Not a fool this time… chapter 10
Walter focused on pulling the Datsun's engine apart while thinking about what Gale said. 'Look for it' she said. He put his hands on the edge of the workbench, put his down and closed his eyes. He has been looking for 'better' ever since he recognized others so easily acquired friendship, companions… love…. that seemed to elude him from childhood on. Parents puzzled by what they produced was his first recognition of his 'difference'. That brought a smile to his face when he straightened up, drained his coffee cup and turned to go to the kitchen for more.
Gale saw the smile and raised her eyebrows "You find something I said humorous?"
"No, just something that crossed my mind….. 'parents produce a puzzle'. Wonder how many parents are puzzled by their off-spring." He looked at her, "do you puzzle your parents?"
"Of course I do," she said as he passed her heading to the kitchen.
"You ready for more coffee?" he asked.
"No, I do not have the 'gene' to guzzle coffee like you. If I were to drink as much as you I would be buzzed and bouncing off the walls," she said. "Don't know how you do it."
Walter filled his cup and sat down at his desk, leaning back in his chair and put his feet up, ankles crossed, on the corner of the desk. He took a sip and asked, "you have siblings you said."
"Yup, I am the youngest of four," she replied. "Two sisters, numbers one and two, then brother."
"All products of the same parents?"
She smirked, "as far as we know, yes."
"Genetic markers obvious?"
She wondered where this line of questioning was leading- obvious the 'research' segment of his information gathering for processing, so she answered- "I would say so, all brown haired, assorted tones of hazel eyes, rather tall, similar facial structure."
"Your parents always together- no gaps in the parenting throughout the child rearing years?"
"Yup, I see where this line of questioning is going."
"How so?" he asked.
"Four similar individuals in the same environment, subject to the same inputs as an experiment on outcomes… right?"
"That would be a fallacy- 'same' is impossible- similar would be more precise as time and place impact end results. That is why witnesses of an event give differing accounts. People are exceptionally unreliable, even immediately after the event they are asked to describe."
"OK, so you know that, so what are you getting at with this line of questioning? You lost me."
He chuckled. "To be honest, I don't know- information gathering can be scattered until enough is gathered to make a trend that coalesces into a theory. Random inputs- that is all information is- that in time sorts itself into patterns. That is why numbers are so solid and perfect. Same with computers, off, on, zero, one, yes, no. Even logic has somewhat 'fudge' factors. Numbers? Elegant, exact, precise, lovely."
"Interesting," she said.
"What?" Walter asked rocking his chair slightly while sipping his coffee and gazing at the ceiling.
"How your thought processes lead a conversation."
Walter smiled widely and looked to her. "You do the same…. just on less precise subjects. The 'soft' sciences that are not science at all opposed to the 'hard' sciences that are what make civilizations progress from caves to walking on the moon. See the difference?"
"You are biased, Walter. BOTH soft and hard sciences have helped civilization to advance to where we are today."
"Ah," he said. "But which actually does make positive progress and which actually at times stifles progress?"
"I see," she replied smiling. "You zero in on 'man's inhumanity to man'? The emotional wants and needs, man's baser instincts- hate, greed, love stymies progress? That where you are going?"
"Just think where civilization would be today if all people through the ages left their emotional baggage at the cave door before going to work," he mused. "Probably on Mars by now, maybe farther."
She looked at him gazing at the ceiling. Got up, took his empty cup into the kitchen to refill and put it back on his desk. She then sat at her desk, copied his posture demurely putting her feet, ankles crossed on the desk in a direction he could not see up her skirt, leaned her chair back and gazed at the ceiling. "You do not take into consideration all the 'hard' scientific advancements that were pursued FOR emotional reasons. Engineering to make life easier for a sick, deformed, handicapped person, medical breakthroughs, as well as agriculture advances to prevent starvation, on and on. See, just as much good as bad, I am sure." She chuckled. "The yin/yang, zero/one…. dare I say male/female. Takes two- what is dark without light. Just think what the world would be like were there only light, zeroes, men," she said laughing.
"Empty," he laughed, putting his feet down to stand. "You hungry?"
"As a matter of fact, yes," she replied also rising. "My treat this time- you like Indian tandoori?"
"Chicken masala on basmati rice… sounds good. Need to drive? I do not know of any Indian restaurants within walking distance."
"Yes, across town, too far to walk as LA is a big, sprawling city so nothing is close. Shall I drive? You trust me with city driving?"
"Start it up, I will open the garage door."
