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  Julian reached the pathway to his home. He paused for a moment and looked at his home painted sky blue with white window trim, which stood proudly on the beach with its sturdy structure, big windows and wide back porch facing the lake. He and Jean had moved here after he had retired from his job in Huntsville, Alabama working for NASA. He still had many friends and colleagues working on the space programs there. He knew they were preparing for human trips to Mars and the outer planets in the next five to ten years. He missed the excitement of working on those projects directly, but he had continued his work after retirement. He now had a solution to one of space travels biggest problems, how to send mankind to the stars and benefit from the long and arduous journey. The solution, however, was going to be very controversial.

  Julian walked to the side of his house where his lab was built. He unlocked the door and entered the lab. He took off his hat and sunglasses. The lights were on and many of the computer screens were running application programs. A lone figure was sitting at one of the desks in a high back work chair working on the computer. His back was facing Julian. When he heard the door open he turned to face Julian. “Good morning, Julian. How was your walk?”

  Julian casually responded. “It was fine. Are you making progress on the device?”

  “Yes, Julian,” the robot responded. “I am making excellent progress.”

  Chapter 3

  Timothy’s street ended at the top of their driveway where the garage sat. The driveway actually continued down a hill below the garage to the house. Timothy’s home was the last address on the street. Timothy climbed some steps to the garage level and walked on the side of the narrow road to his friend Johnny’s home two houses away.

  He had told his mom that he wanted to go to Johnny’s house to play a new game. That was part of the truth. Johnny had a twin sister named Amy and he liked her a lot. He guessed that Johnny knew he liked his sister, but they never talked about it. He didn’t know how much Amy liked him. Timothy figured he was going to find out pretty soon. He was a little anxious about it.

  Timothy reached Johnny’s home and knocked on the door. Johnny’s mother, Alison, answered the door. “Hello, Timothy. You looking for Johnny?”

  “Yes, Mrs. Peters. We’re going to play one of his new 4D games.”

  “Well then, come on in. He’s in the basement.”

  “Thanks, Mrs. Peters,” Timothy said politely and stepped inside. He quickly found the door to the basement and went downstairs. Johnny was already setting up the game and said hello. Amy was not around, Timothy noticed.

  “How’s it going, Johnny?” Timothy asked.

  “I’m almost ready, Tim,” Johnny said. “This is going to be fun. I’ve got the controllers. Put these on.” He tossed him a set of wireless game controllers that fit on each finger and headgear with 4D optical vision goggles. Timothy put them on. The fingers controlled game movements and the headgear allowed full 4D view of images.

  “How does the game work?” asked Timothy. He knew the basic rules and movements from similar games, but this was a new version of the best selling “HX” series. The game was played in 4D holographic surround with other players competing against each other on the Internet. Johnny and Timothy were quite good at these types of games and were known as the “J and T Duo”.

  “It’s similar to HX1, but they added Fire-Demons that live inside suns and shoot solar flare energy pulses at you. If you get hit, you’re toast. We’ll practice a few times before we join a live game. Sound good?”

  “Yeah, I’m good with that,” Timothy replied. He casually brought up the topic of Johnny's sister. “Where’s Amy today?”

  Johnny smiled. “She’s at a friend’s house this morning. You want to ask her something?” He grinned as Timothy looked uncomfortable.

  “I was thinking of asking her to come over to see our new boat,” he lied. It was the best excuse he could think of at the moment. He knew Johnny saw through it.

  “Bullshit. You just want to see her in her bathing suit. Come on, admit it. You like her, don’t you?”

  “Yeah, I guess so,” he replied. It was no use lying to his friend. Johnny could see how much he liked his sister. Girls were becoming more interesting than 4D video games lately. Even Johnny was showing more interest in girls. They must be growing up, Timothy thought.

