Country Boy

Ok, new lawsuits were filed to break the patents. Oops, no luck there but how about using the old laws about monopoly? Yeah, that is the ticket. Force Larry to not produce the vehicles using those laws because it is unfair trade practice.

Well, Larry won and lost on that one. He was allowed to produce his vehicle but government supervision was required. He couldn't advertise as that would be unfair. If he took more than 27% of the market he would have to stop selling because that would be verging on a monopoly or he would have to license his technology to his competitors.

Larry's company immediately purchased a nearly new Mazda auto plant that was closed two years before. It took over a year to let contracts for the parts required to begin assembly of the new vehicle. In the meantime, the major old-line manufacturers were trying to build momentum by selling their version of electric vehicle.

While he was preparing to manufacture his vehicles Larry went on the offensive. He filled the media channels with his version of the battle. He never lost a case filed over one of his advertisements because he printed only documented truth. The public was outraged when they found out their congress and the supposed fair laws conspired to prevent them from purchasing a vehicle that was almost free to operate and was totally environmentally friendly.

Riots broke out. Boycotts began of the traditional automakers products. People demanded the vehicles Larry could produce. Finally congress and the auto makers surrendered. They came to Larry on bended knee and agreed to license his technology for their vehicles. Within seven years it was projected the only internal combustion engines in use would be stationary devices for power generation and operation of machinery in remote locations or in locations where it was too difficult to run electric lines or generate on site using the new technology. Perhaps the largest users of petroleum products left were the airline, shipping, and railroad industries. Larry and his crew were working on ways to use his technology in locomotives and ships with limited success. No one could figure out how to make an aircraft fly using the electricity unless they went back to propeller driven aircraft which some did.

The world economy took a deep hit because the oil companies became much poorer prospects for wealth generation. There would always be a need for petroleum products but the demand for crude oil would be much less than before Larry's invention of the generator and vehicle. Many fortunes were lost when "big oil" stocks tanked. Many workers lost their jobs.

There were three assassination attempts against Larry over the first two years after the vehicle patent was issued. One was just a crackpot who was angry at Larry because he lost his job in the oil industry. The other two were financed by the oil cartels. In addition, one attempt was stopped in the planning phase because the big automakers leaked like a sieve. Three of the top executives from three large auto manufacturers were trying to hire a hit on Larry. Unfortunately, a task force on organized crime in the U.S. caught wind of it and made arrests before the attempt was carried out.

One good thing to come from the loss in big oil was a decline in terrorist attacks. The terrorists lost the income they used to buy the weapons used for their terror attacks. The greedy rulers of the oil producing states lost their income also. When their income declined, they lost the capability to keep their populations subjugated. Many despotic rulers were overturned during the resulting social upheaval. There were still radical mullah's in the Muslim sects but they lost their main point of attack against the "great Satan". No longer could they claim the Great Satan was keeping their country and people subjugated in order to get cheap oil. No longer could they claim interference for political gain.

Soon, peace returned to many parts of the world. Well, perhaps it would be better to say violence after an initial upswing declined because of these two simple inventions.

Of course, the change in the industrialized countries was great. What was not expected was the great change in the non-industrialized countries. Oh, sure, there was still poverty but the generators and vehicles went a long way toward making life easier in the poorer countries also.

One thing that did not change was Larry's living situation. He still lived in his converted shipping container. Well, he did add another one to his house. After all, a wife and two children did require slightly more room than he had in the first container.

Oh, yeah, somewhere in the whole process, Rachel and Larry fell in love and married.

Beth and Tom were brought into the business along with several automotive engineers. All those involved had ownership in the corporation. No one except Larry and Rachel knew about Lander.

CHAPTER 8

A COUNTRY BOY CAN SURVIVE

BY SW MO HERMIT

After the country—nay, the world—settled down from the impact of the new vehicles and generators, Larry called a meeting of his research staff. When they were all sitting in the plush lounge of the research facility drinking their favorite beverage Larry said, "Well, things are settling down now. Cash is rolling in faster than we can spend it. We still have some fine-tuning and some research we can do to better utilize the generator and electric engines but I have another project I want to begin working on also. I have been thinking about and piddling around with an idea for anti gravity."

