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the plan to discredit SACGEN. "Mr. Gunhold has already agreed to do it, and if
I can count on a few helpers to make sure the engineers don't try to pull a
fast one, it should go off smooth as silk. The windmill will break down in
front of witnesses and reporters."
"Yeah, but it'll still be standing," said Howard, vaguely disappointed. "I was
hoping for something with a little more violence. But listen, hey, whatever
does the job."
"Awesome idea, Sean," Chris approved.
Leland nodded. "The vub resonates, baby."
"Great," said Sean. "One last thing. Raymond will be back at school in a
couple of days, and he's really mad at the windmill because of his ankle.
Don't tell him about the plan. I want it to be a surprise."
This was something that had occurred to Sean on the way to school. Someone who
brought shame and ridicule onto SACGEN, and therefore Q. David Hyatt, would be
the last person in the world selected to go to Theamelpos. So Raymond could
not be told about the plot against SACGEN, because he would do anything and
everything to stop it. It was a little sneaky, keeping him in the dark, but it
was necessary. SACGEN had to go, for Raymond's and everyone's good.
"Right," agreed Howard. "We don't tell Raymond. It'll be our get-well present
to a dear friend."
Ten-Ton looked confused. "Howard, you don't like Raymond, remember?"
"I am big enough to forgive and forget," said Howard piously. "As soon as the
windmill did a number on his ankle, I forgave and forgot."
"So I can count on you guys," said Sean. "Great."
The plan was in motion. Ashley had already pledged her full support to the
venture, although Sean hadn't mentioned anything about SACGEN. To her, Gavin
was appearing as a thank-you gesture to the school that had discovered him.
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This way, Ashley couldn't leak the news to Raymond.
The two made an appointment to see Mr. Hyatt for permission to go ahead, and
naturally, the principal was overjoyed. Here was an opportunity to show off
his suit, his car, his SACGEN, and his poet, all on the same night. He praised
Ashley and Sean for their initiative, escorted them out of the office, and
rushed to phone the Department of Energy with the good news.
The next day, Raymond was back in school, thump-swinging deftly around on his
crutches. By the time Sean arrived in the morning, his English partner was
being waited upon like some Oriental warlord by Nikki, Marilyn, and Carita.
His cast
already bore several smart signatures, including that of Leland Fenster, with
the dedication Zunging ne-gatoid, baby. Get positive soon. The victim was
seated on an inactive radiator (from the good old days before SACGEN),
balancing on his lap a tray that held an enormous Burger King breakfast, while
his fans hovered around, watching his eating with great concern.
"Don't forget about your French toast, Raymond," Nikki counseled wisely.
"Here, you can wash that down with some coffee."
"Hey, Delancey," Raymond greeted Sean. "Come on over and grab some
hashbrowns."
Sean kept his distance until the girls went off, bearing the empty tray.
"Having a broken ankle isn't too bad," Raymond proclaimed as Sean settled
himself on the radiator beside him. "Everyone's treating me like delicate
crystal. Miss Ritchie can't hit me up for any garbage jobs, because I'm
injured. And the cast comes off in six weeks, add another month to strengthen
the ankle, and a nice safe caution period after that, and Jardine will be good
as new to zoom off to Theamelposin July." He chuckled. "Wouldn't want to give
Miss Stockholm damaged merchandise."
Sean felt a sudden pang of conscience. The attack on SACGEN was sure to put
hopes of Theamelpos in the grave. He grimaced. It was just Raymond's
consistently lousy luck that the chance to get a shot at SACGEN had to come up
now.
"I've got some news," he began carefully. "Ashley and I are setting up a
public appearance for Gavin Gunhold right here at DeWitt on the sixteenth."
Raymond's face broke into a big smile. "You're a real pal, Delancey. This'll
be the icing on the cake for Theamelpos. Q-Dave'll die of happiness. But how
are you going to fix it so your folks don't show up?"
"They've got a big party in the city that night, so they won't be around."
Raymond nodded in contentment. "Fan-tastic. Before, I was pretty sure we were
going to Theamelpos; now I'm positive. Gramp is the sweetest guy in the world
to do this for Jardine. And I'm not going to forget you either, Delancey."
Sean was sure of it.
Danny Eckerman walked up to them, oozing charm. "Well, well, and how are we
feeling today?"
Raymond scowled. "We were feeling fine, but then something real ugly came up."
"I was really shocked to hear about your leg," said Danny in concern. "Do you
think it'll interfere with your preparations for the Christmas activities?"
"I'm working just as hard now as I was before," Raymond assured him. "I was
doing nothing, and my future plans include a lot of the same. Now beat it."
Danny's smile never wavered. "If you need some help, I can arrange to get you
somebody, because the time really is running short."
"Now I know why the doctor gave me two crutches," Raymond informed Sean
conversationally. "One is to lean on, and the other is to beat off annoying
idiots." He raised a crutch threateningly.
"Well, I'd better be going," said Danny pleasantly. "Keep me posted on your
progress."
Raymond patted his crutch. "That's another good thing about having a broken
ankle."
Ashley did her usual thorough job of publicity, and the Gavin Gunhold reading
at DeWitt was assured of a large audience. With her faithful boyfriend, Steve,
at her side, she sent out press releases, printed up thousands of fliers, and
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recruited students from her art class to deliver them door to door. Mr. Hyatt
was so excited over the project that the school paid the expenses. For good
measure, he sent notices to all parents, urging them to attend. Long Island's
Newsday published an article on the upcoming reading, and even the New York
papers mentioned it. Gavin Gunhold was news.
Gramp was serene during the big buildup, and continued to answer his fan mail
and smoke his Scrulnick's as before. There were a few anxious moments when
Mrs. Delancey asked who this famous poet was, and how she, an English teacher,
had never heard of him. But Sean and Gramp managed to bury the issue under
many other subjects. Nikki, fortunately, chose to keep quiet.
Howard was happy but nervous over the upcoming sneak attack on SACGEN. The
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