2008-10-1 13:23:00
by Ted Dewey
Time passed quickly in the Valley of Hope. Summer had come and gone. It was a quiet and peaceful summer for the people who lived there.
Thanksgiving day arrived. The leaves on the trees were falling. Frosted nights had turned them from green to yellow and red. The days were sunny and bright.
The sun had dipped down behind the mountain. Henry was seated in a comfortable chair on the front porch of their new home. Julie was beside him. From here they could see the front end of the new library. The Henry Bower library.
Last week had been the official opening and dedication of this great new building. Everyone in the Valley of Hope had attended. There had been a big celebration.
Rodney Goldsmith and Oran Thomas were masters of the ceremony. Taking turns showering praise on the great inventor Henry Bower.
Of course there was nothing mentioned about the destruction of the arsenal over the hill or the big explosion in the city of Prescott. Only four people here knew all the details and it was a sure thing they would keep it a secret.
The gray-colored wind machines were all grunting away on top of that ridge. They looked very much like the picture Henry painted at Prescott.
Would this beautiful secluded place be destroyed if an atomic war broke out? Henry wondered. Did our enemies in foreign countries know of its existence? Only time would tell.
Julie broke the silence. "Henry dear, a penny for your thoughts..."
"I was just thinking about..."
"What darling?"
"About these horrible bombs we have invented, terrible devices that will blow us off the face of the earth. We have enough to kill everyone several times over but we are still building more. Now we have developed another devastating weapon. It is called the neutron bomb. Kills everything but doesn't hurt the buildings."
"Why save the buildings? There will be none left to live in them?"
"Beats me. I wonder if the brass of this company ran this through their computers? If they did I'll bet our odds went way down."
"Why do people think it is necessary to fight all the time? Seems like we are always fighting someone. Either that or getting ready to fight.
"You are sure right there. We are a fighting race of people. We seem to enjoy killing. But when we invented that damn atomic bomb I think we bit off more than we could chew."
Julie shook her head. "I guess we didn't learn a darn thing in Vietnam and Cambodia."
"We learned how to create Agent Orange. It not only kills the people we drop it on but also dries up all the foliage. Makes everything burn real good when we follow up with fire bombs.
We should be real proud of that one."
"I think I understand why so much of the rest of the world hates us."
"If mankind would only study the past history of the world we should learn something."
"Like what?"
Henry was in a talkative mood. "Most every nation on the face of this earth has some time or other been a great power -- like the rise and fall of the Roman Empire..."
"And Great Britain. England at one time owned a big share of this old world and even claimed most of the North American continent. Now look at them."
"I guess a country must stay strong to survive."
Henry nodded. "This is sure no world for the weak. I guess we got to be prepared to take them all on."
"But why do we have to end up fighting all the time?"
"I don't know. But let's take a look at our past history..."
To begin with we fought and whipped every Indian tribe on the continent. We fought France and England to gain our independence. Then there was the Spanish American war..."
Julie smiled. "You have been in a few yourself."
"I was born too late to be in the big civil war. Thank God for that. I was just a kid when World War One ended, but I remember that November day when Germany surrendered."
"That was before my day."
"Then along come World War Two. Again we fought Germany as well as Japan and Italy. Then later it was Korea, Vietnam and Cambodia."
Julie nodded. "You are sure right. But let's change the subject a bit. What do you think this old world will be like if we do have an atomic war?"
Henry shook his head. "God only knows. But let's hope that man will learn a lesson. I think the first thing he should do is outlaw all firearms, at least anything big enough to kill a man."
"If a couple leaders of different nations can't get along put then in a ring and tell them to get with it. This should solve a lot of our problems. Also those guys we elect to Congress -- they should also be our army. Elect only young men and put them through boot camp. Let then do the fighting and there will be no more wars."
"Darling, you should run for President."
Henry grinned. "Maybe I should at that. I am getting to be about the right age." He got to his feet and for a moment stood looking at the gray-colored wind machines on the ridge above them.
"And those babies up there," he said. "From them we should learn quite a lesson. They use the gentle flow of the air currents to give us all the power we need. They are easy to make and will last a lifetime. They help keep our houses cool in the summer and warm in the winter. They supply energy to cook our meals and keep our food frozen. They supply fuel for our cars and tractors. They run our radios and television sets!"
Julie nodded. "And they helped dig that big cave back into the hillside. Oh Henry, they are wonderful."
"One of those mounted on a ridge or rooftop can supply all the power the average person needs. No gas or power bill to pay. You have sure proven that."
"There will be just one thing to look out for," he cautioned, "Don't let no company or cooperation get control of the thing. If they can figure out a way to control it the price will go up and up."
"Don't we all know!"
"You can be sure they will try!"
"Yes sweetheart. And now that we are all settled there is something else that I think we should talk about."
"Oh yeah? And what is that?"
"I think you know what I mean Henry. And you are not going to have a good night's sleep until you get to the bottom of this thing that is bothering you. You roll and you toss. Even I can't sleep. Something has to be done about this or I will be forced to move on to the couch."
"Don't you dare!"
"Then let me help you. Maybe together we can figure out just who the man was that you and Rodney sent down that runway."
"How did you know."
"In your sleep you grind your teeth and you swear. The other night you punched me right out of the bed!"
"I'm sorry."
"These last two nights," Julie went on, "you have slept a little better. Have all those pictures you have been drawing helped?"
"It keeps me from forgetting what he looks like."
"Why don't you forget about him darling? He is probably long gone by now."
"I can't sweetheart. He is an enemy, our only known enemy, and he must go."
