Second Chances (86 page)

The colonel's eyes glittered as he saw the possibilities inherited in that idea.

------*------

One of the roles Mitch intended his home to be was a center of information and learning. “We can teach our own children what we want them to learn,” Adam said. “Our values,” he said firmly.

“And can you teach them college level information? Medicine for instance?” Evan asked, turning to the man. “I'm a professor, even I know I can't teach everything in my own field, let alone in others,” he said, shaking his head. “A college is a wise choice.”

“Yeah, but you charge for it,” Trinika said with a sniff.

Mitch spread his hands. “The students work to some degree; that's a given. But I can't support people who don't do something, and I bet neither can you for long,” he said. Her eyes flashed. “Can you?” Mitch asked, cocking his head.

She opened her mouth then stopped and sat back.

Mitch nodded. “Information here is free,” he said. “I've set up Capital as an Alexandria library with a computer database with petabytes of information on every subject.”

“Which we thank you for,” Jack said with a nod. Chief Roberts nodded as well.

Mitch nodded but held a finger up. “The information may be free, but if you want it, come and get it until we've got an Internet up. And bring your own material to copy the data on or you buy that. And I'm not selling flash sticks cheap,” Mitch warned. “Our electronics department isn't up to that level and won't be for years.”

“Always a catch,” Dunn grumbled.

“Hey, you try making electronics then tell me that I should just give it away,” Mitch growled. Dunn looked at the glower and then away.

“What about printed books?” Curt asked.

“We have printers,” Mitch replied with a nod to him. “And we have paper and ink now made from native material,” he said. “It still takes time and adds wear to the machinery. We can print some stuff, and yes, I'm looking into making a press to print books,” he said. “But it's not a priority,” he admitted with a shrug.

“Food, water, fuel, shelter,” Tsakhia said, nodding.

“I see,” Yung Li murmured. “Many of us need seeds. We didn't come with enough or any at all. I understand you export them?” She asked.

Mitch nodded. That led to a lively debate on barter for plants and materials. Many communities had little to pay for them up front.

“I'll make you, hell, all of you a deal,” Mitch said to cut off the debate before it drew more rancor than he wanted to listen to. He could feel the resentment building and didn't care for it. “I'll
lend
the seeds to a community on credit,” he said, nodding to Mike. “Mike and Chief Roberts know I've done this before; I'm fair.” Both men nodded back. Mitch turned his attention back to the group as a whole. “In exchange I get the same amount of seeds back plus 10 percent of the crop for the start-up loan,” that generated a murmur of interest from certain people.

“I'll even provide plans and instructions from everything for planting, how to treat pests, and how to harvest and process the crop. Everything to not only help you make it a success, but get me a return on the investment. Does that sound fair?”

“Where do I sign up?” Trinika asked simply.

Mitch smiled. “We can work out the details later if you'd prefer to do it in private,” he said. She nodded cautiously. “I can suggest you think about specific crops that will do where you are at,” he said. “Climate and environment, soil, that sort of thing,” he said. “For instance Adam may be interested in wheat or corn seed,” he said, nodding to the bluff man.

“Pass but thanks. We've got plenty,” the man said.

“As you will,” Mitch said nodding.

“Why 10 percent? That seems like a bit much,” Kirafiki rumbled.

“The same amount of seeds back will be the return on the investment. The 10 percent will pay back for transport, the help, and for my not using the same seeds here for my own community,” Mitch replied.

“Nothing is ever free,” Colonel Dunn said sarcastically.

“Do you have seeds to trade, Colonel? What are your terms?” Mitch asked, sitting back and yielding the floor.

“Everyone has some surplus, or we wouldn't have anything to plant the following year,” Dunn said. “Carlos planted already though.”

“Ah, well, perhaps after another harvest,” Evan said. The colonel kept from scowling at the professor as he smiled politely. “I'd like some seeds. I'll need to get with my own people to see what we specifically need however...”

