L'Gem

  Chapter Twenty-two

  The OJT's and builders progressed through training as the buildings rose. Nev got the last special treat reservation the day the last group arrived, so did manage to get them all in for one. Since there was more than usual of all the treats that year, everyone he'd have usually called got reservations for it. Since they were more plentiful, the price was a bit lower, so many others also got in for a special treat.

  Nev, Knight and Blade were on the eighteenth green of the golf course, the last group out, when the first real snow began to fall. The green wasn't green, but none of the courses closed until the white winter blanket began to fall.

  The harvests were all done and the one hundred twenty day-leases ended. They'd done a lot of cleaning, winterizing, viewroom installations and projects on the days they weren't on the campus building site. The boat house was full and 'most' women were visibly pregnant.

  In their neighborhood, Essa, Kendra and Elise were pregnant. Kendra had been told she'd have no difficulty. Elise still giggled when she told the story of Mike and Loren running into each other in the hall and "clothes flying." She'd asked if they'd like two children, too, and they'd both run to move in with the other. They'd about finished making one-bedroom a nursery when Elise reminded them they'd never answered.

  Jace and Day had each been asked to father a child by a pledged pair of women. A physician had aided. All three pairs had made vows of fidelity. Jace had known one pair since childhood. Day had known the other one hundred fifty-nine days.

  Older women were hurrying. Couples who had longed for children, or only had one, though they wanted more, were also hurrying. Most women of childbearing age were in both groups. Nev was going to have little sister and Knight and Blade had spoil-rotten plans too.

  Neither they, nor Case and Stats, had yet been asked to father children. They would be, but they didn't long for them. Men who did, especially those who wanted to be daddy but not husband, were asked first. Day and Jace hadn't known they did. The two pairs of women had.

  Singles, couples, pairs and households, who hadn't planned children yet weren't hurrying, but they were a thirty-two year-minority. Most who hadn't planned a child immediately would wait at least three years. Couples, pairs and households with plenty of time would probably wait that long for a second child, but all had been reminded to choose the time for their families, not any other reason.

  Many of the OJT's would become parents in spring, but most weren't women. As rentals had emptied after summer and OJT's graduated, a few had brought spouses, and a few children, north, but most had not. They were saving for new homes where their knowledge would be in demand. Teal Valley didn't really need them, but the rest of the world did.

  Mike and Loren hadn't had to start from scratch in the culinary arts program. Both were final term students. Though they had many of the same classes, and would both graduate as chefs, Mike's focus was on gourmet preparation and Loren's on nutrition. Some of Loren's classes were in the medical center. Some of Mike's were scheduled when guest chefs could teach them.

  Loren hadn't been sure the hotel should pay for his course. The food and beverage manager had given him the number of orders for his soup, to date, and the pay deposit for his share of another contract for his break bars.

  Elise put her car in the boathouse and rode to work with Day, so Mike and Loren both had warm cars in the garage. They'd "felt odd" not being on the same schedule and in all the same classes at first, but no longer did. They were busy and happy, and Plimmer had a path to Case and Stats', and then to Danny's, to play with Bop, so he wasn't lonely.

  Nev tapped his ball into the cup, grabbed it and they ran for the cart. They had the flags from all the greens and had winterized the course as they'd played. They stored their cart and gave Windall, the greenskeeper, the flags and other items they'd collected. Abra was posting winter hours for the pro shop and snack bar as they went in. It was warm and smelled wonderful. The end of season banquet was being prepared and they'd have known it would be great, if they didn't know Chal, Mike and Loren were all in the banquet kitchen.

  "You didn't rush through that game."

  "We sighed every time we picked up a flag, Abra."

  "Nev mentioned it could be covered, at some time on every hole. Knight and I took turns reminding him he has eight flyers from which to select, a lot of golf courses are opening now and some only close when it's too hot to play."

  "I'll go play some of those too, Blade, but I like four seasons and winter hours, with people in no hurry coming in to sit and talk courses, clubs and grandkids' great hoops games. Here, it's just a flyer hop over the pass, or not very long drive, to open courses, so the pro shop will still have customers talking about yesterday's game and looking for a different putter."