"What about the two other fellows over the hill?"
"They were just a couple of punks. But this guy was different. And finally I think I got him figured out." Henry's face was red. "I wanted to make sure before I said anything."
Julie moved her chair over close to her man, "Tell me darling, no secrets, remember?"
Henry sighed, "I just wanted to make sure."
Julie stamped her foot. "Tell me Henry."
Henry sighed and closed his eyes. "That night Rodney and I were expecting to see a big dog chained to that shed. Instead there was a man. This was not a stupid looking fellow like those two we ran off. He was young -- and quite good looking. Clean and well dressed. We held a short conference and decided to give him a chance to escape. We finally got the drop on him and told him to get going. He took off like he was jet propelled. He went by leaps and bounds. We watched him just long enough to make sure he was on his way out. It was only for a few seconds but I will never forget how that man ran. When I say that he went by leaps and bounds that is exactly what I mean.
"Then he ran different than other people?"
Henry nodded. "I didn't think much about it at the time for we were too busy with our project. But later I decided that the guy must have been lame. Either that or had one leg shorter than the other."
"Did you get a good look at his face?"
"I sure did. I sat there waiting far Rodney for at least a half hour. The guy must of been a chain smoker. He lit one after the other. Yes I got a good look at his face alright. And now when I close my eyes I can see it very plainly."
"And have you seen this man since?"
"Yes many times."
"Then why didn't you say something about it?"
"Because I didn't recognize him!"
"I don't understand."
"And you my dear, have seen him many times. I showed you the picture that I drew of his face. It looks just like him but you didn't recognize him either."
Julie jumped to her feet, walked over to the table and picked up a piece of poster board. "You mean this one?"
Henry nodded. "That's him alright. I just made that sketch this morning moment Julie stood staring down at the picture in her hands.
"He looks vaguely familiar."
"Bring it over here," Henry told her, "I want you to watch very carefully."
Julie handed him the pencil drawing then moved around to the back of his chair.
Henry reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out the stub of a pencil. He took the drawing from her hand and the deft fingers went to work.
He did not change the features but added a dark moustache a large dark pair of sun glasses and a cap such as airline pilots wear.
Julie stared in amazement. "Good Lord!" she gasped. "Our new chopper pilot! The one that flies the small jobs. He went to work for us right after...."
Henry nodded. "Shortly after we blew up the arsenal in Prescott. And he has been with us since that time."
Julie sat down and stared at the picture. "This man," she said, "was working for that rat that was going to blow all of us off the face of this earth. He was guarding the arsenal that they would use to get the job done. They would have rented a chopper and he would have brought that gang in here."
Henry nodded, "That's just the way I look at it. We spoiled their plans, but a guy like him doesn't give up easily. Thank God we spotted him in time."
"What do you think he intends to do?"
"That is hard to tell. But I would bet my last dollar that he has a plan and is just waiting for the proper moment to put it into action."
Julie sat still, staring at the picture. "Just like going fishing," she said. "One of the big ones got away. But there is one thing that I don't understand. How in the world did you ever recognize him?"
Henry chuckled. "It was quite by accident and sort of funny. A few days ago he brought in a load of freight. As usual, everyone pitched in and helped unload the stuff. When we finished, he handed Oran Thomas the freight bill. That day the wind was blowing real hard. It snatched the paper from his hand and spun it up into the air and across the field."
"And then?"
"Someone yelled. Go get it!" A smile lit up Henry's face. "And do you know something? That guy took off by leaps and bounds. Only once before had I seen a guy run like that."
"When he came back with the paper in his hand I took a good look at the fellow. I looked him over from head to foot. And do you know something? One leg is shorter than the other. The sole on his left shoe was two inches thick."
"No wonder he had an unusual stride."
"Then I studied his face and later made a few drawings. Now I am certain it is the same guy."
"What do you think he has planned?"
"God only knows. But I am sure he wouldn't stay around here and take a chance of being recognized unless he had something up his sleeve."
"That makes sense. A good pilot can get a job almost anywhere."
"I have tried to put myself in the fellows place," Henry told her. "And I finally came to this conclusion. He got beat out of his cut when the arsenal blew up. He had plans to make a lot of money. But he is not one to give up easily, and he knows that every one in here is worth a lot of dough. I think he will wait until the right opportunity comes along then grab someone and hold them for ransom. He could get millions for the promise of their safe return."
"The dirty rat!"
Henry grinned. He had made his point with Julie.
"Any idea who he might take?"
"That would make no difference. Ventures Unlimited takes care of their people and he knows it. I think he is just waiting for the right time and place."
Julie looked down at the picture in her hand. "He is a nice looking young fellow, and sure doesn't look like he would do anything like that."
"He is a good actor. When he looks like this he is pretending to be a nice guy." Henry reached over and took the picture from her hand. Once again the deft fingers went to work. A minute passed and everything changed. A scowl appeared on the man's face. The eyes took on a mean look. The lips drew back over the teeth like the snarl of a wolf.
He handed the picture to Julie. "This is what he looked like sitting on that porch with a gun across his knees. Now what is your opinion?"
Julie's hands trembled as she sat staring at the picture. She turned it face down and laid it on the table. Her voice was barely audible. "Darling, we must do something before this devil goes into action. A brute like this is capable of doing anything." A faint smile came to her pretty face.
"Now you got me so I won't be able to sleep nights," he said, "at least not until we run that dirty rat clear out of the state of Arizona!"
-- End Of Chapter 36 --
Copyright © 2008 by J.J. Dewey, All Rights Reserved