Intervention: A Science Fiction Adventure (13 page)

Agent Johnson leaned
back in his chair and thought for a moment. An offer like Bill was
proposing would be unprecedented. “All right,” Agent Johnson
finally replied as he leaned up and pressed the button on his
intercom. “Marge, would you ask Christopher to come back in,
please?”

Christopher went back
into Agent Johnson’s office. “Have a seat, Christopher,” Bill
said as he motioned to the seat next to his. “Christopher, I’m
about to make you the best offer I’ve ever made anyone. Bill told
me you did something downstairs that he thinks was nothing short of
extraordinary. He thinks we should bring you in as a level three,
which would mean you would get your own office instead of a cubicle.
I trust Bill’s judgment. Our benefits and retirement plan are the
best, not to mention a lot of perks most people couldn’t even
imagine. Along with all that, I think you should receive the
appropriate level 3 salary of $85,000 a year. You don’t have to
give me an answer right away.” Agent Johnson looked for a response.

It didn’t take but a
fleeting moment for Christopher to answer, “I’d like that very
much. There is one thing though—I would like to finish out the year
in school. I just like to finish anything I start. I hope you
understand.”

“That’s not a
problem. As a matter of fact, I admire that quality in a person.”
Agent Johnson reached and pushed a button on his intercom. “Marge,
would you page the other Agent Johnson to my office, please?”
Turning his attention back to Christopher, he said, “We had better
get you back. If you should have any questions, or if you have
problems, just give me a call.” He handed Christopher a business
card, followed by Bill giving him one of his cards. “If I’m not
available, talk to Bill here. One of us will always be available, but
if we’re not, just leave a message with Marge. She can always find
me twenty-four hours a day.” The intercom buzzed on the desk. Agent
Johnson picked up the phone. “Thank you, Marge,” Agent Johnson
stood and came out from behind his desk, extending his hand to
Christopher. “It’s been a pleasure, Christopher. I look forward
to having you on the team. I’ll see you soon.”

Bill turned to
Christopher, “I’ll walk down with you.”

Christopher and Bill
went into the outer office where they were joined by the first Agent
Johnson. The three went down the hall and boarded the elevator,
exiting on the first floor. “Christopher, if you need anything,
anything at all, you have my card.” Bill reminded Christopher.

“Thank you, Bill. I’m
really looking forward to getting started.”

“Great. I’ll be in
touch. Have a safe trip,” Bill said as Christopher and Agent
Johnson headed for the main entrance.

Agent Johnson returned
Christopher to the same hangar at the airport. “Thanks for the
lift.”

“I’m to see you
back to your destination,” Agent Johnson responded. They entered
the hangar to find the sleek black jet ready and waiting. Once
aboard, the same young lady as before pushed the same button,
retracting the steps and closing the door. The engines came to life
and the jet taxied to the runway and immediately took off. The
uneventful return trip past quickly, and in no time, Christopher
found himself turning into the parking lot in front of his front
door.

Christopher sat at his
desk reflecting on the day’s events. It had been quite a day, even
for him. He was very proud. He had worked hard for many years for
this. He knew he had to share the news. Christopher hadn’t told his
parents anything about the interview. Just in case it didn’t go
well, he didn’t want to disappoint them.

“Hello,” Mary’s
voice came through the phone.

“Hello, Mom. It’s
Christopher.”

“Hello, Christopher.
It’s so good to hear your voice. Wait a minute, let me get your
father on the other phone. Joe? It’s Christopher. Pick up the other
phone.”

A few seconds later,
Joe picked up the other phone. “Hello, Christopher. How’s my
favorite son doing?”

“Great, Dad. I have
some good news. I’ve been hired to work with the CIA. They flew me
to their headquarters in Langley, Virginia, this morning. I talked
with them, they showed me around, and then they made me a terrific
offer. I didn’t even have to think about it. I said yes right then
and there. I told them that I wanted to finish out the year at
school, of course. They said that was fine.”

“I’m proud of you,
son; really proud,” Joe told Christopher.

“Oh, Christopher,
that’s wonderful,” Mary added. “You’re still coming home for
Easter, aren’t you?”

