Sigma One Read Online Free Page A
Author: William Hutchison
'em what we've accomplished. Get more funding to continue the research. That's all. Sorry I almost bowled you over.
"No problem, Amanda. I wasn't paying attention."
"Well. Gotta run!”
"Bye."
With that last comment, Amanda disappeared down the hall.
Cherisa watched her as she scurried along and thought to herself maybe she'd put in for a job in the research department. They always look like they're doing such important things. She wasn't really happy being just a secretary. And besides, the researchers had flexible hours. This was perfect for her scatter-brained approach to life. Flexible hours would suit her just fine.
Before entering the door at the end of the hallway, Cherisa pulled out her compact, straightened her eye makeup and then went inside. She had no sooner sat down at her desk then Pat (Mr. Huxley to her) summoned her into his office for dictation.
"Hi, Cherisa. Glad you could make it today." Pat said sarcastically. Were it not for the fact that Cherisa used to be Senator Radcliff's secretary and he was forced to hire her at the NSF as a condition of continued funding, he would have fired her years ago. But the senator made it perfectly clear that unless Cherisa had a job at the NSF, no more funding would be forthcoming. More than likely Radcliff had planted her there as spy anyway.
"Good morning, Mr. Huxley. I'm sorry I was late. An accident on the beltway was horrible this morning. A big rig jackknifed and it had traffic snarled for miles." She hoped he would buy this lie. She hadn't used the traffic excuse in weeks.
"That's okay, Cherisa. I've just got a lot of things that have to be out today. I'll be at the Senate hearings for the next three days and won't have time to come into the office, so every minute counts. Are you ready to work?"
"Yes. I'm ready."
"Well," Pat said, "then let's begin. First date this letter yesterday- -the forth of October, 1990.
"Uh, huh. Got it. The forth." Cherisa wondered why the date change.
"Then begin. Dear Senator Radcliff. (Cherisa smiled....a letter to her old boss). Regarding the upcoming budget hearings and continuation of funding for the NSF: Horace, I anticipate a very bitter fight this next month relative to our 1991 budget request, due in part to the recent discussions President and the Soviet Premier relative to European nuclear missile levels, but also due to the pressure Congress is putting on the Pentagon to freeze spending levels at last year's figures.
As you are aware, you and I helped begin the NSF over ten years ago, and during those ten years we have seen our organization grow from a staff of three highly creative individuals, to well over one hundred. Our research too has branched out from the initial study phase of finding ways of reducing the strategic threat, to the inception of the SIGMA ONE project which is nearing the demonstration phase.
Horace, we are on the verge of a breakthrough." Pat paused, thinking deliberately about what he would say next.
"Did you get that, Cherisa?"
"Just a minute, Mr. Huxley." She flipped to the next page of her steno pad, scrawled faster and then looked up to see Pat rise and begin to limp around the office, dragging his right shoe across the carpet as he did. Her eyes inadvertently focused down on that shoe and she noticed it was very scuffed from constant abuse. The sight hurt her. Patrick Huxley, save for his physical disability, was really a handsome man. She thought to herself, Mrs. Huxley is a very lucky woman.
Pat caught Cherisa’s stare at his foot and looked at her. Their eyes met. Although it had been fifteen years since the accident, the look of pity in Cherisa's eyes still hurt slightly.
"Are you caught up yet, Ms. Hunt?"
"Uh,huh." She flashed her eyes down to her steno pad avoiding having to continue to look into his eyes.
"As I was saying," he hesitated momentarily to regain his concentration, broken as a result of Cherisa's stare.
"Please read the last line back to
"No problem, Amanda. I wasn't paying attention."
"Well. Gotta run!”
"Bye."
With that last comment, Amanda disappeared down the hall.
Cherisa watched her as she scurried along and thought to herself maybe she'd put in for a job in the research department. They always look like they're doing such important things. She wasn't really happy being just a secretary. And besides, the researchers had flexible hours. This was perfect for her scatter-brained approach to life. Flexible hours would suit her just fine.
Before entering the door at the end of the hallway, Cherisa pulled out her compact, straightened her eye makeup and then went inside. She had no sooner sat down at her desk then Pat (Mr. Huxley to her) summoned her into his office for dictation.
"Hi, Cherisa. Glad you could make it today." Pat said sarcastically. Were it not for the fact that Cherisa used to be Senator Radcliff's secretary and he was forced to hire her at the NSF as a condition of continued funding, he would have fired her years ago. But the senator made it perfectly clear that unless Cherisa had a job at the NSF, no more funding would be forthcoming. More than likely Radcliff had planted her there as spy anyway.
"Good morning, Mr. Huxley. I'm sorry I was late. An accident on the beltway was horrible this morning. A big rig jackknifed and it had traffic snarled for miles." She hoped he would buy this lie. She hadn't used the traffic excuse in weeks.
"That's okay, Cherisa. I've just got a lot of things that have to be out today. I'll be at the Senate hearings for the next three days and won't have time to come into the office, so every minute counts. Are you ready to work?"
"Yes. I'm ready."
"Well," Pat said, "then let's begin. First date this letter yesterday- -the forth of October, 1990.
"Uh, huh. Got it. The forth." Cherisa wondered why the date change.
"Then begin. Dear Senator Radcliff. (Cherisa smiled....a letter to her old boss). Regarding the upcoming budget hearings and continuation of funding for the NSF: Horace, I anticipate a very bitter fight this next month relative to our 1991 budget request, due in part to the recent discussions President and the Soviet Premier relative to European nuclear missile levels, but also due to the pressure Congress is putting on the Pentagon to freeze spending levels at last year's figures.
As you are aware, you and I helped begin the NSF over ten years ago, and during those ten years we have seen our organization grow from a staff of three highly creative individuals, to well over one hundred. Our research too has branched out from the initial study phase of finding ways of reducing the strategic threat, to the inception of the SIGMA ONE project which is nearing the demonstration phase.
Horace, we are on the verge of a breakthrough." Pat paused, thinking deliberately about what he would say next.
"Did you get that, Cherisa?"
"Just a minute, Mr. Huxley." She flipped to the next page of her steno pad, scrawled faster and then looked up to see Pat rise and begin to limp around the office, dragging his right shoe across the carpet as he did. Her eyes inadvertently focused down on that shoe and she noticed it was very scuffed from constant abuse. The sight hurt her. Patrick Huxley, save for his physical disability, was really a handsome man. She thought to herself, Mrs. Huxley is a very lucky woman.
Pat caught Cherisa’s stare at his foot and looked at her. Their eyes met. Although it had been fifteen years since the accident, the look of pity in Cherisa's eyes still hurt slightly.
"Are you caught up yet, Ms. Hunt?"
"Uh,huh." She flashed her eyes down to her steno pad avoiding having to continue to look into his eyes.
"As I was saying," he hesitated momentarily to regain his concentration, broken as a result of Cherisa's stare.
"Please read the last line back to
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