Beth looked up rapidly and said, "But that's impossible! No one has ever even figured out exactly how gravity is generated or how it works for sure. How can you think about finding a way to negate it?"

"Well, a couple of things I discovered earlier when I was working on the generator and motor got me thinking about that. I am going to do some research along those lines and I may call on one of you from time to time to help me. Of course you each still have your current projects to work on and any you choose to follow on your own just as we do now. I am just telling you I am going to be spending much of my time working on anti gravity."

Rachel said, "That sounds interesting Larry. Would you mind if I helped? I don't have anything too interesting or important to work on right now."

"Fine Rache."

The meeting continued for another 45 minutes before everyone was done talking business and the meeting degenerated into a jabberfest among friends. Larry looked over at Beth and said, "How are the kids doing Beth? I hear both of them did really well at the state science fair this year."

Beth snorted and said, "You should have heard. Your two were right there at the same fair. I'm just glad they didn't compete in the same categories. I don't know what we would have done if one of them came in second to the other.

CHAPTER 9

A COUNTRY BOY CAN SURVIVE

BY SW MO HERMIT

Larry's work on the antigravity device began in earnest the day after his announcement of intention to build it. Of course, he really didn't have much chance to fail in his endeavor because he not only knew it was possible but he had already learned how to build one from Lander's instructions. The big problem he had was to convince his companions he was doing original research in his attempts. It wouldn't do for him to just build a device and have it work the first time.

To that end, he and Rachel spent many hours on their computers—computers that were enhanced greatly with alien technology—pretending to do computations and engineering research. They built many strange electronic devices that failed miserably as they supposedly attempted to build an anti gravity unit.

Late one evening as they were working Larry said, "You know Rache, after we get this thing built and patented we will probably have the damn oil companies down on us again."

"Why do you say that?"

"Well think about it. The A G Drive is what Lander uses when he breaks orbit to land on or fly over a This device will change the way heavy lifting is done all over the planet. I wouldn't be surprised if it wouldn't at least take us to the moon if we incorporate it into some kind of space craft. Now, if the drive will work for Lander, won't it work for aircraft? If it does and if the FAA will certify an airplane that uses that as a drive, there will be even less of a market for petroleum products. The OPEC Cartel might not try to assassinate me this time but we will have to take precautions anyway.

"We might even have the unions down on us again too. They are still hurting from losing all the jobs in the oil industry and now we will cost them some jobs in construction too."

"How can an antigravity unit cost a construction job?"

"For one thing, it will reduce the need for crane operators. It will also reduce or eliminate the need for other labor because it will be easier and safer to move heavy items. The unit can serve as motive power to hold a work surface in lieu of scaffolding so there will be less labor needed to build scaffolds. I can go on and on."

"Wow. I wonder if Lander realized the total effect allowing us access to his electronic, non military technology would have on the world?"

Larry laughed and started to answer when he was interrupted. Beth said, "Who is this Lander you have been talking about and what does he have to do with your inventions?"

"Shit," Larry muttered. "I thought everyone was gone so I didn't worry about being on the lookout for listeners. Crap."

Larry turned to Beth and looked at her for a moment trying to decide how to answer her question. Finally, he said, "Lander is a friend of mine that I collaborate with from time to time about some of the things we are working on Beth."

Beth walked up and sat down. She put her feet up on the corner of Larry's desk and said, "Ok, tell me another one. I know all your friends and I don't remember one named Lander. Besides, if it was someone here that allowed you access to technology, why didn't he patent the items instead of you? Now, what the hell's going on here?"

Larry and Rachel looked back and forth at each other. Finally, in exasperation, Beth yelled, "Damn it Larry quit trying to think up a fucking lie and answer me. You know you can trust me. Hell, we've been friends almost from the first time you showed up in town."