“Of course, Mom. I
wouldn’t miss your cooking for the world. I’d better get going
now; I just had to tell you the news. I’ll give you a call over the
weekend. I love you both.”

It was back to the
books for Christopher. He still had almost three months before he
would finish earning his final degree from school: another Ph.D. at
twenty-one. He had every right to be proud, but still he remained a
somewhat quiet and down-to-earth young man. He attended all of his
classes the next day as he had always done. The school didn’t seem
as impressive as it once did, especially after his trip the day
before. Yet, it was still a learning tool that he would utilize every
day he was there.

After finishing his
last class of the day, Christopher decided to make a side trip before
going home. He found his way to the administrative offices on campus
and to the office of Professor Stevens. A light knock on the door
brought a quick response. “Come in.” Christopher entered the
professor’s office and immediately extended his hand to the
professor.

“Professor Stevens,”
the professor rose from his seat and shook Christopher’s hand.

“Christopher, how are
you? Please, sit down.” The professor returned to his seat as
Christopher sat down.

“Fine, thank you.”

“I was very surprised
to hear that you didn’t attend any classes yesterday and didn’t
offer any reason other than personal business. With anyone else, I
wouldn’t give it a second thought, but that’s very out of
character for you. As a matter of fact, it’s a first for you. I’m
hoping you would come by to shed some light on this.”

“That’s why I’m
here,” Christopher responded. “I didn’t tell anyone nor do I
intend to tell anyone, except you. Yesterday, I flew to Langley to
interview with the people at the CIA. In particular, Agent Johnson
and Bill Brandon, head of cryptology. They made me a very nice offer,
and I accepted. I’ll be starting as soon as I finish this term in
June. Professor, I didn’t come by just to tell you, but to thank
you for the letter you wrote to Agent Johnson.”

“Oh, that was years
ago. I had almost forgotten I ever wrote that. Well, I’m just glad
I was able to be of help.”

* * *

Mary and Joe were
standing at the gate anxiously awaiting Christopher to exit the
plane. They always insisted on meeting him at the airport whenever he
came to visit. They greeted each other with warm hugs.

“Good to see you,
son. Let’s go get your bag and get back to the house. You’re
mother has been in the kitchen all morning cooking up the best Easter
ham yet.”

“Great, I can’t
wait. Next to the both of you, I miss Mom’s cooking the most.”

Life always seemed a
little better whenever Christopher crossed over the little wooden
bridge and headed up the driveway to his parent’s house. As he grew
older, Christopher noticed the house looked a little smaller, just as
his dad’s hair looked a little grayer. Still, somehow they always
looked a little better each time he came home. There was no place
like it.

Christopher went
upstairs, as he always did whenever he came home, to look at his old
room and to remind himself of all of the dreams he had there. Mary
always kept it clean and exactly like he left it. After reminiscing
for a bit, Christopher joined his mother in the kitchen.

“I hope you’re
hungry. I made lots of mashed potatoes for you.”

“You’re the best,
Mom. Where’s Dad?”

“I think he’s out
on the porch. Go on, I’ll call you both when dinner’s ready.”

“Okay, Mom. It smells
great.”

Christopher joined his
father on the swinging bench on the porch. “Sure smells good in
there,” Christopher said as he sat next to Joe.

“That’s one of the
reasons I married your mom. She’s always been the best cook I ever
met.” There was a long silence. So many words didn’t have to be
spoken.

Over dinner,
Christopher told Joe and Mary all about his job interview and
everything that happened. “Dad was right, Mom. You are the best
cook anywhere. This is delicious.”

Just as they were
finishing dessert, there was a knock at the front door. “I’ll get
that, Christopher. You just keep buttering up your mom.” Joe got up
to answer the door.

“Look who’s here,”
Joe said as he returned to the table.

It was their neighbor,
Linda. “I couldn’t let you pass through without coming by to see
you,” Linda said as she sat in the remaining chair. “Your mom
tells me you’re going to work with the CIA. Are you excited?”

“I’m really looking
forward to it,” Christopher replied.

“How long are you
home for?” Linda asked.

“I have to fly back
tonight. I’ve got finals coming up in a few weeks, so I’ve got to
hit the books pretty hard.”

