The Vortex - Softcover

Dozier, Robert R.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1468566105 ISBN 13: 9781468566109

Verlag: AuthorHouse, 2012

Inhaltsangabe

Trying to prevent his wife's death, Ronald Aikens, a scientist, enters a paradox of time travel where he must witness his wife's death over and over unless rescued. Carl, a research analyst and Sheila, a niece of Aikens join forces to attempt to rescue him and others and run into difficulties that almost destroy them.

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The Vortex

By Robert R. Dozier

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2012 Robert R. Dozier
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4685-6610-9

Chapter One

"I'm still not happy about having our New Year's party at the lab."

"Ron, you'll have to understand my father. He's just an old romantic."

"But it's sixty-five miles up there! And in the middle of winter yet!"

Ron Aikens and his wife, Betty, were arguing in their bedroom while frantically trying to get dressed for the party. Both were late starting. Ron had attended a meeting that had dragged on and on. Betty had arrived back from the lab with her mother after spending the afternoon hanging bunting and balloons. Her mother, Denise, had driven and was the slowest driver imaginable. Curiously, she thought this was safer than driving the speed limit. The result was a rushed dinner, and hurried preparations for the party. To add to that they had their first argument over, no less, an old boyfriend.

"Dad's just doing this to celebrate the continuation of our contract with the government," Betty explained, "and he thought it appropriate to have everyone at the lab. He said your Counter was the convincing argument."

Ron smiled, thinking of Louis Abrums speaking to a subcommittee in Washington. Yes, he would be modest about his modifiable laser radar and push the electron counter Ron and Hank had built. But in reality, the laser radar was the marvel of the work. Intended as a radar that could identify the composition of its target, it seemed to be something else. Its effect on solids was something no one could understand.

"Your father is quite the man," Ron said smiling, then after glancing at his watch his smile waned, "and he hates people not being on time. We've got to rush- the party begins at 9:00."

The couple hurriedly put on the last of their clothes, and ran out of the bedroom. Betty came back, grabbing combs, brushes and make-up from her boudoir, and departed again.

Later, in the car, Betty asked: "How do I look?"

This was a question asked of husbands all over the world from time immemorial. There was, of course, only one answer if domestic peace was desired. Yet, when Ron looked at Betty he saw a truly lovely woman. Her light brown hair, that looked blond in the sunlight, was curled around her face accentuating the large brown eyes, straight nose and full lips of her mouth, which turned up just a tad at the corners, as if she was always slightly smiling. Married only a month, Ron was still amazed that such an intelligent, attractive woman could have accepted his proposal.

"You look fine, Sweetheart," he answered, knowing that he could say much more, but the question only asked so much. He'd have time later, he thought, to tell her what he really saw.

"How are we doing for time?" she asked.

Ron glanced at this watch.

"Damn! It's almost nine fifteen. We're late!"

He pushed the accelerator down to gain more speed but they were on government road E4, which led to the Kilgore Laboratories. This frustrated every attempt to hurry. It was a twisting, poorly paved road on the top of the El Capitan Bluff. Even cutting curves, Ron could not keep the car from leaning dangerously and skidding around corners.

"Ron!" Betty said with urgency. "It's not worth it! Slow down!"

Ron slowed a few miles an hour, but the tires still screeched as they slipped around the tight curves.

Going into a wider curve, they ran right up to an army six-by-six truck coming right at them skidding around the same curve. Ron jerked the car to the right while hitting the brakes but the right-hand wheels slipped off the road and the car topped over. It rolled over and over, throwing Ron out, trapping Betty inside and coming to rest upright, seventy-five feet below him, its engine smoking.

Cut and bruised, Ron picked himself up, calling Betty's name, and tried to run down to the car, tripping on sage brushes and falling heavily each time. He finally reached the car just as flames burst out from under the smashed hood.

"Betty!" he screamed, trying to open the passenger door. He couldn't control his right hand, so he switched to his left, but the door was jammed. He could see Betty, blood on her face, lying back in the seat, unconscious.

"Betty!" he screamed again. "Wake up! Help me get the door...."

The flames now spread to the rear of the car as the gasoline from the ruptured gas tank ignited. Desperate now, Ron tried to pound the glass in the window with his fist – then looking around, he could find no rock to smash his way in. He pounded helplessly with his left hand until he felt himself being pulled away from the car.

"You better get back sir," a young male voice shouted in his ear – "that car's going to blow." The driver of the army truck had finally reached Ron at the wreck.

"Let me go –I've got to...."

They were both thrown back by the blast as the gasoline tank exploded. The car was covered in flames.

"Betty! Betty!" Ron screamed. He sank down on his knees, the young soldier still holding on to him. He gave a final, despairing cry and fell down completely.

"Your arm's not broken sir, but you've torn many of your muscles and tendons." Nurse Angela Tafoya said as she gently adjusted the soft splint on Ron's right arm. "You should see your doctors in Albuquerque as soon as you can, and keep ice on your arm. None of these cuts and contusions is serious, but keep them clean and...." She stopped, and giving Ron a smile, stepped back as the doctor, a young man in his early thirties, arrived.

"Mr. Aikens? I'm Doctor Ramsay McCall. I've looked at your x-rays and found nothing broken. Your arm is your major injury, but it should begin healing soon. You'll have the use of it after some physical therapy. I've written a prescription for pain. You can pick up your pills at the pharmacy when you leave – that is, if you still want to go. I urge you to reconsider and give us a chance to check you out more thoroughly. A night here won't hurt anything, and...."

"I can't, Doctor. I've got to take care of things."

"Whatever, but Officer Montoya might be able to help."

"Thank you."

Ron eased himself up from the gurney, sore in every joint and tried to concentrate on each movement. He was still in shock over Betty's death, and this attention to details helped him go through the motions. As he walked out of the Emergency room into the lobby, Henry Barrows, his co-worker, burst through the entry doors.

"Ron! My God! Are you alright?"

"Hank – she's dead. I couldn't get to her."

"Abrums told me the whole ... Don't worry about that now. Travis is taking care of all those ... details. Here, let me get you home."

"But she was right there – just inside the car."

"Don't think about it right now Ron. Let's go home first."

"Mr. Aikens?" A young police officer approached the pair.

"Yes?"

"I'm Officer Montoya. Sgt. Jones has given me his account of what happened and he said ..."

"Look man." Hank answered sternly. "Mr. Aikens has lost his wife and was nearly killed himself. Can't this wait?"

"It's better if we get the infor ..."

"Officer," Dr. McCall interrupted. "Mr. Aikens is still in shock. I suggest you question him tomorrow."

"Yes Sir. I've got your address, Mr. Aikens, and I'll call tomorrow to see when we can fill out this accident report."

The two men were silent on the drive to Albuquerque with only a monosyllable now and then. Ron and Hank had courted Betty at the same time, and Hank felt almost the same sorrow as Ron over her death. Each had much mending to do.

As they arrived at Ron & Betty's...

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: AuthorHouse
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2012
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 1468566105
• ISBN 13: 9781468566109
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Anzahl der Seiten: 138
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: gpsr@libri.de; gpsr@libri.de; ; Europaallee 1; Bad Hersfeld; 36244; Deutschland