Unum Chapter Two
E Pluribus Unum
Author: J Carrell Jones
Table of Content
Year Zero - Day 0 Hour 2 Minute 12 Second 15 - Chapter Two
The final nail in the coffin of mighty beasts that roamed the land was driven about 66 million years ago. Its impact was so devastating that their death secured a second sort of ending for a future species millions of years away. Humans consumed the remnants of this dynasty that ruled in the hundreds of millions of years. Their majestic legacy depleted, by combustion, in a mere century.
Year Zero
Day 0 Hour 2 Minute 12 Second 15
Chapter Two
Gale’s face felt numb. She wasn’t drunk, not quite, but the buzz she had was close enough to get her into trouble. Linda was in better shape. She only had two glasses of wine and eating just bread and meat helped stave off an embarrassing end to a wonderful lunch.
When the valet pulled up with the car, Linda reached for the keys. Gale didn’t object and blissfully allowed the gentleman to help her ease into the passenger seat. Linda tipped him a five and readjusted the seat and side mirrors. The rear was okay. She looked over to make sure her friend was secured and snapped in her own seat belt.
“Seems like I should take the rest of the day off.” Linda stated.
Gale nodded. “I think you should. We still need to talk. I’m staying at the Hilton near LAX.”
“The Hilton it is.” Linda merged into traffic and tuned the radio to KCRW. Press Play was on and it set Linda in a sober mood.
Gale just enjoyed the buzz. She was with her friend and that was good. Later she would drop the question. Her boss had been in a dozen high level meetings with management at JPL in Pasadena. He was on a recruiting mission and only the top would do. When she told him of Linda and presented her credentials and past articles and paperwork, he was convinced she would be a valuable team member. He said “Convince her. Any way you can but convince her.”
Linda pulled the Volkswagen into valet and was helped out. The 405 freeway had been surprisingly open, and she was able to maintain a speed of sixty-five. The trip to the hotel was pleasant.
Gale stepped out and waited for Linda to receive the ticket stub.
They both walked through the sliding doors, past a clump of gibbering tourists. Gale couldn’t make out the language. It sounded like it should have been Dutch.
Once in the elevator, Linda cleared her throat. “What floor and how are you feeling?”
Gale smiled and brushed away hair that had fallen in front of one eye. “Good. I’m feeling good. Top floor.”
The ride to the Executive suites floors was uneventful. Gale’s buzz was fading fast but it was enough to dull her inhibitions. Once off the elevator Gale led Linda through a hallway most people never see. The rich interior and subtle hues of brown and tan softly whispered the elegant and hidden opulence behind each door. When Gale opened the door to her suite Linda gasped. The room was lovely and aesthetically pleasing.
“. . . by the table,” Gale said.
Linda walked to it and noted an iron bucket filled with ice and a bottle of champagne that no doubt cost half her week’s salary.
Gale pulled the bottle from the bucket. She wrapped it in one of the towels that was on the table. She grabbed the cork, twisted several times, and pulled it out. The pop sound was satisfying.
Linda remarked, “You’ve done this a few times?”
Gale’s laugh was soft as she poured champagne. “Enough to make it look easy.” She handed a glass to her friend.
Linda took it and sipped. “Are you trying to seduce me?”
Gale caught herself from spitting the champagne out. One must not spit champagne out she thought. “Maybe.”
Linda sat down on the chair nearest her. “Just wondering.” She took a sip.
“Is it working?” Gale asked, sipping at her own glass.
“Depends?” Linda giggled. She couldn’t keep a straight face.
Gale sat on another chair. “I did miss you.”
Linda nodded and took another sip. She tried to make the sip seem natural and nonchalant. “I missed you, too. I really was surprised to see you today.”
Gale smiled, “How’s the Ph.D. coming along? I remembered you sent me an email about upcoming prelims, but you never said what happened.”
Linda shrugged. “It didn’t go so well. I have another one set for next month. It was tough.”
“I can imagine. I remember mine . . .”
“But yours went so well!”
Gale laughed. “Yes and no.”
“Really?” Linda took a drink and the glass was nearly drained.
Gale topped off both glasses. “One of my advisors was a sexual predator. Bastid.”
“What?!?”
Gale nodded. “Yeah, he told me that he’d back me up 100% if I did him a trick or two.”
Shocked, Linda just stared.
“I reported him and the school Administration worked with the local police. I wore a body recorder. Well, after that I had to pretty much start from scratch.”
“Oh, so that’s why you became distant suddenly. I thought it was something I did.”
Gale shrugged and sighed. “I couldn’t tell you at the time and when it was said and done I got hired at Lincoln.”
Both women remained silent.
Gale said, “Sorry to be a downer. It was on my mind and I had to tell you.”
“It clears a lot of things up. I felt bad for weeks, thinking I did something wrong.”
Gale shook her head. “never, you, but to the question I have for you.”
“Yes?” Linda responded.
“What would it take for you to delay your Ph.D.?”
Without hesitation, Linda said in one breath, “A good paying job in a field I like with good hours and benefits.”
Gale drained her glass. “I can do that.”
“Do what?” Linda asked as she finished her glass.”
“Get you a great job, and . . .”
“No way. Seriously?”
“Yes way. Seriously.”
Linda put the glass down and looked Gale in the eyes. She had known Gale for about ten years now. And, throughout those years Gale never lied to her. Maybe withheld info, as she just discovered, but never lied outright. “How much and what do I do?”
“Watch the sky, take photos, calculate heavenly bodies, stuff like . . . the usual things Astronomers do.”
Linda held out her glass.
Gale got up. “There’s more in the kitchen. You hungry? I have the munchies.”
“Yes, please. Something salty?”
The two laughed. A few moments later Linda heard the familiar pop of a cork and the rustle of a bag of chips.
Gale walked back to the table. She filled both glasses and placed a bowl of potato chips in the center.
“What’s the catch?”
“Pardon?” Gale said after taking a sip.
“Are you seducing or recruiting?”
“Maybe both.” She took a bite of a rather large potato chip. “Maybe both.” She repeated the words again, but softer.”
Linda had to lean in to hear her. Maybe both she thought. “God, I missed you.” That was the champagne talking she knew. Liquid courage her father often said. ‘Drink the right amount and you’ll do anything and everything that is badass in the world.’ Then he’d shrug and finish his cup. ‘Now whether you’ll look good and survive is another question. You always have the choice to walk away.’ Gale’s lips were soft and warm with just the right touch of moisture. Linda pressed in and felt her tongue. God, I missed you she thought, then with a sigh she pulled back. “Why me?”
Gale leaned back. “I really can’t say much. It’s an Astronomer position that requires deep and out of box thinking. And, it happens to be about your Dissertation on “Transversal Massive and Mega Extraterrestrial Close Proximity Debris Cluster Fields”.
Linda nearly dropped her glass.
Gale watched the different emotions play across her friend’s face: Confusion, anger, surprise, denial, excitement, acceptance, lastly joy.
Linda whispered, “How much?”
“Twice the amount you’re making now.” She let the silence linger for a while.
“Will I be working for you?”
Gale shook her head. “We’ll be part of the same team.”
“When would I start?”
“Tomorrow if you like.”
Linda’s eyes teared up.
Gale had to lean in closer to hear. She thought she said yes. “Linda? I didn’t quite hear you.”
The smile of her friend’s face was wide. She cleared her throat and said, “Yes. I’d like to start tomorrow.”
Mission one accomplished.