Notes of explanation:
Hue - pronounced WAY
Hui - pronounced Hughy
Hua - pronounced Huwa
Dati - IndoDutch term for Papa
Baki - IndoDutch term for Brother
Onkla - IndoDutch term for Uncle<hr>
Chapter 1 - VISIT TO THE MAINLAND
Hue and Ian had just returned from an inspection trip to the Power Station up on the volcano, Paul and Concho were running temperature checks on the hot gas flow.
Son buzzed Hue and told him that Mr. Daniel was on the line. Hue picked up his telephone and greeted his brother warmly and asked, "When are you coming out to see us?"
Danny laughed and replied, "When I discover a 36-hour day, maybe I will have time! Seriously, representatives of the Indian Tribe up at Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation called and they want us to explore the possibility of a joint venture hot gas electric power system on the reservation. The area is highly volcanic, so maybe there is a good possibility to install one of our units there."
Hue thought for a moment, "Isn't that in Nevada, just north of Reno?"
Danny said, "Yes, the lake itself is pure salt, but there are freshwater streams in the mountains west of the lake."
Hue replied, "Well Paul and Concho are free right now, and I KNOW 'Chito would love to come see you and bring Sammy!"
Danny thought for a moment and said, "Why don't you and Ian come, also? We could use Ian's expertise in geology and I could stand for a little brother time, myself!"
Hue had Son contact Concho and Paul, advising them they were needed at the office and for him to get tickets to San Francisco for the five of them the next week.
Paul and Concho were interested in the project and Paul asked, "Pyramid Lake, isn't that where they filmed that movie, Planet of the Apes?"
Hue laughed, "Leave it to Paul to remember a SciFi flick!"
Paul gave a mock sniff, "Well, I liked it!"
Concho told them that summer vacation from school began the next week, so Sammy would not be missing any school.
Sammy had been an abused Australian boy of part Aborigine heritage that Concho had rescued when he and Paul were installing a power generating system in that country. The boy had never been to school, but was catching up rapidly under the guidance of his adopted father, Concho Best. The boy dearly loved his Onkla Paul also, who was like a second father to him.
Son was able to get them tickets direct from Hilo to San Francisco on a flight leaving at 9 am the next Tuesday morning.
When Sammy was told of the trip when he got home from school, he was delighted. He loved his Grandpapa Danny and started to pack immediately.
Concho said, "Sammy, we don't go until next week and the boy replied, "I gotta get ready to go!"
When Concho peeked into the boy's suitcase, it was mostly toys with a thin layer of clothes laid on the top! Sammy packed and unpacked his suitcase a dozen times before the morning of their flight.
Hue and Ian picked up Concho and Sammy on their way to the airport and Paul was waiting there for them. His current girlfriend of the week had dropped him off on her way to work a few minutes earlier.
This would be the first time Sammy had been on an airplane since Concho and Paul had brought him home from Australia, the little boy's excitement meter was pegged at high!
They got checked in and were waiting in the Premier Lounge to be called for their flight. Sammy, of course, had his nose pressed up against the glass of the window, watching their plane arrive.
As soon as the plane docked at the Jetway, Sammy was pulling at Concho, urging him to hurry. "Dati Cho, hurry, the plane will leave without us!"
The young woman at the Jetway counter smiled, she recognized Hue and said, "The Best Boys are traveling again!"
Hue smiled and replied, "My little nephew may not even need the plane to get there!"
The woman agreed with him.
They got settled in their seats and the pilot taxied the plane down the runway to takeoff. It was only a 4-hour flight, so a meal was not served, but Sammy's tummy started to growl a half hour out from San Francisco.
When they landed and were heading for the luggage carousels, Sammy spotted Danny and he screamed, "Grandpapa, Grandpapa" as he ran into Danny's arms.
There were a few moments of joyful tears as Concho hugged his Dati.
Danny took them all out to Fisherman's Wharf for lunch. Sammy was fascinated by the sea lions sunning themselves on the pilings, completely ignoring the humans nearby.
After lunch, Danny took them all to his house and got them settled. They sat around discussing the possibilities of a new power project at Pyramid Lake while Sammy took a nap.
Hue insisted they go up to Sacramento for Prime Rib that night, it was a near thing, Sammy almost out "carnivored" his Onkla Hue!
As they sat around the table, enjoying a second cup of coffee before heading for home, they further discussed the new project, Hue suggested that if it became a joint venture, then it should be with Hilo Natural Steam Power Company. They all agreed that was the proper course it should take.
They piled back in the cars and headed back to Fairfield.
The folks from Hawaii were getting weary, the strain of travel and the time change was getting to them. Before they were out of town, Sammy was fast asleep in Concho's lap.
