"And perhaps-oh, certainly! — a pension. You can rest assured your wife will never want. You see, Mr. Miller, we want to test you, and your … ability. Perhaps this unbelievable control you have can be duplicated, or understood. That we want to find out. We want to turn inside out all the enormous potential you have. In short we want-we must-have you in strictest custody and under rigid observation. If you like, I can see that you have a military or naval commission of rank commensurate with your importance. And don't think, Mr. Miller, that you're any less important than I've stated. Right now, from this side of the fence, it looks to me that you're the most important thing this side of the invention of the wheel."
I didn't want a commission. I wanted to lead a normal life, and I wanted my wife.
* * * * *
"The Marines, perhaps? Or the Air Corps?"
It wasn't just the Army, or the Navy; it was the system. If I had to be a Sad Sack I'd be a civilian.
"As you like. Agreed?"
I looked at him. "Agreed? What do you want me to say? Agreed. That's a good word for you to use to me."
"You can rest assured-" He saw what must have been on my face, and stopped short. For a long minute we sat there, he thinking his thoughts, and me thinking mine. Mine weren't pleasant. Then he got up and came over to me. "Sorry. This is a pretty big meal to digest all at once. I know how you must feel."
I stared up at him. "Do you?"
Then he turned and left. Later, I don't know when, the young fellow came back alone and took me to my cell. I must have finally gotten to sleep.