The next day, things were even better.
The Corp and Dr. Zimm had made no move to snatch and grab Max. Charl and Isabl, with the help of the local police, had established a tight security perimeter around the motel. Hana, who was still the official team leader, had a real “there’s no I in team” attitude.
Keeto was the only one still grousing about “being stuck in the boondocks.”
“On our next assignment, can we please do something in a city? Some place with, I don’t know, a Starbucks or something?”
The rest of the group was working on their phones and computers. Identifying farms and restaurants with surplus food. Looking for “distribution points,” like the loose network of food pantries operating out of churches.
“We can link them all together,” suggested Siobhan. “Deliver our produce the way supermarkets deliver produce to their chain of stores.”
“I’m also talking to bakeries and restaurants,” said Tisa.
“We’re going to need a solid transportation partner,” said Hana, who’d been looking into the local trucking companies.
“UPS would be great,” said Toma. “Check this out.” He called up some research he’d discovered online. “By obsessively tracking its drivers, UPS found ‘a significant cause of idling time resulted from drivers making left turns, essentially going against the flow of traffic.’ So now, UPS drivers are encouraged to make nothing but right turns. That one little change has saved one hundred million gallons of gas and reduced carbon emissions by one hundred thousand metric tons since 2004!”
“They’d be awesome partners,” said Max.
“But remember the point you made yesterday, Max,” said Hana. “We need to start small. UPS isn’t going to jump on board until we take this notion to the national or international level.”
“That’s not our job,” said Annika. “It would be impossible for the CMI to manage an operation of that scope.”
“You’re right,” said Max. “We’re the proof of concept. Other groups are better equipped to scale it up.”
“So,” said Hana, “I found a very promising trucking company. Hambrecht Hauling. They’re locals and keen on contributing to the community.”
“They sound perfect!” said Max. “Let’s sign them up.”
“They want a meeting first,” said Hana. “I told them how Leo can pilot vehicles, turning them into autonomous automobiles or, for this company, self-driving trucks.”
Max grinned. “So, they want to see Leo in action before they start working with us? They want a peek at tomorrow’s technology today?”
Hana nodded. “Precisely.”
“Sounds like a small price to pay for such a big win,” said Keeto. “Take the meeting, Hana.”
“They want to meet Max, too.”
“Really?” said Max. “Why?”
“Maybe because Mr. Carleigh told everybody in a three-county radius about what went down at his farm,” suggested Klaus, swaggering into the conference room with Leo. “Face it, Max. You’re famous.”
Charl and Isabl came into the room, too. They looked intense.
“We just picked up some Corp chatter,” said Isabl.
“As did I,” said Leo.
Charl took over the briefing. “The Corp is planning an orchestrated attack at eleven hundred hours. They’re sending their hit team here to grab Max and Leo.”
“It’s ten o’clock now,” said Hana, glancing up at a clock on the wall.
“Might be a good time for Max and Leo to not be here,” suggested Keeto.
“We could go talk to your truckers,” said Max. “Take Leo. Charl and Isabl can lock down this location. If the Corp goons show up you can politely tell them, sorry, Max and Leo aren’t here.”
“And you wouldn’t be lying,” said Klaus. He nodded at Charl and Isabl. They nodded back.
“Do it, Max,” said Charl.
“No problem,” said Max.
She turned to Klaus.
“Thanks for checking out Leo.” She shook his hand. “We need him firing on all cylinders today. He has to impress the owners of a local trucking company with his mad driving skills.”
“But I don’t drive,” said Leo. “I simply pilot the craft.”
“Well, pilot us to this address,” said Hana, putting a slip of paper in front of Leo’s eyes so he could scan it into his memory.
And while she did that, Max pinned onto the lapel of her trench coat the little robot button Klaus had slipped her during their handshake.