I know as we get closer to the shiff’s building we’ll probably see guards. Maybe Stiles will still be there. “Should we start back?” I ask, hoping to avoid any confrontations.
“I don’t think Jared wants us around right now. He told me so right before Jennifer showed up.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
We continue down the road leading past building ‘D’, onto the taxiway to building ‘E’ where our project is.
“Do you hear that?” I ask, turning around and looking back down the drive we had just walked up. “Sounds like Willie.”
“Well if it is, Jared’s going to be really pissed.” We walk into the hangar.
Parts are organized in different piles around the engine cowling which patiently sits on stands at the back of the building. Things don’t look much different from last week, except the naked frame of the hy-ped is laying off to the left, the wheels nowhere to be seen.
I walk over to have a closer look. Kylie walks around the right side to where the cockpit from the crop duster has been put and sits in the pilot’s seat. After a few minutes I walk around to join her. She is looking at the mess of parts and wires. “Do you think it will ever fly?” she asks.
“I wonder the same thing. We’ve still got about ten weeks. If we want to make our planned debut, anyway. And we can always find another time to shock the world if it takes longer.”
“But don’t you think the longer it takes the harder it’s going to be to keep secret?”
“Yeah, I do. But what’s the choice? It’s going to take as long as it takes. There’s a lot to consider and there just seems to be no plan.”
“Don’t you have a plan?”
“I never really thought I was in charge,” I answer, hoping it doesn’t sound like an excuse.
“Well, it’s your saucer. You should be in charge. Make a plan. Set a schedule. Assign jobs to whoever would be best at it.”
She’s almost annoying. I try not to let it show. “I thought who was doing what was pretty obvious,” I say defensively. “Willie’s good at the building part, Jen’s got the containment fields going, and you’ve got the controller moving forward so what’s…”
She cuts me off. “That’s where you’re wrong. I know I’m supposed to be doing the software and I’m fine with that. But who’s working on the interface between the software and the hardware; between my stuff and Jen’s? Who’s working on those details?”
I suddenly feel confused and overwhelmed, like flying blind in the clouds. “I don’t know,” I confess. “But I do know that I have no idea how to organize something like this.”
“Well somebody has to!” she declares loudly.
“Then be my guest!” I shout back. She glares at me. I have never seen her angry before.
“If this thing never flies,” she hisses, “it’ll all be your fault.” She bolts out of the seat and stomps towards the door. I feel like a jerk. Maybe she is right. Maybe I do have to take control.
“Kylie! Wait!” She stops, turns and crosses her arms. “I’m going to need help.” I walk slowly in her direction. “Will you help me?”
“I don’t know what to do!” she declares, looking directly at me as I come up before her.
“Then lets think it through together,” I suggest. “Help me build the team.”
“Jared wouldn’t approve.”
“Jared doesn’t have to know, does he?” She smiles briefly at the idea of keeping a secret from him. “It will be fun. You’ll see.”
“But what if we get sick of each other in the process? I like you a lot and…” She stops short, seeming a little embarrassed by the confession. She blushes. I smile and reach out my hand.
“I like you too,” I declare, “a lot.” She smiles and takes my hand. “I don’t think I could ever get sick of you, and I’m sorry I got snippy just now.”
“It’s okay,” she says. “Me too; sorry that is. It’s just that it’s summer vacation, and this is the last thing I thought I’d be doing. It sounded like fun a couple of weeks ago. But it’s turning into work. I don’t want to work yet. I just wanted to have fun this summer.”
“Me too,” I agree, “but do we just quit?”
“I wouldn’t like that either.”
“Me neither. And just think what a great story it will be when we start school this fall and tell about how we spent our summer vacation.” She laughs politely at my dumb joke, knowing we can’t say anything until after we fly.
“Let’s go home,” she says.
