Sonny, Page 3

shook the phone and roared again.Finally, he slapped it down on the hook. "Gimme that radio," he said,reaching for the handset. The operator shook his head sadly. "No use,corp. It's deader'n doornail. Don't know what's the matter. It justquit."

  Weisbaum looked around and spotted one of the regular jeep driversstanding at the foot of the tower. "Mahoney," he yelled. "Get in yourjeep and go back and get the old man. Tell him he's gotta see Cromwellshoot. You can tell him what happened."

  The jeep driver started towards his vehicle. "And Mahoney," Weisbaumyelled after him, "while you're there, bring back another radio andtell that idiot on the switchboard we got wire trouble." Mahoneynodded and went to his jeep.

  Back at the cabin, Ma Cromwell wiped her face with her apron skirt."Shore hot today," she thought. "You hot there, too, Sonny?"

  "Kinda hot, Ma," Jed thought back. "Shore ain't like home. Not badthough."

  "You gettin' enough to eat, child?" Ma asked.

  Jed frowned slightly and stepped up his mental output. A half miledown range and a thousand feet up, an Army helicopter heading for amaneuver area, coughed and quit. The blades went into autogyro as itsank quickly to earth.

  Vehicles all over the post came to a spluttering stop and officelights and refrigerators went off.

  "What did you say, Ma?" Jed asked. "Seemed like you got sorta weak."

  "'Tain't me." Ma snorted. "Jest that nosy Miz Hawkins. She's gottalisten in on everybody's private talk up in these hills, seems like."There was the feeling of an indignant gasp and then Ma's thoughts camebooming through. Jed relaxed and grinned. The chopper was almost onthe ground when its engine caught fire once again and went surging upand forward. The surprised pilot fought to get control before heslammed into a low hill. Lights came back on and electrical equipmentbegan running other than close to the range.

  "Shouldn't ought to talk like that, Ma," Jed grinned. "She's jestbein' friendly like."

  "Hm-m-m," Ma sniffed, "gettin' so's a body cain't even talk with herown kinfolk without everybody in these parts listenin' in."

  Mahoney got out of his jeep and walked back to the tower. "Jeep won'tstart," he called up to Weisbaum.

  The corporal turned purple and leaned over the edge of the tower. "Tahell with it then," he roared. "Now get those bums back on the line.We got a whole platoon to shoot out and I want to see that hillbillydo the same thing in the standing position.

  "Cromwell," he bellowed, "get up on that line."

  Jed opened his eyes quickly and then shut them for another moment.

  "Got to go, Ma," he thought quickly, "that corporal feller's yellin'again. You take care, Ma."

  "I will, Sonny," Ma thought back. "Mind your manners."

  Jed got up and hurried to the firing line. In the tower, the phonebegan ringing and the radio and telephone operators began reportingthe equipment trouble they'd been having. On the road, one of thetruck drivers half-heartedly stepped on the starter for the tenthtime. The engine roared to life. The other drivers stopped and stared,then climbed down from fenders and front bumpers and tried their ownstarters. The trucks and their puzzled drivers left. Firing resumed.

  That evening in the barracks, Harry Fisher complimented the mountainboy. "Nice shooting today, Jed," he said, "I was on the radio in thepits while you were shooting. I don't think anyone ever saw anythinglike that before."

  Jed smiled at his friend and bunkmate. "It's easy to do, real easyHarry," he said. "I reckon everyone could do it once they get the hangof it."

  Fisher smiled ruefully. "You're looking at one guy who'll never getthe hang of it," he said, "whatever the 'hang of it' might be."

  "Honest, Harry," Jed said earnestly, "all you gotta do is jest thinkthem bullets into that big black spot."

  Fisher laughed. "I could think like Socrates and never come closeto...." He stopped and stared at Jed with a half-smile. "You know,Jed, you're kind of weird sometimes. 'Think the bullets.' Come tothink of it, though, that's not the only weird thing. Did you knowthat everytime you were getting ready to shoot our radios went deadtoday?"

