“So, how’s this going to work again?” Jared asks when we are out of earshot behind the trailer. Willie quickly explains about the gangway being hooked up to the winch. I interject the possibility of using fire extinguishers for smoke. “Yeah, that’s all very cool,” Jared agrees, “but what about getting to the containment tubes to load the bits into them?”
Willie and I are both silent for a minute. “Well, we’ll have the apron around the outside of the saucer. That should give us enough cover to get everything loaded in,” I explain.
“But everybody’s going to be hanging around it, making sure it stays together. And you’re going have to be in the cockpit, starting up the fuel cells and computer before the bits can even be loaded.” Jared is genuinely concerned. And with good reason; there is a lot of pre-flight preparation to do.
“We’ll figure it out,” Willie reassures Jared. “We’ve got a week.”
My phone chirps. “Uncle Earl calling,” it says to me. They grin and keep working while I answer the call. “Hey Uncle. How’s it going?” I listen while he hurriedly tells his story. “Crap. Ok. I’m glad you called. Bye.”
Having heard my exclamation, Willie and Jared are already looking at me when I turn around. “Earl says Stiles got into the hangar and knows the saucer is gone.” I can see the irritation surface in both of my friends’ faces.
“Good thing we didn’t tell your uncle where we were taking it,” Jared says.
“But you can bet Stiles won’t give up until he finds us,” Willie adds. “Well, let’s keep on working. There’s nothing we can do about it now.”
“But we’ve got to try to figure out how to keep Stiles out of our way, or confused, or something,” Jared says with a great deal of frustration. “That guy is really beginning to bug me.”
“He’s always bugged me,” I say.
We work our way around the right side of the float. The girls are busy chatting as they fold paper, stapling the middles so the ‘blooms’ can be wrapped around the wire and stapled in place.
When Manny and Evan get back with the wood, we start on the gantry frame. An hour later Venturi returns with some pizza. “Thought you might need a break,” he says. Then, looking around the float he adds “looks like things are taking shape. We should be ready for next week with no problem.”
A Tense Flight Home
“Your dad’s pretty good with the barbeque,” I tell Kylie as we walk down the hall after school.
“Yeah, that’s the first Labor Day cookout we’ve had in a long time. I think he was trying to impress Margarit. I like her more all the time.”
“She seems nice. And you’re right; he’s different when she’s around; happier.”
“I hope so,” she adds wistfully as we walk outside. “It’s strange. When she’s around, I remember Mom more vividly, like there’s something similar about them, but Mom was so different.”
“Maybe it’s just your dad’s reaction. Or maybe they are enough alike, and that’s why your dad is attracted to her, which would make those similarities more apparent to you.”
She stops and looks at me with a big grin. “Are you becoming a philosopher now, too?”
“I’m just trying to understand what you’re feeling.” The more I learn about Kylie, the more I want to know.
“And sensitive too,” she remarks almost mockingly. I turn to begin walking again. She takes hold of my wrist and stops me, sweetly adding, “I like that.” She slides her grip from my wrist to my hand as we continue walking. A few of our school mates notice and smile. Kylie and I are becoming a couple in their eyes, too.
“Look. There’s Willie’s Beast. We’re riding over with him, right? I wonder why the hood is up.”
“Probably nothing. He’s always tinkering with something under there,” I assure her.
Willie looks up as we get close. “Hey you two!” he greets us. “I’m just checking the fluids to make sure we’re okay for the parade this evening. Don’t want any surprises, except maybe the big one.” The tone of his voice gets soft with the last sentence. “This is going to be one fun night.” He closes the hood. “Mount up!”
“Where’s Cheri?” Kylie asks.
“She’s been working on the Home Sciences float this year, so she’s off helping them with some final details. Apparently their concept was a little too involved, and they’re behind schedule. She won’t tell me what it is though, because I wouldn’t let her see ours before the parade.”
