus-like atmosphere, where everything is probably dead. Does that about sum it up?”
He looked around the table. Kevin nodded, Matt looked thoughtful, Richard sat back and put his hands behind his head, and Erin returned his look with a faint smile.
Matt took a sip of his beer, then said in a distracted tone, “Maybe we can sell acreages…?”
Bill stared in disbelief for a few seconds. “What are you, slow?”
Matt raised his eyebrows and looked amused. “You have a better idea?”
Bill grinned back at him. “Look, if these are duplicate Earths, then chances are things like mineral deposits will be in the same place. Including gold. Ever hear of the California Gold Rush? Panning for gold? Or closer to home, Deadwood Creek or Pikes Peak?”
“Sure, okay,” Matt answered. “So how do we get there? Doesn’t look like there are highways on that side.”
“There are highways on this side. And the portal hardware is portable, if you have a van.”
People around the table exchanged looks.
“How much gold do you think there was at the Deadwood gold strike?” Matt asked.
Erin replied, “About two hundred and fifty million, in today’s money. Of course, most of that was mined, and I have no desire to swing a pick axe. But there would be at minimum several tens of millions worth of placer gold before you’d have to switch to more intensive extraction processes.”
“Are we sure we want to go down this road?” Kevin asked.
Erin replied, “Ever hear of Kim Kardashian’s half-million-dollar wedding dress?”
Kevin looked offended, and Erin laughed. “Sorry, Kevin, of course you haven’t. Yes, I want to go down this road. Or at least play with the idea. I’d like to not have to worry about how I’m going to pay for next year. Or even this year.”
Bill couldn’t help smiling at Erin’s comment. The life of a poor university student tended to make the advantages of financial security very clear.
“Is this legal?” Kevin persisted.
“Unless we’ve come under Napoleonic law when I wasn’t looking,” Richard replied, “anything not specifically declared illegal is legal. And that isn’t Nebraska we’re talking about, just a place that looks a lot like Nebraska used to.”
“That sounds a lot like lawyering,” Matt commented.
“And who do you think will be fighting both sides of this if it ever goes to court?” Richard asked. “If and when this tech becomes available to the public, do you think various people, groups, and governments will be waiting around to ask permission of the current owners on this side? Not a chance. I think we have a limited amount of time to get in and get ours before it becomes a total war-zone.”
Bill leaned forward and put his elbows on the table. This was getting interesting.
“Can we hope to keep control if it gets out?” Erin asked.
Richard shook his head. “Kevin is smart, but if he can figure out the theory, someone else will too, sooner or later. No offense, Kevin. And the hardware isn’t that complicated once you know what you’re trying to do. It’s all off-the-shelf components and some light metalwork.” This last comment with a tip of his head to Bill, who acknowledged with an ironic wave. “Patents don’t help either. They just prevent people from selling it, not from making it in their basements. No, we are golden as long as no one realizes what we’re doing. Once that breaks, it’s just a matter of time.”
“What about burying it and walking away?” Erin suggested.
Kevin looked chagrined. “You’re asking me to throw away everything I’ve been working on for the last ten years without explanation. And as Richard said, someone else will figure it out. We’re there, Erin. These breakthroughs don’t come in a vacuum. Even Einstein started with other people’s work to get to his theory. Shoulders of Giants and all that.”
“All right, I accept that,” Erin replied. She thought for a few seconds. “Of course, patents will make you a lot of money, and there’s the Nobel prize…”
Richard waggled his hand so-so. “The Nobel isn’t guaranteed, although I think we’d have a pretty good shot. But that’d be mostly Kevin, and might be as much as a decade away”.
“And it’s not really that much money in the end,” Matt added.
“Patents,” Erin said.
“Granted,” Richard answered, “but I don’t think this would be a mass-market product along the lines of the PC. And anyway, if someone figures out a slightly different way to do it, a patent could be worthless.”
There were a few moments of silence as everyone pondered the alternatives. Richard took the opportunity to signal the waitress for refills.
Bill broke the silence. “Here’s another question, Kevin. If Yellowstone erupted here, would it erupt there at the same time?”
“Where the hell is that coming from?” Richard asked, surprise plain on his face.
Bill tipped his head towards Erin and Matt. “You should get Erin to tell you about her fun times at Yellowstone last week.” He turned to Kevin. “So?”
Kevin huffed a bit, thinking. “I doubt it. They are separate worlds, and have been so for some amount of time, depending on where they split. They’re not going to proceed in lockstep. Small differences add up.”
All eyes turned to Erin. Matt said, “Jeez, Erin, you think that’s going to happen?”
Erin hesitated before shaking her head. “Yellowstone has been acting up on and off as long as America has been here. And people have been predicting an eruption for just as long. The west coast is overdue for a mega quake too, and that hasn’t happened. So no, not particularly.”
