37

The Trouble - Bobby

Bobby said, "We let Gutty off easy."

"You are correct. However, in World War Two he received the Silver Cross for heroism and valor. In the Korean War he received the Purple Heart.

His wife died three years ago. The last couple of years has been tough for him. His exit physical will recommend supervised counselling. The recommendation will be sent to the Department if Veteran Affairs.

We completed an informal inspection. Our wives, Brit and Shelly Hatton were already sitting in the reserved section for officers at the Kentucky Crystal Dragon Club House. The waitress said, "A buffet is set-up, or you could order off the menu."

Linda Lewis was making rounds to all the occupied tables. When she came to our table Bobby said, "Hi Linda. How are doing?"

"Fine sir and you?"

Shelly said, "Have you already met our Manager Trainee?"

"Yes, I met her this morning on my rounds. I helped direct her in a matter."

"She bragged about how wise and helpful you were to her daddy and you advised her to do volunteer service for Brit's Company."

"The company is not mine. It is a not for profit research and endowment company. I teach graduate students from a dozen universities to create new products for consumers and specialized manufactured goods for industry.

We do not generate or construct weapons, but we create communication, medical equipment and transportation devises classified secret and above. Colonel Davis, we would be glad for you, Steve and your wives to tour our humble lab after lunch."

We have one small matter scheduled at 1300 hours. We can meet with you at 1400 hours."

"It will be perfect."

"We will be there."

When I returned to my office Agnes was sitting behind my desk. She said, "I have been floating around to help you and Betzy make good choices. You took the easy way with Major Gutty and son."

"What!"

"You heard me. The Major has had it hard since his wife died. The son blames his dad. She had liver cancer. No one could save her."

The father was in Vietnam. He watched his friends and those under his command die.

Nightmares plague him from three wars and his wife's death. The son keeps doing things to embarrass and punish his dad. The boy's crazy antics has driven his father to lunacy. He believes the wife's death as well as the ones in the war were his failure."

I said, "The boy has achieved his goal."

"The psychiatrist has unearthed the problem on the exit exam. He has interviewed Don, the son. The boy understands he has destroyed his father career and himself."

"What is the solution to redeem both of them?"

"The Doctor will call you in half a minute to make his proposal."

Agnes faded as the phone rang.

"I am Dr. Hortwitz. I would like to speak to Colonel Davis."

"Yes, speaking!"

"We have a problem with Major Gut's exit exam. It is legal to let him retire and refer him to Veteran Affairs."

However, from a moral view, we need to get the two of them to a clear understanding how to interact properly with each other."

"Are we equipped to guide them?"

"We are, but with our workload it would take six months to a year. There is a specialty clinic at Scott Air Force Base Hospital outside Belleville, Illinois focusing on the multilevel problems such as these the two revealed."

The details can be summed up as follows: Major Gutty and his son require daily counseling together and separately. Providing they assist each other thirty days. If they do not work together, it may never happen."

The Tour - Betzy

Bobby and Steve were fifteen minutes late. Bobby gazed a Betzy, smiled and said, "A problem came up needing immediate attention. I will tell you later."

Brit explain, "We have four labs. All four start out with the same basic materials. All of you have witnessed our anti-gravity anti- magnetic apparatus which we simply call our shuttle-ovator. It is a product of our commercial lab.

The consumer lab creates merchandise to assist the average family to have an easier life in their home."

Pat said, "Give us an example."

Brit picked up a box and removed the creation and said, "What is the object in my hand?"

Betzy said, "It is an aluminum frying pan."

"You are correct. Nonetheless, it uses an aluminum alloy that is ten times stronger, non-stick and scuff proof. The housewife only pays an extra twenty cents for a pot or pan made from the new metal.

We have generated one hundred devises for household uses. There may be another thousand ways to use the alloy."

A pensive gaze emerged from their eyes.

