Chapter 34: Correspondence With Cloverton

The worst part of the mission, in Wil’s opinion, was having to periodically provide progress reports. He understood why they were necessary. If he was in their position, he’d probably want a close eye on him as well. Knowing that didn’t stop him from being annoyed at the hassle of it all.

At least he didn’t have to leave the comfort of his home to fill them in. They’d given him a two way journal like they had with Hugo, and once every couple of weeks Wil wrote in it and communicated with whoever was on the other side. Wil had asked for their name once, but was told it didn’t matter, and to just give the details of his experiments.

In truth, Wil never told them everything. It very well could have been another in a long line of stupid decisions, but until now, he hadn’t had anything concrete to tell them, other than his success at manipulating leylines. Now as he looked at the last message written, he struggled.

Master McKenzie, we appreciate the difficulty of your experiments, but after nearly two out of your three allotted months have passed, we’re growing impatient. If you have any reports to make, now would be the time to make them. Some people are beginning to wonder if you’re working on it at all, or maybe, instead, are thinking of making a break for it.

We don’t want to assume the worst, but until you give us something we can work with, we might be forced to cut spending, cut supplies, and instead send someone there to audit your work.

That had been the last time he’d talked to them, two weeks ago. It had been right before he and the others set up Mack with the stove and Freeze-it. Now was the time, he supposed, to talk all about that, and hope that the people back east would keep to their bargain. A dark part of Wil wondered if they would use this as an opportunity to steal his research. Maybe take it and throw him to the wolves anyway.

He wouldn’t have put it past them, but it was pointless thinking of everything that could go wrong if he was unlucky or careless. It was time to finally fill it out…after he ate.

Wil cooked him and Darlene some grilled breakfast sandwiches, and settled into his increasingly outfitted kitchen. When he first moved in, he’d only had the bare essentials, but Darlene outfitted the house in his absence.

“This is delicious,” Darlene moaned as she devoured one of her two sandwiches. “Too delicious. What are you putting off?”

Wil laughed. “Biweekly update. I don’t wanna.”

Darlene shrugged and took another bite before drinking some iced tea to wash it down. “Doesn’t really matter, right? If you don’t give them updates they might take you away again. And if you end up disappearing because you didn’t feel like telling them what we’ve been up to, I’ll be upset.”

He grunted his acknowledgement. “Its such a pain. And they always act like I’m trying to hide stuff.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“Okay, but can you blame me?” Wil sighed and set his sandwich down. “We’re close. We just need to --”

“We’re not close, Wil. We’re there. Our products work and we can replicate it. What else do you want?”

“Honestly?” Wil thought about it. “I want to have a presentation so big and grand that their jaws drop. I want them to be so impressed they stop trying to screw me over. I want something so undeniably impressive that I can have some peace of mind and we can really start a life together.”

Darlene chewed it over. “We’ve already started a life together, dummy,” she said. “Unless you were stringing me along this whole time.”

“What? Of course not, I…Oh, very funny.” Will shook his head as Darlene laughed.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been able to make you nervous. And here I thought I’d lost all my power over you.” She smirked, but Wil detected a hint of truth in the statement.

“Never,” he said. “I’m forever under your spell. It’s been going strong for twelve years now, and I don’t see that ending.”

Her face reddened and she looked down, pleased. “And don’t you forget it. So, what’re you going to do?”

Wil groaned. “Tell the truth, probably. I’ve already gotten in enough trouble for keeping things from them. I’ll just…get it over with.”

“Attaboy.”

After lunch was consumed and dishes cleaned, Wil retreated to his office, where he sat at his desk and stared at the journal for another ten minutes. Sighing, he opened it and readied the matching pen.

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Greetings Cloverton!

It wasn’t the most professional way of starting his report, but at this point they probably realized who and how he was. But the green ink in the paper gave way to the blue of his handler as they responded.

Greetings Master McKenzie. What do you have to report this time?

Wil bit his lip. This was his last chance to lie or obfuscate. Darlene would be mad at him if he did.

I’ve succeeded in my mission, Cloverton. I’ve managed to change the leyline and exploit it in a way that can be replicated and used to fuel machinery. When representatives come in a month, then we’ll have a full presentation ready as proof. My team and I have worked hard on this, and are proud to share our work soon.

There was a pause, and Wil could imagine the disbelief from whoever was on the other side. Two months of dodging questions and making excuses, and now this.

Elaborate, Master McKenzie. Give a detailed report and leave nothing out.