Bill inclined his head. “Still, if it did blow, it’d be nice to have a bolt-hole. This is kind of my thing, right?”
Matt laughed. “I hadn’t noticed!” He pointed at Bill. “You’ve been waiting your whole life for this moment, haven’t you?”
Bill spread his hands in an expansive gesture and smiled an acknowledgment.
“Another thing.” Richard said after a moment. “I’d like to move it out of the lab. Lousy security and too many curious people.”
“And I,” Bill interjected, “would like to see a second portal built if we’re going to be going through that thing.”
“What? Why?” Richard exclaimed.
“Are you kidding me? Now you’re slow! What, you think nothing will go wrong? You're like the guy
who shrugs off concerns then gets eaten or blown up in the next scene. You're the guy who goes into the attic alone because that's the smart thing to do.”
Bill shook his head and held out his hands, palms out. “Dude, I've seen every sci-fi and horror movie known to man. I've seen people locked in, locked out, locked up, abandoned, lost, crushed, eaten, beaten, shot, disintegrated, or just stuck out on the street in their underwear, because they didn't bother to take precautions. God exists, and he's not only a nasty SOB, he's also a B-movie director with a warped sense of humor. And I don't want to be his next sight gag.
“So I am not going anywhere near that thing unless you have spare parts, a spare unit, spare batteries, and a spare generator. You want to skip all that? Fine! I'll wait on this side.”
Richard made a wry face and shrugged. “Well, you ain’t wrong.”
At that point, the waitress arrived with another round of the same for everyone. All conversation ceased until she was several tables away.
There were several more hours of discussion. It was one thing to talk in general and theoretical terms about crossing the dimensions and panning for gold, another to resolve to do it. But in the end, the potential for adventure—combined with the possibility of massive amounts of money—was too much to resist.
Richard summed up what they’d worked out. “So the plan is we move the portal generator out of the lab, location to be determined. We build a second portal, and several gates, including one we can drive a truck through. We pick a good location for gold panning, put together supplies for an expedition, and then we’re going looking for gold, which is hopefully in the same place on that side. All good?”
Everyone signaled agreement by various nods, thumbs-up, and grunts. And that called for beer.
Just Another Day
Suzie looked up as she heard her friends approach. They’d agreed to meet in the Union Cafeteria for breakfast—or brunch as Stephanie nose-in-the-air insisted on calling it—and a cram session for the upcoming exam. Suzie noted that Stephanie, as usual, had a latte and croissant. No coffee and muffin for her, oh never! Suzie smiled to herself. But I’m not being catty.
She could see Frank—Frankie, she corrected herself—going on about something. Wow, he’s a diva.
The friends exchanged greetings, and they all settled in for the duration.
“Welcome to summer session. Ugh!” Joy said, making a face.
Suzie nodded. “Poor Professor Tilston. I’m glad he’s better now, but yeah, it’s this or end up a year behind.”
“I don’t see why I should have to pay the price for his injuries though,” Stephanie said.
“It’s called real life, bi-atch. Get used to it!” Frankie replied. Frankie’s delivery, as always, was perfect.
“All right, boys and girls,” Suzie moved to derail the incipient argument. Stephanie did not like being talked to that way, especially by Frankie, which, of course, just motivated Frankie to do it more often. “Medieval History, what fun. Joy, did you bring the sample questions?”
Joy waved some sheets of paper.
“Then let’s get going. First question?”
Suzie sighed and rested her chin on her hand as Joy read the first sample exam question out loud. It was going to be a long day.
Midnight Move
Richard, Bill, Matt, and Kevin moved the equipment from the lab into a rented moving van parked in the loading bay. Bill had been concerned about University Security getting suspicious and questioning them, but there were no interruptions. They drove to a warehouse storage unit that Matt had found, unloaded the van, and set everything up. They also brought in some furniture and small appliances and set up a kitchen of sorts.
Bill donated a commercial-grade coffee maker, the kind that a restaurant or cafeteria would use. At the disbelieving looks, he said, “Craigslist. Ten bucks. And for the record, I live not only for coffee, but on coffee.”
Kevin and Richard set up the turntable in the middle of the floor. On top of it, they placed a new and larger gate, about three feet in diameter.
Richard looked at the results with a smile. He turned to the others. “Okay, step one, done. We have a base of operations. Special thanks to Matt for being the moneybags. We’ll reimburse you first, Matt, before we split the profits.” Richard gave a couple of villainous eyebrow wags.
“Bill has a medium-sized gate built,” he motioned to the gate on the turntable. “And a couple of larger, person-size gates almost finished, but I still have to, uh, borrow a spare set of modules sufficient to build a second portal generation system. We also need a generator, and supplies. Bill will be starting to work on a truck-sized gate next.