We turn for the door. Just as she shuts off the lights and opens the door to go out, there is the unmistakable roar of the Beast coming around the side of building ‘D’. The lights, all eight of them, hit us. We freeze, waiting as it comes to a stop. Willie jumps out immediately. He has something under his arm. Jared slowly gets out of the other side with Jen close behind. He doesn’t look too happy.
“Hey! Good! I thought we might find you two here,” Willie exclaims.
“Hey Willie, what’s up?” I ask after Kylie has greeted him. Neither of us says anything to Jared or Jennifer.
“Ty, we really need to talk about some things.”
“Yeah Willie, I know. Kylie and I were just discussing the same thing so,” I step back, opening the door again, “step into my office.” Kylie slips in first to turn the lights back on. Willie follows, then Jen, and finally Jared, who gives me the ugliest, frustrated look.
“Hey! It wasn’t my idea,” I mutter to him under my breath as I follow him in.
We all proceed across the floor to where Kylie and I had been just minutes before. She reestablishes herself in the pilot’s seat. Everybody else mills around. Willie sets down the item he is carrying. It’s a bathroom scale.
“What’s that for?” I asked.
“Weighing stuff,” he says, not pointing out that I had asked a dumb question with an obvious answer. Then he quickly gets to the point. “Tyler, we need more power.”
“What?” I answer, taken by surprise.
“The fuel cell from the hy-ped produces a little more power than it needs to turn the wheels. I was mentally adding up the other stuff, like the computer and instruments, and we don’t have enough power.”
“But we don’t know how much we’re going to need Willie. Jen and I haven’t figured that out yet.”
“Still, I doubt that we’re going to have enough so we should plan on getting more from somewhere.”
“He’s right, Tyler,” Jen confirms. “Even with not having an exact calculation, I can guarantee you we’re going to need more power than we have to lift a couple hundred…”
“Try a couple thousand,” Willie interrupts.
“Okay, a couple thousand pounds.”
“You think it’s going to weigh that much?” I ask in disbelief.
“Well, the cowling there weighs a couple hundred by itself; let’s say two-fifty.” He stoops over, picks up the scale and hands it to me. “Here. Follow me.” We walk over to a wing rib that will be part of the saucer’s frame. “Set the scale down and get on it,” he instructs me, as he gets himself centered behind the rib. “What do you weigh?”
“A hundred and thirty-eight.”
He picks up the rib. “Put your arms out.” When I do, he hands me the rib and slowly lets me adjust to the weight. I’m straining as he lets go. “You weigh two hundred nineteen now,” he informs me, quickly taking the rib and setting it down. I wobble with relief, but try not to let it show.
“So that’s…” I try to do the math in my head.
“Eighty one pounds,” Jennifer answers.
“Times eight?” Willie asks, looking at Jennifer.
“Six hundred forty-eight,” Jennifer quickly replies to his challenge.
“And then there are the cross-pieces, the spars, and the short ribs…”
“Short ribs?” I ask.
“Yep,” he states confidently. “You need the spars to stabilize the ribs, and you need the short ribs to support the outer ring and the sk
in.”
“Outer ring? Skin?” Jennifer asks.
“The outer ring supports the pitch controllers and the skin. You can’t go flying around like a naked skeleton!” He grins.
He’s right. Visually and aerodynamically, the saucer needs a skin and the supporting structure for it. “What would make a good skin?” I wonder out loud, hoping Willie might have an answer.
“There’s some new stuff out for car bodies. It’s a lightweight, super-strong composite. I think it could do the job.”
“Great,” I say with relief.
“So, what were you saying about pitch controllers?” Jennifer asks Willie next.
“Well, my idea there is to have vertical lifters attached to the cowling, around the center where most of the weight will be, and pitch controllers around the outside which would respond to the twist of the stick, controlling the horizontal pitch front to back and side to side. But I wasn’t sure what any of you thought. I mean, it’s Tyler’s idea and I’m sure he’s probably got some thoughts about these things.”
Everybody looks at me. I look at Kylie thinking about our earlier conversation. “I’m sorry. No Willie. There are a lot of things I haven’t given much consideration. I never thought it would get this far.”
