3rd World Products, Inc., Book 4

by Ed Howdershelt

  "Blue on."

  Veering northward, two of the vultures left the thermal. The third seemed determined to hang in there on the far side of the column. Had the blue made them leave or were they just getting too nervous about the big weird bird across the way?

  "Color off."

  Seeming to have no wings at all had no effect on the lone vulture.

  "Black on."

  Yup, that did it. The vulture suddenly said to hell with it and abandoned the column, flapping off to join the others in another thermal not too far away.

  Just before noon I left the thermal and headed down from four thousand feet. Mills was finishing the last range problem as I touched down in the staging area. A few minutes later Angela came in way too fast and had to flare three times to kill her speed. She nosed up to stall her kite, said "Glider off," and then dropped four feet or so to the ground.

  As she walked toward me I said, "That was kind of a flashy landing, lady."

  She shook her head. "No it wasn't. I came in way too fast and too high. I'd have overshot and hit the trees with a rag kite. Or stalled out and stood it on its tail."

  I grinned. "You aren't using a rag kite, so remember that trick. Better name it before someone else does, too."

  "Oh, sure. How about 'Angela's Abysmal Approach'?"

  Shrugging, I said, "So come in a bit higher next time and pop your parachute, instead."

  Angela stopped and looked back at her landing zone, then looked upward.

  "That's a damned good idea," she said thoughtfully. "Maybe useful someday, too, for a landing where there's not enough room for a kite. Thanks for the idea, Ed."

  I'd meant the suggestion sardonically, but what the hell. She liked it, so I liked it.

  Steph brought the flitter to a halt near us and said, "All aboard for lunch."

  As we stepped aboard, Myra said, "I'll have to try hang gliding someday."

  Stopping to look at her before I sat down, I asked, "You serious, lady, or just making conversation?"

  She met my gaze and said, "If you can do it, I can do it."

  The flitter began moving toward Carrington base as Steph said through my implant, "She's had parachute training. It may not be that big a step for her."

  I nodded, then looked at Angela, who sat very still, then at Steph, who shrugged.

  "Steph," I said, "Do you think we could let her have one of the PFM's with both glider and parasail functions?"

  Angela rolled her eyes and said, "You'd better clear this with Linda, Ed."

  "Planned to, ma'am. I wasn't exactly thinking of stealing one, y'know."

  Through my implant, Steph asked, "Should I make her a PFM, Ed?"

  "Yeah," I said as if thinking aloud. "And with the protective field, too, for when she comes skidding to a stop on her hands and knees. Can't let her mess herself up or her boss will get snippy with my boss."

  "Protective field?" asked Myra.

  "Yeah. Tell you about it later if you get a PFM." I looked at Angela again and grinned as I said, "Just another test unit, right? And a willing volunteer who'd give it an unbiased trial run, right?"

  "Don't ask me. I'm not in charge of a damned thing outside my unit. But if I see one of those on Myra, Ed, I'll have to know that it's been authorized."

  "If she gets one, it will be, because she'll get with Linda about it and Linda will issue it to her."

  Myra's gaze narrowed. "Is this your way of getting off the hook, Ed? Why the hell would Linda Baines want to issue me one of those things?"

  "Inter-agency goodwill? Rampant generosity? Concern for your personal happiness?"

  Everybody got a giggle out of that, including Myra.

  I continued, "Could be that Linda will want them talked about before they're put up for sale, Myra. 3rd World isn't a rabidly non-profit outfit like the US government. They get into things for the money. She could write it off as advertising or something for now and sell the government a pile of them later."

  Looking at Steph, I said, "How about posting a copy to Linda of everything everyone has said since you said 'all aboard', Steph?"

  "Done, Ed."

  "Thank you, milady. Myra, it's still not too late to back out, you know."

  "Oh, fuck you, mister. If I get one, I'll be up there, too."

  "We'll see. First you have to get one, lady. I don't know which will impress me more; seeing you ask Linda for one or seeing you jump off the deck with us at three thousand feet."

  Myra smiled sweetly and asked, "Can you spare me time to see her after lunch?"

  I looked at Steph and asked, "Can we?"