  "Dorn and Tarn both said a whole lot of people who've never done it before will go south for a day or two, or even just an afternoon."

  "I understand why no one did, Blade. After this third-season, I understand why they'll go for a day or two, or for an afternoon. Chelse said this snow is the close of 'get-together-and-party season and the opening of we're-having-a-party season.'"

  "After about the eighth time someone told us that, we began to wonder if it was a warning."

  "For you, it probably was, Knight. Everyone who's played recently is grinning widely and not mentioning the view from the ninth tee."

  "They all know Tatton and the OJT's are out to set a record that will 'stand for century.' We're on inside work now. The training corner came out yesterday. He took the last bunch down to get crane operator licenses this morning. They haven't finished training, but they finished that part. There's still outside work and the lot are still learning it, but it won't be long before all the buildings and the stadium are up. The ones in the front are getting done a little at a time, so it looks like it's moving a little faster than expected, from the road."

  "We're about to finish two dormitories. Those barns aren't cold, but they aren't designed for living and the farmers won't mind getting their equipment sheds back early. They all donated them, so they won't be losing income. The OJT's are really looking forward to cooking in a real kitchen, when it's their turn to fix breakfast or dinner."

  "They're also looking forward to carpeting, nice furniture and parking places. It's not going to cost the ones who've graduated the program any more to live in the dorms than where they are."

  "What about married housing, Blade?"

  "The building is up, but we've barely started inside. There's only one and it's primarily one-bedroom. It's good-size because the campus is, but there are a lot of apartments and such available in town and building married housing that really won't be needed in two or three years doesn't make sense. Public transport passes, student housing assistance and school proximity are going to make in-town living a good choice for a lot. They don't expect to get as many married, or households here as many places, and most in the area have homes they'd prefer to commute from. Evert Bonderman has a chunk of land he's not planning on using for a couple years and would even consider selling, if the university needs more, but he really doesn't expect it, either. There are already a couple housing groups from the other campus looking at big places and land available for building here, so there should be plenty. They're going to have a half-year to work out the logistics of the first less usual batch of students."

  "Thank you. They all know there's an info office, but I'm 'next door' and they ask me anyway."

  "We'll send Kail in for tea and a long talk. He'll understand winter hours changed you from busy golf pro to aux info office instantly."

  "You'll get a lot of help from the OJT's, once they get into the dorms and get more cars. You might consider staying open some evenings."

  "I've been thinking of it since you said they'd be moving into the dorms, Nev. I think a lot of West Siders would come down if they knew they were likely to meet some, too. Comm connect
Teera. Hi, would you be interested in working evenings in the snack shop? The construction crew will be moving to the campus soon and they'd probably make it worthwhile. No, I didn't really think he'd be interested in evenings. All I know is soon. Probably. Good idea. Would you talk to them and figure out what you'd like? You know my schedule. I've got the best time for golf talk. Thanks. She was sure this place is going to be just plain busy and she wasn't enough help, as soon as I said, 'moving.' I'll tell her it earned her a raise, when I point to her and tell someone to talk to the manager."

  "Enclose the patio now. It'll be cheaper to warm it before it gets really cold, and keep it that way, than just warm it later."

  "You think it's going to be real busy too."

  "I think we'd come down fairly frequently, if it was open later. There's really nothing else close with a parking dome."

  "I'm not sure of the town will consider it worth heating that, Knight, other than for banquets. They don't earn that much from the pro and snack shops."

  "Tell them to wait for the first bill to decide."

  "You did something to reduce the heating cost."

  "Of course. We expect to come to a lot of functions here. Wading through slush in warming-a-little did not appeal. Want help putting the plants back out on the patio?"

  "Windall would definitely groan if I asked him, Nev. We just moved them into the cart barn."

  "I'm buying three heartmint teas and six hot pretzels. You have to say you're buying before you order, or Nev beats you to it. Let's move plants, guys."