The next morning, they telephoned the Tribal Headquarters in Nixon, Nevada and made arrangements to meet with them two days hence.
The closest place for them to stay was Sparks, Nevada and they made reservations for them all to stay at The Golden Nugget Lodge.
It was summer and an easy drive from Fairfield, they stopped at Lake Tahoe so Sammy could see the famous lake, before proceeding on to Sparks.
That evening, while the adults were talking, Sammy sat at the table in the hotel room with a pencil and paper. Paul happened to walk by and looked at what the little boy was drawing, he hollered for the others to come look.
Sammy had drawn a beautiful rendition of Lake Tahoe in pencil!
Concho hugged the boy and praised him, "Sammy, we didn't know you were so talented. Would you like for me to get you some drawing paper and artist pencils?"
The next morning, Concho found a stationery store that had artist supplies and he bought a beginner's kit for Sammy.
The little boy was delighted. As they drove north to Nixon for their meeting with the Tribal Council, Sammy's head was on swivels. The strange rock formations along the way looked to the child as something from another world. Rock spires, salt-encrusted boulders sticking out of the lake and weird, wind-tormented bushes, barely holding on to life, covered the tortured landscape.
They met with the tribal officials and Sammy sat quietly in the corner, busy with his drawings.
There was an official from Sierra Power Company, the utility that served the area and an observer from the BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs).
Danny introduced Concho and Paul as the originators of the hot gas electric generation system, citing the systems already in service in Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand. He added, "We are currently in negotiations with the Red Center Power Co-Op in Alice Springs, Australia for a second installation in that country."
The Indian officials wanted to take them out to show them the hot gas vents on the other side of the lake. Danny volunteered to remain at the headquarters with Sammy while they toured the area.
On a hunch, Paul had thrown a hot gas thermocouple and meter in his suitcase when they left Hilo, so he picked that up and they headed out to some 4-wheel drive SUVs for the trip. On the southwestern shore of the lake, they were shown natural hot gas vents and Paul, with assistance from Concho, maneuvered the thermocouple into the gas stream, which read 2800 degrees.
They told the Tribal Officials that was only marginal for a generating system, it would be better to send down a test bore to determine gas temperature and volumes.
The man from the power company asked, "Is this kind of system frequency stable?"
Hue replied, "The systems in Australia and New Zealand are tied into the national network and the one in Hilo is the sole power source for the Island of Hawaii. So far, we have had no problems with system stability nor have any problems occurred with inter-network power exchanges."
They returned to the Tribal Headquarters in Nixon and hammered out a study contract to determine gas flow characteristics and volumes.
It was decided to commence the studies as soon as possible, however, any construction contract would have to be countersigned by the BIA.
Danny called the office in Fairfield and had a standard "Cost Plus" contract form faxed to the Tribal Headquarters. When it arrived, he signed it and presented it to the Tribal Council, the Council members talked among themselves as the visitors went to lunch.
Concho asked Sammy to show them his drawings, they were astounded at what the little boy had drawn!
The man from the power company joined them for lunch and he saw Sammy's drawing of the rock spires along the shores of Pyramid Lake. He said he had to have that drawing and offered Sammy $500 for it!
Sammy asked his Daddy what he should do, Concho said, "Son, that is your drawing, if you wish to sell it, it is yours to sell. If you want to keep it, it is still yours and your decision only."
Sammy turned shy and hid behind Concho, saying. "Mister, if you want the drawing, I will give it to you, you don't have to give me any money."
The man knelt down to be at eye level with Sammy, "Your drawing is professional quality, I cannot just take it from you, here is my check for $500. Your drawing is going to go on the wall of my office so everyone can enjoy it."
The drawing was the beginning of Little Sammy's lifework, before they returned to Hilo, he would be asked for more drawings at even more fabulous prices!
Chapter 2 - THE LAND TIME FORGOT
The Tribal Council accepted the Cost Plus Study Contract to send an exploratory bore down 20,000 feet to determine gas volumes and temperatures.
Danny contacted David Parks, their Mainland Job Superintendent and advised him to collect his crew and make plans to move to Sparks, Nevada. He then contacted a Realtor to rent some houses, he planned on Concho and Paul to manage the project and a crew of six men plus the Superintendent.
While they were making arrangements for living quarters, Concho and Paul flew back to Hilo to arrange the shipment of their clothing, tools and playthings for Sammy. Sammy asked to stay with his Grandpapa, Danny, while his Daiti and Onkla made their journey to Hilo and back.
Danny was delighted to have the little boy and by the time Concho and Paul returned, Sammy and Grandpapa Danny were firm friends and co-conspirators.
They again, contracted with Keester Drilling Services of Dallas to do the actual bore. It took three weeks to make all the arrangements before Paul and Concho were ready to return to Sparks.
