Sigma One Read Online Free Page B
Author: William Hutchison
me."
Cherisa began, "Horace, we are on the verge of a breakthrough."
Pat thought for a moment and fumbled for his pipe finding it in the top drawer of his desk. Reaching into the humidor, he filled it with tobacco. He always smoked when he was nervous. And he was nervous right now. How long could he hope that Radcliff would believe him? Hadn't he written the same thing not three months earlier during the summer budget exercises? No matter. He wanted to believe-what he was saying. He really felt that in just a few more months his scientists and parapsychologists would find the answer to SIGMA ONE and he would be able to demonstrate the ability to reprogram a computer using only one's thoughts.
He continued, drawing on his pipe deeply as he did. "We are on the verge of a breakthrough and shortly we'll be able to give you a personal demonstration of SIGMA ONE's potential.
Dr. Jackowitz, a recently hired parapsychologist, has made outstanding progress in this regard. I've included the findings of his research over the last two months in this letter. I'm sure when you read the report you'll understand my urgency in compelling you to do whatever is necessary to convince your colleagues of the continued viability of this project.
I've also included the budget figures you asked for indicating our progress in maintaining control of expenditures (See Attachment 2). Attachment 3 contains our budget request for next fiscal year's operations updated to reflect the most recent estimates of inflation. (Pat remembered the snafu that the Pentagon got into recently when their budget submission included the wrong inflation indices, thus understating their needs by a substantial amount. He didn't want to be in the same boat, even though his organization was receiving funding from a number of sources.)
When you have had an opportunity to review this material, I will arrange a meeting between your staffers and our scientists to clarify any budgetary or technical questions you may have.
Warmest regards.
Pat.
"Did you get all that, Cherisa?" Pat queried as he sat back down at his desk and swiveled around in the chair to face her.
"Yes sir, I did."
"Okay then, get me a typed version by noon and arrange for a courier. I want this letter delivered before three this afternoon to the Senator's office."
"What about the attachments, Mr. Huxley? Do you want me to Xerox any copies?"
"That won't be necessary. Just get the envelope typed and have the guard buzz me when the courier is here. I'll take care of the attachments."
" All right then. I'll have this ready for you shortly." Cherisa then got up and headed for the door.
"One last thing, Cherisa. Please ring Ms. Yates and have her come here for a moment.”
Cherisa wrinkled her brow, not immediately remembering who Ms. Yates was. She stood there awkwardly momentarily and then remembered Amanda's last name. "Oh, you mean Amanda Yates?"
Huxley grimaced at her incompetence. "Yes I mean Amanda Yates!"
"I'm sorry. I just forgot her last name was Yates." Cherisa was visibly shaken at his abruptness. She then added in her defense, "You don't have to snap!"
"Listen young lady. I wasn't snapping. (Although he knew he was). "I'm just under a lot of pressure here lately. (He was, if he didn't show progress his whole company would be in jeopardy.) Please try to understand. Nothing personal, okay?"
"Okay." Cherisa was still hurt slightly.
"Now run along and get Ms.…..I mean Amanda."
Cherisa nodded and left.
Pat sat back in his chair and put his feet up on his desk. As he puffed on his pipe, a big swirl of smoke encircled his head. His eyes closed as he reflected on the letter which he just dictated and which he was going to have delivered later.
Backdating the letter would indicate to Radcliff that his intent was good--making an attempt to get the information to him before and not after the hearings. Hiring a courier was also another good ploy. That way he'd have a receipt. But
Cherisa began, "Horace, we are on the verge of a breakthrough."
Pat thought for a moment and fumbled for his pipe finding it in the top drawer of his desk. Reaching into the humidor, he filled it with tobacco. He always smoked when he was nervous. And he was nervous right now. How long could he hope that Radcliff would believe him? Hadn't he written the same thing not three months earlier during the summer budget exercises? No matter. He wanted to believe-what he was saying. He really felt that in just a few more months his scientists and parapsychologists would find the answer to SIGMA ONE and he would be able to demonstrate the ability to reprogram a computer using only one's thoughts.
He continued, drawing on his pipe deeply as he did. "We are on the verge of a breakthrough and shortly we'll be able to give you a personal demonstration of SIGMA ONE's potential.
Dr. Jackowitz, a recently hired parapsychologist, has made outstanding progress in this regard. I've included the findings of his research over the last two months in this letter. I'm sure when you read the report you'll understand my urgency in compelling you to do whatever is necessary to convince your colleagues of the continued viability of this project.
I've also included the budget figures you asked for indicating our progress in maintaining control of expenditures (See Attachment 2). Attachment 3 contains our budget request for next fiscal year's operations updated to reflect the most recent estimates of inflation. (Pat remembered the snafu that the Pentagon got into recently when their budget submission included the wrong inflation indices, thus understating their needs by a substantial amount. He didn't want to be in the same boat, even though his organization was receiving funding from a number of sources.)
When you have had an opportunity to review this material, I will arrange a meeting between your staffers and our scientists to clarify any budgetary or technical questions you may have.
Warmest regards.
Pat.
"Did you get all that, Cherisa?" Pat queried as he sat back down at his desk and swiveled around in the chair to face her.
"Yes sir, I did."
"Okay then, get me a typed version by noon and arrange for a courier. I want this letter delivered before three this afternoon to the Senator's office."
"What about the attachments, Mr. Huxley? Do you want me to Xerox any copies?"
"That won't be necessary. Just get the envelope typed and have the guard buzz me when the courier is here. I'll take care of the attachments."
" All right then. I'll have this ready for you shortly." Cherisa then got up and headed for the door.
"One last thing, Cherisa. Please ring Ms. Yates and have her come here for a moment.”
Cherisa wrinkled her brow, not immediately remembering who Ms. Yates was. She stood there awkwardly momentarily and then remembered Amanda's last name. "Oh, you mean Amanda Yates?"
Huxley grimaced at her incompetence. "Yes I mean Amanda Yates!"
"I'm sorry. I just forgot her last name was Yates." Cherisa was visibly shaken at his abruptness. She then added in her defense, "You don't have to snap!"
"Listen young lady. I wasn't snapping. (Although he knew he was). "I'm just under a lot of pressure here lately. (He was, if he didn't show progress his whole company would be in jeopardy.) Please try to understand. Nothing personal, okay?"
"Okay." Cherisa was still hurt slightly.
"Now run along and get Ms.…..I mean Amanda."
Cherisa nodded and left.
Pat sat back in his chair and put his feet up on his desk. As he puffed on his pipe, a big swirl of smoke encircled his head. His eyes closed as he reflected on the letter which he just dictated and which he was going to have delivered later.
Backdating the letter would indicate to Radcliff that his intent was good--making an attempt to get the information to him before and not after the hearings. Hiring a courier was also another good ploy. That way he'd have a receipt. But
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