Chapter 22

"Fen has some ideas to enhance the park. Let’s meet at the model so he can share his thoughts. By listening to him, we might generate some ideas of our own," I suggested to everyone.

We gathered around the model as Fen spoke. "I’d like to enhance the model to help us visualize what the park might look like after a few years of operation. First, I’ll display it for everyone to see. If Karl likes it, I can create a separate model that can be overlaid on top, which would allow us to move it up and down to show detailed structures or provide an overview as needed. May I proceed?" Fen asked, turning to Karl.

Karl considered for a moment before nodding. "Since whatever you do to the model can be undone, I see no harm. Go ahead."

Transparent domes appeared over each of the food courts, and a larger dome emerged over the narrowest section of the pond, opening out into the water. Seating areas facing this dome appeared on the opposite shore. Next, the ground around the perimeter of the park rose into small berms, with a decorative fence lining their tops. Small pine trees sprouted around the edges, accompanied by foundation plants on both sides of the fence, partially obscuring the fencing. Larger trees formed alongside the taller attractions, while clusters of trees created natural barriers, guiding attendees along specific paths. Even larger trees surrounded the domes, providing shade to areas where people could dine in an outdoor yet sheltered environment. Once the transformation was complete, the taller, more thrilling rides stood out, their highest points rising above the treetops.

Karl frowned slightly, puzzled. "What are the domes for? I assume the one by the pond is a stage, and the seating is for watching performances. But covering the eating areas with domes, only to hide them with trees, seems like a waste of money."

I understood why Fen added the domes. "If you sit inside the dome, you’ll still feel like you're outdoors but be protected from inclement weather like rain or snow. The dome could even be heated at night or during cold weather."

Fen explained his reasoning regarding the trees: "The smaller trees and larger plants around the park will help conceal the fence, making it less noticeable. This design will offer protection against both animal and human intruders. While attendees will be aware of the fence, it won’t constantly occupy their thoughts. The larger trees surrounding the domes provide shade from the sun, helping to shield attendees from the weather. As the Master noted, this setup allows visitors to enjoy nature without facing harsh conditions. Additionally, the trees around the rides serve two purposes: they funnel people in the direction of the rides from various points in the park while also obscuring them from view. This creates a feeling of being in a more intimate space, which amplifies the excitement of the rides."

Fen continued, "What I haven’t shown you is the tunnel system beneath the park. I noticed the absence of offices or rest areas for the staff. If you strategically place trash collection points, you could integrate them into the tunnel system. This would help maintain the park’s cleanliness without visibly transporting trash in front of visitors. You could also create tunnel entrances near the food courts and restrooms, providing offices and staff rest areas within the tunnels. This way, employees can navigate the park without interfering with guest space."

Karl considered this and asked, "Could you make the landscape move up, showing only the domes? I’d like to see them again without the trees."

Fen nodded. Four poles rose from each corner of the model, topped by a platform. He plugged in a power cord and handed Karl a switch box. "Push the up button to lift the landscape to the top of the poles. Push again, and the domes will follow. To lower them, just press the down button. The domes will descend first, and with another push, the landscape will follow."

Jesse voiced some concerns. "Given the park’s distance from major traffic routes, what will attract tourists? We want a significant influx of visitors, not just locals from Montana. Also, there are currently no large hotels or campgrounds nearby."

I nodded thoughtfully. "Considering the park’s size, there’s still plenty of land. We could establish a dedicated camping area for visitors, with designated sections for tents and campers. We should include more restrooms, equipped with baths or showers."

Cetus added, "We should also have a store for campers to purchase any supplies they may have forgotten."

Karl chimed in, "If we’re going that route, we should also consider building a hotel or motel for those who prefer not to camp. Otherwise, the motel in town will probably be overwhelmed by travelers once this place takes off. There’s only one gas station in town, and that won’t be enough. I’ll talk to the station owner to see if he’s interested in expanding. If not, we can build our own. I’d rather not take business away from him, but if he’s not interested, it’ll be his loss. I’ll also consult with a landscape architecture company to review the new park design, and I’ll ask the architect who designed the park to incorporate your ideas, Fen."

Jesse leaned in, all excited. "If we build the camping area near the mine entrance, we could add tent camping inside the mine, where the temperature stays around 55 degrees all year long. We could also create a naturally shaped pool of water there. The spirits could feed it water like they do with our pool in the original cave. Additionally, since the cave is naturally dark, we could hollow out a large sphere to use as a planetarium or even a movie theater."

I nodded, considering the possibilities. "That part of the cave would need to be sealed off from the rest of the system, but I don’t see any real issues with it. We would have to move all the soil out to the park before we can make that happen. Alternatively, we could create another entrance where the portal for the recruits is currently located. That might work since it’s far from the main entrance, and we could secure it with a fence."

I wanted to ensure Karl, and the others were aware of my plans. "We’ll be going back to the mine tomorrow. I’m hoping we get contacted by some of the companies from the expo. We really need equipment to finish the underground community."

Karl hesitated for a moment, a thought striking him. "Actually, I still have some contact information from when I first bought all the equipment for the mine. Let me find it." He moved toward one of the bookshelves, methodically shifting a few books aside. As he replaced the last one, the entire bookcase slid open, revealing a large safe hidden behind it. "I keep all my important paperwork in here. I had it installed years ago after Nancy kept cleaning the study—I lost more paperwork than I care to remember."

With a twist of the dial, Karl opened the safe. Inside were several filing cabinets on wheels, which he began to pull out one by one. "It should be in here," he murmured as he rifled through the files. After a few minutes, he located the right folder and carried it over to the bar James had set up. "Oh, I remember now. We bought some equipment from this company. They had the machines we needed at a decent price, and we got them right away. You should check them out." He handed me a business card and then pulled out another. "And this one—call them and mention the mine’s name. They’ll get you what you need. The other card is for a company that repossesses heavy machinery. Sometimes the equipment is practically new. The best part is that you can get it immediately. Otherwise, you might wait over a year for a manufacturer to fill your order."

As James began returning the filing cabinets to the safe, he said, "Before you all leave, there are two things you’ve got to do. First, Nancy would kill me if you didn’t try some of her desserts. Seriously, please eat some—for James’s and my sake." He grinned, his eyes twinkling. "If you find something you like, take it with you. If not, James and I will be stuck eating them for weeks. I love her cooking, but sweets just aren’t my thing."

James added, "I like sweets, but I don’t want to become fat."

Fen chimed in with a knowing grin, "You’re part of my group now, so you don’t need to worry about getting fat. Were you not paying attention when I covered all of this about your body and health?"

James blinked and then chuckled. "Now that you mention it, yes, I remember."