  Johnny turned on the game. They practiced their moves trying to knock out enemy attacks that came at them relentlessly. They had to move swiftly and cover each other’s backs countless times. It was a realistic war game set in deep space with various alien factions in full armored suits and space ships fighting for control of the universe. The holographic images were in 4D and viewed through the goggles. They were part of the human combatants that were fighting enemy aliens. The game tested all of their abilities, both physical and mental. They were sweating after only ten minutes into the game. They finally had to take a break and discuss tactics.

  After an hour of practice they decided to participate in a live action game on the Internet. There were more than a hundred users playing the game when they joined. They were readily accepted into one of the human space armies and joined the battle. Points were awarded for each kill and how long they lasted before one or both of them were killed in battle. Only the best players survived to fight another battle. Johnny and Timothy lasted ten minutes in the first battle. They got better as time progressed and pretty soon they were leading their own platoons into battle. Soon it was lunch time and Johnny’s mom called them up for lunch.

  Timothy followed Johnny up the stairs to the kitchen. Alison had prepared ham sandwiches with chips and drinks on the table. Amy was in the kitchen with her mom helping out. Timothy was a bit surprised to see her, but he tried not to show it.

  “Sandwiches are on the table,” Alison said to the boys. Please, help yourselves.”

  Johnny, Amy and Timothy sat down at the table. “Thanks for lunch, Mrs. Peters,” Timothy said as he sat down and grabbed a sandwich. He looked at Amy and smiled. “Hello, Amy. Johnny says you were at a friend’s house.”

  “Yes, I was. I came home for lunch,” Amy replied looking at him. Timothy noticed her light blue eyes and short curly hair like her mother’s. She was really pretty, he thought. He quickly looked away to keep from staring.

  “Timothy, your mom says she’s working this summer at school. Anything going on?” Alison asked.

  “Nothing unusual,” Timothy answered. “Summer school starts soon and she has to be there.”

  “Do you have any plans this summer?” Alison asked. “Johnny plans to find a part-time job.” Johnny shook his head, but acted noncommittal.

  “I want to take tennis lessons this summer and learn how to drive our new boat. My father says he will teach me.” He looked at Amy to see her reaction. She just smiled at him.

  “That should be fun,” Alison said. “It looks like it will be a nice summer this year. It warmed up early. We should plan a boat party. Let your parents know.”

  “I will, Mrs. Peters. I’m sure it would be a lot of fun. We can water ski.” Timothy realized he may have sounded a little over exuberant. He blushed.

  Johnny’s mom didn’t notice as she poured them more drinks, but Amy smiled at Timothy as she ate her sandwich.

  After lunch Timothy said he had to get back to walk the dog. He told the Peters that his family was taking their boat to the restaurant in town on the river for dinner as soon as his father got home from work. He added that he had to get the boat ready. He made it sound like an important job. He thanked them for lunch and said goodbye to Johnny and Amy. He could not wait until they all got together again to do something. It just might turn out to be a pretty darn good summer this year, he thought. Things were certainly looking up.

  Chapter 4

  Timothy went home and walked their dog, Missy. Missy was an eight year old female, brown and white mixed breed Timothy’s family brought home from a dog shelter several years ago. Missy looked part English Shepherd and part Border
Collie. She was a very intelligent dog and learned commands quickly. Timothy didn’t have to use a lease when he walked her along the river. She obeyed commands, never strayed far and came when called.

  They walked down to the river bank and took a well beaten path along the edge of the river away from town. There used to be a summer camp area next to their home, but it had closed down some years ago and now new homes were being built along the river on higher ground. Algonquin was still a smaller community 40 miles northwest of Chicago. The Fox River was narrow in this stretch of river, maybe 100 feet wide, but it widened out considerably further upstream and downstream near the Algonquin Dam in town.