“Sounds fair,” I add, opening the passenger door. It’s a big step up into the Beast. I help Kylie in. The seat is wide but we sit close together. I pull the door shut and put my arm around her.
“Let’s do it!” Willie exclaims.
His excitement seems bigger than Kylie’s or mine. I guess we’ve been thinking more about me flying the saucer home. I know she is more than a little anxious for me and it has rubbed off. So many things could go wrong. I don’t have to say anything. I know she feels how scared I am.
“Thanks again for picking up the hydrogen cylinders last night,” I say to divert my thoughts.
“Glad to,” Willie replies. “Everything else ready? Did you talk to your uncle about when you get back home?”
“Jared did, just this morning,” Kylie joins in. “Earl really wanted to see the liftoff but understands why he needs to be at the launch facility. I told him we’d have two cameras rolling so he’d be able to see everything.”
“I’m glad you’re doing that. This really is history in the making,” Willie comments. “And you’re the communications hub?” he asks, glancing up at Kylie in the mirror as we bounce out of the school’s parking lot.
“I’m going to set up a three-way call with Jennifer and Tyler. But yeah, if anybody has something to add, they should call me. That way Tyler won’t have to be concerned with that stuff.”
“Sounds like a good plan,” Willie compliments. “So, you ready for this?” Willie asks me, changing his angle in the mirror.
It takes a few seconds for me to answer. “I guess.” I know I sound apprehensive.
“Whoa, man. Show a little enthusiasm! Not many people get to put it on the line and change history.” He sounds disappointed. But then, it’s not his life that is on the line.
“I guess I’m not really cut out for this ‘changing history’ stuff,” I confess. Kylie pats my thigh reassuringly.
“But the test flight went okay,” Willie states confidently. “What’s your problem?”
“The problem is flying the twenty some miles home!” I spurt, my voice rising. “Who knows what could go wrong!”
“‘Could’, see? Not ‘will’. And it’s only eighteen and a half miles, if you go in a straight line.”
“That’s easy for you to say. You’re not flying the thing.”
“Well, I’d like to be,” he whines. “Man, it’s going to be so cool.”
Willie is getting on my nerves. And I’m a little surprised, given his history with daredevil stunts and the permanent injury he’ll be living with the rest of his life. I want to bring that up, but know it wouldn’t help the situation. I guess I’ve never been very brave. Heck, if it had been up to me, none of this would be happening.
We arrive at the car museum. Immediately Tommy comes running out of the building to meet us. Alarm is in his face and voice.
“You guys! You guys!” he shouts as he runs up, waving frantically as we get out of the Beast. “Some strange guy was snooping around the float real early this morning.” He stops in front of us, catching his breath.
“Slow down, Tommy,” Kylie suggests. Tommy takes a deep breath. “Now what happened?”
A little calmer, Tommy continues. “Some tall guy; dark hair and skinny. It was just after 7:00, when Mr. Winkler opens up. Dad usually comes down to make sure everything gets off to a good start before he drops me off at school. Sometimes he lets me get a doughnut if there are any. And if there’s time, I wipe fingerprints off the cars in the showroom from the day before. I love the s
mell of classic cars.” He beams at the thought, straying from his story, though I think I know where it’s heading.
“Tommy!” Kylie presses. “What about the tall, skinny guy?”
“Oh, yeah. Well, I walked into the back where you guys have been working, and I saw him. He was still far away, and all the lights weren’t on, but I think I saw him flip something into the air and catch it. Then he saw me and quickly shoved his hand into his pocket so I couldn’t see what he had. Then he walked towards the exit, turned his back to the door and started to push through. Then he saluted as if to say thank you, but he never said a word.”
“Stiles!” Willie curses under his breath, and starts running towards the building. Kylie, Tommy, and I follow him through the door, stopping in front of the float. “I’ll check the tubes. Tyler, you see if the cockpit is in order. Kylie should probably check the computer.”