  Jed frowned thoughtfully. "That's funny. I ain't never heard of thathappenin' afore. O' course, we never had radios in Bluebird Gulch.Only thing we ever had trouble with wuz the 'lectric light bulbs inPaulsburg the one-two times our folks went down there. Seems like themlights wuz goin' out everytime one of us wuz mind-talkin' with somehomefolks."

  Harry stared puzzledly at the mountain boy.

  "You know," Jed tried to explain, "like when you might of fergotsomethin' someone wanted real bad from the store. Or mebbe like onetime when Ma'n me wuz in the big store in Paulsburg and she wuzgettin' some fancy cloth fer Miz Culpepper. Store didn't have no fancycloth like Miz Culpepper wanted, with big red flowers. Only had blueflowers. So Ma, she mind-asked Miz Culpepper if the blue ones would beall right. Every durned 'lectric light bulb in that store went out."

  Fisher was beginning to get a dazed look on his face. "'Mind-asked.''Mind-talk.' You mean what I think you mean, Jediah?" he asked.

  "Reckon I do," Jed said emphatically. "Just like I mind-talked with Mathis afternoon an' tole her what all the hurrah was about jest 'causeI flung them bullets through that big ol' black spot."

  "You talked with your mother back in West Virginia this afternoon?"Harry pressed. "From the rifle range?"

  "Shore did," Jed said happily. "Most plumb forgot fer a couple o'weeks now, what with us bein' so consarned busy. It wuz purely fine totalk with Ma."

  Fisher's brain was spinning. "Can you contact her anytime you wantto?"

  "Shore kin," Jed said proudly. "It takes a mite more power though, thefurthern I git from home. Or if Miz Hawkins is listenin' in."

  "Let's see you do it now," Fisher demanded.

  Jed shut his eyes. "Ma," he thought, "you got time fer a chat?"

  The lights went out all over the barracks. Harry Fisher fainted.

  When he came to, he was lying on Jed's bunk with the mountain boyleaning over him solicitously. "You all right, Harry?" Jed askedanxiously. "Ma's worried 'bout you."

  Harry fainted again.

  When he came to the second time, Jed had gone running down thebarracks aisle to Corporal Weisbaum's room. Harry sat up and swung hisfeet over the edge of the bunk. He was light-headed and his brain wasstill whirling.

  A minute later Jed came back leading Weisbaum. The corporal peereddown at Fisher. "You sick 'er somethin' Fisher?" he asked. "Get toomuch sun today?"

  Harry shook his head. "No. I'm O.K. now, corporal. Must have beensomething I ate. I'll be all right."

  Weisbaum reached down and felt Harry's forehead. "You look kindapeaked to me. You hit the sack and if you don't feel O.K. in themorning, I'll put you on sick call."

  Harry shook his head again. "No need for that. I'll be all right. I'mgoing outside and get some fresh air. Jed, will you give me a hand,please?"

  He stood up shakily and Jed took his arm. "O.K.," Weisbaum said, "butif you don't feel so good, you're going to the dispensary, you hear."He went back to his room.

  * * * * *

  Harry and Jed walked out of the barracks into the night air. Fisherpaused and breathed deeply, then turned to face Jed. "You always beenable to mind-talk with you mother?" he asked.

  "Why, shore," Jed replied. "Most folks back home kin. Shore saves aheap o' walkin' over them hills."

  "And did the lights go out when you talked that way?" Harry inquired.

  "Well now, I don't rightly know," Jed said. "Only place what has themlights close by is Paulsburg and that's thutty miles from Owl Creekand us folks ain't got much truck fer them big cities. Don't reckonany of us ever been there more 'n three-four times in our whole lives.But it shore happens in Paulsburg whenever we gossip thataway. Neverthought nothin' of it afore, though. Reckon, now that I study on it amite, it's 'cause we got to use more of the power to reach across themhills. Ma once said she reckoned us Cromwells could mind-talk with theEmpereer of all Roosha if'n we had to. 'Course, we'd be straining ou
rheads a mite fer all that distance 'cause Ma says Roosha and Englandis a heap further from Bluebird Gulch 'n even Madison. Or ForeMcGruder, I reckon."

