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Casinos in Space, a full-length novel serialized for Casino Detroit Magazine.
Copyright © 2000 - 2008 By Howard Berenbon
Chapter 4
Bugged
"So, there you are," Barry said as he rounded the corner and seeing Paul happily counting his winnings. "I thought you'd be in the casino. Is Slim around here?"
"Hi, and no!" Paul said, smiling. Silver dollars were clanging as the slot machine flashed and sang its payoff song. "Slim isn't here and I don't care. Look what I've won. I must be ahead $15,000. I just can't stop winning at this machine."
"Well, I'm glad you're winning and I'm glad we found you," Barry said. "We were asked to meet with Captain White, on the bridge, before dinner. It sounded urgent." They left the Luxor Casino and headed to the monorail for transportation to the bridge, at the front of the Las Vegas.
"Thank you for meeting wtih me at this short notice," Captain White said. He greeted Barry Cohen and Mark Simonson on the bridge of the Las Vegas. After a firm handshake, he escorted the men to a nearby meeting room. "Please be seated, doctors. We are in need of your assistance and expertise." His years as the captain of a starship were revealed in the deep lines on his forehead and salt-and-pepper hair, which was once pitch black.
"We're happy to help in whatever way we can," Barry said.
The captain sat back in his chair and took a deep breath. "The atmospheric explosions began just a year ago, mainly occurring over the oceans on all three planets in the Briney System. At first, we thought the events were caused by meteors entering the atmosphere, which is common when a planet moves through a debris field, and it's usually uneventful. Unfortunately, in the last two months, these incidents have doubled in frequency with some explosions appearing on land, near the resorts. We have had fires and some minor damage, but no casualties, as yet."
"Sounds like all you have is a meteor problem," Barry said. "How can we help?"
Captain White moved his chair closer to the table and said, "You men have top secret clearance, don't you?"
"Why, yes, of course," Barry said.
"We're red hot," Mark added.
"We'll, what I'm about tell you is for your ears only.
We've discovered evidence of a primitive race of humanoids on Briney 1. We think they died out centuries ago, but we're not sure.
"Very interesting," Mark said. "First contact?"
"Not exactly, contact," Dr. Simonson," Captain White said. "We have found very few artifacts, nothing else."
"Do you think these explosions are tied to the planet's previous inhabitants?" Mark asked.
"Well, yes and no. At first, we assumed meteors. Then, when the explosions dramatically increased, and started appearing near the resorts, we suspected employee union violence. Last month, the union contract negotiations broke down, which triggered violence on some of the picket lines. We just don't know for sure."
Their trip back to the Mirage on the monorail went uneventful. They were now committed to help discover the cause of the incidents in the Briney system, with only a few days more before their arrival.
Barry broke the silence. "I'm getting hungry." Let go pick up our wives and then all decide where to go eat."
"Fine with me," Mark said. "And, Paul, since you're $15,000 richer, you can treat us to dinner." Paul did not answer. He was looking in the distance, not paying attention.
"Hey, Paul," Barry said, "what are you thinking about?"
"Oh, uh," Paul replied, "Sure, I'll treat. I"m not thinking about a thing."
They exited the monorail and entered the moving walkway which connects the Luxor to the Mirage in the middle of the artificial desert. In a distance, a small sand tornado was moving steadily toward the walkway, but unnoticed by the men. As they approached the lobby, the swirling torrent of sand jumped over the walkway as if it were intelligently controlled. They entered into the lobby covered with sand, but otherwise unhurt.
"What was that," Barry said, wiping sand from his hair and on to the hotel carpeting. "I have grit in my teeth."
"I guess it was a sandstorm," Mark replied as sand fell from his arms and legs. "Hey, wait a minute. Where is Paul?"
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To be continued .....
