Goddard, Come Home

by Gary D. Snyder

Part 11:

In the park near the school Goddard was dashing about frantically as though possessed, and in a manner of speaking he was. The feeling of imminent peril was now so intense that his defense responses had overridden all his other behavior mechanisms. In panic and desperation he charged madly about, targeting and blasting anything he encountered with his high-intensity lasers in an attempt to eliminate the danger. Numerous bushes, trees, and benches bore smoking scars in testimony to his mad rampage but as yet no one had been injured. Passers-by had, however, witnessed his actions and alerted the local authorities to the presence of a mad dog in the park. As more details of the situation became available the matter was passed from the animal control authorities to the police, to City Hall, and finally to the military. Although understandably skeptical of the reports the Officer of the Day finally agreed to refer the matter to her superiors.

"Sweet Adeline, lieutenant!" bellowed General Ambercrombie when he received the message. "Do we look like the local dog pound?"

"It's not just an ordinary dog, sir," the junior officer replied nervously. "It's apparently setting fires in a public park."

The general looked thoughtful. "Does it have a permit?"

"I don't think so, sir," was the officer's diplomatic reply.

"Well, we aren't the fire department either. Not our job."

"No sir. But the circumstances surrounding the situation are unusual enough that the mayor of Retroville would appreciate our looking into it."

The general squinted at the name. "Retroville? I seem to recall a lot of reports of unusual aerial activity around there. And there was that situation with Winnifred Fowl not long ago. It might be worth scrambling a flight to check things out at that. All right, tell Mayor Quasar that we're sending a couple fighters out their way to assess the situation."

"Yes sir," the officer replied as she snapped to attention and saluted. " Any special instructions, sir?"

The general returned the salute. "Strict rules of engagement. They are not to fire unless fired upon. Have them report back whatever they find before taking any other action." He paused. "And if they pass by any music stores, see if they can find out when Yodeling to the Oldies 2 comes out."

"Yes sir." The officer made sure her back was turned before rolling her eyes. Twenty years until my pension, twenty years until my pension, she told herself over and over.

As the military jets were preparing to take off Jimmy and the others were speeding towards the park in his hovercraft. Because he was still too groggy to pilot the vehicle Jimmy reluctantly allowed Sheen to take the controls, a decision that everyone except Sheen quickly regretted.

"This is awful!" wailed Libby over the rush of the wind.

"Yeah!" Sheen shouted with glee as he put the craft through a series of manic maneuvers. "It is awesome!" He turned back to grin at Jimmy, causing Carl to cover his eyes in terror.

"Watch where you're driving, Sheen!" he screamed.

"Relax, Carl," Sheen replied as he turned back around. "Cindy isn't panicking."

"I think she fainted when you tried doing that loop-the-loop," said Libby.

"Yeah," Sheen sulked. "But Jimmy had to spoil it."

"This vehicle can't do a loop-the-loop," Jimmy argued. "It has to keep the pressurized stream of air beneath it to remain airborne."

"Have you ever tried?"

"No," Jimmy admitted grudgingly.

"Then how do you know? Gee, Jimmy, try being a kid once in a while. It's lots more fun."

At that moment Libby pointed ahead in relief. "There's the park. Thank goodness."

"Aw, man!" Sheen protested. "Just when I was getting good." Nevertheless he slowed the craft down and let it settle gently to the ground. As the passengers hastily vacated the hovercraft Sheen asked, "Hey, Jimmy, can I borrow this thing sometime?"

Jimmy wasn't listening. "We have to find Goddard, and fast. We only have about five minutes left," he said as they made their way towards the central clearing.

"Tell me about it," said Cindy. "If we don't find him soon we're all in big trouble." She had scarcely said this when two bright red beams flashed past them, grazing a tree. Despite the glancing touch the beams left black, smoking streaks on the bark.

"I think we've found him and we're still in trouble," Libby called out as she dove behind a large boulder on the perimeter of the clearing. The others quickly followed suit and peered carefully around the edge of their protective cover. In the center of the green was Goddard, standing motionless and staring in their direction. Although he made no threatening move his posture and the odd glow in his photoreceptors exuded an air of extreme menace.

"Okay, Neutron, we've found your dog. Now what?" demanded Cindy.

"I've got to get close enough to him to use the degausser," Jimmy replied.

"You'd never make it!" protested Libby. "You'd be charbroiled before you were even halfway there."

"He won't hurt me," said Jimmy. "I imprinted myself on his circuits when I first programmed him. He trusts me."

"And if those circuits aren't working anymore?" Cindy asked.

"I've got to try anyway." Jimmy got shakily to his feet and slowly began to move around the edge of the boulder. "He's my dog. I owe it to him."

Cindy looked worried. "Listen…may we can distract him while you –"

"No." Jimmy shook his head. "Thanks, but no thanks. He's my dog. He trusts me. If he suspects a trap he might panic and there's no telling what would happen." He edged around from the protection of the boulder and stepped slowly towards Goddard, speaking soothingly. "Nice Goddard. It's Jimmy. Good boy, Goddard…" Goddard tilted his head slightly as if noticing Jimmy for the first time. "That's it, boy. Come to Jimmy…"

For a second Jimmy thought that Goddard was responding to him but then saw that the glow in Goddard's photoreceptors were changing to a dangerous blood-red. In terror he realized that Goddard had not been listening to him, but had instead been targeting him with his lasers. As swiftly as he could Jimmy turned and dashed for the boulder but before he could get there Goddard fired. Almost in the same instant Jimmy was hurled to the ground by a lithe figure tackling him, causing the deadly beams to pass over them both. Before Goddard could target and fire again they both scrambled back behind the boulder.

"Thanks, Cindy," gasped Jimmy. "I really owe you one."

Usually Cindy would have milked the moment for all it was worth but instead looked at her watch. "Now what? We only have about three minutes left."

"I don't know." Jimmy shook his head in bafflement. "I can't understand it. It's like he thinks I'm an enemy."

"Maybe he's still mad that you yelled at him and made him go away," suggested Carl.

"Maybe."

"Jimmy," Libby said gently, "I know how you feel about Goddard, but I think maybe it's down to him or us. You might have to…put him away."

Jimmy looked troubled but said nothing. Put him away? he thought. I don't know if I can do that. But if I don't, everyone in Retroville could be killed. There has to be another option!

"Maybe Libby is right, Jimmy," said Sheen.

"Maybe. I don't know," Jimmy stalled. "What's Goddard doing now?"

Carl peeped out. "He's not looking this way anymore. I think he's looking at some birds."

"Where?" Jimmy asked, and let his gaze follow the direction of Carl's pointing finger. High in the sky two small dots were approaching, and approaching fast. They were too high, too large, and too fast for birds and it didn't take long for Jimmy to realize what they were and why they were coming. "Oh no," he said.

End of Part 11.