The Gravity of Anti-Gravity (26 page)

We all nodded affirmatively.

“I have negotiated a deal with the Chinese Government.” He continued. “They have an earnest proposal on the table, a serious offer we will call it, to acquire your invention.”

“You want to sell the Flying Wallenda to the Chinese?” I questioned in disbelief.

“Not your device Bill, that brilliant mind of yours. They want you and Dr. Morton to work on the device in an undisclosed location in
China. Rest assured they will treat you like kings while you are there. After you have completed the first prototype you will be rich and free to leave and live anywhere in the world. This is a great deal for you and Stella, and I heartily encourage you to accept!” the President said with an encouraging look.

“Why would you betray the
United States and sell the greatest invention in history for a few dollars?” Stella asked.

“Dr. Morton, it’s more than a few dollars. The Chinese have agreed to forgive a trillion dollars of the
U.S. debt when you reach their country and another trillion when they have the technology and a working prototype.”

“Mr. Burton, how does it feel to be the world’s first trillion dollar man?” The President asked with a broad smile.

“Not as good as I would have expected,” I answered. “Something doesn’t feel right about this.”

“And another side benefit to this deal,” the President added, “is that you will be safer than if you stay in the
United States. As you know, China’s society is more closed than ours so it will be easier for them to provide for your security.”

“Let me understand,” Stella jumped in, “two trillion dollars in debt to
China is forgiven in the next couple years. At the same time, the United State’s propensity to deficit spend continues unabated. Why reign in spending, we think; we just got a reprieve. In those couple of years we borrow another two or three trillion dollars. So we have saved some interest on the debt, but we end up owing the Chinese more in two years than we do now and they own the technology!”

“Dr. Morton, the Congress and I are continually working on reducing the deficit.” The president countered.

“How’s that working for you Mr. President?” Stella responded sarcastically.

“There is just too much partisanship in Congress to accomplish as much as we need to.” The President said.

“Mr. President,” Stella continued with growing zeal, “I know your time is limited so if you will pardon me, I will be direct. I can’t speak for Bill, but here’s my take on what your little scheme will accomplish. First, the commercial potential of this technology is without bounds. It will fundamentally change this planet and its value exceeds your temporary gains many fold. The Chinese are some of the best negotiators on the planet and they get it. They hope that they can own this technology by eliminating a few of our dollars in their treasury; dollars, by the way, the Chinese figure will have little or no value in the future anyway!”

“So in the minds of the Chinese,” Stella went on, “this technology will quickly thrust them forward to become the dominant economic force in the world. They are right! And there is another greater downside to this technology, Mr. President. It can be used as a weapon! The time shift we all experienced is just a tiny preview of what this technology can do.”

“So you are proposing we give China both the economic and military dominance they seek for a temporary gain.”

“You must consider that the first people the Chinese would eliminate after they take over world dominance are the politicians throughout the world,” Stella continued. “You are relatively young, Mr. President; they would see you as a threat and you would likely be one of the first to disappear. I am asking you, with everything in my being, to reconsider your proposal.”

“Dr. Morton, you pose some interesting counter arguments,” stated the President sounding sincere but looking perturbed.

“I have one last question Mr. President.” Stella asked with increasing drama. “What happens if we decide not to work with you and the U.S. Government?”

After a short pause the President peered at us with narrow angry eyes and pursed lips. He again spoke slowly. “Honestly, we had not considered that outcome. I do want you to fully understand Dr. Morton and Mr. Burton that it is in your best interest to cooperate completely. I will discuss your comments with my staff and I will get back to you. My assistant will show you out.”

The President walked out and shut the door loudly behind him.

“You sure know how to piss off a President, Stella” I said.

Stella just looked at me and didn’t say anything. The anger on her face said it all.

We stood up, left the room and began walking down the hall to the elevator. I couldn’t resist the impulse to talk to Stella about her dissertation. “Stella, I am trying to understand …”

“Shhh,” as she gave me the index figure to the lips sign. Her look screamed SHUT UP!

When we got to the White House check point, our bags were returned to us. They gave Jerry’s sidearm to Agent Thompson and he told us he’d return it when we got to the Hotel. Just before we exited the limo, Thompson handed Jerry his gun.

After we checked in, a bellman, followed by three security men, accompanied us to our room. We were informed that they would remain on duty outside each of our rooms. Fortunately they gave us adjoining rooms with a door between each.

On the way up the elevator, I commented. “You were a little quiet in there Jerry.”

“I was,” he answered. “I think I may have been a little star struck. He is my Commander-In Chief you know.”

We all entered the middle room which was Stella’s and Jerry closed the drape. Stella again gave me the quiet sign while she pulled the bug finder out of her suitcase. She found one bug under the dinette table, one under the bed, one in the bathroom and one outside on the small balcony. She even found a tiny video camera inside the television cabinet. It had one power wire that led out to an adaptor plugged into the wall. She pulled a fingernail clipper out of her purse and cut the wire.

Stella put all the bugs except one in a glass of water to neutralize them. Then she announced into the last one, “Why don’t we all take a nap. We can talk later when we are more rested.” She dropped the last bug into the water.

“We can talk now but let’s whisper. If they think we are sleeping, they won’t be alarmed by the silence. Before we talk about our meeting with the President, let me call Rolf and see if he knows anything more” Stella said.

“Won’t they be able to listen in on your phone?” I asked Stella.

“Thank God we have Rolf. Before I left, he put a new scrambling device on my phone. I open the back, install a different sim card and if anyone intercepts the signal, it will sound like gibberish. Of course I can only call his adapted phone when my phone is in this mode.” Stella plugged in an ear piece and handed it to Jerry and me.