  "The cart's still by the door, Blade. I'll start the pretzels, change signs to 'Pro Shop Winter hours' and post 'Snack shop will be open evenings starting soon,' several places."

  "And tell Chal. Since you want it known, everybody will know it tomorrow."

  The banquet that evening was good food, long conversations and short speeches. Nev's was very short. He said Knight and Blade had talked him out of enclosing the course every hole, the snack shop would be open evenings, and he was sure the town would appreciate Knight's idea of how to make the parking dome cheap enough to heat no one would wade in slush coming to banquets. Andrea's was short too. She said she'd be there for hot pretzels, preferred dry feet and asked Knight his idea.

  It was lined and sub roofed with greenhouse gel-core, the door panels mag locked to each other and the ground, so there was no air leakage. They only lifted where a vehicle pushed through and the parking lot surface wouldn't heat exchange with the ground. People walked out to the lot and walked back in, smiling. Carler, Kail and several business owners asked theirs be fixed. Knight groaned, Nev said, "Oops," and Blade laughed.

  When the two dorms were finished, all the OJT's moved. The next day, the six were teaching fix-it-yourself car buying and repair in one of the dorm parking lots. By the third, "the whole neighborhood and half of West Side" were helping. Every car purchased and those of regular helpers was registered with the gate comp.

  Elise and Day put up a public transport stop sign in the parking lot behind the two dorms and grinned when a large number ran for it. The route was seven twenty-two in the morning and once an hour from seventeen twelve to twenty-two twelve workdays, once an hour from nine twelve to twenty-two twelve non-workdays, except Fourday and Nineday, when there was a last bus at one twenty-two. The next stop for all but that one was the golf course snack shop. The last bus route began at one twelve from the garage behind Waindain. On party nights, they could go to any club in town, leave between oh twenty-five and one and get home.

  Theirs wasn't the only last bus route on Four and Nine days, but the town didn't expect to send several "last buses" on others. Twenty-nine minutes after the sign was placed, the first bus driver delivered two hundred thirteen sixty-day and thirty-six thirty-day passes.

  Fifty-one had cars or plans to buy one soon. Some of those lived in town. Those who'd brought spouses to Teal Valley could now leave the car. The next morning, three of the regular crew rode to work on public transport. They always did if there was a stop close to a job.

  The three hundred began to truly explore the town. Many watched money with specific goals in mind, and many sent money home, but most were single and now had bright futures.

  About twenty became avid skiers after their first lesson. The nine-thirty lodge shuttle to Frostlea and the eighteen-thirty return got crowded. The lodge asked when they'd like to come and leave and began sending a shuttle to the dorms at seven fifteen, with a return time of seventeen fifty on off days. Seventeen bought season passes, many more bought skis, and the lodge sent two shuttles on Five and Tenday. Those were a bit less busy for them than Four and Nine.

  The snack shop at the golf course was busy every off day and evening it was open, in hourly bunches. Teera, the manager, said they had ten minutes to straighten up between "shift change."

  Kail requested assistance with delicate and heavy tech and two people from the small-company in Vairdslea, assembling the equipment for the physics lab, helped him unload a piece of tech "instead of" the one that had been preempted another forty-five days.

  He called the corp, that had decided they knew when equipment ordered "now" was really needed and told them the university was quite pleased to be canceling the order. They now had two patents on equipment that had been designed and built by people who didn't expect them to rearrange the schedule of "the three hundred thirty-two most skilled construction workers on the planet, twice."

  "It makes your unit obsolete!"

  "Comm out. Thank you, Marsden. I really wanted to say that and was sure I shouldn't."

  "Thank you. I was working on coming up with an apology I meant. How? Who? Please."

  "When IS bombed the Richland U physics lab and blamed it on the student they'd abducted, because they thought he'd made a discovery and they wanted a secret weapon, many physicists and advanced physics students just walked away."

  "Your son was the most severely injured."

  "Yes, and he didn't go back. There was nothing to go back to there, but he didn't go elsewhere either. None of them did. They weren't alone. Students, professors, researchers turned away from the pursuit of knowledge, but some turned to the pursuit of justice and the end of oppression. The explanation I got is the ones who built this like their new lives and just don't want the attention. Money was never important. They believe there must be an advanced university physics program on this world, but they don't want to be part of it."

