The Navigators by Dan Alatorre Read Free Book Online

what we were seeing, and after a while, there were only so many possible answers.”
    Melissa stood and went over to the machine, placing her hand on its bronze skin.
    Barry drummed his fingers on his thighs. “It’s really an amazing discovery.”
    “Were you both smoking crack?” Roger walked up to Barry. “A time machine? Even if it does turn out to be real, the computer geeks will steal the whole thing out from under us. Their department has all the funding, too. They’ll make it their property and we’ll never see it again!”
    Melissa appeared unconcerned. Her eyes never left Barry’s. “Do you think it will work?”
    The smile crept back onto his face. “I do. So does Findlay.”
    “Then you’re both crazy, Barry.” Roger paced around the room. “Or high.”
    Melissa waved at him. “Roger, shut up for a second. Barry, give me your word: if we make this thing work, even with Findlay’s help, we keep it in our department. Paleontology.”
    Barry folded his arms and eyed the machine. “I think Findlay’s too eager to understand the technology to consider pissing us off and never seeing it again. He’ll do whatever we ask.”
    She nodded slowly. “Okay, then.” Melissa turned and dangled her car keys. “I’ve gotta get to class. We’ll look at it tonight – all of us – and make a decision.”
    “About what?” I asked.
    Barry answered for her, grinning. “About whether to go public with our findings, of course.”

Chapter Seven
     
    “G o public!” Roger’s face turned red. He pointed at the TV in the corner. “You mean, go embarrass ourselves on television and in the press?”
    Melissa tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s a good idea. It would mean headlines. National attention. On our program for a change. That could equate to some big funding.”
    “Fame! Fortune!” Barry laughed.
    “I don’t know about this.” Roger ran his hands through his hair and stared out the window. “Maybe.”
    “Publicity.” Barry leaned on the couch. “What’s wrong with that?”
    I couldn’t tell if Barry was playing with us or not. I certainly wasn’t going to ask. Keeping my mouth shut and my excitement under control was my best bet.
    Roger walked over to him. “What’s wrong with publicity? Plenty. I know how your mind works. If you thought you could generate some buzz with a stunt, you’d do it. But something like this, so crazy sounding… it could blow up in our faces, man. Then we’re embarrassed on the national stage and lose the little funding we have.”
    “Unless it’s a real time machine that actually works,” Melissa said. “Then, it’s a different story.”
    Roger’s mouth hung open.
    “Which is why we need to test it first.” Barry glanced around at us. “And to keep Findlay in the circle.”
    “Geez.” Roger shook his head. “You mean keep him quiet.”
    “Exactly.”
    The scowl on Roger’s face grew larger. “He never should have been in the circle in the first place. That guy Findlay is a wild card.”
    “Yeah.” Melissa sighed. “Why didn’t you call someone like Bill Cicero? Bill’s discreet.”
    Barry’s mouth opened but he didn’t speak. He glanced at Melissa. “Cicero?” Then he recouped, shaking it off. “He’s… not taking classes this summer.”
    “Then he’s just back home in Miami.” Roger threw his hands up. “That's a three hour drive. He would've come over here for something like this.”
    Barry glared at him. “I made the decision.”
    “It wasn’t your call to make!”
    “Why not?” Barry said. “It’s my discovery.”
    “What!” Roger’s eyes widened. “We were all there!”
    “Were we?” Barry narrowed his eyes. “I found it. I’m the one who studied the topography and determined the dig site. Riff helped me dig it up. What did you do, Roger? I mean, besides get naked and try to get some with your ex?”
    Roger would have punched him but Melissa beat him to it. She slapped Barry hard across the face.