don’t want to lose you, Pop Pop. You have to take care of yourself. Please, for me.” Becky smiled and kissed George’s cheek once more, and went to the kitchen to set up the cake. George got up off the recliner, steadied himself, and followed her.
They sat down together after Becky lit the 9 + 1 candles and sang “Happy Birthday” to George. He mustered up all his breath and blew out the candles. Becky clapped and cheered. Then they each had a slice of cake, and Becky told George about her day.
Around 9 p.m., Becky cleared the plates and cups and told George she had to go. He said he would get the dishes done, just leave them. She did. Then she kissed George on the cheek again and said good night. She told him she would come by over the weekend. George followed her to the door and made sure the locks were all in order. Then he turned off the lights and went to bed.
*****
George had been a military hero during World War II. When his plane crashed two miles from the British coast after a routine photographing mission over Germany, George carried what was left of the flight crew on his back as he paddled his way to the shore. George received the Medal of Honor for saving Matthew Wilmer’s life. In return, Matthew Wilmer had offered George the opportunity of a lifetime. He told George to look him up when he got out of the Army.
Matthew Wilmer’s father had a small manufacturing plant in Freehold, New Jersey. During the war, he’d won a government contract to produce artillery for the armed services. The old man made a mint during the war. When his son came home, he went to work for his father. He came into the plant with a host of new ideas.
The younger Wilmer believed that biological weapons were the wave of the future, and he tried to persuade his old man to convert the plant into a chemical laboratory where they wouldn't just research weapons, but also pharmaceuticals. This was a fairly big gamble.
The old man argued that it was too risky an investment, but Matthew Wilmer was determined. If his father wasn't interested, he would take his share of the business in cash and go out on his own. Try as he might, the elder Wilmer just couldn't bring himself to take on the risk. So, with his 20 percent share of the business, $20,000, Matthew Wilmer left New Jersey and headed for New Mexico.
When George Ranier was discharged from the Army in 1947, he headed for Freehold. He was disappointed when he found that Matthew had already gone to New Mexico. He took his last dollar and bought a train ticket to Albuquerque. Matthew’s father gave him a heads-up that George was on his way, and Matthew met George at the train when he arrived.
Matthew drove George to a small piece of land Matthew had acquired to build his laboratory on. He had named his little town, his small piece of land, Los Arma, or the weapon.
Matthew had dreams of big government contracts, and he was determined to be one of the first to hit the big one, the chemical weapon to beat all chemical weapons. And to this end, he asked George to begin his career with Wilmer by going to night school on the G.I. Bill.
To his amazement, George found he had an aptitude for chemistry. He was fascinated by the table of elements and the reactions he got from combinations of different chemicals. He was adventurous and loved to experiment, even though his ideas often resulted in a small explosion.
Matthew was as excited as George and promised George his own lab when he graduated from college. Right now though, George would have to be satisfied assisting a man named Helmut March in the Wilmer lab.
George was not fond of Helmut March. He was suspicious of Germans, as many Americans were at that time, but Helmut was particularly annoying. He was fastidious and haughty. Helmut believed his word was law and anyone disagreeing with him was dismissed from his lab. He had no
They sat down together after Becky lit the 9 + 1 candles and sang “Happy Birthday” to George. He mustered up all his breath and blew out the candles. Becky clapped and cheered. Then they each had a slice of cake, and Becky told George about her day.
Around 9 p.m., Becky cleared the plates and cups and told George she had to go. He said he would get the dishes done, just leave them. She did. Then she kissed George on the cheek again and said good night. She told him she would come by over the weekend. George followed her to the door and made sure the locks were all in order. Then he turned off the lights and went to bed.
*****
George had been a military hero during World War II. When his plane crashed two miles from the British coast after a routine photographing mission over Germany, George carried what was left of the flight crew on his back as he paddled his way to the shore. George received the Medal of Honor for saving Matthew Wilmer’s life. In return, Matthew Wilmer had offered George the opportunity of a lifetime. He told George to look him up when he got out of the Army.
Matthew Wilmer’s father had a small manufacturing plant in Freehold, New Jersey. During the war, he’d won a government contract to produce artillery for the armed services. The old man made a mint during the war. When his son came home, he went to work for his father. He came into the plant with a host of new ideas.
The younger Wilmer believed that biological weapons were the wave of the future, and he tried to persuade his old man to convert the plant into a chemical laboratory where they wouldn't just research weapons, but also pharmaceuticals. This was a fairly big gamble.
The old man argued that it was too risky an investment, but Matthew Wilmer was determined. If his father wasn't interested, he would take his share of the business in cash and go out on his own. Try as he might, the elder Wilmer just couldn't bring himself to take on the risk. So, with his 20 percent share of the business, $20,000, Matthew Wilmer left New Jersey and headed for New Mexico.
When George Ranier was discharged from the Army in 1947, he headed for Freehold. He was disappointed when he found that Matthew had already gone to New Mexico. He took his last dollar and bought a train ticket to Albuquerque. Matthew’s father gave him a heads-up that George was on his way, and Matthew met George at the train when he arrived.
Matthew drove George to a small piece of land Matthew had acquired to build his laboratory on. He had named his little town, his small piece of land, Los Arma, or the weapon.
Matthew had dreams of big government contracts, and he was determined to be one of the first to hit the big one, the chemical weapon to beat all chemical weapons. And to this end, he asked George to begin his career with Wilmer by going to night school on the G.I. Bill.
To his amazement, George found he had an aptitude for chemistry. He was fascinated by the table of elements and the reactions he got from combinations of different chemicals. He was adventurous and loved to experiment, even though his ideas often resulted in a small explosion.
Matthew was as excited as George and promised George his own lab when he graduated from college. Right now though, George would have to be satisfied assisting a man named Helmut March in the Wilmer lab.
George was not fond of Helmut March. He was suspicious of Germans, as many Americans were at that time, but Helmut was particularly annoying. He was fastidious and haughty. Helmut believed his word was law and anyone disagreeing with him was dismissed from his lab. He had no
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