The atmosphere in the room was stunning in an unusual way, filled with an air of power and authority that hopelessly overwhelmed the visitors.
He walked in and stood before the huge desk. He could perceive a resemblance between the man behind it and the one who traveled in the back seat when they drove him to that cabin of ill-fated memories; however, there was a significant difference between them. The one in front of him was showing a friendly attitude, more like what you would expect from a high level character. But a hint of severity could be noticed in the tone of his voice.
He was invited with a gesture to take a seat. His was striving to appear calm, which made him look somewhat awkward as he settled into the chair.
There was a short silence while the man in charge lit for a second time the fat cigar held in his right hand. Two puffs later he began:
“We are glad to have you here. We hope that after hearing what we have to say you will choose to cooperate with us,” he started. Then he paused and held his gaze on him, as if trying to read his thoughts. “We hold a welcome policy regarding refugee arrivals in our community,” he continued at last; “however, we expect that people who intend to settle among us, above all, respect our laws; and these oblige immigrants to report to the authorities at the precise time of arrival. This obligation is not due to a mere whim, but on the contrary, is our main weapon to defend ourselves from the large number of undercover agents and informants continually seeking to infiltrate among us on behalf of most corporations. These organizations seek to take over our economy and then colonize us as they have done with much of the world to date. We, however, think that freedom is priceless, and therefore we condemn the heinous acts committed by custom within that society, such as mind reading or human replication. Our mission as intelligence is to prevent the penetration of the oligopolistic interests of those monsters who call themselves corporations. For this purpose we need to have first-hand information, which every time is becoming more difficult to obtain. The arrival of a high-rank defector, as you are, is an exceptional event. That’s why, in the best interest of our society, we are obliged to ask first, or otherwise force you, to cooperate with us in obtaining the data needed to update our intelligence records. Have you understood everything up to this point?”
Silence was back. It was his answer what should follow; however, there was something in the air telling him to keep quiet, so he was delaying to give it. But the situation was threatening to become tense and he thought it better to talk. Finally, he got the nerve to speak:
“What you have just said is clear to me. As far as I am concerned I am willing to share any information held in my memory, but I fear that it will not be very useful for you because I ran away shortly after being authorized to access confidential files of the corporation.”
“So, I guess that you will finally agree with me. Indeed, we knew about your escape through our own network of intelligence and are aware of what has happened since then beyond what the enemy security personnel can guess. We witnessed your supposed death and the subsequent delivery of your belongings to an undercover agent, not letting that the officer who caught you in the first instance found out that we were watching him. We permitted the payment of the reward he won in spite of this being a major crime under our laws. We feigned surprise to this officer when he offered you for sale for the second time, now to our side. We watched you the first few days supposing you could be a spy trying to identify contacts. By the way, we almost went crazy when you started conversation in the streets with so many people, as this forced us to investigate each one of them. In the end we had to immediately remove you from the streets to question you directly.”
“I see. Now I understand. Well, what do you want from me?”
“We want something that only you can provide and in exchange you will receive everything you need to start a new life. But, if you decide you are not willing to work with us on our terms, we will have to rigorously apply our immigration laws and immediately deport you to the place you came from.”
As the threat made by the high chief echoed in the room a deep silence went on, but only to be broken by a question issued in a trembling voice:
“What’s it about?”
“It’s really simple. We need your DNA.”
Another pause interrupted the dialogue, until the surprised prisoner resumed the conversation:
“I do not understand. You just explained to me that you do not replicate human beings, so it would be hard for you to profit from my DNA. Moreover, as people back there suppose me dead, now my genetic profile is of no value at all.”
“Yes and no. Be prepared for the most surprising part of this and then judge for yourself. Indeed, here replication is strictly forbidden and not tolerated under any pretext, including the security of our society, so we need your DNA as you hold it at this time; this is, we need you to carry out a single mission as an agent to our service. This takes care of your first doubt. The real surprise is the one you are about to get. You have been replicated and reinstated in your position. The myth of infallibility that is the dogma of primordial faith of your society has called for this. As your leader cannot go wrong, he had to get a new fellow to take your place and cover his mistake. Not even your wife is aware of this. Impersonation through replicas reprogrammed after a failure is a common routine within all executive levels of corporations. In the eyes of everyone else, you keep living the life that you always have lived.”
As warned, such revelation led him to a state of stupor that made his jaw loose and his mouth half open while his eyes had turn round. It took him a few seconds to recompose and be able to speak again:
“Must I return to the place from where I just got away?” he asked shyly.