Gale drove across town to the restaurant. "I must admit, you scared me a couple times," Walter said. "Thought for sure you were going to put us in the back seat of that SUV a few blocks back. A Ferrari is not a vehicle that survives a collision well."
She parked and got out, went around the car, looked at him. "Not a scratch on it that I can see."
Walter laughed, "Miracles DO happen, after all."
It was late when they left the restaurant- Walter behind the wheel.
"Shall I drop you off at home?" he asked glancing over at her. "You certainly must be tired by now."
"No, if you don't mind, I would prefer to stay in the garage….. have a friend who may need some help in the night," she said looking out the window. "Does my friend mind?" she asked turning to him.
Walter chuckled "would it matter? You already said I would have to remove you bodily….. mi casa; su casa."
He pulled the car into the back bay and closed up and set the security. Walked to and sat down at his desk then opened his laptop to check for mail. He glanced over to Gale who stretched out of the sofa in the common area. In short order she dozed then fell into the regular breathing of sleep. He sat back looking at her then got up to get a light blanket to put over her. He then went up the stairs to the loft, took a shower and went to bed to lay looking at the ceiling. In time he dozed off then finally sleep to again see Megan fleeing to be surrounded, over taken and engulfed… and again be awakened by Gale mid-yell. This time he lay back down muttering "I'm fine…. fine" with heavy lids closing and the badly needed, deep, healing sleep took him for the following ten hours.
Gale slowly descended the stairs and did some computer work and sent an update to Richard.
Richard- The nightmares continue- barely an hour of dozing before it sets in. He tries to remain awake but after thirty hours even he has to close his eyes. He is a very troubled man as I gather this has been a life-long affliction. Amazing he functions at all. Gale
She checked on him every couple hours then got an e-mail reply from Richard.
Gale- Do as you think best to ensure he is OK. Nothing needs his or your attention at this point. Keep me informed. Richard
Gale dozed a few times, got up and checked on him but he was sleeping like the dead- slow deep breaths and never moved a muscle, never tossed or turned from when he lay back down after being awakened. Over ten hours passed when she heard the shower start so knew he was awake. She called an Uber, got the coffee started and left when the Uber arrived and tooted.
Walter came down from the loft in jeans and t-shirt to find the coffee already brewed, poured himself a cup and cruised around the garage but there was no sign of Gale. He went back in to his desk to check mail. One from the fuel systems test crew- booster modifications results were excellent. He requested a time convenient in the next few days for him to come in and consult with them about the entire fuel delivery system.
A message from a classic car group of employees based in the manufacturing plant in Santa Monica. There was their latest newsletter attached. Walter opened it to check out the pictures of 1930's through 1970's vehicles members own and their assorted states of restoration.
Last was a message from Richard:
Walter- have a financial affiliate in London interested in your security system. Your work for Interpol was mentioned as well as one of their affiliates in Paris you worked with. You interested? Have their specifics available for you to look over. Richard
Walter hit reply- confirm. Will stop by your office this afternoon if available.
Another message from the 'egghead group' requesting his input on some metallurgy issues on components in the design stage.
A message alert just popped in from Richard.
Walter- in office all day, see you when you get here. Richard
Walter returned to the loft to change into more business appropriate attire- slacks, button shirt and tie, grabbed his laptop case and pulled the Ferrari out, closed up the garage and took off for Richard's office.
Walter knocked on the office door and entered.
"Walt, nice to see you. Here is the folder of the London affiliate's specifics if you are interested on taking it on. The eggheads as well as the propulsion bunch have been asking for you."
Taking the folder and slipping it into the laptop case, "Once I get back to the garage and check over the particulars I may have a secure system for them in a day or two."
"That soon? Have to go over to London? If so I might be persuaded to jet on over with you."
"I was planning on a trial run of a straight shot download from my server. First time so I will have to set up a separate server as I do not want any possible incursion into my main rig. I will not do anything that could possibly compromise my servers in the garage basement."
"Can't you put it on an external drive, dump it into another system to send it over the pond? The servers at that Orange County data center of ours is set up for video conferencing and your security system is already set up. You can walk the Brits through any messing about they would need to do. Time difference is a problem- sleepy Brits and communication with their strange, sometimes hard to decipher English might be a problem," he laughed. "I know they started the language, but man-o-man they sure do bugger it up to my ears."
"Not a problem- easier for me to be up in the middle of the night as I usually am, anyway. I would want them wide awake and fully functional when my program gets there and observe them with any testing they may want to do."
"Whatever you say- your system, you be the one losing sleep," Richard chuckled.
