According to the address provided by Pamarot, Lynn came to Hughes's house alone. The American opened a small car repair shop in the northern suburbs of Rosrunus. Early in the morning, Hughes and his son were busy repairing a worn-out truck. Old Hughes was not tall but had a strong arms, which was the common feature of veteran drivers in the era of mechanical steering wheels. He didn't speak loudly, but his face had a fierce look. Little Hughes was a young man about the same size as Pamarot, with continuous freckles on his cheeks, wearing vests and shorts, and his hands were covered with oil, but he could still see some bookish anger.

In front of Old Hughes, Lynn did not explain his purpose, but said to Hughes: "You are Mr. Karenger Hughes! I'm from California and a friend introduced me to you."

"California? Pamarot?" Hughes actually guessed the person as soon as he heard the place name.

Lynn smiled and shook his head: "Can you talk about it alone? I'll ask for coffee!"

Although it is a suburb, Lynn paid special attention when he came. There was a typical country restaurant more than 100 meters away - pastry, coffee and alcohol.

Hughes did not refuse the invitation because of Lynn's abrupt visit. He picked up a dirty rag from the side and wiped his hands, saying to Hughes: "Dad, this is a friend from California, let's go have a cup of coffee!"

"Oh!" Old Hughes glanced at Lin Neng, and saw that this guy was dressed neatly at a young age, so he did not show any warning.

The two walked towards the restaurant together. Hughes flipped through his pocket, took out a pack of empty cigarettes, and pinched it into a ball and threw it on the ground with some depression.

Tobacco has long become an important prop in Lynn's life. He used to smoke cigarettes that had never heard of before, but the taste was not good. When he came to the United States this time, he finally saw the familiar Marlboro and camel. In this case, he naturally took out the cigarette from his pocket and shook out a piece for Hughes. He also said: "My name is Carter Holme, an exchange scholar recommended from the National University of La Plata in Argentina to the University of California. He focuses on molecular physics and is friends with Pamarot, but... I don't want him to get involved in this matter, so just think I asked you from a passerby to ask your address!"

Hughes took a cigarette calmly: "Want to sit on a hot air balloon?"

Speaking to a sensible person is always easier, Lynn replied: "Yes, it's not a problem to take a hot air balloon and go around the desert."

"Money is not a problem, of course." Hughes said meaningfully. He pushed the door open and walked into the restaurant. There were two ladies standing behind the bar, one of whom was still charming, and the other was young but already had a charm.

"A cup of coffee, a bottle of beer, and then a C meal." Hughes was obviously very familiar with the restaurant at the door of his house. Moreover, he did not ask Lynn if he wanted to eat something, so he found a seat by the window and sat down.

"The damn government forced my hot air balloon for $50. You should know that such an aircraft costs at least $150."

Then, before Lynn, who had just sat down, said something relieved, Hughes angrily exhaled the smoke ring: "They also warned me not to make and use any aircraft until the ban is lifted. It's a hell!"

Such a young and impulsive person is easy to talk to. Lynn thought, and then whispered: "But as far as I know... you've created one in private, right!"

"Before the government issued a ban, I used a balloon to carry a short tour for a short trip of $10, and the tour around the desert was $30. When the weather was good, I basically had two or three payments a month. After that, my dream of buying a car was shattered, and I could only do handyman work in this dirty repair shop every day. It's a hell!"

After Hughes said the second time, the charming waitress twisted her waist and brought coffee, beer and a meal with meat, vegetables and bread, especially the aroma of roasted potatoes was particularly strong.

"Stop dreaming!" The older mature woman put the coffee in front of Lynn, put the beer and meals on the side of Hughes, and interrupted jokingly: "As soon as your balloon was lifted, the custody was shot down by the US Army's machine gun. If you are caught in prison, you will have to pay back your debts here by your father."

Hughes said disapprovingly: "It's only a few dollars, and I'm afraid I won't pay it back."

Two American youths of almost the same age, one went to university and the other entered society. In just a few years, one was polite, lofty, and one was world-weary, and unrestrained. This was the wonder of life. At this time, Lynn was not in a hurry to speak, but silently drank country coffee, watching Hughes eat big beer, and when he finished eating in the wind, he said to the bar: "Give me two packs of camel cigarettes."

After the waitress brought the cigarettes, Lynn pushed one of the bags to Hughes, opened the other bag himself, and tentatively said: "I want to buy your hot air balloon, but the condition is that you can help me drive it free of charge. If you can return to a smooth journey around the desert and return the hot air balloon to you for free, what if you don't want to?"

Hughes didn't think much about such conditions. He lit a second cigarette and didn't mind talking about some serious topics on such occasions:

"Only fools will refuse such offers, but... you obviously are not just for tourism!"

