Chapter 7
I sighed and sat back, feeling satisfied. Of the over 63 applicants, I had narrowed it down to seven people. I was pretty confidant in them, but now would come the hard part. Explaining that the undeveloped country was not on earth, but in another reality.
I refused to screw with people. Call me old fashioned, but I believed in as much honesty with people as possible; my actions with the government notwithstanding. I had scheduled a meeting with the final 7 for tomorrow evening.
It had been a busy 5 days, but I could now see the light at the end of the tunnel. Vivian had been a great help, but I had sent her back earlier this afternoon. She had the keys to the locks on the 40-foot trailers, and would start seeing to removing and storing what we had purchased.
There was one couple I was excited about. They had come in together, and were married. The husband was an engineer, and his wife was a PA. This was a bonus! I had not even thought of anyone in the medical profession, and she was handed to me on a silver platter. A physician's assistant! How lucky was this?
I stretched and felt my muscles protest before it started to feel good.
<If you would practice your weapons every day, this would not happen, > Pao said silently to me.
"Well, you will be glad to know that I have located a place where I can practice weapons training," I told him in response.
<Excellent. Perhaps there is hope for you, yet, > Pao replied with a smugness.
An hour later, I found myself getting out of a taxi. It was a Dojo that specialized in sword work of all styles. I was told I would have to test with a master before I would be allowed to practice with anyone. That was fine with me. They just wanted to be sure I knew what I was doing. Understandable.
The first thing I did was register, and pay the 20-dollar 'use' fee. Then I went into another room, and looked around. There were about 15 people in the main room. Most of them were learning a specific form or style.
I recognized several different styles. An elderly man of Asian descent approached me.
"Are you Mr. Lindsy?" he asked politely.
"Yes. I called and requested some time for practice," I answered.
"I am Mr. Hiru. I will have to spar with you to see who would be most acceptable for you," he said leading me to a wrack of rattan and bamboo practice swords.
I went through several before I found one that seemed made for me. I removed my shoes and placed them by the rack. We then went onto the mat out of the class's way. We started slow. Shortly we were going faster, and then faster yet. I found a good flow, and stayed with him. He was good. He was damned good! Pao was already begging me to let him have control, to practice with him. I told him maybe in a bit.
Finally Mr. Hiru called a halt. "Mr. Lindsy. You are very very good. I doubt there are more than two or three masters that I know of in this city, who can stay even with you. It would be a privilege to work with you," he said with a bow.
I bowed back, and relented. I let Pao take control for the next bout. I was a passenger in my own head! Damn, but Pao was good. While Pao was in control, he did things I'd never even thought of, yet had seen before. Twice he disarmed the practice master.
Finally Mr. Hiru called another halt. I was surprised to see that almost an hour had gone by, and everyone was staring at us. Mr. Hiru came over to me and bowed, and then shook my hand.
Pao released control back to me. "Mr. Lindsy, I have never seen a white man as good as you. If I may ask, where did you learn your style? It is totally unique. I have never seen anything like it," Hiru asked me as we walked back to the rack of practice swords.
"Sir, I mean no offense, but you wouldn't believe me if I told you," I answered him.
"Are you going to be in town long? We have a master coming in from Japan who would love to practice with you. He has not really found anyone worthy, in years. I think you are worthy," he said, bowing to me again.
"I'm afraid not. I have to leave, day after tomorrow. I am going back," I hesitated, "home," I finished.
"If you come back, you will always be welcome. As a matter of fact, I will leave you a free membership at the desk. Feel free to come back anytime," he said, beaming at me.
I smiled and nodded back. I put my shoes on and left the building. Pao was in a very pleased mood, and was describing Mr. Hiru's style in glowing terms. Strange, Pao was always telling me, I needed improvement. Mr. Hiru had thought my own efforts were just fine.
I headed back to the hotel in a cab. By the time I got back, my muscles were starting to stiffen up a bit. I decided to take a long hot shower. I did and felt a bit better, but I realized I was going to have to start a more rigorous training regimen.
I woke up feeling a bit worse for wear the next morning. Yes, I definitely needed to get an exercise program going. I stretched a little and felt a little better. After breakfast I started to get a list of questions going. I also decided to do a couple minor truth spells.
One I would place in the room as a whole, and I was unsure of the second. I really needed these people to be completely honest with me. I was also worried that the government or an agency of it might slip in spies. So I decided to go with a heavy truth spell that hit each person as they crossed the threshold to the room.
I looked at my watch, and saw that I still had a few hours until the group interview time. I did something I had not done in a long time. Hell, I had never done it at all. I went to Hollywood, and took a tour.
I got on the tour bus, and spent half the tour on it. When they drove by the commissary where the actors ate, I cast a small spell. When the bus slowed, I got off it without anyone noticing. Got to love a good spell!
I walked over to the commissary and went in. It was very nice. I looked around. No one bothered me, as everyone who was in this place had authorization of one sort or another. I blended right in.