“I baked some
chocolate chip cookies today, so I brought some for you to take back
with you.” Linda had always been supportive.

After Linda left, Joe
and Christopher helped Mary clean up a little in the kitchen. Mary
left the dishes in the sink to soak so she could spend as much time
as possible with Christopher before he had to leave. The three went
out onto the porch and talked for a while. As the sun neared the
horizon, it took with it the warmth it had been providing. Joe said,
“How about we go in and put the news on the television.
Christopher, if you’ll bring in some firewood, I’ll build us a
nice big fire to warm us up.”

“Sure, Dad. That will
be nice.”

Joe had already turned
on the television and was sitting on the couch with Mary waiting for
the news to start when Christopher came in with an arm full of wood.
He set the wood down in front of the fireplace. “Okay, Dad. You’re
on.”

Joe was just getting
the fire started when the news started. The announcer’s voice
filled the room. “In our top story tonight, a terrorist plot to
blow up the U.S. embassy in North Africa was discovered just in time
to evacuate the building and disarm the device just minutes before it
was set to detonate, saving dozens of lives. The information came
from a coded transmission intercepted and decoded by the CIA just in
time to avert what could have been a horrible tragedy. In other
news,” Mary and Joe looked at each other and then at Christopher.
They both thought of what Christopher had told them over dinner: how
he had shown Jim Walker how to decode the message he had been working
on.

Mary asked,
“Christopher, did you do that?”

“I think so. I mean,
I just told him how I thought the code was put together, that’s
all.”

“That’s all?”
Mary exclaimed, “You probably saved all those people’s lives. Oh,
Christopher.” Mary gave him a big hug, “I’m so proud of you. As
proud as any mother could be.”

“Me too, son. You
should be proud as well. It’s a fine thing you did. I can’t tell
you how good it makes me feel to see you using your abilities to do
some good in this world. Don’t ever change.”

“I won’t, Dad. I
promise.”

* * *

The remaining months at
school went by quickly for Christopher. He soon found himself packing
his things into suitcases and boxes for the trip to Langley.
Christopher didn’t have attachments for places and things as much
as he did for people. He would miss Professor Stevens and several
others he had worked with at school far more than the school itself.

Professor Stevens
personally took Christopher to the airport in a school van. The two
had formed a mutual bond over the last several years. At the airport,
the sleek black jet was waiting as it had been before with Agent
Johnson. Christopher and the professor said their goodbyes while
Agent Johnson loaded the suitcases and boxes onto the plane.

After they arrived in
Langley, Christopher was taken to a nice hotel, where he would stay
until he had a chance to find a place of his own. Bill Brandon, who
was now Christopher’s immediate superior, provided him with a
company car, a map, an advance in his salary, and a few days off to
find a place to live. Christopher didn’t want to waste time driving
to and from his new office, nor did he want to spend his time doing
yard work. He decided on a three-bedroom apartment in a high rise
close to work. He bought some simple furniture and arranged to have
it delivered the next day. Since he would be working on classified
material of a very sensitive nature, Bill Brandon had Agent Johnson
see to security arrangements for Christopher’s new residence, from
a high-tech security system to a secure phone line. With all that
done, Christopher made himself at home.

The first bedroom was
just that: a bedroom. The second room Christopher set up as an
office, similar to what he had at school, with a few additions. The
third room was to be his puzzle room. Christopher had acquired
several puzzles, mostly antique wooden block and box puzzles. Some
were old magician’s illusion props, and one was the first simple
board puzzle he ever assembled. Mary had it mounted and framed and
gave it to Christopher for his twenty-first birthday. This puzzle was
one of his most prized possessions, mainly because it was from his
mother. Many years earlier, she had removed the very first thing he
ever did, a simple maze, from its book. She framed it and made it a
keepsake for Christopher. She made a small label and placed it at the
bottom. It read, “Christopher’s First Puzzle,” and had the date
on it. These two items were hung on the wall, center stage in his new
puzzle room. Next to that he hung a nicely framed picture of, what
Christopher felt was, the ultimate unsolved puzzle in the world: the
great pyramid. He had even purchased a two volume
hieroglyphics-to-English dictionary set that he had studied
extensively.