  "And your son?"

  "Hasn't flatly refused, yet."

  "When IS bombed that lab, it was the beginning of their end."

  "I have no doubt of it."

  "We can ship this when it's assembled, but we prefer you pick it up. Four days to integrate and test. We'd be pacing the floor wishing we were here if we took days off."

  "That will give them the three workdays of second five-day to move and install. I think that will be perfect for them. I'll say, 'Yes, between eight and ten on Sixday,' and call quick if I'm wrong. Tatton will send enough who know enough to do it right."

  "Excellent. I'll give them the day off and start mine when this room is empty."

  "I'm sorry we didn't do this sooner. You've been tied up too long."

  "We didn't have a contract we needed this much space for until two days ago, and you didn't cause it. I will find someone to get the license to make that unit. Braster Technology lost this customer."

  "Every tech producer on this world will lose all their customers soon. They don't have long before off-world bidders yell they have a right to license or sublicense."

  "Comm connect Nort."

  "Hello, Marsden."

  "Nort, do you plan to refer all your customers to an offworld producer to get tech that isn't obsolete?"

  "What are you talking about?"

  "How long do you think Bressler can wait for planetary producers to get off their asses and bid for licenses to produce invented tech?"

&
nbsp; "We haven't seen any trials."

  "What type of trials do you have in mind for tech that's been in use a quarter-year?"

  "Marsden, two uses of a laboratory prototype is not a good trial."

  "Where did you get that number?"

  "The Builders Association Information Office said they're using two buildings for training and will start two more late next spring, when domes aren't required for exterior work. That's two uses."

  "Didn't you hear the expected completion date of a year?"

  "That was before they decided to make it a training program. The info office said they may complete two buildings of the first phase by then."

  "Nort, there are almost three hundred people living in completed dormitories, inside the shields that have been in operation since last summer. The entire thirty-nine building-plus stadium campus is expected to be completed ahead of the one-year projection, by three hundred thirty-two skilled users of the new methods and technology. Which the info office evidently thinks means holding a nail between thumb and pinky and using the backside of a wrench to hammer!"

  "Add Builders Association Information Office."

  "Good afternoon. How may we assist you?"

  "What is the current status of the Bressler Northwest University Project?"

  "One moment, please. That project is basis of an extensive training program. They are beginning second-story exterior construction on two buildings being used for training."

  "Where did that information come from, please?"

  "The Builders Association database."

  "When was that database last updated from the site?"

  "One moment. Shirl! The BNU info is coming from a one hundred two-year-old apprenticeship program record! The computer 'corrected' the missing decimal point in the input data! Gen, we've got a mess. We'll find out what's actually going on and call back."

  "Wait! I'm Marsden Walberti, Physical Research Technology. Dr. Fallon added you when I learned the information he'd gotten was incorrect. Dr. Kailvon Terschell, BNU campus development project coordinator, is with me."

  "Hi, I'm Kail. Corrected a decimal point?"

  "Wallen and Shirl. Forty major units in a year had to be four point oh and it had a training project 'just like that' in the database."

  "If they've sent updates, it's just been dumping them."

  "Tatton Tellerlock probably hasn't sent any, Shirl. The new materials, methods, technology and training technique all work great and they're ahead of schedule. Behind is notify. Ahead is wide smile."

  Wallen and Shirl were on the news planetwide that evening, along with the president of the Builders Association. None of them had known the computer had 'fixed' the input data on the project. The association president said they'd made two more attempts to enter the project data, then called a programmer. She apologized for the misinformation and embarrassment it caused the two people who did a good job answering questions.

  Shirl said they'd have checked on the information, if the computer hadn't given them "change of initial project focus to training program" and detailed information on its progress. Wallen said they'd spent the day trying to decide whether to laugh or cry, and he really wished they'd gotten a reminder computers made decisions based on info in their databases, not a thorough demonstration.