------*------

Mitch again tried to steer them to discussions on a planetary constitution and government, but this time kept it light.

“Too much too soon,” Evan told him, seeing right through him. Colonel Dunn also saw what he was doing and sabotaged it again. He got into a debate on the time, months and moons in the sky. Naming all of them became a hot topic debate. Everyone wanted their say on it. Mitch threw his hands up in disgust.

Even the continent, mountains, river names were debated. Everyone wanted to either immortalize themselves or something or someone else.

Chapter 41

Mitch got a frantic call from Ester over the intercom. It was so garbled he couldn't understand it beyond knowing it was urgent. He caught Tucker's name and fear coursed through his body. He lunged out of his chair, startling the other representatives as he ran out of the room and to day care. Sandra nearly collided with him on the way. They stopped in the doorway when Ester stopped them with a hushing wave. Together they stood in the doorway as Tucker pulled himself up against the low coffee table again grinning, then took his first step.

“I thought he was dying,” Sandra murmured. She wrapped one arm around Mitch's waist. He looked down at her then tucked her into his shoulder.

“Worth the anxiety anyway,” Mitch said, smiling as his son took his first step, then wobbled and fell on his butt.

“Oh!” Sandra said, hand over her mouth. The baby looked ready to cry when he noted his mother's look but she turned away.

“Come on lad, try, try again,” Mitch murmured. Tucker shifted his gaze to him then burbled happily, hands clapping. Mitch smiled as the little imp flipped onto all fours and then crawled over to him. He bent down as the baby got to him. He felt Sandra's hands on his shoulders. “Well hi there,” he said.

Tucker burbled again happily then his tiny fists grabbed Mitch's pants. He pulled himself up until he stood there wobbling on his legs. He grinned in triumph, and infectious grin. Mitch felt his own face return the smile, his own happy and encouraging.

“He's such a darling,” Sandra murmured. Tucker looked up to his mom, then waved a fist. He caught himself wobbling, steadied himself, then his face knit in concentration as he took a step. Sandra gasped as the baby let go of his father and stepped again, then plopped down on his rear as he overbalanced.

That was too much, he wailed indignantly. Sandra chuckled and scooped him up, whirling him about to cut off the self-pity and then she pulled him into her arms for a well-deserved hug. “My bonnie boy. You are in such a hurry to grow up!” She murmured softly to him.

“That he is,” Mitch murmured, straightening up.

“What happened?” Jack asked, coming up behind them. “You lit out of there so fast...”

“Tucker took his first steps,” Mitch said proudly, turning to Jack with a smile. He stepped aside to let the other man see Sandra and the baby.

“He what? He did?”

Sandra nodded. “He didn't get far but...” she smiled, caressing her son's head. “He's growing up so fast,” she said softly.

“Yeah, scary,” Mitch said. “We almost missed it,” he murmured.

“Yeah,” Jack said, voice roughening a bit. “It's worth it,” he said as Sandra put the baby down. Tucker looked up, then saw something he wanted, a fresh bottle. He crawled over to the coffee table, pulled himself up, then wobbled, moving hand over hand until he got to it. “Totally worth the near heart attack,” Jack murmured. “He's what, seven months? Eight?”

“Try four,” Mitch replied.

“He's four months old??”

“Yeah. That's what I was talking about,” Sandra said, indicating her son. He turned to look at her, holding the bottle. He took a sip then frowned. He waved his hand then his hand let the bottle drop to the floor. He grunted, then made a serious pouty face.

“Hey, you dropped it little man,” Jack said.

A familiar whiff got to Mitch first since he was nearest. “...I don't think that's why he's making that particular face,” he said as Tucker grunted and then rocked his hips a bit. The rocking made the lad a bit unsteady, Mitch knew what was coming so he backed away. “Um, we've got to get back to the meeting,” he said, turning to physically push Jack back the way they had come.

Jack coughed, then nodded as he caught on. He grinned mischievously as Ester scowled blackly at them.