“The dreamer dreams, the worker works, but a successful man does it all,” Jared chides.
“Where’d ya hear that?” Willie asks.
“Besides, it should be ‘successful woman’, moron,” scolds Jennifer, hitting Jared playfully on the shoulder.
“That’s what I meant,” he acknowledges apologetically.
It’s a nice break away from the seriousness of the conversation. And it gives me a minute to think. “I’ll start a spreadsheet for the weights so we can at least get a rough idea of what this thing might weigh when we’re done.”
“Sounds good,” Willie says.
“And Jennifer,” I continue, turning to her, “we’re going to have to do a few more experiments to determine how many G-bits it’s going to take to lift, say, a hundred pounds. That way we can determine how many lifters and pitch things we’re going to need.”
“Okay Ty,” she answers.
“And Kylie and I will figure out how the computer software is going to control the whole thing.”
“Aye, aye, captain.” She salutes mockingly, which hurts for a second. Here I am, trying to take control like we had talked about earlier, and now she is poking fun at me.
“What do you want me to do?” Jared asks enthusiastically.
“What are you good for?” Jennifer teases him.
“You can help me with construction, Jer,” Willie states. “It’s going to take a lot of work to build this thing. I think the next step is to position the ribs on jack stands around the cowling so they can be attached. Then the spars, short ribs, and the outer circle can go on.”
“Some of these parts sound awfully funny,” Kylie comments with a giggle.
“That’s ‘cause nobody’s ever built a flying saucer before, except in science fiction novels,” Willie answers matter-of-factly.
“What else?” I ask. I look around hesitantly at each of them, hoping there isn’t anything.
“Isn’t that enough for now?” Kylie responds.
“Yeah, that’s enough for now,” Willie says, looking at his watch. “I gotta go pick up Cheri. We’re headed for a show in TorC town.”
“What are you seeing?” Jennifer asks.
“I don’t know yet. We’re going to the multiplex. It’s Cheri’s choice tonight and she didn’t tell me what’s playing.”
“Good luck with that,” Jared comments.
“You should be so gallant,” Jen challenges him, sounding rather annoyed again.
Willie starts for the door. “Anybody want a ride back?”
“Sure,” answers Jared, taking off after him. Jennifer follows slowly behind.
“I’m going to walk back. But thanks, Willie,” Kylie announces.
“I’m with her.” She smiles at me when I respond.
“Okay. See ya then. Jared, you gonna be around tomorrow?” Willie asks as they head out the door. I can’t hear the response. Jennifer is only half way to the door when she turns around.
“Would I be interrupting anything if I walk with you guys?” she asks uneasily.
Kylie looks at me to answer. “No. Please walk with us, Jen,” I say. About then we hear the Beast start up and roar off. Quiet slowly envelopes the hangar again. I look at the pile of parts, making a partial inventory in my mind for the weight spreadsheet. Kylie walks over towards Jennifer, who has started walking back towards us.
“He’s such a jerk sometimes,” I overhear Jen say to Kylie. I try to keep my mind on parts, but easily hear them as they walk closer.
“Tell me about it. He’s my brother,” Kylie agrees, snickering.
“I just don’t understand him sometimes, and he’s really annoying me tonight.”
I can’t resist making a comment. “That makes three of us. He annoys me most of the time, too,” I joke as they walk up beside me.
“I think it’s because Mom’s not around,” Kylie says seriously. “I mean, who’s he got to teach him about adult women? I’m the only one he’s got around and all he does is pick on me.”
“Maybe you’re right,” Jen agrees thoughtfully.
“Be patient. He’ll grow up eventually,” I suggest. “And you,” I grin at Kylie, “you’re already too grown up.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” she nods. Then towards Jen, feigning a sophisticated voice, “We girls do that, you know.” They both laugh.
I look around another second, then announce, “I’m done.”
“Finally,” Kylie replies with much exaggeration. We all walk across the hangar and out the door.
