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way of Camden, by way of Ganesh himself.   Could this kid be trusted?   If not, Ganesh would surely have to
discourage him from accepting the interview.   If Bearden’s loyalties remained with the military after his
departure, he would most likely share information.  
    I would be accused of conspiracy.   And Bearden, leaving a top-secret
project like this…he is surely going to be pushed to
extend his contract.   His choice in the end, though.
    Bearden
fidgeted nervously in his chair as Ganesh was having this inner dialogue and
sitting silently. Finally, Ganesh spoke.
    “When is the
interview?”
    “Two o’clock
this afternoon.”
    Ganesh’s
eyes widened a little in panic.
    “Not much
time to think about it, eh?”   He
tried to appear relaxed and speak coolly in an attempt to hide his anxious
feelings from the young soldier.
    “No, sir.
And no time needed. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime.” he replied. He then
offered a little softer as he leaned forward, “Sir, I understand you have a
friendship with Professor Camden Riles.”
    Ganesh
raised his eyebrows at him again.
    “Yes, that
is no secret.   We have worked
together time and again over the years.   What about it?”
    “Well, I
also know that Professor Riles is a close associate of Lee Tripple’s.   I was hoping you might put in a good
word for me…if I decide to take the interview…if you think it is a good idea at
all.   You know, the military wants
me to renew my contract here.”
    “Yes, I
figured this much,” Ganesh replied. “You know son,” he said a little
condescendingly, “It’s awfully presumptuous to ask such a favor of me, seeing
as I have known you for less than an hour.”
    “Yes, sir, I
know sir.   I should have come by a
week ago.”  
    Ganesh
chuckled in his head at his naiveté. Young
people.
    “I just
thought,” Bearden continued, “that if you met me and saw my work first hand
that you might…” he paused and humbly dropped his head a little.
    Ganesh could
see that this kid was digging himself in a little hole with every word out of
his mouth. He decided to let him off the hook.
    “You thought
that you would immediately impress me enough to make a phone call to my friend
on your behalf?”   He skeptically
raised just one eyebrow at Bearden this time, who replied.
    “It’s just
that I heard Dr. Tripple does not generally...like people, and as you can see,
I have a habit of putting my foot in my mouth.”
    Ganesh
laughed out loud.
    “That’s
true! I have known you long enough to know that,” he said and Bearden
grinned.  
    “So may I
show you some of my work here?”   Bearden asked.
    Ganesh
glanced at his schedule for the day to see how many items he could blow off to
spend more time with this kid.   He
hadn’t given him any advice yet and he wasn’t sure he would really take it
anyway.   Plus, he knew he would be making a call to Camden later,
either on Sergeant Leitner’s behalf or to give him a red flag.   One way or the other, he needed some
more time to decide.
    “Humph,”
Ganesh said.   “I do have a little
more time free this morning. Why don’t you show me the lab up close and explain
further what you have done here for us.” He was hoping to gain some further
insight into this acquisitive young prodigy.
    Damn! Ganesh thought. Why couldn’t this kid have introduced
himself a week ago ; like he had said? At the very
least, Ganesh realized he must decide quickly where this young soldier’s
loyalties might lie ; to the science of the project, or
to the government.   As he stewed
over it, he wondered exactly when his own loyalties had shifted.   Such a good soldier, no one would
expect him to become an anarchist.   Not even him.
    Ganesh stood
up and prompted the young Sergeant Bearden Leitner to the door. They walked
side by side to the elevator that would take them to the ninth subfloor
basement labs. Bearden stuck his access card into the slot this time to call
the elevator.