Copyright © 2024 D.W. Patterson
All rights reserved.
Second Printing – February 2025
Future Chron Publishing
Cover – Copyright © 2024 D.W. Patterson
Cover Image – Photo 115346712 / Rocket Launch © Nexusplexus | Dreamstime.com
Previously published as:
Rocket Summer
Rocket Fall
Rocket Winter
Rocket Spring
Contains additional material.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without permission, except in the case of brief quotations for the purpose of review. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and events are products of the author's imagination and should not be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events and people, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Hard Science Fiction – Old School
Human Generated Content
CHAPTER 8
Georgia Polytechnic University
Atlanta, Georgia
USA
Jack had returned to school the following semester,
“I'm glad you're back Jack,” said is thesis adviser, Dr. Franklin Tucker. “But there is one thing I need to discuss with you. After what happened last year, the department is very concerned about such future incidents. So, if you decide to continue your research, changes will have to be made.”
“What do you mean professor?”
“Well, the discussion has been to move your experiment off campus to our facility fifty miles east of here.”
“Star Creek?” asked Jack.
“Yeah, we can set you up with everything you need.”
“Okay with me professor, how about accommodations?”
“There is also housing there.”
“Well, that should be enough,” said Jack.
“Now, that we've settled that,” said Professor Tucker. “How are you?”
“I feel good professor, no adverse effects.”
“Your eye operation went well?”
“Yes, after the rehabilitation period,” said Jack.
“It's pretty amazing Jack and I'm so glad it turned out well. I think if you get this experiment working, you'll change the world.”
“Do you think I will professor, I mean get it working?”
“Well Jack, I have no doubt in your abilities, but your work is beyond anything anyone has ever done. Don't forget, this will make even the old fogies like myself stand up and pay attention. You're not just proposing a theory; you're providing undeniable experimental support for that theory. If it works, prepare yourself. People will literally be camping out in your front yard to interview you or get your support for some pet project of their own.”
Jack had relocated to Star Creek. A new, very nice, spacious three-story atrium fronted a small hotel-like lodge where professors and guests stayed and dined. University departments could reserve the lodge for special events and symposiums. Jack was quite impressed with the facility until he made his way to the small check-in desk and explained who he was.
“Yes sir,” said the man behind the desk. “Here you are Mr. Williams.”
The man handed Jack what looked like a map.
“Just follow this road about a mile, your lodgings and lab will be on the right, most of the male astronomy students stay there. The detailed information you'll need has been sent to your TabAI.”
Jack took the map and looked at it. The spot indicated by the man was marked 'Student Facilities'. He got back in his car and headed down the lightly graveled road. It was so potted and curvy he didn't dare let the car drive. He felt he must have gotten lost in the pinewood forest before seeing the sign on the right.
Turning in he was shocked to see that the “Student Facilities” were quite barren when compared to the Star Creek lodge. Pulling up to the largest cinder block building he went inside and explained to the first person he saw why he was there. She took his sheet and looked it over.
“Okay,” she said. “I've got some time, I'll show you your lab and room.”
Jack followed the girl, she had sandy-blonde hair and was just slightly shorter than Jack. First, she took him to his lab. It was in one of the smaller blockhouses, a room about twelve-by-twelve feet square. Sufficient but barely. The girl could see he wasn't very impressed.
“We usually only get astronomy students, so I guess there's not much call for lab facilities.”
Jack nodded and just said, “I guess so.”
“Well, if this impressed you wait until you see your room,” she said.
As she turned away Jack noticed her eyes were green. She led him to a larger structure about fifty feet away, also built of cement blocks painted white but peeling.
“You'll share the bunkhouse, that's what we call it, with other male students,” she said. “Us female students are sequestered at the lodge, you can guess why. I'm just here visiting; I have to be out by ten.”
Jack wasn't quite listening, just mindlessly following the girl down a hall.
“This is it,” she said, stopping in front of a room marked #3 with a dry erase marker.
She opened the door watching Jack closely, obviously entertained by his bewilderment.
It looked to Jack like the room was eight by ten feet at the most. A single bed and a bare desk competed with each other to fill the space. From here Jack would have to set up the remote controls for his experiment and sleep. There was only one window which was set into the outer wall of the cement blocks.