“Indeed, one way or another. At this time our specialists are designing a mission whose scope we will let you know at the time. Basically, we need you to go to work at your old job for another day. We will provide you the means to get there and return, and our network of agents will provide the necessary support to ensure the success of your trip. The risks you will be taking are familiar to you. You should not have trouble to adjust as you will be in your natural environment. You have to understand that this opportunity is unique and we aim to get from it as much as possible. We just have to hear your answer. Will you earn your new life rendering us this little service?”
The ironic expression on his face framed his answer:
“As I see it now, either I put at serious risk my life or I lose it immediately. You do not leave me many options. I will cooperate with you.”
“Great! I was counting on common sense to bring you on our side. From this point you have become a recruit. You will easily understand why you qualify as special. Tomorrow we will introduce you to the officer in charge of the mission. You should not make any comment to unauthorized personnel about what has been discussed in this office this afternoon. From this point you have become one of us. Welcome aboard.”
Minutes later he was walking slowly the path back to his room, trying to assimilate this recent turn of his life. The mere idea of returning to the place he had fled taking so many risks and suffering was causing him severe discomfort; however, he knew he was on their hands. He hadn’t a better choice.
The price to pay for his freedom was becoming higher every time. The dangers that awaited him would be huge. But what really kept him restless at the time was to know that he once more would be close to Lucy, but only to almost immediately leave her again. The thought was unbearable. For the first time since his escape he would spend the whole night awake and his tormented thoughts would not let him sleep even for a while.
It wasn’t dawn yet when a messenger reached his door to deliver an instructive sheet, properly wrapped and sealed in an envelope. With this he was being informed about his new routine from that day on. After turning on the light he received the delivery in hand without a word. Once alone he tore the envelope at one end and its content got before his reddish eyes. He carefully re
ad the information until being sure to have understood, then stood up and headed for the shower. Having become a recruit, starting this morning he had to take the basic training course for agents of the intelligence service, which would absorb all of his time, leaving him only a few hours to sleep for the next 30 consecutive days.
At least this would keep his mind busy and his body tired. Physical training sessions would alternate with study throughout the entire process, leaving little or no room for the thoughts that had stolen his sleep last night.
12
When he exited the residence, recruits transportation to the training camp was waiting already. Some of them were lining up to ride in the back of the truck, where four benches would accommodate them during the trip. The driver checked in a list as each passenger boarded the vehicle. His brand new uniform might let him go unnoticed among the group if only it weren’t that his age exceeded by far that of any of his companions.
Indeed, this was a group of men and women hardly above 25 years of age, which was causing him some apprehension. It would not be easy to him keeping up with the pace they would set in fitness sessions. Still, he thought that probably he was the only one in the group who had guaranteed to pass the course regardless of his performance. After all, his value to the organization lay in factors very different from those of his companions. The best to do would be to take from the experiences to come as much as possible without worrying about anything else.
During the more than two hours journey the discretion recommendation received by all on board became obvious. The general rule was silence, which on the other hand was almost unavoidable due to the difficulty to strike up a conversation amid the continuous noise of the canvas canopy, which didn’t stop to shake under the wind.
The cool morning air rushing between the passengers forced them to keep their hands inside the pockets of their jackets and their faces looking back to prevent numbing from the cold relentless wind. The hum of the tires as they rolled on the pavement completed the collection of sounds, which along with the movement yielded a kind of hypnotic effect that made time go unnoticed.
The truck slowed down with a jolt to cross the large gate that had opened wide. They were arriving to a training camp, which rather resembled a huge military camp.
The buildings inside were scattered. It was easy to guess that the facility had been designed with elements that could be easily moved. Security policies of the Bureau of Intelligence stated it so.
On the large esplanade around which the barracks lined, recruits swarmed divided into groups dedicated to a variety of activities. They all were dressed in the same way that those who were arriving. The noisy pounding of boots against the gravel was only superseded by the sound of the orders whistles.
The truck stopped at one end of the field to deliver its human cargo. Upon setting foot on the ground each of the newcomers went to the esplanade to form at attention in a line, the first of them looking already how the feet of those who followed slid on the loose surface, and all of them breathing the dust that had arisen in a thick cloud.
The oldest of the recruits was taking pains to suppress his discontent. He had been used for a long time to occupy important positions. The idea of being surrounded by so many young people who would not hesitate to blindly obey the orders of their superiors disgusted him. After all, in spite of having the looks of a man entering his forties, his real age was 83. His mind could not ignore this fact.
An urge to rebel seized him, forcing him to dip into his well-developed ability to control his reactions in order discipline himself. He was in a situation where he had had to give up his free will and submit to that of his recently imposed superiors.
Once everybody was in line, the officer in charge of this new group passed the recruits in review. He did not make any sound while his eyes ran up and down, and he moved his head from side to side in a gesture of disapproval. When he came up to the dissident he looked him straight in the eyes; then his gaze pointed towards two men dressed in white coats that were waiting at a short distance. It was to them he had to report.
