Read The Talented for Free Online Page B

is Kate and she was actually trained in this. There are others, too.” I told him Kate’s story about the Program, the fire, Fortress Investments and the murders. “I, um, promised to help.”
    Gus drew in his breath sharply, “Adam, you foolish boy, why would you do such a thing? You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into. None. Please tell her you have changed your mind and that you want nothing at all to do with this. Why on earth…?” His eyes narrowed. “She was attractive wasn’t she? Has she seduced you so easily?”
    I stammered, “Yes and no…I mean yes she is pretty but I didn’t…you know…” I sighed. “I couldn’t say no. Those people need my help. I have never done anything good with my talents. This is a chance to do the right thing.”
    Pointing at me, Gus replied sharply, “You don’t know that. You have only heard her side of the story. Since you can’t read her thoughts without completely assaulting her mind, you have no way of knowing if she is telling the truth. Don’t trust her, Adam. If you must do this, do not open yourself up to her again, and if you feel she is not being honest with you, then get out of there.”
    I met his gaze and replied, “What aren’t you telling me, Gus? Do you know something about this Program?”
    Gus looked down and was silent for a time. “There were many programs, Adam. Each agency conducted secret research in ESP. Most of it centered on spying using Remote Viewing—when you send your mind to a place and time and observe…that kind of remote viewing. When I was a boy I was approached by one of those programs. Scary people. They informed me in no uncertain terms that I could either join them…or else. It was clear to me what “or else” meant.”
    He had never told me any of this before. “What did you do?”
    “I did exactly what I want you to do. I fled, took on a new identity hundreds of miles away. They found me a week later and abducted me. Having little choice, I worked for them for years, until I pushed it too far and ended up…well, how I ended up.”
    We sat for a while, deep in thought but enjoying the warm breeze.
    I finally stood and said that I should go. Gus stood and gave me a hug.
    “Remember my advice, Adam. Please.”
    Reeling from this new information from Gus, I left the hospital and walked aimlessly waiting for the next cab to drive by. I felt somehow betrayed that Gus kept secrets from me. He was like a father to me, and it hurt more than I would like to admit. Now he was telling me to go back on my word to help a girl who needs me. I knew it was dangerous when I promised to help, but at that time there was no reason to believe that a government program that died in a fire decades ago had anything to do with the murders.  There was still no evidence of that. It could be a lone gunman. Well…it could, technically. Either way, I had given my word to help, and that’s what I intended to do.
    A taxi finally pulled over and I got in and said to the driver, “Olympus Casino in Greektown. Thanks.”
     

 
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER FIVE
    Sitting in the back of the cab, I inhaled deeply and prepared myself for what was coming. My wallet was still at that casino and I was going to get it back. The problem was that they knew my face. So I was going to have to change it. When I was at St. Jude’s I saw on public television that there are gurus in India who have the ability to cut themselves without bleeding, and can go years without food or even water.  The gurus meditate and train for years to learn to control their bodies. Of course, I had to try it. I started by replacing my lunchtime with meditation. Breakfast was the next to go. That was when it became more difficult to maintain. One morning I slowed my metabolism to such an extent that the world appeared to fly past me in hyper motion. That was the breakthrough. In that state I survived on very little water and almost no food for weeks before Gus intervened and