On Tuesday evening, Dad was reading the Auldek's Pond Science Review out on the front porch. We had had supper two hours earlier, followed by a film on nucleoTV. For once, I had no homework to worry about. Johnny had taken care of that!
I decided to join Dad on the porch. I hadn't spoken to him in private for a while. Now seemed like a good time.
I got up and went outside.
He looked up and smiled at me.
“Hello Giren!” he said cheerily.
“Hi Dad,” I replied and went to sit next to him. I took in the fresh night air gratefully. It had been raining for some time now and the air had cleared up. The street was quiet. Our neighbours were either supping or relaxing in front of the n-TV or asleep.
“Don't you just love the stillness of the night,” Dad remarked, as if reading my thoughts.
“Lovely,” I said pleasantly. “What are you reading, Dad?”
“Some article on diffraction,” he replied, with a chuckle. “It's really interesting. Maybe you should read it when I am finished.”
Normally I would decline politely. But tonight, I thought it best to oblige. I would take it to Square to translate it for me.
“Sure, Dad.”
I let a few minutes pass.
“Dad, when next are we going to the Lokho Hills?” I asked him.
“The Lokho Hills? We've just been there, haven't we? We won't be going back there for a while, I don't think. Not until after our vacation in Paz Quando. Why?”
“Well, I forgot something there the last time we went there, that's all,” I said. “I was hoping we would be going back there soon, so that I could retrieve it.”
I hated lying, especially to Dad.
“Oh.” Dad paused, thinking. “What is it you lost?”
“Er... a magnet” It was the only thing I could think of.
“A magnet? Well, we'll get you another one. No problem!” Dad smiled at me and patted me on the back.
“No you can't, Dad. This magnet is special.” I was getting desperate.
“Don't worry, Giren, I'll get you a special magnet.”
“You don't understand, Dad. The magnet is part of my chemistry set. I need that particular magnet. My chemistry set is useless without it.” It was the silliest lie, but sadly the best I could come up with at short notice.
“This magnet is part of your chemistry set? What would a magnet be doing in a chemistry set?” He could see right through my lie. I swallowed hard.
“Well, you see, Dad, Square and I have, well, Square alone really, has revolutionarized the ordinary chemistry set. He has devised a new concept, which combines chemical energy with magnetic forces to produce a new energy source. We are working on it. This magnet is super-important. We can't go on without it.”
“I see,” he said, nodding his head in understanding. “Wow, this is some project. Your friend Square must be very brainy.”
“Yeah, Dad, he is!” He was going to let me go!
“I'm proud of you, son, taking such a keen interest in science.”
I nodded. “Thanks, Dad.” This was unbearable.
“Giren,” he said.
“Yes Dad?”
“What were you doing up in the Lokho Hills with a magnet of such importance?”
Oh no, I thought gloomily. He knew I was lying. I had been rumbled.
“Uh... I was testing out the strength of the magnetic field at high altitude!” I blurted out. Dad laughed. I wasn't sure why.
“Alright, alright, Giren, you win,” he told me. “You may go to the Lokho Hills with Dulis if your mother agrees.” I gave him a hug.
“Really?”
“Sure. You seem desperate enough. Lord only knows why.”
I ran indoors to tackle phase two of my quest. Mom regarded me for a moment when I asked her.
“Oh well, I don't see why not,” she said. “You've been good lately. You could go tomorrow after school if your brother agrees to drive you.”
“Thanks Mom,” I gave her a big hug. She smiled.
Then I remembered. Tomorrow night was sports trials day, like today. It would have to be the day after Sports Day.
“How about Saturday, Mom? I have sports trials tomorrow.”
“OK. Saturday. Even better.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
Just then Gomi came out onto the porch.
“What's going on?” he asked. “Where is Giren going on Saturday?”
“To Lokho,” I replied.
“What for?”
“Not telling!” He was my friend again, but only just. I wasn't going to tell him any of my adventure secrets. This was between Square and me now.
“It's the project Square and I are working on.”
“Oh that,” he said. “I'm not interested anyway. You can go to Lokho by yourself. See if I care.”
With that he went to hang out with Dad.
“Hey, Giren,” I heard Dad call out to me.
“Dad?” I went out to him.
“Could you write me a report of your findings?” he said with a wink.
“What findings?”
“The strength of the magnetic field on the Lokho Hills. I am interested.”
I panicked. I had to find a way out, and quick. I hadn't a clue how to test the strength of a magnetic field. Even Square couldn't make up some figure for Dad! He probably knew the exact figure, or at least he could find out.
“I can't, Dad.”
“Why not?”
“It's top secret.”
“Oh.”
“I'm sorry, Dad.” I shrugged apologetically.
“No, that's fine. I respect secrecy. It's OK.” He smiled at me. I smiled back.
I had won.