This is episode thirty-four of the novel, From Here To 1137 AD. If you would like to purchase From Here To 1137 AD, it is available on Amazon in Kindle format or paperback.
Getting Edgar Out Of San Jose
Tom stepped out of the Instaport onboard the pod. He used the pod’s telescope to track Edgar to the airport by cab.
“Brain, access the airport's computers and let me know how Edgar is going to get to Tristan da Cunha.”
“I’ll have it in a moment,” Brain said.
Tom waited.
“I have it for you,” Brain said. “He is flying from San Jose to Panama City. There will be two hours and eleven minutes between landing and his next flight. Then he will fly to São Paulo, Brazil. He checked on the first flight from São Paulo to Cape Town, South Africa. It’s interesting to note that there are no planes to Tristan da Cunha. It will be a five-day boat trip from Cape Town to Tristan da Cunha.”
“Talk about isolated,” Tom said. “That almost sounds worse than what he’s running from.”
“It might be wise to suggest things he could occupy himself with during his exile.”
“You’re the brains of this outfit,” Tom said and added, “quite literally.”
“Actually, that’s not true,” Brain said. “I’m not a brain. My functions best describe me as a machine. For better or worse, you are the brains of this outfit—did you like that little dig?”
“I did,” Tom smiled.
“So,” Tom said, “gainful occupations in Tristan da Cunha, whatcha got?”
“Any sort of work is difficult to obtain in Tristan da Cunha,” Brain said. “Most jobs come by means of government approval and programs. There is currently a need for law enforcement, requiring ten years of experience. There are various other jobs for which Edgar might be overqualified, and taking such positions might attract unwanted attention. There are currently two teacher positions open. Edgar is still overqualified, yet this would be closer to his educational background and skills.”
“The sticking point would be government approval?” Tom asked.
“That is correct,” Brain said.
“Brain, create all the needed documentation that would put Edgar in a good position to accept a teaching position.”
“In other words, you would approve of me creating and forging communications and paperwork that would make it appear Edgar has gone through a rigorous application and acceptance process?”
“That’s exactly what I had in mind. And before you start questioning me, I have no moral issues with this.”
“Currently, there is no one remotely, pardon the pun, interested in a teaching position on Tristan da Cunha. Thus, no one is set aside in favor of Edgar.”
“Thanks for clearing that up for me.”
“It doesn’t bother you now,” Brain said, “but I thought it would be something that might bother you in the future.”
“Thanks for the consideration,” Tom said wryly.
Tom strolled over to the replicator and asked for a cup of coffee. He took the coffee and relaxed in the lounge. He picked up an electronic tablet and read the local news from home. He checked the grain prices and commodity futures. He recalled his mother and father doing the same thing. They discussed them together. At the time, he found it difficult to understand their interest. However, now he could recall the anxiety and uncertainty in their voices. They didn’t know the future, and now, at a mere command, Brain could predict future prices with a degree of reasonable certainty.
‘I can’t imagine their turmoil,’ Tom thought. ‘And it was not for themselves. It was for Edgar and me, and to keep the farm in the family. I wish they were alive now so I could tell them the admiration I have for them.’
“Brain,” Tom said, “could I have kept the farm if not for your intervention and help?”
“As you know,” Brain said, “I cannot with complete accuracy predict the future. I can say with a reasonable degree of certainty that you would have found a way to keep the farm. Likely you would have had to rely on Gene Francis, but you would have found a way.”
“Thank you, Brain. That means a lot.”
“I did not say that to comfort or flatter you,” Brain said. “It is based on logic and assessing much of what I have been able to convert into data points.”
“No matter how mechanical and unattached you sound, it still brings me some degree of comfort.”
“Keep in mind, my existence and function are not to bring comfort. I exist to provide facts and reasonable conclusions.”
“I understand,” Ton conceded.
Tom continued to scroll through the news on the electronic tablet. He grinned and said to himself, ‘What a friend. He doesn’t pull his punches.’
The reading left Tom sleepy. And it had been an exhaustive experience. He lay back and drifted off into sleep.
A little more than an hour later, Brain said, “Tom.”
Tom awoke and sat up. “Yes, what is it?”
“Edgar’s flight is about to take off. I can confirm that he is aboard.”
“Thank you, Brain.”
Tom stood and walked to the captain’s chair. He scrolled through the data on the control panel’s screen. He entered the appropriate data to return to the farm.
“Pod, activate!”
The pod softly lunged. And Tom was on his way back home.
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