  "Yes, I think so. Most of the afternoon will be reiteration with variances and Dr. Mills has proven to be both competent and adaptable."

  Looking with feigned extreme surprise at Mills, I asked, "She has? Really?"

  Mills gave me a withering look and said, "I've had a good teacher."

  As we neared the front doors of the base complex, my watch beeped.

  "Hi, Linda. I have company at the moment."

  "No problem. I just called to ask you and Steph to bring Myra to my office at one for a talk and possibly a PFM fitting."

  "We'll be there."

  "Okay. Later."

  "Bye."

  Linda clicked off as I stood up to step off the flitter. Myra gave me an odd look but said nothing as I handed her down. Mills disdained taking my hand and hopped down on her own, then strode to the building's doors. Angela shook her head at Karen's actions and also hopped down as I handed Steph down.

  "Kind of cranky today, isn't she?" asked Angela. "I'll see everybody later; I'm going to try to grab a few hours of sleep." Turning to Steph as she tapped the PFM on her arm and grinned hugely, Angela said, "Again, Stephanie, thank you very much."

  Returning her grin as they shook hands, Steph said, "You're very welcome, Angela."

  Mills had forged ahead into the building. We followed along at a distance and Angela left our little group at the second hallway intersection with a happy little wave at Steph and me, which attracted the attention of someone in the general store.

  The woman who leaned out of the store's doorway to see what was going on was Joan. She waved at me and beckoned me to stop, then ducked back inside.

  A moment later she came out of the shop and hurried toward me with money in her hand, saying, "You forgot your change yesterday."

  I looked at the $3.31 she placed in my hand and thanked her. She glanced at Myra, then faced me again and said, "I think you were right. Thanks," then scampered back to her store.

  "Right about what?" asked Myra.

  "Don't know," I said, stuffing the money into my pocket. "Could have been what I said about her or about him."

  "Him who? What did you say?"

  "Personal opinions about private stuff, Myra. Lunchtime."

  In the dining hall we saw Mills at a table with three other people, apparently having a fairly animated discussion. We chose an empty table. Mills came over to tell Steph to let her know when she was ready to leave. Steph responded that Karen should simply return to the flitter after lunch.

  "But won't you be with them?" Mills noddingly indicated Myra and me.

  Steph said firmly, "I will be aboard the flitter when you arrive, Dr. Mills."

  Mills simply stood looking at her for a moment. Steph met her gaze until Mills nodded and returned to the discussion table.

  "Trouble?" I asked.

  "Not trouble," said Steph. "I'm not enjoying Dr. Mills' presence, however. I used to wonder why you seemed to automatically like or dislike certain people, Ed. I believe I'm gaining an understanding of such matters. I would like to end my association with Dr. Mills as quickly as possible."

  I nodded. "You got it. She grates my nerves a bit, too."

  Chapter Forty

  Linda ushered us into her office without closing doors behind us and looked at her watch as she said, "I can give you about half an hour. Myra, your unit will have parasail, glider, and protective fields. That
's all I'm authorizing at the moment, so it will have to do. Good enough?"

  Myra had been caught completely off-guard by Linda's abrupt offer.

  "Uh, yes, ma'am. That would be fine. Thank you."

  Linda then handed Steph a folder and said, "Look at page three, please."

  Steph opened the folder, looked at the page, then nodded and said, "No problem, Linda."

  "Thank you, Stephanie," said Linda, taking the folder back. "Will everyone help yourselves to coffee and have a seat?"

  I said, "I'll get the coffee," and moved to do so as Linda and Myra sat down.

  "Myra," said Linda, "There will be no levels of security applied to the PFM you'll receive. Play with it to your heart's content and let everyone see it. You'll be given a factory-issue test model with a letter of ownership in your own name and instruction in using the device. You'll also sign a waiver of risk and responsibility before you leave this office. Will you need authorization from your office for the PFM?"

  "No, but I should probably at least let Mr. Maxwell know that I'm being offered one."

  Linda nodded and said, "Call him now. Like I said, time is short today."

  As I served the coffees, Myra spoke to her boss, who asked to speak to Linda.

