“Jim and I need to continue the discussion about our partnership. It won’t take more than a couple of hours at most. In the meantime, just relax and enjoy yourself. As of now, I’m putting the Washington, DC, discussion on hold. We deserve at least one last weekend before the proverbial unpleasantness hits the fan. But, I’m not going to promise that I won’t be doing some strategizing.”
She waved her hand as if to shoo them on their way. “I’ll be fine. I’ll study the model of the island some more; that is, if I get motivated. Other than that, I’m just going to relax. But I’m making no promises about the Krakow Klub. I’ll probably be spending considerable time trying to come up with ideas of how to deal with them.”
Instead of going to the villa, she moved over to one of the lounge chairs and stretched out. She had been overwhelmed by John’s story and the danger from the Krakow Klub. Now, she just needed some time alone in which to relax and clear her mind. Mister T came out to clear the table, but she gave him a quick wave and asked him to come back later. Right now, she just needed solitude.
She closed her eyes, but dreadful thoughts continued to creep into her mind. It was such a peaceful place. She seemed so far from danger and could hardly imagine a plot to overthrow the government existed. Eventually, she was able to put such thoughts from her mind and drifted off to sleep.
Unknown to her, Akiro and Mitch had crept out to the veranda. Mitch, ever the plotter and schemer, saw a perfect opportunity. Her little nose sniffed the air and confirmed the presence of one of her favorite snacks. Ah, yes, it was bacon!
She got Akiro’s attention. He had caught the delicious aroma, too. Mitch gave him a sad look as if to say that she’d love to have a treat, but the table was just too high for her short little legs.
Akiro saw the opportunity to win some points with her, so he jumped up in the chair that Julia had just vacated. His legs were a little longer than Mitch’s, so it was an easy feat for him. From there, he stood on his hind legs with his paws on the edge of the table. He looked around guiltily to see if anyone might be watching. He knew that a scolding would be in order if he were to be caught.
Julia continued to nap on the lounge chair.
Being the little gentleman that he was, Akiro stretched his neck out and picked up several pieces of bacon from the serving dish. Mitch smirked. Then, he hopped back down and dropped the precious treats at her feet.
She examined each piece carefully before selecting a perfect specimen. She took her selection and then daintily munched away. After that first bite, Akiro knew that he could join in.
The two polished off the remaining bacon and then, ever so quietly, slipped back into the house.
Julia stirred and slowly became aware of her surroundings. She jumped up and checked her watch. There would be little time left for her to study John’s model before they returned. She’d have to hurry. As she dashed through the living area toward the office, she was quite surprised to see two furry little creatures lounging on the sofa together.
It seemed that peace had been declared.
Out on the veranda, Mister T began clearing the table. He looked at the empty bacon dish. “Hmm. I could have sworn that there were half a dozen pieces left. I did a complete inventory of the table a few minutes ago, and they were there.”
He returned to the kitchen with a slightly confused look on his face.
****
After leaving Julia, Jim and John headed for La Cucaracha. John got into the passenger side and Jim into the pilot’s seat.
“Try it out. Don’t worry about an accident. It has technology that prevents a collision or crash landing. Just use the joystick gently until you get the hang of it. Pull back gently on the joystick to go up; to go down, just push it forward. Left movement of the joystick turns left, and right movement turns right. Your speed is controlled by the trigger switch. It’s as simple as that.”
Jim took the control and hesitantly lifted them off the ground. It was much easier than he expected, and soon he was skillfully maneuvering them back and forth across the island. After a few minutes, John instructed him to hover over the dock area.
“Jim, just keep us motionless for a while with the joystick in the neutral position and no pressure on the speed trigger. I need to talk to you without interruption or distraction. I asked you to be my business partner. As I said before, you’re the only person that I could trust with the knowledge of the power at my disposal.
“My original business plan was for us to modify some of the Mylean technologies for use here on Earth—maybe the water purification technology for starters. But, this Krakow Klub is a dangerous situation, and it commands our immediate attention. I’m going to have to put my other plans on the back burner for now.
“Surely, we can come up with a plan to outsmart and outmaneuver the Krakow Klub, but after that, we’ll want to get back to the issues in Washington, DC, that require our attention. We’ll have to find a way to turn things around and get us off this destructive path. I’ve considered all this for ages, and I’ve got some rather interesting ideas as to how to use my powers for changes. With your help, I think we can make a big difference in our world.”
Jim suddenly sneezed, causing him to press the joystick forward rather violently. The little craft shuddered and started a rapid descent. The clear, blue waters were rushing up at them, and crashing into the ocean seemed unavoidable. Jim appeared temporarily paralyzed and did not neutralize the joystick.
Suddenly, even though Jim’s hand remained locked on the joystick, La Cucaracha slowed and then gently stabilized at an altitude only a few feet above the waves that lapped at the beach.
John wiped his brow in relief.
Jim was still quite ashen and obviously shaken.
“Damn, Maxxine told me about all this safety technology, but I never thought that I’d experience it firsthand,” John exclaimed.
