Comet! Page 11

  When the song finished the crowd erupted in wild applause. They could see Gordon smiling even from way back in the middle of the room where they were standing. As the applause died down Gordon started a rough distorted power chord but even with the distortion it sounded cleaner. For a moment something sounded wrong then Gordon subtly changed his tempo and the sound solidified again. Emma turned to Ell and said, “So go take off the fat pants!”

  Ell frowned at her, “What?”

  “Belle needs to leave and Ell needs to come back in and make these guys day! Just think how impressed they’ll be with me for getting her to come!” Emma winked.

  “You’re crazy!”

  “Am not! I’ll just tell them I called you and you were in Raleigh anyway so you agreed to drop by.”

  Ell laughed. “You are crazy. What are you going to tell them happened to Belle?”

  “She had a hankering for ice cream?”

  “Hey, no making fun of my oversized butt!”

  “Sorry,” Emma winked and made a long sad face, “I know you can’t help it... Maybe you got a migraine?”

  “Besides, nobody’s dancing now. ‘Ell’ isn’t going to attract much notice just standing around.”

  “Oh, I think she would. But if we need dancing, we’ll just need to get folks started again.” Emma grabbed Ell’s arm and pulled her toward an open area on the floor.

  “You can’t be serious! No one else is dancing!”

  “They just need someone to get them started. Don’t be so whiny.” Emma started the steps of the line dance that Ell had taught her at the dance club.

  Reluctantly Ell matched her steps, feeling like everyone was staring at her but still enjoying the rhythm. To her surprise after only a few moments a couple joined them and started dancing the line with them. Like crystals nucleating in a saturated solution more and more people came out to start dancing.

  Ell was having a great time dancing when Vic appeared. He’d actually started doing their line dance in the spot behind her and when she turned to the next “wall” she looked to see who was beside her and there he was. She shouted over the music. “Hey, that’s amazing what you did with their sound!”

  Vic shrugged and kept dancing.

  Each song that Gordon and his band started, they began with just one instrument playing until it found a rhythm that worked with the echo, then the rest joined in. Their sound was much better than it had been the first set and the crowd seemed much more enthusiastic. Emma caught Ell’s attention and pointed furtively outside. Ell rolled her eyes, then squinched them as if the lights were bothering her. She put her hands on her temples, leaned over to Vic and Joe and said, “I’m getting a migraine. I’m gonna go sit in my car until it goes away.”

  Vic said, “I’ll go sit with you ‘til you feel better.”

  “No, I just want to sit very quietly by myself, that’s the best way to make them go away.”

  Outside, Ell had Allan guide her to her truck and was pleased to see that it was parked in a dim corner of the deck. As she walked to it she used her AI to tell Randy—who was leading her security team that night—that she was going out to her truck and would be back in a minute.

  Approaching the truck she told its AI to switch the dome light off so it wouldn’t come on when she opened the door. Slipping into the passenger seat she glanced around again and pulled off the platinum blond wig. After fluffing her hair she scooted down and pulled off her “Belle” sized pants and the underlying silicone “fat pants.” Fortunately she wore leggings under the fat pants to keep the silicone from sticking to her. She examined them. They looked pretty good. She took off “Belle’s” baggy shirt leaving her in a t-shirt that was long enough to pull down over her hips. She put her shoes back on and looked around. No one seemed to be looking her way. A large moist towelette from the glove box quickly removed “Belle’s” thick makeup. Ell opened the passenger door and walked around the back of the truck and over several of the lanes between the vehicles before turning back toward the Lincoln.

  At the entrance she paid another cover charge and got a different wristband. From the cashier’s widened eyes she’d been recognized as Ell, but the cashier didn’t create a fuss. Ell wandered through the club and over to the bar to get a Coke. She felt people’s eyes on her and wondered if she should have done something to make her identity as Ell less obvious.

  When the bartender brought her the Coke she said, “Ms. Donsaii, this one’s on me. Would you be willing to sign an autograph for me?”

