2008-7-23 05:55:00
by Ted Dewey
It was early in the day when the two men arrived at the city of Prescott. The home of Henry Bower was only a few miles north of the center of town. Here, the weather was much cooler. The altitude was well over five thousand feet -- "The Mile High City" it was often called.
Henry pointed to a well-known landmark, "Thumb Butte," he said. "I guess at one time it was a big volcano. Sure sticks up like a sore thumb, doesn't it?"
"It sure does," Thomas agreed. "Looks like a big hand closed into a fist. The thumb sticking straight up."
Henry pointed to the surrounding hills. Most of them were covered with pine trees. "Sure good to get back up here in the mountains," he muttered. "It didn't take me long to get enough of that desert country in the summertime."
The valley floor was also covered with trees. Huge granite boulders were strewn most everywhere. Off to the right was a mountain that appeared to be solid rock.
Now the city was just ahead of them. Henry made a right-hand turn. "We won't go through town," he explained. "This road takes us out through Chino Valley. I live out that way."
They went through a narrow pass. Huge granite boulders were on either side. A few minutes later he turned off to the right onto a narrow, crooked road. The Ford bounced along over the rough surface.
Henry looked over at Thomas and grinned. "Hang on. We're about there!"
A thousand bumps later, they turned off on a road that was even rougher than the one they had just left. Then, just ahead of them was the home of Henry Bower.
The old, two-story frame house looked like it had been built of rough lumber that had never been introduced to a paintbrush. Beside it was another building in much the same condition. This was the garage as well as the machine shop. In the background was an old barn. It looked as though the sagging roof could collapse at any moment.
Henry turned to the man beside him. "I know it don't look like much, but it is a roof over my head. Also, a good place to work on my invention. Sure is private; not many people come out here."
Henry parked the car and both men got out. Henry produced a ring of keys from his pocket and walked over to the front door of the shop. He unlocked the door and swung it wide open. Just inside was a light switch. He gave it a flip and the room was flooded with light. Both men stepped inside.
Thomas took a quick look around. It was a large room, about forty feet square. Down both sides and across the far end were a number of metal working tools, lathes, milling machines, punch presses, welders, and other items.
"You sure got some good equipment here," Thomas remarked. "This is a surprise!"
Henry grinned. "Thanks, and, by the way, I bet you didn't see any power line as we drove up!"
"No, and I was looking for one. Now, where is the power plant? And where does it enter the building?"
Henry pointed. "The generators are on top of that ridge, just back of the house. The power lines come underground to the shop and the house."
"And these machines you built; do they supply enough power to run the equipment in the shop, plus your house?"
Henry nodded. "They sure do! Just watch, and I will demonstrate." On the floor just in front of them was a big three hundred amp electric welder. Henry stooped over and pressed the red start button. Instantly, the machine came to life. The cooling fan made a whistling sound.
"Everything is self-contained," Henry explained. "No belts and pulleys. Each machine has its own motor." Then he walked slowly down the line pressing the start button on each one as he passed by. The sound of humming motors filled the room.
Henry returned to the smiling Thomas. "Satisfied?" he asked.
"You bet I am. Shut them off, Henry."
The place became quiet as he once more made the rounds. "You are indeed a genius," said Thomas. "And, I believe you have exactly what we have been searching for. Now, let's go take a look at those generators."
The two men stepped outside and Henry locked the door.
"I would like to take you inside the house," said Henry. "I also have some equipment there."
It was just a short walk to the house. Henry produced the keys and unlocked the door. Both men stepped inside.
The heavy curtains that covered the windows were drawn tight. The place was quite dark. Henry flipped a switch and an overhead light came on.
Thomas took a fast look around. A look of surprise came to his face. He turned to Henry. "Gee this is real nice. From the looks of this place on the outside, I sure didn't expect this!"
They had entered into the kitchen. The light colored tile on the floor was sparkling clean. The walls and ceiling looked as though they had recently been painted.
Henry pointed to a deep-freeze cabinet across the room. He walked over and lifted one of the heavy lids. "This thing," he said, "I have had for about a year. It is full of frozen meat and vegetables. I usually buy a quarter of beef at a time."
Thomas looked down inside. Everything was frozen solid.
A refrigerator was standing next to the freezer. Henry opened it and took out two cans of beer. He handed one to Thomas. "Just feel that, or would you rather taste it?
There is a couple of frosted glasses in the freezing compartment."
Thomas glanced at his watch. "I never drink before noon, but being as how it is one o'clock, and I am mighty thirsty, let's relax and enjoy a couple."
The two men opened the cans and took a swallow. Then Henry walked over to the sink and twisted the faucet on the left. In a few seconds hot water came steaming out.
"Hot water," he grinned. "And lots of it!"
Thomas nodded. "Looks like you got all the power you can use. Also, it seems, to be trouble free." He took another sip of beer from the can. "So far everything has checked out just as you said it would. So our next stop will be the power plant."
Henry gazed at Thomas, "You are about to see the invention that could not only solve all our energy problems, but may save our world from total destruction!"
-- End Of Chapter Four --
Copyright © 2008 by JJ Dewey, All Rights Reserved