Lynn smiled calmly: "Actually, I'm here to find someone to answer the questions. He's in the desert, but I can't find his exact location."

Hughes still looked disapproving: "So, it is really a big possibility that we are shot down by the military. It's better to buy another insurance."

"Yes." Lynn replied, "How many people can you sit on your hot air balloon?"

Hughes replied: "There were four or five people in the past, but now the ones were smaller. It's okay for you and me to have a heavy object, but it's probably not possible to carry a bomb or something."

When it comes to bombs, Lin En felt nervous. This guy was really unstoppable, so he was not afraid that the people around him would mistakenly go to report to the military after hearing this? Or did this guy always like to speak so loudly that his neighbors got used to it?

"I spent $44 for this hot air balloon, and the labor cost was $36. Including the employment fee, insurance premium, etc., how about $120?"

While negotiating the price, Hughes finally deliberately lowered his tone.

Buying a hot air balloon with a pilot for $120 is not expensive at all, but considering that it is not possible to handle key information in one flight, how long will the subsequent action last, and what content should be added, Lynn is still not sure. He weighed the trade-offs in his mind. Although the other party did not obviously start the price, the guy who drank in the morning did not seem to be so reliable, so he proposed a "installment payment" suggestion: "I will pay $50 to make sure that the hot air balloon can fly, and I will pay $50 after taking off, and settle the last $20 when landing."

"Is this the trading method that Argentines are used to?" Hughes, holding a cigarette in one hand and killing the last sip of wine in the beer bottle in the other hand, and replied readily: "The deal is completed! When are you going to set off?"

"Of course the faster the better!" said Lynn. "Can you go and see your hot air balloon now?"

Hughes stood up: "You can't see it when you sit here!"

Before leaving the restaurant, Lynn settled the bill for the meal, and he had to find 35 cents for a dollar, and the consumption in the countryside was still cheaper than expected. Hughes obviously deliberately avoided his father's sight, took Lynn around in a big circle, and finally came to the warehouse behind the car repair shop, opened the side door lightly, and after taking Lynn in, he looked at the repair shop with great vigilance.

Under the dim light, Lynn saw a warehouse full of various parts and debris. The air was filled with the smell of engine oil and rubber. Hughes lifted the canvas covered with the accumulation of the corners. This seemed to be the simplest open-type heated hot air balloon. There was no closed balloon, and the bottom area of ​​the hanging basket was less than 1 square meter, which could only accommodate two people standing or sitting.

"What fabric is used for this balloon?" From a safety perspective, Lynn asked seriously.

"Of course it's not like the French!" Hughes teased the French without hesitation. Since the defeat in 1940, the arrogant France seemed to have become the object of ridicule of people all over the world. The French did invent hot air balloons made of paper, but that was more than a century ago. Although the Maginot Line they built was made of real materials, they were not much better than paper.

Lynn stepped forward and touched it. It should be a parachute-like nylon or polyester fabric, which is light and sturdy, and is made of many single pieces of fabric. Compared to the simple hanging basket and burner, this is usually the most expensive part of the hot air balloon.

Seeing Lynn looking at the handicrafts he made with curiosity and carefulness, Hughes said: "Although this hot air balloon has never really flew, with my previous four years of flight experience, it can completely fly around the desert. Even if there is a slight air leakage, it can ensure our safety."

Lynn nodded: "What else can I worry about if I can praise Thor? When will I set off as soon as possible?"

"If my father is not here, he can set out any day." Hughes said helplessly, "but he will go to Abuquerki to purchase goods only after the day he has acquired the goods."

It would take another two days to delay, and Lynn was really reluctant: "Can I let me talk to him? This time there is indeed something important."

"Stop kidding!" Hughes shook his head repeatedly, "He would not agree to me flying hot air balloons until the military lifted the ban. Everyone thinks that if they violate the ban, they will be shot down by the military's machine gun. It's so funny!"

The strict father's care has become the biggest obstacle at the moment. Lin En really felt funny about this. He thought again, since the military's ban on flying was causing trouble in New Mexico, there will always be many rumors about secret test bases!

"Testing base?" Hughes scratched his face, "I heard that there are many places, such as road cards and barbed wire. Even if it is a military base, who knows where the person you are looking for? Alas... I said, even if I take you around the air, you can't confirm this!"

This is an obvious logical flaw, but Lin Neng was not panicked. He calmly replied: "If we those who study physics don't say anything else, just look at the appearance of the test base from a high place, you can basically determine its purpose. If you can't set out the day after tomorrow, then I would rather rent a car and go to one place one by one. It's slower, but sooner or later I can find it."
Chapter completed!