Silicon Gulch - THE BOOK

Jeff finds himself in Silicon Valley where he is asked to investigate claims by a gregarious Frenchman that his neural network electronic technology actually works. He meets up again with the enchanting Nancy, the FBI agent he had worked with in Atlanta where they fell in love while he was still married, and again in Washington DC where fortune kept them apart. A surprise meeting with Kathy puts romance back into Jeff's life as he finds himself hounded by financially-desperate Europeans so determined to push their questionable technology―men so desperate that they will stop at nothing, even Jeff's murder! The excitement will make the reader gasp, tragedy will make the reader cry, romance will make the reader sigh.

About the Magic Town trilogy series
Jeff, a forty-something aerospace executive finds himself landing in the middle of mystery in the strip clubs of Atlanta, a year later in Washington DC, and a year after that in Silicon Valley. Each time he is thrust into the middle of cases with the beguiling Nancy, the FBI agent with the golden eyes, Arnie the senior agent, and a cast of bad guys straight from the newspaper. Each time Jeff finds himself trapped in difficult and dangerous cases, each time he is instrumental in their solution. Every time he finds his life endangered from shooting, poisoning, or being blown up. The question is, can he survive…

About the author
Chris Lamela has published numerous column-length pieces in humor, business and philosophy. His foray into novels intertwines his personal experiences with a rich cast of characters in captivating story lines. The tension, humor, and romance of this writing reveal a writer with a mature perspective and a playful sense of storytelling. The Magic Town series tells of a hapless man's adventures into a world of mystery, crime and murder, and romance with characters that come alive for the reader, told in a way that makes the reader want to get to the next page.

SILICON GULCH, the Final Book of the Magic Town Trilogy is here!

Chapter 1 of Silicon Gulch ... Jeff meets the Frenchman!

Monday, 3:23PM: Please Kill Me Now!
Jeff finds himself trapped in a long and droning presentation, then meets the French Man who Jeff suspects has rigged his neural network technology demo tapes.

Access this chapter at:
http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-1.html


Chapter 2 of Silicon Gulch ... Nancy calls Jeff!

Monday, 6:24 PM: Premonition
Jeff thinks that he will never see Nancy or Kathy again...but then Nancy calls him!

Access this chapter at:

http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-2.html

Chapter 3 of Silicon Gulch ... Kathy appears!

Monday, 7:06 PM: Get a Room!
Jeff decides he is definitely not going to the singles mixer in the hotel, but then he shows up an hour early to the dinner. With an hour to kill he goes to the singles mixer anyway...and he meets Kathy!

Access this chapter at:
http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-3.html


CHAPTER 4 of Silicon Gulch ... The Frenchman announces a total lie!

Monday, 8:05 PM: Dinner Surprise!
Jeff goes to the dinner where he meets the congresswoman who puts the make on him! He meets Paula who is sending signals. But the surprise of the evening is when the Frenchman announces he has a deal with Jeff's company!

Access this chapter at:
http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-4.html


Chapter 5 of Silicon Gulch … Nancy asks Jeff to have sex with the congresswoman!

Monday, 11:08 PM: The Red Eye
Jeff thinks he gets to have sex with Nancy, but she announces she is on a red eye back to DC. Then she asks him to sleep with the congresswoman!

Access this chapter at:
http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-5.html


Chapter 6 of Silicon Gulch ... It's suddenly raining women on Jeff!

Monday, 11:51 PM: A Flood of Women!
Nancy asks Jeff again to have sex with the congresswoman, but wear a condom! Then the congresswoman calls him asking him to come over! Then Kathy calls and wants him to come over! But then Paula shows up at his hotel room!

Access this chapter at:
http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-6.html


Chapter 7 of Silicon Gulch … Jeff and Paula get naked―the Frenchman interrupts!

Tuesday, 10:02 AM: An Uninvited Liar
The Frenchman calls and says Paula invited him to their meeting this morning. Mikl Denot, the Frenchman's investor threatens to go to Jeff's boss. Jeff and Paula get naked in the conference room when the Frenchman interrupts them and offers a five million dollar bribe!

Access this chapter at:
http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-7.html


Chapter 8 of Silicon Gulch … Jeff and the congresswoman get naked!

Tuesday, 2:02 PM: Los Gatos
Jeff stocks up on condoms before heading to the congresswoman's house in Los Gatos. Then they get naked together and about to have sex when suddenly Jeff remembers...condoms!

Access this chapter at:
http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-8.html


Chapter 9 of Silicon Gulch … Sex with a condom is not really sex!

