Free The Road to Round Mountain: The Betrayal by by C.G. Roberts Page A

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    expecting from me with those items on the mobile tray. It  didn’t seem to make any sense to me about how I could possibly be useful to the Government and what on earth they  would expect me to do, and to what or even worse, whom.  “Looks like you’re going to be a quick study, and I must say  that was quite impressive Billy Speer”. I could argue the  quick study part for I seem to recall it taking me almost two  months before I could take off the training wheels on my  bike. “I don’t know about quick and I did have a question if  you don’t mind”. “You go right ahead, I’m sure you’ll have a
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    lot of questions”.
    “About this stuff you’re having me do, is it like a test, does  it continue, does it end, do I even have a say in the manner”?  Her smile was replaced with I guess would be a look of disappointment. “You sure did bundle up those questions all  together didn’t you”? “Well to start there is a lot of testing,  and you need to know that we won’t put you through anything you can’t handle. By the way, for a beginner, you show  immense potential. This could be the start of something big  Billy Speer”. I was still uncomfortable with the something  big part, which was a bit vague. “As long as your abilities keep  expanding, the more testing will be needed, so you need not  worry about that, you’ll be taken care of quite nicely”. Again  with a vague synopsis, did that mean I would get feed on a  regular basis, would they compensate me, or pay me in bananas since I will be kind of a test rat.
    “What do you mean by, I’ll be taken care of nicely, I  don’t mean to be a smartass, but that sounded rather political? Her smile came back for a return engagement. There’s  no denying that it was a great smile. “Are you asking if you  will be paid while in testing and afterwards, let me just say  in a few years of service, you could retire before you’re 25 if  you so wish”.
    Retire, are you kidding me, I haven’t even joined the  work force yet and she has me retiring. On the other hand  some spending money would be nice to have. I suppose this  little bit of testing won’t hurt any, plus I’ll need to keep busy  anyway, if I’m to survive the old Coast Guard housing situation over the next six weeks. So be it I’m game, let’s do this.
    “Okay, I’m all your’s, what did you want me to do first”?
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    A look of relief came over her, as she let out a sizable breath.  “That’s wonderful Billy Speer, so I guess we can start with that glass on the end of the tray under the TV”. I gave Nurse  Mattie kind of a puzzled look. “Don’t worry it’s a plas-tic glass”. Nodding my approval, I started to concentrate.  Gathering my focus on the glass, then I stopped. “This may sound stupid, but what was it exactly that you wanted me to do with the glass”? “Whoops, a little bit of instruction might be in order. Now hold your hand out like you’re already hold-ing the glass, and make it come to your hand okay”.
    Let’s try this again, concentrate, focus, maintain a bit of anger, not much but enough to be forceful.   Glass in my hand, nothing,   Glass get in my hand , Nothing. “Are you attempting the glass yet”? I didn’t know what was wrong. “I’m sorry I’m trying”. She snapped back, “Do, or do not, there is no try”.  I started to get angry when, “Hey wait a minute, that’s from  Star Wars”. “I too like to throw out a good Star wars refer-ence myself, Billy Speer. “I guess it must feel a bit like Yoda training young Luke”, I replied. “Somewhat, but I don’t need a cane, at least not yet”
    Looks like we just might make a good team after all.  “Was your focus on the glass, and the glass only”? “Yeah, I just don’t know what happened this time. The TV came on nice and easy, and the channel changed just fine, so I can’t really say”. Nurse Mattie was silent for a moment then said,