Read Online Outland (World-Lines Book 1) by Dennis Taylor - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Dennis Taylor
Ads: Link
added.
“Patents,” Erin said.
“Granted,” Richard answered, “but I don’t think this would be a mass-market product along the lines of the PC. And anyway, if someone figures out a slightly different way to do it, a patent could be worthless.”
There were a few moments of silence as everyone pondered the alternatives. Richard took the opportunity to signal the waitress for refills.
Bill broke the silence. “Here’s another question, Kevin. If Yellowstone erupted here, would it erupt there at the same time?”
“Where the hell is that coming from?” Richard asked, surprise plain on his face.
Bill tipped his head towards Erin and Matt. “You should get Erin to tell you about her fun times at Yellowstone last week.” He turned to Kevin. “So?”
Kevin huffed a bit, thinking. “I doubt it. They are separate worlds, and have been so for some amount of time, depending on where they split. They’re not going to proceed in lockstep. Small differences add up.”
All eyes turned to Erin. Matt said, “Jeez, Erin, you think that’s going to happen?”
Erin hesitated before shaking her head. “Yellowstone has been acting up on and off as long as America has been here. And people have been predicting an eruption for just as long. The west coast is overdue for a mega quake too, and that hasn’t happened. So no, not particularly.”
Bill inclined his head. “Still, if it did blow, it’d be nice to have a bolt-hole. This is kind of my thing, right?”
Matt laughed. “I hadn’t noticed!” He pointed at Bill. “You’ve been waiting your whole life for this moment, haven’t you?”
Bill spread his hands in an expansive gesture and smiled an acknowledgment.
“Another thing.” Richard said after a moment. “I’d like to move it out of the lab. Lousy security and too many curious people.”
“And I,” Bill interjected, “would like to see a second portal built if we’re going to be going through that thing.”
“What? Why?” Richard exclaimed.
“Are you kidding me? Now you’re slow! What, you think nothing will go wrong? You're like the guy who shrugs off concerns then gets eaten or blown up in the next scene. You're the guy who goes into the attic alone because that's the smart thing to do.”
Bill shook his head and held out his hands, palms out. “Dude, I've seen every sci-fi and horror movie known to man. I've seen people locked in, locked out, locked up, abandoned, lost, crushed, eaten, beaten, shot, disintegrated, or just stuck out on the street in their underwear, because they didn't bother to take precautions. God exists, and he's not only a nasty SOB, he's also a B-movie director with a warped sense of humor. And I don't want to be his next sight gag.
“So I am not going anywhere near that thing unless you have spare parts, a spare unit, spare batteries, and a spare generator. You want to skip all that? Fine! I'll wait on this side.”
Richard made a wry face and shrugged. “Well, you ain’t wrong.”
At that point, the waitress arrived with another round of the same for everyone. All conversation ceased until she was several tables away.
There were several more hours of discussion. It was one thing to talk in general and theoretical terms about crossing the dimensions and panning for gold, another to resolve to do it. But in the end, the potential for adventure—combined with the possibility of massive amounts of money—was too much to resist.
Richard summed up what they’d worked out. “So the plan is we move the portal generator out of the lab, location to be determined. We build a second portal, and several gates, including one we can drive a truck through. We pick a good location for gold panning, put together supplies for an expedition, and then we’re going looking for gold, which is hopefully in the same place on that side. All good?”
Everyone signaled agreement by various nods, thumbs-up, and grunts. And that called for beer.
Just Another Day
June
“Patents,” Erin said.
“Granted,” Richard answered, “but I don’t think this would be a mass-market product along the lines of the PC. And anyway, if someone figures out a slightly different way to do it, a patent could be worthless.”
There were a few moments of silence as everyone pondered the alternatives. Richard took the opportunity to signal the waitress for refills.
Bill broke the silence. “Here’s another question, Kevin. If Yellowstone erupted here, would it erupt there at the same time?”
“Where the hell is that coming from?” Richard asked, surprise plain on his face.
Bill tipped his head towards Erin and Matt. “You should get Erin to tell you about her fun times at Yellowstone last week.” He turned to Kevin. “So?”
Kevin huffed a bit, thinking. “I doubt it. They are separate worlds, and have been so for some amount of time, depending on where they split. They’re not going to proceed in lockstep. Small differences add up.”
All eyes turned to Erin. Matt said, “Jeez, Erin, you think that’s going to happen?”
Erin hesitated before shaking her head. “Yellowstone has been acting up on and off as long as America has been here. And people have been predicting an eruption for just as long. The west coast is overdue for a mega quake too, and that hasn’t happened. So no, not particularly.”
Bill inclined his head. “Still, if it did blow, it’d be nice to have a bolt-hole. This is kind of my thing, right?”
Matt laughed. “I hadn’t noticed!” He pointed at Bill. “You’ve been waiting your whole life for this moment, haven’t you?”
Bill spread his hands in an expansive gesture and smiled an acknowledgment.
“Another thing.” Richard said after a moment. “I’d like to move it out of the lab. Lousy security and too many curious people.”
“And I,” Bill interjected, “would like to see a second portal built if we’re going to be going through that thing.”
“What? Why?” Richard exclaimed.
“Are you kidding me? Now you’re slow! What, you think nothing will go wrong? You're like the guy who shrugs off concerns then gets eaten or blown up in the next scene. You're the guy who goes into the attic alone because that's the smart thing to do.”
Bill shook his head and held out his hands, palms out. “Dude, I've seen every sci-fi and horror movie known to man. I've seen people locked in, locked out, locked up, abandoned, lost, crushed, eaten, beaten, shot, disintegrated, or just stuck out on the street in their underwear, because they didn't bother to take precautions. God exists, and he's not only a nasty SOB, he's also a B-movie director with a warped sense of humor. And I don't want to be his next sight gag.
“So I am not going anywhere near that thing unless you have spare parts, a spare unit, spare batteries, and a spare generator. You want to skip all that? Fine! I'll wait on this side.”
Richard made a wry face and shrugged. “Well, you ain’t wrong.”
At that point, the waitress arrived with another round of the same for everyone. All conversation ceased until she was several tables away.
There were several more hours of discussion. It was one thing to talk in general and theoretical terms about crossing the dimensions and panning for gold, another to resolve to do it. But in the end, the potential for adventure—combined with the possibility of massive amounts of money—was too much to resist.
Richard summed up what they’d worked out. “So the plan is we move the portal generator out of the lab, location to be determined. We build a second portal, and several gates, including one we can drive a truck through. We pick a good location for gold panning, put together supplies for an expedition, and then we’re going looking for gold, which is hopefully in the same place on that side. All good?”
Everyone signaled agreement by various nods, thumbs-up, and grunts. And that called for beer.
Just Another Day
June
Similar Books