Tuesday, 4:12 PM: Partners
Jeff's suddenly remembering he promised to wear a condom puts a halt to sex! (Who did he promise?) She admit that there's someone, then they agree to be partners on this case.

Access this chapter at:
http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-9.html


Chapter 10 of Silicon Gulch … Arnie is jealous of Jeff!

Tuesday, 5:04 PM: We Didn’t Have Sex!
The congresswoman shares what she knows about the case while Jeff pretends to be surprised. Jeff figures out Arnie was Nancy's great mentor. Then Jeff figures out that Arnie is the congresswoman's someone!

Access this chapter at:
http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-10.html


Chapter 11 of Silicon Gulch … Jeff discovers they hired murderers to kill him!

Tuesday, 7:26 PM: The Target
While waiting for Nancy at the airport Jeff sees the Frenchman walk out with two men! He remembers his disposable camera and takes their pictures. Then he discovers the two men are notorious hit men after him!

Access this chapter at:
http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-11.html


Chapter 12 of Silicon Gulch … Jeff will use himself as bait for the murderers!

Tuesday, 8:58 PM: A Plan
Jeff comes up with a brilliant plan to use himself as bait for the hit men!

Access this chapter at:
http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-12.html


Chapter 13 of Silicon Gulch … The assassins come after Jeff!

Wednesday, 10:02 AM: Deadly Greeks
Jeff enters the conference room with his dummy twin seated, goes into the next room, sitting with gun pointing toward the door―soon he hears the TATATATATATATA! of machine gun fire in the other room. He shoots through the door and kills one of the assassins! Then they shoot through the door coming after Jeff!

Access this chapter at:
http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-13.html


Chapter 14 of Silicon Gulch … They discover a new mystery player!

Wednesday, 3:27 PM: A Mystery Player
They take Jeff up to his room where he tries to recuperate. They decide to plan a dinner with the Frenchman and Mikl tonight to spring that Jeff's still alive. Then they discover there is a mystery player!

Access this chapter at:
http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-14.html


Chapter 15 of Silicon Gulch … The Frenchman thinks Jeff was murdered!

Wednesday, 6:10 PM: Spinning Room
Jeff learns more about his assassins, then they plan how to get their uncle on their side, and finds out the Frenchman thinks he was murdered this morning. He forgets about his date with Kathy, and they plan for tomorrow night. He discovers that his wife and Nancy have been talking!

Access this chapter at:
http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-guch-chapter-15.html


Chapter 16 of Silicon Gulch … Jeff is risen from the dead!

Wednesday, 8:00 PM: Dinner for Four
They go to a French restaurant to meet Gerard and Mikl. Ted tells Jeff about a woman he knew a long time ago, Jeff tells him about Kathy―Ted is shocked! Jeff goes inside and hides in a corner until Nancy signals, then he walks up to their table!

Access this chapter at:
http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-16.html


Chapter 17 of Silicon Gulch … Gerard and Mikl are stunned to see Jeff alive!

Wednesday 8:33 PM: Risen from the Dead
Gerard and Mikl cannot believe Jeff is alive! Jeff talks them into giving Nancy five million! Jeff and Nancy enjoy playing with these guys who can't seem to find their tongues!

Access this chapter at:
http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-17.html


Chapter 18 of Silicon Gulch … Paula shows up at Jeff's hotel room!

Thursday 9:03 AM: Let’s Do This!
Ted called Mary, the woman he knew in college and they are going to have breakfast tomorrow! Paula shows up at Jeff's hotel room! Then Jeff works until three researching silicon neural networks. He sees Ted and Mary the next morning but it doesn't look good. Then Jeff comes up with a plan for the Friday meeting with Gerard and Mikl.

Access this chapter at:
http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-18.html


Chapter 19 of Silicon Gulch: The Frenchman is a fraud!

Thursday, 11:22 AM: The Frenchman is a Fraud!
Nancy and Jeff meet with Gerard and his assistant. Jeff shows the Frenchman algorithm formulas for neural networks, and the Frenchman finally admits that the patents were his brother's! He is a complete fake! Then Nancy and Jeff plan their alternatives from this news ...

Access this chapter at:
http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-19.html


Chapter 20 of Silicon Gulch … They decide to expose the Frenchman!

Thursday 1:44 PM: The Final Vote
At the meeting that afternoon they consider the alternatives, and decide to do the Sherlock Plan which will put Gerard and Mikl in the same room after they tell Gerard his gravy train is cut off and Mikl that Gerard is a fraud.