They had leased a 4-bedroom house for themselves and Concho had gotten all of Sammy's school records so that there would be no problems enrolling him in school.
They made quite a caravan as they and the crew headed over the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Concho and Paul would share a Ford 4-wheel drive Explorer and the crew had a combination of 4-wheel drive Explorers and F-250 four-door pickup trucks.
They met up with the crew from the drilling services and they all headed out to the Reservation.
The tribe had bulldozed a road into the area planned for the bore and they would provide security services for the work site.
David broke out the radios and checked them out, making sure the drilling crew got two radios and Paul and Concho got one each. The radios were long-range SSB units, capable of reaching Sparks, a hundred miles away. All the vehicles had dash-mounted radios, working on the same frequencies. That area of the Reservation was a lonely, uninhabited land of salt, rocks and snakes, good communication was a necessity.
Keester Drilling Services mounted the drill spud and David's workmen formed up the pad and had concrete delivered from Sparks.
While the concrete was setting up, they knocked together a small building to house the instrumentation and provide storage for their tools.
They installed a 10kW generator to provide power and early the next week, Keester Drilling began the bore. They had to fight for every inch of depth, through layer after layer of the volcanic overlay.
Until school began, Sammy would come out with Concho and Paul and amuse himself with his drawings. When school started again, he would be in the 5th grade, he had finally caught up to his age group.
The little boy had a vivid imagination, he pictured the rock formations as prehistoric creatures, and his drawings included dinosaurs, giant lizards and fearsome beasts. When Concho compared Sammy's drawings to the sere landscape, it took little imagination to see what Sammy saw, it truly was a Land that Time had forgotten!
The Tribal Council selected Thomas Two Trees to be their "go-between", Thomas was a young Indian man, who recently graduated from the University of Nevada at Reno. He had a young son, about the same age as Sammy and the two boys soon became good friends.
Corbin Two Trees would sit beside Sammy and point out weirdly shaped rocks and describe them as fearsome beasts. It was a friendship that would last a lifetime.
Sammy was heartbroken when it was time for school, his friend, Corbin, was not going to go to school with him. The two boys cried and held on to each other, their distress so great, Thomas went into Sparks to see if he could enter his son into the school there.
Thomas had all of his son's school records, it was evident Corbin was a very bright boy. He was accepted at Sparks Elementary School in the same class as Sammy Best.
Thomas asked Concho and Paul if Corbin could live with them in Sparks, Paul said, "Why don't you live with us also, Thomas. We will be coming out to the jobsite every day anyway and you will be able to be with your son."
Thomas Two-Trees thought about it and asked, "You are not concerned about living with an Indian?"
Concho laughed, "Thomas, I am a full-blood Andean Indian, my son, Sammy, is part Australian Aborigine. Do you really think we would be concerned?"
Thomas was nearly in tears, "I was an orphan and Corbin's mother ran out on us, we think she is in Salt Lake City, living with a druggie.
We, Corbin and I, are all alone with no family and you take us in like we were brothers!"
It would prove to be a prophetic statement, young Thomas Two Trees would become a lifetime member of Best Sons' Engineering and a partner to Concho Best. His son, Corbin, and Sammy, likewise would become life partners.
Keester Drilling Services began the bore, fighting hard layers of lava. It was surprising to them, as close to the lake as they were, they hit no strata containing significant amounts of water. At 6,000 feet they began to encounter hot gasses, Hue's blowback preventer kept the drilling crew from being scalded.
Danny had to return to Fairfield and Hue and Ian went back to Hilo. Summer ended and the little boys, Sammy and Corbin entered school. Sammy's artwork was a constant amazement to Mrs. Bledsoe, their teacher and at the first grading period, she asked Concho at the Parent-Teacher conference if he would allow them to have a showing of Sammy's drawings at the school.
Concho said he would have to ask Sammy, but he thought it would be a good thing. Sammy liked the idea and it was scheduled for Parent's Night, just before the Christmas Break.
The bore inched its way deeper, by Thanksgiving they were down to 11,000 feet. The weather was getting worse and they built an enclosure around the bore so work could continue.
Just before Christmas, Paul was at the bore site when fire shot out the preventer vent.
He got on the radio and called, "Best 1, this is Best 2, over."
Concho was heading out to the work site from Sparks and replied, "Best 2, Best 1, go ahead Best 2".
Paul replied, "Best 1, Best 2, Paul speaking, Cho, we got fire at 11,000 feet, over"
Concho replied, "Best 2, Best 1, Concho speaking, Draw the bore and let's take some measurements. I will be there in 30 minutes. Thomas is with me. Best 1 out."
Paul had the drill crew draw the bore and valve off the drilling spud.
