6. Sophie's Choice
That evening, Sophie sat on the bed in her room looking at the photo album. She remembered the days when she and John were children.
"Mommy?" a low voice came from behind the door.
"Penny, how come you're not in your bed? It's midnight."
"I can't sleep, I still have to think of Uncle John," her daughter replied.
"Me too. Come, sit next to me," Sophie said, placing her hand on the empty space next to her.
"Is it true?" Penny asked.
"What do you mean, honey?" she said confused.
"That he will die."
Sophie was silent.
"Mom? Answer me! Is that true ?!"
Sophie looked into their blue-green eyes. She could no longer lie to her daughter. "Yes, he is ... Your uncle is dying."
"No!" Penny shouted desperately and stood up. "No, that can't happen to Uncle! He just wanted to protect good people. He doesn't deserve it. That's unfair!"
"Penny, I'm so sorry, but there's nothing we can do about it."
"Nothing? Really nothing? What about your inventions? You're a scientist."
"They're useless," Sophie said sadly, looking at her desk, which lay a lot of drawings and plans. "Whatever I've ever created, none of it ever worked."
"So this was all useless?" Penny said angrily, dropping sheets of paper from the table on the floor.
"Penny, stop it!" Sophie shouted angrily.
"You can do it! I believe it. Did you forget what Uncle John told you? You can't give up! "
"He did not give up either. How did it end up? His stupid justice will cost him his life. "
"He was just trying to do the right thing."
"Your uncle has been like that since he was a child."
"Like what?" Penny asked.
Sophie pulled a small photo from the photo album. There was a little black-haired boy with a hat on it. "When he was five, bad people broke into our house. They had guns in their hands and they wanted money. They were thieves. John was hiding under the bed then. He was terribly afraid. Before the police arrived, our father tried to call for help. He wanted to escape out the window, but he failed. It is still unknown whether it was an accident or intent. As they wrestled together, a loud shot rang out. Your grandfather died, Penny. He was shot. It was very difficult for John. He blamed himself. Since then he has sworn that he will never hide from evil again."
"So that's why he always wanted to be a policeman?" Penny asked, looking at the pictures of the young police officer.
"Exactly. He wanted to get these criminals behind bars."
Penny smiled softly at the photo album. Inside were also pasted photos of Sophie's graduation, wedding, and John's Air Force training. As siblings, they were both very close. They smiled together in each photo.
"And do you know what else he said?" her mother asked.
"What?"
"The morning will bring something new. So run to bed! You won't want to get up early. I'll try to figure something out."
Penny gasped happily. "Really?"
"Yes, but I have to work now. We have little time." Sophie said, pulling her drawing supplies out of the drawer. "I am missing a few more calculations
"You're a wonderful mom!" Penny hugged her and Sophie kissed her forehead. "I'm sure you can handle it. You'll save Uncle John! Good night, Mom."
"Good night, honey," she sighed. She couldn't disappoint her daughter, and she couldn't disappoint her brother at all. She quickly dialed a phone number from memory. Thank God someone picked it up.
"Hello?"
"It's me, Sophie. I'm sorry to disturb you so late at night, Professor Von Slickstein, but it's urgent. I have to ask you something ..."
The next day, Sophie went to the headquarters of the Metrocity Science and Technology Laboratory. She carried a lot of technical drawings and plans under her arm. She was very nervous.
"Come in. Mr. Clarke is waiting for you," the secretary said. An old man was smiling at her from behind the office door.
"Hello Mrs. Dollar. How can I help you?" he said.
"Hello, Mr. Clarke," Sophie greeted and sat down. She didn't know how to start. "I ... it's about my scientific work."
"Is something wrong with it? Do you need to increase your salary?"
"Oh no. Not at all, but ..."
The man stared at her, not knowing what to expect.
"You know, my brother..." she continued, "He had a nasty accident."
"I'm sorry, I really didn't know that," Mr. Clarke said sympathetically. "How is he?"
"His injuries too serious. The doctors can't help him. Medicine cannot cure anything like this. That's why I came to ask you for financial support for my project."
Mr. Clarke slowly got up from his chair and pulled out a folder beginning with the letter G.
"Oh yes. I remember. Project G," he said.
Sophie smiled.
"But unfortunately I also remember that the scientific committee rejected him last weekend."
Sophie's worries came true.
"The reason given was an error in the electrical installation and the incompleteness of the technical specifications."
"But I solved everything. Look at that!" she said and unwrapped a poster on which was drawn an illustration of metal components. "I've been working on it all night."
"I have nothing against Dr. Von Slikstein's scientific work. He is a genius. But I won't let you work on something that can be dangerous. Your research may continue for another year. That's enough time. Once you have all the calculations correct and nothing is missing, I will be happy to comply with your request."
"But it will be too late for my brother."
"In that case, I can't do more for you," said the old man sadly.
"I understand. Goodbye," Sophie said and left quietly.
"My mom felt miserable. She didn't know what to do. She had the plans for the technical wonder of the world in her hands, and yet she couldn't help John, who was dying in the hospital. Her heart ached at the thought of losing him. She was terribly unhappy."
Sophie didn't want to go home. Everyone waited impatiently for her to return. She walked in the opposite direction from their house and sat on a bench near the bus stop. It was raining. Cold raindrops trickled down her long brown hair, and her eyes were full of tears. As she searched for a handkerchief, she heard something clinking in her purse. She had her own keys to John's house. At that moment, a bus passed by.
She unlocked the door and took off her shoes. John always cleaned carefully, he hated clutter. She hung her wet coat on a hanger and looked around.
It was a small apartment, but her brother never minded. He was a young man who cared nothing more than his job. There was untapped tea on the kitchen table, the calendar was a bad date, and a two-day-old newspaper lay on the coffee table. Sophie was very sad at the thought that John might never come back here.
She just stood there for a moment until she remembered something quickly. "Maybe there would be another option ..." She turned on a small light above John's desk and began searching the phone book.
"My mother knew a man from high school. His name was Calvin and he worked for MAD. He claimed that their boss Dr. Gordon is looking for a scientist, and would pay well for her work. But they were criminals. It can be dangerous. But such a word never existed for my mother."
An annoying man picked up the phone.
"Who's calling?"
"Hello, this is Sophie Dollar. I'd like to speak to Dr. Gordon."
"And what do you want !?" he said angrily.
"I have a good offer for him. It is urgent."
"Um ... interesting. Good. Languid Lounge Bar at 8 p.m. Come in time! Not a minute later. A special sign is the red handkerchief in the jacket. And no dirty tricks! The boss knows everything."
"Good. I will come there."
Sophie hung up, grabbed her purse, and looked back for the last time. She was about to leave. She hadn't noticed at all before that John's gray hat was hanging next to her coat. She returned for it and closed the door behind her.
To be continued...