Chapter 12

Selene

“Next year?” like twins.

“No ... next year we’re your competition,” I said.

“You bought a boat,” he said.

“Built one,” I said.

Abby looked at me like ... I don’t know what. Then the lightbulb went off. She grinned... “Your Aunt.”

“Yes.”

“I keep forgetting you are a Flintkote,” Abby said.

“Right.”

Captain Kidd, as his own lightbulb went off, asked, “Surprise Flintkote? Flintkote International? The 3.7 lady?”

I nodded all the way through his rapidly burning out moment.

“She’s building Lightnings?”

That got got another nod.

“Fuck ... we are so screwed.” The we was all encompassing. All Lightning owners.

“Now, daddy has a proposition.”

“I don’t know your dad.”

She chuckled, “Not that kind of a proposition.” She took a deep breath and launched. “Daddy is Dean of Graduate Studies at University of Texas, Austin. Ah ... eyebrows.” That brought a grin. “Because the present Dean is an unmitigated ass, The Department of Kinesiology and Health Education is having trouble finding and keeping good instructors. What he said was, ‘I wish we could attract a highly thought of professor ... like Professor Abby Martin.’ I mentioned I knew you to be a complete expert in that field ... and a great person. One thing led to another and he asked me to ‘feel you out’ ... Tell me, Abby ... would you consider the position of Dean of the University of Texas, Austin ... Department of Kinesiology and Health Education?”

Knock me over with a feather. Would I? Although I have a PhD ... I am the low man on the ladder ... and the lowest of professional paid instructors. I have an office and share ‘an administrative assistant’ with four or sometimes five other department instructors.

I have found that she is on break or just going to assist someone other than myself when I need assistance. I have learned to operate the machinery she normaly uses ... so much so that the offices on either side of mine ask me when she cannot be found ... a situation that occurs with increasing irregularity. As for faulty computers? The IT (internet tech) is my best pal because I can take up his slack.

The Army loves me as I am responsible for cybernetic appliances that they use to replace missing limbs ... said appliances have seen battlefield use and have saved many highly trained personnel. I have been offered positions of importance ... O-5? But as an active duty reservist ... the stripes don’t go all the way around the sleeve.

Alas ... I don’t take orders well.