Two hours later, I left the commissary with several autographs and a good meal. I made my way to the gate, and caught a cab as soon as I exited the studio proper. I gave the driver the name of my hotel, and looked at my autographs.
It was getting close to the time for my interviews. I went to the small conference room I'd rented for this one, and made sure my spells were emplaced. I had cold drinks and several cold bottles of water, as well as hot coffee waiting for them when they showed up.
I waited until they all filed in, and watched as each was hit with the truth spell as they crossed the threshold into the room. I smiled and welcomed them.
"Thank you all for coming this afternoon. As you can see, we are now down to seven people. Out of everyone who showed up, you are the only ones I felt were worth talking to," I started out.
I talked with each of them, asking them a little about themselves. I got bad vibes from one man who was fighting the truth spell hard, and losing. I told him gently that I didn't think I would be hiring him, and thanked him for coming.
Now we were down to six. So I asked each one to give me a little background on their education, which they had done previously, but now they were under my truth spell. Another guy confessed that he did not really have a degree in engineering. He was an agent for the government and his credentials were phonied up for this job.
I dismissed him, of course. The other people were stunned at the revelation.
"Excuse me, but why is the government spying on you? Is this an illegal operation?" One of the remaining men asked me.
"Ah, that's the problem. No, this is not illegal, nor is anything illegal being done. Well, perhaps the way we leave America, or enter back into it is not exactly as the government would want it, but there is nothing illegal about the jobs I am offering you.
"My name is Paul Landkur. I am Duke De Landkur in a land called Morwan. I am trying to improve the life of my people, and as a foreign dignitary I should be accorded certain honors. However; my abilities, and the abilities of my people, shock and scare the US government. As they do other governments on earth," I said sincerely.
"You're kidding, right?" The female half of the husband and wife team asked me.
"No. I can prove everything I am saying to you. First let me say, that if you come with me, you will experience the most amazing world you have ever seen. While it is amazing in most respects, it is also not very technologically advanced.
"The hardest part you will have believing, is the easiest I will have proving. Magic. It exists," I told them.
I could see that they did not believe me, and one guy started getting up. I was losing them. I had to do something and do it quick! I cast a levitation spell, and had everyone up in the air, unable to do anything except flail uselessly.
They reacted much as I thought they would. I heard a scream and several startled exclamations.
"Sorry about that. It's a small levitation spell. Completely harmless. If you will give me 5 minutes, I think I can convince you I am telling the truth," I said. I let them down gently, and they all stared at me. Well, at least I had their attention.
"The world I am from is located in a different reality than this one. I can have us there a lot quicker than it would take you to get to the lobby of this hotel. Will you each at least give me a chance to show you the world I am talking about? If you don't want to have anything to do with it afterwards, I will bear you no ill will," I finished.
I looked at each in turn, desperate, but trying not to show it. The husband and wife team were the first to agree. The others followed their lead.
I turned to the wall, and created a gate. As soon as it stabilized, everyone was able to see into Morwan.
"If you will all follow me? I will be glad to give you a brief tour of my home world, and explain what I am doing and what I want," I said, and walked through the gate. I turned and the husband and wife team came through, followed by only one more prospective employee. The other two declined to come. I nodded, and closed and concealed the gate. On earth, it was again, a wall.
"Well, first things first. A brief tour of the capital city of Landkur, also named Landkur," I started telling them a little of our history and watched them as they gaped in amazement at their surroundings.
I moved them along, and I also teleported us upon occasion. They were amazed at that, too, but got used to it fairly quickly. I was inundating them with a lot of things that they would have considered impossible, just an hour ago, and they were taking it well.
We watched dragons flying over the city. I teleported us to the foundry, and let them see what we were making there. I teleported us to the docks, and they looked with wonder at the great inland sea. I took us to the city center, and took them to an inn I frequented.
"I really am not trying to rush you, but I really need an answer," I said after I ordered us each a mug of ale.
The husband and wife team said they were in, right away. The schoolteacher agreed almost at the same time.
"Great! Let me thank you for agreeing. I have set up a way for letters to be delivered and sent to people on earth, if you want. If you have commitments, I can have them handled for you. If you owe on anything, part of the set up here is that we take care of your debts," I explained.
I told them that quarters would be provided to them, as well as guides, until they felt comfortable getting around on their own. I also said they would have living expenses, on top of their regular pay.
"We take care of our people here. We have a couple of people who have volunteered to stay on after their contracts were up. If any of you choose to do this, also, you will be welcomed and compensated very nicely indeed," I finally ran down.
I answered a lot of questions for them. I told them what I was expecting. I told the teacher, Mary Henderson, that I wanted her to create a standardized school system to educate the population. I explained about the private schools, but that public education was almost non-existent.
I told Eric Shale what I expected from him as an engineer. As for his wife Terry, I told her I was glad she was here, and I was going to put her in charge of public health.
'All in all, ' I thought with a smile, 'it's been a very good day.'
Edited By TeNderLoin