Chapter 12
The following week Fred worked harder than he had ever worked in his life. Almost every night he fell into bed completely exhausted at close to one o clock, and he was up and working again at six the following morning. Hal worked at his side, contributing ideas at every turn, and even Troy was put to work soldering connections at night. "It's the ugliest thing I've ever seen!" Janet exclaimed on Thursday night when Fred and Hal showed her the finished unit. They had pleased expressions on their faces and her remark did not seem to bother them. "But the son of a bitch works!" Hal replied. "We'll cover it with a brushed aluminum box with push-button controls," Fred commented. "It will be ready tomorrow morning. And in the final model, we can cut the size considerably. As Hal said, it works, and that's what's important at this point."
"Have you tested it with the computer?" Janet asked. "That's our weak point," Fred admitted. "Troy is arranging for us to wire it up tomorrow night after his office closes. Then we'll have time to shake it down before the demonstration on Saturday. I've asked Mr. Arnold to come, and Troy's boss wants to see the thing in action, so we'll have quite a show."
"And Hairless Harry will be the star," Hal added.
"Hairless Harry?" Janet said.
"That's Hal's name far the computer bartender," Fred laughed.
"That was a joke," Hal said, "but my other suggestion wasn't." "What's that?" Janet asked, putting her arm around Fred's waist and glowing with pride in her husband's accomplishment. "Hal wants me to program a computer for swingers." "Like the dating computer," Hal said. ."You know, match up people by compatibility, interests, likes and dislikes. Every swinging date would be a guaranteed success. It has fantastic potential, and Fred could do it."
"Could you?" Janet asked, "Sure. I don't think it would even be complicated," Fred replied. "All I have to do is study one of the programs the dating groups use and develop a swinging program from that."
"I can see the questionnaire," Hal said with a hearty laugh. "Do you like to suck cock? Eat pussy? How do you feel about anal intercourse? Are you bisexual? It would really be a gas!"
"It would work, honey," Fred commented. "And after I get this bartender project on the road, I'll work something out for a computer swap program. It's something I can do at night."
"I'll bet George Haney would go for that," Janet remarked, kissing her husband on the cheek. "You might even mention it in passing to morrow. It might influence him."
Fred and Janet went to their apartment and had a quiet dinner together, and that night Fred enjoyed his first real sleep in a week. The next day he and Hal had a few bad moments when they found that the cover they had ordered for the unit did not fit.
This resulted in several hours of redesign on the unit and additional checking.
By five o'clock that afternoon, Fred was so nervous he was chain smoking. Troy called and said they could have the computer at seven o'clock, and the wait was driving Fred to nervous distraction. He had visions of the entire unit coming apart, or of relays burning up, when it was tied into the computer.
Fred and Janet took the Colemans to dinner near Troy's office, but the two men exhibited little appetite. At seven a clock sharp they arrived at Troy's company. Troy met them and took them back to the computer room. The girls sat in the reception room and talked while the men worked feverishly to connect the unit to the computer.
Hal had to leave three times to buy small parts, and it was after eleven o'clock when they finally called the girls in to see the assembled unit. "Wow!" Janet exclaimed. "That sure looks better than what I saw last night."
"It's almost sexy," Alice agreed. "What do all those lights mean?" "That's Hal's creation," Fred laughed. "He thinks a computer should have blinking lights, so we hooked up a series. They don't do or mean a damned thing."
"I like them," Janet said.
"So do I," Alice commented. "Does the thing work?" "We're about to find out," Fred said. "I've punched the cards, and if Troy will lend us a bottle of Scotch we'll see what happens." "I still don't see how that measuring device works," Troy remarked as he handed Fred a bottle of Scotch and watched him load the container. "By weight," Fred said. "It's the only positive way we can control inventory. "It weighs the amount of liquid dispensed into the glass. Then, ounce by ounce, that is deducted from the inventory. It's the same as using a measured shot glass, but far more accurate. Okay, let's fire it up. Scotch and water coming up."
Hal pressed the button labeled Scotch and water and they heard the hum of the computer begin. There was the clink of ice against glass and then the turntable that protruded from the front of the unit revolved and a glass appeared.
"The first computerized cocktail," Fred announced, proudly, lifting the glass from the turntable and handing it to Janet. The four people breathed a sigh of relief and clapped their hands. Janet was beaming as she lifted the glass to her lips. She took a sip and a smile crossed her lips.
"It's perfect!" she exclaimed, passing the glass to Alice. Fred pushed the button on the side of the unit and the computer hummed again. A card appeared in a slot marked "inventory" and Fred pulled it out. "Look," he said, reading the card to the group, "Scotch, beginning inventory thirty-two ounces. Dispensed, two ounces. Current inventory, thirty ounces. How's that for inventory control?" They were all tired, but their excitement seemed to keep them high as they talked about the unit. Troy pushed the Scotch and water button until they all had a drink in their hands.
Hal called for a celebration, but Fred said they should wait until after the demonstration and then they would really have something to celebrate. Agreeing to meet at Troy's company at nine in the morning, they broke up and went home for a good night's sleep.
The next morning Fred brought all of the liquor and supplies they would need for the demonstration and he and Hal and Troy worked until noon perfecting and checking every circuit and mechanism. The demonstration was scheduled for two o'clock, so they had lunch at a restaurant near Troy's office.