  The association president finished the short interview segment with the statement the piece of the project that was going to bring the greatest benefit to all people was the training method that had been developed for it. They were calling it the Tellerlock Team Method and expected it to become the standard for training in all trades and industries across human space within five years. BNU would offer a course in it that would include adaptation to specific business needs, when it opened, next term.

  She gave the infonet address for the complete BNU course catalog and registration information, noting all professorial positions had not yet been filled, and she suspected some of the reason was the misinformation on the campus construction project. The group in Knight, Nev and Blade's living room toasted themselves with teacups.

  "We couldn't have made it without you, Danny."

  "The degree program course workups were complete, Kail. They just needed to be organized as a catalog for the infonet."

  "You're famous, Tat."

  "Someday, I'll get you for that, Kail. I'm going to stress it was the team, including the kids, who built it, to everybody who mentions it."

  "It's 'method developed by the Tellerlock Construction BNU project team' in the course description, Tat. Wallen and Shirl will also stress it was the team and the suggestions and aid of the OJT's were invaluable in its development."

  "Maybe I'll just cream you with a snowball or two. Speaking of which, I'm going to head home before I need sensors to find my car. We haven't had a snow season like this since my grandparents were kids. A lot of the people listing summer-only rentals as available during Winter Carnival are going to want you boys to do them again after. My feeling is you should refer them to others. They need the cleanup business and you're beyond it now. If there's damage to repair, or they want a viewroom or an enclosed party area, that's different, but you don't need to clean toilets and carpets to support yourselves, or even just keep busy. You should consider getting a flyer big enough to carry your equipment and taking jobs other places. I'm going to. Rindy thinks it would be fun to stay somewhere while we do a big project and fly back to spend time with the grandkids or friends. Harmon and a few of the others will like it and Brasketton will be good running the home and small construction business here, and prefers it. I don't think you prefer rental cleanup and prep or I wouldn't be making a rec you drop it, and upgrade your business licenses."

  "We were putting off thinking about it, Tat."

  "We hit 'leave home?' and just stop, but you're right about other people needing cleanup work we don't, so we'll begin with that."

  "And going to Bressler games, Nev. Drand had to nearly drag me to the flyer the first few times, but I look forward to them now, and get excited every time I think about having our own teams to support and follow everywhere. Start wearing teal and gold and go as BNU fans in training."

  "That will help them get good coaches here, Dawn, and I'd wear a BNU cap or armband with my blue and gold."

  "Everybody in most of the region would, Drand."

  "I'll get paraphernalia production started tomorrow, Tat. I want a cap, a sweater, a jacket, a ski suit, a decal and pennon for my car, glassware, teacups…"

  "I'll take that package, Kail."

  "That's a great idea too, Larry. Danny, BNU has another catalog job for you."

  "I want a package as pay. I'll add a coming-soon to the course catalog tonight."

  "Glad Forty-eight got word out here before that GGN cast. BNU is going to hit max enrollment fast. Goodnight. See you boys on the job on Oneday."

  The whole neighborhood gathered at the house quickly. They had great fun designing the paraphernalia. Some was just order in color and design, but much of it they designed themselves. They also designed team uniforms that night. They started with the ski team and just kept going. When they finished designing, they built packages. The next morning, Kail sent orders to manufacturers, helped Abra set up an area for BNU 'stuff' in the pro shop and sent a list of who was making what to every store on the northwest region retailers list.

  BNU had a warehouse and people to assemble packages by midafternoon. Kail sent a shipping address update to the manufacturers and Danny put the catalog, and team uniform designs, on the infonet.

  On Threeday, Case's and Dawn's dad's, Stats' mom and eleven others walked into their offices on campus and the offices of the Registrar, Financial Aid, Accounting, Counseling and Student Housing opened. On Sixday, Kail and Larry moved into their new offices and became the Chancellor and Vice-chancellor of BNU.