“Supplies will have to include gold-panning equipment and weapons. I don’t know what kind of animals are on the other side of the gate, but it’s a fair bet some of them are carnivorous.”
Erin, who had been looking thoughtful, waved a hand to get attention. “Guys, I have a friend who I think should be brought into this. Monica is a zoologist, so I think she’d be valuable, especially for the identification of threats. We’ve been friends forever, and I’d trust her with my life. I will be trusting her with my life if I go through that thing, I guess.”
Richard’s face clouded up. He’d been more relaxed as he got to know the other members of the group, but now with Erin’s suggestion to bring someone else in, he was looking like the old Richard.
“You’ve got to be kidding me!” He said, glaring at Erin.
She sighed. “Richard, do you know what kind of predators there are on that side? Lions and tigers and bears? Velociraptors? I’d like to know what might be wanting to eat me before we step through that thing.”
Richard glared at her for a few more seconds, then seemed to deflate. He hung his head and shrugged. “Yeah, okay, that sounds reasonable. I’m not keen on becoming lunch either. Go ahead and talk to her. But make sure she’s sworn to secrecy, all right?”
Bill grinned at Erin. “Tell her we have a sign-off from a geologist, now we just need a biologist to rubber-stamp our little amusement park.”
“Oh for God’s sake,” Matt rolled his eyes. “All in favor of stuffing Bill through first to see what eats him? Opposed? It’s unanimous, Bill. You’re the main course.”
The group exchanged smiles. A whole world to themselves, the possibility of large amounts of money for not much work, eventual fame. What’s not to like?
In the News
In other news, activity continues to increase in the Yellowstone National Park. USGS representatives stress that this is not unprecedented. Yellowstone gets dozens of small earthquakes every day, and there have been lava excursions in the past. Spokesperson Robert Danell is quoted as saying, “It’s a long way from a bit of volcanic activity to an impending supervolcano explosion.”
---
In Washington, Republicans are loudly questioning if FEMA would have the resources to handle an eruption. They point to budget cuts that have forced FEMA to cut programs and are demanding that the Democrat administration confirm that they have a plan.
Democrats are quick to point out that the cuts to FEMA funding were all enacted by Republican administrations, and that FEMA would have a much more generous budget if the Republicans would stop blocking all attempts to give them one.
---
Discovery Channel has announced that they will be rerunning their Supervolcano series this week due to viewer demand.
Monica and Erin Have Lunch
“Hey, buttercup!”
Erin smiled at the familiar voice. There was no question about who was at the other end of that yell. Her friend Monica had always been brash and loud. Monica Albertelli had been raised in a large traditional Italian home, always competing for attention and air time. She had a voice that carried and when necessary could shock people into astonished silence.
The two had known each other since before grade school and had been delighted when they learned they would be going to the same university. Monica was taking bi
ology with an emphasis on zoology. She was fond of saying that plants were less interesting because they just sat there.
Monica and Erin were a sharply contrasting pair. Where Erin was tall, slim and athletic, Monica was five-foot-four with dark, long wavy hair and a figure that could—and on at least one occasion had—made men walk right into telephone poles. Monica often joked about her effect on men and made no pretense about not enjoying it.
Erin had arranged to meet Monica at La Mexicana. Both girls loved Mexican food, and Erin admitted to herself that she was getting tired of burgers.
Monica motioned Erin over and indicated a seat at the table. She waved a menu at Erin and said, “So hey, what’s all this big deep mystery? You been recruited by the see eye aye?” Monica laughed.
“Oh, for crying out loud! No, this is about that project that Matt has gotten involved in. It’s turned into something, um, interesting. And I do mean like in the Chinese curse.”
“Oooooh. Danger. Intrigue. C’mon, give.”
“Sorry, no. I don’t think you’d believe it without seeing it. Anyway, they made me promise, and it’s their show. The boys will want to show you a few things, then explanations. Bottom line though, they need someone with some zoological background, and you are it.” Erin paused to dig into the salsa and nachos.
Monica leaned forward. “So any of these bro’s interesting? And I don’t mean like the curse!”
“Hmm…” Erin thought about it for a few seconds while chewing. “Well, Richard is hot. Kind of intense, if you know what I mean, but not creepy. Bit of a temper. You might get along fine with him, or you might kill each other.”
They both laughed at that. Monica’s relationships had always tended towards the volatile end of the spectrum.
“Bill’s cute, and nice in a geeky sort of way. According to Matt though, he has a case of referencitis that would put you to shame.”
“Well, then, he must die,” Monica replied with an exaggerated dramatic tone. “There can be only one.” Then more seriously, “Also, it’ll be nice to finally meet this new boyfriend of yours.”
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