  After listening to him for a moment, she said, "Yes, Stan, a Personal Portable Field Manipulator with hang glider, parasail, and personal protection capabilities." Another moment later she said, "Yes, that's all it does. No. I'm not authorized to mention other possible capabilities until they've been tested and approved. Yes, it's safe. Some of my people already have them. Okay. Bye, Stan."

  She handed the phone back to Myra, who said, "It's me," and listened for a few moments. "Okay," she said, then, "Goodbye, Mr. Maxwell."

  Putting her phone away, Myra said, "All set."

  Linda picked up her coffee and sipped it. A PFM streaked into the room and settled on Linda's desk. On the side of it were the words 'PPFM Model 01-A' and '#000000004' in smaller print. In even tinier print below the serial number was a toll-free phone number.

  Myra rose from her chair to have a closer look at the device, but didn't reach for it.

  "You'll have to be the one to pick it up," said Linda. "It will bond with the first person who touches it."

  A moment of rather obvious hesitation passed before Myra seemed to steel herself to reach for the PFM. She lifted it from the desk and gazed at it for another moment, then looked at Steph and Linda before looking at me.

  Linda lifted her arm to show her own PFM and said, "Just put it on your arm and say 'PFM attach'."

  Myra bit her lip and looked at her own left arm, then back at the PFM. She seemed uncertain as to whether to proceed.

  Linda said, "If they weren't completely safe, I wouldn't have one, Myra. And you can always take it off." She reached for her own and said, "PFM detach," then lifted the device to show it to Myra before putting it back on her arm and saying, "PFM attach."

  "It doesn't have to go on an arm," I said, "You can stick it anywhere you want."

  Both Linda and Myra gave me rather sharp glances.

  "Oh, relax," I said. "Jesus, you people have dirty minds. I meant under your clothes. On a leg. Like that. The thing has to be able to hear voice commands, y'know."

  With another long look at the PFM, Myra pressed it against her forearm and said the magic words, "PFM attach," then she squeaked nervously as it reshaped itself slightly and the bonding field locked the PFM to her arm.

  She shook her arm experimentally, turned it sharply sideways, and then even tried to pry the PFM loose, but she couldn't get her nails under it. She even whacked it twice with her right hand before she stopped messing with it, said "PFM detach," and lifted the device from her arm with a tiny, but poorly-concealed sigh.

  When she looked up, I laughed.

  With a narrow look she asked, "What's so funny?"

  "You looked so relieved, Myra. I think you were wondering -- at least a little bit -- if it would really let go of your arm."

  She straightened and said, "Oh, up yours. You people are used to stuff like this." Something seemed to occur to her and she looked at my arms as she asked, "Where do you wear yours, Ed? I've never seen it."

  I sent a field tendril down the top of my left arm and pointed to the spot as I said, "You know how fields can redirect light? Feel here."

  She did so, then asked, "Why isn't yours visible?"

  Chuckling, I said, "When enough people have asked you about the thing on your arm, you'll know why."

  Myra nodded and asked, "Can mine be made invisible?"

  Linda firmly said, "No. It's a pre-production sample and we want it seen." Looking at her watch, she added, "Ed will show you how to use it, Myra. Right now I need to run you all out of here." She turned to Steph and put a hand on Steph's arm as she smiled and said, "Thank you, Stephanie. Sorry about the short notice."

  Steph smiled back and said, "It wasn't a problem, Linda."

  As we walked toward the front of the building, Myra put her PFM on her arm and said, "PFM attach." After studying it for a few moments, she said, "I'm glad it doesn't look like one of those warehouse PFM's. It's kind of pretty, isn't it?"

  Shrugging, I said, "Yeah, sure, lady. Looks good on ya."

  When she snickered I pointed a finger at her breastbone, I said, "Next time you go to a party in a low-cut gown, you can try it there as a conversation piece."

  We saw the flitter pull up outside as we neared the front doors. Mills saw us coming and did a double-take at Steph, then looked at the Steph who was sitting next to her. Our Steph vanished as we passed through the doorway and the one aboard the flitter turned in her seat to smile at us.