When he finally recovered from his shock he asked about the facilities.
“Your bathroom?” she said. “Same as a half dozen others, it's a shared facility at the end of the hall.”
Jack sat down on the edge of the small bed, obviously overwhelmed. Now the girl felt somewhat sorry for him.
“By the way, I'm Janie Dorsette.”
When Jack didn't respond she continued.
“I'm an astronomy student studying for my PhD which I hope to finish by next summer, that is if I can get enough scope time.”
“Scope here?” asked Jack, barely comprehending.
“No, I use these for gross observations. But the scopes here are too small to do graduate level research. I'm using the big scope in Hawaii remotely, but I'll be going there soon.”
“That should be nice,” said Jack.
“Are you kidding? I'll be working 24/7 and when I'm finished, I might have one day to spend there before I fly back to start data reduction,” she said, leaning against the doorjamb.
“I see,” was all that Jack said.
“Anyway, I was about to head to the store to get some supplies. Do you want to go?”
Jack looked even more confused.
“Mess hall isn't open twenty-four hours, so unless it's a soft drink and crackers, which can get expensive I'll tell you, you need to get yourself a few basic supplies. I can help you pick them out.”
“That would be so considerate,” said Jack.
“Well, we got to help each other here in the jungle. They've forgotten all about us. So, let's go.”
The nearest grocery store was ten miles away, the nearest small town was twenty.
Janie was driving manually. Jack wasn't sure exactly what kind of car; it was too beat up and too dirty to make out. It wasn't even an electric.
“So, what you in for Jack?”
“You mean my research?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, I'm trying to build what I call a Mach thruster,” he said.
“Ernst Mach?” she asked.
“Yeah,” he said, surprised she knew the name.
“A reactionless drive?” she asked.
She's quick.
“That's right,” he said.
“Wow, that's over the horizon,” she said.
“Well, all I can say is that I built one when I was in high school, at least I think I did.”
Jack went on to tell her the story of how he built the gadget, as he called it then, and the fact that upon activating it, it disappeared, leaving only a hole in the ceiling of his parent's root cellar.
“Is that why they stuck you out here with the rest of us astronomy exiles? Because your experiment might be dangerous?”
“I don't think of it as dangerous, just needing a careful approach,” he said.
“Is that what happened to your eye?” she asked.
She noticed.
“Not when I was a kid, more recently, but yeah, that's what happened.”
She could tell from his response that it wasn't a subject he wanted to discuss.
“You know,” she said, “I'm getting hungry, how about pizza?”
“Okay,” he said, “but I'm buying since you're driving.”
“Deal,” she said.
With Janie's fast driving they were at the pizza parlor on the outskirts of Oakville in twenty minutes. Inside, they ordered a pepperoni with onions and peppers. Jack noticed that the thick smell of pizzas cooking permeated the small room and watered his eyes.
“So, I've told you a bit about my research but what about yours?” he asked.
“Well, surprisingly, as it turns out, I'm studying the effect of the binary system PSR J11405 on the space that surrounds it.”
“Okay,” he said, “why is that surprising?”
“I'm looking for frame-dragging effects.”
“Really?” he asked.
“Really?” she said.
“But that was confirmed years ago,” he said.
“Yes, but not to the satisfaction of everyone, and not to the degree of accuracy I hope to achieve. I have a new method.”
Janie went on to tell Jack about the new method she had developed for her project.
“If it works, that could be used in many other situations,” he said.
“Yes, I hope to extend it in future research too, but first I have to get the degree.”
Jack was silent a moment.
“You know that's the effect that supports my research, don't you?” he said.
“Yeah, I know. If you publish first, it would confirm gravitomagnetism better than I can. That's why I have to beat you,” she said playfully.
“That might not be so hard,” he said. “I haven't made much progress recently, except to blow up things.”
“I'm sure you'll figure it out,” she said. “And if you do, it will make you famous.”
“And if I don't, I probably won't get my degree.”
Now Janie was quiet, because he was probably right.
Read Chapter 9
or buy the Book.
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