Access this chapter at:
http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-20.html


Chapter 21 of Silicon Gulch … Uncle Mondo won't kill Jeff!

Thursday 2:23 PM: Uncle Mondo
Gerard gave Jeff up to Uncle Mondo! Then Uncle Mondo calls him and wants a meeting! Jeff tells him that his nephews were killed, set up by the Frenchman. Uncle Mondo won't finish the job of killing Jeff!

Access this chapter at:
http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-21.html


Chapter 22 of Silicon Gulch … Ted's a father!

Thursday 5:38 PM: Droopy Flowers
Jeff plans to go see Kathy and learns Ted is a father! Ted agrees to follow Jeff over to Kathy's townhouse, stopping to pick up the only flowers in the store.

Access this chapter at:
http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-22.html


Chapter 23 of Silicon Gulch … Kathy gets naked!

Thursday 5:58 PM: Get a Clue
Jeff plays Clue with Kathy and the kids, then they send out for Chinese food. The Chinese men delivering the food recognize Jeff from when he confronted a racist man in the hotel elevator. Suddenly Kathy is naked!

Access this chapter at:
http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-23.html


Chapter 24 of Silicon Gulch … Jeff and Kathy make love!

Thursday Midnight: Kathy
Jeff and Kathy have long and wonderful love-making. They say I love you to each other once more as they share stories of their love lives, making promises to be together.

Access this chapter at:
http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chatper-24.html


Chapter 25 of Silicon Gulch … Ted is murdered!

Friday 3:14 AM: Your goddam crazy―
Jeff leaves promising to call tomorrow afternoon. As he goes outside he swears he sees someone in the shadows. Suddenly Ted's car drives up, he demands Jeff get inside, then takes off saying, "It's your goddam crazy―" when Ted is shot!

Access this chapter at:
http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-25.html


Chapter 26 of Silicon Gulch … Jeff has doubts about everything

Friday 4:26 AM: Doubts
Kathy and Jeff are driven back to his hotel room. He awakens in the middle of the night wondering at the events of the week, at the woman sleeping before him. Suddenly he is filled with doubts when Kathy wakes and assures him that she loves him.

Access this chapter at:
http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-26.html


Chapter 27 of Silicon Gulch … The Frenchmen murdered Ted!

Friday 9:23 AM: Shadow
Jeff can't remember Ted's last words! He goes to the team meeting that feels like a funeral for Ted where Jeff tells them Ted has a daughter. Then Jeff remembers Ted's last words that he fills in: your stupid goddam crazy Frenchman!

Access this chapter at:
http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-27.html


Chapter 28 of Silicon Gulch … Jeff wants vengeance for Ted's murder!

Friday 9:52 AM: Vengeance!
Jeff is now certain he saw the Frenchman in the shadows last night! Jeff demands a vote that they want the Frenchman dead! Then they decide to tell Mikl he was defrauded, and Gerard that they are telling Mikl!

Access this chapter at:
http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-28.html


Chapter 29 of Silicon Gulch … Uncle Mondo was asked to kill Nancy, too!

Friday 10:41 AM: Taking a Pass
Uncle Mondo calls for another meeting where he tells Mikl is a desperate man he can't trust, that they paid him another million to kill Nancy!

Access this chapter at:
http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-29.html


Chapter 30 of Silicon Gulch … Gerard and Mikl murder each other!

Friday Noon: The Showdown
The Frenchman is stunned when Jeff shows again up after being murdered! Then Jeff defies him to write a neural network equation, but he can't! Suddenly Gerard pulls a gun, now all guns drawn! Mikl pulls a gun! The good guys slowly back out of the room ... Jeff has second thoughts about this plan and goes back to the room to witness Gerard and Mikl murder each other!

Access this chapter at:
http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-30.html


Chapter 31 of Silicon Gulch … Jeff gets coached by Uncle Mondo

Friday 12:48 PM: Uncle Mondo Gives Advice
Uncle Mondo knew Nancy was FBI! He coaches Jeff that life isn't fair, and to do something really special for someone who has been hurt by all this as a way to help gain his freedom.

Access this chapter at:
http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-31.html


Chapter 32 of Silicon Gulch … Nancy tears up three love letters!

Friday 1:28 PM: Parting
Nancy finally gets to sit down with Jeff only to have Jeff be the one tell her that he can't be with her. Then she tears up three love letters!

Access this chapter at:
http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-32.html


Chapter 33 of Silicon Gulch … Jeff finds freedom!