“If we are going to share this thing Bill, I want you to keep your hands to your self. Being cheek to cheek is bad enough.” Jerry joked.

Stella smiled and dialed Rolf’s number.

“Hi sis,” Rolf answered. “I’ve got news. No one can hear you can they?”

“I believe we’re all secure on this end Rolf, what do you have?” questioned Stella.

“I got snippets of information from Cushing when he was in the room with his bugged brief case. I’m reading a little between the lines, but it sounds like someone way above him is in on the conspiracy. My guess is, it’s the President. I believe they are planning to fly you somewhere off shore if you get on their plane tomorrow.”

“Hello,
Beijing,” I whispered.

“You need to get away from your security detail and I am working on that now. It won’t be easy. I have two people in D.C. who are exploring ways to help you escape. Call me in an hour. I’ll try to have a plan in place by then. How did your meeting with the President go?”

“I know you have work to do so I’ll be brief.” Stella said. “He offered Bill’s and my brain to the Chinese for two trillion dollars!”

“C’mon Stella, what really happened?”

“I am serious Rolf. We give the Chinese the technology and they forgive two trillion dollars in U.S debt.”

“That’s amazing Stella; I guess no one can ever call you cheap!” Rolf said and hung up.

-33-

“How do we get through this when the most powerful people on earth want to take us down?” I moaned. I looked at Jerry who was inspecting his gun and ejecting bullets from the magazine and putting them back in.

“I knew it,” Jerry said. “This gun and I have been together a long time. I thought it felt lighter when Thompson returned it to me.” With that Jerry pointed his gun out the window and pulled the trigger. It went click.

Jerry ejected a bullet and showed it to me. “Look at this Bill. There’s no powder in this bullet or any of the others.”

“Just great, now we have no protection and the foxes are guarding our henhouse.” I added.

“Fear not Bill,” Jerry said as he began riffling through his suitcase. “Good, they didn’t find my back up ammo. We will only have a dozen shots if we need them and I’m praying it won’t come to that.”

“Why would the President do this to us? And what’s more important, why would he do it to the country?” I questioned.

“Bill, in the President’s mind,” said Stella, “he thinks he’s helping a vast majority of the people of the United States. He’s taken a lot of heat about the deficit and by erasing a large chunk of it, is seen as a way to bolster his political position. He is unwilling to cut deficit spending because it would alienate some of his base; I’ll call them the entitlement community. He doesn’t understand that a vibrant economy would lift everyone in this country. It would put people back to work and a large part of the deficit would take care of itself. He doesn’t understand that our device and the accompanying economic explosion would make the dot com boom of the nineties look feeble by comparison.”

“OK, it’s been about an hour” Stella said. “Let’s call Rolf and see if he has a plan figured out.” She dialed his number and he came on the line. Jerry and I assumed our position; cheek to cheek with the ear bud between us.

“My people tell me that you have three security guys outside your door.” Rolf explained. “They believe there are at least four or five more positioned in the lobby. There is one agent positioned in each of the two stairwells. With this much security, getting you out of there would require us to neutralize some of your guards. This tactic would open you up to criminal charges and would give the government too much power over you.”

“I have devised a simpler solution.” Rolf elaborated. “As you are leaving tomorrow morning, when you reach the curb in front of the Hotel, a cab with the name ‘Arrow Transport’ will be parked near your Limo. At that precise moment, we will create a diversion across the street. While all eyes are on the diversion, get into the cab and you will be gone.”

“The security vehicles that were supposed to follow the Limo will pursue the cab.” Rolf continued. “At the first intersection two other cars will pull out and block the security vehicles path giving the cab enough time to get to another vehicle waiting in a parking structure nearby. That vehicle will take you to Philadelphia International airport for your flight home,” Rolf said.

“Why
Philadelphia?” Stella asked.

“The Feds will be watching Reagan and Dulles airports. Hopefully they won’t think of
Philadelphia,” Rolf replied.

“What happens when we get to LAX?” I asked and Stella relayed the question.

“I haven’t gotten that far yet,” answered Rolf, “but I’ll let you know when I do.”

The next morning, Rolf’s plan was executed with precision. As we walked out, we saw the cab parked just three spaces ahead of the Limo. Suddenly there was a large explosion in a trash can across the street. Fire engulfed the can with flames rising ten feet in the air. By the time the security personnel looked for us we were in the cab and pulling away from the curb. An animated FBI agent waved at the other vehicles and directed then to go after our cab. As we raced down the street, two cars slowly made their way into the intersection that we had just passed. We heard the sound of squealing tires and honking horns fade off into the distance. Phase one accomplished I thought.

We pulled into a parking structure. There was a white cargo van with a different driver. We quickly got into that vehicle, left and headed toward the freeway. We entered Highway 95 and were on our way to Philly, a trip of about two and a half hours.

The driver of the van introduced himself as simply Dieter. Dieter explained that he was an associate of Rolf’s and they exchanged favors when they were needed. He also directed us to some disguises he had in the van.

“Look Stella, a blond wig. Put it on. Let’s see what you look like as a blond.” I prodded.

Stella with her back to us put on the wig. She looked at herself in a mirror she had taken out of her purse, combed the wig a little and turned around.

“Marilyn Monroe is rolling in her grave,” Jerry announced in stunned adoration.

“Calm down Jerry; remember I saw her first.” I cautioned.

“Stella, I love you just the way you look normally, but I must admit, this is not a bad look for you either,” I said trying to tone down my approval. “The only problem is that I believe we are trying to fade into the crowd, not draw one!”