Astrid Maxxim and Her Amazing Hoverbike (10 page)

“
I hope you found plenty of interest, Astrid
,”
said Dr. Ikeda.
 “I’
m expecting something great from you
.
”

“
I think I got everything I need
,”
replied Astrid.

Toby and Denise approached the staircase from the west and gave Astrid a wave.  They both looked just as pleased with their field trip as she was.  When she saw Austin trudging back in the rear of his group however, his face was clouded over by a frown.  Once everyone was aboard the train and it was on its way, she stepped forward to where he was sitting to see what the problem was.

“
Um, nothing
,”
said Austin.
 “I’
m just worried abou
t…
um, putting all this stuff together.  I never had to write a really big assignment, um, paper, like this before
.
”

“
Do
n’
t worry
,”
said Astrid.
 “
Yo
u’
ve got lots of time and
I’
ll be glad to help you
.
”

Austin nodded, but looked far from happy.

Wednesday at school, everyone was still talking about the trip.  Over a lunch of sesame chicken, Asian rice, steamed vegetables, and almond cookies, Denise and the two Valeries, who like Alicia and Madison, were working on botany projects went on and on about the great specimens they had recorded.   

“
I did
n’
t see a single snake
,”
complained Astrid.
 “
I really thought that snakes could be the centerpiece of my project
.
”

“
Why
?”
asked Denise.

“
Snakes are fascinating
,”
said Astrid.

“
Oh no the
y’
re not.  The
y’
re slimy
.
”

“
I did
n’
t see any snakes, but I got some great pictures of a tortoise
,”
said Toby, holding up his MX-360.
 “
Do you want copies
?
”

Astrid took out her PDA and bumped it with Tob
y’
s to share data.  Then Toby and Christopher, who were both working on desert chemistry, shared their data as well.

After cleaning up their lunch table, Astrid was on her way to Biology when she ran right into Austin at the corner outside the science department offices.  As usual, the boy looked distracted.

“
Are
n’
t you supposed to be in English this hour
?”
she asked him.
 “
Yo
u’
re not lost, are you
?
”

“
Um, no. 
I’
m just looking for something
.
”

“
What is it?  Maybe I can help you find it
.
”

“
Um, no.  Tha
t’
s alright.  I
t’
s not important and I have to get to my class
.
”

“
Say, Austin.  Would you like to come over today and maybe I could help you get started on your project
.
”

“
I do
n’
t think so
,”
said the boy slowly.
 “
I want to think it all over for a while before I begin
.
”

“
Well, how about just coming over to hang out?  We could play games or go for a swim.  Then you can stay for dinner
.
”

“
Yeah, that would be really cool.  I swim laps every day here, but they wo
n’
t let us play around in the pool
.
”

“
Alright,
I’
ll meet you at the train after school.  Call your grandma and see if i
t’
s okay
.
”

Mr. Bundersmith was waiting at the monorail station after school just as he had been the previous two days.  The kids were all present except for Austin, who only showed up after their regular train had left.  Astrid had waited, expecting Austin to come home with her, and since nobody was going to leave without her, particularly considering recent events, everyone else stayed too.

“
Wha
t’
s up
?”
Toby asked Austin.

“
I lost my cell phone someplace.  I noticed it was gone in Spanish class and Mrs. Alverez would
n’
t let me go to lost and found until I sai
d‘
per
dí
mi te
lé
fono cellula
r’.
”

“
Did you call your grandma yet
?”
asked Astrid.

“
No. 
I’
ll do it right now
.
” 

As he pulled the device from his pocket and began punching in the numbers, Astrid turned to Tob
y’
s dad.

“
I hope yo
u’
re not missing too much work on my account, Mr. Bundersmith
.
”

“
H
e’
s spent plenty of nights working late
,”
said Toby.

Mr. Bundersmith looked embarrassed, but continued.

“
I would
n’
t have missed hanging out with you kids for the world, but today is the last day
.
”

“
Why
?”
wondered Astrid.