The medical lab fashions variations of aids to assist men and women walking or moving their limbs in ways they could not on previous occasions."

Brit paused a few seconds explaining, "The Aero Lab is an outgrowth of the Commercial Lab in fabricating flying entities. The lab is located fifty feet below ground extends a half a mile under the mountains."

Brit invites them to view the rear patio. He pushes a button in a panel on the wall. The patio slides eighty feet from the building. A hole reveals a deep opening.

From the alcove arises a quarter pie shape structure with a circular appendage at two corners. The aircraft, hovers and soars. There are four rotating giant blades. The edifice lifts above the ground and hovers at twenty feet. It glides in the air for thirty seconds and disappears.

Brit expanded, "You have just witnessed our version of a Flying Saucer. It is faster than any rocket, missile or jet we have. It is like a triangular pan."

Following the giant version were several smaller quarter pie shaped flying units. Brit alluded, "The small vehicles are used for recon."

A rectangle flying machine twice the size of the triangle held 350 people with automatic guidance control.

C.A.R.L. - Brit

All five jerked their heads and straining to keep their eyes open. Shelly said, "We could use a coffee break."

"OK, I will call Carl. What is your caffeine specialty? We have coffee, hot chocolate or cola."

Steve, Bobby and Brit said, "Coffee." Betzy and Pat indicated hot chocolate. Shelly said, "A cola please."

Brit pushed the intercom button and said, "Carl will you bring us "Three coffees, two hot chocolates and a cola."

Carl said, the cola must be for Miss Shelly.

"Yes, it is."

Betzy asks, "Is this our Carl?

Shelly grinned and said, "He is our adopted son. Much of the work is completed by him, his brothers, sisters and an older uncle."

"Why are you snickering?"

"You will recognize him in a moment."

Carl pushes a cart to Brit's office and everyone fix their gazes on Carl. He appears to be a younger version of Brit. The Carl Bobby and Betzy grew up with but different.

Brit asked, "Can any of you operate a slide rule?" Steve and Bobby both alleged they could. Brit gave Steve a slide-rule and handed Bobby a pencil and a sheet of paper.

Brit said, "Now use the tools given to solve the following problem. Carl you will calculate the solution without any aids. Let's say I give you three minutes to answer. Raise your hand when you are finish."

(Pause) "What is the circumference of a circle with a diameter of nine inches?"

Carl raised his hand in less than a second. Steve in thirty seconds Bobby was working when time was called.

"OK, what were your results?"

"Bobby, you were not finished in three minutes. How far did you get?"

"63.6 in."

"Alright Steve, you took half a minute."

"About 63.617in. or five feet, three and a half inches."

"Carl?"

"63.61725112352"

"You answered the problem in less than a second. How did you calculate correct answer?"

"I am built to process such problems instantly."

"Who built you?

"Carl Generation Two under your supervision."

"Is Carl Two an android or a robot?"

"No, he can control some movement, but he resides in a room fifteen feet by fifteen feet. Although, his processing unit matches mine. Carl One and you created him."

"Who built Carl One."

Seven Graduate students, two computer scientists and you, but Carl One was designed by you. The others followed your instructions."

"How many Carl Threes are built?"

He rendered a smirk and said, "Three regular Robots, four pilots and twenty-seven Air Police. Thirty-four total."

"Who supervises them?"

"I do."

Who are your supervisors?

"Colonel Davis and you. Preference given to Colonel Davis."

"Why me?"

"You are our leader as Commander, and you are my friend."

"While you were talking, I made a list of twenty-five numbers. Would you add them for me?"

Carl took Bobby's list, glanced at it and said, "Certainly, it is 150,875."

Brit said, "Carl, will you remove your mask and shirt to exhibit your construction."

Carl removed his disguise revealing the skin made of the metal Brit mentioned earlier.

Britt pulled a pistol from his holster and shot Carl five times. He did not flinch. The bullets bounced off the robot leaving no marks.