Red Lightning by Hugh Holton

Author:Hugh Holton [Holton, Hugh]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-8125-8912-2
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates
Published: 1998-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

37

JULY 9, 1999

5:25 P.M.

Christian could barely control his excitement as Dr. Gault helped him into his new personal transport vehicle. He refused to refer to the four-wheel, solar-powered, motorized machine as a wheelchair. It was painted bright red and was, as the doctor had told him when he began constructing it, capable of performing tasks that Christian could only dream of before. Now the physically challenged youth would not only be capable of moving very fast, but he had also become extremely powerful.

Gault took his time explaining each of the controls to Christian. As the scientist explained the operations of the motorized device he had created, Christian’s eyes gleamed with excitement. Then Gault said, “I want you to take it for a spin around the factory, but don’t go faster than ten miles an hour inside the building. Later, when we go outside, I’ll let you go faster.”

“Yes, sir,” he said, taking the control yoke, which served the dual purpose of steering and accelerating the vehicle.

Adhering religiously to Gault’s dictates, Christian took the fire-engine red vehicle for a test drive around the main floor of the Chinatown warehouse. As he rolled through the dark corridors, the legion of snakes infesting the structure scurried out of his way. At this moment Christian felt a newfound sense of power, a power that he planned to exercise and enjoy.

Back in the lab, he gushed, ‘This is great, Dr. Gault. It’s like magic.”

“Don’t ever say that!” Gault exploded. “Magic has nothing to do with it. I made this machine with my own hands using computer chips, electrical relays, wires, metal, and rubber. I used my brains, which I developed through education and these two hands to make it work. There were no spells, incantations, or spirits, either good or evil involved. Do you understand me, Christian?”

Shocked at the scientist’s violent outburst, all Christian could do was say a wide-eyed, open-mouthed, “Yes, Doctor.”

Then as quickly as his anger had flared at white hot intensity, it vanished. For a moment he stared off vacantly across the lab. In a quiet voice, Gault said, “What do you want to name it?”

It took Christian a moment to find his voice. Finally, he managed to swallow and say, “Red Lightning, if that’s okay with you.”

Slowly, a smile spread across the scientist’s face. Then he responded, “That is very fitting, Christian. Now it is time for us to go in search of your friend Larry Cole. Are you ready?”

“Yes, Doctor.”

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.