Excerpt

Im Cory Spangler. I have an appointment for an interview with the scientist Fu Man Zurkic.

The secretary nodded. Yes, you do. Go in the room there on your right. Youll be called when its your turn.

I wasnt told there were others in competition.

Yes, there are several of you after the job.

Cory sighed as he walked into the room. If he had known there were others, he wouldnt have bothered driving out here. He had planned to accept employment a large firm offered before he graduated Stanford. Two seated young men his age looked at him and then exchanged glances.

One said, You make three of us. He asked the other young man seated near him, How in the hell does Fu Man Zurkic think he can afford us? Or is he deluding?

Hes not deluding. Besides his real estate fortune he was willed money from wealthy elders for extending their or a family members life. He successfully created individual bionics and the biomedical engineering required. Its said inflation has him worth a couple of billion bucks.

Fred paused for breath. Im Fred Murphy, a recent graduate from Cal Tech. Hes Dale Strong, from MIT.

Im Cory Spangler. I majored in Bioengineering and bionics at Stanford.

Dale Strong laughed. I majored in bionics with a minor in physiology.

Fred Murphy said, I had the same major and minor. My thesis was on the abnormalities of memory. Some believe the loss of memory is a disease of the brain, not Alzheimers. Incidentally, Fu Man Zurkick has hired both of us. He asked us to wait out here not saying why. We assume to meet you.

Cory Spangler showed his surprise. Both of you? What will you be doing?

Dale grinned. He didnt say. He obviously had checked us out as he knew what we had majored in. He just had us sign an employment agreement we would work with him for the minimum of the first six months of a two year agreement.

You signed it? Suppose he wants you to kill somebody?

Fred Murphy said, Hes paying us twenty thousand dollars a month. Thats damn near a quarter of a million a year. And he gave each of us a forty thousand check to cover our first two months.

Cory Spangler sat speechless. He worried that Fu Man Zurkic had lost his mind, which was ironic for a memory specialist. The inventing scientist was responsible for many curing medicines and prosthetics to ease pain. Latest rumor was he was experimenting with mind over matter; the philosophy of Mary Baker Eddie to heal ones self without drugs.

Before Cory could ask Fred or Dale if they thought he might also be hired the door opened. A more than attractive girl in their age bracket entered the room smiling at their surprise. She was a spectacular beauty with fluffy brown hair and wearing a seductive, form fitted, short red dress. She obviously knew she looked sexy and saw no reason not to flaunt it for an interview.

She said, Oh, my. Three ahead of me, huh? Im Trudy LaRue. I have a graduate degree in psychology. I found my way out here because Fu Man Zurkic sent me a map. Im curious why with his genius hed wish to hire me?

Cory Spangler answered first. I have no idea what his second reason might be, but his first has to be he wants you for a girlfriend. Cory looked to Dale and Fred. You agree?

They both nodded as they said, Absolutely.

Cory said, Theyve both been hired. I havent been interviewed yet. He decided not to mention the incredible salary as she, if hired, probably would be offered less because she was a female.

Trudy LaRue grinned. Thanks for the compliment.

The secretary opened the door. Mister Fu Man Zurkic will see you, Miss LaRue. Go in. He winked at Cory and said, Ladies first.

When Trudy LaRue entered Fu Mans office the three young men exchanged glances. Fred said, My God, did you see that girls figure?

Dale said, I sure as hell did. Whats her face look like?

Cory laughed. A girl that beautiful has to be married. If shes not maybe your employer hopes to marry her? If she doesnt marry him, Ill ask her to marry me.

Fred said, Stand in line. I saw her first.

Dale argued, Youre both out of luck. She smiled at me.

Fred retorted, Thats because youre funny looking.

Cory sighed. You both have the advantage. I havent been hired yet. If she and I are not hired, you guys are stuck here and Ill take her out to dinner in Palm Springs.

The three men joked back forth until Trudy LaRue came out of the office looking dazed. She said weakly, I was hired for twenty thousand a month. He wanted a psychologist versed in the abnormalities that occur in mental health. Its my major for a PHD. Oh! she pointed at Cory. He wants you to come in.

Fu Man Zurkic was seated behind his desk wearing a white smock over a blue shirt with a black tie. He looked like an important physician with an aristocratic face, a good chin a straight nose and intelligent eyes. He advised Cory Spangler to sit down.

I assume the others have told you. I offer you the identical contract, same salary and forty thousand in advance. I have presumptuously made out our contract and your check.

What will I be doing?

Far easier to show you than describe. I suggest the four of you rent apartments in Palm Springs and leave your automobiles here. I have vans for the four of you to ride together. The vans have different logos on their sides to keep the location of our laboratory secret.