Friday 2:48 PM: Freedom

Paula calls thanking him for changing her life! Jeff rides with Arnie to Pleasanton to tell Mary about Ted's death. Jeff hands Mary half the money he got from Uncle Mondo...his freedom!

Access this chapter at:
http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-33.html

Chapter 34 of Silicon Gulch … Kathy is moving to Seattle!

Friday 4:53 PM: Going Home
Arnie and the congresswoman are getting married and they want Jeff as their best man! Jeff gets on the plane back to Seattle when suddenly Kathy appears on the plane! And Kathy is moving to Seattle to be with Jeff!

Access this chapter at:
http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-34.html

Chapter 35 of Silicon Gulch … They try to murder Jeff again!

Friday 7:24 PM: Revenge!

Jeff is followed to Seattle by a man who wants to kill him! Then Jeff discovers that Kathy spent the night with his wife and kids Wednesday night! And his wife is dating another man and she wants Jeff's permission! 

Access this chapter at:

http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-35.html

Final Chapter of Silicon Gulch … Jeff learns of the promise in his face

Friday 8:49 PM: Arrived
Kathy arrives at Jeff's condo. Jeff learns that it is the promise in his face that attracts women. Kathy has now become part of his life, and we have a happy ending!

Access this chapter at:
http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-final-chapter_23.html

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Silicon Gulch, Chapter 1

Jeff finds himself in Silicon Valley where he is asked to investigate claims by a gregarious Frenchman that his neural network electronic technology actually works. He meets up again with the enchanting Nancy, the FBI agent he had worked with in Atlantawhere they fell in love while he was still married, and again in Washington DCwhere fortune kept them apart. A surprise meeting with Kathyputs romance back into Jeff’s life as he finds himself hounded by financially-desperate Europeans so determined to push their questionable technology―men so desperate that they will stop at nothing, even Jeff’s murder. The excitement will make the reader gasp, tragedy will make the reader cry, romance will make the reader sigh.

 

Chapter 1 of Silicon Gulch ... Jeff meets the Frenchman!

Monday, 3:23PM: Please Kill Me Now!
Jeff finds himself trapped in a long and droning presentation, then meets the French Man who Jeff suspects has rigged his neural network technology demo tapes.

If you enjoy this, please take time to LIKE this on Facebook!

 

Thanks for taking time, and enjoy!
- Chris Lamela

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Author contact: chris@chrislamela.com, 707-566-8790 PST

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Silicon Gulch

 

     "You do understand me, yes? That you will take the money and we will have your endorsement!" The Frenchman's caustic snarl made his intent clear.

     Jeff couldn't believe the words he was hearing, repeating his understanding of what was being said here, "We already said we'd take the money. Isn't that enough? Now you are demanding that I give my endorsement? That you demand I tell the world that your technology works when I doubt it does? Tell the world that your tests aren't faked when I think they are? And are you threatening me? You are threatening me, aren't you."

     "Good, then you do understand me." The Frenchman's cold eyes bored into Jeff. "And make sure you are, yes, I will stop at nothing to get what I want. Nothing." With a stern twisted sly smile, "So this is good, you understand me perfectly." His cold face turned away from Jeff, turning to leave the room.

     Jeff called after the Frenchman, "So what if I don't. Are you going to murder me?" Turning to the man who came in with the Frenchman, he saw the man's terrified expression.

     Jeff peered at the man, "Well, will he?"

     The man nodded his head speaking softly, "Yes."

 

Monday, 3:23PM: Please Kill Me Now!

     It was hard to believe this mystery all started with a boring presentation where Jeff's only thought was Dear God, please kill me now!

     "As slide number seventy-eight shows, this system has the most advanced technology in the world," the voice droned on in the darkened meeting room brimming with tired blank stares illuminated by the screen.

     PowerPoint, Jeff mused silently, a wonderful little software tool for making the most boring slide shows on earth! The greatest invention since razor blades as a way to commit suicide.

     The greatest invention to make you want to commit suicide!

     Jeff leaned over with a yawn in the dark, angling his watch toward the screen trying to see the time. "Oh god," he whispered to himself with a frown, "almost two hours!" shaking his head

     "We have three patents on the technology as you can see in this slide showing one of the patent cover sheets with the initials G. Pallot in the applicant's name. Here are the next," showing two more slides.

     He droned on for another twenty minutes.

     "That concludes our slide presentation," the man with the laser pointer standing by the screen signaled to have the lights on, a second later all eyes in the room were blinking in the sudden brightness. The man turned looking around the room squinting along with everyone else. "Are there any questions?"