  Mills said nothing about Steph's duality as we boarded. The flitter headed back to the range as Mills stared somewhat skeptically at the PFM on Myra's arm.

  "Will I have to wear one of those?" she asked.

  I said, "Maybe later, when they start issuing them."

  She looked at me and sharply asked, "They're going to issue them?"

  Her attitude regarding the PFM seemed strange, considering that she'd been working for two days with fields.

  "More than likely," I said. "At least to flitter teams and such. What's the problem? You don't want to be bulletproof?"

  Myra asked in an amazed tone, "Bullet proof?! I'll be bullet proof?!"

  "Against small caliber stuff, anyway. It'll redirect or stop a standard-issue pistol bullet. Right, Steph?"

  She nodded. "Essentially, yes. There could be some bruising directly behind the impact zone, but your field would be able to prevent penetration." Looking at Mills, she added, "The field will also protect you from biological agents and chemicals, Dr. Mills. Since you manage a biolab in which you routinely use similar fields, I fail to understand your obvious reluctance to use one of these units."

  Mills glanced at the PFM on Myra's arm and snapped, "In the lab I don't have to wear something like that and I'm not in favor of using fields as oversized toys."

  I said, "Your opinions about PFM's and field toys don't really mean a damned thing to anyone but you, Mills." Turning to Steph, I asked, "How about letting us off at the staging area, ma'am? Myra needs to get the feel of her kite and learn to land it on a bunny slope."

  Steph nodded and set us down near the range buildings. Myra and I stepped off the flitter and I said, "Thanks, Steph," then the flitter lifted away.

  Turning to Myra, I said, "Here's how it works," then said, "Glider on green," and ran off the top of the hill. My slow, lazy glide to the bottom ended with a standing landing and I beckoned for Myra to try her wings.

  Her kite popped into being and she seemed almost mesmerized by it for some moments, then she leveled it and studied the hillside below. Another few moments went by before she ran off the flat area and coasted about halfway down the slope to land in a stumbling run that wound up as a short forward slide.

  She was ecstatic, though, breathlessly telling me about the troubles she'd had trying to cont
rol her speed and descent. I tipped her about a few things as we walked back up the hill. On her second flight she made it all the way to the bottom and landed fairly well without falling.

  A few more such glides had Myra convinced that she was ready to -- as she put it -- "really fly", so I called Steph to pick us up between range exercises. A few minutes later we were standing on the flitter deck at a thousand feet.

  "Remember," I said, "Keep your speed down when you're landing, but don't let the nose climb or you'll find yourself stopped twenty feet off the ground, then falling backward." With a grin I said, "I'll go first and see what's in the range's first aid kit."

  Myra gave me a defiant grin and said, "Glider on," then ran off the deck. Steph gave me a raised eyebrow. I gave her a shrug and followed Myra off the flitter.

  Instead of heading back to the range exercises, the flitter quickly moved to the staging area and hovered to one side of Myra's landing path.

  Through my implant Steph said, "I'll catch her if necessary."

  "Don't be too helpful, Steph. Let Myra handle anything short of a real disaster."

  Surprisingly enough, Myra's landing wasn't that bad. It was too high and too fast, but not so much so that she couldn't flare a little and make it workable after all. I came in low and flared to a stop that allowed me to turn off my wings and drop two feet or so to the ground.

  "Showoff," said Myra.

  She was flushed with excitement and still somewhat breathless as she told us all about her flight. Myra and I sat drinking canned teas while Mills worked another couple of range problems, then Steph took us back up for another flight.

  This time I asked for three thousand feet. Mills flatly said that I was pushing Myra to try something she wasn't ready for.

  "One thousand or five thousand," I said, "Same thing, really. A longer ride is all."

  As Myra stuffed a can of tea into her purse and slung it on her shoulder she said, "That's about how I see it, too." To me, she said, "I kind of didn't mention that one of my brothers got me into skydiving, Ed."

  Nodding, I said, "Yeah, I knew you were a jumper. Glider on, clear. See you later," then I plunged off the flitter's deck and headed toward a pair of vultures that were circling upward in a thermal maybe a quarter of a mile away.