So Wil did basically that. He started from Mr. Carrey’s home, detailing the way he’d twisted the beanstalks up and changed the leyline, to the destruction of Mr. Carrey’s house. He paused to ask if it was in the budget to help pay for repairs. The handler ignored him and pressed on with their questions, such as what he’d built so far.

Our initial focus has been practical applications. We’ve built leyline-powered stoves, a new form of icebox we’re calling a Freeze-it that serves as a cold storage room. Illusion boxes, lights, and we’re working on adapting the cars I requisitioned for our new faricite batteries. They all work, and we will be able to show them off soon. With further time and resources, we can come up with even more things to impress.

There was no answer at first. Wil wondered if he said the wrong thing, or perhaps the right thing. Then again, sometimes the handler fell quiet, possibly to pass on information and receive instructions. It didn’t matter; it made Wil anxious every time he had to wait. This time, the handler made him wait nearly ten minutes. He’d been seconds away from writing more when the blue ink appeared in real time.

Congratulations, Master McKenzie. President Bullworth would like to pass on his well wishes and support. Quote: I knew you could do it, son. Arrangements are being made for a trip to Harper Valley to inspect your work, as well as for the president to make a trip to Faerie. Upon a successful demonstration of your experiments, you will be granted a full pardon for your missteps.

That was a relief. All they had to do was wait a month and everything would blow over. Not that they would ever stop. Their team was too hungry for more, too ready to keep working and get as far ahead of the competition as possible. Now that they knew there were spies in town, it was a relief to know that they were too late. He wrote back.

That’s great to know, Cloverton. I’m very relieved. I would also like to make it clear that I could not have done it without the help of Master Thomas Elliot, as well as Abraham Stevenson and Darlene Johnson. The four of us together are responsible for these breakthroughs, and they should receive a full share of credit with me. They are nonmagical, but their contributions were key to the development of this project.

That was important, and he’d fight for it if he had to.

Understood, Master McKenzie. We have one more request. In the remaining time allowed, you are to turn your attention to possible military applications. If you can create a working new weapon to use on the southern front, your efforts will be well rewarded. It would show us you are reliable, and your honor and conduct beyond reproach.

Wil dropped his pen and rubbed his eyes. Of course they’d ask for weapons. Several different possible responses ran through his head, each one as nonthreatening and polite as possible. All while his irritation grew, and then ignited into anger.

No, Cloverton. I will not design weapons for you, or for anyone. These inventions are meant to make the world a better, happier place. If you want to develop weapons, there is nothing I can do to stop you, but it will never come from me.

Pause.

That is unfortunate, Master McKenzie. We are prepared to offer you a lucrative, exclusive contract if you are willing to reconsider. Your current efforts are enough to get you out of your legal trouble, but with as divisive as your case has been, you should consider doing everything in your power to work on your image and usefulness. Think of your time at Marlowe Manor, Master McKenzie. Four months of your life gone, all because of your stubbornness and pride.

Wil stared at the journal in disbelief. They were threatening him. Again. Do what we say or we’ll give you trouble. Anger surged in him, like cold lightning directing him to act. He took a deep breath and thought about it. That was a fight he couldn’t win, and he knew it. Thoughts of Darlene and the baby kept him from telling them exactly what they could do with their proposition.

I do not make weapons. I do not hurt people if I don’t have to. I can’t give you what you want, but I can instead see what can be done for defensive options. Depending on the leylines on the southern front, we might be able to develop extra powerful or durable warding, or even mask entire bases from sight. If that’s not enough, I have the designs for a potential all terrain scout vehicle.

He hated to do it, but maybe the Thunderhawk design would appease them. Thomas’ insistence that it would do him good to patent and sell it came to mind, and he hated how right the jerk had been. He’d been right about many things involving the work, and he’d finally started to get along with Bram and Darlene. Maybe his advice was right, and would help.

Your proposal is acceptable. We’ll contact you in two weeks to give you more details about the President’s visit. Once again, congratulations, Master McKenzie. You not only have changed the world, you’ve clearly grown wiser. The President says that he’ll see you in a month.

Wil slumped over his desk. He’d done it. The worst of the danger was over, and now he had plenty to look forward to. And hey, reporting in hadn’t been too painful this time. Maybe things were looking up. He took a deep breath and stood.

“Hey Darlene,” he called out. “Wanna go for a drive? We’ve got one day left. Let’s go to Gallard Springs and enjoy a hot spring.”

Darlene poked her head into the office, eyes bright. “That sounds fantastic! I could use a good soak.”

He beamed at her. They were in the home stretch now, and Wil planned on enjoying every minute.