Read Online Tiona (a sequel to "Vaz") by Laurence Dahners - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Laurence Dahners
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social events and she’d always turned him down. Though he’d made the offer, he’d never expected that the first time they would go out on some kind of social, non-work event; it would be with one of her parents. As they walked he turned to Tiona’s dad, “What do you do Mr. Gettnor?”
Gettnor stared at him with a little bit of a “deer in the headlights” look on his face. Then he said, “Research.”
For a moment Nolan expected Gettnor to expand on his one-word answer, but when nothing was forthcoming, Nolan asked, “What kind of research?”
Gettnor opened his mouth, but then froze as if he didn’t know how to respond. After a moment, Tiona said, “Physics research. Well, and some chemistry too. He’s done a lot of work on energy storage.”
Gettnor looked at his daughter for a moment, and then turned back to Nolan, “Yeah. Energy storage.”
Nolan said, “Who do you work for?”
Gettnor said, “Myself.” He said with a great deal of satisfaction, as if there couldn’t be a better employer.
Nolan wanted to ask Gettnor how he funded his research and how he paid himself. Questions that he thought would help him understand Tiona’s financial situation, but they’d arrived at the Cosmic Cantina by then. Their conversation was interrupted by the business of placing orders for their burritos and Nolan’s careful maneuvering to make sure he paid for lunch.
When Tiona realized that he’d paid for their meals as well, she snorted a little laugh and thanked him. Nolan had been worried that Mr. Gettnor would be embarrassed that a student had bought his lunch, but actually the man seemed completely oblivious to the implications. In fact, Nolan had been worried that Tiona would be embarrassed as well, but she seemed to accept his charity without any awkwardness. Well, she eats at the shelter. She must’ve gotten over any embarrassment about these kinds of things a long time ago.
Nolan never got around to asking Gettnor about how his research was funded. Instead, Tiona asked Nolan to explain his research to her father. He did so, wondering how in depth he could go. Explaining what he did to most of his friends and family was difficult because it was so hard to explain in terms that they could understand. However, Gettnor apparently had at least some education in physics. Even if his research was in batteries he should be better able to understand Nolan’s work than a layman.
Once Nolan started describing his project, Gettnor’s eyes lit up. He said, “So you’re the one who first precipitated the monolayer graphene?” Gettnor suddenly appeared to be extremely interested.
“Um, yeah. Though the process results in many monolayers being put down, one on top of the other. So we usually call it multi-monolayer. It’s not graphite, because each monolayer covers the whole area of the copper disc we precipitate it on. It’s just that the precipitation method forms multiple monolayers.”
Now Nolan found himself under a barrage of questions about graphene precipitation, how it might be scaled up, how fast it could occur, what the properties of the membranes were, and on and on. The questions continued until they’d gotten back to the lab and for a few minutes after that. Nolan had the feeling that they might have lasted all afternoon, but Tiona eventually interrupted to say, “Well dad, I’ve got to go to my class and I’m sure Nolan has to get back to his research.” She held out a manila folder like the lab kept graphene membranes in. Nolan wondered if she was giving her father a souvenir.
Gettnor blinked; then looked disappointed. After a moment he simply said, “Okay.” He took the folder and turned to the door. He started to leave; then suddenly stopped. He turned back to Nolan and said, “It was nice to meet you… Goodbye.” Gettnor turned and left without waiting for a response from Nolan though Nolan felt sure the man had forgotten his name.
Tiona walked her father out of the
Gettnor stared at him with a little bit of a “deer in the headlights” look on his face. Then he said, “Research.”
For a moment Nolan expected Gettnor to expand on his one-word answer, but when nothing was forthcoming, Nolan asked, “What kind of research?”
Gettnor opened his mouth, but then froze as if he didn’t know how to respond. After a moment, Tiona said, “Physics research. Well, and some chemistry too. He’s done a lot of work on energy storage.”
Gettnor looked at his daughter for a moment, and then turned back to Nolan, “Yeah. Energy storage.”
Nolan said, “Who do you work for?”
Gettnor said, “Myself.” He said with a great deal of satisfaction, as if there couldn’t be a better employer.
Nolan wanted to ask Gettnor how he funded his research and how he paid himself. Questions that he thought would help him understand Tiona’s financial situation, but they’d arrived at the Cosmic Cantina by then. Their conversation was interrupted by the business of placing orders for their burritos and Nolan’s careful maneuvering to make sure he paid for lunch.
When Tiona realized that he’d paid for their meals as well, she snorted a little laugh and thanked him. Nolan had been worried that Mr. Gettnor would be embarrassed that a student had bought his lunch, but actually the man seemed completely oblivious to the implications. In fact, Nolan had been worried that Tiona would be embarrassed as well, but she seemed to accept his charity without any awkwardness. Well, she eats at the shelter. She must’ve gotten over any embarrassment about these kinds of things a long time ago.
Nolan never got around to asking Gettnor about how his research was funded. Instead, Tiona asked Nolan to explain his research to her father. He did so, wondering how in depth he could go. Explaining what he did to most of his friends and family was difficult because it was so hard to explain in terms that they could understand. However, Gettnor apparently had at least some education in physics. Even if his research was in batteries he should be better able to understand Nolan’s work than a layman.
Once Nolan started describing his project, Gettnor’s eyes lit up. He said, “So you’re the one who first precipitated the monolayer graphene?” Gettnor suddenly appeared to be extremely interested.
“Um, yeah. Though the process results in many monolayers being put down, one on top of the other. So we usually call it multi-monolayer. It’s not graphite, because each monolayer covers the whole area of the copper disc we precipitate it on. It’s just that the precipitation method forms multiple monolayers.”
Now Nolan found himself under a barrage of questions about graphene precipitation, how it might be scaled up, how fast it could occur, what the properties of the membranes were, and on and on. The questions continued until they’d gotten back to the lab and for a few minutes after that. Nolan had the feeling that they might have lasted all afternoon, but Tiona eventually interrupted to say, “Well dad, I’ve got to go to my class and I’m sure Nolan has to get back to his research.” She held out a manila folder like the lab kept graphene membranes in. Nolan wondered if she was giving her father a souvenir.
Gettnor blinked; then looked disappointed. After a moment he simply said, “Okay.” He took the folder and turned to the door. He started to leave; then suddenly stopped. He turned back to Nolan and said, “It was nice to meet you… Goodbye.” Gettnor turned and left without waiting for a response from Nolan though Nolan felt sure the man had forgotten his name.
Tiona walked her father out of the
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