Larry was just sitting trying to come up with an answer when Lander said, "Larry it seems to me as if you should answer Beth's question. All my research indicates she is trustworthy and she is already too knowledgeable for you to, as you say, blow her off."

Beth looked around but saw no one. She said, "Who the hell was that and were are they Larry?"

Larry sighed and said, "That was Lander Beth. I suppose we need to introduce you to him. Why don't you come with me and we'll do that. You have to promise that nothing you see, hear or learn today will ever be discussed with anyone except Rachel or me. We are the only ones on earth that know Lander."

"What the hell do you mean you are the only ones on earth that know Lander?"

By then Larry and Rachel were walking toward a tool room that contained spares, test equipment and other rarely used items. He looked at Beth and said, "Come on Beth and we'll tell you."

Beth slowly followed her two best friends other than her husband Tom—and she was beginning to wonder about Tom—in the world as they entered the storage room. As soon as they were in the room, the door closed and locked with a distinct click. Beth jumped when she heard the lock click, then she saw one of the squares of concrete in the floor sink about six inches and slide to the side. She stepped back when an enclosed platform with rails around it rose until its floor was level with the existing floor in the room.

Larry walked up to the platform and opened one side of the rail outward. He motioned Rachel and Beth onto the platform. He followed the women, closing the rail after. As soon as the rail clicked closed the platform began to descend. Beth whispered, "Fuck. I've worked out here for six years now and I never knew you had a basement in the laboratory. What do you have down here anyway Larry?"

"This is where Lander stays Beth. I told you I would introduce you to him."

Beth turned slightly and caught her first glimpse of Lander. She stared in shock and again whispered, "Fuck. What the hell is that? Oh, shit, is that what I think it is? Oh, my God, it looks like a spaceship!

"Larry, please tell me you're not from some other world. Oh, Jezus."

Larry laughed and said, "No, Beth. I'm as human as you are. I can't say the same thing for Lander though. Come on and meet him."

"WHAT?"

When they entered the little ship Beth reached out and touched almost everything she passed. She turned toward Larry and hissed, "You asshole. You had this ship all the time and didn't let me know. I thought we were friends. How could you keep this secret from me?"

Lander said, "Please don't blame Larry for that Beth. I demanded he keep knowledge of my existence secret after we determined the probable outcome if knowledge of my existence came to the attention of the public or your government. I have been programmed to self-destruct if unauthorized persons take control of me. That destruction would result in an area of about ten miles radius becoming uninhabitable. The explosion and fallout would kill thousands. You are only the third living human to discover my existence. I am marooned in this system. Larry found me after a meteor shower when my mother ship was destroyed and I was damaged. We have helped each other over the years. I have allowed him to make use of some of our non-military technology that is approximately on a level with your existing tech. He has provided me with a safe place to hide and with power from his generating station.

"Uh, ok. I can see the generator and even the electric vehicles but how do you equate this antigravity thing Larry is trying to build with our technology? And why do you need a place to hide and access to Larry's power?"

"That is a tough one Beth. You do not have that technology now and if Larry does build and release it he will have advanced your tech base substantially. I don't think he or Rachel have fully comprehended the changes that technology will make in your world. After the lessening of violence caused by the introduction of the more efficient generator I decided since it was non-military and very close to being discovered by your world in any event that I would allow Larry access to our information on antigravity units. I hope it will prove beneficial to your world and lessen conflict and tensions even more.

"As for the need for power from Larry, it is a matter of self preservation. If I use his power I do not have to run my reactor, therefore, I extend my on board power supplies to approximately 1,000 of your years from the 100-200 I could operate if I continued to use onboard power. I am sure you can see from this that I also need the place to hide since I cannot just lay around in the yard as it were."

About that time one of the maintenance 'bots came floating into the room. Beth stared at it in awe then turned to Larry and said, "It really exists doesn't it? Oh, my God, this is awesome. Can we take a ride? How far can we go in this ship?"