"I will take this and work on it tonight. Heading over to the testing on the booster modifications and check out the fuel system plumbing."
"Let me know how it goes. Once you are ready to transfer that to London, let me know." Richard said. "I will get hold of Sam Green so he can set up the video conferencing equipment and, being in the middle of the night, have a security guard on hand. Want Gale there as she is quite familiar with the facility?"
"Let me get the program ready first, then we can set up time."
Richard got up to show Walter to the door, "how is the Datsun coming along?"
"Still in the dismantling stage as I am working with is as time allows."
"I will let Barry know you are heading down. I know they wanted to discuss some design issues on the plumbing. Wish they would refer to it some other way- 'plumbing' just does not sound 'hi-tek' enough for what this stuff costs."
When Walter returned to the garage he pulled the car in and closed everything up for a night of computer work. He got the coffee going, sat at his desk and pulled the laptop out and the folder of the London affiliate's specifics and powered up the desk top system. He got some coffee then sat down to go through the folder page by page, then sat back to think through his programs for the one best suited for use. After a few minutes in the 'zone' he had the ones to check through. He sat up and brought the desk top system's keyboard closer and started typing. He brought each up and found the one closest to this customers specs. He brought it up on-screen and started the alterations necessary to customize it for London. He also deleted his generic anomaly detect file and coded in Gales. When done, he opened a desk drawer, pulled out an external hard drive and started the transfer. While the download was in process, he pulled the laptop over and checked through a few scientific sites to catch up on what was new.
When the transfer was complete, he disconnected, put it in its static free bag and boxed it up for transport. He sat thinking of the time line- he get to the facility at one in the morning, he can be set up to work the transfer by two and the Brits will be bright eyed in their regular workday hours. They can give their authorization for command of their system. He sent messages to Richard as well as Sam Green of the Orange County data center facility to be ready for him at one AM tomorrow morning. He then went up to the loft to shower and get some rest- be a long day tomorrow.
One AM Walter pulled into the Orange County data center facility. He went to the guard shack and showed his ID so one of the security personnel could escort him to the server room. When he got there, the guard sat in the corner of the room, and he found Gale already sitting at the work table, carafe of coffee and two cups at the ready, and the video conference system set up.
"I did not know you would be here," he said to her putting his laptop case on the table to pull out the boxed up external drive.
"Wouldn't miss this- the first transfer of your program internationally… you prefer I not be here?"
"Of course not, but will be a boring evening," he said getting the hard drive out of the box before sitting down.
"Boring…. well, maybe I should go, then." She got up, put her purse strap over her shoulder and turned to the door.
"Wait, why leave?" He asked looking up at her with a slight frown.
"Truth be told, you did not request my presence, Richard just let me know because of my familiarity with this facility. You say it will be boring so while the transfer is in process my conversation will be of no consequence. The carafe of coffee is full so you are all set….. good night," she said, smiled at the security guard and left.
Walter sat there looking at the closed door, still slightly frowning. The security guard sitting by the door had a smirk and said "Wow, you sure handled that well, buddy."
Walter's eyes flashed to him then back to the door. "What would YOU have done?"
The guard laughed, "You joking? The way she looked at you, you could have laid her out on the table and she would have been happy as a clam. Geeze, I've heard about you computer nerds, but wow. Last chick that looked at me like that has been my wife for seven years now."
Walter looked at the guard…. then sat down and got to work. The video conferencing set up helped Walter walk the Brits through the transfer which was a quiet process when conversation came to a standstill until completed. When completed, they had the program set for their techs to go through it, do any testing they thought necessary. Walter then gave them the step by step, detailed method for system launch to oversee their system security. Walter then gave them his contact information in the event of any problems that may come up and to keep him informed on his programs performance. By seven in the morning he was being escorted to the gate. He put his laptop case on the passenger seat, got behind the wheel and left….. taking the exit to Dave and Sara's gas station restaurant to fill up the car and himself with a burger and pie.
"Hey Walt! Back so soon?" Dave said coming out the garage bay. "Go on and see Sara, I'll gas it up and bring it 'round to the door… think it is peach pie today."
"Thanks Dave, keys are in it," he said turning to head to the restaurant.
"Walter- two visits in such a short time- sick of the city again already or working out problems while driving?" Sara asked. "Where is your lady friend- peach pie today- yum, yum. The usual and pie?"
"Yes, usual and pie. I came by to shuffle Dave's pathway routing. Dave try that site I told him of?" Walter asked following Sara into the kitchen to lean on a counter while she started fixing his burger.