  “Sure, as long as you don’t make it a big deal so a lot of other people don’t get the same idea?”

  “No problem, just sign this coaster?”

  Ell signed and slipped away with her drink. She was getting close to the dance floor and wondering how to attract Emma’s attention when a man who’d been intently focused on her suddenly stepped into her path. “Ell Donsaii?”

  Ell nodded minutely, hoping he’d keep his voice down.

  “I saw the vid of you dancing at the Cat’s Cradle. Awesome!”

  “Thank you.” Ell’s lips dropped the straw back into her Coke.

  “Well, I guess not as amazing as your routines in the Olympics! But still pretty fantastic. Do you do anything else besides breakdance?”

  Ell nodded, “Swing,” and put her lips to the straw for another sip, eyes slanted up at his.

  “Oh great! I teach swing dancing, would you dance with me? It’d be amazing advertising for my studio. A dance with you would mean the world to me!”

  Ell looked around the dance floor. People were freestyling and a few were still line dancing. Emma was dancing freestyle with the occasionally staggering Joe. Vic wasn’t to be seen. “Uh, no one’s dancing swing.”

  He grinned, “Well we’ll just have to show them how! Sorry, for not introducing myself. I’m Will.”

  “Ell.” She put out her hand and he shook it. “OK. If you think we can wedge a swing dance into that dance floor I’m up for it.”

  “Fantastic! Do you want to set your drink down on my table here?”

  Ell nodded and Will led her out into the crowded dancers saying, “We’ll have to dance tight ‘cause we won’t have much floor.” He pulled her off to one side where it wasn’t quite so crowded and spun her under his arm.

  As he did it Ell grasped what he meant by “tight.” He’d spun her into a small space where there was barely room for her. If she’d traveled like she was used to she’d have run into the freestyling dancer just past. His hand on hers pulled to keep her from going there but if she hadn’t had her elbow bent up tight she would have run into them. He turned her several times then caught her left hand with his, shuffling in place with her a moment then turning her into a cuddle. This is so different from the way we danced in Vegas, she thought. It’s amazing how he’s managing to do the same kinds of turns in so much less space.

  Will felt astonishment. He’d taught dance lessons for years and had never had anyone pick up the flow of a dance so easily. She’d immediately copied his foot work as if she’d known what he was going to do! Even with an experienced partner it was usually very difficult to dance swing in a crowded bar like this one. Most amateur dancers were used to big movements and couldn’t tone them down to keep from running into other people on the floor. She’s following so effortlessly it’s like she’s a professional! Where did she learn?! He took her through some pretzels and every bit of every turn flowed effortlessly. My God, it feels like I’ve personally been dancing with her for years!

  Will doubled the tempo.

  Ell enthusiastically followed, excited over the challenge of dancing such complex steps at such speed in such tight quarters. With some disappointment she felt the other dancers backing slowly away. They were still shuffling in rhythm but turning to watch in amazement.

  Will, seeing that they had more room, wondered if she knew how to do aerials? He tried a lindy flip, That was easy! Cannonball. Waterfall. One aerial after another, each one effortless. Normally he’
d feel the strain after two or three because of the exertion required lifting the girl but not this time! It was like she divined what he was about to do and launched herself so perfectly that he had essentially no lifting to do!

  Emma sensed a commotion on the dance floor and thought there might be a fight. Looking that way she peered between the ring of people surrounding the area and saw a couple dancing. Swing dancing! My God, that’s amazing! The twirling and spinning and flying through the air seemed effortless, yet incredibly physical. She stepped closer. Yep it’s Ell.

  Gordon, looking down on the dance floor from the stage, had recognized that something extraordinary was happening before Emma did. First people started making room on that side of the dance floor, then turning to form a circle of watchers. The couple they were surrounding was spinning and whirling at an incredible pace. Then the girl started bouncing and spinning up into the air over her partner’s head! Gordon finished the chorus and as the instrumental break in the song began, he pointed to the dancers, “Holy crap, look at those two dance!” he boomed. Then his eyebrows crawled up his forehead. Could that be? Yesss! “Ladies and gentlemen,” he pointed again, “Ms. Ell Donsaii!!” He hoped that someone was getting good video of this and planning on posting it to the web. The club had some video cameras; maybe he could pull something off of them and post a video himself?