Jim lifted both hands into the air and stammered, “I’m so sorry. I thought that I was going to kill us both! I think that you’d better take over for the rest of the flight.”
John reached over and took the controls. “Okay, that’s enough excitement for one day. Now let’s strategize. I need you to be my business partner, and even more importantly, I need your help in overcoming the Krakow Klub.
“I’ve accepted the fact that I have two very different sides to my personality. My Mylean half is very technically oriented, and judgments are always made on the basis of careful study and analysis. On the other hand, my human side is emotional. I tend to make decisions that are spur-of-the-moment and based on my feelings at the time.
“As you well know, I have a rather nasty temper that can cause me to feel aggressive. Put the two together, and you have quite a scary situation. I just can’t trust myself not to let my human side take over at some critical moment. That, my friend, is why you are so important.
“Maxxine isn’t like the master control module. She doesn’t act as my conscience, and she can’t overrule my decisions except in a few rare instances. That makes it too easy for me to make a serious mistake based on an emotional decision.
“The good thing is that I can program Maxxine with rules that limit your actions in a way that will likely prevent major problems. You’ll have all the resources that you need, but if you attempt something that is unacceptable to the established guidelines, she’ll prohibit you from proceeding. Sounds complicated but it’s quite simple.
“Of course, you can always appeal to me, and if I agree, I can allow an action that had been forbidden by Maxxine.
“And, Maxxine will be there to advise you at every step. With your integrity and her technology, we can put these anarchists out of business permanently. And then we can start the process of turning our nation around.
“We’ve been edging closer and closer to a complete form of socialism for many years. We both know that will lead to our downfall if we’re not careful. Socialism has never worked, but no one pays any attention to history. Look at the former Sovi
et Union. A classic example. It imploded quicker than anyone could believe.
“In a welfare state, the people are powerless. All decisions are from the top down. There is no innovation. No real freedom. That’s a miserable way to live. Eventually, the system collapsed just like all the others who have tried the grand socialist experiment.
“Democracy may be a lousy form of government, but it beats the hell out of anything else. I believe that the major shortcomings of democracy can be addressed without destroying the benefits.
“Socialism is simply spending other people’s money. And as Margaret Thatcher famously said, ‘The trouble with Socialism is that pretty soon you run out of other people’s money.’”
Jim nodded solemnly, “I’ve only been in Washington, DC, for a relatively short period, but I can see that you’re right. There are many leaders today who have the best of intentions but poor insight into what impact their decisions will have on future generations.”
John continued, “At my age, I know that I may not live long enough to see this thing through to the end. You’re young enough, smart enough, and dedicated enough to guide the country through these dangerous times.”
“John, I think you're far too negative. You’ll be around for many years to come, and I have a suspicion that, since you’re part Mylean, you’ll outlive the rest of us.”
John adjusted their altitude slightly and moved them closer to the shore. “That might be true, but I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately. I very much need to return to Mylea for an extended stay. I want to, no, I need to explore my Mylean heritage. Sometimes, I just don’t know who I am. Am I human? Am I Mylean? How much of which? I need to find the answers to those questions. And I don’t think I can do it without visiting Mylea and getting to know the Mylean people.”
Jim looked down at his hands. “I can see how you feel, but what about the distances involved. Surely, your trip would take many years, even at the speed of light. I’m afraid that if you leave, it will be forever. What if you decide to stay there? What about Julia?”
John shrugged, “I don’t have those answers yet. But, I do know that I’m going to ask Julia to go with me. I haven’t brought the subject up yet, so she doesn’t have a clue. Let’s just keep it our little secret for now.
“You must know how I feel about her. Frankly, I can’t believe my luck in meeting her. It’s as if we’ve known each other forever. We think enough alike that we can finish each other’s sentences. Sometimes, I even think that she can read my mind. I could never prove it, but I have a deep suspicion that Maxx engineered the whole thing involving our meeting. There are just too many coincidences.
“As for the travel time, Maxx has been working on some innovative technology that would allow for travel exceeding the speed of light. In fact, I understand that NASA is already working on something similar that they call ‘Warp Drive’ that utilizes ion propulsion. Who knows, by the time I’m ready to leave, Maxx may have perfected his technology and the trip will be much shorter, time wise.
“Maxx has always controlled my life, so I shouldn’t be surprised if he’s still in charge. It’s troubling to think about, but, if he did send me Julia, I'd be forever thankful. Jim, for the first time in my life, I am a truly happy man!”
He continued as they dipped down and hovered over the golf course. “I’ve already asked Maxxine to build the ship for the trip to Mylea. If all goes well and you accept my partnership offer, I’ll be leaving about a year from now. By then, we will have defeated the Krakow Klub and can start making the changes to restore our government to its constitutional basis.
“Maxx tells me that he’s designed special chambers on the craft that will effectively permit me and hopefully Julia to make the trip with only minimal aging. It sounds like some suspended animation process. I don’t understand it, but I guess that’s not important. Maxx knows about little Akiro, so there’ll also be a doggie-sized chamber for him, too.
