Free The Time Portal 2: Escape in Time by Joe Corso [time travel]

shaped craft. For purposes of the prototype only, Mickey’s suggestion was accepted. Future models would need to use more sophisticated space-worthy materials. The bottom half was complete. Now it was time for the professor to install the magnetic propulsion system along with computerized circuitry designed to give instructions to the servos (the control system in charge of the hydraulics) and the gyroscope. A solid, double layered, three-quarter-inch plywood floor was placed on top of the bottom half, thus separating the upper and lower sections and giving the craft a foundation. A small circle was carved into the middle of the floor to allow the activating rod to function. Additional slots were cut to control lateral flight. They installed six captain’s chairs, purchased from an RV store. The chairs swiveled in all directions and when reclined, they doubled as beds. It was now time to work on the top half of the spaceship. At a military supply store, the guys found a Plexiglas® turret from an old B-29 bomber. Apparently, it had been lying around gathering dust for years; the owner was only too happy to get rid of it. It was bolted to the top part of the craft.
    After weeks of arduous labor, all was complete. Now was the time to see if their hard work paid off. The men rolled the flying machine out of the barn into the clearing and climbed aboard. Charlie and Sam gathered round at a safe distance to observe the maiden flight or . . . failure. Once Mickey, Lucky, the professor, Dukie, and Nicky were all comfortably strapped into their seats, the professor placed the activator into the magnetic tube, situated in front of his seat in the center of the craft, and slowly inserted it, about an inch at a time. The rings that the professor had demonstrated back at the safehouse began to undulate up and down. The men did not have gauges to monitor the rings to see if they were stabilized so they had to wait a few minutes until the gyroscope took over and the ship balanced itself. The professor then raised the activator very slowly until the men could feel the ship rising from the ground. He pulled the activator out a little more.
    “Hey, professor,” Mickey said. “Remember what Lucky said. We can’t take a chance of getting too high up and being seen. It might alert the bad guys where we are and put Charlie’s life in danger. We don’t need that.”
    The professor nodded slightly and kept the ship just above the tree line as Lucky had suggested, no higher. Deep into the Outback, the ship traveled at amazing speed.
    “Damn,” said Dukie. “I think this baby could travel at supersonic levels if need be.”
    “Yeah,” Nicky chimed in. “Right into outer space, I bet. ‘Cept for the lack of oxygen and the necessary materials to withstand re-entry, we might not need to try that.”
    As for the professor, he showed no emotion as he guided his creation all throughout the woods. It had met his expectations but surpassed those of his helpers. He knew it could be done. He had spent years crafting her, this spaceship, if only on paper and through prototype. This was indeed an invention of magnanimous proportions. Huge.
     
     
     

Chapter Eight
     
    Lucky called the Compound’s CIA director, Jack Kinsey, on his secure phone to find out from him what he had learned about the Russians, the Arabs, or anyone else who might be interested in Dr. Lindstrom and his invention. Jack told him that they had captured the Russian men who were sent after Lucky and the Professor.
    “The Russians have denied any knowledge of this and have insisted that these men were rogue agents, with their own agenda, and that the higher-ups had nothing to do with trying to kidnap you.”
    “Jack, it’s just as well that I disappeared,” Lucky answered. “Because Lindstrom’s invention is something else. The damn thing doesn’t need gasoline or any type of fuel to work. It costs nothing to run and can be used in outer space and I’m just hoping that