The Last Starfighter Read Online Free PDF Page A

picked up pension checks at a mailbox. Otis, on the other hand, was a friend.
    “I love fixing the electric system, checking the plumbing, plunging toilets and cleaning up animal stuff.” He made a face. “Otis, I don’t even get a chance to have a good time around here.”
    The game let loose with a flurry of bright lights and electronic sound effects. Alex had advanced still another level. Now he caught his breath, flexed his fingers while waiting for the next setup to materialize.
    “Things change; always do. I ought to know.” Again the smile around the stem of the worn pipe. “You’ll get your chance, boy. Important thing is, when it comes, you got to be ready for it. You gotta grab it with both hands and hold on tight.”
    “Real profound, Otis.”
    “I don’t pretend to be no philosophy professor, Alex. I didn’t make as much as some folks either, but I took care of what I made because I knew what I wanted out of life. A hundred bucks invested right is better in ten years than a thousand bucks squandered now. I ain’t rich, but I’m comfortable. I don’t have to work anymore and I don’t want or worry about anything.”
    “Did you miss any opportunities when you were my age, Otis?”
    “Sure I did. We all do. But nobody ever warned me about missing ’em like I’m warning you now. I figure maybe I’m doing you a favor. Experience isn’t worth a thing if you can’t pass it along to someone else. There’s lots of things in life you can go back and replace, Alex, but not missed opportunities. You remember that.”
    He broke off as a big boxy shape emerged from the darkness and slid into the parking lot. Maggie climbed over the tailgate, balancing a moment on the oversized, custom rear steel bumper before jumping lightly to the ground. The picnic basket, empty now, was tossed down to her, followed by the towel and the borrowed ice chest. Goodbyes were made, accompanied by laughter and quips, all part of the aftermath of a good day’s mindless fun in the sun. Alex struggled futilely to shut it out, concentrating on the screen.
    Otis saw the youngster’s expression tighten and knew it had nothing to do with the difficulties of the game. His smile turned sad and he moved away, aiming for the rocking chair at the far end of the porch.
    Someone else noticed Alex’s discomfiture, however, and had no compunctions about rubbing new salt in fresh wounds.
    “ ’Night Maggs.” Blake made sure he said it loud enough for Alex to hear him above the microprocessed mutter of the videogame. “See you ’round!”
    It was small comfort to Alex that Maggie didn’t reply. His fingernails dug at the impervious plastic around the control buttons.
    His off road tires spitting sand, Blake roared out of the lot, not caring if he woke any early sleepers. The noise hid the laughter. Or maybe there wasn’t any laughter. Maybe it was only in Alex’s mind.
    Maggie climbed the steps onto the porch, watching Alex closely as she came up behind him. She took a minute to study the videoscreen, but the nuances of the game were lost on her. Girls didn’t go in much for the wargames, no matter what the women’s libbers might claim. Girls preferred crushing the nasties in Millipede or the complicated maze games like Pac-Man and its variants.
    Maggie didn’t much care for any of them. She only took an interest because Alex was interested, though she could still admire his skill.
    “Packs low . . . life support plus two and functioning . . . photonics low . . .” The machine delivered its announcements in clipped, precise artificial tones, indifferent to everything else.
    Maggie rose on tiptoes to give Alex a peck on the cheek. He smiled briefly, kept his gaze locked on the screen. He was glad of the game. It gave him an excuse for not meeting her eyes.
    “I thought you were going to meet me at the lake,” she said. “What happened?” An open question, devoid of accusation. Maggie wasn’t bitter, only genuinely