  Gordon leaned to the mike, “This is the second time she’s shown up at one of Velos’ shows. Oh yeah! Last time she did some break dancin’. Let me tell you the girl can breakdance too! Go girl, go!” The chorus came around and Gordon started singing again, hoping against hope that he could talk to her at the next intermission. However, by the time the song ended she’d faded into the crowd somehow. When the next break came around he hadn’t seen her for a while.

  Once they got into the band dressing room he turned to his bandmates, “Hooee, Ell Donsaii!” Joe, Belle and Emma came into the dressing room again, “Hey did you guys see that! Ell Donsaii! Man I hope that gets us some more hits on the web! Emma, where’d she go? Can you take me out and introduce me to her?”

  Emma grinned at Belle but then shrugged, “No, she left. She was here in Raleigh when I called her so she said she’d come by ‘cause she likes your band. But then when everyone started making a big deal over her dancing she bolted. Believe it or not, she’s kinda shy and hates it when everyone makes a fuss about her.” Emma raised an eyebrow and, looking directly at “Belle,” said, “Kinda weird actually.”

  “But she must have spent so much time learning to dance like that! How can she not like the attention it gets her?”

  Emma hadn’t considered the effort that must have gone into learning to dance that way. Then she remembered how astonishing Ell had been at Foosball. Well, and gymnastics too. She tilted her head questioningly and said, “It might not take all that much effort to learn to dance like that when you have Olympic gold medal coordination?”

  Gordon’s eyes widened. “Holy crap. You think gymnastics came easy to her too?!”

  Emma shrugged and glanced at Ell who was staring at her a little wide eyed. Ell gave her a minute head shake.

  The door opened and Vic stepped in. “Vic!” Gordon stood and gave him a big hug. “What you did for our sound… that was amazing!” He looked at Emma, Ell and Joe. “What did you guys think out there in the club...was it cleaner?”

  Ell, glad that they’d stopped discussing her, nodded her head. Emma and Joe enthused over the improvement in the sound.

  Gordon said, “You should really go into the sound business.”

  Vic shook his head, “Nah. My Dad’s really good at it and he barely makes a living… I do think about opening my own club someday though. I’d like to try to design one with great acoustics.” He sighed, “I have fantasies that bands would want to come there because they sound so good in my club. Maybe…” he waggled his eyebrows, “so good that they wanted to come to record live shows there?”

  Gordon said, “You should talk to Belle. Her crazy aunt financed Velos to get us out on the road. Maybe she’d invest in your club?”

  Everyone turned to look at Ell and she shrank back. Emma’s eyes were sparkling in delight at her discomfort. “Well…” Ell frowned, “if you wanted her to look at it, you’d have to give me some kind of fleshed out plan. I’d have to tell her more than, ‘I’ve got a buddy who wants to open a bar.’ There’d have to be some analysis of the prospects and upfront costs and that kind of thing.”

  Vic lit up. “You really think she might invest?”

  Ell shrugged. “Send me a business plan and I’ll forward it to her.”

  When Ell and Emma were safely back in her truck Emma hooted. “Your ‘crazy aunt’? You mean to tell me you financed Gordon’s dropping out of college and going on the road with his band? Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?” She doubled over laughing.

  Ell looked sheepish. “When I first suggested it I had pictured them traveling to gigs on weekends but staying in school. I didn’t realize that wouldn’t work. Then he seemed so pumped I thought I should help him try out his dream.” She shrugged, “I am a little ashamed. But if it doesn’t work out they’ll only lose a semester. Everyone deserves a shot at their dream.”

  “Crazy aunt,” Emma giggled, “that’s a good one. How much did you invest in them?”

  “Thirty thousand.” Ell shrugged again, “I can afford it and it’s a big deal to them.”

