Read Interlude- Brandon for Free Online

man. It’s Brandon, right?”
    Brandon recovered his voice and answered. “Yes, sir,” he said.
    The two shook hands. Brandon swore that he felt a tingling in his hand from the contact.
    “Don’t call me sir,” the man said. “I’m not some old fart. Call me by my name; I’m Cooper.”
    “Oh, I know who you are, sir. I mean, Cooper.” Brandon said.
    Cooper smiled and slapped the boy on the shoulder. “We got here late today, and you likely have to get to your class.”
    Brandon nodded.
    “I won’t keep you long,” Cooper said. “We stroll through here whenever we get the chance, which isn’t as often as we would like. I had to talk to you. I noticed you and felt it, so I had to come over.”
    “You felt what?” Brandon asked.
    “The spark,” Cooper said. He leaned forward and put his hand on Brandon’s shoulder. “When I feel the spark, I’m compelled to approach that student and offer a word of advice; something that the General himself said to me when I was just a young ward of the Centre.”
    Brandon looked around wondering who might have this spark that Cooper was speaking about. Then he realized that Cooper was talking about him. He looked at Cooper hopefully.
    Cooper nodded, “Yes, I sense that spark in you, Brandon. Are you ready for your words of advice?”
    Brandon nodded silently.
    “Okay, then,” Cooper said, “here they are. Relax. It’s all just a game.”
    Brandon stood there waiting for the advice. Cooper watched him with an expression of amusement. After a few moments it appeared that Cooper had nothing more to say.
    Brandon wanted to tell Cooper that he knew it was a game. The school itself was called the Game Facility, after all; there was nothing surprising in what he’d said. Cooper’s look told him there was a message in his words, even if he didn’t understand it.
    Brandon simply smiled and nodded his head. “Thank you, Cooper, I appreciate the advice. It was great to meet you.”
    Cooper smiled at Brandon’s politeness. Every kid asked him what he was talking about when he gave his advice. He wasn’t sure any of them ever got it, although he was fairly certain that most never did. Brandon seemed different, though. Was it possible that this young one was better than all the others? Only time would tell.  He patted the boy on the back and sent him on his way, turning to go rejoin his brothers.
    He would be keeping an eye on young Brandon.

 
    Chapter 10
     
    The General was reading reports when his phone rang.
    “General, Mr. Thorn is here to see you. He says that you are expecting him?”
    The General smiled and nodded. “Yes, Sarah, please send him right in.”
    A moment later the door opened and Thorn walked in. He didn’t waste time with polite greetings or small talk. “It would seem that no one wants to work with me, General,” he said. “Do you really think you can force me into a partnership with you?”
    “I told you that I was a very powerful man, Mr. Thorn,” the General replied. “I don’t want to force you into a partnership, but I will certainly not allow you to work with anyone else and leave me out of the equation. That wouldn't be acceptable to me, or to your country. You either work with me, or you go it alone.”
    Thorn started to speak, but he caught himself in mid-sentence, took a slow breath, and smiled. He went to the bar and, without asking for permission, poured himself a drink. Thorn walked over to the desk and sat down, taking a sip. The General sat calmly and watched Thorn with a pleasant look on his face. Both knew who the winner was, but the General saw no point in gloating over his victory.
    Thorn finished his drink and set the crystal glass down on the desk with a loud thunk. “It’s been three weeks since our last meeting,” he said. “I assume that you have the money I require and the computers built?”
    The General looked slightly confused. “I’ve built the computers as specified in the instructions provided when we