Free Paradigms Lost by Ryk E Spoor Page A

informed the relevant persons of my decision. I will, of course, clarify my position to them if any of them desire it.”
    I looked at him questioningly. “You do realize that some of these people may not think of retirement as an option?”
    He smiled, but this smile was colder somehow, less the smile of a gracious host and more the bared-fang expression of a predator. “I am sure I can . . . persuade anyone who might think otherwise, Jason. Do not concern yourself with that side of the equation.”
    I gave an inward shiver, remembering what Elias Klein—barely a baby by Verne’s standards—had been capable of. No, I didn’t suppose Verne would have much trouble there.
    “Okay,” I said. “I guess I can give it a shot. I’ll have to think about it a bit, and of course we’re going to have to go into your skills and knowledge areas. I’d feel kinda silly giving you a standard questionnaire, so I’ll just have to talk to you for a while on that—get a feel for what you would enjoy, what you’d hate to do, what you’ve already got the skills and knowledge for, and what you’d learn easily. Also, you’ll have to confirm or deny the various limitations I guessed for your people, and how they apply to you, so I know what things are definite no-nos and which ones are ‘sometimes, but only rarely,’ if you know what I mean.”
    “I grasp your meaning, yes. Would you like to start tonight?”
    I ran over my schedule in my head. “Unfortunately, no. I’d have to leave here in about another hour anyway—I have some early clients to see—and I’d like time to let the concept percolate through my brain. How about Thursday—day after tomorrow? I know that one was clear, since I checked on it yesterday.”
    “Thursday will be eminently satisfactory. I shall expect you at the same time, then?”
    “Fine with me.” I got up and extended my hand.
    He shook it with a firm but not oppressively strong grip. “You have neglected to mention your fee, Jason.”
    I shrugged. “This isn’t a normal job—I have no idea what to charge at this point. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. In fact, I have a better idea. When I bring over the work-for-hire agreement, the price will be left open to your discretion. You can decide after the fact what the work was worth to you.”
    “Are you not concerned I might take advantage of this option?”
    I shook my head. “You’re a man of honor. You’d feel too guilty. In fact, I will probably come out ahead, since you’re likely to charge yourself more than I would.”
    He laughed. “You are indeed wiser than your years would make you, Jason. Good night, then, and have a pleasant journey home.”
    “After that dinner, I certainly will. Thank you, Verne.”

CHAPTER 11
    Personal History
    “All right,” I said, “you can meet people in the daytime if necessary. Just not a good thing to do often. That’s great—there are a lot of things, like signing papers, getting permits, and so on, that are close to impossible to manage if you can’t get the principal to make himself available when other people are.”
    I was going over the notes I’d gotten that night, while Verne answered my questions and read the work-for-hire agreement. “Yes, I understand that,” Verne confirmed. “I will certainly make myself available for official meetings in the daytime, but would strongly prefer such things be very few and far between. By the way, I admire your wording in this agreement—making it clear that part of your job is to take into consideration my special requirements, while being so utterly generic that someone getting a look at this agreement wouldn’t think anything of it.”
    I grinned. “Wish I could take credit for that one, but I stole most of the wording from similar agreements for people with disabilities.” I stood up. “Okay, let’s take a look around your house here. Sometimes what you see in a man’s home gives you ideas—I’m assuming you keep at