  Emma said, “Someday I hope I can just shrug about crappy thirty thousand dollar investments!”

  “You don’t think they’ll make it?

  “Low percentage bet. Musicians hardly ever do.” Her eyes lost focus, “But they are really good...” She looked back over at Ell, “I think they need to hire Vic to go with them and work their sound at each venue.”

  ***

  “So should I just run a story saying that NASA won’t comment on the risk of Comet Hearth-Daster hitting the earth? Saying that there obviously must be some risk but that NASA won’t respond to questions about it?”

  “You are aware the freedom of speech doesn’t cover shouting ‘fire’ in a crowded theater aren’t you?”

  “What! Are you trying to tell me that if I publish you’ll have me arrested?”

  “I’m telling you that the risk from Hearth-Daster is very low. And that if you even submit a story implying otherwise or suggesting a cover up you will go to prison. You won’t just be arrested, you will go to prison for an ‘attempt to incite world wide panic.’ The story doesn’t have to be published; you just have to try to submit it.”

  Chapter Seven

  Emma couldn’t find Ell. She went into the machine shop. “Manuel, have you seen Ell?”

  Manuel looked up from a stack of what appeared to be some type of ports. They had a knob of Dexin coated material at one end typical for the electronic package used to drive the far member of a paired port. Instead of a flat disk like a normal port they had little tubes attached to them. Well, actually some of them had flat discs and it looked like he was rolling the port discs up to make the tubes? “She’s out in the parking lot setting up her new telescope.”

  Emma frowned at the stack of ports. She tilted her head curiously, “What are you doing?”

  “Uhhh, Ms. Donsaii had me print some 2.5, 5 and 7.5 centimeter ports onto nitinol sheets. Now I’m rolling them up and binding them with this heat sensitive polymer that will release them when they get cold.”

  “Nitinol?”

  “An alloy of nickel and titanium that is ‘super-elastic,’ it’ll spring back to flat when the polymer releases in the cold.”

  Emma stared at them for a few moments, “And why would they get cold?”

  “In space?” Manuel said as if speaking to an obtuse child.

  “Huh?”

  “We are planning to send things through the one ended ports to far away locations yes?”

  Emma nodded.

  “So we send one member of a two ended port through while it’s rolled up like this and when i
t encounters the cold of space the polymer releases it and the nitinol springs open to flat. Then we can send things through it to that location and bring them back through the port if we need to?”

  Emma grinned, “Great idea! Did you think this up?”

  “Well no. Ms. Donsaii wanted to do it and asked me how. My contribution was suggesting the nitinol and the temperature sensitive polymer.”

  “Good thinking! No wonder you’ve impressed her. I’d better track her down.”

  I’ve impressed her? Manuel thought with a warm glow as he watched Emma walk away.

  Emma did find Ell out in the parking lot with an expensive looking reflector telescope. The boxes it came in were scattered around her. One of the other machinists was with her and they had the telescope itself pointing nearly horizontally.

  “Spying on our neighbors?”

  “Hey Emma. Nope, we’re focused on the tip of that radio tower over there.”

  “So, I’m just guessing now. Is this telescope supposed to be a ‘sight’ for a one ended port that we’re going to shoot stuff through?”

  “Got it in one.”

  “Why such a fancy telescope? Seems like a much smaller one would work to aim at Mars or whatever.”

  “Yeah, it would but when you step up to something like this it comes with a big heavy tripod and a motorized equatorial mount that will keep ‘Mars or whatever’ steady in your field instead of shifting out of it because of Earth’s rotation. Once you’re aimed, you stay aimed.”

  Emma pursed her lips and nodded. “And that flange you’re bolting to it is supposed to be coaxial so when you mount your port on it you’ll be able to shoot stuff through it on the same axis?”

  “Yeah, it’s been a pain in the butt getting it aligned correctly, but Mickey here has installed a couple of axis adjustment screws and we’re getting it now.”

  “So, we gonna try shooting something through it tonight?”

  “That’s the plan. It’s outside of work hours though. You don’t need to hang out for it.”