It feels late, but there is still light from the setting sun reflecting off the clouds hanging over the darkening mountains to the west. What had looked like rain earlier has dissipated with the cooling temperature. Somebody probably got a light shower, but not us.
Kylie locks the door and we walk slowly in the direction of the office building. The girls chat as we make the return trip around the side of building ‘D’. I’m puzzled, trying to figure out how the software will control the G-bits in their containment fields. We could use some sort of rheostat or maybe an IC board of some kind, but where could we get something like that? I decide it’s a question that might have an answer on the internet. All I have to do is remember to search for it. There’s getting to be too much to remember.
“Rooaarr!”
I jump. I see the girls jump and hear a pair of quick screams. But in a split second I know it’s Jared. Turning and spotting his tracks in the twilight, I can see he had been hiding around the back of building ‘D’. As we walked past it, he snuck up on us from behind, grabbing Jennifer’s shoulders. She angrily turns around, yelling, “What the hell are you doing?”
“Just having a little fun,” he explains.
“I thought you rode back with Willie?”
“And leave you to walk back with these two on a night like this?” He takes both her hands. “Not a chance.” She smiles.
“You’re such a jerk,” she scolds flatly, slapping his shoulder. Turning around, we resume our walk. Jared gets in step next to Jennifer, who has picked up the pace a little.
It’s quiet all the way to the vacant guard window. I notice Jared take hold of Jen’s hand. She slows down a little. I take hold of Kylie’s and we slow down even more. Pretty soon they are several yards in front of us.
“They’re such a cute couple,” Kylie comments.
“Yeah, they’re both crazy,” I mutter in response.
“I heard that,” Jennifer calls back.
Their dad’s car is there when we get back. Kylie goes in to let him know we are there but quickly returns.
“I guess I’ll be going,” I say.
“You sure?”
“Yeah, I think I should start on that spreadsheet while I
’m thinking about it. You know, start getting organized.”
“That’s probably a good idea. If you need any help…” she offers sweetly.
“Thanks. I’ll let you proof it before I show it to Willie.”
“Okay.” She follows me over to the truck. “I had fun tonight,” she adds a moment later.
“Yeah. Me too.” I know Jared and Jennifer are watching from the porch. I wrap my arms around Kylie and give her a hug.
“Hey! That’s my little sister you’re hugging,” I hear Jared shout from the porch. I look up in time to see Jennifer punch him, and hope their dad hasn’t heard.
“Yeah?” I taunt him. “What are you going to do about it?”
“Nothing,” he teases back, “for now anyway.” I see Jen punch him again. “Ow,” he complains weakly. “That’s starting to hurt.”
“See you tomorrow?” Kylie asks, after quickly giving me a peck on the cheek while her brother is distracted.
“That’d be nice,” I reply, climbing into the truck. The old door closes with a squeak. As I pull away, I look in the mirror and see her watching me drive off, sad I’m leaving.
Weight Lifting
Dad cooks almost everything for breakfast Saturday morning and we eat together; all four of us! Gramps and I help out with the little stuff like toast, coffee, and setting the table. Mom’s energy level is up and down like a seesaw these days. Today it’s down. Dad lets me know that this breakfast routine will probably be the norm for the next year or so. Mom is going to need a lot of help. The family dynamic is already beginning to change.
After breakfast is cleaned up, Gramps heads out to his shop, and Dad and I attend to the Hy-Gens. The routine has evolved into a cycle of changing out one of the eight sets of nanotube plates every six weeks or so. Today is the day. He cuts the power and has me remove the old plates. Then he inserts new ones, tightens the wing nuts and checks the seals before flipping the switch to allow electricity from the photovoltaic panels to flood the electrolysis chamber to resume the hydrogen generating process. It’s easy to see the increased efficiency of the new plates in the ferocity of the bubbling inside the glass-encased chamber. It has always fascinated me. And Dad is always amused by my gazing at the activity.
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