A Boy and his Dungeon XVIII

XVIII

In the morning, Jill and Claudia went into town for groceries, eight of us being a heavier demand on the pantry than anticipated. Lisa, Conner and I worked on the software, with Cory offering suggestions. Robert offered what help he could to Jennifer as she worked on the new chip design.

Cory asked for, and got, several improvements to the display. The major sections of the brain were enclosed in pale transparent blobs of color, each section could be rendered invisible, the actual neurons were now blue, blood vessels were red, The mass of the brain was a pale gray fog, and the skull, an eggshell white. Every change seemed to bring more life to the image.

“Cory,” I asked, “when we did your scan yesterday, there was an odd area that seemed to grab your attention, what was that?”

“Oh, I should have told you,” he said, “I got clobbered, accidentally, by a cricket bat when I was six or so. My mother said I was in a coma for almost a week. That spot was the old indication of a minor aneurysm . Probably why I was out for a week.”

Jill and Claudia got back from town, we all helped unload and put away groceries, then took a break for lunch. Cory wondered aloud how the scan might work on other parts of the body. I wasn’t sure, the brain scans were “illuminated”, for lack of a better word, by the radiated energy for the neurons, the energy that an EEG normally picked up. But neurons, or nerves were throughout the body, so with improved sensitivity and better signal processing, we might be able to look at any part of the body. I’d read about a device that used ultrasound to do something like that, spotting broken bones and major blood vessels.

We worked through the day with only a few small beaks. After dinner we split up, going to our rooms. Tomorrow I’d be able to pick up the new computer and the Anglia as well as meet the patent attorney and make final arrangements with the funeral home. I’d asked Lisa about getting the software to run on a single computer, she said she’d think about it.

Jennifer and I crawled into bed, snuggling together, content with each other, knowing we would eventually have sex in one form or another, but not in any hurry. Jill burst into the room, sobbing uncontrollably! Jennifer and sat up in alarm. Jill threw herself onto the bed between us. Jennifer immediately hugged her, trying to calm her. I quickly joined in. We eventually got her calmed down enough to talk.

Cory had turned her down. Last night he had plead exhaustion, and they had just slept. But tonight, he had turned down her advances because, he said, she was too young and he didn’t need a rape charge on his record. This sent Jill into another crying jag and my anger rose as it never had before.

“As soon as she settles a bit,” I told Jennifer, “go get the others to come to the living room.”

She nodded, as I stormed across the hall.

“Cory!” I yelled, pounding on the door, “Get your ass out here!”

I kept pounding until the door opened. Cory looked concerned and a little scared.

“Get downstairs! Living room!” I snarled.

He headed downstairs while I fought for a small measure of control. Following a second or two behind him. Jennifer was practically on my heals, heading for the door as I followed Cory into the living room.

“Sit!” I said, indicating a straight backed arm-less chair. “What the hell gives you the right to disrespect one of my friends?”

He looked around, confused and unsure of himself. The rest of the gang came in at a run, glaring at Cory as the saw him. I asked Jennifer to bring Jill down.

“Well? Are you going to answer?” I demanded.

“Let’s all take a breath.” said Conner, “I think we may just have a misunderstanding here.”

“Fine by me.” I snarled, throwing myself onto the sofa.

Jennifer came down with a red eyed Jill and sat her on the sofa between us. Conner indicated seats for everyone else. Claudia, more than the rest, looked ready to kill someone.

“Cory,” Conner said, obviously choosing his words with care, “How old do you think we are? Tell us, from oldest on down.”

“Well, Cory temporized, “I’d say you and Lisa are nineteen, maybe twenty, Robert, maybe eighteen, I’d guess James, Jill, and Jennifer are around sixteen or a bit less, exceptionally bright, but underage, and I figured Claudia was Robert’s kid sister, twelve, at the most.”

Conner shook his head sadly, Robert restrained Claudia, and Jill began to cry again. Conner motioned for Lisa to stay in her seat.

“You turned down Jill’s advances because you thought she was underage?” asked Conner gently.

“Well, of course,” said Cory,defensively, “med students live under a microscope.