He understood this order at once. Unable to hide the smile, he went towards them. He thought that after all he would receive preferential treatment. He would probably get rid of the hideous military training the others were condemned to. This, by itself, was giving him a sense of importance.
While walking the stretch between him and his personal welcome committee, he carefully observed the two men waiting for him.
The first one wore a gray beard, long and unkempt, that circled his round wrinkled face. His expression was smooth and the line of his mouth was as relaxed as his gaze, which altogether gave him a good-natured look that gave off a sense of confidence. The second one, much younger, kept a serious but easy attitude as the light of the morning sun made his shaved head shine.
As soon as he stopped in front of them the old man greeted him amiably while shaking his hand in a familiar way:
“Welcome! I am Professor Kilgo. With me is Professor Naim. You need not to introduce yourself. In recent days my colleague and I have plunged in as much information there is available about you, to the point that now we feel we have known you since long ago. Over the next days the three of us will work on your subconscious. At some point you will be wishing to be sweating in the dust with the other recruits instead of having fallen under our care; however, it is essential that we get to your deepest fears to ensure that you face your mission with the best odds of success. Your life may depend on this. Now we will escort you to the room you have been assigned. As soon as you get settled you must come back to us to get started. We have little time. We must make the most out of it.”
Now the smile he had during his short walk had been replaced by an expression of amazement. He had not guessed it would be a training of this nature, if the program just explained could be called so. It was taking him some time to recompose and be able to respond, and meantime the professors had begun to laugh.
“I’ve been taken by surprise,” he said finally. “I was guessing I would be instructed in the details of the mission, maybe in the names of my contacts or the escape routes. I never expected to be subjected to mental profile assessment.”
“And you will not. In the coming days we will not be helped with any sophisticated apparatus. We will just guide you through a journey in which it will be you who pose the questions and then give the answers. We know that in these days where you come from there is not such a therapy; however, it is only from the depths of yourself where the conviction that you are acting rightfully may arise, as well as the self-assurance that you will need to succeed. The challenges that you will face during your upcoming adventure may be more demanding than you suppose.”
The more he heard the most was his amazement. He was sensing that the days to come would have little of pleasant; however, he had to continue to the end, such had been his choice. He finally answered:
“I am in your hands, I hope for the best.”
The laughter of the enigmatic professors started again, and this time it would go on until they had left him in his room.
13
A pounding on the door made him sit up. He just had rested for a few minutes, lying on the hard bed, when Professor Naim’s knuckles beating on the wood brought him back to reality. He was still suffering the effects of the anxiety access that had begun when they left him in his accommodation. As he opened the door the visitor let his voice be heard:
“How do you like your new lodging? You are lucky. You were granted the best you can get in this place. The rest of the recruits share 24-bed barracks.”
“After thinking over our recent conversation I wonder if I’d rather be with them.”
“Come on! Do not worry. It’s no big deal. My colleague enjoys a little drama. The fact is that you will be working as many hours a day as any of them, except that we will make you sweat less and think more, and at the end of the day you will be equally tired.”
“I don’t kn
ow why I find it hard to believe you, however, I have no choice but to submit to you; so, the sooner the better.”
“Excellent! You are about to live the most profound experience of your life. Come along with me.”
Their cruising along corridors, offices and countless doors lasted nearly five minutes. The tour turned out so intricate that he knew he would not find the way back on his own; however, he was guessing that he had been led through this maze for some reason. At the time the only thing he was certain about was that they had achieved their purpose. He was lost in the place.
When the door behind which Kilgo was waiting finally got opened, a slight dizziness was clouding his perception. The old professor’s cheerful greeting accompanied by his usual laughter was immediate:
“I see you have finally arrived. For a moment I doubted if you would make it. Naim has got lost several times despite making the same way every day. Sit down in that chair and first of all tell me, where do you find the north?”
The visitor sat where he had been told to and noticed immediately that the room had no windows. He looked around the inside, hopelessly trying to find some reference, until he finally had to answer:
“I have no idea. There are no signs to locate it, and the trip itself makes it hard to get my bearings.”
“Well, I see we have successfully bewildered you. We will begin our work by listening to the story of your life. You must tell us absolutely all the events that you can remember, starting from the moment when you saw light for the first time and up to the present moment, and without missing a single detail. It is important that you feel sure about everything you say. And do not worry about time; we have no other occupation scheduled for the following days, at least not one more entertaining than this one.”
“But not long ago I spent a week locked in a dark hole in the ground, and it was in recalling my life what I used all that time for. Is it necessary to do it all over?”
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