“
I’
m not sure.  I guess your mother and father have made other arrangements
.
”

“
I’
m almost afraid to go home now
,”
the girl inventor said, tugging at her collar as if it was too tight.

Only fifteen minutes after their usual train, the next monorail glided into the station and the group, as well as a few other late travelers, climbed aboard.  Austin was just finishing his call when he sat down.

“
My grandma says i
t’
s fine for me to go to your house.  Who else is coming over
?
”

“
Just you
,”
replied Astrid.
 “
I thought we could just hang out.  It seems like we only see each other when there are a bunch of other people around.  We should get to know each other
.
”

“
Yeah
,”
said the boy, and he seemed to perk up.

Mr. Bundersmith dropped the two of them at Astri
d’
s home and waited until they reached the front door before turning around and taking himself and Toby home.  Astrid turned around to see Austin staring open mouthed at the front of the house.

“
This is a mansion
,”
said the boy.

“
Yeah, I guess it is
,”
said Astrid.
 “
I forgot that you have
n’
t been here before.  Everybody else has lived in Maxxim City since they were born.  Come on in. 
I’
ll give you the five cent tour
.
”

They stepped through the front door to stand in the foyer below a sweeping staircase that led up past the second floor balcony and onto the third floor.  Austin followed Astrid as she led him to the right, into the large and seldom used dining room.  The heavy oak table and chairs seated twelve.

“
We never eat in here
,”
said Astrid.
 “
We eat back there
.
”

Beyond the dining room was the breakfast room.  A smaller dining table with six padded chairs dominated a smaller room with large windows looking out upon a rose garden.

“
I
t’
s called the breakfast room, but we eat all our meals in here.  And right in here is the kitchen.  Mom had it redone last year
.
”

The kitchen too had large windows, these looking out to the backyard and the swimming pool.  Glimmering white marble countertops with a matching island surrounded the latest appliances, contrasting with their black finishes.  There was at least one remnant of the original kitchen though.

“
Check it out
,”
said Astrid.
 “
I
t’
s a dumbwaiter.  I
t’
s like a little elevator that carries your food up to the upper floors.

“
Did you ever ride in it
?
”

“
I used to think about it when I was a kid.  But it goes down to the basement too, and i
t’
s scary down there
.
”

On the other side of the kitchen from the breakfast room was a comfortable family room, complete with large television and video game system, fluffy chairs and couches and several overflowing bookcases.  Beyond that was a living room which like the dining room, saw almost no use at all.  A long hallway led out of the living room.

“
Wha
t’
s down here
?”
wondered Austin.

“
When my dad was little, they had a bunch of maids that lived here in the house.  These are their bedrooms, but the
y’
ve been empty since before I was born.  Come on. 
I’
ll show you
.
”

The girl inventor led her new friend to the first door and opened it.  They both looked into the small bedroom and stared open-mouthed.  Standing in the center of the room was a man in his underwear.  Astrid slammed the door shut.  She stared wide-eyed at Austin.

“
Who was that
?”
he asked.

“
I do
n’
t know!  Come on!  W
e’
ve got to call the cops
!
”

They hurried as fast as they could for the front door, Astrid pulling her phone from her pocket as she ran.  She had dialed 911 just as she reached the foyer where she ran smack into her mother.

“
Astrid
!
”

“
Run Mom!  Ther
e’
s a strange naked man in our house
!
”

“
Calm down, Astrid.  Wha
t’
s the matter
?
”

“
Ther
e’
s somebody in the house
,”
said Astrid to her mother.  Then realizing that her phone was pressed to her face, she spoke into it.
 “
I need police at 415 Acacia Street
.
”

“
Give me that
,”
ordered Mrs. Maxxim, snatching the phone away and speaking into it.
 “
This is Kate Maxxim.  W
e’
re fine, but send a car just to be safe
.
”

“
W
e’
re not fine
,”
said Astrid.
 “
Ther
e’
s a strange man in the house
.
”

“
And there he is
!”
squeaked Austin.

The man they had seen in the mai
d’
s room just moments before stepped into the room.  He was now dressed all in black, and he had a gun.