Lander answered the question. He said, "Yes Beth, some evening if Larry agrees, I can take you for a short ride to the moon or one of the planets. I am afraid I am limited to short distances, as I cannot exceed the speed of light. Larry and Rachel have been on short trips with me but never for any length of time. We don't want to take a chance of being seen. There are already too many sightings of what you call UFO's."

Beth sank into one of the seats and stared around the control room in awe. She was gently rubbing the console as she did so. She whispered, "Space, the final frontier. We can do it. I know we can."

Beth turned and looked at Larry. Her eyes were glowing, she was almost bouncing in excitement. She said, "Now Larry? Can we take a short trip right now please? We don't have anything we have to do right now. Please?

Larry looked at Rachel and said, "Hell, why not? It's been a couple of weeks since we were up and it's late enough to be dark outside—not that that really matters.

"What do you think Lander? Is there any reason why we can't go up for an hour or two now?"

"No Larry. I know of no reason we can't take Beth on a short flight. It will give me a chance to verify some repairs I have made recently. I will also take the time to re route some of the debris from the mother ship that is about to move into the orbits of some of your world's communication satellites."

"Well then, let's do it."

Beth jumped when the door closed and the lighting changed in the small ship. Lights flashed, came on and some changed colors on the control panels in front of several consoles. She looked if not frightened, apprehensive, and turned to Larry. She said, "What's happening? Are we really going to just go into space right now, just like that," she asked as she snapped her fingers.

Larry laughed and said, "Yes, we are really going into space just like that," as he snapped his fingers back at her.

"When are we going? Shouldn't we sit down and buckle in or something? How long will it take?"

Larry and Rachel laughed then Rachel said, "Lander you've messed with her long enough. Open the front port so she can see please."

Beth's face blanched when she heard Rachel say that. She turned to the front of the small ship and gazed out at the deep blackness that showed there. Slowly, almost reverently, she walked up and stood as close to the now open port as she could. "It's beautiful. But how? I mean I didn't even feel us move. And it was so fast."

"Yes Beth," Larry said. Lander is extremely fast and with his gravity devices and inertial dampeners you never feel him move. It takes less than seven minutes to get out of our atmosphere and most of that time is getting him out of the hidey hole he stays in."

Throughout the conversation the view changed rapidly as Lander moved from place to place. He would approach a small piece of detritus and nudge it away from its current trajectory to keep it out of the orbits of the satellites he was trying to protect. Finally he came upon a much larger piece of scrap. As he approached it he said, "Larry, I have found what remains of another Lander. Instead of moving it into a different orbit I suggest we take it back with us. I believe it is small enough we can get both it and myself in what you refer to as my hidey-hole. If I am not mistaken this is the section that contains the reactor which, I might add, appears undamaged and in workable condition."

"By all means, if you are sure we can do that safely and not be noticed, let's do it. We can always use the reactor. I have been worried about you moving these pieces of debris though. Won't our authorities see the debris moving and changing orbits? I know they are tracking the larger pieces. There have been articles in the news about the danger to some of the satellites should the debris move into their orbits. How will we explain the change in orbits?"

"Why should we explain anything Larry? Everyone knows the earth has no ships to come change the orbits and who believes in aliens? I suggest we just let the authorities come up with their own explanation. I postulate they will infer the orbits changed because of collisions with other pieces of debris they had not seen yet. The world will heave a sigh of relief that the meteors that were captured by earth have not done further damage and all will be well."

"I suppose you are right. That would be the simplest explanation."

Soon after that conversation the three friends were staring out the front window as Lander returned to earth with his burden. They watched in fascination as Lander moved lower and lower, then flew across country less than half a mile before dropping down to align himself with the slowly opening door into the laboratory building. The shaft in the floor was already open and Lander settled down. He was moving toward the far end of the cavern he hid in as the hatch slid closed above them. After depositing the piece of debris he brought with them Lander moved back to his normal resting place and settled quietly to the floor.