  Harry though quietly for a moment.

  "When was the last time you talked with your mother that way?" heasked.

  "Don't rightly know or remember jest when it wuz," Jed replied. "Seemslike it wuz 'bout the fust week we wuz here. One night, in thebarracks, I kinda got homesick I reckon, 'cause that wuz the day I gotcussed out for the first time in my whole, entire life."

  Harry smacked his clenched fist into his hand. "That's it," he cried."That's it. That was the night the lights went out three time in thebarracks. The night Weisbaum made us take the five-mile moonlight hikebecause he thought someone was fooling with the lights."

  He grabbed Jed by the arm. "That was the night, wasn't it, Jed?"

  "Come to think of it," Jed replied, "I reckon it wuz. There wuz such ahurrah when the lights keep a-goin' out, I never did get to hear whatMa had to say. 'N by the time we got back from that little walk, Iplumb fergot to ask her.

  "You know somethin' Harry, I plumb fergot what would happen to themlights. By gosh, I reckon I wuz the one what got us all in trouble. Ijest reckon I better go 'n tell the fellers I'm sorry 'bout that."

  Fisher grabbed his sleeve. "Oh no you don't," he snapped. "You'recoming with me."

  Ten minutes later, two slightly scared recruits stood on the stepsleading to the post commander's quarters. Jed started back down thesteps. Harry held tightly to his arm. "Come on," he whisperedsavagely, "we're going to talk with the colonel, Jed. Now don't you gogetting chicken on me, you hear."

  "Harry, I ain't never even see'd no colonel, much less 'n talk toone," Jed said, "and I reckon I jest as soon not, if'n you don'tmind."

  "I do mind," Harry snapped and pulled Jed up to the door.

  Their ring was answered by a pretty, teenaged girl. She smiledinquiringly at the two young soldiers.

  "Miss," Harry stammered, "we'd like to talk with Colonel Cartwright,please."

  The girl turned into the house. "Dad," she called, "someone to seeyou."

  Colonel William Cartwright came to the door. The light from the roomglinted off the silver eagle on his collar. He looked at the two youngsoldiers. "What can I do for you men?" he asked.

  "Sir," Harry answered with a stiff salute and a quavering voice, "I'mPrivate Harry Fisher and this is Private Jediah Cromwell, sir."

  The colonel returned the salute. "All right, at ease. What do youwant?"

  Harry gulped and took a firm grip on his courage. "Sir," he barkedout, "are your house lights all in good working order?"

  "What?" Cartwright exploded. "What the devil are you talking about,soldier?"

  "Sir, we've got to show you something right now," Harry stammered."It's urgent, colonel."

  "Now see here Fisher," the colonel said, "we've got proper channelsfor any problems you might have and I don't take care of those thingsat my quarters. I have an office in post headquarters and with thepermission of your company commander, you can see my adjutant duringduty hours. Or the chaplain."

  "Please, sir," Harry gulped. "It's awfully important."

  "Well," the colonel hesitated, "this is most unusual."

  "Yes, sir, it is most unusual," Harry agreed.

  "All right," the post commander sighed, "what is it?"

  "Sir, are your house lights all working?" Harry repeated.

  "Now look here, Fisher, if this is some sort of a gag, I'll seethat...."

  "No, sir," Harry repeated strenuously, "I really mean the question."

  The colonel glanced back over his shoulder into the house. He turnedback to the pair. "Yes, the lights appear to be all functioning."

  Harry turned to Jed. "Talk to your mother, Jed," he whispered.

  Jed shut his eyes. "Ma," he thought, "it's me agin!"