The man in black stepped forward.  He was
n’
t wearing a jumpsuit, but rather a black sweater and black slacks.  He wore a shoulder holster with a large pistol tucked into it.

“
Back off, buddy
,”
said Austin, stepping toward the man, though Astrid could see that he was shaking.
 “
You do
n’
t want to mess with me! 
I’
m crazy
!
”

“
Yes, that seems self-evident
,”
said the man, a cultured English accent making him seem even more droll than his words did.

“
Is it my understanding, Mr. Toulson, that you are wandering around my house in the nude
?”
asked Mrs. Maxxim.

“
No m
a’
am, I was in my room changing
.
”

“
Your room
?
”
 
Astrid looked around at her mother.

“
Mr. Toulson, this is my daughter Astrid.  Astrid, this is Mr. Charles Edward Toulson
.
”

Austin let out a deep breath and seemed to lose about two inches of his height.  Astrid put an arm around him for fear he would fall over.

“
And who is your brave friend
?”
asked Mrs. Maxxim.

“
This is Austin Tretower, my friend from school
.
”

“
Are you Pearl Tretowe
r’
s grandson
?
”

Austin nodded as he shook her hand, and then walked toward the closest chair.  Astrid, remembering herself, stepped toward Mr. Toulson and stuck out her hand.

“
Sorry about the misunderstanding and, um, you kno
w…
barging in on you when you were changing.  I
t’
s nice to meet you, Mr. Toulson
.
”

Toulson shook her hand.
 “
Call me Charles
.
”

“
Sh
e’
s been taught to call adults by their surnames
,”
said Mrs. Maxxim.

“
I prefer to be on a first name basis with the primary
,”
said Toulson.
 “
It makes things much less complicated in an emergency
.
”

“
Primary
?”
wondered Astrid.

“
W
e’
ll talk about it at dinner
,”
said her mother.

“
I’
m your bodyguard
,”
said Toulson, ignoring the sharp look he received from Mrs. Maxxim.

“
I do
n’
t want a bodyguard
,”
said Astrid.

“
W
e’
ll talk at dinner
,”
her mother repeated.

“
Come on Austin
,”
said Astrid, leaving her mother to deal with Mr. Toulson and the soon to arrive police.
 “
Le
t’
s go upstairs. 
I’
ll let you ride on the stair elevator
.
”

She took the boy by the hand and pulled him over to the bottom of the staircase.  The steps were more than eight feet wide and were hemmed in on the outside by a heavy hand-carved railing.  On the opposite side, along the wall, was a steel track that followed the stairs upward.  Astrid pulled open the door to a small compartment on the wall and pressed a button.  Another larger door at waist level popped open, and a chair running on the rail emerged from the wall.

“
This is the stair elevator.  It was put in a long time ago, before I was born.  It was for my grandpa when he started having trouble walking up and down the stairs.  Still works though.  Hop on
.
”

Austin sat down in the padded seat.

“
Press the green button on the armrest and i
t’
ll take you upstairs
.
”

He did as directed and the chair began to slowly ascend.  He grinned.

“
This is like Captain Kir
k’
s chair on the old Star Trek
,”
he said.
 “
Does it only go one speed
?
”

“
I’
m afraid so.  I
t’
ll take about two minutes to get to the second floor
.
”
 
Astrid shot up the stairs and was waiting when her friend reached her.

“
Tha
t’
s pretty cool
,”
said Austin.
 “
I
t’
s not very fast though
.
”

“
No.  I used to like to ride it when I was a kid, but not so much anymore
.
”

“
So, is your room up here
?”
asked Austin.

“
Yes.  My room and my parent
s’
room, and their studies are here on this floor.  There are a few rooms we do
n’
t use too, like the music room.  Sometimes I go in there to play my oboe, and ther
e’
s a piano.  We do
n’
t use the third floor at all.  Too bad too, cause ther
e’
s a laboratory and an observatory.  When
I’
m grown up and this is my house, I might use them
.
”

“
This house is huge.  How can your mom keep it so clean
?
”

“
So, you think i
t’
s automatically the woma
n’
s job to keep the house clean
?”
Astrid asked pointedly.