When Concho arrived, he had them bolt a 4-inch nozzle on the top of the spud and connect the flow meter and thermocouple to the nozzle. Their readings showed marginally sufficient gas flow and a temperature of 4800 degrees.
The three men conferred, Thomas, Paul and Concho, and they decided they were on the right track and that they should continue to program depth.
They knocked the crews off for the day and agreed to begin again in the morning.
That night was the showing of Sammy's drawings and Sammy was on "pins and needles" in excitement. His drawing of the lake as it might have been in prehistoric times attracted the most attention. It showed two dinosaurs browsing on stubby trees and a giant fish jumping in the lake.
Professor Bill Garland of the University of Nevada saw the drawing and immediately offered Sammy $5,000 for it!
Little Sammy didn't know what to do, he asked Concho, "Dati, what do I do?"
Concho spoke with Professor Garland to make sure the offer was genuine and then told Sammy that it was his decision.
Professor Garland said to Concho, "I have never seen the likes of this, especially from a 10-year-old boy! Your son has tremendous talent and I would urge you to let him continue. Do not send him to a teacher, his native talent is to be treasured."
Professor Garland bought the drawing and Concho established an education fund for his son. Before the evening was done with, four more drawings were sold and a reporter from the local newspaper asked to do a story on Sammy.
Sammy's story appeared in the Reno Gazette, along with a photograph of the drawing purchased by Professor Garland. Before the week was out, all of Sammy's drawings had been purchased and there was $25,000 in Sammy's education fund!
Sammy had little understanding of what all the fuss was about, he just liked to "doodle" on paper with his pencil!
During this time Sammy and Corbin Two Trees were coming closer together, they were never seen, one without the other. Neither parent was concerned, tribal traditions held no malice towards boys who liked other boys, and Concho loved Sammy so thoroughly, he would never chastise him for loving another!
By the end of the fifth grade, the two boys were sleeping together, beginning their lifetime as partners. Both parents watched closely so that the boys were not tormented by other children and, after asking Hue, Concho offered Thomas Two Trees a position as a Geology Engineer with the Hilo Division of Best Sons' Engineering when the current project was completed.
Chapter 3 - PYRAMID LAKE POWER PROJECT
By early January, the drill crew finally drove the bore to the planned depth and they began testing the bore for temperature and flow rates. At all flow rates, the hot gas temperature remained a steady 5400 degrees, an ideal temperature for a natural hot gas steam generating system.
Paul flew back to Honolulu and conferred with the folks at American Piping and Boiler for a 250-megawatt system. As they were compiling the data, he called Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for a quote on a 250-megawatt turbine generator and all support equipment up to, and including the main disconnects.
While he was waiting, he had their draftsman sketch out a proposed plant layout, reminding him of the harsh climate it would be operating in. As soon as he had all his information, he and Hue put together a bid package on the project and he hand-carried it to Fairfield to get Danny's approval.
It would be a $290,000,000 project!
Paul was back at the Reno Airport by the 10th of February and he and Concho went over every page of the proposal, making a few minor changes to cooling water systems and instrumentation.
When all the changes had been incorporated into the proposal, they went back to Nixon to present the project to the Tribal Council and the BIA agent.
The BIA agent asked why such a large installation was being proposed, Paul replied, "The energy source, the hot gases, are the same cost, whether we use a full flow or minimum flow, the cost is in the bore not the flow. At 250 megawatts, the tribe can sell electricity to the local utility and recover their costs of operation. This makes the cost of the electric power used on the reservation to be very low or even at no cost at all. We project that the entire project will be fully amortized within 7 years. After that, the only expenses will be operation and maintenance. Additionally, the system will help stabilize power in the entire northern part of the state; there are no generation facilities, except for the generator at Wadsworth and a diesel generator in Carson City, in the entire north of the state. The long transmission lines are subject to weather failures and cyclic disturbances due to magnetic storms and solar flares."
The Tribal Council approved the project, but the BIA Agent did not have the authority to do so, the plans and bid package was sent to Washington for review.
Concho reminded the Agent that the system was proprietary and that Best Sons' Engineering held the patents on the design.
They settled down for the bureaucratic cat-and-mouse game that was part of any job that involved the petty bureaucrats in government.
Both men had to make hurry-up and wait trips to Washington, DC. Fortunately, Thomas Two Trees had given notice to the Tribal Council and was now employed by Best Son's Engineering, so he could ride herd on the two little boys whenever Paul and Concho had to go to Washington.
Finally, after three months of wrangling, the project was approved, allowing the Tribe to spend their own money to construct a power system on their own lands.
TBC
Watch for further adventures of this talented family as they become legendary throughout the Pacific Basin and beyond.