  There were many homes with boat docks all along the river, which made the river very busy during the summer months. Today, there were all kinds of speed boats, jet skies, paddle boats, canoes and other water craft on the river and people enjoying the beautiful day. No Wake speed zone signs were posted in this part of the river on both sides, but that didn’t stop some boaters from going too fast and creating small wakes that hit the boat docks and splashed water into the air causing some home owners to shout out warnings to slow down.

  Tim waved to passersby on the river and walked with Missy for about a quarter mile upstream. He paused for a while at a bend in the river and skipped stones on the water. He thought about what he wanted to do this summer. He really wanted to take time off from school work and enjoy playing with his friends along the river. That also meant spending time with Amy if he could. He tried to get his father to buy a jet ski so he could learn to use it, but his dad said no, not this year. He thought Timothy was still too young to play with something as dangerous as a jet ski on this river. Timothy disagreed with this father, but he did not protest. They still had the boat and his father promised to teach him how to drive it this summer. Timothy was also getting pretty good at water skiing, which most of his friends on the river liked to do during the summer months. This summer, though, he was going to learn how to slalom ski, which was a bit more challenging. Once he mastered that, he thought, he would be ready to try wakeboarding, which was latest craze. It was similar to snowboarding, which he loved to do in the wintertime.

  He called to Missy, who was playing near the water’s edge chasing ducks and other birds. It was time to head back home. He had to get the boat ready for his dad. He skipped his last flat stone over the river and watched it bounce five times before it sank beneath the surface. Missy knew where to go and raced ahead back home. Timothy followed and listened to his music player through his earbuds.

  When Timothy reached his backyard, he saw Missy playing with his sister, Kate, in the grass near their dock. Kate and her mom were enjoying a picnic on the lawn. Timothy kneeled down on the blanket and grabbed some cookies he saw on a plate. Susan smiled at him and asked, “How far did you walk?”

  “Just down to the bend. Missy tried to catch a duck again. She’s going to get bit one of these days,” Timothy responded.

  “They won’t hurt her. She just likes to chase them. I think it is part of her nature. Her breed was used as farm dogs originally and they like to herd animals. They’re very bright dogs and friendly.” They watched as Missy rolled playfully on the ground with Kate.

  “Your dad should be home soon. I think I will go to the house and clean up. I’ll take Kate with me so you can get the boat ready to take out for dinner,” Susan added. She got up off the blanket and picked up the food items. She asked Kate to bring her play dishes and blanket and follow her to the house, which sat at the top of a small incline.

  As Timothy’s mom and sister left for the house, he walked to the boat house that was attached to their small dock on the river. He opened the side door and went inside. He hit the button to open the large door behind the boat. The sunlight flowed in. He looked at the boat. It was a new 20 foot power boat his dad had bought last month. It was a beauty with white and blue side trim, blue and white striped seats that could hold ten people and a frameless windshield. It was designed with a 330 horse speed, v-drive engine; good for any type of water skiing and family outings. Timothy couldn’t wait until his father let him drive it on the river.

  Timothy unsnapped the canvas boat cover and rolled it off the top of the boat. He jumped into the back of the boat and checked the life vests under each seat. He opened the cooler and decided he would have to bring down some ice, water and pop for the trip. He sat in the driver’s swivel seat and played with the wheel. Someday soon, he thought, he would be speeding up and down the Fox River getting a suntan and showing off with his friends. He spent a few more minutes cleaning the windshield and the chrome side rails around the boat. Then he jumped out of the boat and headed up the hill to the house. It was nearly four o’clock and he knew his father would be arriving home soon from work.

  When Timothy reached the top of the steps leading to the front of the house, he saw his dad walking down the steps from the garage at the top of the hill. “High, Dad,” he called out as he approached the front door.

  His father, Charles, answered back, “Hello, Timothy. What are you doing?” Charles was tall, almost six feet two inches, with a lanky, narrow build. His brown hair was cut short and his face was tanned and he had a broad smile with straight white teeth. He was dressed casually today in a short sleeve shirt and khaki dress pants. He was carrying his brief case by the strap over his shoulder. His brown eyes squinted in the sun as he watched his son open the door for him.