"Yup, filled up a couple white boards in the den the other night- really enjoyed himself," she replied smiling.
"Why do you watch him working stuff like that? You have no idea of the point, what it means, or even what the symbols mean- what is the point?"
"Oh my, Walter- for the very same reason Dave watches me make pies. You know he tried to make a pie once- what a waste of a bunch of apples- total disaster."
"That makes no sense- why would he watch you make pies and you watch him do math? Makes no sense."
"Good grief, Walter. What can possibly be more enjoyable than watching someone doing what they enjoy? Especially someone you love- whatever makes Dave happy makes me happy. Coding, math, driving, gardening, making pies, whatever. I do not have to understand it as long as he does."
He looked at her frowning, "Your mind works funny," Walter said.
She laughed at that, "You have to understand I am trying to explain to a man how a woman thinks- something you will never, ever comprehend…. you don't have the symbols for it." Sara said putting his burger on a plate and handing it to him. "Same as I will never fully understand how you men think- truth be told, you all have some very strange things floating through that space between your ears."
Walter finished his burger. "May I go to the den to work the computer- don't want the pathway routing the same too long."
"Sure, go ahead, I'll bring the pie in there. Check out the white board while you're back there- I am sure you will appreciate it. Dave should be coming in shortly."
Walter was in the den looking over the work on the white boards when Sara came in, pie on a plate in hand.
"Checking Dave's work, Walt?"
"That would be as pointless as Dave checking mine."
"One of these days when we know you will be heading up here, I will have him bugger something up just to see if you catch it."
"I don't think Dave could do that- sacrilegious to deliberately give an incorrect answer," Walter said seriously while eating the pie and continuing to scope the math.
"Yup, you guys are definitely strange." Sara said getting the now empty pie plate and returned to the kitchen.
"Get the routing shuffled?" Dave asked coming in.
Walter went and sat at the computer, "Working now." He tap, tapped at the computer in silence for a few minutes, then sat back. "Routed through Philly, now. Should be good for a month…. may I ask you a personal question?"
"You can ask; can't guarantee an answer, though," Dave chuckled.
"What prompted you to get involved with Sara? You two are at total opposite ends of the spectrum."
"You answered your own question- how boring would it be to be around someone like myself? Another me would drive me crazy. Sara is so much more interesting- keeps me on my toes, for sure." Dave chuckled. "You thinking of that lady friend you brought up? In all these years you never brought anyone here before."
"Had to…. the nightmare hit back- hard…. couldn't drive but had to get out of the garage. Can't exactly Uber all the way out here."
"Come on Walt. You could have just taken a walk on the beach- maybe, dare I say, an unconscious need to get away with her? She certainly seems to like you."
Walter looked at Dave with a frown "How can you tell that when I can't?"
"Oh my, you walk around with eyes open and can not see?" Dave said looking at him with a smile. "Isn't there a saying about nothing so blind as a man that WON'T see? Sara would know- that kinda' crap is her forte. Anyway, watch her. Eyes dilate, open wider, breathing changes, blood pressure rise….. in the olden days think they called it 'palpitations' or 'flutters', some such nonsense. Think someone needs to slap you upside the head once in a while to jostle all the code and numbers up there. You would see- if you let yourself, and you had better do it soon- you're not getting any younger, you know, and you would have a blast with a kid…. talk about a learning experience!"
"How is Eric these days?"
"Ha, he hit MIT like a missile- they don't know what hit them, and he is having a blast," Dave laughed. "You think your teachers were happy to see you gone? Our little blue-eyed baby boy is making the prof's feel like stupid freshmen. He had a birthday three months ago, he's twenty-two now so he may be giving you a run for your money soon. Would like to see that. I know your board work is fast, precise, and creative, but he may be catching up," Dave said with a smile. "Yup, he may give the great Walter O'Brien pause- would like to see that."
"Thanks Dave, nice to know you want me to feel like a 'normal'."
Dave laughed at that. "Were you a 'normal' you would have captured that young lady long before you brought her up here, Walt."
"Alright Dave, enough with the laughing at me," Walter said with a shy smile. "Time for me to head back to the garage. Like I said- routed through Philly, now." Walter rose from the computer. "Tell Eric I said hello and to take it easy on those profs." He then pulled two hundreds out of his pocket and put them on the computer desk. "Tell Sara the burger and pie were excellent as usual, and thanks for the fill-up."
"Keys are in it," Dave called as Walter left out the back door. "Drive safe."