  The lights went out all over the colonel's quarters.

  Colonel Cartwright gasped and stared at the mountain boy standing withhis eyes closed.

  "All right, Jed," Harry said, "break it off."

  "Jest a minute, Ma," Jed thought, "Harry wants me." He opened his eyesand the lights came on.

  "How did he do it?" the colonel breathed.

  "He thought them out, sir," Harry said.

  "He ... WHAT?" Cartwright spluttered.

  "That's right, sir," Harry repeated. "He 'thought' them out. Jed, getMa on the line again."

  Jed shut his eyes. The lights went out again.

  Colonel Cartwright sagged against the door jamb. He moaned, "How longhas this one been running around loose?"

  "Colonel," Harry said cautiously, "he does the same thing with radios,telephones, cars, anything requiring electrical power. He just shutsit off."

  The post commander looked stunned.

  "That's not all either, sir," Harry continued. "He can 'think' bulletsto a target."

  "Come in the house," the colonel said weakly. "That's an order,soldiers."

  * * * * *

  Three weeks later, Sergeants First Class Harold Fisher and JediahCromwell were putting the finishing touches to their own private room.Jed sank down onto the soft mattress on the big bed. "Glory be, Harry,I jest can't seem to catch my breath, we've been movin' so fast 'ndoin' so much. All them there tests with them tanks and themairyplanes in Californy and that other funny place. Ma thought it waskinda funny I had so much time fer jest a-sittin' 'n chattin' withher. Now we're here 'n I ain't allowed to say nothing to her."

  He stole a proud glance at the new chevrons on the sleeve of hisfancy, blue dress uniform. "Gosh but Ma would be proud to hear aboutall what's happened to us. I purely wish I could tell her."

  Harry snapped up from the bureau drawer where he had been placing hisclothing.

  "Watch it, Jed. You know what the general said. Now don't you go andqueer this deal for us just because you're getting a little homesick,"Harry warned. "We're the only Army GI's in this outfit and this ispretty plush. You know what the general said, 'no talking with Mauntil you get permission.' Remember?"

  Jed sighed. "Oh, I remember, rightly enough. Only I shore wish they'dlet me just think 'hello' to her. I ain't never been so far from herafore and its gonna take a heap of powerful mind-talk to get to her."

  "Never you mind, now Jed," Harry said, "you'll get all the chances youwant to talk with her. Just be patient."

  He turned back to his clothing. The was a knock at the door and thenit opened to admit a small, conservatively-dressed civilian. Bothsergeants jumped to their feet.

  "Good morning, gentlemen," the civilian said. "I'm George Wadsworth,first secretary at the Embassy here." He looked around the room andsmiled. "Your quarters satisfactory, men?" Both soldiers noddedhappily.

  "Good," Wadsworth said. "Oh, by the way Sergeant Cromwell," he turnedto Jed, "we've just learned that our hosts plan to launch their mannedMoon rocket within the next hour or so. Isn't that interesting?"

  Jed nodded vigorously.

  "I though so, too," Wadsworth continued. "I should imagine that yourmother would find this quite interesting as well, don't you think,Sergeant Cromwell?"

  "'Deed she would, sir," Jed said enthusiastically.

  "Quite so," Wadsworth said mildly. "Why don't you just take the restof the day off and tell her about it. While you're at it, you mightbring her up to date on your trip. And there's a wonderful view of theKremlin from this window. I'm sure she'll be interested in all this.Just have a nice long chat. Take all day. Take two days if you like.No hurry, you know."

  He smiled and turned to leave the room. "Don't forget to tell herabout your airplane ride, too," he added and then walked to the door.

  "Thank you, sir," Jed called out after him.

  Jed grinned happily and lay down on the nice, soft mattress.

  "Ma," he thought, concentrating harder than he ever did before, "it'sme agin."

  All electrical power went off over the western dominions of the Unionof Soviet Socialist Republics. br />
  * * * * *

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