  “I was just getting the boat ready to take out for dinner. Can I drive it tonight?” Timothy asked. He knew he was old enough to drive a boat in Illinois with a parent.

  “We’ll see, Timothy. You’re mother has to approve, you know.” Charles found that the best way to answer his son was to include Susan on any touchy decision. It made it easier for Timothy to accept why his dad thought he might not be ready because he was still young and inexperienced. Driving the boat on a busy river day with the whole family onboard was a serious responsibility, much like driving a car on a busy road. It wouldn’t take much to get into an accident. Besides, even though Timothy could drive a boat with a parent, he would need a Boating Education Certificate to drive alone and he hadn’t taken that boating class yet.

  “Gee, Dad. Mom is a worrier. She’ll never let me drive,” Timothy pouted.

  “Don’t worry. I promised I would teach you to drive the boat this summer, Timothy, but only when it’s not so busy on the river,” Charles added. “Okay, son?”

  “Okay, Dad. How was work today?”

  “It was fine. I’m preparing for next semester and working on a new textbook.” Charles taught math classes at Northwestern as a college professor. He took the Metra Northwest train into work each day from Cary, which was another town north of them. Charles stepped inside the house and closed the screen door behind him. He set his briefcase down and walked into the kitchen where Susan was busy putting dishes away. “Hi, Sue. How was your day?”

  “Very nice. Kate and I enjoyed a picnic down by the dock. Timothy took Missy for a walk. It’s a beautiful day. I’m sorry you had to go in to work this morning,” she answered as they kissed each other briefly.

  “Let’s go to dinner early tonight before it gets dark. Timothy wants to drive the boat a little and I said you have to approve.” He nodded towards Timothy who looked anxiously at his mom.

  Susan paused for a second before she answered. “I suppose that would be okay, but only in the No Wake Zone. It’s been busy on the river all day.”

  Timothy smiled in relief. Charles winked at him as he left the room to freshen up. It was four o’clock in the afternoon. They agreed to leave for dinner at five. Timothy grabbed some items from the refrigerator for the cooler on the boat. He couldn’t wait to leave.

  At five o’clock they all left the house and went down to the boat dock. Charles and Timothy got into the boat first and Charles started the engines. He slowly backed the boat out of the boat house and moved it alongside the dock where Susan helped Kate get on board. Timothy we
nt to the back of the boat and took out the life jackets for everyone to wear. Then he got back up in the copilot seat with his dad. Susan sat in the back of the boat with Kate. They left Missy in the house for this trip, but they could see her wagging her tail looking out the living room windows. They waved goodbye as Charles took the boat downriver towards the restaurant.

  Traffic on the river had finally quieted down for the day. Since they were in a No Wake Zone, Charles changed seats with Timothy and let him drive the boat for a while. Timothy drove carefully near the shore line keeping an eye out for hidden logs or tree limbs in the river. The sun was still shining brightly on his right as it slowing set in the west. He was glad he was wearing sunglasses and a hat. Still, with the sun in his face, the wind blowing gently, the low rumbling sound of the engine and the splashing of the water against the bow as the boat cut through the water, it was a great feeling. As he drove passed his friend Johnny’s house, he took a quick glance to see if anyone was looking, especially Amy, but no one was out.

  When they rounded the next bend, the river widened and the No Wake Zone ended. They exchanged seats again and Charles took the wheel. He sped up the boat to a slow cruising speed of 15 mph to enjoy the scenery as they rode by. Soon they reached the marina near the restaurant called Port Edward. Charles slowed down and found a boat slip he could use next to the restaurant. He maneuvered the boat into the slip and turned off the engine. Timothy jumped out of the boat first and tied up the rope lines. They all took off their life jackets and put them away. Charles help Susan and Kate climb out of the boat and they walked up the steps to the restaurant.