“
Um, n
o…
I guess not.  But your da
d’
s a famous scientist
.
”

“
And my mother is Chairman and CEO of Maxxim Industries.  All three of us have our evening chores, but we do have people come in to clean twice a wee
k—
the Burtons, a brother and sister.  They do the Bundersmit
h’
s home too
.
”

Astrid led Austin to her room.  It was a cozy bedroom dominated by a large four poster bed.  Against the wall was her computer desk.  The rest of the room was filled with a dresser and several bookcases.  From the ceiling, which was painted to resemble a blue sky with a few wispy clouds, hung models of the planets and all the different manned spacecraft from Vostok to the space shuttle.

“
I expected it to be bigger
,”
said the boy.

“
There used to be a really big bedroom here
,”
explained Astrid.
 “
When I was four, my mom had it remodeled.  They cut off that end of the room and made a closet and a bathroom.  There used to be only one bathroom on this whole floor.  Now there are four.  Then they cut off that end of the room and made a play room for me.  I never really used it very much
.
”

“
You said you played the oboe
?”
he asked.

“
Yes.  Tha
t’
s it right over next to the computer
.
”

“
How come yo
u’
re not in band or orchestra
?
”

“
I was last year at Thomas Paine.  I had to give up the class to open up my schedule for other things
.
”

“
But you have Independent Study and Fencing
.
”

“
You have to take P.E.  I
t’
s required.  I took Swimming first semester and Fencing second semester. 
I’
m doing nineteenth century European novels in Independent Study, so I can get a year ahead in English.  I need an extra Science class next year
.
” 

Astrid sat on her bed and waved Austin to the computer chair.  He sat and slumped.

“
My old school only had six classes.  Rachel Carson is really hard
,”
he said.

“
Where was your old school
?
”

“
It was called West Willows High School.  It was in Washington
.
”

“
State, right?  Not D.C
.
”

“
Right.  It was sort of next door to the ocean.  But I only went there for a few weeks.  Then I had to move here
.
”

“
Why did you have to move
?”
asked Astrid.

Austin stared at his feet for a moment.

“
You do
n’
t have to tell me if you do
n’
t want to
.
”

“
No, i
t’
s alright
,”
he said.
 “
My parents were killed in a car wreck.  They got hit by a drunk driver
.
”

“
I’
m sorry, Austin
.
”

“
Yeah.  I went to live with my cousins Bart and Mary for a while, but my Aunt Pam did
n’
t want me to stay.  Then I went to live with my Uncle Dan, but he does
n’
t have a wife or kids and it did
n’
t work out either.  So the only place I could go was here, to live with my grandma.  I guess if she decides she does
n’
t want me,
I’
ll have to go to an orphanage or something.  Do they still have orphanages
?
”

“
I do
n’
t know
,”
replied Astrid.
 “
I guess so; or something like them
.
”

They were both silent for a few minutes.  Austin finally broke the silence, when he picked up Astri
d’
s MX-360 from beside her computer.

“
These are pretty cool
.
”

She nodded.

“
Small thoug
h—
easy to lose
.
”

“
Did you lose yours already
?
”

“
N
o…
i
t’
s not lost.  I
t’
s around somewhere
.
”

“
We can just log onto the Maxxim website and click o
n‘
find my M
X’
.  All you need is your serial number.  Do you know yours
?
”

“
No
.
”

“
Well, i
t’
s on the paperwork the school gave you
,”
said Astrid.
 “
If you have any problems with it, call me
.
”

Austin nodded, but sat quietly.

“
So, do you have any homework you need to do
?”
asked Astrid.

“
I have to study Greek roots and practice my viola
,”
he said
,“
but
I’
ll do both of those tonight after I get home
.
”

“
Why do
n’
t we go down to the family room and play some video games.  W
e’
ve got a bazillion of them.  What kind do you like
?
”