AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Finch, flummoxed, took a small and respectful step back.
“Ah, young Master Darwin,” Cleaver said. “Is your father present? I’ve brought a guest.”
“Does he know about aerodynamics?” Darwin asked again.
Cleaver looked to Finch, who shook his head.
Darwin frowned. “Drat. I was hoping he could help me with Steve. I’m trying to help him learn
how to fly, but I think my wing prototype isn’t working. I guess it’s back to the drawing board.”
“Quite,” Cleaver replied. “Whilst there, might you send your father? I was convinced he was
here.”
“Oh, he is.” Darwin spun around, the lizard on his shoulder wobbling as he did. “Dad? Dad,
you can come out now. The experiment is over. There’s someone here to see you.”
Darwin, as most children his age tended to be, was fairly short, allowing Finch a good look into
the room. He saw, to his alarm, Harrison lying on the floor, supporting what appeared to be a
cardboard launching ramp that ran from the edge of his desk all the way across the length of
his body. When he rolled out from beneath it, the entire thing crumbled. He spent a second
collecting it and the soft crash mats laid out nearby before joining his son at the door.
“Finch!” he said brightly. “I’d say it’s a surprise, except it isn’t, because I knew you were coming.
I guess I lost track of the time. Sorry. I’m sure you know how it is.”
Finch looked from the boy in the lab coat, to the lizard, to the hastily piled wreckage of the
launching ramp, and was sure he didn’t. At all.
“In any case, I’m ready for you. Darwin, do you think you and Steve could do some research
into what kind of alloy airplanes are made from? I have a feeling if we switch up the material
of Steve’s wings, we might get better results.”
“Okay. I will.” Darwin stepped out of the office and around Finch. “I’ll tell you everything about
what I find.”
“Great! I’m looking forward to learning all about it. Have fun.”
“I will.” Darwin smiled almost shyly at Finch, then took off at a run down the hall.
“Is there anything I can fetch for you, sir?” Cleaver asked when Darwin was gone. “I’ll be
bringing up some tea shortly, but if memory serves, you haven’t eaten since breakfast. Shall I
arrange to have a light repast sent to your office?”
“Oh, that sounds great. Thank you, Cleaver.” Harrison smiled with tremendous warmth at the