“I can’t without the fuel cells running,” Kylie says, “and if I run them long, we’ll have to top them off before Tyler’s fli… before the parade.” Kylie glances searchingly at Tommy, checking for any sign that he might suspect she is hiding something.
“We’ll have to risk that, I guess,” Willie states. “I think the tanks have plenty of extra. Tommy, can you help Kylie bring some cylinders in from my truck?”
“How heavy are they?” Tommy asks.
“Maybe thirty-five or forty pounds,” Willie guesses.
“I can handle that,” Tommy says proudly.
Kylie starts for the door. “Let’s go then.” They both trot off.
I climb up onto the float, and head down the gangway as they exit the building. Climbing into the cockpit, I quickly check the control modules and the wiring running into and out of them. Then I sit in the pilot’s seat and stare at the instrument panel. Everything looks normal. The joystick is still hooked into the computer, as are the foot pedals. I see nothing out of the ordinary. We’d have to turn the computer on to test it, but he would not have been able to sabotage the software without turning it on either. And that’s impossible without the fuel cells running. Maybe what Tommy had seen him throwing in the air and shoving in his pocket was just a coin.
“I don’t see anything under here,” Willie reports, looking up through the gyro frame. “Some of the LED arrays are hanging down, but no wires are torn off anywhere. They may have just fallen out on their own.”
“I doubt it. Do you think it would be a good idea to pull all of the arrays? He may have had enough time to pull one off, rip out the wires and then put it back on. Maybe Tommy interrupted him as he was trying to finish up.”
“Probably a good idea. I’ll check.” He disappears back under the saucer. As I continue my search, I hear Kylie and Tommy returning with the cylinders. I get up to help lift them onto the float.
“Here you go,” Kylie says, as she hands the first one over the cowling. I take it and secure it on the right side of the pilot’s seat while she goes to help Tommy with the other one.
“So. Find anything wrong?” she asks, passing the second cylinder over.
“Nothing in here. Yet,” I say. “Willie found a couple LED’s out, but that’s all so far. He’s checking the rest of the wiring.”
“That’s odd,” she puzzles. “And he couldn’t have done anything to the software because there’s no way he could have turned the computer on without power.”
“Yeah, I don’t see the point of checking that. I’d rather save the fuel for the, ah, parade.”
Kylie looks behind her and whispers. “He’s checking to see what Willie’s doing.”
“Good,” I whisper back.
Suddenly there is a raucous disturbance at the door. The other F.A.C.E. members enter the building with Mr. Venturi who is apparently telling a story they all find amusing. Jared and Jennifer are the last in through the door.
“I guess it’s too late to check the computer now even if we wanted to,” I comment.
“I’ll go tell Tommy’s story to Jen and Jared,” Kylie says. She heads back down the gangway.
“Hey Ty.” Willie’s head pokes through the gyro frame. “I don’t see a thing. Maybe he was just looking and didn’t see anything that was suspicious.”
“That’s not Stiles way,” I quietly respond. “He’s just covered his tracks real good.”
“What are you guys so concerned about?” Tommy’s voice pierces the quiet behind me. He has come up onto the float and across the gangway to have a look in the cockpit. I’m sure he heard the intensity in our voices. “It’s only a float in the parade.”
“That’s right, Tommy,” Willie responds loudly, “but we want to make sure it’s the best float in the parade. Wouldn’t do to have some of these beautiful tissue flowers falling off on the way to the staging area, would it?”
“I guess,” answers Tommy, shrugging his shoulders, seeming to accept the answer.
“Ok gang. Gather ‘round and let’s go over the final plans,” Mr. Venturi calls out.
I climb out of the cockpit, following Tommy down the gangway. Jared meets me as I get off the float.
“So what did you find?” he asks quietly, seeming to be unconcerned with Tommy’s close proximity.
“Nothing,” I whisper back.
“So what are we going to do?”
“I don’t know,” I spit with frustration. “Be ready with plan B.”
“We have a plan B?” Jared asks.