     When's dinner? the only question popping into Jeff's mind.

     A man near the front raised his hand speaking in a nasally British accent, "And what about the funding of Neurotek? Are you in a stable way financially?"

     The man smiled reassuringly, "Yes, we are fortunate to have strong investor backing, we have already won eight million dollars in DOD advanced projects funding, actually with Defense Advanced Research Projects, DARPA, with another thirty-nine million in new grants coming. We are expecting our first product deliveries," he glanced at his watch as though he was about to say two hours, "in ten months," a few small laughs arose.

     Another man motioned with his hand speaking up, "There have been rumors about problems with your technology in some applications."

     The speaker gave a dismissive wave with his right hand, "This business is full of sore losers, competitors that know that they don't have this kind of capability. If you were them, what kind of rumors would you plant?" the room rose with agreeable chuckles.

     The rest of the question and answer period was mercifully short. Papers shuffled, packed away; soon the door started spilling out bodies with tired faces tinged with thanks at being released.

     "Thank god that is over, wouldn't you say?"

     Jeff turned to the man speaking to him, "I'm sorry? Do I know you?"

     "Oh silly of me, my name is Gerard Pallot."

     Jeff stood back regarding this thickly-shaped man with a French accent just as thick, he held out his hand, "Name's Jeff, nice to meet you." Jeff pondered this man, dark hair and eyes, a certain reserved openness to his manner dressed in Oscar De La Renta. Nodding toward the screen being taken down by the man who had just completed the very long-winded presentation, Jeff wondered, "You didn't like the presentation?"

     "Oh no, much too long on time and much too short on information." With a quizzical expression Jeff stood watching this man, "And I should know, I am the CEO!" followed by a robust laugh.

     Jeff smiled putting the last of the handout papers into his folio, "Yeah, I have to agree with you in those departments." Girard looked uncertain at Jeff's words, "I meant that I agree with you on too long and too short," smiling Girard laughed again. "Your name, Gerard Pallot, the G. Pallot on the patent applications?"

     The man nodded, "Yes, I am the inventor of the technology."

     "Well, it was nice to meet you," Jeff smiled turning toward the door.

     "Wait, actually I wanted to talk to you."

     Jeff stopped, turning around, "Me?"

     "Yes, actually, I know who you are, I have been hoping to meet you today. You are the general manager of Versatec, correct? You make the avionics and gimbal system for the General Avatonics aircraft, correct?" Jeff nodded. "Would you care to join me for a glass of wine? I can meet you in the bar in…" looking to his watch, "in fifteen minutes. I will need time to help clean up here first, will that work?"

     Jeff glanced at his watch seeing that it wasn't even four o'clock yet, he had until seven when he was planning to go to the dinner reception later. "Sure, I have time."

     Gerard threw up his hands, "Wonderful, I have so much to ask you! We will see you in the bar shortly."

     Jeff nodded turning toward the door, a few later minutes he was sitting at a table in a corner of the hotel bar with a nice tall Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, his new favorite beer. When he could find it. The bar had only a couple men sitting at the bar talking quietly, the hotel lobby visible through the door. Jeff liked staying at this Merdian, across the street from the Great America theme park, the wild rides visible from the hotel lobby. It was convenient that this event was held here.

     Twenty five minutes passed. Jeff finished his second Sierra Nevada Ale, deciding that the Frenchman must have gotten held up. He stood gathering up his folio, nodding to the bartender who had been bringing out his drinks, heading for the door.

     When he reached the door the Frenchman came through with the presenter at his elbow, "Ah, Jeff, you are leaving?"

     "I didn't think you were coming," Jeff scowled, "you said fifteen minutes and I waited a half-hour."

     "Ah, I live on French time."

     "Still, you said fifteen minutes."

     Gerard beamed a big smile, "Yes, well fifteen minutes in France could be an hour in America!"

     "Yeah, well this is America. Here fifteen minutes still means fifteen minutes," Jeff frowned beginning not to like this man, continuing to the door.

     "Ah yes, but wait," Jeff turned back, "you are right of course, please accept my apology and sit down with us."

     Jeff paused uncertain looking at this character before him with the concerned grin, finally motioning to the bartender who came around the bar to meet them at the same table. Gerard ordered, "Bring us a nice bottle of red wine for everybody!" Jeff shook his head at the bartender who nodded back.

     "And so, Jeff, you will remember Thomas Gilbert from the presentation."