“I’ve been thinking about this for a long time and making a decision has been nerve racking. But, I feel that I don’t have a choice. I need to understand my Mylean side. It’s pretty scary for me, but I feel as though I’ve just got to do it while I still can.”
Jim nodded in understanding. “I understand your dilemma, and I now understand why you need me as a partner. I can act on your behalf, no matter where you are, or no matter how far away you happen to be.”
“Thanks. I just couldn’t be gone for such an extended period without a trusted partner to handle my resources. If you decide to accept my offer, this island will be your base of operations. Mister T will keep everything running smoothly. You’ll also have access to my space station and Maxxine. And, even Maxx will be available for consultation when you need him.”
He handed the controls back to Jim, who looked down and smiled sheepishly. “You really do trust me don’t you?”
He extended his right hand to John. “Okay, partner, you’ve got a deal. I’m ready to move on to something new. You’ll need to spend some serious time teaching me the ropes. Somehow, I tend to cringe at what Maxx’s reaction will be to our little agreement.”
With that, Jim guided the little craft toward their landing spot.
“Jim, we’re going to be a great team. Don’t worry about compensation. You’ll have access to a rather substantial account that I already set up in Lichtenstein. By the way, in case you didn’t know, they’re more secretive than the Swiss.”
Continuing, John said, “Maxxine has already come up with some excellent background information on the Krakow Klub members. We’ll have their bank account info, their habits, their backgrounds, and a complete history of their nefarious deeds. When we make our move, they won’t know what hit them.”
Jim executed a gentle landing at the spot from which they recently lifted off.
John hopped out and turned back to Jim, “You’ve taken a real load off my mind. Changing jobs is never easy, and I promise that you’ll never regret your decision.
“Now, I can devote my energies to convincing Julia to go with me to Mylea. It’s not going to be easy. She’s strong and brave but she and her brother are very close, and I’m afraid that might be a real stumbling block for her. I can’t imagine that she’d agree to be away from him for such a long time. For now, I’m just going to play it by ear and see if Maxx can offer me some of his sage advice.”
The two said their goodbyes and Jim headed toward the guest house while John continued up the pathway to the front door of the villa.
“Julia, where are you? I’ve got fantastic news. Jim has agreed to be my business partner.”
Julia emerged from the living area with Akiro and Mitch trotting along behind her. “I don’t know where the time went! I’ve been studying the model and even played with your computer design program a bit. It was fun.”
Just then, Mister T entered and spoke privately to John. “Boss, I just got word that your other guest will be arriving in about fifteen minutes. I’ve prepared the dining room, but I think that we should start off in the lounge.” With that, he turned and silently left the room.
John leaned over and whispered to Julia, “The countdown is on. Our special visitor will be here in a few minutes, and I can’t wait to see Jim’s reaction. He’s going to have a heart attack. It will be a reunion to end all reunions. Do I hear wedding bells?”
Julia rolled her eyes and touched his wrist gently. “My dear, you are such an optimist. Never think that you can predict what a woman will do. It’ll get you in trouble every time.”
A few minutes later, the helicopter could be heard approaching from the direction of Key West. The rhythmic, deep bass thrum of the rotor blades became more and more distinct as the helicopter descended toward an open area near the beach at the back of the house. John had selected the site specifically because it was far from the guest house and could not be seen. The landing area was also not visible from inside the main house. Jim would hear the helicopter approaching, but that wouldn’t arouse his cu
riosity since another guest was expected.
Inside, Julia stood beside John and encircled his waist with her arm. “I’m not worried about the situation. I know that you and Jim can fix everything. Just remember that I’m right here for you, in the background, providing moral support.”
John smiled in response. “Thanks. Right now, we’ve got a guest to greet, and I can hardly wait to see how our romantic little plot plays out. We’ll put all our worries on hold for just this one day.”
Within a few short minutes, Mister T led Sylvia up the steps and into the house.
She was strikingly pretty—petite with short blond hair and deep blue eyes. Her eyes betrayed her fun loving nature, but her expression was one of pure business.
She looked around her surroundings, and John could tell she was taking copious mental notes. He was quite certain that she would be feeling tired from her long trip, but she gave no indication of it. In fact, she looked fresh and comfortable even in the warm, humid atmosphere of the Keys.
Sylvia wore white slacks and a loose blue tunic. She had on designer sunglasses and carried an oversized hobo bag over her shoulder.
“Welcome to Scott Key, Miss McDonald. I trust that you had a pleasant trip.”
Extending her hand, Sylvia replied, “The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Scott. Your island is beautiful, and I can’t wait to spend a few days relaxing after we finish up with business. By the way, I have good news on that front.”
“Wonderful, but first let me introduce you to Julia Compton. She’s agreed to play hostess, so you’ll be in excellent hands.”
The introductions were completed, and John suggested that Mister T take Julia’s suitcase to her guest bedroom. I’ve arranged for you to stay in the main house. The guest area is totally private, and you’ll be quite comfortable there.
The Krakow Klub Page 17