Free Special Talents by J. B. Tilton Page A

idea. I'll talk to the head psychiatrist when I get back and see what he thinks. I'm sure he'll be happy to have the help."
     
    "What's his name?" Jeremy asked.
     
    "Walt Hiensman. He's been with the agency from the beginning."
     
    "I've met him at a couple of psychiatric conventions. He's very good. It's nice to know the people safeguarding our homeland are in such good hands."
     
    "Nothing but the best," said Scarborough, smiling.
     
    "What about other people in the agency?" Janet asked. "Besides Kamalene. Any of them been identified as having special talents?"
     
    "Not so far. There may be some they may just be afraid to say anything. It's kind of like admitting to seeing a UFO. If some regular Joe claims to have seen a UFO, no one thinks much of it. But if say a professional pilot claims to have seen a UFO, he gets labeled a nut job and risks getting grounded."
     
    "Which actually doesn't make a lot of sense," said Jeremy. "A UFO is simply a flying object you can't identify. It could be a plane, jet, helicopter, almost anything. I've seen plenty of them. A flashing light moving across the sky. It's a flying object that much I know. But I have no idea what kind it is. Simply calling it a 'UFO' doesn't necessarily mean you're talking about a flying saucer or little green men."
     
    "Yeah, well when people hear 'UFO' that's usually what they think of first," said Scarborough.
     
    As they were talking Jeremy's attention was drawn to the outside exit of the food court. He watched as a young black man wandered into the court. It was hard to tell exactly how old the man was from his condition but Jeremy judged he was probably somewhere in his early 20s.
     
    But the man was completely out of place in the food court. Most of the people were dressed somewhat nicely. They were out for a day of shopping or to pick up something they needed. There were even a few in various types of uniforms who had probably stopped in for lunch.
     
    This young man was totally different. He had long hair that hung to his shoulders and obviously hadn't been washed in at least several days. His beard was scraggly and unkempt and also hadn't been washed. He was wearing a pair of blue jeans that were obviously much too large for him. And he was wearing an old style field jacket that had once been standard issue in the military. As Jeremy watched the man cautiously made his way through the food court and the reaction from some of the people near him indicated he had a distinct odor to him.
     
    Scarborough noticed Jeremy watching the man and looked over to see what he was looking at.
     
    "Just some homeless guy," Scarborough said. "We have quite a few of them in D.C. especially the way the economy is. Mall security will probably be by shortly to move the guy on his way."
     
    "That's a shame," said Janet. "We're supposed to be the richest country in the world. No one should have to live like that."
     
    "True, but unfortunately it's a fact of life," said Jeremy. "Whenever I see one I always wonder what their story is. I'm sure no one chooses to be homeless. But there's usually a reason for it. I just wonder what his is."
     
    As he continued to watch the young man he noticed the man try to move nonchalantly to a nearby table. The table still had several trays that had been left behind by the patrons who had been sitting there. Several half finished meals sat on the trays waiting for the food court staff to clean them up. As the man glanced furtively around, as if looking to see if anyone was watching him, he began to pick up some of the food and shove it in his mouth.
     
    Jeremy also noticed some unusual behavior in the man. As he shoved food into his mouth with one hand, the other hand was massaging his temple. As if he were having a headache and was trying to massage the pain away. And the expression on the man's face indicated he was definitely in pain.
     
    Jeremy also noticed that the man seemed to be muttering to himself as he looked around