  It had been totally unexpected decision by the Board of Regents. The chair said they doubted anyone on the
planet would wonder why they'd chosen them, but if anyone said something about not the expected credentials, they'd dump enough honors on them to shut them up. Six hours after Kail sat down in his chair the first time, Knight, Nev, Blade, Stats, Case, Danny, Ronnie and Dawn walked into his office.

  "Uh, oh?"

  "We believe we've found the right physics research program director and professors, Dad. Here's our list."

  "You think these people will be as good as you'd be?"

  "They will be after you get them here and we train them. We don't want to do it and we think they will."

  "It hurts you because you want to point and say, 'That's my son.' We had a long talk about it. They don't want the attention, but it hurts them too. We think that list is the solution. Most of those people quit just like they did, but none of them are doing something else. They think they can teach them enough that they start coming up with applications and tech. That's what's not happening. I think that would diminish the attention enough they could let the identities fully blend. I think the design awards and participation in this project will aid in reducing the number of people giving them shit for not using their education and talents for physics. If someone else does something."

  "I'm still going to hope you all change your minds someday, Blade, but it's a memory of my son glowing with excitement, when he talked about what they were doing. I dream of seeing it again, because I near desperately need to know it wasn't banished forever by a bomb."

  "Dad, there won't be anything like that again, not in physics in my lifetime. If I 'glow with excitement,' it'll be about something else. The bomb didn't destroy my love of physics, but I want to play with my friends in our hobby shop, not do it as a job. I don't want to direct research. Knight doesn't want to teach physics. We want to teach, but we want to teach other things in other ways. We think those people can become the type of team needed. We can teach them how, because of what we learned here, and they'll be able to teach it to other researchers and students."

  "I just realized some of these are students."

  "There must also be student researchers to develop the program, Kail. We'll be done constructing the physics lab in three days."

  "I'll try to get them here, Knight, but you're going to have to help convince some of these you know what I'm doing."

  "That's why we're all here."

  "Comm connect Silvertown, Dr. Adeela Creschnev, identify BNU Chancellor Dr. Kailvon Terschell."

  "Good morning."

  "Good afternoon. Doctor, the team that discovered and has been developing applications of the new physics are in my office. They selected you to learn their methods and direct the physics research program at this university."

  "I just got my doctorate last year from a… nothing university and haven't used it."

  "Good, I won't have to fight another university or corp R and D director to get you. Introduce yourselves, kids."

  "Nevin Curran – Tarse Terschell."

  "Knighton Pyramid – Bard Loden."

  "Silverin Bladesly – Harim Havadan."

  "Danniera Tracy – Ritzinna Schermacher."

  "Cascony Laudren – Garil Hobart."

  "Statton Sharp – Panner Santiago."

  "Veronica Neardon – Shelima Oberetta."

  "Dawn Valens – Brimilee Hanaloahala."

  "They think they've got a team for you they can teach to work together like they do, and they're putting together the most advanced physics research lab that has ever existed on this planet to do it in."

  'Deely' was just first to ask to "come now, please." Only one other professor was as portable as she and the students were, but he arrived in Teal Valley twenty-six minutes after Kail called. It had taken him eight minutes to get a flyer. He had tears in his eyes when he hugged his former students. He'd always known they were the only ones who could have done it. He agreed with all their selections, including research program director. He didn't want it, but he did want to teach, and his wife was ready for him to go back to it.

  He found the house just right for them, and the twin boys they'd soon have, that afternoon. He met every other arrival that evening and the next two days, with a list of available houses or a dorm or apartment assignment. His wife and families of two other former Richland U physics professors arrived on Nineday with three haulers, each towing a car with a BNU pennon and physics department logo decal.

  By the end of the next tenday, all the families of the core of the advanced program were new residents of Teal Valley, Veil Lake or Willaville, though all didn't move in. A large number of others were beginning to arrive to house hunt as deans and professors accepted Bressler offers of employment. All knew winter was the best time to buy a house, even if they wouldn't be moving into it until summer.

  Fraternities, sororities and housing associations were house-hunting, as well. Several huge old homes that had been converted to apartments were sold. None of the tenants were asked to move immediately, but most did. There were more houses and apartments available to rent in winter, too.