“I'll do it,” Sandra chuckled. “Something tells me he's going to potty train in record time anyway,” she said. The baby grunted, then plopped down on his now dirty rear. That mashed it in and he made a different face, then started tearing up.

“Ew. You do have a way of making life difficult,” she said, trying to fight a withering resigned tone to keep the child's spirits up. Despite that her face screwing up in disgust at the smell and the chore to come. She scooped the boy up and held him at arm's length. She swung him about in a pirouette to calm him but that didn't stop the tyke from protesting the wet feeling he didn't like. “Just like your father,” she sighed, heading to the changing table.

------*------

Paul stormed into Ducky's lab and then paused when he heard the distinct sound of kissing. He coughed, then coughed again. A third time made them finally break contact. “Ignore it. If they know what's good for them, they'll go away!” Maggie said, voice rising in pitch as a broad hint to the intruder.

“I'm not going just yet, Mags, sorry,” Paul replied. “But I am headed out shortly, and I wanted to talk to Ducky or you.”

“Only a moment my dear,” Ducky said to Maggie quietly.

“Fine,” she said in disgust. There was a rustle of clothing. “You can come in,” she said sounding vexed. She glared at Paul as he entered and averted his eyes for a moment.

“Sorry. You can get back to...whatever you were doing in a bit. I've only got a minute,” Paul said. He nodded to a mussed up Maggie and then to a disheveled but bemused Ducky. “Doctor Mallard, I e-mailed you about ways to get the animals away or to drive them off from the convoys. Sam and I have been having issues.”

“I see,” Ducky said.

“I'd prefer not to shoot them. Sam too. Every time we do it leaves a carcass around and that attracts predators,” Paul said making a face.

“I agree. And if there is a way to avoid unnecessary bloodshed, all the better,” Ducky said in his British accent. “I never got the e-mail by the way, or if I did I apologize.”

“You've been busy,” Paul said, bobbing a nod, though he didn't say with what. “Any ideas? From either of you? Firing a shot sometimes works...and sometimes it doesn't.”

“Dear me, I was going to say a Taser, but I believe that actually killed the animal that attacked Chambers last year, didn't it?” Ducky asked. Maggie nodded. “Well then,” he murmured, playing with his lip. “The plot thickens,” he murmured.

Maggie crossed her arms. When Paul looked to her she blinked. “What? You want me in on this?”

“Yes please. Any ideas? What can drive animals off? Smell I know, but we'd have to get it. I'm not really thrilled about going up to a Rex and asking them to pee in a cup.”

“Smell yes, though that might draw in rival predators who are only interested in protecting their territory from the intruder,” Ducky said.

“Fire,” Maggie said. Ducky froze. “Horses hate fire. So do most animals, their instinctive self-preservation kicks in. They run from it. Haven't you ever seen a wildfire?”

“I...dear me, that is brilliant!”

“A flame thrower?” Paul wrinkled his nose. “I'm not sure that's a good idea. If we set the grasslands afire, it could come back and burn us too.”

“No, no lad, you don't necessarily need the whole flame, but just the
appearance
of one,” Ducky explained. “Where there is smoke...”

“There is fire,” Maggie said with a grin. “Smoke grenades. Or smoke emitters. The animals smell the smoke, their hind brains kick in, and they flee.”

“It would only work with animals downwind of the smoke though,” Ducky said.

“We've got flash bangs, they emit smoke, light and sound. Smoke grenades...hmmm...I think they had emitters on tanks right? I think we can use this,” Paul said, rubbing his chin. “Thanks folks,” he said as he turned to leave. “You can now return to your regularly scheduled playtime,” he said as he went through the door.

“Yes indeed. Now where were we my dear?” Ducky said suggestively. Maggie giggled. Paul heard them and snorted. He decided he'd swing by Frances for a quick kiss before he hit the road once more.

------*------

Mitch and Jack returned to find Pete excitedly bouncing in the great room. “What's up?” Jack asked.