John Blaine - Rick Brant 21 by Rocket Jumper

Author:Rocket Jumper [Jumper, Rocket]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-06-05T12:02:35+00:00

CHAPTER XI

Instructions for the Girls

Captain Aster moved fast. He called number after number and issued instructions, and by lunchtime Project Ramshorn was under a security blanket so tight that even one of the tiny desert pocket mice would have had trouble getting in.

All personnel with less than top-secret clearances were assigned to jobs far from the project buildings at both Indian Springs and Jackass Flats. Among them were the Jones Boys, who were told to remove their vehicles to the main gates.

Rick had just finished purchasing two sandwiches and a container of milk when the Jones at Building Ten got the word. The man looked at the guard and shrugged. “I might as well go home. No one will walk to the main gate to buy, and those who want to go that far will eat at the restaurant. How long does this last?”

“Sorry. I don’t know. My instructions were only to tell you not to come inside the main gate.”

“Okay. Orders are orders. I just hope it doesn’t last long, or I’ll go out of business.”

Rick watched the man’s face carefully during the brief exchange, but Jones seemed no more than ordinarily upset. Anyone who lost his principal sales stand would be disturbed.

Scotty made a quick purchase, and Jones finished serving those who were waiting in line, then closed up

and drove off. The boys took their purchases back to the Building Ten compound to have lunch in the building’s shadow.

John Gordon joined them. “I was too late to buy the Jones businessman’s lunch. How about bringing your sandwiches over to the restaurant? I’ll buy you a sundae for dessert.”

The restaurant was outside the Indian Springs base, connected with a gas station, bar, and pint-sized gambling casino with slot machines of various kinds.

The boys agreed, and Scotty asked, “Suppose Aster can come with us?”

“I doubt it. He’s running around like a sheared sheep. We’d better go without him.”

They got into Gordon’s jeep and drove around the perimeter of the airfield to the main gate, through it, and onto the parking lot near the restaurant. There was no sign of the Jones truck. Rick guessed he had meant it about going home.

A waitress led them to a table in the corner and looked askance at the lunch the boys carried. “Don’t you trust our food?” she demanded.

“They’re on special diets,” Gordon explained.

“Good food gives them the collywobbles. I’ll have two cheeseburgers, and coffee. We’ll all finish up with a sundae.”

As soon as they were alone, Scotty started questioning the scientist. “What does Aster hope to gain by blocking off the project?”

“By getting rid of everyone who hasn’t a top-secret clearance, he’s hoping to stop the leaks. This is a critical moment. Winston went to Jackass Flats with a pretty good idea of what went wrong, and they’re checking it out. We don’t want anyone to know whether he’s right or wrong.”

“But everyone knew about the combustion instability,” Rick objected. “At least I got that impression.”

Gordon shook his head. “Wrong. Only the professional staff knew it, and no one knew right away what might have caused it.

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