Sweet Tooth

<p>Sweet Tooth</p><p> </p><p>Doctor Corrigan? Your refreshments are here. He rolled a cart inside and then departed.</p><p> </p><p>Dani and the others made their way back to the entrance. On the cart was a bottle of brandy and three small glasses. Dani and Roni looked at the beverage and then looked toward Blake Corrigan.</p><p> </p><p>What? Blake said I didn't order it.</p><p> </p><p>Can I have some Dad? I think I need it. Dani requested. Corrigan looked at his son. Even in the strange lighting of the display room he looked slightly pale.</p><p> </p><p>Well why not? We're celebrating something anyway. Corrigan opened the bottle and filled three glasses.</p><p> </p><p>To space flight! Blake raised his glass.</p><p> </p><p>And youth! Roni added lifting his glass also.</p><p> </p><p>And us! said Dani God bless us every one!</p><p> </p><p>Hear hear! Blake responded. They clicked glasses and drank.</p><p> </p><p>Dani emptied his glass and reached to fill it again. Dani I don't believe I've ever seen you touch alcohol before his father said mildly.</p><p> </p><p>This sir is processing fuel. Dani looked up with a smile. I am doing an inordinate number of intensive calculations. He poured a second generous helping.</p><p> </p><p>Ten minutes later Dani got a second display message. </p><p> </p><p>SECONDARY PROTOCOL INITIATED</p><p>ACCESSING EXPANSION PROCEDURE</p><p>DOWNLOADING</p><p><br></p><p>Dani felt as if his head had become a communications hub. He could almost hear the data traffic colliding and coursing through his inputs. Was the imaging information from Malcolm being recorded inside his own brain? Momentarily he felt a little flushed. He continued to wander and to sip.</p><p> </p><p>After perhaps another half-hour Dani got a final message: DOWNLOAD COMPLETE</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>* * * </p><p>Bobby G. Wells</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>