Somebody Else's Space Program
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Chapter Twenty "The careful text books measure . . ."
The car pulled to a stop. Ricky pulled off the goggles, wiped her face, and jumped out. "Thanks for the ride. I'll see you around, I'm sure."
"Ricky . . ."
"Yes?"
"I'm going to need an assistant. Just to run errands at first, hand me tools, hold things in place while I assemble them. But I can teach you the technical parts as we go. You're smart, you're independent, and you're resourceful. And you're not already tied up with some other project." He saw her hesitate . . . "Room and board, some spending money until I find a backer, then a real salary. Give it a try -- Just let me know if you get another offer, give me a chance to at least match it."
Ricky grinned, "It's a deal."
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An old livery stable on the edge of town, abandoned when the rails came through. "You any good with a hammer?" Worrell asked.
"Not yet. I imagine we'll both be a lot better in a few days."
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John was in the mayor's office, getting final permits to build. He asked, "I know that the schools of fish move around, season to season. Are we going to have problems with that?"
The mayor scratched his head. "You are on the shore. How could what you are doing possibly interfere with fishermen?"
"I'm... building a large cannon, testing it. I want to fire out over the ocean, so there is no chance of anyone being hurt. But a fishing boat...."
"I see. I'll ask some of the elders, but I think you'll be fine."
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"I didn't know you could cook."
"I can't. I made a deal with a widow in town to do chores for her. In return, she'll take food I bring to her and make us real meals."
"I'm going to need your time -- you won't always be able to help her." He took another spoonful of the soup, munched thoughtfully on the bread. "Does she take in boarders?"
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With the new arrangement, their expenses actually went down. And the novelty of laundry that did itself, and housekeeping... As they were leaving the house heading for the workshop, Ricky said, "John, you might want to marry her. Before someone else gets her."
"Ricky, it doesn't work that way."
"Why not?"
Worrel's head tilted over as he studied his protege. "You're probably a little bit young to fall in love."
"Oh, it's happened, once or twice. I got over it."
"Then..."
"That doesn't have anything to do with who you get married to. One of the reasons I left home was that my mom was trying to marry me off to someone awful. It would have made my family better off, but I would have been miserable. So I left.
"But you and Dolores.. she likes you, you like her, and she needs someone to help with the house and kids. And _you_ need a nursemaid so you don't wear last week's supper. It makes you look bad when you have to deal with the mayor."
"She's taking care of that already," John said. "Marrying her isn't going to make any difference, and if she finds someone she loves, or if I do, then we won't already be locked into a marriage with someone else."
Ricky just glowered. "Do you have someone else in mind?"
"No. No time for that right now."
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"Who's that?"
Ricky sneaked a peek through the lace window curtains. "That's the reverend's son. The reverend has been coming over evenings to pray with Dolores -- maybe he couldn't make it this evening and sent Wolcott here in his stead."
John peered... "I think there is more than that. Prayer meetings don't usually come with flowers."
Ricky laughed. "Depends on what you're praying for."
"Or preying on."
"John! I'm sure his intentions are more than honorable. I only hope that she'll still be taking in boarders after the wedding -- I hate having to move. And cook. And _laundry_!"
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