The girls joined them at a quarter of two and Mr. Arnold was the first invited guest to arrive shortly before two. Troy's boss, Harold Munson, arrived at two sharp and George Haney arrived with Donna just a few minutes later. Fred had arranged chairs in front of the computer and they all took their seats after exchanging introductions and greetings. Fred was so nervous his mind went blank when he stood before them, but he forced himself to concentrate on his carefully prepared presentation. He began by briefly outlining the nature of the project and the various needs it was designed to serve. Then he explained generally how the unit worked, explaining the differences between this demonstrator and the final product. Beginning his demonstration, Fred pushed the inventory button and took the series of cards that appeared in the slot and handed them to his audience. "Those cards represent the inventory in the unit at this moment," he said. "Hold them and we'll compare them with another series after we have prepared some cocktails."
Then Fred activated the computer and pressed the buttons for one each of the ten drinks he had programmed. As the unit hummed and the turntable revolved, producing one drink after another in rapid succession, Fred explained just what was involved in the preparation of each cocktail. Hal took the cocktails off the turntable and handed them to Janet who passed them around the audience.
"We can muffle the sound of that blender," Fred commented when the computer prepared a brandy Alexander, but we haven't had time for some of the smaller details."
"I can't believe it!" Harold Munson remarked. "That thing prepared and dispensed ten cocktails in two minutes and sixteen seconds. I timed it on my stopwatch. A bartender couldn't have done that in less than eight to ten minutes."
"I cheated a little," Fred remarked with a smile. "I punched the mixed cocktails first because I knew they took longer." "Amazing!" George Haney commented.
"Can you make another brandy Alexander?" Donna asked. "I love the damned things and that one was one of the best I've had." "Sure," Fred responded. "And the next one will be exactly the same. That's one of the beauties of a computer, uniformity. Once you've programmed in the right ingredients, the quality will remain constant forever." He pressed the button for a brandy Alexander and the blender began to whine almost instantly. "Anybody else?"
"I'd like another martini," Alice said.
Fred pressed the button and the computer hummed.
"I can't get over the speed of that thing," said Harold Munson. "But you've only seen part of it," Fred remarked, reaching to the inventory button on the side of the machine. "Now let's compare the inventory cards with the ones I gave you before we began." He pulled the cards from the slot and handed them to Harold Munson.
Munson, Arnold and Haney separated the cards and began comparing them.
"Why does the gin show a six ounce reduction?" George Haney asked. "One gin and tonic and two martinis," Fred replied. "Remember, Alice asked for an extra."
"That's right," George said. "I'd forgotten. Why this thing is incredible!
It will revolutionize the bar business."
"No doubt about it," Harold Munson agreed. "I must admit I had some reservations when Troy pleaded with me to let Fred use our computer, but now I feel I've been a witness to history being made. "I have to admit you've even got me excited," added Mr. Arnold. "How long will it take you to be in production?"
"As soon as I get the capital," Fred said, "I can produce units in less than six months. With Hal Coleman as my mechanical engineer and Troy in charge of sales, we'll be on the market fast." "Just a minute," Harold Munson said. "What's this about Troy?" "Mr. Munson," Troy said quietly, "I'll stay with you if you want. But you have to admit that this is a dream situation. A revolutionary new product with an almost unlimited potential market." "Okay, Troy, okay," Harold Munson said, "I don't blame you. If I were in your shoes, I'd jump at a chance like this. But I'm going on record right now that I want a piece of this action."
"But I've already agreed to finance this project," George Haney said. "Gentlemen," Mr. Arnold commented, his voice carrying authority. "I believe I was the first person Fred approached, but there is no need to bicker about this. I think you'll all agree that the potential for this company is in the millions of dollars. And I'm sure you all know that we won't make a dime in the first year or two. The money will be made in taking the company public after we have operating experience. Now why don't we all meet in my office on Monday morning and we'll set up the company on an equitable basis? Meanwhile, we can assure Fred that he has his company and he doesn't have to look anywhere else for capital. Do you agree?"
"Absolutely," George Haney replied.
"Fine with me," Harold Munson added. "And why not leave the unit set up here, Fred? We can always send our computer work out for a week or two and you'll have a working model if you need it." "That's great, Mr. Munson," Fred beamed, taking Janet's hand in his and squeezing it with the excitement of seeing their dream come true. "Shall we say ten o'clock Monday at my office?" Mr. Arnold asked, looking at his watch.
"Right," Harold Munson replied. "Ten is fine with me. I have to run.
Saturday golf date. You'll lock up, Troy?"
"Yes sir," Troy replied.
They all shook hands and Mr. Arnold and Harold Munson left the office. "Now, Goddamn it," Hal said, "I think my idea of a celebration is in order!"
"Did you tell George about the swinging computer, Fred?" Janet asked. Fred smiled and explained to George the idea of programming a computer for wife swapping.
"Would it really work?" Donna Haney asked. - "Of course it would work," George replied. "Why didn't I think of it before? Can you design the program, Fred?" "Sure," Fred laughed. "But one thing at a time. Let's get this bartender in operation first. I'll work on the computer swap in my spare time. It shouldn't take long to put together."
"Speaking of swinging Donna began, looking at Troy. "I was thinking the same thing," George laughed. "Are the Colemans swingers?" he asked Fred in a lower tone. "Then why don't we have a party? Where's Faye, Troy?"
"She's home," Troy replied, "waiting for me to call and tell her what's on for this evening."
"Tell her there's a hard-on for this evening!" Donna remarked.