Читать книгу The Caged Ruby - Rodney Syler - Страница 4

During her sophomore year at The University of the Carolinas, Taylor met a well-dressed young man in Anatomy and Physiology class. When it came time to select a lab partner, she turned to him and said, “Want to help me gut this frog?”

“Odd, I was just about to ask you the same question. Hello, I’m Rex Gulliver.”

“Any relation to the Gulliver in Gulliver’s Travels?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact, I am an explorer and adventurer. The world is on my bucket list and I intend to check it all off one day. What kind of name is Taylor? Got a last name to go with that?”

“Nope, that is my last name. It’s all I’ve ever answered to, and I like it. The name helps me get more things done. People assume it’s a man when they hear the name, and they’re usually more willing to work for a man.”

Rex asked, “What kind of work do you do?”

Taylor said, “Build race cars and engines.”

“Maybe as I explore the world you can drive me around.”

“Maybe after I patent some ideas and get rich, you can drive me around.”

They liked each other’s quick wit, and though they were often poking fun at one another, they were never mean. They complimented each other’s skills. Rex was a great reader, knew a lot about everything, and was a visionary. Taylor learned any subject almost instantly, and was extremely organized and efficient. Rex soon gave up competing with her intellectually.

While she was still in college, some of the factory crews were at a race one night and she quizzed them about some of the inner workings of the standard three-speed automatic transmissions. She had an idea for an improvement that would make the transmission lighter, stronger, and simpler. Rather than share her idea, she asked for three new transmissions to use in a race car to try some modifications.

After a few months and a few hundred dollars in machining, her design was complete and the patent applications were in the system—patents pending.

She invited the factory men back to the track and sat her transmission on the scales. When she sat the stock transmission on the scales, it was fifteen pounds heavier.

One factory man said, “Anyone can take parts out of a transmission and make it lighter.”

She pulled over a box of parts and said, “Like this?”

“Yes. Exactly right. A transmission won’t work without these parts.”

“I made a few modifications. This car has a transmission like the one I modified on the scales. Hop in, let’s see if it works.”

They got in and buckled up. She handed each one a crash helmet and said, “Sorry, track rules.”

To make sure they didn’t think she had removed reverse she stomped on the gas burning rubber backwards, turned the wheel, pulled it into drive and burned rubber for another hundred feet.

“So far, what do you guys think? Do all the parts seem to be working?”

The car shifted easily through all the gears. She downshifted in the turns and opened it up on the straight away. On the second turn around the track, she let the car get close to the wall. Coming out of the turn she drifted the rear end until it scraped the wall with a shower of sparks. Easily pulling out of the slide she dipped low in the turn and coasted toward the infield. Using the gears to slow into the pit area, she coasted to a stop and turned off the engine. “I’ve already put a thousand miles on this transmission on this track and on the road. You think anyone at your company would be interested in the technology?”

A factory man said, “I’m still not convinced you’ve made the changes in this transmission. We’ve had engineers constantly working to improve this system and make it lighter. Every pound counts. How’d you do it?”

“I have the detailed drawings, patents pending, documented witnesses and test data with pictures. I’ve been told some auto makers try to get ideas from people, make a slight modification, and patent their own version. I don’t want that to happen. Get me a letter of intent and a non-disclosure agreement signed and we can talk more. It turns out that this change can also be done to your competitor’s transmissions. So whoever gets this first can license it to others.”

She said, “Here’s my number. You know how to get in touch with me. I’ve already recorded our planned meeting with my attorney and I’ll see him just after you are gone. You can’t get information from anyone here at the track. They know nothing about what is inside. Once we sign the papers, I’ll send this transmission back with you to test.” She pulled the cover off another transmission. It was polished to a shine. All access points to the inside were welded closed and stamped. It would be impossible to access the inside without breaking the welds.

“If you X-Ray it, you won’t see much. I look forward to seeing you soon.”

When they left, Rex came over and clapped a well-deserved applause. “I believe you are about to be a very rich lady. Let me take you to dinner.”

“Help me lock up. I feel like celebrating. We make a pretty good team. Your patent lawyer gave me a good deal. Your personal lawyer waived his fee. You paid for the machining and parts. Are you sure all you want is dinner?”

“My father gave me quite a bit of money with only a few conditions. Use it for good; help others help themselves; help those in need; encourage those you help, to help others when they can. He said if I did those four things and did them well, I would never run out of money.”

“Does it work?”

“Ask me in a few years. You are one of my first dozen investments. I have a few in Europe, Mexico, Africa, and here in the U.S.”

Taylor said, “Tell me about you, rich kid. Top student—budding philanthropist. What more is there inside that wild-haired yellow-eyed exterior?”

“Wild hair? I just tried to comb it a little while ago.”

“I have known girls with red shaggy hair like yours. You might as well give up. It will always do just what it wants—and I think it’s cute. You try to look all dignified like a rich kid should, but your hair gives you away. You’re just a wild child at heart.”

At the pizza shop they talked until the manager blinked the lights. Rex said, “Guess that’s our cue. That was some fancy driving on the track. Remind me not to ride with you if you’re in a hurry. See you after class tomorrow.”

The next day they talked for a while and agreed to meet to study at Taylor’s apartment. When he arrived she said, “Good news. The papers are signed and they want to meet and talk money. Can we get your lawyer to sit in?”

“Sure. I can tell you what they will do. They will offer you about ten percent of what they think its worth. You should counter with twenty times their offer. Eventually settle on ten times their original offer. The main thing you want is royalties on every transmission made whether it’s with them or someone they license to. Don’t be greedy, you can still be wealthy at fifty cents a transmission.”

“So you’re not just a rich kid, you’re a smart rich kid.”

“I have been around my father who is a savvy dealer. He’s fair but tough. He grew up in the depression and earned every penny he has. I try to be a good steward of what he has entrusted to me.”

She asked, “Where are you going during spring break?”

“Maybe to Egypt. I’m trying to get approval to enter a recently unearthed tomb. I may have to make a sizeable donation to the museum to get a look. I love this stuff—adventure and the hope of a new discovery. What are your plans? Designing new parts?”

“No. I haven’t made plans. If I get this deal finished up, I’m free to go anywhere. I can gas up the Corvette and take a road trip.”

Rex blurted out, “Come with me”—and was immediately embarrassed. They hadn’t even been out on a date and he was asking her to go to Egypt with him.

“Yes.” Taylor said.

“Yes you will go? I didn’t expect to ask you and I didn’t expect you to say yes.”

“I want to see what it’s like to be an adventurer. If you are having second thoughts, that’s okay. I was thinking while you were describing the tombs and the museums that it would be fun−very different, but fun.”

Rex said, “Let’s do it. I mean let’s go. Do you have a passport?”

“Yes. It’s up to date. I’ve only been to Mexico and Canada.”

“This is likely a silly question but, do you like to shop?”

She walked over to a mirror, took in a deep breath, looked at her profile, and said, “Still a woman, so yes, I like to shop.”

“Then pack light. You can buy things you like and need along the way. Then it’s easier to carry stuff back.”

“That’s very practical. Where’d you learn that, from the last girl you took to Egypt?”

“No. I learned it from my dad, who learned it from my mom.”

Taylor gave him a big hug at the door. “Thanks for everything. If you get cold feet about the trip, let me know and I’ll understand.”

“Not a chance. This will be the best adventure ever.” He kissed her quickly on the lips and was gone before she could say more.