     Thomas reached his hand across to Jeff, they shook, "Yes, Thomas, I'm Jeff―"

     "I know who you are! I have been a big admirer of your company for some time, a big admirer of you!"

     Jeff smiled timidly, "Uh, thanks."

     The bartender walked up to the table with a tray holding a bottle of wine, two glasses, and a tall glass of Sierra Nevada.

     Gerard bent back in mock astonishment as Jeff's beer glass was set down in front of him, "What is this? You do not drink wine?"

     Jeff smiled drinking foam off the top of his glass, "I like wine, just not when I have already been drinking beer while waiting a French fifteen minutes," smiling sarcastically.

     "Ha-ha!" Gerard laughed, "yes, anyone can drink quite a lot in French fifteen minutes," he laughed a loud gregarious laugh, his sidekick grinning knowing that he was supposed to laugh whenever his boss laughed but Jeff could tell he was too tired to play Gerard's trick monkey at that moment.

     "So, mister Jeff, tell me, what do you think of Neurotek's technology?"

     "Honestly, I don't know enough about it yet to be a good judge. I mean the use of silicon neural networks for image recognition and video tracking is a natural fit from what I know about your technology. I attended a one-day seminar in San Jose about a year ago, you were a speaker there."

     "And we didn't meet, how was that?"

     "It was a day trip for me, down from Seattle in the morning, back up that afternoon. I didn't have time for the mixer afterward."

     "Ah, yes," taking a sip of wine, "it is probably for the best, our technology has come so much farther. It is so much better today than only a year ago, we have made marvelous progress!"

     "So why did you want to meet me?"

     "Your equipment needs our technology. I wanted to find a way that we can set up some kind of demonstration together so that you will endorse our product for aerial surveillance applications."

     "What did you have in mind?"

     "Maybe something where we could integrate one of our systems with your equipment on a General Avatonics unmanned aircraft and get some good demonstration video to show how well our equipment works together."

     "That's possible. You'd need to come up to Seattle. How much trouble would it be to integrate your gear onto the aircraft?"

     "Well that is a problem. The president of General Avatonics says that we need to talk to you, that he will not give us any information about mounting or anything for that matter without going through you, that you are in charge of all electronics on the aircraft."

     Jeff took a long sip of his beer, signaling the bartender for another. "He's right, my engineers have total control over that aircraft's electronics. Your electronics integration will be with my gear, not the airplane, the plane is just for the mechanical mounting. I guess I would have to be convinced enough so that Frank Pacfil will feel comfortable to give you the specs you need to mount your gear on his plane."

     "Exactly! Frank is the CEO of General Avatonics, your endorsement would mean a lot to him, I am sure. So what will that take?"

     "Probably the best thing would be to bring your gear up to Seattle. We'll do a test integration then maybe find some way to fly it around on one of our planes. Let me see what it will do in the real world. If we like it I'll give Frank a call. We have a Cessna Skymaster that would really easy, could do the integration in a couple hours. No engineering. We could just throw your gear inside and take it for a fly. That would be pretty quick. Then we'd have tape."

     The Frenchman shot a worried glance to his side-kick, scanned the ceiling, back to Jeff. "But why do we need to be so elaborate? You don't need tapes. You saw the test tapes during Thomas' presentation today!"

     Jeff was really in no mood to discuss the rumors he had heard that Neurotek's technology wasn't as represented, that he'd even heard rumors that the videos were complete fakes. Now he had just given an easy solution to get around integration, this resistance only increasing his suspicion.

     "Let's just say that I'm from Missouri," Jeff said nonchalantly finishing his beer signaling again to the bartender who smiled, turned back to pour the glass, bringing it around the bar to Jeff.

     "What is this Missouri?"

     Jeff smiled at this foreigner not knowing this little American idiom, "It means show me."

     Gerard flashed a glance at Thomas who showed the slightest tinge of worry, turning back to Jeff, "Of course, of course! We would expect you to see our systems in action." Gerard glanced at his watch, "But I am sorry, I am late to meet someone else, I will leave you two to discuss the details," with a flourish he stood, ceremoniously making his exit.

     Jeff shook his head, taking a long drink of his beer, pulling it back to look at the glass, drinking it to the bottom. He pulled out a card laying it in front of Thomas, getting up from the table.

     "Call me."

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NOW READ THE NEXT EXCITING CHAPTER OF
SILICON GULCH!
 

http://chrislamela.blogspot.com/2012/10/silicon-gulch-chapter-2.html

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