“Not yet.” We edge up towards Venturi.
“So, the float is ready, the parade is going to start in about,” he pauses to glance at his watch, “forty-five minutes. I’m really proud of you all. It’s a beautiful float, and I think we’re making a really good showing of our club’s pride and ability. Give yourselves a hand.” We clap feebly, except Carly, who is full of enthusiasm. “Willie, get hooked up and head on out.” Carly leads another round of applause, adding a few bursts of encouraging words.
“I’ll help hook up,” Jared volunteers.
“Me too,” I add.
The rest of the group follows Willie and Mr. Venturi out the door. Kylie and Jennifer seem to be discussing something and follow slowly behind.
It’s quiet all too soon. I search again for what Stiles could have done, but just can’t see anything. A part of me feels anxious about it, but another part of me feels relieved that I may have been released from my fear of flying the saucer home.
Jared interrupts my thoughts. “He didn’t find anything.” I look up, startled. “Stiles! He didn’t find anything. We’ve covered our tracks too good. He’s still grasping at straws just to be safe.”
“I hope you’re right.” I want to agree with Jared, but still feel something is not right.
The Beast backs slowly towards the trailer. Jared turns to guide Willie in while I watch. On Jared’s command, the Beast halts and Willie jumps out, coming around back to make sure the hitch and safety chains are properly attached. I notice the winch is now mounted on the back bumper.
“So what about this?” Jared asks, touching the coiled cable. “When should we attach this?”
“Right before the parade starts rolling. Where are the bits?”
“Jen and I put them right inside your tailgate just before we walked in,” Jared answers. “We hid them in that cooler.”
Willie looks through the tailgate’s window. “Good. Then everything is ready. I think the best time to start everything up would be when the first part of the parade starts moving out. Everybody’s attention will be away from us since we’re seventh in the lineup. You and Jen crawl under with the bits, then I’ll hand you the hook so you can attach it to the gangway. While you’re doing that, Tyler can start up the fuel cells and the computer, and then you and Jen can start loading the bits. Do you know when you might liftoff?” Willie is looking at me.
“Um, I guess right when we turn onto the street to the school,” I answer. “That’s where the fewest power lines are along the parade route.”
“Sounds good,” Willie agrees, looking at J
ared. “That should give the two of you plenty of time.”
“And if something doesn’t go as planned?” I ask.
“Then we go to plan B,” Willie says.
“We have a plan B?” I ask. Jared laughs.
Satisfied that everything is ready, Willie, Jared, and I climb into the Beast and roll out of the building. Everybody else is walking over. Like the previous year, the staging area is in front of the old high school across Date Street from the car museum. The old school was converted for senior and civic center use. I wonder what kind of memories it stirs up, seeing the floats lined up and hearing the bands start playing.
The street is blocked off, but the sentry at the barricade sees our float and lets us through. We are directed into position by another organizer who recognizes our float motif. As Willie brings the Beast to a halt, Jared reaches over and turns up the radio.
“Hey! Here’s your song, Ty,” he shouts over the music. I listen to what had been my favorite song.
"..Is it bad, I don't think so,
Facts will be found to keep the world alive.
Are we mad, I don't think so,”
“Yes, I think so,” I mutter to myself, blocking the song out. I can’t feel the same excitement I had a couple of months ago now that it’s me going up there. My stomach feels like it’s going to come out my mouth. “Turn it off, would ya?” I plead.
Another parade organizer comes up to Willie’s window. “Just follow this group in front of you,” he says, pointing to the junior high pompon squad. “Your speed shall not exceed five miles per hour, and always be prepared to stop when there’s a corner ahead. Here’s a list of some other rules that you should have seen already.” He passes a sheet of paper through the window. “Enjoy the parade,” he says, and walks off to the next entry while Willie reads the list. Jen and Kylie walk up on Jared’s side. Jen leans in the window by Jared. Kylie slides in beside me and takes my hand. She seems anxious, too.
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